Hemp oil is one of the oils that can provide all the Essential Fatty Acids (EFAS) that a human body needs. The oil contains 55% linoleic acid and 25% linolenic acid – what we more commonly known as Omega 6 and Omega 3, respectively. Hemp oil also contains globule edestins, a rare protein that is very similar to the protein globulin found in human blood plasma. What is not commonly known among hemp oil uses is that the rare protein globule edestins found in the oil may be important for the formation of antibodies used for fighting infections and diseases.

Healthy Hemp Oil Uses

Those who suffer from skin infections and conditions have used this oil to help keep these conditions at bay. In most cases, the oil is used as a topical treatment on dry and irritated skin as it serves as an excellent moisturizer. It is also used by women to treat premenstrual tension. This is because it possesses gamma linoleic acid, also known as Super Omega 6.

Extensive studies have determined that many common illnesses, such as arthritis, are related due to deficiencies in some essential fatty acids, specifically Omega 3, 6 and 9. People past the age of 60 often have problems with their joints, and those who have used hemp oil to fight this have compared it to putting oil in your car’s engine in that the oil helps to lubricate the system. Though we must remind you that our products are not intended to diagnose or treat any medical ailments.

There is no other plant known to contain the essential fatty acids required by the body than the hemp seeds from the cannabis plant. The EFAs are contained in a form that is easily digestible by the human body. Hemp oil contains the EFAs in a perfect ratio for meeting human nutritional needs.

There are many other industrial uses of hemp oil other than the mentioned nutritional benefits. It is substituted for petroleum products in machines for lubrication. Hemp oil candles have become popular in the recent past. They are preferred by many as they do not use petroleum-based kerosene as the burning medium. These are some of the reasons why hemp oil should become a mainstay in this industry.

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Understanding How CBD Suppositories Help Menstrual Cramps

Medically known as dysmenorrhea, menstrual cramps and period pain are a direct result of your uterus contracting to expel the excess tissue and lining. These contractions are triggered by prostaglandins and other hormone-like substances that are involved in pain and inflammation. The higher the prostaglandin level, the more severe and painful the cramps.

For some, menstrual cramps can be a bearable annoyance. For many others, these cramps can be truly debilitating and interfere with everyday activities every single month.

CBD suppositories are simply pill-sized forms of CBD designed to be inserted into the vagina or rectum, where they dissolve and distribute CBD into the bloodstream to be received by the body’s cannabinoid receptors. The vaginal wall is highly porous, so any medication taken intravaginally can get absorbed directly into the bloodstream within a relatively short amount of time.

Unlike orally administered CBD, suppositories are much more direct and faster acting. When delivered via a tincture, capsule, or edible, CBD needs to be processed by your digestive system, which takes time and results in a small amount of CBD being destroyed by digestive enzymes. As suppositories are inserted internally, CBD is absorbed directly into bloodstream in its entirety, delivering fast-acting, targeted relief to the affected area.

Along with relieving period pain, vaginal CBD suppositories may help with fungal infections and vaginal dryness.

How CBD Can Help Menstrual Cramps

Research on CBD’s effects on menstrual cramps is still limited, but given what we already know, CBD shows promise as a solution for period cramps.

• Anti-inflammatory properties – Studies show that CBD may help to reduce inflammation by down-regulating cytokines, chemokines, and other pro-inflammatory compounds.
• Pain relief – Other studies also suggest that CBD may help to relieve both acute and chronic pain in all forms.
• Inhibits prostaglandins – One of the most noteworthy studies found that cannabidiolic acid, a precursor to CBD, effectively inhibits cyclooxygenase, a prominent prostaglandin. Remember, prostaglandins are a big part of why you have menstrual cramps (and other period-based symptoms) in the first place.
• Muscle relaxation – Menstrual cramps are caused and exacerbated by contracting muscles lining your uterus. CBD and other cannabinoids are known to relax muscles and prevent spasms, which can further help to ease your cramps.
• Improved blood flow – The relaxation of muscles can also support improved blood flow, allowing for more oxygen and nutrients to your uterine tissue.

After using a CBD suppository, you can expect reduced severity of and general relief from the dull aches, stabbing pains, and cramps characteristic of period pains. The duration of pain relief can vary based on you and the concentration of CBD in the suppository, but larger amounts of 100 milligrams should offer relief for at least six hours after insertion.

Are CBD Suppositories Safe?

While most health professionals advise against inserting creams, gels, or other substances into your vagina, CBD suppositories are generally considered safe. The concern has to do with pH levels. Your vagina has a sensitive pH, and even the slightest alterations to pH levels can increase your risk of bacterial or fungal infections.

Thankfully, most CBD suppositories are made using coconut oil. Coconut and other natural carrier oils are neutral and shouldn’t cause any chemical interactions that result in sudden shifts in vaginal pH.

