Don’t Let the Holidays be the Season of Stress

Posted on by
Reply

If you’re caught in traffic, find a new radio station with happy, relaxing music. Don’t spend your time worrying about how long it’s taking you to get from place to place, or let your mind fill with an ever increasing list of things that must be done during the holiday season.

Relax your face. When you relax your face, your whole body relaxes. Bust out a big smile! It will ease the tension in your shoulders, neck and back.

Smiling also distracts your mind and releases natural painkiling endorphins along with seratonin, one of the mood-elevating hormones.

#MarktheSpotMassage

Holiday Foods and Plants can be Dangerous for Your Pets

Posted on by
Reply

Most people know not to give pets chocolate, but did you know that garlic, onions, shallots and chives are also no-nos? Xylitol found in chewing gum and low-cal baked goods can cause insulin levels to soar in pets.

Marijuana edibles are particularly dangerous because the dose intended for a human is 10 to 20 times what a small animal could handle.

Alcohol depresses the central nervous system, and any amount of alcohol can be dangerous for a pet.

Nutmeg, often used in cooking during the holidays, can cause seizures in animals.

Dough with yeast can rise inside the stomach and can cause pain or twisted bowels.

High-fat nuts such as macadamia, almonds, and walnuts can cause stomach upset.

Poinsettias are highly toxic if eaten, as are lillies that can cause kidney failure.

If your pet shows signs of vomiting and diarrhea, excessive panting and thirst, seizures, tremors, lethargy or loss of coordination or incontinence, it’s time to see the Vet.

Increasing Your Energy – Skip the Cookies

Posted on by
Reply

Avoid an energy boomerang by avoiding high-sugar, high-fat baked goods such as cookies, pastries and donuts. Even though those foods do give you an initial boost in energy, the fast-burning carbs in these foods is followed by a dive in energy levels.

#MarktheSpotMassage

Increasing Your Energy – Nuts

Posted on by
Reply

People who do not get enough magnesium often feel irritable, fatigued and susceptible to stress. Nuts are high in magnesium, and can help replace the magnesium that is depleted due to chronic diseases and stress. Good nuts are almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews and hazelnuts.

#MarktheSpotMassage

Increasing Your Energy – Beans

Posted on by
Reply

Beans are rich in tryptophan, an essential amino acid used by the body to produce serotonin, the neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood. Beans also contain manganese an essential element to prevent blood sugar swings which can make you feel like you’re “out of gas.”

#MarktheSpotMassage

Exercise is the Most Effective Preventative Strategy to Fight Chronic Conditions

Posted on by
Reply
Heart disease, stroke, diabetes and dementia can all be made less devastating by getting your heart rate up.
 
Use a device to remind you to get up and stand or take a walk. Your smartphone has a timer, a fitness band will remind you of how many steps you took during the day. Use whatever means you need to break the cycle of sedentary behavior and get moving.
 
Exercise will help you be a healthier, stronger, and longer-surviving version of yourself.
#MarktheSpotMassage