Health & Fitnness Archives - Page 3 of 8

June 12, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Five things all men should know

No doubt over the years you will have received various nuggets of advice from well-wishing family members and older friends, but how often do you take these on board? When you were younger, these pearls of wisdom would perhaps go in one ear and out the other. However, you may now regret not listening when all this fantastic advice was dropped into your lap. Don’t worry, we’ve got it covered in our list of five things all men should know.

Look after your health

This fairly obvious, but mostly ignored advice will be priceless as you get older. Looking after your health means not only aiming to eat healthily and to exercise, but also carrying out self-examinations and going to the doctors when something isn’t right. Prostate cancer is a treatable yet common disease, but still men are dying from it because they failed to go to the doctors when they first spotted the symptoms. Get regular check-ups as your doctor may spot something amiss even if you haven’t. Self-examine your genital areas for lumps, bumps and things that shouldn’t be there. Even examine your chest and armpits, as men can get breast cancer too.

The importance of dressing well

You are no longer at College, so stop dressing as if you are. A simple, tasteful suit, tailored shirts, and polished shoes are much more appealing that hilarious slogan T-shirts. Casual clothing doesn’t need to be untidy, so take pride in your appearance even during downtime. Resources like Dudepins.Com can prove invaluable for sourcing smart yet affordable clothing for men, so why not give it a visit and update your wardrobe for the new adult you?

You need to call your parents

And yes, this means peaking to dad too. Not many men enjoy spending hours on the ‘phone to their parents, but as you grow older, they are growing older too, and there will be a day when you wish you could speak to them again. If you can’t visit them often then make a point of giving them a call at least once a week so you feel connected to them and they know you care.

Never mansplain

Don’t presume to know more than a woman. It seems simple, but so many men are guilty of what has come to be known as mansplaining. This is when a man will try to explain something to a woman, presuming she is not already aware of the relevant information. It often occurs when a man believes he is more intelligent than the woman taking part in the conversation, or that he has an expertise that she doesn’t. It is condescending, sexist and rude, so just don’t do it. If you still aren’t clear about what mansplaining entails, click here for some great examples.

You will never need that much legroom on the subway

Much like mansplaining, manspreading is thing that irks women, and with good reason. If a woman splayed her legs so wide, she would be sure to get some funny looks, yet when a man spreads his legs with no regard for his fellow commuter’s personal space, there is usually not even the hint of a glance. Have consideration for the people sitting near you and keep your legs together.

June 8, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Four Steps to Take to Aid Your Loved One Through Illness

Becoming sick is no big deal. Being sick means your body has a short battle with a virus that it can easily overcome on its own with the help of a few over-the-counter meds. Having an illness, on the other hand, can completely change your life for the worse. Illnesses are long-term, and may often require specialized medical attention. How do you help a loved one whose very body is either battling against them? These steps can give you some pointers.

Learn About the Illness in Question

You cannot help your loved one if you do not understand what is going on. Though you will never be able to completely empathize, understanding and anticipating what is wrong can go a long way. If, for instance, you know the side effects of the treatments you can better prepare and take care of them. Similarly, if you know the common causes of pain or issues associated with their illness, you can better prepare to help them at a moments notice. You can only do this by learning all that you can, but remember to take what you learn online with a grain of salt. Always get your information from your loved one’s doctor, and have a list of questions on hand so that you can get as much information as possible, as soon as possible.

Follow Doctor’s Advice

Their doctor will have advice on how to take care of your loved one when at home. Always follow their advice, but watch how your loved one is responding. Following a treatment regimen when things only seem to be getting worse could mean that there is an unforeseen complication in your loved one’s health. Keep their doctor updated and press for changes if you don’t think that their treatment is working.

Help Them Improve Their Baseline Health

One of the ways that you can help them at home, particularly if all treatments occur in hospital, is to help them improve their baseline health. The human body is incredibly good at healing itself, but if it isn’t at its best its ability to heal will be limited. As such, the best way to help your loved one go through treatment or to adjust to a life-long disease is to help them improve their nutrient intake and to help them get the regular exercise that they need. Combined, this can improve their immune system, which in turn will help them combat or manage their disease.

