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Women’s Health

Stress and the General Adaptation Syndrome

Stress is a normal, unavoidable part of modern life, which all animals must cope with. Not all stress is a bad thing, and sometimes it can save your life. We’ve all heard of the “fight or flight” reaction, and this survival mechanism is a natural response to external stressors, helping us react quickly to a potentially dangerous situation.

We still rely on this ancient autonomous response to keep us safe these days, but we don’t need it as much as we did when it was imperative to our survival. In fact, we’ve dragged this archaic survival mechanism all the way with us through our evolution, to modern day scenarios, which for the extremely large majority of us, no longer involve the danger of being eaten alive.

The outdated stress response has become burdensome and actually physically damaging to our modern bodies. We, as animals, don’t cope very well with stress, and chronic stress kills.

It is estimated that more than 110 million people die each year as a direct result of stress, equaling 7 deaths every two seconds.

Stress can cause serious ailments like asthma, obesity, fatigue, irritability, lack of motivation and interest, headaches, upset stomach, reduced appetite and sexual drive, and the stress-related diseases that kill are heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and many more.

Modern day stressors are so prevalent that the body has no time to recover, we transition through our day from waking up to an alarm, which is enough to stress the coolest cucumber out, dealing with daily traffic, working a stressful job and dealing with deadlines, and then there are the constant stressors that never subside like financial worries, relationship stressors, familial problems, and all of the other modern societal worries that plague us all as thinking, feeling beings.

While it has been a permanent part of our lives since our creation as a species, we were unaware of stress and its impact on us until a scientist by the name of Hans Selye placed a name on this bodily response, and measured its effects.

Hans Selye was an Austrian/Canadian endocrinologist of Hungarian origin who discovered and coined the theory of General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS). Selye was born in Vienna, Austria in 1907 and died in 1982 in Montreal, Canada. The term “stress” actually comes from the field of physics, used to describe an organism’s physiological response to perceived stressful conditions in its environment.

Selye’s GAS contends that stress leads the body to engage in a three-stage response.

  1. Alarm: This is the famous “fight or flight” portion of response to stress. During this stage, the body reacts autonomously to a stressor, mobilizing all of the appropriate resources in the body, i.e., adrenaline, to adequately respond to the stressor, threat, or danger.
  2. Resistance: After the alarm stage, the body attempts to return to normal, resisting and compensating the effects of the alarm stage as the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body’s internal levels to normal.
  3. Exhaustion: A common side effect of adrenaline is the exhaustion afterwards, often called the adrenaline dump. This stage is the cause of chronic disease, because as we are exposed to stress on a near-constant basis, the body remains in a state of exhaustion, making it susceptible to disease and eventually death.

The three steps of GAS happen internally, and as a result of the parasympathetic nervous system, making them autonomous, which is where the problem lies. If we could control these reactions, we could choose to react in a healthy way, but since we can’t choose our reaction the body constantly reacts to the maximum of its potential, over exhausting itself and eventually leading to damaging effects.

During the first step, alarm, the brain notices the danger and signals the adrenal glands to release two powerful substances epinephrine and norepinephrine. Next, cortisol is released into the body via the hypothalamus and pituitary glands.

These substances make the body more alert, focused, reduces pain receptors making the body less responsive to pain, and inhibits reproductive behaviors and desires. During this time, heart rate is increased, blood pressure is increased, and the body provides fuel for it to remove itself from danger if necessary, redirecting blood flow from the gastrointestinal and digestive processes to muscles, heart, and brain.

During the fight or flight stage, Selye purported, there is a sharp increase in energy production and nutrient utilization. All of these processes happen nearly instantly, and subside when the stressor or danger is no longer imminent.

The “silent killer”, as it’s been termed by doctors, stress is such a danger to our lives because of our inability to cope with it. There are countless medications to treat the effects of chronic stress, but very few that can actually help with stress as it is occurring, mainly because it happens without us knowing.

But there are ways that you can cope with the effects of stress that don’t include taking medication.

