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5 Common Causes of Dizziness (And How to Avoid It)

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Being dizzy frequently can become debilitating. The silver lining is that scientists understand the main causes of dizziness and how to avoid it once you receive a diagnosis.

Research shows that between thirty and forty percent of people in the United States will experience dizziness throughout their life. There are many causes of dizziness, so nearly one in five adults will struggle with this balance disorder at some point in their lives. The uncomfortable sensation can alert you to health problems, but it often is not a life-threatening issue.

Balance issues occur when there is a disruption to the connection between your eyes, vestibular system, and muscular system. Your brain uses those systems to process where you are and adjust as necessary. When your brain is unable to make adjustments, dizziness occurs.

Determining the causes of dizziness generally depend on the feeling you have. You might experience being off-balanced, lightheaded, or faint. Other signs of dizziness include blurred vision or feel like you are spinning, floating, or tilting.

When you feel this way, you want to eliminate the symptoms right away. Finding relief requires figuring out the cause of dizziness first, though. With that knowledge, you can take the necessary steps to overcome the problem and alleviate the unsettling feelings.

How Dizziness Affects The Body

Dizziness is a sign that something is off in your body. There are different types of dizziness, and each one affects your body differently.

causes of dizzinessPresyncope

Presyncope is commonly referred to as lightheadedness and can make you pale, clammy, or feel like you’re going to pass out. This condition often happens when you’ve been seated for a long time and then stand up too quickly. It can indicate dehydration, but it can also be a sign of heart disease.

Presyncope doesn’t only happen when you stand up, however. It can happen anytime and cause you to feel ungrounded or as if you have a floating head. Additionally, it can cause you to overheat or feel anxious.

Vertigo

While vertigo is a familiar term to most people, not many know the effects it has on your body, however. It makes you feel like you are spinning around and then suddenly stopping. Vertigo also causes double vision, tingling, difficulty swallowing, and numbness.

You experience sensations of vertigo because the signals that your brain receives differ from what your eyes and sensory nerves receive. Commonly, vertigo is the result of inner-ear problems. It can also be a sign of kidney failure, toxin exposure, or multiple sclerosis.

Disequilibrium

Disequilibrium is when you feel off-balance, and it interferes with your ability to focus. It is often caused by ear infections but can also be a sign of neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.

Disequilibrium can also happen if blood flow to part of your brain stops or slows down. The sudden loss of blood flow can be a sign of a stroke, so pay attention to this. Additionally, a brain tumor pressing on your brain can cause disequilibrium, as well.

Unspecified Dizziness

Sometimes you can’t figure out what type of dizziness you are experiencing, making it unspecified dizziness. Sometimes, the causes of dizziness, in this case, include fatigue, medication side effect, overheating, and dehydration.

Illnesses That Might Cause Dizziness

Now that you understand the main types of dizzy feelings, here are the illnesses that can cause it.

Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune disorders can make you feel dizzy as they attack your nervous system. Guillain-Barre is a disorder that attacks the peripheral nervous system, which is on the outside of the central nervous system. This disorder will make you dizzy, but you’ll also experience tingling sensations starting at your feet and working through your upper body.

Heart Disease

When your heart isn’t supplying enough oxygenated blood to your brain and body, you’re likely to feel dizzy. Heart disease is one of the more dangerous causes of dizziness, and you can’t ignore it if you think it could be the problem. Cardiac arrhythmias and stroke can cause presyncope, as well.

If you notice other symptoms of heart disease along with dizziness, you should seek medical attention immediately. These signs include chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, or arm, back, or jaw pain. If you are having a stroke, you might experience a sudden headache, numbness, weakness, visual changes, difficulty walking, or slurred speech.

Vitamin Deficiency

When your body is deficient in vitamin B1, you can develop a condition called Wernicke’s encephalopathy. This condition brings about dizziness, memory problems, and difficulty walking. Luckily, you can overcome this condition by taking vitamin B1 supplements each day.

Brainstem Infections

Dizziness occurs as a result of brainstem infections such as cryptococcus, labyrinthitis, and listeria. These conditions lead to inner-ear inflammation, which is one of the most common dizziness causes. If you have a brainstem infection, you might also experience sudden hearing loss or nausea.

Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency causes less blood flow to your brainstem, resulting in dizziness. If you don’t get this condition treated quickly, it can lead to stroke or brain damage. This insufficiency often happens because blood vessels between the heart and brain become blocked.

Endocrine Tumors

Endocrine tumors can secrete hormones excessively and release the hormones into your bloodstream. When this happens, it causes dizziness, weakness, and disorientation. These tumors are rare and aren’t always cancerous, but the excessive hormone secretion is detrimental either way.

dizzyWhen Should You Seek Medical Treatment?

Usually, causes of dizziness don’t require immediate medical care. You can typically regain your equilibrium by resting and drinking plenty of water. When that isn’t the case, though, pay close attention.

If the dizziness accompanies any other symptoms, be vigilant because it could indicate something more serious. With some symptoms, you should seek medical treatment immediately. These symptoms include the following:

  • severe headache
  • difficulty breathing
  • numbness (especially in your face)
  • vomiting
  • fever
  • seizure
  • chest pain
  • vision problems
  • slurred speech or trouble speaking
  • fainting
  • irregular heartbeat
  • confusion
  • difficulty walking
  • a sudden change in hearing

Many of these symptoms point to a stroke or cardiac arrest, so call 911 right away.

How To Avoid Dizziness

Most of the time, causes of dizziness can be resolved and prevented at home. If you want to avoid medical care for this problem, learning to avoid dizziness is essential.

