40 THE QUEENS COURIER • WELLNESS • JANUARY 18, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
wellness
Resolve to improve your health with omega-3s
Now that the holidays are over, many
health-conscious Americans do their best
to make healthier choices in the new year.
But according to new research, even those
who do their best to eat a balanced diet
aren’t getting enough omega-3s - essential
nutrients that the body requires to
function.
Among their numerous benefits,
omega-3 fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic
(EPA) and docosahexaenoic
(DHA), have been associated with overall
heart health, improving eye, brain
and joint performance as we age. But
when it comes to health, knowledge is
just the fi rst step. People should consider
if they are consuming enough omega-3s
and take action. A study recently published
in Nutrients compared consumers’
knowledge and perception about omega
3s in their diet with the actual levels
in their blood. Interestingly, participants
were familiar with omega-3s, their health
benefi ts and appropriate food sources,
yet they simply weren’t getting enough.
In fact, 98 percent of adults who were
not using dietary supplements had low
omega-3 levels.
Many experts recommend 1,000mg of
EPA and DHA per day. Since omega-3s
are not produced naturally within the
body, you can increase your intake by eating
two fatty fi sh meals per week, such as
salmon, mackerel, herring or tuna, or by
taking a supplement. But if you are like
many others who do not consume significant
amounts of fi sh on a regular basis
due to dietary preferences, or if you simply
don’t have access to fresh fi sh, consider
adding a supplement to your self-care
routine. Look for omega-3 supplements
high in EPA and DHA, such as MegaRed
4-in-1 900mg, which contains a special
combination of high-concentration fi sh
oil and high-absorption krill oil and delivers
one of the highest amounts of omega
3s per dose.
Omega-3 supplements are a great start
to supporting heart, brain, eye and joint
health in the new year.
Courtesy BPT
Resolve to get more shut-eye? Here are 4 sleep hacks to help
As the clock strikes midnight on New
Year’s Eve, millions of people vow to eat
better, work out more and lead a healthier
life.
But something is missing from this
equation. While eating well and getting
exercise are extremely important, too
oft en people neglect the keystone of good
health: sleep.
While few people like daily workout
routines or kale salad, most everyone
loves sleep. And a good night’s sleep loves
you, too: It boosts mental and physical
well-being.
With today’s stressful, highly caff einated,
screen-addicted lifestyles, millions
of Americans do not get enough sleep.
Th ere are many reasons for this. A look
at the 2017 Sleep in Review study by
Sleep Number suggests that sleeping habits
are highly individualized and need to
be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
A look at the numbers
Th is year, more than 30 percent of
Americans reported they slept worse than
in 2016.
A big culprit here is television. Nearly
half of all respondents said that television
oft en cuts into their sleep. In fact,
24 percent of millennials and 14 percent
of all Americans report that binge watching
before bed prevents them from getting
enough rest.
Nearly 70 percent say worry and
responsibility are preventing them from
getting the sleep they need. A racing mind
keeps many Americans from getting rest,
particularly among Gen Xers. Worries
about taking care of others - aging parents
or young children - can oft en lead to
neglecting yourself.
However, putting your own self-care
fi rst is oft en the best way to care for others.
Th ose who sleep well say they have a
healthy balance of taking time for themselves
and helping others that need them
(39 percent versus 26 percent). Of course,
if you’re having diffi culty sleeping, this
might sound easier said than done.
How do you get there? How do you
achieve that wonderful, restorative eight
hours of sleep?
Th ere’s not one right way to do this, but
according to the survey, there are several
habits good sleepers have:
• Ditch the device: Forty-six percent of
self-described “good sleepers” never or
rarely bring a device to bed.
• Have a laugh: Th ose who sleep well are
more likely to watch a comedy before
going to sleep.
• Keep it cool: Forty-fi ve percent say that
cooling down the bedroom temperature
is the No. 1 thing they do to improve
sleep.
• Stay tidy: Th ose who make their bed
every morning are less likely to struggle
with sleep.
A good night’s sleep can mean the difference
between having a wonderful or a
horrible day. More and more Americans
are realizing this. Over half (54 percent)
of those surveyed are making “improving
the quality of their sleep” one of their
New Year’s resolutions, which is up 30
percentage points from 2014.
An individualized path to better sleep
In the past fi ve years, millions of people
have embraced soft ware and technology
that tracks their eating and exercise
habits. Th ese small devices give an individualized
report that allows people to
monitor their activity and adjust in a way
that promotes good habits and health.
Similarly, Sleep Number’s SleepIQ technology(
R) tracks your sleeping habits,
and in the morning, it gives you a personalized
report on how you slept, off ering
insights on how you might improve your
sleeping habits.
Sleep is so individualized, and there’s
no one right way to do it. Th e more you
know about how you’re sleeping, the
more you can learn what adjustments you
should make to sleep better. Learn more
about the latest in sleep tracking and
adjustable comfort at sleepnumber.com.
Courtesy BPT