Top Tips For Staying Healthy In The Workplace

We’ve all been there – the afternoon hits and our energy slumps almost instantly. If you find that you’re regularly running out of energy come the end of the day, you might not be taking as good care of yourself in the office as you think you are. What we eat and how we conduct ourselves makes a massive difference to the energy levels we have throughout the day, whether it’s taking regular breaks as you work or making the most of your lunch break, here are some great tips on how to stay healthy.

Take regular breaks

It’s easy to find yourself in amongst a project and suddenly you’ve been working solidly for hours on end. Regular breaks give your mind chance to refresh itself and unwind, limiting the risk of you burning out and becoming tired too quickly. Try and take ten minutes of fresh air when you can or move to another department or the canteen for a change of scenery and a chance to stretch your legs.

Move around the office

A change of view can change your whole perspective on work and sometimes that’s all you really need. If you find yourself stuck with a problem that you can’t seem to get through, pick yourself up and move somewhere else for a short while – perhaps go and chat it through with a colleague. The change of pace and scenery might give you the mental boost you need.

Do something nice for a colleague

Workplace kindness is invariably forgotten in most companies, but random acts of kindness can really boost your morale. Why not take a trip to the bakery at lunchtime and treat your department to a nice treat? Or you could offer to make your colleague a cup of tea or pay them a compliment – anything you’d enjoy to receive, offer it to your team and watch the mood instantly lift.

Get involved

The feel-good factor is vital for helping to keep company spirit high. Why not join in on fundraising activities or make a company-wide bake sale for charity? It might sound like a lot of effort but it helps to improve teamwork and you’re helping others at the same time.

Have fun at work

Work doesn’t need to be boring, so make time for play – it not only improves your mood but can also help to stimulate your brain, which is often what we all need by the time the afternoon rolls around. Why not take part in a friendly game of table football at lunch or ping pong with a colleague? It will be fun as well as helping to get the brain juices flowing.

Treat yourself to a massage

Believe it or not, but lunchtimes don’t need to be reduced to a soggy lunch and a read of the paper. You can treat yourself! Why not visit the local masseuse for a stress-relieving massage which will lift your spirits and lower your stress levels. It can even boost mental health. Making time for yourself can really do wonders for your mood.

Get active

If a massage on lunch isn’t really your thing, you can still use this time to get some fresh air and go for a walk. Boosting your energy levels is just one of the benefits – you’ll also have chance to stretch your legs, lower your stress levels and enjoy a change of scenery, to set you up for the remainder of the day.

Categories: change, energy levels, fresh air, health, levels, lunch, Stress, Stress Levels, time, work, Workplace Wellness

How to Battle the Impact of Hormones Through the Ages

Hormones play a big part in your wellness, doing everything from helping you conceive to ensuring you get a good night’s sleep. However, when these hormones fluctuate, as they inevitably will as you age, they can be more of a health concern than a helping hand. Hormones affect your wellbeing in different ways at different stages of your life, but there are things you can do to manage these hormonal changes and feel good every step of the way:

 

Your 20s and 30s: According to Mary Jane Minkin, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the Yale University School of Medicine, ‘Hormone levels go through dramatic changes during your menstrual cycle,’ which is at its peak during your 20s and 30. You get a surge in estradiol (a form of estrogen) about 10 days after the onset of your period, which boosts your mood, while you can become irritable in the second half of your cycle due to an influx of progesterone.

 

If you use a hormonal contraceptive, like the Pill or a vaginal ring, watch out for a dip in your sex drive. Bat Sheva Marcus, the clinical director of the Medical Centre for Female Sexuality, in New York City, explains, ‘These [contraceptives] contain synthetic oestrogen, which blocks testosterone.’ To feel better, Eva Cwynar, an endocrinologist in Beverly Hills recommends eating cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and cauliflower, as studies have shown this can help keep your oestrogen and progesterone levels at the proper ratio. You can also try flaxseed oil, and Minkin recommends taking 1,200 milligrams of calcium a day, divided into three doses, for your severe PMS crankiness.

 

Your 40s: Even though your periods are still regular, your ovaries have begun to produce less oestrogen and progesterone, and your testosterone decreases. This is a period (pardon the pun) known as perimenopause (or pre-menopause), and can last up to five years. Minkin warns, ‘It isn’t a smooth process,’ and she’s right; perimenopause can cause hot flashes, a lag in your sex drive, and vaginal dryness. Kent Holtorf, an endocrinologist in Los Angeles, adds that you produce fewer thyroid hormones during this time, and ‘Thyroid hormones are the key determinants of your metabolism,’ so you might notice weight gain.

 

Erika Schwartz, an internist and a hormone specialist in New York City, comments, ‘You may start waking in the middle of the night or have difficulty falling asleep. Before turning to a sleep aid like Ambien, get your hormone levels checked. You may need hormone supplementation.’ To combat hot flashes, a study from Tarbiat Modarres University, in Iran, found that taking 400 ‘international units of vitamin E daily can help alleviate them.

 

Your 50s and Beyond: The average age for menopause is 51; it’s official when you haven’t had a period in over a year. This probably means you have erratic testosterone levels, frequent hot flashes and a zigzagging sex drive. Minkin says, ‘Oestrogen is involved with mechanisms that keep skin moist,’ so you might need a richer cream and conditioner to combat dry skin and brittle hair and nails. Holtorf notes, ‘Both oestrogen and thyroid hormones are needed for optimal brain function. When they drop in menopause, those low levels result in minor memory problems and cognitive dysfunction.’ Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is considered the gold standard for relieving all those irksome symptoms, including memory loss. Minkin notes, ‘It drives me crazy when women say, “I’ll just deal with my symptoms, and eventually it will be over.” Symptoms of menopause should be a wake-up call to see your doctor.’

Categories: hormone, hormone levels, hormones, hot flashes, levels, Menopause, oestrogen, Periods, Sex Drive, thyroid hormones, york city

Could Stress be Causing Your Skin to Age Faster?

How your skin looks and how healthy it is is directly connected to your stress levels. According to experts, research has proven that the stress hormone cortisol is responsible for breaking down collagen and causing inflammation when you’re stressed, meaning that you could be in lined for flare ups of adult acne, rosacea and psoriasis. And, of course, you’ll also be more at risk of premature lines and wrinkles. It isn’t just a coincidence that when you’re stressed you’re more prone to breakouts. Dermatologists regularly see patients who experience stress-related spots, wrinkles and rashes – it can even aggravate infectious diseases such as herpes and shingles. If you suffer from hives or eczema, this can also be made worse in times of extreme stress. The vicious cycle of itching and rubbing, which then makes the condition worse, can get particularly bad during this time, leading to the skin thickening which perpetuates the problem. Conditions which are made worse by stress range from acne which is picked and made worse by a nervous patients to more severe problems, such as prurigo nodularis – this is an intractable condition which involves a relentless itch and chronic picking or itching of the skin. The more stressed you are, the worse you make the problem, in turn making you more stressed – the cycle is perpetual.

