Health Series Archives - Page 24 of 29

April 19, 2018

How to Increase Your Water Intake

It seems that everybody has an idea about how to become healthier these days. There’s gluten-free, paleo, raw, and a whole host of other options available for those of us who want to change what we eat. With so many different health movements going on, it would seem unlikely that there is anything they all have in common.

But there is. No matter what route you are going to take to improve your health, you’ll be told to drink a lot of water. Clean water is a vital part of almost every bodily process, so the only way your chosen health path can work is if you keep hydrated. Some diets allow other drinks, but they all permit plenty of water.

It would seem that would make things easier, but sometimes water isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. A problem shared by many dieters is they feel like they’re stuck eating and doing the same old things, and water is certainly a part of that.

The truth is that straight water is dull on its own. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be. There are lots of tricks you can use to turn plain, boring water into a drink with some more variety–without wandering from the standards for your particular diet.

Adding Flavor

The biggest knock on water is that it’s always the same. There’s nothing wrong with the taste of water–and yes, it does have a taste, as anyone can attest after drinking distilled water.

Of course, the first concern many people have about adding flavor is that the new ingredients will not be consistent with the requirements of their diets. The good news is that you can make flavored water without artificial sweeteners, sugar, or anything else that will mess up your diet.

Filtration

Municipal water treatment facilities focus on making water clean, not delicious. In addition, all the things that the water encounters on its way to you–from sediment to those purification chemicals–can alter the taste of water and keep it from having the best flavor.

The need for water that tastes better and is safer has spurred lots of families to install home purification systems. It’s a brilliant idea when you think about it, because it lets you purify and improve the water at the last possible moment before you drink it, instead of miles away at a water plant.

Temperature

So you’ve just come in from your morning walk and you’re parched. How about a nice big glass of…warm water? Water that’s at the wrong temperature is just about undrinkable. In addition to the science of absorption–studies show that cold water is absorbed more quickly–we’re back on palatability. That’s why so many people who consume water in large quantities will often keep their drink iced down.

That’s probably common sense, but it doesn’t always work for everyone. People with damaged or sensitive teeth may not be able to tolerate water that’s cold enough, so their consumption may be too low. This can be addressed by using a straw so that the cold water bypasses dental problems. And the bottle that provides a quick chug of rehydration with ice-cold water after a run may quickly reach lukewarm if left in the sun, slowing subsequent consumption.

Our bodies require large amounts of water. That’s true whether you’re an Olympic athlete or working at a desk job. It also applies to every diet that has ever been formulated, whether its goal is weight loss, improved cardiovascular health, veganism, or anything else. We can’t succeed without drinking water, so anything we can do to keep it flowing is great for our health.
*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I might receive a small commission if you make a purchase using a link.

April 18, 2018

Health Optimization 101: Strategies That Promote Wellness

People who want to lead profoundly productive, progressive, positive lives should know that getting healthy will help them do so. Unfortunately, the modern world is profoundly unhealthy, and people have a tendency to conform to the dominant ideologies and practices within their environment. If this is the case for you, you may find it helpful to consistently implement wellness techniques that can keep you on track to enhanced physical and mental well-being. Below you’ll find just three of many health optimization techniques you can deploy to make wellness a real thing for you:

1. Start Meditating Consistently.

One of the best health optimization strategies under the sun is meditating consistently. Meditation is empowering for many reasons. First, it empowers people to carefully listen to the words and phrases that may be circling around in their unconscious or conscious mind. Once you’re aware of what these words and phrases are, you can determine whether you accept and approve of what’s going on in your mind throughout the day. If you don’t, you can begin systematically changing your thought patterns so that they are more productive and positive. In addition to promoting positive thinking, regular meditation is known to enhance immunity and facilitate better sleep.

2. Keep A Wellness Journal.

In addition to meditating consistently, make sure that you begin keeping a wellness journal. This technique is powerful because it enables you to keep a record of your failures and successes along your wellness journey. Records are important because they empower you to carefully analyze your behavior and make changes that will promote deeper levels of success and efficacy with your work of getting and remaining healthy. Note that there’s no “right” or “wrong” way to journal about wellness. Your journal could include anything from recording what you ate that day to how you felt after coming out of your morning yoga class. Note that being systematic and strategic with things like what you write about and for how long is oftentimes the key to success with this strategy!

3. Purchase Health Items Via Internet.

One final technique that you can implement to promote wellness in your life is purchasing health items via internet. This strategy can save you time and money that otherwise might have been spent driving to a physical store. Note that you can visit a website like Health365 to buy vitamins online now. Before you make a purchase from any digital retailer, make sure that you do some background research to determine whether the company in question is reputable or not.

Conclusion

Three strategies that you can implement to promote health in your life include meditating consistently, keeping a wellness journal, and purchasing health items via internet. Begin using these techniques now so you can step into a deeper dimension of vitality soon!

April 13, 2018September 11, 2020

Avoid These 7 Weight Loss Mistakes

Image: Public Domain Free Pictures

Can’t seem to shift those pounds? Here are some of the most popular blunders that prevent people from losing weight effectively and what you should be doing instead.

Skipping meals

Starving yourself isn’t an effective means of weight loss. Whilst you may lower your intake of calories, you could also be denying your body many healthy nutrients that it requires in order to function well. This could have an effect on your immune system and concentration. On top of this, skipping meals can make us hungrier, which leads to eating binges. Eating a huge amount in a short amount of time is harder for our bodies to digest – much of it gets stored as fat because our body finds this to be an easier method of processing. Eating smaller portions throughout the day could prevent this, giving our bodies more time to digest.

