Category: sleep

Support Your Immune System During the Winter Months

Published on by Nikken

During the cold weather months of winter, the body faces multiple viral and bacterial challenges. That’s why colds and flus are common during this time of year, so it’s especially important to support your immune system.

Here are a few things you can do intentionally to support a healthy winter lifestyle:

•          Incorporate ways to manage or reduce stress, so you can help lighten the load on immune cells. Try stretching a few minutes at a time throughout the day, or simply sit quietly and take measured deep breaths. If you can meditate for even 15 minutes, it may be helpful.

•          Fostering an environment conducive to quality sleep helps empower your body to maintain a resilient immune system. Try to get 7-9 hours of sleep nightly, so that your body can reap the benefits of rest and reproduce immune cells. Remember, physical and mental restoration often take place during sleep. Check out the Makura Sleep Packs with pillows, mattress toppers and comforters for a comfortable sleep environment. (link to https://store.nikken.com/usa/en/product/makura-sleep-packs)

•          Drink plenty of water. Hydration plays an important role in the circulation of immune cells. Proper hydration also supports mucosal barriers and helps your body function at its best.1

Fill your PiMag Waterfall® with tap water and it dispenses filtered alkaline water, so you can hydrate fully.

•               Handwashing is a simple way to support the immune system, as it is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs and infections. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before preparing food, eating, and after being in public places.2

•          Eat with essential nutrients that can boost your immune cells in mind. These include foods rich in vitamins A, C and D, as well as minerals such as zinc. Vitamin A can be found in green, yellow and orange vegetables such as yams, carrots and spinach. Vitamin C is in citrus, peppers, broccoli and many fruits and vegetables. Get out into the sun for a dose of vitamin D, which is needed for good immune response. Support your white blood cells and help maintain a strong gut with zinc-rich foods, such as pumpkin and sesame seeds, seafood and legumes.3 Even if you don’t normally take nutritional supplements, the winter months are a good time to try. Kenzen® Mega Daily 4 comes in two formulas, one for women and one for men. They feature a multivitamin and mineral, vegetable superfoods selected for exceptional nutrient content, whole body renewal components, and gender-specific support.*

•          Stay active. Physical activity helps enhance the body’s immune function by helping to improve circulation, which in turn helps flush out bacteria. Incorporating walking into your daily routine is one of the simplest ways to stay active.

•          During the holidays, there is always the temptation to eat and drink. A little of this and a little of that goes a long way, but keep your intake moderate, especially when it comes to alcoholic beverages. Alcohol tends to weaken the immune system.

So, eat, drink and be merry, but make the right choices to stay healthy all winter long! And remember, you can shop for great gifts with the Nikken Holiday Gift Guide through the end of the year.

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

1 https://bastyr.edu/about/news/boost-your-immunity-winter-lifestyle-tips-and-essential-nutrients

2,3 https://mheds.org/?p=7909

Do You Suffer From Mental Fatigue?

Published on by Nikken

Usually when you think of fatigue, you assume it’s physical. It can be from working out too much or any kind of taxing physical activity—moving furniture, carrying heavy groceries, mowing the lawn, bathing a big dog, and so on. Mental fatigue, however, affects your ability to think, focus or concentrate. Brain imaging techniques reveal that the brain, just like your muscles, gets fatigued when it is used without rest.1

When suffering from mental fatigue, you may notice your mind wandering or being easily distracted, so you can’t effectively continue the task at hand. Mental fatigue arises when your brain senses it is running out of the resources it needs to continue thinking or problem-solving. The brain manages not to shut down; instead, it moves toward less intense endeavors, which manifests as going out of focus, being distracted or doing something that requires less thought.

Any mentally demanding work can lead to fatigue, but how quickly your mind grows tired depends on the kind of work you are doing. Factors that accelerate mental fatigue include:

•          Solving complex problems, learning new skills, making risky decision.

