How Lifestyle Choices Affect Female Fertility

Fertility is one of the truly big aspects of life. After all, as a species one of the most important acts we can take part in is reproduction so perhaps it is no surprise that many women worry very much about their level of fertility. Beyond being an act that is important for the continuation of our species, many women see getting pregnant and having a baby as an important part of their own personal development and it is something that they have thought about for a long time. Clearly this is one of the key issues in the lives of thousands of people.

 

If you are thinking about getting pregnant either now or sometime in the future, it makes sense that you will be concerned about your fertility and ways that you can improve it or sustain it. Of course it is worth remembering that sometimes there are factors beyond your control such as medical reasons for infertility – but if this is not the case there are actually many other factors that can play a role in your levels of fertility. Some of the most important of these are actually down to your lifestyle. So here is what you need to know about the aspects of your lifestyle that can affect your ability to have a baby now or in the future.

 

If you have been trying to have a baby by having unprotected sex with your partner for more than a year (or for more than six months if you are over the age of 35) it might be worth checking whether there are any problems with your fertility. There are actually lots of things that can cause problems for female fertility including conditions affecting ovulation, conditions that affect the uterus or a blockage of the fallopian tubes. Remember also that age plays a massive role in fertility for women, and the rule goes that as the older you get the harder it is to conceive. It’s also true that unlike men, who are able to conceive into the later stages of life, women become entirely unable to have children after the menopause.

 

So what are the best ways to promote your levels of fertility? Well, the truth is that there are lots of things that you can do. One of the most important is maintaining a healthy weight. Studies have shown that being overweight or significantly underweight can lead to serious problems with fertility, so if you stay within the healthy weight bracket you’re doing wonders for your fertility. It’s also true that you should avoid sexual transmitted infections (STIs) at all costs. STIs are notorious for their ability to make women infertile and to protect yourself from the potential dangers involved you should be sure to practice safe sex.

 

Other fantastic ideas regarding your lifestyle including eating a healthy diet and managing levels of stress. Eating well and steering clear of stress keep your body healthy and in good condition and this puts you in the ideal state for fertility. You should also schedule regular check-ups with your doctor to ensure that there is nothing you should be worried about and to make sure that you are maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

 

There are also a number of things that should certainly be off limits in order to keep your levels of fertility to high. So you should definitely avoid smoking, limit the amount of alcohol, junk food and caffeine that you consume and also avoid any exposure to toxins. Doing these things are the very best things to ensure that your levels of fertility remain high and you are able to have children.

Categories: female fertility, Fertility, getting older, Healthy, healthy weight, lifestyle, nbsp, safe sex, Women

4 Reasons You Should Be Incorporating More Herbs in Your Diet

 

When people think of modifying their lifestyle, they mostly think about food and exercise as their ticket to health. Many experts believe there is more to a healthy lifestyle; these experts think that a well-rounded person needs to include a variety of herbs and spices in their diet.

 

How can you benefit from incorporating more herbs?

 

Nutrition

Like fruits and vegetables, herbs are really good for you. Ounce for ounce, fresh herbs like parsley, oregano and basil are more nutritious than any vegetable. Compared to the same amount of lettuce, parsley provides you with three times more vitamin A, five times more iron as well as four times the calcium.

 

Sure, you probably won’t eat a cup of parsley, but you get the idea; herbs are concentrated sources of both flavor and nutrition.

 

Cut Back On Fat, Calories and Salt

Liberally seasoning your food with herbs and spices makes it taste better; when you use herbs, you don’t need to add as much fat or salt to your food. Using herbs naturally brings out the taste of food without adding a significant amount of calories.

 

When you use herbs, you eat healthy without sacrificing taste. When your food tastes good, you feel more satisfied after a meal. The more satisfied you are, the less likely it is that you will overeat throughout the day.

 

Natural Remedies

There’s been a lot of research done on how herbs fight disease; herbs can increase brain power, lower blood pressure and help with many ailments. When you consume a lot of herbs, you help your body fight illness naturally. If you have a condition like vertigo, you can try a natural vertigo remedy by Native Remedies. The possibilities with herbs and fighting sickness are endless.

 

Boost Your Antioxidants

Herbs found in health food stores contain high levels of antioxidants and phytonutrients; these substances are necessary for optimum health. The more of these substances you have in your body, the healthier you are likely to be.

 

There have been tons of studies done on herbs, and these studies all show that herbs offer long-term health benefits. Not only do they taste great, but they are great for you.

 

Herbs and spices can transform a bland meal; the aromatic flavorings make healthy foods taste great without adding extra fat, sodium or calories. Delicious herbs pack a surprising nutritional punch; adding them to your diet can lead to many health benefits.

Categories: diet, diet nbsp, Food, health, Health Benefits, herbs, lifestyle, nbsp, taste

The Top Four Lifestyle Changes For Weight Loss

Are you someone who wants to lose weight? It’s probably true that more people than not feel like they could stand to lose weight and slim down with a diet or a fitness regime. There are literally thousands of plans out there, ranging from celebrities spilling their fantastic weight loss secrets, to famous diets like the Atkins diet, that promise the perfect way to lose weight, tone up and get the body that you crave. It’s a nice idea, isn’t it? But given how many people still want to lose weight, despite the presence of all these supposed miracle cures, it seems that actually, they cannot be relied upon to produce the results that you are looking for.

 

So in the face of failing diets and forgotten fitness regimes, we need to look for a new method that will work in the short and long term. Unfortunately, most diets seem to rely on cutting out the food that you love and encouraging a draconian fitness regimen that virtually no-one can stick to. That can leave us asking the question – is there really any sensible way to lose weight and keep the weight off? The truth is that there is, but they involve genuine changes in your lifestyle that you need to stick to, rather than short term crash diets that will just leave you feeling unwell and unable to continue the weight loss. Here are our top four lifestyle changes that will have you slimming down on no time.