Take Care of Them Right at Home

Not all health issues will be treated in hospital. For those with more chronic conditions, treatment should be done at home. Thankfully, programs like CDPAP exist that allow long-term Medicaid recipients to choose and even nominate who takes care of them. This means that you can be trained and even paid to take care of your loved one. Simply contact FreedomCare to enroll.

Above all else, you have to remember your own health. When you take care of your loved one you will be putting a lot of time and energy into it, which means that your own health can suffer. Take some time to mentally recuperate and to eat healthily and get your regular exercise. You can only provide the best care, after all, when you yourself are at your best.

June 6, 2018 by Greg Underwood

TMS Health Solutions Offers Relief to Victims of Depression

For years now, researchers have been examining the role income, place of living, and employment affects mental health. Unsurprisingly, over the couple last decades they have found that these criteria do in fact affect the mental health of people. Many researchers have suggested that it isn’t necessarily the job and location that affect mental health, but the environmental risks that are associated with place of residency. In summary, people who live near factories, where pollution is rampant, are more likely to suffer from mental illnesses.

Other factors that play a role in the mental health of people are social roles and life events that are associated with place of residency. Divorce and the death of a relative are other sources of stress. Researchers have came up with a term called chronic stressers, which are long-term problems that people deal with everyday. These chronic stressers include loosing a spouse or living in an undesirable location. Chronic stressers often have a more intense effect on a person than daily life events such as common conflict.

In addition to adults facing harsh work environments, burdensome responsibilities, and poor living situations, their children also suffer. A study in 2000 found that children in horrible environments are affected by mental illnesses such as clinical depression too. Over the last 40 years, half a dozen studies have supported these findings and expanding on them.

Many working class members of society are suffering from clinical depression and other mental disorders and are not getting the treatment they deserve. Mainstream drugs do not work for everyone because everyone’s chemical structure is different. Others gain tolerances to these drugs over the years and are faced with the decision to raise the dosage or not. Some people even develop such a tolerance to these medications the medications stop working completely. On the positive side of things, options are available for people suffering from clinical depression. An innovative therapy called TMS, also known as transcranial magnetic stimulation is gaining tread way every day.

TMS therapy consists of wearing a helmet or having coils placed on your head. This magnetic device, no matter which type of therapy you take, stimulates lesser used parts of the brain with magnets to teach the brain how to use these parts of the brain. A person who has been depressed for a very long extended period of time may forget how to use the parts of the brain that control happiness and other positive emotions. These magnets will restart the brain and reteach it to think in a positive manner.

TMS therapy is also a great solution for employers who have found certain employees aren’t benefiting from anti depressive medication. The importance of having a happy workplace cannot be stressed enough, and the responsibility of talking to employees falls to the employer. A discussion about TMS therapy between employee and employer couldn’t hurt. Transcranial magnetic stimulation has already helped thousands of people, creating a happier, more productive work environment.

TMS Health Solutions is a clinic out of San Francisco that that offers this innovative therapy to people from all over the world. The organization can help people from all walks of life. TMS Health Solutions accepts insurance. They accept Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna, Aetna, and over a dozen more insurances.

TMS Health Solutions has an expert team of specialized team members.. The company was founded in 2007 by Richard Bermudes. Bermudes’ vision was to develop a company that offered innovative care to patients in need. One of TMS Health Solutions ways of adapting to each individual’s needs is by partnering with the doctors of every patient.

May 29, 2018 by Greg Underwood

3 reasons you aren’t losing weight

It’s a topic that is never going to die down, for the simple reason that people generally struggle to lose weight.

The likes of Sono Bello are bursting at the seams with people who are desperate for a more advanced procedure to curb their waistline, and this is something that doesn’t seem to be on the slide.

