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Dr. Teresa Smith

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Celebrating Veggie Day – 12 Veggies in Season to Try This June

Did you know that every June 16th is National Fresh Veggies Day? The holiday was started to help create awareness about the benefits of eating fresh vegetables. 

These days, many people opt to eat process or fast foods, neglecting to get enough servings of veggies that offer the nutrients they need to be healthy. The more fresh vegetables you eat, the healthier you will be – it’s really that simple. 

So, this June 16th, make a commitment to eat more fresh veggies. Support your local organic farmers or think about growing your own veggies in your backyard or maybe a local community garden. 

Health Benefits of Eating More Fresh Vegetables 

Your mother was right when she told you to “eat your veggies!” Veggies are loaded with vitamins, mineral and antioxidants that offer many health benefits. 

Here are some of the top health benefits of eating more fresh veggies: 

Decrease Inflammation 

Fresh, organic vegetables are one of the best foods to eat to decrease chronic inflammation. Scientific studies have now concluded chronic inflammation is the root cause of most diseases. 

Improved Blood Pressure 

According to the CDC, roughly half of American adults have high blood pressure. Eating more potassium-rich foods can offset too much sodium (salt) in the diet. 

Heart and Gut Health 

Veggies contain a lot of beneficial fiber, which is great news, because most of us aren’t getting enough. High fiber foods can help your heart and gut health. 

Eating more veggies can also boost your immune system, improve your eyesight, improve your skin, and help your mind stay young and working optimally! 

 

Veggies to Enjoy This June! 

Now that you know just some of the health benefits of eating more vegetables, here are some that are available in June: 

  • Beets 
  • Bell Peppers 
  • Corn 
  • Cucumbers 
  • Eggplant 
  • Green Beans 
  • Lima Beans 
  • Radishes 
  • Summer Squash 
  • Zucchini 
  • Tomatillos 
  • Tomatoes 

Happy – and healthy – eating! 

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Body-Positive Weight Management

Body positivity is a movement started by the idea that all human beings, regardless of their size, should feel good about themselves. Body positive advocates encourage others to celebrate their bodies and accept themselves the way they are, instead of trying to squeeze themselves into a physical mold that society has deemed “attractive.”

But is it possible to be body positive and still manage your weight? The two concepts appear, at first glance, to be contradictory. 

I am of the belief, and I share this belief with many others, that it is completely possible to have a body-positive mindset and still be cognizant of your weight. The key is understanding the impetus behind your desire to manage your weight.

Healthy Reasoning Behind Weight Loss and Management

Do you want to lose weight so that you look like a fashion model – a body that has been deemed “attractive” by society? Or are you wishing to lose weight because, if you’re honest with yourself, you don’t feel great? You don’t have a lot of energy, your joints ache, and your hormones are out of balance, causing a variety of unpleasant symptoms.

It is great to love yourself however you look. But it is equally important to ensure that you are as healthy as you possibly can be. At a certain point, excess weight can and often does cause health issues.

When it comes to being body positive and managing weight, there is one major rule of thumb I recommend you follow:

Focus on Health

It’s a good idea to focus your energy on healthy behaviors. Mental health and physical health are both important to our overall well-being. So love yourself fully by making choices that are healthy for you.

Try eating intuitively and mindfully. Make sure to get enough sleep. Go for walks with friends. Make choices that make you feel good. When you do this, you will love yourself, truly and totally.

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How Finances can Impact Your Mental Health

Not since the great depression have so many people collectively been dealing with financial hardship. The Covid pandemic locked down nations and caused people to lose their livelihoods. It is not surprising, then, that we are also seeing increases in the rates of depression.

There have been other studies that also linked depression and anxiety with financial burdens. In fact, this study suggests that individuals with depression and anxiety are three times more likely to be in debt.

It’s a Vicious Cycle

Solving any problem requires clear thinking and an ability to take action. The problem is, when financial burdens cause a person to become anxious and depressed, they live in an emotional state that makes it almost impossible to solve their financial problems.

For instance, when people feel depressed, it is common for them to also feel overwhelmed and out of control. They tend to want to avoid problems because they simply can’t bear the weight of it all. 

Depression and anxiety can also make it hard for people to get proper sleep. This, in turn, creates mental fog, making it incredibly hard to figure out a solution to any problem.

Talking to Someone Can Really Help

No, I’m not talking about a financial planner, I’m talking about speaking with a therapist. A licensed therapist can help you find some calm in the storm. Working with a therapist often brings the kind of clarity that can help you heal from depression and anxiety and get your financial life back in order.

There is nothing to be ashamed of. Most of us have, at one point (if not currently), experienced trouble with our finances and felt depressed and anxious. It is a common part of living in these modern times when the economy seems to be going against us most of the time.

If you or a loved one has been having a hard time financially and you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed, please get in touch with me. I would be more than happy to help you deal with your current situation.

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5 Fun Ways to Help Your Child’s Speech Development

Did you know that parents play a large part in their child’s language development? Studies have now concluded that children who are read to and spoken to in the early part of their development have larger vocabularies and better grammar than those children who weren’t.

Here are 5 fun and easy ways you can help your child’s speech development:

1. Speak Your Day

As you spend the day with your child partaking in various activities, speak about what is going on. For instance, you might say, “First we are going to get dressed. I picked out blue pants and a yellow shirt for you. Next, we’ll walk to the park and feed the ducks.”

2. Read to Them Often

Experts agree it’s never too early to read to your baby. If your baby is very young, think about starting with simple board books. Eventually, you can move on to picture books and then longer, more in-depth stories. You may also want to sign your preschooler up for storytime at your local library or bookstore.

3. Go on Field Trips

Be sure to get out of the house often and head out for an adventure every now and then. Taking trips to the zoo, aquarium, or child’s museum will open up new worlds for your little one and give you many new things to “talk” about together. 

4. Follow Their Lead

When your child seems particularly interested in something, whether it’s a puddle, a bug, or an old sock, be sure to really talk about that thing. You can describe the item and share any history or facts you know about it. Just try and keep the conversation going.

5. Limit TV and Computer Time

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that toddlers aged 2 and younger not watch any television at all. They also recommend those 2 and older view no more than two hours of quality programming each day. Some TV is educational, but speech development really relies on interaction. You can interact with your child but the TV cannot.

Helping your child with speech development is really as simple as engaging them and interacting with them continually throughout the day.

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