Good morning👋
A joyous Juneteenth to those celebrating!
See also: Juneteenth: What If We Were All Free to Be Healthy?
In today’s email we cover heavy metals in health foods, vaginal dryness and 6 ways to fix it, and an important approach to reducing chronic pain.
We know that 10almonds readers know the importance of getting out and about and enjoying new things, so we think you’ll love today’s sponsored offer from Groupon, offering up to 70% off (that’s a lot, isn’t it?!) unforgettable experiences ranging from chefs’ tasting menu nights to luxurious spa days, all local to you. Click here to see today’s deals ← some great examples here!
Today’s Main Feature
Recommended Reading
Community As A Cornerstone Of Health
Here’s how one Michigan community center supports young people’s mental health:
Who Screens The Sunscreens?
Sunscreens: essential to protect us against cancer from the sun, or chemicals to give us cancer directly?
Not all sunscreens are created equal, so we screen the sunscreens here:
Watch and Learn
Vaginal Dryness In Menopause (Causes & Solutions)
Vaginal dryness is mostly* caused by declining estrogen during menopause, leading to thinner tissues, less lubrication, more pain during penetrative sex, and increased susceptibility to UTIs and infections due to pH changes and reduced “friendly” bacteria.
*There are also other causes and contributing factors; we’ll discuss those too!
Dr. Jennifer Roelands recommends 6 things that we can do about it:
Prefer text? The above video will take you to a 10almonds page with a text overview, as well as the video!
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Please do visit our sponsors—they help keep 10almonds free
This Or That?
Vote on Which is Healthier
Yesterday we asked you to choose between celeriac and eggplant—we picked the celeriac (click here to read about why), as did 55% of you!
Now for today’s choice:
Click on whichever you think is better for you!
One-Minute Book Review
Mind Your Body: A Revolutionary Program to Release Chronic Pain and Anxiety – by Nicole Sachs
The author, a psychotherapist, wants to be very clear about chronic pain: no, it’s not all in your head.
In fact, it’s all in your body, of which your head is one part, plugged into the rest. The pain is in your brain, the rest of your nervous system, and more. It’s in the microbes of your gut, the beating of your heart, and the changes in your breathing. It’s even in the composition of your blood (hello inflammation). It is, in short, embodied.
The brain is important though! She even gives us a whole chapter on the brain science (the chapter in question is called “A Whole Chapter On The Brain Science”).
What she wants is for you to feel better, which is all too often not a top concern of doctors.
To accomplish this, she first sets about diagnostics, inviting guided introspection into the reader’s own relationship with the pain and other relevant factors, and then retraining the brain and body to work better together than they probably have been doing.
For those who like to be taken by the hand through a process, there is a 28-day challenge.
The style is easy-reading pop-science, without padding, but with a definite human element—her deep and passionate care shines through from start to finish. Followed up by a sizeable bibliography because here be science (and empathy alone would not fix someone’s back).
Bottom line: if you or a loved one suffer from chronic pain, this book can surely help ease things a lot.
Penny For Your Thoughts?
What did you think of today's newsletter?
Wishing you the very best of health every day, in every way,
The 10almonds Team