Unfortunately, there is no magic button that is going to allow your weight to plummet in record speeds. Instead, there are common reasons why people tend to struggle to keep off those extra pounds, and through the course of this guide we will take a look at some of these in detail.

Reason #1 – Hold on, are you losing weight?

This first reason isn’t really a reason, so to speak. A lot of people feel that they have hit that dreaded brick wall, when in reality they are still shifting the pounds and losing a decent amount of weight.

Why does this happen? Firstly, the scales can take a while to catch up. Your hormones tend to be instable, which causes weight fluctuations, while your water retention can also change regularly and impact your weight.

Additionally, and this next point is important, you might actually be losing fat, but not losing overall weight. If you’re doing this, you’ll probably be pretty happy with the outcome anyway. Your fat levels are diminishing, and being replaced by bigger muscles (so you are more toned). The scales don’t tell you this – you’ll need to measure your fat to see if this is the case.

Reason #2 – You don’t track your food

Whenever you start a new health regime, one of the first suggestions that is often made is to start a food diary. There is plenty of reason behind this recommendation as well; it tells you the whole truth about what is going into your body. For a lot of people, it’s quite eye-opening as well. They don’t realize that they are eating 10 chocolate snacks per day; as they space them out so it “feels” like nothing.

As such, if you feel like you have hit that brick wall, go back to basics and record exactly what is entering your mouth. You might be surprised, and you might be able to take action. Luckily, this action doesn’t usually have to be too drastic either. It might be just cutting out one food a day, which makes a monumental difference to your weekly calorie intake.

Reason #3 – You don’t drink enough water

If you were to look at water from a very basic perspective, you might think that it doesn’t contain any calories and therefore shouldn’t affect your weight loss quest in the slightest.

However, open up this topic a little more and all starts to become clear. Firstly, studies have shown that drinking more water can facilitate more weight loss. Additionally, as you are using it to replenish yourself, you are probably replacing a liquid that’s laced with fats or sugar.

May 17, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Five Ways to Drink Responsibly

Responsible drinking is safe drinking.

Sure, we know you’ve been there before – what started out as a casual night of drinking has turned into a sloppy mess. At this point in the night, you’re slurring words and are stumbling as you walk. Worst case scenario: you have your head buried in a toilet as you vomit your way through the night.

The night doesn’t have to end this way.

The consequences of irresponsible drinking can not only ruin your evening, but they can also significantly alter your life. It’s critical to understand the importance of responsible drinking – an understanding that entails the safety of both yourself and others around you.

Enjoying alcohol and having a fun night out on the town doesn’t have to mean you get belligerently intoxicated every night. DUI Attorneys in Phoenix recommend the following five tips for safe and responsible drinking.

Eat Before You Drink

Putting some food in your body slows the absorption of alcohol. Things like proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are all fantastic choices to alter the effects of alcohol consumption. Furthermore, you might want to consider bananas as they help absorb alcohol in your stomach and also prevent nausea.

Understand the Strength of Your Drinks

As an avid alcohol consumer, you should understand the potency of each beverage. Consider the following: there is roughly the same amount of alcohol in one beer (12 ounces), one glass of wine (5 ounces), and one shot of liquor (1.5 ounces of 80-proof). Thus, you should really pay close attention as your bartender pours your drinks. For example, if two shots of alcohol go into your mixed drink, that counts as two drinks.

Count Your Drinks

Generally speaking, your body metabolizes alcohol at the rate of about one drink per hour. Thus, it takes about 60 minutes for the effects of just one drink to exit your body. As you consume drinks at a higher rate, your body falls behind and your level of intoxication increases.

Avoid Drinking Games and Shots

Think about it this way: if you are taking shots, you’re likely to consume more than one shot per hour. This type of consumption is very similar in popular drinking games such as flip cup or beer pong.

It’s very difficult for your body to keep up with that pace of alcohol intake. Just because a shot is ingested within one second, doesn’t mean that your body metabolizes it quicker (it still takes the full hour). Thus, if you ingest several shots in a short period of time, your body falls behind in the metabolization process.

