Keeping it Together: How I'm learning to use nature to de-stress
They say nature is healing. I was reminded just how true that is earlier this week.
While working from home, it's easy to let a whole day go by without stepping outside. I've been trying to counteract this by going for a walk, no matter how short, to improve my physical health but also my mental health. It gets my eyes off the screen and gets my body moving.
I didn't realize just how helpful it is to get out into nature until I took a stroll to Central Park one afternoon this week.
While wandering through the woods of The Ramble section of the park and taking in the sights of the changing leaves, I felt a natural sense of calm and happiness.
When it started getting dark and I had to head out of the leafy oasis, I realized: I hadn't been stressing or worrying while I was there!
The walk made me feel good both on the inside and out, which proved to me just how helpful connecting to nature can be.
What's your favorite way to get your mind off things? Email us and your answer may be featured in a future newsletter!
Gwyneth Paltrow does 'oil pulling.' Should you?
How does Gwyneth Paltrow start off her mornings? Oil pulling.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal earlier this week, the actress and businesswoman revealed she uses a traditional Indian medicine technique to kick off her day, which involves swishing a spoonful of coconut oil around in her mouth for several minutes.
Oil pulling advocates say the practice pulls toxins from the body and helps whiten teeth. But does it really? We had experts weigh in on the trendy technique.
Dr. Eric Ascher, a family medicine physician at Lenox Hill Hospital, says oil pulling can help improve dental hygiene by ridding toxins from the mouth.
"Research shows that this can improve oral hygiene – decreases the chance for plaque to build up causing cavities, decreases the chance for gum disease, and destroys the germs that cause bad breath," he says.
While there's a limited scientific evidence that shows oil pulling helps with teeth whitening, oils like coconut oil do have some natural antibiotic properties, says Dr. Amanda Lewis, a dentist at Contemporary Family Dentistry in Dallas, Texas.
So while it's "not a bad practice," she says it's "totally optional" in your dental hygiene routine and "shouldn’t replace brushing and flossing."
Read more here.
Today's reads
- 11 can't-miss films by women directors this fall, including Chloé Zhao's 'Eternals'
- How to communicate your sexual desires to your partner – without feeling awkward
- How do Americans really feel about LGBTQ people?
- People swear by apple cider vinegar for weight loss. Does it actually work?
- Meet Boji, the adventurous street dog traveling all over Turkey
Today's pet
Meet Mary Kat and Tiki.
These two cuddly cats are "ready for chilly autumn days in Michigan!" writes owner Lonnie Hull DuPont of Jackson, Michigan.
Thanks to everyone for reading. Remember you can send pet photos, coping tips and anything else to our email.
Wishing you all the best,
Sara Moniuszko