Saturday, December 28, 2024

5 Ways To Minimize Cold Feet

You don’t have to be getting married to experience cold feet. Often this condition is simply due to cold weather combined with exposed feet and toes, but some people can experience cold feet even when the weather is very warm – leading to suffering year-round.

If you tend to get cold feet, discuss your symptoms with your doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions. Circulatory disorders such as Raynaud’s disease, anemia, and diabetes may be to blame and should be addressed if they are determined to be the cause. If no medical condition is suspected, try the following – each can help to prevent or lessen your symptoms:

  1. Sprinkle a small amount of ground cayenne pepper in your socks and shoes. To learn more about the benefits of cayenne, watch the video “Spices with Dr. Weil – Cayenne.”
  2. Make time to get regular physical exercise to help improve your circulation. Be sure to dedicate some exercise time to strength training to allow muscles to help squeeze the blood vessels and promote better flow. Leg presses, wall slides and calf raises are ideal movements.
  3. Quit smoking: Nicotine constricts blood vessels, disturbing normal circulation.
  4. Wear socks and shoes that are comfortable and not too tight in order to avoid restricted circulation. There are now a number of options of battery-operated warming socks that should be considered. Be very cautious in maintaining them in an effort to avoid burning the skin.
  5. Don’t forget the most obvious solution: a relaxing foot soak in warm (not hot) water followed by a pair of warm socks! Or have warming packs that you can get at most outdoor or ski stores to use in your shoes.

The post 5 Ways To Minimize Cold Feet appeared first on DrWeil.com.



* This article was originally published here

Thursday, December 26, 2024

Feeling Achy When You Wake Up? 3 Foods May Help

If your mornings begin with stiffness, pain and swollen joints, you may be experiencing symptoms of osteoarthritis. In addition to getting regular exercise (low impact, like yoga, swimming or walking is the best) and maintaining a healthy weight, consider the following nutritional strategies to help prevent or lessen symptoms.

  1. Eat foods rich in antioxidants. A variety of colors of fresh organic fruits and vegetables are good sources and may help reduce tissue damage from inflammation in addition to filling you with high quality calories.
  2. Get enough omega-3s. The omega-3 fatty acids provided in oily fish (such as wild Alaskan salmon), walnuts and freshly ground flaxseed might help reduce the inflammation and pain of arthritis. If you decide to supplement omega-3 fats as well, find products with the highest amount of EPA, the more anti-inflammatory fatty acid.
  3. Regularly use ginger and turmeric in cooking, teas and/or supplements for their natural anti-inflammatory properties.

Also realize that filling up on processed, sweetened and packaged foods promotes inflammation and stiffness. Switch out your pantry’s food-like products for a fridge full of whole-food freshness.

The post Feeling Achy When You Wake Up? 3 Foods May Help appeared first on DrWeil.com.



* This article was originally published here

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Minimize Calories With These Holiday Drink Choices

The best way to sidestep empty calories this holiday season is to limit sugary and alcoholic drinks or avoid them altogether. That doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy traditional beverages – just be sure to moderate your intake and drink water between cocktails to keep hydrated. The following drinks are lower-calorie holiday options when you want something on the sweet and/or alcoholic side.

  1. Sparkling non-alcoholic punch. The calories can vary, but most holiday punch can easily be diluted with sparkling water or club soda (tonic has added sugar) to reduce calories and sugars. If you are making your own punch at home, use unsweetened cranberry juice concentrate or some of the sparkling waters flavored with real fruit.
  2. Red wine. The antioxidant activity of red wine has been linked to heart health benefits, reduced stress and even preserving memory. Limit yourself to a six-ounce glass; it typically has about 120 calories. You can also add sparkling water here and make a spritzer while cutting calories in half.
  3. Hot toddy. A combination of lemon, honey, cinnamon, cloves and brandy, this beverage has between 100 and 150 calories and provides some vitamin C thanks to the lemon juice and blood sugar support from the cinnamon.
  4. Champagne. This celebratory drink has about 90 calories in a four-ounce glass. You can also dilute this with sparkling water or club soda to cut calories and make it last longer.

You can also simply substitute sparkling water or club soda for soft drinks or tonic typically added to liquor as a way of curbing calories. Over time you will appreciate the lighter taste and find yourself not needing the high sugar or alcohol content most drinks deliver.

The post Minimize Calories With These Holiday Drink Choices appeared first on DrWeil.com.



* This article was originally published here

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Dr. Weil’s Favorite Holiday Foods

Around the holidays, I like to look to the deeper meaning of the day – it transcends any particular food, and instead springs from the gathering of family and friends around a table set with beautiful, satisfying dishes prepared with love and gratitude. Here are some of my favorites:

  1. Salmon. I’ve found that it’s possible to have a delicious, crowd-pleasing holiday dinner without the standard menu. Instead, I typically serve wild Alaskan salmon, either whole and baked or grilled. I eat salmon often, not only because it contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, but because I love it. You can make a very festive presentation of salmon at your holiday dinner, such as Salmon in Parchment, that will make your guests quite happy.
  2. Meat alternative. I may also serve a tofu “turkey” or other vegetarian roast especially for my daughter Diana, who is a lacto-vegetarian (no fish). If you want to try one, you can choose from a number of tofu-based substitutes on the market, or if you prefer to make your own, you can find several recipes online, or try the Tofu Provencal recipe.
  3. Lots of healthy side dishes. My holiday menu typically includes salad, roasted root vegetables, a green vegetable (like broccoli), and braised red cabbage, sometimes with chestnuts. All are easy to make. The latter, in particular, is packed with anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that give red cabbage its vibrant color. Like other cruciferous vegetables, it provides fiber, vitamin C and cancer-fighting compounds called indoles.
  4. Nutritious desserts. For dessert, I like to serve squash pie. This vegan dish is made with winter squash (such as buttercup, kabocha, or banana), cashew milk, and raw sugar. It’s thickened with arrowroot instead of eggs and flavored with brandy, cinnamon, ginger and cloves and topped with chopped walnuts.

