Month: October 2021

Benefits of Drinking Water

This past week I was struggling with fatigue. All these anxious thoughts were circling through my mind. Was it something I ate? My husband said, “It can’t be something you ate. You eat healthy.” He was right. It couldn’t be that.

Did I get enough sleep? Sure, there are nights I burn the midnight oil on the computer. I need to watch that. But even after eight hours of sleep and a nap, I didn’t feel much better.

Is it this awful, humid heat we are experiencing lately? The beginning of summer this year was wet and cool but now it’s in the eighties and nineties with high humidity. I never suffered so much with the heat though. In fact, I always pictured myself retiring in some hot climate.

Am I going through menopause? I called my sister who is twelve years older to ask her what the symptoms of menopause are. Nope. I’m not there yet.

Do I have cancer? Wouldn’t that be awful? Cancer is such a scary word. Whenever something in my health goes wrong I wonder, “Is it cancer?!”

What was it?!

In my quest to find the cause of my fatigue, I suddenly recalled a time in the past when I drank water and felt my crankiness and fatigue dissipate. An “ah ha” occurred. I downed two glasses of water and like a drooping plant given water, I began to perk up.

How could something so easy have slipped my mind? Well, I don’t really love drinking water. But if it’s what I need to do, then so be it. I much rather feel energetic than fatigued!

The conventional recommendation is to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. In the summer heat, we may need more. If your urine is a very light yellow tint, then you are drinking enough water. If it is dark yellow then you are probably not drinking enough water.

In the book, Your Body’s Many Cries for Water, by Fereydoon Batmanghelidj you can read all about the tremendous benefits of water. Here are some more important ways water benefits us.

Water:

o hydrates internal organs, enabling them to function properly.

o helps prevent hangovers and headaches. Drinking alcohol causes dehydration which then causes hangovers.

o facilitates fat loss.

o curbs your appetite which helps people who are looking to lose fat.

o flushes toxins and other waste from the body.

o helps prevent constipation. When you don’t drink enough water, your body is forced to take it from other organs like the colon which then leads to constipation.

o keeps skin healthy and glowing.

o keeps the immune system healthy. It reduces your risk of disease and infection.

o regulates appetite. People often mistake thirst and hunger, and eat when their bodies are actually craving fluid.

o maintains acid-alkaline balance.

o cushions and lubes your joints and muscles.

So, take water wherever you go. Add a squeeze of lemon or lime for flavor or add ice cubes and a straw to make it more fun to drink. Whatever you do, make sure you drink it. That way you can prevent a whole host of medical issues brought on by dehydration or uncomfortable feelings like the puzzling fatigue I described. It’s definitely worth it.…

More Expert Food Tips For Chronic Hepatitis C

Most people have no trouble choosing what food to eat on a daily basis, taking them very little effort to plan a meal. However, for those who suffer from Hepatitis C, it can be a completely different story; a simple task like eating, can cause great challenges. Just having Hepatitis C has the ability to cause a wide range of uncomfortable symptoms from fatigue to nausea. For others, these symptoms are caused by the treatments or medications they are using. 

Trying to figure out what foods are healthy and will not aggravate already troublesome symptoms can be frustrating, and can take a toll on the body. Many Hepatitis C patients experience a lack of appetite and, unfortunately, the medications they are on can end up making the foods they once loved, taste different. Additionally, many of those suffering from chronic liver disease experience such severe fatigue that going to the grocery store or cooking a meal is just not an option.

Those with chronic health conditions can benefit a great deal from consuming a balanced diet consisting of healthy food. If you have lost your appetite, one alternative to eating a full meal three times per day would be to try eating several small portions throughout the day. Also, you might want to try doing some mild exercise to stimulate your appetite. However, if fatigue is a big problem for you, you could prepare extra food and freeze it on the days you have energy to cook. If you are plagued by nausea, try drinking ginger ale or ginger tea to help settle your stomach.

Although it may be difficult at times, making an effort to support a healthy lifestyle is beneficial to helping get back on your way to recovery. It is important to not lose hope and realize that there are other options available to help you get through these difficult times. Learn more about minimizing the obstacles related to food preparation, hunger and digestion.…

Building Muscle Tips: Preventing Muscle Fatigue

Anyone who has performed a vigorous and strenuous workout for building muscles is sure to have experienced muscle fatigue. Muscle fatigue is characterized by complete exhaustion, with the muscles and limb feeling weak, limp and utterly drained of energy. Sadly, however, muscle fatigue has detrimental effects especially if your goal is to build bulkier, stronger muscles. For one, your muscles recover more slowly after your workout. It can also prevent you from performing a full workout.

