5-Senses Sunday
5-Senses Sunday
The 5-Things Rocking my 5-Senses this week
Taste:
Apples
I hated apples as a kid. I’d roll my eyes whenever my mom suggested a “nice apple” as an after-school snack, when what I really wanted was a Twinkie and some Doritos.
I was also allergic to apple skins; any time I even tried a slice, my tongue would get itchy unless the apple was peeled. My mom tried to make apples more appealing (pun intended!) by adding nut butter, poaching them, or stirring them into my oatmeal. I give her credit—she really gave it her all.
Fast-forward 20 years, and thankfully, my allergy faded. I also learned that the “lame” Red Delicious, the only variety I thought existed, was just one of over 100 types of apples, each with a unique texture, flavor profile, and use.
Research shows that apples support brain function, heart health, and may even help prevent cancer. They contain compounds like chlorogenic acid and catechin, which protect against stomach damage and provide antioxidant benefits. Apple skin is rich in pectin, a gut-friendly prebiotic that nourishes the microbiome.
Today, I’m still exploring new apple varieties. There’s a wonderful farm market within walking distance of my house, showcasing over 30 apple types in bins throughout the store. Some of my favorites are:
Pink Lady
Cortland
Gala
and, of course, Honeycrisp!
What are your favorite types of apples, and how do you like to prepare and enjoy them?
Scent:
Armpit Fragrance
Say goodbye to those basic, baby-fresh deodorant scents and say hello to the burgeoning world—and art—of armpit fragrance.
No longer must stinky pits be disguised with floral notes or a quick afternoon wash in the bathroom. Now, they can exude hints of eucalyptus, black vanilla, or honey crisp cider—if you’re willing to spend $40 or more, that is.
Now, if only we could find a way to solve the climate crisis. 🙄
Sound:
By now, we know that music has a power that transcends language. It evokes deep emotions, stirs nostalgia, and even serves as a healing modality for our nervous systems and mental health. Some soundscapes are so ethereal they feel almost divinely crafted.
Recent studies are also revealing that sound and music can enhance growth in plants and fungi. In one study from Biology Journal, scientists played music, static sounds, and tones for fungi in petri dishes. They found that fungi exposed to music produced more spores and grew larger. This discovery could significantly impact sustainable farming, as fungi play an essential role in underground root network communication and beyond.
"The mechanism responsible for this phenomenon may be fungal mechanoreceptor stimulation and/or potentially a piezoelectric effect; however, further research is required to confirm this hypothesis," the researchers wrote.
Alternatively, the sound could be affecting mechanoreceptors on the fungus' membrane, which allows the fungus to "feel" its surroundings.
Pretty amazing stuff if you ask me.
Touch:
As I shared with you in my “opposite day” edition, I hate the feeling of dry sand on my feet. It gives me chills in the worst way possible. However, give me a mud bath and I’m in heaven.
I recall a trip I made to a friend’s wedding in the 1990’s in Sonoma valley. My plus one and I ventured out into the region a few days before the wedding to savor in some great food and wine-tasting. We also stopped in a Sonoma valley spa that specialized in mud baths. It was one of the gooiest, goopiest, viscous experiences of my life and I loved every second of it! The feeling of wading in a bathtub of thick, minerally-scented mud and soaking in it was otherworldly.
Sight:
I don’t know if there is a word for this but I like admiring fancy and expensive stuff from afar.
Yes, I was a fanatic for the “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” and yes I’ve watched million-dollar listings one too many times.
I know it’s super weird to scour real estate listings for homes I’ll never be able to afford with features and decor that I also could never afford. But I can’t help but live vicariously through the images of how the other half lives.
In addition to subscribing to several “house porn” sites like this Instagram account, I also enjoy going on hotel and resort websites and imagine being in a Fijian bungalow overlooking the ocean, or a cozy and modern B&B in the woods, or in a eco-tree house in a remote jungle somewhere.
Relishing in your 5-senses supports your mental health and can heighten any experience you have. As a very visual person, seeing images and videos and enveloping myself in them, even for pretend, brings me a lot of joy.
The more joy you seek in your life and allow yourself to experience, the more calm your nervous system is, the more grounded you feel. All of this translates to a more healthy, balanced and joyful relationship with food too, which is the point of this whole Sunday series.
Tell me. What is rocking YOUR 5-senses this week? I’d love to know!