Know Your Limits

Not only is binge drinking dangerous, it can also be deadly. Take some time before you go out to examine a BAC (blood alcohol content) calculator. This will let you know how much you can drink based on your physical dimensions (height, weight, and gender). You should make responsible drinking plans based on these results.

May 14, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Exercise Vs. Diet: Is One Really More Important than the Other?

It’s an old debate really, and while there are those that would pick sides, most would agree that weight loss cannot be brought on in a healthy manner unless you are maintaining both fronts with precision. Nevertheless, we are going a step further today and taking the question head on to find out once and for all if one of these two truly is more essential than the other for achieving your weight loss goals.

The Diet is More Important than Exercise

To answer the question in one line, one would have to say that strictly speaking, diet is indeed more important for weight loss than exercise. It’s quite simple really; what you consume is always going to be more important than how much you move your body around in a quest to burn calories. There is no doubt that exercise hastens the weight loss process and it is absolutely essential to build muscle mass, but when it comes to the raw weight loss potentials, diet just wins hands down.

If you have any doubts regarding this conclusion, you need to understand the fact that while you can definitely burn a lot of calories through planned exercise and determination, you will probably end up eating more calories than you just burned at the gym in just a single post-workout meal! So, if you skipped the workout and the meal, you would end up creating a greater calorie deficit than if you worked out and ate the meal. Add all that to the fact that exercise makes us hungrier than usual and it becomes even harder to control your diet when you are exercising than when you are not.

You Can’t Lose Any Significant Weight Through Exercise Only

In case you thought that you could get away with eating junk just because you exercise regularly, you thought wrong. On the contrary, it is possible to lose weight only through dieting, but any significant weight loss is not possible under normal circumstances if you exercise without controlling what you eat. Unhealthy foods are generally rich in calories and saturated fat, while being low on essential nutrients such as protein and unsaturated fat. Therefore, you just cannot burn off the excess calories by working out hard, if you are eating poorly at the same time.

The Body Adjusts and Makes the Job Harder

This is true for diets as well, but it is particularly true for exercise routines. The amount of muscle you will build during your first two years, or the amount of weight you will lose during your first few months at the gym, are not going to be matched by similar rates of improvement later on. Our bodies adjust and we reach a plateau where gaining even a quarter of an inch on your bicep feels like a herculean task, while losing just a couple of pounds takes a lot more labor than before. The body can and will also adjust to your diets in the same way, but by the time you reach your weight loss plateau with a diet, you will have come very close to your goals already.

Now that we have established that dieting is indeed more important than exercising, head over to Cuisine Study and find out everything you will ever need to about eating healthily and keeping it tasty at the same time. Do keep in mind that if you are serious about losing weight fast, becoming healthy and looking good in the process, you will always need to combine both diet and exercise for best results.

May 11, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Looking at The Benefits of Amino Acid Supplements

The world of supplements has long been one of uncertainty and information which is not always correct, which in truth is a shame because there are some supplements out there which can do wonders for you and your body. One such supplement which I would really recommend is that of amino acids, the building blocks of life which feature inside protein. amino acids help protein absorption so that when protein enters the body, it proceeds to break it down into the various amino acids, and then sends them where they need to go. Supplements can offer you a great deal and here we are going to talk about just some of the benefits which you can enjoy when using these amino acid supplements.

Muscle Growth

Branched-chain amino acids such as isoleucine, valine and leucine, have a great many properties and one of the most impactful is that of muscle growth. Leucine in particular has been proven to be a great tool in the protein synthesis of muscles after working out. These amino acids can help with recovery, growth and recuperation ahead of you next workout.

Fat Burning

These supplements can not only help you to generate bigger muscles, but also to help you burn fat far quicker. In simple terms, these amino acids make your body switch to fat when it comes to burning fuel, as opposed to glycogen.

