Increasing your muscle tone sounds easy enough, right? You just need to lift weights and do bench presses, and you’re good to go! Except… it’s actually a lot harder than most people think. Gaining muscle depends on many factors, but your diet is the most important thing to consider when bulking. If you’re doing all the right exercises without the right diet, all your effort will be for nothing.

A diet rich in lean proteins and amino acids is a crucial step when bulking, but not many people know what to add to their diets and what to exclude. And that’s exactly why we’ve compiled a list of the ten best muscle-building foods. Read on to learn all you need to know!

Why Is Diet So Important For Muscle Gain?

Building muscle isn’t just about hitting the gym for hours every day. To see the results you’re after, you need to start with your diet. What you eat and how much you eat is essential for muscle development. Dietary proteins, amino acids, and leucine are crucial for muscle building. So while we agree that strength training is important for muscle gain, it’s also important that you have the proper nutrition you need to go along with it. Without a good diet, you could lose muscle tissue rather than building it.

Essential amino acids and leucine are just as important as protein in your diet because they stimulate protein synthesis (the building of new muscle) and prevent your body from breaking down existing muscle to use as fuel during workouts.

Is Protein The Only Way To Bulk?

Without a doubt, protein is the most important thing your body needs for successful bulking. This is because our muscles are made up of proteins, and our bodies need a proper amount of protein not only to build new muscle but also to sustain existing muscle. But protein alone isn’t enough to fuel your body.

Many people trying to get “shredded” are also trying to lose fat, which usually means restricting the number of calories they consume. But this could have an adverse effect on muscle building. You don’t just need the right amount of protein, but the right amount of calories too. Otherwise, your body may burn your existing muscle to use as fuel.

Carbohydrates and fats are also important dietary necessities for building muscle. Unfortunately, most bulkers see carbs and fats as the enemy, but really, it’s just highly processed carbs that you should avoid. Carbohydrates found in wholegrains, legumes, fruit, and veg will help fuel your body during your workout to achieve the results you’re after.

10 Natural Muscle-Building Foods

Knowing what to eat to gain muscle is the first step to successful bulking. Below, we’ve compiled some lists of foods you should add to your diet to get the gains you’re aiming for.

Proteins For Muscle Building

1. Eggs

Eggs are rich in protein, healthy fats, and nutrients. They also contain a large amount of the amino acid leucine, which is incredibly important for muscle gain.

2. Beef

Beef is rich in high-quality proteins, minerals, B vitamins, and creatines. Some studies have shown that adding lean red meat to your diet can increase the lean mass gained from strength training.

3. Salmon

Salmon is another excellent source of protein for muscle building. Every three ounces of salmon contains approximately 17 grams of protein, 1.5 grams of omega-3 fatty acids, and a few important vitamin Bs.

4. Chicken

Chicken breast is a great source of lean protein. In just three ounces of chicken breast, you’ll find about 27 grams of protein. This is also one of the cheapest protein options available.

Fruits & Vegetables For Muscle Building

5. Green Peas

Green peas aren’t just a delicious dinner side, but a protein-packed one as well. For every 200 grams of peas, you’ll find about 9 grams of protein.

6. Spinach

Spinach is an excellent source of protein. After all, it was Popeye’s favorite food! Each cooked cup (about 30 grams) of spinach contains approximately 5 grams of protein.

7. Corn

Corn on the cob is a BBQ favorite and a great way to get extra protein. In 150 grams of sweet corn, you will find about 4.7 grams of protein.

Grains, Legumes & Other Foods For Muscle Building

8. Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt can be used to make high-protein snacks for muscle gain, especially protein smoothies. In 100 grams of nonfat Greek yogurt, there are about 10 grams of protein.

9. Soybeans

Perfect for vegetarian and vegan bulkers, there are about 16 grams of protein in just 86 grams of soybeans!

10. Protein Powder

Supplements are also a great way to get the nutrients your body needs. If you’re having trouble getting enough protein, try protein powders. Whey protein is the most popular variety, but options are available for folks who don’t consume dairy.

They say that the perfect physique starts in the kitchen, and they’re right. If you want to build, tone, and shape, you need to start with what you eat!

Featured image by Григорий Калюжный from Pixabay

It’s morning. You can hear the world already buzzing outside and yet there you lie, struggling to throw off the covers and seize the day. Coffee is the first thing you aim for – you need it like you need air! So why are you so tired?

Like millions of other people in the world, you may be wondering: why am I tired when I wake up? This issue has plagued many people for so long, and the answer is far simpler than most people realize.

The answer to most people’s constant exhaustion is their diets. However, not many of us realize that not getting enough protein, vitamins, etc., can lead to decreased energy levels. Excessive amounts of coffee throughout the day could cause sleep issues as well – so by caffeinating to wake up, you’re really just creating a vicious cycle. The answer could even be an underlying medical issue.

In this overview, we’ll cover the multiple reasons you may be feeling tired and what you can do to fix it. We’ll also discuss the effects sleep deprivation can have on your mind and body, as well as natural remedies and supplements you could use to boost your energy levels.

Why Is Sleep So Important?

Most people don’t realize why sleep is so important for their health. You may have difficulty focusing, driving, and working after not getting a good night’s rest. Studies have shown that long-term sleep deprivation could even cause issues such as memory loss, depression, heart attacks, or even strokes. We need sleep not only to survive, but also to live our lives to the fullest.

What Are The Effects Of Sleep Deprivation?

If the main question you ask yourself each day is “Why do I feel tired?”, you may recognize the physical and mental effects of near-constant fatigue. Here are just a few effects sleep deprivation could have on you:

• Mental fatigue
• Increased risk of having a heart attack
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Weakened immune system
• Memory loss

Some Of The Common Reasons You’re Not Resting Properly

There are so many reasons you might be feeling tired despite getting a healthy amount of sleep each night. Figuring out what’s wrong may be as easy as changing what you eat, or could require you to see a doctor for a diagnosis.

Here are five things that could be causing your exhaustion.

1. Poor Diet

By not consuming enough protein, vitamins, minerals, etc., your body won’t have enough resources to produce the energy you need to function properly throughout the day. Simply consuming more green vegetables and lean proteins could boost your energy levels tenfold.

2. Excessive Stress

Most of us have something in our lives that gets us stressed out to the max, but all that stress is bad for our health. Talk therapy has been found to help overly stressed individuals sleep better.

3. Inactive Lifestyle

Not exercising because you’re tired could cause you to be even more tired. To sleep better at night, try adding a small amount of exercise at a time to your daily routine.

4. Excessive Caffeine Consumption

Too much caffeine could lead to interrupted sleep in the evenings. By reducing the amount of caffeine you consume each day, you could see a change in your energy levels. 

5. Health Problems

Certain medical conditions can cause fatigue and will require a medical diagnosis before you can start receiving treatment. These conditions include iron deficiency (anemia), depression, anxiety, and heart disease, to name a few.

Are There Supplements For Energy?

So now that you know the reasons behind your constant fatigue, the next thing you may be asking yourself is how to stop feeling tired all the time. For many people, the answer is energy drinks or coffee, but as we mentioned above, excessive caffeine has been proven to worsen your sleeping problems. However, there are many supplements for energy and peptides for energy you could try to naturally increase your energy levels, such as the sleep box by Vital RX.

Are There Natural Ways To Feel Less Tired?

Now that you have an idea of why you’re constantly exhausted, you may be wondering: is there a natural way to stop waking up tired with no energy? The answer is yes! Here’s a few things you could try to boost your energy levelsnaturally.

1. Cut Out The Caffeine

Most of us start our days with a freshly brewed cup of coffee. If this were the only caffeine you consumed each day, it wouldn’t cause any issues, but most of us continue to drink coffee throughout the day. Whether we have it with lunch or just for the heck of it, an excessive amount of caffeine could lead to poor sleeping habits. Try limiting yourself to just one or two cups of coffee per day.

2. No More Naps

Napping in the middle of the day could result in less sleep in the evenings, leaving you exhausted all day long.

3. Be More Active

If you’re working a sedentary job where you sit most of the day, try taking short walks around the office a few times a day. Even this small bit of added exercise could lead to better sleep.

By altering your diet, setting sleep times, and getting more active, you could enhance your restfulness and put tired days behind you.