 

The relationship between the feeling of itching and the reflex to scratch at it is obvious – mention lice or scabies to someone and they immediately feel the need to scratch at their skin. However, researchers are still unsure why and how stress can cause itching. There are obviously genetic factors which influence how prone we are to stress-related skin disorders, as our hormones play a big role, but the impact of stress determines far more than was once thought. Stress is more likely to increase the levels of natural chemicals in the skin and blood vessels, which could increase the redness and blood flow in that area. This leads to common problems such as rosacea. Stress has also been proven to affect the immune system, which can often make people more susceptible to infectious diseases.

Finding ways to manage your stress levels is the best way to calm your skin and reduce the levels of cortisol in the body. Stress not only takes its toll on your skin but also your mind and other areas of your body, such as your heart. Try to find the source of your stress – this will often determine how you deal with it. For example, if your stress is being caused by your job then you know that something here needs to change, be it your hours or the job itself. Talk to friends and family and seek their support – they may be able to calm you down and help you to see the bigger picture. Relaxing activities such as yoga or Pilates may help, and will also be good for your body overall. Or simply taking some time out of an evening to relax with a warm bath or reading a book may be all you need to lower your stress levels. Try to maintain healthy skin habits as well, such as an effective cleanse, tone and moisturising routine to keep your skin clear and glowing. If you’re worried about your skin, or it doesn’t seem to be improving with your lifestyle changes, try speaking to a dermatologist who may be able to help you get to the root of the problem.

Categories: ageing, infectious diseases, itching, levels, skin, skincare, Stress, Stress Levels, stress related, worse

8 Tests You Should Consider Having as a Woman in Her 50s

When you turn 50, the health concerns really start creeping in. Your sexual health may soon be affected by menopause, if it hasn’t already, but other conditions can also start to have an impact on your wellbeing. However, if you initiate good wellness principles and lifestyle choices there’s no reason why you can’t feel nifty at fifty, and be fully satisfied with the state of your health right up until you reach the big 6-0. One major way in which you can take care of your health during your 50s is to get screened for health concerns that commonly affect your age group. If you catch something sooner rather than later, you can get proactive with treatment and ensure you live to see the next 50 years. For women your age, the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) provide the following recommendations:

 

1. Cervical cancer: A pap smear should be performed every one to three years. You should go for this screening every two years if your physician uses a liquid-based test, or every three if you have had three normal paps consecutively. You only need a test for human papillomavirus (HPV) if you have had an abnormal pap test.

 

2. Breast cancer: Mammograms are recommended every one to two years.

 

3. Colonoscopy for colon cancer screening: Regardless of your family or personal history of the disease, it is recommended that every woman in her 50s gets tested for colon cancer.

 

4. 25-OH Vitamin D (25 hydroxy-vitamin D): There’s no denying the importance of vitamin D; optimal levels can improve your bone density, enhance your cognitive health and reduce your risk of cancer. Therefore, if your vitamin D levels are low, that’s something you’ll want to know about! There are several tests that can determine whether or not you need to do something about your vitamin D levels, but the 25-OH vitamin D level is considered the most accurate. If you find your levels are low, you can get the vitamin D you need from sunlight on your skin, supplements or fortified foods.

 

5. Homocysteine: This is a product of protein metabolism and if your levels get too high, a whole host of wellness issues may be in store. Excess levels of homocysteine can lead to blood vessel damage, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration and depression. If the test reveals your levels are higher than the optimal nine units, you can reset the balance with a higher intake of vitamins B-12, B-6 and folic acid.

 

6. Fasting Insulin Levels: Before your blood sugar rises to the classic diabetic markers, your insulin levels will rise. This demonstrates early signs of your body’s inability to handle the sugar it’s ingesting, so it’s a good thing to know about. The goal ranges may be from 0 -14, but you should try to keep your levels around 7 units or less. If your levels are too high, you have an indicator that you should be reducing the amount of refined sugar in your diet.

 

7. Thyroid tests: Your thyroid gland produces your thyroid hormone, which is responsible for your metabolism, energy production and mental sharpness. You may have a deficiency in this hormone if you experience fatigue, dry skin, hair loss, constipation, cold hands and feet, and sugar cravings. If this is the case, get tested through either a TSH and/or Free T-3).

 

8. C-Reactive Protein (CRP): Inflammation is a marker for heart disease, and this test measures your body’s level of inflammation. The result you’re after is anything less than 1mg/L. However, if you do find that your inflammation levels are elevated, you can fight back with fish oils, CoQ10, magnesium and vitamin D.

Categories: colon cancer, health, health concerns, insulin levels, levels, nbsp, preventative measures, Screenings, Test, vitamin, women in 50s

Testing with No Test: How Will Your Doctor Diagnose PCOS?

As well as harming your sexual health, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) can take its toll on your emotional wellbeing, as there’s no simple or easy test for it. With your doctor, you’ll thoroughly dissect your medical history, and put your wellness through physical examination and a couple of lab tests, before your GP can come to a diagnosis. The aim of PCOS testing is to determine whether your inventory of symptoms stem from PCOS or another disorder. But what are the symptoms of PCOS?

 

• Hirsutism (This means you have excess hair on your body and/or face. This will be particularly evident on your chin, upper lip, breasts, inner thighs and abdomen.)


• Irregular or infrequent periods.


• Obesity.


• Acne and/or oily skin (This will be particularly severe acne in teenagers or acne that persists into adulthood.)


• Infertility.


• Ovarian cysts.


• Balding or hair loss.


• Acanthosis nigricans (This is a symptom in which your skin darkens, usually on the neck. If it’s not due to PCOS, acanthosis nigricans is also a sign of insulin problems.)


• Skin tags. (This means you have small pieces of excess skin in your armpits or neck area.)

 

While PCOS means you could have any of these symptoms in varying combinations, there are two essential features of the disorder:

 

1. Hyperandrogenism: This condition, or symptoms indicating hyperandrogenism, means that you have excess levels of androgens in your blood. Androgens are hormones such as testosterone that that can cause you to develop acne and excess facial/body hair if found in excess quantities. If your case of hyperandrogenism is severe, you may experience “virilisation” which may mean that you bald more at the temples, your voice deepens, your muscles grow or your clitoris gets bigger. This latter symptom is known as clitoromegaly.

