You At Your Best

January 2022 • Goals for Great Health

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Improving personal health is a popular New Years resolution. A 2020 Finder survey found that an estimated 188 million Americans planned to make resolutions to carry them into 2021. Similar numbers of people likely will put personal goals on the calendar this year. Those focused on health and wellness may consider these trending topics. Collagen supplementation Collagen is a family of proteins that serves as the structural component of most connective tissues in the body. Collagen production wanes as people age, but it also can drop quickly due to excess sun exposure, smoking, lack of exercise, and excess alcohol consumption, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Many people are interested in maintaining adequate levels of collagen, which is vital to giving skin a youthful appearance and helps to maintain healthy joints. According to Google Trends, online searches for collagen have increased steadily since 2014. Collagen has become a top-selling supplement to improve hair, skin and nails. Though human studies that prove collagen supplementation efficacy are lacking, some randomized controlled trials have found that collagen supplements improve skin elasticity and joint mobility and reduce joint pain. Collagen supplements are thought to be safe, but people should discuss supplementation with a doctor first. Fermented foods More research is showing a connection between digestive tract (gut) health and immunity, and people concerned with boosting their immune systems are paying attention. Research published in the journal Cell in 2014 indicated the immune system has evolved to maintain a symbiotic relationship with microbiota in the gut. Accordingly, when operating optimally, this immune system- microbiota alliance allows the induction of protective responses to pathogens. Naturally fermented foods may help strengthen the gut microbiome by supplying it with healthy probiotics, according to Dr. David S. Ludwig, a professor of nutrition at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Some pickles, Korean kimchi, sauerkraut, and other foods can be beneficial. Consumers should look for product labels that say "naturally fermented," which use live organisms for the fermenting process. CBD and hemp products Even though medical marijuana and recreational marijuana use is now legal in many parts of the country, CBD is widely being harnessed in its own right. Cannabidiol oil is a chemical found in marijuana and hemp plants. CBD doesn't contain THC, the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana that produces a high, advises the Mayo Clinic. CBD has been studied as a treatment for a wide range of conditions like Parkinson's disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and anxiety. The only CBD product currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is prescription Epidiolex for epilepsy. Since hemp oil is high in essential fatty acids, it may produce anti-inflammatory effects and improve brain function. It is widely used in beauty products like skin creams as well. Always speak to a doctor before using CBD and related products. Getting healthier is a common theme of New Year's resolutions. Various health trends could affect what people resolve to do in the year ahead. Resolutions inspired by trending health topics Resolve to disconnect more often Have you resolved to spend less time on your electronic devices, especially your smartphone, in the year ahead? A recent analysis of data for 11,000 users on RescueTime, an app designed to help people track their time and improve their productivity, found that 20 percent of smartphone users spend more than 4.5 hours on their smartphones on a typical weekday. With a new year on the horizon, millions of people will no doubt be resolving to make better use of their time in the months ahead. Disconnecting from devices like smartphones can help accomplish those goals. The following are some strategies individuals can employ as they aspire to spend less time on their devices in the year ahead. • Close some social media accounts. Social media can be a useful tool to stay connected with family, friends and the local community. But those connections can be maintained through one or two social media platforms. That's a lesson millennials or Gen Z-ers can take to heart, as the Global Web Index indicates that the average person has 8.4 social media accounts. Closing some social media accounts can reduce the temptation to pick up a device, ultimately paving the way to more time away from tablets, smartphones and laptops. • Turn off your notifications. According to research from the BusinessofApps, the average smartphone user in the United States receives 46 app push notifications each day. The sound of a smartphone notification has become as recognizable as any sound, and the volume of notifications the average users receive in a 24- hour period no doubt contributes heavily to how much time they spend on their phones. Turning off notifications makes it easier to disconnect from devices, and may even make individuals more productive. • Change your reading habits. E-reader enthusiasts may have access to millions of books at their fingertips, but that access could come at a steep cost. Distractions abound when reading books on tablets, smartphones and e-readers. The internet is only a swipe or two away when reading e-books, while print books provide no such access to the internet. Tablets and e-readers employ the he same notification system as smartphones, so readers who insist on going the digital route can turn those notifications off before cuddling up with a good book. But that might not be enough, as readers can still visit the home screen of their devices and begin browsing the internet. Print books are ideal for those who want to read with as little device-related distractions as possible. The new year is a good time to try disconnecting from your devices more often. It's a resolution that could pay dividends for your mental health and well-being. 4 | you aT your BEsT | youaTyourBEsT.nwaonlinE.Com January - Goals for Great Health | sunday, dECEmBEr 26, 2021

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