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Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is essential for various reasons. When someone is at a higher weight than they are comfortable with, it can drastically affect their mental wellness and overall self-esteem. Aside from improved mental health, losing fat is also a great way to ward off preventable chronic diseases brought on by obesity. Such conditions include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and fatty liver disease.

The health risks alone are enough to encourage a change to eating habits. But where to start? Many suggest going on crash diets or working out incessantly, but those tactics don’t really work for sustainable fat loss. If you want to lose fat and keep it off, you’ll have to put most of your focus into food. So can the food you eat help you lose weight? And if so, what are some natural foods that promote fat loss? Let’s investigate. 

Food to promote weight loss 

Food and fat loss may not seem to go hand in hand, but no matter what you weigh, you still have to eat to fuel your body. That is why avoiding overeating isn’t the only factor, but also focusing heavily on what you do eat. All foods give you energy, even “junk food.” That said, the right foods will offer your body the nutrients and other substances it needs to burn fat on a cellular level. When losing fat, food can be your best friend. 

What are the best fat loss foods? 

Choosing the right foods for fat loss doesn’t have to be an arduous guessing game. A few will help your body do what it needs to do to get rid of excess fat while you limit weight-gain foods and move your body more.

1. Fatty fish 

Fatty fish such as salmon, herring, sardines, and mackerel are all great options if your goal is to lose fat. The primary nutrient in these types of fish is omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids can contribute to a reduction in inflammation as well as a reduced risk of heart disease.

When it comes to losing fat, studies have found that eating fatty fish helps fat loss because of its effect on cortisol. Cortisol is one of the body’s stress hormones. When you have high levels of cortisol, the body holds on to fat. However, eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to lower cortisol levels, making it easier to lose fat.

These types of fish are also high in protein, a nutrient that increases metabolism and makes you feel fuller for longer. 

2. Coffee

Coffee is a day starter for many people because of its caffeine content – caffeine can help people become more alert in the morning. The substance can also improve mood and increase mental and physical performance.  

Studies find that when people consume caffeine before working out, they burn almost twice as much fat as those who do not. Because of this increase in physical stamina, fat loss during exercise is much easier. Caffeine also boosts the metabolism by as much as 13%, which gives the body more fat-burning power even at rest. 

3. Eggs

Eggs are often overlooked as a healthy food because they are high in cholesterol. However, they are actually nutritional powerhouses because of all the essential vitamins they contain. 

Research finds that people who eat eggs for breakfast are less hungry throughout the day and eat less. Because of this, it is easier to lose fat.

Eggs also contain high amounts of protein, which, as mentioned above, helps increase your metabolic rate and encourage fat burn during downtime. 

4. Green tea

Green tea is hailed as a health food because it has many benefits. Aside from the more commonly known effects, such as reducing the risk of heart disease and protecting against cancer, green tea also provides caffeine and an antioxidant known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). 

EGCG is crucial for fat loss because of the way it promotes fat burning, especially in the belly area.  

5. Chili peppers 

Chili peppers add spice to foods. Consuming chili peppers can be great for your health, too. Antioxidants in chili peppers have been shown to reduce inflammation while protecting your cells from damage that could lead to chronic disease because of the ingredient capsaicin.  

Capsaicin can also help promote fat loss for several reasons. The substance reduces overeating because of its ability to make you feel fuller for extended periods. People limiting their calorie intake to lose weight may slow their metabolism. However, adding chili peppers with capsaicin counteracts that slowing of metabolism, which can encourage more fat burn throughout the day. 

6. Olive oil 

Olive oil is a healthy fat, and while eating fat may seem counterintuitive to losing fat, it’s actually a vital piece of the fat loss puzzle. Olive oil can reduce triglyceride levels, raise good cholesterol levels, and encourage the body to produce more of a hormone that helps you feel fuller longer. 

Studies also found that people who consume extra virgin olive oil with their meals burn more fat for a few hours following the meal. That means that olive oil helps you eat fewer calories and encourages your body to burn more when you’re at rest. 

Eating to lose fat is an integral part of the weight loss puzzle. You just have to know what foods to eat to ensure that your body continuously burns more fat. 

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Food is fuel. If you’re eating healthily, you’ll get all the nutrients and vitamins your body needs to run at its most optimal levels. However, that’s not always the way things work. Between busy schedules and the plethora of delicious (yet not-so-healthy!) foods available, eating a healthy diet 100% of the time is near impossible. 

However, your body may begin to suffer when you regularly eat heavily processed foods or foods that lack adequate nutrition. A poor diet can also lead to toxin buildup in the body, which means too many toxic substances are floating around. The good news is that there are foods you can eat to counteract this buildup. Let’s take a look at some naturally detoxifying foods and how to use them to your benefit.

What does detoxing mean? 

Detoxing can have two meanings: refraining from consuming toxic or unhealthy substances, or taking action to get rid of toxin buildup that is already occurring within your body. While detoxing can be healthy, most people opt for a lesser version such as a juice cleanse or other similar short-term solutions. However, if you want a long-term solution to your toxin buildup, you’ll need to turn to food. 

How do I detox my body naturally? 

There are many ways you can detox your body naturally that don’t revolve around food. For example, you could refrain from eating anything (otherwise known as fasting) for one to three days. Fasting can clean you out while you avoid consuming anything that may hinder the process. (It’s important to always consult your doctor about this process before diving in.)

You could also opt for the juice cleanse mentioned above, which replaces all solid foods with fruit juices, smoothies, or vegetable juices for a period of time. Another way to detox is to drink salted or lemon water. But while these methods work, depriving your body of the nutrients it needs for any given period can be harmful. 

So, what’s left? Using naturally detoxifying foods to aid your body in the detox process. This way, you can give your body what it needs and still get the same cleansing effects.

What are good detox foods? 

If you want to use food to detoxify your body, there are many options. Let’s take a look at the top five types of detox foods. 

1. Antioxidant-rich foods 

Antioxidants reduce or balance out the number of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are molecules that can, in high amounts, cause damage to cells and drive oxidative stress. Oxidative stress sends your body into chronic inflammation, which is terrible for your overall health.

When you eat foods high in antioxidants during a detox, you can help keep these free radical levels down and oxidative stress at bay. Antioxidants can also aid the body’s attempts to get rid of toxins, so consuming them provides a two-fold health benefit.

Some of the best antioxidant-rich foods to choose from include: 

• Berries 
• Nuts
• Cocoa and chocolate 
• Spinach 
• Carrots 
• Potatoes and sweet potatoes
• Squash 
• Pumpkins
• Collard greens
• Artichokes 
• Cabbage
• Asparagus 
• Avocados 
• Beetroot
• Radish
• Kale 

2. Prebiotic-rich foods 

The gut aids in the natural way your body detoxes itself. When your gut health is balanced, it helps eliminate toxins and other substances not needed by the body. However, if that action is compromised, your body cannot detoxify as effectively. Because of that, eating foods high in prebiotics can keep your levels of good gut bacteria where they need to be so they can perform.

Excellent food sources of prebiotics include: 

• Tomatoes
• Artichokes 
• Bananas 
• Asparagus 
• Onions
• Garlic 
• Oats 

3. Sulfur-containing foods 

If you suffer from heavy metal toxin buildup, eating foods rich in sulfur can combat the effects. Sulfur aids the liver in creating glutathione, an antioxidant that helps rid the body of toxins. Without enough of it, the liver will struggle, and your detox will not be as effective.

Some of the best sulfur-containing foods include: 

• Onions
• Broccoli 
• Garlic 
• Lean meats such as turkey, chicken, and fish 
• Nuts 
• Whole grains
• Chickpeas
• Eggs 
• Beef 

4. Spices and herbs 

Spices do more than add a little something extra to your meals – they can also aid in the detoxification process, but you have to choose the right ones.

Cilantro is an excellent option for people who wish to get rid of toxins because of the way it enhances the body’s natural ability to detoxify itself. Other herbs and spices that can help to rid the body of excess toxins include: 

• Turmeric 
• Red clover 
• Milk thistle 
• Dandelion 
• Stinging nettle
• Burdock root 
• Spirulina 

5. Algae

Algae isn’t always a popular choice when it comes to food. However, it can pack a punch when it comes to getting rid of toxins.

One specific type of algae known as chlorella aids in detoxification because of its nutrient content. It works by binding to toxins and heavy metals, flushing toxins out of your system and giving the body a fresh start. 

