Bringing wholesome healthy tips
I’m at the age where I’m experiencing “the change,” as menopause is euphemistically called. I was prepared for hot flashes and night sweats, neither of which I really experienced all that much (thankfully). What I wasn’t prepared for was the fatigue. I used to be someone who could charge through the day with seemingly limitless energy. Now, I need a lunchtime nap to feel fully functional, and I often fall…
Numerous studies have proven that your internal time clock, your circadian rhythm, is vital to your sleep/wake cycle. But your circadian rhythm controls other essential functions, including your response to stress throughout the day. Disrupt your body’s clock, and you end up feeling stressed — and not just because you’re sleep-deprived. What’s really amazing, though, is that all of this stress regulation begins in the gut — about as far…
Over the past decade, more studies have shown that increasing plant protein in our diet can improve heart health and lengthen lifespans. However, all might not be so rosy — at least when it comes to plant-based milks. In fact, according to recent research, if you’ve switched from cow’s milk to almond, oat, soy or rice drinks, you might not only be losing valuable nutrients — you could also be pouring…
Obesity and type 2 diabetes have become two of the most common metabolic diseases worldwide, affecting almost 900 million and 800 million people, respectively. One of the less-talked-about impacts of diabetes is its effect on the health of skeletal muscle, which accounts for more than 50% of the body’s weight. And when diabetes and obesity coexist, as they often do — experts call that “diabesity” — the damage to skeletal…
Do you get leg cramps when you walk even a short distance? Do your legs feel heavy, numb, or weak? Don’t write these symptoms off as arthritis or “getting older.” Get checked out by your doctor. It could be claudication, leg pain and leg cramps caused by too little blood flow to the muscles, a sign of peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD is not uncommon, yet it often goes undiagnosed.…
If you wake up in the morning still exhausted after a full night’s sleep or suffer from morning headaches, daytime sleepiness or snoring, you could be living with sleep apnea. It’s a sleep issue that affects close to 30 million Americans and carries serious risks, including obesity, diabetes, anxiety, depression and even heart disease. That’s not even counting the research that poor sleep nearly doubles dementia risk. Study after study…
Understanding the role of genetics in certain brain diseases is empowering. For starters… There’s no single genetic cause for dementia, but being aware of a family history of Alzheimer’s disease and the possibility of genes that raise your risk for it can put you in control of your health journey. There are rare, hereditary causes of stroke as well. They include blood vessel disorders like Fabry’s disease and vasculitis, hematological…
I’ve shared before how heart problems run in my family. It’s the main reason I pay close attention to my blood pressure. I take daily steps to keep my numbers where they should be — and one of those is exercise. I’ve read the research, and there’s no doubt that 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day can lower blood pressure. But what if there was a way to condense…
You’ve heard us talk at length here about the evils of processed foods (especially ultra-processed foods) and how they cause inflammation and disease. But today, you’re going to hear a slightly different story. You’ll want to pay close attention if you’re trying to lose weight. You’ll hear about how certain processed foods can play an important role in helping you achieve that goal — with some added health benefits. So,…
As someone with a pale complexion, I need to be especially careful when I spend time outdoors. It’s a lesson I learned at a very young age. So, in addition to limiting my exposure and wearing lightweight clothing to keep my skin covered, I always carry an EWG-approved sunscreen in my purse and keep a hat in my car. I thought I was doing all the right things… But…