Eyebright is a plant that belongs to the Figwort family and whose above-ground parts have been used for medicinal purposes, and this has been going on for centuries. Some claims have it that eyebright has been used for medicinal purposes since the 14th century, although its first mention in print apparently is its inclusion in a 1485 German book about herbs.
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So it’s April and as good a time as any to clean out your closets and garage, and maybe start working on that landscaping, right? Spring cleaning time is here, and it’s also as good a time as any to clean out some, if not all, of those cobwebs inside your head. Whether your brain has been cluttered with tax prep or you are a student prepping to cram for final exams, or a senior lifer aspiring to improve memory functions, many of you can always use some cognitive cleanliness and fine tuning.
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Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that is classified as essential. Because it is a fat-soluble vitamin, E requires a provision of fat from the food we eat in order to be properly absorbed. That’s one more reason to no longer fear knowingly including at least some fat in our diet, a concept we’ve had hammered into our heads in recent decades, only to now know that fat is not our true enemy—sugar now wears that crown.
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If you want to lose weight – and, be serious, who doesn’t? – there are two major areas you need to focus on: exercise and diet. Stay active on a consistent basis, eat right, and watch the weight drop off. That’s the idea.
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Mention ‘sinus congestion’ or ‘stuffed-up nose” to someone, and odds are they picture biting cold in the dead of winter, while trying to ‘honk’ the contents inside their frozen nostrils into a folded handkerchief held between hands bundled in mittens, each breath visible in the frosty air. But sinus congestion can rear its annoying symptoms almost any time of year, and certainly during spring allergy season, when a mere runny nose can become a congested one fairly quickly.
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Tree bark ordinarily is not the first thing we think about when looking for plants and plant extracts best known for providing health benefits, but Pycnogenol® (PYC) is a different story. There’s plenty of health-inducing bite to this bark.
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Spring has sprung, and, with it, tear ducts across America are starting to gush once again. Spring allergy season has arrived, and if annual sufferers aren’t feeling the symptoms yet, they soon will be.
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As men age, they think more and more about testosterone, and why not? Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone, but as men get older, their body produces less and less of it. It’s no wonder men come to be preoccupied with the subject, as testosterone is a key to athleti8c performance – even if it’s just lifting light weights in the gym – as well as sexual performance in the bedroom.
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Your body doesn’t produce vitamin D on its own, but it needs plenty of it in order to function properly. Although that sounds a bit ominous and introduces a sense of urgency, the good news is that vitamin D is also known as the “sunshine vitamin.” Something to smile about, right? Sunlight is a rich source of vitamin D, so if you want to do your body some good, make it a point to get outside on a sunny day and soak up some of the rays, enjoying life as you enhance your health!
Read MoreYou shouldn’t feel too bad if you have ever suffered, or are suffering, from a bout of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). You have plenty of company. Well, let’s rephrase that: then again, feeling bad goes with the SAD territory, and it might even seem unavoidable. Feeling bad, depressed, or just plain down in the dumps for an extended period of time every year is a very real thing for many people, and there’s nothing amusing or uplifting about it.
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Much of what we see and know about regarding nutritional herbs and supplements dates back hundreds, even thousands, of years, which is proof that our ancestors – regardless your ethnicity – knew what they were doing way back when. Gymnema sylvestre, a wood-climbing shrub native to Indian, Africa, and Australia is among those plants whose robust medicinal properties have stood the tests of time.
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For years now, health-conscious people have practically flocked to their local grocery store or pharmacy to load up on vitamin B12, and they have done so for good reason. Of all the “members: of the B complex family of vitamins, and there are lots of them, B12 might be the most important. Simply put, without a sufficient supply of B12 in your body, you would not be able to function properly.
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Just like keeping the oil changed in your car to keep engine parts properly lubed or taking the right steps at home to make sure your drains don’t get clogged, it’s important to live a healthy life aimed at keeping your arteries cleaned. That latter point is a life-and-death proposition, not to be trifled with.
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Your nervous system deserves your full attention and utmost self-care at all times. You could call it a 24/7 proposition as making sure you have a proper night’s sleep every night is crucial to the proper care of your nervous system. Maintaining your nervous system’s strength is paramount because it is the most important and yet complex system in your body, responsible for proper response to all internal and external stimuli related to various actions and emotions.
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If you ever get a hankering to go searching for type of superfood that you haven’t tried before, get your adventurous spirit in gear. How about a dip in Upper Klamath Lake in southern Oregon? There, you might be able to get your hands on some of the world-renowned Klamath blue green algae, a nutritional food that contains no less than a dozen vitamins, more than 20 minerals, and an assortment of high-quality protein as well as a variety of essential amino acids.
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A dog is man’s best friend, so it’s only natural that man return the favor by supplying their favorite dog or pup with biotin, a vitamin commonly associated with skin care and hair care products for people. Biotin also works well for the canines, so, if you have a dog (or two or more), consider buying biotin as a food additive as it can also provide your loyal pet(s) with a healthy skin and coat to make their lives that much better.
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Many of us have grown up believing that anything that’s good for what ails us isn’t going to taste very good, and were it not medicinal, we wouldn’t be touching it with a 10-foot pole. There are exceptions to the rule. One of them is that sweet, juicy fruit known as pineapple, which contains a protein-digesting enzyme known as bromelain. Once extracted from the pineapple, bromelain has the potential to clear things up healthwise in a variety of ways.
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Anyone who has ever gotten a cold or suffered through the woes of any other viral infection – and who hasn’t? – has heard it before: You should be taking vitamin C on a regular basis to help fend off sickness. Actually, that’s pretty good advice that holds up to the science of immunity.
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Ah, that first pedicure! Quite the dramatic before/after, right? And the second one… still lookin’ good! Three… Four… Five… Six…
At a certain point, you may notice the “law of diminishing returns” coming into effect. That is to say, with each manicure or pedicure, the improvements are fewer. The time at the salon becomes more about maintaining a look. And, meanwhile, your natural nails and cuticles become dry and brittle.
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When the doctor says, “Make sure to get your vitamins,” did you know that statement isn’t nearly as generic as it sounds? In fact, there are precisely thirteen vitamins that everybody needs. Not twelve. Not fourteen. Thirteen. Having a primary or secondary deficiency in any of these thirteen vitamins could, over time, lead to serious health consequences.
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Millions of people do it every day, in many cases as soon as they get up in the morning. They fire up the coffee pot, to get that first hot, steaming cup of joe, sipping from it and waiting (not long) for that first kick in the pants they need to get a move-on. Not everyone is a coffee fan, though. Perhaps they don’t like the taste or they aren’t comfortable with what the caffeine kick does to their body, such as getting the heart to race or even get ‘jumpy.’
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If you’re not sure if you’ve ever had a migraine headache, you probably haven’t. If you did, you surely would have remembered the experience. A real-life nightmare accompanied by symptoms that typically include some or all of the following: throbbing pain (usually on one side of the head), sensitivity to light or sound, blurred vision or visual changes known as an ‘aura,’ nausea, and vomiting.
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We start with a quick quiz: What do nursing mothers with lactation difficulties, grown men experiencing the effects of low testosterone, diabetics looking to reduce their blood sugar levels, and anyone who eats too much and has trouble controlling their appetite have in common? All could benefit from taking nutritional supplements containing fenugreek.
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Chromium is a mineral that is essential for your body’s nutritional needs, yet it is a hard metal that, in its natural state, is difficult for your body to absorb. Hmmm. That sounds like it could be a problem, even a contradiction of human biology, except such minerals can be chelated, or bound, to another compound to enhance its absorption capability. Such is the case with GTF chromium.
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https://www.wonderlabs.com/blog/painful-exercise-is-good-or-notWhen you’re feeling stressed, it’s natural to want to order a pizza and binge watch a few episodes on Netflix. (Or whatever your version of that may be!) Of course, you don’t need us to tell you that pizza on the couch isn’t the healthiest way to deal with stress.
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There are a number of professions about which you could say that the work is never done, but when it comes to farmers, that’s really true. That’s even the case in this era of advanced agricultural technology, in which computers and high tech can now be found yards away from acres adorned with wheat or corn or a couple barns full of cattle, or all of that.
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Alpha lipoic acid is also known as lipoic acid and thioctic acid, but whatever you choose to call it, it remains a compound found in almost every cell in your body – providing protection to those cells. Its primary role is to support your body’s normal functions by converting glucose – aka blood sugar – into the energy needed to drive those bodily functions.
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We all know all too well that drinking and driving don’t mix, that there’s not much good to be gained by drinking too much alcohol. Drinking a moderate amount of red wine, though, can apparently be a boon to our health, starting with how it seems able to protect brain function and lower blood pressure – and that isn’t all.
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Falling asleep as quickly as possible is the goal of everyone when their head hits the pillow at night, although that is often easier said than done. Sometimes we need extra help dozing off when we want to be dozing off – late at night, usually – preferably without need of a prescription. Melatonin in over-the-counter supplement form can help us get to sleep in certain circumstances, in addition to other benefits it can provide.
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“CoQ10” may sound like a droid in Star Wars, but it’s actually a naturally occurring substance in the human body. Also known as “CoEnzyme Q10,” this substance plays a critical role in several body functions, including heart health.
Unfortunately, research suggests that some people may have reduced levels of this substance, reports the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. This substance decreases as you age, and it is believed that many diseases, including some genetic disorders, are associated with low levels of CoQ10.
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Chief executive officers have it made. They command the highest pay in their company or organization – for them it’s called a ‘compensation package’ – and they bask in their power, prestige and jet-setting lifestyle, right?
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Writing for many people is a hobby, something they can do at night at home after work or on weekends in between other activities and the kids or grandkids. For hundreds of thousands if not millions, though, writing (as well as editing) is a fulltime endeavor, whether they be employed in a writing/editing position for a company or organization, or working on their own as a freelancer or independent contractor, sometimes at the home office, other times in a local coffee shop, perhaps writing a magazine article, a poem, or a book.
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Many vitamins and minerals offered on the market as nutritional supplements are used to replenish the body when there are specific deficiencies affecting our body’s proper function. These include the likes of B-complex vitamins, iron, magnesium, and zinc – all of which the body needs on a daily basis. Then there are herbal supplements ideal for filling in “the gaps” areas of your health that might need an extra boost outside what a “mainstream” vitamin or mineral can readily provide.
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Construction workers are the guys and gals in hard hats grinding away whenever they’re on the clock. Between them they perform a wide variety of get-your-hands-dirty functions. These range from cleaning and preparing construction sites to digging trenches and backfilling holes to operating heavy equipment, concrete mixers, and jackhammers, at times carrying out dangerous tasks on narrow steel beams dozens of stories above the ground.
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Properly fueling your body with the right vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients involves more than an indiscriminate cramming of favorite foods into your mouth. Yet some of us do just that, believing our body is wired to sort out everything on its own, automatically undoing the dietary mistakes we make and making sure the right minerals go to the right places in the correct amounts. It helps to know what the essential minerals are that our body needs to survive, and that starts with identifying the “major minerals,” such as magnesium.
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This blog post highlights the experience of a WonderLabs customer and her puppy's journey through some of the challenges and up's and down's of identifying and treating exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in her German Shepherd, Lexi. Linda has been gracious enough to share with us her story, including test results after using our PetFactor product with Lexi.
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Pollen is typically something you try to avoid, right? Scratchy throat, stuffy nose, dry eyes. No thanks. When it comes to bee pollen, however, the tables turn. This is one type of pollen you may actually want in your body!
While bee pollen doesn’t get all the buzz that “big name” supplements like Vitamin B receive, this product is humming along just beneath the radar. Discover some of the incredible potential benefits of bee pollen and other bee-derived ingredients below…
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The life of a big rig truck driver (18-wheelers) is not one conducive to good health. It is, in fact, a profession more conducive to bad health, or at least developing it over time. The challenge is even greater this time of year, when about half the country is wrapped in wintry conditions, and cold and flu season is in a heightened state. Plus truck drivers live life fast – fast trucks, fast food, and fast sleep wherever you can catch a wink before resuming the long haul.
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Hyaluronic acid is a clear, gooey-like substance naturally produced by your body that is a great friend to your skin and your eyes (for starters). It is a type of carbohydrate molecule, known as a polysaccharide, which is found in high concentrations in the skin, joints, and eye fluids, its main role to keep those body parts well lubricated.
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Whether it’s a lifestyle or a one-month experiment, more people than ever before are going vegan. Food Revolution Network shares these global statistics as evidence:
If you think of nurses as mere sidekicks to physicians, then it’s time to be introduced to the real world. Nurses do much more than just take vitals, empty out bedpans, and offer a bedside manner that is empathetic and encouraging. Their responsibilities run the gamut from rendering decisions related to acute treatment to providing school inoculations to studying and utilizing data relative to a patient’s biological, physical, and behavioral needs.
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January is here, meaning it’s way too late to be giving Christmas gifts even belatedly or ringing in the New Year, but dealing with the flu? Welcome to the height of the flu season, which kicked off in October but is still out there looking for new victims. The trick is to do what you can to avoid any flu virus that might have your name on it. As they say, let’s be careful out there.
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If you are one of the many who confuse the terms folate and folic acid, you are forgiven. That’s because you haven’t done anything wrong. Essentially, they are one and the same – sort of. Folate, otherwise known as vitamin B9, is one of many essential vitamins, and it is naturally occurring, found in many types of foods. Folic acid is the synthetic version of folate/B9, used to fortify foods and also a key ingredient in nutritional supplements.
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The military lives and breathes on maxims and mottos, and one of them often heard around posts and bases is “being fit to fight with what we have.” As you might have guessed, the biggest piece when it comes to being fit is physical fitness. Whether you are in the army, marines, air force, or navy, a big chunk of your time involves staying in tiptop shape to handle the rigors of your various tasks and missions.
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We believe in vitamins and supplements. We buy them. We open the packages and line up the bottles in medicine cabinets and kitchen pantries. And then we forget to take them. It’s not that we don’t want to take our vitamins and supplements, it’s just that life somehow gets in the way. In the medical world, doctors call this “medication nonadherence,” and it’s an issue that’s challenged patients and health providers for decades.
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Berberine is one of the most versatile nutritional supplements known to man, recognized for its wide range of health benefits that include treating metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and inflammation, among other conditions.
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Being a firefighter is about more than sliding down a pole, holding onto a firetruck while racing to the scene of a fire, manning a high-pressure hose, rapidly climbing ladders, running up flights of stairs, breaking down doors and other obstacles with an axe, and dodging incredibly hot flames while rescuing trapped people. A lot more, which helps explain that living the life of a firefighter 24/7 is a risk-filled challenge not for the faint of heart.
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Dental hygiene is extremely important to maintain, however, with many foods containing a high sugar content as well as being highly acidic this can have a huge impact on our teeth. Although the damage to your teeth may sometimes be hereditary, a number of professionals, from a London dentist to your local clinic, are available to help you combat the problems you could be experiencing. However, what if we told you a way that you could prevent the problem? Here we are going to give you some top tips for vitamins that could be affecting your oral health.
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You take vitamins and supplements because you want to be the healthiest version of yourself, right? So, why settle for just any supplement when you can take kosher-certified supplements? At Wonder Labs, we believe in providing your family with the highest quality products possible, which is one reason why we offer a wide array of kosher-certified vitamins and supplements.
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When it comes to how we eat and drink, very few of us are keeping up the balanced diets we’re regularly encouraged to adopt. For this reason, nutritional deficiencies are on the rise and while these can cause a number of different health issues, one of the most common side effects is hair loss. While the world is adapting to this growing issue with new treatments, from a hair transplant in Turkey to hair growth supplements, understanding just why you might be losing your hair and whether this is due to a vitamin or mineral deficiency is crucial to finding the right solution.
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Winter has officially arrived, and with it comes the usual slew of colds and the even more dreaded flu. Chances are the nasty colds are already here in full force, leaving sufferers with two main thoughts when it comes to their current condition: How can I shorten the duration of this cold, and what can I do going forward to thwart my next cold? For years, the most obvious solution to at least the second part of that conundrum was vitamin C, but on closer examination and contemplation, an even-better cold preventative might be echinacea.
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Being a teacher is a noble profession, but it is one that comes with potential for stress (and anxiety), long days and some nights and weekends on your feet, and, for elementary school teachers especially, a lot of time on the move with hustle and bustle. The job often requires teachers to stand for hours at a time, which can be brutal on the back and feet. Teachers must be able to handle pressure (of students, administrators, and parents), maintain a sharp mind, and have the energy and endurance to survive the long haul.
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There are more than 600 muscles in the human body. Muscles are considered the only tissue in the body that has the ability to contract and move the other body parts. About 40% of your body weight is made up of muscle tissues. Basically, these muscles are used for locomotion, first and foremost, but also for achieving complex and impressive moves. Because of their usage and movement, exercise programs that involve the martial arts can be very beneficial for individuals looking to stay fit and improve muscle tone and coordination.
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To anyone who has a sweet tooth and has longed for a ‘miracle’ food that is not only sweet and tasty but also healthful and beneficial (and low on calories) need dream no longer. There is such a consumable – cinnamon – that in fact has been around for thousands of years and which provides a plethora of potential health benefits that sound almost too good to be true. But it is true.
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I bet many people would walk right away from exercising if they were told that exercising leaves some of their tissues broken or injured. Hard as that may be to swallow, it’s the frank way to explain the internal technicalities that make exercises beneficial. Talking about misconceptions, hypes and exaggerations, health and fitness comes only second to love and relationships.
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One of man’s (and woman’s) greatest fears is hair loss – that is, loss of the hair that starts out growing atop your head. Theories abound as to what causes hair loss, ranging from excessive wearing of ballcaps or ponytails to driving convertibles with the top down to too many shampoos, but more likely it’s a combination of factors based more in science than myths. No, experts say, frequent brushing or towel-drying of your hair won’t turn you bald overnight.
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At this time of year, with the hustle and bustle of the holidays, to include all the shopping, partying, and traveling, it’s easy to find yourself tired, worn down, and ready for a horizontal perch on the sofa. Maybe you feel blasé, devoid of energy, not sure how you’re going to be able to make it – and this is during restful moments, away from the hubbub. Worse yet, this seriously rundown feeling isn’t going away, and you don’t know what’s up.