 

2. Period problems: For a PCOS diagnosis, there also has to be problems with your periods. This may mean you don’t ovulate, or your ovulation is irregular. At the same time, your menstruation is likewise absent or irregular. If you suffer from PCOS, you may have oligomenorrhea, which means you only have eight or fewer periods in a given year. Women with PCOS have also been known to experience amenorrhea, or the absence of periods for extended periods. Then you have some women with PCOS who have polymenorrhea, or periods that are too frequent.

 

The problem with PCOS is that it’s a hormonal disorder, and these are notoriously complex. Often, the symptoms suggest more than one potential cause, which is why the diagnostic process likely will include a thorough physical and history to check for hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome and tumours. As we’ve already covered, there is no test for PCOS, but that doesn’t mean that there are no tests that your doctor can do. A healthcare professional may want to measure your blood levels of a range of hormones.

 

Your doctor may check for your blood levels of the thyroid hormone, as the symptoms of low thyroid function are often similar to those of PCOS. Prolactin is also often tested for when diagnosing PCOS. This hormone is responsible for stimulating your body’s production of milk, but high levels can lead to irregular or absent menses similar to those of PCOS. Your doctor may look for your levels of androgens, including dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and testosterone. These hormones are often referred to as “male hormones,” and are frequently associated with PCOS. Excess levels of androgens cause “male-like” symptoms such as excess body or facial hair. Finally, you might have tests to find your body’s levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), as a high ratio of LH to FSH — typically three-to-one — is characteristic of PCOS.

Categories: acanthosis nigricans, blood levels, excess, Excess Levels, levels, nbsp, pcos, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Symptoms, Testing

Men In Your 30s: Here are Six Screenings You Need to Have

As a man in his 30s, it’s easy to put off good wellness practises like exercise and nutrition. You probably put off visiting the doctor until there’s actually a problem with your wellbeing, such as the occasional cold or injury, or, when it’s a sexual health problem, you may even keep schtum altogether! However, optimal wellness is not about waiting for disease to occur and then scrambling for a combative regimen; you need to invest time and energy into your health much as you do in for your retirement. While prevention looks like many things, one important factor is to collect some laboratory information on your potential health risks. Not only do cholesterol panels serve this purpose, but other tests are now available to assess your risk factors and help design a treatment plan.

 

1. 25-OH Vitamin D (25 hydroxy-vitamin D): There’s no denying the importance of vitamin D; optimal levels can improve your bone density, enhance your cognitive health and reduce your risk of cancer. Therefore, if your vitamin D levels are low, that’s something you’ll want to know about! There are several tests that can determine whether or not you need to do something about your vitamin D levels, but the 25-OH vitamin D level is considered the most accurate. If you find your levels are low, you can get the vitamin D you need from sunlight on your skin, supplements or fortified foods.

 

2. C-Reactive Protein (CRP): Inflammation is a marker for heart disease, and this test measures your body’s level of inflammation. The result you’re after is anything less than 1mg/L. However, if you do find that your inflammation levels are elevated, you can fight back with fish oils, CoQ10, magnesium and vitamin D.

 

3. Homocysteine: This is a product of protein metabolism and if your levels get too high, a whole host of wellness issues may be in store. Excess levels of homocysteine can lead to blood vessel damage, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration and depression. If the test reveals your levels are higher than the optimal nine units, you can reset the balance with a higher intake of vitamins B-12, B-6 and folic acid.

4. Total and Free Testosterone: While you don’t need this test on a yearly basis, it’s good to get a baseline reading of your testosterone levels when you’re in your 30s, as this important hormone will decline as you age. Testosterone is often overlooked for its benefits to your heart, brain, bones, muscles and blood vessels, but you should definitely discuss goal levels for these tests with your doctor. Units for the test can very from lab to lab but generally, you should be aiming for around 15-25pg/ml for free testosterone, and 550-800ng/ml for total testosterone.

 

5. DHEA-Sulfate: This test looks at your levels of the DHEA hormone, which shares many of the health benefits of testosterone. However, to your heart, brain, bones, muscles and blood vessels aside, DHEA is very important for overweight or diabetic men. Again, if you’re healthy and in your 30s, getting this test done now will give you a baseline for future comparison. The goal usually starts at more than 200 mcg/dl.

 

6. Fasting Insulin Levels: Before your blood sugar rises to the classic diabetic markers, your insulin levels will rise. This demonstrates early signs of your body’s inability to handle the sugar it’s ingesting, so it’s a good thing to know about. The goal ranges may be from 0 -14, but you should try to keep your levels around 7 units or less. If your levels are too high, you have an indicator that you should be reducing the amount of refined sugar in your diet.

Categories: 30s, blood vessels, bones muscles, brain bones, free testosterone, heart brain, insulin levels, levels, men, Screenings, Test, vitamin

Is Low Blood Sugar Making You Gain Weight?

Most people are aware of the risks of diabetes, but few are as educated on the dangers of low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia to give it its medical name. In a more serious form, hypoglycemia can lead to seizures and unconsciousness, as well as weight gain and obesity. It is more frequently seen as a side effect of diabetes, and occurs after aggressive insulin treatments which push the blood glucose levels a little too low. Because your blood sugar levels are connected to what you eat, finding and maintaining your glucose levels isn’t an exact science. There will be fluctuations, naturally, which makes treatment early on quite difficult. When your diet has been modified and other lifestyle factors have been considered, such as weight and exercise, then treatment can be considered more thoroughly.

Hypoglycemia can occur in people without diabetes as well though, occurring in conjunction with certain types of cancer, due to hormonal imbalances, during pregnancy, as a result of too much alcohol, and after vigorous exercise. It can also be caused by endocrine, renal and liver disorders. There isn’t an anti-insulin treatment for this problem, which means that hypoglycemia can only be solved by managing your diet and getting plenty of exercise. In fact, resolving your obesity and managing hypoglycemia go hand in hand. In normal people, blood sugar levels range between 70 – 80mcg per 100cc of blood before eating, which rises to around 120 – 140mcg in the hour following a meal. When your body is at the lowest ebb, the body becomes hungry; when it’s at its peak, it enables the pancreas to release insulin which prevents blood sugar levels from rising any higher.

The body gets its energy from glucose or blood sugar, and a certain level of glucose is necessary for the body to function every day. The brain needs a steady supply of glucose to function properly, which is why a person with hypoglycemia will experience confusing abnormal behaviours, blurred vision or dizziness. Exercise is a challenge or impossible with someone who has hypoglycemia as this only depletes your energy supplies. This means that your diet has the job of controlling both your weight and low blood glucose levels.

