Is Depression A Challenge You Face?

Is Depression A Challenge You Face?

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A mental health crisis is underway in the U.S. Depression is among the most common mental health issue with 21 million adults experiencing one or more major depressive episodes. A growing number of children and teens are also experiencing depression. Is depression a challenge you face?

Antidepressant medications remain a first-line treatment for depression, even though 2/3 of depressed patients don’t respond well to them. Many doctors are not recognizing the role that the gut plays in mood. Both the foods you eat and the balance of bacteria that reside in your gut affect your mood.

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How to Stay Healthy While You're Traveling

How to Stay Healthy While You’re Traveling

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Traveling is once again becoming a part of life, whether traveling for work or visiting family, or traveling for pleasure to explore new places. Traveling can take a toll on our bodies when eating out more often, sleeping in a different location, and being off our schedule. With some strategy, it’s easier than you think to take care of your physical and mental health while traveling. Here are some tips on how to stay healthy while you’re traveling. 

Walk Around 

The best way to explore a new place is to walk around. The next time you’re on a trip, ditch the public transportation and taxis and get your steps in instead. Walking is an excellent form of exercise, which helps keep your heart healthy and your joints moving comfortably. You’ll be surprised how many amazing sights, delicious restaurants, and fun spots you’ll discover that you would have never found otherwise.

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How to Maximize Your Vitamin D Benefits

How to Maximize Your Vitamin D Benefits

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Would you believe that a majority of American adults are considered deficient in vitamin D? Studies of pandemic cases have shown that those who experienced the strongest symptoms had low vitamin D levels. In light of the encouragement to boost our levels, I’d like to clarify how to maximize your vitamin D benefits.

How to Maximize Your Vitamin D Benefits

Vitamin D is considered by many to be both hormone and vitamin with a wide variety of benefits, including:

  • Aiding in Calcium absorption in bones
  • Supports the immune system
  • Promotes cardiovascular health
  • Supports health cell replication
  • Helps manage blood sugar levels

Have you had your Vitamin D levels measured recently? This serum lab test is key to knowing whether your body needs added support and can be requested from your doctor. Though reference ranges on most lab tests consider 30-100 ng/mL acceptable, the optimal level would be 40-60 ng/mL.

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10 Tips To Polish Your Crown

10 Tips To Polish Your Crown

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Do you wear a crown each day? Not even the royals wear their bejeweled crowns daily, yet many would say your hair is the crown you never take off. I would say that is true for women. When you look in the mirror, are you satisfied, or would you be interested in 10 tips to polish your crown?

#1 Avoid mechanical damage.

Mechanical damage is anything that physically roughs up or harms the hair shaft. This is the leading cause of hair damage and hair loss. Sources of mechanical damage could include poorly quality brushes, brushing hair when wet, and using hair ties with metal or sharp edges that can damage hair.

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How To Avoid Environmental Toxins

How To Avoid Environmental Toxins

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Spring is in the air, and I wonder whether you are enjoying the beauty outside as much as I am? I wonder, along with outdoor beauty, does spring conjure up thoughts of spring cleaning for you, or was that a different generation? Aside from an added focus on the nooks and crannies of your home, you might consider cleaning out some of the other hidden nasties and how to avoid environmental toxins.

I often share about the importance of eliminating toxins for your health, and I’m wondering if you know that their concentrations can be up to 5 times higher indoors than outside? And many of us spend up to 90 percent of our time indoors!

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5 Tips For Simplifying Your Eating Habits

5 Tips For Simplifying Your Eating Habits

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Have you noticed that new diets and eating plans are introduced regularly, touting results that we all are seeking? Each new fad presents itself as “the one” yet what really works is a sustainable change to eating foods that fuel our bodies with needed nutrients. It’s actually far simpler than we are making it. Here are 5 Tips For Simplifying Your Eating Habits.

Eat More Raw, Whole Foods

Eating food in its most natural state is a great way to cut some time and stress from your mealtimes. For example, grab a boiled egg on your way out the door instead of breakfast at the coffee shop. Add some fresh veggies as a side at lunch instead of packing chips. Toss everything in a bowl to create a big salad for dinner instead of a complicated recipe or take-out. Read more

Fitting Self-Care Into Your Busy Schedule

Fitting Self-Care Into Your Busy Schedule

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Have you thought that your schedule was too busy to allow for self-care? All aspects of self-care – physical, emotional, and social – contribute to your overall wellbeing. Having a self-care routine decreases stress, lessens anxiety, and increases your feelings of happiness. Let’s face it … how can you maintain that busy schedule if you don’t refill your cup? It’s so important! Here are a few practical ways for fitting self-care into your busy schedule:

Take Care of Your Body

Exercising and eating healthy is not just something we do to prevent illness — it’s an integral part of your self-care routine. Treat your body right by feeding it nutritious and delicious food, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep at night. Get outside for some fresh air every day, even for just a few minutes. Taking care of your physical body also improves your mental wellbeing — so it will be worthwhile for you to emphasize getting this onto your daily schedule.

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Don't Worry Be Happy

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

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Are you happy? Happiness is a state of well-being and contentment. It not only affects your mood but also your health. The old song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” warned about double trouble when worrying, so how do you choose happy?

The most important beginning step is to admit the fact that you really need changes in your life and behavior. You are the only one who can change your mood and your life.

Feed Your Brain

While many recognize the connection between lack of nutrition, sleep and hydration, and physical illness, most do not link mood changes to these deficiencies. Our mood is a result of biochemical processes which require the right resources.

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Have a heart for your heart

Have A Heart For Your Heart

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If February had a symbol, it would be a red heart. While it is beneficial to raise awareness of heart health, I believe it’s an area of health that should be consistently reviewed. Heart disease is the #1 killer in the US. Do you have a heart for your heart?

Have A Heart For Your Heart

As a Functional Medicine practitioner, I look at root causes. The standard American diet and a sedentary lifestyle are key players in heart disease because they lead to the physiological issues that put us at risk. Knowing about these and making choices to correct them will put you on a better path.

Chronic Inflammation – this plays a role in almost every chronic disease people have today. Inflammation is caused by excessive oxidative stress on our cells (think rust) which hinders the function of our mitochondria (energy factories). The heart has one of the highest concentrations of mitochondria of our organs, so it suffers the effects of inflammation more quickly.

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Natural Remedies For A Sore Throat

Natural Remedies For A Sore Throat

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We all know the feeling of waking up to a sore throat. No fun. Luckily, the ingredients you need to help you feel better might already be in your kitchen. Here are a few easy ways I have found to relieve some of the swelling and pain with natural remedies for a sore throat.

A Spoon of Honey

Honey is naturally antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, making it the perfect remedy for a sore throat. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that it tastes delicious. Any raw honey works, but certain types – such as manuka honey — contain a higher percentage of antimicrobial properties. Swallow a teaspoon of honey or mix it in some warm water and drink. 

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