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10 Signs Someone Is Exploiting You

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Exploitation doesn’t just happen in professional sectors. Exploiting behaviors can happen in your own platonic, romantic, and familial relationships, too. Anyone can try to take advantage of or manipulate you, and that can make building relationships scary.

Exploitation can be very sneaky and covert. But if you’re able to recognize the signs, you’ll be able to nip it in the bud before it grows out of control and takes over your life.

10 Signs Someone Is Exploiting You

1.    They Seem Only To Be Interested In Specific Things

The easiest way to determine that someone is exploiting you is what they seem to be most interested in from you. Yes, some relationships are mutually beneficial due to certain aspects, but your entire bond shouldn’t hinge on something you can give them.

Someone who is taking advantage of you will likely be spending time with you for selfish reasons, to get something out of you. These things may include:

  • Intimacy
  • Money
  • Food
  • Status
  • Transportation
  • A membership to a franchise, store, gym, or another similar establishment
  • Assistance
  • Emotional labor

If someone is only showing interest in being around you when one of these things is involved, they may be exploiting you. Sit them down and talk about your concerns, or establish a clear boundary on what you suspect they may be using you for, or stop offering that object at all. Their true colors will reveal themselves in time.

2.    You Feel Guilty All The Time

An exploiter often uses feelings like guilt and shame against you to coax you into giving them what they want. If you find yourself constantly feeling guilty to the point that it is affecting the decisions you make involving this person, they may have manipulated you to take advantage of you. It may feel like:

  • You are never giving or doing enough for them
  • They have been doing too much for you, and now you owe them
  • You are always making mistakes that you need to atone for
  • They are always suffering in some way or other, making you a bad person for saying “no” to them
  • Your actions, needs, or requests inconvenience them

It’s important to remember that you shouldn’t feel guilty for something forever. If you’ve atoned for a mistake, you needn’t make up for it for the rest of your life. One single action does not lead to a permanent need to atone. If a mistake you’ve made has ruined your entire relationship with someone to the point where it needs to be continuously made up for, it’s best to part ways.

3.    They Are Controlling

Someone who is exploiting you will also often try to control you. They need you in their grasp to keep you compliant, after all, and it’s challenging to take advantage of someone who you can’t control to some degree. Someone who is controlling you may attempt to:

  • Prevent you from doing certain things
  • Push you to participate in specific actions
  • Stop you from spending time with other people
  • Influence your decisions

The tricky part about this is that an exploiter may not be transparent about their control. They may use reverse psychology, mind games, and emotional manipulation to convince you to do what they want you to do, so you have to be extra cautious to detect this behavior.

If someone is actively controlling you in a clear and direct manner by blackmailing you, using fear, or threatening violence, seek help immediately from the relevant authorities.

4.    They Punish You Indirectly

Indirect punishment is often not easily picked up on, as it doesn’t involve any obvious actions like hitting, shouting, or the declaration of a punishment. Instead, it involves a lot of passive aggression.

But even when passive punishment is not immediately apparent, you will likely notice it somehow. The negativity will cut through your positive thinking. It is through this method that an exploiter can punish you while maintaining an innocent and understanding facade.

Examples of indirect punishments are:

  • The silent treatment
  • Making things more difficult for you
  • Withdrawing already-promised assistance
  • Backhanded compliments
  • Saying things that can hurt you

5.    They Are Dishonest

There is no reason for an exploiter to be honest. If they were honest, they would tell you what their intentions are right off the bat, but that’s not what these manipulators do. They intentionally deceive you into achieving the results that they want. There’s no limit to what an exploiter may lie about. Some examples include:

  • Their life
  • Past or background
  • Personal values or opinions
  • Motivations
  • Emotions or feelings

If you have reason to believe someone is exploiting you, you should take everything they say with a pinch of salt. Don’t expect them to be honest with you. However, you can call them out on their behavior and specifically request honesty from them and see if they change their tune. Still, someone so deceptive will need to regain your trust through positive actions, and you do not have to give it to them freely.

6.    They Pay Attention To Your Weaknesses

An exploiter can’t exploit you if they can’t find anything to use. As such, they may pay extra attention to your weaknesses. They may try to learn how to push your buttons to manipulate you. These weaknesses could be anything, from topics that tend to set you off, to your loved ones, to causes you’re especially sympathetic towards.

Though these weaknesses make you more susceptible to manipulation, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have them. These so-called weaknesses aren’t necessarily negative – they’re part of what makes you human. Of course, you care for your loved ones and hate when they are poorly spoken about. Of course, you believe in some causes and are passionate about them. That’s normal and healthy!

But it’s essential for you to keep in mind that these things that you feel strongly about can and will be used against you by an exploiter. By knowing this in advance, you can keep this in mind and be prepared.

7.    Your Confidence Is Dropping

A change in your self-esteem with no discernable trigger could be due to an unknown exploiter. Toxic and abusive behavior is a widespread cause of a decline in confidence, self-esteem, and positive thinking, and it can stay with you for years and years.

Manipulators and exploiters can often undermine you and ruin your self-esteem because they continually make you feel reduced to one specific use. You may wonder if they even like you at all or if you’re worth spending time. You may wonder if you can ever do anything right, or if everything you do is destined for failure.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that your self-worth is not defined by anyone else. Only you can set it. If someone is exploitative of you, it doesn’t detract from your value or worth in any way.

8.    They Make You Question Your Reality

Gaslighting is a very commonly performed behavior that typically involves making the victim feel like they’re going crazy or losing their grip on reality. They twist events and situations in their favor, implying that you’re misremembering those events. They may use phrases like:

  • “Maybe you just weren’t paying attention.”
  • “You’re too emotional.”
  • “Woah, is your memory getting worse?”
  • “That’s obviously not what happened.”
  • “You’re taking this too seriously.”

But a lot of gaslighting is more complicated than one or two simple sentences. It involves slowly and deliberately making you question past events. If you aren’t aware of the manipulation, you may slowly begin to believe it, slowly losing confidence and positive thinking as you go. This is classified as abusive behavior.

If someone gaslights you, you can respond with the following statements:

  • “That isn’t my reality.”
  • “I understand your perspective, but that’s not how I see it.”
  • “We experienced that differently.”
  • “You cannot change what I experienced.”

someone exploiting you9.    They Seem To Have Drastically Different Personalities

It feels like you meet a different person every day with an exploiter. In various scenarios, they put on different masks, sometimes becoming unrecognizable.

As an example, they may be extremely polite and friendly in public but then morph into insulting and dismissive people behind closed doors. Why is this done? Well, someone who is taking advantage of you may need to make themselves look more positive or like the “good guy.” As such, they may do what they can to make sure that everyone around them has no reason to suspect their motives, making it difficult for you to seek help.

Another example is that they may seem kind and sweet to you one day, then cruel and biting the next. This is a form of indirect punishment and typically done to inform you that you’ve done something they don’t approve of.

10. They Expect Sacrifice

Someone who is exploiting you is going to want you to keep sacrificing things so they can get what they want. When you don’t, they may treat you like you’ve wronged them.

There’s nothing wrong with making sacrifices for someone, but if you make them again and again while it feels like you’re never giving enough, you’re being exploited – even more so if they seem to expect this of you.

You should also pay extra attention if this person never seems to want to make similar sacrifices for you. If every favor you request is turned down for a wide range of excuses, even after you’ve done so much for them, you’re being taken advantage of.

exploitingFinal Thoughts: Take Swift Action if Someone Is Exploiting You

So, should you immediately cut off anyone who does any of these signs someone is exploiting you? Not necessarily. Exploitative behavior can sometimes be unconscious, and while that doesn’t make it right, it does mean the actions are changeable. Sit down and talk to the person who is doing this to you with honest and direct communication and see if any changes come of it.

But if someone exploits you again and again, even after you speak to them and ask them to stop, it’s time to cut them off. Don’t feel ashamed of saying “Enough is enough” and showing an exploiter the door.

Psychology Explains How Journaling Can Relieve Depression

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Depression and writing, or any form of art, seem to go hand in hand.  When we think of some of the “Greats” in literature, painting, acting, and music, a tendency toward depression or bipolar disorder appears to be one of the qualifying factors to their greatness.

