Very few people know how much massage therapy can help stroke patients, so I thought I'd share a few of my findings from my work at the care home to spread the word of the benefits of massage therapy for stroke patients...
Read moreKAPOW: The superfood you need in your diets. Blueberries, come on down.
What are superfoods? How many should we eat a day to achieve a better sense of wellbeing? Should we ONLY eat superfoods? Sit down, have a cup of (peppermint) tea and I'll (very briefly) explain all.
Blueberries: The only armour you need this Monday morning
Photo by Joanna Kosinska
According to the NHS, 'superfoods' are foods that can apparently reduce our risk of chronic diseases like heart, disease, stroke and cancer, if eaten alongside a healthy lifestyle. Note that superfoods can reduce our risk, not eliminate.
Not only are these little blue balls of goodness deliciously yummy, but, according to some nutritionists, if there is one superfood that you should introduce to your diet right now, it's blueberries. Let's not be silly though - having 5 blueberries each day will not make us invincible and fight off all forms of cancer.
Blueberries:
Are low in calories
Are high in nutrients
Contain a high level of antioxidants
= WINNER
When working the busy 9-5 life in London, it's hard to find the time and the money to be uber healthy, do enough exercise and also find time to have a massage. I get that. However, if you can nail at least 2 of these 3 each week then you should pat yourselves on the back. Hard.
So why not take some small steps this week just try adding some blueberries to your breakfast cereal, or have them for dessert tonight with some yoghurt. Push the boat out.
For me, having a great start to my day, and my working week, makes me feel pretty smug, and ever so slightly less guilty if I have some Ben and Jerry's this evening...or every evening this week.
Enjoy those blueberries and smash through Monday. Kapow.
To book in a massage to accompany your blueberry intake, have a look at these massage prices and then book here now!
For recipe ideas, have a look at The Greatest You with Tori's amazing recipe ideas, (scroll to: 'Everything but taste-free pancakes'...YUM)
Why should we drink so much water after a massage?
Ever wondered why your massage therapist insists you drink lots of water after your treatment?
It's not just because drinking water is good practise for general health and wellbeing. It's actually the last important step in ensuring your massage brings you the maximum amount of benefits...
It's recommended we should drink at least 2 litres of water in the 24 hours after our massage
Photo by Manki Kim
Why is it important to drink water after a massage?
During your massage, the therapist's movements will work your muscles. These movements encourage fluid to pump out of the soft tissue and out into your circulatory system, finally towards your kidneys. (You're not alone if you need to urinate after your massage). Therefore, we need to replace these fluids to their normal level.
Remember:
By the time you feel thirsty, your body is already on the way to being dehydrated, and probably has for at least half an hour. Don't wait until you feel thirsty, make a conscious decision to keep drinking water.
Bye bye toxins...
The other important reason why we drink water is to flush out the toxins that have been released by your massage, or 'helping the process of lymphatic drainage'. The more tension that is released during the massage, the more metabolic waste is released into your system. By drinking lots of water, we are helping our kidneys to effectively drain out this 'waste'.
So drink up, and pee out those toxins. Literally pee out your bad vibes.
Massage deals! Why not book yourself in for a massage and make the most of M&M's current offers.