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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: Monday Healing Moment: Giving Yourself Permission to Want
💖Longevity & Wellness: A Diet for a Healthier Heart & Brain
✨Daily Affirmation & Daily Prompt

I would like to share with you a short story I wrote:

Once upon a time, there was a marvellous person.
That person is you!

Happy Monday 💛 Let's begin this week by reconnecting with a beautiful part of being human: our capacity to want, dream, and desire.

Take a slow breath in. And a soft breath out. Let yourself settle into this moment.

Now imagine a quiet space within you, free from expectations, obligations, and the opinions of others.

A space where you can ask yourself a simple question: What do I want?

Not what you should want. Not what others need from you. Not what's practical or productive. Just what your heart might be reaching toward.

Perhaps it's adventure. Rest. Connection. Creativity. Change. A little more freedom. Perhaps you don't know yet. That's okay, too.

Imagine giving your desires a little room to breathe, without immediately needing to justify or pursue them.

You are allowed to want things simply because they matter to you.

Your dreams don't have to be enormous. Your desires don't have to become achievements.

Sometimes wanting is simply a beautiful reminder that something within you is reaching toward life.

As this week begins, let yourself listen a little more closely to what calls to you. 

Take one more slow breath, welcoming your desires with curiosity.

You are allowed to want a life that feels meaningful and beautiful to you.

^{Love, Lola Graham}

The Mediterranean diet is linked with better heart and brain health, and new research is helping to explain why.

Researchers examined blood samples of people who followed the Mediterranean diet to different degrees; what they found was interesting…

Older adults who followed the diet closely had higher levels of two tiny mitochondrial proteins called humanin and SHMOOSE. They also had lower levels of oxidative stress, which over time can damage proteins, DNA, and other cellular components, contributing to aging and chronic disease.

Humanin and SHMOOSE have been linked to better cardiovascular health, insulin sensitivity, brain protection, and healthy aging.

The researchers found that the foods most associated with higher levels of these proteins were olive oil, fish, and legumes. They also found that consuming fewer refined carbohydrates was linked to higher SHMOOSE levels.

This is a good reminder that focusing on food quality literally shapes how your body functions. 

✅ Action Step: Build more meals around the staples of the Mediterranean diet: fish, beans, lentils, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and extra virgin olive oil. 

^{By: Joshua Graham | Source: PMID 41883858}

^{A gentle prompt to help you create small feel good moments of beauty, appreciation, and delight.}

Notice one tiny moment of beauty today: a colour, a sound, a detail. Pause and let it brighten your inner world.

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).}