1. Stay Hydrated

One of the biggest dizziness causes is dehydration because your blood pressure levels can drop dangerously low. When this happens, it slows the flow of oxygen to your brain, causing you to feel dizzy or lightheaded.

By ensuring you drink plenty of water each day, you can avoid this unsettling feeling of disorientation. Drink at least 64 ounces of water each day, but drinking more than that is the best option.

2. Assess Your Medication

While your medication might be necessary to maintain health conditions, it could be causing dizziness. Check the side effects of your medication and talk to your doctor if you think it’s a problem. Your doctor might be able to prescribe a different medication or change your dose to alleviate the dizzy feeling.

If you are taking any supplements, make sure you tell your doctor about those, too. Some supplements can cause a detrimental reaction when mixed with prescribed medication.

3. Monitor Your Blood Sugar

Low blood sugar can cause dizziness, confusion, sweating, shakiness, and intense hunger. If this happens to you, monitoring your blood sugar could make a difference. Try to eat or drink something sweet and see if it helps alleviate the disorienting feeling.

4. Consider Infections

Some infections can cause the nerves in your ears to become inflamed, impacting the inner and middle ear. When this happens, dizziness is unavoidable and can last for weeks, even after you think that the infection has run its course. Once your body has fully recovered, you will find relief from the lightheadedness.

The only way to avoid dizziness caused by inflammation is to try and avoid getting sick. You’re bound to catch a virus at some point, but washing your hands regularly and staying away from sick people can help.

5. Controlling Meniere’s Disease

This disease results in vertigo, hearing loss, anxiety, and nausea, with the symptoms lasting for hours at a time. Once the symptoms subside, you will experience exhaustion due to the duration of the episode. There’s no cure for Meniere’s disease, but you can manage the symptoms under a doctor’s care.

If you have Meniere’s disease, make sure you get enough sleep because fatigue can trigger an episode. Wearing a hearing aid can help alleviate dizziness, and you can do exercises to regain your balance. Experts also recommend avoiding salt, caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol.

dizzyFinal Thoughts on Causes of Dizziness (And How to Avoid It)

While dizziness is common, figuring out the underlying cause can make all the difference. You can alleviate many dizziness causes at home, but more serious situations require medical attention.

Pay attention to your body to see if the dizzy feeling accompanies any other symptoms. Likewise, consider what could be triggering the bouts of dizziness. Doing this can help you determine whether a doctor’s visit is necessary or if you can address the problem at home.

Balance disorders affect most people at some point in their lives, but you don’t have to keep suffering. Through understanding, you can find ways to relieve your current symptoms. Plus, learning how to avoid dizziness can improve your life and your overall well-being moving forward.

5 Ways to Remove Toxic People In Your Life (And Be Nice About It)

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A toxic person is a drain on your emotional energy. We all have a specific amount of emotional energy that gets us through our day, no matter what kind of lifestyle we have. However, with toxic people, your reserves are suddenly drained very quickly and you find yourself empty and cold and alone right in the middle of the day… precisely when you need your reserves the most. Let’s look at some ways in which you can get rid of a toxic person in your life without having to face them in a big, fancy showdown.

1. The Lost Art of Ghosting Nicely

We all know about ghosting. Someone acts like your friend or like they want to date you and then they suddenly and inexplicably drop off the face of the planet. Ghosting like this is more likely to bring your toxic person back to your world, demanding an explanation.

Here’s what you do: Ghosting nicely involves talking to them, little by little, in an offhand manner as if you are distracted or tired. Toxic people will tolerate distractions but not blatant cutoffs. Reply to them, but only after a few days. Use monosyllabic words and “textese” so that you don’t sound that in touch with them or like you’re paying that much attention. Over time, reply to them after a week. Then, eventually, drop off for good. According to Forbes, if you want to remove toxic people in your life, don’t engage them. Use subtlety and limited communication.

2. Inviting Them to an Event You Know They’ll Decline

If your toxic person keeps hounding you to get together with them, you can soften the effect of your absence by inviting them to an event you know they will hate. As much as toxic people love to win, they will not go out of their way just to help you out. It must be something that they absolutely would never do, not something that they might do if they were in the right mood. You don’t want to endanger your plan by middle-roading this.

By doing this, you have accomplished another task. You’ve also given yourself a future cushion from them if they try blaming you for the two of you never getting together again. You can say, “Well, I invited you to such-and-such. You didn’t want to go!” This is a great way to defend yourself when they try to blame you during their attack. However, as soon as you say this, you must quickly find a way out of the room or off the phone. The next thing they might do is offer another suggestion for hanging out. Get out while you can. To remove toxic people from your life, you must not allow them to gain any kind of foothold into your world.

3. Act Like They’re Inviting You to Something Splendid As You Turn Them Down

They will offer you an event or an invite to their home to do something “special”. Often, toxic people couch their energy-sucking behavior in something that is specifically designed to reel you back in. If you love watching movies, they might suggest that the two of you go see a highly-anticipated premier together. If you’re a foodie, they might offer to take you to a fancy restaurant to try this delectable new feast. Just remember that during all of this, they are still toxic. Chances are, sometime during the meal, they will find some way to blame you for something so that they can get angry and leave you holding the bill for both of your plates.

Here’s what you do:

Act excited and surprised by their “wonderful” invitation. Say that that sounds so amazing and that you’d love to go! Oh no, you can’t! You have an extra project for work all week! Oh no, your cousin is flying in from out of town to visit you for a couple of weeks! Oh, that sounds lovely but you’re going to be gone all next month!

Notice how we gave you a time range, not declining a specific day. It is so easy for a toxic person to simply change the date and offer the same invitation. This exposes you to either go out with them or reveal that you truly are rejecting them, thus releasing a whole bunch of toxic abuse down on your head. If you give them a time range, then you are exempting yourself from being around them for the next two weeks to a month. Then, don’t answer their calls during this time range to both really sell it and to get some much-needed relief from their absence.