Naturally detoxing your body using food may seem like a lengthy process as opposed to a three-day cleanse. However, it is the best possible option for long-lasting maintenance. If you wish to detox your body naturally, the best way to do it is through your diet. 

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Food is a vital piece of the health puzzle – without it, of course, the body would cease to function. In this day and age, eating means more than simply fueling your body. From social gatherings to family bonding, eating has become a centrepiece in many people’s lives.

When it comes to energy levels, diet is the be-all-end-all. Without eating the right foods, the cells in your body will not have the fuel they need to perform, and you will end up feeling tired and fatigued. But what foods are best to keep your energy up? Let’s take a look at some of the different natural foods that boost energy levels. 

Foods for energy

Food is essential for all bodily functions but crucial for your energy levels. Everything you eat contains certain nutrients or substances that can make or break your energy. If you eat a wholefood-rich diet, you’re likely getting the vitamins and minerals the body needs to function correctly. However, if a lot of what you eat has additives or is heavily processed, you’re consuming substances that will eventually harm how well your cells perform their jobs, leading to fatigue.  

The good news is that changing your diet to help boost your overall health and energy levels isn’t difficult, and you don’t have to give up everything you love to eat. You can treat yourself in moderation while incorporating good energy-boosting foods to help you ward off those pesky and lingering feelings of tiredness. 

What foods boost your energy levels naturally? 

Various wholefoods provide the energy you need to tackle your daily life. Foods that contain energy-boosting nutrients such as protein, iron, potassium, CoQ10, B vitamins, carnitine, and creatine are your best option. Let’s delve into some of the foods that contain these nutrients.

Animal-based proteins

Animal-based proteins contain essential vitamins and minerals that are required for energy. The best animal proteins for the abovementioned key nutrients include: 

• Chicken
• Turkey
• Eggs 
• Cheese 
• Milk 

Other animal proteins such as beef and pork also offer nutrients, but they also contain other substances, such as excess amounts of fat, that could stall energy production in your body. That is why it’s best to stick to leaner meat products if you want to reap the benefits of energy-boosting nutrients. That way, you will avoid excess substances that could cause more harm than good. 

Plant-based proteins 

Plant-based proteins are often used as substitutes for people who don’t want to consume much or any meat. However, most plant-based proteins are incomplete, meaning they don’t contain all the amino acids required to build protein in the body. Because of this, you will need to eat more of them to get the same benefit as their animal-based counterparts. 

The nutrients mentioned above can be found in the following plant protein foods: 

• Almonds
• Amaranth
• Cashews
• Chia seeds
• Peanuts
• Pistachios
• Pumpkin seeds
• Quinoa 
• Sesame seeds
• Walnuts 
• Black beans
• Edamame
• Soybeans 

Fruits

Fruits are an essential part of any healthy diet for many reasons. When it comes to energy levels, fruits contain vital nutrients that help cells in the body stay energized. The best way to consume fruit is fresh and whole.

If you want to battle fatigue, you can choose fruits such as: 

• Apples
• Avocados
• Bananas 
• Blueberries
• Dates
• Goji berries
• Cantaloupe
• Lemons
• Oranges
• Raisins
• Strawberries 

These contain vitamins and minerals such as CoQ10, magnesium, potassium, and iron – all of which will fuel your cells to perform appropriately. 

Vegetables 

Similar to fruit, vegetables should be included in everyone’s diet. While each vegetable contains its own nutrient content, all veggies have something to help power your cells with what they need to get things done. When it comes to energy levels, some vegetables may be better than others.

Some good vegetables to incorporate into an energy-boosting diet include: 

• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Spinach
• Squash 
• Sweet potatoes 

Magnesium and potassium are found in all of the foods mentioned above. Others contain extra nutrients such as iron, CoQ10, and protein to help increase the boost you’ll get when eating them regularly.  

Grains

Wholegrains are complex carbs. They are broken down by the body slowly, with the nutrients used more effectively. They also contain more nutrients than simple carbs and are lower on the glycemic index.

Because of their vitamin and mineral content, wholegrains are a perfect addition to an energy-boosting diet. Some of the best options include: 

• Brown rice
• Oatmeal 
• Whole wheat 
• White rice 
• Fortified breakfast cereals

When it comes to fortified cereal, you’ll want to choose an option with the least amount of sugar. Too much processed sugar can hinder your energy levels in the long run. 

Dairy substitutes 

Eating dairy alternatives can be a great way to get high levels of potassium, magnesium, protein, and B vitamins for people who wish to avoid dairy products. All these nutrients are vital to your overall energy levels. Some of the best options for dairy alternatives include: 

• Almond milk
• Cashew milk
• Oat milk
• Rice milk
• Soy milk
• Ice creams and yogurts made from a milk alternative (try to stick with low-sugar options)

If you want to boost your energy levels, regularly incorporating any of these foods is a great way to do it!

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Having a healthy immune system is vital to avoiding illness and disease – but it can also be easy for your immune system to become compromised. There is little more important than diet when it comes to the health of your body’s defense system. Food fuels the immune system with the nutrients it needs to perform at its best, and if you eat the right things, you can promote overall good immune health now and for years to come. Let’s take a look at some natural foods that promote immune health.

What foods boost your immune system naturally? 

Many nutritious foods can help you boost your immune system and keep yourself safe from outside pathogens. They include: 

1. Citrus fruits 

Citrus fruits are high in vitamin C, a nutrient that helps increase white blood cells. White blood cells are vital players in the fight against pathogens. Some of the best citrus fruits you can eat if you want to improve your immune health include: 

• Grapefruit
• Oranges
• Tangerines
• Lemons
• Limes
• Clementines

The body doesn’t store vitamin C, so it’s important to incorporate fruits like these regularly into your diet. 

2. Red bell peppers

Another great way to get the vitamin C you need is through red bell peppers. Bell peppers of the red variety contain three times the amount of vitamin C as one orange. If you don’t want to eat a citrus fruit every day or need variety to get your daily needs, adding some red bell peppers to your meals is a great way to accomplish that. 

3. Broccoli 

Broccoli contains several nutrients that can keep your immune system healthy. It has vitamins E, C, and A, and antioxidants that help reduce widespread inflammation. When there is inflammation in the body, especially chronic, it can weaken your defenses. By eating more broccoli, you can gain the nutrients your body needs to fight off pathogens and keep inflammation down when you are not contending with an illness.  

4. Garlic

Garlic has been used for centuries as a flavorful addition to food and medicine. Garlic is excellent for the immune system because it contains the compound allicin. Allicin has the ability to both help the body fight off viruses and regulate the immune system for better overall functioning. 

5. Ginger

Ginger is another food many people turn to when ill because of its medicinal properties. Ginger contains antibacterial and antiparasitic properties. The root vegetable is also a diaphoretic, which can help the body sweat out colds or cases of flu faster. Research has shown that ginger can reduce inflammation in the body and fight off oxidative stress, which can help the immune system to become better regulated. 

6. Spinach 

Spinach is a powerhouse of nutrients. It contains high levels of vitamin C, antioxidants, and beta-carotene. All these nutrients can increase the immune system’s ability to fight off infection and stay better protected against disease. 

7. Yogurt 

The health of the immune system and the gut go hand in hand. Roughly 80% of all immune cells are found in the stomach, so when it is healthy, the immune system generally is, too. This is why eating yogurt regularly can promote good immune health.

Yogurt contains beneficial live bacteria that help to stimulate the cells of the immune system in the gut to fight off disease effectively. As one of the best foods for immune health, the cultures in yogurt also help to keep the gut bacteria balanced in a way that improves not only immune health, but overall bodily health. 

8. Almonds

Almonds contain high levels of vitamin E, which acts as an antioxidant within the body. According to research, vitamin E is one of the best nutrients for immune health because it modulates immune function. When the immune system is regulated correctly, it responds better to harmful pathogens. 

9. Sunflower seeds 

Similar to almonds, sunflower seeds also contain high levels of vitamin E. Along with this nutrient, the seeds also contain selenium, phosphorous, magnesium, and vitamin B6, each of which is important to overall immune function.

Selenium acts as an antioxidant, reducing overall inflammation levels and enhancing the immune response. Phosphorous plays an essential role in immunity because of its ability to create barriers against pathogens in the body, and magnesium can strengthen the action of white blood cells. When you get enough magnesium, your immune cells can better find and destroy pathogens. 

