It’s National Women’s Health Week (NWHW)! A weeklong (May 9-15, 2021) health observance led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (OWH), NWHW “serves as a reminder for women and girls, especially during the outbreak of COVID-19, to make their health a priority and take care of themselves.” Kristina Petrocco-Napuli, DC, MS, FICC, FACC, assistant dean of the College of Chiropractic at Logan and president of the American Chiropractic Association’s Council on Women’s Health, offers the below tips to help women and girls of all ages move, breathe, and nourish their bodies each day.
Move:
Being stagnant in front of technology has increased because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prioritize movement by getting out for a 30 minute walk in your neighborhood or at a nearby park or trail (the American Heart Association recommends 10,000 steps a day for heart health) and by stretching. Many women are finding themselves feeling tight or tense; finding an online yoga or tai chi class can help!
Breathe:
Breathing can help us relax, improve sleep, better regulate emotions, decrease stress and more. Try a mind-body stress reduction technique such as mindfulness, meditation or progressive relaxation. It is well known that these practices allow individuals to be more present and aware and decrease the brain’s reaction to daily stress-producing stimulus. There are many free apps that to help get you started if you have never practiced these techniques before. If mindfulness or meditation are not for you, simply going outside and breathing in the fresh air for a few minutes can make a noticeable difference.
Nourish:
It’s important to feed and water yourself well. During times of stress, many find comfort in foods that are not so healthy, and water intake may also decrease. Add in-season superfoods like artichokes, radishes, rhubarb, apricots, or asparagus to your diet. Also make sure you are drinking eight 8oz glasses of clean water each day for good hydration.
For more tips during National Women’s Health Week, check out the Office on Women’s Health as well as the ACA Council on Women’s Health.