When you remove toxic people, you are setting yourself up for further abuse down the road unless you have a specific plan to negate any new idea that they come up with. During your planning, you should account for all the little tricks and moves they make to suck you in and have some universals “outs” such as the following: Oh, you must go to the store. Oh, you must hurry and call someone you meant to call back today. Oh, you forgot that you had something in the oven. Get off the phone and get off quickly.

4. Deflect an Argument or Rant Off to the Side

One of the ways in which a toxic person feels powerful and manipulative is that they are able to rant without interruption of their heavily bigoted ideas because no one wants to go up against them and no one wants to point out how insane and crazy they sound.

If you learn how to “neutralize” or deflect a rant or argument off to the side, your toxic person does not feel their usual satisfaction at flexing their abusive muscles. This lack of “good feeling” from their abusiveness means that they won’t find you “satisfying” to be around. Therefore, this is a really useful element to learn for whenever you are around toxic people or people who seem toxic but you’re not sure if they are or not.

Here’s what you do: Pick any part of the subject they are talking about. If a woman who is in their gardening club ticks them off, go on and on about how much you love this new flower you saw and describe it in detail with enthusiasm. If they are ranting about how your brother wouldn’t come and pick them up when they wanted a ride immediately, “suddenly remember” this amazing car you saw the other day and tell them about how amazing it was and what it looked like. Take some small part of what they are saying and suddenly emphasize that, making it the topic of conversation rather than their abusive behavior and ranting complaints.

Note:

Even if they are doing this about you and against you, you can still use this technique.

Once you have mastered this little art of “sudden, delighted distraction” whenever they go off on a tangent, you are in business. Now, toxic people are often narcissistic. They want to be the center of attention, no matter what. So, when you take your attention off of them, they will feel bad and they will want to punish you for this. An article from Oprah.com says that you must do whatever it takes to keep the people in your life from draining you, even if they are very close family members. If you have to remove toxic people from your world entirely, so be it. You must draw boundaries and force people to respect them. If they don’t, you need to eliminate them completely from your life. They won’t be able to handle this but at least you’ll be at peace now.

5. Purposely (and Deliberately) Ignore Bad Behavior

When you have a toddler, you will notice a pattern in their behavior. They will take bad attention from you over no attention at all. Every single time. This is true for animals, as well. If it’s between receiving negative attention from you and not getting any attention from you at all, they will always choose the negative attention route.

toxic people

This is why you must only verbally correct older children. Toddlers require a more primal response. If they are behaving badly, you must ignore them completely. Giving them time out is a great way to do this. Also, simply ignoring their temper tantrums and only speaking to them when they come to you nicely is a fantastic move.

Here’s what you do:

Toxic people are exactly like toddlers and animals. They are narcissistic in nature but not out of the need for survival. They are narcissistic because they love getting attention through unhealthy means. You must ignore their bad behavior and not give it any attention at all. When they act normally and sanely, then you can give them attention if you want to but you don’t have to. This breaks the cycle of abuse in your interactions with them.

Final Thoughts about Toxic People

You are a person who is worthy of respect. You try to live your life with integrity and fullness and you do your best to be a good person. That is enough. Nothing more is needed. When you want to remove toxic people from your life, you must get it done completely, whether or not you are nice about it. Small, leftover traces can grow and fester if they are not eliminated completely.

If you feel that your life has been affected by a toxic person, we want to hear from you. What techniques did you use with them? What are your thoughts about them? Do you have any advice for them? Leave comments below and be sure and share your thoughts on social media when you share this article.

10 Top Signs Someone Is Your Twin Flame

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Some people think of a twin flame as their ultimate soulmate, while others believe we have many different soulmates. No matter your stance on love, meeting someone you connect with on a deep level can turn your world upside down. You feel totally alive and full of passion when you meet someone who seems to understand you on every level. When you finally come in contact with your twin flame, nothing else seems to matter and the problems you face just melt away.

Meeting your twin flame feels like seeing a very old friend once again; their soul will feel so familiar to you. It will feel like picking back up where you left off, and you will never grow tired of being around them. If you don’t know for sure if someone is your twin flame, read on to find out.

“Our souls speak a language that is beyond human understanding. A connection so rare the universe won’t let us part.” ? Nikki Rowe

Top 10 signs you’ve found your twin flame:

  1. The connection you feel with them is unlike anything you’ve ever felt before.

You will feel perfectly balanced and aligned when you’re around them. Nothing seems awkward or forced; you simply enjoy spending time with them and feel totally relaxed. You don’t have to try to make conversation – it will just flow naturally. This type of connection doesn’t happen often because our energy on earth feels so heavy right now.

When you meet your twin flame, that dense energy will dissolve and you will feel a sense of clarity wash over you. It will feel like someone pierced your soul and looked into the depths of your being. While this might sound uncomfortable, it will feel the complete opposite.

  1. You’ve had dreams or visions about meeting them before they appeared in real life.

If you’ve been having the same dream about meeting a mysterious person for some time now, it might mean you have actually met the person of your dreams in real life. While you might not be able to see their face in your dream, they will feel so familiar to you. In addition to dreams, you might see 11:11 on the clock more frequently (a sign of synchronicity) or hear a song playing on the radio more often. Pay attention to these signs from the universe, as this might mean you have crossed paths with your soulmate.

Ask him or her if they’ve been experiencing the same things; if they have, this is definitely a good sign.

