Snehal Tanwar, Author at Smart Health Shop

A Look At Some Fun Ways To Spend Your Free Time

Let’s look at ways to have some fun, relax and unwind; particularly valuable in uncertain times or during hectic moments; these tips and hacks are great for your mental wellness. Take a deep breath and let’s look at great ways to spend your free time and also a huge list of sites here.

Take Your Mind off the Grind

Try reading, it’s an obvious choice, but in these days of social media, it can be an old fashioned form of enjoyment. If you enjoy doing it, you’ll never run out of new material, whether you’re a Kindle person or a paperback champion you can find an endless supply of stuff to read on the Internet and you can also find a huge list of sites here .

Did you know all the classics are free because they are so old they are no longer within copyright regulations so choose from the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer or the Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, how about Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert or Moby Dick by Herman Melville the list is endless and exciting

If you want a hard copy? Pick up used books at garage sales and charity shops, or take advantage of your free library card as soon as libraries re-open. Once you have read a few books, consider writing one of your own.

Write a book or Online Blog.

It’s a fact that everyone has one book inside them and, according to many professional authors, “ it should stay there”. Don’t be put off; get your thoughts down on paper and, you never know, you may be the next Gustave Flaubert or Mark Twain.

Even the professionals need some help, so check out the courses that are available online – the Open University is offering free classes. If you love it, you could go on to do a qualification or get published.

Here’s an interesting fact – in November 2019 a man nicknamed “The Banksy of Poetry” wrote his first book of poems entirely on Twitter. As each tweet is only 280 characters long, that’s a lot of tweets. Why not give it a try: you never know where that may lead.

Alternative Artwork

Refresh your furniture, if you’re tired of looking at that dull bedside chest in the house? Why not revamp it by giving it a fresh lick of paint and upcycling some furniture in your home.

Lots of online auction sites are selling old pieces of furniture that need some love, get a book on upholstery and give it a go or try decoupage, the art of wallpapering furniture. Imagine opening an older style wardrobe and finding some modern, bright funky wallpaper inside. Now that’s fun!

If art is not your medium, then what not watch while other people create?

Take a Virtual Tour

Take an online tour. Now with many museums and art galleries closed, lots of exhibitions have been taken online. So, you can peruse through the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, or walk through the ruins at the Acropolis of Athens, led by guides who know every inch of the paintings and monuments on display and won’t ask for a tip at the end.

Art, not your thing? Visit the Great Barrier Reef with Readers’ Digest and their specialist 360-degree online tour. You can’t visit the reef without the online version of the Blue Planet by David Attenborough. You will weep at the amount of plastic in our oceans, but you will also marvel at whales and dolphins. Each episode is available free of charge.

How about a visit to the Titanic, the giant cruise ship that sank in 1912, not interested in fish food then how about Machu Picchu, Peru?

This world heritage site is one of the most visited tourist destinations to date, but now you can visit it from the comfort of your armchair. The 360-degree views of ruins and lush green landscape can be seen with educational commentary and unusual facts.

Join an Online Community

If you love food, this is where all you cooks come into their own, whether it’s an apple pie or a caramel fudge cake an online community shares tips and photos of the products on Instagram.

Some local supper clubs feed the community, local groups talk to regional groups, and the call goes out for whatever is needed. Cakes, biscuits and bread baked for those who are struggling, and it is a wonderful thing to share food that might otherwise go to waste.

Cooking not for you? Don’t worry there are lots of choices whether it’s online chess or Candy Crush or even some gaming, Call of Duty or GTA, how about jigsawing? There’s a community waiting for you to join in.

You can have fun, stay busy and learn something along the way, you might even make new friends. You never know you might find you have gained a completely different view on life.

What Is Chronic Pain and the Best Ways to Manage It

Chronic pain, also known as persistent pain is a type of pain that carries on for more than 12 weeks despite treatment or medication. Research shows that a lot of people get back to their normal conditions after pain from an operation or injury. Still, there are times when the pain might go on for longer or emerge without any cause of injury or operation.

Several people might be affected by chronic pain, and they include:

People with arthritis
People living with diabetes
People with back pain
People with irritable bowel
People with fibromyalgia

Therefore, chronic pain usually affects people with the conditions mentioned above. There are also other causes of chronic pain, which we are going to talk about below.

