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Understanding Cholesterol: LDL vs. HDL
Cholesterol is made by your liver and is a type of fat that is found in your blood. We also get cholesterol from some of the foods we eat, such as high-fat foods, which can lead to health problems – something we’ll talk about more. As we age, it’s important to have your cholesterol levels checked regularly – though trying to interpret what your cholesterol numbers mean can sometimes be confusing, which is why it’s important to know about terms like LDL and HDL, as well as which foods are good and which are bad when it comes to ensuring your cholesterol levels are where they need to be at…
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Melatonin
Made by the pea-sized pineal gland, melatonin is a type of natural hormone (often referred to as the “sleep hormone”) that helps regulate your circadian rhythm and tells your body when it’s time to go to sleep and when to wake up. While many people don’t have any issue getting to sleep at night, there are other individuals who might have a hard time falling or staying asleep, which is also commonly referred to as insomnia – and if you happen to be one of those people, then your body may need additional melatonin, which can be obtained through taking a melatonin supplement. Aside from treating insomnia, melatonin has also…
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Recognizing the Need for Rest
As gruelling as the days and weeks can sometimes be, or as energetic as you might even feel, and even as dedicated as you are to working out, our bodies also need time to recuperate. That means setting aside time to allow yourself some rest and relaxation. When you don’t give the body enough rest, it will often give off tell-tale signs to let you know when it’s feeling worn out – from fatigue, to general aches and pains, and other symptoms. Getting regular physical activity is something I recommend, but it’s also possible to overexert yourself when doing so. One of the most common signs of overexertion is a…
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Differentiating Type I and Type II Diabetes
There are approximately 11 million Canadians currently living with diabetes, and someone new is diagnosed every 3 minutes. As many as 6 million Canadians have yet to be diagnosed with this chronic disease or are living with what’s known as “prediabetes.” During the prediabetes phase, your blood sugar reaches higher than normal levels but not quite high enough to be considered diabetic. However, research has also shown that certain complications linked to diabetes, such as heart disease, can happen as early as the prediabetic phase, therefore it’s important to have regular checkups with your physician and take any precautions that they recommend, such as changing your diet, checking your blood…
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Medication Safety
The importance of understanding and adhering to medication safety protocols cannot be overstated, regardless of whether you take regular prescription medications or only need the occasional over-the-counter drug. These safety measures are fundamental yet vital, for the more informed you are about each medication you take, the better equipped you will be to manage your health effectively. Although most prescribed medications come with a detailed patient information sheet, it is not uncommon to have lingering questions about their proper usage. You might wonder about the correct way to take the medication, how frequently it should be administered, or if there are any unusual side effects you need to monitor. While…
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Signs of Dehydration
Dehydration is a condition that occurs when the body loses more fluids than it takes in, leading to an insufficient amount of water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. This seemingly simple imbalance can have far-reaching consequences on our health and well-being, affecting everything from our physical performance to our cognitive abilities. While often overlooked in our busy day-to-day lives, maintaining proper hydration is crucial for optimal bodily function and overall health. Recognizing the signs of dehydration early on can be the key to preventing more serious health complications and ensuring that our bodies operate at their best. Water is essential for life, making up about 60%…
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Exercising Safely in Summer’s Heat
Exercising in hot weather presents a unique set of challenges that require careful planning and consideration to ensure both safety and effectiveness. As the summer months bring soaring temperatures and high humidity levels, the risk of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke becomes a significant concern for those engaging in physical activities outdoors. However, with the right strategies and precautions, it is possible to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle even during the hottest days of the year. One of the most critical aspects of exercising in hot weather is understanding how heat affects the body. During exercise, the body generates heat, and in order to cool…
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Recognizing Listeria Symptoms
On July 8, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced a nationwide recall for 18 plant-based beverages under the Silk and Great Value brands. This recall was issued due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause severe foodborne illness. Tragically, the contamination has already resulted in the deaths of two individuals. The Public Health Agency of Canada has reported six additional cases of listeriosis linked to this recall, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 18 across four provinces. These include 13 hospitalizations and the two aforementioned fatalities, with cases distributed across Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and Nova Scotia. Listeria monocytogenes is a particularly concerning pathogen because…
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Simplifying Nutrition
Just as you declutter and clean your home from time to time, it can also be a good idea to do the same for the diet. You not only feel better by eating healthier, but you’re also more likely to think clearer by ditching certain food distractions. Unfortunately, with new fad diets always coming to the forefront as well as conflicting nutritional advice, it can be hard to know where to start. The good news is that nutrition isn’t something that has to be complicated. By keeping the following guidelines in mind and remembering that your diet should be looked at as a lifestyle change rather than a temporary solution,…
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Do You Need Antibiotics?
When you develop an illness, such as a viral infection (i.e. a common cold) or have a superficial wound (like a cut or scratch), these are things that will usually resolve on their own over a few days or couple of weeks, depending on the severity of your illness and the symptoms that you experience. If you have a viral infection, antibiotics will not help resolve your illness or speed up the recovery time. Taking an antibiotic when it is unnecessary to do so will potentially cause antibiotic resistance. However, during your recovery period, there are certain over-the-counter products that can purchase in order to help relieve symptoms. For example,…