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The first thing you need to know about fish oil is that it is one of the most frequently consumed dietary supplements, and it contains an abundance of omega-3 fatty acids, which can boost your health in many ways. All you must do is give fish oil a chance, whether it be eating some of the many types of fish that contain fish oil (such as lake trout, sardines, salmon, oysters, various types of tuna, swordfish, anchovies, and herring, among others) or adding it as a daily supplement to your diet. Then watch it go to work inside your body.
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What’s there not to love about cayenne? It’s a pepper that adds a splendid kick to almost any meal (even breakfast, in some cases) and which doubles in its other world as a therapeutic compound with thousands of years of practical use and dozens of uses ranging from treating heartburn and delirium to going head to head with sore throat and hemorrhoids. Not to mention (but we are, anyway) it can also do a number in helping to cleanse the body as a detoxifying agent.
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Although scientific studies examining the herb valerian’s sedative powers is relatively limited, compared to other supplement products, consider this: it has been used for centuries for treating insomniacs – people who have trouble either falling asleep or staying asleep. The proof is in how it has been used for centuries by various cultures as a reliable therapeutic agent for an assortment of issues related to sleep, stress, and anxiety.
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Previously in this space, we discussed vitamin B12 and the important roles it plays on multiple levels in supporting our health. A deficiency of B12 can lead to all sorts of problems, starting on a basic level with tiredness, weakness, constipation and anemia, while a long-term deficiency can ultimately lead to nerve damage and dementia, even gait disturbance, among other life-changing conditions to be avoided.
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If you follow a healthy, well-rounded diet that includes meat, fish, yogurt and raw milk, you probably don’t have much to worry about when it comes to having sufficient vitamin B12 in your system. Without a steady supply of B12, though, you could be dealing with debilitating symptoms such as chronic fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, shortness of breath, mood changes, poor memory, and even poor dental health.
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Count the number of times you’ve heard the expression “You are what you eat.” OK, so you can’t. Too many. While the saying has a lot of truth to it, good or bad for your sake (depending on how you structure your diet – assuming there IS structure to it), there’s more that goes into this subject, and by that we mean what goes into your body. Your body is a magnet and receptacle for many things, not just what you eat, and therein lies the danger – the bodily accumulation of toxins through various environmental factors.
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Most likely you’ve sat through oodles of those television commercials and infomercials touting one prescription drug or another that can relieve sufferers of some highly annoying (or worse) condition, whether it be high cholesterol, an overactive bladder, or erectile dysfunction, among others. Don’t you love it when the announcer then gives you a rapid-fire list of possible side effects that, cumulatively, sound less desirable than the condition being treated.
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Stiff and/or painful joints are not an inevitable part of life, but when they do occur, it’s often the result of aging. That’s what years of wear and tear can do on your body, taking their toll on your joints as well as on your muscles and bones with age being the most common factor, albeit not the only one.
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Each year, 1.5 million Americans of all ages are diagnosed with diabetes. This disorder of the metabolism is diagnosed in three different types: type 1 diabetes, in which most people diagnosed with this are born with it, type 2 diabetes, which develops through a number of external factors, and gestational diabetes, which is diagnosed in pregnant women. A woman diagnosed with gestational diabetes has a greater chance for later development of type 1 or 2 diabetes, and her child could have a higher risk of diabetes as well.
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There’s nothing like the sight of sticky mucus to make us grimace or get grossed out, but when it comes to the health of our stomach – and our overall health at that – sticky mucus is a good thing. When our stomach is healthy, it is coated in a layer of that stuff, but when an unwanted toxin eats away at it, possibly resulting in a painful and sometimes bloody open sores, you likely have what’s known as an ulcer. Some are tiny and others over an inch long, but once we get them, the immediate goal becomes getting rid of them.
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There’s a lot you can learn about yourself every time you go to the bathroom to urinate. The color and even the smell of your pee can be a window to your health, giving you instant feedback – even an early warning – on what might be going on inside of you and which you need to know for your own good. All without having to make an appointment and then going to see your doctor.
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About one in 10 Americans have diabetes, which works out to more than 30 million people. More than 80 million other U.S. adults are at the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and that’s sobering news when you realize that this disease – which is closely aligned with blood glucose levels in your body – can lead to blindness, nerve damage, and kidney disease, among other health issues.
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Now that November is in full swing, and the leaves are dead and gone, and the chill is permeating the air, our thoughts turn to holiday season dinners, buying gifts for others, and, unfortunately, dreading the arrival of cold and flu season – unless you are already in the throes of one or the other, and don’t feel like doing anything but curling up in bed and trying to get some shuteye.
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Ginkgo has a sterling reputation as a plant-based supplement that can help people think, literally. It’s best known for its potential to enhance memory and clear up brain fog, and it has even shown some positive benefits for Alzheimer’s patients who otherwise see a steady decline of their cognitive abilities. It gets better, though, as ginkgo has also shown health benefits in numerous other areas as well, mainly in regard to improved blood flow and how that plays out well in so many aspects of your health.
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Most of the various vitamins, minerals, and elements that you need to survive and thrive are naturally manufactured by your body. Then there are some substances vital to your well-being that you need to provide for yourself, either through your diet or supplements. One of those is iodine, an essential trace element. You don’t need a lot but what your body does need is vital, especially in regard to your thyroid gland.
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Your bladder is one of the major organs in your body, and it probably is not one you think about very often. But more than likely when you do think about it, it’s about the only thing you have on your mind; suddenly you are rushing around looking to find a rest room for the purpose of putting a stop to that “loud” alarm going off inside of you. Urinating is a highly personal affair, and when the time comes for it to be relieved, you want to be ready.
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When buying nutritional supplements, it’s good to know exactly what each is best suited for in terms of health benefits and/or safeguards, and what dietary ingredients they contain. Like anything else, though, supplements have their share of the “fine print” as well, and, like reading a contract or the directions to a new gizmo you are putting together, it helps to have at least some understanding of the “other ingredients” contained in a supplement.
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Surveys in recent years have shown that roughly 5 million adults and a million children each year have used homeopathic medical treatment. That might seem like a large number, until you realize that many more millions of Americans have either never heard of homeopathic me3dicine, or if they have, they don’t really know what it is. Perhaps it’s time that more people found out about it, because many of its practitioners swear by it.
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Even for those of you who do it all the time, exercise and intense competition can sometimes become a drag on the body, right? Those are the times to be thinking about a little “pick-me-up” that might help you run a bit faster, jump a little higher, do an extra set of lifts, or extend that endurance a little bit farther. Enhancing your athletic or workout performance safely and legally should be atop your list of priorities, and creatine can help on all counts.
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Health, nutrition, and supplementation together cover a myriad of topics, and there are times that such discussions have the look and feel of a science fiction novel. Such as when the subject turns to gene mutation, in this case MTHFR mutation, a gene variation that can affect how successful your body is in metabolizing folate and folic acid, both of which are forms of vitamin B9 that play key roles in many key bodily functions.
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Many of us have on occasion been hit with brain fog, a temporary condition in which we have trouble concentrating or remembering things, perhaps even feeling a sense of haziness that tells us we aren’t hitting on all cognitive cylinders. Our minds feel clouded. Staying focused suddenly becomes a challenge, and processing information becomes a chore.
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Whether you call it Halloween, Harvest Fest, Trunk or Treat, or whatever, October 31 – this coming Wednesday – is one of those times of the year where kids (and, yes, plenty of adults, too) can load up on all the candy and other sweets they want without being subjected to the usual guilt trip.
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Dry hair. Brittle hair. Thinning hair. Going, going, gone hair.
When it comes to hair, most men take the wash-it-and-forget-it approach. However, your hair is very much “alive” and responsive to your diet and the chemicals and detergents it comes into contact with. From damaging shampoos to chlorinated pools, your hair can be exposed to a lot of harsh chemicals that result in… well… rather lackluster locks.
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In what has become a rare act of bipartisanship in government, President Donald Trump has signed an anti-opioid abuse legislative package aimed at reducing opioid-related addiction and deaths across America. Trump had declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency in 2017, a proclamation which set the wheels in motion to empower the government to respond more quickly to the crisis.
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These days, many consumers are becoming more aware of how the medications they take can adversely affect their health. Conventional wisdom says, “Swollen knee? Achy back? Pop a couple ibuprofens.” But is that really the best thing for your body?
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Let’s cut to the chase by answering the question posed in the title of this article. Yes, the alleged health benefits are true, or at least appear to be true, but such a declaration comes with several caveats. One qualifier is that not all teas sold on the market are real teas – those being ones derived from the Camellia sinensis plant. Plus, actual testing of tea’s beneficial potencies has been limited to animals and not humans, so we can’t quite say ‘yeah’ with 100 percent confidence.
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We all know that diet and exercise are essential for weight loss and healthy weight maintenance, right? But sometimes diet and exercise alone just isn’t enough. You can only starve yourself so much… or spend so much time on the treadmill, right?! When you feel like you’ve hit your limit – but still aren’t getting the results you want – what do you do? Meet TripleTrim+, a specially designed weight loss formula that brings a three-pronged approach to weight loss with Garcinia Cambogia, Green Coffee Bean and Razberi-K™. Let’s take a closer look…
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When it comes to a nutritious, energy-packed snack, it’s hard to do better than the almond. When you snack on a handful of raw almonds (just say, “No,” to the salted and honey-glazed varieties!), you aren’t just getting an energy boost; you’re also fueling your body with much-needed vitamins and minerals.
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With Halloween just a couple weeks away, what better way to conclude this three-part series on nutritional seed supplements by carving out some time to talk about pumpkin seeds? One good thing to know about pumpkin seeds right off the bat is that they are alkaline-forming, per care2.com, which means consumption of them can go a long way toward balancing out your body’s pH levels in a world full of acidic foods. Think, for example, gooey or hard candy that will make its ways into millions of kids’ trick-or-treating bags.
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Your blood sugar level is a funny thing, and we don’t mean in a laughing sort of way. If it’s off just a tad from the norm, whether a mite high or a bit low, it’s not exactly a win-win situation. More like a lose-lose. Each deviation of blood sugar level from what’s optimum, up or down, comes with its own set of issues regarding body function.
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The ample availability and accessibility of nutritional and herbal supplements has changed our world and improved our access to better health in recent decades. These products are readily available over-the-counter across America. Their ease of use have made them indispensable to tens of millions of U.S. households, eagerly used by adults, young and old, to complement what you eat at mealtime and to help plug any gaps in proper nutrition.
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To some homeowners, a dandelion is nothing more than an annoying weed that so rudely populates his or her yard for a brief spell once a year. Others a bit more romantic at heart are enraptured by the bright yellow hue of the budding plant. But what many members of both of these demographics might not know is that dandelion root has long been a staple of the herbal remedy market, known for its properties of stimulating the appetite, promoting digestion, and acting as a laxative.
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https://www.wonderlabs.com/blog/how-does-nutrition-affect-mental-healthAsk anybody if they are all in for eating their way to a healthier brain and a boost in mental acuity. No doubt a lot of hands would be raised in affirmation. Of course, you would then have to explain to them that this doesn’t mean just pigging out indiscriminately on your smorgasbord of favorites. It actually calls for being selective in what you eat and, in most cases, in the right quantities.
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In this second of three blogs in our impromptu good-things-come-in-small-packages series of nutritional seeds, we turn our gaze to flaxseeds, which have been around for a long time – as in 6,ooo years long! These small seeds – which can be found in brown, tan, or gold-colored varieties, are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids known as alpha-linolenic acids (ALA) and can fight the good fight for good health on several fronts, such as blood sugar, heart disease, digestion, skin complexion, cholesterol, and hormones.
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When planting a garden, such as the one in your backyard, it is imperative that you have the right seeds in hand to make it possible to plant, nurture, and harvest a nice assortment of vegetables for the family dinner table. Ditto for your body and an assortment of nutritional seeds. As small as they are, such seeds can be indispensable for your health; it’s just a matter of knowing which ones can do what, and then being sure to include them as part of your daily dietary regimen.
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There are 13 essential vitamins all-in-all. Do you know what they are? Do you know if they are water soluble or fat soluble? What's the difference? Do you know how much you need as compared to your spouse? What about the best natural source of getting the vitamins in your food diet? Or, what about signs you should look for in the event you think you might have a deficiency in one of these essential vitamins? Well, it's all right here in this infographic created by the folks over at medalerthelp.org.
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Ask a half-dozen people their favorite health attribute linked to milk thistle, and you will likely hear six different answers. That points to the versatility of this flowering plant (reddish-purplish flowers) found mostly in Mediterranean countries and which belongs to the same plant family as the daisy. Scientifically known as silybmum marianum, milk thistle actually goes by an assortment of names that also include Mary thistle, holy thistle, and Scotch thistle.
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Consider this the nutritional supplement version of combining two favorites – peanut butter and chocolate – into one, and producing a whole that apparently is better than the sum of its parts. While this isn’t about Reese’s peanut butter cups, it is about the beneficial effects you can get from supplementing with vitamin B12 and omega-3 fish oils at the same time.
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Stress may be caused by a variety of factors outside of your control: work, school, finances, relationships, etc. But our chemical makeup may exacerbate an emotional and psychological response to those events. If you’re feeling stressed out, take a couple of minutes to learn about these four supplements, which are known to help manage stress!
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and as 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed in their lifetime, it's important to educate on who is at risk of this vicious disease. Not only are women susceptible to breast cancer, but men can also be diagnosed as well. Thanks to increased awareness, medical advances, and early detection methods - the survival rate of people who are diagnosed has increased largely.
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Amino acids are the organic compounds that come together to form proteins, the building blocks of life. Knowing that, it should be no surprise that your body needs a daily intake of amino acids. That’s because your body doesn’t store any surplus amino acids that you have consumed, per organicfacts.net. It’s sort of like buying minutes for your phone on a monthly basis – use them or lose them, or at least that’s the way it used to be. You get the idea.
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Let’s just say we’d cover a lot of the basics. Pistachios are rich in many critical nutrients that provide the body with energy and reduce inflammation. Rich in nutrients, pistachios are also rich in history. So, if we tried to break down the pistachio into its individual components, what would we find? The chemical picture might look something like this…
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If you’re a regular reader on the Wonder Labs Blog, then you are probably a firm believer in the importance of vitamins and supplements for the human body. But, there’s a good chance you’ve never thought about supplements for man’s best friend!
Of course, our furry friends have complex circulatory, digestive, and nerve systems just like we do. And while there isn’t as much research interest in supplements for dogs, we do know that pets can benefit from a wide variety of supplements. In the past, we’ve written about how dogs can benefit from several herbs and supplements, including: alfalfa, chromium, vitamin E, milk thistle, and others.
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September is Healthy Aging Month, and even though the month is drawing to a close, there’s never a bad time to be thinking about healthy aging and what you’re going to do about it in the coming years. That’s regardless how old you are right now. They say it’s never too late to start a new hobby or learn a new skill; flip that philosophy, and you can say it’s never too early in life to be thinking about and preparing for your future health, especially once the gray hairs start popping up.
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From repairing tissues to boosting the immune system, vitamin C plays a critical role in the human body. While vitamin C deficiencies aren’t extremely common among most populations in the U.S. today, they can occur. Individuals most at risk for vitamin C deficiency include:
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Distinguishing one herb-based supplement from another can be tricky without a scorecard, although there are some herbs that need little explanation – except what you might see in the occasional nutritional blog, such as here – and it is in this category that ginseng distinguishes itself from most of the other herbs.
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The U.S. is in the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic with over 130 people dying each day from opioid-related drug overdoses. As opioids dominate the headlines, many consumers are becoming extra cautious about what drugs they allow inside their medicine cabinets.
At Wonder Labs, we aim to help consumers find healthy, natural, and safe alternatives. Valerin® is an all-natural relaxant for muscle cramps and pain that we developed decades ago. Still our top selling product, Valerin has been embraced by hundreds of thousands of customers as a wonderful and highly effective non-addictive pain reliever.
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If you’re like most people, when you notice bad breath, you might reach for the toothbrush or a bottle of mouthwash. While nothing can replace regular dental care (brushing, flossing, etc.), more and more people are finding that they can improve oral health – and that includes bad breath! – through the use of vitamins.
That’s right, certain vitamins and minerals can be just as important as toothpaste and regular dental cleanings when it comes to your oral health. Let’s take a closer look at the ones you need to know about…
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You’ve probably been asked at least once that if you were to end up on a deserted island and could only take one thing with you (short of a boat or helicopter), what would it be? Well, let’s take a variation of that question – one that is much less daunting – and it goes like this: If you could pick only one nutritional supplement to take with you to that deserted island, and assuming an endless supply, what would it be, and why? We can think of several, but one great choice would be berberine.
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September is World’s Alzheimer’s Month, and now that September has arrived, this is as good a time as any to pick up this fight where we left off – seeking solutions that will someday, hopefully, lead to a cure for Alzheimer’s disease (as well as all forms of dementia). Until then, medical science stays in hot pursuit of finding healthy ways to fend off Alzheimer’s as long as we can and to slow down its progression as much as possible.
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For most of our lives we have been taught to think of cholesterol as a bad thing, an enemy to our long-term health and happiness. Too much cholesterol in our bodies, we are told, makes us a walking time bomb, and we don’t even feel it. Well, yes, too high a level of cholesterol in your body can be hazardous to your health, specifically, your heart health, but let’s take a deeper dive on the subject and see exactly what we are dealing with, and perhaps take some of the “fear” out of this touchy subject.
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For those of us who grow weary after a day or two of rain, the age-old plea of “Rain, rain, go away” almost always comes true within a matter of, well, another day or two. But for those who suffer with chronic pain, it’s going to take a lot more than chants of “Pain, pain, go away” to make that come true. And if you’ve ever told someone in pain that you feel their pain, well, that really isn’t true either.
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In the words of Carolyn, a Wonder Labs probiotic customer, “I didn't know there was help for that sluggish achy feeling […]” You know the feeling, right? Countless people can identify with feeling tired and living with chronic digestive problems. Now, an increasing number of people are turning to probiotics for healthy digestion, immune system support and other related disorders. Many people, like Carolyn, are discovering how 30 billion good bacteria – in the form of a probiotic/prebiotic blend – can improve energy levels and digestive health!
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Now we come to the end of the first round in our A to Z series, which brings us to one of the more interesting topics when it comes to health and supplementation. Nowadays, when we think of zinc, one of the minerals essential to our bodies, we think of those lozenges we are advised to start taking when we feel a cold coming on, with zinc ranking right up there with vitamin C when it comes to dealing with colds.
