Maca Powder: The Perfect Food for Hormone Imbalance, Anxiety, Energy, Sleep, and Libido

Maca powder is a natural powder that has been used for hundreds of years. As a matter of fact, this special powder was used by the famous Incas in order to boost their energy and strength.

According to some stories, Incan fighters used maca powder before battles. With its help, they were able to enhance their strength, fighting abilities, endurance and stamina. Some Incas used it for their libido.

Maca powder was respected by all Incas which is the reason why maca powder was used as a type of payment for a long time. Today, this powder is very popular among professional athletes because it is packed with different nutrients.

What Exactly is Maca Powder?
Maca powder is a product obtained from a root vegetable native to Peru. This powder is loaded with a myriad of nutrients including minerals, vitamins, enzymes and amino acids. Many people in Peru call it the Andean aphrodisiac.

Maca plant’s root is definitely the most valuable element of this plant because it is used for the production of maca powder.

Maca powder is packed with:

• Vitamin E, C, B2 and B1.
• Minerals and useful elements like potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, silica, magnesium, tin, zinc, boron, iodine, sulfur and bismuth.
• Maca powder also contains alkaloids, sterols and fatty acids. Health.

The Health Benefits of Maca Powder

• First of all, maca powder boosts fertility. Scientific studies which included lab rats have shown that after regular consumption of maca powder, female subjects improved egg development and male subjects experienced better sperm count. For many years and even today, farmers in Peru give maca podwer to farm animals in order to boost strength and fertility. Health.
• Maca powder increases energy. The ability of maca powder to increase energy comes from two elements that this powder contains – macaenes and macamides. Maca powder support the battle against fatigue with the help of its iron, manganese and phosphorus content.
• This powder bring balance and harmony among hormones found in the body by supporting the work of the endocrine system. Maca powder supports the production of hormones in a natural way. Hormonal balance is crucial because it affects the outcome of every process that takes place in our body. Maca powder brings almost all the nutrients that our body needs in order to create new hormones. That’s why maca powder soothes PMS symptoms. Health.
• Maca powder makes the body stronger and boosts stamina because it comes with adaptogenic properties and supports adequate response to any type of stress. The reason for its efficiency is simple – it contains specific alkaloids and huge quantities of vitamins and minerals.
• Finally, maca powder is able to boost libido in women and men.

source

Read More »

8 Warning Signs of Chronic Anxiety Most People Ignore

One of the common anxiety disorders is chronic anxiety, which includes constant nervousness, worry, and tension, and it goes far beyond being nervous before a date or worrying about a work project. Chronic anxiety is an excessive, persistent, and intense problem which not only can disrupt your everyday life, but your health too.

Anxiety causes feelings of dread and of being overwhelmed, constant worry, and inability to relax. Anxiety can show physical symptoms, so it can affect your physical health as much as your mental health. Health. Although emotional and behavioral symptoms of chronic anxiety are well-known, the following eight physical symptoms can indicate an anxiety disorder.

1. Muscle Pain
Muscle pain is one of the most usual physical symptoms related to anxiety. Besides causing pain in the muscles, stress can cause inflammation too.

2. Headaches
Another common physical symptom of chronic anxiety are headaches. The frequent headaches appear because of the tension in the muscles caused by stress, and they can be further worsened by intake of excess caffeine. Health.

3. Fatigue
The stress from chronic anxiety can cause weakening of the adrenal glands which are extremely important in keeping the balance and overall health in the body. One result from the weakened adrenal glands can be fatigue.

4. Digestive Problems
Poor digestion and irritable bowel syndrome are related to chronic anxiety. If the brain doesn’t function normally, the digestive system will suffer too. Gastrointestinal tract produces the brain’s calming neurotransmitter, serotonin, whose production can be lowered as a result of poor digestion caused by anxiety. Health.

5. Sugar Cravings
Since sugar causes sense of pleasure before causing harm in the body, people with anxiety might crave for this white drug when experiencing distress. This is not surprising as they want to feel a pleasurable feeling when upset or stressed.

6. Trouble Sleeping
People who suffer from chronic anxiety can have real difficulties when trying to fall asleep or just relax. The reason is because their brain is rapidly firing, and just because it’s time for bed doesn’t mean it will slow down.

7. Mood Swings
The patience is significantly lowered if the brain is laden with negative or worrisome thoughts. People who suffer from chronic anxiety might snap at or lash out at someone seeking for attention. Health.

8. Lack of Focus
Since the brain of those suffering from chronic anxiety is loaded with millions of other things, they might have difficulties in concentrating or focusing. They may try to work something, but their mind will be in some other place.