Greater Mental Focus

When your amino acids run low, the body produces more of a chemical called tryptophan which tuns into serotonin in the brain, inducing fatigue and reduced mental sharpness. If we manage however to keep up the levels of BCAA in the body, we can keep the monster of tryptophan at bay, and count on a higher level of mental function. In the same way that they help to improve mental focus, the BCAAs can also increase energy levels and reduce physical fatigue.

Increased Endurance

When taking these supplements your body will change the way that it goes about using carbs and fats. The result of this is that taking the supplements means that you don’t use as much glycogen when working out for long periods of time, which leaves the body stronger and in better shape for longer periods of time. To avoid exhaustion, higher levels of glycogen is the key, and through the use of amino acid supplements, you can ensure that your body retains stronger levels.

Balanced Dosage

There are of course many other ways of getting protein and those amino acids into the body, but it can be difficult to ensure that you are getting the right balance for your body. Taking supplements however will ensure that the dosage which you are ingesting is a careful balance of everything that you need. Amino acids compete with one another for absorption, which can mean that taking them in the wrong way could see you lose some of the dosage, with supplements this is not the case and your body will be well balanced.

May 11, 2018 by Greg Underwood

What to Expect Before, During, and After Weight Loss Surgery

Thanks to medical advances, today patients can choose between a variety of bariatric surgery procedures as a tool to help meet their health goals. No matter if you’re considering Contrave discounts, sleep gastronomy, or another weight loss surgery, there are things you’ll want to know before, during, and after the surgery. By being prepared ahead of time and knowing what to expect, you can start your weight loss journey off on the right foot.

Here’s what you need to know about the entire weight loss surgery process.

Before Surgery

Before looking into weight loss surgery, it’s worth noting that there are certain requirements that you must meet in order to be approved. For example, you must typically have a BMI in the obese or morbidly obese categories before you can undergo surgery. Other common requirements include:

History of failed past efforts to lose weight
Serious weight-related health problems
Non-smoker
Willing to stick to post-surgery guidelines

If you believe you’re a candidate for weight loss surgery, it’s best to find a bariatric surgeon in the area who can help to determine the best way forward for you to meet your weight loss and overall health goals.

One of the biggest misconceptions that people have about weight loss surgery is that it’s a miracle worker. Others think it’s the easy way out and “cheating” in a sense. But, undergoing bariatric surgery doesn’t guarantee that you’re going to lose weight. In order to be successful in meeting your weight loss goals, you must stick with your diet and exercise program, along with taking the proper supplements needed to ensure your internal health. It takes a lot of discipline and perseverance to lose weight, even after surgery.

While going on a strict diet can be frustrating, many doctors require that their patients follow a strict pre-surgery diet to not only prove they can stick to a diet program, but also to properly prepare the body to undergo a serious surgery. By sticking to the diet, you can expect to lose a few pounds, which is a great way to start your weight loss journey.

During Surgery

Before undergoing surgery, your bariatric surgeon will likely discuss how the procedure works. Most weight loss surgeries can be done using a laparoscopic technique, which involves four or five small incisions versus one large one. Patients typically heal much faster with this form of surgery as the incisions heal quicker.

During surgery, you will undergo general anesthesia and be put to sleep. While you’re likely to wake up feeling quite groggy, some patients say that sleeping while under general anesthesia is some of the best sleep they’ve ever had!

Surgery can last anywhere from an hour to a few hours, depending on the procedure you’re undergoing as well as your overall health condition. After waking up, you will likely be tired and in some pain.

After Surgery

Once surgery is completed, you’re well on your way to your personal journey to losing weight. After waking up from anesthesia, you’re likely to be very tired and feeling some discomfort, especially around the incision area. Your doctor will prescribe you pain medication to make you more comfortable. Depending on your surgery and how well your body reacts after surgery, you may be able to go home a few hours after. Some patients need to spend a night or a few days in the hospital after surgery to receive close monitoring.