First, diet is extremely essential in coping with the effects of stress. Eating healthy, well-balanced meals rich in green leafy vegetables. These vegetables, like spinach, are rich in folate which can help the body produce compounds that have mood-stabilizing capabilities like serotonin and dopamine.

Exercise can help mitigate the effects of stress, benefitting the cardiovascular system, muscle performance, and even improving mental performance which helps us cope with stress more effectively.

When stress impacts the brain, the rest of the body feels it as well, so exercising can help increase concentration and keep your mind sharp in stressful situations.

Drugs and alcohol can help you cope with stress, their benefits are extremely short lived and very much outweighed by the damage they cause on the body and mind. Avoiding drugs and alcohol is essential to a healthy life, and it is paramount that they are not used as a crutch to deal with stress, because they almost always compound stress and harms the body.

Meditation is used throughout the world, especially in eastern societies, as the main coping tool against stress. Tai chi and yoga are wonderful ways to fight stress, uniting the mind and body in a single activity and using breathing and exercise to relax the body. Breathing is one of the only natural ways that we can counteract the autonomous nature of the parasympathetic nervous system. Breathing can slow heart rate, blood pressure, and clear the mind, making it the ultimate tool for immediate stress relief.

Finally, consider taking one or more adaptogenic herbs to help your body cope with stress.  Adaptogenic herbs can help support your adrenal glands in any three of the phases of the GAS.  For an herbal agent to be consider to be an adaptogenic herb, it must meet three criteria:

  1. They must be non-specific and help the body in various adverse conditions, such as physical or environmental stress.
  2. They must counter the physicalimpact of stress.
  3. They must not harm the usual working of the body.

Some of my favortite adaptogenic herbs include Rhodiola, Ashwagandha, Eluethrococcus, Schisandra, Panax ginseng, Holy basil, and Cordyceps.

Stress and Hair Loss

 

While we are all aware that some types of stress are necessary and beneficial for us, motivating us to achieve certain successes in life. However, prolonged and excessive stress is responsible for an incredible amount of harmful effects, disrupting nearly every system in the body.

Chronic stress can shut down the immune system, making you more susceptible to sickness. It can upset the digestive system, causing indigestion and other complications, and even lead to hardening of the arteries which brings about increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Oh, and both depression and anxiety can rear their ugly heads with stress as well.

Well, new research says that it’s time to add another side effect of stress to this already long list. Research shows that stress can also cause hair loss. This is true in both males and females.

The way that stress can cause hair loss, or slow down hair growth, is via the endocrine (hormonal) system.

The endocrine system is a set of glands that regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, skin and hair health, and mood.

A very important part of the endocrine system is the adrenal gland. Located at the upper area of the kidneys, the adrenal gland is the main mechanism responsible for regulating stress in the body, producing several hormones in moments of stress in order to support your body.

adrenal glands highlighted

This type of function is valuable, aiding us in our fight or flight response and boosting our senses during times of duress. However, prolonged production of adrenal hormones in response to excessive stress quickly becomes a problem, even in your 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. Correcting your response to stress can impact your health in positive ways

Another hormone produced during stressful situations is cortisol. Cortisol regulates your body’s response to stress hormones, including blood sugar levels and other natural reactions.

If we consider these hormones, and the chain of events that causes their production, then we begin to understand how prolonged stress can cause hair loss, or slow hair growth down.

Prolonged stress causes the overproduction of adrenal hormones and the under production of other important hormones in the body including estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. This cascade can all lead to changes in insulin, which then leads to the sustained overproduction of cortisol. Prolonged overproduction of cortisol can wreak havoc on your body in many ways.

All of this prolonged production of hormones leads to what’s known as adrenal fatigue.

A negative side effect of adrenal fatigue is an increased concentration of the hormone Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a derivative of testosterone, again, in both males and females.