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There are myriad weight-loss products on the market – there has been for decades – and choosing the right one(s) can be an exasperating chore. Fretting over such a choice would be OK if it meant losing a few pounds in the process, but that’s not going to happen. So let’s help you cut through the smoke and offer a suggestion worth a look – L-carnitine.
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The first thing most people want to know when they hear about St. John’s wort is what it does and how it can presumably benefit our health. We’ll get to that. Next question about St. John’s wort: Where did it get its name?
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About three-quarters of all women suffer through at least one yeast infection – a fungal infection of the genitals – in their lifetime, and about half of those are afflicted more than once.
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Are essential oils becoming a bigger trend every single day? Yes. Does that diminish their significance? No way! There’s a lot of hype – and with that, a lot of skeptics – when it comes to essential oils. Today, let’s bring the conversation into focus by looking on just one: eucalyptus essential oil. Here are a few of the ways eucalyptus oil can improve your health and home…
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Even if you’ve never wanted to be in a heavy metal band, let alone ever entertained the thought or bothered listening to the stuff, chances are that you have some heavy metal inside of you, whether you like it or not. Small amounts of heavy-metal toxins are pervasive in our society, and we ingest or breathe in some of it quite often, presumably without our ever knowing it, at least not most of the time.
Read More![Depression Statistics in America [Infographic]](blog/images/depression-statistics-in-america-infographic.jpg "Depression Statistics in America [Infographic]")
Depression is a serious problem in the United States and details about the impact depression has on our overall health continue to be researched and published. Far too frequently those experiencing depression and the other challenges associated with it feel as though they are living in darkness, separated from the rest of society, which usually further influences deeper or extended periods of these feelings.
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When it comes to your overall health, all roads lead to and through your stomach. That’s where your gut is, and it is in your gut where trillions of bacteria reside. That’s nothing to be afraid of. In fact, there are what is known as good bacteria and there are bad bacteria, and a core philosophy of staying in good health is making sure the former outnumber the latter.
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When it comes to buying food and other groceries, it’s good to know what you are buying and what it’s for in regard to your health and nutrition. That includes nutritional supplements. It’s also nice to know if what you are planning to buy is the real thing and if it meets a quality standard that assures us we are getting what we think we are getting. That’s where standardization of product comes in, and that’s why product labeling is so important.
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Saw palmetto is a nutritional supplement extracted from the ripe purple berries of the saw palmetto tree (or plant), which is native to the West Indies and can also be found in the warmer climes of the southeastern United States, mostly along the coast from South Carolina to Florida. Also known by such terms as “American swarf palm tree,” “cabbage palm,” and the exotic-sounding “baies du palmier scie,” it is known for its purported role in enhancing male health, particularly in the prostate.
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Menopause is one subject that gives pause to women and their health-care providers when it comes to discussing women’s health. For middle-aged women – as well as a few younger and some older – it is the nearly inevitable condition that awaits when a woman’s ovaries quit releasing eggs and menstruation comes to a gradual halt.
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With Xerostomia, X marks the spot, and that spot happens to be inside your mouth. Xerostomia is the scientific/medical term for dry mouth, a condition that has several causes and involves the salivary glands in our mouths not producing sufficient amounts of saliva. The result is a parched, or dry, sensation inside the mouth, occasionally accompanied by other symptoms such as a rough tongue, mouth sores, and/or cracked lips.
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You made it through spring and survived spring’s seasonal allergies, and now you have (supposedly) enjoyed a nice summer that is winding down. It’s mid-August, with many kids heading back to school (or already there in some states), temperatures at night starting to cool somewhat, and much of America ready for fall, foliage, and football – which means good times are ahead and we can breathe in the crisp, autumn air without a worry in the world.
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How many times have you felt fatigued days or even weeks on end, making you wonder what might be wrong with you, if anything? Could it be an oncoming bout of flu that is taking its sweet time in lowering the boom on you? Or maybe it’s a vitamin deficiency that can be easily solved with a quick tweak of the diet or a vitamin shot? Another thought is that it might be an immune system left tuckered out after fighting off a chronic infection such as bronchitis or pneumonia
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So, your goal in life right now is for weight loss, but you’re not having a whole lot of success keeping it off? Maybe it’s time for a paradigm shift in your mindset, or a shift to making weight management your goal. Think of the latter as a more reasoned way to not only lose the weight but to keep it off, and keep it off for the long haul.
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Potassium is the third-most plentiful mineral in your body, and that’s a really good thing because it’s a mineral that provides numerous healthy benefits for your body. Not only is potassium an electrolyte, one of about a half-dozen that are essential to our well-being, it also serves a multitude of core function that include regulating your body’s balance of fluids while also controlling the heart’s electrical activity, preserving bone mineral intensity, and decreasing the unwanted formation of kidney stones.
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When we think of “detoxification” or hear it mentioned, we think first of our bodies and what we must do to eliminate toxins and other unwanted waste lingering inside of us. And when we talk about detoxifying our bodies, the conversation typically zeroes in on our liver, which is our body’s most important cleansing organ.
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Periodically in this space we write about various “superfoods,” ones that pack a wallop nutritionally and can tackle an assortment of health-related issues, making us feel better inside and out. Most of the time when we discuss such superfoods, we talk about stuff that is above ground or at least in the ground when it gets harvested. Today, we’re going to stick our heads in the water, and below the surface we see a type of freshwater algae known as chlorella. Yeah, it’s worthy of “super food” status as well.
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For years we have been reminded by well-meaning folks to be sure to eat our fruits and veggies, and there is a good health-related, scientific reason for this. Fruits and vegetables are the most abundant food source of flavonoids, which are responsible for the vivid colors of fruits and vegetables and, even more importantly, are characterized by their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune system-bolstering properties.
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We all know what it feels like to get an electrical shock, like when we experience a buildup of static electricity and then touch something made of metal (shocking us in more ways than one). Not a pleasant experience, although electrical charges are not alien to our normal function as human beings. Many of your body’s processes depend on a small electric current to operate, and substances known as electrolytes provide this charge while interacting with each other as well as cells in our tissues, nerves, and muscles.
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If you like tomatoes, then chances are you like lycopene, whether or not you even know what lycopene is. Well, glad you asked. Lycopene is a red pigment that can be found in assorted red fruits and vegetables. That includes tomatoes, which, as strange as it may seem, have been classified as both a fruit and vegetable.
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Summer is in full bloom, meaning it’s about as hot as it’s going to get this year, and many of us are outdoors a lot, perspiring more than usual. Some of us are more active now than in any other season. Even if we are not, we are probably outside more than we are otherwise accustomed to, and water is leaving our bodies quicker than normal. So, what does all this mean? For one thing, it means we need to stay especially alert when it comes to staying hydrated. As in keeping our bodies properly fed in terms of H2O.
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Did you know that more than eight million people in the U.S. have psoriasis? This August, in honor of Psoriasis Awareness Month, we’re taking a closer look at how vitamins and supplements may be able to help the millions of individuals affected by this genetic skin disease.
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Valerian, a dietary supplement that is sold retail by Wonder Labs as Valerin, is an herb known mostly for its properties as a mild sedative and sleep aid used by many people dealing with nervous tension and insomnia issues.
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Did you know that August is National Breastfeeding Month? This week we’re celebrating moms and moms-to-be around the globe with a comprehensive guide to the best vitamins and supplements for breastfeeding mothers.
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“Supplement Facts,” it says in big black letters. Okay, I get that. “Serving Size. Alright, I’m still with you. But then… things start to get… strange… Is it a foreign language? Some mysterious code transmitted by scientists in white lab coats who haven’t seen the light of day in weeks?
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Arthritis isn’t just for “old people.” This July, in honor of Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month, we’re getting the word out about the 300,000 adolescents in the United States that have been diagnosed with juvenile arthritis (also known as JA or “pediatric rheumatic disease”).
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Inflammation in our bodies can be a good thing, or it can be a bad thing. It all depends on what the source is and what part of the body is being affected. Inflammation occurs when your immune system is activated and initiates a healing process, whether it be because of an infection, an injury, or even as a reaction to a food allergy.
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When was the last time you picked a food item off the shelf at the grocery store and tried to read the Ingredients List? Really read the Ingredients List? As if you were trying to fully digest the information so you could explain it to someone else?
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You’ve dreamed. You’ve saved. You’ve planned. You’ve packed. Your vacation’s finally here… but have you thought of everything? Nothing can ruin a trip quite like illness or exhaustion. That’s why we’ve put together this list of five supplements that should be in every traveler’s carry-on! Never leave home without these.
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Approximately one in eight women in the U.S. “will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime,” reports breastcancer.org. Aside from lung cancer, breast cancer death rates are higher than any other cancer for women in the U.S. While many women with a family history are aware of their risk (and get screened), it’s important to point out that approximately 85% of cases occur in women with no family history.
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Okay men, raise your hands. Frequently you're known for not going to the doctor on a regular basis and putting off health issues until the last minute. Does that describe you? Yet, many men are usually focused on being fit and staying active during their younger years. Where does the switch happen and why? Regardless of those reasons, it's time to reverse those stereotypes and perspectives and get men of all ages interested in and focused on keeping themselves as healthy as they can for as long as they can.
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Arthritis is commonly regarded, rightfully, as an aging-adult’s disease, but the news becomes more sobering and even shocking with the realization that kids, too, also get arthritis. Per curearthritis.org, nearly 300,000 children 18 and under in America are afflicted with some form of arthritis. With July being Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month, what better time to hammer home the message that many children have painful, even stiff joints, which is why they and their parents, once there is a diagnosis, seek effective treatments and medications.
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Few things are worse for men, women, or children than having to go to the bathroom – in this case, No. 1 – only to get over or on the toilet and nothing comes out, except maybe a few drips or at least a very weak stream at best. Even worse is when attempts at urination are accompanied by pain or some other annoying or more worrisome symptoms that could be a sign of a larger health issue.
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Elite athletes, especially those competing in endurance sports such as biking, swimming, and running, seem to like cordyceps mushrooms for the powers they can bestow upon them in terms of improving respiratory health, increasing oxygen uptake, and boosting energy. There’s a lot to like there when your task is to cover a whole lot of yards or miles and your goal is to get to the finish line before anyone else does.
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Traditional medicine practitioners of ancient times, dating back 3,000 or more years, were really on to something. Their reliance on powerful herbs to successfully treat many of the maladies of their day was nothing short of ingenious, ahead of its time. Take boswellia, for instance. This herb, taken from the Boswellia serrata tree as a gummy resin, has been used to treat numerous medical conditions for centuries, and when it comes to weight loss and this century, it’s nothing short of a revelation.
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Suppose you are about to be stranded on a small island out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean – even if it’s totally inconceivable you’d actually get advance notice for that sort of thing – and you can take only one nutritional supplement with you. What would it be? Well, depending on your personal preferences and particular state of health, there are, arguably, several right answers. But the best answer? Let’s start (and end) with turmeric.
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For anyone who is overweight, afflicted with high blood pressure and looking to build muscle mass while also alleviating their symptoms of asthma, the herbal supplement forskolin might be just what the doctor ordered. Or at least it’s worth a discussion with your physician or other health-care professional, mindful of forskolin’s purported wide range of health benefits.
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Boron is a trace mineral naturally found in some foods, and it is an “equal opportunity” micronutrient at that – that is, it has some properties especially unique to women’s health and yet is also embraced by athletic men for how it can boost bone density and testosterone, making it helpful for male athletes such as power lifters and bodybuilders looking to develop muscle mass.
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Vitamin D is an essential vitamin for bone growth and bone health, among its other functions, but it is not something naturally produced by our bodies in significant quantity. There are few foods with significant amounts of Vitamin D in them to give us as much as our body needs and uses. Our body will produce some vitamin D when our skin is exposed to the sun and it absorbs the ultraviolet B radiation, which is why it gets the nickname of "sunshine vitamin", but still not enough in quantity. So we generally need to rely on supplements to get enough vitamin D.
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Many of us, and hopefully most (if not all) of us, are learning more and more each year about what to put in our mouths and what to leave just where it is. One of the hardest parts about all this, though, is knowing what to do about sugars and sweeteners. Everyone has a dietary weak point (or soft spot – take your pick), and for many of us that starts and ends with sweets. That ranges from taking your pick from among desserts on the buffet people to your preference for what to add to your next cup of coffee.
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Not everyone is a fan of fatty fish or any other kind of seafood, for that matter, but we all can benefit, especially heart health-wise, by sticking to a diet that includes ample omega-3s. The question then becomes: how can we get a good supply of omega-3s without eating fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, or sardines?
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Life isn’t always a bowl of cherries, as most of us well know, but a bowl of cherries is, well, a bowl of cherries. They enhance our health, no question. Cherries are a fruit that can provide us many health benefits, thanks to a potent makeup that includes plenty of fiber, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds, making the small, red fruits one of the healthiest foods around, even when topping a thick, delicious calories-laden milkshake.
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All of us experience physical pain of some sort at various times in our lives. There’s headache pain. Neck pain. Foot pain of various types. Pain in our knees. Pain in our wrists or hands. Pain in our fingers. Arthritis pain in general. Tennis elbow. Shin splints, Bruised shins. Occasional pain in our stomachs. Even pain in our butts, whether speaking figuratively or in a literal sense.
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Ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng and winter cherry, is a powerful herb that has been used for a very long time for various medicinal purposes. That’s “a very long time” on the order of 3-5,000 years, with ashwagandha a popular compound among practitioners of ancient Ayurvedic medicine – a practice of natural health with roots in India – cognizant of the herb’s rejuvenating and restorative benefits.
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It’s not by the skin of your teeth that resveratrol possesses the power to provide a variety of health benefits. It’s more like the skin of your grapes. Red grapes, that is. For it is from the skin of grapes, among other sources, that resveratrol is produced – a polyphenol that is believed to act like an antioxidant, protecting our body from the kind of damage that can make us susceptible to serious problems, such as heart disease.
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Lutein? The eyes have it, but if they don’t have enough of it, our vision, as well as our eye health, can suffer.
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There’s never a bad time to talk about sleep. When you’re sleeping well, you look forward to it and can enjoy telling others what works for you. If things aren’t going so well in the snooze department, talking it out with your doctor or another sleep expert can be the right remedy to make things well once your head hits the pillow – whether it’s my pillow or yours.
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A big part of maintaining good health is having a strong defense system, and the one we have inside our bodies is nothing to be trifled with. Still, we are under attack pretty much 24/7 from a variety of potentially harmful agents such as viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens that can make our life miserable if they break through our defense and land a proverbial punch.
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In one of our recent blogs, we reviewed the many health benefits that an apple a day – or even just a few a week, depending on your tastes – can provide us. In so doing, we learned about quercetin, found in the skin of an apple. Quercetin is what’s known as a flavonoid, a plant pigment that has been determined to be a powerful antioxidant and often the key component in the red and orange pigmentation found in various fruits and vegetables.
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Many of us grew up being force-fed, or to put it kindly, spoon-fed, when Mom was trying to heal us from a cold or fever or upset stomach or indeterminate pain somewhere that needed her attention in order for the whimpering to stop. In those days, the worst a remedy tasted, the more effective it was in treating the illness or infirmity. That didn’t make it any easier going down the hatch. Then came ginger.
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Over the years and several times on a weekly basis, we aim to fill your cup, mug, or bowl with a wealth of knowledge about health, nutrition, and supplements. There is a lot to cover, and research and trends are always broaching new subjects to be looked at. Over time we delve into hundreds of vitamins, minerals, herbs, adaptogens, nutrients, etc. and how they all relate to our general health and bodily functions. It all can be a bit overwhelming.
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It has long been said, mostly in jest, that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Let’s expand on that a bit, and get real about it. The way to a man’s or a woman’s heart, immune system, skin, brain – whatever bodily system or organ you wish to name – is through the stomach. That’s because of the vital role our gut bacteria play in affecting our overall health, and this is where probiotics and prebiotics go to work on our behalf.
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Apples are still the apple of many eyes, but let’s be real – apples don’t have the same pizzazz or panache of some of the more flamboyant fruits that are trending nowadays. Some of those more fascinatingly fashionable fruits that have nudged apples out of the dietary spotlight include blueberries, strawberries, papaya, avocados (yes, they’re fruits), and guavas.
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Trends are an ongoing thing in health and nutrition. One recent trend is the growing belief that our gut and digestive health play a central role in determining our overall health. How our gut goes, so goes the rest of our body. Think of your gut and digestive system as the core of your health processes, sort of like nuclear power plants with their nuclear cores.
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Subsisting on a diet of nothing but berries might seem a realllll stretch, and it is, as it’s doubtful that any nutritionist or other health expert would ever recommend it. But a closer look at the variety of berries and their benefits afforded us – not to mention what all the other fruits and vegetables of the world can do for us – tells us that there is a lot of good to come from a steady consumption of berries, even if just as a supplement to our main courses.
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Buying organic was once a grocery shopping choice left to a few, forward-thinking folks with a hankering for healthy food and a willingness to go against the grain. They skipped past traditional grocery stores and went straight to little-known health-food outlets to buy their food, getting a healthy head start on the rest of us.
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There are times that being a health-food nut is like being a kid in a candy store, and that’s all good (at times). Take licorice root, for instance. Also known as “sweet root,” licorice root has often been used over the years as a sweetener for some candies and beverages. Better yet, it has been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years as one of many adaptogens – herbs, or healing plants, that are a staple of natural medicine for their ability to balance, restore, and protect the body.
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With its rough prickly leaves, borage may not look like the kind of plant that’s going to make your life more comfortable. But this annual herb – when processed into a highly concentrated oil – has some incredibly powerful benefits that have been respected since before the first century.
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If your itchy dry scalp is still lingering, it’s time to take action and do something about it. There are many factors, in addition to cold air, that can cause dry scalp, including stress, certain shampoos and hair products, and dietary deficiencies.
In addition to switching up hair products, many people are turning to vitamins and supplements for dry scalp! Here are a few of the best vitamins for dry scalp.
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The Grapes of Wrath was a literary classic, but that’s not important in this context. What is important are the grapes of health, those small berries that come in an assortment of colors – including red, green (“white” grapes are actually green), black, yellow, pink, blue (Concord grapes) and purple – and which provide a wide variety of health benefits.
