“Falling Into Fall”
The kids are in school, the days are getting shorter and cooler, every day there are more and more leaves on the ground, and it is almost time to set the clocks back. Fall is upon us, and I am enjoying the return to routine and schedules, tackling projects which have been pushed to the side, and catching up with friends I haven’t seen in a while.
After last week’s important but somewhat depressing look at alcohol’s impact on our bodies, today’s article is lighter and is a compilation of items I have been wanting to share.
I hope your fall is off to a good start and you have a few moments to enjoy today’s post.
Interesting Tidbits
The health benefits of coffee
I love the taste of coffee but can’t handle caffeine and so I drink decaf. I’ve often wondered if I am still reaping any health benefits and fortunately it turns out I am! According to a recent study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, “drinking two to three cups of coffee a day is linked with a longer lifespan and lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared with avoiding coffee. The findings applied to ground, instant and decaffeinated varieties.”
Of study participants the “median age was 58 years and 55.3% were women.”
Sleepy versus tired
Candidly, I didn’t realize the distinction between sleepy and tired. Now that I know, I feel better prepared to give my body what it needs based on how I am feeling. According to this article “sleepiness manifests in the body by droopy eyelids, an overall heaviness, the entire machine wants to shut down. Tiredness can also present physically, but it often stems from a lack of mental energy, a dip in motivation or inspiration. If you’re sleepy during the day, that means you did not sleep last night or didn’t get good quality sleep. And “if you’re tired during the day, that may not be because of poor sleep. It may be because you’re depressed or bored or dehydrated.”
Multivitamins to the rescue
A recent study of 2262 people, of which 60% were women, found that taking a multivitamin for 3 years improved global cognition, episodic memory, and executive function in older adults. And the results were most beneficial for people with cardiovascular disease. This is great news for women as cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for women after menopause due to declining estrogen levels.
Food
My favorite new find in the food world: roasted red grapes with olive oil & thyme. This Is a great topping for salmon, chicken, or mixed in with roasted vegetables, like fennel or butternut squash. Simply coat grapes with olive oil, sprinkle with fresh thyme and salt, and roast at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Something to read
I’ve read a few great books this fall. Two great pieces of fiction are The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell and The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina by Zoraida Cordova. Both are well told stories which transported me away each time I picked them up. And if you are in the mood for non-fiction, I highly recommend Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole by Susan Cain, the best-selling author of Quiet. The title says it all.
Best new thing I have tried
I try to cover all my bases nutritionally and have recently started taking Adapt Naturals Bio-Avail Multi, Bio-Avail Organ, and Bio-Avail Myco. They were developed by one of my favorite names in the Functional Medicine world, Kris Kressor. I have been feeling great and am pretty sure they have something to do with it! You can check out these as well as the Bio-Avail E+ (I just ordered this to try) and Bio-Avail Mag here.
What I am excited to try
I have been feeling a little bored by my exercise routine lately. So, I am going to give Animal Flow workouts a try. Per the website, Animal Flow “includes a range of movements and combinations that are grouped into categories we call the “Six Components.” Each Component is designed to elicit specific results. The Six Components can be mixed and matched in many ways, allowing you to incorporate one, some, or all of them in your workouts.” Stay tuned!
Parting Thought
“Always maintain a bias for action. Create your own adventure.” ~ Sahil Bloom, The Curiosity Chronicle
To be continued…
