mental health – NutriFoody Wholly Holism

Hello February! How did we get to February so fast? I hope that you were kind and gentle to yourself in January and gave yourself some grace as that is the month where we like to just head first into things and knock out all our goals. In today’s busy world, self-love and self-care are often overlooked, yet they are crucial for our overall well-being. As we celebrate Heart Health Month, it’s a perfect time to explore the profound impact of self-love on our hearts—both physically and emotionally. By incorporating holistic nutrition practices into our self-care routines, we can nourish our bodies and minds from within.

The Importance of Self-Love and Self-Care: Self-love and self-care are the cornerstones of a healthy and fulfilling life. When we prioritize ourselves, we acknowledge our worth and treat ourselves with compassion and kindness. By taking intentional steps to care for our physical, emotional, and mental health, we create a foundation for resilience, reduced stress, and enhanced well-being.

Tips and Strategies for Self-Love Routines:

Start Each Day with Gratitude: Begin your day by expressing gratitude for yourself and the world around you. Reflect on what you’re thankful for and set positive intentions for the day ahead.
Practice Mindful Eating: Nourish your body with whole, nutrient-rich foods. Embrace holistic nutrition by incorporating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins into your meals.
Move Your Body Mindfully: Engage in physical activity that brings you joy and connects you with your body. Whether it’s yoga, dancing, or walking in nature, find activities that nurture both your physical and mental well-being.
Set Boundaries and Prioritize Self-Care: Learn to say no to activities that drain your energy and yes to self-care practices that replenish your spirit. Establish healthy boundaries in your relationships and schedule regular “me time.”

Tying Self-Care to Heart Health: Self-care isn’t just about pampering—it’s about nurturing our hearts, both emotionally and physically. By prioritizing self-love and holistic nutrition, we create a nurturing environment for our hearts to thrive. These practices not only support heart health but also promote overall well-being and vitality.

Self-love and self-care are essential for our health and happiness. By incorporating self-love rituals into our daily lives and embracing holistic nutrition practices, we can nourish our bodies and minds from within. As we celebrate Heart Health Month, let’s remember to prioritize ourselves and nurture the most important relationship we have—the one with ourselves.

– Vanessa J

Let me tell you something about water: it’s everywhere! From soil moisture and ice caps to the cells inside our bodies. Just like the surface of the earth, the body is made up of 60 to 70 percent. Our cells need water for our bodies to function at an optimal level. Water is one of the best cleansers our bodies need and also a healing agent for our bodies. When we don’t drink enough of it, it can lead to many signs and symptoms that we may not even realize comes from not drinking enough water.

Let me tell you some more interesting facts about water. Water is not only in the blood, but the heart and the brain is also ¾ quarts water. The lungs are made up of 83 percent water. Water helps us to lubricate the joints, regulate body temperature, and nourishes the brain and spinal cord. That alone goes to show you how many body systems can be affected if you do not drink water so the next time your joints hurt think to yourself are your joints properly lubricated? When our brain realizes that we have not had enough water it then signals the hypothalamus to release diuretic hormones which in return tells our kidneys to enable the blood to absorb and retain more water, leading to darker urine. Why do the kidneys do this? Because the body has to hold onto whatever water is available so that you do not go into full dehydration.

Now, when we drink water we need to make sure that we have the perfect balance not to drink too much and not drinking too little. Below I will list some of the symptoms we can experience when we are either dehydrated or over hydrated.

Dehydration causes:

-Drops in energy
-Mood Swings
-Skin moisture decreases
-Blood pressure
-Brain can temporarily shrink

Over hydration causes:

-The brain slows down
-Sodium electrolytes become diluted causing cells to swell
-Kidneys can’t keep up with hydration and may cause headaches vomiting seizures so drink 8 to 10 glasses a day

Did You Know?

When we don’t drink enough water our body responds to that by not telling us to drink enough water, and when we do drink water our body responds to that by telling us to drink more interesting right?
Each day we lose two to three liters of water from activities the body carries out such as breathing, sweating, urine, and bowel movements
Drinking water can lower the chance of stroke, manage diabetes and reduce the risk of some types of cancers

Reference(s):

Deeply Holistic. Pip Waller

Tag: mental health

Nourishing Your Body and Mind: The Power of Self-Love and Holistic Nutrition

Why Should We Drink Water