When you’re living with the effects of chronic pain it can be difficult if not impossible to see how physical activity can keep you healthy. Pain affects your ability to move naturally. It can also cause depression and anxiety that stops you in your tracks when you do decide to try something new. However, the…
Losing weight for a healthier life is not simply a matter of opinion. Medical studies are beginning to show that individuals who lose weight have a decreased chance of developing diabetes or heart disease. While these are two of the biggest factors impacting overweight people in the United States, there are a myriad of benefits…
If you’re suffering from pain, what’s the best pain healthy diet you can eat? That depends, but there are a few general rules you can follow. What is a pain healthy diet? Nobody experiences pain in the same way. This is a known fact, of course, but it impacts the way we talk about certain foods…
If you suffer from unusual amounts of stress, did you know that it could be leading to weight gain? Here’s how obesity and stress are related — and what you can do about it. The science on obesity and stress A study conducted toward the end of 2013 and shared on Science Daily shows an…
There are so many popular home remedies for insomnia or other sleep problems. If you’re a chronic pain patient, you’ve likely tried them all. While herbal tea or a shot of bourbon might be recommend by some, there are various foods that can help you fall asleep naturally. While these foods might not help in…
We are just beginning to understand how sugar affects the body and, unfortunately, many of these findings are extremely negative. Studies have found that sugar can cause inflammation, promote obesity, and damage the heart. Could it also cause more chronic pain? What are the effects of sugar? Many people eat far more than the recommended…
Fad diets are a specific term used to describe a diet that has as many empty promises as soda has empty calories. Fad diets are normally identified by their larger than life claims to help you lose weight with little effort and little exercise. As the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics notes, “If a diet…
Most of us immediately reach for over-the-counter pain relievers when a headache settles in. However, did you know that there are some natural remedies that include delicious foods you are probably already eating? Foods with anti-inflammatory properties can help alleviate or reduce headache pain. Here are a few foods for headache relief that you can try…
Often when we talk about adding exercise to your routine we focus on cardio or aerobic workouts. Weight-lifting is often reserved for those who take fitness to the extreme. What if what we’ve always thought about weight lifting was wrong? It turns out weight lifting isn’t just for muscle bound Mr. Universe types. Adding weight-lifting to your…
Any type of physical activity–from running to cycling to doing house work–is measured as the energy expenditure required for the activity, compared to the energy needed to sit quietly. Types of physical activity Moderate activity exercises include walking, water aerobics, yoga, gardening, and even putting away groceries. Vigorous activities, however, are those that burn energy…