•          Having to ignore distracts (known as impulse resistance)

•          Concentrating on projects over a prolonged period of time without breaks.2

To counteract mental fatigue or better yet, to avert it, you can schedule frequent breaks that allow your brain time to rest. These breaks can be pausing for as little as five seconds every two minutes to 10 minutes every 90 minutes when doing work that requires deep concentration.3 By keeping the break under 10 minutes, you allow your brain to rest without losing momentum. Longer breaks may help your stamina when the job at hand is exceptionally intense.

A break can involve stretching, a walk around the block, a few asanas, or hydrating with a tall glass of alkaline PiMag® water. And whatever you decide to do on your break, make sure it’s not something that requires more brain power! If your mental workout involves intense tasks such as learning new technologies or troubleshooting in real time, try to limit it to four hours a day. Working beyond this timeframe can cause mental fatigue that carries over into the next day.4

Since mental fatigue is not visible from the outside, it is easy to forget it exists until it starts harming performance or affecting your health and well-being. So, be sure to schedule in time to rest your brain!

1, 2, 3, 4  https://hbr.org/2024/10/how-to-manage-and-avoid-mental-fatigue#:~:text=Limit%20intense%20work%20to%20four,filling%20out%20a%20time%20sheet.

Get Energized and Ready for the Holidays!

Published on by Nikken

The holiday season can bring a lot of joy to many, as it’s designated as a time to give and receive. However, the joy of giving is sometimes accompanied by the stress of choosing gifts and the additional energy needed on top of regular daily activities—it can be overwhelming. Here are some tips on how to stay energized during hectic times!

•          Try to eat lots of fruits and vegetables. This is the time of year where there will be many “treats” to tempt you. Enjoy in moderation, as even adults can suffer from the sugar highs and ensuing crashes.

•          Resist the urge to burn the candle at both ends. Especially when there is so much to get done, get your rest. Even one night of poor sleep can affect your mood and energy.

•          Keep PiMag® water with you and drink it throughout the day. Staying hydrated can help support your energy levels.

•          Even if you feel like a shot of caffeine can help energize you, try to drink caffeinated beverages only in the morning. Try herbal teas in the afternoons and evenings. Remember, Kenzen Super Ciaga® powder can turn plain PiMag® water into a delicious beverage that supports your natural energy levels.

•          Prioritize, execute and eliminate. You can’t do everything at once, so choose the most important tasks, do them, and eliminate the ones that are less important. If you have family members or friends who can help with less critical tasks, ask them.

•          When things start getting hectic, set aside some time for yourself to exercise. Even a 10-minute walk can help raise your energy levels.

•          You may not be able to attend every single function you’re invited to. It’s hard to say “no” but again, prioritize, execute and eliminate. Attend the functions close to your heart.

•          Stare at the color red.1 According to research, looking at the color red can help boost energy levels! There’s no harm in giving it a try!

•          Donate. Whether you have gently used toys or clothes, there is someone out there who will appreciate them. And, when you do a charitable good, you release endorphins that support your energy levels! Win-win!

One way to help ease the pressures of the holiday season is to let your fingers do the shopping. Take a look at our 2024 Feel Good, Share Joy Nikken Gift Guide. There are great gift ideas and bundles that can save you money while you’re spreading some holiday joy. You’ll even receive 10% cashback in your eWallet for your purchases that can be used in January 2025 to start the new year with more joy!

1 https://www.calendar.com/blog/12-ways-to-stay-energized-this-holiday-season/

Who Needs More Sleep?

Published on by Nikken

People require different amounts of sleep at different times in their lives. For example, newborns can sleep more than 17 hours a day and once of school age, can sleep up to 12 hours daily. The benchmark for adults is to sleep between seven to nine hours daily. These are generalizations, because sleep is a personal matter.

When it comes to sleep times, one of the most commonly cited statistics is that women require more than men. Women actually require only a very small amount more—11 minutes a night.1

Researchers attribute this small difference to round-the-clock responsibilities, monthly cycles, pregnancy, menopause and middle-of-the-night childcare duties, such as breastfeeding.2 In a nutshell, anyone, not just women, may need more sleep when they do not have the luxury of uninterrupted sleep.

