Whether you consume tea, coffee, sodas, energy drinks, or chocolate, you’re consuming some form of caffeine. This post is not meant to demonize caffeine altogether; in fact, at small amounts, caffeine has certain health benefits. It’s the excess use of caffeine that is an issue, as this compound can be addictive.[1] Caffeine doesn’t even provide true energy — it is merely a stimulant. Still, there are many who rely on it every day to get them going. Are you one those people? (more…)
Abdominal massage used to be the go-to treatment for constipation. It’s a safe and natural way to ease that stopped up feeling, and the gas and bloating that often go with it. When you massage your stomach in the right way, you induce peristalsis — the wave-like motions of your intestines that push everything through. This means that it takes less time for waste to get out of your body. The great news? You can massage your own abdomen, have your partner do it, or find a therapist who specializes […]
The garbage passed off as food today and the high rates of digestive disorders plaguing the nation make it clear that the importance of the digestive process is not understood. Digestion is a process that can affect our daily quality of life, playing a direct role in our mental health and mood.[1] In essence, digestion is where our health begins, and recent research has blatantly illustrated this fact. Let's look at how the digestive system performs its function and discuss the key facts you need to know when seeking to […]
The glycemic index (GI) is a way to measure the impact that carbohydrate-containing foods have on blood sugar, or blood glucose.[1] People are interested in understanding the glycemic index (and the glycemic load) of food so they can construct a healthier diet. Blood sugar affects many aspects of health, including the risk of getting cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, so watching the GI of foods in your diet can improve your overall health prospects. (more…)
A "cherry on top" is always a good thing — that famous saying means something great is now even better. That’s certainly the case if you’re talking about an acerola cherry. "I’ve been using acerola for many years, both in raw and supplemental form. Acerola could be the most underrated tropical fruit out there," says Lina V., a doctor from Sofia, Bulgaria. "It’s a superfruit with a high concentration of vitamin C." This tart-flavored cherry grows in the tropics but has become a popular supplement of late, whether in powder […]