How to Use a CBD Suppository

As mentioned, CBD suppositories can be used both rectally and vaginally. Prior to insertion, place the suppository in the freezer for at least 30 minutes, which allows the oil to solidify, allowing for easier insertion. If you regularly experience period pain, plan ahead and place the suppository in your freezer leading up to your period or at the first sign of period pain. Many manufacturers suggest inserting the suppository while lying on your back with your knees up to your chest, which keeps you comfortable as the suppository begins to melt soon after entering the body. However, if lying down is not practical or feasible, suppositories can be inserted seated or as you would a non-applicator tampon. Due to the lack of research, there isn’t a standardized amount of CBD in suppositories, and the exact concentration of CBD you need isn’t known. A 100 mg CBD suppository should dissolve and provide relief within 20 minutes after insertion. Let the suppository dissolve completely before you insert a tampon. The best time and frequency to use a CBD suppository varies based on your cycle, but we recommend using a suppository as soon as you experience your first signs of pain. Most users can safely administer a suppository every three to four hours until pain subsides.

CBD suppositories, like Endoca’s 50 mg hemp CBD suppository, can provide immense relief for your cramps and other menstrual symptoms. Consult your doctor or Ob/Gyn prior to using a CBD suppository, and if you experience any discomfort, stop use right away.

Sources:

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/health-and-wellness/menstruation

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menstrual-cramps/symptoms-causes/syc-20374938

https://globalnews.ca/news/4464815/cbd-vaginal-suppositories/

https://www.leafly.com/news/science-tech/what-does-cbd-do

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/cbd-suppositories-period-menstrual-cramps-pms

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There are several different types of hemp oils you can derive from the plant, and it can be helpful to break them down into categories: hemp essential oil, hemp seed oil, and hemp CBD oil.

These are extracted from the plant in diverse ways and have distinct functions:

• Hemp Essential Oil: this oil comes from the upper leaves and flowers of the plant and features a therapeutic aroma. It’s said to possibly help release stress and relax the body.
• Hemp Seed Oil: this comes from the seeds, as the name suggests. Whether it’s unrefined or processed, this oil is often called nature’s most balanced oil. It lacks flavor but is full of antioxidants and natural vitamins.
  
• Hemp CBD Oil: this is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid derived from the hemp plant.
  

What Can Hemp Oil Do For You?

Now that you have a better idea of what hemp oil is, where it comes from, and what it’s made of, we can get into some of the good stuff. The potential benefits of hemp oil are numerous, so we’ll talk a bit about a few of our favorites.

Ease Joint & Muscle Discomfort:

Some initial studies have indicated that it may have an anti-inflammatory effect, potentially reducing the discomfort felt by people with joint pain or muscle soreness. 

Healthy, Beautiful Skin and Hair:

It’s not just a vanity thing – taking care of your skin and hair is an important consideration for your overall well-being, and hemp oil may get you to where you want to be. Hemp oil for skin care is nutrient-rich, and it contains fatty acids and linoleic acid, both of which may help fight inflammation, redness, and acne. It also contains ceramides (like lipids or fats) that support cellular membranes – this can potentially help prevent excess moisture from leaving cells in your hair.

Improve Stress and Mood:

Studies are increasingly showing that hemp oil may improve stress and mood when taken on a consistent basis. Although the research isn’t definitive, this could be a massive benefit to those who want to manage their stress and mood through natural means.

Those are just a few of the benefits you may reap from hemp oil – the list truly goes on and on. If you’re looking to improve your mood, fight varicose veins, utilize healing terpenoids, protect antioxidants, ease muscle pain, and improve your lifestyle overall, then hemp oil is something you should certainly consider!

Potential Side Effects

As a quick note, we think it’s important to talk about potential side effects and notable things to be aware of when deciding to use hemp oil. Some people have noted feeling light-headed, drowsy and inhibited, while others have reported dry mouth symptoms, increased tremors in Parkinson’s patients, and low blood pressure.

Keep an eye out for any of these systems, and remember that when trying anything new, precautions are important. Remember that this is an anticoagulant and it may be hard for blood to clot for those who are using blood thinners, it shouldn’t be heated, and that in very large doses, it’s possible to cause cramps and diarrhea. It is also important to note that our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any diseases, illnesses, or other ailments.

How to Use Hemp Oil

Now that you’re on board with hemp oil, let’s hit the next important question – how do you use it? This question has a pretty broad answer because you can potentially use hemp oil in a large number of ways.

You can use hemp oil topically, orally, in concentrates, under your tongue, in pill form, and more. It’s important to note there’s no one way to use hemp oil, and taking it in different ways will achieve different results.

For example, if you’re looking to improve the condition of your skin and hair, you can use topical hemp oils, like salves and lotions to keep your skin and hair moisturized. This is probably the simplest and most straightforward way to use CBD for skincare.

Some people will simply place hemp oil under their tongues to allow their capillary glands to absorb the oil. These types of oral CBD supplements allow the CBD to enter your system quickly, as opposed to when you take it in pill form, and it must first pass through the digestive system.

Hemp oil can also be stored in tinctures. Think of a tincture like a dropper bottle full of hemp oil, and other essential, robust ingredients  – coconut oil, spearmint, terpenes, and more. This typically helps improve the taste of just the hemp oil.

Some people will buy hemp oil in pill form and swallow it, while others have started using hemp oil e-liquid, a vape formula that’s rich in hemp oil. This is a powerful way to take hemp oil because it gets the hemp oil into your system so quickly.

