Monthly Archives: August 2022

Going Healthy, Going Strong, Health, Life, Tips

Making Better Use Of Supplements In Your Diet

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If you’re looking to stay healthy, especially as you get older, then it’s only natural that you’re going to be looking more carefully at your diet. It’s not just about what you avoid eating, however, it’s also about making sure that you’re getting the nutrients that you need. If you are already managing a full diet, then you might start to look at supplements to help you fill the nutrient gaps in the food that you eat. However, supplements are not a replacement for a healthy diet. As such, here are some tips on how to better make use of them.

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Know that supplements are more than just pills

There’s no denying that pill supplements can be a very easy way to top up on some of the nutrients that you’re trying to get more of in your life, but you should also be aware of what else can count as a supplement. Certain herbs and extracts such as ginseng and garlic can play a supplementary role in your health. Green tea is so lauded for the health benefits it brings, such as antioxidants that can be hard to find in your diet otherwise, that it’s often considered a superfood.

Keep track of what you’re taking and what you’re eating

The aim of supplements should be to help you get the recommended daily amount of particular vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients. However, you might already be getting enough or you might want to take less than some people depending on what you’re already consuming. Nutrition tracking apps can help you get a better idea of what exactly you’re consuming each and every day so you can see what dietary changes you need to make, as well as the gaps that can be filled in by supplements.

Use them with purpose

The best way to make use of supplements is to address specific needs or health goals that you are aiming for. For instance, if you are worried about the increasing risk of changes to your eye health as you age, especially if you have a genetic predisposition for eye health issues, then you should look at taking eye health supplements. There are supplements to help address other needs, as well, such as immune support, inflammation help, heart health, bone health, and more. Don’t try to use supplements to replace a healthy diet, but get the extra help you need.

Use them with exercise

Supplements can do more than help you look after the specific areas of your health that might need a little more attention. If you’re fitting more exercise into your life, especially strength training, then they can play a role in helping you avoid injury and too much recovery pain. Fish oil and glucosamine are some of the most widely recommended here, aside from more general use supplements such as protein powder. In these instances, supplements can play a huge role in preventing your workout progress from being interrupted by too much time spent recovering.

Be mindful if you’re taking them with medication

The vast majority of supplements are not going to pose any health risk, especially if you’re just taking certain vitamins or minerals. There is always the necessity for moderation. You’re not going to improve your health more quickly if you take more than the recommended amount of any supplement. However, you should also be mindful of the risks of interactions between supplements and any medication that you might take. If you’re on medication, then you should talk to your doctor about making any changes to your diet, including any supplements that you take. If you don’t take medications, then the proper use of any supplement should not pose any health risk.

Make sure that you’re eating a healthy diet

Once again, it has to be stated that supplements can not replace a healthy diet. As the name implies, they are there to supplement it, to help you get the vitamins and minerals that you might not be getting in a diet that otherwise supplies everything you need. You can make your diet even healthier by relying more on whole foods, which tend to retain much more of their nutritional value than anything that has been processed.

Supplements can most definitely play a role in a healthy life. You just have to know what to expect from them and how to make the best use of them. If you’re ever in doubt, consult your doctor, but hopefully, the tips above give you some healthy expectations of the healthy changes you can make with supplements.

Going Healthy, Going Strong, Health, Life, Tips

Why You Probably Shouldn’t Eat So Much Chicken

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Chicken is a staple food in the Western world. In fact, it’s difficult to imagine going a week without it. 

Unfortunately, it comes with a host of negative side effects that reduce wellness. It’s not always the health food that many professionals tout it to be. In fact, it can be outright dangerous. 

Check out these reasons why you probably shouldn’t eat chicken below:

It Can Cause Obesity

Chicken used to be the food of choice for bodybuilders. And it’s not hard to see why. It has a profound ability to foster weight gain, causing hormones to change to foster muscle formation. Unfortunately, it also promotes added mass in sedentary people. Those who eat chicken are more likely to be obese than those who don’t.

It Could Poison You

According to the CDC, poultry is among the top three foods that cause poisoning outbreaks every year. That’s because of the bacteria that grow on meat once it has been processed. 

Chicken is particularly bad because of the type of bacteria that it harbors. That’s why it is virtually impossible to eat chicken raw. Unlike other meats, it’s simply too dangerous. 

