Tag: wellness

The Future of Fitness explained: how CBD oil can help you feel better

Posted on by Sol
CBD oil / Image source: openaccessgovernment.org

CBD oil / Image source: openaccessgovernment.org

The Future of Fitness explained: how CBD oil can help you feel better

If you love to learn about new exercise and fitness trends, The Future of Fitness explains it to you in a way you can understand and separate the hype cycle from actual results.

Do you want a shot of CBD in your coffee? How about in your ice cream? It’s almost like everyone discovered this miraculous cure for diabetes, epilepsy, anxiety, and cancer overnight. But do you know the facts about CBD?

What is CBD?

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that are produced naturally in our bodies and in some plants. Cannabinoids are similar to chemicals involved in appetite, memory, movement, and pain. There are more than 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant and the most common one is Cannabidiol, or CBD. 

How can I take CBD?

CBD is extracted from cannabis and is available as an oil or in capsule form. It can also be applied topically, inhaled, or ingested as an oil or in an edible.

How does it work?

CBD stimulates your endocannabinoid system by interacting with its cannabinoid receptors. This interaction activates the endocannabinoid system so it can better regulate the body and keep functions in balance. 

Can I get high on CBD?

CBD will not get you high. Unlike delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major active ingredient in marijuana, CBD is not psychoactive. CBD can make you feel relaxed and calm but you will not feel intoxicated. 

What is it used for?

CBD is used to provide relief to people suffering from pain and other ailments. CBD is known to provide relief for chronic pain, anxiety, inflammation, depression and many other conditions. At the moment, a great deal of scientific research is examining CBD as a treatment option for neurological conditions, autoimmune diseases, metabolic syndromes, neuropsychiatric illnesses, skin diseases, gut disorders, and cardiovascular dysfunctions. 

Does it work?

CBD wasn’t recognized as a medicine by the FDA until 2018. A pure pharmaceutical formulation of CBD called Epidiolex was approved for the treatment of two severe paediatric seizure disorders, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. 

Should I Try It?

Because of the stigma associated with marijuana, science hasn’t caught up to embracing CBD as quickly as it should. Most doctors are unaware of the benefits of CBD and may be reluctant to recommend it to patients. It’s also difficult to prescribe a specific dosage or best mode of administration. Additionally, we aren’t sure how CBD interacts with other drugs. 

But research is underway. As more countries legalize and embrace the benefits of cannabis products, CBD will move from the fringes to the mainstream. This will allow us all to make evidence-based decisions about how to incorporate this treatment into our lives. 

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Signing on for Dry January can reset more than just your relationship with alcohol​

Posted on by Sol
Illustration for Dry January Image source: Viktoria Hnatiuk / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Illustration for Dry January Image source: Viktoria Hnatiuk / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Signing on for Dry January can reset more than just your relationship with alcohol

Each January, more and more people decide to commit to a month without alcohol. This year, it is estimated that one in ten drinkers will try Dry January. But does quitting booze for a month really make a difference to our health and should you take part in this new tradition? 

If you approach Dry January thoughtfully, it can feel less like a fad and more like an opportunity to reset. Dry January can help you commit to a New Year’s resolution to cut back on alcohol after a month of indulgences.The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines moderate drinking as up to four alcoholic drinks for men and three for women in any single day and a maximum of 14 drinks for men and seven drinks for women per week. 

Dropping alcohol for one month can lower blood pressure, improve your insulin resistance, and reduce blood levels of a signaling protein linked to cancer, according to a small study. People who quit drinking for a month also find it easier afterward. Additionally, refraining from alcohol will relieve metabolic stress on your liver — as about half of all liver disease deaths are from alcoholic liver disease. It can also positively affect your sleep habits, immune system, and help reduce anxiety. 

However, it’s important to remember that abstaining from alcohol for one month will not make up for eleven months of binge drinking. The true health benefits associated with cutting out alcohol are based on long term abstinence. 

The biggest benefits of Dry January, a short period of abstinence, are psychological or psychosocial ones. If you think your regular (or excessive) drinking habits might be contributing to how you are feeling (mentally, physically, socially, etc.), removing alcohol can give you the perspective you need to make sustainable, healthy changes. 

While Dry January won’t directly cure your depression, stepping back from your nightly drinks can provide the distance you need to assess your motivation for drinking. When not self-medicating, you’ll be in a better position to recognize that you might need help from a doctor or therapist. 

