The Villages - June 2020 - 4

CHECKING IN

BY RICA KEENUM

On Better Sleep, Boosting Your Immunity
& Filling Your Digital Bookshelves
The average person spends a third of their life sleeping - do you?
According to the National Institutes of Health, most adults need seven to
nine hours of sleep nightly. Those who struggle with insomnia or simply
want to improve their sleep habits will enjoy the sleep health article in
this issue. When sleep evades, the nights seem endlessly long, and a lack
of sleep can affect everything else in your life, from your golf swing to
your card game, and your physical and mental health. Exploring natural
remedies, evening routines and expert advice on the topic, we offer
potential solutions for sleepless nights. Check out those tips and see if
they keep you from tossing and turning.
In addition to adequate sleep, experts recommend a healthy diet to
maintain a strong immune system. It's your body's invisible armor,
protecting against sickness and disease, the common cold, an antigen
or infection. Your immune system is your first line of defense. It's vital
to keep it functioning at its best. In our food section this month, we help
you make the most of your meals by piling on foods that pack a powerful
nutritional punch. We talk about farm-to-table fare, and why fresh
matters the most.
The Villages Grown brings fresh produce through innovation and
expertise. It's their food-as-medicine mission. Raising the standard for
fresh in our neighborhood, their team is showing residents how real food
grows. "It's just like taking a human off of oxygen - it starts to lose its
vital nutrients - its look, its taste, its feel and its shelf life," The Villages
Grown executive director Jennifer Waxman says about produce. When
you grab your greens at an area market, you get a guaranteed fresh
selection. Find out how to access the Mobile Market, and try some new
recipes, too.
What else boosts our health? How about the power of nature - a
stroll along a tree-lined street or a golf car drive to view a brilliant sunset.
The Villages is home to hosts of scenic spots where residents can toss out
a blanket for a picnic or take a seat on a bench overlooking a pond. With
plenty of wildlife fluttering about and gardens bursting with blooms,
we can enjoy the gifts of nature every day. In our Scenic Spots story,
we share photos of trails, marshlands and other great places to explore
around town.
These are just some of the stories you'll find in this issue. Here's to a
healthier diet, better sleep, and learning new things about our dogs.
Cozy up with this issue and see this month's extended book section for a
complete list of summer books to download.

Have a great month!
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JUNE 2020
The Villages - June 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - June 2020