 

Lifestyle Change 1: Don’t eat after 7pm

Food digestion is very hard work for your body, breaking down the food into material that is useful for the organs of the body is a complicated process. The problem is that while the body is focussed on breaking down the food it can’t do many of the other processes that are very important to it. When you go to bed with a full stomach you are actually hampering the natural metabolism of the body at night. This means that if you go to bed not long after you’ve eaten, you’ll actually store a lot of the fat in the food, rather than using it as energy.

 

Lifestyle Change 2: Eat Five Small Meals Per Day

Most people find themselves in the habit of eating three large meals a day. This is something that many of us are accustomed to, but it might not be the best thing for our body. Eating smaller meals makes digestion easier for our bodies and also promotes a fast metabolism. The fact that we are eating at shorter intervals also means that you are less likely to get very hungry during the day and binge on junk food.

 

Lifestyle Change 3: Eating a healthy breakfast with a good source of protein

It is important to get a good breakfast as one of your daily meals; that is well known, but just as important is getting a good source of protein in on that breakfast. Eggs are a great choice but you could also go for something like lean meats such as turkey or a protein-rich spread like peanut butter. Avoid cereals as these break down quickly and leave you feeling hungrier sooner.

 

Lifestyle Change 4: Avoid sugar and refined carbs

It might seem like something that is obvious and found in every single diet ever. But removing sugar and refined carbs from what you eat will speed up your metabolism as well as taking down the amount of calories that you eat during the day. This is only a good thing for your weight loss.

Categories: body, Food, lifestyle, Lifestyle Change, Lose weight, nbsp lifestyle, refined carbs, slimming, weight, Weight Loss

Easy Weight Loss Tips to Banish Teenager Weight Woes

If you’ve gained weight as a secondary school student or since you’ve gone to college,  there are many ways to change your lifestyle to see great weight loss results. To begin with, exercise is hugely important and doesn’t feature very prominently in most teens’ schedules. There are so many benefits though, not just to your weight – you’ll have an improved sense of wellbeing, lower risk of diabetes and stroke, and better cardiovascular health. Most people dread the thought of working up a sweat and building their heart rate up, but the benefits are so huge. Exercise can be as intense or slow paced as you want, depending on what you choose, but as long as you’re moving and your heart rate has quickened, anything goes – from jogging around the block to dancing in your living room! The best way to motivate yourself is to make your workout fun, so try different things out to see what you like. You can also make changes to your everyday routine such as using the stairs instead of the lift or walking to work and college. Get a friend involved and you’ll not only enjoy it more but you’ll also stay motivated to keep it up.

Where your diet is concerned, the best tip you can follow is to not go on a diet – in other words, diets that are designed to offer quick results usually fail. The best way to lose weight and be healthy at the same time is to simply cut down on the fatty and sugary foods, and replace them with healthy, homemade alternatives. Teens are notorious for eating fast food and unhealthy snacks, but these make it so much easier to gain weight. You are what you eat, so make your meals healthy and nutritious. Opt for healthy snacks such as homemade popcorn, yoghurt, pretzels and granola bars. Fruit and vegetables are also fantastic snack foods, offering a healthy boost of energy. Replace all of those cans of fizzy drink with water or the occasional glass of fruit juice, to give your body the hydration it needs without a constant supply of sugar. The body also needs protein, so make sure you get plenty of meat and dairy products, as well as peanut butter and legumes.

If you’re going out with friends, you don’t need to feel as though you can’t join in, but simply act in moderation. If you’re getting a pizza, try not to eat the whole thing – share with a friend or just eat a few slices and stop when you’re full. At the cinema, opt for the freshly made popcorn instead of the branded types that are laden with toffee. And you can treat yourself to an ice cream at the beach, just limit those visits to once a month rather than every week. Weight loss and a healthier lifestyle is simply about willpower, balance and forward-planning – once you have that covered, it’s easier than you think. If you’re unsure how to go about it, gather a great support group in the form of your family and friends who will ensure you stay motivated even when you don’t feel like it. Maintaining a healthy weight can do wonders for your self esteem and confidence, as well as ensuring that weight-related health concerns are reduced. Your GP can offer advice if you’re not sure how to go about changing your lifestyle – if you’re new to exercise and are making drastic diet changes, it may be useful to run it by them to make sure it’s safe.

Categories: diet, Healthy, Heart Rate, lifestyle, simply, stay motivated, teens, weight, Weight Loss

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 Much Does Exercise Really Count?

Exercise doesn’t need to be a burdensome task, yet so many people treat it as though it is. While not every exercise is suitable for every body, and there is naturally going to be some pain when you’re working your body to the limit, the human body was designed to be used. It’s important to be physically active and move your body regularly, for both flexibility and to maintain a healthy weight. There are many modifiable lifestyle factors which lead to premature deaths around the world, the main ones being our diets, tobacco usage and physical activity. Once these aspects of your life are under control, you’ll notice an increased feeling of wellbeing and less risk of health concerns such as heart disease and diabetes. Avoiding these pillars of a healthy lifestyle could increase your risk of almost every chronic disease by as much as 80 percent and reduce your life expectancy. The power of your lifestyle goes far above and beyond any medication that the world can offer – drugs should be unnecessary if you’re leading a healthy lifestyle, as you’ll be stronger and more able to fight off disease.