After you’re discharged from the hospital, the true work starts. First, you must focus on healing and getting back on your feet after surgery. This means sticking to your diet, eating plenty of protein, and taking any recommended supplements. Eating a lot of protein, resting, and staying hydrated can help speed up the healing process.

Most doctors recommend that you take a few weeks to heal. Once the incisions have closed and are much less painful, you can likely begin light exercise, such as walking. After a few weeks and you’re fully healed, you’ll want to put all of your focus and energy into following your meal and exercise plans.

When jumping into exercise, listen to your body. While you want to push yourself, some patients start exercising before their body is fully healed. If you experience any pain or discomfort, discuss this with your doctor.

Post-surgery it’s also important to stay in touch with your doctor. Many weight loss offices provide weekly support groups where you can discuss how things are going and create friendships with those who are undergoing a similar lifestyle change. Having access to a support group is important, especially when you’re not losing as quickly as you wanted or feeling tempted by bad food choices.

After weeks of sticking to the plan, you’re likely to see amazing results on the scale and in the mirror. The key is to keep going and to push through all the bumps in the road until you’ve met your ideal weight.

Was this article helpful and informative? Leave us a comment with your thoughts in the section below.

May 10, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Top Ten Tips To Improve Your Health

Most of us intend to live a healthy – or healthier – lifestyle. Doing so, can sometimes feel a chore, and as though we are consistently following guidelines. But, it doesn’t really have to be that way. By just making slight alterations to the way we live, we can improve our health without making the whole process daunting and challenging. Here are a few simple methods to help guide you in the right direction.

1 – Alcohol

Most of us enjoy a drink. But, when that drink becomes a commonplace fixture, and leads to drink after drink, we know that we are doing our body and general health no favours. This doesn’t mean alcoholism, it simply means that we are drinking too much at a certain time of day, without actually enjoying it.

By limiting what we have to drink, we immediately begin to improve our health. This article won’t go into explaining how the body improves, from liver to mind, but is written to simply stress that cutting back on alcohol is an immediate bonus for you, all round. Enjoy a glass of red, and enjoy a pint of lager – just remember to keep the excess reserved for celebrations.

2 – Cigarettes

First of all, we all know that smoking is extremely bad for our health. And, yes, we’ve all heard about that old lady that smoked until she was 101 – these are exceptionally rare cases.

Quitting smoking is one of the most challenging things anybody can do. Nicotine is one of the most addictive chemicals known to man and – to many – it stays permanently lodged in our brain cells (or at least we think it does).

There are numerous aids that can help us quit, or at least limit our usage. Patches and gums have been around for a while, with varying degrees of success stories. Recently, the e-cigarette has entered the market. This device, along with its nicotine content juices, of flavours that will appeal to all, has been proven by medical professionals to be the best form of smoking cessation available. It is highly recommended as a first step to quitting those dreaded smokes.

3 – Food

While the majority of us enjoy ordering a Chinese, or chucking a frozen pizza in the oven at night, we have to tell ourselves that meals that contain high amounts of calories should only be consumed once in a while, especially if exercises are limited.

It isn’t difficult, these days, to find nutrition rich foods that appeal, unlike the boring old dishes we often associate with healthy eating. And, not only do we improve our health by eating better dishes – and keeping the takeaways at bay, until a Friday night – we also see a benefit in our wallets and purses.

4 – Hobbies

Watching movies, or playing computer games all night long may sound fun to some of us, but they can hardly be classed as hobbies. By finding something else, and something more worthwhile, to fill our spare diary slots in, we instantly improve our physical or mental health, or both. It doesn’t have to be a demanding past-time, or anything that involves too much expense – just finding that other form of entertainment is what helps aid our health in the right direction.

5 – Exercise

A dreaded word to some of us, exercise is by far the most important means in order to improve our health and lifestyle. You don’t have to go all out – there’s no need for a new pair of trainers or a fancy bike – simply walking so many steps a day, in pleasant surroundings, is enough to give our body tick marks in the right places. Any form of daily, physical activity is a bonus – and could, perhaps, be tied into a hobby, as listed above.