Is it possible that it’s a coincidence?  Perhaps a representation of particular personality traits shared with many of those with a mental illness?  Whichever it may be, writing has been shown to help those with depression.  Psychology explains how journaling can relieve depression.

Is there a connection between creativity and mental illness?

Psychologists have been attempting to determine if there is a connection between creativity and mental illness for many years. Are we just drawn to the drama of romanticizing an artist’s pain and struggle similarly to our morbid attraction to the concept of vampires, or are these agonized souls truly blessed and cursed with creativity due to mental illness?

In 2017, a study by Christa L. Taylor of Albany State University was published in Perspectives on Psychological Science, attempting to get to the root of this question.  Are creatives more prone to mental illness vs does mental illness make one more creative?

Christa analyzed over 36 studies.  First, she focused on if creative people were more prone to a mood disorder.  She compared various creative types in 10 different studies and discovered that more creatives than non-creatives tended to be bipolar.

The study results

Interestingly enough, those with chronic but functional depression were found to be equally creative and not creative.

The next question was, are those with a mood disorder more likely to be creative?  Her conclusion was two-part.  Firstly, that no, having a mood disorder did not make you creative in general.  The second part was that yes, bipolar or severely depressed individuals tended to be more artistically creative or likely to excel in painting or an expressive art form in comparison to just able to creatively troubleshoot or find differing options from the norm.

That said, the numbers in comparison to the creatives without a mood disorder were very tight and, therefore, left room for interpretation.

Overall, her analysis showed that yes, creative people tend to be more prone toward mood disorders, but mood disorders did not guarantee you would be creative.

Fortunately, journaling does not necessarily require creativity nor a mood disorder, even if it can be effective in helping both.

What is journaling, and how can we use it?

Journaling is the organized writing for the purpose of your choosing, with somewhat regularity and using a medium of your choice.   It is similar to a diary, except it isn’t necessary to do it every day, and you aren’t limited to writing about events in your life, as is typical of a diary.  Also, a journal can be supplemented with drawings, magazine images, or photos similar to a scrapbook. Some apps can even allow you to add vocalization recordings if you prefer.

Many people use a journal to:

  • Express their emotions
  • Track momentous occasions such as a pregnancy term, the birth of a baby, after a significant health diagnosis, moving to a new area or starting high school.
  • Maintain a daily log of life events
  • Express gratitude or affirmations
  • Project ideas including for creative writing
  • Clear their head when overwhelmed with thoughts or ideas
  • Track diet and exercise
  • Goal setting and tracking

A  journal can be used any way you want it.  With current technology, you could do it on your desktop or laptop computer, use an app on your phone or tablet, or you can keep it simple and use a notebook or particular book designed for journaling.  It is all up to your preference.  There really aren’t any rules about journaling other than, ideally, you want to be consistent in using it for what you designated it for.  That designation may change over time but the point is that you choose to write for a purpose with some regularity, even if it is only once a month.

Effects of depression on your brain

Depression is a mood disorder that not only affects your emotions, but it also affects your brain and its functions.

Various regions of the brain begin to shrink within 8-12 months of being depressed. The areas affected are:

Hippocampus

Hippocampus is responsible for learning and memory. Especially involved in turning short term memories into long term memory.

Thalamus

Thalamus is a general operator of the brain. It receives outside information from all the senses, except for the sense of smell.  It then relays that to the rest of the brain.

Amygdala

The amygdala helps to regulate emotions correlated to survival, especially fear. It also plays a role in your memory and your sexual desire and response.

Prefrontal cortex

The prefrontal cortex, which sits in front of the frontal lobe, is responsible for the ability to be organized, plan, reason, and our ability to adapt to changing situations.

Frontal lobes

Frontal lobes are responsible for your movements, ability to problem solve, memory, language ability, impulsivity, being spontaneous, your ability to use social skills, and your sexual behavior.

Inflammation of the brain

Brain inflammation also proves in studies to play a factor in depression. Brain inflammation results in less plasticity due to the shrinking of brain cells and neurons not effectively firing. This leads to a decrease in brain function.

Decreased oxygen to the brain.

Studies prove that depressed individuals tend to have less oxygen in their brains. This is believed to occur because depressed individuals tend to have depressed respiration, or they take slow, shallow breaths. Less oxygen results in furthering the inflammation and a decrease in functioning.

journaling and the brainHow does journaling help to relieve depression?

Being depressed creates damage to various brain functions, which adds to the challenges of managing daily life as well as the additional symptoms of depression.  The longer you are depressed, the harder it becomes.

Journaling is a great method to counter not only the mental functioning but also with the emotional turmoil, which is a part of depression.

What are the emotional and therapeutic benefits of journaling?

  1. For some people, just being able to express their emotions or thoughts can help decrease the weight of them. Many individuals with depression don’t feel they have anyone to talk to. They hold in what they are feeling.  This adds to the feeling of them being overwhelming.  Writing about your emotions allows you to take control and make sense of the whirlwind in your head.

 

  1. Getting emotions out can offer perspective. Putting your emotions down and then going back, can allow you to take a step back and review why you are feeling this way. You can see steps to handle the triggers better, or possibly identify where you may have misconstrued something.  Showing these excerpts to your therapist can also assist them in showing you additional coping mechanisms and differing perspectives that perhaps you couldn’t see at the time.

 

  1. Journaling, especially if using it for gratitude or affirmations, can reflect back to your positivity. The act of writing out gratitude and affirmations before going to bed results in better sleep.  When written in the morning, people tended to feel more positive throughout the day.

 

  1. Great way to track your emotions. There can be patterns of why a person feels depressed.  A week of cloudy days, higher or decreased hormones during the month, or having to split time with parents.  There can be a variety of things actually triggering the depression.    Keeping a log of what is going on in our lives and how we feel can allow us to see the pattern.

 

How does journaling help the brain function improve while depressed?

As stated above, several brain functions decrease in their ability the longer an individual is depressed.  Memory, problem-solving, organization, focus, and learning, to name a few.  The act of journaling can help offset that decline or at least provide a tool to decrease its impact on your life.   It is important to note that they are far more successful when you journal using handwriting as opposed to typing or a screen.

1 – The physical act of writing

The physical act of writing reinforces memory because it uses both motor skills and active memory. As we decline, we lose a small amount of memory and organizational skills. Thus, handwriting out your schedule, affirmations, gratitude, or goals reinforces them to your memory through muscle memory as well as active memory.

2 – Your attention to your task

Handwriting forces you to slow down and really pay attention to what you are writing. This forces you to recognize what you are writing. You will focus and organize thoughts and spend valuale time on reflection and retention.

3 – Journaling as meditation

Writing is also meditative, which can relieve stress. Stress is one of the biggest killers of focus, organization, and memory.  The more stressed you are, the less you are analyzing, and the more you are reacting.  Each person tends to write at a set pace.  This pace creates a rhythm for your body and mind to follow, much like practicing breathing for meditation.  Interestingly enough, if you listen to someone read out loud, as the listener, you will mimic their pace as well.

journal for depressionFinal Thoughts on Journaling for Relieving Depression

Journaling is an excellent, flexible way to stay organized, record memories, track accomplishments and goals, and relieve depression.  It allows you to express yourself emotionally,  to keep your mind sharp and to stay one step ahead of depressive symptoms.

Managing depression is possible.  Being happy is possible.  Beating the challenges of your every day is possible.  Journaling is the perfect way to remind yourself of how you are a survivor beyond the symptoms of depression.

Researchers Reveal How Ginseng Can Reduce Obesity and Burn Fat

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It’s time to talk about that dreaded “F” word. No, not that “F” word! The other one:  Fat.  With the holidays, we all put on some extra pounds, mostly related to excess calories that we don’t burn off until afterward if we are diligent.  Fat cells can consist of 3 different types, and we store fat in 3 different ways.  It turns out, one kind of fat cell is both a blessing and a curse.  It is the fat on our body that can help you burn off the other two.  Sadly, we don’t generally have a lot of that fat, so we need a little help.  Ginseng may be that help.  Researchers reveal how ginseng can reduce obesity and burn fat.

