How I stay Pain Free during and after Gardening!
I love to garden! From flowers to vegetables, I love it all! I anxiously wait for the last frost so I can get outside and plant my flowers for spring. Which is immediately followed by planting tomatoes, peppers, basil, parsley, oregano ….the list goes on… However, sometimes I overdue it!
Common gardening tasks such as digging, planting, weeding and mulching can cause stress on our muscles and joints . Here are some tips I use to mitigate the pain:
- Warm up before gardening (take a ten-minute walk, for example).
- Change positions frequently to avoid stiffness and cramping.
- Take breaks frequently or change tasks to give certain areas of your body a break.
- Use knee pads or a gardening pad when kneeling.
- If kneeling or bending causes pain to your back or knees, consider an elevated planter.
- Keep your wrist straight when pulling weeds or using garden tools.
- End your gardening session with some stretches for your arms, legs, and back.
There are times when even with the precautionary protocol, I still find myself with painful joints and muscles from overdoing it! I guess I am not 30 anymore when I could plow through anything. I use a pain cream that provides cooling relief from minor muscle and joint aches, arthritis, strains, bruises, and sprains. It’s a plant-based formula which combines the power of Wintergreen essential oil with Cool Azul essential oil blend. With two powerful, synergistic active ingredients, this cream provides pain-relieving benefits in two ways: methyl salicylate found in Wintergreen helps alleviate pain deep in the muscles and joints, and natural menthol found in Peppermint provides a cooling effect. I use this because it gives me relief without synthetic ingredients. I call this my magic cream! It’s like instant relief with no harmful effects and it smells great too!
So, get out there and enjoy your gardening! That’s what I’m doing!
If you love this info, you’ll LOVE my guide 3 Easy Preventative Measures to Stay Healthy!
Now’s the perfect time to remember everything we learned in preschool:
- Wash your hands.
- Eat your vegetables.
- Be kind to people.
- Avoid doorknobs.
All teasing aside (but seriously—avoid doorknobs at all costs!), your health is in your hands.
Whether you decide to wash your hands and use hand sanitizer,
choose an apple over apple pie, or watch one less TV episode to catch a bit more sleep,
every choice you make will lead to a healthier, happier you!
Make wellness your number one priority by following these steps.
Back to basics
1. Wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds.
We all know that we should wash our hands. But did you know that there are good, better,
and best ways to wash your hands? Lather and scrub the back of your hands,
up to your wrists, between fingers, and even under your nails.
Trust us—you won’t be sad you spent an extra few seconds getting squeaky clean.
2. Cough or sneeze into your elbows.
Prevent fluids from spreading by avoiding contact with your hands completely.
In fact—be sure to avoid contact with your eyes, nose, and mouth as much as possible.
3. Spray down surfaces and frequently touched objects.
Make sure your well-worn and gathering-space surfaces are super clean by disinfecting
them frequently. Be sure to use toxin free cleaner so you don't add harmful
chemicals into your home.
Take it easy
1. Diffuse immune boosting essential oils.
Warm up your home with the cozy and inviting scent of Clove, Cinnamon, Lemon,
and Eucalyptus Essential Oils while also bringing in some cleansing power!
2. Keep hydrated.
Hydration isn’t just important during exercise. According to the CDC, healthy hydration levels
can help increase your body’s capacity to fight off sickness and keep your temperature normal.
3. Stay home if you don’t feel well.
Feeling under the weather? Take on the day at home and open up your favorite book,
curl up on the couch and rest.
Everyday wellness
1. Keep moving!
There are 1,440 minutes in every day. You only need 30 of those minutes to get up
and move to have a positive impact on your body and overall health!
Small changes can make a big difference when it comes to your body’s health:
Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park toward the back of the parking lot,
or try out a new hobby that gets you up and moving.
Your muscles, mind, and motivation will thank you!
2. Eat your fruits and veggies.
We know you’ve heard this before, but fruits and veggies are a staple to any healthy food routine!
Adding color to your plate is an easy way to make sure you’re getting a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
3. Regulate your sleep cycle.
Believe it or not, sleep is just as important as regular exercise or eating a balanced diet
when it comes to your overall health. Not only does it improve productivity and concentration,
but it can also help strengthen your immune system!
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
adults should be getting 7+ hours of sleep a night.
As you follow these simple steps, you’ll have everything you need to take your wellness
into your (healthy) hands!
If you love this info, you’ll LOVE my guide 3 Easy Preventative Measures to Stay Healthy!
1. Drink more water! It is recommended that you drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of water each day. Staying hydrated encourages proper metabolic function. Your body is up to 60 percent water and needs water to function properly. Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do for your body. Not only does drinking enough water mean you’re flushing out toxins on the regular (and if that means plenty of bathroom breaks, so be it), it also means your skin will stay healthy, you’ll sleep better and you might even notice that headaches, muscle cramping, digestive issues, and aches and pains subside substantially.
2. Get sweaty! Not only does exercise have numerous health benefits, but it is also a great way for your body to naturally detoxify. Your skin is your largest organ and is key to toxin elimination, sometimes referred to as ‘the third kidney’. So, get moving! Whether it be a heavy workout or a walk around the block, moving and exercising in any form will help with detoxification, as well as other health improvements such as: better mood and reduced levels of stress and anxiety.
3. Increase antioxidant and fiber intake! Antioxidants (found in foods with high levels of Vitamin A, C and E, like berries) help fight free radicals, while fiber (found in whole grains, lentils, beans, fruits and veggies) is essential to proper and regular digestion. Try including more fresh produce into your daily diet.
4. Sleep Sweet! Sleep is essential to a healthy, functioning body. It’s when our body resets our brain, repairs cells, and flushes out toxins from our liver and kidneys. Be sure you are getting quality sleep and resting when your body needs it.
5. Breathe Deep! Conscious, deep breathing can help stimulate your lymphatic system. Long and slow breathing helps to stimulate lymph flow. A few times each day, try making time to take focused deep breaths.
What are some of your favorite ways to detoxify daily?
If you love this info, you’ll LOVE my guide 3 Easy Preventative Measures to Stay Healthy!
Have you heard of oil pulling? Oil pulling is where you swish coconut oil around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes. Studies have shown that oil pulling can prevent plaque, gingivitis, and bacteria that can cause bad breath, it can also improve your immune system, among many other things.
How does oil pulling work? It is pretty simple! Most microorganisms in your mouth have cells that are covered with a fatty membrane. When these cells come into contact with the coconut oil, which is also a fat, they naturally stick to each other. When you swish the coconut oil around in your mouth, it draws the microorganisms from all the corners, between your teeth, and under your tongue. The bacteria then get swept away when you spit out the coconut oil!
You may think that oil pulling is a new trend, but it has been used for more than 3,000 years!
How to oil pull:
Take a spoonful of organic extra virgin coconut oil, swish it in your mouth for 15-20 minutes, and then spit it out in the trash! Don’t swallow the oil or spit it in the sink (it can clog the sink). Make sure to brush and floss as normal.
Try adding 1 drop of Clove Essential Oil to your coconut oil for added benefits. Clove Essential Oil can support a healthy immune system and overall wellness, making it a great addition to your oil pulling routine!
If you love this info, you’ll LOVE my guide 3 Easy Preventative Measures to Stay Healthy!
Source consulted: webmd.com/oral-health/features/oil-pulling