Another group that requires more sleep than others is made up of adults who suffer from insomnia. People with insomnia get less rest, so they require more time to actually sleep. The more sleep is interrupted, the sleep is needed. Another sleep disorder known as apnea, causes interrupted breathing that may feel like choking. About 20% of Americans have sleep apnea and men are two to three times more likely to suffer from it than women.3

As technology takes us further away from nature, sleep becomes more of an issue. When people rely on natural circadian rhythms, sleep time is part of the tempo dictated by day and night. Modern inventions that go as far back as the light bulb, hinder sleep quality by artificially creating longer “daylight” hours. This longer exposure to light can suppress the production of the sleep hormone melatonin, leading to poor sleep and hence, needing more sleep. Sleep experts explain that circadian rhythms can be reset or realigned to be more natural by waking up at the same time every morning and going to bed at the same time every night.4 Other helpful reset mechanisms include exercising during early morning and/or early evening, eating meals at set hours and ditching electronics at least an hour to two hours before bedtime.

Figuring out your natural sleep cycle might remedy sleep issues. One way to find out how much sleep is needed is by not setting an alarm clock for three nights consecutively, but going to bed at the same time. By not setting an alarm, you will awake naturally and be able to estimate how much sleep you actually need. Then the trick is to go to bed at the same time nightly that will allow you to reach the number of hours needed—and of course, your bedding can help you sleep wonderfully, so be sure to check out Kenko Sleep Technology, exclusively from Nikken.

Happy Halloween!

1, 2, 3, 4 https://apple.news/AZRPnHbh_Qv-9MqtxiKeaGQ

What Happens to Your Body During Sleep?

Published on by Nikken

Were you ever told not to eat too much before going to bed at night? Or to make sure you apply moisturizer at night? It’s because your body is busy repairing cells and finishing digestion while you sleep. Those are just two key activities your body performs during sleep.

Hormone production changes during sleep. Growth hormone production increases while stress hormones decrease. In fact, cortisol, known as the stress hormone, goes down when you fall asleep but then rises again, before you wake up. Melatonin, on the other hand, rises when you are ready to sleep and falls when daylight approaches. In healthy bodies, kidneys make less urine during sleep, so you don’t have to get up to use the bathroom during a good night’s rest.

Another change the body undergoes during sleep is body temperature. It goes up and down a bit throughout the day, but at night, body temperature tends to be one to two degrees lower than during the day. The lower body temperature helps you stay asleep because humans sleep better when cooler. To prepare for the next day’s activities, your body temperature starts rising as morning approaches.

“Sleep is a period during which the brain is engaged in a number of activities necessary to life—which are closely linked to quality of life,” says Johns Hopkins sleep expert and neurologist Mark Wu, M.D., PhD.1 Throughout your time asleep, your brain will cycle repeatedly through two different types of sleep: REM (rapid-eye movement) sleep and non-REM sleep.

The first part of the cycle is non-REM sleep, which is composed of four stages. The first stage comes between being awake and falling asleep. The second is light sleep, when heart rate and breathing regulate and body temperature drops. The third and fourth stages are deep sleep. Though REM sleep was previously believed to be the most important sleep phase for learning and memory, newer data suggests that non-REM sleep is more important for these tasks, as well as being the more restful and restorative phase of sleep.2

As you cycle into REM sleep, the eyes move rapidly behind closed lids, and brain waves are similar to those during wakefulness. During the day, your breathing changes a lot, depending on what you’re doing and feeling. During non-REM sleep (about 80% of an adult’s sleeping time), you breathe slowly and regularly. But during REM sleep, your breathing rate goes up again, which also dreaming time. Breathing also becomes more shallow and less regular during this sleep phase. Some of it may be due to throat muscles relaxing. It may also be due to less movement of the rib cage during REM sleep. Whenever you’re sleeping, your oxygen levels are lower and your carbon dioxide levels are higher because your level of breathing goes slightly down.3

During non-REM sleep, your brain takes a real rest; however, during REM sleep, your brain may be even more active than when you’re awake! Blood flow to the brain and metabolism in the brain increases during REM sleep, which supports activity. Your brain also uses your sleep cycles to consolidate memories. So, staying up all night to cram for a test or a special work project might be counterproductive.4. In other words, when you sleep too little, you are unable to process what you’ve learned during the dayand have more trouble remembering it in the future. Simply put, restful sleep is important so that your body can utilize the time to rejuvenate and ensure optimal levels of immunity, metabolism and brain function.

