Yeah, it’s been a heck of a year. I’ll spare you the goofy memes, cringey jokes, etc. Let’s just say it’s a safe bet that we’re all ending this year very differently than we began it. So many of us have felt out of control, at the mercy of the events taking place around us; my job is to remind you that good health habits are one of the few things we CAN control. It may be extra challenging these days, but it can be done.
So, let’s get right into this week’s newsletter!
Ugh, my aching head
If you’ve been suffering from headaches more than usual lately, don’t be surprised. While headaches are listed as one of the symptoms of COVID-19, no need to panic unless the headache presents itself along with other symptoms of the virus. However, headaches do have a very long list of possible causes; typically dehydration, lack of sleep, too much screen time (have you checked all three of those boxes yet?). They can also be caused by allergies (including food allergies), stress, spinal subluxation, hormonal imbalances, and other underlying illnesses. Remember, I’m not a medical doctor: if you notice that you suffer from chronic headaches, talk to your healthcare provider.
If you have been noticing more headaches these days, there are some safe and easy things you can try to attempt to manage them. One particular type of headache is more than just a passing nuisance: migraines. If you get migraines, you know what I’m talking about. These savage b*stards can knock you out for several days, and often come with their equally unwelcome sidekick, nausea.
While the best approach for dealing with migraines is trying to determine their cause (another conversation for you and your doctor), in the meantime you can try some safe strategies to manage the pain and suffering. Personally, I find my rate of migraine episodes increases when I haven’t been doing yoga, and decreases when I’m consistent with my practice. Perhaps it’s the way yoga helps facilitate circulation and reduce my blood pressure? Maybe.
Open to trying it? Click this link for an article outlining some Yoga Poses for Migraines https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7256/10-yoga-poses-to-heal-migraines.html (written with the help of an MD)—let me know if they help!
To CBD, or not to CBD?
Hey, puns come free with your subscription; you’re welcome.
I’ve been using some of this lockdown time to check out other health and wellness podcasts (especially when I go out for my daily walks); one of my favorites is Lucas Rockwood’s Yoga, Health and Wellness talk show.
On a recent episode, Lucas spoke with a medical doctor, Mary Clifton, about some of the benefits (as well as misconceptions) of CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabis compound that is now legal across the US and is widely recommended for pain relief, better sleep, and anxiety. If you’ve been curious about CBD and its potential benefits and effects, this podcast episode is definitely worth a listen.
Lucas Rockwood CBD podcast: https://www.yogabody.com/cbd-for-pain-sleep/
Food and Attitude: Reframing A Holiday Tradition
Instead of a recipe or some nutritional recommendations, this week I thought I’d talk about our attitudes toward food. This time of year, I imagine we’re all very aware of it.
There’s no gentle way to say it: our culture has a disordered relationship with food. We associate the holidays with overindulging, and we make food choices based on a reward/punishment continuum. We stray from our nutrition progress, then feel guilty. The we “punish” ourselves by overexercising, or we overexercise just so we can eat more (or more mindlessly). We overeat or eat poorly, then deny ourselves food by fasting/ “cleansing” as penance. It’s a lot of stress that we subject ourselves to!
Think of food as fuel, similar to the fuel you put in a gas-powered car; you can put in cheap fuel, which will still get you where you want to go, but can ruin your engine in the long term. You can use high-quality fuel, which is more expensive and harder to access, but it protects the engine and keeps it running well for a long time. In a pinch, you can put a little cheap gas in the tank; just don’t do it every day.
You want some pie? Eat the pie! Just make it an occasional treat, and make your next meal a healthy one. No need to fast or “work off” the pie.
Your next meal is your opportunity to start over with healthy, balanced approach to food and nutrition.
Trigger alert: eating disorders
Eating disorders are more common than we think. The causes of eating disorders are very complex, but often it starts with a troubled relationship to food. Even an obsession with “healthy eating” can evolve into an eating disorder (orhtorexia nervosa).
If you’d like to read more about this subject, here is a very helpful article on the subject from my colleagues at Precision Nutrition:
https://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-disordered-eating
If you believe you are suffering from an eating disorder, or think you know someone who is, you can get help here: https://www.eatingdisordersonline.com/
Remember, discussions, comments and questions are welcome and encouraged! If you like what you read, consider passing this along to a friend?
Until next time, be well!
Laura (follow me on Instagram @laurathehealthcoach)