Pre or Pro, Biotics That Is
As we continue our look into healthy homes and supporting our health through diet, we’re curious. What are your favorite and least favorite ways to support your health at home or through your diet?
For Maggie, there’s nothing like making the bed with freshly laundered sheets. It gives her a mental health boost. And she spends part of Sunday cutting up veggies for the week.
For Steph, planning out meals for the week helps bring a sense of calm and keeps her on track. She also loves carving out time to deep clean at least one room (with her new steam cleaner, which makes it a bit more fun too).
How about you? Tell us in this week’s feedback survey.
- Maggie Ruvoldt & Stephanie Majercik
The Tasting Menu
Probiotics and Prebiotics
That Warm Feeling Starts In Your Brain, Not Your Heart
Clean Home Healthy Life - Bedding and Bath Mats
The Function of Probiotics and Prebiotics
The pre-and probiotic market is a little overwhelming. There’s so many options and it can be hard to understand what you need and honestly – what all of it means. Hopefully, we can help clear up some of the confusion.
To start, what the heck is the difference between a prebiotic and probiotic? Prebiotics are fibers found in certain foods that our bodies can’t digest. They live in our gut and provide the food for probiotics, which are live bacteria that help keep balance in your gut and digestive tract.
Both are critical to gut health and womens health – as the gut is a central system to many different health issues. From our immune system and digestive system to improving our skin health and brain health.
Now, while there are several different types of prebiotic and probiotic supplements you can buy, you can also get pre-and probiotics from many different foods.
According to Healthline, foods high in prebiotic fiber include:
Legumes, beans, and peas
Oats
Bananas
Berries
Jerusalem artichokes
Asparagus
Dandelion greens
Garlic
Leeks
Onions
Foods high in probiotics include anything fermented as those contain the bacteria that will feed on the prebiotics, such as:
Sauerkraut
Kimchi
Kombucha tea
Kefir (dairy and nondairy)
Some types of pickles (unpasteurized)
Other pickled vegetables (unpasteurized)
That said, if you don’t feel like you’re getting a good amount of pre-or probiotics through your foods, supplements can help balance out your bacteria.
Here are some recommended lists of probiotic supplements from Byrdie and Healthline if you’re unsure of where to start!
That Warm Feeling Starts In Your Brain, Not Your Heart
Picture a bustling control center nestled deep within your brain. That’s your limbic system.
This intricate web of brain regions includes the amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, and hypothalamus, all collaborating to shape your reactions, memories, and interpersonal connections.
Imagine the limbic system as the conductor of a fabulous orchestra. It's like the maestro behind your emotions, memory, and even social interactions. So, the next time you trust that gut feeling, thank your limbic system!
Your limbic system is a powerhouse of emotions. It's responsible for those heartwarming moments when you bond with friends, share laughter, and even shed a tear during a touching movie. The amygdala is especially important for emotions like fear, anger and anxiety.
Ever reminisced about a cherished memory? The hippocampus, part of your limbic system, deserves the credit. It's the keeper of your past, storing and retrieving memories like a skillful librarian. Memory disorders, like Alzheimer’s, have been connected with damage to the hippocampus.
In a nutshell, the limbic system is your emotional HQ, memory vault, and social coordinator all rolled into one. So, the next time you find yourself immersed in a heartfelt moment or feeling a surge of empathy, give a nod of appreciation to your limbic system.
Clean Home Healthy Life - Bedding and Bath Mats
Whether you are a lazy launderer and cleanliness enthusiast, this one’s for you.
According to the National Institutes of Health, we spend about a third of our lives in bed. And if you think about how often you step on your bath mats. It’s time to continue our conversation about healthy homes.
A good night’s sleep is central to our health. And sleeping on less than clean sheets can lead to skin irritation, breathing issues and inflammation of hair follicles. So what are the rules to follow?
When it comes to your beloved bedding, the general rule is to give your sheets and pillowcases a good wash every one to two weeks. If you're prone to allergies or have specific skin conditions, bump up the frequency to once a week. Other reasons for more frequent washes are:
If you live in warmer climates
Allow pets to share your bed
Experience night sweating
Sleep naked
What about your other bedding - like blankets, comforters and such? If these aren’t in direct contact with your skin, you can go a few months without cleaning blankets. Enter here the topsheet debate. If you don’t have a topsheet, then you need to wash whatever is covering you at night as you would a topsheet. Mattress toppers can be washed every three months and is anyone vacuuming their mattress as directed every six months? Pillows, even though they are tucked into their cases, need to be cleaned every 4 to 6 months.
Now, let's not forget about that cushy bath mat waiting patiently beside your tub. It's your trusty landing spot after you step out of the bath or shower, but it's also ground zero for dampness, mildew, and bacteria. Give it a spin in the washing machine every week to two weeks at the longest. Your feet will thank you, and you'll avoid that musty, not-so-pleasant odor that can creep up on you when you least expect it.
Hold up, though – there are a few exceptions to this washing routine. If you've recently been sick or had an impromptu snack attack that led to some unfortunate spills.
Keep those bedding and bath mat washes on your radar, and you'll be enjoying a cozy, fresh slumber and a post-shower pampering experience that rivals even the fanciest of spas. Remember, it's not just about the aesthetics – it's about maintaining a healthy and hygienic haven for your well-being.
Medical Term of the Week
We’ve heard the word fibroid numerous times. But do we know what they actually are?
Fibroids are tumors that are almost always benign. They are made of muscle and fibrous tissue. They occur in the uterus and can cause heavy periods, pain in your pelvic region and back and bladder or bowel symptoms.