Hemp Oil: Adding it to Your Lifestyle  

There are dozens of potential benefits of hemp oil. It’s important to note that there’s no one right way to take hemp oil, either. Whether you prefer to add hemp oil to your juice in the morning, take it under your tongue – on its own or in a tincture – swallow a pill, or invest in e-liquid to vape your hemp oil, the possibilities are endless.

Don’t wait, add hemp oil supplements to your routine!

The post Hemp Oil: Nature’s Best Kept Secret in 2018 appeared first on Healthy Hemp Oil.

He trained high. He played high. And he was never caught.

Treyous Jarrells was a running back at Colorado State University, where he averaged 5.2 yards per carry in 2014. He then quit the team rather suddenly as the anxiety of being discovered using marijuana and subsequently losing his scholarship became too much for him.

Jarrells has now put his dream of playing football professionally behind him as he takes on a new – and different – challenge. He holds one of over 102,000 licenses to legally grow medical marijuana in Colorado. And he has now come out in favor of cannabis being removed from the sport’s banned substance list.

A Better Option?

The consumption of marijuana for medical purposes is legal in 25 states and Washington D.C. With many football players opting to pop painkillers such as ibuprofen before practice and games, Jarrells instead decided to use cannabis as a means of managing his chronic pain brought about by over a decade of football.

Speaking to the Coloradoan, Jarrells called marijuana his medicine and claimed its benefits came without any side effects, unlike the liver damage associated with opioid use and abuse.

And he’s not alone in his assertion that cannabis should be thought of as a better alternative to the painkillers being used to keep aches and pains at bay. A crop of current and former National Football League players are adding their voices to the call that the NFL undertake more research on marijuana and its place within organized sport.

Yet for all of the encouragement from the likes of Eugene Monroe (former Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle) and Jim McMahon (former Chicago Bears quarterback), the league’s commissioner Roger Goodell is, so far, unmoved. Prior to last February’s Super Bowl, Goodell said that the league would always review its drug policy and that there had been talks in the past about the use of medical marijuana but that he did not envision any change to the policy in the near future.

He also went on to say that the league’s medical experts have studied the issue but that they continue to believe that the ban should remain in place for NFL players.

College-level Opioid Use

This discussion of athletes and marijuana comes against the backdrop of an ongoing issue regarding the widespread usage of opiates to relieve pain.

The Coloradoan obtained records showing that, between 2013 and 2016, Colorado State University had ordered a combined 19,000 painkillers for its near 400 student athletes while the University of Colorado in Boulder had ordered a staggering 37,000 for around 350 student athletes.

Recent studies have suggested that medical marijuana could help stem the tide of opioid-led pain relief in the US and put a stop to the epidemic of overdoses. However, the bylaws of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the athletics policy of Colorado State University are both clear on the use of cannabis – it is against the rules.

In fact, CSU athletes must sign a drug policy consenting to random drug testing. A first positive test requires the student athlete to undergo counseling. A second results in a mandatory two-game suspension. And should the third strike occur, the student will find him or herself dismissed from the team.

Athletes and Marijuana – Firmly On the Sidelines?

As it is an NCAA-banned substance, marijuana-use among student athletes appears to be on the decline. However, the only time they are tested for THC by the NCAA is during championship events. Any other testing undertaken throughout the year is for performance-enhancing drugs.

The schools themselves may elect to test for marijuana in much the same way they might also test for alcohol, and at Colorado State, they test for all substances banned by the NCAA at least once a year.

A study by the NCAA from 2014 found that 22% of athletes in attendance at its 1200-plus member schools had used marijuana in 2013. This was down 1% from the previous study, which had been conducted four years earlier.

And the position taken by the NCAA is that there is no satisfactory scientific evidence to suggest that marijuana should be used for pain management, despite the fact that it has been legalized in 25 states and in D.C.

This stance has left student athletes in a precarious situation. They can either risk their scholarships and academic future by continuing to use marijuana, or they can turn to NCAA-approved pain remedies such as the previously mentioned opioids, which come with their own risks including organ failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, and addiction.

Even if the athlete lives and plays in one of the states where medical marijuana is legal, the NCAA’s rules are written in such a way that the student would be unable to obtain a doctor’s note to use cannabis for pain relief and be exempt from the NCAA drug testing.

Playing Through the Pain

Although Treyous Jarrells stepped away from college football, he still struggles with the pain inflicted upon him by the game he loves. But, according to the Coloradoan, he is finally happy.

He has turned his drive towards potential NFL success into an entrepreneurial spirit, which has resulted in him bottling and selling a spray to help cannabis plants grow and flourish. His business is now his primary focus.

Yet he seems to be aware of how his coming clean on using cannabis while still a CSU athlete will be perceived. He avoided punishment from the NCAA by getting out before being caught, but there are many athletes who won’t be as lucky.

They’ll continue to put their scholarships – and futures – in jeopardy by using marijuana. And the ones who do get caught will find themselves suspended or dismissed. Even in the states where marijuana is perfectly legal.

