While we all may be breathing a collective sigh of relief that 2020 is now behind us, we are still facing many of the same challenges as we enter the new year – the COVID-19 pandemic, economic and social inequality, intense political division, and the climate crisis. While hope may be on the horizon, our mental, emotional and physical health are feeling the weight of these enormous stressors. Continue reading “5 Strategies for Supporting Mental Wellness”
5 Strategies for Supporting Mental Wellness
January 28th, 2021 by Margo Gladding
Magnesium is critical for health. This amazing mineral is responsible for driving important processes in our body through its involvement in more than 600 enzymatic reactions, including energy metabolism and protein synthesis. Magnesium regulates muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels and blood pressure. It’s also necessary for making protein, bone and DNA, and is involved with regulation of our neurotransmitters, making it important for mental health, as well. 
Everyone knows that too much stress is bad for your health. Still, many of us leave little room to relax in our busy lives. Relaxation and stress management are required for good health and need to become part of the daily routine. Relaxation allows for improved digestion, detoxification, body repair and restocking the body’s reserves. Research continues to support the beneficial effects that come from relaxation: reducing anxiety, managing pain, decreasing symptoms associated with various health conditions, and overall disease prevention. 
If you are feeling more anxiety than ever, you are not alone. Our current health crisis, and the ripple effects that it has caused, is unprecedented and astounding. So much has changed in such a short period of time, and we are all adapting to a new normal.
During this uncertain and challenging time, it is natural and appropriate to experience greater stress and anxiety. However, when stress becomes overwhelming and ongoing, it is important to take steps to calm the body and mind, so that it does not wreak havoc on your health. Chronic stress can have a profound impact on the body. In fact, 95% of all illness is caused or worsened by stress. Chronic stress can damage your immune response, disrupt sleep, increase your risk of insulin resistance, stroke, heart attack and heart disease, impact hormone balance, hinder memory and concentration, contribute to weight gain and digestive disorders, increase pain, hurt skin, hair, and teeth, enhance the aging process, cause inflammation, and is linked to chronic disease. 
