Also On Wellness
Posts by Megan Johnson McCullough
Serotonin is a chemical found in the brain, blood platelets, and mainly in the digestive system (up to 90%). Its scientific name is 5-hydroxytryptamine, or 5-HT. This chemical is a neurotransmitter that delivers messages between our nerve cells. Most of our 40 million brain cells are communicating with serotonin. It is derived from tryptophan which is an essential amino acid, which means that we must...
4/11/2019 7:00:00 AM
When someone says, “I can’t have dairy,” we automatically assume they are lactose-intolerant or that they are allergic to dairy, and that is as far as our knowledge goes with this condition. “Lactose” actually means “sugar.” This type of sugar is specifically found in dairy products.There is an enzyme that our body produces in the small intestine, called lactase (not lactOse, but lactAse). However,...
4/9/2019 7:00:00 AM
Did you know that the FDA doesn’t require nutrition facts for alcoholic beverages? Does this mean that ignorance is bliss when it comes to alcohol and your diet plan? Or that what you don’t know doesn’t count or doesn’t hurt you? Regardless, the waistline seems to respond no matter what the data shows.Wine has been called the “nectar of the gods” and beer has developed into a brewery on every corner....
3/23/2019 7:00:00 AM
Pomegranate is a type of tree and its fruit can be used for different purposes, even medicinal ones. It originates in Iran. It is mostly grown in Mediterranean countries, but also the U.S., Japan, China, Russia, India, and Afghanistan. Pomegranate contains antioxidants, which can help ward off bad cells, such as are cancerous ones and those that can cause the progression of arteriosclerosis (hardening...
3/13/2019 7:00:00 AM
Found just under the liver, sits the gallbladder. This pouch is a storage unit for the liver’s bile, as well as fat, cholesterol and various fluids. This pear-sized balloon is inflated before meals when it is filled with bile. After eating, the balloon then looks flat and deflated. This bile is used to help digests fats. When food is detected, the gallbladder releases bile into the small intestine....
3/13/2019 7:00:00 AM
The gel from aloe vera has been used for thousands of years for its healing purposes. It is a type of succulent plant with many medicinal purposes. The gel inside the plant is gooey and thick, and it is most commonly used to alleviate sun burns and is consumed in juice form for its health benefits. It is a juice with no sugar.Aloe vera gel makes the skin soft, therefore many lotions contain this ingredient....
3/2/2019 10:00:00 PM
Extreme mood swings are the common denominator when it comes to bipolar disorder. A person can shift from manic to depressive, causing seriously risky behavior. Happy to suicidal, changing from high to low, is not a way to live. Another term for this mental illness is manic depression. These mood changes also effect sleep patterns, thinking, and energy levels. The highs and lows are two “poles” of...
2/18/2019 8:00:00 AM
These colorful small bits of fruit pack a BIG source of flavor and nutrition for us. Berries are tiny powerhouses and there are so many different reasons to eat them. The number one reason, which you have probably heard before, is that berries are filled with antioxidants. We need and want antioxidants because they are protectors from disease. They include vitamins A, C, and E. Secondly, the beautiful...
2/18/2019 8:00:00 AM
Heat and ice are natural at-home remedies for many aches and pains. However, depending on your particular problem, there is a preferential treatment for alleviation. In general, heat increases blood flow which helps tight muscles to relax and helps stiff joints loosen up. Ice works by constricting blood flow which numbs pain, reduces inflammation, and helps prevent bruising.HEATIn general, heat is...
2/12/2019 8:00:00 AM
Body hair, termed androgenic hair, develops on the body during the years of puberty. Hair is all over our bodies. We have eyebrows, facial, arm, leg, chest, and pubic hair. We need this hair to regulate our body temperature. When it’s cold, the hairs stand up because the tiny muscles surrounding the hair follicles are trying to trap more heat. This is when we see goosebumps on our skin.Fine hairs found...
2/12/2019 8:00:00 AM
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