Fight Inflammation, Decrease Chronic Disease Risk

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Fight Inflammation, Decrease Chronic Disease Risk

Everything is arguably related to inflammation. It can cause cancer, skin conditions, allergies, muscle pain, joint pain, headaches and painful menstruation. So what exactly is inflammation? It's a combination of heat, pain, redness and swelling that happens externally or inside the body. Childhood obesity, diabetes, rate of cancer is on the rise. Without taking care of diabetes, billions and dollars goes into it, and without fixing our diet lifestyle, behavioral changes, nothing will improve. 

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New Herb Formula May Relieve Anxiety

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New Herb Formula May Relieve Anxiety

Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time – it is a normal human emotion, after all.  We feel nervous or anxious at work, before a big exam or when making crucial decisions in our life. For some, however, anxiety goes beyond being just a passing feeling. Instead, it causes such great distress that affects their ability to live a normal life.  This is when anxiety becomes a disorder. Anxiety disorders affect about 18 percent of the American population, making them the most common mental illnesses in the country.  That means that at any given time, about 40 million are suffering from some sort of anxiety disorder.   

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Health Benefits of Fish Oils

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Health Benefits of Fish Oils

Ahh, fish oils, the never ending debate on how much and how to consume them. Here's the skinny: fish oils come from fatty fish. Yes, specifically the tissue of fatty fish such as trout, mackerel, tuna, herring, sardines and salmons. Nutritionists often favor fish oils because of two main ingredients: DHA and EPA, which are two types of Omeda-3 fatty acids. The fillets alone of oily fish contain 30% oil. White fish only contains high concentrations of oil in the liver and have much less oil. Oily fish are also good sources of vitamins A and D. 

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Side effects of Pepto-Bismol

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Side effects of Pepto-Bismol

You’ve probably never heard of bismuth subsalicylate, but you have probably used it or bought it more than once in your life time.   This intimidating compound is what we know as the pink stuff, Pepto-Bismol.  Pepto-Bismol is very common over-the-counter medication, which comes in tablet or liquid form, used to cope with heartburn, nausea, indigestion and any other upset stomach problems. This medication is an antidiarrheal medication that decreases intestinal inflammation, fluid movement and electrolyte movement in the bowels and digestive system. It used to combat diarrhea, but the mechanism of how exactly it does do, is still a bit unclear. 

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Acupuncture Treats Modern Ailments

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Acupuncture Treats Modern Ailments

Interested in acupuncture but still doubtful about it’s healing powers and squeamish about undergoing the process? Many people swear by this method to defeat stress and achieve a relaxed and focused state of mind. A new survey demonstrates increasing acceptance and utilization of acupuncture for treatment and health promotion. The analysis was published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine and looked at utilization rates, demographics and reasons for using acupuncture. Overall, the researchers found that between 2002 and 2007 there was a significant increase in the number of patients using acupuncture.

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Why Hangovers Worsen As We Age

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Why Hangovers Worsen As We Age

When we're in our twenties, hangovers tend to not be as big of a deal. Two martinis, glass of champagne and a beer to wash it down, sure we can handle that and not be out of commission the next day. Move into your thirties and maybe we start to skip the martinis but then we hit our forties and alcohol might be gone from your life because of its after effects. If this is the case, what can you do to beat that feeling? The good news is the side effects the next day are the result of an accumulation of toxins that occur when we get older, making it more challenging to process and eliminate alcohol. The result-the more toxic we are, the more intense the hangover. 

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15 Cool Facts About the Human Body

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15 Cool Facts About the Human Body

The human body is an amazing machine, so to speak. The way in which all of these functions work simultaneously as well as the level of cognitive function humans have is unlike any other known species. There are things our body does we are unaware of but matter a great deal. Here are 15 cool facts about what's happening inside.

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Do dietary supplements give athletes the winning edge?

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Do dietary supplements give athletes the winning edge?

Dietary supplements have always played a predominate role in the world of sports.  Whether a person is a competitive athlete or a casual exerciser, today’s athlete is always looking for the latest and greatest nutritional supplement that will give them the ultimate performance-enhancing edge.   Competition in sports has always been high but nowadays it is more fierce and demanding than ever and this can be one way athletes seek out to improve their skills. 

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Vitamin K2 – a little known nutrient with big benefits

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Vitamin K2 – a little known nutrient with big benefits

Vitamin K, a fat soluble vitamin discovered in the 1930’s, is best known for its role in blood coagulation or blood clotting.  This form is also known as vitamin K1 or phylloquinone.  However there is another form of vitamin K that hasn’t received as much attention until the 21st century – vitamin K2.  Vitamin K2, also known as menaquinone, is made by our intestinal bacteria and also is found in certain food sources.  Deficiencies of vitamin K1 are rare but deficiencies of vitamin K2 are more common.  It is the vitamin K2 form that seems to have far-reaching roles that appear to make a meaningful difference in the health of our hearts, bones and of prostate cancer. 

