Among the roller coaster ride of symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause, one of the most unsettling and anxiety-provoking for many women is brain fog. Those frequent episodes of forgetfulness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and mental fatigue are shared by up to 70% of women and can make you feel as if your brain has turned […]
Smooth, decadent chocolate; crunchy, salty chips; or gooey, cheesy, well, anything. On a stressful or down day, it’s common to reach for certain foods to help brighten your mood. But scientists are learning that the relationship between food, mood, and brain function, known as the gut–brain connection, goes both ways. Your gut “speaks” to your
You’ve heard the saying, “A dog is man’s best friend.” And it’s true – dogs have been providing loyal companionship to humans for thousands of years. But can dogs also serve a role that goes beyond companionship, to actually providing emotional support and wellbeing to those that suffer from mental health concerns like anxiety and
When we hear that someone is depressed, we may assume that person is feeling extremely sad – perhaps crying all the time or even unable to leave the house. And while this may be true, it’s not always the case. Depression has many other symptoms, and these can show up in different ways for different
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… Unless you’re spending it alone, which can make the holiday season feel like the loneliest time of year. Add that to rising stress levels, and it can feel very overwhelming. But don’t abandon all of that holiday hope just yet! Whether you’re spending the season alone by
It’s that time of year again! Dropping temperatures, cozy sweaters, and enjoying the merriment that comes with the winter holiday season. It’s also the time of year when our clocks change back to standard hours, and with that comes a decrease in daylight hours. If you notice a change in mood and behavior during this
November is National Family Caregivers Month! Caregiving provides much needed services to older adults and people with disabilities. In the United States, over 53 million people provide such services. Though a rewarding experience, caregiving has its challenges. The number of men in the field is growing, but the caregiving task still falls disproportionately to women,
Ever feel like you’re sleepwalking through life? You’re not alone! It’s time for America to wake up to the reality that there’s a sleep crisis happening. But sleep doesn’t have to be a rare commodity. A medicinal herb called ashwagandha can help you get the sleep you need. According to the CDC, 35% of U.S.
Stressed out, anxious, can’t sleep? There is a powerful amino acid that may help. L- Theanine, an amino acid found almost exclusively in green and black tea, provides a variety of health benefits primarily by acting on the nervous system. Among its benefits, l-theanine is neuroprotective; improves cognitive function; has antistress, antianxiety, and antidepressant effects;
Although premenopause is often used to refer to this time of transition, the proper medical term is perimenopause. Premenopause is the period of time during which women are in their reproductive years, and will continue to have their menstrual cycle. Perimenopause is characterized by hormonal shifts and physiological changes and as any woman who has
Once again we find ourselves in a nationwide debate about women’s reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. We know that inherent to our well-being is the ability to make informed decisions about our healthcare. And not only is our physical health at stake but taking away our right to choose when or if we will have
As women, our bodies go through quite a few changes from puberty to menopause. The main culprits? Our hormones. And while many of the symptoms we undergo from shifting hormones are physical, from hot flashes to disrupted periods, others are mental or emotional. This is because our brains and our hormones are intricately linked, and