Although anxiety disorders can’t be quickly fixed, their symptoms might be kept at bay with a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Health. Those who suffer from anxiety should consult a doctor, and try to implement the following life changes:

• Limit caffeine
• Get enough sleep
• Consume a healthy, balanced diet
• Avoid nicotine and alcohol
• Exercise regularly
• Practice deep breathing
• Try meditation
• Identify unhealthy relationships
• Establish a reasonable schedule
• Know who to avoid when you’re feeling anxious
• When you start to feel overwhelmed, try to talk it out

source

Read More »

How to Hack Your Anxiety and Muscles Drinking THIS Instead of Alcohol

Chamomile tea has been long known to help in the process of falling asleep. Its taste is warm and floral, and its mild soothing effects help us fall asleep quicker than normal.

On the other hand, you have chamomile on steroids called kava. It is a little root with a muddy taste, coming from the Pacific Islands. Here, it has all sorts of uses, from ceremonial drink to pain reliever. Kava is a powerful anxiety reliever, and it presents a non-alcoholic way to calm at the end of the day, particularly if you have problem falling asleep or you’re working late.

The psychoactive parts of this plant called kavalactones are responsible for these features. Just several drops of kava extract, or a cup of kava tea will put you in a rare state of calmed focus. You can use them in the following ways:

Calm and Alert
Kava can help in cases of anxiety, without dulling the mental edge. 645 participants and eleven double-blind, placebo-controlled studies were analyzed for the purpose of Cochrane Review of kava. The results showed that kava drastically reduced anxiety with mild or no side effects at all.

Kava extract has been found to be similar to benzodiazepines and antidepressants (for example Valium and Xanax) for improving general and social anxiety disorders, without their side effects after been taken every day during a 24 week-period.

The best thing about this plant is that it doesn’t affect the mental clarity. It will relax you similarly as a glass of wine, with the difference that it will leave you with perfectly sharp mind. Even long-term and heavy users of kava haven’t shown reduction in their cognitive function.

Sleep Better
As we already mentioned, this plant will help you sleep better. According to non-human studies, kava affects the two main neurotransmitters for helping you unwind, serotonin and GABA. Kava will help you fall asleep easier by reducing your stress and relaxing your muscles.

It does give a pleasant and mild euphoria, but not enough to become addictive. Kava tea is great for sleep, and it’s available in most grocery stores. It has better taste than the kava root, and you can steep 2-3 tea bags at once since it’s not very strong.

A Kava Rub to Beat Sore Muscles and Pain
The two natural pain relievers in this plant, dihydromethysticin and dihydrokavain, will make your mouth feel numb when you drink it. These two compounds relieve muscle spasms and pain, making it an excellent muscle rub. To prepare a kava rub, you need a carrier oil that suits your skin, like a XCT Oil, and a kava paste which is available to buy. Rub it on your aching back, sore muscles, etc. and the psychoactive parts of this plant will help.

Drink Kava instead of Alcohol
Kava is a great alternative to alcohol because of the combination of mental clarity and social relaxation it provides. Actually, social staple of many Pacific Islands are the kava bars which now start to pup up in America too. You will be socially loosen up without the side effects of alcohol. So, you can rave at night and wake up the next morning feeling good and fresh. However, don’t combine alcohol and kava since they have proven to boost each other in rodents.

Drawbacks to Kava?
Kava has two possible downsides. Its effect on the liver is hotly debated topic. A 2011 research have shown that although rare, the plant can cause liver toxicity in heavy, long-time users. Several countries in Europe made it to be a controlled substance, as the CDC and FDA cited case studies, warning the public of liver disease when taking kava.

In the last five years, there were few studies which questioned the notion of liver toxicity caused by kava.

As one review shows, kava users who got liver toxicity were simultaneously taking other medications and drugs rough on the liver.
The government of New Zealand made a decision that the plant is safe in both, long- and short-term use.
Researchers discovered that kava allergy, which caused liver toxicity, affects roughly 1 in 100 million people. Therefore, the government of Germany reversed its ban on kava.
It turns out that kava is fine for the majority.

How to Take Kava
The other problem with kava is its grainy-mud taste. The taste is fairly disguised in pre-made kava teas, but these teas are not usually strong. Kava extract is the right option if you want the powers of kava. The strong and easy to take kava extract is used by most researchers. However, the extract might not contain the full kavalactones range that is available in the whole kava root or paste.

