The Best Medicine is Prevention

The Best Medicine is Prevention

Every medical practitioner will tell you that the best medicine is prevention. This is simply another way of saying that if a person can avoid disease and illness in the first place there is no need for medication or treatment. Even though prevention is not always possible, it should always be the goal. The challenge in most cases understands how prevention works. Many people are still applying the old health rules they learned growing up. Prevention takes planning and most people are unwilling to invest planning time. It is important to determine what health advice will be most helpful to you.

Exercise

Committing to exercise and fitness is easy if you find something you enjoy doing. Start slow because overdoing it can ruin your motivation. Those who are currently in poor health will need to adjust their new workout plan to suit their physical limitations. Illness and injury should not end your plans to stay fit. The key is to find activities that are safe.

Healthy eating

In addition to exercising, healthy eating is also important. Some nutrition tips are outdated and you will need to learn what is best for you. People have different health risks, so you need to determine what yours are and what you can do to prevent health problems. Eat based on your personal health needs. People who know they are at risk for mental health problems can eat brain power foods. You can eliminate many health risks by choosing the
right foods.

Stress management

Managing stress and sleeping well are also important parts of maintaining good health. Letting life drag you down with unmanaged stress and exhaustion is sure to trigger health problems. In many cases, long-term stress has fatal results. People who lead unhealthy lives fall victim to long-term stress coming to terms with stress helps you manage it.  Here are some tips on dealing with stress.

Understand status of your healthy

You need to be aware of your personal health risks. You need to understand the best life changes you can make. You also need to understand the changes are not temporary. Changes might not come until you are much older. Weeks of eating healthy might not result in losing weight. The benefits of caring for your health are long-term. Years of healthy living help you stay strong. Staying strong helps you ward off illness.

To reduce the risk of illness and disease, learn about preventative health. If you are scared your health will deteriorate, act now to protect it.

5 Ways to Keep Your Thyroid Healthy

5 Ways to Keep Your Thyroid Healthy

Whether you know it or not, your thyroid is one of the most important components of your body. Just like anything in the body, it functions better if it is healthy.  Here are 5 ways to keep your thyroid healthy.

What Is The Thyroid?

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck that produces hormones, regulates your metabolism, and affects the function of each organ in the body. The hormones that the thyroid produces, thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine, determine the speed and functions of your organs and how the body’s systems use energy.

Now that you know a little about the thyroid, here are 5 ways you can keep your thyroid healthy.

Maintain a Nutrient-Rich Diet:

Eating the right fruits and vegetables can help maintain your thyroid and overall health. It’s ideal to consume fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants and iodine, which is necessary for thyroid hormone production. An iron or iodine deficiency can actually cause hypothyroidism. For those with hyperthyroidism, iodine can help slow the release of too many thyroid hormones. No matter what thyroid problem you have, iodine can help your thyroid function normally. Sea vegetables like kelp or spirulina can help supply you with iodine. Below is a list
of foods, which are beneficial for thyroid health.

  • Berries (strawberries, blackberries etc.)
  • Cruciferous Vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage)
  • Sea Vegetables (kelp,agar, Irish moss)
  • Foods high in chlorophyll (spinach, snow peas, cucumbers, parsley) Portabella Mushrooms
  • Olive Oil
  • Pumpkin Seeds
  • Flaxseeds
  • Walnuts
  • Chia Seeds
  • Sunflower Seeds

Avoid Fluoride:

Most commercial toothpastes contain toxic ingredients that can damage your health, but they also contain fluoride, which can damage the thyroid. Communities with fluoride in the water actually have higher rates of hypothyroidism.
This is why drinking distilled or alkaline water, or eating alkaline foods, is healthy for your thyroid and overall health. Additionally, try to abstain from non-stick pans and black tea, as both of those contain fluoride.

Decrease Stress:

Minimizing your stress levels can not only improve your thyroid function, but also contribute to your overall wellbeing. Stress can actually induce a thyroid condition, or make it more obvious that you have a thyroid
condition. Overproduction of cortisol, a stress hormone, can interfere with thyroid hormone production. It actually can make the thyroid work harder to produce sufficient amounts of hormones needed for bodily functions. Great ways to de-stress include acupuncture, breathing techniques like meditation, massage therapy, or taking warm baths.

Get Rid of Inflammatory Foods:

If you eat inflammatory foods, you can irritate your digestive system, which can rub your immune system the wrong way. When your immune system is irritated, it does not acknowledge your thyroid as part of the body. In fact, your immune system interprets the thyroid gland as intrusive and launches an autoimmune attack. Gluten, eggs, dairy, and grains are all inflammatory.

Make Sure You’re Getting Your Omega-3s:

If your body is lacking in omega-3 fatty acids, you can have a hormonal imbalance. Omega-3s provide a solid foundation for hormones that control immune function, cell growth, and they help out thyroid hormones. You
can get your omega-3s from flaxseeds and walnuts, among other foods.