Education
The more health-conscious you are, the more challenging it can be around the holidays. If you’re someone who’s used to having a strict routine, then the end of December can be physically and even emotionally stressful. One of the biggest obstacles to overcome is the challenge of eating healthy while traveling. However, if that describes you, then you are in luck. There are many practical, simple steps you can take to maintain (or at least mostly maintain) your diet while heading into the Christmas season.
The end of last week, January 12th, marked a very important, yet under-reported moment in our calendar year. That was the day, statistically, when most people gave up on their New Year's Resolutions. According to Strava, a social media network for athletes, a survey of 31.5 million participants revealed that Saturday was the day most Americans bailed on many of their health and fitness goals.
We’re all keenly aware of the physical changes in our bodies as time passes. It’s obvious from the outside that we’re always in the process of growing and aging. What’s not so apparent, though, is that our brain is doing the exact same thing! You may not realize it, but your brain is constantly in a state of flux, and it goes through distinct phases as you get older. Here is a look at how your brain evolves through the various stages of life.
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.
If you’ve ever fallen in love, you know full well how powerful its effects can be (for better or worse!) As it turns out, science has revealed that there’s a good reason why love is such a big deal. The effects it can have on us, especially our brains, are like no other. It creates not only euphoria, joy, and fulfillment, but it can also create chemical dependency in our minds. Some researchers even compare the effects of love to hard drugs in terms of its addictive quality.
If you’re still not convinced of the power of love, continue reading to learn about the surprising effects of love on the brain.
You hear the word 'neurotransmitter' thrown around all the time in the health industry, but it's not always clear what they are or why they matter. Today we want to take a deeper look at how neurotransmitters function--what they do for you, and why you need them for your body to perform optimally. Scroll down to read more about neurotransmitters and how they could be affecting the way you think and feel.
If you’re like most Americans, you’ve got a lot going on. Statistics show that our schedules are fuller than ever and that we’re struggling to find balance with our time. According to ABC News, 20% of Americans work at least 49 hours a week. A little less than half of that work 59 or more.
Beyond work, US citizens also report high levels of stress with family life. A Gallup poll reveals that 55% of parents with young children feel there isn’t enough time in the day.
Once used in ancient India, now embraced by natural health experts, ashwagandha is an herb long-known for its medicinal properties. For more than 3,000 years, ashwagandha has been used in a form of natural healing called Ayurveda. You may have heard that word thrown around in recent years, but if you're not familiar, Ayurveda is a type of alternative medicine practiced in both ancient and modern-day India. For millennia, practitioners have believed that ashwagandha benefits the body by enhancing immunity, longevity, and stamina.
The brain is an energy demanding organ that is fueled by glucose. Have you ever wondered how brain function is impacted by excessive sugars from the standard American diet?
Excessive sugar can impair our cognitive function, mood and even our self-control. Sugar can also have an addition-like effect on the brain, impacting our ability to control what and how much we eat. This can result in unhealthy weight gain and loss of energy. Keep reading for more information on the impacts of excess sugar plus 7 helpful tips to detox and cleanse your system.
At some point you’ve likely heard the term ‘cognitive function,’ but you might have wondered, ‘what does it really mean?’ A good starting point is understanding the word cognition.
Cognition comes from the Latin word cognoscere, which means ‘to get to know.’ Cognition refers to your ability to perceive, react, make decisions, and respond appropriately. Key to your everyday function, cognition helps you distill information down to what is important and meaningful.
Your memory is a fascinating thing. But how does it work? Even now, the human brain remains largely mysterious to the scientific community. But what we do understand is that our memory isn’t just one function. There are many types of memory, and to understand how it fits together, we have to look at each individual part. Scroll down to learn about your memory: how it moves through different phases and how it changes as you age. Also, in this article, you can discover answers to common questions about your memory function.
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.
