We all know how important it is to be healthy, but it can hard to gauge whether you’re hitting the right targets or not. It’s easy to equate healthiness to looking a certain way but looks can be deceptive. In fact, your overall health often has very little to do with how you look, which means we need other ways to help us to determine whether we’re healthy.
Although regular visits to your physician will help you to establish whether you’re healthy, there are factors in your day-to-day life that can give you an indication of whether you’re healthy. If you want to ensure you’re taking care of your physical and emotional well-being, take a look at these five signs you’re in pretty good health:
1. Full, shiny hair
When your hair is full, glossy, and growing at a regular pace, it can be a good indicator of your overall health. To grow healthily, your hair relies on your body’s ability to develop a proper hair shaft. Furthermore, the health of hair is impacted by the health of the hair follicle and your skin. When your hair is full and shiny, it’s a good sign that things are going well.
Conversely, damaged, dry or brittle hair can be a sign that an underlying issue is present. Hypothyroid is a common cause of thinning or easily damaged hair, for example, while vitamin deficiencies and stress can also affect hair health.
2. Fresh Breath
A good oral hygiene routine can ensure your breath smells fresh but even regular flossing doesn’t always cover the signs of an underlying health issue. If you notice that your breath smells sweet, for example, it could be a sign of diabetes, while a sour smell can be indicative of sleep apnea. Similarly, an unpleasant odor can signal reflux or gut issues.
When your breath is fresh, however, it can mean that your body is functioning well. While it might be tempting to increase your use of mouthwash to eradicate bad breath, finding out whether there’s a specific cause is always your best bet.
And if you require dental care, you can fix that toothache with the general dentist in Roseville or find ways to rid your bad breath.
3. Clear Eyes
They say that the eyes are a window to the soul, but they also give a pretty good indication of your general well-being. Your eyes can show signs of physical illness, as well as emotional distress. Yellowing of the eyes can be linked to jaundice or gallstones, for example. Additionally, bloodshot or tired eyes can be a sign that you’re not getting enough sleep or that you’re stressed, depressed, or anxious.
In contrast, if your eyes are clear, it can show that your physical and mental health is good. Bright, energetic eyes, along with an animated face, are a great indicator that you’re content and happy, for example.
4. Firm Gums
Your gums can tell you a lot about your physical health, which is why it’s vital to take care of them. Gum disease has been linked to increased rates of cardiovascular function, for example, so you’ll want to do everything possible to reduce your risk of developing periodontal problems. When your gums are healthy, they’ll feel relatively firm, be pink in color or not bleed easily.
As the gums are interlinked to your general physical health, it’s essential to follow a good oral hygiene routine. If gum disease has already affected your smile, the Advanced Center For Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry can help to restore your confidence and boost your health. Even when gum disease is present, visiting your dentist regularly can help to reduce the symptoms and restore your health.
5. Waist Circumference
Many people use Body Mass Index (BMI) calculations to determine if they’re a healthy weight, but this isn’t the only indicator you should rely on. Even if you’re a healthy weight, carrying a significant proportion of fat around your abdomen can be a sign of potential health issues. To determine whether you’re at risk, it can be advisable to measure the circumference of your waist.
According to the CDC, women with a waist measurement of over 35” and men with a waist measurement of more than 40” are at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. The fat you store around your abdomen is believed to be more metabolically active than fat in other areas, which is why it can be so harmful to your health.
If your waist measurement falls below these parameters, it can be a good sign that you’re a healthy weight and aren’t storing abdominal fat. As this indicates that you’re not at increased risk of developing certain conditions, it can be a good way to gauge your overall wellbeing.
6. You Don’t Get Angry Often
Good health doesn’t only relate to your physical wellbeing; your mental and emotional health is important too. If you don’t get angry often and when you do, you deal with your emotions in an appropriate and proportionate way, it’s a great indicator that your emotions are in balance.
Conversely, being irritable, struggling to contain your emotions, or experiencing frequent outbursts can indicate just the opposite. Hormonal imbalances, excessive stress, or feeling out of control, are just some of the reasons why you might angry more often than is usual, although there are many other reasons too.
