How to Age Gracefully

| November 27, 2017

6 things that are causing you to age way too fast

Between declining hormone levels, stress and anxiety keeping you up at night, and bad habits like smoking and crash dieting, premature aging is not as uncommon as you would think—and it’s likely been sneaking up on you more and more with each passing year. Premature aging can be a scary topic to think about, and unfortunately, it has a way of getting the best of you before you realize what’s happening—but it doesn’t have to. With a few small lifestyle changes, you can hop back in the driver’s seat and retake control of both the internal and the external aging process. Maintaining a healthy, well-balanced diet and sustaining a positive mental attitude can work wonders on your health, both internally and externally, and also help prevent early signs of aging. It may be easier than you’d think to optimize your health and wellbeing and potentially turn back the hands of time with these six easy tips. Read more…

If You’re Living With Hypothyroidism, Make Your Diet a Priority

| November 16, 2017

Eating Right with Thyroid Disease

Between working full time, running errands, getting the kids to soccer practice on time, and everyday living, the easiest and most accessible option for filling hungry bellies may be to swing by the drive-thru and grab something on the value menu. But easy is not always the best choice, especially if you are one of the 27 million Americans living with thyroid diseases like hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism, a condition caused by an underactive thyroid, can be affected positively or negatively by the foods you eat on a daily basis. Gluten, sugar, processed foods, and caffeine can all have a negative impact on your thyroid while other foods can help support your thyroid. So while fast food may be the easy out, try to plan ahead and keep caffeine and other negative influencers at bay. Learning more about the effects food choices can have on your health can make a world of difference when it comes to managing your thyroid symptoms. Read more…

What to Do When Winter Blues Last All Year Long

| October 31, 2017

Overcoming HPA Axis Suppression (Formerly Known as Adrenal Fatigue)

During winter, it’s easy to blame feelings of fatigue, anxiety, and depression on the cold, dreary days. The constant gray skies make it hard to find the light at the end of the tunnel, and the cold days and nights seem to never end. But what about the rest of the year? If you have a hard time snapping out of your winter routine even in the sunshine and warmth of summer, there may be more to your fatigue and anxious and depressed feelings than meets the eye—especially if you’ve been under a lot of stress. In fact, you could be suffering from HPA axis suppression, a condition formerly referred to as adrenal fatigue. HPA axis suppression is easily misdiagnosed as its symptoms can range from fatigue and depression to trouble sleeping and a weakened immune system. If you find yourself suffering from a host of symptoms that just aren’t going away, it may be time to look into ways to support your HPA axis, a system responsible for your body’s stress response and energy levels. Read more…

Treatment for “Man Boobs”

| October 24, 2017

Gynecomastia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

It’s not just women who dread the need to shed layers in summer. Sunny days mean beach days, and beach days mean shirtless days for some men. And some men may not want to show what’s under their shirt. A surprisingly common reason why is gynecomastia, a condition in which breast tissue forms in men. More men suffer from gynecomastia than you might think—as many as 30 percent develop the condition at some point during their life. Cases can be different and range from puffed-out nipples to asymmetrical breasts to fully developed breasts. Many men suffer anxiety, depression, and a lack of confidence because of gynecomastia. But gynecomastia doesn’t mean that you can’t go shirtless at the gym or on the beach. It just means that it’s time to seek a treatment that will address the underlying cause of the problem. And bringing in an expert can help. Read more…

Women With Low Estrogen Have a Higher Risk of Osteoporosis

| September 27, 2017

BHRT May Provide Relief from Joint Pain

Although more commonly known as female hormones, progesterone and estrogen are hormones that exist naturally in the bodies of both men and women. With age, levels of these hormones drop off and fluctuate, causing many of the symptoms normally associated with aging, including joint pain. Progesterone and estrogen levels naturally increase and decrease depending on a woman’s cycle, pregnancy, and other needs. But when levels are low for a significant period of time, as with menopause, women can begin to experience joint pain. Many women just find ways to deal with joint pain, becoming less active and doing fewer of the activities they may have once enjoyed. But there are alternatives to just accepting joint pain as a part of aging. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) can help replenish the dwindling hormone levels that cause joint pain. Studies have found that women who use BHRT report that they are less bothered by joint pain than women who don’t use the therapy. Read more…