 

There is considerable benefit in exercising regularly, beyond the common associations such as a leaner body and improved stamina. As well as helping us to fight obesity and the related health complaints, such as stroke or diabetes, it can also keep our muscles working effectively, our bones stronger and our mood lifted. Research has confirmed that, on average, sitting more each day compared to keeping moving can increase our risk of premature death. And this doesn’t have to mean spending every waking moment at the gym – everything from swimming and aerobics, to walking and dancing can improve your health and fitness. It doesn’t need to be a chore – it’s all about finding something that you enjoy, that fits in with your lifestyle, and that you can do each week to burn calories and improve your wellbeing. Exercise you leave you feeling motivated, energetic and alert. And the more you do of it, the more you’ll notice these fantastic effects. Numerous studies have proven just how much our bodies benefit from regular exercise, yet so many people are reluctant to make it a part of their weekly routine. As active people, we should be celebrating our ability to move, run and jump – instead, we lead increasingly sedentary lifestyles that are quite literally killing us early.

If you’re new to exercise, it is important to take things slow to begin with so that you can acclimatise your body to extra exertion. However, once you’re fitter and more able, the world is your oyster – you’ll have so many options for ways to exercise. Why not mix it up and try something new each week? The general rule is if it gets your heart racing and your muscles moving then it counts. Check out your local fitness centre and see what they’re offering in the way of exercise classes – most local gyms provide a range, such as aerobics, dancing, boxing, swimming and football. It’s also a fantastic chance to socialise with people in your local area – you may even wish to pair up with a fitness buddy to workout with each week. Exercise is something that can seem tiresome and boring if you approach it in the wrong way. But once you change your outlook, you may find that it’s something that you really look forward to each week – the benefits will certainly keep you coming back for more.

Categories: body, exercise, healthy lifestyle, lifestyle, ll notice, outlook, people, physical activity, week

Ways to Stay Ageless Through Your Lifestyle

The media has created a need for us to be ageless and ever-youthful, but how do you achieve that in everyday life? There are numerous surgical options available to us now, but for those seeking the natural route all is not lost. Make-up hides a number of ageing sins, but that’s not all – preventative measures can do wonders for your appearance as well. Here are some ways to stay looking young and feeling good as you age.

 

The sun is responsible for a large proportion of your ageing, so wherever you can prevent this damage you should. This doesn’t have to just mean wearing sunscreen though, although this is hugely important – your eyes bear the brunt of squinting which is one of the first areas of your face to age. Super-sizing your sunglasses can help with this, as it not only stops you from squinting in the sunshine, but also helps protect the skin from the damaging UV rays. And don’t forget to wear a hat and a scarf over the sensitive décolleté area, to protect against sun spots.

 

As moisturisers go, you should aim for natural, organic and nutritious ingredients. Olive oil is a surprising choice but one which can offer numerous benefits to your skin – it is loaded with essential fatty acids which can combat dry and sensitive skin. Opt for an unflavoured oil and rub in a small amount at night to keep your skin looking plump and youthful. This goes for the skin on your hands as well, as dry and wrinkled skin in this area can lead to an instant giveaway of your age. If you want to protect this area and reduce wrinkles, apply the same retinoid used on your face to the back of your hands and then add a layer of Vaseline. Cotton gloves can help to keep the treatment in place overnight and supercharge the process, so these could be useful for keeping your hands moisturised for longer.

 

When your eyes are strained, this leads to squinting to overcompensate, putting you at risk of developing eye bags and wrinkles, as well as frown lines. Ninety present of the time this is due to poor eyesight, because your prescription isn’t strong enough – an eye exam could correct this problem and save you a lot of time and worry in anti-ageing treatments down the line. But there are other unsuspecting factors contributing to your appearance – ever worry about how your commute is affecting your ageing? 80 percent of sun exposure occurs through windows, so if you want to ward off the sun spots, wrinkles and even skin cancer, you may want to invest in a window shield. You can purchase a clear window film which acts as a guard from the sunlight and UV rays. The average commuter gets around 200 hours of sun exposure from driving alone, so this measure could prevent 99 percent of these rays from affecting you. If you do happen to develop brown spots, lemon juice can be used to reverse the damage – a little lemon juice with water could help to fade the spots on all skin tones. Apply with a Q-tip before bedtime, and gradually increase to twice a day, however you should stop if your skin gets too tight.

 

Ageing is something which should be done naturally and gracefully where possible, but these are tricks which could make a huge difference in the rate at which you age. Drinking plenty of water, avoiding too much sunlight and protecting your skin with a moisturiser are the best basic rules to follow.

Categories: anti-ageing, lemon juice, lifestyle, moisturiser, skin, skincare, Sun Exposure, sun spots, uv rays

Make Sure You"re on the Right Diet: 5 Things to Consider

Many dieters would like an easy button when it comes to weight loss. For some, agonizing over every single aspect of one’s diet really can make the process of losing weight that much more stressful. It’s important to make sure that you are on the right diet. Here are five things to check to see whether or night you are getting it right in the diet department.

 

 

Will you be able to incorporate the principles of this diet into your lifestyle long-term?

Many of the fad diets advocate eliminating a certain food altogether. Giving up pasta or a potato is sometimes required in order to lose weight on a trendy diet. Eating ten servings of vegetables a day or four servings of a specific food can get old really quickly. When developing your eating strategy for weight loss, consider whether or not you will be able to these to these drastic changes long-term in the maintenance phase.

 

 

What kind of small changes are you making?

The next important consideration is, “Are you moving too fast too soon?” People often want to make dramatic changes overnight in their quest to shed unwanted pounds. If you gradually make small changes like introducing new foods or gradually cutting back, the new diet will be that much easier to adapt to while losing weight. Changes should be made in increments to improve chances of sustainable weight loss.

 

 

Are you cutting caloric intake?