There are some important things to remember when you have hypoglycemia. Firstly, high-sugar is not a solution for your problem. When your body is loaded with high sugar treats, it launches an insulin attack to bring the glucose levels down. However, in a hypoglycemic, those levels are already at an all-time high so this simply leads to the pancreas going into overdrive. It’s actually better to do the opposite and cut out processed sugars completely. Stick to complex carbs, whole grains and vegetables which gradually release their glucose content over time which helps to balance the levels in the body. The problem lies in that hypoglycemics crave sugary foods, as the body knows it needs glucose to survive so it sends signals to get the highest concentrate of what it needs. Unfortunately, cookies and cakes cause the blood sugar levels to spike too high. This results in the pancreas responding with a powerful surge of activity, and the cycle quickly flips the body’s balance upside down. This constant seesaw action can cause a vicious cycle of feeding the body what it doesn’t need. If you’re worried you have a problem with your low blood sugar levels, speak to your GP who can advise if you need treatment.

Categories: Blood, Blood glucose, Blood Sugar, body, diet, glucose levels, high sugar, hypoglycemia, levels, Sugar, sugar levels

Divorce Health: 5 Tips to Stress Management

 

Going through a divorce can bring about a host of changes that can affect how you perceive life. Developing tips to help manage the levels of your stress can ease the difficult process and alleviate the pain and sorrow that you may be going through. By implementing the following tips, you’ll be able to come through the changes unscathed and allow your body to slowly get used to the pain of moving on as one.

 

1. Diet and Exercise

The stress of a divorce can be debilitating for some, and you may find it extremely difficult to follow a normal routine. However, regular exercise is a great stress reducer and can channel the negative energy into a positive outlet. Finding something that you enjoy doing will help you stick with the routine. It may also be helpful to find a friend, family member or co-worker to exercise with.

 

Divorce can also cause your immune system to suffer. In addition to exercise, you’ll need to maintain healthy eating habits. Eating a diet rich in whole-foods, fruits, vegetables and drinking water can keep a body strong and healthy during times of stress.

 

 

2. Hire an Attorney

A knowledgeable and experienced divorce attorney can aid you in the process and provide you with realistic expectations. While many divorced couples want it over in a matter of weeks, you’ll find that to be an unrealistic prospect. An experienced attorney can also provide you with the necessary information related to the state where you reside.

 

One firm of divorce lawyers in Tucson states “The feeling of loneliness that the couple experience may not be helped by your Tucson divorce lawyer, but you should be certain that they have your best interest at heart.” This will help you to get the best end result and provide you with the financial stability needed to help you move on with your life. Since they will be your primary advocate by fighting for your rights, their moral support and guidance can be beneficial to alleviating your levels of stress.

 

 

3. Get Plenty of Rest

A difficult divorce can keep you up late at night, especially if you’ve been running the problems over and over in your mind. While thoughts of revenge and anguish may be running rampant, you need a good night’s rest to keep stress at bay. To encourage a restful night, you can incorporate yoga and other methods of mediation. This will channel your mind to relieve stress, let go of any anger and channel it toward something positive.

 

 

4. Ditch the Bad Habits

Unfortunately, divorce can be one of the most stressful events an individual can experience in their lifetime and many people often pick up bad habits. However, you don’t want to give in to temptation by smoking, drinking or doing drugs.

 

 

5. Change Your Routine

A new life can begin with a divorce, and you are now free to change your direction. This can include deviating from your ordinary routine. You are also free to change your home environment. A change in wall colors or moving the furniture around can be empowering and reduce your stress levels immensely.

 

Emotions are usually at heightened levels during a divorce and this can make it especially challenging to move forward. However, finding other outlets to combat your stress levels can prove beneficial in maintaining a happy mental and physical outlook for your new life ahead.

 

Lisa Coleman shares some tips for stress management during the process of a divorce. It can devastate a person’s health if not managed well. She recently viewed online how a group of divorce lawyers in Tucson can help with the legalities of such a case for a client in TX.

 

 

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kennyuhh/2917293212/

Categories: divorce, divorce and stress, divorce lawyers, handling stress, levels, nbsp, nbsp nbsp, Stress, Stress Levels, stress management, stress nbsp

HCG Diets: What Makes Them So Controversial?

Extreme, fad diets come into the mainstream every day, so much so that we’re very rarely phased by them. But sometimes diets come into our line of view and really make us take notice. The HCG Diet is one such calorie-restrictive scheme, but this time it involves needles as well. For many people, the stress of daily life and all that that encompasses can become a little much. Our health invariably drops to the bottom of the priority pile and we find ourselves feeling the brunt of many years of neglect. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and for some this means relying on the HCG Diet. The diet itself consists of eating no more than 500 calories a day, then giving yourself shots of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone once a day. The results, supposedly, speak for themselves – curves in all the right places, no extra fat and a glowing complexion. According to studies, HCG levels are at their highest in pregnant women and seem to be extracted through urine or created synthetically. The main focus of the diet is that the hormone forces the body to mobilise fat and use it for energy, much as it does during pregnancy when it nourishes the foetus. And when this is combined with a calorie restrictive diet, it also ‘resets’ your metabolism.

There’s been much discussed surrounding this diet by dieticians, as there is with any new craze. The claims are that eating so few calories would kick-start the weight loss regardless of the hormones, Furthermore, some men experienced side effects such as altered testosterone levels. For those undertaking the diet, the maximum number of days is 45 – after this, the body becomes immune to HCG. This is a solo endeavour, which frightens a lot of people. The concept of injecting yourself in the thigh on a daily basis may seem scary, and it will hurt, but it’s not an unbearable pain. In addition to this, you also inject yourself in the waist with vitamin B12 three times a week to up your energy levels. Once you’ve reviewed the diet plan with your consultant, you’re entirely on your own. But this isn’t always a bad thing. It means that you can be responsible for what you eat and there’s a level of flexibility within that, though not a massive amount.

 

The diet is strict, involving no carbs, dairy, alcohol or sugar. In small portions, you’re entitled to organic meats, fish and vegetables. In the early stages, it’s natural that you’ll crave the sugar for an instant energy boost and you’ll feel drained. But then you’ll start to see the effects – you’ll have more energy, your skin will glow and the whites of your eyes will be brighter. Once a week, you’ll return to the clinic where you’ll be weighed and assessed, with your HCG supply refreshed as well. There are things to remember, as with any diet, and risks to take into account. For example, as you begin to lose the weight, the injections will begin to hurt more as there will be less fat cushioning the needle. Some reports show women losing up to 25 pounds in 45 days, an impressive statistic. However, such a risky diet does require medical supervision and advice beforehand. It’s advised that anyone with health issues or concerns about the possible side effects should consult their GP before taking part in the HCG diet. If you’re sensible about dieting and don’t do this for longer than the 45 day advised, this could be an effective form of weight loss.