Fat cells and storage on our body

Our body stores three different fat cells in 3 different ways.   We have white, beige, and brown fat cells.  The actual name for fat cells is adipocytes, and they serve several crucial functions for our body.

  • They produce and release necessary hormones
  • They protect our nerve endings
  • Bind to proteins to act as messengers
  • Store vitamins and minerals
  • Keep us warm and maintain body temperature
  • Provide stored energy

Subcutaneous Fat

Subcutaneous fat is the fat we are used to talking about and that we pay the most attention to.  It’s the most visible fat that women see on our thighs, butt, and stomach.  Men usually accumulate it on their belly. It makes up about 90% of the fat on our bodies.   It forms over our muscles under our skin.  That’s why it so easy to pinch.   It can consist of white or beige fat cells.

For women who spent most of their life with thick thighs and wide hips but slimmer waists, the fat they accumulated was doing less harm than those who tended to carry their fat around their waist. Sadly, thanks to menopause, the perk of being pear-shaped begin to change, and all women start to gain weight around their waist.

Scientists have stated that belly fat is one of the contributing factors toward heart disease or stroke.  Waist measurement higher than 35″  for women or men with a waist higher than 40″ are at increased risk of heart disease.

As much as we dislike our white fat, it does serve a purpose.  Well, two to be exact.

  1. Stores energy to use when we need it
  2. Produces hormones and sends them into the bloodstream

When our white fat cells are still small, a hormone called adiponectin is created, which is an anti-inflammatory, and it aids in controlling our blood sugar.  It makes our muscles and liver sensitive to insulin, which then decreases our chances of developing diabetes or heart disease.

However, when we gain too much white fat, those cells become bigger, and our opportunities begin to increase for heart disease and diabetes because the production of adiponectin slows.  This is why doctors agree that too much subcutaneous fat, especially around the waist, is detrimental to our health.  It also creates a hormone called leptin, which signals to our brain when we are full.

brain plasticityVisceral Fat

Visceral fat is the most dangerous fat, primarily due to its location.  It consists of white fat cells and forms deep in the cavity of our abdomen, around our organs. We can’t see it nor touch it.  Visceral fat can only be seen with a CT scan.  Doctors generally tell people that if you have belly fat, then you also have visceral fat.  Estimating the amount of visceral fat you have may be difficult.  The general rule is that if you have a BMI of 25 or more, than you have visceral fat.

Visceral fat is a factor in:

  • Cholesterol levels
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • Potentially dementia
  • Heart disease and stroke

Essential Fat

Essential fat is the necessary fat for our bone marrow, fat around our eyes, our nerve endings, and around the membranes of our organs.  It doesn’t produce much energy or adds to our bulk.

What about those brown fat cells?

Brown fat cells are the fat cells which kick in when you get cold. They are part of the reason some say that you can burn more calories sleeping in a cold room.

It stores in locations like the neck, shoulders, and chest.  As children, we have more brown fat cells than we do as adults. Leaner individuals tend to have more of it than overweight or obese people.  Yet, the amount is still minimal in comparison to white fat, no matter your size.  Let’s say you have 20 pounds of white fat on you, maybe 2 oz of that is brown fat, for example.

The exciting factor about brown fat is that is can burn off white fat.

This, of course, has many scientists interested in how we can learn to use that to decrease obesity and improve our health.  It is believed that it contains more mitochondria that use white fat as fuel.

A study performed at the University of Munich, also demonstrated that it might be possible that food can trigger this same thermogenic process in brown fat.  The act of eating and digesting already uses up 10% of energy through muscle contractions of the intestines, secretion, and the process of digestion.  Volunteers ate a high carbohydrate meal, and the scientists measured the level of activity in the brown fat cells.  This confirms that somehow brown fat cells play a role in our digestion of food and possibly our sensation of fullness after eating.

The study published showed how it may be possible to trigger the activation of brown fat cells and convert beige fat cells into brown fat cells through the use of ginseng.

Ginseng and burning fat to reduce obesity

Ginseng is an herb that is most commonly recognized by two types, Asian ginseng or American ginseng.  Two of its chemicals have been identified as potentially contributing to various health conditions or improvements.  They are ginsenosides and gintonin.  The reported health benefits consist of:

  • An antioxidant that can reduce inflammation
  • Help the brain’s memory
  • Improve mood and behavior
  • Aid in erectile dysfunction through the production of nitric oxide
  • Strengthen the immune system
  • Help in combating fatigue and improving energy levels.

Now, we may be able to add a fat burner to that list.  A recent study published in BMJ has potentially found a correlation between the benefits of ginseng and increasing brown fat cells and their thermogenic performance.  This study was performed by a team of Chinese scientists associated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The scientists chose to attempt to determine the source of the weight control benefits believed to occur with the use of ginseng by targeting gut bacteria.  They would then aim to identify the corresponding long-chain fatty acids which appear to be related to ginseng’s weight management potential.

Scientists injected mice with ginseng extract and then tested for gut bacteria reaction.  They were able to see that the gut bacteria Enterococcus faecalis then produced a long-chain fatty acid called myristoleic acid.  Together, the bacteria and the acid reduced white fat cells through activating the brown fat cells and beige fat cells converted to brown fat cells.   The results prove that it is the relationship between gut bacteria and long-chain fatty acids, which could play an instrumental role in developing a medication for obesity through brown fat cells.

ginseng or green tea for obesity

Learn the many benefits of green tea (including ramping up your metabolism to decrease obesity).

Final Thoughts on Using Ginseng to Reduce Obesity

For many people, excess fat is of great concern in regards to overall health.  Excess weight from fat links to high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, and potentially dementia.  While age, hormones, and genetics can play a significant factor in how our weight and fat is distributed, our choices play a vital role as well.  Learning the methods of dieting and exercise to keep that ratio in proportion, especially in relation to waist size, is a significant part of limiting that fat gain.

A percentage of fat gain, particularly around the waist, is of grave concern medically.  Scientists have been seeking a way to make getting rid of it more manageable.  Medication cannot take the place of diet and exercise, but helping our bodies to maintain themselves is a good step.  Researchers revealing that ginseng can burn fat and reduce obesity by getting brown fat cells to activate more often is a great step.

10 Proven Health Benefits of Gingko Biloba

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Gingko Biloba also called the ‘maidenhair tree,’ is an ancient tree native to China. Gingko Biloba is the last remaining species of the Ginkgophyte family.

And here’s an interesting fact–Gingko trees date back to the Triassic period from around 201 to 252 million years ago! In fact, a Gingko tree can live up to 1,000 years and ascend to a height of 120 feet.

Gingko offers numerous proposed health benefits. Thus, it is one of the best-selling herbal supplements in the United States and Europe.

Ancient Chinese medical practitioners used the leaves and seeds of the ginkgo tree for thousands of years. Additionally, modern research studies primarily use Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) from the tree’s dried leaves. GBE is highly concentrated and thus is better equipped to treat potential health problems.

In this article, we’re going to focus on the proven health benefits of ginkgo.

Let’s do this!

The 10 Proven Health Benefits of Gingko Biloba

Here you’ll learn the ten proven health benefits of gingko.

  1. Improves Circulation

In traditional Chinese medicine, health practitioners administered gingko seeds to their patients. It allowed the unobstructed passage of energy to different organs. As it turns out, these early advocates of gingko were onto something.

Fast-forward to today, and one of the better-researched areas of Gingko Biloba is increasing blood circulation. In a 2008 study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research, Chinese scientists tested the efficacy of GBE in treating patients of coronary artery disease, or CAD.

In the research, 80 CAD patients received either GBE or a placebo. Researchers then measured patient circulation using ultrasound (‘Doppler ultrasonography’). Patients who underwent GBE treatment showed “significant improvement” in blood flow to the left anterior descending artery, implicated in lowering the risk or improving the symptoms of CAD.

  1. May Reduce Dementia and Psychiatric Symptoms

The research returned mixed results for the effect of GBE on dementia symptoms. However, some evidence suggests that it may help in some cases. Also, Gingko may help to reduce specific psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety.

In a meta-analysis published in the journal Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, researchers “explore[ed] the effectiveness and safety of Gingko Biloba in treating mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.”

