5 Tips to Slim Down for Summer

With this past year’s mild winter, experts predict it’s going to be a long, hot summer. All that heat means more exposed skin. And, for many, that means ramping up exercise routines and cutting back on calories to slim down. Have fun with exercise. Luckily, longer hours of daylight in the spring and summer seasons allow [...]

Your Gut, Your Health

New research has uncovered a link between intestinal health and other health conditions, including diabetes, autoimmune diseases, allergies, digestive and bowel disorders. The gut is one of the body’s top defenses against pathogens when there is a proper balance of bacteria and protective cells. However, when this balance is disrupted, the body becomes vulnerable to inflammation – which can lead to poor health in other systems of the body.

Berries for Brain Health

Research has suggested for years that strawberries, blueberries and blackberries may help restore cognitive functioning and prevent age-related memory loss, which has been accelerating in recent years due to factors such as poor diet, pollution, and lifestyle habits.

Immaturity and ADHD Diagnosis

ADHD is the most common neurobehavioral condition diagnosed to our children. According to the CDC, 9.5% of children age 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD since 2007 – that’s 5.4 million children! On average, there is a 3% increase in children diagnosed each year. That is an alarming number, and what is leading to this drastic increase? A recent study published in the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) found that the youngest children in the classroom are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.

Bloating and Water Retention

When women reach a certain age, they begin to go through menopause. This is when the body has reached the end of fertility. For the majority, menopause begins around age 50, but for some, it may start earlier.

Menopause begins with a reduction in the production of hormones estrogen and progesterone. This reduction causes many symptoms including: hot flashes, flushes and/or cold flashes, night sweats, mood swings, thinning hair, irregular periods, and vaginal dryness.

Trying to Lose Weight? Watch Out for Aspartame

Many dieters often turn to sugar substitutes when trying to lose weight, often switching to sugar-free diet sodas and chewing gum to avoid snacking and eating more calorie-laden foods. However, aspartame is found in many of these products, and can cause many undesirable side effects, and is involved in 75% of reported complaints received by the Adverse Reaction Monitoring System (ARMS) of the US Food and Drug Administration.

The Facts on Hypertension

Blood pressure is defined as the pressure exerted by blood circulating on the walls of the blood vessels, and it is one of the common vital signs. Our hearts pump blood through our arteries and throughout our body. It is when people develop high blood pressure (hypertension) that problems can arise.

A normal blood pressure range is considered less than 120/80. People at risk for hypertension are considered to have pre-hypertension, which is blood pressure ranging 120-139/80-89. Anything higher is considered hypertension. Stage 1 high blood pressure ranges from 140-159/90-99 and Stage 2 high blood pressure is anything 160 and above/100 and above.

The Facts About Anxiety

Anxiety has been around since the beginning of human civilization. However, it was not until recently that so much focus has been put on it. Anxiety is generally characterized by an overwhelming feeling of fear, nervousness and worry. For some anxiety comes and goes; for others it can be a debilitating condition affecting almost every aspect of life. Anxiety before taking a test or a big interview is normal; everyone experiences this kind of worry. It is when the anxiety won’t leave even when you’re at home when it becomes a problem. Anxiety can manifest itself in many different forms.

Beware: It’s Not Too Late to Catch the Flu

According to the CDC, flu season is officially under way, marked by three consecutive weeks in a row that at least 10% of patients tested positive for the flu at the doctor, with flu virus reports from all 50 states.

Scientists Say Ginkgo May Improve Memory Functions

New research shows that the herb, ginkgo biloba, may improve human performance on tasks requiring short-term memory.1 These findings are detailed in a study from Australian and British scientists. The study participants were given a ginkgo extract for fourteen days and showed improvements in memory-related functions, according to the results. These functions included working memory [...]