Causes of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain usually occurs as a result of an injury like a pulled muscle or back sprain. It is also believed that chronic pain might develop as a result of nerve damage. When nerves are damaged, it results in intense pain, which tends to last longer. When this is the case, it might be quite difficult treating chronic pain.

But sometimes people may experience chronic pain as a result of an underlying health condition. These health conditions may include:

Endometriosis – This is a painful disorder that usually occurs when the uterine lining grows out of the uterus.
Chronic fatigue syndrome – This health condition is associated with extreme and long-lasting weariness that causes a lot of pain.
Interstitial cystitis – It is a chronic disorder that is marked by pain and bladder pressure.
Vulvodynia – It is a chronic vulva pain that occurs without any cause.
Inflammatory bowel disease – This is a group of health conditions that cause chronic inflammation in your digestive tract and pain.

Types of Chronic Pain

There are various types of chronic which might be experienced by different people depending on their conditions. These include:

Cancer pain
Arthritis pain
Post-surgical pain
Neurogenic pain
Psychogenic pain
Headache
Lower back pain
Post-trauma pain

According to research from the American Academy of Pain Medicine, over 1.5 billion people globally experience chronic pain. It has also been noted to be the most common long-term disability condition in the U.S. Chronic pain affects over 100 million Americans.

Is Chronic Pain Common?

Chronic pain is much more common than people may think. It is believed to affect 1 in 5 people worldwide. Another thing to note about chronic pain is that it doesn’t choose age. It can affect people of all ages and body types.

The worst thing is that it’s impossible to predict if the pain would become chronic. However, it is believed that people have a high potential for developing chronic pain if they undergo stress. Some people might also experience chronic pain after their usual tests fail to provide the right answer.

Best Ways to Treat or Manage Chronic Pain

Chronic pain requires the right treatment if you want to manage it properly. Luckily, there are many ways to treat chronic pain. Check out some of the ways to consider:

1. Chiropractic Treatment

Chiropractic treatment is one of the best ways to consider when you want to treat chronic pain. What happens is that chiropractors use various non-surgical treatments like spinal manipulation to treat chronic symptoms. These chronic symptoms may include muscle tension or inflammation. You can manage chronic pains like back or neck pains through various chiropractic treatments.

2. Kratom

Kratom is also considered as an excellent option for treating chronic pain. Kratom has been used in many cases to treat chronic pain that results from fibromyalgia or arthritis. Kratom is also used to help in the treatment of opioid withdrawal symptoms like mood disturbance and muscle aches.

3. Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen is also another ideal option to consider for chronic pain treatment. You can use it to treat headaches, skin injuries, and musculoskeletal health conditions. It is also prescribed by doctors to help in the treatment of back pain and osteoarthritis. Another suitable option is to combine it with opioids to reduce the amount needed for treatment.

4. Antidepressants

Antidepressants can also be used to control pain. The best is Tricyclic antidepressant since it is very effective when it comes to relieving pain. However, antidepressants need to be taken daily for them to be effective enough.

5. Exercise

Once you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are feel good hormones. You will realize that when these hormones are released, they block pain signals, such that you only get immersed into a great mood. Exercise will also ensure that your muscles are strengthened in a manner that further pain and re-injury are prevented.

6. Meditation

It is important that you learn how to meditate and deep breath properly as they are incredible techniques to ease your pain. This is because meditation will help your body relax, and in the process ease the pain that you may be experiencing.

When your muscles receive a message to relax, they ease up on their tightness and tension. This is a great way to ensure that your chronic pain eases up and puts you on an easier path to recovery.

7. Lower Stress Levels

It is worth noting that negative feelings such as anger, anxiety, stress, and depression can intensify your bodies sensitivity to pain. Therefore, when you take control of your stress, you will certainly ease up on some of your chronic pain.

Some of the ways by which you can relax and reduce stress is by listening to calming and soothing music. This will mean that you will better live with your chronic pain as it will be much more endurable. You could invest in relaxation tapes that are specifically designed for this.

Conclusion

The road to recovery from chronic pain is uncertain but not impossible. We’ve discussed various ways that you can use to manage and treat chronic pain. Therefore, these are things you need to consider and ensure to conduct more research for better results.

You will certainly better manage your chronic pain when your body is relaxed and you are not stressed.

What is the keto diet and how can it help weight loss?

Keto diet, which is also known as the ketogenic diet, is one of the most popular diets in the current time to lose weight. Keto is a diet high in fat, average protein, and deficient carbohydrates, like a kind of turbo Atkins diet. It is not the most natural diet to follow, for reasons that we will discuss shortly, but it can be a sure way to lose abdominal fat and feel healthy.