The research team included 21 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comprising 2,608 patients in their analysis.  They concluded that, when “compared with conventional medicine alone,” Gingko Biloba substantially improved Alzheimer’s patients’ scores on a clinical test of cognitive function.

  1. Enhances Brain Function

Herbalists widely recommend Gingko Biloba for its supposed positive effects on cognitive function.

In a systematic review published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, researchers analyzed the results of eleven randomized control trial (RCT) studies. Study participants had a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Dementia patients scored higher in clinical tests of overall cognition. Additionally, patients demonstrated improvement in the ‘activities of daily living’ (ADL) measurement scales. ADL measures the capacity of patients diagnosed with dementia conditions such as AD to live independently.

Less clear is the effect of GBE and other forms of gingko on the cognitive function of otherwise healthy individuals. Some evidence suggests that GBE effects are “non-significant” for this demographic.

  1. Reduces Anxiety Symptoms

A decent amount of research points to gingko minimizing the symptoms of anxiety.

In a randomized study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research of 107 people with a generalized anxiety disorder (GED) or adjustment disorder with anxious mood (ADWAM) were given 240 milligrams (mg) of GBE, 480 mg of GBE, or a placebo over four weeks. After this time, the participants were assessed for feelings of anxiety, tension, and aggression.

The measurement instrument used in the study was the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). The HAM-A has a total score range of 0 to 56 points. HAMA scores decreased significantly for GBE users, by 14 and 12 points for the 480 mg and 240 mg doses, respectively.

  1. Reduces Depression Symptoms

Some researchers posit that the anti-inflammatory properties of gingko contribute to its ability to lessen depressive symptoms. An article published in the journal Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology explains the correlation between inflammation and depression:

“Chronic exposure to increased inflammation … [drives] changes in neurotransmitters and neurocircuits that lead to depressive symptoms.” Higher than normal inflammation levels may also interfere with the efficiency of antidepressant medication, the researchers add.

  1. Fights inflammation

Speaking of anti-inflammatory, it turns out that ginkgo is a potent agent for counteracting the dangerous long-term effects of chronic inflammation. In fact, the inflammation-fighting properties of Gingko Biloba are the biggest reason why the herb has such a wide variety of health uses.

Chronic inflammation means that the immune response is out of whack – and this can cause severe damage. A dysfunctional inflammatory response can damage healthy cells, organs, and tissues, leading to DNA damage, internal scarring, and tissue death.

Multiple studies over the years have demonstrated the powerful anti-inflammatory effects of gingko. In a 2008 study published in the journal Carcinogenesis, researchers from the University of South Carolina found that standardized GBE can “prevent and treat colitis,” a chronic inflammatory condition of the colon.

Excessive inflammation links to a variety of medical conditions, including asthma, cancer, dementia, heart disease, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 2 diabetes. Other natural supplements that help reduce inflammation, including curcumin, fish oil, garlic, ginger, and lipoid acid.

  1. May Promote and Support Eye Health

While research into the effects of gingko on eye health and vision is still in the relatively early phases, preliminary studies have shown some potential. Per the Mayo Clinic, there’s at least some evidence that ginkgo may prevent the worsening of age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of vision loss into old age.

In a study published in the journal Current Opinion in Ophthalmology, GBE supplementation increased blood flow to the eyes of patients with glaucoma. Per the authors: “GBE has been shown to have … vascular effects, making it potentially effective in treating glaucoma.”

Researchers attribute these effects to the vasodilation properties of ginkgo. Vasodilation is the medical term for the widening of the blood vessels, which promotes the passage of blood.

  1. May Reduce Blood Pressure

As mentioned, Gingko Biloba contains vasodilatory elements. Some research has connected these properties to potential positive cardioprotective effects.

In a study published in the American Journal of Hypertension, researchers tested the effects of a 240 mg daily dose of GBE on blood pressure and incident hypertension. The study’s participants included 3,069 elderly subjects with an average age of 79 years.

At follow-up, the researchers discovered a decrease in the number of hypertensive individuals and an increase in ‘normotensives’ – those within a healthy blood pressure range.

In another study of individuals aged 21 to 57 years, a daily intake of 120 mg of Gingko Biloba for three months lowered blood pressure. A reduction of 6 percent and 21 percent in systolic and diastolic BP was found, respectively.

  1. May Help Treat Migraines

Typical migraine symptoms include a throbbing headache, fatigue, dizziness, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light and sound, and pale skin.

Although there are relatively few studies that focus on gingko as a migraine treatment, some evidence exists that it may be beneficial. In one small study, 50 Italian women suffering from migraines took gingko supplements over four months.

In another study of school-aged children, the combination of Gingko Biloba along with coenzyme Q10, riboflavin, and magnesium led to a reduction in the number of migraine attacks.

  1. May Reduce Asthma and COPD symptoms

Some research points to a potential beneficial effect of Gingko Biloba on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Benefits are attributed to the anti-inflammatory properties of gingko, which theoretically reduces the inflammation in the airways and lungs.

In a study published in the Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 75 patients with asthma were split into four groups. One of the groups received a combination of traditional asthma medicine (fluticasone) and GBE. Researchers concluded the following:

“GBE [can] significantly decrease … inflammatory cells … in the asthmatic airway and relieve the airway inflammation,” noting that “GBE may be used as a complement to … therapy for asthma.”

gingko bilobaFinal Thoughts: Before Taking Gingko Biloba

Gingko Biloba, particularly gingko Biloba extract, contains properties that resemble those of stimulants. For this reason, children should not take gingko supplements.

Gingko may produce negative interactions when consumed with certain medications. Do not take gingko if you are on any of the following over-the-counter or prescription medicines:

– Anticoagulants/antiplatelet drugs (“blood thinners”)

– Anticonvulsants (“seizure medicines)

– Alprazolam (Xanax)

– Buspirone (BuSpar)

– Efavirenz (Sustiva)

– Fluoxetine (Prozac)

– Liver-altering medications (all)

– Trazodone (Desyrel)

As a general rule, for your safety, speak with your doctor or other qualified health professionals before taking any form of gingko.

10 Ways to Manage and Heal a Leaky Gut

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Feeling sluggish, or unwell in general? You might find a leaky gut to be the culprit.

Your gut health is more important than most people seem to realize. The nervous system of the gut is so complex that some sources call it a second brain. Additionally, your gut represents nearly 70 percent of your immune system.

Unsurprisingly, a growing trend suggests that myriad health issues, including autoimmune diseases, cannot be resolved without addressing issues like leaky gut.

Here are ten ways to start resolving your leaky gut syndrome:

1 – Keep a Food Diary

If you don’t have a food diary, start one. If you do have a food diary, keep at it.

A food diary should record not only what you eat, but also any metrics you are interested in tracking, such as weight or mood. It doesn’t need to involve a lot of writing. Since the intended audience is you, it is fine to record enough to jog your memory when you read back through it later, looking for clues about your condition.

This should be your very first step. It will help you establish a clear baseline for everything. You need to have some idea of what you currently eat and what your current symptoms are. Once you have determined that, you can move on to trying to remedy the problem with your gut. However, that doesn’t mean you should stop tracking your diet.

2 – Make Only One Change at a Time

A lot of articles that try to tell you how to address leaky gut recommend dramatic elimination diets. Such events can not only be hard on the body, but they can also introduce new confounding factors to the equation, making it harder to figure out what works and what doesn’t for you. This situation may be part of why research shows that it is best to try to change only one habit at a time.

Start by making only one change to either your diet or lifestyle. There are so many things going on in life that isolating factors that impact your health is quite hard. Try one new thing, stick with it for a minimum of one to two weeks, and track any changes you see.s can help give you some idea of the effect it has on you.

3 – It’s Easier to Start with Supplements

If you want to understand what a change is doing to your health, it helps to try to isolate factors. One way to isolate an element is by adding a supplement to your routine and changing nothing else. If you add a single supplement, you can get a reasonably good idea of what it does to you. In contrast, dietary changes always involve at least two shifts, making it difficult to determine which one is the real cause of positive change:

  • The removal of one food.
  • The addition of another food taking its place.