When you remove alcohol from social situations, does it change how you want to spend your time? Are you ordering that mimosa at brunch because you like it…or because that’s the expectation in your friend group? How much is external pressure part of your alcohol consumption? It’s hard to critically observe these situations when you’re in the middle of them. Taking a step back always helps, and Dry January gives you an excuse, if you need one, to observe the dynamics of your personal relationships. 

Like cutting out any other harmful substance in our lives, focusing more on what we gain — rather than what we lose — is key to success. Participating in Dry January can provide you with clarity and inspire you to make larger positive life changes.   

Anyone can make resolutions for the New Year. Here are some strategies for the New Decade

Posted on by Sol
women on couch at New Decade party / Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

women on couch at New Year's party / Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Anyone can make resolutions for the New Year. Here are some strategies for the New Decade

New decade resolutions can be bold. They can be aspirational…but they can also be intimidating. They can be small steps you take to answer the question “Who do I want to be in 10 years”? Or, they can be frightening. When you evaluate where you currently are, how will you get to be the person you always dreamed you could be?

Maybe you’re already there — living a life that is emotionally, romantically, physically, financially, and spiritually satisfying. And if that’s you…congratulations. However, most of us aren’t where we ever pictured ourselves. Whether it’s arbitrary age-related timelines or surprise curveballs in multiple careers, sometimes we’re so far away from our life goals that it’s difficult to know where to start.

Last year, we offered some strategies to help you stick to your resolutions. Starting small, focusing on a single challenge, being realistic, and tracking your progress are still the expert-recommended approaches to accomplishing lifestyle habits that don’t dissolve in February. This year, inspired by the new decade, let’s look at how you can practically set yourself up for success today to accomplish more in the next 10 years.

Stop talking, start doing.

Are you one of those people who is always telling your friends about how you want to start a podcast, write a book, learn to scuba dive, run a marathon, and take up an instrument…but you haven’t done anything about it? Well, this is the year where you need to take small steps to accomplish these things. Can you swap Sunday morning brunch for a quiet hour of writing, researching, running, or taking classes? Like everything in life, if it’s important enough, you will dedicate the time and energy to do it. If not, it’s time to let go and stop making empty promises.

Add, don’t remove.

So much of the trapping of diet culture is about deprivation. It’s about what you can’t eat. Once something is forbidden, we only want it more. If your goal for this decade is to be healthy, consider adding something to your daily routine. Whether it’s adding a walk around the block after dinner or a cup of bone broth every day, adding things into your life switches the focus. It reinforces how much we have and allows us to celebrate and be grateful.

Be reflective, not reactive.

We live in a culture that rewards instant gratification. We are expected to respond as soon as possible to emails, text messages, feeds, streams…and this can lead to emotional overload. We all need a time out to take a moment and compose ourselves before speaking or typing. Slowing down and being deliberate and thoughtful helps us to take a moment to evaluate how we really feel — keeping our emotions from ruling our lives.

Ask for help. You are not alone.

From coaches to therapists, there are people out there who understand what you’re going through. There are teachers who can provide you with new skills and trainers to help you perfect your form. These people exist to help you achieve greatness. They are there for you. Asking for help can be scary but it’s essential if you want to grow in this new decade. Not only will they help you meet your goals, but developing a relationship with a person who really understands you will help you grow in ways you never imagined.

These four approaches to resolutions are tough ones. They require you to really look at your life, evaluate your priorities, and make uncomfortable changes. It’s often easier to stay static than confront things that make us uneasy. However, if we start seriously considering who we want to be on the evening of 2029, we have to start somewhere. And we can do it together.

Let’s never do that again: a decade of bad decisions

Posted on by Sol
Detox juice cleanse promo
Detox juice cleanse promo

Let's never do that again: a decade of bad decisions

As the 2010s come to a close, itu2019s easy for us to look back on the way we lived. In the present, the decisions we made in the past can be questionable u2014 especially when it comes to advice about health and wellness.

Ah, wellness. Thereu2019s a word weu2019re going to ban from our vocabulary the moment the clock strikes midnight on New Yearu2019s Eve.

While u201cwellnessu201d may have started the decade as a way of optimizing our fitness routines, exploring alternatives cures, and investing in self-care, it has bloomed into a pseudoscience that promotes the myths of the diet industry. In the eyes of wellness, we need to invest large sums of money into dangerous, unproven cures and techniques that look great on social media and do nothing for our bodies. The wellness industry, from essential oils to extreme diets, prioritizes thinness as an outward display of health.

In the final days of 2019, letu2019s say NO to the irresponsible trends of the past decade.

But if we are rejecting so much, what should we be embracing? Here are some suggestions:

Nobodyu2019s life magically changes at the stroke of midnight and weu2019re all trying to get better. Letu2019s make positive steps by removing lies, hype, and hatred from how we get healthy this year and celebrate that we have as we get stronger, smarter, and kinder in the new year.