The question that, should you try the keto diet?

What is the keto diet?

A keto diet is essentially a consuming method that changes the substrate your body uses as fuel. In this case, by following a low carbohydrate diet, the liver produces ketones from fats, which the body can use for energy.

A keto diet forces your body to make ketones from fat by dipping it into a state of ketosis. Yes, it is that simple. Okay, here’s the amusing thing: In ketosis, your body will use fat for energy instead of carbohydrates from any source, so it will use the fat from the foods you eat and the fat it has stored in your body.

The diet aims to maintain ketosis for more extended periods by not eating too many carbohydrates. And when we don’t say much, we don’t mean almost Anything. For an effective keto diet, you should cover no more than 5% of your daily calorie carbohydrate intake.

What to eat in the Keto diet?

Anything low in carbohydrates! Especially avoiding sugar. In general, the goal is to reach less than 30 grams of carbohydrates per day.

For the average person, the difficult part is that carbohydrates tend to make up the majority of their energy intake, and changing from a high carbohydrate diet to a high-fat diet will require some will power.

The good news is that you can get good fats while on the keto diet, such as certain types of cheese and avocado. If you’re a seafood fanatic, you’re ready to enjoy: Foods like clams, oysters, and squid are low in carbohydrates and, therefore, more freely eatable when keto-making.

When it comes to snacks, nuts are a great source of protein and fat, so more can be eaten, as can cottage cheese and Greek yogurt. However, mainly the regular variety, since reduced sugar consumption is essential for the success of a ketogenic diet.

Time for keto diet to work?

It takes a couple of days to enter ketosis, depending on the individual. The amount of carbohydrate content that is required to achieve ketosis may also vary.

The initial weight loss will be rapid, but keep in mind that much of this will be stored in glycogen (carbohydrates) and water. Regular weight loss will continue after a calorie deficit and burns. Fatter as fuel.

As the saying goes, running wins slowly and steadily, and this is especially true for diets. You loose weight very fast with keto but let your body adjust for long term effects.

Even after keto is over, there is no point in going back to your previous diet, probably not healthy. Try to maintain at least some of your keto diet’s functional aspects, such as increasing your fruit/vegetable/nut intake and post-keto.

Can CoQ10 Detox the Liver?

The liver is the primary filtration system in the body. It works hard to convert toxins in the body into waste. It is also involved in the metabolism of certain nutrients. Therefore, frequent liver detox is vital to keep the liver healthy for the overall health of the body. In recent years, lots of mixtures and supplements have been promoted for liver detox. The flooding of the Internet with numerous information has led to the promotion of myths as facts. In this article, we will separate the facts from the myths when it comes to liver cleansing and will show some of the best foods and supplements for full body cleanse.

Myth 1: Liver detox should be done after overindulging in alcohol or fried foods

Several liver cleansing packages often claim their daily intake can optimize liver health. In some instances, they tell you that it is important to take them immediately after overindulging in alcohol or fried foods. Unfortunately, this false hope often emboldens an unhealthy lifestyle. While some of the contents of these package like milk thistle have proven benefits in liver health, there is still a lack of adequate tests on humans to prove that these supplements can protect the body from damage resulting from overindulging in injurious substances.

Myth 2: Liver detox can help you to lose weight

In many cases, liver cleanses are also promoted to help in weight loss. They are taunted as a natural, safer, and healthier way to lose weight. However, it is important to note that some dietary supplements can cause drug-induced liver injury. Therefore, it is always important to use dietary supplements with caution. Also, there are insufficient studies to prove that liver detox can help in weight loss.

Myth 3: Liver detox will reverse existing liver damage

Hepatitis A, B, and C, alcoholic liver diseases, and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases are some of the common liver diseases. They all cause considerable damage to the liver. Some supplements are taunted as having the potential to correct the damage to the liver caused by any of these diseases. Well, as of now, there is insufficient data to prove that. Nevertheless, there are proven treatments that are currently available to deal with some of these diseases.