10. Turmeric

Turmeric has long been used in the natural medicine world because of its ability to combat illness and treat various types of arthritic diseases. The substance that gives turmeric its medicinal properties is curcumin. According to research on curcumin and immunity, the spice can influence how well immune cells function. That influence helps the immune system maintain readiness for fighting off infections. 

11. Green tea 

Green tea is another immune-friendly food touted for its health benefits. Green tea contains flavonoids, which are great for regulating the immune response. The compounds help immunity because they can inhibit the activation of specific immune cells that harm how well the immune system functions. 

An antioxidant known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is also found in high amounts in green tea. Research has shown that this particular antioxidant can boost the immune system.

Incorporating these foods regularly into your diet will ensure you get all the nutrients your immune system needs to keep you well protected now and in the future.  

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If you experience short-term or chronic anxiety, you’re likely familiar with how it feels when an attack is happening. It may come on slow and begin to build rapidly. Your heart begins to race and your breathing quickens. During this time, your body goes through several different processes, all of which consume energy. This is why people often feel exhausted after a bout of anxiety or stress.

Many people may feel the mental anguish of a stressful situation causes tiredness. However, there’s more going on beneath the surface that causes fatigue following an attack of anxiousness. But what does anxiety do to the body, and how does it affect how much energy you have? Read on to learn how anxiety can influence energy levels. 

What does anxiety do to the body? 

Anxiety is an intense feeling of dread, worry, or impending doom. It can occur sporadically because of stressful events. It can also be chronic, as is the case with anxiety disorders. In many cases, people feel anxiety in entirely safe situations, where nothing specific is triggering the feelings.

When the brain thinks there is a threat, hormones are released from different areas such as the pituitary gland, adrenal glands, and hypothalamus. These hormones prepare you to fight or flee the perceived danger. When those hormones are released, they trigger physical symptoms that can include:

• Shaking 
• A faster heart rate
• Chest pain
• Shallow and rapid breathing
• Dry mouth
• Muscle tension
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness 

These physical symptoms all contribute to the fatigue people feel after experiencing a bout of anxiety. However, if stress is constant or occurs more often, that tiredness can stick around even after rest. 

How can anxiety affect a person’s ability to function? 

Because of the physical symptoms above, a person’s ability to participate in regular activities during a bout of anxiety can be near impossible. Every system in the body is affected differently. 

Central nervous system 

The release of hormones during anxiety and stress increases symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and depression. That is because the nervous system becomes flooded with the hormones and chemicals that are released to help deal with a specific threat. 

Cardiovascular system

The cardiovascular symptoms arising during bouts of anxiety put stress on your heart muscle. That can increase a person’s risk of developing heart disease and high blood pressure. Some chest pain associated with anxiety may even feel like a heart attack, prompting people to visit a hospital. 

Digestive system 

The digestive system can get thrown out of balance because of anxiety. Stomach aches, nausea, and diarrhea are all common symptoms of anxiety, meaning day-to-day living can be disrupted severely. Dealing with gastrointestinal issues can also sap your energy. 

Immune system

The flood of chemicals released during anxiety also affects the function of the immune system. Constant stress can leave a person with a weakened immune system that cannot fight off pathogens as well as it should. With a weaker immune system and more risk of sickness, you are likely to feel more tired if you catch a common cold or other illness. 

Sleep 

If you aren’t getting enough quality sleep, you will not be able to function at your best. Long-term anxiety can negatively affect your sleeping patterns, sometimes leading to insomnia. Insomnia and other sleep issues such as the inability to stay asleep throughout the night can, over time, cause a person to feel chronically tired. 

The issue with sleep and anxiety is that the two can be codependent. That means that one can cause the other and vice versa. If it goes on long enough, this cycle will lead to severe tiredness in people with chronic anxiety.  

What does anxiety fatigue feel like? 

There are two ways that anxiety can cause a person to feel tired all the time. The first is sleep-related, and the second is known as anxiety fatigue.

Fatigue is mental or physical tiredness that does not go away. People with fatigue often feel weak, unmotivated, and as if they need sleep throughout the day. Anxiety fatigue is fatigue brought on by anxiety.

Some symptoms that you can experience if you have anxiety fatigue include: 

• Brain fogginess 
• Inability to concentrate or finish a thought 
• Poor memory 

The little things that you do daily can feel highly taxing, and it’s hard to escape those feelings if you have anxiety that continues every day. Eventually, stress and anxiety may lead to chronic fatigue syndrome, a condition marked by excessive fatigue that will not go away. 

How can you restore your energy levels? 

To address fatigue caused by anxiety, you have to take it step by step. The first thing you will want to do is manage your stress and seek treatment. You should also adopt specific lifestyle changes. To help curb anxiety’s effects while undergoing treatment, you can: 

• Develop bedtime and wake-up routines to get into a good cycle of sleep 
• Engage in some form of exercise every day 
• Try meditation to reduce the overall levels of stress hormones in your bloodstream

Anxiety isn’t easy to deal with, and neither is being tired all the time. The best thing you can do for both is address your anxiety head-on and get the proper treatment and lifestyle practices in place. 

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Your lifestyle plays a significant role in your anxiety levels. Nutrition and daily stress can factor into how your specific case of anxiety progresses or declines. The idea that lifestyle greatly impacts mental health is nothing new. That said, the importance of making lifestyle changes to benefit the wellness of your mind has gained traction in recent years. New research surrounding anxiety disorders and lifestyle factors has all shared one finding: if you don’t take care of your body, your mind will suffer. 

However, people with mental health disorders such as anxiety can also suffer from a reduction in physical health as a result of their condition. Stress affects many biological systems in the body – cardiovascular, respiratory, immune, and digestive – so it’s only fair to assume that high stress and anxiety can also impact fitness levels. But how does anxiety affect your overall level of fitness and physical wellbeing? Read on to learn how anxiety can influence fitness levels.

Anxiety and fitness 

Anxiety and fitness are connected in a big way. That is because stress, when severe enough, impacts a person’s fitness for various reasons. The first has a lot to do with just feeling up to working out. Studies have shown that people with anxiety are far more sedentary than those without the disorder. One study looked at the reasons behind this fact and found that it could have much to do with anxiety’s physical symptoms.

People with anxiety may experience various ailments, including: 

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Stomach aches
• Racing heart
• Shallow breathing
• Muscle tension that can lead to pain 
• Fatigue
• Feelings of weakness 
• Tingling in the hands and feet 
• Chest pain or pressure 

All of these physical symptoms can be mild to severe. That said, even people who experience the mildest of symptoms associated with anxiety may not feel inclined to work out. Suppose you are supposed to go for a run, but you wake up with a stomach ache and feel dizzy. You’re not going to feel comfortable lacing up your shoes and pushing your body when you feel physically ill. The study did, however, find that the more severe a person’s symptoms are, the more likely they are to skip their next workout session. 

People with anxiety also suffer from mental symptoms that can make exercise challenging to accomplish as well. Brain fog from anxiety fatigue can make it difficult to get out of bed, let alone head to the gym. A lack of motivation can also play a role in the absence of physical exercise in people with anxiety. 

Anxiety and bodyweight 

Another aspect of fitness that ties into anxiety is body weight. People with anxiety have elevated levels of stress hormones. One such hormone, cortisol, has been linked to an increase in weight. The hormone signals the body to hold onto excess weight in case it needs it in a life-or-death situation. The abdomen and stomach area are where most of the fat accumulates in highly stressed people. Research shows that losing fat in the belly is the hardest to do when trying to shed pounds. 

When people with anxiety carry extra weight, it can make it physically more difficult to engage in various types of exercise. When combining being overweight, unmotivated, and physically ill, it’s no wonder getting out to exercise with chronic anxiety is difficult. 

Can exercise improve anxiety? 

The connection between anxiety and fitness is something of a catch-22. As mentioned above, getting to the gym or working out is increasingly difficult for people with anxiety. But on the opposite side, exercising can lead to decreased anxiety symptoms.

There are many reasons why exercising can help make anxiety a more manageable condition. They include: 

Distraction 

Working out requires focus. Whether you run, lift weights, or do yoga, you must remain focused on your body. This intense concentration is a distraction against anxious and stressful thoughts. When you’re too busy counting reps, you can’t be thinking about the things that stress you out. 