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5 Tips to Beat Bad Breath

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5 Tips to Beat Bad Breath

Bad breath is something we all deal with. But how can we really work to get rid of it? The ugly truth is even if you brush your teeth 6 times per day and floss every night, you're still not safe from the occasional case of halitosis. What happens is bacteria accumulates under the gumline and causes a terrible smell. Here are 5 tips to help finally beat that bad breath.

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Bad Mood? 5 Tips to Beat It

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Bad Mood? 5 Tips to Beat It

We all get in bad moods. The key is knowing how to beat it. A long-term bad mood can have significant repercussions especially on our energy levels. Although it's not always easy to snap out of it. Here's how to beat it and minimize the impact of the inevitable bad mood. 

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10 Secrets For Better Sleep

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10 Secrets For Better Sleep

According to the National Sleep Foundation, the average adult needs about 7 to 9 hours of sleep at night in order to function and feel good throughout the day. Admit it, there's some night's you don't even get close to that. It happens to all of us but there are health issues that can arise from continually not sleeping. Whether sleep deprivation comes from job related stress, long work hours, or just trying to keep up with busy social schedules, sleep aids like Lunesta have become popular.  As with any prescription drug, many people cling to the easy fix of a pill.  Interestingly, this may no longer be an option for many seeking sleep aids as FDA guidelines change and become stricter.  Those seeking prescription sleep medications will be getting lower doses or natural alternatives (such as melatonin supplements).  For this reason, everyone should know why getting enough sleep is important and how they can practice good sleep hygiene.    

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6 Things You Shouldn't Keep From Your Doctor

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6 Things You Shouldn't Keep From Your Doctor

When you attend your annual physical, it's important to ask a lot of questions and inquire about your risk factors for diseases that run in the family. Most people (especially men) breeze through the standard blood tests and urine samples and walk out. This could be hurting your health. Even further, do you have pain or ailments that you're not sharing with your doctor? This is extremely dangerous. Even the smallest symptom can be a indicator for a disease. Some people don't want to seem like a hypochondriac but the truth is many symptoms overlap and ignoring symptoms especially after they're sustained over the course of a few weeks, you need to talk to your doctor just to be on the safe side. 

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New study shows specific factors that predict speed of aging

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New study shows specific factors that predict speed of aging

Researchers zero in on more than a dozen factors that can predict how fast you’re aging — and have some ideas about what makes people age more slowly. Now researchers say that such perceptions aren’t just about outward appearances but about something deeper, there is a different pace at which each of us ages, and what that means for our health. Study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Scientists led by Daniel Belsky, an assistant professor of medicine at the Duke University School of Medicine’s division of geriatrics. Measured 18 factors tested in 20- and 30-year old that showed how quickly they are aging.

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Stop Work-Related Stress

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Stop Work-Related Stress

A recent Gallup poll showed that full-time American workers are at their jobs more than 47 hours per week on average. 18% of respondents claimed they work at least 60 hours per week. As a result, of course, many of us are under a ton of stress from the pressure created at work to fulfill projects, finish on deadlines and keep coworkers and managers happy. All of this stress can lead to a burnout. Burnout is defined as the feeling of not being able to cope with your workload and frustration that comes along with that. 

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The Reason You Have A Headache

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The Reason You Have A Headache

The most common type of headache are what physicians call "tension-type" headaches which feel like a giant rubber band squeezing your head, creating soreness in your head, neck and shoulders. We all experience headaches from one time to another. But what exactly is it? Whether you're feeling stressed, sick or just hit by a sudden storm of pain, headaches can really inhibit your everyday activities. Here's the science behind headaches.

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A Word On All-Natural Sunscreens

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A Word On All-Natural Sunscreens

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Dermatology, showed that most people have difficulty picking the right sunscreen. The study consisted of 114 participants and fewer than half could correctly identify how well a sunscreen protected sunburn, premature aging and skin cancer. Researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago conducted the study and found only 49& of participants surveyed knew what "SPF" stood for. Just in case you don't, it means "sun protection factor." 

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3 Tips For Managing Time + Stress

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3 Tips For Managing Time + Stress

You've heard the old adage before: “Manage your stress or your stress will manage you.”  Time and stress are interconnected in many ways. Perhaps the most shocking fact about stress is that it can affect all parts of your body, not just in one area. Our body responds to stress by altering the secretions of certain hormones and chemicals. Time management and productivity play a huge role especially in today's workplace in how we keep stress at bay and still feel like we've accomplished something.

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10 NATURAL WAYS TO LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

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10 NATURAL WAYS TO LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

High blood pressure is a very common condition and affects millions of people within the United States. High blood pressure is also known as hypertension and is a condition in which a person’s blood pressure is greater than a healthy level and puts too much force on the artery walls. About one-third of adults in the United States have high blood pressure.

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25 Tips For Long-Term Weight Loss

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25 Tips For Long-Term Weight Loss

The secret to long-term weight loss (keeping it off) is in your everyday decisions. That transition from dieting and quick fix solutions to permanent lifestyle changes matter the most. We all can lose weight and probably have, but have you ever actually kept it off? For keeping the extra pounds off, you have to master consistency and small changes. The journey isn't about big, dramatic changes, it's about making progress. 

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