6 – The Gym

If finding a form of exercise, or sticking to a home routine is too difficult, with too many distractions, then investigating a gym may well be the best thing you ever did – for yourself and for your body.

The process to many of us, sounds a little daunting, but it really needn’t be. Gym’s, these days, are everywhere and cater for every individual need. You can choose your own workout, and your own times, using all of the latest and greatest equipment. By joining a gym, you also feel more compelled to get your membership’s worth, and, therefore, find yourself improving your body simply by having a stronger mindset to do something.

7 – The Sunshine

Good weather means barbecues and beer. In the UK, it’s often something that we really need to make the most of. The sunshine comes with obvious downsides, however. Too much sun can lead to all manner of complications, including cancer, but this article is not here to explain further on such issues.

The sunshine, on the other hand, should be taken advantage of. Enjoy your walks more, or your cycling, or just your new hobby in the good weather. The heat, alone, helps improve the body. Sweat is not an enemy – some people say that it is simply fat crying! Get out while it lasts, just remember the sun cream.

8 – The Cold

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have the cold weather. And, in the UK, we sure as hell get plenty of it!

While wrapping up warm is essential to the elderly, it also applies – to an extent – to all of us. The cold weather, is also something that shouldn’t be avoided. Believe it or not, we can actually exert more energy, depending on the activity, in the cold than the warm. And, considering the fact that we live in a country that gets cold pretty much all the time, it only seems sensible to find something to do on the outdoors that can work as a hobby and exercise, whatever the weather.

9 – Keeping The Mind Active

Physical activity is rated as the best form of exercise the body can get, but in order to follow a routine correctly, we need to have the correct mindset. And, the mind needs to be healthy and in perfect working order before any great improvements can be made, from quitting smoking to joining a gym.

How you go about this is personal to each individual. Some people enjoy reading books, others prefer crosswords, and some people enjoy a Rubix cube or online puzzle site. The choices in keeping the mind active are endless. Plus, you can tie one activity in with the other – going for a walk in the middle of nowhere and having to read a map is two activities together.

10 – Socialising

No health benefit, no matter what the above activity, has to be done alone. In fact, everything is achieved more successfully with a friend, or a group. And, where that isn’t possible, just having friends and family aware of what you are doing – be it quitting the cigs or going for a hike, can help aid you mentally, from stories to tell, to pictures to upload.

May 10, 2018 by Greg Underwood

Top 10 Tips for Balancing Hormones Naturally

Keeping your hormones balanced is key to leading a healthy life, both mentally and physically. Read on to learn how to balance hormones naturally.

Having imbalanced hormones is a common issue for people and can cause a ton of mental and physical health problems. Many people opt to get medication to help balance hormones, such as different types of birth control.

However, if you want to balance your hormones naturally without any side effects, there are tons of tips you can start to utilize in your life.

In this blog, we’ll discuss some helpful ways you can balance hormones naturally, so you can get back to feeling great without the fear of causing harm to your body.

What Causes Hormone Imbalance?

Hormone imbalance is common and will occur to everyone at some point in their lives. But what actually causes your hormones to be out of whack?

Here are some of the most common reasons your hormones may be imbalanced.

Age and Menopause

Every woman knows that in your forties (usually) you will begin to go through menopause. This means that your body will be going through changes and will no longer be able to reproduce, causing your hormone levels to plummet.

Some people go through menopause earlier, which is caused by premature aging due to an unhealthy lifestyle. The more unhealthy you are, the more severe your hormone imbalance will be when going through menopause.

Poor Diet

The food you eat on a regular basis will have a profound effect on your hormone levels. Eating unhealthy foods that are difficult to digest will force your body to work harder to break down those foods.

This stress on your body can cause your hormones to start to decrease or fluctuate, causing an imbalance.

Excessive Stress

Stress causes an increase in the production of cortisol which depletes the hormone progesterone, causing an imbalance.

