Education
You’ve probably heard serotonin talked about in the news or in commercials, especially when it comes to mood and pharmaceuticals. But what is serotonin? To put it simply, serotonin is a chemical produced inside your body. It’s classified as a neurotransmitter, which means it sends signals back and forth between different nerve cells.
As a rule, we as Americans greatly undervalue sleep. According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, “Sleep is the most under-appreciated health crisis in America.” Dr. Oz helped gather information from a whopping 20,000 Americans to survey the current state of Americans’ sleep health. His findings suggest that sleep is vastly neglected by a number of US citizens: 79% of Americans get less than the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
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.
Have you ever wondered where the world’s healthiest people live? Have you ever thought that maybe somewhere people are living longer and healthier than the rest of us? If so, you’re not alone. Certain regions—called ‘Blue Zones’—have caught the attention of many researchers over the past century.
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.
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that your body needs for many vital processes, including building and maintaining your brain function, immune system and bone structure. Over 85% of people have insufficient vitamin D levels, which is particularly concerning given the pandemic and lack of sunshine in the winter months. Here are 3 effective ways to increase your vitamin D levels.
If you’ve ever wondered if there’s anything you can do to boost your memory, then you’re in luck! There are many practical steps you can take to improve your ability to remember. Many of them are lifestyle elements: the foods you eat, how active you are, etc. However, there are also simple tricks and tactics you can employ to optimize your cognitive function. Scroll down to discover the ways you can help keep your memory sharp and well-maintained over the long term.
Treatment for a concussion depends on the severity of your symptoms. You might need surgery or other medical procedures if you have bleeding in the brain, swelling of the brain or serious injury to the brain. However, most concussions don’t require surgery or any major medical treatment. If the concussion is causing headaches, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
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.
We’ve all been there. The deadline is looming and you know it’s finally time to sit down and complete the task or project you have been putting off. Instead, it dawns on you that you haven’t watered the plants this week, you’re behind on laundry, and you haven’t checked your email today. The satisfaction of getting that project or task done just doesn’t have the same immediate reward of spending time in nature or catching up on the news.
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.