May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and every year the goal is to fight stigma, share stories, provide support, educate the public, and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families. It also aims to draw attention to suicide, which can be precipitated by some mental illnesses. 

Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Awareness Week will take place from 18-24 May 2020. The theme is ‘kindness’. Their aim is to use the week to celebrate the thousands of acts of kindness that are so important to our mental health. How else can we support mental health issues? Keep reading…

How can exercise help your mental health?

Being a fitness trainer and a wellness coach, I know how much exercise can benefit our minds, body and souls.

Exercise releases chemicals like endorphins and serotonin that improve your mood. If you exercise regularly, it can reduce your stress and symptoms of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, and help with recovery from mental health issues. Aerobic of gym exercise have proven to be the most beneficial for our minds. If you are not comfortable with going to gym especially as it’s not even possible right now, go outside in the fresher air and just move your body, one step, one pedal at a time. Aim for 10,000 steps per day or if you are just starting out give yourself a starting target perhaps 5,000 and then increase each week by 1,000 steps. Every step counts!!

Some good aerobic exercises that can help manage anxiety are:

 

• Swimming
• Biking
• Running
• Brisk walking
• Tennis
• Dancing

Foods to Improve Your Mental Health and Wellness

I believe a in a varied diet, plant – based mainly, sometimes an oily fish thrown in to top up those Omega levels. Eating simple and balanced is kep. Stay clear of sugar and processed foods this will just play havoc on your hormones, blood sugar and water retention.

Choose:

• Leafy greens
• Walnuts
• Whole grains
• Yoghurt
• Berries. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries
• Oily fish
• Beans

And of course I will always share natural solutions with you, here are my top 5 oils for anxiety, calming and emotional healing.

• Lavender
• Frankincense
• Adaptiv Blend
• Bergamot
• Peppermint or Spearmint

  If you are looking to start using oils please visit my page Wellness at home, here it tells you more and how to get started. 

I hope you found this weeks blog interesting and a reminder to be KIND at all times, you never know who you could be helping x

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