exercise

Leave a comment Posted on Fatigue

Self-help tips to fight fatigue

Self-help tips to fight fatiguee

Self-help tips to fight fatigue

Many cases of unexplained tiredness are due to stress, not enough sleep, poor diet and other lifestyle factors. Use these self-help tips to restore your energy levels.

Eat often to beat tiredness

A good way to keep up your energy through the day is to eat regular meals and healthy snacks every three to four hours, rather than a large meal less often.

Read more about healthy eating.

Perk up with exercise

You might feel too tired to exercise, but regular exercise will make you feel less tired in the long run, and you’ll have more energy. Even a single 15-minute walk can give you an energy boost, and the benefits increase with more frequent physical activity.

Start with a small amount of exercise. Build up your physical activity gradually over weeks and months until you reach the recommended goal of two-and-a-half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, such as cycling or fast walking, every week.

Read more about starting exercise.

Find out the physical activity guidelines for adults.

Lose weight to gain energy

If your body is carrying excess weight, it can be exhausting. It also puts extra strain on your heart, which can make you tired. Lose weight and you’ll feel much more energetic. Apart from eating healthily, the best way to lose weight is to be more active and do more exercise.

Read more about how to lose weight.

Sleep well

It sounds obvious, but two-thirds of us suffer from sleep problems, and many people don’t get the sleep they need to stay alert through the day. The Royal College of Psychiatrists advises going to bed and getting up in the morning at the same time every day; avoid naps through the day, and have a hot bath before bed (as hot as you can bear without scalding you) for at least 20 minutes.

Read more about how to get a good night’s sleep.

Try these NHS-approved sleep apps to help you sleep well.

Reduce stress to boost energy

Stress uses up a lot of energy. Try to introduce relaxing activities into your day. This could be working out at the gym, or a gentler option, such as listening to music, reading or spending time with friends. Whatever relaxes you will improve your energy.

Read more about how to relieve stress.

Talking therapy beats fatigue

There’s some evidence that talking therapies such as counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) might help to fight fatigue. See your GP for a referral for talking treatment on the NHS or for advice on seeing a private therapist.

Read more about counselling.

Cut out caffeine

The Royal College of Psychiatrists recommends that anyone feeling tired should cut out caffeine. It says the best way to do this is to gradually stop having all caffeine drinks (this includes coffee, tea and cola drinks) over a three-week period. Try to stay off caffeine completely for a month to see if you feel less tired without it.

You may find that not consuming caffeine gives you headaches. If this happens, cut down more slowly on the amount of caffeine that you drink.

Drink less alcohol

Although a few glasses of wine in the evening helps you fall asleep, you sleep less deeply after drinking alcohol. The next day you’ll be tired, even if you sleep a full eight hours.

Cut down on alcohol before bedtime. You’ll get a better night’s rest and have more energy. The NHS recommends that men and women should not regularly drink more than 14 units a week, which is equivalent to six pints of average strength beer or 10 small glasses of low strength wine.

Read more about how to cut down on alcohol.

Drink more water for better energy

Sometimes you feel tired simply because you’re mildly dehydrated. A glass of water will do the trick, especially after exercise.

Read about healthy drinks.

Leave a comment Posted on Cardiovascular disease

5 great ways to lower cholesterol naturally!

5 great ways to lower cholesterol naturally!

5 great ways to lower cholesterol naturally!

High cholesterol is the bane of the developed world.  In the modern world we have more, better and much easier to prepare food than in previous centuries. But, this also means,  far too many of us now have the opportunity to overindulge.  (I’ll put my hands up here and say I’m one of those guilty of what I have to call greed).   The problem with this kind of eating is that it does have the tendency to raise our cholesterol levels.

According to the NHS evidence strongly indicates that high cholesterol can increase the risk of:

narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis)

heart attack

stroke

transient ischaemic attack (TIA) – often known as a “mini stroke”

peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

So I think we can all agree that we need a few ideas of reducing our cholesterol levels.

