Recovery Enthusiast/ Recovery for Women

  Do you ever feel a little blue for no apparent reason? Are you feeling down, maybe lower than you've been? Or perhaps just a general melancholy? As medication can help (that's between you and your doctor), it is never a cure-all. Here are some ways you can elevate your mood. Try to keep an open mind; many of these skills take a little practice. Implement these seven amazing steps:   Journaling. Journaling might sound more like work than self-care, but keeping a journal is important for recovering from a slump. Think of it as a companion that allows you to let your feelings out without judgment.   ●       Writing your thoughts in a journal helps you work through what you are going through emotionally. Come to terms with your current state, make adjustments, and figure out your next step.   ●       Don't hold back from writing because your feelings are everywhere. Even if you are not ...

 Your immune system protects you from germs and other foreign substances that could make you sick by making parts of your body heat up and swell. However, sometimes it goes too far. That’s when such inflammation becomes chronic as a response to stress, junk food, or other lifestyle triggers.   This chronic inflammation is associated with many serious health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, arthritis, fatigue, and depression. To reduce your risk, you may need to change your diet and other daily practices.   Start with these ideas for following an anti-inflammatory lifestyle.   Eating to Reduce Inflammation:   Focus on plants. Most vegetables and fruits are rich in protective compounds like antioxidants and polyphenols. Load up on spinach, kale, berries, and citrus fruit. Some vegetables like asparagus and sweet potatoes also serve as prebiotics that tightens your gut and lower inflammation. Just m...

Diet and exercise may be the first things that come to mind when you think about taking care of your heart. However, what you do overnight counts too. Sleep deficiencies can contribute to many heart conditions, and heart troubles can make it difficult to sleep.   Experts have been aware of a link between sleep apnea and high blood pressure for many years. Now, ongoing research is discovering similar interactions related to insomnia and other sleep disorders.  Learn more about how you can use sleep to keep your heart healthy.   Understanding How Sleep Affects Your Heart   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one-third of adults get less than the minimum recommendation of 7 hours of sleep each night, adding to their risk for heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. What does that mean for you?   Consider these facts:   Count your hours. Lack of sleep can disrupt your hormones and cause calcium buildup and other changes in ...