Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Photo by Alisha Hieb on Unsplash InVite®’s Reds Hx® formula is a supplement powder that provides a high concentration of fruit extracts and antioxidants. These ultra-healthy fruit extracts comprise the spectrum of oranges, reds, blues and purples that can be found naturally in healthy fruits and …
It’s about that time! After a full week of sticking to your resolution, you might realize that you’re not sticking to your healthy eating plan all that well. January is the month where people put in a good effort towards their resolution – but slow …
Are you having trouble falling or staying asleep at night? Your diet could be to blame. We all know caffeine before bed is bad news for your sleep quality, but there are some other major culprits in your diet that might be causing you to toss and turn. Dietitian Shelly Redmond, R.D., author of “Eat Well and Be Fabulous”, named some of the foods that you should eliminate to get a great night’s rest.
Caffeine. Coffee and soda are well-known caffeinated drinks you should avoid before bed. However, some other foods and products contain caffeine as well, such as several OTC medications and most kinds of tea. Check the labels on your medications to be sure they don’t contain caffeine, and choose a decaffeinated tea if you’re heading to bed soon.
Fluids. Staying hydrated is very beneficial for your body, but drinking too much water before bed will having you running to the bathroom in the middle of the night. This disrupts your sleep cycle and may cut into your REM sleep as well. Try to avoid drinking fluids 60-90 minutes before your usual bedtime to make sure you actually spend all night in bed.
Aged & Fermented Foods. An amino acid called tyramine is found in many aged and fermented foods, such as aged cheese, smoked fish, and cured meats. Tyramine stimulates your brain and might leave you feeling wide awake.
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Tomato-Based Products. Acidic foods and spicy dishes tend to cause heartburn and discomfort overnight. Redmond advises staying away from canned tomatoes and other spicy foods with a high acid content at least three hours before bed.
Alcohol. At first, alcohol might seem like a great way to relax and fall asleep. However, many studies have shown that alcohol actually causes us to wake up frequently, and it also disrupts your REM sleep. Stick to just one glass no more than one to two hours before bed.
Sleep vitamins can be an extremely helpful tool for anyone who is not getting a full, restful night’s sleep on a regular basis, which can disrupt many areas of your life and your everyday routine. What’s more, sleeplessness is also connected to muscle loss, weight gain, and poor overall health and well-being, among a variety of other health issues. Stress can be a key factor, so there are many vitamins available that work by naturally relaxing the brain before you go to sleep at night. For example, L-Theanine is one of the best natural stress relievers and relaxants. It imparts a restful and relaxing state, calming your mind and body without any unpleasant side effects as often seen in other sleep medications. Natural vitamins can be a key factor in feeling your best and keeping your health intact when a restful night’s sleep is not possible on your own because of stress or any other influences in your life.
Chocolate is one of nature’s most powerful super foods. In its natural form, it contains a wide variety of minerals, vitamins and antioxidant flavonoids that offer great health benefits. But the benefits of chocolate are generally reversed when milk, cholesterol from milk solids, and/or an …
Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash Many of us have done it at some point – the crash diet. Maybe you have a dress you need to fit into. Maybe you’re going on vacation and want to look perfect in your bikini. Maybe you work …
It’s sweet, savory, and full of fat – and apparently, it’s now is being coined as a superfood that may help you lose weight! Wait a second. Chocolate to help with weight loss?
There is new scientific evidence that shows having a small cocoa treat regularly can not only help you stay slim, but it may also fight diabetes, keep you feeling full, and even fuel more effective workouts. These new findings are the result of a study published in the latest edition of the Journal of Nutrition. A test group of 1,500 teens who ate approximately 4 squares of chocolate regularly (42.6 g) had a lower body weight and lower percentage of body fat than those who didn’t.
Not only are these results impressive, they also go along with a prior study done at the University of California in San Diego. Those results showed that consuming dark chocolate yielded lower BMIs. Those with the lowest BMIs were not those who were more active, but those who most consistently ate chocolate! Dark chocolate is richer in cocoa and has less sugar than traditional milk chocolate, making it a healthier option.
Chocolate (especially dark chocolate with 70% cocoa or higher) is rich in antioxidants, which have been shown to increase energy and give you a better workout and increased energy levels. So, eating chocolate can help lower blood sugar, give you more energy and a slimmer figure? I think I may just have to test out this theory for myself!
Chocolate in its natural form (without the additives) includes essential minerals such as magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc, as well as the Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, E and pantothenic acid. In addition, it has polyphenols similar to those found in wine that offer excellent antioxidant protection. These beneficial antioxidants increase circulation to the brain and heart, improving healthy blood flow. They also help to reduce the blood’s clotting function, potentially decreasing your risk of blood and cardiovascular related health issues. Together, these agents help improve various areas of health such as circulation, energy and mood. Flavonols appear to be the substances in cocoa that are responsible for boosting heart health and keeping blood pressure in the normal range. These substances appear to improve the bioavailability of nitric oxide from the cells that line the inner wall of blood vessels:
http://healthyliving.msn.com/weight-loss/more-reasons-to-love-chocolate?pagebr=2