Saturday, January 04, 2025
COMMENT - THINKING ABOUT SLEEP
For most of us, sleep is something we do without thinking too much about it throughout our entire lives, from the moment we are born until the moment we are finally laid to rest.
In fact, during an average life span, a person spends the equivalent of 27 years asleep!
Sleep is such a natural thing that most of us usually don't give it much thought. When we do take the time to think about sleep, it's usually because we feel we haven't gotten enough of it, or because we feel we need more than what would be considered a normal amount of sleep.
Despite our daily tendency to take sleep for granted, it really is a fairly controversial topic. There are many different opinions about the subjects of why we sleep, how much sleep we should be getting each day, where we sleep, what makes the ideal sleep environment, why we don't sleep enough and why we sleep too much...just to name a few.
A few of these questions are answered at nodiet4me.com/sleep
Labels: donovan baldwin, getting enough sleep, sleep
Saturday, December 28, 2024
ARTICLE - HEALTH - MANAGING BLOOD SUGAR/BLOOD GLUCOSE
This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.
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| SHAKLEE GLUCOSE REGULATION COMPLEX |
Managing blood sugar involves a multi-faceted approach that focuses on:
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Diet:
- Prioritize whole foods: Focus on fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.
- Limit processed foods: Minimize intake of sugary drinks, processed snacks, and refined grains.
- Control carbohydrate intake: Carbohydrates break down into sugar in the body, so monitor portion sizes.
- Maintain a healthy weight: If overweight or obese, even modest weight loss can significantly improve blood sugar control.
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Physical Activity:
- Regular exercise: Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week.
- Strength training: Incorporate strength training exercises 2-3 times per week to build muscle mass, which helps improve insulin sensitivity.
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Medications:
- Oral medications: Depending on the type of diabetes, medications like metformin, sulfonylureas, or thiazolidinediones may be prescribed to help regulate blood sugar.
- Insulin therapy: In some cases, insulin injections may be necessary to manage blood sugar levels.
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Monitoring:
- Regular blood sugar checks: Frequent monitoring of blood sugar levels helps track trends and adjust treatment plans as needed.
- A1C testing: This blood test provides an average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months.
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Lifestyle Factors:
- Stress management: Chronic stress can raise blood sugar levels. Practice stress-reducing techniques like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises.
- Sleep: Aim for 7-8 hours of quality sleep per night.
- Hydration: Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Important Note: This information is for general knowledge and does not constitute medical advice. Consult with a healthcare professional for personalized guidance on managing your blood sugar. They can assess your individual needs and create a comprehensive management plan tailored to your specific situation.
Disclaimer:
For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional. This information is for general knowledge and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. This information should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or condition. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions related to your health.
SHAKLEE GLUCOSE REGULATION COMPLEX
Labels: blood glucose, blood sugar, exercise, lifestyle, managing blood sugar, medication, sleep, stress management
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
ARTICLE - HEALTH - CAUSES OF LOW ENERGY AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT
Actually low energy levels can have many causes.
Sometimes, the cause, and the solution, to low energy is simple. Sometimes, however, the causes are more complicated and may be more difficult to combat.
Four things which can leave you feeling dull and without energy are easily rectified.
1. Sleep: This is obvious. If you are not getting enough GOOD sleep, you will probably feel it during the day. I'm not talking about one or two bad nights, either. Many of us have terrible sleep habits, and we pay for it...more than you imagine.
A Carnegie Mellon University study published in 2009 in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that Of 153 healthy men and women aged 21-55, those who got less than seven hours of sleep were almost three times more likely to catch a cold than those who slept eight hours or more.
Lack of sleep not only leaves you tired, but opens you up to infections...and stress!
2. Stress: This is a real energy thief. Not only can chronic stress attack you physically by weakening your immune system, and interfering with sleep, by the way, but it also robs you of the desire to do anything about the situation.
3. Nutrition: Many people will turn to high-calorie, high-sugar foods and snacks in hopes of raising their energy levels.
I remember a few years ago in which actor Robert Blake (Baretta and other classics such as The Return of Rin Tin Tin), said that he kept going on junk food. Not necessarily a good idea. Trivia, by the way, Blake, who was still acting in the late 90's started out with the "Little Rascals" in 1939. HMMMM. Maybe junk food IS a good idea.....NOT!
4. Overall Physical Condition and Health: I sort of lumped a lot of things under this topic. However, so many things combine to keep us healthy, and good health is often key to having energy. Additionally, physical activity, codeword "exercise" is one of the most practical things we can do to stay healthy.
Not only that, but regular physical activity, whether in the form of a structured exercise program, or as daily lifestyle activities, can build your body's energy reserves and works to help the body deal with 1, 2, and 3 more effectively.
Regular exercise promotes good sleep. It also relieves stress, and helps the body make more efficient use of the nutrients we provide it. Regular "good" sleep, helps relieve stress and makes you feel like you have more energy to expend in exercise. It also gives your body the opportunity to make use of the nutrition it has taken in. Good nutritional choices can also help calm the body and the mind, increase energy, and help a person sleep better.
None of this has to involve extreme or alarming (more stress) changes to your present lifestyle.
Something as simple as setting a regular bedtime and not getting up until you've gotten your eight hours of sleep, taking a good daily multivitamin, avoiding foods which obviously contain empty calories (most of today's snacks, unfortunately), eating more natural things such as fruits and vegetables and judiciuous amounts of meat, and taking a brisk walk for a few minutes a day can turn a lot of low energy situations around.
If you really want to get into some good stuff, you might look into yoga. Not only does yoga provide exercise, but tends to produce a meditative state and relieves stress. People who practice regularly tend to sleep and eat better and have more energy. I really like yoga.
However, even something as challenging as weight lifting or karate can still reduce stress and increase energy if practiced properly. I train with weights, as well as doing bodyweight exercises, a little yoga, and using resistance bands.
Beyond these simple causes, and a few others, there are health conditions, such as diabetes, which can drag you down. If taking care of the simple things doesn't seem to do the job, there is possibly something more dangerous or difficult causing the condition. In these situations, your best choice is to get with your healthcare provider and work out the appropriate treatment. While doing things to help "prevent diabetes" and other conditions is always going to be of value in the long run, once you actually have a major health condition, stay healthy, but don't try to treat it yourself. Get proper medical testing, diagnosis, and treatment.
Labels: donovan baldwin, low energy, sleep, stress, weightlifting
