🧍‍♀️ How to Fix Your Terrible, Horrible Posture

Happy Monday! Each week, we delve into health and wellness trends with a healthy dose of skepticism, offering practical tips to enhance your wellbeing and performance 🥑

Here’s what you’ll find in this week’s issue:

• 💻️ How to fix your terrible posture (and why you may not need to).

• 👄 News flash: There’s a wrong way to chew. How to do it right.

• 🚶‍♀️ Why TikTok wants you to ditch your earbuds for your mental health.

• 🎂 The right way to use a calorie counting app…

Let’s go!

MAIN FEATURE

How to Fix Your Terrible, Horrible Posture: Do You Even Need To?

Google Trends reveals that people are obsessively searching for “‘how to fix posture” more than ever before in 2023. Luckily, the internet is flooded with videos promising to help you correct your bad posture so you can stand taller, reduce pain and get the respect you finally deserve, damnit.

However, the quest for "perfect" posture might not be the silver bullet, or even necessary. To understand why, let's dig into the posture puzzle.

Debunking the "Bad" Posture Myth

Most folks equate bad posture with a rounded back, forward shoulders, neck woes (like tech neck or a neck hump), and pelvic tilts. Yet, slapping "good" or "bad" labels on postures oversimplifies things. Surprisingly, a range of postures can be healthy.

You might find that surprising, considering we typically associate "bad" posture with endless screen hunching and the inevitable aches and pains. But is there really a direct link between posture and pain?

The Curious Case of Bad Posture and Pain

At first glance, it seems like a no-brainer – slouching and precarious spine positions must lead to pain, right? If you've blamed your aches on your "terrible" posture, you're not alone.

But here's the kicker: a heap of evidence suggests that "bad" posture doesn't necessarily cause pain. One study on the nocebo effect shows that it’s more about our expectations and beliefs influencing how we experience pain. If you firmly believe your posture will leave you sore, it just might.

Still skeptical? Fair enough, but it's not all in your head. The key is not sticking to one static posture for hours on end. Dynamic posture and frequent movement matter more than the elusive "perfect" posture.

So, Is It Pointless to Try to “Fix” Posture?

Here’s the thing about “fixing” your posture: while it may not be necessary, stretches and exercises that help you stand taller have a variety of benefits. This includes stretching tight areas while strengthening weak areas.

Not sure where to start? Check out these 3 “posture-fixing” exercises.

When "Bad" Posture Is Truly Bad

Posture also has a social dimension. Good posture can earn you respect from peers and boost your self-image while bad posture can degrade the way you and others see you. Your posture and body language play such a pivotal role in your perception that a TED Talk on the subject is the second most-viewed of all time.

Top 3 Takeaways

1. Fixing "bad" posture may not be necessary; dynamic posture, regular movement & the right mindset around pain are crucial to avoid pain.

2. Stretching and exercises for better alignment offer benefits beyond just “fixing” your posture

3. Posture in social contexts: Good posture can earn respect from your peers and even influence your own self-image

So there you have it. Before you go crush your week, check out the rest of the email.

— JC

📈 Health Optimization Tip of the Week

Chewing: you’re probably doing it wrong!

Did your folks or grandparents ever stress the value of chewing your food thoroughly? Surprisingly, there are some fantastic benefits to doing it right. And despite the slightly eerie thumbnail and banana-yellow popped collar, once ynou hit play, you’ll see this video is full of gold.

📱 Trending on TikTok #wellnessTok

The trend: Silent Walking

Navigating anxiety and life's nonstop demands? Enter Silent walking, TikTok’s newest trend that involves strolling – sans music or podcasts.

Yes, you heard it right – it's just you and your thoughts on peaceful stroll. While it may sound terrifying for some, experts are on board, saying that being “in the moment” during movement is a fantastic mindfulness exercise. So, even if you typically never go anywhere without your earbuds, experts suggest giving it a shot for potential mental health benefits.

@madymaio

#stitch with @KENZIEELIZABETH WE’RE SILENT WALKING ALL SUMMER, BABE 🚶 #walkinggirls #girlswhowalk #meditativewalk #intentionalwalk

⏯️ Watch it on TikTok

Should you try silent walking?

❌ Nope, nope, nope 🍊 Maybe ✅  Yeah!

📆 This Week in Wellness

Every week, we scan the web for the good, the bad and the downright intriguing in the world of health and wellness.

😻 The good:

• Chomping down on some tree nuts every day might just give you a boost against depression, according to some fresh research.

👎️ The bad:

• Night owl alert: The results of an 8-year study shows that staying up late and sleeping in can increase chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

🤔 The interesting:

• A recent study suggests spicing up your medicine cabinet with turmeric, as it has potential for relieving stomach discomfort, though much remains uncertain.

💭 Parting Thought

*deletes app* Problem solved 👏 

Shot of Wellness Mission:

We’re hellbent on making expert-backed health info accessible & free of charge. In a world full of misinformation, we bring the skepticism, so you can think of us as your witty, well-informed friend who's got your back on all things health & wellness.

Something you want to see covered in a future issue?

👉️ Reply now and let us know

Missed last week’s issue? Read it here ⬇️ 

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Until next time ✌️ 

Hi, I’m Jenna, founder of Shot of Wellness. Every week, I curate this newsletter with the goal of helping you optimize your health, focus and wellbeing.

Please Note: This is not medical advice. This content is to be used for informational or educational purposes only. I am not a doctor — I do not even play one on TV. Please consult with a medical professional before undertaking any new diet or exercise regime. Take care.