Navigating Healthcare: A Guide to Modern Medicine and Wellness

Monthly Archives: June 2017

Facts and Myths about Vitamin D

Facts and Myths about Vitamin DMost of us know that vitamin D is good for bones. In fact, that may be all some of us know about it. There are a lot of misconceptions floating around these days about this important nutrient. Vitamins are essential to our bodies because they help keep us healthy. The problem with vitamins is that we have to continue getting them from one source or another, simply because our bodies don’t make enough of them to sustain our good health. And vitamin D is one of the main nutrients required by our bodies. Many doctors can tell you that vitamin D is an important nutrient that helps build and maintain strong bones and skin. Here is further information about the facts and myths about vitamin D that will help you on your journey to a healthier life.

What Are Super Foods?

What Are Super FoodsFood is fuel. So perhaps a better term for these foods is super fuel—because that’s what your body receives when you eat them—fuel that supercharges you. Think about this … you wouldn’t put just any old junk into your car’s gas tank, right? Of course not! You put gasoline in your gas tank—because, well, that’s all it will take without harming your car. Yet many of us think nothing about putting junk inside our bodies. But isn’t your body so much more important than your car? Now, think of it this way … eating super foods is like not only putting gasoline into your car’s gas tank rather than junk; it’s like putting premium ultra-supreme super-duper unleaded gasoline into it! And with each super food you eat, your body gets that much stronger and healthier. If you’re searching for daily health tips (and you must be—otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this article!), you’ve come to the right place. Following is important information about super foods—what super foods are, their history, how they got to be called ‘super foods,’ as well as which foods have the power to keep your body functioning properly.

Myths about Losing Weight

Myths about Losing WeightMore Americans are overweight today than ever before. In fact, the ‘American Diet,’ as it has been dubbed in recent years, is loaded with fattening foods and fattening habits that have led to our nation’s highest rate of obesity. Yet losing weight tops the list of not only New Year’s resolutions, but nearly every other wish list imaginable. But what does it take to lose weight? And why is such a difficult, even elusive, prospect for so many of us? Perhaps the answer lies in the facts and myths about the prospect of losing weight itself. For instance, did you know that not all calories are equal? It’s true. When you’re planning out how many calories you plan on consuming on your new weight loss program, it’s important to know that not all calories are created equal. There are a number of other important myths to discover about losing weight, and until you learn them, you’ll likely ride that roller coaster of weight loss for a long time. Following are top health tips about the myths of losing weight that will aid you in your journey to a more healthy weight.

Health Benefits of Growing Your Own Food

Freshly Grown food
Freshly Grown food

Why organic and why freshly grown? With corporations producing most of our food, these days profit comes before quality. Most fruit and vegetables grown rely heavily on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) are widely used in crops these days to improve yield and obtain certain qualities in the crops. It is a very hot topic these days with many arguing the negative effects on our health.

Benefits of Stretching

Health Benefits of Stretching

Most of us know that stretching before engaging in any form of exercise is important. But how important is stretching to your daily routine? We stretch when we’re tired, and we stretch when we don’t want to be tired anymore—a fact that seems to indicate that stretching has benefits on both sides of the spectrum. And so it does. Stretching is an extremely beneficial and healthy means of getting oxygen to cells, and oxygen is what helps cells thrive. As a matter of fact, oxygen is so important to every single cell in our bodies that without it, we begin to die within minutes. The health benefits of stretching are many, including increasing blood circulation to all organs of your body; preventing you from getting injured, particularly while you’re exercising; helping you to develop more flexibility; boosting your endurance levels; increasing your energy levels; reducing cramping and aching; increasing your athletic performance ability; and even lifting your spirits. Following is information regarding daily health tips and benefits of stretching that will help explain why including daily stretching into your life.

How to Choose a Doctor

Choose a DoctorThe relationship between you and your doctor is a very personal one. That’s why finding the right Doctor can be so challenging. Finding a qualified and reputable physician with the right education and credentials is a given, but there are other characteristics to consider when ‘doctor shopping.’ Topping the list of important traits your patient-doctor relationship needs are respect and comfort. Your doctor must respect the fact that you are the patient, and that means he or she must appreciate that you will have questions and concerns that must be addressed. And, naturally, it’s vital that you feel comfortable with your doctor. Otherwise, you may not ask those necessary questions. Of course, you also have to take into consideration your health insurance company and specific plan’s requirements and options. Following are further details that will help you choose a doctor.

What is the Microbiome?

What is the MicrobiomeThe most succinct definition of the ‘Microbiome’ is the entirety of microorganisms and their accompanying genetic material that we have in our bodies. Wait–is there that much microorganism activity going on in our bodies that there’s a whole separate word for it–not to mention world encompassing it? Absolutely. In fact, in the breakdown of cells making up the human body, you might say we humans are about 90 percent inhuman! A better explanation of that statement would be that the human body includes literally trillions of microorganisms and their combined genetic matter. And therein lies the Microbiome. Following is more detailed information about the fascinating world of the Microbiome that will help you better understand the Microbiome and what it has to do with your health.