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Look closely enough and chances are you will see plants growing outside or near your home that have the sort of health benefits typically available at the local pharmacy or in the vitamins section of your local grocery store. Many plants are medicinal in nature, and many of those are growing right under your nose, maybe even in your backyard or in some wooded area a couple of blocks away.
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May is National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month. If you’re like most people, bone health isn’t high on your priorities list. After all, as long as your posture is good and you aren’t suffering fractures from minor falls, you’re fine… right?
Unfortunately, more adults are susceptible to injury resulting from osteoporosis than you might expect.
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If you have a vision problem… would you know it? That’s one of the questions the National Eye Institute is putting before the public this May for Healthy Vision Month. According to the National Eye Institute, “More than 23 million Americans age 18 and older have never had an eye exam.”
Why?
They don’t think they have an eye problem. It makes sense. If you feel like you see well – or “good enough” – why get your eyes checked? If nothing noticeable has changed, why schedule an extra appointment?
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Most of us have a good idea of what collagen is and what its expected best-known use is – smoothing out the wrinkles on our face. But research suggests there’s more to collagen than just taking years off our facial appearance.
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Over the last couple of months, we have been featuring in this space a series on the various B-complex vitamins. Now we come to what might be the most complex of the B vitamins when you consider all the significant roles it plays in maintaining and, as needed, improving our health.
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When it comes to damage control inside the human body, particularly with cells and tissue (like that found in the lungs), few nutrients or minerals can act with the healing power and relief that N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) brings to the table, or to the lungs, or to the liver, or to . . . well you get the idea.
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As we continue onto the next rung of the ladder in our intermittent series on B-complex vitamins, we now come to vitamin B7, otherwise known as biotin. This is a water-soluble vitamin that, among other things, acts as a catalyst for a variety of metabolic reactions programmed to extract energy in our bodies. Because vitamin B7 is water soluble, it is in constant need of replenishment, and that’s up to us.
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Going it alone without nutritional supplementation can be difficult for any man committed to a hard and/or heavy workout regimen – regardless of age, workout goals, or type of workout regimen. Many adolescent males and those in their 20s and some even into their 30 are virile, strong, and teeming with energy. Beyond that, though, things start to decline in terms of energy and muscle mass, among other factors.
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Many of today’s most reliable and effective compounds, herbs, and supplements have a promising future thanks to a history that dates back thousands of years to ancient medical practices. Boswellia, which is sourced from the gum resin of the Boswellia serrata tree (found in the dry, hilly areas of India), is one of those time-tested compounds that has been commonly used over the centuries in Ayurvedic medical practices. It is known especially for its anti-inflammatory properties.
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Mushrooms are fascinating plants, not just because of the myriad health benefits they provide as a “superfood” of sorts, but for the “starring” roles they have played in children’s literature (i.e., “Alice in Wonderland”) and in the expanded minds of hipsters from the psychedelic ‘60s and ‘70s drawn to “magic mushrooms” and their hallucinogenic properties from a substance known as psilocybin.
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Vitamin B6, with pyridoxine as its main ingredient, is a water-soluble vitamin known to be helpful in treating an assortment of health-related problems. These range from issues of the heart to those of the skin as well as those related to depression and the nervous system. Even then, that doesn’t account for all the good that B6 can do for us, or for that matter all the complications we could face if we don’t have enough of it in our bodies.
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An apple a day may (or may not) keep the doctor away, but the odds go up in your favor if you eat an assortment of healthy fruits daily. Start with a variety of berries, such as blueberries, strawberries, bilberries, and blackberries. Better yet, there are many fruit-based nutritional supplements worth getting your hands on, and that means not having to find berry bushes to pick from (although that can be fun, too.)
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Many Americans see the doctor every year for a physical. Lots of us also schedule regular visits to the dentist to get our teeth cleaned. But what about our eyes? The fact is, more than 23 million American adults have never had an eye exam.
Every Healthy Vision Month, the National Eye Institute (NEI) shares tips and resources to encourage people to take care of their vision — and inspire health professionals to help make eye health a priority.
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If you are constipated or have experienced it recently, maybe you can find small consolation in the fact that millions of Americans suffer from constipation. The shared misery of constipation includes dealing with typical symptoms such as straining while having a bowel movement, hard stools (accompanied by back or abdominal pain and bloating), a feeling of obstruction (or incomplete evacuation) and fewer than three bowel movements per week, per webmd.com.
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Women who work out regularly, as well as those who plan to get to that point soon, pretty much know what they need in hand before they head to the gym. For starters—proper apparel suitable for lots of sweating to go with all that stretching, twisting, lifting, and/or cardio, as well as a multi-function watch as well as a towel (if one not provided). More importantly, though, there is the matter of proper nutritional supplementation to help fuel the body as well as to aid in bodily recovery and repair.
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Sometimes the best way to describe a vitamin or other supplement is by explaining what happens when you don’t have enough of it in your body. All vitamins and supplements tout a variety of benefits, but what sets vitamin B5 apart from most other vitamins is how a B5 deficiency can produce a relatively uncommon and positively irritating symptom known as “burning foot” syndrome.
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April is Alcohol Awareness Month, making this week the perfect time to talk about a little known relationship: the relationship between vitamins and alcohol. It will come as news to no one that excessive drinking can have a negative impact on health. Excessive alcohol use is associated with a range of health problems, including:
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Eating “kosher” isn’t just a religious practice for Orthodox Jews, it also is practiced by many non-Jews looking to eat healthier and maybe even lose a few pounds along the way, as it involves a carefully prescribed means of choosing healthy foods and properly preparing them for consumption.
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Anyone who’s even half-serious about taking vitamins, to include knowing what’s in the multivitamin they (presumably) take daily, should be familiar with the “big three” of the Vitamin B complex family – vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), and B3 (niacin). Together, they comprise a powerful trio of nutrients covering a wide range of health benefits, ranging from addressing digestive issues (vitamin B1) to boosting energy (Vitamin B2) to bolstering brain function (Vitamin B3).
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If you have a job that keeps you on your feet much of the workday, you probably have an insider’s knowledge of discomfort in your feet – oh, heck, let’s just cut out the niceties and call it what it is – foot pain! Such pain can be any one (or more) of more than a dozen common foot problems, any of which can make being a school teacher, a dentist, a hair stylist, or a sales associate in a clothing store always on the lookout for the next foot remedy, or at least a nice foot massage.
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In recent years, multivitamins have surged in popularity, making their way into the daily routines of many health conscious consumers. As an increasing number of people become interested in the potential benefits of a daily multivitamin, many people have questions. Today, we’d like to take a moment to answer some of those top questions about multivitamins.
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For those of us who fly the friendly skies, whether as a frequent or occasional flyer, there are times the skies aren’t so friendly. Such as when we cross two or three – or more – time zones and find ourselves in a brain fog once we reach our destination. If lost luggage, delayed or canceled flights, and pockets of turbulence aren’t bad enough, then there’s the problem of trying to sleep (or stay awake) at the appropriate times after we touch down on that long-distance, out-of-town excursion.
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There's no denying that yoga is a fantastic way to get fit. Many people will be considering taking the practice up to improve their physical health. However, did you know that it's fantastic for your mental health too? Here are some of the ways it can help you stay healthy mentally, and bring in a calming new outlook on life this year for you.
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If you’ve ever read the fine print on a bottle of vitamins, then you may have noticed that there are often specific storage instructions. Unfortunately, many consumers make these five mistakes when it comes to storing their vitamins. Take a minute to double-check your practices!
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A word to the wise for anyone suffering with acne, especially teens trying to come to grips with (although best left untouched) those unsightly zits, pimples, and blackheads: Take it easy. Relax. Chill. Don’t sweat it. Do those things, and you might help clear up a lot of that acne yourself, without help of medications or topical applications such as creams or lotions.
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For many of us, especially those of us over the age of, say, 40, when we think of iodine, we remember getting scrapes and bruises as a kid, after which Mom would dab on iodine as an antiseptic. The idea was to keep us from getting an infection, so the healing process could begin unencumbered. But there’s so much more to iodine and the benefits it can provide – so much more.
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There are many supplements on the market that can do one or maybe even a couple of things well in benefiting our health. Then there are some that can apparently accomplish many things well. One of the latter is vitamin B3, also known as niacin, which is often recommended by personal physicians as an over-the-counter remedy when advising patients with high cholesterol and at risk eventually for heart disease.
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Our society has undergone a drastic change in the last several decades when it comes to sleep. It has become a 24/7, sometimes-chaotic jumble of life, relationships, careers, activities, and attempts at rest and relaxation. Days blend into one another and, for many, work has become such a predominant part of who we are that working late or haphazard hours has become commonplace. In such an environment, sleep is now seen as a necessary nuisance instead of the solid, regularly-scheduled, eight-hour reprieve it once was.
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In the aftermath of a hard workout, such as one associated with running, biking, or even a jaunty hike through the woods and over hills, pain isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Most likely, this is the presence of what is known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), a condition in which muscle pain develops a day or two after exercise, if not sooner.
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This March, in honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we need to talk about a subject many adults would prefer to avoid. While you might not want to face it, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. among cancers that affect both men and women. Sadly, more than 50,000 Americans die from colorectal cancer each year. Many cases could be prevented through regular screening.
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Hormones don’t ride bikes around the insides of our bodies delivering envelopes that carry messages from sender to receiver, but they are messengers that do something even more important. They help keep us alive by carrying chemical messages as part of the endocrine system, traveling via the bloodstream, their destination tissues and organs while serving a role of regulating most of our body’s major systems.
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If you’re feeling low on energy these days (and maybe that’s the last thing you need with spring starting to sprout), then it could be your tank is running low on vitamin B2 (also known as riboflavin). Our bodies need a daily intake of vitamin B2, a water-soluble vitamin that has a significant role in energy production and is an essential nutrient in our diets.
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Many runners are familiar with it, as are some walkers (at least those who walk far and fast for exercise) and serious weight lifters (lots of strenuous bending at the elbows and knees), as well as anyone else who has had to deal with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. We can add to the list aging folks who simply have creaky joints.
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Vitamin B1, also known as thiamin, is considered an essential nutrient for our bodies because tissues need B1 to function properly. It is a water-soluble nutrient, and it plays a key role in helping our body turn consumed food into energy – that is, it metabolizes it, thus working to fuel our engine . . . to keep us running on down the road, so to speak.
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We can add gluten to the list of things “we didn’t know we were supposed to be afraid of,” thanks in part to media and marketing messages that have hammered home a clear-cut message: gluten is not good for us or our health. We see this on food packaging, cereal boxes, and TV commercials, warning us to steer clear of this protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and triticale.
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In recent days in this space we have discussed non-traditional medical practices, starting with homeopathy, then moving on to holistic medicine, and now we come around to naturopathy. This isn’t exactly coming full circle; it’s more just some zigzagging around in different directions, although there are similarities among these three types of practices.
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We recently discussed homeopathy and the basics behind how this alternative medical treatment works. We learned about how it eschews the use of prescription medicines and traditional American medical practices to help patients deal with a variety of health issues using various natural compounds and herbs, many of them quite practical when used.
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Just as the name implies, holistic medicine pretty much covers all the bases when it comes to a treatment system. There is traditional medicine with its various tweaks around the world, and there are a number of alternative modes of medical practice, and then there is holistic medicine. A holistic practitioner typically will use all types of health care, from conventional to alternative in treating a patient.
Read More![Chronic Kidney Disease [Infographic]](blog/images/chronic-kidney-disease-infographic.jpg "Chronic Kidney Disease [Infographic]")
March 8 is World Kidney Day and this infographic from the World Kidney Day organization provides a wealth of information about chronic kidney disease and how it can be a silent killer. World Kidney Day is a joint effort between the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations.
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It’s easy to take our feet for granted, or even to forget about them entirely. Most of the time we have them covered up in socks and shoes, and we can’t see them. The only time we really focus on them is when toweling off after a shower or when it’s time to trim our toenails – or when we trip, stumble, or fall and either stub a toe or sprain an ankle. Our feet are like football referees or baseball umpires – we don’t notice them until something goes wrong (for us or for our team).
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Curcumin’s reputation as a superfood continues to gain momentum among health researchers. The latest evidence bolsters the status of turmeric’s key ingredient as a possible deterrent to loss of cognitive ability in the elderly and others suffering from some form of dementia, namely Alzheimer’s disease.
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Just like there is more than one way to skin a cat or cook a quiche, there is more than one way to practice medicine and treat patients. In fact, the world is full of alternative medicines, some of them dating back thousands of years. One of those “other” spheres of medical practice is homeopathy, which has long been practiced throughout Europe and has in recent decades showed its head in America.
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As athletes – which many of us are in one respect or another, knock on wood – we learned in the early going the importance of staying hydrated, i.e. drinking plenty of water, which is especially important when performing activities that leave us soaked in sweat. Then came the realization that hydrating with just water might not be enough. Now, we’ve been told – and perhaps reluctantly we concur, we also need to stay replenished with electrolytes.
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As Kermit the Frog is so fond of saying, It’s not easy being green. But Kermie probably has never sipped from a nice, piping-hot cup of green tea. It not only tastes great and is less filling but also full of healthy properties that make it a great benefit to our health in numerous ways. Some experts – human ones, in fact – have gone as far as to describe green tea as the healthiest thing to drink, period.
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“Acid” might sound like a strange companion for healthy skin, but in the case of hyaluronic acid (HA), few things are better for dry, aging skin. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance that’s highly concentrated in your body’s eyes and joints. It’s produced in both the human body and animals. (In fact, the hyaluronic acid taken in supplement form is often derived from a rooster’s comb!)
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It has often been said that “What you don’t know won’t hurt you,” but we found it smarter, safer, and healthier to take the approach that “What you do know can help you.” That’s the case with polyphenols, about which we have been learning much more in the last decade or two, and that is polyphenols can help us, healthwise for sure, and in a variety of ways.
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From injections to patches to pills and more, there are many ways to get vitamins into your system. But when it comes to ease, cost, and a few other factors, it’s hard to beat sublingual delivery. Sublingual, which means “beneath the tongue,” is a popular way to take several vitamins and supplements – primarily Vitamin B12 and melatonin. When taking a sublingual tablet, you simply place the tablet beneath the tongue, where it dissolves and enters the bloodstream directly.
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About every 3,000 miles or so, we get the oil changed for our car or SUV, the idea being to keep our vehicles running clean and smoothly. We do what the instruction manual tells us to do, or we risk car problems. Our bodies beg for the same sort of treatment. This entails getting rid of routine waste as well as harmful toxins, and for that there has to be a will and a way.
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The choices people make in life often help define them. Paper or plastic? Winter Olympics or Summer Olympics? For guys, Ginger or Mary Ann? Then there’s coffee or tea? Regarding the latter, a handful of drinkers swear by both, but in most cases it’s one or the other, and, in terms of health, neither really is a bad choice (unless you abuse them). Most coffees have more caffeine than most teas do, but teas do a bang-up job when it comes to providing health benefits.
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Do you know what “SAD” stands for? If you guessed, “seasonal affective disorder,” you get a point. But today we’re looking at a different SAD… The Standard American Diet. SAD is far too common here in the U.S. where “three out of four Americans don’t eat a single piece of fruit in a given day, and nearly nine out of ten don’t reach the minimum recommended daily intake of vegetables”.
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Although you can’t see your colon, and hopefully you never will have to see it, be assured that it is working on your behalf pretty much 24 hours a day. Also known as the large intestine, the colon is about five or six feet in length and performs double duty inside your body. On the one hand, it is a powerful storage mechanism as well as a waste disposal site. It stores the waste from digested material (from food) until it’s time to be excreted.
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Polyphenols are plant-based compounds that occur naturally and can be found in an assortment of fruits and vegetables, as well as in some cereals and beverages. Per National Institutes of Health (NIH), fruits such as grapes, apples, and cherries (and count in blueberries as well) contain up to 200-300 milligrams of polyphenols per 100 grams of fresh weight.
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Regardless what kind of physical workout you are planning to do tonight, tomorrow, or next Tuesday, chances are you could use a little boost to help get you going – or to keep your motor running at optimal performance. Eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of rest at night are key to great workouts, but oftentimes you need more, and this is where nutritional supplements can help full in the dietary gaps. We all have them, even if we think we don’t.
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Bees can be chubby, hovering annoyances at backyard barbecues or Sunday afternoon picnics. Sometimes they can even be a real pain, as in “Be careful where you stick that stinger.” But there’s a good side to the bee story as well. You might even call these fuzzy, brown or black and yellow bugs health nuts in a roundabout way/ That’s in the sense that a variety of their by-products are known to provide health benefits for humans. Remember that next time you suffer or, better yet, ward off a bee sting.
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Over the years in this space, we have covered hundreds of topics related to nutrition and health, touching on many of the supplements and vitamins that address specific areas of what makes our bodies work and what we can do to optimize our health and keep our minds and bodies fine-tuned.
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February is here; before you know it, it will be March. That means spring isn’t far off. For many of us, that means another season of spring allergies, or hay fever, lurks. It soon will be time to say hello to itchy eyes, runny noses, sneezing, and occasional fatigue (probably related to poor sleep), although it usually takes several weeks before our immune system gets naturally recalibrated and we can say good-bye on the back end to all that icky stuff.
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Our body’s glands, small in stature but large in function, comprise the endocrine system. Their chief role is to produce and secrete chemical substances known as hormones that regulate our cells’ and organs’ activities. In a sense, the endocrine system acts as our body’s thermostat, as described by emedicinehealth.com, similar to how wall-mounted thermostats in the home control room temperature.
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This how it usually goes with probiotics – make mention of these living microorganisms and the conversation goes straight to how probiotics benefit digestive and gut health. You know the drill: probiotics consist of “good bacteria” that are consumed via fermented foods or supplements and act to restore or strengthen the natural balance of gut bacteria. This aids in proper digestion and helps ward off diseases (such as inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis) and even diarrhea, which can often be a side effect of antibiotic use.
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The more we know about how our bodies really work, the more amazing these wondrous human mechanisms make themselves out to be. Take digestion, for instance. There’s more to it than sticking food in our mouths, chewing it and then letting it fuel our bodies before what’s left over departs our bodies as waste.
