by Awesome Author | Oct 4, 2021 | Outdoor Games
Do you have kids, or were you a kid who loved to get on your father’s shoulders and love the presence of the basking sun? Well, if that is the case, imagine a pristine sunny day, a cool breeze cooling off all your day’s anxiety and stress. Then, you can gather through the green field with a ball and some friends. And, you spend a good amount of hours under the sun, playing games, experiencing the benefits of fresh air and laughter. Now, for some hours, you are only indulged in some games. In this case, outdoor games or activities are essential in a world of pollution, concrete, and stress.
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Speaking of which, this article defines outdoor games as anything medicinal and recreational, including football, hiking, outdoor basketball, and backyard games such as ladder toss or shuffleboard. Here are a handful of reasons why you need to consider playing outdoors.
1. Outdoor games are free.
Unlike recreational centers like amusement parks and gyms, playing outside doesn’t generally induce a cost. You can simply find community tennis courts, basketball courts, and public parks maintained by state authorities with your hard-earned tax money. For several outdoor games, all you require is an open field. Moreover, playing outside can be accessible to anyone, irrespective of the budget.
2. Outdoor games can help children excel in academic performance.
In one of the 2010 studies, around 80% of the teachers stated that kids who spent their time playing outside performed in the class with improved grades. This makes a lot of sense since kids are pretty energetic and do not seem to stop. In 2016, another study stated that kids who go camping once a year have better grades than those who do not.
3. Playing outside is one of the best sources of vitamin D.
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Even though you can consume Vitamin D foods and supplements, sunlight remains one of the natural sources. However, if you are low, you are at significant risk of extracting type 1 diabetes, muscle pain, and different types of cancer. Moreover, vitamin D can promote calcium absorption, which is quite essential for robust bones. Speaking of which, this does not imply that you need to stand under the sun for several hours without sunscreen.
4. Outdoor activities build up strength.
Well, you can gain a considerable amount of muscles in the gym, but when you hit the outdoors, your body tends to deal with all-natural factors and not a closed room’s scent. In this way, you can also build muscles through body-weight activities without using any equipment or machines. If you did not know, outdoor exercise is quite adaptable. So, while you think of hitting the gym with several equipment pieces parked around, it can be intimidating and overwhelming. But, know what is at stake.
5. Outdoor activities can boost your memory.
Many studies state that being outdoors, primarily when walking is involved, promotes better memory. Michigan University conducted a study where they divided subjects into a couple of groups. While one group walked on a city street, the latter went to the arboretum. Subjects that strolled in the arboretum showed an improvement of 20% than when they first established their test results. Meanwhile, the second group did not show any progress.
6. Outdoor activities enhance mental health.
As already discussed, playing outdoor activities can have several benefits than being indoors. One solid reason is that it has overwhelming versatility, whereas indoor ones are flat and consistent. You do not have enough room to improvise while being indoors. Outdoor games require more concentration and focus, encouraging mindfulness, which is one of the standard techniques to improve mental health.
7. Being outside reduces stress and depression.
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Many researchers have conducted studies on how outdoor games and activities can reduce depression and stress. Experts also quote that being outside camping, in nature, and exercising can reduce your stress levels. Having said that, do a simple experiment. Go out on a brief walk. When you move out, you will meet several people of the community, greet strangers, see an opportunity to help, and indulge in several things you didn’t know about what life had to offer. All these experiences can lead to effectiveness and efficiency in life.
8. Outdoor activities can regulate the sleep cycle.
One of the research pieces shows that individuals who spent most of their time outside slept better. This is especially the case for male members of society who are 65 or more.
9. Outdoor games can enhance creativity.
You do not have to consume any supplements to enhance your creativity levels. When you are amidst nature, the world’s unrecognized elements surround you. As a result, you never run out of creativity. Moreover, playing outdoors can also stimulate your mind and force people to stay off social media and digital devices.
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by Awesome Author | Jul 13, 2019 | Health & Personal Care
You’re rushing around to get Christmas gifts, the house needs cleaning, you have five-holiday parties to go to, and family is in town; does this sound familiar? The holidays can be a very stressful time, and excess stress has been known to weaken the immune system, thus making us more susceptible to falling ill. This paired with the fact we are exposed to more germs due to family visiting from out of town, it’s no wonder we are all getting sick during this time of year. Fortunately, there are several preventative measures you can take to make sure you’re doing your best to maintain overall well-being during this busy time of year.
CBD Health Benefits for the Immune System
As we have talked about previously, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is responsible for regulating most functions in the human body. One of these functions is our immune response. Cannabinoids (like CBD) interact with our ECS. When our ECS is active, it helps to aid our body in bringing itself back into balance (homeostasis). When our body is in balance, it is more likely to make sure proper immune function and regulation are occurring.