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Tips to Control Back Pain

Studies suggest that, if your back pain continues for more than a few months and different treatments have not shown any benefits, it is better to focus on becoming more active than on trying to reduce the pain.  Becoming more active improves your body functions and quality of life, which ultimately reduces your back pain.  Start increasing your activity level slowly, and expect your body to feel worse in the beginning before it gets better.  Here are some tips to help you in becoming more active while suffering from persistent back pain:

1. Exercise – Begin with simple stretching and cardiovascular exercises like walking, and slowly build up to more advanced strengthening exercises like weightlifting.
2. Resolve conflicts – Resolve any family or social conflicts as these can increase your stress level and delay your recovery.
3. Continue working – Stay working, because studies have shown that work gives you a purpose in life and reduces your focus on your back pain.
4. Avoid relying on medicine – Taking medicine for pain relief can be helpful in getting you to move, but it can make recovery harder as you might begin to rely too much on medication and less on becoming more active to reduce the pain.
5. Rest and relax – Be sure to take frequent breaks during your activities, get enough sleep, and relax by doing breathing exercises.  Relaxing is important, because it can trigger your body’s natural pain-relieving responses.
6. Work through the pain – Understand that pain flare-ups are likely to happen, but do not let them slow your activity level.  Continue to work, play sports, exercise, and do household chores to relieve and recover from your back pain.

References

1. https://www.webmd.com/back-pain/causes-back-pain#1

2. https://www.webmd.com/back-pain/understanding-back-pain-symptoms

3. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/health-fitness/back-life-how-beat-misery-8716581

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When you think of inflammation, images of a swollen stubbed toe might come to mind. This is known as acute inflammation and is actually something that is good for your body. In this case, the immune system is doing its job, and the body’s natural defense system is running smoothly.

There is, however, another type of inflammation that isn’t good for the body. Known as chronic inflammation, this very undetectable condition is linked to a number of different health problems including cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and diabetes. Chronic inflammation is actually a signal that the immune system isn’t working properly. The body’s response to this comes in the form of a number of different ailments and can take a heavy toll on someone’s health. Knowing what causes chronic inflammation, however, can help one take the steps to take control of one’s health.

What Causes Chronic Inflammation?

While scientists are still figuring out how inflammation works, they do know that it all begins with the immune system. When we become sick or get injured, the body sends out a fleet of white blood cells to take care of business. White blood cells help to speed along the healing process and get rid of infection. This is all a very natural and healthy process the body goes through when distressed.

However, when our immune system receives a false call, it will send out the army of white blood cells anyway. There isn’t anywhere for these cells to go, and they end up sticking around in the body for long periods of time. They eventually start doing internal damage, wreaking havoc on your health and resulting in chronic inflammation.

What causes chronic inflammation, though, and what’s making your white blood cells perpetually poised to attack something even when you aren’t sick or injured? There are a few different reasons as to what causes chronic inflammation, and knowing what they are can make a huge difference in the way you feel.

5 Causes of Chronic Inflammation

• Diet

Your diet and the foods you eat can be linked to a number of different health problems, chronic inflammation included. There are certain foods that make the body think it’s under attack, and, when these are consumed over a long period of time, the immune system begins to send out white blood cells to take care of it. Foods that are thought to have a lot to do with what causes chronic inflammation include:

• Sugar
• Refined Carbs (think white bread and pasta),
• Trans Fats (hydrogenated oil is a HUGE one),
• Excess Alcohol Consumption
• Excess of Omega 6 Fatty Acids (corn, soybean and sunflower oils, butter, and margarine)
• Gluten
• Factory-Raised Animals and Dairy Products.

• Candida

Chronic inflammation is most often associated with gut health. Candida is a fungus (a form of yeast) that lives in the intestines and helps out with digestion and your body’s natural ability to absorb nutrients. When the body produces too much candida, however, the walls of the intestine begin to break down and release nasty toxic byproducts into your bloodstream. The body perceives too much candida as a threat, resulting in inflammation.

• Environmental Toxins and Free Radicals

There are a number of environmental toxins that cause the immune system to go haywire and result in unwarranted inflammation. From the polluted air many of us breathe to the various air fresheners, household cleaners, and plastics we all use on a daily basis, there are many different toxins and free radicals floating around that can quickly lead to inflammation. Being subjected to these toxins for a long period of time can cause the development of chronic inflammation.

• Excess Weight

Carrying excess weight on the body (in the form of fat) is extremely stressful and is the cause of a myriad of different health problems including chronic inflammation. The stress this extra weight causes ultimately leads to damage, and, in turn, the immune system wants to repair this damage. Fat cells themselves (particularly those in the abdomen) produce an excess of inflammatory chemicals. Being overweight is another direct cause of chronic inflammation.

• Certain Nutrient Deficiencies

  • Vitamin D

A vitamin D deficiency can not only result in chronic inflammation but can cause depression, decreased immunity, IBS, pain, and a number of different autoimmune diseases.

• • Vitamin B (especially B6 and B12)

If you’re not getting enough of your B vitamins, this can be a direct cause of inflammation. A deficiency in your B vitamins can also be a result of inflammation. Good health (mental and physical) is strongly connected to a balance of B vitamin intake.

Coping with Chronic Inflammation

Knowing what causes chronic inflammation can help you better manage symptoms when they appear. Diet is an extremely important factor in taking control of chronic inflammation. Replacing the foods you know are responsible for chronic inflammation with foods that help reduce inflammation is central to managing your symptoms.