Myth 4: Liver disease cannot be prevented but can be cured

This is another outrageous statement that you will often hear particularly among people that are trying to justify their reckless lifestyle. However, there are lots of preventive steps that can protect you from liver disease. Some of the measures that will protect your liver from damage include:

Avoid excessive intake of alcohol
Maintain a healthy body mass index (normal range is 18 to 25)
Practice protective sex to avoid contracting viral hepatitis
Desist from the use of illicit drugs

Myth 5: There is no link between obesity and liver disease

Your risk of developing the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease increases significantly with obesity. Excess accumulation of fat in the liver can lead to cirrhosis and fibrosis. In fact, there is currently a rise in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease as a result of the increasing prevalence of obesity.

Can CoQ10 detox the liver?

CoQ10 supplements have proven health benefits including the ability to help in the regeneration of the liver. CoQ10 also possess anti-adipogenic factor which can regulate nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)—although the mechanism of action is still unclear. Therefore, when CoQ10 supplement is combined with lifestyle changes, it can help the liver to heal from any damages it has sustained.

Conclusion

The best care for the liver remains minimal consumption of potentially harmful substances. Bear in mind that liver detox alone is not enough when it comes to maintaining a healthy liver. The best detox approach comes with lifestyle changes including exercising and eating a balanced diet.

8 Tips for Working Out at Home

Staying fit and healthy is something pretty much everyone is about these days. Not only is it important for your physical health, but it also helps your mental health. It’s a win-win. But going to a gym isn’t the best option for everyone. It’s not very convenient and memberships to gyms can cost an arm and a leg. Working out at home is the perfect option for anyone and everyone. Go at your own pace, workout when you want, and do how you please. Here are some helpful hints on how to have the best at home workout.

Tip #1: Create a Schedule

The best way to make sure you stick to your routine is to set aside a certain amount of time during the day to workout. You can then break down that time into different parts of your body that you’ll be focusing on. Or if you really want to get serious about it, you can set specific days for specific parts of your body. Alternate your arm days and leg days, it can really help you keep focus.

Tip #2: Create a Home Workout Plan

A home workout plan is a great way to keep track of your fitness journey. You can see where you started and how far you’ve come. It’s a great way to reassure you that you’re moving in the right direction. Seeing your progress from the start will really boost your confidence and want you to keep going. Setting goals and then one day reaching them is the biggest payoff!

Tip #3: Look Up Workout Videos

There are plenty of free workout videos on the internet. There’s no need to pay for a personal trainer when you can have one for free on your TV! While you may have to do a little research to see what type of videos will help you the most, it’ll be worth it when you see the results. Videos will show you exercises you didn’t even know existed!

Tip #4: Put on Your Gym Clothes

While it may seem a little silly to put on actual gym clothes, it really will make a difference. Knowing that you’re dressed for the part will help your brain stay focused on the task. You’ll actually want to workout when you’re dressed to do so.

Tip #5: Remove Any Distractions

Having your phone nearby or your favorite show playing in the background can easily distract you from the task at hand. Creating a space that is distraction-free is essential to keeping a focused mindset when working out at home.

Tip #6: Get a Partner

When there’s someone else in your home that you’re working out with, you’re being held accountable for when you decide to slack a little. Having a partner not only makes the workouts more fun and less lonely, but it also keeps you on track.

Tip #7: Remember to Stretch

Stretching is essential before any workout. Giving your muscles a good stretch before using them prevents injuries and releases tension. It’s also a great way to get into your workout mindset. Being in that peaceful mode really helps you focus on what you plan to do that day and what your goals are for the time being.

Tip #8: Keep It Fresh

It’s important not to get bored of your workout; that can cause you to become less interested in working out and more intrigued about the newest episode of your favorite TV show. There are tons of different workouts to do at home, so mix it up from time to time and keep it interesting!

Working out at home can seem intimidating. But the sooner you start, the better you’ll be looking and feeling in no time. And once you get into your routine you’ll realize what you’ve been missing out on this whole time. While there are many ways to go about it, these tips will help you have the best at home workouts.

Is Rowing Safe for Seniors?

We’re all so fortunate to live in a world when seniors make up a happy, thriving, and independent portion of our society. Health conscious seniors often eat right and take their vitamins, but they feel as though their options for exercise are limited.

Indoor walking, chair yoga, and light aerobics often serve as functional workout routines for seniors who want to continue to live their best lives for years to come. Rowing, an often overlooked exercise regimen, may be the most beneficial option for seniors who want to stay fit and healthy.

