Rainy Days = More Time Indoors (Here’s How To Make The Most Of It)

Waking up early in the morning to trek to work in the rain—no thank you! Lucky for us, though, Georgia’s weather didn’t cooperate. Hello, (rainy) November. So what are we supposed to do for the next few days while it’s raining cats and dogs, and topping out at 50 degrees? Well, the choice is clear for many of us, stay warm, dry and comfortable indoors—did someone say movie night? Yes please.

While there are some people adventurous enough to head out into the chilly, wet weather to go to the gym or their routine exercise class—that’s why there are umbrellas, right?—the rest of us choose to stay comfortable at home, only going outdoors if absolutely necessary. But just because you’re stuck indoors for the next few days, doesn’t mean that you can’t make the most of being home.

So in addition to some lounging, relaxing nights, here are a few other ways to make these rainy days (and nights) more fun—and healthy:

1.    Play cards. Instead of camping out on the couch to watch your go-to shows or a movie (or two), try sitting at a table together and enjoy playing some cards. Not only is it easy—a deck of cards is something that’s almost always on hand—it’s actually beneficial for your health. It can help with lowering blood pressure, supporting stress relief, boosting memory formation and helping with child health and brain development. For some kid-friendly games to try, visit https://www.deliacreates.com/40-card-games-kids/.

2.    Get your groove on. While the pitter-pater of rain can certainly be relaxing, so can listening to some of your favorite music. Whether your go-to track is “No Rain” by Blind Melon, or “Umbrella” by Rihanna, with a little James Taylor “Fire and Rain” sprinkled in, the fact remains that listening to music can be beneficial for your overall health because it helps to relieve stress and anxiety, while also improving mood. Plus, if you show off some of those killer dance moves, you’ll burn some calories, as well as strengthen the parts of your brain that control memory, planning and organizing.

3.    Stay strong. Who says you need a gym to stay active? Between vacuuming and cleaning, or going up and down stairs, there are plenty of ways to sneak in exercise while at home. You can also give this at-home strength training circuit a try. While it may not be your ideal way to spend a dreary afternoon, remember that strength-training exercises can help to improve muscle strength, reduce body fat and increase your balance and stability—along with many other benefits! Plus, there’s nothing that says you can’t enjoy watching TV during your sweat session.

4.    Eat something delicious. One of the best parts of rainy days like this: all of your favorite fall foods just become even tastier. Somehow all of those warm, hearty soups, comforting casseroles and filling pastas just make everything better—can you say yummy in the tummy? And while it may be easiest to stick to the same old, same old when it comes to recipes, why not mix things up for a change? Here are a few recipes that are perfect for nights like these, plus they serve as a great source of key nutrients:

·         Italian Sausage Bean Soup

·         Southern Chicken and Dumpling Soup

·         Southwestern Tex-Mex Chicken Noodle Soup

·         Quick Apple Crisp

·         Dark Chocolate Chip Oat Bars

Expert health care for your rainy day. As the old saying goes, when it rains, it pours. And during those rainy times, when your health may not be its brightest, that’s when comprehensive health care matters most. With convenient locations, extensive services, knowledgeable providers and a connection to the vast health resources of Gwinnett Medical Center, you can count on GMG Primary Care—rain or shine!

Cuddle-Lovers Rejoice: Here Are 6 Surprising Health Benefits

Sure, pumpkin spice lattes are tasty. And apple cider isn’t half bad. Of course enjoying football is great, too. But the truth is this season was made for cuddling. Can’t you just hear your favorite pair of sweat pants, that cozy blanket and your go-to cuddle buddy—significant other, cat/dog, or your little one—calling your name? Even if you don’t consider yourself a cuddle bug, it’s hard to resist the idea of getting close and comfy with these crisp, fall temperatures.

But it isn’t just contentment and warmth that cuddling offers—although those are great. It’s all of the mental and physical health benefits it provides, too. Now just because cuddle time can boost your overall well-being, doesn’t mean that you get to skip those routine workouts and balanced, nutritious meals. However, what it does mean is that you have yet another great reason to enjoy all the cuddles you want (all fall and winter long).

To kick off snuggle season the right way, Tik Pau, MD, a primary care provider at GMG’s Bostock Family Medicine, offers 6 health benefits to keep in mind:

1.    It’s extremely soothing. While the human body has five senses—sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell—touch is often the most powerful. “Because skin is the largest organ in the human body, there is an instinctual drive for skin-to-skin contact,” notes Dr. Pau. Enter cuddling: the perfect way to get that comforting, relaxing touch.

2.    It makes you feel good. But not just physically. When you’re snuggled up, your brain will release higher levels of the hormone, oxytocin, which is often referred to as the love hormone. “This hormone plays an important role in bonding and connection, which can help to increase feelings of intimacy and closeness,” explains Dr. Pau.

3.    It improves sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep may feel impossible sometimes, but it’s nothing that a good snuggle session can’t fix. “When you experience a boost in oxytocin, which cuddling provides, it can help increase both the amount and quality of sleep,” notes Dr. Pau. “Plus, it naturally helps to slow and deepen your breathing, which happens when you sleep.”

4.    It helps relieve stress. Regardless of whether you’re big spoon or little spoon, the bottom line is cuddling is relaxing for your body. But it isn’t just that your body is comfortable and at rest, it’s also the mental break that cuddling provides from life—it’s like hitting the pause button. And let’s not forget about oxytocin. This helpful hormone acts as a natural stress-reliever.

5.    It supports heart health. Oxytocin strikes yet again. “Not only is oxytocin great at reducing stress, and all of its negative side effects—including harming your heart—it also helps to reduce blood pressure and lower heart rate,” says Dr. Pau. All of which can help to support lasting heart health. So what are you waiting for? Get your cuddle on.

6.    It boosts immune health. It isn’t just oxytocin that gives cuddling its good name, there’s also serotonin, which is known as the happiness hormone. “When these two hormones join forces, it gives your immune system a jumpstart,” describes Dr. Pau, “this is thanks to the increase in T-regulatory cells, which help to balance and strengthen your immune health.”

Embracing good health. There’s simply no denying that cuddling is king, especially with all of its health perks. But that doesn’t mean you can achieve lasting health by snuggling all day every day—as great as that may sound. The good news is, though, that ensuring your overall health and well-being may be just as easy. With several convenient locations, a wide-variety of services and experienced, knowledgeable providers, GMG Primary Care is your perfect fit.