Throughout the month of October, Nikken is offering 20% off our Kenko sleep products (except for the Kenko PowerSleep Mask) plus free ground shipping. The Makura Sleep Packs are already priced with a 10% discount, but we’re adding another 10%, so you still get 20% off plus free ground shipping. Take advantage of this great sale to help your entire body enjoy the luxury of restful sleep!

1, 2 https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-science-of-sleep-understanding-what-happens-when-you-sleep

3, 4 https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/what-happens-body-during-sleep

Why Sleep Matters in Big Ways

Published on by Nikken

Achieving deep, restful sleep is essential to maximizing our well-being and daily performance. Sleep is a personal matter and what serves as adequate sleep for one can be completely insufficient for another. Nonetheless, sleep issues can affect people of all ages and impact many parts of our lives.

The Sleep Foundation1 compiles data regarding sleep habits and performance. Some of the statistics are truly daunting:

• Insufficient sleep has an estimated economic impact of more than $411 billion each year in the United States alone.

• 4.8 of 10 workers say they are regularly tired during the day, and 7 of 10 say they are tired when their work day is done.

• Up to two-thirds of adults occasionally experience insomnia symptoms. 10-15% of people experience chronic insomnia, which persists over multiple months. Women are 40% more likely to have insomnia than men. 55% of nurses say they experience insomnia.

• One study estimates the annual cost of workplace errors and accidents linked to insomnia at $31.1 billion in America.

• Drowsy driving is responsible for more than 6,000 fatal car crashes.

• About 57% of men, 40% of women and 27% of children snore in the U.S. Up to 70% of snorers have been diagnosed with sleep apnea.

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects around one billion adults worldwide, with 80-90% of cases going undiagnosed. A 10% increase in body weight may make us six times more likely to have OSA.

Research2 shows that what we eat and drink can make it easier or harder to get the sleep we need:

• Drinking more than two servings of alcohol per day for men and more than one serving per day for women can decrease sleep quality by 39%.

• On average, adults in North America snack before bedtime 3.9 nights each week. Adults who snack on seeds and nuts before bed sleep an average of 32 minutes more than those who snack on chips, crackers, or pretzels.

• Eating within two hours before bed is linked to later bedtimes, trouble falling and staying asleep and obesity.

• 71% of SleepFoundation.org survey respondents drink coffee every day. Of these, 70% think caffeine has an impact on their sleep. Top issues reported by caffeine-drinkers are sleepiness, fatigue and insomnia, with 30% experiencing anxiety.

Daylight Saving Time in North America has a big impact on people’s sleep patterns. Generally speaking, it’s easier to transition in the autumn when we gain an hour but our circadian rhythms still need to adjust. In the week after the November time change, people experienced 115% increase in difficulty falling asleep, 103% increase in excessive daytime sleepiness, 64% increase in difficulty staying asleep and 34%increase in sleep dissatisfaction.3

Throughout the month of October, Nikken is offering 20% off our Kenko sleep products (except for the Kenko PowerSleep Mask) plus free ground shipping. The Makura Sleep Packs are already priced with a 10% discount, but we’re adding another 10%, so you still get 20% off plus free ground shipping. Take advantage of this sale to transform every bedroom into the perfect sleep environment!