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It’s amazing – perhaps “disappointing” or “shocking” might be a better word – the abuse many people inflict on their ears, and hearing, all for the sake of enhancing a listening experience. Such as putting on headphones or inserting earbuds and cranking up the music to skull-splitting proportions. Fact is, our ears – and, along with that, our hearing – need love, too, a fact that goes beyond just turning down the volume of your favorite heavy-metal band or hip-hop artist.
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You snooze, you lose, right? Actually, yes, and in a good way. At least it’s a good thing if you are trying to lose weight, or at least shed some of that beer belly. Research has shown that getting sufficient sleep – usually targeted at eight hours, give or take an hour – is a key factor in maintaining or even improving our health, which includes keeping off or shedding the pounds in many cases.
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Considering the amount, as well as the types, of food we put into our mouths over the course of a week, it’s almost shocking that many of us go months or even years without suffering from stomach ailments. Our stomachs are a great repository of all things good and bad that we consume, which means that some of the best work we can do on behalf of our health is finding the right supplements and vitamins to stick into our stomachs to support our health.
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Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. It is caused by high pressure inside the eyes which if left unchecked, damages the optic nerves leading to blindness. There are generally two types of glaucomas.
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Considering its many and varied health benefits, it’s no wonder that turmeric has generated ample media interest in recent years. As a nutritional supplement, it has even been labeled an apparent “superfood” (the Washington Post and Fox News) as well as an alleged “cure” for cancer in at least one instance (The Daily Mail). The “superfood” description, especially, is a tag that carries a lot of weight in a competitive world where herbs, vitamins, and supplements slug it out for market share.
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Looking out for and taking care of our health can be a complex chore with a multitude of factors, body parts, and organs to think about. However, it’s not too difficult to know where a good starting point is when it comes to health considerations – the heart. For the average person, the heart beats more than 85,000 times a day, pushing out blood through miles and miles of arteries, veins, and capillaries, supplying our body with what it needs to survive and, presumably, thrive.
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If you’re looking for a nutritional supplement that is the Baskin Robbins of the health food industry – you know, 98 flavors and all that stuff – you might consider turmeric, with its key ingredient curcumin. Turmeric/curcumin might just be the Jack or Jill of all trades among supplements because of the many ways it can contribute to our good health, from top to bottom and from side to side with our bodies.
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There are two main areas of concern when it comes to the desire to boost our brainpower. One is about making us smarter (or at least more alert) on the job or when taking tests or exams. On the other end of life’s timeline, it’s yearning to maintain cognitive function as we age, being ever mindful that even the slightest signs of forgetfulness or absent-mindedness could mean the dreaded onset of dementia.
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One of the most fascinating things about nutrition and health is the number of times that something old – something really old, even – is found to have new human health applications, or at least relatively new when it comes to medical and nutritional science in America. Case in point: berberine, a plant-based compound that has been used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medical practice dating back more than 1,000 years.
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Even though the urinary bladder, a muscular sac located in the pelvis, doesn’t actually do a lot in its primary role as a reservoir for urine, it has a way of grabbing our attention when it needs to be emptied or has been invaded by inflammation or an infection. It’s called pain, or at the very least discomfort.
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Our kidneys – we are born with two of them – play several key roles in helping us to maintain a healthy body. Not the least of these important functions is ridding our bodies of toxins and waste matter; they even play a role in regulating blood pressure. The kidneys are bean-shaped – you know, like the popular, backyard kidney-shaped swimming pools – and found near the posterior side of the abdomen.
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So, you’re sick and tired of making New Year’s resolutions year after year, only to break them long before January gives way to February? Or, maybe you’re just sick and tired, period, and in need of some easy-to-reach pick-me-ups that will leave you feeling fit, strong, and healthy for 2018. Here are eight resolution suggestions to grab onto and make a go of once you finish ringing in the New Year. Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2018!
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The gallbladder is one of those body organs we don’t think about much, if at all, until it starts acting up, and then the pain can become unbearable. What is the gallbladder? It is a small pouch, or sac, situated just beneath the liver, which is its partner of sorts. The liver manufactures bile – an acidic-like substance that is stored in the gallbladder and then released into the small intestine to help in the digestion of fats.
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For something so small and hidden inside a male’s body, about the size of a walnut and tucked below the bladder and in front of the rectum, the prostate gland sure packs a big wallop. It is part of the male reproductive system and surrounds a portion of the urethra, which is the tube inside the penis that transports urine away form the bladder, per webmd.com.
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Choosing and eating the right foods is vital to the health of all parts of our bodies. In order to properly utilize what we ingest, we depend heavily on the inner workings of our intestines to help us properly digest and distribute the nutrients. Let’s not forget, though, that our intestines themselves deserve plenty of TLC as well; we need to take care of the part of us that plays such a key role in taking care of so many other things.
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There’s something about the holiday season that just primes us for heartwarming stories of kindness and charity, right? Well, a few weeks ago a first-time mom with just two months left in her pregnancy took to Reddit, where she asked for help in locating affordable prenatal vitamins and a breast pump.
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Even with Christmas almost here, New Year’s Eve is still another week or so away, meaning it’s time for holiday revelers (and carolers?) to get a second wind as the parties and celebrations continue, with football-watching parties about to hit high gear. After weeks of shopping, wrapping, driving, packing and whatever else, chances are your tank is about to hit empty. Perhaps it’s time for another jolt of energy, more wind for the sails, right? Riiiiiight.
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Or, you can at least make it a weight-neutral holiday season if actual weight loss seems too much of a holiday spirit-killing burden. First, though, put down that plate of steaming hot-out-of-the-oven pecan pie smothered in whipped cream and let’s talk about this.
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When it comes to the health of our eyes and vision, we have been told since childhood how much carrots bring to the (kitchen) table. Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene/vitamin A, which is believed to be a deterrent to such aging eye conditions as macular degeneration and cataracts.
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Have a holly jolly Christmas, it’s the best time of the year. Or not. Christmas and the holiday season should be one of joyful celebration for untold millions... and it is. Another reality, though, is that anxiety, stress, and depression are as much a traditional part of the holidays for some people as decorated trees, poinsettias, and 24/7 Christmas music are for others.
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This is the desire of every adult male who wishes to engage in sexual activity: that he always be at the peak of his sexual prowess without worry of lost stamina, erectile dysfunction, reduced libido, or any other condition that might lead to diminished performance in the bedroom. The good news for men is that they need not leave their sexual reproductive system to chance, that they can do something about it through good nutrition buoyed by the right vitamins and supplements.
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Every time we take a breath, which amounts to about six million times a year, our lungs are involved. Their most important function is to extract oxygen from the environment and transfer it to our bloodstream. No wonder the lungs are high on our list of health priorities, and why we should take care to keep them clean and healthy.
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More than 350 million people around the world suffer from moderate to severe hearing loss. The sources of such loss include loud noises, infectious diseases, aging, and the use of certain drugs. Not surprisingly, it has been estimated that about 50 percent of these hearing-loss cases were avoidable, per articles.mercola.com. Hearing-protective devices could have been worn, and in some cases dietary habits over time could have made a difference.
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Maintaining healthy blood pressure (BP) or lowering BP that is already elevated is a task that can be targeted by a variety of fruits and vegetables. One of the veggies earning a solid reputation in that regard is beetroot. Numerous studies are now showing that beetroot, like several other plant foods, appears to lower the risk of numerous conditions to include heart disease and obesity.
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The liver is our largest and heaviest (weighing in at three pounds) internal organ, as one might expect considering the vital functions it performs on our behalf. Its central role is to process whatever we consume – whether it be food or drink – either metabolizing it for our body to use or eliminating it as waste. Also, the liver stores vitamins and works 24/7 to help detoxify our body.
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Many of us take for granted the routineness of going to the bathroom simply to urinate. Most often we’re at home, at the office or in school and when we get the urge, we get up and go and don’t think much of it. After all, it’s nature calling. It’s a different story, though, for anyone with a urinary system problem – such as a urinary tract infection (UTI), which usually is accompanied by pain as well as other symptoms that tell us something is wrong.
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Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior, per the Alzheimer’s Association. It is a progressive disease that worsens over time, eventually advancing to the point where it interferes with daily activities, such as when it comes to swallowing food or getting lost while driving on a familiar route, such as from work to home.
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If you’re looking to build muscle, you’ve probably found no shortage of protein powder and creatine resources. But it can be a little more difficult to find the best vitamin and mineral supplements for weightlifting. Of course, having the right supplements is essential for building muscle, turning food into useful energy, and protecting your overall health.
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We need our protein. It is essential to our well-being because it is the building block of our muscles, skin, hormones, and enzymes, while also playing a key role in our body’s tissues. A protein deficiency can be the forerunner of numerous health issues, and not consuming enough protein in our diets can cause subtle, unwanted changes in our bodies over time.
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You’ve definitely heard of vitamin B12. And you may even know that Vitamin B12 is neither made by plants or animals, but comes from microorganisms in the soil! Today on the WonderLabs Blog, we’re excited to share with you four surprising truths about Vitamin B12 that most people have never heard.
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Regardless where or with whom you plan on consuming that great annual feast known as Thanksgiving dinner, surely you would like to savor your meal and enjoy your company without busting your pants or blowing up any healthy diet you’ve just started. Well, there might be a way to have your turkey and eat it, too (along with all the fixings) without stuffing your body with a week’s worth of calories in two hours or less.
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Twinkling lights, gifts under the tree, delicious food with friends and family… the holidays have a lot to offer…
…including an increased risk of getting sick. Dutch psychologists Ad Vingerhoets and Maaike van Huijgevoort have even given it a name: “leisure sickness.”
Could shifting out of our daily routine actually cause illness? While the theory hasn’t been proven, some patients surveyed by the Dutch duo self-identified with this pattern. When you think about it, there is something to the theory. After all, preparing for time off from work frequently means working extra hard in advance.
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When it comes to ownership of an endocrine system, humans have plenty of company. Also referred to as the hormone system, the endocrine system is found in all mammals as well as birds, fish and a variety of other types of living organisms, per epa.gov. It is a system that, in general terms, is made up of glands found throughout the body, gland-produced hormones sent into the bloodstream or into the fluid that around cells, and receptors distributed among organs and tissues, and “programmed” to respond to hormones.
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Maybe “fungus” isn’t the first word that comes to mind when you think of your health. However, many fungi available in your local grocery store have been found to boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, and help the body fight off viral infections.
It’s time to rethink mushrooms! Check out these four immune system-boosting mushrooms (including at least one you’ve heard of and maybe even incorporated into your own cooking: the shiitake mushroom).
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared diabetes an American epidemic, with more than 25 million Americans afflicted with diabetes. Another 80 million are classified prediabetic, per the American Diabetes Association. The numbers get even bigger when you put a dollar sign in front of them: As of 2012, $245 billion a year was being spent on diabetes in the U.S., including $176 billion in direct medical costs and the rest -- $69 billion – in lost productivity.
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Taking proper care of our skin is not necessarily just an act of vanity for beauty’s sake; it’s also a health issue – a serious one if we let it get out of hand. There’s the matter of accelerated aging of the skin if we eat too much food that is processed or low in nutrition, as well as other harmful factors such as stress and toxins. There’s also the specter of inflammation, cell damage, etc. as it relates to conditions and diseases of the skin ranging from cellulitis to shingles.
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Breathing is a way of life, something we do every few seconds, 24/7, whether we are awake or asleep, whether we are at rest with our feet kicked up or hard at work working out or involved in a strenuous activity that raises our heart rate and forces us to breathe harder and faster. This is our respiratory system at work, and like any other system or organ in our body, it needs to be properly fed with nutrients, and that can include vitamins and supplements.
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One in about every 10 women are affected by endometriosis, a disease that involves a woman’s reproductive system. It’s a condition in which endometrium-type tissue that normally grows in the uterus’s inner mucous membrane, somehow ends up outside the uterus and grows in other areas of the body, such as the ovaries, abdomen, and bowel.
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Just a few days removed from Halloween and the annual parade of costumes, many of which were scary, we have an image in our heads as to what a skeleton looks like – a human-shaped structure of bones that appears sinister and able to do some damage.
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Our nervous system is always on the job, 24/7, 365 days a year (or 366 days in a leap year). Every breath we take, every time our heart beats, every time a thought enters our head, our nervous system is hard at work and playing a role. It’s no wonder we can’t afford for our nervous system to ever take a day (or an hour or a minute) off, and with that goes the responsibility to keep our nervous system properly fueled. It needs TLC and a steady supply of healthy nutrients as well.
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This might come as a surprise to most people, but our bodies have more than one circulatory system. There’s the more-familiar one that transports blood to all body organs and parts that need it. Then there’s the less-familiar version that acts as our body’s drainage system, supporting our immune system by guarding against illness and disease-causing inflammation. That’s the lymphatic system, which also piggybacks a network of veins, arteries, and capillaries to carry out its job.
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On Thursday, October 26, President Donald Trump declared the growing opioid epidemic a national public health emergency, stating that day that “We can be the generation that ends the opioid epidemic.” This might take a while. The opioid crisis, which involves highly addictive narcotics used to manage pain, has been growing steadily for more than 20 years, with about 90 Americans dying daily from opioid overdoses, per a June 2017 Washington Post report, as cited at drugsbuse.gov.
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Be careful what you skimp on when you start a new diet or decide to reshape your current one. Cutting back on carbohydrates, protein and/or fats – whether purposely or unwittingly – can weaken your body’s performance and diminish your ability to burn unwanted fat. Cutting back on calories can also mean shortchanging the supply of vitamins and minerals needed by your muscles to function with efficiency.
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All headaches share two things in common: to varying degrees they are painful, and in almost all instances they are tremendously effective in disrupting your day. Occasionally, headaches can you unable to get any work done or to enjoy the finer things in life.
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We are happiest with our stomach and entire digestion system when we aren’t thinking about them. We aren’t thinking about our stomach or digestive tract because, normally, we feel fine down there, content to shovel food and drink down the hatch with no bloating, no tummy ache, no nausea, no sharp pains, no peptic ulcers, no bowel issues (that we know of), no heartburn, no diarrhea, and no constipation to give us pause. A healthy digestive system? Priceless.
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Keeping our heart strong and healthy should be an everyday goal that never goes away or gets covered up. It is predicated on how well we conduct our lives, how we eat, how we exercise, how devoted we are to submitting to a physical checkup with our physician every year to make sure all things cardiovascular are ticking and operating correctly. Having a good working knowledge of supplements can help in a big way, too.
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About 25 million Americans have asthma, and allergic asthma – which is triggered by allergens – is the most common type, per healthline.com. It is estimated that 50 percent of all adult asthmatics have the allergy-induced type, while 90 percent of child sufferers are linked to allergic asthma.
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Acid indigestion. It is a sensation many of us are familiar with. Its main symptom features a burning feeling, often accompanied by pressure or pain, as recently consumed food comes back up the throat and into the mouth, leaving a taste that is acidic or at least bitter. The question is, is it just a “simple” case of heartburn or something more involved, such as acid reflux or, worse yet, gastroesophageal reflux disease, better known as GERD?
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The status of cinnamon as a possible “superfood” is debatable, as is its potential for having a healing effect on diabetes, but one thing that really can’t be argued – cinnamon is not only a sweet, great-tasting spice that works well sprinkled on an assortment of food and drinks, it also is nice to have around in terms of contributing to good health in other ways.
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From year to year, we’re never sure how bad that year’s strain of flu will be or even if the latest version of a vaccine will be sufficiently effective. One thing we can count on, though: some form of influenza will hit our shores, and it will be largely up to us to protect ourselves from getting the flu. It is also our duty to take measures to keep it from spreading to others if we are unlucky enough for the flu to catch us (vs. our catching it).
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Eating bugs may be a way of life for castaways in survival mode or special-forces military types on extended-training exercises, but in normal everyday life it’s not for the squeamish. Or is it? The consumption of probiotics, available in food and supplement form, involves eating bugs (millions of them) in the form of bacteria that benefit our gut health, otherwise known as our digestive system.
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The largest organ in the body is quite possibly one you haven’t heard of before, at least when it’s called by its correct name. That’s the integumentary system, which weighs between six and 10 pounds, covers a total surface area of about 18-20 square feet for adults, and consists of our skin, hair, nails, glands, and nerve receptors. There you have it – the integumentary system – a name for several body features that, collectively, you didn’t even know had a name, let alone that they comprised a ‘system.’
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If you are properly brushing your teeth after every meal, or at least twice a day, and if you are regularly flossing – preferably daily – you have established a good foundation for caring for your teeth and gums. Even then, your work is never done if you want to avoid gum disease, prevent tooth decay and cavities, keep your gums healthy and strong, and keep all your teeth in place.
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The ketogenic diet is a low-carb diet often compared to the Atkins diet, as both are based on a drastic reduction in carbs consumption. Per webmd.com, the main premise of the ketogenic diet is to get more calories from protein and fat, and fewer from carbs – which means cutting out sugar, soda, pastries, and white bread, for starters.
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With the health and fitness industry being one of the fastest growing industries, and one of the most lucrative, it’s easy to be blindsided with myths, trends and hyped up versions of the truth when it comes to what’s really good for us. Today, everyone wants to be in the know with their health, with today’s generations more health-conscious than any generation before us.
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When our body goes into a state of ketosis, it’s not a bad thing. In fact, it’s something many of us choose to bring on ourselves to lose weight. The word ‘ketosis’ might sound like some sort of disease. It isn’t. It is a normal metabolic process in which our body, when short on glucose, instead starts burning stored fats for needed energy. It is a condition that people can initiate by starting a ketogenic diet that is low on carbohydrates and seeks to burn unwanted fat.
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Since 1985 October has become known as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month around the United States. WonderLabs is happy to announce that a percentage of all sales for the month of October will be collected and distributed to three local organizations active in the fight against breast cancer.
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Omega-3 fatty acids, usually found in fish oils, comprise one of the best go-to nutritional supplements when it comes to restoring, maintaining, or even improving our health. Name any well-known health condition that can be aided by particular types of diets, then put together a list of foods and supplements deemed highly suitable for such diets, and, finally, be amazed by how often omega-3’s appear on those lists.
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Ask anyone to name the body’s major organs, and the first few answers are easy: the heart, the brain, the kidneys, and the lungs come quickly to mind. A bit further down the list, and often not mentioned, is the liver. It might be the most underappreciated and even neglected major organ of our bodies, but the liver deserves more respect. It just may be the hardest-working organ in our bodies; if not, it ranks near the top, and may be the most versatile organ in our bodies.