Learning to Recognize the Signs of Good Health
As you assess your mind and your body for signs of good health more often, you’ll become more adept at noticing when things are amiss. This ensures you’re able to notice the first signs of potential illness and take action. From consulting with a physician to exercising more, improving your diet, and reducing your stress levels, there are a variety of ways you can enhance your health.
While regular check-ups are always important, being able to recognize your own signs of good health is vital. When you can monitor your own body, you’ll feel more empowered and better able to have a positive impact on your own health, wellbeing, and happiness, which is what we all want, isn’t it really?
Your immune system is arguably the most important part of your body. It’s the system that prevents sickness and keeps you healthy. When you have a robust immune system, you’ll be less likely to get ill all the time. On the other hand, people with weak immune systems or immune system problems are highly likely to pick up viruses or get sick.
Basically, a strong immune system can fight against viruses and bacteria to prevent you from feeling ill. This is why some people won’t have a cold all year, while others get two or three. Your immune system is essential all the time, but it’s particularly important right now. Let’s not beat around the bush; you probably clicked on this article because you had COVID-19 in the back of your mind!
Yes, a strong immune system can make it harder for you to catch this virus, and it will make it easier for you to fight it if you do get it. The good thing about immune systems is that they can be improved. Yours can get a nice little boost if you try some of the ideas listed down below:
Improve your vitamin intake
Vitamins are vital for improving and maintaining your immune system. Generally, most scientists agree that the four main immune-boosting vitamins are:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin B6
Most people only think about vitamin C, but these other three also play an important role. Naturally, there are two main ways you can improve your vitamin intake. Eating a healthy diet with foods rich in vitamins is the best approach to take. If you eat a selection of fruit and veg, you are likely to get a lot of vitamins C and B6. Vitamin E is mainly found in nuts and seeds, so a good way to get this is through peanut butter.
Vitamin D is harder to get from your diet as it’s only available in small amounts. Instead, most people get their vitamin D from sunlight. Of course, the second option for all your vitamins is a supplement. The two main tips for taking supplements are that you should only buy from trusted brands and only take supplements you need. A brand like Thorne Supplements is a good one to trust as there’s lots of research backing the products, and they’re all tested. As far as the supplements you need, it will depend on what you lack. Vitamin D supplements are highly popular as they are the easiest way to get this vitamin. However, you may want to consider a vitamin C supplement as well, just for an extra boost.
Eat a healthy diet
I just spoke about the importance of a healthy diet concerning vitamin intake. Still, it’s crucial in terms of your overall immune system health. Truthfully, the healthiest diet includes lots of whole foods and a good selection of fruit & veg. You don’t need to eat meat, you don’t need to be vegan, and you don’t need to follow a crazy diet. Just make balanced meals that are predominately whole foods, and your diet will be healthy.
This type of diet will naturally boost your immune system. But, it’s good to understand what foods to avoid as they can damage your immunity. Typically, you should avoid processed foods, foods high in sugar, and alcohol. All three of these things are shown to have a negative effect on the immune system. You can enjoy them now and then, but don’t make them a mainstay in your diet.
The easiest way to think about it is that your immune system helps you stay healthy. So, how do you ensure your body is healthy? It’s simple; you don’t eat a load of crap!
Exercise regularly
Exercise is a natural superpower for your immune system. There are plenty of studies that demonstrate a positive link between regular exercise and your immune system. In short, people that exercise all the time are much less likely to get sick. Why is this the case? Well, there are some very interesting theories floating about.
One of the most frequently agreed upon ideas is that exercise increases white blood cells and antibodies in your body. These are the two things that fight against disease and work to kill bacteria and prevent infections. When you exercise, it’s shown that your body produces more of both, and they work more efficiently. Without getting too technical, the white blood cells and antibodies are quicker at snuffing out bacteria when you exercise. Thus, you’re less likely to get sick and will be sick for less time.