Kava paste and kava root have disgusting consistency and taste, but a lot of kavalactones. You can either make your own tea from them (soaking in hot water and straining), or chew and swallow them. However, the problem here is the same with that of coffee and many other tropical fruits-the risk of mycotoxin contamination.

A good way to start with kava is the tea prepared by this plant. If you want a stronger alternative to kava tea with minimal toxin risk, take kava extract. To accelerate the absorption of the kavalactones, combine it with Brain Octane Oil. Discover what suits your body and feel free to share your results in the comments.

P.S. Strange but True
The first use of kava in Europe was documented in 1770s by James Cook, a British explorer. He called kava an “intoxicating pepper.” Botanists agree that the kava preparation is important for its effects.

The phytochemist for the New York Botanical Garden, Erica Kipp, explains that there are two ways to process kava: chewing the rhizome fragments and root, steep the masticated roots in coconut milk or cold water, and then filter the resulting fluid. The foamy beverage is ready after several hours of the filtration. The second way is to macerate the rhizome pieces and root in coconut milk or cold water and then filter the liquid before consuming it.

The salivary enzymes in the chewing method are probably enhancing the rootstock, which provides narcotic effect unequaled in the second preparation. Masticated kava in small amounts can cause increased friendliness and a state of euphoria, with the mind clarity perfectly preserved. Macerated preparation of kava is given in the treatment of pain, migraines, headaches, stress, and anxiety.

source

Read More »

The Latest Research Confirms Probiotics Reduce Depression And Anxiety

Forget antidepressants, take probiotics and discover a new, brighter side of life.

In addition to protecting the digestion and boost the immune system, probiotics, according to recent studies, also effectively help the body to fight depression, anxiety and fear.

This is shown by the research carried out by scientists at the University of Toronto on forty patients with chronic fatigue.

They were taking probiotics for two months and with better digestion, found that symptoms of anxiety, depression and other symptoms with which they had struggled unsuccessfully for years reduced.

The second group, who received placebo, showed no change compared to their initial state.

Good bacteria improve your mood                                   

Venket Rao,head of the research, said the results surprised them, especially on how probiotics successfully operated on symptoms of neurological disorders.
“We are excited because we got really positive results. Probiotics have shown how powerful effect they have on neuropsychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety” -- said A. Venket Rao.

Researchers additionally enjoyed these results, because they represent a healthier and safer alternative to conventional antidepressants and other drugs.

“Probiotics may be a safe and inexpensive solution for a number of neurological disorders, and have no harmful nor dangerous side effects” -- said A.V. Rao.

Dr. Alison C. Bested also participated in the study, and she explained that probiotics act as a natural trigger on digestion, and suppress harmful bacteria and toxins from the body.

Bifid bacteriaraise the L-tryptophan -- essential amino acid that the body converts into serotonin, also known as the “hormone of happiness”, says Dr. Bested,

“These are very important results. Probiotics improve the digestion of the patients, reduce the feeling of bloating and gas, but also showed other actions that surprised us “- said Dr. Bested.

Good bacteria, imported through probiotics, managed to reduce patients’ tension, sense of fear and reluctance.

When taking the probiotics, all patients felt better and more satisfied and none has complained, for example, about irregular heartbeat (accompanied by a sense of anxiety), and many have slept better and coped with the disease well.

The secret of these results lies in the Lactobacillus casei and Bifidus bacteria,which produce compoundsin the body that reach the brain and help it in solving the problems associated with the behavior and feelings.

Therefore, researchers believe, instead of harmful and dangerous anti-depressants, “ordinary” probiotics may in the future play an important role not only in treatment but also in prevention of depression and many other diseases.

How to take them?

It is best that the probiotics enter through food (fermented products), but you can also buy them in the form of powder and capsules.

source: http://www.goodmorningcenter.com

Read More »

How To Use Lavender Oil For Anxiety Instead Of Taking Dangerous Anxiety Drugs

Modern society has made life more stressful than ever before, so we all feel a bit comprehensive at times. We constantly worry about our future, work, health, family, and so on.

Therefore, people often feel anxious and fail to lead a normal everyday life. In the case of severe anxiety, people worry about too many things without a rational reason, and it severely impedes their normal skills and activities in life.

All around the world, but especially in America, the anxiety disorder is the most common mental illness. Only in the U.S., about 6.8 million adults suffer from generalized anxiety disorder.

Also, women are more prone to this disorder than men. Anxiety most commonly appears in adolescence and its symptoms tend to intensify over time.