Relying on pills

Weight loss pills can be effective, but only as a supplement to dieting and exercise. On their own, they’re unlikely to achieve much of an impact. Pills also have associated risks because they’re not a natural form of weight loss – they have been linked to heart disease and have had other reported side effects such as mood swings and constipation.

Exercising, but not changing your diet

Many people go to the gym hoping to burn off extra calories, but their unhealthy diet get in the way of making any impact. Processed foods, sugary drinks, alcohol and large amounts of carbs can all cancel out the effect of exercise. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring – you should try a meal replacement diet that appeals to you such as incorporating shakes or decreasing portioning. You may want to hire a dietician to help you come up with a meal plan.

Changing your diet, but not exercising

Vice versa, if you’re eating healthy but remaining inactive all day, you can similarly expect to make little progress. The reason we store fat is to use it as energy – if you’re not being active you’re simply adding to your reserves. Start exercising using a type of physical activity that motivates you. You don’t have to join a gym or jog in the rain – you can exercise from the comfort of your home in front of the TV. Hiring a personal trainer could be helpful for coming up with an exercise regime to suit your lifestyle and preferences.

Yoga Poses — Yoga is An Easy Way To Incorporate Movement and Flexibility

Ignoring weight lifting

Endurance activities such as running, cycling and swimming are all great for losing weight, but weightlifting can have it’s benefits too and isn’t just a means of gaining muscle. Lifting weights gives out bodies a metabolism spike, which allows us to burn calories for a long period after exercise is over. By switching between a week of endurance activities and a week of weightlifting exercises you can also stop your body getting too used to one style of exercise, which can make it easier to lose weight (predictive activities can sometimes cause your body to fight against weight loss, which is why you shouldn’t just stick to one routine).

Failing to track progress

Without tracking progress you don’t know how far you’ve come or how far you need to go to reach your weight loss goal. This can cause many of us to lose motivation, because instead of being focused on small steps of progress we’re too focused on the end result. It’s important to track your progress each week and then make new micro-goals for the next week. You should make a ritual of stepping on the scales or measuring your waist once a week and then recording the results. Weight loss apps meanwhile can record various other data such as the amount of calories you’ve consumed in a week or the amount of steps you’ve made. All of this gives you small goals to work towards that are more within your reach.

Thinking short-term

Some people have no problem shifting the pounds, it’s keeping them off that’s the problem. The yo-yo effect is a term described to losing weight, putting it back on again and then repeating the cycle. Most people get sucked into this cycle because they treat weight loss as a temporary change of lifestyle when really there needs to be some permanent changes in order to not go back to your old ways. Whilst you can resort to crash dieting as a way of quickly shedding the pounds, it’s important to then make some permanent changes that will stop you going back to your original size. Think about sacrifices that you can keep forever, whether it’s eating less junk food or spending less time in front of the TV.

[…]
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April 5, 2018

Are Essential Tremors Affecting My Loved One?

You have a concern. A spouse, friend, parent, or child has been shaking lately. He or she has been having trouble holding a glass, writing with a pencil, or even tying shoes. His or her hands tremble. You’re worried–could it be Parkinson’s Disease? You’re not sure what’s happening, but you want to find out as soon as possible. Your loved one could be suffering from essential tremors which is a disorder that affects 2.2% of the US population.

While this shaking can be frightening, there are answers available. To better understand essential tremors, and their treatment, consult the following steps.

Ruling Out Parkinson’s

Right away, you may want to know whether your loved one’s condition is essential tremors or Parkinson’s disease. There are a few key differences between the two, and these differences should be enough to ease your mind until you consult with a neuro specialist. If your loved one’s hands shake when doing tasks, such as chopping or pouring, then he or she likely has essential tremors. With Parkinson’s, the trembling tends to occur when a person is sitting still. Parkinson’s will also exhibit other symptoms, like a stoop or a difference in walking. If your loved one shakes the most when using his or her hands, then it’s unlikely that it’s Parkinson’s disease. You should, however, consult with a neuro specialist right away.

Gain a Diagnosis

Whether you join your loved one at the clinic, or wait to hear until he or she has come home, you and him or her will both want a diagnosis as soon as possible. Consult with a neuro specialist to identify the root issue. If the shaking is being caused by essential tremors, then you and your loved one can look into treatment options. Go local. For instance, if you live in New Jersey you should find the best treatment center for neurovascular conditions in Morristown, NJ or the surrounding area. Finding a nearby clinic will make treatment easier as your loved one reconfigures a routine.

Continue Treatment

Essential tremors may worsen over time. Your loved one can expect a series of symptoms, which may or may not become severe. The essential tremors typically begin on one side of the body, gradually. They become worse when your loved one moves, making tasks more difficult. They are worst in the hands and may affect one or both hands. Essential tremors can be aggravated by fatigue, caffeine, or changes in temperature. It’s important to seek treatment under your doctor’s guidance. Your loved one can also try Tremor Miracle for relieving tremors of the hands, head, legs, and feet.

Understanding what essential tremors are will help you understand if your loved one is suffering from them. While you won’t know for sure until you consult your neuro specialist, you can head into the neuro clinic with a better sense of what to expect. Essential tremors are not life-threatening, and while inconvenient, they can be treated. You and your loved one can enjoy a slightly altered lifestyle, without losing what matters most.
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