Soak up some sunshine and hum your way to health!

 Did you know humming and sunshine can help keep you healthy?

Nitric oxide, (NO) is a by product of humming and soaking up the sun. Nitric oxide has been shown to be antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal. The UVA rays from the sun causes the skin, part of the integumentary system and the body's largest organ to make nitric oxide. Before you go off on a tangent remember the risks of too much sun exposure. On the other hand I do not think excessive humming is dangerous! 

You will think twice the next time you see a beautiful little humming bird! Enjoy in joy! 

Read on to learn more. 

"Your integumentary system protects your body from infection and injuries you could get from your external environment. It’s your body’s coat of armor and the first line of defense against viruses, bacteria and other microbes." 

‌https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22827-integumentary-system.

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"Sunlight  exposure also produces NO in the skin. Yet, NO occurs in skin after exposure to UVA rays, not the vitamin D-producing UVB. In addition, NO has the ability to stop the replication of the Covid virus. One of the beauties of this system is that UVA rays and NO are available at any season when the sun is shining. This indicates that this healing action of sunlight is also available year-around."

https://sunlightinstitute.org/sunlight-uva-nitric-oxide-answer-to-covid/

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"What's the difference between UVA and UVB Rays?"

https://www.webmd.com/melanoma-skin-cancer/difference-between-uva-rays-and-uvb-rays

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"How much sun is too much?"

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK321117/

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"...nasal breathing concentrates the amount of nitric oxide circulating in the upper airway [7]. Levels reduce greatly if we switch to mouth breathing and some research shows that mouth breathing reduces the amount of exhaled nitric oxide by 50% [5]. Nasal breathing also makes the nose healthy in other ways, improving its microbiome, hydration, blood flow and mucous production [8]."

"Humming is able to increase nitric oxide levels 15 fold as compared to normal quiet breathing [11]."

https://www.rosalbacourtney.com/immune-protective-effects-of-nasal-breathing-and-nitric-oxide-for-coronaviruses-self-care-potential/

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"According to a 1999 paper by Lundberg and Weitzberg, NO in the nasal airways could represent an important first line of defence against infection.[1] NO is known to be broadly antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial.[2]"

"Research conducted during a previous Coronavirus epidemic i.e., the SARSCoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) epidemic showed that NO inhibited the replication of SARSCoV in a dose dependent manner, meaning that higher levels had a greater inhibitory effect on the replication of the virus.[3]" 

"Here is a simple humming exercise you can do if you feel you are coming down with a respiratory infection, sinusitis, or are unwell. You can do it any time as a preventative measure to help boost immunity. We associate humming with cheerfulness and you’ll notice that it’s difficult to hum and feel down at the same time."

https://www.buteykobreathing.nz/blog/potential-immune-protective-effects-nitric-oxide-and-humming

Inflammation the silent killer!

Did you know some foods cause inflammation in your body?

"Science has proven that chronic, low-grade inflammation can turn into a silent killer that contributes to cardiovas­cular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes and other conditions."

"Your immune system becomes activated when your body recognizes anything that is foreign—such as an invading microbe, plant pollen, or chemical. This often triggers a process called inflammation. "

"However, sometimes inflammation persists, day in and day out, even when you are not threatened by a foreign invader. That's when inflammation can become your enemy."

"One of the most powerful tools to combat inflammation comes not from the pharmacy, but from the grocery store. "

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation

Read the full article to learn how to use food to heal inflammation.

In joy, enjoy some Comfort Therapy!

It is not just what you eat. It is also what is touching your skin.

 Did you know?

“There’s more BPA in a single thermal paper receipt than the total amount that would leach out from a polycarbonate water bottle used for many years,” said John Warner, Ph.D., president of the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry."

"Research has linked BPA to an increased risk of breast and prostate cancers, cardiovascular disease, and reproductive and brain development abnormalities. Because it mimics the biological activity of estrogen, developing children face the greatest risks from BPA."

"Even if you’re not a cashier, you still may be getting more BPA exposure than you realize because thermal paper is used in so many receipts we handle – everything from airline boarding passes and luggage tags, to trains, movies, sporting events and amusement parks tickets, even labels on prescription bottles or packaged deli meats or cheeses."

"Here’s a quick test to tell you if the paper you’re handling is the thermal type containing BPA: scratch the printed side of the paper. If you see a dark mark, the paper is thermal."

https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2016/12/23/is-bpa-on-thermal-paper-a-health-hazard

Read the article to find out how to decrease your exposure to BPA.

Be well. Stay well. Find a comfortable place!

May 7, 2022: World Labyrinth Day

 Every year on the first Saturday in May thousands of people around the world participate in World Labyrinth Day as a moving meditation for world peace and a celebration of the labyrinth experience.

• The Labyrinth is a beautiful spiraling pathway uniting us with the energy around us. The conscious intent of creating this sacred space originates in our awareness of the divine. Walking the labyrinth is a way to connect to healing, creativity and intuition.
• There is no right or wrong way to use the labyrinth. It is not a maze, there are no dead ends or tricks. You end where you begin and begin where you end. It is the circle of life.
• It is an opportunity to slow down and find your inner strength, the mirror of the soul, creating harmony within your body, mind/soul and spirit. Walking the labyrinth is an expression of thanks and remembrance of the divine in all things.

The Red Oak Tree Labyrinth at Comfort Therapy is one of many labyrinths that celebrated World Labyrinth Day. My personal enlightenment from walking the labyrinth today was: "During the second 50 years of your life things get easier. You apply your life experiences to help you live a more comfortable life. You pay attention to the little things and learn faster from your mistakes. You find ways to go with the flow instead of against it. Everything takes care. Find the time to take good care."

Spring 2022 A New Beginning! Breathe Better!

 Each Spring nature comes alive with a new beginning. As the days warm up we can open the windows and air out the house. However, with Spring comes more allergens in the air. Here is an easy way to help improve the quality of  indoor air at home. 

I found this article while looking around on the internet. I have used cheesecloth over house vents for years. You will be amazed at how many visible particles there are floating around in the air!

"A couple of weeks ago I received a newsletter containing Healthy Home Tips from the Environmental Working Group about dust. It contained tips on how to get rid of the toxic dust that is in our homes. Dust is toxic because it is known to contain chemicals that have been shed from products in our home such as furniture and our televisions. One type of chemical found in household dust is flame retardants, which is a known endocrine disrupting compound. Dust also contains pet dander, fungal spores, soil, and fibers. Yuck! And all along I just though dust was made up of our shed dead skin cells."

More tips on less dust and how to allergy proof your home.

https://www.webmd.com/allergies/allergy-proof-your-environment

https://www.ewg.org/healthyhomeguide/reducing-household-dust/

Breathe in comfort!

Happy Spring!