Combat for physical symptoms 

Some physical symptoms of anxiety, such as muscle tension and headaches, can be improved through regular exercise. While your muscles may be sore after a workout, they are less tense.  

Brain chemistry 

Symptoms of anxiety are driven by the body’s release of stress hormones. If you exercise, you trigger the brain to release different types of chemicals that can combat those feelings. For example, the brain releases serotonin when you increase your heart rate through exercise. Serotonin is associated with feelings of mental wellness and can regulate anxiety. 

Brain function 

If you have anxiety, your brain perceives non-threats as dangers you need to get away from. This malfunction can be fought against with exercise because movement can activate areas of the brain that control how you process threats to your safety.  

What type of exercise is best for anxiety? 

While any physical movement helps battle anxiety, high-intensity interval training is one of the best. Research shows that people who engage in activities that increase their heart rate show a more notable improvement in anxiety symptoms.

Overall, though, the best exercise for you is the one you’ll continue doing. It doesn’t matter what type you choose; if you want to increase your fitness levels while helping your anxiety, pick one and stick with it. You’ll be grateful you did. 

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According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, roughly 40 million American adults have an anxiety disorder. That is close to 20% of the population. With such a high prevalence, many people deal with the debilitating symptoms of anxiety daily. Over half of those suffering from anxiety deal with at least one anxiety attack each year. 

Anxiety disorders and panic attacks are treatable using various medications or therapeutic techniques. However, they are not curable. The only thing that medicine or therapy can do is help people manage their symptoms and avoid having panic attacks as best they can. 

One way people can keep anxiety and anxiety attacks at bay is by knowing triggers and learning how to cope appropriately. But what are the most common triggers of anxiety? Read on to learn more. 

What is the most common cause of anxiety? 

There is no single most common cause of anxiety. Typically, various factors play into its development. Anxiety disorders are generally the number one cause associated with anxiety and panic attacks; however, medical researchers are yet to understand why these disorders develop.

Other things that can lead to anxiety and panic attacks include trauma, stress, medications, drug use, and other underlying medical conditions. Each person’s anxiety will develop because of something different, and no two people experience it the same way. 

What triggers anxiety attacks? 

People with anxiety often get to know their individual triggers to cope with their disorders and symptoms. However, some more general triggers can cause anxiety attacks to occur. These include: 

1. Health issues

Being told that you have an illness can make you feel like your world is ending. It can be a profound and drastic life change that will turn things upside down. When a person already has anxiety, or even if they don’t, dealing with severe or chronic illness can trigger feelings of anxiety or a panic attack. 

2. Medications 

While medications keep your health in check, some have nasty side effects. One such side effect can be anxiety or panic attacks. The medicines that trigger these feelings can be either prescribed to you or over-the-counter. Ingredients in the medication can trigger emotional or physical changes that cause an anxiety attack when you’re least expecting it.

Medicines that may cause this include: 

• Weight loss medications
• Birth control pills
• Cough and congestion medicines 
• Inhalers for congestion or chest infections 

3. Caffeine

Caffeine in small doses may not cause anxiety in most people, but it can send some into a panic attack. Research has found that people with existing anxiety disorders are more susceptible to the effects of caffeine. 

4. Hunger and skipping meals 

Blood sugar and anxiety can go hand-in-hand in some cases. If you skip meals, your blood sugar drops. When that happens, the body begins to experiences symptoms such as jittery hands. Research has found that the hungrier you are, the higher your anxiety levels may be. 

5. Negative thoughts 

Your thoughts have a remarkable ability to control physical sensations within the body. Suppose you constantly repeat negative phrases or words to yourself in times of distress. In that case, you can trigger feelings of anxiety without even realizing it. The mind–body connection is strong, and if you aren’t kind to yourself, you may be doing yourself more of a disservice than you realize. 

6. Finances 

Money makes the world go round, and when people are experiencing a financial worry or downfall, it can trigger anxiety or panic attacks. Worrying about one’s financial position and falling behind on bills have been shown to correlate with anxiety and depression.  

7. Social events

Social anxiety is a form of anxiety disorder that affects people in a specific way. People with the condition often feel significant anxiousness while in social situations. They may even experience an anxiety attack at a party or other social gathering. Social interaction with even a few people, or someone you don’t know, could bring on an anxiety attack for some. 

8. Conflict 

When a person has stress surrounding their relationships with their partner, friends, family, or coworkers, they may experience an increase in anxiety or panic attacks. People with anxiety feel an increase in physical and emotional distress when they have to witness or engage in hostile situations. 

In some cases, conflict can be much more profound – for example, if a person is in a war-like situation. Research shows that people who experience this more severe form of conflict in their life may suffer from anxiety and panic attacks years after the events took place. 

9. Stress

Stress and anxiety are often connected because of how they influence each other. Stress can trigger feelings of anxiety, and anxiety can trigger the physical stress response in the body. When people experience high levels of stress for any reason, it can trigger anxiety symptoms and even full-blown panic attacks. 

While these triggers are common, they do not affect all people with anxiety disorders similarly. People may also have personal triggers that are unique to them and their own life experiences. The best thing you can do for your anxiety attacks is to learn your triggers and develop coping mechanisms to help you manage your symptoms. 

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The immune system is a vital piece of the health puzzle. It acts as the body’s defense system and has three main functions: fight outside infections, neutralize harmful substances, and ward off non-infectious diseases. Within the immune system are cells, chemicals, and organs all working together to ensure your body is ready when something threatening occurs.

The immune system can be fickle, and many things can compromise its ability to do its job. Sometimes, a simple illness can throw the immune system out of sorts. Other times it can be an internal attack. This means that things you do regularly or specific things you experience can all affect how well your immune system functions. When looking at it from an emotional standpoint, how you feel daily greatly influences how ready your body will be when it needs to fight a cellular battle. 

One emotion that affects immune function is anxiety. But what exactly is anxiety, and what role does it play in immunity? Read on to learn how anxiety can influence immune function.

What is anxiety? 

In simple terms, anxiety is a feeling of anticipation. It is how the body primes itself for a future worry or concern. Our ancestors used anxiety as part of the stress response to prepare to deal with threats. The stress response—or fight or flight reaction—occurs when there is a perceived threat to safety. The physiological changes, such as an increased heart rate and tense muscles, get the body ready to either fight an oncoming threat or flee the situation for your safety. 

In modern times, the need to be alert to possible threats isn’t the same as it once was – people are much safer today than they were in ancient times! This is why anxiety, or anxiety disorders, are more closely related to emotional experiences than the need to protect one’s physical safety. Today, anxiety can manifest when there is no true danger at all. When that happens, the body goes through physiological changes that prime it for danger even though there is no actual risk. 

Similar to stress, the physical symptoms of anxiety often manifest the way they do because the body isn’t aware there is no threat. However, acute stress comes with symptoms that subside, while anxiety symptoms generally remain. 

Anxiety and the immune system

Anxiety triggers the stress response in the body. As mentioned above, this response determines the right course of action between fighting or fleeing. During high periods of stress, the body goes through various physiological changes. Certain hormones, including adrenaline, are released into the bloodstream. Your breathing and heart rate increases when the adrenaline increases. The body responds this way so that the brain can access more significant amounts of oxygen and react to the stressful situation appropriately. 

When anxiety sets off this response and the stress hormones are released, the immune system gets a little boost. Research shows that bouts of short-term stress can activate innate and adaptive immune responses. The innate immune response acts as a dispatcher to the danger call, and the adaptive is the first responder. Specific immune cells are produced to prepare for battle. This increase in immune activity protects you during periods of stress.

While anxiety initiating the stress response may seem helpful to immunity, however, it applies only if the stress and anxiety are short-term. The body and the immune system return to normal when the short-term stress begins to subside. Long-term anxiety and stress are entirely different stories. 

Does stress and anxiety compromise your immune system? 

While short-term stress boosts the immune system, the opposite is true for long-term anxiety and stress. Research has found that when a person experiences long-term anxiety, the innate and adaptive immune responses become compromised. That is because chronic stress and anxiety can cause the immune system to become dysregulated. A dysregulated immune system responds to nonexistent threats and cannot fight appropriately if an invader shows up.

What’s more is that cytokines – small proteins that control the growth and action of immune cells – become altered by chronic anxiety and stress. If cytokines are not functioning as they should, the preparedness of other immune cells suffers along with them.