Take special note of these tips on how to prevent muscle fatigue so that you can continue to enjoy doing a complete workout.

First of all, it is recommended by a medical study commissioned by Bloomsburg University that you take creatine supplements six weeks prior to starting a muscle building workout. The study showed that taking a low dose of creatine (2.3 grams) per day can give you greater resistance to muscle fatigue whenever you perform high-intensity exercises. Creatine has the added benefit of increasing both muscle strength and mass.

Secondly, contrary to popular belief, you need to consume more carbohydrates prior to working out. Since your muscles utilize glycogen for energy, your workouts will cause you to deplete this substance much faster. It is recommended that you increase your carbs constitute 55 percent of your total caloric intake seven days prior to exercising. Increase this value to 70 percent three days before starting your workout.

Thirdly, you have heard advice that you should eat more proteins. The best proteins to eat in your balanced diet are complex proteins, such as those found in meat, eggs and dairy products. Complex proteins contain branched chain amino acids which will inhibit muscle tissue breakdown and prevent muscle fatigue.

The fourth tip is that you should keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of fluids. A well-hydrated muscle is not prone to fatigue, is less susceptible to irritation, and is able to contract more efficiently. Athletes are advised to take AT LEAST 6 glasses of fluids daily. Make sure that you have water or other fluids with you when you work out. If you are concerned about weight, don’t go for high-cal drinks and instead take low calorie or low sugar beverages instead.

Finally, you will probably be surprised to learn that one effective way to combat muscle fatigue is to lift heavier weights. The rationale behind this is that muscle fatigue occurs more often in individuals who lift light weights but performs many repetitions. Ideally, you should lift weights that are so heavy that you can only do two sets maximum consisting of 12 to 15 reps.

Learn more tips on how you can combat muscle fatigue while building muscles today!…

Feeling Constantly Tired – Serious Illnesses Involved

Fatigue is characterized by weakness and a feeling of exhaustion. In most cases, this feeling comes from physical and mental exhaustion from jobs and other activities. In some cases, however, tiredness comes from a more serious source. Come and let’s see what these sources could be.

The first in the list of serious causes is coeliac disease. This disease is characterized by an intolerance to some foods particularly those that are rich in gluten. Gluten is usually the substance found in pastries such as cakes and breads. Although it is very important for the dough, some people just cannot tolerate it in their system. Coeliac disease results to tiredness because the body encounters difficulty in digesting a substance. The condition can be mild but it can also be severe especially if symptoms like anemia and diarrhea have already appeared.

The second serious cause is anemia. Anemia is a placid condition of the blood. It happens when there is not enough iron in the blood that helps the red blood cells perform different tasks. It causes tiredness because lack of iron means lack of oxygen to be held by the blood cells and transported around the body. Although it is most of the time treatable, there are cases when anemia becomes real problem. When the number of red blood cells totally decreases, it can escalate to more serious conditions such as leukemia and other blood problems.

The third serious cause is CFS or chronic fatigue syndrome. This syndrome is considered serious as the cause and treatment are unknown. No one has really pointed out what causes this condition therefore they are also having difficulties in finding out what can cure it. CFS has different stages. Each stage is more severe than the previous one. Some people suffering from it can still work but their tasks are limited by their energy level whereas others need to be complete bed ridden because of the condition.

The fourth one in our list is sleep apnea. Generally, this condition is mild in itself. However, once it became a reason for sleep problems such as insomnia and narcolepsy, it becomes serious. In addition to this, sleep apnea involves obstruction in breathing during sleep. This obstruction can become a worry once the person experiences difficulty in breathing at night. Immediate treatments are necessary as soon as you have the hint that you are suffering from this condition.

The fifth one is diabetes. A big percentage of people around the world are suffering from this condition. A very high level of sugar in the blood is not good for several reasons. In connection with tiredness, it is not good because glucose particles blocks the nutrients from being absorbed. This means that the body cannot get an optimum amount of essential nutrients it needs. As a result, it will not be able to produce the necessary energy. It will also have a difficulty to perform important system processes. In fact, this can affect a large part of the body including vital organs such as the liver and the kidneys.…

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Without Pain

Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome – A Definition

Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFS), is a complicated medical condition that causes severe fatigue that becomes worse with physical activity. CFS fatigue symptoms do not improve with rest. Usually, patients who have CFS cannot sustain the same amount of activity as before they developed the disorder.