1, 2, 3 https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/sleep-facts-statistics#:~:text=at%20$31.1%20billion-,View%20Source%20.,almost%2020%20million%20children%20snore

Sleep the Way Nature Intended

Published on by Nikken

The closer you replicate the natural environment, the more conducive it is for sleeping well. When you sleep under the stars, you are sleeping directly under the earth’s electromagnetic field, soothed by the ground and all the elements it contains. Negative ions abound from the growth surrounding you. Nesting creatures add leaves, twigs and feathers—did you know if you leave out the fur your dog sheds, birds will come and take it to cushion their nests just as they would gather the fur fallen off a wild creature in the woods?

Since people tend to sleep indoors, creating a good sleep environment entails other basic aspects: Noise can be an impediment to sleep, but it depends on the type of noise. The trend now is for babies to sleep with a white noise machine, sometimes replicating the sounds heard in a mother’s womb. Grown people might benefit from a sound machine which plays the notes of a trickling stream, gentle ocean waves, leaves rustling in the breeze or soft music. There are always those who appreciate silence, so that can be part of their sleep environment.

Everyone has a preference when it comes to room temperature. Generally speaking, sleep experts have found that people sleep more soundly in a sightly cool environment. This again replicates what is found in nature: The air temperature cools down at night. Similarly, our body temperature dips around 4 a.m., which helps to preserve our energy.1

The Kenko Dream Comforter and its lighter partner, the Kenko Dream Light Comforter offer a cozy effect with a magnetic layer as well as ceramic-reflective fibers that help release heat to keep a comfy temperature. Innovative chitocotton contains chitosan for a breathable cover that helps with ventilation.  

When sleeping under the stars, there is darkness and possibly moonlight and starlight. The human body’s natural circadian rhythm follows the dark-light cycle, with restful sleep taking place during darkness. So, sleep experts recommend keeping your bedroom dark, with a night light peeking out if necessary. The light from a TV or any mobile device is a deterrent to restful sleep—nature does not supply electronics.

The firmness of your mattress can make a difference in your sleep. Some people prefer a soft cushion while others require the support of a stiffer mattress. When camping out, a sleeping bag provides some cushion, but the real support is the ground itself, which flexes a little but is quite firm. Find the bedding that supports your needs.

Kenko Sleep Technology provides the perfect solution to convert any mattress into one with the ideal support. The Kenko Naturest® Fit is made to fit twin, full, queen and king mattresses. Placing the Fit over your mattress will transform your sleep environment so that it replicates different parts of nature that are conducive for restful sleep. When exposed to pressure, heat or motion, tourmaline gives off electrons which can help create a calming effect; 800 gauss magnets create a magnetic field that cocoons the body for a relaxing effect; reflective and breathable fibers help regulate body temperature; and rubberthane with natural latex nodules provide massaging effects! The Fit brings nature right into your bedroom!

Throughout the month of October, Nikken is offering 20% off our sleep products (except for the Kenko PowerSleep Mask) plus free ground shipping. The Makura Sleep Packs are already priced with a 10% discount, but we’re adding another 10%, so you still get 20% off plus free ground shipping. Take advantage of this sale to transform every bedroom into a sleep environment the way nature intended!

1 https://wellnesscenter.gatech.edu/sleep/bedroom-environment#:~:text=Silence%20or%20low%20levels%20of,deep%20sleep%20will%20be%20compromised.

Smart Nutrition the Kenzen® Way

Published on by Nikken

September at Nikken is about smart nutrition: eating healthy food, choosing nutrient-dense ingredients in cooking, committing to whole foods rather than processed ones and avoiding refined pre-packaged items that contain added sugar and salt. With our hectic multi-generational family lifestyles, dietary or nutritional supplementation can make a big difference.

Here’s a summary of what Kenzen® Nutrition is designed to do:

•          Kenzen® Calcium Complex and Kenzen BDZ® work synergistically to support bone health.* Added minerals in the Calcium Complex enhance absorption, while BDZ acts as the perfect complement with patented vitamin K and its unique marine plant complex to support bone structure and strength.*

•          Kenzen® Joint is formulated with high potency cetyl myristoleate, combined with gluosamine, methylsulfonylmethane and boswelia plant compounds—to support joint movement and connective tissue repair.* A topical version is CM Complex Cream that contains the same naturally lubricating properties.

