Celebrating National Hug Day

Hug

Since 1986 January 21 has been celebrated as National Hug Day in the U.S. However, it is not a public holiday. January 21 was chosen because it marks a midpoint between Christmas and Valentines day, when you might think people are at their emotional low. 

What better way to lift spirits than with hugs? 

I have learned that there is more power in a good strong hug than in a thousand meaningful words. ~Ann Hood

Not only do hugs lift your spirits, but research shows that hugs have other benefits!

Who will you hug today?

Image Jesslee Cuizon, Creative Commons

National Watermelon Day

August 3 is National Watermelon Day, 
one of the days we celebrate this month. 

Watermelon is a staple at family picnics and cookouts during the summer. But given the health benefits of watermelon, you might consider adding this yummy fruit to your diet year round if you can get it.

Watermelon is yummy and healthy

Did you know that watermelon is one of the high-lycopene foods. Lycopene is a carotenoid phytonutrient that's especially important for our cardiovascular health. 

In recent research studies show watermelon to be high in lycopene. An increasing number of scientists now believe that lycopene is important for bone health as well.

Watermelon is also a good choice for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant health benefits that can provide us with great fiber benefits at a low calorie cost.

How to Eat a Watermelon

Are you going to need a good knife to cut you watermelon? Try this one made especially for cutting watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew melon with ease!



  Read more Watermelon Recipes, Stories, History & More

Celebrate National Senior Health & Fitness Day

tai chi man by Hren Design

Always set for the last Wednesday in May, National Senior Health & Fitness Day. The common goal for this day: to help keep older Americans healthy and fit. 

Here's a tip! Try singing and chanting for your health!

Singing, laughing and chanting make the sternum (the breast bone) vibrate which stimulates the immune system as the oscillations boost the Thymus, a small gland in the chest behind the sternum which controls the production of the body’s key defense cells called T lymphocytes. When you sing or shout, pray or chant, or listen to music, whether it be recorded or played live by many musicians, the Thymus is stimulated.

Unfortunately, the thymus becomes smaller and smaller with age and almost disappears in old age. Some researchers believe that different infections and cancers in old people are closely linked to the decline in T lymphocyte production. So stimulating the thymus in some way either through laughing, chanting or singing can be helpful in maintaining or improving health as we age.

Vibrations in the throat also stimulate the thyroid, the gland which produces hormones that regulate metabolism which affects the body’s energy consumption and body weight.

Read more about the Thymus, health and sound at my Cultivating Balance Blog

So now you know! The Fountain of Youth was inside YOU all the time. Keep laughing and singing for a long and healthy life!

Here's a video that will keep you seniors singing! Remember this?

The Song That Never Ends

What are you doing to stay young and healthy? Please leave a comment.

I use Anti-Aging products from NuSkin. Want to see a more youthful you? NuSkin is committed to helping you achieve the best version of you. - click here

Learn more about them here: 
Learn more about Chanting  

Check out these links for Health and Fitness   

Green Tea for Health   

Qigong For Health  

Staying Young With Okinawan Longevity

Read more about National Senior Health & Fitness Day Click Here

edited 5/22/16

Celebrate National Pie Day

billy.bebop CC BY 2.0

The American Pie Council promotes January 23 as Celebrate National Pie Day. They say the pie-sibilities are endless! According to them the apple pie is America's favorite (of 231 varieties, not sure where they get these numbers), followed by pumpkin pie which seems to me is a seasonal favorite and coming in third is the pecan pie, which my family only ever ate during the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays.

I grew up with sweet potato pie as my favorite until I went to Miami and ate real key lime pie....  mmmm!! Sweet potato pie is probably the healthier choice! 

What is your favorite pie? Leave me a comment!


Image billy.bebop CC BY 2.0)

edited 1/23/17