While we think of testosterone as a macho hormone, causing men to have more body hair and bigger muscles, though with high concentrations it can actually have a counterintuitive effect on the body, shrinking hair follicles, slowing down hair growth, and in severe cases damaging hair follicles so badly that hair growth is impossible.

healthy food stress free Leading a balanced, healthy lifestyle is the key to reducing stress and its numerous harmful effects on your body. Getting adequate sleep, eating a well-balanced and nutritious diet, drinking plenty of water, and practicing stress relieving techniques are all great ways to reduce stress, reduce the workload on your endocrine system, and prevent stress from causing abnormal hair loss. Please consider initiating adaptogenic herbs such as Rhodiola, Schisandra, Eleutherococcus, and Ginseng to support your adrenal hormones. Herbs which curb to negative effects of DHT on hair loss include Saw Palmetto, Pygeum, Pumpkin seed oil extract, Rosemary, White mulberry, and the amino acid L-Carnitine. Take action now to decrease inflammation in your body, better control stress, and nourish those hair follicles.

 

 

Dr Ryan Shelton

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We post each and every week to help with your health and wellness. I’m Dr. Ryan Shelton.

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Are You A Woman Over 40? Take These Medical Tests Today

Turning forty can be a bit of a shock but with age comes experience and, hopefully, wisdom. Unfortunately, getting older can also come with an increased risk for certain health problems. If you’re in the tail-end of your thirties or you’ve already gone over the hill, there are certain medical tests and health screenings you should take to make sure you stay healthy for decades to come.

The Top 10 Medical Tests to Take After 40

Though you should always keep an eye on your weight and activity level, these and other things become increasingly more important as you age. Keep reading to learn about the top ten medical tests and health screenings you should have after 40 to keep an eye on your health. Here they are:

  1. Blood pressure – The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends having your blood pressure checked at least once a year starting at age 20, but you should have it done more often as you get older. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, so make sure you’re in the healthy range which is below 120/80 mm Hg.
  2. Blood lipid profile – A simple blood test is all you need to check your blood lipids – this includes LDL or “bad” cholesterol, HDL or “good” cholesterol, and triglycerides. These are also risk factors for heart attack and stroke, so have them checked at least once a year.
  3. Blood sugar – If you are obese or have a family history of diabetes, your risk of developing the condition is much higher. A fasting glucose test will give a good indication of whether or not you are diabetic, as can an A1C test and a review of symptoms such as frequent urination, increased thirst, and increased appetite.
  4. Eye exam – Even if you have never had to wear glasses, an annual eye exam is important to catch developing problems in the early stages. Once you hit 40, you should be tested annually for glaucoma and various forms of retinal
  5. Mammogram – Recommendations vary regarding mammograms for women – some say you should have them annually after age 40 while others say wait until 50. The American Cancer Society recommends annual breast cancer screenings for women between 45 and 54 with biennial screenings for women over 55.
  6. Pap smear – Women of childbearing age should receive an annual pap smear, but once you are done having kids, you may not go to your ob-gyn as often as you used to. Once you hit 40, however, it is recommended that you have a pap smear and an HPV test every 3 to 5 years. If you have multiple sexual partners, you may want to include an STD test as well.
  7. Skin exam – Prolonged sun exposure without protection can greatly increase your risk for skin cancer and other dermatological problems. By the time you hit 40, you’ve accumulated a lot of sun exposure, so it may be time for a skin exam. In fact, most dermatologists recommend annual exams.
  8. Thyroid test – It is estimated that as many as 13% of women between the ages of 35 to 65 have hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid gland. When you hit 35, it is a good idea to have your thyroid function checked at least every 5 years – more often once you hit menopause.
  9. Mental health screening – Mental health problems like depression and anxiety can affect women at any age, but hormonal changes related to menopause might cause new problems to develop in your forties. Talk to your doctor about mood-related symptoms and consider a mental health screening.
  10. Dental exam – It is estimated that as many as 90% of people around the world have some level of gingivitis or other forms of periodontal disease. As you get older, you may develop dental problems that could increase your risk for gingivitis. Daily oral hygiene is important to prevent periodontitis, but you should also have a professional cleaning every 6 months.