Other issues that the immune system faces because of anxiety include: 

• Chronic inflammation, which can drive the development of chronic illness and disease 
• The suppression of immune cells designed to protect against non-infectious diseases such as cancer 
• Decreased production of new immune cells, which leaves the body defenseless when invaders do show up
• Problems with how immune cells move freely through the body, leading to their inability to be where they need to be to fight infection
• An increased risk of developing chronic disease 

With all these changes caused by anxiety, the immune system will not be able to fight the good fight against pathogens or internal bodily threats. If the body is always anxious or stressed, it is left wide open and unprotected without a properly functioning immune system. That’s why it’s important to seek treatment for anxiety symptoms before they get out of hand.

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People who suffer from anxiety know how difficult it can be. There are several types of anxiety disorders, all of which come with their own set of symptoms. When a person develops an anxiety disorder, they often experience mental and physical symptoms that can be debilitating. 

One of the most challenging symptoms of anxiety is an anxiety attack. People who suffer these types of attacks most likely require treatment. In some cases, taking medication can work for people with an anxiety disorder, but that’s not always the case. Many people suffer from treatment-resistant anxiety or prefer to go the natural route. So are there supplements you can take to help in these situations? Read on to learn more about what supplements are good for anxiety attacks.

What are anxiety attacks? 

Anxiety attacks are also known as panic attacks. During an attack, a person will experience feelings of intense fear or panic that lead to severe physical and emotional symptoms. In some cases, an anxiety attack can bring on chest pain that is so severe it can feel like a heart attack.

These attacks can occur with or without triggers, making them impossible to predict. The good news is that there are natural ways to keep anxiety attacks at bay. 

What is the best natural supplement for panic attacks?

Natural supplements are gaining traction in the health and wellness world because they are effective and do not contain chemical ingredients. The best natural supplements for panic attacks include: 

Saffron 

Saffron is a type of spice used in cooking. However, it has a lot of beneficial medicinal properties. People who suffer from anxiety attacks can benefit from taking saffron because of its antioxidant compounds. Antioxidants are used in the body to help balance free radicals. When free radicals build up, it can create various health problems. 

Research shows that saffron supplements can reduce anxiety so effectively that it rivals the anti-anxiety medication known as fluoxetine. 

Chamomile 

Chamomile is a popular tea people drink for its calming properties. While tea is an excellent way to consume chamomile, people with anxiety may want to opt for supplements. Studies show that chamomile can help reduce anxiety symptoms in people with severe generalized anxiety disorder. 

L-theanine 

L-theanine is a natural amino acid found in green tea. When taken in supplement form, it can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Certain mood disorders that cause anxiety as a secondary symptom can also be relieved using L-theanine. 

Curcumin 

Curcumin is one of the main compounds found in turmeric. It also gives the spice its bright hue. Curcumin is a polyphenol, a plant-based compound packed with health-boosting antioxidants. It has been shown to reduce inflammation as well as symptoms of depression. In terms of anxiety, regular curcumin use can reduce symptoms significantly.  

CBD

Cannabidiol, otherwise known as CBD, is a natural compound found in marijuana plants. Its popularity has grown in recent years with the increase in marijuana legalization across the county. The medicinal benefits have been studied extensively, and current evidence finds that people with anxiety disorders can reduce their symptoms when using CBD.  

What vitamins are best for anxiety? 

While natural supplements can be helpful, giving the body the nutrients it needs can also keep anxiety levels down. Some of the best anti-anxiety vitamins include: 

Magnesium glycinate 

Magnesium is a mineral the body needs for various functions, including the stress response. Since stress and anxiety go hand in hand, regulating the stress response can aid in reducing anxiety. This can in turn reduce the number of panic attacks a person has. 

Vitamin D3

One of the most common nutrient deficiencies is vitamin D3. People often fail to get enough through diet alone, and the health of the body and mind suffers for it. The body uses vitamin D3 to help regulate mood and encourage good brain function. People with anxiety are far more likely to be deficient in the vitamin, showing a connection between the two. 

Research shows that people with anxiety who take vitamin D3 supplements can reduce their symptoms, including panic attacks. The severity of their anxiety can also be reduced, decreasing panic attacks over time. 

Omega-3 

Omega-3s are vital to brain health and function. Many people don’t get enough through diet and nutrition alone. Studies have examined omega-3 supplementation in people with anxiety and found that the vitamin can reduce symptoms of the disorder if taken in high doses. 

Vitamin C 

Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant to help combat free radical buildup and oxidative stress. Since oxidative stress can cause inflammation and other issues within the body, it’s essential to maintain balance as best you can.

For people with anxiety, oxidative stress can contribute to worsened symptoms. Research surrounding vitamin C and anxiety concluded that people who take 500 mg of vitamin C daily could reduce their anxiety symptoms over the long term. 

None of these supplements will take a panic attack away while it’s happening. However, taking them regularly will help reduce overall anxiety in people with these disorders and thus reduce the frequency of panic attacks. 

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If you find yourself feeling tired all the time, you’re not alone. Life can be insanely busy in this day and age. Many people tend to skip out on sleep to get more done, so it’s no surprise tiredness is so prevalent. However, there is a difference between feeling tired and feeling fatigued. One happens after a long and stressful week, while the other is often chronic and results in exhaustion no matter what you do.

Getting to the bottom of your excessive tiredness can be difficult because so many different things could be at play. To help, here are 11 possible reasons you may be feeling tired.

What causes fatigue?

Various things can cause fatigue, such as the following…

1. Sleep Quality

Most people assume that a lack of sleep is the culprit behind their tiredness, but that’s not always the case. Getting the recommended seven to nine hours a night is important – but you might as well be pulling an all-nighter if your sleep quality isn’t where it needs to be. Sleep quality is more important than quantity. As you cycle through the sleep stages, your body uses that time to repair and rejuvenate itself. Without good quality sleep that allows you to go through all of these stages, you’re going to feel tired. End of story.

2. Diet

What you eat plays a huge role in your energy levels. If you find yourself consuming a diet that lacks essential nutrients, your body is going to feel it. This leads to excessive tiredness. Some nutrient deficiencies are more closely connected to energy, such as:

• Iron
• B vitamins
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin C
• Magnesium

Imbalances in your diet can also contribute to chronic fatigue. For example, if you undereat, your body doesn’t get all the calories it needs to function. When it lacks calories, it lacks energy.

3. Stress

Being chronically stressed will severely deplete your energy levels. Research shows that people with chronic stress can develop stress-related exhaustion disorder. This disorder is marked by – you guessed it! – high levels of stress that cause severe tiredness. Learning stress reduction techniques can help combat this.

4. Medical Conditions

Not all medical conditions will lead to fatigue. However, some can zap your energy levels and keep you running on empty a lot of the time. If you feel tired all the time, you could simply have an undiagnosed disorder. Conditions such as sleep apnea, anxiety, and diabetes can all deplete your energy levels.

5. Caffeine

Many people drink caffeinated beverages to wake themselves up. But depending on the amount you drink, you could be doing yourself a disservice. Drinking too much caffeine throughout the day affects how well you sleep at night. This makes you more tired the next day. Then, you drink more caffeine to help wake up again – and the cycle continues. Reducing your caffeine intake can help break the cycle.

6. Dehydration

Staying hydrated is important for a variety of reasons. When it comes to fatigue, hydration (or a lack thereof) could play a large role. As the day goes on, the body uses its stores of water to help keep things running properly. If you fail to replenish yourself, your body has to work harder to perform those same functions. Because of that, you’re going to feel tired.

7. Weight

If you are carrying some extra weight, you may feel fatigued a lot of the time. This is because obesity can actually increase the risk of developing chronic fatigue. It also plays a role in other health disorders that could hinder your ability to get good quality sleep. Mood disorders, type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea are all connected to obesity and sleep quality.

8. Drugs and Alcohol

Using drugs and alcohol or suffering from dependence can cause you to feel tired all the time. People who are dependent on substances are far more likely to suffer from fatigue than those who are not.

9. Work Schedule

The body runs on an internal clock that is set to daylight and nighttime hours. When the sun goes down, the body readies for sleep. When it comes back up again, your body gears up for another day. That’s all well and good for people who keep a typical 9–5 schedule – but for people who have varied hours, the body’s internal clock gets disrupted.

