Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Everyone wants thick hair, bright, younger-looking skin and strong nails. But achieving that can often be difficult for some people. However, with the right products and treatment, to keep your skin soft during the winter is easy. With plenty of formulas on the market, it …
Photo by Jenn Kosar on Unsplash Mushrooms are not just a popular pizza topping or delicious addition to a meal. They have been used as food and sometimes as medicine for centuries, especially in Asian cultures. They are exploding onto the health and beauty market …
A circadian Rhythm is the 24 hour cycle that determines when you should go to sleep and when you should wake up. It is basically the clock that runs your entire body, and is also known as your sleep/wake cycle.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, when it’s dark at night, your eyes send a signal to the hypothalamus – a portion of your brain that controls your circadian rhythm – that it’s time to feel tired. Your brain then sends a signal to your body to release melatonin, which makes your body feel tired.
A healthy circadian rhythm is working at its best when you follow regular sleeping patterns, like getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night. But outside factors like jet lag, daylight savings time or staying up late can disrupt it, making you feel tired throughout the day.
A new study has found that sticking to a normal daily rhythm is linked to improvements in mood and cognitive function, as well as a decreased likelihood of developing major depression and bipolar disorder.
The study, published in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry, looks at disruptions in circadian rhythms of over 91,000 adults in the U.K. It measured these disruptions using a device called an accelerometer that is worn on the wrist and measures one’s daily activity levels. The participants were taken from the UK Biobank, a large cohort of over half a million UK adults ages 37 to 73.
The researchers found that individuals with more circadian rhythm disruptions – increased activity at night and decreased activity during the day, or both – were significantly more likely to have symptoms consistent with bipolar disorder or major depression. They were also more likely to have decreased feelings of well-being and to have reduced cognitive functioning, bacsed on a computer-generated reaction time test.
L-Theanine, an extract from green tea, is excellent for persistent thoughts. Day or night, take for anxiety, panic and to calm down worrisome thoughts by increasing blissful alpha-waves in the brain, before bed or in the middle of the night.†
Melatonin is a hormone produced that regulates the body’s circadian rhythms. The levels of melatonin in the blood are highest prior to bedtime. When Melatonin is high, cortisol is low. Melatonin is also essential for the synthesis of Serotonin. As a supplement, it re-calibrates your 24-hour body clock for shift workers or those who work nights. This hormone, when used as a supplement, has been shown to support jet lag and traveling.†
Rhodiola is a plant that grows in the northern-colder parts of Europe. It has been shown to increase your energy and help you handle stress, while improving your mood and reducing mental fatigue. It promotes a soothing, calming effect, while steadily improving a sense of wellbeing. This herb also supports endurance so you can achieve more with exercise or for sports performance. Rhodiola may also support healthy immune system function over the winter and during times of prolonged stress.†
Photo by María Victoria Heredia Reyes on Unsplash Inflammation is your body’s natural response to protect itself against harm. “Harm” can include banging your knee, cutting your finger, infections like the flu, or even the affects of smoking. It is connected to diseases of the …
Photo by Chad Madden on Unsplash According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults ages 18 and older, or over 18% of the population each year. And, according to …
When was the last time you thought about the toothpaste you use? You’ve probably been buying the same brand for years out of habit, but have never really noticed a difference in your teeth. Take a look at the back of your toothpaste tube. Can you pronounce all of the ingredients? Do you know what they are?
If you take time to understand the ingredients in your food, you should put in the same effort to research what is in your toothpaste. Here are some important ingredients that provide benefit for your teeth and gums in an Activated Charcoal Toothpaste.
Charcoal has been used to clean teeth for thousands of years. It becomes ‘activated’ when it is burned at high temperatures in order to change its internal structure. Activated charcoal, in this case, is made from coconut. Here’s how it works – coconut husks are burned in an oxygen-poor environment to create charcoal. To make it “active”, hot air is introduced to burn out excess gasses. When used as a toothpaste, it binds to everything in its path, including stains, tartar and bacteria.
Coconut contains fatty acids that have been shown to have numerous health benefits, including killing harmful bacteria. In a study performed by the University of Kentucky’s College of Dentistry, researchers found that fatty acids (like those found in coconut) can influence oral bacteria by balancing the good and bad bacteria in the mouth. Another study performed by Kannur Dental College in India has found that participants that used coconut oil for seven days, showed a significant decrease in plaque and gingivitis during the 30 day study.
Many other brands use calcium carbonate in their formulas for teeth whitening. Silica is an important mineral that has been shown to provide numerous benefits, especially for the health of your bone and joints. Hydrated Silicia is the result of the mineral binding to water molecules. When used in an activated charcoal toothpaste, it naturally helps to remove plaque and stains on your teeth.
Cinnamon oil is known for its antibacterial properties. It is especially benefical for the teeth and gums and have been used for its medicinal properties, specifically anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. Research conducted in New Zealand shows that cinnamon has the greatest antimicrobial potency against bacteria, including those responsible for tooth decay and gum disease.
One of the most popular health products this year, Apple Cider Vinegar has touted for its multiple health benefits. It contains natural acids – acetic and malic acid – that help to eliminate bacteria that causes bad breath and remove stains. A study performed by the Department of Natural Sciences, School of Science and Technology of Middlesex University report that Apple Cider Vinegar has multiple antimicrobial effects, that also displayed benefit for reducing inflammation and destroying harmful proteins and enzymes.
Spearmint is a species of mint that is found in many oral products and has been shown to have therapeutic properties, as it contains vitamins, antioxidants, and vital nutrients. Other than its pleasant smell, Spearmint has been shown to have anti-fungal properties, according to a study presented at the International Conference of Environmental and Agriculture Engineering.
Together, Activated Coconut Charcoal, Cinnamon, Apple Cider Vinegar, Hydrated Silica and Spearmint provide superior support for stimulating gum health and freshening breath. When used in an Activated Charcoal Toothpaste, this unique formula absorbs toxins from irritated gums and helps promote oral microbial balance for fresher breath, brighter teeth, and healthier gums. For polishing teeth and helping remove resins that stain teeth, including from wine, tea, coffee and tobacco.