Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Photo by Miguel Bruna on Unsplash Aloe Vera, a well-known soothing herb, can be traced back to ancient cultures. In fact, this plant has played a major role in natural medicine for over 5,000 years! Aloe Vera is part of the lily family, Liliaceae, alongside …
Photo by Plush Design Studio on Unsplash Diabetes in America is still on the rise, but what’s even more astonishing is the number of people living with the disease that do not know they have it. According to the latest data released by the Center …
For the past few months, there has been a mercury advisory on fish products here in the U.S. In fact, the FDA even had to set limits on what types of fish were safe to consume and which types could be eaten safely on a regular basis. Recently, the FDA has made some new adjustments based on lower mercury levels.
Mercury is a naturally occurring element that we are all regularly exposed to when we eat fish or shellfish. However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), exposure to mercury may cause serious health problems and have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive, and immune systems. Mercury is considered by WHO as one of the top ten chemicals or groups of chemicals of major public health concern.
Read “Fish Oil Capsules: Ancient Food for the Modern Brain” by Jerry Hickey, R.PH
On Tuesday, FDA representatives released a long-awaited update to its former advisory on the amount and type of fish that were safe for humans to consume. For the first time, they recommended a minimum amount of low-mercury types of fish, while cautioning against swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico.
The FDA and EPA currently recommend individuals to consume eight to twelve ounces of various types of fish per week, such as salmon, shrimp, pollock, light canned tuna, tilapia, catfish and cod that have low mercury levels.
According to Claudia Guy, ND of InVite® Health, “Omega-3 fatty acids are long established essential nutrients for brain health. Both DHA (docosahexanoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) are omega-3 fatty acids that function almost exclusively in all our cell membranes. Omega-3 fatty acids are also anti-inflammatory which balances inflammation in the brain to protect brain tissue. When it comes to the brain health and development, EPA influences behavior and mood, and DHA is essential for visual and cognitive function. The intake of fish oils must begin during fetal development when the neural tube starts to develop. Children with healthy levels of omega-3 correlate with better learning, focus and behavior. Fish oils are still necessary for the adult and aging brain to balance mood; and protect and restore vision, memory and cognitive function.“
Continue reading Claudia Guy, ND’s article, “Fats for a Healthy Brain” by clicking here!
For all of the seafood lovers out there, this is good news – most of your favorites have made it back to the FDA’s “safe” list. So, go ahead and enjoy your delicious shrimp cocktail, lobster rolls, and grilled salmon this summer!
For more information on mercury, visit http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs361/en/.
Photo by Christian Erfurt on Unsplash We commonly eat more unhealthy foods during emotional or stressful times but we usually don’t think about exactly why we do it. There may be a chemical reason behind why we tend to reach for a bag of chips …
Photo by Christopher Flowers on Unsplash The United States ranked first ahead of ten countries on a list of the most obese nation, recently published in The Lancet Medical Journal. Out of the 10 countries surveyed, we topped the charts, and heavily. Currently, there are …
We motivate ourselves with goals to work out regularly and stay fit. But sometimes, that overzealous enthusiasm can cost you in the long run. Working out (even though it is healthy) can lead to problems if it’s done excessively. Muscles need time to repair themselves in between workouts with proper nutrition to fuel your body. So how much is too much for you, and what are the signs that you might be overdoing it?
Chest Discomfort
Any irregular chest pain experienced during exercise should be taken seriously. Not all chest pain is the same – it might feel like burning, stabbing, tightness or achiness. If you’re experiencing chest or heart pain when you work out, you should speak with your doctor as soon as possible.
Dizziness/Vomiting
Vomiting after or during exercise is never a good sign. If this happens, it’s usually a result of over-working your system far beyond the point it can handle. Getting nauseous or light-headed from your workout can indicate that you’re dehydrated or experiencing possible heat exhaustion.
Joint Pain
If soreness is getting in the way of normal daily functioning, like walking to the bus or simply getting out of bed, this is usually a key sign that you need to get some rest. It’s normal for joints to feel sore shortly after an extensive workout, but anything beyond that should be looked at more closely.
Top scientific research institutions are focusing a great deal of their time and resources on developing the science of sports and exercise supplementation. Science has established that particular nutrients can improve muscle size and power, and support performance by improving endurance and mental focus.
Decrease in Performance
Performance in your workout should improve, or at least stay at a consistent level. If you notice your performance dropping or if you feel especially exhausted by your usual workout, you might be over training.
These are just a few guidelines to help keep you on the right fitness track. Now, this is not to say you can’t push yourself for those extra few minutes on the treadmill or go for 20 extra pushups. It’s great to challenge your body, but you also have to listen to what your body is trying to tell you. Also – don’t forget to balance out cardio workouts with proper strength training and other types of workouts, especially stretching (i.e, yoga).