  1. You can recall memories of previous lives spent with this person.

Seeing your twin flame in person may feel like you have finally come home, and the sense of safety and understanding you feel will seem overwhelming. You both have vivid memories of being together before, and you can’t deny your soul connection with each other.

“Your heart and my heart are very, very old friends.” – Hafiz

  1. You seem like complete opposites, but you get along really well in spite of your differences.

Despite being polar opposites, you get along really well with your twin flame. This type of relationship exists in order to teach us things about ourselves, such as our strengths and weaknesses. The twin flame connection perfectly embodies the yin and yang energies, as each person complements one another very well.

However, research shows that compatibility doesn’t necessarily correlate with a lasting relationship. Dr. John Gottman, founder of The Gottman Institute in Seattle, said that personality compatibility doesn’t predict the length or success of a relationship very accurately. He said that “couples who focus their energy on building something meaningful together in their life (e.g. starting a business together) tend to last the longest. How a couple interacts is the single, most fundamental aspect to creating a successful relationship. Meaning, it’s not who you are or what you do that will prolong or help you find the perfect mate. It’s how you speak to each other, how well you get along, and how you move through time together.”

So, even if a twin flame relationship goes through rough patches, it’s the sheer willpower of both people that will keep the relationship alive. You have to choose that person over and over again in order to keep the connection intact.

  1. You have a telepathic or psychic connection with your soulmate.

Because of your intense connection with your twin flame, you can instantly sense when something is wrong, even if they aren’t in the same room as you. For instance, if they got in a car accident, something in your gut will alert you and prompt you to get in touch with them. You can also sense their energy when it comes to your relationship. For example, if you got in a fight recently, you can tell if they start to distance themselves from you.

This profound connection you feel with them will cause both of you to feel pain and happiness at the same time quite frequently. You’ll ride the rollercoaster of life together and feel the bumps on a whole different level.

  1. You might meet them when you’re both already in committed relationships or don’t feel ready for such a deep connection.

To enter into such a passionate, meaningful relationship, both people have to feel mentally, emotionally, and spiritually ready. Oftentimes, when people meet their twin flame, they aren’t at a point in their lives where they can commit to that person. They might already have a partner or just not feel ready for such an intense connection. One person may run from the other, attempting to guard their heart from the vulnerability they would feel with their twin flame.

You might meet them years later and feel better able to handle the connection with them. As you might know, love is all about timing, especially when it comes to this type of relationship. Both people have to become evolved versions of themselves so they can serve each other in the best way.

  1. No matter what you go through in life, they stay by your side and continue to make you a better person.

Your twin flame will bring out the light in you and shield you from the darkness. They truly bring out the magic in you, and you will feel on top of the world. In a twin flame relationship, both people tend to have similar goals and visions that keep them together. For instance, maybe you want to open up an animal sanctuary together or buy a piece of land where you can grow your own food. No matter where life brings you, you know that with this person by your side, you can tap into your highest self and feel complete.

  1. You function better in the presence of your soulmate.

Since your twin flame brings out the best in you, you tend to feel better with them around. Of course, you can still get through your days without them, but your personality and energy really come to life when they’re in your presence. If you have to spend a considerable time apart, it will feel even more unbearable than a “normal” relationship.

  1. You feel like you have a better understanding of yourself when with them.

Your twin flame truly takes you to new heights and deepens your understanding of yourself. You may even feel like they know you better than you know yourself. Being with them feels like you have awakened from a deep sleep and finally know what it’s like to feel alive. Because you’ve met your match, you no longer feel disconnected or unhappy with yourself.

  1. You feel like you finally understand what unconditional love feels like.

You just feel like you belong to your twin flame, as they help you expand your understanding of yourself and the world on a profound level. Despite their flaws and annoying habits, you love them even more. You can overlook these traits about them because of the unconditional love you have for them, and they return this sentiment right back.

twin flame

It feels like there’s nothing in the world that the two of you can’t accomplish together. People give you compliments on your relationship all the time, and this further proves that you belong together. Others can see the love emanating from your souls, and being in your lover’s arms feels like paradise. You wouldn’t trade this relationship for anything in the world.

Final thoughts

Twin flame relationships are rare, but when they happen, it shakes your whole being to the core. You don’t look at the world in the same way, and your twin flame opens your eyes to the beauty of life. You no longer see limits on this earth; instead, you start to focus your energy on all the positives in life.

Have you met your twin flame? If so, let us know about it in the comments below!

Science Explains What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Garlic Every Day

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Garlic, a species of onion, has been eaten by humans for centuries. It has been used by ancient cultures for religious and spiritual reasons. It has been a key ingredient for delicious dishes and meals around the world. And, of course, it’s used for its medicinal properties!

But can eating garlic regularly really have any long-term health effects? Or is that all nonsense with no scientific backing? As it turns out, there are more positive benefits of garlic than you may know about!

That’s why eating a hefty serving or two of garlic daily could be good for you in the long run. Here’s how science explains what happens to your body when you eat garlic every day.

Here’s What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Garlic Every Day

1.    You develop stronger immunity.

Garlic is packed with antioxidants, allowing it to strengthen your immunity and reduce the chances of catching a cold or developing the flu. They’re known to fend off viruses and are especially useful over the winter thanks to their high amino acid, vitamin, and good oil content.

Garlic also has an organic component known as allicin which can kill off fungi and bacteria alike. Studies have found that garlic can greatly lessen the chances of catching a cold, and taking a garlic supplement can reduce cold symptoms by 70% compared to placebo pills. So when you eat garlic every day, you may enjoy these same benefits.

  • To enjoy these benefits, try taking between 2 and 3 cloves of garlic daily.
  • You can also have some garlic tea, soups, broths, or stews, according to Nutrihealth founder Health and Wellness Expert Dr. Shikha Sharma.
  • Do note that garlic must be fresh in order for you to enjoy its positive results.