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We’ve heard it said lately that the best way to lose weight, improve our cardiovascular health, fend off viruses, etc., is not so much through physical exercise as it is by making healthy changes to our diet. You know, emphasize foods with an abundance of antioxidants, fiber, and protein, and go easy on the sweets, fat, and calories.
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Acne, otherwise known as pimples, is one of the most common dermatological conditions, affecting millions of young adults worldwide – and a relative handful of older adults as well. Assumptions about a possible link between what we eat and the appearance of acne on young people’s faces, as well as other body locales such as the upper back, have long been bandied about, based on nothing much more than anecdotal hearsay.
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OK, truth be told, this post doesn’t offer much that involves putting sugar and good health in the same sentence, but it sounded nice in the title. When it comes to herbs and spices that can promote good health as well as add a nice touch to a three- or four-course dinner, much can be said without mention of sugar. Modern science is only now catching up to what some cultures have known for centuries, that many spices possess amazing health benefits.
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Leg cramps can be a real pain. They can crop up at any time during the day, turning a leisurely stroll through the park or a walk from the den to the fridge into exercise of agonizing futility, sending a scared sufferer to the floor wincing and wailing in pain. It’s a similar deal during the night, when an otherwise sound sleeper suddenly wakes up in bed, startled, grabbing his or her calf and wondering where this real-life nightmare just came from.
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A little inflammation, even a moderate amount, is a good thing. It is one of our body’s means of healing itself. When we suffer an injury or contract an illness, our immune system goes to work, sending millions of white blood cells via a heightened blood flow to the location where it is immediately needed. Inflammation results.
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In our never-ending quest to stay healthy (or get healthier), to lose weight, to get stronger, to become faster, to improve our endurance or to just overall enhance our appearance, it’s easy to get lost in the big picture and take for granted our body’s mechanisms and the parts that play a supporting role. Our joints, for instance. Be honest: how often do you think about your wrists, your hips, your knees, or your ankles – until you injure one of them and suddenly find yourself pretty much out of commission?
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It’s easy to think of our bones and bone structure as nothing but hard substance, out of sight (beneath our skin, of course) and able to take care of itself, only to be tended to when we suffer a fracture or break. The truth is, our bones, to include our teeth, are living tissue in need of our constant care through ingestion of proper nutrition. Any deficiency in such care or nutrition – think calcium and vitamin D, for starters – can mean development of osteoporosis.
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In some ways, anxiety and depression are like most any other illness or disorder – there are traditional ways of treating them that includes the option of conventional medicine, i.e. prescription drugs.
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Forgetfulness is a part of life for most of us. Forgot where you put the keys? Can’t find your wallet or purse? You arrived home last night, turned on the dome light inside your car while in the driveway, and then you forgot to turn it off when you went inside the house. It happens to all of us. But there is a difference between routine forgetfulness and actual memory loss – a significant difference, in fact.
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More than 600,000 Americans die from heart disease every year, making it the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. That works out to one in four deaths each year being related to heart disease, with cholesterol often a key factor. The most common type of heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is coronary artery disease, which can lead to heart attack.
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The next time you are in pain and tell someone about it, don’t be surprised if they try to brush it off by saying, “Oh, it’s only in your head.” Actually, they’re right; whatever the root cause of the pain is and wherever it is located, pain signals get transmitted to your brain, which is in your head. Chronic pain, though, is nothing to be brushed off or treated lightly. It can be a significant life changer, whereby managing the pain beyond medical procedures and medications can help bolster quality of life for sufferers.
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Arthritis can be a debilitating disease difficult to describe if you’ve never had it, but the numbers paint a picture that isn’t pretty. Arthritis is rated the No. 1 cause of disability in America, with about 50 percent of adults 65 and older reporting a doctor’s diagnosis of arthritis, per draxe.com.
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Our immune system is a thing of wondrous beauty, albeit unseen beauty. It is a complex yet well-ordered system consisting of many millions of cells, neatly organized into sets and subsets, passing information among one another while gathering like “clouds of bees swarming around a hive,” as vaccines.gov puts it.
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Heartburn is a condition that often leaves a bad taste in our mouths, and we don’t mean just in the figurative sense. It occurs most often after you’ve just consumed a large meal, especially one that goes heavy on fatty and greasy foods. As webmd.com puts it, foods high in fat sit around in the belly longer, triggering our stomach to produce more acid, which in turn irritates our digestive system.
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In a perfect world, parents get their school kids out of bed at the right time, make sure they are practicing the right hygiene, and feed them the right kind of breakfast to make/keep them healthy, alert, ready, and in the right frame of mind for the rigors of another school day. In an imperfect world, though, where most of us reside, additional help is needed. To the rescue come nutritional supplements, many of which can boost a student’s alertness, focus, and/or retention, among other mental faculties.
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If it’s not bad enough that we get spring allergies, now we have entered the annual hot zone when fall allergies rear their ugly heads, often disguised as weed pollens. It’s all in the pollen, mostly, per what health experts say, and it is the type of pollens, mainly, that differentiates spring allergies from fall allergies.
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Knowing what foods to eat and which supplements to take to optimize your health can be overwhelming. Let us help break down some of that for you. Here’s an alphabetized summary of 26 healthy foods and supplements to keep/put on your list. Let this be your guide to smarter grocery shopping and better health:
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Considering the wildly mixed bag of foods we cram into our mouths – almost anything goes, from spicy to fatty to sugary to all points in between – and, in many cases, the volume of some ingestions, it’s a wonder our stomach and gastrointestinal (GI) system don’t scream, punch, or kick back at us more than it does.
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A common realization among pregnant women – and perhaps also women planning to get pregnant – is that there are two mouths to feed, and that’s even before you start counting other human beings living in the same household.
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If you are looking to kickstart a weight-loss program with almost-guaranteed success right out the gate, and if you like chocolate and/or wine and/or coffee, and if you have three weeks to spare, then maybe there really is a diet program out there that might appeal to you. There really is such a diet, and it goes by the name of the Sirtfood Diet. Celebrities like singer Adele swear by it – or at least eat by it.
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There are two types of vitamins: water-soluble vitamins and fat-soluble vitamins, and they differ from one another. Whereas the water-soluble types of vitamins dissolve in water when ingested, fat-soluble vitamins – which are most plentiful in foods high in fats – are absorbed into our bloodstream when eaten with fat and are eventually stored in our bodies, primarily in the liver.
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It’s an old story but one that bears repeating if you want to grow old: high blood pressure, or hypertension, has been called the “silent killer” because its symptoms are rarely noticeable. However, that is not to say that hypertension is a death sentence. A variety of medications effective in lowering blood pressure (BP) are available. Better yet, there are natural alternatives that have proved useful in reducing BP to healthier levels.
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A great dietary plan isn’t just about what you eat, it’s also about when you eat. We all know the drill about not eating too late into the evening, as a full stomach can disrupt sleep patterns and throw our metabolism out of kilter. Then there’s the issue of timing our meals or snacks to optimize our workouts, whether it consists of cardio, weights, a combination of both, or Plan D.
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Inflammation on or inside our bodies is like almost anything else – too much of anything can be bad for us. Don’t be confused by that, especially if you’re thinking that any bodily inflammation is bad. It’s not; inflammation is usually our body’s healthy and immediate response to many types of unforeseen injuries and other afflictions that hit us.
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There are all kinds of supplements and other nutritional aids on the market, readily available to any of us looking to bolster or improve our overall health or to assist us in a particular area of need. And some of those needs are more urgent and unpredictable than others. Constipation or diarrhea come quickly to mind – and to “fruition” at the most inopportune times.
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A banana a day might not actually keep the doctor forever away – neither can an apple a day, for that matter, not really – but the potassium that ingesting bananas brings us goes a long way toward keeping us sound of body and mind. It’s not just the bananas, either; as recently illustrated in another blog that appeared here; potassium has many sources and it’s up to us to keep ourselves sufficiently supplied.
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If you have ever been prescribed and taken a pharmaceutical drug, it is likely you have at least brushed up against herbalism, also known as phytotherapy. Many, if not most, prescription drugs are derived from plants with medicinal properties, otherwise known as “herbs.”
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Potassium is one of the most abundant minerals in our body – organicfacts.net says it is the third most abundant, in fact. For those who have purposed to go looking for a supplemental source to help with, say, their cardiovascular health, the direction in which they are most often pointed are bananas. Bananas and lowering high blood pressure, for instance, go hand in hand, although potassium is readily available through many other sources, and its health benefits extend well beyond just the heart.
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Foods and blender concoctions packed with proteins were once thought to belong solely to the domain of bodybuilders and elite athletes. Not anymore/ All the rest of us are quickly finding out that foods high in protein can work wonders for the overall health of the common man and woman, as well. Food marketers and stores have caught on, and now the rest of us can go grocery shopping looking for and finding protein-packed consumables suitable for almost everyone.
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Previously in this space we published a blog touching on some key points specific to belly fat. Included in the discussion was a summary of what belly fat is, its potential perils to our health, and several the underlying factors that contribute to it. Knowing those factors gives you a head start on what you can do to avoid belly fat or trim away what already is there.
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With summer winding down, those of us who vowed to use the nicer weather to eat better and work out more to shed that “beer gut” and reveal that six-pack are running out of time to accomplish that mission – if we haven’t already succeeded. This isn’t just about looking better and buffer in a bathing suit, though. It’s also about our longevity – trimming the belly isn’t just about beach-time vanity, it’s also about our long-term health.
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Low testosterone in men is most closely associated with diminished sexual performance in the bedroom. That’s the first thing that gets talked about when the subject of low-T counts comes up, just as we discussed in a recent article about testosterone that appeared on this website. Other low-T symptoms can include muscle mass atrophy, fatigue, weight gain, changes in sleep habits, depression and hair loss.
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The name sounds like some sort of scary, weaponized biochemical compound, but in truth biotin is nothing more than a sweet and innocent water-soluble B vitamin. Its main task is to take the food we eat and transform it into energy. And that’s a good thing; something to enhance our health. Not only is biotin vital for the health of our skin, nails and hair, it also is important to have around for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
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The most health conscious among us have known for decades that consumption of omega-3 fatty acids is good for our health. Only in recent years, though, have experts begun to learn the full extension of the reasons why. At the center of this revelation is the newly identified fatty acid docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), which has been found in elevated levels in the diet of Greenland Intuits, whose incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is remarkably low, per naturalproductsinsider.com.
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There is plenty of truth to the old saying about “water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.” Our oceans are made up of saltwater, which we all (should) know isn’t potable, unless your fun idea of quenching your thirst is chugging down the salty stuff without regard to sanity or health. Yet there still is plenty to love about what our oceans offer in terms of nutrients and healthy foods that can benefit us in numerous ways.
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Men sometimes joke among one another on the topic of testosterone, but deep down it’s no laughing matter when a drop in the hormone is accompanied by a drop in sexual performance. The human body produces testosterone, for men mainly in their testicles, and it plays a key role in shaping a man’s appearance and sexual development, per healthline.com. It also assists in building muscle and bone mass.
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More than 100 million Americans, or nearly one in three, have high cholesterol. Cholesterol readings higher than 200 mg/dL are generally considered excessive, bringing with it an increased chance of clogged arteries that can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Numerous prescription medicines are on the market – and there likely are more coming through the pharmaceutical pipeline – aimed at lowering cholesterol.
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Whether you live life in the fast lane or operate in a slow cooker – or perhaps equal amounts of each – you likely are exposed to and at times rendered ineffective by waves of stress inducements. Chances are that fatigue (physical and mental) also accompanies your stress. Those are the times when you can certainly use a lift and some relief. Adaptogens are standing by to come to your rescue.
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If you’re looking for a “go-to” food worthy of being included in your weekly diet plan, you could do a lot worse than to make fatty fish – think salmon, mackerel and tuna – a part of your regular fare at the lunch or dinner table. In fact, consider it a requisite. A deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in such fish, is a leading preventable cause of death in the United States, per nutraceuticalbusinessreview.com.
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When it comes to reaping the benefits afforded us by the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, salmon earns a well-deserved spot on the conversation. One way of taking advantage of salmon’s omega-3 fatty acids is by buying, grilling and eating salmon; a healthy alternative is salmon oil that is offered in the form of a popular nutritional supplement.
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Hundreds of nutritional supplements are available in the marketplace; sometimes it’s nearly impossible to figure out what’s best for whatever health benefit(s) you seek. To cut down on any confusion, we’re here to present a partial solution that's easy to remember. When in doubt, go with these three M’s – magnesium, manganese and methylcobalamin. Each can do many things to preserve or benefit your health.
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The use of opioids such as hydrocodone, oxycodone and morphine have long been prescribed by doctors for the treatment of a variety of chronic pain conditions. Their use, per the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has long been considered an acceptable part of medical practice, although the use of opioids has become controversial.
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Vitamin D often has been referred to as the “sunshine vitamin.” Why? Because its chief natural source is sunshine. If you have a vitamin D deficiency, some added exposure to the sun’s rays can be helpful – as long as it’s not overdone, as in overcooked with a painfully pink sunburn to show for it.
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Without minerals, our cells wouldn’t be able to function properly, and without properly functioning cells, we would be in a world of hurt. Minerals are inorganic substances that naturally occur in water, rocks and soils, and work their way into plants and animals. Rocks and soils are not on our recommended daily consumption list, but we can get what we need by eating plant-based food and the meat from animals who likewise eat plants, as well as from water, per eatbalanced.com.
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There are many things to enjoy and appreciate about the plant-based herb turmeric. Let’s begin with the fact that it not only can nicely spice up a good meal, it also can provide a laundry list of health benefits that practically make it a medicine cabinet unto itself. Included among those health remedies is turmeric’s inherent ability to suppress a variety of viruses that attack our bodies, ranging from influenza to hepatitis to herpes simplex and beyond.
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Count berberine among the few compounds with antibacterial properties that offer an effective alternative to antibiotic medicines that are losing ground in the ongoing battle against “superbugs.” It gets even better, though. Berberine’s other pharmacological effects includes blood glucose-lowering capabilities that make it useful in helping to treat diabetics.
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Most essential oils are known for their usefulness in benefitting human health across several fronts, with some of the more versatile oils able to cover a whole lot of ground. Take, for instance, oil of oregano – which many people do. Oregano oil has established a reputation as not only an antioxidant, antibiotic and antibacterial, but also an antifungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory.
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Many of us grew up seeing depictions of young children being force fed teaspoons brimming with cod liver oil, the kids’ faces squinched up as they dreaded the taste. Just hearing the name – “cod liver oil” – often elicited classic yukky faces among kids. Which seems ironic, considering the many health benefits that have been attributed to cod liver oil over the years. Maybe it doesn’t taste great, but this stuff really works.
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They are antibiotic-resistant microorganisms described as “nightmare bacteria” or “superbugs.” Resistant? Nightmare? Superbug? None of it sounds good when it comes to American public health. And it isn’t. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about two million people a year in America suffer serious infections with bacteria that turn out to be resistant to antibiotics designed to treat them, and 23,000 of those so afflicted end up dying.
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We keep our cars, trucks and SUVs running smoothly and efficiently with proper use of motor oil, presumably to include getting the oil changed at prescribed mileage intervals (or else!). Smart use of oils is a human thing to do as well. Americans increasingly are turning to oils - frequently referred to as 'essential oils' – to protect and improve our health in numerous ways; all to keep our bodies and minds running smoothly and efficiently.
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Vision and eye health are things many of us take for granted, until we suffer an impairment or accident that results in at least some loss of sight. Then we realize how vital our vision and eye health are to us. Proper eye care entails not only wearing protection, such as when mowing the lawn or being outdoors in bright sunlight, but also eating the right foods and using the right nutritional supplements as needed to bolster eye health.
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It happens to all of us at one time or another during the day, sometimes even more than once. Maybe it’s late morning with lunch more than an hour away. Or it’s mid-afternoon and the bluesy blahs are settling in, the needle on our energy gauge about to hit zero. These are the times we need a healthy snack to restore our zip, but the question then becomes, what? What’s a healthy, energy-boosting snack that will lift us up and carry us through to the next bell?
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A main course of mushrooms will never be found on many, if any, menus, but as a garnishment with assorted healthful benefits, mushrooms have few peers. Labeled as a “superfood” by nutrition experts, mushrooms are low in carbohydrates and calories and full of B vitamins, trace minerals, fiber and protein that make them a powerful anti-inflammatory food that also bolsters our immune system, among other health-inducing qualities.
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Coenzyme Q10, also known as CoQ10, is an antioxidant that cells need so they can function properly. What the coenzyme does is help cells manufacture the energy necessary to grow and thrive while also fighting against free radicals that can damage cell membranes. No wonder CoQ10 is so popular as a supplement; in fact, it has been touted by NASDAQ’s Globe Newswire, per chiroeco.com, as the supplement that will account for $849.5 million of the $36.7 billion supplement industry within three years.
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Poor diets and the cheap, low-quality (but tempting) foods that comprise them are often the source of diseases that befall us. Processed foods; foods coated with pesticides; foods loaded with sugar; foods packed with fat; foods high in calorie count and low in nutritional value – all these and more are often the culprit for what ails us. It only seems appropriate that if foods are the “bad guys” when it comes to sickness and disease, that we should turn to “good guy” foods to bail us out of disease prison.
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Anyone who grabs one of those energy drinks that typically come in a can pretty much knows what they are getting out of it – an hours-long jolt of energy, improved athletic performance and enhanced mental acuity. What you get out of it is not the question, though; it’s what goes into these energy drinks that remain somewhat of a mystery with some drink manufacturers, not to say the risk of possible side effects tied into the ingredients involved.
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Trying to lose weight is like trying to grip a wet and slippery bar of soap – the harder you squeeze, the faster it gets away from you. A lot of weight-loss plans or diets fail because of the instant-gratification conundrum: we want to lose X number of pounds now, even when we know in our heads that any viable plan or diet requires planning, patience and perseverance, yet many of us still won’t see immediate results and will abandon it faster than a New Year’s Resolution.
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It doesn’t take a lot of arm twisting to get most folks to eagerly reach for the cinnamon and sprinkle some on their food, or coffee or whatever. All you have to do is put it in front of them, at arm’s length, and cinnamon’s alluringly sweet taste and aroma take over. As a confection, cinnamon has few peers.