So I thought I would share the following five tips which you can use to help reduce your cholesterol with our recourse to medication.

a) Yes indeed I know healthcare professionals sound like a broken record on the subject of drink.  But it is important to cut down (if you do drink) to cut a glass or two a day.  Oh and make sure that you have a few drink free days each week including weekends.

b) Smoking tobacco. If you still smoke please please do give up.  Please check out a previous blog post with a few tips to help you quit.

c) Now I know that many pixels have died in the cause of lecturing us about taking more exercise.  But it also has numerous other benefits as this article shows!

d) Chronic stress can impact on your cholesterol levels.  To have a look at these great ideas for reducing stress in your life.

e) Foods fortified with plant sterols and stanols. Foods which contain sterols and stanols include corn, coconut, olive and sunflower oils, beans, corn, peanut butter, almonds, oranges, apples, and avocados.  A great way of getting down your cholesterol.

 

If you do have any concerns about your cholesterol levels please do speak with a medical professional as they are best able to advise on your best course of action!

And if you do have any other tips for reducing cholesterol please do share them in the comment section at the bottom of this blog post.

Leave a comment Posted on Diabetes

Why People Living With Diabetes Need Strength Training

Why People Living With Diabetes Need Strength Training

Why People Living With Diabetes Need Strength Training

Diabetes is one of the most widespread diseases in the world, with an estimated 415 million people suffering from one type of this condition. It is a condition on the rise, with more and more people dying from it (or complications caused by it) each year and with a global economic cost that is rising well above half a trillion dollars every year.

Before we cover why strength training can be a great ally in the battle against diabetes, we should probably say a thing or two about the disease itself as it will help explain why strength training is so beneficial.

Diabetes 101

There are three main types of diabetes mellitus that people suffer from.

Type 1 DM, often called juvenile diabetes; type 2 DM, the most common type; and gestational diabetes is the third major type, and it develops in pregnant women who previously never had problems with blood sugar levels.

No matter what type of diabetes is in question, the patient has high blood sugar levels over a long period of time, leading to increased thirst and hunger, as well as more frequent urination. Over time, diabetes can cause vision impairment and skin rashes. More serious complications can include heart disease, chronic kidney failure, stroke, and foot ulcers.

Prevention and Management

While there is no known prevention for type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes can be effectively prevented or at least delayed by making smart lifestyle choices. This includes regular exercise, a healthy diet and maintaining a normal weight. If you are a smoker, giving up on the habit will also reduce your chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

When it comes to managing diabetes, it all comes down to keeping blood sugar levels as close to the normal levels as possible. Of course, it is also important to avoid low blood sugar levels. Besides regularly taking medications and/or insulin, management will also involve lifestyle habits. One of the most important of these habits is regular exercise.

The Importance of Exercise

For the most part, people who suffer from diabetes are recommended to engage in regular aerobic (cardio) training, i.e. training which involves running, cycling, swimming and walking and various iterations of this kind of training. Among other things, aerobic training helps the body burn excess glucose found in the body, as well as decrease its innate resistance to insulin. Its additional benefits also help diabetes patients manage their condition more effectively.

Underrated Strength Training

And while aerobic training is commonly recommended to diabetes patients, many of them are not familiar with all the great stuff strength training can do for them. Strength training involves mostly gym-specific workouts that involve weights and specialized gym equipment (including comfortable gym wear).

The most important thing strength training does is improve your muscle tone and build new muscle mass. Muscle is known to burn more calories than other types of tissue, meaning that you will reap the benefits of your strength training 24/7. In addition to this, building muscle mass will also help lower your insulin needs due to improving insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, during the actual strength training, your body will use glucose from your blood to power your muscles. Finally, this ability of toned muscles to store glucose more effectively than other tissues will help regulate blood sugar even when you are not working out.