4 – Good Quality Salt

Your gut is lined with mucus. Mucus is 95 percent water, one percent salt, and four percent various other things, making salt an essential component of mucus. The mucus in your gut protects your stomach. When the mucus lining the gut is in poor shape, this is a major contributing factor to leaky gut.

Table salt is not the best option for healing your gut. It is better to use cleaner salts with fewer additives, such as kosher salt, canning, and pickling salt or sea salt. Some high brine sea salts also contain a mix of micronutrients that people swear by for improving their gut health.

5 – Glyconutrients

This terminology is a fancy word for good carbs. You can buy fancy, expensive supplements, and this may benefit you, especially at first. You can also go by consuming foods that contain good carbs, such as aloe and whole grains. Not all carbs are evil, and studies show that aloe vera does good things for conditions like diabetes.

6 – The Right Oils

You should probably worry less about the number of fats you consume and more about the quality. There is much controversy and misinformation concerning which fats are right for you and which are bad for you. Your food diary can help guide you in determining which fats work best for you, but some fats are routinely recommended as better and some as worse for your health.

Frequently Recommended as Good Fats:

  • Olive oil
  • Oils high in MCTs, such as coconut oil or palm oil.
  • Butter or ghee (clarified butter).

Frequently Listed as Bad Fats:

  • Peanut oil
  • Canola oil

7 – Yeast Cleanse Diet

If you have symptoms of a yeast overgrowth, or if you have recently been on antibiotics, you should do a yeast cleanse diet. One sign of yeast overgrowth is vaginal yeast infections. A yeast cleansing diet starts with eliminating yeast-leavened foods, such as bread and pizza. Add in yogurt or another probiotic source and reduce sugars and carbs as much as possible. You should be eating mostly fresh or lightly cooked vegetables plus high-quality meats. You may need to do this for a few months.

8 – Address Any Nutrient Deficiencies

Good health isn’t just about the things we avoid in our diet. It also about the things we include. If you have taken any medication, especially daily, look up which nutrients your drug depletes and consider replenishing those nutrients through supplements or foods that are high in those nutrients.

9 – Fast Periodically

Fasting has a long history and is often a requirement of various religions. It is an excellent way to help clean out your gut and give it a break. You can think of it as downtime for maintenance. There are many ways to fast. If you have no experience fasting, you should be conservative and start with something like a short term juice fast rather than something like several days of water fasting.

10 – Probiotics Help Heal a Leaky Gut

Probiotics are friendly flora that supports your microbiome. They can be purchased in supplement form or consumed in foods. One of the most popular sources of probiotics is yogurt. It’s easy for most people to add good quality yogurt to their diet as part of breakfast or in place of a snack.

11 – Walk More

Walking promotes gut motility and also increases the rate at which lymph returns to the blood. Lymph is how the body removes wastes from its tissues. These two mechanisms are heavily involved in the body, “taking out the trash.” If you want to clean up your system, walking more is one of the best things you can do.

leaky gutFinal Thoughts on Resolving Your Leaky Gut

Leaky gut syndrome might wreak havoc on your life, but you do not have to let it. There are many dietary, along with lifestyle choices, that you can make to have a positive impact on your gut and overall wellness. Keep in mind that you are an individual, and you need to investigate what works for you. Tracking your data and making informed decisions based on that can help you navigate an often overwhelming amount of conflicting information.

Breast Pain: 10 Common Causes + Treatments

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Most women will experience mild breast pain at some point in their lives. However, only fifteen percent of all these cases require medical treatment.

Surprisingly to most, men may also experience twinges of tenderness in their breast tissue.

You can have breast pain in different locations. It can be on one breast, or it can be on both breasts. You can even experience this pain in your underarm.

Additionally, breast pain comes in different levels of severity. It can be mild, or it can be excruciatingly painful. These different levels of discomfort are commonly described as tenderness, tightening, throbbing, or sharp burning of the breast tissue.

Breast pain causes can vary. One of the most frequent reasons is hormonal changes. These changes can also affect the type of pain that you experience. This situation also explains why your perfectly healthy breasts can be in pain.

Here is a listing of ten of the most common causes of breast pain, as well as their treatment.

1. Cyst

Cysts are breast pain causes characterized by small sacs in the breast that fill with fluid. They are oval lumps that are soft and round typically. They can also feel hard in some cases.

Cysts can appear in one or both breasts, and you can have one or many cysts at a time. Apart from pain and tenderness, there are no other symptoms of cysts. These lumps grow and increase in pain during your period, and the effects reduce at the end of the period.

For treatment, visit your doctor so that they can confirm that it is indeed a cyst and not something serious. In case you have symptoms, use pain relievers such as naproxen and ibuprofen or use a compress to reduce the pain. Also, eat less salt to avoid swelling and pain.

2. Infection

The infection that occurs in the breast is called mastitis. This occurrence usually happens to women that breastfeed. Regardless, it can also happen to anyone.

Mastitis symptoms occur suddenly, and they include pain, burning, redness, chills, swelling, warmth, and fever.

In case you experience any symptom of infection in your breast, ensure that you see your doctor immediately. Your physician can guide you on whether you need an antibiotic and advise you of at-home care.

Also, sip a lot of fluids and get enough rest.

Besides, do not wear bras or clothes that are tight until your infection clears and increase feeds if you are breastfeeding since it will reduce pain.

Do not ignore the treatment of mastitis because it can grow into an abscess.

3. Fibrocystic Breasts

The changes in fibrocystic breasts are a common cause of pain in the breasts. About fifty percent of women will experience this type of pain during one point in their lives. Also, this breast tissue does not have any symptoms.

However, when symptoms occur, they include tenderness, pain, and a rope-like texture. The symptoms appear mostly in the area outside and on top of the breast.

To alleviate pain from fibrocystic breasts, use over the counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen and Acetaminophen. You can also apply a heated compress or a hot water bottle to reduce the pain.

Other methods that will help to reduce the pain include the use of a supportive bra and the use of hormonal birth control.

Nevertheless, ensure that you visit a doctor if you notice a new or bigger lump, increasing pain or changes that persist after your period.

4. Hormone Medications

Some hormonal medications’ side effects can be breast pain causes. For instance, oral contraceptives can cause breasts to experience pain. Hormone supplements and replacements can also cause this type of pain.

To treat these side effects, ask your doctor if they can prescribe a different medication. You might find that you tolerate a different brand better than the one you use.

If you are under hormonal birth control, you can switch to condoms, try a hormonal IUD, or try a copper hormone-free IUD.

5. Breastfeeding

When you first start breastfeeding your child, you might experience sore nipples. If the latch is not put properly, you can also experience severe breast pain. It is also widespread for the nipple to crack and become dry.

Other conditions that can be caused by breastfeeding include lactation mastitis, engorgement, plugged ducts, and fungal infections — mastitis results in pain, redness, and symptoms similar to the flu.

Engorgement results from an excess supply of milk that causes pain. It can also lead to plugged ducts. Plugged ducts are often in one breast, and they feel like a sore tender lump.

Fungal infections such as yeast infections can precipitate pain, aching, and itchiness. For treatment, ask a lactation consultant to help in case you have raw and sore nipples. They will advise you on the different feeding techniques and positions that you can use.

To soften hard breasts, you can pump milk in between feedings, apply a few drops of your milk around your nipples after feeding to soothe cracking and apply a warm compress to the plugged milk ducts.

Also, use breathable cotton pads to reduce trapping of moisture.

6. Pregnancy

Pregnancy triggers many hormonal changes in a female’s body. This is because the hormones are responsible for triggering the transformations that are required to support a pregnancy.

Hence, your breasts may become tender and swollen, and your nipples might stick out. In case the pain in your breast becomes severe, you should see your OB-GYN. Additionally, inform them of any skin changes, discharge, or lumps.

Otherwise, treat the soreness with a heat compress, use breast pads to prevent the chaffing of the nipple, wear your bra to bed, avoid touching your breast, and get a new loose bra.

7. Period

A woman’s monthly cycle is one of the most common breast pain causes. This is a result of the hormonal changes that occur during their period. The medical term for this form of pain is cyclical breast pain.

