Brain Inflammation, Depression, and Treatments That Address Both

| December 8, 2017

Chronic inflammation has been tied to a variety of physical illnesses, and researchers have even found that it is connected to some mental illnesses, including depression. As many depression sufferers find that their medications are not helping to alleviate their symptoms, researchers are digging deeper into potential causes of depression and have found that brain inflammation may be one of them. Inflammation is usually associated with a wound or infection, but it can also be triggered by a lack of sleep, stress, or other factors. If inflammation doesn’t subside after an imminent threat is over and becomes a chronic issue, it can affect not only the body but also the brain. While some medications do treat inflammation, the immune system can also benefit from non-prescription treatments that boost health without side effects. Certain supplements, combined with targeted diet and lifestyle changes, may greatly benefit depression sufferers, especially those who have not been helped by antidepressant medications. Read more…

Changes You Can Make to Prevent Premature Aging

| November 27, 2017

6 things that are causing you to age way too fast

A lot of things can happen to your body that age you over time, whether it’s a natural decline in hormones or bad habits that you’ve formed. Fortunately, none of these things, however harmful to your health, are untreatable or unchangeable. In general, most people need to make certain lifestyle changes to do what’s best for their bodies, and luckily, many of the things people can do for their overall health can also prevent premature aging. Taking care with what you consume, establishing a regular sleeping schedule, and maintaining mental and emotional health is essential to a happy, healthy body. Deviating from these healthy habits, as well as smoking, can hurt your body and ultimately lead to symptoms of early aging that range anywhere from fatigue to higher susceptibility to disease. Preserving your youth could be as easy as making better health choices and sticking to them. Read more…

Hypothyroidism: Diet and Symptoms

| November 16, 2017

Eating Right with Thyroid Disease

Foods high in sugar, salt, and fat tend to rank high in the modern American’s diet, and unfortunately, this type of diet can cause a major disruption in several areas of health. For those who suffer from hypothyroidism, they need to be especially careful with bad dietary choices as certain foods can exacerbate already difficult symptoms. Incorporating foods such as Brazil nuts and salmon can often help those with thyroid disease, while staying away from too much caffeine can be a preventive measure against fatigue, a common symptom of hypothyroidism. Many people who suffer from hypothyroidism are deficient in iodine and selenium, and simply integrating more of it into a healthy diet may offer relief. Helpful support and treatment is available to those with persistent symptoms, but it’s important to remember that treatment starts at home by taking easy health initiatives beneficial to the thyroid. Read more…

Are Your Symptoms Related to HPA Axis Suppression?

| October 31, 2017

Overcoming HPA Axis Suppression (Formerly Known as Adrenal Fatigue)

The human body is incredibly resilient when all systems are in balance. Enter chronic unmanaged stress, however, and health can fade in the blink of an eye due to the body’s stress system being overtaxed. What used to be known as adrenal fatigue is now better understood as a more complex problem involving the relationship between the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and the adrenals, also known as the HPA axis. Not many have heard about it, but it’s the body’s stress system, and when overtaxed, it ceases to function properly, causing what is now known as HPA axis suppression. HPA axis suppression is characterized by a number of hard-to-categorize symptoms including anxiety, depression, insomnia, and an overall sense of unwellness. When left untreated, these symptoms can often become debilitating. But there are ways to identify and treat HPA axis suppression and restore the body’s natural balance. Read more…

How to Treat Gynecomastia

| October 24, 2017

Gynecomastia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

The term “man boobs” may sound funny to a man who doesn’t struggle to take off their shirt at the beach, but for those suffering from gynecomastia, it’s anything but. At least 30 percent of males are affected by gynecomastia at some point during their lifetime, and actually, it’s the most common condition affecting breast tissue in men. Contrary to what many people think, gynecomastia is not necessarily caused by weight gain. Although obesity can certainly have an impact on gynecomastia, men at any weight can develop the condition. The cause is most frequently hormonal, due to an imbalance between estrogen and androgens. This can be due to an increase in estrogen production, a decrease in androgen production, or both. The resulting enlargement of glandular tissue behind the nipples, also known as “man boobs,” is not considered a serious medical condition. However, the underlying hormonal imbalance that can cause the condition should never be ignored as it can lead to more serious health issues. Read more…