How to Find the Perfect Detox

| September 20, 2017

From Diet to Detox - 7 Easy Ways to Detoxify Your Body

If you’ve been paying attention to the health columns, you’ve probably heard a celebrity or two talking about the benefits of a detox diet. These types of detoxes refer to a diet or program that is supposed to eliminate all kinds of harmful toxins from your body, including chemicals and pesticides from the foods you eat, environmental pollutants like secondhand smoke, and even heavy metals. Your body’s natural function is to remove toxins through your waste, but if your body isn’t functioning at its best or if you are overloaded with toxins, it can be difficult for your body to keep up. A detox diet is supposed to help restore the optimal function of your body so that you can safely rid your body of pollutants and enjoy better metabolization. But not all detoxes are safe or even effective. How do you figure out which methods work best? Read more…

Prevent Disease Through Lifestyle Change

| August 27, 2017

Effects of Low-Carb Diets on Diabetes and Insulin Resistance

Are your energy levels low? Do you have trouble getting around thanks to the pounds that you’ve packed on over the years? Maybe you avoid the scale at all costs. However you avoid the topic of weight, it may catch up with you in the form of far-reaching symptoms. People who are carrying excess weight, especially around the middle, are at an increased risk of insulin resistance and the many health issues it can cause—including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and even stroke. But learning how to manage your weight through diet, exercise, and other healthy lifestyle habits can help to reverse insulin resistance. Changing your daily habits can be difficult and may take time to adjust. But having a team of experts to help you learn which changes will be most effective can help you enjoy better success. Although diet plays a strong role in decreasing insulin resistance, it’s not the only element. Weight loss is more achievable when coupled with other lifestyle changes. Read more…

Healing Chronic Inflammation in the Body

| August 17, 2017

Chronic Inflammation in the Body and What to Do About It

The body is a powerhouse at attempting to self-heal and protect itself when perceived threats come its way. When we feel endangered or distressed, adrenaline and cortisol pump through the body in its response to a fight-or-flight situation. Similarly, when we are exposed to a virus or cold, cut ourselves, or encounter irritation, the body responds immediately and the immune system kicks into high gear to try and heal itself. White blood cells, hormones, and nutrients are released to try and restore wellness and balance in the body. This attempt at healing produces acute inflammation, which is necessary for proper healing. However, sometimes the body is under chronic attacks that it is unable to adequately handle. Stress, autoimmune disease, poor diet, smoking, and other factors can cause chronic inflammation that depletes the body of the natural resources needed to fight off threats. Chronic inflammation contributes to almost all disease and can be very dangerous if left unaddressed. Read more…

To Really Treat Hypothyroidism, Start With Advanced Testing

| July 29, 2017

Could You Have Hypothyroidism and Not Even Know It?

Most people know very little about hypothyroidism, other than it can cause fatigue and weight gain. But fatigue and weight gain aren’t the only symptoms. Others can include constipation, depression, dry skin, and hair loss. Like weight gain and fatigue, many of these symptoms are common to many other conditions, which can make it difficult to recognize when the thyroid isn’t functioning as it should. An estimated 20 million Americans have some type of thyroid disease or disorder, and around 60 percent of them don’t know it because it is frequently misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all. Advanced hormone testing that goes beyond the norm is the best way to both diagnose and treat thyroid disorders. Once your practitioner has a clear picture of what’s going on with your thyroid, you can work together to create a comprehensive treatment plan and really start feeling better. Read more…

Why Diets Repeatedly Fail

| July 19, 2017

Why You Can't Lose Weight - How Diets Can Make You Fatter

As many people who have ever been on a diet know, they often do not work in the long term. Weight loss can be exhilarating initially, as the pounds quickly drop off with modified diet and exercise. Pants that hadn’t fit for years suddenly feel loose, and seeing numbers declining on the scale can help create the willpower to resist a slice of pizza after a long day. However, while the weight may come off with dieting, it usually returns—and sometimes even more weight is gained. This can lead to a vicious cycle of yo-yo dieting, with weight greatly fluctuating. However, the hope for the “breakthrough” or “miraculous” diet that finally makes a lasting difference to keep the pounds off is often enough motivation to continue to struggle with the frustrations that come when the pounds do creep back on. Fortunately, new research may finally be able to explain why some people struggle with losing weight when dieting. Read more…