When it comes to your health and wellness, you are your own strongest advocate. Make sure you see your doctor at least once a year and talk to him about the medical tests and health screenings from the list above. Even if they don’t show any developing problems, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you are in the best of health. If they do show something, you’ll have hopefully caught it early enough to treat it properly.

 

Hot Flashes and a Few Remedies

Hot Flashes and a Few Remedies

Hot flashes and night sweats are categorized as vasomotor symptoms during menopause. The mechanisms that produce hot flashes during the day are the same as the mechanisms that produce hot flashes and night sweats at night. At night, they more typically turn into sweats due to some differences in hormones produced during the day versus hormones produced during the night. Night sweats tend to also be aggravated by something as simple as just covering up with sheets.

Ultimately, hot flashes and night sweats are due to a decline in estrogen, which secondarily affects certain neurotransmitters in the brain called serotonin and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters are critical for the thermal regulatory centers of the entire body. With a narrowing of the thermal regulatory set point, the body is more likely to be sensitive to environmental changes in temperature and cause hot flashes. They can occur as superficial vasodilation and redness that occurs on the chest, neck, and face. They may also occur peripherally in the arms and the legs. As tiny blood vessels under the skin become more dilated more blood flows through those blood vessels.

The good news is there are a lot of potential strategies to address hot flashes and night sweats. The first strategy is to avoid triggers. Simple things like staying in a cool room and having a circulating fan going can be helpful. Sometimes exercise can trigger a menopausal hot flash or night sweats. Certainly anxiety, stress, panic, and nervousness can trigger hot flashes and night sweats. At night, insomnia can trigger a hot flash, which can trigger night sweats, which can trigger insomnia, and so on. Dressing in loose clothing and having loose bedding on your bed can help prevent night sweats as well.

Dietarily speaking, proper hydration is very important. Caffeine can trigger night sweats and hot flashes. Chocolate, spicy foods, refined sugars and desserts can all trigger hot flashes and night sweats, so be cautious about those desserts after dinnertime.

Coffee
Meditation

Therapeutically, many things that can be beneficial. Consider deep breathing exercises, meditation, hypnosis, yoga, or acupuncture. For some women, mild to moderate exercise is helpful for minimizing, reducing severity, and frequency of hot flashes. Eating a diet rich in phytoestrogens can be helpful for hot flashes. Omega 3 fatty acids and Vitamin E  found in flax seeds, chia seeds, and hemp seeds can be helpful for hot flashes.

There are also specific botanical agents that can be useful for hot flashes. The phytoestrogens found in red clover, gingko, ginseng, hops, licorice, thyme, alfalfa, soy, kudzu and dong quai can be effective. Rice bran oil has also been beneficial in studies to reduce both the severity and frequency of hot flashes.

Evening primrose oil (EPO) contains high amounts of an essential Omega 6 fatty acid called GLA, Gama Linolenic Acid. We know that GLA can have some significant impacts on improving inflammatory cytokine levels and the pro-inflammatory chemicals produced in the body actually can be decreased by taking GLA.

EPO is utilized mostly for three conditions. 1) Skin inflammatory conditions like eczema and acne, 2) breast pain, and 3) menopause. EPO has a number of studies for treating cyclical mastalgia or cyclical breast pain effectively.

Regarding menopause, I think of EPO for two therapeutic purposes. Firstly, for hot flashes. In a recent study, compared to placebo, EPO decreased the severity of hot flashes. It did not cut down on the frequency of hot flashes, but when those women studied did report hot flashes, they were less severe while taking evening primrose oil compared to placebo.

I also like EPO for improving risk factors for breast cancer. There have been some studies that show that, in petri dishes, when breast cancer cells are treated with GLA and evening primrose oil, those breast cancer cells become less aggressive and less invasive.  I think in terms of promoting healthy breast tissue perimenopausally and postmenopausally, evening primrose oil has a real role to play.

