Health
October Health Tips: Low-Impact Fitness & Mood-Boosting Eats
Health Points
- October is a great opportunity to refresh your fitness and eating habits.
- Low-impact cardio and core routines can energize you and protect your joints.
- Mood-boosting foods and mindful eating support both mental and physical health.
October sits perfectly between back-to-school hustle and the start of the holiday season, making it an ideal month to fine-tune your health routine.
This month, focus on enjoying movement and nourishing foods that boost your motivation, energy, and well-being without feeling restrictive.
31-Day Low-Impact Cardio & Core Challenge
Enjoy workouts that are gentle on your joints while building strength and boosting your mood.
“Focusing on low-impact cardio and core strength for one month will leave you feeling good! I want your body to crave movement and exercise because you feel better afterward,” says TODAY Fitness Contributor Stephanie Mansour.
Walking, dancing, swimming, and Pilates are all great activities for this challenge and help minimize joint stress.
“Low-impact exercise puts less pressure on the joints in the body. Less bouncing and jumping can help the body relax and doing lower-impact exercises can help you focus more on form instead of on impact,” says Mansour.
You can find routines like 5-Minute Find the Joy Cardio, Seated Chair-obics, and 20-Minute Dance Cardio in the Start TODAY app.
How to Eat to Improve Your Mental Health
Nourishing your body with the right foods may lift your mood and help manage stress.
“Believe it or not, what you eat can directly impact how you feel. Certain foods are packed with nutrients that support brain health, balance mood and reduce stress,” says dietitian Natalie Rizzo.
Try adding blueberries, turmeric, walnuts, and fermented foods to your meals to support your brain and gut health.
“Emotional eating often shows up as cravings for comfort foods during stress, boredom or sadness,” adds Rizzo.
Track your eating habits with a simple journal to spot triggers for emotional eating and find new ways to care for yourself when cravings strike.
“The key to feeling energized throughout the day is eating well-balanced meals that stabilize blood-sugar levels,” says Rizzo.
Snacks like Greek yogurt with cherries or nut butter stuffed dates help you stay satisfied and energized.
Small changes now can set you up for success as the holidays approach. Try new workouts and recipes, and discover what makes you feel your best this October.