Throughout the month, estrogen and progesterone hormones will fluctuate in your body. As a result, you will experience a lot of havoc in your brain as well as your body. These two hormones can increase the size of ducts and glands in your breast.

Therefore, your breast swells and retain water. The breasts also become tender, lumpy, and painful a few days to your period. This type of pain usually fades after the period ends.

Regardless, you can change your lifestyle and use home remedies to relieve these symptoms by wearing a period bra, avoiding caffeine, reducing salt intake, practicing mindfulness, applying a hot or a cold compress, and using a pain reliever.

If the home remedies do not work, your doctor can prescribe hormonal birth control to reduce your premenstrual symptoms.

8. Bruises or Bumps

At one point in your life, you have woken up with an injury that you do not remember getting. The same philosophy can apply to your breast.

For instance, if you bump yourself while you carry a heavy sleeping child, it might cause a bruise.

Treating a minor bruise or bump is unnecessary because it will fade away in time. If you want to ease your symptoms, however, you can take a pain reliever such as naproxen or ibuprofen.

You can also apply a compress in your breast to relieve the pain and change the bra that you wear to make your chest more comfortable.

9. Muscle Strain

The muscles that lie directly below and around your breasts are known as the pectoral muscles. When this muscle is strained, it feels as though the pain is coming from your chest. As a result, these types of breast pain causes are limited to one breast.

Together with this pain, you might also experience bruising, swelling, and difficulty when moving your shoulder. The cause of this pain makes it common among weight lifters, athletes, and any other person engaging in activities that can lead to strain.

To treat muscle strain, you can use over the counter medications such as naproxen and ibuprofen. You can also do stretching exercises such as yoga or Pilates. A heating compress can also reduce the pain that you feel and make it easy to reach.

You can also rest to stimulate healing.

10. Bra

The work of a bra is to give support to the fatty tissues and weight of breast tissue. This necessity is especially true if you have a big cup size. Besides, in most cases, you will find that many women do not wear bras that fit their sizes appropriately.

If you wear an ancient bra, stretched out, or one that is too big, you will not be giving your breasts the support that they require. Hence, letting your breasts jostle around from morning to evening can make them sore. The unpleasant feeling can also spread into your shoulders, neck, and back.

On the other hand, if you wear a bra that is too tight, the excess pressure on your breasts can lead to sensitivity. Therefore, if you think that your bra might be causing your breast pain, consider the following:

• Check whether your breasts often spill over the top of your bra

• Confirm if your backs strap is digging into your skin

• Confirm if your bra is on its loosest or tightest buckle

• Check and see if the bra rides up in the back

• Confirm for spaces between the bra cup and your breast

If any of these conditions sound eerily like you, get a professional fitting in a store near you to get your exact bra size.

mammogram for persistent breast pain

A mammogram is the best tool to detect whether your breast pain is anything to worry about.

Final Thoughts on Dealing with Breast Pain

Always visit the doctor if the breast pain becomes severe. Also, visit your doctor if you have unusual discharge, fever, chills, and persistent swelling. Finally, schedule your regular mammograms and alert your doctor if you find any new lumps, bumps, changes in the skin, or other changes to your breast tissue.

10 Proven Tips to Reduce Breast Pain in Pregnancy

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Pregnancy is an incredible time in the life of an expectant mother. For roughly forty weeks or almost ten months, the human body sustains itself, feeding and sheltering a new being.

It’s really a marvelous feat.

And at the end of that relatively short space of time, a new remarkable individual is waiting to meet the world. With all of the wonder and new fantastic sensations that a pregnant person comes face to face with, there are a few side effects that come with the pregnancy territory. Furthermore, these symptoms are less than pleasant.

One such side effect is breast soreness and nipple discomfort. When compared to some of the other common byproducts of pregnancy, breast aches might not seem too severe. In fact, it is often a relatively painless and utterly normal consequence of pregnancy.

Nevertheless, breast pain, which often indicates the earliest tell-tale signs of pregnancy, is also one of the longest-lasting and most inconvenient of all. Fortunately, some confirmed strategies reduce breast pain in pregnancy, allowing you to focus on the more joyful aspects of this momentous time in your life.

Proven Tips to Reduce Breast Pain in Pregnancy

1 – Try a Sports Bra

At the very beginning of pregnancy, one’s breasts go through rapid, intense changes that often result in discomfort and breast discomfort in general. One way to alleviate this pain is by investing in a supportive sports bra.

Sports bras come in handy while exercising through pregnancy. Additionally, they also provide comfort and stability throughout daily activities. At the start of this journey, a sports bra that’s already in the drawer will most likely suffice. However, as your trimesters proceed, invest in a roomier sports bra. This support garment keeps your breasts lifted and free from the irritation of an underwire.

2 – Warm Baths

Warm baths are highly effective at assuaging breast aches throughout pregnancy. The warm water is soothing, helps reduce discomfort by decreasing swelling and inflammation, and can help diminish sensitivity, however temporary.

A warm bath can help reduce tension in general because it is a great way to be mindful and to relax, so it’s worth working into your nightly routine to help reduce breast pain during and after pregnancy.

Be mindful of the water temperature, however, as water that is too hot can increase breast discomfort and is also recommended against for pregnant women in general.

3 – Sleep in Bras without Underwire

Even if you have never been the type to sleep in a bra, or if you have always been someone who takes your bra off the very moment you get home from, pregnancy-induced breast soreness is a game-changer.

To help reduce the breast pain often felt in the morning or throughout the night, consider sleeping in a wire-free bra. These bras decrease irritation throughout the night and provide the much-needed support pregnant breasts need

4 – Avoid Extra Contact

Whether it contacts from your partner or the water in the showerhead, tender pregnant breasts benefit from reduced touches. Have a candid chat with your partner about your breast and nipple pain to prevent any hurt feelings or misunderstandings.

Also, consider trading out the shower for a bath until you feel a substantial reduction in breast tenderness. By steering clear of unnecessary touching, you’ll reduce breast pain. This strategy gives your breasts time to grow and expand in peace without the constant fear of uncomfortable consequences.

5 – Bra Pads

In spite of your best efforts at finding the right bra, your breasts might still be too tender to be touched even by the cups. If this is the case, try not to fret too much. Most department stores and undoubtedly online retailers can help you find relief with bra pads. Insert these pads into your bra to help alleviate any rubbing or irritation that can exacerbate breast tenderness. These provide more cushion and comfort for your sore breasts. Bra pads will also come in handy down the road if you decide to breastfeed your baby or pump while you are at work.

6 – Cold Compresses

There’s nothing quite like a cold compress to provide instant relief to breast tenderness. While this remedy is only one you can use at home, it is efficient. Take a wet or damp washcloth and press it against the tender areas for three to five minutes at a time. The cold will help desensitize the area, giving you the much-needed relief you deserve. You can also swap out the washcloth for a more potent remedy such as a frozen bag of vegetables if you so desire.

7 – Icy or Heated Pads

Not to be confused with the larger heating pad, you might have lying around from the days of your period, icy or heated breast pads specifically provide comfort for those aching breasts and sore nipples. These pads can either be heated in the microwave for a few seconds or placed in the freezer before being placed on the affected area. Another at-home remedy, these pads will provide swift relief when you need it most and can be used during pregnancy as well as if you decide to breastfeed down the road.

8 – Loose Clothing

When it comes to picking out your wardrobe, try to be mindful of how tight and compressing your tops are. Tighter clothing can restrict circulation, which can further inflame your sensitive breast area. Looser shirts and light, cotton fabrics are more breathable. Thus, they reduce breast pain and leave you feeling more comfortable. You’ll feel better, in the long term, this way.

9 – Reduce Your Sodium Intake

Once you found out you are pregnant, odds are, you stumbled across a smorgasbord of nutritional advice. One particular pearl of wisdom comes in handy not only in terms of staying on track with pregnancy weight gain but also in terms of alleviating breast tenderness. That advice is reducing the amount of sodium in your diet.

Foods that have large quantities of sodium lead to bloating. Furthermore, water retention promotes breast discomfort. By decreasing your sodium intake, you can lessen the condition and help your breasts to feel less heavy and achy.

nutrition can reduce symptoms like breast pain in pregnant women

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10 – Breast Creams

Breast discomfort can result from increased circulation, expanding milk glands, a growth in fatty tissue, or exterior irritations, such as the lining of a bra or fabric of a blanket or blouse.

