Community Update (4/1/2023)

Wellness

March Madness for Self-care

Spring is coming—or is it Spring is here? One more turn around the sun for all of us brings blooming trees, shrubs and flowers galore. We who live here are so fortunate to have this colorful array spread before us each year and heed the call to spend more time outdoors (after we take our allergy medicine, that is).

Spring is renewal, a time that always brings to mind “getting in shape” to be more active in the coming nice weather months. This, of course, means tending to annual physical exam visits and vaccinations, reviewing our diet and exercise regimes.

In the past we have looked at healthy AND satisfying diets that have proven to give us longer life and higher quality of life; diets such as the MIND diet and Mediterranean Diet continue to shine in research. Recently, research specifically focused on women, indicated that those who adhered closer to Mediterranean diet had a 24% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and a 23% lower risk of mortality (Washington Post 3/21/23 reporting on the medical journal Heart). This diet is described as high in unprocessed plant foods and low in red or processed meat and dairy; higher in whole grains, vegetables, fruit and nuts—plus extra-virgin olive oil for dietary fat.

For those who have travelled to Mediterranean parts of the globe, (or to a Greek restaurant in Arlington), think of that Greek salad with ripe tomatoes, cucumber, olives, feta cheese and olive oil. Recall how refreshing and rewarding it tasted! Plus, fish, avocadoes, lemons and savory spices all tickle the taste buds while treating our bodies to healthy foods.

As for exercise, we have talked about the statistics proving that minimal movement each day adds to our longevity and overall mobility and health. During this season, I again remind us of Shinrin-yoku, the Japanese art of “forest bathing.” This gives us a wonderful reason to roam among the flowering trees, taking soothing calming messages from our tree canopy. And, notice that when you do this, you are smiling! A definite mental health reward after all our isolation and winter doldrums.

So, review, re-calculate, and refuel this season. Sign up for an ANV pop-up picnic, or a local walk through the flowers, or a lunch bunch, or any one (or more) activity that will help you get off the couch, away from your tech device, and out to commune with nature with ANV friends!