Sometimes, depression and anxiety may be caused by a neurochemical imbalance in the body, like a lack of serotonin or dopamine.

Here are the most common symptoms of anxiety in women:

-Unrealistic perception of problems
-Muscle tension, aches and body pains
-Tension
-Worrying about simple, everyday tasks
-Fatigue
-Stomach pains and nausea
-Inability to relax
-Difficulty concentrating
-Frequent urges to go to the bathroom
-Irritability and mood swings
-Difficulty swallowing
-Sweating
-Depression symptoms
-Restlessness and being “on edge” or easily startled
-lightheadedness or short of breath
-Frequent headaches
-Trembling or twitching
-Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

In most cases, anxiety is treated with benzodiazepines like Xanax, Valium, and Ativan.

Yet, these medications cause addictions, so when the patients become dependent on these chemicals, they develop additional psychological and physical distress, as well as withdrawal symptoms, is they quit their use.

In some cases, the treatment of chronic anxiety or panic attacks involves antidepressants, such as Lexapro, Paxil, Effexor, Prozac, and Zoloft, which often fail to deliver results, but cause severe adverse effects.

On the other hand, numerous leading researchers have suggested that lavender is an extremely effective herb in the natural treatment of anxiety. The journal Phytomedicine published a study which showed that lavender oil was shown is as effective as the pharmaceutical drug lorazepam (Ativan).

Additionally, this oil had no potential for dependence or drug abuse and has no sedative effects.

Many other studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of lavender oil in the case of anxiety, including:

-It treats depression symptoms
-It relieves restlessness, nervousness, and insomnia
-Aids in the case of dementia-related agitation
-It is extremely helpful in the case of painful and inflammatory conditions, as well as migraines and joint pain

How to use Lavender Oil to Calm Nervousness and other Anxiety symptoms

In order to prepare lavender tea, just add 1- 2 tablespoons of whole, dried flowers to a cup of boiling water, and steep for 10- 15 minutes, Then, just strain or use a tea infuser before consumption.

You can easily find lavender leaves and flowers in a liquid form. You should add 6 drops of lavender oil extract or 1/4 to 1/2 cup of dried lavender flowers to your bath water.

This oil can also be taken orally by adults, but it is difficult to find lavender oil capsules in the heath food stores. Yet, Lavela WS 1265 can be bought on a retail basis at online stores.

Make sure you consult your doctor before you start any new treatment, in order to determine the proper dosage. This capsules should not be taken by children.

Precautions

If combined with pharmaceutical medications like certain antidepressants, benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Valium), or narcotics like codeine, the oral use of lavender, as well as in the case of aromatherapy may lead to drowsiness.

However, if you take any prescription medications, it is best to consult your doctor before its use.

source: http://www.allabouthealthyfood.com

Read More »

Best Home Remedies for Anxiety and Panic Attacks

No one should be forced to live with anxiety. Anxiety is a devastating disorder, and even mild anxiety – the type that you can handle in your day to day life – has the potential to hold you back in ways you don’t even realize. That’s why curing anxiety is so important, and that’s why anyone living with anxiety deserves to find relief.Yet few people do, and that’s because the options for fighting anxiety aren’t that popular. Therapy is expensive, Medications can be dangerous and cause personality changes. There is no such thing as a rapid cure for anxiety, which is why many people turn to home remedies.

What Makes a Home Remedy?

Anything that you can complete in the comfort of your own home can be seen as a home remedy for anxiety. Herbal supplements, for example, are all home remedies. Some of these include:

-Kava
-Passionflower
-Valerian Root

Those three are believed to be very effective at reducing anxiety – more than any other type of supplement. For the purposes of this article, however, we’ll look at things that you can do in your own home that aren’t medicinal that can cut down on your overall anxiety.

Before we begin, remember that your symptoms are what create your anxiety. The best way to cure your anxiety is to see how your symptoms affect you.

Effective Home Remedies for Anxiety

The following are some ways that you can improve your ability to cope with anxiety from the comfort of your own home. Anxiety does require long term treatments, but with the following you may be able to drastically cut down on your overall anxiety symptoms:

-Relaxation Room
When something is making you stressed, like work, you may benefit from a relaxation room. A relaxation room is a place free of bright lights, technology, and distractions. It shouldn’t even have photos or clutter – it should just be a room that you can lock without anything to keep you awake or uncomfortable. Going into that room for 30 minutes every day can bring you some of the relief you need.

-Extra Hydration/Water Therapy
Dehydration is a serious problem in today’s society. Some researchers theorize that drinking extra water may help relieve some anxiety symptoms. Drinking extra water can be very helpful for controlling the way you experience anxiety, which in turn can improve how easy it is to cope.