Flax Seed

The whole flax seed, flax seed flour, and flax seed meal have all been used in perimenopause/menopause for the positive effects of the lignans, a unique type of fiber for flax. The lignans are known to influence the metabolism of estrogen in fantastic ways. Lignans cause the 2-Hydroxy estrogen metabolite to increase and the 16-hydroxy metabolite to decrease.  This sets up a favorable metabolic state for reducing risk factors for breast cancer, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis, and a number of other health issues that can occur postmenopausally.

Flax Seeds

In addition, flax has been studied and shown to be beneficial for treating not only the menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood disorders during menopause, but also for helping to decrease pro-inflammatory chemicals and cytokines that are known to elevate risk factors for osteoporosis, dementia, breast cancer, a number of postmenopausal conditions that can significantly impact your life.

Black cohosh

Black cohosh affects serotonin levels in the brain AND it contains phytoestrogens. If we look at black cohosh and simply look at its effectiveness on hot flashes, night sweats, depression and anxiety, it turns out it can be rather effective during perimenopause and menopause. Oftentimes in large scientific studies, researchers use menopausal scales that go through a number of different symptoms. If the participant’s overall score goes lower, the therapy is considered to be ineffective. However, if you parcel out and dissect just those symptoms that you would actually expect to improve when you improve neurotransmitter serotonin levels such as vasomotor symptoms, hot flashes, night sweats, depression and anxiety, black cohosh actually does seem to be effective. That’s likely why it’s the most popular botanical extract used in the United States for perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms.

Black Cohosh
Try This Easy Home Made face-peel To Reverse Aging (TEAR AWAY WRINKLES!)

Try This Easy Home Made face-peel To Reverse Aging (TEAR AWAY WRINKLES!)

Who says facial treatments have to be expensive? We’ll explore the benefits of you making homemade anti-aging facial peels that will help you smoothen fine lines and wrinkles. Get started and use it consistently!

 

Cosmeceutical companies make peels and creams that are purported to make you look younger. However, we’ve found that most of the powerful ingredients in these products can be made at home.

You don’t have to spend $90 or more per bottle to have the benefits of facial peels.

woman applying natural homemade facial maskThere are two main components in these facial peels: alpha and beta hydroxy acids. They’re exfoliants that help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. They also reduce dark spots on the skin, which will help you look and feel younger. They should be used every single day for the best effects. These ingredients are wallet-friendly and cheaper than most of the facial products out there. To top it all off, they work just as well, or even better than, your off-the-shelf cosmetic products.

 

Alpha Hydroxy Acids Facial Peel

woman having a facial peel applied by beauticianAlpha hydroxy acids uncover healthier skin beneath your older skin, and help younger cells come to the surface. The alpha facial peel is quite simple to make:

  • ¼ cup of fine cane sugar
  • ¼ cup of plain yogurt
  • 1 egg white mixed with 2 tsp of water
  • ¼ cup fine cane sugar

Whisk all the ingredients in bowl. It should become a slightly granulated paste. Apply this to your face, neck, and forehead. Try not to get too close to the eyes as it can be irritating. Wait 10-15 minutes for the peel to work on your skin. You can choose to scrub your skin and exfoliate. Then, use cotton balls or a washcloth to gently wipe the mixture off your face, or wash it off with cool water.

Beta Hydroxy Acids Facial Peel

woman lying on a spa bed having a facial peel applied Beta hydroxy acid peels should be used every day after you’ve done your alpha peels. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1 tbsp baking soda
  • ¼ cup of water
  • 10 uncoated aspirin (crushed)
  • 4-5 drops fresh lemon juice

Dissolve the baking soda with water. Crush up the aspirin and add it to the baking soda mixture. Add the lemon juice to activate the baking soda and aspirin. The mixture should be a fine paste. Apply it all over your face, forehead, cheeks, neck, and around the eyes (be careful not to get too close). Allow it to set for 10-15 minutes. Then, use a cotton ball or just cool water to wash it off.