Deprivation is a common complaint among dieters. Many people feel as though they are being deprived when it comes to removing certain foods altogether from their diets. Ultimately, you will want to keep your calories under control as you diet. This will prevent your from sabotaging your dieting efforts on any day you decide to splurge a little. Cutting caloric intake to a reasonable 1200 per day is a good practice, regardless of whether or not you are on a strict dieting plan.

 

 

How often are you eating?

Skipping meals frequently throws your body off balance. Every four hours you should be getting a meal or snack into your system. This will minimize the chances of binging and help you remain in control of your fats and sugars. You will also find that your energy levels are steadier.

 

 

Is variety hurting you?

Some people become bored with a diet and can go crazy when they deviate from the plan. Other people have found that a bland or slightly less diverse diet has helped them in their weight loss efforts. Some research shows that paring down the variety of choices in a diet keeps the hunger pangs under control. Limiting meal options also makes a person less likely to consume more calories, some research indicates. Performing a test trial with a shake for http://www.idealshape.com/ and a few limited meal options for several weeks could be a good way to evaluate if choice, or lack thereof, is best for you.

 

 

Considering these five things in your weight loss efforts may really enhance your weight loss journey. Developing long-term, reasonable, healthy habits will likely involve making changes for sustainable results.

Categories: caloric, caloric intake, cutting caloric, lifestyle, Long term, Losing Weight, loss efforts, meal options, nbsp, nbsp nbsp, Right Diet, Weight Loss

Alternative Methods to Treat Arthritis

Around 9 million people in the UK suffer with arthritis and this means that these many people are suffering every day with painful, stiff joints. Osteoarthritis is one of the more common forms of this condition and is caused by the general wear and tear of the joints. The other form is rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease and means that the body begins mistakenly attacking itself – sufferers often suffer with flare-ups in smaller joints, such as the wrists or fingers, and the joints become hot and swollen. Anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers are used to treat these symptoms, and do so effectively for most people, but there are other natural ways of treating the condition and limiting the effect it has on your lifestyle by reducing the painful symptoms.

Lose weight

Being overweight means there is more stress being put on your joints, which can make the symptoms of arthritis worse. Even losing just a few extra pounds can make all the difference. Experts have proven that your knees and hips have to carry ten times your body weight every time you take a step, so losing half a stone in weight could be the equivalent of five stones off your knees with every footstep. If you have arthritis, this could be a massive strain removed from your everyday routine.

 Visit an osteopath

Osteopaths are trained to use physical manipulation to stretch and massage the joints, to increase mobility and relieve tension. By improving your flexibility, you can make the joints less stiff, which is one of the most common signs of arthritis. It;s not right for everyone, but if your joints become more painful after having a bath or swimming, it may be because they are compressed and tight. Visiting an osteopath could help to take the stiffness away from your joints and you may find that you benefit enormously from manipulation.

Remove stress from your life

Studies show that stress can actually increase the inflammation in the body, which can aggravate existing joint pain and make arthritis worse. You should aim to set aside at least one evening a week where you devote your time to relaxing and staying calm – go out with friends, have a nice meal or watch a film. Whatever gets you calm and stress-free, be sure to make time for it.

Eat pineapple

Pineapple is a surprising addition to this list, but it is a fruit which is rich in bromelain – this group of enzymes works as an anti-inflammatory and can help with painful joints. But don’t forget to eat the tougher core of the fruit too, as this is the art which has the highest concentration of bromelain. If you find it too tough to eat, you could try to juice it with celery and a small knob of ginger for a healthy, nutrient-rich drink that could help with arthritic pain.

Have a bath

Everyone likes a relaxing bath, but for sufferers of arthritis it could be the best medicine. Take a warm bath with a few drops of essential oil or epsom salt, which is high in magnesium and relieves joint pain. Follow it up with a gentle massage with some body oil or lotion. This time relaxing not only soothes the pain in your joints, but it also means you can take the weight off your joints for an hour, giving them time to relax and recuperate. You could even tie this into your relaxation time each week and tick two tasks off your list in one!

Categories: alternative therapy, anti-inflammatory, Arthritis, arthritis worse, bath, joint pain, joints, lifestyle, time, treatment, weight

Mind Games and Meals to Treat Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in America, and the fifth leading cause of death in people aged 65 and over. The number of deaths for this condition increased by 68 percent between 2000 and 2010, and all the while the rate of other deaths decreased. It’s thought that around 24 million people now live with a form of dementia and this number could increase to as many as 84 million by the year 2040. Prevention is, according to researchers, the best form of defence. The two biggest risk factors are age and genetics, and while there is no way of changing these things there are other ways to prevent the problem.

 

Researchers believe that eliminating depression and diabetes could help, along with prolonging education and upping the intake of fruit and vegetables, could help to prevent the condition from worsening by nearly 40 percent. In order to protect your mental health, you need to be healthy in other areas of your body too – this means taking better care of yourself overall, as well as following specific practices which have been proven to help. Research which was published in 2010 which showed that people with high cardiac output for their body size, meaning the greatest blood flow from the heart, also had more brain volume. This indicates a healthier brain, so anything which could improve the health of your heart could also be beneficial to your mental health. The Alzheimer’s Association states that brain-healthy activities include regular exercise, healthy diet, mental stimulation, quality sleep, good management of stress and an active social life. Naturally, the first two are obvious in a bid for general well-being, but the rest could prove the be a boon to those looking to prevent this condition.