-Exercise
Exercising is possible the number one potential home treatment for anxiety. People often think that exercising is important for physical health. But exercise is a crucial treatment of mental health, as it regulates hormones that can cause anxiety, burns away stress hormones, releases unused energy and more.

-Vitamin Additions
There are many vitamins that are also highly beneficial for anxiety. Magnesium is perhaps the most valuable, 25% of the country is magnesium deficient and that deficiency may cause anxiety and anxiety symptoms (magnesium is also used up during times of stress). Vitamin B12 and Vitamin B1 are also valuable. You can add these vitamins in food or in supplement form.

-Distraction Creation
Technology is usually a bad thing for anxiety. It excites the brain too much without providing any release of that excitement, and can increase your anxiety overall. But for those with panic disorder and other anxiety disorders, some degree of technology may be beneficial for creating a distraction for your senses. Turning on the TV to channels that make you laugh and keeping the lights on may help prevent you from being stuck “inside your own head” too much, and could provide you with some degree of relief from nagging thoughts.

-Journaling
Journaling is another tool that has some profound benefits that most people ignore. When you write out your thoughts and feelings in a journal, you release them from your mind in such a way that you’ll often find they no longer control your thoughts. That’s because your brain is more comfortable forgetting things when it knows it’s in a permanent place, like a journal, so that you’re less likely to have nagging thoughts you can’t shake.

-Bathing
Taking a hot bath really is a fairly incredible relaxation strategy. Warm water provides your entire body with a level of relaxation that can be incredibly beneficial for reducing some of the anxiety symptoms that can be so disruptive to your life. Like many other treatments, bathing isn’t going to be a one stop cure, but those that find that physical aches and pains from anxiety are causing them even more anxiety may also see a benefit to taking a warm bath for an hour or so every few days.

Most home remedies for anxiety are designed to relieve symptoms, because symptom relieve has the potential to cause overall anxiety relief. Anxiety is often a self-sustaining problem, because the more anxiety symptoms you experience, the more you fear your anxiety, which in turn causes even more anxiety symptoms.

These types of home remedies, however, are not long term treatment options. For that, you need to make sure that you’re making smart decisions that have long term anxiety reduction potential. Often the best home treatments for anxiety involve looking at your overall symptoms and the way you experience anxiety and finding a tailored approach to curing it.

source: http://www.calmclinic.com

Read More »

9 Signs That Adrenal Fatigue Is Behind Your Anxiety, Sleep Problems And Joint Pain

Adrenal fatigue is a term that is used to describe your adrenal glands when they are struggling to cope with both stress and an overly busy schedule. In this state of adrenal fatigue, you’ll likely be feeling pretty burned out, overworked and feeling dull all over.

While ‘adrenal fatigue’ isn’t a diagnosis you’re going to get from your doctor, experiencing these signals below should be considered as warning signals from your body, that something needs to change, and your routine has got to ‘give.’

If you surpass the 4 stages of adrenal fatigue you may enter an adrenal insufficiency, which is now something that your medical doctor can diagnose. Listen to your body and it’s many signals now, tackle stress and get out of the tired rut before it potentially turns into something more serious!

Many of us have taxed our adrenals; when stress doesn’t go away we are left with elevated cortisol levels, and other systems in the body become weakened – because your adrenals can only handle so much, just like you!

9 Signs Of Adrenal Fatigue

So how do you know if you’ve got adrenal fatigue? And what can you do about it? Here are 9 signs of adrenal fatigue & some tips for a more vibrant you.

1. You’re Feeling Overwhelmed By Life

So many of us put self-care at the bottom of our to-do list – until it is too late!  I agree that it can be so much easier to say ‘yes,’ than ‘no’ in many situations – but all work and no play can lead you right to a burnout! Being a go-getter and an over-achiever is ok. But the key to your success also resides in self-care practices (how can you

But the key to your success also resides in self-care practices (how can you BE your best if you don’t feel your best) You can SEE stress on people, and it does not look nice on anyone! Take a step back from some commitments that do not serve you, and add some self-care into your daily routine & remember that you need time for YOU.

Give yourself permission to take a step back, your body and adrenals will thank you. Bear in mind that if you’re feeling more of the signals listed below – what you are currently doing is NOT working for your body.

2. You Can’t Sleep

Ideally, we should all be getting 8-10 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. Your body needs this time to recover, reset and recharge for a new day. You should wake up every morning feeling refreshed & energized.