Getting a wide variety of different colored fruits and veggies is excellent. They’re packed with the anti-inflammatory essentials your body needs. You’ll also want to up your intake of omega 3 fatty acids, which are widely known to be great for your nervous system and heart. Omega 3s (found in salmon and other fatty fish, flaxseeds, and hempseed oil) can play a significant role in reducing chronic inflammation because they reduce the number of white blood cells going haywire in the body.

Making time to exercise and getting your body moving is another way to significantly help you reduce inflammation in the body. Exercising 45 minutes a day at least 5 days a week will not only make you feel amazing but also help in reducing chronic inflammation. Remaining stagnant is one of the major causes of inflammation. When you exercise, you’re also burning fat, which helps reduce fat cells in the body and puts less stress on the immune system.

Beyond all that, taking the time to decompress every day can also be extremely beneficial when it comes to coping with chronic inflammation. Stress is thought to be a contributing factor to chronic inflammation and should be addressed. Make time to relax at the end of each day, and learn different ways to manage stress and anxiety. There are a number of different ways to improve your mental and emotional health, and doing so will help decrease the signs and symptoms of chronic inflammation.

The post What Causes Chronic Inflammation? appeared first on Healthy Hemp Oil.

However, we all know that pain is a very unpleasant experience, whether it is from an insect sting, a cut, or illness. For many people, pain is something they have to live with, and they must find ways of managing pain.

Pain has many causes, and people respond to it differently. Although everyone experiences pain differently, pain can be categorized into different types.

In this article, I will discuss different types of pain, what are the causes of pain, the symptoms of pain, and seven strategies for managing pain.

Types of Pain

While pain can be categorized in a variety of ways, the most common categories are acute or chronic pain. Acute pain happens without notice and lasts for a short period. It is usually the result of damage to your skin, bones, muscles, or internal organs. Remember the pain you felt when you cut yourself accidentally or hit your finger with a hammer? That’s acute pain.

Chronic pain continues much longer than acute pain and is typically harder to treat. Chronic pain affects over 100 million Americans and can be defined as pain that extends for over six months. This type of pain is usually linked to an ongoing disease like osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia. If you experience chronic pain, the pain signals can last in your body for months or years, and this can be physically and emotionally debilitating.

Causes and Symptoms of Pain

Since chronic pain affects so many people and can be so devastating, I will focus on the causes of chronic pain. While there can be a variety of reasons for your chronic pain, the most common cause is the normal aging process that is affecting your bones and joints. For example, arthritis is a common age-related disease that develops naturally in many people. Chronic pain can also develop from nerve damage due to injuries that did not heal properly.

Constant pain can also be caused by diseases that are not age-related such as AIDS, cancer, ulcers, and fibromyalgia. Recurring pain, however, can be difficult to a point that it is impossible to pinpoint its cause. Sometimes, it develops from an illness or injury, but the pain continues with a psychological origin after the cause has healed physically.  This makes developing a treatment plan problematic for medical providers and is why it is necessary to try different strategies for managing pain.

Look for these symptoms if you think you have chronic pain:

• Light to intense pain that does not stop
• Feeling a burning, sharp, or aching type of pain
• Having a general sensation of being tight, stiff, or sore
• Feel tired, weak, and lack of sleep
• Being depressed, anxious, fearful, and irritable

Ways to Manage Pain

While you cannot eliminate chronic pain, there are coping techniques you can incorporate into your daily routine to lessen the pain. The following are seven strategies you can start doing today to manage your pain:

1. Reduce the amount of stress – When you have too much stress in your life, your chronic pain feels worse. Your body becomes more sensitive to pain when you are depressed, anxious, sad, or stressed. Learn to control the stress in your life by relaxing and listening to soft music. Listen to CDs designed to relax your state of mind. Try using mental imagery, which is a type of mental escape that requires you to create a calm and peaceful picture in your head. Another way to relax is to use muscle relaxation techniques.

2. Meditate or do deep breathing exercises – Most meditation techniques involve concentrating on your breathing, clearing your mind of any thoughts, and repeating a phrase continuously. This type of meditation is claimed to release the tension from your body and allow your muscles to relax. A deep breathing technique you can try is to sit in a quiet spot, close your eyes, and focus your thoughts on an area underneath your navel. Breathe into this area, and fill your stomach with air. Slowly breathe out, and deflate your abdomen like releasing air from a balloon.

3. Document the amount of pain and activities you do – Between visits to your doctor, show him or her how you are managing your pain and the activities you do so that he or she can treat your pain better. Get a notebook, and write down your pain score every day. The pain score can be based on a pain scale from 1 to 10 with 1 for the least pain and 10 the most. Also, write down the activities you completed every day. Show your doctor this journal during each visit so that he she can understand whether your pain level is improving, whether the pain is affecting your physical abilities, and what more can be done to treat your pain.

4. Eat healthy foods – Eating a well-balanced, healthy diet is important if you are living with chronic pain. Healthy eating will help in the healing process and make you feel and look better. In this way, your constant pain will not be as apparent to you. Also, eating healthy foods reduces your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Choose low-fat and low-sodium foods like whole-grain bread, low-fat milk and cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables, and lean meats.

5. Exercise regularly – Exercise helps with chronic pain because, when you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are brain chemicals that block your body’s pain signals while also making you feel happier and stronger. Exercise also improves your health by reducing your weight and your risk of developing heart disease.