Even preparing chicken is risky. Studies show that bacteria get all around your kitchen, even if you make a monumental effort to clean as you go. 

It Might Lead To Bladder Infections

Chicken is also a prime culprit in bladder infections. That’s because it harbors germs that can crawl up your urethra, leading to pain. 

The process is a little complicated, though. It starts when you first eat chicken. The meat passes through your digestive system and then forms stools into your colon. When you go to the bathroom, these stools pop out the other end. Bacteria in the poop can then migrate to your urethra, causing infection. 

The short-term solution is to get the proper UTI relief. But longer term, it might be better to cut down on the amount of chicken in your diet to reduce your risk. 

It Puts You At Higher Risk Of Heart Disease

People who eat chicken are at a higher risk of heart disease than those who don’t. The reason for this is all the saturated fat and cholesterol that chicken contains. Modern animals aren’t gamey anymore, like the wild birds people ate in the past. Instead, they contain considerably more fat which can raise cholesterol in the body and clog arteries. 

Heart disease is still our number one killer, so reducing your risk could help you live longer. Try substituting chicken for other foods in your diet. 

What Should You Do If You Love Chicken? 

While chicken is delicious, it comes with some serious downsides. Fortunately, though, there are now a range of products on the market that accurately emulate regular chicken, but without many of the dangers of health risks. At the moment, most of these products are in the form of processed foods, such as chicken nuggets. However, in the future, processing may get better to the point where they accurately resemble chicken breasts, thighs or legs.

Health, Lifestyle, Tips

6 Steps For Recovering From The Worse Sunburn Of Your Life

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Most people these days understand the dangers of excessive sun exposure. Spending too much time in direct sunlight can cause redness and increase the risk of cancer. 

However, sometimes you can make a mistake. For instance, you might spend an entire day on a pleasure cruise, soaking up the sun, forgetting to put on your sunscreen in the morning. 

Regular sunburn is bad enough. But if it is serious, it can be excruciatingly painful, too, to the point where you’re unable to sleep. Your skin turns bright pink and then starts to blister and peel. It’s a nightmare. 

Fortunately, there are some home remedies that you can use to reduce pain and return your skin to a healthy state rapidly. Here’s what you need to know: 

Don’t Touch Blisters

Blisters look nasty but they are part of your body’s healing process. They protect your skin from further damage while new tissue forms underneath. 

If a blister pops, trim back the surrounding dead skin and keep the area clean. If you have antibiotic ointment, apply it to prevent an infection from developing. 

Apply A Soothing Cream

Serious sunburn is itchy and extremely painful. Therefore, it’s a good idea to apply hydrocortisone cream. Medicated creams like these offer soothing action designed to reduce pain. 

Place A Wet Towel Over Your Eyes

Sunburned eyes, believe it or not, are surprisingly common. The tissues that make up the eye are just as prone to damage as the skin. 

If your eyes get sunburned, you’ll know about it. They’ll feel extremely itchy and they may turn slightly yellow. 

To treat sunburned eyes, slightly wet a towel with cool water and then place it over your eyes. Don’t wear contact lenses until your symptoms subside. 

Cool The Skin Down

Simply cooling the skin a little can have an anti-inflammatory effect. Reducing the temperature cuts redness and swelling. Again, wet a towel and then place it over the sunburned area. 

If you have substantial sunburn over your entire body, then you might want to take a cool bath. Try adding a couple of ounces of baking soda to the water and mix it in. Then soak for around fifteen minutes, several times per day. Soaking in cold water will reduce inflammation. 

Don’t Go Back Out In The Sun

Sunburn is actually your body’s attempt to heal itself after UV exposure. Therefore, it is critical to avoid further damage. If you go back out in the sun, you will make the damage worse and potentially increase the length of time it takes for your skin to recover. 

If you need to go outside for any reason, make sure that you cover yourself up completely. Take a hat or umbrella with you to shield yourself from direct sunlight, and wear long-sleeved clothing.

Use A Natural Moisturiser

Lastly, as your skin heals, it will begin to dry out and peel. If this happens, use a natural moisturizer. Giving the skin extra moisture will make it feel more comfortable and reduce itching.