2.    You may have stronger bones and teeth.

Garlic is known for being good for the teeth and bones. It’s actually fairly great for the mouth all around, as it can heal inflammation and kill off bad microbes. Its antibacterial content makes it fantastic for preventing the development of cavities, so you won’t suffer from toothaches as often.

What about for bones, though? It is worth noting that studies have not been conducted on humans regarding the effects of garlic on bones. However, research done with rodents has found that in female rodents, regular garlic supplementation can boost estrogen, which minimizes the risks of losing bone.

To tie in with that, a human study found that consuming garlic extract can reduce estrogen deficiency for menopausal women. This means that the positive benefits rodents enjoy from garlic might translate to humans, as many things often do. There is some research to suggest that garlic could be good for those with osteoarthritis, but more study is needed.

3.    You develop better heart health.

Garlic is able to do wonders for cholesterol levels, especially for LDL cholesterol – which is the negative kind of cholesterol. Meanwhile, HDL (the supposedly more positive cholesterol) remains less affected, so you don’t need to worry about losing good HDL.

This happens because of allicin, which is the antioxidant compound that is present in garlic. It helps to bring LDL down while regulating blood sugar. Garlic can reduce LDL levels by up to 15%, which is a positive step for anyone looking to improve heart health.

  • Since allicin works best uncooked and often loses some of that medicinal value it carries when cooked, try consuming raw or half-cooked garlic for best results.
  • If you can’t stomach that, though, don’t worry. You can still keep your positive thinking going!
  • Eating cooked garlic daily will still give you some benefits – just at a lower intensity.

4.    Your blood pressure lowers.

High blood pressure, known also as hypertension, is one of the biggest causes behind some of the most commonly fatal medical conditions in the world. This includes strokes and heart attacks.

Studies have found that garlic works wonders in keeping down the blood pressure, and the impact is pretty significant. In fact, one particular piece of research found that consuming aged garlic extract in between 600 and 1,500 mg doses daily can provide the same benefits as medicinal drug Atenolol. That’s a great reason to eat garlic every day!

This works because garlic can widen blood vessels, which leads to lower levels of pressure in the arteries. As a side effect, you may even experience fewer headaches from this! Do note, though, that you will have to eat a good amount of garlic in order to see these results – the equivalent of 4 cloves.

5.    Your athletic performance may improve.

For centuries, garlic has been used to enhance athletic performance. It was a staple for Olympic athletes when they competed in ancient Greece, and it has been used in many cultures to boost physical work ability and hold off fatigue.

Because garlic is so good at keeping your heart healthy, it makes the heart work better overall. What happens to your body is the muscles also begin to work at more efficient and effective paces. Some human tests have shown that garlic oil consumption can reduce peak heart rate by 12% and also provide better fitness for exercise.

However, there aren’t many human studies conducted on garlic’s fitness benefits. As such, more research is needed before we jump to full conclusions. Still, the vegetable has shown positive results when taken by those seeking to reduce fatigue and tiredness from exercise. It may also make someone more productive at work as a result, as less tiredness means more concentration and better positive thinking.

6.    Your brain function will be stronger.

The brain tires and becomes less efficient as we age. Based on the Free Radical theory of aging, this happens due to a reaction that causes chemical oxidation. Essentially, it occurs because humans eat all kinds of food and take in oxygen in order to produce energy for the body to run.

This means that the cells are slowly destroyed over time, leading to duller brain function, sagging skin, and plenty of other downsides. That’s why antioxidants are so favored in the health world.

  • Garlic is full of antioxidants, so it fights the body’s natural oxidative damage caused by its processes.
  • It highly reduces oxidative stress when taken in high doses, especially in those who experience conditions like high blood pressure.
  • It does so by producing increased numbers of enzymes with antioxidant properties in the body.

This is why garlic is thought to have positive effects on the elderly, too. It may help the brain stay sharp, preventing Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other similar conditions. This means it’s also good for memory, concentration, and productivity!

7.    You’ll have better skin.

Linking back to the Free Radical aging theory, garlic is able to slow the aging of skin and hair. Skin loses collagen over time, causing a lack of elasticity, which is why older skin may sag.

Eating just two cloves every day can boost collagen production naturally, as well as elastic production. This is because the skin’s fibroblasts, which are essentially the cells that handle skin renewal, react so well to garlic.

In addition, applying garlic onto the skin can protect the skin wonderfully while also helping to treat certain skin conditions, such as eczema, and fungal infections, such as ringworms or athlete’s foot. Of course, this isn’t about eating garlic – but we thought we’d mention it regardless.

Some also state that garlic has properties that make it a natural way to protect from the harmful sun’s rays that can age you. Eating more garlic can prevent the sun from excessively drying and photo-aging the skin. Do note that garlic isn’t a substitute for sunscreen!

8.    You may lose weight (or have a healthier diet).

There are plenty of reasons that garlic may help someone lose weight. The most obvious is the fact that it is such a good ingredient for adding flavor to dishes, and that it contains so many nutrients, all while staying low in calories. One ounce, or 28 grams, of garlic, has only 42 calories.

In addition, garlic contains a ton of positive components that make it great for rounding out a diet. Just one ounce of this vegetable has:

  • 23% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for manganese
  • 17% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin B6
  • 15% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin C
  • 6% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for Selenium
  • 9 grams of carbs
  • 8 grams of protein
  • 6 grams of fiber
  • Additionally, it has good levels of vitamin B1, calcium, copper, iron, phosphorus, and potassium.

garlic

On top of that, garlic has something called ajoene. This component is crucial in the activation of ferments within the body’s blood. These ferments break down and get rid of fatty deposits, helping to break down unnecessary fat.

