Welcome back to Optimal Wellness’s monthly email blasts. We hope you are all enjoying summer! Due to unforeseen circumstances, Elevate Akron will be rescheduled for Thursday, September 8. We hope to see and meet you there.
This Month’s Resources
What is Rucking?
Rucking is simply walking with weight. It requires strength, endurance, and character — and builds it, too. Rucking also helps improve your posture, avoids the damage running does to your body, and makes your body strong.
Rucking is cardio: Cardio for people who think running sucks. If you want to burn up to 3X as many calories as walking, ruck instead. Your heart pumps faster during a rucking workout to get oxygen rich blood throughout your body, increasing circulation.
Rucking is simple: You wear a backpack and walk. It’s a fitness thing. And you’re already doing it. Hiking is rucking in the mountains and urban hiking is simply called rucking. Ruck workouts can be done at any weight.
Rucking is scalable: The weight adds resistance ruck training to your back and shoulders, your glutes and legs with every step – resulting in strength gains without the bulk. Want more? Up the weight, increase the distance, or go faster.
Remember those “Nasty Oils?”
“The hateful eight.” Canola (rapeseed), corn, cottonseed, grapeseed, rice bran, safflower, soy, and sunflower oils are all toxic to the human body. They’re blamed for a host of ills, such as headaches, foggy thinking, lowered immunity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and more. And on the flip side, #seedoilfree proponents say that steering clear of these vegetable oils can fight disease, help you lose weight, and ramp up energy. All oils contain a combination of polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and saturated fats to varying degrees. With most seed oils, a type of polyunsaturated fats called omega-6s dominate. The high proportion is one of the main reasons some people suggest you skip seed oils. Oils that we recommend cooking with are avocado oil (one of the only oils that can stand high heat), grass-fed butter, or tallow. Learn more here.
A Must See Documentary
Fantastic Fungi. It is a very informative, 1 hour and 20 minute documentary that can be found on Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and more. “Delve into the magical world of fungi, from mushrooms that clear oil spills to underground fungal networks that help trees communicate.” The film is a blueprint for what connects all humanity and the natural world. There is much to learn from the world of mycelium and Fantastic Fungi is an inspiring place to begin the process of bringing us together as interconnected creators of our world.
Fabric Softeners & Dryer Sheets
The downsides of fabric softener and dryer sheets are many—from impacting your health, to the build-up they cause on clothes, to the environmental impact they have on our waterways and landfills. Learn about seven healthier, more sustainable alternatives that will leave your clothes smelling and feeling fresh.