Categories: calorie restrictive, diet, Diets, energy, hCG Diet, hormones, levels, weight, Weight Loss

Could Your Daily Cup Of Tea Contain Too Much Fluoride?

We all know that tea contains caffeine, and therefore it is important for our wellness and wellbeing to only drink it in moderation. What has not previously been understood, however, is that tea may also contain too much fluoride.

 

The national newspaper The Daily Telegraph has reported that those who drink cheaper supermarket blends of tea could be at increased risk of developing problems with their bones and teeth. This news story comes from a study that has looked into the fluoride levels in different brands of tea, and this included the economy products from leading supermarkets.

 

Although fluoride is a mineral that is normally associated with healthy bones and teeth, an excess of the mineral can lead to something called fluorosis. This fluorosis causes bone pain and stiffness and can lead to a discoloration of the teeth, too.

 

During the study, researchers found that the cheaper or ‘own brand’ supermarket teas often contained higher levels of fluoride than the more expensive ‘brand name’ equivalents. The researchers calculated that if you regularly consume around a litre of tea per day, you are likely to be consuming more than the recommended levels of fluoride every day, and this could be damaging to your health.

 

Fluorosis generally occurs in countries where the natural levels of the mineral are high, and is therefore rarely found in the UK, but this study means that the problem could be on the rise in the UK. Tea drinkers are therefore warned that they should exercise caution when drinking large amounts of tea (although of course they should already be cautious of this due to the damaging effects of consuming too much caffeine).

 

It is thought that the fluoride enters the tea bags because the tea plants absorb fluoride when the plants are grown in acidic soil. The leaves of the plant then contain levels of fluoride.

Categories: Fluoride, fluorosis, levels, nbsp, tea, teeth

Nine Foods That Fight Common Health Problems

People struggle with health problems every single day. It’s something that our lives will never allow us to get away from. Illness is just a natural part of life that we can’t avoid thanks to the myriad bacteria, viruses and the natural breakdown of cells in the body that contributes to serious problems throughout your life.

 

But while many people suffer with issues for their whole lives, there are actually simple and effective ways that you can deal with many problems. Primarily this can come through added certain foods into your diet. Here is our list of nine foods that can really help you out with certain health problems.

 

What is good for arthritis?

 

Ginger

Ginger is not only a delicious additive to many different foods such as soups and curries, but it can also be very beneficial to your health. It can work in a similar way to anti-inflammatory medicines and so can function as pain relief. It’s important to remember that it is also a blood thinner, so it shouldn’t be eaten too excessively or taken with other blood thinning medicine.

 

Pumpkin

According to recent research, the high levels of antioxidants in pumpkins can help to prevent arthritis and provide pain relief through anti-inflammatory methods. You could try eating pumpkin puree to get plenty of it on board. Pumpkin soup is highly delicious too and well worth eating to get your fix.

 

Red bell pepper

With a large amount of vitamin C and a good number of carotenoids, which are great for fighting inflammation, red peppers are very good for you. With regards to the vitamin C, it’s been shown in a number of studies that a lack of vitamin C in your diet can lead to an increased risk of arthritis. Given that peppers can be put in virtually anything, it’s easy to get more of them in your diet.

 

 

What is good for diabetes?

 

Beans

Beans are great for diabetes, whether they are kidney beans, pinto beans or anything of the other beans. They are able to stabilise the blood sugar levels which is exactly the problem that people with diabetes have.

 

Egg whites

We know the quality of eggs, but you might think that the yolk is the only way to get ideal nutrients. But it seems that egg whites are great for the battle against diabetes. This is because they are very low calorie but high in protein.

 

Nuts

Nuts are highly delicious and they are extremely versatile. There are many different types of nut including pistachios, brazils, almonds and peanuts. They are all great for fighting diabetes because of their high levels of protein. They are also packed with healthy fats that are actually good for you.

 

 

What’s good for PMS?

 

Cheese

Studies have shown that women who suffer from PMS often have low levels of calcium. There is no doubt that cheese has high levels of calcium and given that it’s very tasty you can add it to almost anything and it stays great.

 

Pineapple

Pineapple does a lot for you if you’re suffering from PMS. It’s a great source of manganese, which can help reduce mood swings in women with PMS. It’s high level of water can help reduce the bloating that many women experience during their struggles with PMS.

 

Almonds

Almonds are a fantastic source of magnesium which is a mineral that is known to relieve the symptoms of PMS. Almonds can be eaten simply as a great snack or can be put in salads and other dishes to eat as part of a main meal.

Categories: anti-inflammatory, Arthritis, Diabetes, egg whites, health problems, high levels, levels, nbsp, nbsp nbsp, Pain Relief, PMS, pms nbsp

Snack, Move, Hydrate: How to Avoid the Mid-day Slump

Ah, the midday slump; that wonderful time somewhere between two and four in the afternoon when your brain says “Do you know what? I’m going to take a little holiday.” There’s a mountain of work to do but you just don’t feel like doing it – what do you do? Before you curl up under your desk for a nap, consider these ways to keep your energy levels going throughout the day, so you don’t have to put your corporate wellness at risk!

 

1. Start your day better: Having a proper breakfast is important to various aspects of your wellbeing, not least of which being your energy levels. I’m sorry, but a takeaway coffee and a granola bar aren’t going to see you through until quitting time – they won’t even get you to 11am! Giving your body the nutrients it needs at every meal is vital to keep going, as well as preventing a plethora of health concerns, so get up 20 minutes earlier and eat something that will keep you satisfied and give you energy.

 

2. Snack better: There’s no getting around it; you’re going to be hungry during the day. However, this is where you can utilise the power of healthy snacks to keep your energy levels up. Keep some almonds or fruit in your desk draw or stash carrot sticks and hummus in the fridge, and it will stop you reaching for the sugary snacks that will have you crashing when two o’clock rolls around.

 

3. Hydrate better: Drinking water really needs to be a habit, as it’s easy to forget how important it is to keep sipping. However, hydrating throughout the day is an absolute must if you want to avoid that midday crash. You might be tempted to give yourself an energy boost with a coffee or fizzy drink, but these beverages only make you more dehydrated, and therefore more tired. Your more likely to drink water if you see it in front of you, so keep a bottle on your desk (going to refill can give you a nice excuse to take a break). If water really doesn’t appeal, try adding a squeeze of lemon or lime, or fill a big jug with water and add cucumber and orange slices.

 

4. Move better: According to recent studies, sitting for prolonged periods is bad for your wellness, even if you exercise regularly out of office hours. You’re stuck in a chair all day with nothing to get your blood pumping – no wonder you’re exhausted! When it gets to that point where you need to read the same paragraph five times before you understand what it says, get up and take a walk round the office or go down and up the stairs a couple of times. Just a few minutes of movement and a change of scenery will do wonders for your concentration.