It’s also suggested that exercising causes your lungs to blow out bacteria and other harmful things. This is because your breathing increases, and you also might expel droplets of saliva. Overall, you should definitely start exercising at least three times per week. This won’t just improve your immune system, but it will also make you feel a lot better about yourself!
Get more sleep at night
It probably comes as no surprise that sleep is on this list! If you search for anything health-related, sleep will always come up. It’s the solution to a lot of problems, including poor immunity. When you think about it…this makes loads of sense. What are you told to do if you get sick? Sleep it off! Everyone always tells you to get loads of sleep as that’s when your body recovers. Your immune system works harder when you’re relaxed and snoozing away. Therefore, a lack of sleep means your immune system can’t work as hard as it needs to. As a result, you’re more likely to get sick, and your sickness will last longer.
What is the right amount of sleep to get every night? People debate this all the time, but the safe number is 8 hours. If you aim for 8 hours a night, your immune system will get a much-needed boost. Don’t worry if you can’t achieve the full 8 hours every day – 7 hours now and then will be fine. Ideally, you want to avoid sleeping less than 6 hours a night. This tends to be when the problems start.
Improve your digestive system
Improving your digestive system will work wonders for your all-round health and wellbeing. It’s much more than simply digesting food. So much bacteria is found in the gut, some of which is good for you. In fact, good gut bacteria is proven to help regulate your immune system. The question is, how do you ensure you get a lot of good bacteria in your body?
Well, it’s not as difficult as you think. Again, eating a healthy and balanced diet will help. But, to give yourself a boost, consider eating foods containing probiotics. The most obvious example of this is yogurt – loads of yogurts contain probiotics, which are good gut bacteria. Some fruits contain it as well, but yogurt or kefir are the best food options.
You also get special drinks – like Yakult – that you can take once a day. It’s basically a liquid supplement, or you can take another type of supplement instead. Probiotics are available in capsule-form if that’s how you’d prefer to take them. In truth, this is a good idea if you’re vegan and don’t eat dairy products. The majority of foods containing probiotics are dairy-based.
Go outside
The last tip is one that we should all pay attention to. Now, there’s an intriguing theory that our immune systems are weaker than they used to be. Largely, this theory is aimed at the kids of the current generation. They seem to get sick more often than kids did a few decades ago. There could be many reasons for this, but one suggestion is that kids don’t go outside to play anymore. I mean, they do, but nowhere near as often as they used to.
Back in the day, children would play outside for hours; they’d mess around in the dirt and basically cover themselves in germs. As a result, their immune systems had to work harder to fight off infections and diseases. They may have gotten sick initially, but their immune system was a lot stronger in the long run. The key theory for today’s generation is that their immune systems are never exposed to germs because they’re inside more and more. As of yet, there aren’t any studies to prove this theory, but it’s an interesting idea.
To be honest, it kind of makes sense. It’s good to go outside and expose yourself to everything out there. I don’t mean that you have to go crazy and be unhygienic! It’s just better to be outside enjoying the fresh air than stuck indoors all the time. So, whenever you can, try to be active and go out and about.
On that note, you’ve come to the end of this guide. There are six ideas here that can help your immune system get stronger. Honestly, there’s no excuse not to do everything on this list. It won’t just help your immune system; it will help your overall health & wellbeing.
If you want to take better care of yourself, then one of those things is taking better care of your body. How much you walk, move, and exercise can all impact your health, both physical health and mental health. When it comes to an exercise routine, though, it can be hard for some people to get into it, or to even make sure that it is doing something worthwhile. So here are some of the ways that you can make sure that you get the most out of everything you do when you exercise. It would be great to hear what you think.
Lift weights
A lot of people can think that lifting weights isn’t for them, but if you only do cardio, you can be doing yourself a real disservice. When you don’t add in some weights your metabolism will actually start to go down, which can make weight loss much trickier. Something like resistance training can help to build up your muscle, which in turn increases your metabolic rate. This means that you simply burn more calories even when you’re standing still.
