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Celebrate National Women's Health Week

Posted by Unknown on 7:26 PM
Did you know that this is National Women’s Health Week? Yeah, me either. I didn’t even know that we had a week. Well here are some tips that you can incorporate into your life from the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and National Women’s Health Resource Center (NWHRC).

Mental health is as important as physical health. Apply the following tips to manage life's challenges:

~ Treat your body right by staying physically active and maintaining a healthy diet.
~ Don't expect to accomplish more than one task at a time -- create a "to do" list tackling those of highest priority first.
~ Set realistic goals by doing what is possible.
~ Cultivate a positive work environment to help alleviate stress.
~ Take time for yourself by relaxing for at least 15 minutes a day.
~ Talk about any negative feelings with a loved one or a friend.
~ Volunteer or get involved in an activity that is meaningful to you.
~ Participate in activities you enjoy and look forward to.


If you have adopted these tips and still feel overwhelmed, it may be necessary to seek professional help. A mental health professional, such as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist is trained to assess, diagnose and treat individuals with common mental health conditions, such as stress, anxiety, depression or an addiction. Therapy can help mitigate common sources of stress, including care giving for a loved one or an aging parent, financial worries, family problems, and heavy workloads.

NWHRC encourages women to implement the following activities into their daily routines:

Walk this way. Take an after dinner walk around the neighborhood. A brisk walk can help in achieving the recommended 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days.

Keep the water flowing. Your body needs plenty of fluids to maintain good health -- for most women that's 2.7 liters (about 11 cups) of water from beverages and foods daily.

Check in for a checkup. Has it been more than a year since your last checkup? Call your health care professional this week and make an appointment for your annual health exam.

Pop on a pedometer. Pedometers count the number of steps you take in a day -- the more, the better.

Lather up with sun screen. Everyone needs to use sun block, regardless of race or skin tone. Wear broad-spectrum sun block (SPF 30 is a good choice), applied liberally to exposed skin up to a half-hour before going outdoors.

Think colorfully when you eat. Think about this easy rule when you're grocery shopping this week or dining out. Foods with bright colors -- red peppers, oranges, green broccoli, blueberries -- are healthier for you than white bread, mashed potatoes or pasta with cream sauce.

Substitute sugar and salt. Sugar tastes good to most of us, so it's easy to consume too much. That can add pounds and limit the intake of healthier foods. Salt not only tastes good, but also enhances other food flavors. Lowering salt in your diet can reduce high blood pressure and lessen overeating.

Last call for alcohol. Say no to that second glass of wine. Limiting your alcohol intake can have substantial health benefits.

Stretch out stress. If you're working this week, take a couple of minutes to get your blood flowing by stretching your back, neck and chest muscles. This will rejuvenate you during the work day and send you home ready for an active evening.

Get a multivitamin boost. Are you getting the vitamins and minerals you need to protect your health? Probably not. Indeed, research shows that most of us don't get all the vitamins we need through diet alone. Taking a daily multivitamin helps close that gap.

To subscribe to the HealthyWomen Take 10 e-newsletter and learn more about healthy lifestyle tips or the HealthyWomen Take 10 programs, please log on to http://www.healthywomen.org.

Have a great week!!!
Kenya

Quotes of the Day
Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal.
– Albert Camus, 1913-1960, French Author/Philosopher/Nobel Prize Wïnner

Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision.
~ Muhammad Ali

Affirmation of the Week
I open to the gifts of the Universe.
I allow abundance to flow through me.
I accept support when I need it.
Dear God, please let me know what to do in a way that I can understand.
I accept peace and joy in all aspects of my life.

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