It’s normal for most of us to experience some abdominal bloating from time to time, but beyond the occasional bloating experience, nearly a third of the North American population experiences chronic bloating. And if you’ve been going through a lot more stress than usual lately, you may have noticed a worsening in your symptoms. Research shows that increased stress can worsen bloating and stomach distention. What Is Bloating? Bloating is the subjective feeling of pressure or gas in the abdomen. Occasional bloating, flatulence, belching, and distention are all considered a normal part of digestive physiology, especially after eating. These symptoms typically aren’t considered a problem until they begin to cause pain and/or disrupt your daily life. The link between stress...
Now I know that this may sound like I have really lost my mind and that I’m bordering on insanity, BUT, cold showers are all the rage. Well, maybe not that popular (yet) but they are showing a lot of promise in the many ways that they can help improve our overall health. And the best part is they are easy and free! Here is a summary of why cold showers need to be a part of your daily routine: 1. Immune function One benefit of cold showers is that they may improve immune function. This effect may be due to the fact that the shock of cold water increases the production of certain cells and molecules that play a...
Eat sugar (You like it - you crave it - you eat it) → Blood sugar levels spike (Dopamine is released in the brain = you feel good, Insulin levels spike to bring down blood sugar) → Blood sugar and dopamine levels drop (You feel hungry and the cravings start to replace dopamine) → You eat more sugar to get the same happy feeling → The cycle continues If you are struggling with weight or addiction it might be that you have low levels of a neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Dopamine is the ‘feel good/pleasure inducing' neurotransmitter that triggers your reward system in your brain, and if you don’t produce enough cravings and addictions are more common. The DUTCH test, a...
Blood sugar balance 101 Most of us know that the foods we choose to eat have a big impact on our health, but how can you know what’s right for you? Our responses to food are all unique and a one-size-fits-all solution won’t work for everybody as it is important that we need understand our individual physiology. Understanding why peaks and dips matter Blood sugar levels rise and fall after every meal or snack we eat that contains carbohydrates (breads/fruit/veggies/juice/cookies etc). Our body breaks down these carbohydrates into simple sugar molecules, including glucose. Glucose is absorbed by the gut into our bloodstream, which results in increased blood sugar levels. When this happens, Insulin, one of the main hormones involved in maintaining healthy blood sugar...
Multiple factors control your food intake as well as your energy balance. Here is a summary of a few factors that can lead to excess feelings of hunger (aka hyperphagia). 1) Prediabetes/Diabetes Hormones such as insulin help to inhibit feelings of hunger. So, when your body experiences an insulin deficiency (like in people with diabetes), it can contribute to an excessive food intake. At the same time, hypoglycemia can stimulate the secretion of ghrelin, which is the hunger hormone that promotes food intake. Insulin is the hormone that suppresses appetite and may lead to a reduction of food intake. It helps to transport glucose into your cells to provide you with energy. If glucose levels are high and insulin levels...