6. Participate in a support group – Meeting other individuals with chronic pain helps you to feel less isolated. You also learn from others what they are doing to manage their pain. Additionally, you should meet regularly with a medical professional to talk about your experience with pain.

7. Get a massage regularly – A good massage will help to relieve your body of excess stress and tension. An effective massage will also improve the blood circulation in your body and reduce the amount of pain you feel.

Conclusion

All of us have experienced pain at different levels of intensity and duration. Acute pain can sometimes have the highest intensity, but its duration is short. Chronic pain, on the other hand, can have low to medium intensity but a long duration. If you have chronic pain, the best way to manage pain is to adopt a healthy lifestyle that will reduce the stress you feel. This includes exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, meeting others with the same problem, and seeing a medical professional.

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Aging doesn’t just affect our physical appearance. Our bones, joints, and muscles all go through changes. Our cardiovascular system begins to change. We experience differences in the way our digestive system works and might notice changes in our urinary health and bladder function. The aging process can come as a big surprise as the body begins to function differently than it did before.

The Aging Process Is Completely Natural

We can’t do anything to turn back the hands of time. The aging process is a natural occurrence that will (sooner or later) happen to us all. Did you know that most people reach their peak performance at the age of 30?

It’s not however, all downhill from there. The age at which you notice yourself slowing down or become aware of changes in your physical, mental, or sensory health is dependent on a number of different factors. These include:

• Genetics,
• Health Choices,
• Medical History, and
• Physical Activity Level.

Aging is inevitable. With all the changes that occur with the aging process, it’s important to know what’s considered normal aging and what to expect as time marches on.

Understanding the Aging Process

Whenever the aging process begins for you personally, it’s important to know what’s happening with your body. It’s also imperative to know what changes and symptoms are normal as you begin to age. Doing so will ensure you take the proper steps to stay healthy no matter how old you are. Normal changes in the aging process include the following.

• Decreased Eyesight

It’s normal to reach for the reading glasses as our eyes begin to age. When we get older, we lose the ability to focus on objects that are close up. This is known as presbyopia and is caused by a loss of elasticity in the lens of the eye, and it usually begins around 40. Cataracts, which are the clouding of the lens of the eye, affect a large number of the aging population and typically happen around the age of 60.

• Loss of Hearing

Hearing loss affects approximately a third of all people over the age of 60. Say what? It’s true. And absolutely normal. Hearing loss is attributed to the loss of sensory receptors in the inner ear, which makes it difficult to hear high frequencies and hold a normal conversation in a loud, crowded room. People may sound muffled, and you might find yourself turning up the volume on the stereo or TV.

• Urinary Tract and Bladder Health

If you feel like you have to use the bathroom more than you used to, you’re not the only one. Urinary tract and bladder health both tend to decrease as we get older and affect quite a few people. Incontinence (loss of bladder control) and frequent urination are both common side effects of the aging process.

• Bone Strength and Muscle Mass

By the time we hit the age of 35, our bones begin to lose minerals faster than they can be replaced. As the years go by, bones also tend to shrink in size and become weaker and more vulnerable to breaks and fractures. Without adequate exercise, muscles also begin to lose strength and flexibility. The older we get, the more we have to work at maintaining muscle mass.

• Memory Loss

Forgetting where you put your phone or what you did with your keys doesn’t mean you’re losing your mind, but it does probably mean you’re losing your memory. Memory loss is one of the most natural parts of aging. As we age, we lose our ability to quickly process information. This can lead to memory loss and some mild cognitive dysfunction.

• Loss of Strength and Stamina

The loss of muscle mass we experience as we age is a direct cause of the loss of strength we face. The aging process is responsible for the loss of muscle tissue, which makes muscles less flexible and is why we tend to feel stiff when we’re older.

The heart is one of the most important muscles of the body, and it, too, is affected by the aging process. As our hearts begin to age, we find that we have less stamina than we did when we were younger and at our peak performance.

• High Blood Pressure

If you’re over 60 and have high blood pressure, this is completely normal. In fact, over half of the people 60 years of age or older suffer from high blood pressure – but this condition can be avoided. Eating less sodium, getting regular exercise, and keeping a healthy weight can all help prevent high blood pressure and the symptoms associated with it.

While stopping the aging process is impossible, there are certain things you can do to ensure that you’re aging gracefully and are correctly addressing all the things that come along with it.

3 Tips on How to Gracefully Embrace the Aging Process

You can’t turn back the hands of time, but you can certainly determine how your body handles the aging process. It’s vital to enjoy life in all its stages. By incorporating the following ideas into your life, you’ll find the aging process isn’t so bad after all.

1.   Embrace a Healthy Diet

What we eat has everything to do with how we feel. Eating a well-balanced diet that is full of the nutrients your body needs is vital as you embrace the aging process. Fill your plate with an abundance of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Also, be sure to get the “good” fats you need. These can be found in nuts, seeds, hemp oil, flaxseed oil, avocados, and more. A healthy, balanced diet is the key to longevity and feeling your best!