 

Researchers claim that quality sleep should last around seven to eight hours, and stress management is defined as daily relaxation activities, such as yoga or meditation. An active social life may include volunteering, being part of a social group or keeping weekly dates with friends. Though they may not seem like activities which can make an impact on dementia prevention, when practiced every week they can be helpful in keeping your brain sharp and active. Your diet can also help – there are certain foods which can help to promote good brain health. Dark chocolate, for example, has flavonoids which increase the flow of blood to the brain. Red wine is similarly loaded with nutrients which, when consumed in small quantities, can help protect your cognitive function. People with low vitamin B12 levels were proven to be up to four times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s, so oysters are a great addition to your diet, as are mussels, scallops and shrimp. Ayurvedic remedies hail turmeric as a wonder spice, and it can help with removing plaques from the brain – countries who eat meals with this ingredient in it have lower rates of dementia than those who don’t. Finally, apples have guercetin in them which have been shown to be protective where dementia is concerned – red onions also have this nutrient in them.

 

So how can you train your brain to be sharper? Well activities are a great way to do this, such as puzzles, life skills and handicrafts. Playing an instrument is ideal for this – a five-year study found that the rate of memory loss was lower in people who were learning to play an instrument. Reading or classes which take you out of your comfort zone are also advised. Puzzles are a quick and easy, yet effective, way of sharpening the mind and keeping the brain active. The best way to sharpen the mind and stay mentally active is education, whether that’s learning a new language or taking an evening class.

Categories: active, active social, Brain, Dementia, lifestyle, Mental Health, mind games, nbsp researchers, people, quality sleep, social life

Want To Boost Your Health? Get A Relationship!

In a recent study, researchers discovered that there is a strong link between a happy relationship and a healthy lifestyle which can help us maintain healthier lifestyle habits, avoid illness and even live longer. Various factors can influence our health, from stress levels to diet, but this new study has thrown up new information as to the importance of a strong relationship to build a stronger immunity and create a happier mental attitude. No matter whether your dating, married or living together, a happy romantic relationship can do wonders for your physical and mental health.

A happy couple, according to the study, can help to motivate each other to stay on top of their health – this can be through encouraging more exercise or simply through eating a better diet. The one aspect of your health which may not improve necessarily is your weight – studies have shown that those in relationships tend to gain weight. Regular physical intimacy can also help boost your health, through lowering stress and increasing your sense of wellbeing. Those who have sex regularly are said to be more mentally healthy and gain more satisfaction through their relationship and life in general. But that’s not all – simply sleeping next to someone you love can help you to feel more relaxed, setting you up for a better night’s sleep.

Finally, your alcohol intake could be affected by a relationship – researchers noted that romantic partners influence each other’s drinking habits, with individuals mirroring their partner’s drinking in the first four years of marriage. So if your partner drinks a lot, it’s likely that you will too. Both men and women drink as an emotional resolve to problems, so your relationship may influence how much you’re drinking. Likewise, relationships may affect your level of anxiety – studies have shown contrasting results in the effects of a relationship on anxiety levels and depression.

Categories: health, lifestyle, romantic relationships

Can You Treat An Allergy With A Natural Treatment?

Seasonal allergies affect over 26 million people in America alone, not to mention the 50 million people who suffer from other types of allergies, leaving many people open to annoying and sometimes life-threatening symptoms. You may be focused during the summer seasons on the pollen counts and the first freeze, but how do you limit your symptoms? The signs generally involve wheezing, coughing, a runny nose, skin rashes, itching and sneezing. Many treatments deal with congestion but they do little else, meaning that most of your symptoms are still present. They also bring with them unwanted side effects, including drowsiness and nasal irritation. The effects of pollen allergies aren’t just physically tiring, they also impact your mental wellbeing. Natural remedies for allergies could be the answer to remove these symptoms without the nasty side effects that pharmaceuticals bring.

Once you know more about your allergy, you can prepare better for dealing with it. This means understanding how your allergy works, so that you can opt for treatments which combat those effects. For example, a pollen allergy involves a prickly cell of pollen entering your nasal cavity and travelling through the nasal passages. These latch on to the mucus membranes which lead to a histamine trigger which results in the symptoms you associate with your allergy. For some people, including those who have asthma, this may also include swelling in the bronchial tubes. Here are some of the natural remedies which could help you avoid this.

1 – Saline Solution

Doctors recommend this form of treatment, as it clears the nasal passages and soothes the respiratory system by removing irritants. The solution can help to clear the passages and reduces some of the inflammation the irritants cause. You can buy this ready made or your can add a teaspoon of salt (not table salt) to a pint of warm, distilled water and add a pinch of baking soda. Gently sniff a little of the solution into one nostril, allowing it to drain back out through the mouth or the nose – you should aim to do this twice a day if possible.

2 - Wash

It may seem like a simple step, but having a shower or a bath can really help if you have allergies. This is because pollen can stick to your clothes and hair throughout the day, meaning your symptoms get progressively worse throughout the day and into the evening. If you wake up in the middle of the night with a coughing fit, a hot shower can work wonders by removing the pollen residues on your body and even removing them from your sinuses through the steam. The warm water will also help you drift off to a peaceful sleep as well afterwards.

3 – Mind the air

Being careful about the air may seem like an impossible task, but it’s really far simpler than it sounds. It really means watching out for triggers which will make your symptoms worse. For example, if the pollen count is particularly high, you may want to stay indoors or limit your time by parks and gardens where it will make your reactions more severe. You can easily check these online or even download an app which will alert you to airborne triggers. Likewise, be aware inside the home as well – why not try keeping fresh air flowing through your home to stop dust and mould spores from building, which can make your allergies worse, especially for people with asthma. Lastly, avoid tobacco smoke which can act as an irritant – if your friends or family smoke, be sure to keep your distance when they’re smoking to avoid the risk of an attack.

Categories: allergy, lifestyle, Pollen

Seven Things that Affect your Heart Health

Where your heart is concerned, your diet is hugely important. There are many things you may do out of habit, whether it’s exercising too little or eating the wrong foods, which could be having an impact on the health of your heart. Here are seven of these lifestyle habits which you may want to consider in order to keep your heart healthy.