However, many of us are instead giving up sleep to continue with more work + we rush from one thing to the next – this throws off your balance and makes it harder for you to fall/stay asleep. It’s time to introduce a healthy new habit to improve your rhythm.

Try and be in bed by 10:30 pm, even if you can’t fall asleep quite yet – being in the dark helps your body to produce melatonin – aka your sleep hormone. If your mind is racing before bed – practice some guided meditation, such as the HeadSpace App or take a warm bath with added AlkaBath to help you relax .

3. You Feel Exhausted After Working Out

Exercise should make you feel more energized, and it shouldn’t make you exhausted and fatigued afterward. Physical Stress is a known stressor for the adrenal glands – and too much exercise can do the opposite of what you want – as it can have negative effects on your adrenals since adding stress to your body!

If you’re working out constantly, but are not reaching your goals, are struggling with belly fat and feel fatigued after working out, it would be best for you to take part in a more gentle form of exercise; like stretching, walking and yoga – which will make you feel better – not worse.

If weight loss is your goal and your reason for working out, you should know that 80% of your results will come from proper nutrition, not from a gym membership .

4. Your Hormones Are Feeling Wacky

In stage 2 of adrenal fatigue, the thyroid may be affected, which may create unfavorable symptoms of a hypothyroid (fatigue, weight gain, dry hair & skin, poor circulation). When your adrenals cannot keep up with stress levels, hormone precursor material will be redirected for use in cortisol production, which can lead to a hormone imbalance.

While under long-term periods of stress, your cycle may be off and PMS symptoms may increase. Experiencing symptoms associated with a hormone imbalance are not pleasant ones to experience. At this time – a nourishing diet, adequate sleep, adaptogenic herbs, increased water intake and the elimination of caffeine is of great importance and value .

5. You’re Feeling Overly Anxious or Depressed

When you’ve got too much going on, anxiety kicks in. The pressure of deadlines and a busy schedule can have you running on an adrenaline rush. Adrenal hormones are involved in cognitive function, mood, and mental states – in very complex ways.

Anxiety and depression can be directly related to stress, as when we are less ‘tolerant’ than we normally are, we are more easily frustrated! Again, this goes back to #1 – take more time for YOU. You do enough, you give ENOUGH, you are ENOUGH! Your health and well-being are more important than a clean kitchen and a work function that you don’t want to go to .

6. You’ve Got Cravings for Salt

You’re not you when you’re stressed. When adrenal fatigue begins to affect hormone balance, it is common to crave salty snacks. The reason: your body is looking for sodium and other minerals. When production of aldosterone (the salt-retaining hormone) is decreased, this can lead to low blood pressure, heart palpitations, cravings for salt and dizziness/lightheadedness upon standing.

It is important to ensure that you are getting enough minerals in your daily routine, you can do this by using a high quality Himalayan pink salt in your cooking, along with using seaweeds such as dulse, kelp, and nori, you can also add mineral drops to your filtered water .

7. You Feel Stiff & So

Your body reacts to stressful events, feeling stiff and sore can be a sign that your body isn’t getting a full recharge. You may feel the stress in your neck, back or jaw – a simple way to reduce feeling like this is to optimize your sleep habits and spend more time working on your stretching or yoga routine.

Warm baths with a blend such as AlkaBath is phenomenal for its anti-inflammatory effects – the natural magnesium soothes your muscles and the added crystal blend gently detoxes and balances your body.

8. You’re Relying on Caffeine to Get You Through the Afternoon

Hello coffee lovers, it’s time to find out the truth on why caffeine can be good for some, and not for others. What you need to remember is that coffee does not give you energy – you are borrowing that energy. Caffeine may benefit your brain by helping you get through the day with added stimulation – but it also further weakens your adrenal glands – as caffeine keeps your body in stress mode, and signals the production of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine.

My biggest concern for caffeine drinkers is when you are dependent on it to make it through the day (the “don’t talk to me before I’ve had my coffee” people). Mornings can be tough when you have adrenal fatigue, but regular caffeine drinkers will know that the initial surge of energy wears off and that innocent cup of coffee can leave you feeling even more tired and crabby than you did when you woke up.

During your Recharge, it is best to reach for herbal teas and coffee substitutes such as holy basil, dandelion root or mint to name a few .

9. Your Digestion is Off

When you’re under stress, your body is not focusing on optimally digesting and absorbing the nutrition in your big healthy salad. Your body is responding to STRESS. Functions like digestion and your metabolism are downregulated in adrenal fatigue mode, which increases the likelihood of you being bloated after eating – you may also experience weight gain, indigestion or constipation/diarrhea!

