Want a more positive, encouraging Instagram feed? Then follow us!
@Living_Well_Community
@LoveLolaGraham
@RetireHealthier

Welcome to Living Well Daily, the newsletter serving up a daily dose of care designed to support you, cheer you on and remind you, always, just how wonderful you already are.

In Today’s Edition:

🥰Well-Being & Self-Care: Your Nervous System Is Always Listening
💖Longevity & Wellness: A Win For Coffee Drinkers
✨Daily Affirmation & Daily Prompt

3 reasons you’re awesome:
1. You’re here; we only let awesome people subscribe
2. You care about your well-being
3. You are uniquely you & that is badass

PS. We think you’re mega super awesome

Have you ever noticed how walking into a peaceful forest can make your shoulders soften? Or how a crowded, noisy room can leave you feeling on edge, even when nothing particularly stressful is happening?

That's your nervous system at work!

Your nervous system is constantly receiving and responding to information from the world around you. Sounds, lighting, facial expressions, temperature, movement, and even the tone of someone's voice can influence how alert, comfortable, or overwhelmed you feel.

And here's what's fascinating: much of this happens before you're consciously aware of it.

Your brain and body are continuously interpreting sensory information, drawing on past experiences and your current circumstances to help determine how to respond.

This means supporting your nervous system isn't only about what you do when you're stressed. It's also about discovering the little things that help you feel more comfortable, connected, energized, and at ease.

🌿 Your Nervous System Experiment: Today, become a curious observer of your surroundings. Notice one environment that leaves you feeling more settled or energized, and one that feels more demanding. What differences do you notice in the sounds, lighting, people, or sensory stimulation?

You don't need to change anything yet. Just get curious.

^{Love, Lola Graham}

I LOVE coffee, especially a cup of decaf at night because it feels like a nice little treat. That’s all to say that I love this new research, which suggests coffee may positively influence your gut microbiome.

In a small study, regular coffee drinkers stopped drinking coffee for two weeks (sounds like a dreadful 2 weeks). The researchers took samples to examine participants’ gut bacteria. During the coffee break, they saw participants' gut bacteria shift. The researchers found that drinking coffee was linked to higher levels of beneficial gut bacteria that make the gut less hospitable to harmful bacteria.

When the researchers then had participants reintroduce coffee, they gave half regular and the other half decaf. Participants didn't know which one they were drinking.

They found that when coffee was reintroduced, participants reported lower stress, depression, and impulsivity scores. Also, drinking decaf was linked with better learning and memory, while caffeinated coffee was associated with improved attention, lower anxiety and was linked to lower inflammation.

These findings suggest the benefits of coffee may come from the compounds in it (not just the caffeine), like the polyphenols, which may act as antioxidants and also interact with gut microbes, influencing metabolism and other processes.

✅ Action Step: If coffee agrees with you, enjoy it as part of a balanced diet and remember that decaf may still offer benefits beyond caffeine.

PS. If you ever quit coffee and want to donate it to me, I’ll happily accept :)

^{By: Joshua Graham}

^{A supportive prompt to build health, nourishment, and long-term wellness.}

What does your body need to nourish right now? Notice what happens when you listen to your body sooner instead of later.

Before you go, let us know what you thought of today’s edition and if there are any subjects you would like us to cover in the future reply to this email and let us know!

If you find our newsletter helpful, we’d love for you to share it with a friend! If you’re that friend, you can subscribe here. Thanks for spreading the word! xo

With love and care,

Lola & Joshua | The Living Well Team

^{Living Well Daily is for educational purposes only and is in no way a substitute for professional medical and mental health advice and diagnosis. Please consult a qualified professional for care unique to your needs.}

^{Remember: It’s okay to ask for help. Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 (Canada & US).}