Author: talkinghealthandwellness

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Healthy Eating Over the Holidays: A Balanced Approach

The holidays are a wonderful time for enjoying tasty meals and celebrating with loved ones. Encouraging us to embrace the celebrations with a sense of mindfulness and balance, Robert Fineberg, MD, DABOM reminds us, “Enjoy the holidays and all the food that is to offer, but do it reasonably and be mindful about portion sizes and proportions of food.”

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Effective Strategies for Coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder

When the season changes from summer to fall to winter, it can be hard to adjust to cooler weather and shorter days. For about 5% of people each year, the change can result in seasonal depression, also called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Learn more about how to manage seasonal depression, what symptoms to look out for, and when you should see a doctor.

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How Flotation Therapy May Help Your Mental Health

Flotation therapy — which involves floating in a tank of warm, salt-saturated water — is a popular and often expensive form of relaxation. Now, a small but growing body of research suggests it may also reduce symptoms of a variety of mental health conditions. Most float tank sessions last about an hour. During a typical experience, a person disrobes in a private room and enters the pod, which may resemble an oversize hot tub. The pod is filled with shallow, body-temperature water that is saturated with Epsom salts to buoy your body. You can leave the pod open or close the lid to be cocooned in an environment devoid of light and sound. Experts say float therapy seems to work on several levels, heightening the senses, aiding relaxation and soothing the body and mind.

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Wellness

Melatonin Use in Children: Is a Sleep Aid Supplement Safe?

Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced in the brain that’s linked to your body’s sleep and wake cycle. The natural release of melatonin is stimulated by darkness and suppressed by daylight. It’s also available as a supplement that you can take as a pill or chewable gummy. As a supplement, a small dose can trigger your body to produce melatonin that makes you feel sleepy and helps you fall asleep. More people are asking their healthcare team about melatonin and report using it, including parents giving it to children. Here’s what you need to know about melatonin use in children and how to improve sleep hygiene without a sleep aid.

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News

Study: Familiar Scents Unlock Memories In People With Depression

In a recent study, people with depression recalled more specific memories when they were exposed to familiar scents — such as ground coffee or tobacco — than when they heard words that corresponded to those smells, such as “coffee” or “cigarette.” The findings suggest that smell therapy could help people with depression avoid overthinking

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