2.   Get Plenty of Exercise

You don’t need to engage in strenuous activity to get the exercise your body needs to stay healthy as you age. According to the New York Times, any type and amount of exercise might actually slow down the aging process and the effect aging has on our cells. A balanced exercise routine that includes mild cardio (walking, jogging, swimming, etc.), strength training (even lifting 2-3 pound weights will help), and stretching can benefit the aging body and mind.

3.   Do Things You Enjoy

There’s no better way to enjoy getting older (and all the changes that come with it) than by doing the things you love. Staying socially active and spending time with people you care about can positively impact the aging process and dramatically improve your quality of life.

As you get older, it’s natural to begin to experience changes associated with the aging process. Ensuring you’re taking the best possible care of yourself will make sure you enjoy these changes and live life to the fullest extent possible…no matter how many candles on your cake.

What have you found to help you gracefully embrace the aging process? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

The post How to Gracefully Embrace the Natural Aging Process appeared first on Healthy Hemp Oil.

In this article, you’ll learn about one of the key components to both health and happiness: serotonin. You’ll also discover natural ways to increase serotonin and boost your physical and emotional wellbeing.

The Happy Hormone

Serotonin is often referred to as the body’s “happy” or “feel good” hormone. It is one of the most important neurotransmitters for health. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that enable information to be communicated between the brain and the rest of the body by sending signals from one nerve cell to another.

You’ve probably heard of serotonin’s effect on mood, but did you know it also affects your physical body? Serotonin plays a role in many of the body’s functions, and this fits in with how it is produced; while some serotonin is made in the brain, the vast majority is manufactured in your enteric nervous system, otherwise known as the “gut-brain.” Around 90% of the body’s serotonin is found in your digestive tract.

What It Regulates

Serotonin affects nearly all of our 40 million brain cells, so it is no surprise that it has a part to play in regulating many aspects of your health:

•      Mood
•      Sleep
•      Appetite
•      Memory and learning
•      Social behaviors
•      Sexual desire
•      Body temperature
•      Muscles
•      Endocrine system (hormones)
•      Cardiovascular system

The Importance of Serotonin

Because serotonin affects so many aspects of mental and physical wellbeing, it is paramount to keep your levels topped up. Low serotonin levels are linked to a host of issues, including:

•      Low mood
•      Anxiety
•      Depression
•      Sleep disturbances
•      Chronic pain

What’s more, research published in the Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience finds that people with frequent low moods are more likely to experience chronic illnesses like heart disease.

The link between mind and body has been studied widely and gains in support each year. Indeed, happiness is important in its own right but also because it has been found to protect against both mental and physical disorders.

The Limits of Pharmaceuticals

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are usually prescribed to people experiencing anxiety or depression. As we’ve seen, serotonin is a messenger chemical. Once it has delivered its message, it is usually reabsorbed by the nerve cells. This is known as “reuptake.” SSRIs work by blocking (inhibiting) this reuptake, which results in more serotonin being available in the brain.

These medications take a while to work because, initially, the brain’s serotonin receptor (known as 5-HT1A the Serotonin Receptor) blocks the release of extra serotonin. Coupled with a long list of side effects, pharmaceutical anti-depressants may not be that helpful after all.

The good news is that there are plenty of natural ways to increase serotonin. Take a look at the tips below, and see how easy it can be to boost your levels of feel-good hormone.

Eat Your Way to Happiness

As we’ve seen, there’s a definite brain-gut connection; the majority of serotonin is found in the intestines. So it will come as no surprise that diet plays a key role in increasing your levels of serotonin.

The body synthesizes serotonin from the amino acid tryptophan. This is an essential amino acid because the body doesn’t produce it on its own; you need to obtain it from your diet. Foods that are high in protein, vitamins B2 and B6, and iron tend to be rich in tryptophan. For example:

•      Nuts and seeds like sesame, sunflower and walnuts
•      Oily fish like salmon
•      Eggs
•      Dairy
•      Meat
•      Vegetables like spinach, broccoli, watercress and mushrooms
•      Fermented foods like sauerkraut

To boost your absorption of tryptophan, pair these foods with healthy carbs like whole grains or grain-like seeds such as amaranth, millet, quinoa and buckwheat. These are great sources of high-protein carbohydrates that will give your serotonin levels a boost.

Reducing your consumption of processed foods, which are high in chemical additives, refined carbohydrates, sugar and trans-fats, will also have a direct impact on your mood. These foods are known to cause mental and physical health conditions. What’s more, they rob the body of energy, which creates feelings of lethargy and depression. Focus instead on natural wholefoods. Fill your plate with a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, go for healthy sources of protein, snack on nuts, and see how quickly you start to feel better.

Think Your Way to Happiness

Many a life-coach has extolled the virtues of positive thinking, but this has a basis in science too. A study carried out by the Department of Psychology of the University of Montréal finds that self-induced changes in mood can influence serotonin levels. In other words, if you think happy thoughts, you boost your happy hormone and, therefore, increase your feelings of happiness.

Avoid activities that will cause you to think dark thoughts. TV and newspapers can be filled with negative and stress-inducing messages; turn away from media, and do something that makes you feel good. Spend time with friends, try a yoga or meditation class, read an uplifting book, or surround yourself with inspiring quotes. Thinking happy thoughts CAN alter your brain chemistry—choose to see your glass half-full.