Senior Health Concerns

Everyone’s body tells a story of the life we’ve lived, and each of those stories are unique. Seniors have lived long lives, and their muscles and joints have many tales to tell. Many seniors experience chronic discomfort from arthritis, old injuries they never fully recovered from, overuse injuries to their muscles, and joint pain from years of cartilage and connective tissue slowly eroding.

Bodies that have lived long lives are often a little tired and achy, and that’s completely normal. This often leads to weight gain for seniors, and weight gain can come with its own sets of consequences. High blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease risks increase in everyone who is overweight, but the risks are far more significant for seniors.

The Benefits of Exercise for Seniors

Seniors often hear from their doctors that they should be getting more exercise. Many seniors feel as though this is impossible, especially if exercise leaves their bodies in pain or if they’re already experiencing issues with mobility. It sounds like an impossible conundrum – how can moving more fix the problem of moving being difficult?

The problem might seem impossible to solve, but the solution is necessary. Maintaining a lower body weight and a little lean muscle mass will do wonders for improving the lifespan and quality of life for most seniors. Reducing risk factors for conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease will keep seniors vital and healthy. Active seniors often enjoy a lifestyle similar to the one they enjoyed in their 40’s or 50’s.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. While a conventional approach to fitness may seem to be an impossible task for most seniors, alternative low impact approaches can provide promising results with the removal of undue strain and a reduced potential for workout related injury.

Low Impact Exercise for Seniors

Low impact exercise is less likely to exacerbate discomfort in seniors, particularly if their fitness journey starts with a lower intensity. Over time, seniors can adapt to higher levels of intensity as low impact exercise begins to strengthen their muscles, joints, and bones while helping them shed excess body weight.

Exercise that excludes added weight or stress on joints will be easier for most seniors to accomplish. For some seniors, walking at a leisurely pace may feel like high impact exercise. On joints that have been working hard for decades, steps can sometimes reverberate up the knees and into the lower back. When walking feels too difficult, the idea of any other exercise feels far more intimidating. That’s where rowing comes into play.

Why a Rowing is Perfect for Seniors

Rowing is a full body workout that is extremely low impact, and can also be perfectly executed at low intensity. Beginners can row leisurely and without much effort until they become accustomed to the motion. A rowing exercise machine can help seniors meet their exercise goals without much else. It provides a highly effective workout from a comfortably seated position.

Conclusion

Rowing machine workouts solve an important need for seniors, allowing them to get the exercise they need without undue stress or strain on the body. As long as the senior’s doctor approves or encourages more physical activity, a rowing machine will provide endless benefits in the safest way possible.

How to Prepare for a Boxing Class?

Exercise is an important component of an individual’s overall health and wellbeing. There seems to be an infinite number of ways to get your daily dose of exercise. From yoga to weightlifting, there is something out there for everyone. Boxing is one of these that virtually anyone can do. Boxing consists of a full body workout as well as different types of workout. Boxing provides your body with the cardio and muscle mass gains it needs to have you feeling fresh and healthy. Before going to your first boxing class it is important to do your research beforehand and below are 3 ways you can prepare for your first boxing class.

Research

Research is the single most important thing you can do to prepare for your first boxing class. The first thing you’ll want to look up is nearby gyms. For example if you lived Austin Texas you would want to look up “boxing gyms in Austin”. Each gym has their own philosophy and way of teaching so it is important to find a local gym that you feel meshes well with your own philosophy and with what you hope to get out of the class. Once you have found a gym that fits you, you can explore the website to se about scheduling your class, what you will need to bring, and many other helpful tips. Many gyms will offer a free class so doing your research could end up saving you money in the longrun.

Getting Equipment

Boxing is an activity that has a relatively low cost of entry. With many classes not being too expensive, the only other cost is the equipment. The equipment you will need is dependent on the class you sign up for. Often the specific gym will give you a list of things you will need to supply on the first day of class. In general the equipment that you may need to supply includes boxing gloves, hand wraps. Mouthguard, headgear, and shoes. The latter items on the list are normally not utilizd in class number 1. Sparing or practice with another person is often not done until the basics of boxing have been taught so mouthguards, headgear, and shoes are things you would need to get later on if you continue your boxing classes.

Conditioning

Every major sport and good athlete participates in something known as conditioning. Conditioning is the act of deliberately pushing your body to increase your overal athleticism before you go and try an activity. Many acentionists will condition for months on stair steppers, treadmills, and other machines with their heavy backpacks on to simulate the conditions they will be met with as they climb a mountain. Conditioning is great because it increases your athleticism and allows you an advantage when you actually get to preform. While boxing can be started cold turkey, it is advisable to condition your body to exercise and go outside frequently and get your heart pumping. This will make the transition to boxing classes much easier physically and will allow you to focus more on technique than being physically exhausted.