 

5. Do screen time better: Staring at a computer screen all day won’t give you square eyes, but it will mess with your vision as well as your energy levels. Try to look away from your screen as much as possible, and get up and leave it behind if you’re feeling particularly lethargic. Doing a few stretches while you give your eyes a break will help to relax you and de-knot your aching shoulders, neck and back.

 

6. Manage tasks better: Even if you have a big deadline looming or an infinite number of items on your to-do list, sometimes it’s just necessary to do something new. More often than not, it’s a good idea to finish things before you move on to another task, but when you can’t even keep your eyes open, you’re not exactly working on this task anyway! Put it aside, do something different, and the change will wake you up enough to go back to the boring task later.

Categories: desk, energy, energy levels, hydrate, levels, Midday Slump, nbsp, Snack, Water

Why Sleep is So Important to Your Health and Weight

While everyone is different when it comes to health and wellbeing, and different amounts of sleep work for different people, wellness experts assert that you need roughly seven to nine hours of sleep every night. According to researchers at the Sleep Disorder Clinic at Stanford University, any less sleep than this can lead to serious health concerns, such as heart disease. In fact, wellness experts believe that sleep deprivation is worse for your health than drinking or even smoking. If you have fewer than six hours of sleep a night, studies show that your risk of having a heart attack increases by 18% compared to those who get a regular seven to nine hours. However, that’s nothing compared to people who get fewer than five hours of sleep a night, as their heart attack risk is raised to 40%. Surely, it’s time to stand up and take notice of the importance of sleep.

 

During sleep, your body uses this time to repair itself. This is also when your stress levels drop, thus making it possible for your brain to become focused again. In fact, your sleeping habits have even been linked to your ability to maintain or lose weight, with regular, restful sleep correlating to better results. Plus, in the deepest stages of sleep, your body is better able to fight disease from the inside – much like some sort of health concern secret agent – and repair tissue damage and more. From all this, you can see that your body is a complex machine that needs constant care, with sleep acting as its own version of a reboot or self-overhaul. While you wouldn’t rush your mechanic when he or she is checking and fixing your vehicle, you do it to the “little mechanics” inside your own body.

 

Let’s unpack some of the more interesting and pleasant side effects of a good night’s sleep; weight loss. Research has shown that sleep deprivation causes your levels of ghrelin to rise and your levels of leptin to drop. In English? Leptin is a hormone produced by your body to make you feel satisfied or full after you eat. The less sleep you get, the lower your level of leptin which, in turn, means you feel less satisfied when you eat the next day and will end up eating more. The other sleep-food hormone your body produces is ghrelin, which is designed to stimulate your appetite. Therefore, not getting enough sleep packs a one-two punch to your waistline, with low leptin levels making you feel less full when you eat, and high ghrelin levels causing your body to get hungry, and consequently eat, more often.

 

Now we’ve covered the importance of sleep – although I could go on – it’s now time to look at how you go about getting enough sleep. If you have deadlines or an overly busy schedule, sometimes it’s not possible to get your seven to nine hours. When this occurs, try to remove any unnecessary obligations until you get your sleep routine back on track and, failing a seven- to nine-hour stretch, try to take naps when you can. If getting to sleep is difficult for you, you might find it easier to nod off if you’ve exercised during the day (as long as you avoid doing this less than three hours before bedtime). A bedtime ritual, such as having warm milk with honey, a warm bath or reading for a little bit before bed, can also help you get your body ready for sleep. Finally, make sure your room is the right temperature and well ventilated. Sweet dreams!

Categories: body, health, Heart Attack, hours, levels, Repairs, sleep, sleep deprivation, weight, wellness experts

How to Lower Your Cholesterol without Compromising on Taste

You might want to take care of your wellbeing and cut cholesterol from your diet, but how do you do it and still enjoy your food? Does a low-cholesterol diet doesn’t have to be all oat bran and tofu? Of course not! There are plenty of simple substitutions you can make in your diet that bolster your wellness and still keep you in a state of foodie bliss.

1. Instead of sprinkling croutons, go for walnuts: In carbohydrates, such as croutons, you’ll find a lot of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), also known as bad cholesterol. Walnuts, on the other hand, are high in polyunsaturated fat, which works to lower your LDL levels while giving your HDL levels (aka your levels of “good” cholesterol” a hearty boost. So the next time you have a salad, why not go a little bit nutty?

2. Replace cocktail hour with wine time: While research does suggest that a small amount of alcohol can cause your HDL cholesterol levels to rise slightly – which is a good thing – you won’t reap any benefits if you’re knocking back the mojitos and margaritas. Cocktails and mixed drinks with fruit juice contain carbohydrates which, as we’ve previously mentioned, is not great for your cholesterol levels. However, switching to red wine can give you all the benefits you could want for your wellbeing. Aside from having just 10% of the carbohydrate content of a margarita, red wine is packed with antioxidants known as flavonoids, which are believed to lower your LDL and boost your HDL. Still, alcohol can, in large quantities do real damage to your health – as I’m sure you’re aware – so stick to the American Heart Association’s guidelines of two glasses a day for men or one glass for women.

3. Swap cheese and crackers for edamame and nuts: Cheese and crackers are a popular pre- or post-dinner snack, but they are sky-high in saturated fat, which is one of the prime culprits behind high cholesterol. For all the foodie goodness of cheese and crackers but none of the guilt, try almonds and edamame. Almonds have been shown to lower LDL, while edamame – the boiled baby soybeans that are a common appetite whetter in Japanese restaurants – is extremely low in the saturated fat department. Although evidence is conflicting, some wellness experts assert that the soy protein found in edamame actively lowers your LDL. If you’re thinking Japanese soybeans sound a little complicated for an appetiser, all you need to do is buy them frozen, dump them into boiling water, and drain after 5 minutes.

4. Drizzle salads with balsamic vinegar: Any diet wellness or weight loss article you read will probably tell you to avoid salad dressing, or at least have it on the side. However, you don’t need to live a life of leafy dryness. Try drizzling your salads with balsamic vinegar, lemon juice or a nice shallot and grapefruit dressing.

5. Banish butter and bring out the margarine: There’s more than a third of your recommended daily value of saturated fat in just one tablespoon of butter (which, if you’re interested, is seven grams). Moreover, a single tablespoon of butter contains 10% of your daily value for dietary cholesterol. True, butter isn’t as harmful for your health as wellness experts once thought. However, it remains one of the main sources of high cholesterol and atherosclerosis, so switch your butter with a vegetable-oil-based spread. Anything containing olive oil will help you to replace a bad fat with a good fat. With that in mind, use olive oil (or white wine vinegar) when cooking instead of butter.

