The "nonnamaxxing" craze on TikTok: The health benefits of emulating an Italian grandmother

 

The "nonnamaxxing" fad on social media suggests that living like an Italian grandma is the route to improved wellbeing.

Adopting the lifestyle practices of an Italian nonna, according to proponents of the fad, will enhance your mental and physical health.

The trend's basic tenets are straightforward: spend time with your loved ones, eat food from your own garden, and prepare filling meals at home.

This most recent trend is based on lifestyle medical research, which demonstrates that the same activities promoted by nonnamaxxing enthusiasts can not only extend your life, but also give you more life.

Here are some instances of how you can follow these behaviors for the rest of your life rather than hopping on the nonnamaxxing bandwagon till the next fad emerges.

Good relationships with others

Making time for friends and family is a fundamental component of "nonnamaxxing."

According to research, one of the best things you can do to promote your health throughout your life is to keep up good social relationships. Social interactions aid in our ability to control our emotions. This has numerous other physiological advantages in addition to its effects on our pleasure and well-being.

Laughing with our loved ones or holding their hand, for example, lessens discomfort and calms the stress reaction. Additionally, studies indicate that social interaction can enhance immune responses and lower inflammation.

It is not just about romantic relationships, therefore you do not have to get married right away. There are various types of relationships. Positive social interactions, even brief conversations with baristas, can have quantifiable positive effects on one's health and well-being. Additionally, volunteers are less likely to get the common cold, according to research.

"Collective effervescence"—a sense of cohesion, vitality, and belonging—can also be produced by group activities like concerts, rituals, dancing, singing, or applauding.

When we engage with someone in person, our bodies and minds synchronize in a way that promotes health, connection, and happiness. We have a stronger sense of self-worth, belonging, and purpose.

Take up gardening.

Among the important elements that have been connected to longevity are daily movement and physical activity.

However, you do not have to run or go to the gym to reap the benefits. Even gardening, which we may normally identify with the lifestyle of an Italian nonna, has been linked to health advantages.

Increased mobility and less sedentary behavior are two benefits of gardening as a physically demanding exercise. Additionally, reviews indicate that it improves quality of life and mental health.

Gardening engages the brain since it is multimodal. Planning, coordinating, remembering, and tracking changes in our garden over time are all important. The development of cognitive reserve—extra healthy brain tissue that helps counteract the functional limitations of sick brain matter as we age—is supported by this kind of stimulation. This could help to explain why engaging in hobbies like gardening is linked to a decreased risk of receiving a dementia diagnosis.

Meals prepared at home

Making meals at home is another fundamental component of nonnamaxxing.

The more often you cook at home, the better. Individuals who prepare their own meals typically consume more fruits, vegetables, and fiber. Additionally, cooking at home often results in lower calorie, fat, and added sugar intake, which may help control blood sugar, lower body fat, and avoid type 2 diabetes.

According to positive psychology, cooking is an activity that embodies important aspects of happiness, including positive feelings and a sense of purpose and achievement.

How to begin

Here are some simple strategies for becoming more like an Italian nonna in your daily life if you are eager to try nonnamaxxing.

We all know by now how beneficial it is to socialize and meet friends and family, but if you are unable to do it in person, use technology.

Try making these encounters deliberate when they do occur, even when technology is not quite as good as in-person interactions. Warmth and connection can be increased by being emotionally attentive, involved, and letting your loved one know you are there—even when texting.

Additionally, make an effort to give friends and relatives a call or at the very least leave a voicemail. Compared to text-based interactions, voice-based social interactions foster stronger social connections.

If you want to explore gardening, start with a small, easily growing plant. You can place a tiny strawberry or tomato plant on your windowsill. You will have a feeling of purpose and be able to enjoy the results of your hard work, both of which are beneficial to your health.

Getting outside and spending time in nature, particularly in parks or along rivers, will increase physical activity levels and enhance health and wellbeing if you do not want to take on the responsibilities of a garden.

You do not have to start with a complex recipe while preparing meals at home. Make sandwiches or even snacks first, then work your way up to supper preparation. Keep in mind that cooking is a talent that you can acquire by watching a cooking video or following a recipe.

Try dining with someone if you do not have time to prepare meals. Eating together fosters a sense of safety and belonging and strengthens social ties. Choose a dish or meal that makes you think of a loved one if you are dining alone. This longing for food might replicate sentiments of coziness and kinship.

The nonnamaxxing movement may be forgotten in a week, but it represents a generation-old way of life. Not only has living like an Italian grandmother stood the test of time, but health and wellbeing researchers have also put it to the test.