Garlic can also help to burn off extra calories that come with improper food intake. If you’re worried you’re eating too much food, you can eat garlic to counteract it. Do keep in mind, though, that there is a high dose of garlic needed for this to happen!

9.    You may live longer and be at lower risk of developing cancer.

It’s difficult to effectively prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that any one thing can improve one’s lifespan. However, garlic comes pretty close to being that well-proven. Given its huge number of positive effects and how it can reduce conditions that increase the risk of fatal illness, it’s not surprising that many believe garlic can help them live a longer, healthier life.

  • Garlic can battle diseases and infections.
  • It can boost immunity.
  • It can keep the brain sharp and functioning well.
  • It’s a good component to add to a diet and it’s highly nutritious.
  • It’s no surprise that garlic might just be that one secret ingredient to longevity!

On top of that, there is some evidence that suggests garlic consumption can lower the risk of developing some types of cancer, especially colorectal cancer and stomach cancer. Whether this is due to the boosted immunity the body enjoys, or for some other yet to be studied reason, we aren’t sure. But the potential benefits of eating garlic every day certainly make it worth a shot!

Final Thoughts On What Happens To Your Body If You Eat Garlic Every Day

Garlic is delicious and nutritious. It has countless health-related benefits. With all it can do, adding garlic to your daily meal plan may just turn your life around!

Do remember, of course, that garlic is not a suitable substitute for a doctor’s advice and should not be used as a sole treatment for any one condition. If you plan to take a garlic supplement of any kind, speak to a medical professional for advice first!

The 10 Best Supplements For Health

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With winter season in full swing, your immune system might be taking a beating. To keep your health in tip-top shape, you may check out this Red juice review for more valuable health tips and ideas! In addition, you should maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise, high-quality foods, proper sleep, positive thinking, and supplements. Of course, you can get all your nutrients from diet alone, but most people find this impossible due to a lack of time or finances. If you feel less than 100% most days, you might want to look into taking supplements in order to make up for any deficiencies in your diet.

However, with all the health advice out there, how do you know who to listen to? How do you know what supplements to take? In general, going to the doctor to have a blood test done will help you determine what nutrients you lack. Then, you can talk to him or her about the best combination of supplements to take, as well as what foods to eat to boost your nutrient intake.

Here are the 10 best supplements to take (in our opinion) for overall health:

“Seventy-six percent of U.S. adults—more than 170 million—take dietary supplements.” – CRN 2017 Survey on Dietary Supplements

  1. Vitamin D

Vitamin D strengthens the bones and aids the body in absorbing calcium. It is also believed to shield against heart disease, certain types of cancer, and depression. We obtain Vitamin D from sunlight, so those living in the northern hemisphere may have a deficiency, especially in the wintertime. More than 36 percent of adults suffer from a Vitamin D deficiency, which can result in a weak immune system and other health problems.

Supplementing with Vitamin D can boost your body’s immune system and strengthen your bones. It can also help prevent mood disorders and hormonal imbalances. If you opt to take Vitamin D supplements, nutritionists recommend taking Vitamin D3 instead of D2 because our bodies naturally make D3 from sunlight.

  1. Zinc

Zinc is high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, making it an excellent supplement to take. It also helps with enzyme function, protein synthesis, and wound recovery. Furthermore, studies have shown that people who took 13.3 mg of zinc in lozenge form got rid of a cold faster than those who took a placebo.

While zinc naturally occurs in foods such as seafood, eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy products, an estimated 1.1 billion people worldwide have a zinc deficiency. This fact makes zinc a vital supplement to take, especially if your diet lacks these foods. When you pick out a zinc supplement, make sure it contains zinc methionate, as our bodies absorb this form best.

  1. Probiotics

Did you know that 70 percent of your immune system is in your gut? Unfortunately, many people have poor gut bacteria due to a highly processed diet, alcohol consumption, medications, and a sedentary lifestyle. Probiotics can decrease inflammation, improve digestion, and increase the good bacteria in your gut. You can also eat fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, kimchi, and sauerkraut, but probiotics are easier to take and usually more affordable.

However, with thousands of probiotics to choose from, how do you know which one to buy? In general, you need to make sure the supplement has the genus, species, and strain you want. Do some research on probiotics before buying them since different strains perform differently in the body. Also, look for how much bacteria you will get in one dose; it should say somewhere on the bottle.

  1. Vitamin C

When you come down with a cold, many people will suggest taking Vitamin C supplements to get better quickly. Vitamin C helps with antibody production and function, which will boost your immune system. It can also help you fight infections, which might mean you can prevent a cold altogether. This vitamin also helps you fight free radicals and protects the skin.

You want to ensure that the supplement you choose contains all three types of Vitamin C – ascorbic acid, calcium ascorbate, and sodium ascorbate – in order to increase effectiveness in the body.

  1. B Vitamins

B vitamins, such as vitamin B12, help improve the metabolism, support cellular processes, boost energy, prevent fatigue, and improve cognitive ability. B12 can also help prevent mood disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Vegans and vegetarians especially need to take B12 supplements, as this vitamin is only found in animal products. If you feel you’re low in this vitamin, you might want to go to a doctor and get a blood test done to check your levels. Even people who consume animal products regularly can become deficient in this vitamin due to improper absorption or medication use.

B1 (thiamine): Thiamine helps convert nutrients into energy and keeps the metabolism functioning properly.

B2 (riboflavin): Riboflavin is an antioxidant that also converts food into energy.

B3 (niacin): Niacin helps with DNA production and repair, sends signals to the cells and aids in a healthy metabolism.

