H E A L T H & W E L L N E S S / Fox Chapel Area
COGNITIVE
BOOSTERS
MUSIC THERAPY. Music can regulate mood, decrease aggression and
depression, improve sleep, and, because old songs are stored in memory,
even create new brain cells.
BRAIN FOOD. Keep your mind sharp by eating salmon, nuts,
olive oil, soy, meat, eggs, dairy, leafy greens, beans, oatmeal and dark
skinned fruits.
P
TRAIN YOUR BRAIN
Working a daily crossword, Sudoku puzzle or
another brain teasing game can help improve
your mental fitness.
ORAL HEALTH
& HEARING
BRUSH AND FLOSS YOUR TEETH. According to research,
chronic inflammation caused by periodontal disease has been
linked to a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.
TURN IT DOWN. According to the House Ear Institute, noiseinduced hearing loss is a leading cause of permanent hearing loss
that can be prevented by turning down the volume on your TV,
radio, or headsets to a level that you can comfortably hear.
P
PRACTICE HEALTHY
SLEEPING HABITS.
Not getting enough nightly
rest puts you at risk for
accidents, depression and
other illnesses, and it
decreases your quality of life.
POSTURE
AVOID SITTING CROSS-LEGGED. Pain management
specialists at New York Chiropractic warn that crossing
your legs puts excessive stress on your knees, hips and
lower back.
SIT UP STRAIGHT. When you slouch or strain to
look at the screen, these patterns stick and posture learns
these positions.
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. See a chiropractor, physical
therapist or post-rehabilitation specialist for postural
exercises to reduce pain and risk of injury.
STRETCH. Stretching your neck and chest can prevent
short and tightened muscles that can lead to injury. A
simple stretch involves bending your head to your shoulder,
holding it there and slowly bringing it back to the mid line
and then switch sides.
BELLY BUTTON TO SPINE. Not only will this exercise
help you stand taller, it will take five pounds off your
waistline!
HEAD UP. Instead of scrunching your head to your
shoulder to hold the phone, get a headset and avoid injury
to your neck and shoulders.
Fox Chapel Area | Winter 2013 | icmags.com 41