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February is one of my favorite months.
Even though it is the shortest month of the year, it is jam-packed with opportunities for adventure and love, not to mention, Groundhog Day and Valentine’s Day! It is Black History Month, as well as, American Heart Month, Grapefruit Month, and Hot Breakfast Month!
Here at Sparkle Health, we are excited to kick off our first Functionally Fit Program! If you missed joining this one you can look forward to the next one on March 6th. We have a wonderful group supporting each other as we work together to make customized improvements for lasting health and overall fitness. Stay tuned for updates on this journey. Their commitment to a healthier way of life is inspiring! Details here!
I am dedicating this month to adding a little extra love to my list . . . love for myself and those around me. Even the smallest tokens of love and appreciation can make someone feel great! Here is a sneak peek at my own ideas for this month: extra special love notes to my kids in their packed lunches… include a drawing or doodle, do someone else’s usual household chore, sign my husband up for an activity he’s been eyeing, draw my self a warm bath (or two) with candles, buy my friend the book she’s been talking about, donate to a cause my daughter has shown interest in, be observant and give extra compliments, go out with close friends, plan an afternoon filled with my kid’s favorite things, make my husband a playlist of his favorite songs, start a full family scrapbook and ask extended family to add to it, bring parents flowers, have myself a nice long massage, plan a family movie night, cook a special dinner and dessert for my husband when the kids are at a sleepover, and shovel snow for our neighbors down the road.
Normal, optimum blood flow is important for our whole body. As a massage therapist, many of the techniques that I use have a direct effect on the circulatory system. Because February is Heart Awareness month, at Sparkle we are featuring a special massage technique that specifically supports your circulatory system, Circulatory Massage!
Who can benefit from this treatment? Honestly, everyone! This massage technique can support blood pressure variations (either high or low), varicosities, headaches, Raynaud’s disease, stress and anxiety, and other circulatory disorders. Improving your blood flow can even help with hemorrhoids! There are some restrictions, so I will review your charts carefully with Dr. Mercuro to ensure that this technique will be safe for you.
The goal of this technique is to restore/maintain full circulation. This is achieved by normalizing blood flow & directing flow to follow naturally intended pathways. My focus during this 30 minute session is on your circulation pattern, and not on muscle tension. I will be moving blood through your system by compressing the tissues overlying and surrounding the accessible vessels. The compression is transmitted to the vessels themselves, and acts as an imposed vasoconstriction, or artificial heartbeat, to “pump” the blood along.
We finish off the treatment with a 5-10 minute rest period, so your body has time to settle into the new pattern. Most find it very relaxing and love the effects that they see in their circulatory system. Contact us through our portal or call the office at 603-328-8101 to get yourself scheduled, your body will thank you!
– Gina Toce, LMT, NH#7888, Reiki Master, Certified IET® Master Instructor, CLT
Studies show that 41.6% of adults in the United States have a Vitamin D deficiency. Why is that number so high? There are several causes of Vitamin D deficiency, including lack of sunlight or adhering to a strict diet that doesn’t include dairy or fish. Studies also show that those who live far away from the equator, the elderly, and those who are overweight are more likely to have a deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is common in the elderly due to aging decreasing our ability to synthesize the vitamin from sunlight. According to studies, a ten percent increase in BMI can lead to a significant loss of Vitamin D levels in the blood – and taking a supplement can be crucial for obese individuals. Chronic conditions involving the kidney and liver or conditions like Celiac and Crohn’s can also affect the body’s absorption of Vitamin D and lead to deficiency.
Could you have Vitamin D deficiency? If you have certain medical conditions or have noticed changes in your health, you may want to check with your doctor about testing your Vitamin D levels.
1. Bone Loss and Muscle Pain
Vitamin D is just as important as calcium for your bones. It’s an important factor when trying to prevent conditions like osteoporosis, a condition where bones become weak or brittle as we age. Calcium requires Vitamin D to be properly absorbed. Read More
– Dr. Elisa Mercuro, DO
A new tradition I have come across is exploring cuisines from around the world. I have been delighted to have a friend, thrilled about the idea and we have been enjoying many new dishes to excite our vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, and no added sugar palates. Below is a new find. Upon our first bite, our eyes widened in joy. Well done, well done! I hope you enjoy this dish from France.
INGREDIENTS
24oz potatoes, white, red, multicolor, skins included, cubed
1 Tbsp coconut oil
12-16oz Cremini or white button mushrooms, sliced
6oz shiitake mushrooms, sliced
3 tsp dried thyme (divided)
1 tsp dried sage
1/4 cup gluten-free baking powder
2 Tbsp coconut oil
1 large carrot with skin (if organic) sliced
2 shallots, or 1 large Vidalia/white onion, diced-3 stalks celery, sliced
3-4 cloves garlic minced
1/2 cup brandy, or red wine
2 heaping Tbsp tomato paste
2c vegetable stock/broth
2 Tbsp gluten-free Tamari
salt/black pepper to taste
1 Tbsp vegan butter (butter or Ghee if not vegan)
fresh cilantro, or parsley, chopped, stems removed, to garnish
Dr. Elisa Mercuro, DO is officially announcing she is now board certified in Obesity Medicine. Check out our website for the new Functionally Fit Program which combines functional medicine with evidence-based weight loss tools.
February 1: National Freedom Day, National Dark Chocolate Day, National Get Up Day
February 2: Groundhog Day, National Hedgehog Day, National Ukulele Day
February 4: USO Day, World Cancer Day, National Homemade Soup Day
February 6: Pay a Compliment Day, National Frozen Yogurt Day
February 7: National Send a Card to a Friend Day, Rose Day, National Wear Red Day* (first Friday), Give Kids a Smile Day* (first Friday)
February 8: Take Your Child to the Library Day* (first Saturday), National Kite Flying Day
February 9: National Pizza Day, World Marriage Day* (second Sunday), Read in the Bathtub Day
February 11: National Inventors’ Day, National Make a Friend Day, Get Out Your Guitar Day, International Day of Women and Girls in Science
February 12: Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday, International Darwin Day
February 13: World Radio Day, Galentine’s Day
February 14: Valentine’s Day, National [Organ] Donor Day
February 15: Susan B. Anthony Day, Singles Awareness Day
February 16: Do a Grouch a Favor Day, National Almond Day
February 17: Presidents’ Day* (third Monday)
February 20: National Love Your Pet Day
February 21: International Mother Language Day, National Caregivers Day* (third Friday)
February 22: George Washington’s Birthday, Be Humble Day, World Thinking Day
February 25: National Chocolate Covered Nut Day, Let’s All Eat Right Day
February 26: Tell a Fairy Tale Day, National Pistachio Day
February 27: International Polar Bear Day
February 29: Leap Day (every four years), Rare Disease Day* (either 28 or 29 depending on year)
First week: Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week
Second week: Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Week
Second week: Freelance Writers Appreciation Week
Third week: Random Acts of Kindness Week
Fourth week: National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
American Heart Month
Black History Month
Library Lovers Month
National Bird Feeding Month
National Cherry Month
National Children’s Dental Health Month
National Embroidery Month
National Grapefruit Month
National Hot Breakfast Month
National Snack Food Month (think healthy)