The post Dr. Weil’s Favorite Holiday Foods appeared first on DrWeil.com.



* This article was originally published here

Friday, December 20, 2024

Meditation Tips for the New Year

The holiday season can be a stressful time. In fact, 41% of U.S. adults report they find themselves with increased anxiety, nervousness, and tension from November to January each year. As the current calendar winds down, many strive to begin the approaching new year with a “clean slate” or a “fresh start,” but with restless nights from the holidays and the pressure to make and keep resolutions fresh in our minds, simply dismissing all that stress on January 1st isn’t as easy as we’d like to think. So how do we address stress, get the sleep we desperately need, and start the new year off right? One of the best ways is through mindful meditation.

How Mindfulness Helps
Mindful meditation provides benefits emotionally, mentally, and physically. By tuning into your mind, body, and breath, practicing mindfulness has been shown to help enhance your overall wellbeing. Two of the main ways it can improve your everyday life are by reducing stress and facilitating better sleep.

Stress & Meditation
By breathing deep and allowing your mind to focus on one thing at a time (the breath, the body, a mantra, etc.), mindful meditation can help calm your nervous system and allow you to take a break from stress and negative thoughts. Practicing mindfulness can influence your body’s responses to stress by slowing your heart rate, relaxing your body, and staying in the present moment. You can learn more about how mindfulness and meditation can help deal with stress and impact the brain in our post, “Can Meditation Change the Brain?

Sleep & Meditation
Along with reducing stress, mindfulness meditations can also help your body prepare for sleep. Meditating fosters a “relaxation response” which counteracts the body’s response to stress that may be hindering your ability to achieve quality rest. Because many sleep disorders can be linked to stress, it has been shown that mindfulness meditation can help decrease insomnia, fatigue, and depression to aid in improving sleep (Harvard Health Publishing).

Meditation Tips
Meditation is a practice that is accessible to anyone and can be tailored specifically to you. As you begin to implement mindfulness into your daily routine, you may find that certain positions, thoughts, mantras, or settings work best. As long as you are centered and focused, there’s no “right” or “wrong” way to go about meditating.

If you’ve never meditated before and would like some guidance, here are a few helpful tips:

  • Start out in a quiet setting. As you become more comfortable and familiar with meditation, it will become possible to practice it just about anywhere, but beginners typically find that quiet, distraction-free settings are the most favorable.
  • Focus on your breath. If you have a “busy” mind, you may notice thoughts arising that distract you—simply let them pass without judgment and focus back on your breathing.
  • Consider using a meditation cushion. While meditation can be performed in countless settings, utilizing a cushion with purposeful support can help maintain and improve posture while providing added comfort.
  • Try Breathwalking. If you find it hard to sit still during meditation, you can try “Breathwalking” instead where you take a walk while focusing on your breath.

If you’re just getting started with meditation, explore our other blog posts on the topic to learn more: “Three Steps to Creating a Meditation Practice” and “Popular Meditation Misconceptions.”

New Year Meditations
If you’re looking for a fresh start to 2025, your breath is a great place to begin. By practicing meditation regularly, you can start the new year off right with a healthier mindset, reduced stress, and better sleep.

Start your meditation and breathing practices today with these videos:

 

Sources
“Even a Joyous Holiday Season Can Cause Stress for Most Americans.” American Psychological Association. apa/news/press/releases/2023/11/holiday-season-stress

“Meditation: A Simple, Fast Way to Reduce Stress.” Mayo Clinic. mayoclinic/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858

“Meditation and Sleep.” Sleep Foundation. sleepfoundation/meditation-for-sleep

“Mindfulness Meditation: A Research-Proven Way to Reduce Stress.” American Psychological Association. apa/topics/mindfulness/meditation

“Mindfulness Meditation Helps Fight Insomnia, Improves Sleep.” Harvard Health Publishing. health.harvard/blog/mindfulness-meditation-helps-fight-insomnia-improves-sleep-201502187726

The post Meditation Tips for the New Year appeared first on DrWeil.com.



* This article was originally published here

Saturday, December 7, 2024

Are You Experiencing Memory Loss?

Does it seem your memory is getting worse with every passing birthday? There is a mild degree of memory loss that happens to some extent to all of us as we age, but a growing body of medical evidence suggests that lifelong stimulation is the key to building and maintaining brain cells, slowing memory loss and possibly lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Research has found that in addition to regular, vigorous exercise, the following may help:

  1. Doing interesting work (paid or volunteer)
  2. Pursuing hobbies
  3. Engaging in an active social life.

I recommend challenging yourself with music performance (playing or learning an instrument or singing), language lessons, learning a new computer program, or hunkering down with a good crossword puzzle. Be certain to try all of these with a smile – studies show that a positive emotional state is also good for your brain.

Remember that anything that makes you think in different ways is challenging for the brain and likely beneficial for your memory. This is also the perfect way to add passion and vitality to your life, enhancing meaning and promoting a positive outlook. Find some card or board games to play with friends and family, as being a vital part of community is essential as well.

 

The post Are You Experiencing Memory Loss? appeared first on DrWeil.com.



* This article was originally published here