Overall boxing classes are a great entry level class that people of all ages can participate in. One doesn’t have to be a mixed martial arts fighting specialist to enjoy the benefits of boxing. Boxing gives you something to do that in the moment doesnt necessarily feel like a traditional workout, however it is giving you a great full body workout. In addition boxing gives you some practical self defense skills that could be used in an emergency situation where boxing classes and the techniques you learned could actually save your life.

Is It Safe to Take AHCC?

2020 is the year of wellness movements.

Everyone seems to be searching for the next big secret on how to live a healthier life and protect themselves in a world that has been plagued by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Wellness gurus are suggesting a range of different tactics and methods to create a more holistic lifestyle for yourself. That includes strategies that consist of eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, working out on a daily basis, getting lots of sleep, and taking natural supplements to boost immunity strength.

One of the trendiest natural supplements to take in 2020 is a mushroom compound known as AHCC. This supplement is known to kick-start your immune system’s response time to fight off all the bad stuff while also managing healthy levels of white blood cell counts.

But, many people still wonder if it is safe to take AHCC. This is because it is still a newer supplement in the medical world and long-term risks are still unclear.

However, there is still a range of things we do know about AHCC and why we believe it is safe to take if necessary precautions and consultations are undertaken.

Hospitals and medical centers back it

AHCC is backed by nearly 1,000 medical centers and hospitals in numerous conteries as a modern way to enhance immune systems. It is expected that these numbers will grow as more and more evidence does come out, but these numbers are already quite a strong backing! Part of a hospital’s care of duty is to care for the wellbeing of patients, so they clearly would not be backing a method that they do not think is safe!

Mushrooms have been studied by medical experts for decades

It was back in the 1980s that medical experts began studying the health benefits of mushrooms in Japan. Since then, the studies of shitake mushrooms for immunity has gone worldwide and observed in thousands of successful trials. So far, it has also been shown that there are very low toxic risks in those patients who have been observed long term in AHCC studies.

Pharmaceutical drug guidelines are undertaken

Because AHCC is still going through tests, it does not mean that the same guidelines are not being adhered to like any other pharmaceutical drug. To many in the medical world, AHCC is providing hope for a range of medical issues such as cancer, diabetes, and auto-immune diseases. Because of this, great care is being taken with the development of this supplement as medical professionals want to be able to expand how AHCC can be used in the future.

AHCC is an organic supplement

Just because AHCC comes in the form of a gel capsule does not mean that it is not organic and natural. In fact, the shitake mushrooms are organically compounded to provide natural health results. This is a large factor in the popularity of AHCC in the wellness world, as AHCC provides a natural solution to many medical problems—no chemical substitutes needed!

AHCC at the core is shitake mushrooms, something that people eat on a daily basis as part of their regular diet. All that has been done is taking this mushroom and naturally compounding it to a purified form and making it easily digestible for any person to take on a daily basis.

The fact that medical professionals around the world confidently recommend AHCC to their patients and that a range of positive results are trending upwards, there is no reason not to consult your medical professional today and have a discussion around ways AHCC can benefit you personally.

2020 is the decade for holistic improvement and AHCC is a great addition to your daily routine to provide your body with an immunity boost!

What Does Cold Press Mean?

Juicing is all the rage lately! However, unless you’ve become a juicing expert overnight, you might not be totally familiar with all of the terminology involved. The first thing that you should know is that not all juices are created equal and that methodology matters! And when it comes to methodology, cold press is where it’s at. But what does cold pressing actually mean, anyway?

What Does Cold Pressed Mean?

Cold pressing is a method of juicing – and the best one, in our opinion! Cold press juicing does not involve any heat, which means that it does take longer but it’s definitely worth it in the long run. Other methods of juicing, like centrifugal juicers, involve heat and oxidation in the process. While this might not seem like a big deal, the introduction of heat into the process can actually affect the nutritional value of the ingredients in the juice. Different vitamins and compounds have different makeups and react to heat differently, so not all the nutritional value is destroyed by heat but it can affect things like Vitamin C, Vitamin B, and more.

