Red Yeast Rice

Our routines are different, we’re all adapting to a new normal – at least for now. Since most of us have a bit of extra time on our really clean hands these days, let’s focus on what we can control. Structure and routine make us feel grounded. To help get centred, let’s map out the day and create room for the 4 M’s. Starting each day with a mindful routine can help settle feelings of chaos and anxiety, calm the mind, body and soul. Creating a deliberate and intentional morning routine can provide a sense of emotional balance that carries through your entire day. Meaningful Engagement Social distancing doesn’t mean social isolation or emotional distancing. Reach out to family to stay connected. Set up group chats and FaceTime with friends far away – chances are they’re in the same boat and craving interaction. Smile and thank the people working in the stores you visit. Make the most of this time to make someone’s day. Meditation Meditation is a habitual process of training your mind to focus and redirect your thoughts. The list of benefits is long, but some of the highlights include: reducing stress and anxiety promoting emotional health reducing blood pressure improving sleep It can be done almost anywhere (find a comfortable seat and get in position) and you can choose the length and theme of your practice. And there are free apps galore that will guide you through the entire process. Try Insight Timer and Calm to get started. Mindfulness Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present and aware. In simpler terms, it changes how we react to everything. Being mindful is about paying attention to where we are and what we’re doing, without being overly reactive or overwhelmed. From your breathing to the flavour of your breakfast, every little detail can shift things. When we’re mindful, we reduce stress, enhance performance, gain insight and awareness through observing our own mind, while increasing our attention to others’ well-being. Mindfulness is more than just a practice. It brings awareness and caring into everything we do. Even a little makes our lives better. Here are some great places to find out more: Aura: Sleep & Mindfulness app The Power of Mindfulness TEDx talk, by Dr. Shauna Shapiro Ten Percent Happier app Movement Get outside for a walk or a run if the weather allows. Follow along with some yoga videos or try this 5-minute arm workout. Exercise has so many physical and emotional benefits: releasing endorphins, improving sleep and mood, strengthening muscles and bones, upping energy levels, curing boredom. If you’re feeling cooped up and need to get the blood flowing, find a way to add movement into your days. And the comfort food tastes that much better when you’ve moved your body!

February is Heart Month. As you go about your day, you probably don’t think much about the organ that makes it all possible: your heart. It's your hardest working muscle and it pumps for you all day long, but still, there are a lot of habits in western society that put your heart health at risk. So take care of your heart. Show it some TLC. Small changes can make a difference for your overall heart health. February was chosen by the Heart and Stroke Foundation back in 1956 to be Heart Month in order "to put heart health on the public agenda, to empower researchers to turn the tide on heart disease, and to educate Canadians about their hearts."^2 In recognition of Heart and Stroke's efforts to raise awareness and spread the knowledge of heart health, here are some tips to help you maintain your heart health: Incorporate healthy fats into your diet It is difficult to drastically change your eating habits, but making small changes to gradually improve your heart health could make a difference. Start eating more healthy fats, these include essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6) from foods like nuts and seeds or fish. You can also take an Omega 3 supplement, like Krill oil. Practice stress management Meditation and exercise can help combat stress. Try light stretching exercises like yoga, prayer, deep breathing, or art therapy. Check your family history Go for regular checkups. Monitor your blood pressure so that your checkups go smoothly. Keep your BP below 120.80 mm HG. Organika's Cholesterol Caps can help by reducing the reducing oxidative damage to blood cells, blood vessels and other circulatory organs. Get a good night’s sleep Aim to get 6-8 hours of sleep per night. Good sleep habits can play an important role in maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.^3 Whether you move more, eat better, or sleep more, making just one small change at a time could help your heart maintain its strength and longevity over time. Once you get going, you'll find it pays off. Find out more about these other heart health related products: Coenzyme Q10 Red Yeast Rice Plus References 1, 2 http://heartmonth.heartandstroke.ca/site/c.jhLOKYPDLqF/b.8330671/k.B026/Learn_more_about_Heart_Month.htm 3 http://www.heartandstroke.on.ca/site/c.pvI3IeNWJwE/b.5482901/k.C0B7/Insomnia_could_up_blood_pressure_Foundation_research_finds.htm