•          Pink Collagen Complex stands out with its naturally pink color and exceptional formulation. Blood peach, rose apple and beet root combine their rosy tint with antioxidant powers and pleasant flavor, so there’s no fishy taste to the powerful type 1 collagen derived from marine peptides.

•          Kenzen® Omega Green + DHA contains heart-healthy omegas 3, 6, and 9 in one formula! The vegan formula is plant-sourced from cranberry seed oil, flax seed oil and red algae. Supporting digestive, hormonal and nerve health, it also benefits eyes and the brain.* It’s a formula chockful of omega fatty acids that even vegans can enjoy!

•          Kenzen Bergisterol® aims to support cardiovascular health and immune response.* Made with an exclusive strain of the bergamot fruit, it is rich in polyphenols and bioflavonoids.

•          Kenzen Super Ciaga® powder is a delicious way to support heart health, cellular functions and the immune system for overall well-being and natural energy levels.* It’s formulated with highly concentrated superfruits, such as maqui berry, elderberry, blackberry, raspberry and blueberry.

•          Kenzen® Immunity was providing immune support long before mushrooms became a trending topic.* Made with 14 different mushrooms, it is a standout in the market where supplements only contain single species or just a few.

•          Kenzen® Digestion 4-20 contains 20 different enzymes within the 4 categories of macronutrients: fats, proteins, carbs and fiber. This formula helps the digestive process by optimizing absorption of nutrients, allowing the body to convert fuel into energy.*

•          Kenzen® Cleanse & Detox supports the liver, which provides more than 500 functions!* This formula helps rid the body of toxins and other wastes, utilizing natural ingredients, such as organic chicory root, milk thistle and turmeric.

•          Kenzen Lactoferrin® 2.0 supports gut health while binding and transporting iron, so the body can absorb it.* The formula has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties for overall health*.

•          Kenzen Jade Greenzymes® and Jade Greenzymes® Citrus are known as “nature’s perfect food.” That’s because organic barley grass has the full balance of enzymes needed to support healthy bones and tissue, skin elasticity and help maintain natural pH levels.*

•          Kenzen® Clarity supports cognitive function* with a fermented blend of ingredients. The formula is based on the gut-brain connection—fermentation helps absorption and digestibility of nutrients such as organic ashwagandha and organic bacopa leaf, supporting better memory, focus and concentration.*

•          Kenzen® Mega Daily 4 (in two formulas, one specifically for women and one for men) is a formulation of organic vegetables that provide the known types of water-soluble and fat-soluble antioxidants plus nutrients that support celluar function.*It offers gender-specific support for whole body renewal.*

•          Coming in October, new Kenzen Vital Balance® Meal Replacement Mix contains 30% of the recommended daily allowance for protein in vegan form. MCTs support the brain while vitamins and minerals come from natural sources, making them more bioavailable. Prebiotics and probiotics promote effective digestion and absorption.*

Try smart nutrition the Kenzen® way for overall health and well-being—easy, effective and extraordinary.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Can you Help Prevent the Winter Cold and Flu?

Published on by Nikken

Your lifestyle and immune system can make the difference between staying healthy or getting sick. Here are some tips for staying healthy during cold and flu season:

• Keep your hands clean by washing them often. Touching Infected surfaces is the most common way to pick up a virus, so use soap and water and wash for 20 seconds, minimum.

• Don’t touch your face. Apparently, children touch their faces an average of 16 times an hour!1 Rubbing eyes, scratching your nose, chewing on fingernails all help viruses get into the body.

• Keep surfaces clean in the house. Use disinfecting wipes to help reduce germs.

• Get enough sleep to help keep the immune system healthy and strong. Lack of sleep makes the body more susceptible to germs. Create an environment that helps you sleep “like a baby.”

• Eat nutritious foods to help strengthen the immune system. Boost intake of infection-fighting antioxidants—lots of colorful fruits and vegetables.

• Blanch your veggies. Viruses linger on produce, so boiling them for a couple of minutes kills them.

