Yearly Archives: 2024

May 13, 2024

THE POSITIVE POWER OF PLANTS.

Did you know that houseplants can reduce stress, boost our mood, increase productivity and improve oxygen levels in a room?

And that’s not all… looking after our plants generally makes us feel good, giving us a sense of purpose and joy when we see them thrive.

The more houseplants you have, the more air-purifying benefits thay may bring. Plus potting soil is full of microbes which could increase your serotonin levels helping to make you feel more relaxed and happy.

Try easy-to-grow, good-value varieties, such as Boston ferns, and enjoy the positive effects of s leafy living space for yourself.

April 8, 2024

HOME REMEDIES.

Traditional treatments that really work – olive oil massage for arthritis pain.

A 2012 study compared olive oil massage to the use of Piroxicam gel (an anti-inflammatory painkiller) in 58 people with osteoarthritis of the knee – and found threefold greater reduction in pain in the olive oil group after four weeks.

Olive oil contains anti-inflammatory ingredients that can penetrate the skin. This, plus the action of massage, can help improve circulation and affect the pressure nerves involved with pain.

March 11, 2024

WHAT STRENGTHENING EXERCISES CAN I DO?

Strength training uses weight to build muscle tone that supports the joints. Whether you choose to work out at home or a gym, pay attention to technique.

Working out in front of a mirror can help. Try to commit to exercise at least three times a week. You can mix it up, though. It doesn’t all have to be weights-related.

There’s been a misconception that impact sports like running can weaken joints. However, they can have their place. Running, being a high impact, weight bearing exercise, helps maintain lower body and pelvic bone strength. It also helps keep the tendons and ligaments healthy by putting load through them, which in turn makes them stronger.

Sports like swimming, exercise classes, water aerobics, Pilates- based exercise, even off-road walking, are all low impact but contribute towards strengthening and mobility.

Other valuable activities include golf (for walking and shoulder joint strengthening), paddle boarding (core and shoulder strengthening), swimming (a great all-rounder) and cycling (knee strengthening).

February 12, 2024

HOW CAN STRENGTHENING HELP JOINTS?

Strengthening all the muscle groups, but particularly those surrounding joints, is really important. Our muscles support the joint and effectively hold it in place. If they’re weak then the joint can become unstable and this in turn can increase the risk of arthritis, as well as making movements stiffer.

A review of studies found muscle strengthening activities are associated with lower risk and mortality of major diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and lung cancer.

Recent studies show that omega 3 fatty acids can help reduce joint inflammation, too. These are found in many foods such as oily fish, nuts, seeds and plant oils. So it’s also worth paying attention to diet. Aim for unprocessed foods as much as possible.

January 8, 2024

WHY MIGHT WE FEEL TIRED DESPITE SLEEPING WELL?

Even if you have had a good quality and refreshing sleep, you can still feel tired in the day because of imbalanced blood sugar levels.

This is normally due to not eating regularly enough, or not having a great composition of meals, for example not combining carbohydrates and protein in every single meal.

Introducing a few protein snacks throughout the day is a great idea, including lean meats, a small yogurt, a piece of cheese or a hard-boiled egg (or plant-based equivalents like nuts and seeds).

These protein-heavy snacks will keep our energy levels nice and balanced throughout the day.