Categories: balsamic vinegar, butter, cholesterol, cholesterol levels, hdl cholesterol, high cholesterol, ldl cholesterol, levels, olive oil, Red Wine, Substitutions, wellness experts

How to Rectify a Shortage of Testosterone

Testosterone is vital for a man’s sexual wellness and wellbeing, but it’s actually far more important than most men realise. A shortage of testosterone could actually cost you your life. Testosterone being low leads to all kinds of unpleasant side effects such as loss of muscle mass, low bone density, low sex drive and even increased risk of heart disease, cancer and death.

 

This is something that every man should take seriously, and there are some important things you can do to raise your testosterone levels.

 

One important thing to be aware of is that weight is linked to low testosterone, and the more your waist size goes up, the more your testosterone levels will come down. Just a four point increase in testosterone levels (around 30 extra pounds of body fat on an average 5’10 guy) can actually accelerate the decline of your physical health due to testosterone by up to 10 years. In order to stop this from happening, try a low fat diet and a serious ab-sculpting workout programme.

 

Another study has also shown recently that men who regularly lift weights, see a phenomenal boost in their testosterone levels. As the muscles get stronger, the body produces more and more testosterone. You need to pump iron twice a week in order to see this kind of benefit.

 

You should also be wary of cutting out too much fat from your diet. It’s good to cut down on the fat to a large extend, but eliminating all sources of fat can cause the testosterone in your body to plummet. Men who consume fat have high testosterone levels, but you need to make sure that it’s healthy fat such as the fat found in fish and nuts, in order to avoid counteracting all your good work by piling on the pounds.

Categories: body, health, levels, low, nbsp, order, Testosterone, testosterone levels

What Can You Do to Help Improve Your Energy Levels?

When your energy levels are low, it can lead to all kinds of health concerns. You may worry that you are suffering from some kind of illness, and you may feel that you don’t have the wellness levels that you ought to. Your emotional wellbeing can also take a hit, as you feel drained and listless and find that doing any activity completely takes it out of you.

 

There are some great ways, however, to make sure that you boost your energy levels and keep them boosted throughout the day.

 

Energy levels tend to fall in the early afternoon, for a number of different reasons. Lunchtime lethargy is all too common.

 

One of the ways that you can combat this is to start the day by drinking a glass of cold tap water, and to keep on drinking throughout the day. Your body often gets dehydrated when you are asleep, so making sure that you banish this first thing is a good idea. Your metabolism will also benefit from drinking water throughout the day – aim to drink one glass every two hours.

 

Breakfast is also vitally important (as you have no doubt heard many times before!) Starting the day with a sugary breakfast cereal and coffee may give you an instant energy burst from the caffeine and sugar, but come midday you will find that your energy levels have plummeted. Instead, go for the slow energy release, and eat products that are filled with fibre and protein. You could start the day with a sausage or scrambled eggs on whole grain pancakes or toast, for example, or mix yoghurt into high fibre cereal.

 

Skip the black coffee too – if you need a coffee to get going in the morning, have lots of milk in it. This will help to sustain you when the caffeine wears off.

Categories: Boost, Coffee, Drinking, energy, energy levels, health, levels, nbsp

How to Stay Healthy With These Top Tips

Your hormones get a bad reputation, from making you feel bloated to being blamed for making you crave carbs. But they aren’t all bad – there are some that offer significant health benefits and can even help you to lose weight. Here are some ways you can work in conjunction with your hormones to maintain a healthy weight and harness their positive powers.

Ease stress with endorphins

Often referred to as the body’s ‘feel-good’ hormones, these can help you to ease the pain of stress and improve your wellbeing. There are ways that you can encourage the release of endorphins, such as eating spicy foods which activate the nerve endings on your tongue, prompting the release of these hormones. Similarly, you can stimulate the nerves near your nose that signal to your brain to produce endorphins by chewing peppermint gum.

Stay alert with dopamine

Dopamine controls your concentration and long-term memory, so a surge of this hormone can help you to feel more motivated and focused. Studies show that dopamine levels spike when you listen to music, so playing your favourite songs when you’re paying bills or doing the housework could help you to power through that little bit quicker. Alternatively, you could get a protein-rich snack such as a handful of nuts or a couple of hard boiled eggs.

Maintain a healthy weight with leptin and grehlin

Leptin is released by the fat cells in the body and lets you know when you’ve eaten enough. Grehlin, produced in the stomach, sends signals to the brain when you’re hungry. One study suggests that eating a carb-filled and protein-rich breakfast, alongside a cookie or a piece of chocolate, helps with this release. Sleeping more can also help to balance these hormones properly, so make sure you make time for sleep. If stress and worry are keeping you up at night, make a list of things that are worrying you to help you sleep.

Balance your mood with progesterone and oxytocin

Oxytocin is the bonding hormone, because it encourages you to feel loved and give you a sense of trust in others. Progesterone is produced by the ovaries and helps to create calm and balance. Studies have shown that singing is a great way of improving your oxytocin levels, so start the day by singing in the shower or humming when you’re feeling irritable. You should also hug more – researchers have found that women who hug more have higher levels of oxytocin and lower blood pressure. You should also feel closer to a friend to increase your progesterone levels, so walk arm in arm with a loved one or pet an animal to replicate the feeling. Anything that improves your mood and helps you to feel closer to someone or something could help with the increase of these hormones.

Boost your body confidence with oestrogen and testosterone

Testosterone can help you to feel more assertive and improve your self-confidence, whilst oestrogen can boost a better skin tone by boosting water to the cells to give you a youthful glow. Studies show that testosterone levels increase when you’ve been exercising so try to opt for burst training, which works by building up to a faster pace for thirty seconds after moderate exercise. Zinc can also help, for both testosterone and oestrogen production. You can use supplements of at least 25mg a day, or try eating more lean beef, yoghurt, pumpkin seeds or dark chocolate. If you’re opting for the supplement route, you should check with your GP beforehand to ensure that it is safe.

Categories: feel, feel closer, healthy weight, hormones, levels, lifestyle, oxytocin, protein rich, Testosterone, Weight Loss

How to Tell if You Are Getting the Right Amount of Salt

A little-discussed aspect of diet and nutrition is the amount of salt that the average person takes into their diet. Recent figures show that the average American diet contains twice the necessary daily amount of salt. To protect your wellness and wellbeing, you should start to become aware of how much salt you are taking in and to actively try to reduce the salt and sodium in your diet.

 

Currently, the recommended daily amount of salt is less than 2,400mg, which represents less than one teaspoon of salt per day.

 

Of course, there are always people who are suffering with the other end of this problem, and taking in too little salt can be as dangerous as taking in too much. A low sodium diet puts anyone with a chronic illness or the elderly at risk of a condition called hyponatremia (also known as low blood sodium).