 

Diet

What you put in your mouth has a large impact on how healthy your heart is, so it’s important you lay off the fatty foods and up your intake of fruit and vegetables. Foods which are rich in antioxidants are a great choice, such as blueberries and strawberries, as well as oily fish which are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids.

 

Noise

Some studies suggest that the noise level in your local area could impact your heart attack risk – it is thought that this is because it disrupts sleep and increases stress levels in people who have to listen to it over a long period of time.

 

Sleep

How much sleep you get can greatly impact your life and general health, as sleep is important for enabling your body to rest and recuperate. If you don’t get much sleep on a regular basis, you’re putting your body (and heart) under a lot of strain, so be sure to get around eight hours of good quality sleep each night.

 

Early healthy habits

Studies suggest that developing good lifestyle habits in your 20s could help you protect your heart health later in life – so be sure to eat well, limit your intake of alcohol, avoid smoking and get plenty of regular exercise.

 

Smoking

Smoking doesn’t just affect your lungs – it also increases your risk of cardiovascular disease. Smoking is a risk to many aspects of your body, increasing your risk of cancers, lung disease and heart problems, so give up to ensure your heart stays healthy.

 

Work

The stress of your working life, as well as the financial pressures you may be dealing with, impact the stress on your heart and increase your risk of high blood pressure. This can lead to heart problems after a period of time, so try to stay as stress-free as possible.

 

Seasonality

Though researchers are unsure why, the winter season brings with it more cases of cardiac arrest. it’s thought that it may be due to the cold weather affecting how constricted your blood vessels are, whilst others speculate that it may be due to us leading a sedentary lifestyle in this season.

Categories: diet, heart, lifestyle

Ageing: Is it Possible to do it with Grace?

Society has placed a huge amount of importance on age in recent years, with the emphasis on looking as young as possible. While experts have stated the benefits of a good diet and plenty of exercise in regards to looking good well into your old age, how true is it? Growing older is inevitable, but looking older doesn’t necessarily have to go hand in hand. These days, many people go to extreme measures to ensure they don’t look lined and wrinkled, but is there something to be said for growing old gracefully? Whatever your view on ageing, it’s a common misconception that ageing is chronologically driven – you don’t necessarily start to feel and look older the moment you hit a certain birthday.

 

The lifestyles we choose to lead in our twenties and thirties have a huge impact on how we look and feel in our sixties and seventies. Those burgers and Saturday nights down the pub may be fun now, but will you regret your choices when you’re looking haggard and prone to diseases later in life? It’s likely that you will, yet many people don’t alter their lifestyles to accommodate the kind of life they want to lead later on. These habits are evident in certain cultures, such as in Japan where healthy diets are key and people live healthier lives in old age. Compare this to Malaysia, the fattest country in South-East Asia, where people are eating fatty foods and suffering from obesity and side effects of their diet, such as diabetes and cancer.

 

Understanding the ageing process is key in order to use it to your advantage and avoid the dreaded effects for as long as possible. This means exercising more, even if it’s at home in your living room or garden, as well as cutting the fat and sugar from your diet and replacing it with health-boosting foods. It also means making sure that you’re targeting issues that may arise when you age, such as improving your flexibility which can be a problem for older people. Once you know what you’re up against, you can take measures to prevent it in a healthy way.

Categories: ageing, diet, lifestyle

How to Beat Stress with these Easy Solutions

We lead busy lives these days, with worries about bills and juggling work and social lives. All of this worry and anxiety builds up to leave us feeling incredibly stressed, which can have a negative impact on our health in a number of ways. Chronic stress has been connected to a host of physical and emotional concerns, and it’s thought that women have stronger stress reactions than men. So, how do you combat this condition? Here are some of the common symptoms of stress and ways in which you can deal with it.

 

Headaches

Researchers believe that stress-inducted fluctuations in neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, can create pain pathways in the brain which lead to headaches. You can deal with this by allowing yourself ten minutes each day of mindful relaxation, such as deep breathing or meditation. This can relax the muscle tension that can lead to a headache. It also helps to reduce your blood pressure and improve your sense of wellbeing.

 

Breakouts

Many people notice that their skin condition decreases when they get stressed, resulting in spots and excess oil. Drinking hot water with lemon, a Chinese tradition, can help to detoxify the skin and reduce the risk of breakouts. You can also try dry body brushing, which improves circulation and can be calming.

 

Stiff neck

Sitting in an office chair all day can wreak havoc on your neck and back, leading to stiff and sore mucles. Massage is the key treatment for this, helping to relax the muscles and calm you down. You can also try a spot of hydrotherapy by sitting in the bathtub in as cold water as you can tolerate, slowly warming up the water – you may find it easier to alternate between warm and cold water in the shower, where you can target the stress points on your neck.

 

Fatigue

Extreme tiredness or fatigue can impact your daily routine, making you stressed, anxious and lead to memory problems. One anti-insomnia technique is progressive muscle relaxation, which involves you tightening the muscles in your toes, holding for five seconds and then releasing. Slowly work your way through your muscle groups, doing the same technique, breathing calmly all the while.

 

Periods

Cramping or a lack of periods can be linked to stress, so you may find acupuncture useful when combating this problem. It’s thought to help unblock certain energy pathways to improve your menstrual cycle and even improve pregnancy and birth rates in women who are having in vitro fertilisation.

Categories: anxiety, lifestyle, Stress

Trying to Lose Belly Weight? Try These Tricks!

We all want a toned body, particularly around the stomach which can be a  problem area for a lot of people, but it can be difficult. Losing that extra few pounds around your middle can help you to increase your energy levels and gain more confidence, so how can you achieve it? Following these steps will help you tone up, improve your metabolism and reduce stress.