How to Balance Hormones Naturally

Hormone imbalance will happen at some point in your life, no matter how healthy of a lifestyle you live.

Luckily, there are several ways you can help get your hormones balanced again naturally. Here are ten tips on how you can improve your hormone balance.

1. Exercise Regularly

Exercising has a ton of known health benefits, and can even help keep your hormones balanced by regulating the production of insulin.

The hormone insulin can be dangerous in larger amounts, leading to diabetes are heart disease. Exercising on a regular basis will reduce the amount of insulin your body produces, leading to more balanced hormones.

Exercise is also important for maintaining the human growth hormone (HGH). Make sure you know all the HGH facts so you can keep these hormones properly balanced.

2. Eat Plenty of Protein

Protein affects the release of the hormones in your body that control appetite. Eating enough protein will decrease the release of the hormone ghrelin, which is responsible for communicating hunger and appetite.

Reducing ghrelin production will decrease your appetite and cause you to eat less at each meal.

3. Avoid Sugar and Refined Carbs

Sugar and refined carbs can lead to a big increase in the hormone insulin, which can lead to some dangerous health issues.

Try to avoid or eliminate sugar and refined carbs to keep your insulin levels regulated and your hormones in balance.

4. Effectively Manage Stress

As we mentioned above, stress is a huge factor in hormone production and is a big reason why so many people suffer from hormone imbalance.

Stress increases the production of the hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Cortisol helps your body deal with stress. If you are constantly stressed, your body will be producing cortisol in extremely high amounts.

When your body is producing excess cortisol, your hormones will be imbalanced and you may gain weight and increase calorie intake.

Manage stress by exercising, meditation, taking long walks, and getting enough sleep each night.

5. Drink Green Tea

If you are looking for a natural supplement to help you balance your hormones, look no further than green tea.

Studies show that drinking green tea can regulate insulin and keep your hormones balanced, preventing future health problems such as heart disease.

6. Get More Sleep

If you aren’t getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night, your lack of rest may be contributing to your hormone imbalance.

Hormones work on a schedule, and if your body is not used to a normal sleep schedule, it can really mess up how your hormones are produced and regulated.

Sleep will help keep your stress hormones, such as cortisol, balanced which is important to your overall health.

7. Take Omega-3s Every Day

Omega-3s are important to balancing your hormones because they reduce the production of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Omega-3s also regulate insulin intake, preventing diabetes and other diseases.

You can either get Omega-3 supplements from the store or eat fatty fish, which are full of Omega-3, on a regular basis.

8. Limit Caffeine Intake

Caffeine can cause an increase in stress levels, leading to higher production of cortisol and adrenaline.

If you are having hormone imbalance problems and are drinking coffee all throughout the day, try to reduce the amount you’re drinking.

If you need to drink caffeine, consider replacing coffee with healthier herbal teas that can give you benefits to help combat the effect caffeine is having on your hormones.

9. Take the Right Supplements

There are tons of supplements available to you, but only some of them are going to really help balance your hormones.

Some of the best supplements to use for hormone imbalance include Maca, Magnesium, and Vitamin D.

10. Eat Healthy Fats

We’ve discussed foods that need to be avoided such as sugar and refined carbs, but there are foods you can add to your diet that will be a big help in balancing out your hormones.

Find foods that are high in healthy, saturated fats. One of the best ways to get these healthy fats is from coconut oil, which is loaded with medium-chain fatty acids that are easily digestible.

These fatty acids digest quickly, speeding up your metabolism and giving you healthy, clean energy. Healthy fats will help regulate insulin and provide the building blocks for healthy hormone production.

For More Information

Having a hormone imbalance is no fun, and can cause you some serious health issues if not taken care of. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to balance hormones naturally, including improving your diet, exercising, and managing stress.

So start making some changes to your lifestyle and get your hormones balanced so you can feel healthy again.

If you want to know more about how you can improve your health, check out our health and fitness blog page for more information.