The immune system is extremely complex, and there is still much to be learned about it. We are excited to see more research being conducted about the relationship between CBD and the immune system. For now, though, it appears the ECS and CBD are very much involved in the maintenance of a properly functioning immune response.
Due to the complex nature of the immune system, there are many misconceptions when it comes to staying well as the weather changes. Let’s bust some of those myths before jumping into the best preventative measures you can take to keep sickness at bay.
Busting Myths About Immune Health
Many of us have heard the phrase ‘put a coat on or you’ll catch a cold!’ Although we may associate sickness with colder weather, research suggests our increase in sickness during the winter months is most likely due to spending more time indoors (to avoid the cold) and spending more time in close contact with others who may pass a virus to us.
Having busted this common misconception, let’s dive into some effective, preventative measures to keep you healthy this winter.
1. Manage stress
Stress is the single most important factor you can manage to avoid weakening your immune system. Stress wears down our immune system rapidly, making us more likely to fall ill when we are exposed to germs.
It’s not uncommon to be stressed out during the holidays, it can be a stressful time! You can help mitigate this stress by meditating, indulging in regular exercise, and practicing mindfulness. There are many various ways to manage stress over the holidays, so whichever option works best based on you and your schedule is great! We’re not so concerned about HOW you manage stress, we’re merely advocating for you to do so!
2. Prioritize sleep (or make yours better!)
Our bodies repair themselves while we sleep – which is why it is so crucial to make sure we’re getting enough quality sleep. When we skip out on our regular amounts of sleep, the number of infection-fighting antibodies and cells in our bodies is reduced.
Supplementing with a CBD supplement before bed will help you relax and therefore get into a deeper sleep. There are several things you can do to ensure you get a better night’s rest, and it is in your immune system’s best interest to get quality sleep when you can.
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3. Support your body with herbs and supplements
At Made By Hemp, we always recommend using a supplement as just that – a supplement to an already healthy lifestyle! Things, like sleeping well and managing stress, will always make a more significant impact than a supplement, but we listed a few supplements that can help boost your immunity nonetheless.
CBD
As we mentioned before, CBD can be a powerful tool to help maintain balance in your body. Including CBD into your daily routine will be all-around beneficial – and will especially aid in activating your ECS and keeping you balanced this winter.
Reishi mushroom
Mushrooms are widely used in Eastern medicine and have been known to act as a powerful immune sidekick. Source high-quality reishi mushroom powder and try mixing it into your morning latte.
Echinacea
Echinacea has been shown to increase the number of white blood cells, which helps to fight off colds or infection. Try an herbal echinacea spray or a bag of tea that contains dried echinacea.
4. Load up on healthy foods
Vitamins can help an infection from even happening in the first place. If you are eating a healthy, balanced diet, then you should not need to take a supplement – the vitamins are already in the food we eat! We know there are plenty of treats around this time of year and we are not suggesting you don’t indulge (because we sure do!), but that doesn’t mean you have to completely ditch your healthy lifestyle altogether. You can still eat healthy meals in between your holiday get-togethers, and squeeze in workouts when able.
Vitamin D
Due to the decreased amount of sunshine, vitamin D is an important supplement to add to your regime. You can either purchase a high-quality vitamin D supplement or look for fortified milk and cereals.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is probably the most well-known immune booster. You can get your dose of vitamin C by eating citrus (like oranges, grapefruit, or lemon), bell peppers, kale, and broccoli.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that will help the body fight infection. You can get vitamin E from nuts (like sunflower seeds, almonds, peanuts, or hazelnuts), avocados, mango, and kiwi!
Zinc
Zinc is a mineral that keeps the immune system strong and aids in healing. You can find zinc in legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy products.
Prioritize eating a salad packed with vegetables, drinking green juice, or even making your own vegetable broth before your next holiday get-together. Your immune system will thank you!
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5. Stay hydrated
Making sure you stay hydrated aids your body in eliminating toxins and other unwanted bacteria. Soda, alcohol, and sugary drinks are not substitutes for water; if you need to, try herbal teas or add flavorings to your water to make sure you are getting enough.
As a guideline, to be properly hydrated, our bodies need ½ of our body weight in ounces per day to stay hydrated. If you weigh 150lbs then 75oz of water daily is what you need. We know to drink that much water isn’t always possible, but 35oz of water daily is better than zero. Do your best!
6. Wash your hands
One of the easiest tips of all, but we had to mention it! Thoroughly wash your hands, especially before handling food or after being in an environment with a lot of germs (like a Christmas work party or family dinner).
These tips can help you avoid sickness this winter (or anytime in general). We want to show you how easy it is to integrate a wellness lifestyle into your already busy schedule. Wellness is a choice that everyone can make!
Stay well this holiday season from Made By Hemp!
This article originally appeared on MadeByHemp.com