One proven way to help reduce breast pain associated with these causes is to invest in a breast cream. Look for one that has cocoa butter, shea butter, coconut oil, or lanolin the main ingredients. These powerful ingredients help keep the skin nourished and protected from irritants, which reduces the amount of discomfort you are probably experiencing.

fitness during pregnancy

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Final Thoughts on Managing Breast Pain During Pregnancy

Although breast soreness and discomfort are considered entirely typical side effects of pregnancy, that doesn’t mean that you are doomed to suffer through them for forty weeks. This early symptom of pregnancy typically appears as early as two weeks after conception. While it often disappears by the second trimester, for many women, it either returns during the third trimester or never leaves to begin with.

Fortunately, these remedies mitigate some of the suffering associated with your body, preparing to feed and nourish your new baby in the months to come. By being proactive and engaging in these strategies before the pain gets too intense or even starts for that matter, you will feel and be much better off than someone who tries to soldier on through the pain.

As always, if you find yourself continually experiencing discomfort, and the remedies fail to provide relief, consult your OBGYN. She can tell you if taking over the counter pain relief such as acetaminophen is safe. And, she’ll provide advice on what to use if all else fails to provide sufficient improvement. Finally, always speak with your medical provider before administering any new medications. Keep in mind that these nine busy months fly by.

You deserve to enjoy this time. So celebrate your body for the remarkable role it plays in creating and sustaining a new life. Remember that you can take these steps to reduce breast pain instead of suffering through it in silence. This time is all about you and your remarkable journey into motherhood. And breast discomfort and nipple soreness should never stand between you and this extraordinary time in your life.

Research Reveals the Benefits of Echinacea Supplements

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Echinacea, or purple coneflower, has been one of the most-used herbal supplements for generations. The Native Americans across the Great Plains, as well as the settlers that followed, used the leaves, flowers, and roots for medicinal purposes. Although the discovery of antibiotics lessened its use for a time, this member of the daisy family enjoys a resurgence as commonly prescribed medications lose effectiveness.

Recent studies have had conflicting results about the effectiveness of this herbal remedy, despite the decades of prevalent use it has enjoyed. Part of the challenge is that there are several species of the plant, and several plant parts, namely the leaves, flowers, and roots, have all been used medicinally. Study results range from yielding negligible to highly promising results.

Also, remember that each person has a unique metabolism and varying tolerances. Should you decide to test the traditional merits of the herb, choose quality supplements, and follow the directions carefully. And although many have enjoyed significant benefits from the remedy, it may not react well with some prescription medications, so you consult your doctor before adding it to your daily regimen if you take regular meds.

Some recent studies have also found that the herb may be useful beyond the common cold or flu. It contains anti-inflammatory properties and also offers some calming effects. More definitive and controlled research could pinpoint the most effective species, plant part, and dosage to the satisfaction of the scientific community. Until then, even many doctors agree that the testimony of herbalists, nutritionists, and satisfied users cannot be altogether dismissed.

Treating the Common Cold

Studies show this herbal treatment to contain antimicrobial and antiviral properties that can make it a desirable alternative to prescribed meds. By beginning the supplement as soon as cold or flu symptoms appear, the duration and severity of symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and cough can be reduced without harmful side effects.

Some studies have also boosted the herb’s reputation as an immune system enhancer through alkamides and several other inherent chemical substances. The phenols found in the herb have antioxidant qualities that help the body to fight off harmful bacteria and viruses.

Treating Gum Disease

Studies indicate that a mouthwash containing coneflower, Gotu kola, and elderberry is useful in stopping gingivitis. The immune system regulating and antibacterial properties of the herb make it effective against microbial pathogens, yeast, and other kinds of fungi. The herb also helps to fight inflammation, one uncomfortable symptom of gum disease.

The correct dosage should present visible results within ten days. By rinsing your mouth and then swallowing the dose, you will be treating the condition both orally and systemically. The mouthwash may stain, so keep it away from clothing. It is also not tasty, but the results may be worth it.

Controlling Anxiety

Some studies have indicated that narrow-leaved Coneflower Root supplements can help regulate synaptic functions, resulting in the lessening of anxiety symptoms. While the herb cannot altogether remove all fear and sufferers’ reactions to it, it can make the battle easier for those who endure frequent anxiety attacks.

These findings are particularly useful because of the undesirable side effects associated with some prescription anxiety treatments. When taken as a low-dosage supplement, stress and tension significantly decreased in study participants.

Controlling Blood Sugar and Diabetes

Several studies support the ability of Echinacea purpurea to help reduce blood sugar. This improvement happens by suppressing the enzymes that digest carbohydrates. Specific components in the herb also help the body normalize its response to glucose, making it a possible supplemental treatment for people with diabetes.

The presence of this herb in the bloodstream can keep blood sugar from either spiking or plummeting. Adding the herb in tea form is easy, and side effects are rare. However, you should always begin any herbal supplement with small doses to assess your body’s response.

Reducing the Risk of Cancer

Studies have shown that this versatile herb may also encourage the growth of healthy cancer “kill cells” while inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. Its effectiveness with several cancers continues to be studied, including breast cancer and lymphomas, cervical, and lung cancers.

Taking a regular dose may also alleviate some of the symptoms of chemotherapy treatments, such as nausea and stomach upset, when included in an herbal blend. It also encourages white blood cell growth, which helps to discourage infections while fighting cancer and other diseases.

Fighting Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)

Several laboratory studies indicate that this herb may be an effective treatment for urinary tract infections, vaginal yeast infections, and ear infections. The active natural antibiotic substances, along with antiviral and antioxidant components, have made it one of the favorite supplements among professional herbalists.

Although some studies have been inconclusive, many herbalists agree that 400 years of traditional use should not be ignored. A careful examination of each species is bringing more information to light about this cure-all herb’s many healing properties for common ailments and infections. For chronic UTI sufferers, the herb may prove to be a boon, as it may mean lessened prescription meds dependence for day to day healthy functions.

Treating Respiratory Infections

Studies show that coneflower may also be useful as an initial treatment for Upper Respiratory Infections (URI). These studies have shown improvement in up to eight out of ten participants. This news is good for chronic sufferers.

There is no real evidence, however, that the supplements will work as a preventative measure, though some nutritionists and herbalists insist otherwise. Since some studies have indicated a small percentage of preventative results, chronic sufferers may want to try the supplement for a while and form their own opinion.

Other Possible Benefits

Over the years, parts of the coneflower have been used for a variety of ailments. Besides those previously mentioned, the herb has been put forward as a remedy for:

Even this is not an all-inclusive list. Although studies indicate the herb offers the potential for many healing components, time alone will tell what conclusions the scientific community will draw for so many varied conditions. Time has not lessened the herb’s popularity as a general preventive and treatment for colds and other viral infections.

How Echinacea Gained Its Following

Most Native American tribes did not initially use this prolific herb to treat colds. Some shared they learned about the herb by watching elk, who sought it out when wounded or sick. So the native tribes called the plant “elk root.” It was used for sore throat, cough, headaches, and as an all-around painkiller.

Only the South Dakota tribes used coneflower as a cold remedy. Then, the region’s European settlers quickly picked up on this application. Beginning in the 20th century, Germany has been conducting studies with the herb, and its use is common there.

It would appear that the different species each have their unique potency to combat various diseases. So a bit of research may help you to decide what to look for when considering the use of this natural treatment. Another important consideration is whether you will benefit more from the herb in drink or capsule form. It’s not recommended you use the raw plant unless you have a thorough knowledge of the risk of toxicity. Instead, take a supplement tablet or tea.

Who Shouldn’t Use an Echinacea supplement

If you take some prescription meds, such as immunosuppressants, this may not be an excellent herbal treatment for you. Also, don’t use the herb if you suffer from an autoimmune disorder such as

  • lupus
  • multiple sclerosis
  • HIV
  • AIDS

Also, avoid this herb if you suffer from tuberculosis.