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When it comes to inducing healthy and effective weight loss, there are a lot of theories and gimmicks floating around. AMPK is no theory or gimmick, however. It’s the real deal. Short for adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, AMPK is an important enzyme that, when activated, is effective at cranking up our metabolism and burning fat.
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Summer is officially here, although warming temperatures beat the official start of summer to the punch in much of the country. The heat is here. If you haven’t done it already, it’s time to tweak your diets and menus to accommodate the heat and your body’s need for regular hydration to counter increased fluid loss through sweating. On top of that, most weight-conscious people see summertime as the right time to drop excess pounds, something to keep in mind when picking out what foods to eat.
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It doesn’t take a sweet tooth to know there are many artificial or alternative sweeteners that promise zero calories and maybe even weight loss. Also referred to as non-nutritive sweeteners – that’s right, they offer little or nothing in the way of nutrition – these substitute sweeteners carry a hopeful and carefully cultivated message of alleged health, yet in many cases they can cause unwanted symptoms ranging from headaches to weight gain to cardiovascular disease.
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Heavy metal might be music to the ears of some people, but in terms of human health it can mean bad news when too much of it shows up in our diets. Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements with a high atomic weight and a density five times or more that of water, per the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Their presence in our food supply often surpass safe limits, and human exposure to them can greatly harm our health.
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Our bodies need a regular and abundant influx of calcium in order to survive – it is vital for our bones and teeth, for one thing – and one of the best sources of calcium is coral calcium, also known as calcium carbonate. This is a compound found in limestone deposits that at one time were part of coral reefs and now are fossilized coral. Okinawa is recognized as the world’s best source of coral calcium, although it also is relatively plentiful in parts of Brazil.
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Omega-3 fatty acids, which can be found in fatty fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel, have been shown to reduce or even eliminate blood vessel blockage by remove existing deposits and preventing new deposits from forming. Essentially, by thus improving blood flow within our bodies, omega-3 can bolster our overall health in several areas, to include possibly reducing the chances of our developing Alzheimer’s disease.
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Most women, even those in their 20s or 30s, have heard of menopause and have a general idea of what it entails; they’ve heard the “horror” stories. Still, when menopausal symptoms appear in their mid-40s to early 50s, they might not have a clue at first what is happening, or why. Perhaps their periods start changing, or they’re not sleeping well at night, or they experience “hot flashes” and notice some weight gain around the middle. All this, even though they haven’t changed their lifestyle or dietary habits. It can be scary.
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Probiotics and prebiotics sound a lot alike but they are not the same, and yet they can serve a complementary function in helping to keep us healthy. Got that? Or, better yet, gut that? Both probiotics and prebiotics are involved in maintaining good gut health, oftentimes combining forces on behalf of our gastrointestinal system by making sure there is a healthy balance of good bacteria to bad bacteria – preferably more of the former.
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What we think or feel can be determined by what we eat. Nutrition has been shown to be a key factor related to our thought processes and emotions. This is especially true as it relates to mental disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (ICD).
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Summertime is here – officially in about two weeks – the time of year when we’re supposed to be care-free when it comes to catching. After all, the occurrence of colds is usually confined to the late fall, winter and early-spring months. As some of us know all too well from experience, though, colds, and even flu, can also hit in June, July, August and September. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep virus-fighting zinc lozenges handy year-round, just in case.
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Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin (the first such vitamin discovered, in 1913, per emedicine.medscape.com) that also is a potent antioxidant, is an essential part of our daily diet, in large part because it is not manufactured by the human body. Our body depends on us to supply it with Vitamin A through what we eat. Vitamin A is important for maintaining the health of our eyes and eyesight, healthy and clear skin, proper bone growth, facilitating cell differentiation and supporting our immune system against infections, especially in the mucous membranes for the digestive, respiratory and urinary tracts.
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It’s tempting to think of our bones as strong and nearly indestructible, but they need love, too, as well as plenty of good nutrition. Think of it this way, when we feed ourselves, we also are feeding our bones, and it takes more than just calcium to keep them healthy and structurally sound. And, no, our bones are not as strong as we might like to think. Anyone who has suffered a fracture knows that all too well.
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What little most of us know about the human body’s metabolism – without the help of a scientific manual – is that a fast metabolism is more conducive to losing weight than a slow metabolism is. That’s good to know for those of us looking to shed a few (or more than a few) pounds. The question is, how can we boost our metabolism without risk to our health, and perhaps even enhance our health in the process?
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Two-thirds of American adults are either obese or overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The obesity rate among women in their 40s and 50s has risen to 42 percent compared to 38 percent among middle-aged men. Across all adult age groups, in terms of obesity rate, women are at 38 percent compared to 34 percent of men – the obesity rate for women is on the rise, while it has plateaued for men.
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Minerals are inorganic materials found in rocks and soils, and our bodies wouldn’t be able to survive without them. Of the more than 100 known minerals in existence, at least 18 of them are essential to our good health. Seven of them are classified essential minerals, also known as “macro-minerals”: calcium, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, sodium and chloride.
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Something sweet to eat ordinarily is a no-no for diabetics, but cinnamon can be a delicious exception to the rule. Sprinkled onto your morning cup of joe or bowl of oatmeal, cinnamon adds a nice sugary, sugar-less freshness. It’s not only a great sugar substitute for what you eat or drink, cinnamon also may alleviate symptoms of diabetes, to include lowering elevated blood-sugar levels while still if long-sought sweet pop of flavor.
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‘Metabolism’ is one of those health-related words we often hear in discussions focused on diet, weight and exercise; but do we really know what it means? Metabolism typically is talked about in simplistic terms, as if it’s some sort of biomechanical device that runs our body like an engine powers a car, when all we need to do is fuel it three times a day so we can enjoy the ride. However, there’s more to metabolism than just something to keep revved up if we want to drop the pounds.
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The fact that the herb ginger can provide a variety of health benefits surely puts a smile on most people’s faces. In addition to being healthy for us in so many ways, ginger also is a tasty favorite when added to food and beverages. In terms of our health, ginger for centuries has earned a sterling reputation for its ability to relieve digestive problems such as nausea, loss of appetite, motion sickness and stomach ache. And that’s just for starters.
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In times of stress, sadness or anxiety, many of us will grab the first thing edible that looks good, and we eat it, giving ourselves a brief respite from what troubles us. “Comfort food” we call it, although it has no long-term benefit. Over time, though, our nutritional habits – what we eat – can affect our brain health, for better or for worse. This is what’s known as the “food-mood connection,” as familydoctor.org puts it.
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We humans and our bodies have a nifty reciprocal arrangement. We, of course, need our bodies to do the things we want and need to do in our lives, such as getting around, performing our jobs and skipping rope, just for starters. In turn our bodies need for us to take care of them by feeding them with nutrients that they are unable to produce for themselves. Those nutrients include the inorganic substances found in foods, known as minerals.
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One popular axiom of nutrition is that we are what we eat. That might not be truer than in how our food choices can determine the health and condition of our skin. What we include in our diets and therefore put into our mouths can play a direct role in maintaining healthy skin and steering us clear of problems such as dry skin, acne, wrinkles, sun damage, psoriasis and rosacea, among other conditions.
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The life expectancy of American women continues to rise because of factors such as better health care and nutrition, as well as self-awareness as women find out for themselves what they can do to enhance both. Women increasingly are living into their 80s and 90s, some even past the century mark. That presents new challenges, as older adults are often at greater risk of nutritional deficiencies, per The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
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“Vitamins” and “supplements” often are used interchangeably in everyday speech when it comes to discussing health and dietary concerns, but the truth is they are not one and the same. The line between vitamins and supplements sometimes gets blurred; both are ingestibles involved in regulating or improving our overall health. It’s important to know, though, the difference between the two to ensure that you use them properly without going to excess.
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Aging is the process through which we journey to supposedly reach the “golden years.” But joining the ranks of the elderly can be anything but golden if we don’t pay strict attention to our diets and make sure our nutritional needs are properly met.
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Healthcare in America is often touted as the best in the world (at least Americans think so), and in terms of technological innovation it might be true. But when it comes to maternal care and health, the United States, in some respects, lags behind other nations. Birth-giving moms are having a tougher go at it, comparatively speaking, in areas such as maternal mortality rates, lack of prenatal care and inadequate postpartum care.
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Most people know without having to look it up that diabetes is an affliction that involves high levels of blood glucose in our body. Stay away from sugar in order to avoid developing diabetes, we are told. Some of us take that admonition seriously, many don’t. We are also told there are alternatives and natural remedies for your diabetes. It is true and some are listed below.
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Opioids, also known as opiates, are powerfully effective yet relatively inexpensive medications most often used in the management of pain. More than 100 million Americans contend with chronic pain, and for nearly 20 years physicians have routinely prescribed opioids such as morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone and fentanyl to control pain symptoms in suffering patients.
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Pain’s arrival in our body always begs one question of us: How can I get rid of it? Physical pain has been the bane of man’s existence for thousands of years. That’s at least how long health providers tasked with treating pain have used painkillers to help suffering patients. Meanwhile, medical science keeps searching for or devising new, more effective painkillers, to include opioids, many of which have given rise to dependency and addiction.
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It’s on the wish list of just about anyone who takes his or her health seriously – a dietary supplement that can do the job of two or three (or more) supplements and thus save room in the medicine cabinet or the pantry. One such supplement is berberine, a yellow-colored alkaloid compound, which can perform the work of at least a half-dozen other supplements and vitamins that each target a specific area of health care.
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For years we’ve been told, “Eat more fiber.” Sound advice, so we do precisely that, and our bodies are healthier because of it. Why question it, right? Fiber, a plant-derived carbohydrate, enhances the movement of material through our digestive system, prevents or relieves constipation, helps us maintain a healthy weight and can even lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Still, we wonder, what exactly is fiber and how does it accomplish all these things? It’s not enough to know that fiber is good for us – we want to know the how and why as well.
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Chlorophyll may be green, but it is no novice or newcomer when it comes to providing numerous health benefits for humans. Like many green vegetables, chlorophyll is a great source of vitamins A, C, E and K, and its versatility includes the capacity to stimulate our immune systems, detoxify our blood and even rid our bodies of bad odors. So, we ask, what exactly is chlorophyll, and what makes it such a bountiful source of health benefits?
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Cinnamon is a popular sweet spice for sprinkling onto breakfast foods such as toast and oatmeal, and it’s a delicious exclamation point to that morning cup of joe. But what brings its versatility truly into play is cinnamon’s health-inducing qualities as a nutritional supplement, one that includes its potential benefits on glycemic control. In fact, research has shown cinnamon as a possible worthy complement to regular diabetes treatment for those who have type 2 diabetes.
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Muscle spasms and cramps might not be a big deal to someone who has never experienced them, but they can be extremely painful – sudden, without warning – and yet they can disappear just as fast without a trace (except a memory). It is at times like this that muscles seem to have a mind of their own, producing an involuntary tightness, hardness or bulging feeling in a muscle.
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Anyone who has suffered from arthritis, let alone something more fleeting such as a bruised elbow, hip or knee, can vouch for how much better life is when free of joint pain. It might last only for a few days or it can be more persistent, even chronic. Joint pain is fairly common, though, affecting millions of men and women all too familiar with how it can impair physical activity while being a 24/7 annoyance.
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Many myths exist about what sorts of food are “safe” for diabetics to eat and which ones they should stay away from at all costs. Such care and concern are understandable. People with diabetes are almost twice as likely to develop heart disease as nondiabetics, and they run a greater risk of someday developing mental health conditions. In this regard, it has long been assumed that diabetics must avoid sugar at all costs, but that isn’t necessarily true.
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Berberine is an alkaloid found in a variety of plants, most notably a group of shrubs known as Berberis. It is a compound with a prominent place in traditional Chinese medicine dating back centuries. Berberine’s many uses include regulating blood-sugar and cholesterol levels, reducing harmful inflammation throughout the body, and playing a healthy role in fighting heart disease. Berberine also is a proven success story when it comes to inducing weight loss, and it plays this role well through a variety of functions.
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As a spice that adds a delicious kick to almost any entrée, cayenne can be a food connoisseur’s best friend. As a medicinal herb with a history that dates back about 9,000 years, cayenne’s capacity to effect positive health change is nothing short of remarkable – it can be everyone’s best friend.
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No one is immune to an upset stomach, also known as nausea. Many things can make our stomach turn or give us that overall icky feeling, like we’re about to throw up. It could be something we ate, pregnancy, stomach flu, motion sickness like on a carnival ride, an aftermath of chemotherapy or having to deal with a stressful situation such as tax season. Whatever the cause, when we get hit with a wave (or waves) of nausea, our focus turns to alleviating the discomfort. Quickly and effectively.
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Many of us, perhaps even most of us, are vigilant and diligent when it comes to using vitamins and supplements to enhance our health and enjoyment of life. It’s also incumbent on us to exercise equal care in caring for our pets, especially those of us with dogs and/or cats. Dogs, as we all know, need love, too, and the same goes for supplements and vitamins – when needed.
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It’s a name of a nutrient we’ve heard of for years, but it’s somewhat of an unknown for anyone who hasn’t had it recommended to them by a doctor. It sounds like, but is not to be confused, with Anacin (although both can be useful treating headaches) and it’s not an abbreviated form of nitroglycerin (heart issues). Niacin, its true identity revealed, is also known as Vitamin B3, a water-soluble compound with a wide range of uses. It can benefit the digestive system, skin and nervous system, and is also used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
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Get your motor running. Those were the opening lyrics of a 1960’s hit song by Steppenwolf and the message is just as relevant today. It’s especially true when it comes to burning calories and fat if you want to lose weight. The motor is your metabolism, and the goal is to take the right actions and consume the right foods and drinks to keep your metabolism humming at peak efficiency.
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It’s got a strange name, but one thing about St. John’s Wort is that it’s not an antidote for those skin bumps that, according to childhood myth, appear after you handle a toad. It is actually an herbal remedy – and a dietary supplement – that has had success treating mood disorders such as nervousness, although St. John’s Wort still is a bit of a mystery to many people who want to know exactly what it is and how it’s supposed to be taken.
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As much as an annoyance honeybees can be when buzzing around backyard barbecues, there’s no denying what they can bring to the lunch or dinner table. It’s not just the sweet honey, either, with its trace amounts of vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein. There are other health-inducing products that bees produce, and it’s good to know what those are.
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Mushrooms have been around a long time in the culinary world, and for good reason. They are tasty and go with about anything. In ancient times, they were reserved for royalty (in Egypt), and Romans were convinced that warriors gained strength from mushroom consumption. Thousands of years later, mushrooms have become an everyman’s delicacy, suitable for soups and salads as well as pizzas and entrees. More importantly, various types of mushrooms have proven to be effective in bolstering our immune system.
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As the school year hits the home stretch, high schoolers and college students focus on preparing for a final classroom push and end-of-semester exams. This is the time of year many students, ambitious ones at least, seek an extra edge to max out their mental acuity. That means being on the lookout for (healthy) ways to improve their memory and boost brain power while racing toward the finish line.
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Constipation is an aggravating, uncomfortable condition that can creep up on you. One day you’re feeling fine; a day or two later you are bloated and feeling abdominal discomfort or pain. It’s then you realize you haven’t had a regular bowel movement in several days. Whenever you are constipated, two questions hit you: What causes constipation, and what can I do to remedy this misery?
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Hives are a bit of a mystery in terms of knowing exactly what causes them and how best to treat them. But they aren't a total mystery to anyone who has had them and dealt with the incessant irritating itching and the unsightly, even embarrassing red welts that can appear all over the body, to include your face.
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Athletes looking for a legal boost in their performance have known for years about the benefits of creatine. There have always been questions about whether creatine is safe and if it is legal, and in most circumstances the answers are yes and yes. You don't have to be an Olympian or pro athlete to benefit from the use of creatine, but like any other supplement you are considering for usage, proper care and guidance are key.
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Just the thought of body fat makes most of us cringe, but there's another way of looking at it instead of just seeing that image of belly fat popping out and hanging over the beltline. Body fat can play a vital role in making sure we get the Vitamin D that we need. Vitamin D is one of the most versatile vitamins around, capable of helping to optimize our health in so many ways, and all it takes is a little bit of sunshine.
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Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world's oldest forms of holistic medical practices. It originated in India and dates back several thousand years. It is a form of alternative medicine based, per webmd.com, on the belief that a delicate balance between mind, body and spirit determines the state of our health and wellness. It is seen as a treatment system predicated on promoting good health vs. fighting disease, although practitioners might argue it can do both.
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Our bodies need plenty of calcium for us to maintain bone health, to include building stronger bones and warding off osteoporosis. Common food sources rich in calcium include dairy products such as milk, cheese and butter as well as other edibles such as kale, sardines and broccoli. Ingesting calcium is only half the battle, though, as it is equally important to make sure that calcium is properly absorbed, a process that requires the assistance of other substances for calcium absorption.
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Protein isn't just for body builders looking to pump up their muscle mass while sculpting their bodies. It also is an essential substance for everyone of all shapes, sizes, ages and physiques. Proteins serve as the human body's basic building blocks. They are comprised of amino acids whose job it is to build muscles, blood, skin, hair, nails and internal organs, as verywell.com puts it.
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Diabetics and prediabetics know that a key to managing their long-term health is managing their blood-sugar level. That usually entails discriminant consumption of sweets daily, among other healthful considerations such as exercise and medication. It is with some irony that one food item known for its sweet taste as a confection could be beneficial to people with high levels of blood sugar.
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Mobility is something most of us take for granted. We learned to walk when we were very young, and from that point on it's been pretty much full speed ahead. We get up out of bed in the morning and walk to the bathroom without a thought, or we climb the stairs, or maybe we even get on a bike for a short ride or workout. For many elderly, however, even the simplest of tasks or pleasures that involve some sort of mobility no longer are a snap.
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To go along with National Puppy Day, we thought we'd feature the experiences of a member of one of our unique groups of customers, owners of dogs identified with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency or EPI. Olesia Kennedy is the Executive President of the Epi4Dogs Foundation, Inc. and we asked her to share her story and experience with WonderLabs in the efforts of taking care of her own dogs with this disease.
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For those of you reading this article on a laptop, smartphone or other handheld device such as a tablet, this article was written especially for you. March is Save Your Vision Month, and this year the American Optometric Association (AOA) has pegged digital eyestrain as its focus in promoting regular, comprehensive eye exams.