Reduce distractions
If you want to make the most out of your time in the gym or out walking or running, then you need to eliminate as many distractions as possible. When you eliminate as many distractions as you can, then it can help you to establish a better mind muscle connection. This means you can really focus on what your body (muscles in particular) are doing. When we exercise or workout in a gym, we can be thinking of so many other things like what you look like, how thirsty you are, or are you doing something right. So try to reduce those kinds of thoughts and distractions and it can really make a difference.
Start your workout with carbs
We often hear of ‘carb loading’ as just something that people running marathons do. But really, when you eat some carbohydrates before a workout it can help you to have more energy, especially if you do something like interval training. Carbs are a fuel for your body, and when you’re fueled correctly, you can put in more effort and get more out of your exercise. You don’t need to load up massively, but before a morning workout, for example, think about adding in some toast or some oatmeal before you go.
Drink water
When you lose some of your body weight in water, as can happen when you exercise, it can make the workout feel tougher, and reduce how much you are capable of doing. So make sure that you are hydrated with plenty of water before, during, and after a workout. If you’re exercising outside on a warm day, then you will need even more. You’re likely to crave the water, but if not, make sure that you get yourself into the habit of drinking a lot of water each day.
Are there any other things that help you to get out and to move more? It would be great to hear what you think.
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
If you’re looking for ways to ease the pain you may feel after a hike but you don’t know where to begin then don’t worry, you have definitely come to the right place. Whether you’re a regular hiker or you’re going for a one time hike, you need to be sure you’re looking after yourself in the days following your walk. Luckily, there are lots of different ways in which you can do exactly that. From taking painkillers to using muscle balms, the more you’re doing to look after yourself the better. With that in mind, here are 5 ways to ease the pain after a hike:
Take Painkillers If Needed
One of the best ways to ease your pain after a hike is to take pain killers, as this can help reduce any soreness you may be feeling. If you know you’re going to feel pain after you’ve finished your hike, you may also want to consider taking pain killers before you leave. This will help reduce any pain you’re feeling during the walk. If you’re unsure which pain killers are best, it helps to choose something that will reduce inflammation.
Get As Much Rest As You Can
After you have finished your hike, you need to ensure you’re getting as much rest as you can. Whether this means resting for the evening or taking a couple of days off, you need to give yourself time to recover. If it helps, take a long hot bath to relax your muscles. For tips and tricks when it comes to relaxing your muscles, you can visit this site here.
Use Muscle Balms For Sore Areas
If you have a couple of areas that are more sore than normal, you may want to consider using muscle balms to help ease the pain. Although they don’t work for everyone, they can be a great solution if you want to get back out there as soon as possible. For a guide to using muscle balms, you can visit this site here.
Consider Alternative Methods
For those that find the above methods don’t work, you may want to consider using alternative methods. One of the most common alternative methods, of course, is CBD or CBD related products. If you’re looking for weed gummy bears for sale, you can visit this site here.
Work With A PT For The Best Results
Finally, if you’re still finding that you’re in a lot of pain after a hike, you might find it beneficial to work with a PT. They will be able to see what you’re doing wrong and give you advice when it comes to reducing the amount of pain you’re feeling each time you hike.
With some great ways to ease your pain after a hike, you can be sure you’re feeling ready to go in no time. What else could you do? Did we miss anything off of the list? Let us know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.
Many people experience trouble with anxiety day to day. It is actually one of the most common problems for many, and it’s no wonder that so many individuals are struggling with their minds in this manner. Truth be told, we all get anxious sometimes. But if you are anxious all the time, that’s a problem and one that you might want to try and fix. Fortunately, there are always steps you can take to ensure that you are going to overcome your anxiety, or at least manage it well enough that it doesn’t take over your life. Let’s take a look at some of those important steps.
Say Goodbye To Social Media
People get very attached to social media, and you might find yourself thinking that it is even necessary for your line of work or in order to keep in touch with the people in your life. But all that time spent on Twitter could be spent advancing your career in much more direct ways, and you can keep up to date with the people in your life by actually calling them on the phone once in a while. The truth is, social media is not a necessary part of your life – and it is likely making you a more anxious person. Do away with it for just a week, and see how different your mind feels. You will feel calmer, more spacious, less worried, and generally a lot more relaxed in yourself.