In addition to fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome may cause other generalized symptoms such as muscle weakness and pain, insomnia and impaired ability to concentrate.

The medical profession has defined the following two criteria for for chronic fatigue syndrome:

Severe, debilitating fatigue for six months or longer, with an exclusion of other medical conditions. Coexisting with this fatigue, at least four of the following symptoms: sore throat; tender lymph nodes; multi-joint pain without swollenness or inflammation; muscle pain; headaches not experienced before in pattern or severity; awakening from sleep and not feeling rested. These symptoms must not have been experienced before chronic fatigue. They also must have recurred or persisted for at least six months.

Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome

Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome often last for years and vary. In most cases, the disability affects daily living in a significant manner. The symptom of key importance is the unrelenting, severe fatigue that persists for at least six months. This fatigue worsens with activity, and does not improve with rest.

In some cases, CFS symptoms become worse for a time and then symptoms get better for a time. This suggests a pattern of relapse and remission. It is thought that becoming too active during remission can bring on a relapse of symptoms.

Other common symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome include:

– Fever – Headaches (type not previously experienced- Joint pain without swelling or inflammation – Generally feeling unwell, that lasts for at least 24 hours.- Difficulty concentrating- Loss of memory- Painful muscles and joints- Unrestful sleep- Sore throat- Sore lymph nodes

To make a CFS diagnosis the following criteria must be present in the patient:Severe, debilitating fatigue for six months or longer, with an exclusion of other medical conditions.Simultaneously, at least four the following symptoms: sore throat; tender lymph nodes; multi-joint pain without swollenness or inflammation; muscle pain; headaches not experienced before in pattern or severity; awakening from sleep unrefreshed. These symptoms must not have been experienced before chronic fatigue. They also must have recurred or persisted for at least six months.

A thorough physical examination must be carried out to detect other symptoms of CFS, such as fever and swollen lymph nodes and to rule out other medical conditions with similar symptoms. Laboratory tests that may be used to rule out other conditions include blood tests (e.g., white blood cell count) which could indicate a similar disorder, mononucleosis. Imaging tests such as MRI must be carried out.

The following medical conditions must be ruled out:

– Autoimmune disorders- Mononucleosis- Dependency on drugs- Fatigue related to psychological factors alone (depression)- Cancer- Heart, kidney, or liver disease- Hypothyroidism- Infection- Muscle or nerve diseases (multiple sclerosis)

Since symptoms vary, patients with CFS need medical treatment that addresses the patient’s individual symptoms. Most often, treatment programs are devised by a team of health care providers, such as a team of physicians, physical therapists, mental health personnel and dieticians. Over-the-counter and prescription medications may be used to reduce symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome such as pain and depression.

Patients must learn how to manage and monitor activity levels and rest and sleep periods. Usually the correct level of activity and rest will improve symptoms. The aim of treatment is to correctly balance periods of activity and rest, lower pain and stress and improve sleep.

Different types of treatments that may be beneficial include the following:

– Deep breathing techniques- Muscle relaxation- Massage- Yoga- Tai chi (type of movement therapy)…

Benefits of Eating Healthy – 5 Most Sought After

The benefits of eating healthy are many, especially in the long term. Eating healthy when young keeps organs functioning efficiently, which enhances quality of life later on. Good health is a blessing and should not be taken for granted. Many of the benefits of eating a good daily diet are readily apparent within days or months. Let’s take a closer look.

Beautiful Skin Tone: When we receive adequate nutrition through a balanced diet, our skin lets us know. It glows with radiance and wrinkle lines diminish. Eating the right foods supports proper elimination of toxins, which makes us look and feel better. Eating right is the greatest beauty secret there ever was.

Ideal Weight: Eating healthy for several years and living a healthy lifestyle brings us to an ideal weight. As long as diet remains balanced through the eating of natural foods, ideal weight will be maintained. Remember that denatured foods from the factory are the main reason for weight gain, obesity, and disease.

Plenty of Energy: Eating a proper diet provides the body with energy and vitality throughout the day. Good energy foods are complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and raw fruits and vegetables. Foods that deprive us of energy are refined carbohydrates such as white flour and sugar foods.