• Increase omega-3 intake to help spur production of infection-fighting cells. Eat fish. For those who avoid seafood, find vegetarian sources, such as flax seeds, for a daily dose of omegas 3, 6 and 9!

• Drink green tea. A catechin in green tea called EGCG is believed to damage flu virus particles and stop them from entering your system. German scientists believe this catechin may also interfere with pneumonia-causing bacteria.2

• Eat yogurt. A study published in “Clinical Nutrition” showed that people who consumed a strain of specific probiotics daily reduced their risk of catching a cold or flu by 27%.3

• Use ginger. Researchers in Taiwan discovered fresh ginger can inhibit respiratory viruses from attaching to cells and may reduce their ability to replicate.4 Make spicy tea or add ginger to a stir fry.

• Keep your nose warm—the cilia in your nasal and sinus cavities help sweep away pathogens, but move slowly when cold.

• Hum! According to an Indian study, humming can increase antimicrobial nitric oxide in the nose! Take a deep breath, close one nostril and exhale out the other nostril as you hum.5

• Do yoga. Japanese scientists contend that combining relaxation and physical activity triggers an increase in saliva levels of an antimicrobial peptide that breaks down invading microbes. A 90-minute yoga session doubled the peptide called beta-defensin 2.6

• Exercise. Physical activity helps you become less prone to colds and flu, as movement helps stimulate the white blood cells that fight infection.

• Decrease stress. Try targeted massage and acupressure to help roll away tension!

1 https://www.laurelpedsmd.com/blog/10-tips-to-help-prevent-winter-colds-and-flu#:~:text=Get%20and%20stay%20physical,blood%20cells%20that%20fight%20infection.

2, 3, 4, 5, 6 https://www.today.com/health/26-ways-avoid-getting-sick-winter-1d80290214

Do You Like Winter Weather?

Published on by Nikken

There are lots of people who prefer cold to hot, and that includes their preferences for weather! Do you tend to think of vacations being time spent at the beach, in the balmy tropical weather, sunshine and swimming, or do you prefer holidays spent in the snow—skiing, snowboarding, sledding, making snowmen and having snowball fights?

Psychologists have looked into seasonal preferences to better understand the mood and behavioral changes that temperature and light variations have on people. Personal preferences seem to reveal specific personality traits. For example, your cognitive performance, your preference for certain colors and different types of music, and the kind of foods you tend to eat all vary over the course of the year.One study conducted in Belgium found that people had the hardest time keeping their focus in the summer and the easiest time doing so in the winter.1

The seasons also appear to influence how kind you are to others. For example, charitable contributions in countries with Christian traditions increase dramatically around Christmas. People in these societies are also more likely to tip their waiters generously during the holiday season. Aggressive behavior, from horn honking to violent crime tends to peak in the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere.2

Who likes winter? If you count the chilly months of winter as your favorite season, it might mean that you tend to be a bit of an introverted homebody.3 Does a warm sweater and curling up on the couch with hot cocoa on a cold night sound like your ideal afternoon? Here are some other types of people who enjoy winter:

•          Thermophobes. In Latin, therm means heat and phobe means fear.

•          Winter sport fans. As mentioned above, skiers, snowboarders, sledders, etc.

•          Those sensitive to the sun. If you sunburn easily and are always applying sunblock or searching for an appropriate sun hat, overcast or snowy winter days provide some relief.

•          Those sensitive to bug bites. One winter blessing is the decrease of mosquitoes and other “biting” insects.

Whether or not you’re a fan of winter, Nikken has the perfect products to make your cold weather days the coziest ever. From the Kenko Dream Comforter of your choice to the KenkoTherm support products, Nikken takes its lead from nature and weaves in ceramic reflective fibers to help keep you toasty. And, when you purchase a Kenko Naturest® Fit mattress topper now through year end, you receive a complimentary Kenko PowerSleep Mask!

1, 2 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unserious-psychology/202306/how-the-seasons-affect-our-psychology

3 verywellmind.com/what-your-favorite-season-say-about-personality