Some people may have an allergic reaction, such as nausea or stomach upset. If you react, discontinue use. The herb is thought to be safe for children over two years old and for pregnant women. You may want to speak with your doctor first.

echinacea (coneflower) for a cold

Learn home remedies for common cold.

Final Thoughts on Echinacea and Your Wellness

For over 400 years, Echinacea has been a go-to herb for treating everyday illnesses, aches, and pains. As a supplement, there have been no studies showing any danger in taking the herb daily. However, some professionals recommend taking it in short bursts for a more robust immune boost.

Some studies have shown the herb to reduce the chances of catching a cold or flu by up to 58%. That’s an impressive number and may make it worth trying the herb as the cold season comes upon us. Natural, traditional remedies (including the coneflower) continue to gain interest and backing as synthetic medications lose their efficacy or become more expensive.

A supplement may be the answer to at least lessen symptoms and keep the immune system healthy. If you’re not sure, you can speak to a nutritionist or seek the help of an herbalist. Knowledge is power. So it’s good to get to know the best home remedies and how to use them, including echinacea, the ubiquitous coneflower.

5 Red Flags That Alert You To A Hypocrite

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Have you ever been around when someone is called a hypocrite? What sort of images does that character trait bring to mind? Hypocritical people generally say one thing while doing something opposite.

Hypocritical people exist all over the world. Unfortunately, these people are often unavoidable in our daily lives. Confronting hypocrites requires a significant level of patience. It’s an unfortunate truth that hypocrisy is not uncommon. We encounter these people routinely in our everyday lives. Even sadder, they may be among our friends.

There are times when hypocritical people are unavoidable. We might work with such people or even be related to these people. We need to avoid such people to protect ourselves from any harm. Let’s look at some of the red flags a hypocrite displays that reveal their authentic selves.

Why Is Hypocrisy Such A Toxic Emotion?

Hypocrisy is a very common character flaw that disempowers people.

People generally have this need to see the world as a safe and fair place. It’s a dangerous thought process. If I’m a good person, only good things happen to me. Bad things happen to bad people. Therefore, the hypocrite paints himself (or herself) in a favorable light at all costs.

Hypocritical people make us feel like the social contract of fairness is continually being disrupted. This lack of justice often happens in relationships. When there’s a double standard, your partner can say or do things that you can’t do.

Hypocrisy is an example of injustice. Now, people don’t like to use the term that’s not fair, because it sounds almost childish. But being hypocritical strikes at the root of what it means to live in a decent society.

An Example Of Social Hypocrisy

Social hypocrisy is when we profess a specific value, yet our actions fall short. Let’s take the example of unwanted attention. This attention doesn’t have to be romantic. It could just be considered unwanted attention.

Imagine someone comes home from the bar and says that somebody gave them all this unwanted attention. Most people hearing this will assume that the person was verbally assaulted. But the reality was perhaps simply that some man or woman came up to you and asked you something. Maybe it was to dance, or perhaps they wanted to get a phone number.

Is it now not okay to want to talk to another person? The reason this behavior is hypocritical is that if this man or woman were attractive, then it wouldn’t be unwanted attention. This example, of course, assumes that the person approaching is doing so respectfully. They are not entering too close to your personal space. If they’re not threatening or rude, then whatever happened to “we’ll see if this person is engaging?”

It’s because the person is not up to a person’s standard that they then say it’s unwanted (romantic) attention. Unless they’re going to use that term with every single person they encounter, they’re hypocritical. Because if it’s the right person (who happens to be charismatic or attractive), then being chatty is all of a sudden okay.

Hypocrisy truly is such an ugly trait. People should keep an eye on how they are conducting themselves as it can damage other people. Hypocrisy has a disempowering effect on the person who assumes that they are a victim. They make it sound like it was a horrible monster that approached them.

What Are The Characteristics Of Hypocritical People?

Hypocritical people tell you you’re doing all the wrong things and yet continue to do them themselves. Just because you’re prone to making mistakes doesn’t make you a hypocrite. If you plan on doing something wrong, and you permit yourself to do something unjust, then you are venturing down the path of a hypocritical life.

Contrast this with someone who knows what’s wrong and strives to live a moral life. When you are in the wrong and aim to rectify what you’ve done, you’re not hypocritical. You’re dealing with your actions like an adult who knows what’s wrong and what’s right.

5 Red Flags That Warn You Of A Hypocrite In Your Life

Here are five of the primary red flags that will help you pinpoint the presence of a hypocrite in your presence.

1. Unpredictable Behaviors

Hypocrites are erratic, though that doesn’t mean that all inconsistent people are hypocrites. A hypocrite’s inconsistency can be measured beyond just being unreliable.

We can see it in their actions that don’t synchronize with their words. If they don’t end up getting what they want, they may end up playing the victim.

These types of people will act as if they are the perfect ones who have been wronged. Even though they create a scene through their mistakes, they will condemn others to project it on them.

2. High Level of Superiority

People who act contrary to how they say they behave often discriminate against others. They operate and speak as they want because they think no one is superior to them. People who say one thing and do another often feel that they are above the law.

Hypocritical people will often ignore the prevailing norms of society. They live contrary to their own rules, but others must abide by the standards they profess to practice.

Ironically, this behavior arises from their lack of confidence in themselves. Hypocritical people cover this flaw by tending to act bossy around others.

3. Gossiping

Continuously talking bad about others or gossiping is a behavior typical of hypocritical people. They are eager to speak critically about other people’s flaws. Hypocrites often gossip to drag other people down. They do this to make them feel superior to others.

As they are unpredictable, they will say things in a certain way but act in another way. They will break promises, especially if we do not meet their desires.

4. Helping When Only It Helps Them

Hypocrites like to help others, but they may only help if they can gain some benefit for themselves. They will not help someone sincerely. They will usually expect ‘rewards’ from their deeds.

A sinister aspect of this phenomenon is when the hypocritical person feels superior to specific groups of people. If a person thinks that they are superior to particular groups, they should be honest enough to admit it. Hypocritical people can often use bigoted and prejudiced language towards others in a hurtful manner.

And if you’re willing to admit what’s going on in front of your eyes, then why would you accept it from that person? If we recognize that this type of mindset is both hypocritical and not healthy, why would we engage in it?

5. Attention Seeker

No one is ever looking for attention more than hypocrites. They hold tight to the principle of egocentrism. They thus believe everyone should be centered upon themselves.

When they achieve something, they will ensure that the entire world must know about it. How annoying it is when we meet such people, right? They are so stubborn that they forget that this world has more than just them in it.

Individuals steeped in hypocrisy hardly ever feel guilty. Whatever they have done, they will never feel remorseful about it. Instead, they will pass on their errors to others. An assistant to a hypocritical person should be prepared to shoulder much of that person’s blame.

How To Cultivate Non-Hypocritical Traits

All this talk of hypocrisy is probably fairly depressing. Let’s look at how we can spin this negative trait upside-down. Namely, how would we cultivate non-hypocrisy in ourselves and encourage it in others?

1. Try to be there for your friends and family.

It’s always great being around someone you can depend on. That would mean being there for others in their time of need, even at inconvenient times. It’s great to have likable people in your social circle who will unconditionally listen to you.

2. Be considerate of others.

One trait of hypocritical folk is that they don’t consider the feelings or perceptions of others. Try instead to cultivate polite behaviors. This will help you win friends by communicating in a respectful and forthright way.

3. Work on being a more attractive person.

Being thought of as an attractive person doesn’t necessarily mean you have all positive character traits. Indeed, you can work on being kind or having a sense of humor. But merely becoming friendlier to others or being around other friends makes you a more attractive person overall.

4. Become a better person every day.

We can chisel away the rougher parts of our personality by working on them every day. You don’t have to be a self-help guru to reap the benefits of self-improvement. Take time to listen to your inner teacher as you make time to learn something new every day.

Final Thoughts: It’s Best To Avoid Hypocritical People

All the positive traits that you can work on can help you in life. If nothing else, it will at least save you from becoming a hypocritical person. People who have hypocritical traits tend to attract an unsavory network of peers.

Try to avoid people who show signs of being hypocritical. They will only be toxic in your life and knock you down to their level. Stay wise, and don’t let yourself be their victim.

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