Take Care With What You Consume
As well as being careful about screens, you should also take care with what you consume in other ways. What you are putting into your body is always going to be an important aspect to trying to deal with anxiety, and it’s amazing what a difference you can make just doing simple things like not drinking coffee or using a little cbd isolate here and there. Similarly, alcohol is likely making you more anxious than you need to be, and could be done away with pretty easily. If you really want to overcome your anxiety once and for all, you have to take it seriously what you are putting into your body every day. It really does make a difference to the state of your mind.
Meditate
The word meditation comes with a lot of confusion for many people, partly because as a word it has about a thousand different meanings. But meditation as we are using it here simply means spending a little time each day in a quiet place, paying careful but relaxed attention to what’s going on in your mind. You don’t have to change your mind or try to stop your thoughts – you just have to sit and watch what happens. Just developing that mindfulness is an incredibly powerful way of gaining an essential distance from your anxiety, so that even when it crops up again, it won’t be such a problem for you. Take up meditation today and see what happens.
Your teeth are some of the most crucial parts of your body’s amazing ecosystem. Teeth enable you both to talk and eat delicious food and are essential to your wellbeing. Not only this, but your teeth are critical for you your beautiful smile! Taking good care of your teeth is a practice most people have instilled in them from a very young age. However, many people fall back on these essential habits once life gets in the way. Here is a comprehensive guide on taking care of your precious teeth!
What Can Damage My Teeth?
There are the obvious factors that can damage your teeth – lack of brushing and excessive sugar consumption are the key factors we all know well! But what else can damage your teeth?
- Accidents. Of course, having accidents such as car accidents, trips, slips and falls can damage your teeth. Broken teeth are extremely painful and require immediate medical care to repair the damage.
- Sports. If you play a ball sport such as lacrosse, tennis or hockey, or if you play a contact sport, you may be at risk of damaging your teeth. Sports are intense, and if you aren’t careful, you can have your teeth chipped or knocked clean out during a game.
- Smoking. Smoking causes terrible damage to your teeth. Not only is your chance of contracting oral cancer increased significantly by smoking, but smoking also causes your teeth to blacken due to the tar intake from cigarettes.
- Eating tough foods. Foods such as hard cookies, sweets, apples, carrots, and other solid foods can be tough on your teeth. If your teeth are already weakened or damaged, you can break your teeth on these foods. This sounds implausible but is actually very common! If you have crowns or veneers fitted, these are especially sensitive to hard foods.
- Unhealthy gums. Gum disease is prevalent around the world and is due to the gums being ignored as an essential composite of tooth care. Plaque, the hard, brown buildup that occurs on your teeth when you don’t brush or floss enough, can wear away your gum’s protection and let in bacteria. This causes gum disease, also known as gingivitis, and can be painful, as well as cause tooth loss.
- Alcohol. Alcoholic drinks often contain a high sugar percentage which can, as everybody knows, damage your teeth over time. However, alcohol itself also damages the teeth by dehydrating your mouth, causing less saliva flow to the teeth area. Saliva keeps your teeth hydrated and healthy, as well as being an antibacterial essential to prevent disease. If a lot of alcohol is consumed over time, this can increase your chance of bacteria buildup and potential damage. Around 70% of those diagnosed with oral cancer are heavy drinkers; alcohol poses a serious health risk to your oral health.
- Grinding or clenching your teeth. These are habits that are formed over time and are usually done when you are asleep. Grinding your teeth can wear down your teeth over time and cause nerve damage. Clenching your jaw during sleep or absentmindedly while you’re awake can put pressure on your teeth and harm the nerves in your teeth over time!
- Skipping the flossing. Flossing is, let’s face it, not something we all do twice a day. Flossing your teeth is not something your dentist insists on for the sake of it – it’s actually essential for good tooth health. The tiny gaps between your teeth can have plaque buildup and eventually damage your gums and teeth.