Cold pressed juicing, on the other hand, doesn’t involve heat at all and instead uses a hydraulic press instead of an electric one to get the juice out of the fruits and veggies. The first step in the process is to shred the produce. The second step is to compress the shredded bits between two hydraulic plates at extremely high pressures – called high-pressure processing or HPP. This method results in maintaining the highest amount of liquid and nutritional value out of the products as possible leaving you with extremely high amounts of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

What Are the Benefits of the Cold Press Method?

While we have already touched on some of the benefits of cold pressed fruit juices, let’s go more in-depth so that you can really see how amazing this method is:

The cold press method of juicing produces less waste than the centrifugal method since the entire product is crushed and turned into juice instead of just shredded.
The cold press method of juicing really gives you the most bang for your buck. In fact, some of the best cold press juices include up to four pounds of fresh produce in a single small bottle!
The high-pressure processing method is able to kill potentially harmful pathogens without heat and increase the shelf life of your juice so that you have plenty of time to enjoy it!

Where to Get Cold Pressed Juice?

Nowadays, it seems like everyone is getting into the cold pressed juice trend. So with all these choices, how can you find a great place to get your juice? While everyone has different requirements and qualifications for a good juice, here are some key things to look for when considering juice sources:

Look for juice that is sourced through environmentally-friendly methods with minimum transportation involved
Look for juice that is made from produce grown from independent farmers who maintain the highest quality in their products
Look for juice that comes from a company who disposes their waste in proper ways and recycles as much as possible
Look for juice that offers delivery as well as curbside pickup so that you can get your fix quickly, easily, and safely
Finally, look for juice that uses the superior HPP method of juicing so that it’s 100% healthy, tastes good, and lasts

Now you know everything you need to know to hop on the juice train and start enjoying some delicious, healthy, and ethically-sourced juice! We promise that it totally lives up to the hype and is worth checking out.

Multiple Sclerosis: An Overview

What is multiple sclerosis? I multiple sclerosis (commonly referred to as MS for short) is a chronic condition that affects the central nervous system. This neurodegenerative condition is primarily characterized by damage to the myelin sheath caused by attacks from the immune system. And as a result, it interferes with the electric signals that travel through the brain’s nerve fibers to our bodies and back. The disease is predominantly more prevalent among young adults, and while both environmental and genetic factors can contribute to its development, specific causes have yet to be identified.

Symptoms of multiple sclerosis

The symptoms present in multiple sclerosis usually depend on the severity of the condition. They can range from mild fatigue and tingling sensations to mobility issues, muscle spasms, and in some cases, bladder and bowel issues. And because of this, it’s not uncommon for the vast majority of patients to experience anxiety, depression, mood swings, and other emotional changes.

Diagnosing multiple sclerosis

MS is unique in a way that no one test that can determine its presence in a patient. Medical professionals often diagnose multiple sclerosis based on a series of physical tests and various neurological examinations. These include but aren’t necessarily limited to, MRI or magnetic imaging resonance, blood tests, checking the cerebrospinal fluid, and tests involving measuring the brain’s electrical signals.

Treating multiple sclerosis

There are currently no known cures for multiple sclerosis. However, there are many available treatments for the condition. Most of these therapies are meant to treat the symptoms and limit their occurrence as well as speed up recovery from any attacks.

Self-management options

While medical treatment is essential in most multiple sclerosis cases, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t self-management options that you can adopt to cope with the disease. Listed below are just a few ways in which you can keep yourself healthier and prevent MS from lowering your quality of life.

Exercise regularly. There’s a good reason why it’s always a good idea to exercise. When you get right down to it, not only will it improve your strength, boost your immune system, and keep you fit and healthy. But it also helps promote the release of endorphins, which are your body’s natural pain killers, and as a result, ease your pain and discomfort and help you relax.
Get enough rest. Rest is essential, especially when you have a debilitating condition like multiple sclerosis. After all, it allows you to recuperate energy. But it also helps your body’s regeneration processes as well by rebuilding body tissue, muscles, bones, and nerves.
Connect with a community. Having a support network is as essential to the management of multiple sclerosis as exercise and rest. Engaging with people who understand your challenges will not only keep you in a more positive disposition, but it can also serve as an effective distraction from MS too.

Living with multiple sclerosis can affect not only the quality of life of the patient but also of their loved ones. But by having a better understanding of what the condition is and what you can do to help you control the disease, you’ll be able to live your life to the fullest, even in the face of MS.