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Do You Have Low Thyroid Function?

…a few tests. Other common symptoms include: * constipation * dry skin * hair loss * slow heartbeat * cold hands and feet * slow wound healing * depression * memory disturbances * difficulty concentrating Of even greater concern, hypothyroidism can contribute to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke…

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7 Secret Weapons for Successful New Year's Resolutions

If you've ever tried to quit smoking, swear off sugar, or kick caffeine, you know the symptoms of withdrawal: headaches, irritability, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and insomnia. These symptoms can be enough to derail even the most committed among us. Fortunately, withdrawal symptoms can be eased considerably…

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Little-Known Benefits of Probiotics

…insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, some researchers found that people with type 2 diabetes have different gut bacteria than those without diabetes. * Depression and anxiety. Some research has found that when your gut bacteria are out of balance (dysbiosis), it can affect your mood. For example, anxiety gives…

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How to Overcome Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that occurs only in winter. Also referred to as the “winter blues,” SAD is accompanied by longer sleep, increased appetite, and carbohydrate cravings, often with weight gain. It resolves in the spring or summer and then recurs as shorter…

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10 Reasons to Incorporate Green Tea Into Your Daily Routine

…stressful situations. * Lift your mood. One study found that older individuals who drink two or more cups of green tea per day are less likely to be depressed. * Keep your memory sharp. Drinking green tea has been linked to a lower risk of age-related mental decline. * Protect your bones. Green tea is also…

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Many Doctors Prescribe the Wrong Form of Vitamin D

…benefits of supplemental vitamin D for nearly 10 years. This critical nutrient helps to protect against cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression, dementia, falls and fractures, flu, and more. Plus, having adequate vitamin D can lower your risk for 17 different kinds of cancer—and can lengthen…

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Why You Should Add Taking a Multivitamin to Your List of Resolutions

…When they were retested after six weeks, significant improvements in mood were noted in the supplement group, regardless of their initial level of depression. * Stop telomere erosion. Chromosomes are tightly coiled, rod-like structures made up of proteins and one double-helix–shaped molecule of DNA encoded…

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The Scary Truth About Halloween--and 5 Guilt-Free Treats

…reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, improves insulin sensitivity, and lowers the risk of diabetes and some types of cancer, and fights depression and Alzheimer’s disease. 5. Beer. If beer is on tap at your holiday celebrations, go ahead and enjoy a mug. Not only is it okay, it’s a preventative…

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Commonly Overlooked Causes of Fatigue

…for the production of red blood cells and optimal functioning of the nervous system. Deficiencies in this important vitamin can cause fatigue and depression. Abundance in diet – Make sure you’re getting enough vitamin B12 by eating a healthy diet, which is especially abundant in animal products such…

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Help for Fibromyalgia

…the usual pain meds. Some doctors don’t think fibromyalgia is a real disease, and others believe it’s merely a physical reaction to stress, depression, or anxiety, which explains why antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs are often prescribed. I certainly don’t have all the answers, but…

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Diabesity Challenge Tip: Dealing With Holiday Stress

Stress is synonymous with the holiday season. Crowded shops, stretched budgets, and houseguests take their toll, and depression, anxiety, and emotional eating are unfortunate yet common responses. Thankfully, Mother Nature has provided something to help us get through this demanding time of year—an…

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7 Signs You May Have Hypothyroidism

…triglycerides * Depression that won’t go away * Chronic constipation * Dry skin or thinning hair * Cold hands and feet If you complain to your conventional doctor about any of the above symptoms, he may not think to check thyroid function. After all, lipid abnormalities, depression, constipation, and…

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Defy Aging With Resveratrol

…sensitivity, and lowers risk of diabetes and some types of cancer. People who drink wine, especially red wine, are less likely to be obese, suffer with depression, or get Alzheimer’s. And in addition to staying healthy, wine drinkers tend to live longer! One of the reasons red wine is so healthy is that it…

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Ward Off Winter's Assaults With Vitamin D

…of vitamin D is in the optimal range. You may not realize what a toll the dark days of winter levy on our health. Cold and flu season arrives. Depression rates soar. Aches and pains, as well as autoimmune disorders, tend to flare up. Fracture incidence increases. Heart attack and death rates climb…

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Routine Testing of Blood Sugar Levels is Not Necessary

…that self-monitoring of blood sugar levels did not improve glucose control but was associated with higher costs, lower quality of life, and more depression. I believe a much better test of your blood sugar level is the hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) test. Whereas a finger stick gives you a snapshot of your blood…

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New Vitamin D Recommendations Are Extremely Misguided

…protective against cancer, heart disease, hypertension, peripheral artery disease, type 2 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, depression, dementia, autism, falls and fractures, and more. The USPSTF admitted that in the largest study they reviewed—the Women’s Health Initiative…

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Weight Loss and the Yo-Yo Phenomenon

…over the following weeks. At that point, many dieters become discouraged and throw in the towel. Unfortunately, because your metabolic rate stays depressed for up to two months (even after you start eating normally), when you do return to a normal caloric intake, your slower metabolic rate ensures rapid…

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Study Shows B-Complex Vitamins Reduce Work Stress

…and harder than ever. Understandably, this means they’re being exposed to more stress and, as a result, are at increased risk of anxiety and depression. The good news is that taking B-complex vitamins can help. In a clinical trial, Australian researchers randomly divided employees into two groups…

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Do You Need to Test Your Blood Sugar Every Day?

…Medical Journal found that regular self-monitoring of glucose levels was associated with lower quality of life, increased costs, and higher rates of depression. What’s worse is that this obsessive testing did not result in better glycemic control. (For study details, see links above.) At the Whitaker Wellness…

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Fish Oil's Role in Managing Diabetes

Fish oil, which contains the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, is powerful medicine for disorders ranging from heart disease and depression to arthritis and autoimmune disorders. EPA is particularly beneficial for the cardiovascular system, as it discourages blood platelets from sticking together, relaxes…

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This Once-Controversial Therapy May Be the Future of Medicine

…Gaining Ground After Brain Injury After suffering a traumatic brain injury, James struggled with verbal communication, physical activities, and depression. Stem cell therapy improved his ability to express himself, enhanced his physical strength and endurance, and boosted his mood and motivation. Adult…

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3 Reasons to Choose Bioidentical Over Synthetic Hormones for Menopause

…mind that unique characteristics also apply when they experience a specific stage in theirs: menopause. When hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, depression, and other common symptoms of menopause start to become unbearable, many women consider—and physicians often prescribe—hormone replacement therapy…

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Diabesity Challenge Tip: Stress Less, Stay Healthy

…stress, it increases circulation, reduces muscular tension, and just plain feels good. It’s impossible to experience genuine humor and feel angry, depressed, or anxious at the same time. The mere act of smiling also has benefits. You can actually change your mood by changing your body language. Smiling…

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