Light Up Your Way to Happiness

This is probably one of the easiest things you can do to make yourself feel happier. Natural light is a well-researched and established treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder, but researchers have found that it also affects levels of serotonin in the brain.

In our fast-paced modern lives, we spend much of our time indoors, either at our place of work, on the train, or at home. Make a point of including more light into your day by taking a walk at lunchtime or a gentle stroll after dinner instead of watching TV. The fresh air and movement will also do your mood a world of good.

Happy and Healthy

Being healthy doesn’t just mean being free from disease. It means feeling happy, contented, and at peace. You have the right to complete health. With a holistic diet of whole foods, positive thoughts and natural light, you can boost your levels of serotonin and start feeling happy and healthy. What are you waiting for?

What are your thoughts on the WHO’s definition of health? Do you feel healthy? How to do you make yourself feel happier? What do you think of the tips above? We always love to hear your thoughts and experiences, so feel free to drop us a line in the comments section below.

The post 3 Natural Ways to Increase Serotonin and Up Your Happy Hormone appeared first on Healthy Hemp Oil.

Maintaining positive mental health is imperative for self-confidence, success in business, sustaining good relationships with others, and living to our fullest potential. Just as we take care of our physical health by exercising and eating nourishing foods, we must take care of our emotional and mental health if we want to live an enjoyable life.

Why We Overlook Our Emotional and Mental Health

If our mental and emotional health is so important to our well-being, why do so many of us ignore it? We overlook our emotional and mental health issues because many of us believe this is what we’re supposed to do.

Having emotional issues or suffering from mental health problems is often seen as a weakness, and many people have had this idea instilled in them for a long time. The following are other reasons we tend to overlook our own emotional and mental wellbeing:

• We think we should be able to just “get over it.”
• We think the way we feel is somehow our fault.
• We’d rather keep our negative feelings to ourselves than talk about them with others.
• We’ve been taught not to talk about our problems.

We’re all going to experience some kind of emotional crisis or mental health issue in our lifetime. It’s essential we address these problems when they arise rather than ignore them.

Why We Need to Address Our Emotional and Mental Health

The quality of our life depends on the way we think and the way we feel. People who are healthy mentally and emotionally are more apt to work through the problems that are an inevitable part of life. When someone is in good emotional and mental health, it’s much easier to handle stress and difficult times.

It’s important that we’re able to face our problems when they arise. When we experience poor mental health, it makes it much more difficult to face adversity. Addressing your mental health is one of the most important things you can do to relieve stress and anxiety and maintain a better quality of life.

Improving Mental Health

We can take steps to address, improve, and maintain our mental health. By doing so, we ensure that we’re living to our fullest potential and handling life’s setbacks with ease. Being conscious to improve our mental and emotional well-being is the first step to living a healthy and balanced life. 

1. Manage Stress

Stress is the primary reason people experience emotional and mental health issues. With our modern lifestyles, it’s become difficult not to feel stressed out; most of us simply accept stress as a natural part of life. Managing stress, however, is vital to improving the way you feel.

Engaging in regular relaxation techniques and getting quality sleep are pertinent for managing stress levels. Deep breathing, meditation, and quiet contemplation are all excellent tips for managing stress. Dealing with negative emotions when they arise instead of letting them fester is also good for dealing with stress.

2. Connect with Others

Having a support network of friends and family also helps to keep our mental state in check. When we connect with others, it’s much easier to cope with life’s pressures. We’re not meant to live isolated from others, and doing so will only increase stress levels.

Talking to a good friend or someone who listens to what you have to say (without judgment) can help you cope with the negative feelings you might be having. Having the ability to talk about your emotions and the way you feel will greatly improve your mental state.

3. Get Regular Exercise

Getting regular exercise is vital to your emotional and mental health. Our bodies and minds are intricately connected, and when we take the time to get our bodies moving by engaging in regular exercise, it can do wonders for our mental state. Exercise has been shown to reduce stress, invoke feelings of well-being,and improve sleep.

4. Make Self-Care a Priority

Making sure to take good care of yourself is also vital for positive emotional and mental health. How we treat ourselves is fundamental for feeling good, and ensuring we make self-care a priority will drastically improve our emotions and mental wellbeing.

Be sure to get enough sleep, do things you enjoy, surround yourself with people who make you happy, and engage in activities that stimulate your mind. Taking care of you is one of the best things you can do to improve mental health and stay emotionally balanced.

5. Eat Healthy and Nourishing Foods

What you put in your body has a dramatic effect on how you feel mentally and emotionally. If you’re eating unhealthily, you’re going to feel unhealthy, both physically and mentally. Processed foods, sugar, alcohol, and large amounts of caffeine can drastically affect your emotional state.

Doing your best to avoid these foods and replacing them with healthy, nourishing foods will increase your mood and keep your emotional and mental health balanced. Increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, leafy greens, and healthy fats, and you’ll dramatically improve your emotional and mental health.

Addressing your emotional and mental health is the first step toward living a life that is rich in meaning and filled with purpose. Making positive mental health a priority will significantly change the way you experience the world around you.

If you’ve found other ways to improve your emotional and mental health we’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

The post 7 Ways to Maximize Your Emotional and Mental Health appeared first on Healthy Hemp Oil.