You may be eating super healthy, but if your body is under stress, you may not even be absorbing the full nutrition from meals. Some tips for improving digestion which should be practiced alongside a nourishing diet and Recharge supplementation are: drinking lemon water, taking the time to savor your meals, drinking enough water, getting enough minerals and taking a probiotic daily.

source: http://www.myhealthybook.com

Read More »

9 Signs That Adrenal Fatigue Is Behind Your Anxiety, Sleep Problems And Joint Pain

When the adrenal glands fight with stress and very busy schedule them you are facing adrenal fatigue where you feel dull all over, overworked, and burned out. This is not a diagnosis that you will get from a doctor, but if you feel these symptoms then you will need to make some changes in your lifestyle. If you suppress them then you might enter an adrenal insufficiency that your medical doctor can diagnose. The body will send you signs you must not ignore.

When the stress does not go away, then we get elevated cortisol levels and the rest of the systems weaken as the adrenal glands can only handle so much.

These are the signs of adrenal fatigue:

-You are feeling overwhelmed by life – most of us do not pay much attention to self-care, but all work and no play can lead to a burnout. The key to your success resides in self-care practices. Take a step back from some commitments that do no serve you, adding some self-care into your routine. Take a step back and relax. You need time for yourself.

-You cannot sleep – we have to get 8-10 hours of interrupted sleep for the body needs to recover, rest, and recharge for the following day. You should wake up in the morning energized and refreshed. There are people who give up sleep and continue working, rushing from one to another thing, throwing you off of balance, making it hard to fall or stay asleep. You need to improve your rhythm and introduce a new healthy habit. Try to be in bed by 10:30 PM, and even if you cannot fall asleep, being in the dark will help your body produce melatonin, the sleep hormone. Practice some guided meditation or take a warm bath with guided meditation to help you relax if your mind is racing before bed.

-You feel exhausted after working out – work out should make you feel energized and not make you exhausted. The physical stress is a stressor for the adrenal glands, thus too much of exercise can do the opposite way, negatively affecting them as they ass stress to your body. You should switch to walking, stretching, or yoga if you feel that working out does not help you achieve your goals and if you still struggle with belly fat. 80% of your results will come from a proper nutrition if you want to lose weight.

-Your hormones feel wacky – the thyroid gets affected in stage 2 of adrenal fatigue and this can create unfavorable symptoms pf hypothyroidism (poor circulation, dry skin and hair, weight gain, and fatigue). When the adrenals can’t keep the stress levels, the hormone precursor material is redirected in order to produce cortisol, and this causes hormonal imbalance. A long-term period of stress can cause your cycle be off and PMS symptoms increase. It is not pleasant to experience hormone imbalance, thus you have to eliminate caffeine, incorporate a nourishing diet, get adequate sleep, use adaptogenic herbs, and increase water intake.

-You feel depressed and overly anxious – anxiety kicks in when you have too much going on, including the deadlines and busy schedule. This can cause adrenaline rush, making changes in your mood. The adrenal hormones are involved in your mood, mental state, and cognitive function. Depression and anxiety are directly linked with stress. We became less tolerant than we normally are and are easily frustrated. Thus, you have to take some time for you as your health and well-being are more important than a clean kitchen and a work function that you do not want to go to.

-You get salt cravings – once the adrenal fatigue starts affecting your hormonal balance then you will have salt cravings as the body looks for sodium and other minerals. With decreased aldosterone production (the hormone which retains salt) your blood pressure will lower, as well as dizziness/lightheadedness upon standing, salt cravings, and heart palpitations. Get enough minerals in your diet, use a high quality Himalayan pink salt in your cooking, use seaweeds like kelp, nori, and dulse, and add mineral drops into your filtered water.

-You feel stiff and sore – your body is reacting to stressful events, thus if you feel stiff then it may show that you are not getting a full recharge. You might be feeling the stress in your jaw, back, and neck. Thus, optimize your sleep habits and spend time on stretching yoga routine. You can take warm Alka baths to soothe your muscles and detox and balance your body.

-You rely on caffeine to get through the afternoon – coffee does not give you energy, but you are actually borrowing that energy. Even though caffeine helps your brain get through the day with added stimulation, it weakens your adrenal glands and keeps your body in stress mode, signaling the production of stress hormones such as epinephrine and cortisol. The mornings are very hard when you have adrenal fatigue, however, regular coffee drinkers will know that the initial surge of energy wears off and you will still feel tired and crabby than when you woke up. You should better reach for herbal teas and coffee substitutes during your recharge. Try holy basil, mint, or dandelion root.

