I hope you dance: Discover the health benefits of dancing

By Erin Feitsma, Times Total Media Correspondent

Unlike George Michael, who famously crooned, “I’m never gonna dance again,” you, in fact, should embrace dancing. Not only can it be expressive and a lot of fun, but dancing can also have some nifty health benefits.

Read on to discover how adding a bit of dance to your life can give your health a boost. *insert “Careless Whisper” saxophone solo here*

Dancing is heart-healthy

Take heart: Even if you’re not a fan of typical cardio workouts like running or swimming, dance can serve as a playful and enjoyable alternative that’s good for your health. According to a 2016 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, people who participated in moderate-intensity dancing were 46 percent less likely to develop heart disease, or die from it, than nondancers over 10 years of follow-up. So, next time you lace up your dancing shoes (ours are a black patent leather), remember that you’re doing your heart a favor.

Dancing can keep you connected

Dancing can also be a social activity and a way to connect with a community of like-minded individuals. Attending dance classes at a local organization like the YMCA can help you brush up on your skills, form new friendships and learn about different types of dances. Not only that, but studies have shown that dancing can be a good self-esteem booster. The benefits of dancing abound!

Dancing can improve your mental health

Not only can dancing boost both your social life and selfesteem, but it can also improve other aspects of your mental health. For instance, studies have shown that dancing can decrease anxiety. It might also be able to make you mentally sharper overall: Research finds that dancing helps us think and can improve the parts of the brain in charge of memory and organization. One study from The New England Journal of Medicine even suggests that dancing can help prevent dementia.

Dancing can help your physical health too

Dancing gets you moving, and it can be great for your balance. Especially the tango! Research from the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity has found that tango dancing can improve balance in older adults. Ballet is another type of dance known to help improve balance as well as flexibility.

Dancing can help you lose weight

A bonus side effect of the joy that is dancing is weight loss. In fact, a study from the Journal of Physiological Anthropology reports that aerobic dance training can help you shred the same amount of pounds as biking or jogging. This is especially encouraging if running or riding a bike just isn’t your thing. Instead, get your dance on!

Dancing can strengthen your bones

You’re a born dancer, it’s in your bones! Or, in this case, it might actually help your bones. The National Osteoporosis Foundation has found that high-impact, weight-bearing exercises, like certain types of dances, can promote bone strength and even help build new bone mass, which slows down the progression of osteoporosis.

Dancing can reduce stress

Are you a stress eater or stress cleaner? Why not become a stress dancer instead? Sure, precious few have claimed to be stress dancers, but as dance is a natural stress reliever, there are benefits to be had in giving it a try. A study from the Journal of Applied Gerontology found that dancing with a partner to some tunes can lower stress levels. So, put on some pop music (or hip-hop, country or emo) and leave your troubles on the dance floor. When in doubt, dance it out, and prove George Michael wrong.

Information for this article was gathered from everydayhealth.com, healthline.com, ymcadallas.org, and greatist.com.

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eczema. While the exact cause of eczema is unknown, researchers do know that people who develop the disorder do so because of a combination of genes, a sensitive immune system, a dysfunctional skin barrier, skin bacteria like staphylococcus aureus and environmental triggers.

If you’re still not sure, and even if you are, start seeing a dermatologist. Their hard-won knowledge and expertise can help you get control over your symptoms, so you can get back to living your best life. Which is really the whole point.

Information for this article was gathered from nationaleczema. org, psoriasis.org, clevelandclinic.org, medicalnewstoday.com, healthcentral.com and self.com.

While both have an immune system component, psoriasis is considered an autoimmune disease, while eczema, at least currently, is not. (Both conditions run in families, so genetic triggers are being studied.) In the case of psoriasis, skin cell turnover is sped up from every four weeks or so to every four days, leading to a buildup of new skin cells on top of older skin cells that can’t be shed quickly enough. This buildup manifests as the thickened, scaly, itchy patches called plaques (plaque psoriasis being the most common form of the condition). This rapid cell turnover and resulting buildup is not a feature of

GARDENING continued from PAGE 18 flowers, herbs or pumpkin patch, your body and brain are also reaping the benefits.

Mental benefits

Brain? Did someone mention the brain? Yes, there are more moodboosting, brainy benefits from gardening that help support mental health. According to UNC Health Talk, gardening can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and you may even get a boost of serotonin from digging in the soil. Inhaling Mycobacterium vaccae, a healthy bacterium found in soil, can help reduce anxiety, UNC Health Talk writes. Psychology Today states that this same bacterium has anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties that may protect against stress. Gardening is also a self-esteem booster, so you may be cultivating both confidence and crops as you work. A win-win!

Environmental benefits

When you plant a garden, not only are you creating something beautiful that you and your loved ones can enjoy, but you’re also paying the environment a favor. According to Green Matters, plant roots can absorb errant chemicals or heavy metals from the soil they’re planted in, and can also help bind soil together, so it’s less likely to wash away in heavy rains. Plants also may be able to help counteract global warming, reports Green Matters. Growing your own crops may even