Common Signs Of Bad Tooth Health
There are ways to tell if your teeth are suffering from a disease or general poor health. Here’s how to tell if you need to take better care of your teeth!
- Bad breath. Everybody gets bad breath in the morning, or perhaps after multiple coffees during working hours! However, if you have consistent mouth odor, even after brushing, there may be something wrong. Persistent bad breath can be a sign there is a buildup of plaque or other bacteria in your mouth.
- Pain. If one or more of your teeth is causing pain when you chew or talk or constant, chronic pain, you know something is damaged or wrong. It could be a cracked or broken tooth, or an infection in your mouth causing pain.
- Bleeding gums. If your gums begin bleeding often, something is wrong. Sometimes, if people have not flossed regularly, a small amount of blood can be drawn when they begin flossing. This is normal and should stop after a few days. However, if the bleeding is consistent, you may have infected or damaged teeth or gums.
- Browning or blackening teeth. If your teeth are going black or brown, this can be due to many factors. If you smoke, it is likely that the tar you have consumed will contribute to discoloration. Otherwise, generally poor oral hygiene can result in discolored teeth.
Helpful Tips For Taking Good Care Of Your Teeth!
- Taking The Time
Of course, the easiest way to take good care of your teeth is to brush and floss twice a day. Brushing your teeth with a manual or electric toothbrush for two minutes in the morning and evening, and flossing your teeth after each brush, will lay the foundations for great oral health! Some people scrimp and cut corners on the time they take to brush their teeth – this can be damaging to your oral hygiene and health. Take the time to brush properly and you’ll thank yourself later.
- Regular Dental Visits
Visiting the dentist can be expensive, but in the long run, it is a vital investment for your oral health. Even if your teeth seem fine, your dentist can identify problems which you will have missed. Plus, they can recommend treatments, toothpastes and helpful practices which strengthen your teeth further.
- Water Flossing
Water flossers are becoming more and more popular in recent years – and there’s a reason why. Water flossing is a new form of flossing, which uses a hard, thin stream of water spraying directly between your teeth. Think of a power hose – for your teeth. These are environmentally friendly, easy to use, and extremely effective in keeping your teeth and gums spic and span.
- Healthy diet.
Of course, a healthy diet that does not involve heavy drinking or large sugar intake is helpful. Different foods have different effects on your oral health. As a young person, you may feel invincible, assuming your teeth will stay healthy because they feel fine. However as aging sets in, your teeth will demand more attention and require better care. Try to set in good habits to your routine while your teeth are healthy, and you’ll be able to prolong your tooth health for longer.
- Vitamins.
Taking vitamins to supplement your diet is always useful – but many don’t realize that certain vitamins are essential to your teeth. Vitamin C in particular helps to strengthen your teeth and bones; Vitamin D and Calcium are also essential for your teeth to remain strong and healthy for all your life.
- Protecting your teeth.
When playing contact sports, it is important you wear a gum shield, or gum guard. These can be fitted by a dentist, or you can buy a self-moulding guard which you can fit at home. These don’t guarantee 100% safety, but they take impact and can protect your teeth from breakage or cracking in the event of a collision. Gum shields absorb the shock of the contact, and prevent excruciating accidents from occurring.
- Sleep Guards
If you clench or grind your teeth in your sleep, you can ask your dentist about a sleep guard. These are softer versions of a sports gum shield, which protect your teeth when you grind or clench in your sleep. They are soft and malleable and act as a protective layer between your top and bottom teeth, to prevent further damage to the enamel and nerves of your teeth!
What To Do If You’re Worried About Your Oral Health
If you are concerned about symptoms of poor oral health, you should schedule a visit to your dentist. Seeking immediate help is the best course of action, even if you feel like everything is probably fine. It is better to catch a problem early, because there will likely be a less painful and expensive recovery period in this case. Do not leave the problem to rest until the pain is unbearable – seek help early.
Conclusion
In this day and age, it’s easy to become lazy and slack on oral healthcare. However, with technology, availability of treatments and endless information, you will find it easier than ever to shape up your tooth care routine and invest in your oral health – for the present, and for the future.