B5 (pantothenic acid): This B vitamin helps with hormone and cholesterol production and aids in metabolism.

B6 (pyridoxine): B6 aids in amino acid metabolism, red blood cell production, and the creation of neurotransmitters.

B7 (biotin): Biotin keeps hair and nails healthy and regulates gene expression.

  1. Calcium

One of the best supplements to keep your bones strong and prevent osteoporosis is calcium. Calcium can also help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and cancer when combined with other important nutrients such as Vitamin D and magnesium. Of course, you should try to get as much calcium from food as you can, but if you need a boost, there’s nothing wrong with taking a supplement as well.

  1. Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are important for a variety of functions, such as keeping the immune system and joints healthy, making sure the brain performs optimally, fighting inflammation, and ensuring the heart works properly. If you choose to take Omega-3 supplements, make sure you get about 1,000 mg daily to ward off disease and keep your body functioning properly.

  1. Magnesium

Magnesium is involved in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body, making it one of the most important nutrients for overall health.  Over 80% of Americans are deficient in magnesium, which means taking supplements should be a part of most people’s daily routine.

supplements

Our bodies need magnesium to keep the nerve cells in the brain functioning properly. Some studies have shown a decrease in anxiety and depression when patients took magnesium supplements. Brain scans have also shown that magnesium can help stabilize areas of the brain that are linked to impulsive behavior.

A study published in The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry found that people who had normal magnesium levels had a lower chance of being diagnosed with anxiety or depression.

  1. Folate (or L-Methyfolate)

Folate supplements can help ward off feelings of depression. In research studies, patients with depression who took folate supplements in addition to antidepressants or therapy had better results than patients who were given antidepressants and a placebo.

Furthermore, folate helps cells and tissue grow and repair, forms red blood cells, and makes DNA. As such, it’s extremely important for pregnant women and growing children to get enough folate in their diet. In general, adults need 400 mcg (micrograms per day), and pregnant women need anywhere from 400 to 800 mcg of folic acid per day.

  1. St. John’s Wort

Since so many people deal with depression in today’s world, we couldn’t write this article without mentioning St John’s wort. Over 300 million people worldwide have depression, and certain supplements and lifestyle changes have been proven to help.

One of the most popular natural remedies for treating depression, St. John’s Wort has shown effectiveness in reducing symptoms of mild to moderate depression. In a Cochrane review of 29 clinical studies, researchers found that St John’s wort works just as well as antidepressants in treating depression. The recommended dose for St John’s wort is three capsules per day, though it will vary based on the severity of your symptoms and what supplements you take.

Keep in mind that severe depression may require conventional treatment such as medication and therapy; St John’s wort doesn’t treat this type of depression as well. Also, St John’s wort supplements can limit the effectiveness of certain antidepressants, so talk to your doctor before adding this supplement in your diet.

Final thoughts

While this isn’t an exhaustive list of supplements for health by any means, it can get you started on a path to a healthier lifestyle. Of course, getting nutrients from your diet first is ideal, but if you can’t, supplements can make up the difference.

As with any product you buy, make sure to read the label; a lot of lower-quality supplements have harmful additives and dyes. Try to buy organic, natural supplements when you can. To boost your health even more, make sure to follow a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise, whole foods, positive thinking, quality sleep, and a support network of friends and family. To your continued health!

11 Hidden Symptoms of Depression Most People Ignore

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While people are increasingly aware of mental health issues across the globe, it’s still common for patients to arrive at a psychiatrist or therapist after decades of untreated suffering because neither they nor the people around them recognized the subtle signs and symptoms of depression or MDD (Major Depressive Disorder).

Being depressed isn’t just about sadness, or crying, or hating yourself all the time. It’s not necessarily suicidal tendencies and bad feelings. Sometimes, it’s far subtler—it can be sitting down to watch TV, flipping through channels idly, and giving up on finding something interesting every single night. It can be eating too much, sleeping too little, and living with a roommate you despise.

Today, we’ll talk about ten red flags for depression that can go ignored and unnoticed for years. Maybe you suspect yourself of being depressed, or a loved one. Maybe you already know, and you’re just looking for ways to spot a downward spiral. Either way, these ten overlooked symptoms can help you spot the problem even when it is hidden.

Hidden Symptoms of Depression

1: Boredom

Chronic boredom is a huge red flag for a depressed person, and is often the first noticeable symptom for patients who, for whatever reason, don’t have a personality or an environment prone to negativity. Boredom stemming from depressed mood is often described in a broader sense, such as a loss of enjoyment from things you once took pleasure from. This is known as anhedonia.

When the hobbies and social events and entertainment that used to keep you pleasantly busy doesn’t do anything for you anymore, that can often be one of the hidden symptoms of depression. It’s important to be especially alert when nothing seems fun anymore and what you do fill your time with is simply tolerable; watching TV show reruns, reading magazines, clicking through websites, never reaching out to do anything new or ‘exciting’ because there’s no spark to it. If you’re glad to get off work, but don’t feel excited about anything you could do once you have free time, that’s a bad sign.

2: Loss of motivation

Despite being one of the primary symptoms of depression, many people overlook a loss of motivation—especially when they define motivation in terms of ‘getting up and going to work’ instead of looking at the bigger picture. Loss of motivation as a component of this illness means settling into habits or situations you’re not satisfied with, but can’t muster the energy or drive to escape.

That can mean sticking to intense habits in your hobbies as much as it can mean staying in a job position you don’t like. It may mean giving up on dating even though you don’t want to be single, or staying in a relationship you’re unhappy with because the conflict of ending it sounds like too much trouble.

