Category: Articles related to health

Just like with alcohol, social media left me feeling anxious and removed from myself.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2021/10/01/well/mind/instagram-quit.html

www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/anger-frustration-delta-variant-coping/2021/08/23/1b091700-043c-11ec-a654-900a78538242_story.html

Unfortunately, the months have just slipped by and it is already August!

Since wellness is my bread and butter and my passion, no better time than to use National Wellness Month to start blogging again.

I have not cooked very much this summer but I have added more aerobic activity and I feel that it is becoming part of my life. This is very gratifying to me as it has been my goal over the last 20 years to be more regimented in my working out and increasing my heart rate.

My new goal is to add more Mindfulness in my life as we all have so much going on and mindfulness allows us to be present and not in the past or future. There are many things that are out of our control and accepting that is key. That being said we do have control on how we react to situations, so I will give myself some self compassion and I hope you all will give yourself some too.

For this post, I would like to link my last three articles that got published on Thrive Global.

https://thriveglobal.com/stories/mental-health-awareness-

https://thriveglobal.com/stories/national-wellness-month/

https://thriveglobal.com/stories/social-wellness/

I hope you all can use this month to start small goals that work towards your overall wellbeing as only when we take care of ourselves can we effectively take care of others.

Start with one goal today!

Stress is inevitable. But cumulative stress is avoidable
— Read on thriveglobal.com/stories/arianna-huffington-taking-breaks-key-performance-reset/

Remembering that working from home does not mean being connected 24/7.

Take a stretch break or a snack break but move your eyes away from your screen regularly to relax and rejuvenate!

Tips to help you stay motivated in challenging times
— Read on thriveglobal.com/stories/self-acceptance-self-care-guilt-perfectionism-mental-health-positivity/

Experts worry that the two diseases could overwhelm the health care system and create a new shortage of hospital beds and personal protective equipment.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2020/09/14/well/live/how-flu-shots-can-help-in-the-fight-against-covid-19.html

My sons article in his school journal:

Though the COVID-19 pandemic currently overshadows the obesity epidemic, the link between the two has become increasingly important.
— Read on bcgusto.com/2020/07/20/whole-foods-americas-obesity-epidemic/

Eight Steps to Support your Immune System Balance During COVID-19 – IM Well
— Read on dukeintegrativemedicine.org/dukeimprogramsblog/eight-steps-to-support-your-immune-system-balance-during-covid-19/

Although you may not be able to fully prevent a cold or flu this season, a healthy immune system is one way to give your body extra protection.
— Read on www.eatright.org/health/wellness/preventing-illness/how-to-keep-your-immune-system-healthy

AJ is recuperating but unfortunately it is a slower process, than we expected. Even after the virus leaves the body, some people have after effects and the doctors say that Rest is the only answer. I am just so thankful to God and cannot pray enough for all those going through a tough time.

After 2 weeks of being locked indoors, I was excited to go into the office but it was a ghost town. I couldn’t find a single place open to eat lunch, I felt very emotional to see New York so dead. I walked home on the river which was also empty.

Sometimes it is really hard to keep your spirits high, amongst all this sadness . My mood changer was a surprise parcel of a Chocolate Babka. It took a lot of guesswork to figure out the sender. Thank you!

I have been so fortunate to be on the receiving end and I realized that small deeds of kindness can really change, the way people feel.

I am going to try my hardest to do 1 small kind deed a day. Something as simple as call to a friend, who could be lonely or send an Amazon gift to someone going through a rough time. My favorite gift to send anyone with Covid19 is Elderberry gummies!!

Gratitude, kindness and forgiveness are the qualities, we sometimes take for granted. I personally feel that this time stuck indoors has allowed me to reflect on what I want to prioritize.

We had a healthy meal yesterday, and today AJ wanted Pizza. I am not sure it is the healthiest meal but Moderation and Balance are key in staying well. Denying yourself only leads to the desire to go overboard.

I had a box of baby kale and radishes in my fridge, I added some apples for sweetness and sunflower seeds for crunch. The salad added a pop of color to our meal. The dressing recipe is my favorite, it’s easy and full of flavor.

Kale radish salad.