 

This condition is very difficult to diagnose without a blood test, and symptoms can include headaches, nausea, confusion, loss of consciousness and lethargy. The elderly are most at risk from this condition as the human body becomes less able to metabolise sodium as it gets older.

 

Some medications can also interfere with the body’s ability to absorb sodium: medicines that are particularly bad for this include pain medications, diuretics and antidepressants. Those who have a chronic illness such as Addison’s Disease, dehydration, hypothyroid, cirrhosis and heart or kidney failure are also at increased risk of developing a problem absorbing sodium, and so should be aware of the symptoms and see their GP if they feel it is necessary.

 

Too much salt can be very dangerous for those with high blood pressure. In these instances, a strict allowance of no more than 1,500mg of salt per day is recommended. Research has shown that those who have high blood pressure and keep their sodium levels under control prevent their blood pressure from rising and also allow their blood pressure medication to work more efficiently. Too much salt can result in a worsening of blood pressure symptoms such as shortness of breath and swelling, and it can also lead to weight gain.

Categories: Blood, blood pressure, Chronic Illness, high blood, Intake, levels, nbsp, pressure, Salt, sodium

Is Male Menopause Something to Worry About?

Everyone ages, and with this they experience hormonal changes which lead to numerous bodily changes. Where women experience dramatic hormone shifts, thought, men experience theirs more gradually over a period of many years. This has been coined as the ‘male menopause’, which is something of a myth but refers to genuine hormonal changes which men may notice as they age. The term usually refers to the decline in testosterone levels, or the reduction in the bioavailability of this hormone in relation to ageing. However, it is important to recognise that the female and male menopauses are very different processes. In women, the hormones plummet dramatically, but men suffer far less intense shifts. Most doctors prefer to use the term andropause, as this better describes the age-related changes in male patients. Of course, everyone is different, and testosterone levels vary from man to man. Older men, though, have lower levels than younger men. As you age, the testosterone levels decline by around one percent each year after the age of 30. By the age of 70, they can have declined by as much as 50 percent.

 

You can spot the symptoms of a low testosterone levels in the body with a variety of symptoms. Your sexual function may be affected, including erectile dysfunction or fewer spontaneous erections. Some men notice that there are changes to their sleep patterns, leading to insomnia or increased sleepiness. Physically, men sometimes complain of an increase in body fat, reduced muscle and strength, and decrease bone density. There may even be a loss of body hair and swollen or tender breasts, which is known as gynecomastia. Much like women experience in menopause (thought far rarer in men) you may have hot flushes, and less energy. Lastly, hormones affect our emotions so it’s natural that with a shift in the levels, you may notice some emotional changes. This might lead to a decrease in self confidence, feelings of sadness or depression, or trouble concentrating. These are all natural processes with age, but some may be an underlying issue relating to a separate health problem – it’s worth speaking to your GP who can advise why you’re experiencing certain symptoms. You should be honest with your GP – work with them to identify any health issues which may be contributing to how you’re feeling, so that they can determine what the best course of treatment is. Don’t keep any information back, even if you think it isn’t related – it may help with your diagnosis.

 

You should also choose healthy lifestyle choices, such as more exercise and a better diet. Your lifestyle can help you to maintain energy and lean muscle mass, as well as building strength. Regular exercise can also affect your mood, balancing out any emotional problems you’ve been experiencing as a result in the testosterone shift. If you’re feeling down regularly, speak to someone about it – you may be suffering with depression, which can make you irritable, isolated and withdrawn. These are issues which are best dealt with early, before they develop and become harder to treat. Therefore, if you’re noticing that you’re feeling lonely or withdrawn more than usual, you should consult your GP who can refer you to a counsellor if need be, or prescribe medication to combat the issue. There is a lot of controversy surrounding the treatment of testosterone replacement therapy, as the benefits aren’t clear, particularly for older men. It could potentially increase the risk of prostate cancer and lead to other health problems. It’s best to speak to your GP to ascertain if it is the right choice for you.

Categories: Experience, feeling, levels, male, male menopause, men, Menopause, older men, Testosterone, testosterone levels, women experience

Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D?

Sometimes it is easy to forget about vitamins. After all, a lot of us take for granted that we are getting the right levels of vitamins into our bodies from the foods that we eat. It can be easy to focus on the obvious stuff like avoiding fats and sugar and getting enough fruit and vegetables that consumes our thoughts when we decide what to eat – but how do we know that we are getting the correct balance of the vitamins and minerals that our bodies crave? It’s a difficult one, but we must all strive to do the best we can with vitamins.

 

This is especially true of vitamin D, which is so crucial to our well-being, both specifically and in general. Vitamin D is extremely important for the health of your skin and your bones and this makes it vital especially for older people who are naturally more fragile in these areas, as with age the bones tend to weak and become more brittle. Vitamin D helps to strengthen bones to fight against this natural ageing process and hopefully avoid any serious complications or injuries that are made more likely with age.

 

Getting enough vitamin D into your body promotes calcium absorption which is naturally going be a very good thing for your bones. However, it’s not all good news, as despite the fact that it is well known how important vitamin is to having healthy bones, a number of expert sources contend that as many 77 per cent of Americans have insufficient levels of vitamin D in their bodies, which is increasing their risks of falls and fractures. And it’s not just the issue that these fractures and falls are bad in the short term – over time they make things much worse.

 

So how should you go about getting the right levels of vitamin D in your body? It’s well known that direct sunlight can provide you with all the vitamin D you need. But in an often sun-barren landscape like the UK, how can we reliably get good levels of vitamin D into our bodies as we age to ensure we don’t end up with brittle bones that are likely to fracture or break if we fall? Well, of course there are certain foods that you can eat which will help you take on board the right levels of vitamin D. However, if you’re looking for a quick fix that could be the perfect way to get the right levels into your body, you could try Caltrate.

 

Caltrate is a supplement that is taken to help boost the amount of vitamin D in your body – the new formula for the pill provides you with even more vitamin D than ever before which really boosts calcium absorption. It’s a very simple solution if you feel that you’re currently not getting enough vitamin D and you’d like to get more in the form of a pill. That way you know you are getting the right amount and it will do wonders for your bones and indeed your overall health.

 

Research has shown that people with lower levels of vitamin D and calcium absorption actually have higher death rates that those who are getting the right amount. This means that using Caltrate or getting your vitamin D from another source could not only help you to have stronger bones and a healthier lifestyle but it could even help you live longer. This is a very good reason to start taking vitamin D more seriously and make room in your life for different methods of getting it into your system.

Categories: bones, calcium, calcium absorption, levels, nbsp, vitamin, Vitamin D