3: Change in appetite

A depressed mood can lead to serious changes in eating habits—increased eating and weight gain, reduced eating and weight loss, repetitive meal choices leading to malnutrition, etc., etc. Some depressed people eat for comfort, or to alleviate boredom; even when other symptoms of depression render hobbies and social outings bland and boring, food may still be enjoyable.

For others, food falls by the wayside as too much effort, leading to a drop in quality cooked meals and an increase in skipped meals, junk food, and restaurant fare. This can lead to an increase or decrease in caloric intake, depending on what meals you’re skipping and how—or if—you’re making up for them elsewhere.

Depressive moods can even lead to or amplify eating disorders, leading to binge eating, bulimia, anorexia, etc. The influence of it on self-image, self-gratification, and other internal systems can lead to an assortment of outcomes here.

All of these can be very dangerous symptoms of depressed mood, even beyond their immediate dietary health implications, as poor eating habits can intensify and lengthen depressive episodes.

4: Emphasis on accomplishments

With internal sources of gratification numbed by depression, depressed individuals often become focused on external accomplishments as a source of self-worth. This can become habitual, occurring even outside of depressive episodes, and can thus begin to serve as a trigger for a depressive episode even during periods of good mental health.

You may expect this to be more common in mild or moderate depression, as people with severely depressed moods often give up on accomplishments at work or at home completely, but this only leads to feelings of helplessness or worthlessness when a depressed person tries to self-assess based on accomplishments and comes up empty.

These can be factors of personality and upbringing, of course, so it’s especially important to look for changes in self-assessment along these lines; if you go from satisfied with a day of hard work to despising that hard work for not accomplishing enough tangible results, that could be a warning for mood problems.

5: Unusual sleeping habits

As with changes in appetite linked to depression, the changes it makes in sleeping habits can be hard to pin down. The illness is most strongly linked with the inability to sleep, often due to delaying the onset of sleep with depressed thoughts and an inability to fully relax.

But it can also lead to hypersomnia or excessive sleep in some people, especially those who suffer fatigue as a primary symptom (in other patients, fatigue may be present without being a component of depression, due to poor sleep at night).

This often presents as a combination, as you’ll not get sleep regularly, which in turn messes up your schedule, makes you tired and sleepy at random times of day, and builds up sleep debt you may need to ‘pay back’ with a lengthy sleep.

It’s important, however, to note that the lost sleep of insomnia can mimic a depressive episode and symptoms of other mood disorders, even when your insomnia is due to primary insomnia or sleep apnea.

6: Chronic excuses and apologies

The reduced motivation inherent to a depressed person often leads to a more tangible secondary symptom, one you can identify in yourself or in a loved one: an increased number of excuses. Excuses to avoid outings or events, excuses or apologies for mistakes minor and major, etc.

People who suddenly bow out of every single social event, underperform at work or home, and generally withdraw physically and emotionally should be watched closely for signs of a depressed mood—even if you’re the one doing it, and you don’t think you’re depressed.

7: Forced cheer

It’s not unusual to have to force out a smile for work or social outing from time to time, but chronic forced cheer is a red flag for depression or other psychiatric health issues. When real cheer becomes a rare event, or even a non-event, and you’re faking happiness more often than feeling it, that’s a major red flag.

You don’t need to feel particularly negative or bad for this to indicate you’re in a depressed state. In many people, the condition is mostly felt as the absence of good moods and cheer rather than the presence of any negative feelings. Of course, negative feelings may set in over time under such circumstances.

8: Rumination

Being depressed tends to pull sufferers inside their own heads, a problem often described as rumination. This means not only thinking excessively about mistakes long past, depressing events, and concerns about failure, the obvious depressive thought patterns; it can mean falling into morose philosophical spirals, focusing on sad events in the news or the world, and similar self-destructive internal spirals.

That’s not to say that feeling bad about a sad news story or embracing a nihilistic philosophy indicates depression, but a sudden shift in focus to the morose and bleak is worth considering as a flag for being depressed.

9: Other mood changes and symptoms

MDD and related conditions are strongly associated with a number of other psychological and behavioral health issues. If you’re already diagnosed with another behavioral health problem, such as ADHD or anxiety, then depressive episodes will often lead to increased intensity of symptoms in those ailments.

depression

 

In a broader sense, MDD is very frequently co-morbid with any number of other issues associated with the brain in a physiological or psychological sense. Anxiety, eating disorders, epilepsy, and a host of other ailments can arise from overlapping root causes in the brain. In this sense, these other disorders should be a warning sign to look closely for other symptoms of depression.

10: Numbness presenting as resilience

MDD and depressed mood disorders can lead to a high tolerance for negative events, including physical pain, emotional turmoil, conflict with others, etc. It’s important to spot this symptom that so often looks like healthy resilience for what it truly is, unhealthy physical and psychological numbness. Depressed people often endure pain without a grimace. They take browbeating and insults in stride, and put up with unreasonable requests at work—because there’s no drive or motivation to push back.

If you or someone you know seems impervious to external pressures, ask yourself: Is this resilience, or numbness you’re looking at?

10: Anger Outbursts

Depression doesn’t just make people sad, sometimes the underlining cause is suppressed anger, which eventually can come to the surface during symptomatic periods. According to The Daily Mirror, “Depressed people are three times more likely to commit a violent crime.” Research in Sweden found that depression was linked with an increased risk of a person committing a violent crime.

But that is the extremity of it, if you are often angry or irritable at every little thing you could be depressed.

Final Thoughts on Depression

Depression is a complicated illness. With nearly as many unique manifestations as there are sufferers. Remember, it’s not enough to get by and if it feels like getting by is all that’s left, it may be time to talk to your doctor for depression.

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