Education
With stores putting up decorations and all-too familiar Christmas songs on the radio, the holiday season has swiftly come upon us. But as magical as this time of year is, it can also bring with it a lot of stress. For students, finals are coming; for families, long road-trips and shopping lists loom on the horizon. With all that’s going on, it can be hard to maintain mental focus and get everything done that we need to do. Short of downing coffee and energy drinks, is there anything we can do to maintain our focus and mental energy?
With all of the holiday stress, many breathe a sigh of relief when they can return to their 'normal' routines. However, for an increasing number of people, the stress issue doesn’t end with the month of December.
According to the American Psychological Association, chronic stress is reaching the point of a public health crisis in the US. According to a recent study, the holiday season can be a time of unbelievable highs and also tremendous lows. The New York Post reported that many Americans feel that this time of year can be both wonderful and at the same time draining and full of stressors. Termed “Festive Stress,” 31% of US citizens refer to the season as ‘frantic,’ citing difficulty with gift shopping, family reunions, and the pressure to create ‘the perfect Christmas.’
If you're looking for a way to stay mentally sharp, consider this: swimming may be one of, if not the best exercise for your brain. You no doubt know of the physical benefits of swimming: increased endurance, cardiovascular health, and a toned physique. What you may not realize, however, is that science is discovering how swimming uniquely affects the brain. Some studies indicate that the brain responds differently to swimming than perhaps any other type of exercise. If you make swimming a part of your regular routine, you may enjoy better focus, mood, and a jolt of mental energy.
At some point, you've probably been asked this: "What would you eat if you could only have one thing on a desert island?" It's a silly game, but it poses an interesting question. Is there one food that's better than all the others? It's tough to say for sure, but we do know that eggs are one of the most complete foods on earth. Why are eggs good for you? Just one egg contains an enormous amount of vital nutrients and minerals that are key to your health. Not only that, eggs contain powerful fuel for your body and have a host of health benefits. Today we examine 6 reasons why eggs are the best. Scroll down to learn just some of the ways eggs can benefit you and your body.
If you're a seasoned veteran of the gym or just been working out a few months, you've likely started seeing some benefits from exercise that you didn't expect. We all know that working out helps us look good and feel good, but it's not until we actually start doing it that we realize just how many hidden benefits there are. Your body is like an ecosystem. When one part is affected, it can have a downstream effect on all of the others. This can be true in a bad way, but also in a good way. Although the connection may not be obvious, exercise can have an important impact on our sleep. Today we take a look at some of the benefits of exercise for our sleep as well as recommendations for how to incorporate the best workout routine for your rest.
It seems these days that we see the word 'antioxidant' everywhere, especially when it comes to food advertising. More and more brands are labelling their products 'antioxidant-rich,' as though that were universally understood. The funny thing is that unless we have a background in medicine or nutrition, we may only vaguely understand that antioxidants are a good thing. So the question remains: what's behind the antioxidant hype? As it turns out, antioxidants really are a big deal, and having enough of them can be critical for our health. The reason for this is because antioxidants protect us from a chemical process that is at the root of many health issues. On the flip side, getting enough antioxidants can help us stay looking good and feeling good. Today we take a close look at antioxidants--what they are, why they matter, and some practical ways that you can get enough of them in your diet.
Everyone knows that exercise makes us look good and feel good. In fact, Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition at Harvard once said, “The single thing that comes close to a magic bullet in terms of its strong and universal benefits, is exercise (source.)” That’s a pretty strong endorsement, and most would agree. But what a lot of us don’t realize is the massive effect that exercise can have on our brain.
When Americans were asked what type of resolutions they planned to make in 2021, physical health is the top priority. After a year that left people unable to get out much, many of the usual means of getting exercise, it’s no surprise that nearly 80% of people are targeting physical health-related goals in 2021, whether that means eating healthier, getting more exercise, or losing weight.
It is said that love is one of the greatest things in life. Now research is confirming what people have intuitively known for centuries. Many studies have shown that people who are in enriching, loving relationships tend to live longer, more fulfilling lives. Being in love and being loved in return not only is good for our health, but it feels amazing as well. This article will introduce the roles of hormones and neurotransmitters in your brain, especially those that have to do with love.
Each day, stress hormones run through our bodies influencing many of our imperative functions –– including metabolism, energy, blood sugar, sex drive and sleep. When our hormones are in balance, we feel generally strong, resilient, positive, and joyful. When our hormones are out of whack, we wake up in the middle of the night, eat an unhealthy diet (sugar, fried foods, etc…) or lash out at others.
Lack of libido is more common in women than men, but it significantly affects both sexes. In fact, research shows that 32 percent of women and 15 percent of men lack the desire to have sex regularly. Whether you’re on the lower or higher end of the age spectrum, a low libido can strike at any year of your life for a whole variety of reasons, including low testosterone, depressive episodes, stress, relationship issues, sexual dysfunction, prescription medications, being overweight, too little or too much exercise, drug or alcohol use. Naturally, many people wonder how to increase libido.
It has become quite clear that eating plant foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains is very beneficial to our health. That’s in part why Procera Health recommends the Mediterranean Diet. New research findings suggest that a type of compound found in certain plants called flavonoids can increase blood flow to the brain and improve our cognitive function. So what are flavonoids?