Relieve Joint Pain by Bringing Hormones Back Into Balance

| September 27, 2017

BHRT May Provide Relief from Joint Pain

Do you wake up each morning feeling stiff and achy in your knee or hip joints? Do you have a tough time getting out of bed or have to sit on the side of the bed or walk around a bit for a few minutes to stretch out the aches and pains before starting your day? You may attribute joint pain to the normal aging process, thinking that you just have to accept it because it’s just what happens as people age. But this is not necessarily true. As people age, especially women entering perimenopause, their estrogen levels start to decline. When this happens, the joints have less estrogen to act as a natural anti-inflammatory, leaving the knees, back, hips, and other joints more prone to pain. Over-the-counter pain medications may help relieve some of the joint pain, but they are not a long-term solution. The good news is that bringing hormone levels back into balance may help ease joint pain while also helping protect your overall health. Read more…

Detoxing: How Do You Choose the Right Option?

| September 20, 2017

From Diet to Detox - 7 Easy Ways to Detoxify Your Body

When you walk into your local drug store, you might be surprised and overwhelmed by the size of the section on body cleanses and daily detoxification kits. Celebrities and nutrition companies have piggybacked on the detox phenomenon, and there is no shortage of options going around. However, many of the kits that claim to detox your body within hours or days may not be the healthiest option—some can even be harmful to your health. If you suspect that toxins may be interfering with your health and wellbeing, there are many different tried and true methods that you can incorporate into your daily routine to help cleanse your body in the most natural, gentle, organic way possible—from eating lean, organic proteins and green, leafy vegetables to increasing your water intake, practicing better stress management, and exercising. It’s also important to take steps to identify and eliminate whatever toxins you can from your food, water, and environment. Read more…

Stress, Diet, and Inflammation

| August 17, 2017

Chronic Inflammation in the Body and What to Do About It

Although chronic inflammation has been linked to conditions such as depression, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart disease, inflammation isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, inflammation is necessary to the body’s healing process. As part of the body’s attempt at self-protection, its job is to eliminate damaged cells or pathogens, help the body heal, and then subside. With chronic inflammation, however, the threat that activated the inflammatory response persists and the immune system can go haywire—white blood cells can start attacking internal organs, cells, and tissues. Chronic inflammation is at the root of many different diseases and can be triggered by a variety of causes. Stress can play a major role in chronic inflammation, along with a poor diet and lifestyle. Eating a healthy diet of cold-water fish, lean proteins, healthy fats, and vegetables while eliminating processed foods and sugars will benefit the body in the healing process and is a good first step in combating chronic inflammation. Read more…

Untreated Thyroid Disorders Could Lead to More Severe Consequences

| July 29, 2017

Could You Have Hypothyroidism and Not Even Know It?

Thyroid disorders have been rising in recent decades, which is concerning, as left undetected and untreated, thyroid disorder can lead to other serious conditions such as infertility, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. Thyroid disorders can impact many parts of the body, including the brain, heart, muscles, and skin. Hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid, is a very common condition in which the thyroid does not produce enough thyroid hormone. Its symptoms often correspond with other conditions, which helps explain why it often goes undiagnosed. Unexplained fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, depression, and sensitivity to the cold are symptoms common to many different conditions, but they are also symptoms of hypothyroidism. Many doctors rely on a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test to diagnose hormone levels, but a full panel of thyroid testing is the most effective way to correctly diagnose and treat the condition and restore proper balance to the body. Read more…

Ditch the Diets and Learn to Lose Weight in a Healthier, Sustainable Way

| July 19, 2017

Why You Can't Lose Weight - How Diets Can Make You Fatter

On reality television shows like “The Biggest Loser,” losing weight seems to be nothing more than a matter of effort. Put a lot of effort into your diet and exercise, and the pounds will drop off. The harder you work to change your bad habits and make your health and fitness a focus, the quicker the pounds will fall off. While contestants on “The Biggest Loser” certainly do amazing things while on the show’s intense program, what you might not know is what happens to them after the show comes to an end. Despite the best efforts of the contestants to maintain their commitment to their new eating plan and exercise routines, the pounds tend to creep back on. In many cases, just a few years after their final weigh-in, contestants will once again be battling the bulge in a big way—and the same is the case with many dieters. But you don’t have to fall prey to the same weight-gain trap. Read more…