Facial Peel for Sensitive Skin

woman with white headband and bright complexion holding half a cucumber in one hand and slices of cucumber in anotherIf your skin is more sensitive, you can still make a facial peel suitable for you. All you need are two ingredients: green tea, and cucumber. Make a cup of green tea and let it cool to room temperature. Peel half a cucumber, and put it in a blender along with the cooled tea. Blend it up and apply it to your skin. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes before removing.

 

 

These facial peels are effective and extremely cheap compared to some other products that are on the market. Make sure that you moisturize your face after the alpha and beta facial peels as they are exfoliating.

You’ll look younger, you’ll feel younger, and that is what is exciting. I believe in the original meaning of the word doctor, ‘docere’, which means teacher.

Dr Ryan Shelton

So, I’m here several times a week to help educate you on how to take care of yourself in ways that you may not have heard before, but they’re effective.

I want your feedback, I want your ideas, I want you to share this with your friends and loved ones. I want you to hit the bell and subscribe to this channel, so that you make sure that every week you’re tuning in to learn new tools in health and wellness.

Thanks so much, I’m Dr. Ryan Shelton.

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Facts About Cellulite

What is Cellulite?

Cellulite is a condition that is more prominent in women than it is in men. The condition occurs when the collagen in our bodies become loose allowing our skin to move away from underlying tissues. When this occurs the fat in our bodies which looked more compressed begins to show causing the unsightly sags and wrinkles and dimples we hate so much.

Cellulite is not a harmful condition or should you be concerned from a health perspective. The reduction of cellulite is more of a cosmetic condition than a medical one. Those with cellulite can do everything that other people can do. When you have cellulite it is more prominent in the legs buttocks and arms. Women who suffer from this condition more than men will go through great lengths to remove the outward appearance of the condition with creams, exercise and in some cases surgery.

What Causes Cellulite?

As stated above, cellulite is just a natural condition that affects us when we get older. The first sign of the condition can be found in the face.  People with cellulite will begin to see bags form under their eyes. Most people will contribute this condition to lack of sleep when in fact it is the first sign of the condition.

The next sign of the condition will be wrinkles around the eyes which have been coined “crow’s feet”. From there other areas of the face will show the condition and finally move throughout the rest of the body.

Legs and buttocks are typically the next to shows signs of cellulite.

Heredity

Heredity or your family history is the first sign that you may be afflicted with this condition. If you look at other members of your family such as your mother and grandmother, you will see how they age. If they age well, as the term suggests, then the signs of cellulite will be less apparent. If we are said not to age well then the signs of cellulite become more pronounced

Stress

Stress is another key component in the development of cellulite. Stated above the term “Lived a hard life” is another indication of stress. When we are stressed we tend to eat more, sleep less, refrain from exercise as well as rev-up our heart rates, and perform other acts that are not healthy for us. When we experience stress our bodies start to wear down. When we are down our collagen levels begin to diminish or break down which leads to cellulite appearance.

Diet

Diet is a main cause of the amount of fat that we have in our bodies. Now no matter what your diet is or which diet plan you choose to go on, our bodies will always have fat in them. This fat is what’s showing up when we have cellulite. Reducing the amount of fat in our bodies will help the condition but it is a short term fix. To help with the appearance of cellulite in our bodies we need to add or fix the collagen that has been lost.

Slow Metabolism

Our metabolism plays a key part in the way our bodies process food and in return determines if the food is broken down into energy or fat. If we have a high metabolism the likelihood of the food being broken down into energy is higher than if we had a slower metabolism which would store the food as fat for later consumption. If the food is stored as fat then the appearance of cellulite is greater. This is why cellulite appears more prominent in older women than it does in younger individuals.