A Word of Warning

It should be pointed out that you should never engage in any strength training before you consult your doctor. This is especially important for people suffering from type 1 diabetes, although people with type 2 should also always consult their doctor.

Closing Word

Most doctors and experts agree that combining the two types of exercise – aerobic and strength, will have the most positive effects on your blood sugar levels and diabetes in general.

The important thing is that you do not neglect strength training.

Leave a comment Posted on Musculoskeletal health

How Strength Training Can Prevent Sarcopenia

What is the impact of Sarcopenia?

What is the impact of Sarcopenia?

We are bombarded with so much conflicting information when it comes to health. We all know that we are mortal beings, but what we are not certain about is what adds to our longevity? Some people can’t have peace in their 50s and 60s due to various health issues. On the other hand, we hear about those who managed to finish a marathon or maintain a chiseled body in their 80s. What does this mean? Well, the experiences and lifestyles of these people can teach us that Sarcopenia can be prevented through fitness and regular physical exercise.

What is Sarcopenia?

Sarcopenia is a medical condition that signifies the decline of health. In other words, it is a sign of aging that includes a slow and gradual loss of muscle and skeletal mass after the age of 30. Sarcopenia affects all of us, not as a pathological change (syndrome or disease), but rather as a natural physiological change. The effects of Sarcopenia can be suppressed through strength training, enabling us to maximize our vitality.

Muscle Density

We lose more than half of our muscle mass by the time we reach our seventies. This explains why we easily get tired and feel weak as we grow older. Strength training will help you keep your muscles dense and active (and slow down the bone loss process), preventing the occurrence of Sarcopenia. According to a study conducted by the Northern Ireland Centre for Diet and Health (University of Ulster), for which 131 premenopausal and 82 postmenopausal women volunteered, the results showed that the relationship between relative skeletal muscle index (RSMI), bone mineral density (BMD) and the risk of osteoporosis can be very well mediated through participation in physical activities. The women who took part in this study noticed significant improvement of their hips and spine after the one-year strength-training program. The levels of testosterone, which is crucial for boosting metabolic activity and building lean mass, are on the increase with people who lift weights, which is another reason to master the deadlift and bench press.

Bone Density

During midlife, bone loss speeds up for both men and women. It is an unavoidable natural occurrence, so it’s something that you shouldn’t be scared of. However, you can fight it and postpone its effects. When it comes to bone density, male and female bodies differ. Men have a larger skeleton, thus bone loss starts later and progresses slowly. On the other hand, most women go through a period of rapid hormonal changes when they experience a significant and sharp drop in their estrogen levels. It is said that women, aged 65 to 70, who suffer a fracture around the hip-joint are more likely to die within a year than women of the same age who did not suffer a fracture.

Diet and Strength Training

A necessary part in the battle against Sarcopenia is diet. It enables us to improve our results and endure hardships by supplying our body with the best possible nutrients. Protein is the building block of a muscle. Therefore, have an adequate intake of protein every day so your muscles can regenerate.

As for creating your strength training program, there are two essential types of training – aerobic and resistance. Aerobic training, although great for flexibility, is not enough for preserving health of an aging adult. For completing the “age-defying” program you must perform resistance exercises. In this way, you will improve your posture, bone strength, and immune response. Find a training routine that suits you best in order to prepare your body against gradual degeneration.

Digital Health

Even though laziness is among the top “syndromes” today, caused by the digital revolution and high-tech gadgets that have seduced people, it can also help you live right and be active. There are various health and fitness apps that help you track your health and training progress and design your own exercising routine, as well as apps for exercise motivation. Laziness is a condition that can be treated much easier than Sarcopenia and it all depends on our perspective of it and the way we use these apps and gadgets.

Staying motivated to work out regularly, especially when you reach the old age, can be a problem. Some people simply need a little push in order to activate themselves and start working out, to maintain their health. If you are a 60-year-old reading this article, you wouldn’t be here if there wasn’t for technology, would you? Create a training and nutrition program, get on the course, and start moving. It will do you good.