Balanced Hormones: Did you know that diet plays a huge role in emotional and mental well-being? Eating the wrong foods such as refined flour and sugar products can wreck havoc on our emotional health. Hormones in our brain need essential nutrients so our mental outlook remains balanced and happy.

Happy Long Life: Healthy eating, coupled with a healthy lifestyle provides us with a good outlook on life. There is no running to doctors all the time with ill health. And there is no suffering with nutrient deficient and debilitating diseases. Eating healthy when you are young will definitely benefit your standard of living as you age and get older.

Benefits of Eating Healthy:

To get the most benefits of eating healthy, try these tips to get you started on the right track to good health.

Make these tips a part of your daily eating schedule.

Eat only natural whole foods. If the food has been stripped of its goodness, don’t eat it.

Drink fresh fruit and vegetable juices every other day. Tip: Add a clove of garlic or two in the juicer to keep sickness at bay.

Sprout seeds at home in jars. Sprouts are very nutritious and can be added to sandwiches, soups, salads, and stir-fries. Alfalfa, wheat berry, and sunflower are excellent seeds to sprout.

Eat five to seven different/colorful vegetables and or fruits daily.

Eat a dark leafy green salad of kale, spinach, mustard, greens, or chard every moderate (20 minutes) amounts of sun (Vitamin D) on your skin. Do not wear sunscreen.

Get eight hours of sleep per night.

Become involved in a hobby or activity you enjoy.

Exercise one hour every day. Brisk walking, swimming, biking, jogging, and calisthenics are all good physical activities.

Drink lots of pure water every day.…

Fighting Fatigue Naturally Through Simple Lifestyle Changes

Fighting fatigue naturally through simple lifestyle changes can work better than taking medications or drinking caffeine for the millions of people struggling with being tired each day. Making certain dietary choices and taking supplements have been shown to be helpful.

Fighting fatigue naturally can resolve many of the causes of fatigue. Origins of fatigue include anemia, an under-active thyroid, a cold, sinus infection, or a virus. However, in many cases it is simply a lifestyle issue rather than a medical one. All too often we’re just not taking care of ourselves. Here are some simple steps to take to get you started to avoid that rundown feeling.

Drink more water: The amount of water you drink can drastically affect your energy levels. Many people suffer from dehydration without knowing it. If you are thirsty, you’re likely already dehydrated-so try to get the recommended 8 or more cups of water, especially if you are a highly active individual. Replace those sugary beverages with water to prevent blood sugar spikes. Drinking more water also curbs some food cravings-including fatty and greasy foods, which also cause fatigue.

Exercise regularly: Moderate and consistent sessions of aerobic exercise, 3 or 4 times a week for 30 to 45 minutes, will help increase your energy level. Overdoing exercise is counter-productive to your goal of increased energy and decreased fatigue. Exercise reduces stress, which is a serious cause of fatigue. Higher-intensity exercise and cardio also reduce stress, providing an outlet for frustrations and releasing endorphins-which also fights off fatigue.

Adapt a regular sleeping pattern: Inconsistent sleeping patterns or not getting enough sleep at all is another major contributor to being tired. Going to sleep and waking up at regular times every day will help you avoid this, and prevent fatigue during the day.

Adjust your diet: Eating a proper breakfast can serve as an energy booster. Skipping breakfast drains your energy, contributing to the fatigue problem. It’s important to eat nutritiously at every meal, but focus on breakfast to start your day off right. What you eat has a serious bearing on what your energy levels are like throughout the day. Eating large amounts of fatty, greasy foods will make you sleepy. Avoid eating foods stocked with a high amount of sugar because these cause a spike in glucose levels. The best approach is to eat a balanced, healthy diet low in junk food. It is even better if you avoid large meals, and opt for more frequent, smaller meals during the day.

Stop fatigue with vitamins and supplements: Simple lifestyle changes discussed above can beat fatigue and boost your energy. Supplements such as Vitamins B6, B12 and C are all important for well-being and fill the void caused by low nutrition foods such as fast foods and processed foods that make up a large portion of our diets.

Conclusion: Fighting fatigue naturally helps you avoid feeling tired all the time. How often do you wonder to vending machines and coffee pots to fend off the energy crash during the day? But this caffeine fix is only a temporary solution that leaves us even more tired and unproductive. Therefore, it is important to understand ways in which we can stop fatigue naturally to increase energy levels without a chemical dependence. Therefore, drink more water, exercise, get a good night’s sleep and eat healthy foods.…