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Hormone Changes

Another reason cellulite appears more prominent in women than it does in men is because of hormone changes. When women are young they begin to experience hormone changes. As teenagers they enter into puberty and begin their development for having children. When they are in their early twenties women begin the desire to have children. When this becomes a reality their bodies become very hormonal which helps in the development of these children. After childbirth women once again change their hormone levels in order to handle the needs of the newborns.

When the children are all grown and out of the house the condition known as menopause sets in. This condition makes the women unable to conceive a child and once again the hormones in their bodies change. This constant flux of hormone changes throughout life wears down the body which in turn reduces the amount of collagen we produce which intensifies the appearance of cellulite.

Dehydration

Dehydration is the condition where the body is lacking the amount of water it needs in order to function. Since collagen is supported by hydration levels and reacts to the amount of water in the system, when we are dehydrated the collagen in our bodies dries up as well which contributes to the appearance of cellulite.

Toxins in the body

Fact or MythCellulite is caused by toxins in the body?

Myth – Toxins in the body have nothing to do with cellulite. One of the main claims of the cellulite creams and other products that we use to remove cellulite state that they will also remove toxins from the body. It is stated that these toxins cause the fatty tissue break away from the collagen which causes cellulitis.

Removing toxins from the body is always a good thing. Doing your research into what foods will help remove these toxins will be a great endeavor for you and your health. Unfortunately when it comes to removing cellulite from your body in this manner you are wasting your time.

Men Vs Women

Fact or MythWomen get cellulite more often than Men do?

Fact – Sorry ladies, but it is true. Women are more likely to get cellulite than men. The main reason for this is women have less connective tissue in their body to support the fat in our bodies as we age. As a result, the collagen that fills in between this connective tissue lessens and the fat in your body begins to sag causing cellulite. Female hormones also play a major role.

When it comes to men, according to an Easter Virginian Medical School study, only 10% of all men are prone to cellulite. When it comes to men I guess we have to suffer with male pattern baldness, erectile dysfunction and beer bellies. I hope that made some of my female readers a little happier.

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Worsens With Age

Fact – Sorry, this is another sad but true moment. As women age they begin to have more and more hormone changes. This starts at puberty and moves on to menopause. When women get older they stop producing estrogen which is the main hormone produced by women. When women produce estrogen they are also helping with the natural blood flow through their body. With this decreased blood flow in the body they are also subject to the decreased production of collagen.

When women start to loose collagen their eyes and face begin to sag, the fat under their arms begin to sag and sway and their butts and thighs begin to show signs of bumps and bulges. I bet the male readers are starting to feel a little better now after the erectile dysfunction comment.

As we get older and older the signs of cellulitis become more and more pronounced. This is why the elderly look wrinkled. As stated before it begins to show itself around the eyes and lips. From there the rest of the face is affected continuing down through the rest of the body.

Genetics Plays a Role

Fact or MythGenetics plays a role in whether or not you get cellulite?

Fact – Sorry again ladies. The fact is that if members of your family have cellulite then you will more than likely have cellulite too. Go and look at your mother, grandmother, aunts and female cousins. As they get older what are the effects of cellulite on their bodies? For those of you who are interested in learning the severity of cellulite on your body there is a test that you can purchase that will test how severe your body will be affected by cellulite.

One word of warning before you go out and purchase this test. Almost all women at some point in their lifetime will have to deal with cellulite and the effects of cellulite on your body. With this being said knowing how severe you can be or will be affected by this condition is just a fad idea.  The price of this test is very high and will not allow you to prevent the onset of cellulitis. So save your money.

Being Fit and Trim

Fact or MythCellulite only happens to people who are overweight or out of shape?

Myth – This is a myth. In fact, you can be as fit and as trim as humanly possible and still suffer from cellulite. Cellulite has nothing to do with how much fat someone has in their body. Cellulite is caused by the lack of or breakdown of collagen underlying the skin and nothing else. When you have low amounts of perfect collagen in your body the skin moves away from your body causing the condition.

Exercise Can Help

Fact or MythExercise will help reduce the appearance of fat from cellulite?