Matcha brings ritual and a myriad of health benefits. What’s not to like?

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Matcha tea with spoon and whisk / image source: Oregon Sports News

Matcha tea with spoon and whisk / image source: Oregon Sports News

Matcha brings ritual and a myriad of health benefits. What’s not to like?

If you’ve been to a coffee shop or tea emporium recently, you’ve probably seen matcha on the menu. You may have even heard that matcha has more caffeine than coffee — yet is still incredibly healthy. From weight loss to cancer prevention, matcha is being hailed as a secret weapon to wellness.

Matcha is different from regular green tea. Instead of steeping the tea leaves in hot water, they are ground into a powder so you are actually consuming the leaf itself. Unlike traditional green tea, matcha preparation involves covering the tea plants with shade cloths before they’re harvested. This improves the flavour and texture of the leaves. The shade also increases the amount of chlorophyll content in the leaves, which is what makes them bright green and full of nutrients. Leaves are steamed to stop fermentation, dried, and aged in cold storage.

Is there any scientific proof that matcha can do everything from lowering blood pressure to increasing metabolism? There have been a number of studies that demonstrate that matcha can reduce cell damage and prevent chronic disease. This is due to the concentrated amount of antioxidants. Catechins, an antioxidant in matcha, may help reduce blood pressure — and is considered especially effective if your upper number is 130 or higher.

And what about the claim that matcha produces the boost of caffeine without the jitters? Because you’re consuming whole leaves, you may get three times as much caffeine than a cup of steeped tea — about the amount in a cup of brewed coffee. Matcha releases caffeine slowly in your bloodstream so you’re less likely to experience a sudden rush of energy … or the inevitable crash.

But is matcha tasty? Some people actually don’t enjoy drinking matcha because they find it grassy-tasting, grainy, and bitter. They may also find the texture, which can be paste-like, difficult to swallow. Others aren’t bothered by the taste and enjoy matcha in teas, lattes, smoothies, and even in energy balls.

If you are a tea lover or interested in trying match for its benefits, start by having a beverage prepared for you. If you like the taste, you can invest in a matcha whisk, frother, or maker (a tube where you can shake and then drain the tea through a sieve). These pieces are essential for making matcha at home because you cannot just add the powder to hot water. Matcha needs to be prepared. And for many people, it’s worth the ritual and the health rewards.

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How Relative Fat Mass Index improves on Body Mass Index as a measure of health

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Relative fat mass index is supplanting body mass index as an indicator of health.

Relative fat mass index is supplanting body mass index as an indicator of health.

How Relative Fat Mass Index improves on Body Mass Index as a measure of health

Underweight. Normal weight. Overweight. Obese. These are the four categories the Body Mass Index (BMI) has used in its health assessment.

BMI calculation is based on two metrics: height and weight. Use one of many online BMI calculators and you will receive a number that is meant to indicate your general health. Below 18 and you are underweight. You are of normal weight if your BMI is between 18.5 and 25, overweight if it is between 25 and 30. Anybody with a BMI of 30 or more is obese.

However, more reports and studies are finding fault with BMI as a measure of health. Basing a calculation of health on height and weight alone, BMI doesn’t take into account bone, muscle, or fat proportions. This means that a person with exceptional muscle tone and low fat is more likely to have a higher BMI compared to someone with higher fat and lower muscle tone — because muscle can be four times as dense as fat.

If the BMI is defective, why are we still using it? Is there an easy alternative to the BMI? Yes, and it’s the relative fat mass index (RFM).

Studies have determined that your waist circumference provides a more accurate reading of your abdominal fat and risk for disease than BMI. Based on data from 3,456 patients in the United States, the RFM measurements closely matched those taken by a high-tech DXA body scan, widely considered the gold standard for measuring body tissue, bone, muscle and fat.

To get your new RFM measurement, measure your height and waist circumference, then plug the figures into this formula:
MEN: 64 – (20 x height/waist circumference) = RFM
WOMEN: 76 – (20 x height/waist circumference) = RFM
What’s interesting about the RFM is that weight is not even part of the overall equation. Additionally, there are no strict categories for simple classification.

As doctors and organizations like the American Society for Nutrition and the American Diabetes Association promote waist-circumference measurements as a supplement to, or replacement for, the body mass index, we are starting to rethink the relationship between weight and overall health. So, let’s say goodbye to the BMI and embrace the change that comes with new information that will hopefully lead us towards a more holistic view of wellness.