Ingredients

• 1 box baby kale
• 6 red radishes
• 1 small apple
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 4 Tbs olive oil
• 1 1/2 Tbs apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tbs honey
• 1 Tbs Dijon mustard
• Salt/black pepper

Method

In a small jar, mix the mustard, honey, vinegar and oil, shake well. The mustard and honey add opposing flavors.

Pour the dressing and mix the salad really well.

Today is the first day in this 20 day journey that I made an effort to dress up and put on some makeup. What a difference it made in my psyche. I felt happy and energetic and really had an amazing day. I never realized the power of lipstick.

AJ decided to work from home to build back his energy, so he could be 💯 went he went back. I so pray and hope that all my loved ones who have this virus, recover soon. I pray for the whole world.🙏

I have been been craving sweet potato fries, but I wanted to channel that craving into something more substantial and healthier.

Sweet potato soup is what I decided to make today. This orange potato has so many health benefits. It can also help support your immune system. It is chock full of the antioxidants, Vitamin A and Vitamin C, which help against inflammation in the body. 1 medium size potato can contain 3 grams of fiber, which helps with digestion and satiety. It is also is a good source of B vitamins and potassium.

I went out to take a walk in my lunch break and bought 3 sweet potatoes and a small box of chopped onions, celery and carrots.

Sweet potato soup

Ingredients

• 3 sweet potatoes
• 1 box chicken or vegetable stock ( 4 cups)
• 1/2 cup chopped onions
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1 tsp chili flakes
• 1 small piece ginger
• 1-2 Tbs Thai red curry paste
• Salt/black pepper to taste
• 1 can coconut milk
• Fresh basil
• 1 fresh green chili
• 2-3 Tbs olive oil
• Method
• Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into 4-5 pieces.
• In 2 Tbs olive oil add the chopped onions, celery, carrots and ginger, sauté for 5-8 minutes till vegetables soften, add all your spices and the red curry paste and keep stirring till everything is well mixed. Add the sweet potato and the box of stock and slowly cook. I made mine in the Instant pot slow cooker, while I worked out.
• Once the sweet potatoes are softened, use an immersion blender to blend all the vegetables. Once everything is uniform add 1 can coconut milk. Let the soup boil, add some fresh basil and a green chili.
• We had ours with pasta that Saniya made.
• Tomorrow, I want to use my chickpeas, baby kale and feta. So stay tuned.
• I know my pics are not the best!! I am not a professional blogger so my apologies!

AJ is slowly improving but the virus really plays havoc on the body. It is a force to reckon with. You have to rest your body to be able to get back to normal. It can take more than 14 days and we should accept that fact.

Unfortunately the world is not improving and watching and hearing the media is causing fear and anxiety in all of us. More and more people we know are being diagnosed, and this virus is really hitting home and affecting all of our psyches.

When you have this virus in your house, not only are you personally affected by a loved one going through it, but also physically and mentally taxed. We can complete the 14 day quarantine fully but will we be treated the same as before? How do people view us knowing we were around the virus- despite us being cleared by medical professionals. I am not sure!

Fear is making everyone on edge to the point where we cannot think straight. So many people must be going through this fear and it’s important to figure out how to help reduce it, rather than act irrationally. My friend just told me Fear should not paralyze us! I agree with her in this sentiment in that we cannot let the fear overtake us. If we are doing everything we can to be cautious, why should we feel scared in our daily lives, even being home!

I am trying to listen to calming music and watch funny movies, anything to take my mind off Covid19.

I am trying to use meditation apps and mindfulness apps to help myself and Amir get through this.

I hope you can use this time to be creative and channel the fear into something positive.

I know it’s not easy and it’s easier said than done.

We need to start learning to calm our brains and bodies down. Prayer, reflection, breathing.

Trying is all we can do. Take one day at a time and do anything that can bring a smile to your face.

To help my mood, I made a pot of warm oatmeal with bananas and maple syrup and walnuts and I added some shredded coconuts and my loved hemp seeds. I had a glass of orange juice and felt as good as I could be on a rainy day.

We ordered some Thai food and keep trying like everyone else to take One Day At A Time.

Tomorrow I want to make a sweet potato soup without cream, so stay tuned for a healthy recipe.

I end with some basic facts, which we may all know: