Tag: Stress

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Time to Reset Your Health

Microphone and computer; early warning signs of a thyroid problem.

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Many people have experienced an increase in stress, anxiety, and depression over the last few weeks. There have also been reports of increases in the consumption of alcohol and unhealthy foods. These things can all take a toll on your health, and it’s important to give your body the support it needs to recover. Stress affects nearly every part of your body, but especially the adrenal glands. Alcohol consumption can decrease liver function, as well as affect the brain and increase your risk of developing depression. Eating unhealthy foods can affect your energy levels, gut health, immune health, and could lead to nutrient deficiencies. So, this week we will discuss what you can do to start supporting your liver and adrenals, and we’ll also discuss the importance of having lab work done. It’s time to reset your health, and we want to help show you how.

Products Mentioned in Today’s Show

Iodine Forte – Iodine is an essential element. Although its main function is in the production of thyroid hormones T3 and T4, other organs in the body have a need for iodine in order to function normally.

Active Selenium – Active Selenium uses L-selenomethionine, a highly bioavailable, yeast-free form of organically bound selenium chelated with methionine to support glutathione activity. Unlike inorganic forms of selenium, Active Selenium is not adversely affected by vitamin C.

Vital Detox – This formulation is rich in chlorophylls from Chlorella and contains a unique broccoli extract with glucosinolates. The chlorophylls in Chlorella form tight molecular complexes with a wide variety of everyday toxic chemical compounds, reducing their absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. A high-strength enzyme blend also breaks down dietary antigens and may support assimilation of beneficial constituents of Chlorella.† Glucosinolate compounds in broccoli are powerful inducers of natural phase 2 detoxification processes in the liver. Most substances detoxified by the liver are released into the bile for excretion through the intestinal tract. Chlorella helps trap these toxins to reduce reabsorption.†

You can also listen to Time to Reset Your Health podcast episode on our YouTube channel here.

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The Mood and Food Connection

Burgers and fries; the mood and food connection.

Our diets arguably have the biggest impact on both our mental and physical health. Consuming enough nutrients each day is necessary for nearly every function in the body, and a deficiency can cause a wide range of issues. This is why a poor diet is associated with a higher incidence of emotional disorders like depression and anxiety, as well as physical problems like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Junk food, as in processed foods low in nutrients, can worsen and can sometimes even trigger emotional disorders. Let’s look at how junk food affects our bodies, and examine the mood and food connection.

What is Junk Food?

Junk food is a general term that usually refers to processed foods like those found in fast food and frozen dinners that contain artificial preservatives, flavorings, colors, or sweeteners, etc. Different food additives have certain uses in the food industry, and many of them have each been linked to different health issues. Describing each additive and its effects would be difficult as there are a few thousand of them used in the United States. However, if you see an ingredient repeatedly and are curious, a simple search online about the substance and its safety will usually provide some good information, just be cautious of the sources you read from online.

What’s Wrong with It?

The two main problems with processed foods is that they are typically lacking in essential nutrients, and they can cause inflammation throughout the body. So, if a person eats a diet high in processed foods and low in whole, nutrient-dense foods, they may develop vitamin and mineral deficiencies that can cause many different health issues. If a deficiency is severe, it can lead to debilitating symptoms and sometimes permanent damage. For example, vitamin A deficiency is the world’s leading cause of blindness, so vitamin and mineral deficiencies should be taken seriously.

The other problem with processed foods is the inflammation they can cause. Although these foods are often devoid of essential nutrients, they are still usually high in calories, sugar, and unhealthy fats. These unhealthy fats like trans fats and heavily processed oils like vegetable oil, canola, oil, etc. can trigger inflammation in the body, especially in the arteries. The high amounts of sugar can increase inflammation throughout the body, and contribute to insulin resistance and diabetes. Not to mention the other ingredients these foods may have like preservatives and flavorings that can each have their own negative health effects. Generally, you should avoid consuming foods that contain unnatural or heavily processed ingredients.

How it Affects Mood

There are many ways your diet affects your emotional state, but one of the biggest reasons is the lack of nutrients. When consuming foods that are low in nutrients, it can be easy to develop deficiencies. Many of these deficiencies have been linked to changes in mood, and this is mostly because your body needs the right amounts of vitamins and minerals to make neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Without the necessary ingredients, your body may not be able to produce the right amounts of these neurotransmitters which can lead to depression, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and mood swings. Low serotonin can also cause sugar cravings because sugar can give a pleasurable feeling that a brain low on serotonin may be craving. This is why people that are depressed often crave foods high in sugar and carbohydrates. These foods often displace nutrient-dense foods in a person’s diet, which can lead to more nutrient deficiencies which can further impair neurotransmitter production, leading to a vicious cycle.

There are many reasons why it’s important to eat a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and quality meats. Getting enough nutrients each day can help improve both your mental and physical health, and can also reduce your risk of developing many different health conditions. So, remember to consume natural, nutrient-dense foods, and do your best to avoid heavily processed foods.

You can listen to our Depression Loves Junk Food podcast episode here. You can also listen to it on our YouTube channel here.

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Depression Loves Junk Food

Microphone and computer; early warning signs of a thyroid problem.

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Depression and other emotional disorders have been on the rise over the last few weeks, mostly due to feelings of isolation during these lockdowns. However, consumption of junk foods like chips, cookies, breads, and fast food have also seen a sharp increase. There is a lot of research showing a connection between depression and the consumption of unhealthy foods. When eating a diet mostly devoid of essential vitamins and minerals, and high in preservatives and artificial ingredients, the body may struggle to produce enough neurotransmitters to keep moods regulated. These unhealthy foods can also cause inflammation throughout the brain and body, further increasing the risk of developing depression and other emotional disorders. This week we’ll discuss why depression loves junk food, and some things you can do instead.

Products Mentioned in Today’s Show

Candida Support – This powerful phytonutrient complex was designed for restoring and maintaining a healthy, balanced gastrointestinal microbiota. Along with undecylenic acid, this formula also provides berberine and other synergistic factors.

Saccharomyces Boulardii Powder – Saccharomyces boulardii is a nonpathogenic, transient yeast. Since its discovery in 1920, clinicians worldwide have used S. boulardii to support normal bowel transit time, promote healthy immune and inflammatory response, and bolster gastrointestinal microbiota diversity, particularly in conjunction with antibiotic therapy. S. boulardii is also commonly used to safely and effectively displace undesirable yeast species, which may play a beneficial role in neurological health, particularly for individuals on the spectrum.†

Resvera-Max – Resveratrol is a polyphenolic compound with antioxidant activity found in grapes, wine, blueberries, cranberries, and peanuts. While red wine has been popularized as an important source of resveratrol, amounts vary widely. The maximum content of resveratrol in red wine extracts available for use in dietary supplements is 20%. In contrast, root extracts of Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) provide up to 50% trans-resveratrol content, the same form as found in red wine.

You can also listen to Depression Loves Junk Food on our YouTube channel here.

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What’s Wrong With Comfort Food?

Desserts in baskets; what's wrong with comfort food?

With so much time being spent at home these last few weeks, stress and feelings of isolation have really started to affect people’s emotional health. People have begun new hobbies at home to pass the time like working out, painting, and writing, but one of the most common hobbies has been baking. Consuming these breads and other pastries frequently can contribute to the development of worsening of diabetes and heart disease, two of the major risk factors for COVID-19 complications. Let’s discuss what’s wrong with comfort food, and some things you can make instead.

What’s Wrong With It?

Breads, cakes, cookies, and pies have been posted all over social media, and are being eaten more frequently than before the stay-at-home orders started. Unfortunately, these treats are loaded with simple carbohydrates, sugar, and often unhealthy fats like vegetable oil or margarine. If they are made from regular flour then they also contain large amounts of gluten. Many people have noticed they have felt worse after eating these foods, which is common with high-carbohydrate foods as they cause blood sugar highs and lows. However, gluten sensitivity is incredibly common today, and most people who have a gluten sensitivity or intolerance are not aware of it. So, consuming these foods that are full of gluten and sugar can take a toll on how you feel physically, and we need to stay as healthy as possible during this time.

Because these foods are so high in simple carbohydrates, sugar, and unhealthy fats, they can also affect blood sugar levels, heart health, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure. Sugar has been found to be a major contributor to high blood pressure, inflammation, diabetes, insulin resistance, and heart disease. With recent statistics showing that people who suffer from high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes tend to have the most complications when they contract COVID-19, it is now more important than ever to take care of yourself and do your best to reduce your risk of developing these conditions.

Alternatives

The occasional treat can still be part of a healthy lifestyle, but choosing healthier options is important. You can try making keto versions your favorite treats, and there are endless keto recipes online. Keto recipes typically use low-carb flours like almond flour and coconut flour, and low-carb sweeteners like sugar alcohols, monkfruit, and stevia. You can find plenty of keto recipes on our Pinterest page here. You can also opt for unrefined sugars like coconut sugar and maple syrup, but remember that these are still recognized as sugars by the body and should be eaten sparingly.

Food Sensitivities

If you suspect that you may have a sensitivity to gluten, then you can try an elimination diet. Put simply, an elimination diet means you eliminate certain foods from your diet for an extended period of time to give your body a chance to rest. You should take notes of how you feel throughout this elimination period and see if you feel better when certain foods are removed from your diet. Be especially mindful of any changes in headaches or migraines, stomach pains, bloating, gas, fatigue, and acne or skin rashes as these tend to be the more common symptoms of food sensitivities.

After the elimination period, you add each food that you removed back into your diet one at a time and record any negative affects. If you notice headaches come back when you eat gluten or dairy again, then you may have a sensitivity to them. Make sure you keep a few weeks of time between each food you add back in so that you are able to know which food caused changes. You can search elimination diets online for a more detailed guide on how to try one.

Do Your Best

Try to take this time at home to create healthy habits like exercising often and eating healthy foods. However, some people are not financially able to buy healthy foods right now, so just do your best with what you have and we’ll hopefully all have a renewed interest in keeping ourselves healthy when this is over.

You can listen to our Comfort Food Uncomfortable? podcast episode here. You can also listen on our YouTube channel here.

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Being Grateful Through Difficult Times

Sunset; being grateful through difficult times.

These are tough times for many people physically, emotionally, and even financially. Maintaining an attitude of gratitude by focusing on the positive may help these next few weeks seem a little brighter. Spending all your energy and time worrying about things can have negative effects on both your physical and emotional health, and being grateful for what you have and recognizing how fortunate you are can help you see things from a different perspective. Being grateful through difficult times isn’t an easy task, but it is worth it.

It Might Be Difficult

It can be difficult to stay positive and grateful during stressful life events, but it’s not impossible. As we have said many times over the last few weeks, focusing on the positive and doing something each day that brings you joy are two simple things you can do to help keep your mood up. It’s ok to feel sad or angry about your situation, but the important thing is that you don’t let it control you or dominate every thought and feeling you have. Acknowledge the positive and negative feelings you have, but make an effort to give more attention to the positive. It can be something as simple as still having one of your favorite foods in the house, or being grateful for the ability to sleep in more often. The little things each day is what will help each of us get through these next few weeks with a better attitude, and hopefully a recharged mind and spirit when this is over.

Take some time each day to do something that calms you down or brings you joy, learn a new skill, work on your spiritual life, or anything else that makes you feel good. Remind yourself of all the things you are blessed with, whether it be still having a job or a place to live, having a healthy body, or getting to finish a new show. These next few weeks might lead to a lasting reminder in all of our lives to be more mindful of what really matters to us, and might make us rethink whether the small daily inconveniences are really worth getting upset over.

You can listen to our Maintaining an Attitude of Gratitude podcast episode on our website here. You can also listen on our YouTube channel here.

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Maintaining an Attitude of Gratitude

Microphone and computer; early warning signs of a thyroid problem.

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In times like these, it can be easy to start stressing over things, especially things that you cannot control, but stressing doesn’t benefit you mentally or physically. Maintaining an attitude of gratitude by focusing on the positive, being productive, and doing at least one thing each day that brings you joy can help make things a little easier. Using this as a time of self-reflection could potentially lead to some healthy changes in your life. Focus on staying positive while you’re at home, and do some of the things that make you happy, and we’ll get through this. In this week’s episode we’ll discuss how important it is to stay positive, even when it’s hard, and we’ll also talk about the importance of vitamin D and other supplements for immune health.

