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.

You’re here! Yay!!! We are so happy to have you here, and we want you to know that we appreciate you and are grateful for you. We hope you have the bestest of days, you deserve it! 

Even in a season filled with joy, lights, and celebration, many people carry loneliness, grief, or a quiet ache they don’t speak about. Holidays have a way of magnifying what’s missing… the person you wish was here, the version of life you hoped for, the connection you long for, or the sense of belonging that feels far away.

If this is you, know you’re not alone. Your pain doesn’t mean you’re doing the holidays “wrong.” It means you’re human. And you deserve tenderness, softness, and rituals that support you through the complicated mix of emotions this season brings. Know that feelings also aren’t either or, you can be happy for holidays AND hold grief at the same time. Whatever you’re feeling, we’re sending care your way.

If this isn’t you this season, we hope this conversation can help you hold quiet space for those who are having a hard time. When we recognize that the season hits different for everyone, we become safer spaces for others as we hold compassion for ranges of experiences.

Let’s look at ways to honour whatever shows up:

Soft ways to support yourself:

✅Action step: Choose one small ritual (a candle, a cup of tea, a gentle playlist) to honour your feelings this week.

^{Love, Lola Graham}

A recent meta-analysis of 12 studies with over 270,000 participants found that there is a simple strategy one can use to help lower the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. 

The strategy is to eat a healthy diet! They found that healthy diets were associated with 46% lower odds of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 

They found that the most powerful effect was from an anti-inflammatory diet, which makes sense considering that RA causes inflammation in the joints. This diet focuses on eating primarily unprocessed foods that are high in antioxidants, fibre and healthy fats. The other most effective diet was the Mediterranean diet. 

This meta-analysis only looked at observational studies, which means that while these findings are interesting and could be true, there could be variables that were not taken into account. 

However, this does build on some previous research, which suggests that a healthy diet can help with rheumatoid arthritis. All in all, more reasons to make whole, unprocessed foods a large part of your nutrition.

✅ Action Step: Eat some vegetables, fruit and other whole foods today! 

^{By: Joshua Graham}

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!

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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).}