Fact: Exercise will help with the appearance of cellulite. Now let me make this clear, exercise will not remove cellulite from your body on a permanent basis. Like I stated, fat doesn’t cause cellulite it is only shown through the skin because of the lack of collagen in the body. If you exercise and remove the fat in your body the condition caused by cellulite is lessened since there is less fat to be shown.

Some of the exercises that you can work on are squats, running, jogging, leg exercise, arm exercise and other general exercise that will work on the parts of the body that show the fat more prominently. So keep your body fat and weight in check and the amount of cellulite that is shown will go down but the condition will remain.

Pregnant? Here Are 6 Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy for Diabetics

Pregnancy is a challenging time for any woman. Between the hormone fluctuations, swollen feet, and sore back, just making it through your daily routine can be rough. If you are pregnant and have diabetes, however, things can get even more complicated.

It is entirely possible to manage your diabetes while pregnant, but there are a few special precautions you should take for your own safety and for your baby’s wellbeing. Keep reading to learn about six simple tips for a healthy pregnancy with diabetes.

The Top 6 Tips for Managing Diabetes While Pregnant

If you have diabetes, keeping your blood sugar levels stable is of the utmost importance. Your diet and lifestyle play an important role in diabetes management and, if possible, you should get things under control before you even think about getting pregnant. Whether you planned to get pregnant or not, however, there are some simple tips you should follow to ensure a healthy pregnancy if you are diabetic – here are the top six:

  1. Understand the risks. During the first 8 weeks of pregnancy is when your baby’s heart, brain, kidneys, and lungs start to form and high blood sugar during this period can affect your baby’s development and increase the risk for birth defects. High blood sugar may also increase your risk of miscarriage and the risk that your baby might be born too early.
  2. Get your bad habits under control. If you are a smoker, you should quit. If you are obese, lose some weight. If your diet is unhealthy, fix it. Making improvements to your diet and lifestyle will not only benefit your health but the health of your baby as well. The sooner you get your health under control, the better it will be for you and your baby.
  3. Control your blood sugar. As a diabetic, you should already be taking steps to keep your blood glucose levels stable, but this becomes increasingly more important if you are pregnant. Talk to your doctor about the best method for managing your blood sugar and then stick to his advice. You’ll also need to test your blood sugar regularly, so you will know when it is getting too low or too high. While pregnant, you should be testing your blood sugar at least once an hour.
  4. Pay attention to your diet. The food you eat is the biggest factor that affects your blood sugar levels, so be very mindful of your diet. Focus your meals on low-glycemic foods like lean proteins, whole grains, fresh vegetables, and healthy fats. Try to limit your intake of refined sugars and processed carbs because these foods are the most likely to cause a spike in blood sugar. If you have trouble keeping food down during pregnancy, keep some whole-grain crackers handy to settle your stomach when you have morning sickness.
  5. Develop a support network. Being pregnant is difficult enough, but the added challenge of diabetes on top of it can be overwhelming at times. Talk to your partner about what they can do to help you manage your diabetes while you are pregnant and don’t be afraid to rely on them when you need help. You may also find it beneficial to join an online support group or find one in your community. Not only is it helpful to have this kind of support, but it will benefit you to connect with people who are in the same situation as you.
  6. Consider going off your oral diabetes medications. For many diabetics, oral medications are essential for managing blood sugar. Unfortunately, diabetes medications like metformin have not been proven safe for use during pregnancy. There is no concrete evidence to suggest that they are dangerous, but neither is there enough evidence to show that they are safe – it is better to be safe than sorry. Talk to your doctor about going off your diabetes drugs and what you’ll need to do to manage your diabetes in another way.

As a diabetic, getting pregnant comes with certain risks, but diabetes is by no means impossible to manage while you are pregnant. If you are not currently diabetic, don’t assume that you are out of the woods – gestational diabetes is a condition that affects about 4% of pregnant women. For your own safety and for the health of your baby, talk to your doctor about diabetes if you are pregnant so, if you have it, you can get it under control.

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