Clover Content - Healthy Content for Better Living

The Positive Emotional Health Effects of Flowers!

Adding beautiful home decor can sometimes brighten your mood. Nothing brings this about more than flowers, branches, and a natural setting. In fact studies by 3 Universities found a correlation between flowers with increased happiness. A Rutgers University study found that having flowers in your home not only increases happiness but also reduces depression and anxiety and actually can increase emotional contact with friends and family. A separate study by Harvard University found the similar results – increased compassion, feeling less negative, and more energy at work. Finally, Texas A & M University found that flowers and plants in the workplace improves problem solving skills and increases creativity.

Now it’s not always easy to use fresh flowers in your home. You have to always water them and make sure they get ample sunlight. One alternative to this is using dried curly willow branches to brighten your home. You can buy these dried branches and they look exceptionally authentic. It is not easy to find them at your local floral store or craft store. The best alternative is to go online and purchase it as a do-it-yourself-kit. One of the major vendors online for dried botanicals is greenfloralcrafts.com.

Check out this curly willow branch arrangement below.

June 29, 2017 0 comment

Healthy Thyroid

5 Things You Can Do to Keep Your Thyroid Healthy

written by Jamie Ga.

The thyroid is a small gland that is located in your throat area near to the windpipe. The main function of thyroid gland is to work with pituitary gland to keep your hormone secretion level optimal. Thyroid gland takes iodine from the various foods we eat and produces thyroid hormones. The gland has a shape similar to a butterfly and the regulation of metabolism and body temperature are two of its functios. Nowadays thyroid problems are common in many. This happens mainly due to bad food habits, stress and strain, and other medical conditions like diabetes or thyroid cancer.

Thyroid problems are more common in women than men

There are two types of thyroid problem that occur to your thyroid gland. These two conditions are hypothyroidism, which is an inactive or less active thyroid function and hyperthyroidism which is over acting thyroid functions from the gland. The treatment for a defective thyroid functioning gland is of two types – lifestyle changes and medication. Now let us see 5 things that you be do to keep your thyroid healthy.

Changing your food habits

In general, it can be said that adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet is the key ingredient to a better thyroid. Hypothyroidism cases should avoid cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables. If you are taking medication for thyroid problems you should avoid beans as well. Processed and refined foods like white bread, sugar, pasta, cakes, and cookies should also be avoided. Yes, you can’t avoid processed completely but reduce your consumption as much as possible.

Avoid Smoking and Alcohol

Caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol affect adversely on your thyroid gland’s health. You should completely avoid smoking and another tobacco usage. Minimizing or if possible completely cut out the intake of alcohol if you want to improve your thyroid health. Caffeine is another thing which needs to be restricted.

Increase Iodine intake

Iodine is one component which helps the function of the thyroid. Thyroid gland converts iodine into thyroid hormones. Table salt is the primary source of iodine to for most people. Fresh seafood that comes from salt water is another excellent source of iodine, so fish is more than just brain food it also helps your thyroid function.

Increase Selenium intake

Selenium is one element discovered in the late 90s to help thyroid function. Sources can be supplements or foods like nuts, tuna, shrimp, chicken liver, and turkey. Here is a video explaining the connection between thyroid and selenium.

Exercise regularly

Last but not least exercise; exercises that help in increasing heart rate which helps circulate blood and hormones throughout the body. Start by simply going for a walk for 30 minutes every day. Above all don’t forget to consult a doctor and take medication as prescribed.

February 13, 2017 0 comment

Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes – An Unhealthy Lifestyle Leads to an Unhealthy Body

written by Jamie Ga.

Type 2 Diabetes – An Unhealthy Lifestyle Leads to an Unhealthy Body

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition of the pancreas where the body begins to build up a resistance to a natural enzyme known as insulin. Insulin is created the by the pancreas to regulate and break down the glucose levels in the body. Glucose also known as blood sugar, is necessary for healthy cells however it must first be broken down by insulin in order for it to be adequately absorbed by the cells. too much glucose is bad for the body as is too little of it. As the resistance to insulin increases and the levels of unbroken down glucose rise the body will attempt to over compensate by making more insulin. This does not last long as the pancreas will soon tire and be unable to make up the lost insulin, this is what leads to Diabetes.

What are the different types of Diabetes?

There are two types of Diabetes, type 1 and type 2, type 1 is a form of diabetes that you are born with while type 2 is created by lifestyle choices;

Poor diet
unhealthy living conditions
and other lifestyle choices are what lead to type 2 diabetes.

Unlike type 1 however, type 2 can be either cured or treated while type 1 is often lethal. Of course there are different levels of severity when it comes to type 2 diabetes, the lowest extreme is easily cured with a healthier diet, exercise, and controlling ones’ intake of sugar which means less glucose entering the body. This is a rarity however, most patients who develop type 2 diabetes will more than likely have to live with it for the rest of their lives.

How do you treat type 2 diabetes?

There are two ways of treating and handling type 2 diabetes. The first way in medicinal the second is lifestyle.

Medicinal treatments:

Patents with type 2 diabetes must monitor their blood glucose on a daily basis and keep track of their numbers.
Patients will require daily insulin injections to compensate for the body not creating enough.

Lifestyle treatments:

Doctors will typically refer a diabetes patient to a nutritionist to come up with a strict diet plan which will aid in keeping a steady amount of manageable glucose in the body.
As insulin-resistance can lead to lack of energy, problems sleeping, and pain in the muscles and joints, patients will also need to follow an exercise regimen suited to combating these effects.

While type 1 diabetes can be deadly there is no reason that someone with type 2 who follows their doctor’s instruction and keeps to a strict regimen of lifestyle changes and medication cannot live a long, healthy life.

February 10, 2017 0 comment