-Your digestion is off – when you are stressed, your body cannot focus optimally on digestion and absorption of the nutrition and your body responds to stress. Your functions like digestion and metabolism are down-regulated in the adrenal fatigue mode, increasing the likelihood of being bloated after you eat. You can also experience weight gain or constipation/diarrhea. If your body is stressed and you still consume healthy food, you may not absorb full nutrition from the meals. You can drink lemon water, take time to savor your meals, drink enough water, get enough minerals, and take a probiotic daily.


source: healthyfoodstyle

Read More »

Panic Attacks and Anxiety Linked to Low Vitamin B and Iron Levels

On the off chance that you experience the ill effects of tension or get occasional panic attacks marked by episodes of hyperventilation, you could only be encountering the symptoms of a basic supplement inadequacy that is effortlessly correctable, as per Jonathan Benson of Natural News.

This unquestionably seems to have been the situation with 21 individuals who took an interest in a late study based out of Japan, which recognized an absence of both vitamin B6 and iron among members who experienced panic or hyperventilation episodes.

The generally small study assessed supplement levels among a gathering of members with fluctuating degrees of uneasiness and frequencies of panic and hyperventilation episodes, some of which brought about emergency room visits. A control gathering was additionally assessed, and its members’ supplement levels contrasted with those of the essential gathering.

Upon assessment, scientists noted that both vitamin B6 and iron were inadequate in the subjects with nervousness and hyperventilation issues, while those in the sound gathering had sufficient levels of these critical supplements. B vitamins and iron are especially essential for the amalgamation of tryptophan into serotonin, a neurotransmitter that manages not only disposition and mental soundness, but rest and cardiovascular capacity.

“These results suggest that low serum concentrations of vitamin B6 and iron are involved in PA (panic attacks) and HVA (hyperventilation),” said the creators in their research conclusion.  “Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms involved in such differences.”

You can read the full study, which was distributed in the Japanese journal Acta Medica Okayama, here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23603926

Supplementing with entire nourishment based vitamins may advance better mental wellbeing. Despite the fact that this specific study did not recognize a connection between general insufficiencies of other B vitamins like B2 and B12 and high recurrence or power of panic attacks, all B vitamins are essential for sound mind and real capacity. A lack in any B vitamins, as it were, can prompt mental wellbeing issues, which is the reason it is critical to hold your levels under wraps.

“Chronic stress, poor diet, and certain medical conditions can deplete the body’s stores of vital nutrients,” explains one source about the important of B vitamins. “

Many of those who suffer from agoraphobia (fear of crowded spaces or enclosed public places) are deficient in certain B complex vitamins, and this may be the case for other anxiety-related conditions as well. Symptoms of vitamin B deficiency may include anxiety, restlessness, fatigue, irritability, and emotional instability.”

In the event that you are looking to supplement with B vitamins, make sure to buy entire food-based varieties like those delivered by organizations like Megafood and Garden of Life. Entire nourishment based supplements of any sort are not just preferable consumed by the body over their synthetic counterparts,however they are likewise healthier than standard, common vitamins and better fit for giving ideal restorative advantage.

“Vitamins are made up of several different components – enzymes, co-enzymes, and co-factors – that must work together to produce their intended biologic effects,” explains Dr. Ben Kim. “The majority of vitamins that are sold in pharmacies, grocery stores, and vitamin shops are synthetic vitamins, which are only isolated portions of the vitamins that occur naturally in food.”


source: www.undergroundhealth.com

Read More »

This Lavender Lemonade Recipe Will Get Rid Of Anxiety And Headaches

Lavender oil is a remarkable essential oil that has a great amount of benefits on your health. It has a gentle and beautiful smell, and it’s powerful taste makes it the favorite household. It has a chemically complex structure with over 150 active constituents, which explains its effectiveness at helping with a lot of health ailments. Some of those properties are the amazing anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, analgesic, detoxifier, hypotensive, and sedative effects it has on out body.

One of the many ways to use lavender oil is to flavor your lemonade with it and get a tasty and healthy drink with multiple medicinal benefits.

This is how to prepare it:

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw honey
• 12 cups pure water
• 1 drop lavender essential oil
• 6 lemons, peeled and juiced
• Lavender sprigs for garnish

Directions

Mix all ingredients together and chill. Add more water or raw honey if needed.


source: livingtraditionally.com

Read More »