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Maybe it's time to consider pouring a glass of red wine (or grape juice) and sitting down to enjoy a healthy snack of peanuts, grapes, dark chocolate, cranberries and blueberries along with a dash of cocoa. What do all these delectables have in common? They are sources of resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant that some experts have even touted as a potential fountain of youth.
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Growing old is not a particularly fun thing for most of us. One of the drawbacks to the aging process is what it does to our physical appearance, namely our skin. Wrinkled, spotty, sagging skin is the result of normal aging. There's nothing wrong, however, with trying to make ourselves look younger, and often that starts with rejuvenating the skin.
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Many of us have a low level of magnesium in our bodies, and we don't even know it. In fact, many of us don't even know that we are supposed to care. As a society, we are onboard with making sure we get enough calcium, Vitamin B12, potassium, etc., but let's admit it – we have overlooked magnesium at a time when studies show many of us are undersupplied with magnesium, termed the "master mineral" because it's a part of more than 300 metabolic processes in our bodies, per naturalsociety.com.
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There may be no better time than now to recognize our brains for the great work they do, and to thank sleep for making the other 16 hours or so of the day that much more bearable. The brain and sleep – it’s nearly impossible to have one at peak performance without the other hitting on all cylinders, so it only makes sense we pay them their due respects at the same time.
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Most of us, when we hear about detoxification, picture those fasts with icky-looking, yucky-tasting concoctions designed to clean out our digestive system. But that's not the type of detox we are talking about today. There's also the detoxification that involves ridding our bodies of excess free radicals, a mission greatly helped by our consumption of sources, namely healthy foods, rich in antioxidants.
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Being fatigued is no fun, no matter what time of day it hits. It's also true that there are different degrees of fatigue, such as what you feel when you've finished a truly grueling workout. Or you enjoyed a big lunch, and now it's 3 p.m. and you've hit a wall back at the office. Or you've been under sustained pressure and you wonder how much longer you can hold your head together. Or after just a couple hours of spring cleaning (or even spring break), you're ready to crawl back into bed.
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Every now and then it makes sense to push back from the dinner table and take a good, hard look at what you are eating. Is what you are putting into your mouth nutritious, and is it conducive to long-term good health? Just think of the benefits if we took such an inventory once a year; like, say, in March, and did something about it.
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If waxing cars ("Wax on, wax off") can be great training and exercise for learning martial arts, then it makes sense that gardening out in your yard can be a great exercise for overall personal fitness. Think of it. Rake for a while; dig for a while. Heavy work, then light work. Standing, then bending, then crouching or kneeling, then doing it all again, over and over and over – over the course of an hour or so, day after day.
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Most Americans have firsthand knowledge of acne, a certain level of expertise, in fact. That's because an estimated 85 percent of them have battled zits or pimples at one point in their lives. Acne is the most common skin condition experienced in the U.S., although separating fact from fiction can be tricky when it comes to identifying the causes of acne and proper treatments.
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When it comes to bone mass and strong and healthy bones, we hit our peaks around age 30. Up to that point, our bodies create new bone faster than existing bone breaks down, giving us a net gain. All is not lost after age 30, however. The good news is that we have it within our reach to stave off or at least delay bone loss, take care of our bones, and maybe even strengthen them.
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Spring with its sustained warmer weather might be just around the corner, but try telling that to anyone still feeling the ill effects of cold and flu season – such as a sore throat – that typically aligns itself with winter.
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What to do about spring allergies? Spring is officially three weeks away, but in some parts of the country it seems to be arriving earlier than usual this year. We know this not just from the unseasonably and extended warm periods we’ve had in some regions of the country, but also because spring allergies are starting to hit many of us. As always, allergies raise the same nagging questions: what causes allergies, how long do allergies last, and how do we get rid of them or at least make allergies a more tolerable companion?
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Information about eating disorders. How to deal with eating disorder. What causes eating disorders. How to help someone with an eating disorder. There are several myths and assumptions about eating disorders that have consumed health experts for years, and a few questions remain unanswered. For example, what is the root cause of eating disorders – there are several such illnesses – and how can eating disorders be treated if not cured?
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For anyone who has ever been unfortunate enough to suffer from heavy-metal poisoning—not to be confused with loud rock music, chelation therapy is an effective antidote. For anyone who has ever been unfortunate enough to suffer from heavy-metal poisoning—not to be confused with loud rock music, chelation therapy is an effective antidote. Chelation therapy involves the use of EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), a synthetic amino acid, which is injected into the bloodstream. Once there, and as it passes through the body, it binds to metals such as lead, mercury, copper, iron and arsenic, and then removes them through the bodily elimination of urine. Chelation therapy involves the use of EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), a synthetic amino acid, which is injected into the bloodstream. Once there, and as it passes through the body, it binds to metals such as lead, mercury, copper, iron and arsenic, and then removes them through the bodily elimination of urine.
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Superbugs are not superheroes; they are anything but. Superbugs are bacteria that can’t be killed even when multiple antibiotics are used. They have become resistant to antibiotics – infections once easily and effectively treated, such as strep throat or an ear infection – now are seen as potentially deadly.
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Leaky gut syndrome is not an official diagnosis you will hear spoken in many, if any, med schools. It remains somewhat of a mystery to practicing physicians and other healthcare professions, although they are aware of leaky gut’s potentially detrimental effects on our health. Sufferers with stomach or digestive issues wonder, Do I have a leaky gut? Second item of concern: they want to know what it takes to fix a leaky gut.
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What does it mean to detoxify your body, and how does detox work? Detox is all about cleansing the impurities out of your blood. That includes the blood in your liver, where toxins are processed for elimination. It also encompasses getting rid of the toxins through the lungs (via exhalation and expectoration), intestines (feces) and kidneys (urine), as well as the lymphatic system and even through the skin (sweat).
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It is a common health question people ask themselves, and that includes those who haven’t yet been diagnosed with a related problem: How can I control, or even lower, my cholesterol naturally? In fact, How exactly do I lower cholesterol without using prescription medicine? and How quickly can I lower those cholesterol levels?
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It happens each year around this time (between the holidays and March, mostly): people all around us—maybe ourselves included—get sick from the stomach bug, or what’s commonly referred to as “stomach flu.” It can be a miserable 24 to 48 hours or so. Symptoms typically include diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain or cramping and maybe even a smidgen of fever—accompanied by dehydration (tingling in the extremities anyone?) and loads of justifiable self-pity.
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Mention obesity in America, and many questions come to mind. How obese is America? How many people are overweight? Are Americans fat? Is obesity considered an epidemic in the U.S.? In short, the answers are, a lot, a bunch, yes and heck yes. We are as a society fat, overweight and obese--there's no other way to put it. The latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that 68 percent of Americans are overweight or obese, and that number is expected to rise to 75 percent by 2020. Wallethub has declared fat as the new normal in America.
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The National Institute of Health, the World Health Organization and others believe that people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes often lack adequate levels of many vitamins and minerals and that is a consequence of poor eating habits. Supplementation can correct some of these deficiencies and help restore normal blood sugar levels. They also complement a healthy diet and exercise. 7 supplements that have shown promising results for maintaining proper blood sugar levels: Berberine, chromium, resveratrol, alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin D, magnesium and silymarin milk thistle.
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Despite all the warnings and the gruesome photos that for decades have depicted a longtime smoker’s lungs, millions of Americans continue to smoke tobacco products – mostly in the form of cigarettes. The American Heart Association reports that as of 2015, 46 million Americans were smokers: 23.1 percent of men smoke; 18.3 percent of women. Nearly a half million deaths a year are the direct result of smoking cigarettes.
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Any time we get a chance to use a natural remedy sold over the counter in place of a prescribed pharmaceutical, and the former is as effective or nearly as effective as the latter, figure on the former as the preferred choice. Such is the case with berberine, a plant alkaloid that in supplement form packs a punch in fighting a fistful of risky health conditions.
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Being overweight and having high blood-sugar levels often go together like peas and carrots—if only we could make that connection in our real lives. Think of it: if we could stick to a diet that made more use of peas and carrots (as well as other vegetables as well as fruits), chances are we would be at much less risk of being obese and having type 2 diabetes, assuming we aren't in that danger zone already.
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We all want to be healthy and stay that way, manage our weight properly and keep our bodies operating with tiptop efficiency. In order to do that, we must stay hydrated. That means drinking plenty of water every day. How many times have we heard it: we should be sipping through at least eight glasses of water daily, no matter how tedious it can seem at times.
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If you are diabetic or just want to stay ahead of the game you have probably asked some of the following questions: Can I reverse diabetes naturally? How do you get diabetes? How to reverse diabetes permanently? Is diabetes hereditary? Does race play a role in getting diabetes? These are some of the questions and the following are terms most of us and especially diabetics will hear over and over. Overweight, obese, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetic, type 2 diabetes and a few others are names for problems that have reached epidemic proportions in just a 30 year span. There’s hardly a person who isn’t affected by these conditions, either directly or indirectly. Yet as common as these conditions are, few people understand how closely they’re related to one another.
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Although there is no known cure for cancer, we can still take an active role in increasing the awareness of cancer, collectively taking a stand worldwide to reach out and do whatever we can to reduce the global burden of cancer. That is the premise of World Cancer Day, which is being recognized February 4, this Saturday. This year’s theme is “We can. I can.”
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AMPK and the role berberine plays in activating this all important enzyme. In order to understand Berberine, and why it is now vying for a position as one of the most powerful supplements in the world, it's important to understand adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, or AMPK.
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What causes dry eyes? How do I treat dry eyes? How do you get rid of dry eyes?
Questions about dry eyes have one thing in common – they all refer to conditions in which tears are being produced, or at least implied, and that is a good thing to anyone who has ever experienced dry eye, or, more formally, dry eye syndrome
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Having trouble sleeping at night? Looking for another source of energy for the big race? Allergies got you down? That nagging cough won't go away? On and on that list goes, and as you might have guessed, there is one substance out there that can tackle all those issues, and more, even if it takes its sweet time getting the work done.
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With Valentine’s Day just two weeks away, chocolate is on the minds of millions of Americans. They can’t wait until it is in their mouths, too, when they get to celebrate love and romance with their loved ones by the traditional exchange of Valentine’s candy, much of it chocolate. Hey, it can be good for your health as well, in strict moderation, of course. But, it is safe to say chocolate has health benefits.
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High blood pressure. It is one of the most commonly mentioned health issues in America, and for good reason: nearly a third of all Americans have high blood pressure and, according to healthline.com, another third have what's known as prehypertension. That's where blood pressure (BP) is higher than what's considered normal (a reading most often cited as 120/80) yet not quite high enough to be categorized as hypertension.
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We hear a lot about lymph nodes these days, and often the context in which they are mentioned means bad news. How many times have we heard the dreaded phrase "The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes"? That's usually another way of saying that the afflicted person doesn't have long to live, or at the very least is facing another brutal regimen, maybe even a last-ditch effort, of chemotherapy.
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Proper toothcare is a lifelong endeavor. It starts from the time that baby teeth start sprouting, which is typically around the age of six to 12 months. That's when the central incisors, top and bottom, come in and babies start being able to chew at least some of their food.
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So, it's late January – how are things going with that New Year's resolution; you know, the one about losing X number of pounds in 2017? Add these 19 various actions into your daily routine to help you bust those pounds and lose the weight you've been wanting to recently.
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Throughout history, many different cultures have recognized the potential use of garlic for prevention and treatment of different diseases. Recent studies support the effects of garlic and its extracts in a wide range of applications. These studies raised the possibility of revival of garlic therapeutic values in different diseases. Different compounds in garlic are thought to reduce the risk for cardiovascular diseases, have anti-tumor and anti-microbial effects, and show benefit on high blood glucose concentration. However, the exact mechanism of all ingredients and their long-term effects are not fully understood. Further studies are needed to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms of action of garlic as well as its efficacy and safety in treatment of various diseases.
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There is no such thing as a "magic bullet," a one-size-fits-all, for prescription medications, over-the-counter vitamins or dietary supplements, right? Not so fast.
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Vitamin K has been referred to as "the forgotten vitamin" because its major benefits tend to get ignored or not even acknowledged because other vitamins with "bigger names," such as Vitamins C and D, hog all the headlines and have gotten more press over the years. But if we take a closer look at all that Vitamin K – which has several forms – does for our body, it would be remiss to overlook it any further.
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Every year about 13,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. The good news is that over the last 30 years, the number of women dying from cervical cancer has dropped by more than 50 percent, and that's according to the American Cancer Society. Chalk that up to the increased use of screening tests, which are designed to find changes in the cervix before cancer develops, or at least early enough, when it's small and easier to cure.
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It is small and shaped like a butterfly, but there's nothing trivial or flighty about the thyroid gland when it comes to our bodies. It has been called the body's engine, and from its location at the bottom front of our neck just below the Adam's apple, it plays a key role in producing a hormone that affects the function of numerous organs in our bodies, including the brain, heart, liver, kidneys and skin.
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Cold weather of the sub-freezing variety can be ideal for snowmen, snow angels and ice sculptures, as well as skiers, skaters and snowboarders, but for traditional fitness workouts and training purposes? Well, why not?
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There are about four million people in America (and 60 million worldwide, per glaucoma.org) who have glaucoma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and about half of those that have it don't even know it. That could be you, which is why it's important to have your eyes thoroughly examined regularly by a properly certified healthcare professional, otherwise known as an eye doctor.
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A good night's sleep. It is something we all cherish, and yet it is something that proves elusive for millions of Americans. A consistent loss of sleep can hinder our productivity in the workplace, to say nothing of hindering our quality of life between the time we get up in the morning and when we go to bed at night (presumably at night).
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Radon gas is the classic example of something that you can neither see, taste, or smell, and yet it can kill you. It is estimated that one in about 15 homes in America has a potentially dangerous level of the radioactive gas, which emanates from the ground beneath a house. That proverbial monster hiding under the bed? Now you get the picture.
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Maintaining good working order of our bodies is about more than getting good cardio workouts, lifting weights to tone and build our muscles, caring for our skin and eating the right foods to properly feed our body's major organs. Let’s not forget that our joints also need our constant love and attention.
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Any sports-minded person who has grown up or otherwise lived a long time in a climate known for its abundance of snow and ice knows all about bundling up against the winter chill for months at a time as well as the rigors of shoveling an overnight dumping of snow on sidewalks and driveways. Yet such a life can provide a "winter wonderland" as well, where skiing, snowboarding, skating, ice hockey, sledding, tobogganing, snowmobiling, etc. can provide hours of sheer delight.
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As we start a new year, let’s take inventory of some common health-related questions that often pop up over the course of 12 months. Here is our first edition of “Three Solutions to Three Common Health Questions.”
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Quick! A show of hands for everyone who knows what folic acid is and what role(s) it plays in our health. Anyone?
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It's been going on since long before Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon set sail in the 16th century for what is now known as Florida. Legend has it, and a few historians still cling to the belief, that Ponce de Leon was determined to find the proverbial fountain of youth.
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Rarely does a week go by that we don’t see or hear something about which vitamin or vitamins is most important to our health or overall well-being. It’s easy to get lost in alphabet soup when it comes to touts of Vitamin A or Vitamin D, or if we need more of Vitamin E for the good of our heart or Vitamin C for the good of our fighting a cold. And what are we to make of this Vitamin K which has emerged as a trending vitamin?
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It’s like a leaky faucet—that runny nose that won’t stop, causing you to burn through boxes of tissues or rolls of soft, two-ply toilet paper especially handy when you are, well, on the run.
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Maintaining an active lifestyle and keeping track of where we stand healthwise involves a whole lot of numbers crunching. Talk to any primary-care physician about getting an annual physical, and often the conversation turns to "knowing your numbers."
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"Get out and get some sun" has long been a popular suggestion aimed at those we care about. Perhaps they have been cooped up inside the house too long or are letting their ornery side show through a bit too much.
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Even with 2017 and a New Year fast approaching, you still have time to finalize your list of New Year's Resolutions. Even if it’s a short list—one resolution is a great start!—picking resolutions can be a trying process long on vagueness and short on commitment.
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There's nothing like the discomfort and occasional embarrassment of gas and bloating to spoil the holidays, or any time of the year for that matter. At such times, most everyone loses: the sufferer might feel pain in the abdominal area in addition to general discomfort, and those in proximity stand a chance of suddenly being subject to scents of the distasteful variety.
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When choosing what you are going to eat every day, and how and when you are going to eat it, think of your digestive system as a sort of assembly line. You want to be sure that your eating choices and habits will keep that assembly line humming right along, and that what comes out the other end—yes, we are talking about bowel movements—is what you want to have coming out. If there are any glitches or hang-ups along the way, that's when things can get dicey for you, and uncomfortable.
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As if pain and discomfort that comes to us from "outside" sources, such as a fall on the pavement or back pain caused by heavy lifting, isn’t enough, there are times we must deal with the aches and pains of muscle tension, which can be the most troublesome of all. That’s because most muscle tension is self-induced—the physiological result of lingering stress we feel in the form of worry, anxiety, or fear.
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The ginkgo tree is truly a marvel of nature. It epitomizes brains and brawn. The brains part comes from the gingko leaf's many purported medical properties, one of which—in capsule, tablet or liquid extract form—is believed to help with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and memory loss, especially in older people, according to webmd.com.
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No pain, no gain? Not so fast. Pain felt during exercise could be your body telling you to gear it down. If you try to push through sharp pains emanating from your joints or muscles, you might be risking injury. All exercise-related pain is not bad. There is good pain and there is bad pain, and if you can't figure out which is which, you should consider consulting with a fitness expert or your personal physician.
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Proteins are good, that much we know without much instruction needed. It's even a word that rolls nicely off the tongue—"PRO-teen." It has such a great sound of positivity to it. As it should.
We hear about protein and see it mentioned a lot in advertising across all media, and many of us, especially those of us who work out a lot (pumping iron, anyone?), associate it with those delightful-looking shakes we see hard-bodied guys and gals pouring down the hatch. The stuff practically sells itself. As it should.
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At first for the unwitting among us, it sounded like a fad cooked up to con masses of people into spending billions of dollars on a whole new category of food—gluten-free food that would be healthier and safer than anything else on the market. Healthier, that is, for anyone with celiac disease, whatever the heck that is, right? Well, yeah, except this has turned out to be no fad, and it addresses a disease with symptoms triggered when eating food with gluten in it.
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