Products Mentioned in Today’s Show

Quercetin Bromelain Ultra – Quercetin Bromelain Ultra provides a mixture of proteolytic enzymes and bioflavonoids that help regulate the immune cytokine response.† Quercetin is a powerful bioflavonoid that protects cells and tissues against free radicals.† Bromelain, papain, and pancreatin provide a mixture of protein-specific and other enzymes that help ensure proper breakdown of protein molecules that may otherwise cause irritation.† Vitamin C, buffered with magnesium to eliminate acidity, supports histamine metabolism, detoxification processes, and collagen synthesis.†

N-Acetyl Cysteine – This derivative of the amino acid cysteine is often used as the preferred substrate for intracellular glutathione synthesis. It also assists detoxification, provides cellular antioxidant protection, and is much safer than cysteine.†

EZ Relax – We’ve teamed nature’s greatest stress management ingredients to create a uniquely effective combination. Formulated with Ashwagandha, valerian extract, L-theanine, and GABA.

You can also listen to Maintaining an Attitude of Gratitude on our YouTube channel here.

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Do Things That Bring You Joy

Paint and paintbrush; do things that bring you joy.

Many people are currently spending each day isolated and worrying about things out of their control. This worry and stress takes a toll on both mental and physical health, and doesn’t help anything. Spending this extended time at home to complete chores you’ve been putting off, start a workout program you’ve been wanting to try, or engaging in some home craft projects are just a few of the many ways you can stay busy and productive during this time. Staying focused on things that bring you joy can make times like these easier to get through.

Find What Brings You Joy

Sit down and take some time to thing about and write down things that make you happy and joyful, and things that give you a feeling of peace. This can be taking a warm bath, going for a walk outside, listening to music, painting or other forms of art, baking or cooking, or anything else that you really enjoy. Make a list of these things and circly what you can do from your home or at a walking trail, and do at least one thing on your list each day. You can also plan what you’re going to do the next few days, so that you keep up with the days of the week and have something to look forward to each day.

Despite its downfalls, the internet has proven to be an especially useful tool during this time. Many celebrities, singers, and others are doing livestreams on social media nearly every day. This can give you access to home concerts, a feeling of community, and a way to interact with new people. You can also find many websites that report only uplifiting news stories, which can be helpful when regular news is invoking fear in many people. There are also plenty of games online, or on gaming consoles if you own one, that can help take your mind off of current events, and sometimes lead to new friendships.

You’re Not Alone

Remember that you are not alone in this, and that everyone is dealing with many of the same struggles. Call up a friend, family member, or neighbor or someone you’re comfortable with and talk about how you’re both feeling and remind each other that you’re not alone. Call any elderly family members and make sure they’re ok physically as well as emotionally. Stressing over things, especially things that you cannot control, will only do harm. Focusing on the positive, being productive, and doing at least one thing each day that brings you joy can help make things a little easier.

You can listen to our Staying Strong Through the Storm podcast episode here. You can also listen on our YouTube channel here.

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Staying Strong Through the Storm

Microphone and computer; early warning signs of a thyroid problem.

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With fear and anxiety heightened due to current world events, many people are spending each day worrying about many different things, often things that are out of their control. This worry and stress takes a toll on both mental and physical health, and doesn’t do any good. In this week’s episode we’ll talk about staying strong through the storm by keeping your mind focused on the positive, and staying busy while you’re at home. Spending this extended time at home to complete chores you’ve been putting off or start a workout program you’ve been wanting to try are just a couple of the many ways you can stay busy and productive during this time. We have also received many more questions about what can be done to help support immune health, so we’ll answer some more of those questions in this episode.

Products Mentioned in Today’s Show

EZ Relax – We’ve teamed nature’s greatest stress management ingredients to create a uniquely effective combination. Formulated with Ashwagandha, valerian extract, L-theanine, and GABA.

GI Immune – AC-11® is a patented, water-soluble botanical extract of Uncaria tomentosa shown to uniquely support immune function, healthy inflammatory response and the body’s natural defenses at the molecular level against oxidative stress, supporting DNA integrity.† This formula combines AC-11® and larch arabinogalactan to support immune responsiveness and the body’s natural DNA repair capacity.† Arabinogalactan is a polysaccharide that stimulates beneficial immune cells resulting in a powerful immunomodulating effect.†

You can also listen to Staying Strong Through the Storm on our YouTube channel here.

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Escaping Fear and Finding Joy

Microphone and computer; early warning signs of a thyroid problem.

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With so much fear affecting people around the world right now, and constant negative news and social media updates, it can be easy to be caught up in it and forget how to be positive and joyful. While you can’t choose your circumstances, you can choose how you react to them. Focusing on the things that make you happy can help you deal with any anxiety you may be experiencing. In this week’s episode we’ll discuss escaping fear and finding joy. We’ll discuss why it’s important to focus on the positive, and some steps you can take that may help make your anxiety and this current public health situation, and any other stressful situation, a little easier to deal with.