This internal disruption can lead to sleep disorders that drive excessive fatigue. When the circadian rhythm in the body isn’t cycling as it should, your body and mind will suffer from excessive tiredness.

10. Lifestyle

People who live sedentary lifestyles are often subject to chronic tiredness. Research has found that daily movement can make a big difference in your energy levels. In some cases, exercise can even improve symptoms of fatigue.

Basically, people who move more experience better energy levels, while people who fail to exercise regularly are often lacking in the energy department.

11. Medications

Medications are often behind chronic tiredness. Of course, this depends on the type of medication you take. Blood pressure and mood disorder meds are notorious culprits behind excessive tiredness. When looking at antidepressants, studies show that they can hinder sleep and lead to fatigue.

Feeling tired all the time is not fun and it can make even the simplest of tasks that much more difficult. If you’re suffering from chronic fatigue or tiredness, the best thing you can do is make an appointment with your doctor, who will be able to investigate further. When they come to a conclusion, you can work on restoring your energy levels.

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Sleep is essential for our bodies and minds. We can’t operate optimally if we don’t get enough good quality sleep. During sleep, the body repairs itself; cells repair and rebuild, hormones are secreted that promote bone and muscle growth, the immune system is strengthened, and any illnesses are fought against.

Also during sleep, our brain consolidates memories and processes information; new learning occurs when the brain experiments with novel new connections (hence our often bizarre dreams!); and emotions and emotional memories are processed. The power of sleep is pretty clear – but are you aware of how your quality of sleep can influence fitness levels? Read on to learn more.

Sleep Stages

There are four stages of sleep. This includes three stages of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and one stage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. We cycle through these stages several times each night.

• NREM stage 1: Lasts for about 5 to 10 minutes. The body relaxes and the brain, heartbeat, breathing, and eye movements all slow down.
• NREM stage 2: We spend about 20 mins in this stage every cycle. We become less aware of your surroundings, our body temperature drops, our eye movements stop, and our breathing and heart rate become more regular. The brain begins to produce bursts of rapid, rhythmic brain wave activity, which are known as sleep spindles and are thought to play a major role in memory consolidation.
• NREM stage 3: Also referred to as delta sleep or deep sleep. During this stage, muscles are completely relaxed, blood pressure drops, breathing slows, and the body starts its physical repairs. The brain consolidates memories about personal experiences, general knowledge, facts or statistics, and things we have learned during the day.
• REM: REM sleep is also known as dream sleep. During REM sleep, the body is paralyzed but the brain is active. The body is relaxed and immobilized, the breathing is fast and irregular, and the eyes move rapidly. Dreaming occurs, emotions and emotional memories are processed and stored, and information is locked into memory.

How Much Sleep Is Enough?

How much sleep we need depends on our age. It is recommended that:

• Infants below age one get 12 to 16 hours’ sleep
• 1–2-year-olds get 11 to 14 hours’ sleep
• 3–5-year-olds get 10 to 13 hours’ sleep
• 6–12-year-olds get 9 to 12 hours’ sleep
• 13–18-year-olds get 8 to 10 hours’ sleep
• People over age 18 get at least 7 hours’ sleep

How Does Sleep Affect Physical Fitness?

How your quality of sleep can influence fitness levels is an important topic to understand. So in what ways does sleep affect physical performance?

Research suggests that sleep deprivation, even for short periods of time, can have a very detrimental effect on physical and mental performance. Essentially, not getting enough quality sleep causes a reduction in the quality of physical performance by impairing cognitive or motor performance.

Further research suggests that with insufficient sleep, accuracy levels decrease. Research also shows that with enough sleep, general athletic performance increases, as do mood and alertness. Research even indicates that poor quality sleep can lead to obesity.

The Relationship Between Sleep And Exercise

Getting enough sleep means that your body and mind will be optimally repaired and rejuvenated, and ready to engage in physical exercise. Research suggests that the more you exercise (as long as it’s not too close to bedtime), the better quality of sleep you will have.

Why Does A Lack Of Sleep Affect Your Body’s Performance?

A lack of sleep affects the body’s performance because it means that the body has not had enough time to repair and rejuvenate itself. It has not had a chance to heal any injuries or general wear and tear. Also, learning has not had a chance to take place, and memories and experiences have not had a chance to be fully consolidated if sufficient sleep has not taken place.

Lifestyle Factors That Prevent Good Quality Sleep

For many people, lifestyle factors prevent them from getting enough good quality sleep. This has a negative impact on their health and fitness. Some lifestyle factors that prevent people from getting enough sleep are:

• Shift work
• Consuming caffeine late in the day
• Lack of a sleep schedule
• Not allowing yourself enough time in bed
• Overwork
• Exercise too close to bedtime
• Alcohol too close to bedtime
• Marijuana and other recreational drug use
• Eating too close to bedtime
• Drinking fluids too late in the day and needing to urinate during the night
• Sharing a bed
• Sleeping with a partner who snores
• Sleeping in a noisy or not sufficiently dark room

How To Improve Your Quality Of Sleep

You can improve your quality of sleep, and with it your fitness levels, by implementing the following guidelines:

• Have a consistent sleep schedule. Studies suggest that an irregular sleep schedule can reduce sleep quality.
• Make sure your bedroom is dark, quiet, and cool. Research shows that noise and temperature have a negative effect on sleep quality.
• Don’t eat too close to bedtime. Research shows eating too close to bed spikes insulin and reduces sleep quality.
• Avoid caffeine in the second half of the day. Research shows that caffeine causes sleep disturbance.
• Avoid alcohol before bed. Studies show that alcohol reduces circulating melatonin and reduces sleep quality.
• Increase light exposure during the day. Research suggests this helps to keep your circadian rhythm healthy.
• Decrease light exposure from screens close to bedtime. Research suggests blue light from screens delays sleep onset.
• Avoid long daytime naps. Napping for extended periods during the day has been shown to reduce nighttime sleep quality.
• Unwind before bed with a bath or shower and perhaps some reading.
• Get regular exercise, but not too close to bedtime. Research suggests that regular exercise improves sleep quality and reduces the time it takes to get to sleep.

How To Improve Fitness Levels

Here are our top tips to improve your fitness levels:

• Get copious amounts of good quality sleep!
• Get plenty of cardiovascular exercise – go for runs and cycles; take the stairs where possible.
• Reduce alcohol intake.
• Stretch daily.
• Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and other wholefoods.
• Do some weight training.
• Sauna bathe regularly.
• Implement an intermittent fasting regime.

Featured image by Claudio_Scott on Pixabay

Calories are units of energy that the body uses as fuel. Food and beverages (apart from water, black coffee and tea, and diet drinks) contain calories. The human body burns a certain amount of calories through physical activity and also simply by being alive – the beating of the heart, activity of the brain and nervous system, and general body processes all require energy.

When we take in more calories than we burn, our body stores the excess calories in fat cells. Essentially, body fat is stored energy. But how exactly do body fat and energy levels relate to one another? Does having more body fat mean more energy? Read on to learn more about how body fat percentage can influence energy levels.

What Is Body Fat Percentage?

Body fat percentage is the percentage of a person’s body mass that is composed of fat. There are six types of body fat:

1. Essential fat is, as the name suggests, essential for life. It plays a crucial role in regulating body temperature, hormone levels, vitamin absorption, and cell structure.
2. White fat cells are the main type of fat cell in the body. White fat is the body’s largest energy reserve. People who are overweight have an overabundance of white fat.
3. Brown fat cells are packed with mitochondria, which burn fatty acids to generate heat and keep the body warm.
4. Beige fat cells function somewhere between white and brown fat cells.
5. Subcutaneous fat is the layer of fat located underneath our skin. It’s made up of white, brown, and beige fat cells.
6. Visceral fat is white fat that is stored around our internal organs.

What Is A Healthy Body Fat Percentage?

A healthy body fat percentage for females younger than 50 is between 14% and 20%. For females over aged 50, a healthy body fat percentage is between 8% and 27%.

A healthy body fat percentage for males younger than 50 is between 8% and 18%. For males aged over 50, a healthy body fat percentage is between 8% and 22%.

Why Is It Important To Have A Healthy Body Fat Percentage?

Having a healthy body fat percentage means you have a better chance of being in good physical and psychological health.