Believe it or not, but breathing is the first step towards toning up your stomach. The muscle around the waist wraps around like a belt, known as the transverse abdominus or TVA. This muscle supports your spine, and holds in your intestines – without a strong TVA, you’re at risk of injuring your spine and developing poor posture. By breathing deeply, you’ll be able to feel where your TVA is. This will help you to do toning exercises such as the Plank and crunches.

Once you’ve started to lose the extra weight around your stomach, exercises such as running and muscle building become all the easier. Challenge yourself to build real muscle by developing an intense weight lifting regime – if you’re new to exercising, it’s advised that you build up slowly to avoid injury. Try starting off with squats and presses to build lean muscle, improve your fitness and tone your stomach area.

Lastly, your food choices have an obvious effect on your body. Not only should you avoid fatty foods, but also those which cause your stomach to bloat. Food sensitivities can increase this risk, so if you notice that your stomach bloats when you eat certain foods, you may want to be tested for an intolerance. Aiming for a balanced diet that’s low in fat, salt and sugar is a great way to start, though – drink plenty of water as well to keep your body hydrated.

Trying to Lose Belly Weight? Try These Tricks!

Categories: lifestyle, Toned Stomach, Weight Loss

Six Bad Habits to Break Today and Why You Should Break Them

Bad habits are things that people form to make their lives a little bit easier or to deter them from actually getting things done. They’re easy to form over time, but they’re also difficult to break. These are just some of the worst bad habits you can form and why it’s imperative that you try to break them.

 

1. Stop Multi-Tasking

It would seem multi-tasking would help you get things done in a more timely fashion, but in actuality, multi-tasking merely helps you start several tasks simultaneously making it nearly impossible to finish them from being so busy. At times, multi-tasking can lead to a person feeling overwhelmed and stressed. In order to avoid these feelings and to become more productive, try getting in the habit of completing one full task at a time.

 

2. Stop biting your Nails

Biting your nails can lead to a variety of health problems. Think about it – do you wash your hands before and after biting your nails? Probably not. Biting your nails can lead to you getting sick from germs or can lead to you getting other people sick. Nail biting can also lead to problems with your teeth. You could chip your teeth or cause damage to your gums. In addition to potential health risks, nail-biting leads to nubby, ragged nails. When you stop biting your nails, you will reduce the risk of sickness and will help improve your hands’ overall appearance.

 

3. Stop Eating Quick, Unhealthy Lunches

Whenever it’s time to take your break for lunch, it can seem effortless to swing through a fast food drive through, say a number for a combo meal, and have it handed to you within minutes. However, doing this over time is very harsh on your body, and you will reap the effects sooner or later. Instead, prepare your lunches at home with fresh greens and whole grains. Most likely, you will feel more healthy. You will also notice a difference in your bank account. Eating out daily gets expensive incredibly fast. Think of it this way: If you go the inexpensive route, lunch will cost you $5 per day. That’s $25 a week and $100 each month.

 

4. Don’t Answer Your Phone’s Every Call

Do you find yourself grabbing at your phone every time you hear it ring or feel it vibrate? Responding to your phone’s every alert can dramatically cut down on productivity. Not only are you taking the time to look at the phone to possibly answer the phone, but taking your concentration from your work to your phone also takes time. You will need to refocus on the task at home. In addition, chances are high that the notification can wait. The other problem with answering your phone all the time is it can come across as slightly rude, like you don’t care about the people you are with.

 

5. Stop Grinding Your Teeth

Grinding your teeth is an extremely bad habit you will want to break as soon as possible. Grinding your teeth can destroy your teeth and gums over time, and it can also entail expensive dental care. It can be difficult to stop this bad habit by yourself. If you suspect you might grind your teeth, check with your dentist, who should be able to see signs of teeth grinding if you do have this bad habit. You may want to find teeth grinding treatment in San Francisco or buy a mouth guard from the store to help break your teeth grinding habit.

 

6. Don’t Skip Out on Exercise

Lastly, don’t skip out on exercise. It might be easy to make the excuse that you don’t have time for exercise during your typical day, but you can probably find an extra 20-30 minutes to get a brisk walk or run in. Exercise is sure to help you feel better about your appearance. In addition, exercise is good for your heart and muscles. You can walk, swim, go for a bike ride, or find any other activity you enjoy. Exercise over time can help you build muscle, decrease fat and lose weight. Those who exercise every day are found overall to have healthier bodies than those who choose not to exercise.

Categories: bad habits, health concerns, lifestyle

Student Life – How to Avoid the Dreaded STDs

After high school, education becomes a melting pot of good times and hard work. Money, whilst an issue, is not such a terrible burden as of yet and the libertarian lifestyle of being young, troubled and free is something of a blessing.

As is the drinking.

It seems almost obligatory that when the education begins, so does the crazy lifestyle of clubs, parties and drinking. It’s a great life – but of course, there are risks, particularly in the avenue of sex.

At the risk of sounding like an unpopular lecturer, the lessons of sexually transmitted disease are often not heeded – you hear the stories, but doubt that you will ever become a part of them. It’s hoped that you never do.

Nobody wants to wake up with a hangover and regrets. It tends to be general consensus that a rush hook-up – or even a rendezvous with your loved one – can sometimes lead to undesirable effects if you don’t take up the right methods to protect yourself. Drinking, as you know, leads to impulsive, bad judgement – and, if you’re too drunk to care, a lack of precaution from STDs.

If you are concerned, get your friend to keep an eye on you – and you on them, whether they’re having too many drinks, no precautions or being too pants-on-head silly. Friends don’t let friends do dangerous things.

This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t go out, have a few drinks and discover that everything is comfortable to lie on. We learn from the good things as we do the bad things.

