Everyone needs sleep. Sleep allows the body to rest and affects both physical and mental health. While scientists are unsure of everything that sleep does for the body, there is no question that sleep is necessary for survival. But, how much sleep does a person really need?
The amount of sleep a person requires is affected by the person’s age. As people age, they tend to need less sleep. Babies need an average of 16 hours of sleep per day and teenagers require approximately nine hours. By the time someone is an adult, they generally need an average of seven to eight hours in order to remain in optimal health. Some people may function effectively on as little as five hours of sleep and others may need as many as ten hours per night in order to feel their best.
Other factors that affect someone’s sleep requirements are the amount of sleep they have had in recent days and their general health. For example, a pregnant woman usually needs additional sleep in her first trimester. Someone who is ill or has a depressed immune system generally needs additional rest as well. When the immune system is depressed, the body produces chemicals to fight infection; these same chemicals induce sleep. Very elderly people often find that they sleep less than when they were younger adults. Read more…
Did you know that you can increase good health by making sure that you get enough water? Yes plain water that has
been purified in some way. The water most of us get from the tap is full of chemicals that is bad for our health. Do
not drink tap water, unless you have your own well, which you know is not contaminated.
Drinking water is essential for a healthy body. Water regulates body temperature, lubricates joints, keeps skin youthful and muscles strong.
Water is present in every cell and tissue and involved in so many biological functions: digestion, absorption, circulation and excretion. It helps us with keeping our
hormones balanced and our brain chemistry Relies on water for proper balance. Water gives us energy and strengthens the immune system.
Most people are not drinking enough water and are semi dehydrated. Your body cannot work at optimum level without the water it needs.
What happens when you don’t drink enough water?
I won’t go into all the details, but do want to mention a few things here. All the things mentioned above that water helps keep in balance and lubricated are affected when you don’t drink water. You will not feel as well as you possibly
could, your body does not have what it needs for good health and so your health declines. Read more…
Millions of people would love to live a healthy lifestyle. Everyone talks about getting on a healthy lifestyle but not many are successful in doing so. First, let us discuss what a healthy lifestyle is. It can be determined by four things. These items include the following actions: cutting out smoking, reducing your weight, eating better, and increasing the exercise you do.
Most people want to make good lifestyle choices and be trim and healthy. The problem is most people have plenty of excuses. They cannot, will not, or do not want to change their current lifestyle. One of the biggest excuses or reasons for not making the change is not having time to exercise. Many times, we come home and say no exercise today, I am too tired, or I do not have time to do that today. Another popular excuse is I am too tired today. I do not feel like cooking diner; let us just go get some fast food tonight. Being short of time is an epidemic as it affects a great number of people.
Have you noticed how we have time for the boss, people we work with and time to travel to work but have no time for ourselves and for those we love. You can do a lot in ten minutes and you certainly have ten minutes a day to spare for your own use. Read more…
Each gender finds itself with certain health risks and needs. Women are required to pay particular attention to certain health conditions because of body composition, such as reproductive organs. They are also more susceptible to certain diseases, thereby causing them to pay more attention to their health and prevention practices.
There are numerous diseases of noteworthy concern to women, though there are various ways to address those problems early through nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes. As pointed out by the Mayo Clinic in a recent article through information taken from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
1. The number one health threat to women in America is heart disease, also the most preventable of all conditions. Alcohol should be consumed in moderation and cigarette smoke should be avoided. A simple diet of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fiber, and fish are important, along with physical activity to maintain a healthy weight and the monitoring of stress levels. Read more…