Because learning about your brain and sleep can be fun . . .
Serotonin, a chemical messenger in our brains, plays a role in regulating mood, appetite, and sleep. When low, it can lead to depression and anxiety. We’ll delve into the role of proteins and amino acids and serotonin. We’ll discuss how stress levels and certain conditions can affect it. In the end, you’ll have a understanding…
Did you break your diet? It can be hard to keep a diet, especially when foods that tempt you to break it surround you. You’ve got to have some wins sometime. If you don’t, you can start to feel like a loser, like being at the weight you want to be at is impossible. If…
Cuddling, also known as snuggling, has benefits. Namely, cuddling releases oxytocin and serotonin. That makes you feel good. That means that when you’re sore and irritable, cuddling can make you feel better. “Energy healing” and “energy work” aren’t fundamental concepts in Western medicine yet that doesn’t stop you from hearing about them. You’ll also hear…
What does “self-care” really mean? Everyone will agree that taking care of yourself is important, but how do you really know you’re doing a good job of it? There are certainly indirect indicators that can be observed. Blood pressure, cholesterol levels, weight, and other similar metrics can be a good gauge of how much attention…
You don’t always have to ingest or inject some substance to take medicine. Your body, wonderful living “machine” that it is, is like a compounding pharmacist—it makes a lot of its own. People don’t think of their body making medicine, but it does every hour of every day of every year. Your body produces a…
Clammy hands. Cold, sweaty feet. A cold, sopping pillow. The drip, drip, drip of a faucet keeping you awake is bad enough. When the dripping is coming from your head, back, and armpits into your sheets, it has to be worse. Cold night sweats have to be one of the most troubling sleeping problems there are. …
When someone thinks of the health effects of missing sleep, they don’t always think of hormone problems. Perhaps they should. I once knew a man who was stronger, tougher, and smarter than me. Considering the two of us and commonly compared talents and aptitudes, he was the better person in every objective way. We’ll call…
More is not necessarily better when it comes to melatonin. Starting melatonin? Look for low-dose melatonin (1 mg)—it’s not always easy to find. Can’t sleep? Take melatonin, people say. Melatonin can help you if your days and nights are all mixed up for whatever reason. It’s valuable for shift workers who are trying to sleep…