I love exercise. I run every day, regularly work out, and go to spin classes. It's the only way I've found to keep my mental health in check (I've struggled with severe PTSD symptoms from a childhood accident), and it's great for my physical health. I like the way I look and how strong I feel. My fiancé also likes the way I look, but he wants me to spend less time at the gym.
Creatine is a substance naturally produced in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. It's then converted into a compound called phosphocreatine, which is stored in your muscles, explains Amanda Holtzer, RD. From there, phosphocreatine helps create what's called ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is the body's preferred source of energy, says Holtzer. "Every single function in the body requires ATP, from opening your eyes to walking to the bathroom to typing on your computer," she says.
This is the point where temporary soreness turns into chronic pain, where that dull, nagging ache becomes the new normal. It affects more than just your muscles. Your sleep suffers. Your energy drops. Over time, your brain circuits that process pain grow more sensitive, creating a vicious cycle that's hard to break. What determines whether you bounce back or break down? That's the question researchers at the State University of Campinas in Brazil set out to answer.
By looking after his gut microbiome, the trillions of microbes that live in the colon lining and impact overall health, he's also lowering his risk of colon cancer, which is rising in people under 50. Research has linked eating plant foods such as vegetables, nuts, and beans to a diverse microbiome, which is an indicator of good gut health, and a lower colon cancer risk. While ultra-processed foods, including processed red meats such as hot dogs and salami, have been linked to less diversity and a higher risk.
Taking into account body size, the researchers found that people from populations with higher obesity rates and lower activity levels burned only slightly less energy compared to populations with lower obesity rates and higher activity levels.
Walking and diet are two of the simplest ways we know to boost BDNF, a key protein that helps brain cells grow, repair and communicate. Higher BDNF levels are strongly linked to better memory and slower cognitive decline.
The study highlighted that combining structured exercise with chemotherapy can improve overall health outcomes in colon cancer recovery, showing that exercise should complement medical treatments.
Dancing has proven to be as effective as traditional exercise in enhancing psychological and cognitive health, especially beneficial for conditions like Parkinson's and anxiety.
"Heavy metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic enter your body through various environmental sources and cause numerous health issues, including gastrointestinal problems and neurological symptoms."
Folks concerned about osteoporosis often add calcium and vitamin D to their diets, but these supplements could hurt your bone health rather than help if not taken as needed.