University and college breaks are possibly the best pauses in student life, with less sober moments than others – but that doesn’t mean that you should ruin the good things by being irresponsible. After all, the good times are the ones that you remember.

Student Life – How to Avoid the Dreaded STDs

Categories: Drinking, Friends, life, lifestyle, sexually-transmitted disease, STDs, student, student life, times

Diabetes And Heart Disease - Are They Linked?

High levels of cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, have been linked to cardiovascular disease in some previous studies, but not all of them. This is thought to be connected to the fact that the measurements of cortisol in the blood or salvia at the time of testing may pick up acute stress, but they don’t account for long-term stress. Dutch researchers have analysed cortisol levels over several months by looking at scalp hair samples over a three month period, looking at 283 men and women of an average age of 75. Supporting data was gathered, which included data about coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, lung disease, stroke and cancer.

Those found to have the highest levels of cortisol had three times the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Researchers didn’t find any connection between lung disease, osteoporosis and cancer and the levels of cortisol, though. The increased risk is comparable to the traditional risk factors, such as hypertension and abdominal obesity. Researchers noted that further studies would need to take place in order to determine if other risk factors influence the risks.

Diabetes and heart disease are both largely affected by lifestyle, so if you lead a sedentary lifestyle and eat a poor diet then your risk will be higher. If you want to improve your general wellbeing, it’s important that you increase the amount of exercise you do – this will not only help you to maintain a healthy weight, but it will also improve circulation, keep your body flexible and help reduce stress. A balanced diet is also important when it comes to fighting such conditions. You should keep your intake of fats, salt and sugar to a minimum as these can lead to obesity and heart problems. This, alongside getting plenty of vitamins and minerals through your diet, will help you to fight disease and stay healthy.

Diabetes And Heart Disease - Are They Linked?

Categories: cardiovascular disease, cortisol, Diabetes, Disease, heart, heart disease, lifestyle, lung disease, risk, risk factors, Stress

Walk Your Way to Better Health

There’s a form of exercise that doesn’t cost a penny or require any fancy equipment, can easily fit into your everyday life and that almost anyone can manage. It’s called walking, and we’ve been doing it for three million years now.

And since May is National Walking Month, now’s the perfect time to start aiming to walk a little bit more every day.

A health ticking time bomb

Inactivity is the world’s fourth biggest killer, which is worrying as Britain has become a nation of couch potatoes. The average British adult walks just nine minutes in a day. That’s probably how long it would take to walk from the couch to the fridge a few times and to get from the car to the house. It’s no wonder we’re the fattest nation in Europe.

This means bad news for our health, as not getting enough exercise is connected with everything from diabetes and obesity to cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Benefits of walking

While taking the leap from the couch to the running track may be too extreme for some, almost everyone can enjoy the health benefits of walking whatever their fitness level. If back or joint pain is putting you off doing any exercise, walking could actually ease your symptoms while strengthening your bones to prevent osteoporosis and back pain.

Psychologically, walking’s great for clearing your head and working through issues, and will also help you get a better night’s sleep if you find it hard to nod off. It also makes us feel good. Walking, like all types of exercise, floods our bodies with endorphins which are an instant pick-me-up.

It will keep you out of your GP’s waiting room too. Walking has been shown to reduce your risk of diabetes, stroke and dementia. If you’re trying to keep your weight down, walking’s a great way to burn calories and get some aerobic exercise. Why not key your details into the British Heart Foundation’s calorie counter to estimate how many calories you could burn to motivate yourself?

Easy ways to walk more

Chief medical officers recommend that we get 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week through activities like walking. Make a few of these lifestyle changes and you’ll easily manage that.

• Walk to work

If you can walk to and from work, do it. As summer finally arrives, there’s nothing better than a stroll in the sunshine to soak up some vitamin D and unwind after a stressful day.

If you live too far away to walk, you could at least take public transport most of the way and get off a few stops early to incorporate some walking into your commute.

• Lunchtime walking

Ditch your lunches at your desk and take a stroll during lunchtime. Meet a friend for lunch in a café or sit in the park if the sun’s out. You’ll actually feel like your brain’s had a rest and you’ll come back to your work with newfound gusto.

• Ease up on emails

Got something to say to a colleague? Don’t send them an email or instant message. Actually get up, pop over to their desk and have a chat with them. It may be a radical move for some, but all those steps really add up.

• Get a pedometer

Just being aware of how many steps you take in a day by using a pedometer has been proven to motivate people to walk more. Why not set yourself a challenge and reward yourself if you manage certain number of steps in a month? You’ll soon be spotting lots of opportunities to clock up those steps, like taking the stairs instead of the lift and volunteering for tea rounds.

• Rethink your weekends

Go for a longer weekend walk instead of sitting at home. Britain is blessed with stunning coastlines, rolling hills with rewarding views and swathes of lush, green countryside. So why not shake up your weekend routine and head outdoors for some healthy fresh air and a walk with your nearest and dearest?

British walking group Ramblers is trying to encourage us all to walk more and take pleasure in walking. You can follow their maps or join one of their walking groups nearby you if you need a bit of support and encouragement.

• Get a dog

While we would never suggest that you get a dog unless you are 100% committed to taking care of it long-term, people with dogs tend to be fitter because they’re forced into taking it for short walks twice a day, even when it’s dreary outside.

• Up the ante

If you’d like to push yourself a bit or try something new, try picking up the pace, swinging your arms  and go power walking or even racewalking, which is actually considered an Olympic sport. If you’re starting out on a treadmill, why not increase the incline to make your legs work a bit harder?

Do you walk to stay fit? How do you fit it into your lifestyle?

Categories: Benefits, Better Health, Easy Ways, exercise, lifestyle, staying fit, Steps, Tips, walk, Walking, work