We are back with another blog on trends that are taking the wellness world by storm. Each and every day there is new information regarding how best to take care of our health and the daily rituals that can help us achieve a healthy lifestyle. It is important to remember that what might work for one person will not necessarily work for another; however, there still is some merit to exploring the latest trends and their potential benefits to one’s health. Today, we are going to highlight health trends that are known to specifically target certain parts of one’s health.
Sleep Syncing and How It Can Transform Your Energy and Stress Levels
Are you tired of restless nights filled with tossing and turning? Your lack of quality sleep is not only contributing to your declining energy levels, but cuts down the time in which your body has to rejuvenate itself. During sleep, your body undergoes many biological processes including: getting rid of toxic waste, repairing your cells, releasing hormones, and reenergizing you. A lack of quality sleep can also cause your body to stay in a state of stress, and makes it more challenging for your body to process insulin. These factors can cause weight gain, gut health issues such as leaky gut, and chronic inflammation. This is why it is very vital that you prioritize getting a good night’s rest.
The latest healthy living trend called sleep syncing can help to minimize your chances of experiencing these adverse effects of poor sleep. Sleep syncing is also known as circadian synchronization. The body contains a natural circadian rhythm that works to manage different processes such as the sleep-wake cycle. Sleep syncing refers to the idea that you can work your circadian rhythm to your advantage in a way that will help you to achieve quality sleep. It requires someone to create a routine that will act in alignment with your circadian rhythm to the point that it will better understand when it is time to rest.
Certain factors can help you to move your circadian rhythm in the right direction. For example, if you are wanting to signal to your body that it is time for bed, you could try having a certain mood lighting in your room when you are about to head to bed. This light will preferably be darker as that is an indicator to your body that it is time to rest. On the other hand, in the mornings, you can open your blinds right away, and over time this can become an indicator to your body that it is morning.
The aspects of one’s routine are not necessarily a point of contention, the purpose lies more in the fact that there is a routine to begin with. To spark some inspiration, here are some rituals one can add to their daily routine to become indicators that it is time to rest and to help one achieve a restful night of sleep.
- eliminating screen time in the evenings
- reducing your caffeine intake after a certain time of the day
- do breathing exercises or meditation before bed
- keep a consistent sleep schedule as much as possible
The Facial Massage You Might Want to Consider Adding to Your Wellness Routine
We have all heard of yoga as a form of exercise, but have you heard about facial yoga? It is basically a workout for your face. Facial yoga is a series of massages that can be done to the face to relieve stress, stimulate blood flow, activate the lymphatic system, and reduce inflammation.
The lymphatic system works to remove toxins and waste from the body, however, when the lymphatic system becomes disrupted or overwhelmed it can cause fluid to build-up in the body. Fluid build-up can create inflammation on the face and other parts of the body. This can become a health concern if not taken care of, and for some, can also be a point of insecurity.
The idea is that facial yoga will act as a manual lymphatic drainage massage that will help to get rid of any built up toxins, waste, and lymphatic fluid. It also helps to promote blood flow in your face which is incredibly beneficial to your overall health. Lastly, participating in facial yoga can be a great way to relieve stress, especially if you are someone who tends to hold stress in their face.
Keep in mind, facial yoga will not change the preset structure of your face and will not have the same tightening effect that one might try to get from a plastic surgery, but facial yoga does have its benefits that go far beyond the appearance effects. Some people tend to do facial yoga with facial oil to make it easier to follow the movements.
Functional Foods and Where They Fit Into Your Weekly Meals
With the hustle and bustle that characterizes daily life, it can be hard to find the time to prioritize a well-balanced nutritious diet. The last thing you want to have to do is count your macros for every little meal you have throughout your day. This is why many people have been turning to this idea of ‘functional foods’. Functional foods refers to foods that have an abundance of nutritional benefits that go far beyond the normal amount in said food. For example, when comparing a fruit juice that has no added benefits and one with a boost of calcium added to it, which would you choose?
Functional foods simply means foods that offer more than one nutritional benefit. While we always root for the maximum amount of nutrients in your diet, please be cautious of consuming foods that are processed or that contain added unneeded ingredients. Even if a food contains a host of different nutrients, this will not matter if it also contains harmful processed sugars and fats.
As long as you are aware of the foods you are consuming, this idea of functional foods can actually be a great addition to your way of living. It can be a great way to support a more thoughtful and conscious way of consuming nutrients.