Products Mentioned in Today’s Show

EZ Relax – Some of nature’s greatest stress management ingredients were combined to create a uniquely effective combination. Formulated with Ashwagandha, valerian extract, L-theanine, and GABA.

Pantothenic Acid Complex – This formula contains Cordyceps, Rhodiola Extract, Eleuthero Extract, and Pantothenic Acid to help support adrenal function. The ability of the adrenal gland to respond to physiological stress is supported by botanicals with recognized adaptogenic properties. Eleuthero and rhodiola act on neurotransmitter function, the central nervous system, and cardiovascular function to help the body adjust appropriately when faced with biological, physical, or chemical challenges.† Cordyceps mushroom, known for its revitalizing effects, and pantothenic acid, a B vitamin required for adrenal hormone formation, are also included.†

You can also listen to Escaping Fear and Finding Joy on our YouTube channel here.

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Common Doesn’t Mean Normal

Tired man; common doesn't mean normal.

Many people live with different problems like headaches, joint pain, bad breath, anxiety, insomnia, and digestive disorders like indigestion, gas and bloating. Regardless of how common these issues may be, they shouldn’t be accepted as normal, and they may be symptoms of more serious health conditions. Many people ignore these symptoms, but they often have a root cause that should be addressed. Let’s take a closer look at why common doesn’t mean normal and why you shouldn’t overlook these symptoms.

Common Symptoms

The majority of people deal with at least one symptom each day, and for many people it’s the same type of symptoms each day. Think about all the people you know, and how many of them have headaches, joint pain, bad breath, insomnia, anxiety, depression, heartburn, IBS, or more than one of these. These issues have become so common that people tend to brush them off and view them as a normal part of their life, but they shouldn’t be viewed that way. Many of these symptoms are the first warning signs of health issues that may come later in life, and they often have a cause that can be fixed early on before it gets worse.

Possible Causes

Sometimes these symptoms are due to a problem that’s relatively easy to fix like chronic dehydration, stress, or vitamin and mineral deficiencies. However, sometimes they are due to more complicated issues like heavy metal toxicity, mold exposure, and unknown food allergies and intolerances. Some of these possible causes are quite common, although doctors and patients often don’t consider them. For example, one survey found that an estimated 75% of Americans were chronically dehydrated. The human body uses water in all of its cells, tissues and organs, so adequate water intake is crucial to overall health. Although this is a very common issue, most people don’t know the damage it can cause, so education is key.

What You Can Do

Some of the more complicated issues would require extensive testing that’s often unreliable to identify if it’s the cause or not, so trying to fix the simple causes first is a good place to start. Headaches are commonly caused by dehydration, and if you are chronically dehydrated, which can occur if you consistenly drink less water than your body needs, then the occasional headache can turn into chronic headaches and migraines. So, drinking enough water each day, which is about 64 ounces for the average adult, is a good habit to get in to. You should also make sure you are getting enough electrolytes each day.

Another simple habit to add is taking a multivitamin each day, as this can help ensure your body is getting the nutrients it needs each day. While eating a diet that contains plenty of fruits, vegetables, good fats and meats is one of the most important things you can do for your health, it can still be difficult to get all of the necessary nutrients from food alone. Much of the soil used to grow produce is heavily depleted in minerals, meaning the plants that grow in that soil will also be lower in nutrients than they should be. This is why taking supplements is much more important than it used to be.

If you begin consuming enough water and electrolytes each day, eating a healthy diet, and taking a multivitamin, and you still don’t notice a difference in your symptoms, then you may want to consider some of the more complicated causes. However, testing for these issues can quickly get expensive and stressful, and in the case of heavy metal toxicity and mold exposure, testing is often unreliable and inaccurate, so ruling out the simple causes first is usually easier. Even though these symptoms have become more and more common, they shouldn’t be considered normal. Your health is one of the most valuable things you have, so do your best to take care of it!

If you are having any serious or unusual symptoms such as sudden headache, chest pain, stomach pain, bloody stool, etc. consult your physician or call emergency services immediately.

You can listen to our When Feeling Bad Becomes Normal podcast episode here. You can also listen to it on our YouTube channel here.