If your body fat percentage is too high, you will have an increased risk of:

• Clinical obesity
• Autoimmune diseases
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

If your body fat percentage is too low, you will have an increased risk of:

• Dangerously low heart rate
• Decreased thyroid hormone production
• Loss of reproductive function
• Hormone imbalances
• Dehydration
• Loss of muscle tissue
• Fragile bones

What Factors Affect Energy Levels?

There are myriad different factors that affect energy levels. Some of the main ones include:

• Body fat percentage
• Your level of aerobic fitness
• The amount of muscle mass on your body
• Whether you have gotten enough good-quality sleep
• How hydrated you are
• Time of day (some people are more energetic in the morning; others are more energetic later in the day)
• Whether you are in a fasted or fed state
• The quality of your diet
• Hormone levels
• Whether your body has all of the vitamins and nutrients it requires

How Body Fat Percentage Can Influence Energy Levels

Research suggests that energy expenditure is higher in people with a higher body fat percentage. This is because individuals with a high body fat percentage tend to spend more energy performing activities as a consequence of higher weight burden. Further research suggests that people with a high body fat percentage “experience fatigue and decreased physical endurance that indicates diminished energy supply in the body”.

This shows that people with a higher body fat percentage require more energy to power their bodies, while at the same time also having a diminished energy supply. In turn, this indicates that people with a higher body fat percentage may feel less energetic than people with a lower body fat percentage.

Why Does Body Fat Percentage Influence Energy Levels?

Research suggests that people can have a high body fat percentage for various reasons, including metabolic events that disturb energy metabolism. These metabolic events cause diminished energy supply and result in people having lower energy levels as the body attempts to save energy to sustain metabolic functioning.

How Does Body Weight Affect Energy Requirements?

A person with a higher body weight will have higher energy requirements because more energy is required to perform activities as a consequence of the higher weight burden.

Does More Body Fat Mean More Energy?

More body fat means that a person is literally carrying around a source of energy in the form of body fat. However, carrying this extra weight will tend to make a person tired because they must expend more energy to move their body, and because their excess body fat is caused, in part, by metabolic events that cause the body to overeat and to have a diminished energy supply.

Does Low Body Fat Affect Energy?

Having an unhealthily low amount of body fat can adversely affect energy levels. Research on bodybuilders who were in contest preparation and whose body fat percentage had dipped below 5% showed that they experienced a decrease in strength and decreased testosterone levels while at these low body fat percentages. Both decreased strength and decreased testosterone levels can have a negative effect on energy levels.

Healthy Body Fat Percentage = Optimal Energy Levels

As we’ve seen, people with an unhealthily high or an unhealthily low level of body fat are likely to experience reduced levels of energy. We can conclude that to give yourself the best chance of having high energy levels, you should strive to maintain a healthy body fat percentage.

How To Optimize Body Fat Percentage

You can optimize body fat percentage through the following methods:

• Caloric restriction
• Intermittent fasting
• Eating a healthy, balanced diet
• Exercise
• Weight training
• Getting enough good-quality sleep

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People often fail to recognize just how important sleep is for overall health. In today’s busy world, it can feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done, and often sleep falls by the wayside for other things that are seemingly more important. However, sleep is crucial to your health and wellbeing in a variety of ways.

As well as letting the body rest, sleep repairs damage throughout the night, which is helpful for both immune health and cognitive function. Sleep also plays a role in weight management, memory, exercise performance, mood, heart health, and liver health. To put it simply: a person who doesn’t get adequate sleep is not going to stay healthy for very long.

Many people are also hyper-focused on the length of time they spend asleep, completely disregarding the quality of sleep they’re getting. But quality of sleep is far more important than quantity. So what does quality of sleep mean, exactly? And when it comes to things like liver health, what do we know about how your quality of sleep can influence liver function?

What is quality of sleep?

When we lie down for some shuteye, we cycle through various stages of sleep several times per night. These cycles include light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep. Each stage in the cycle is as important as the last and is required for the best quality of sleep to occur.

Light sleep acts as a primer for deep sleep. During this time, the muscles begin to relax, and respiration and heart rate both decrease. Body temperature begins to drop during light sleep as well. All these processes occur so that the body is ready to transition into the next cycle.

Deep sleep is the stage dedicated to restoring the body. Blood flow increases, hormones are released, and the brain gets rid of waste. All of the physiological actions that take place during this phase are designed to repair tissue and cells – a crucial process.

The final stage before cycling back into light sleep is REM (or rapid-eye-movement) sleep. During this stage, heart rate and respiration speed back up, and your body’s temperature may begin to fluctuate as the regulation that occurs in light sleep is turned off.

REM sleep is the type of sleep that dreams occur in, and because of this, the body essentially becomes paralyzed (to stop you moving around according to what you’re doing in your dreams!). REM sleep is designed to help your brain process events and restore itself.

Combined, these sleep stages last roughly 90 minutes, and each person must cycle through them three to four times per night. When the body goes through these cycles adequately and performs all its tasks to prepare the body for another day, sleep is considered “good quality”.

How does sleep affect liver function?

According to research, quality of sleep plays a large role in how well your liver functions. The liver breaks down nutrients and other substances that are in the blood so that they can be either used by the body or excreted as waste. This process is important because without a proper filtering system, toxins can build up within the body, causing health issues. This filtering is referred to as liver metabolism.

Studies have shown that a person’s liver metabolism can be severely affected by losing just six hours of shuteye. One particular study found that one night of sleep loss caused the liver to lose its ability to produce glucose (which the body needs for energy) and process insulin (which helps the body’s cells use that glucose as energy). This can lead to a higher risk of developing diabetes.

Sleep and liver health are also connected in other ways. It’s thought that if a person has difficulties with sleep, their liver health may already be compromised in some way. This is because the liver helps to regulate the circulation of melatonin, a substance designed to help maintain the sleep–wake cycle and thus encourage good-quality sleep. It’s quite common for people with liver disease to experience sleep disturbances as well.

Can lack of sleep cause liver problems?

As mentioned above, sleep and the health of the liver are closely tied together. While sleep has been shown to be affected in people with existing liver issues, the opposite can also be true. People who have poor quality sleep not only increase their risk of diabetes, as mentioned above, but also their risk of developing fatty liver disease.

This is because, much like the glucose/insulin issues, the way the liver metabolizes fat is also compromised in people who do not get enough sleep. Fat can build up within the liver and bring on fatty liver disease. Inadequate sleep can also play a role in the way that liver enzymes, which are proteins that speed up important chemical reactions, do their job. Enzymes in people who are not getting enough sleep are less able to perform, increasing the risk of liver disease significantly.

There are many reasons you should get good-quality of sleep, and liver health is just another to add to the long list to ensure that your body is working as it should. 

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A well-functioning immune system is essential for your overall health and wellbeing. An optimally operational immune system will defend the body against foreign pathogens and disease. It will also not attack the body or cause unnecessary and harmful chronic inflammation (the way it does in the case of autoimmune disease).

Many factors affect how well your immune system operates, and it’s important to make lifestyle choices that are likely to lead to your immune system working well. Let’s talk about how body fat percentage can influence immune function.

What Is Body Fat Percentage?

A person’s body fat percentage is their total mass of fat divided by their total body mass and multiplied by 100. It is the percentage of their entire body that is made of fat. Body fat percentage is seen as a good indicator of a person’s overall health and fitness status. Studies suggest that body fat percentage can have an effect on immune function.

How Is Body Fat Percentage Measured?

The main methods of measuring body fat percentage are:

• Skinfold measurements
• Body fat scales
• Circumference measurements
• Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan
• Air displacement plethysmography
• 3D body scanner
• Hydrodensitometry (underwater weighing)

The Different Types Of Body Fat

Body fat comes in six types. These are:

• Essential fat: Essential fat helps to regulate body temperature, vitamin absorption, cell structure, and hormones, and is essential for optimal health.
• White fat: White fat cells store fat in the form of triglycerides and are the main form of fat cell in the body. White fat is the body’s largest energy reserve, and it provides cushioning for the organs and external body structure. When people are overweight, the majority of their excess weight will be in the form of white fat.
• Brown fat: Brown fat cells burn energy. Brown fat is packed with mitochondria, which burn fatty acids to generate heat and keep the body warm. Brown fat is especially prevalent in babies.
• Beige fat: Beige fat cells function somewhere between white and brown fat cells. They help burn fat rather than store it.
• Subcutaneous fat: Subcutaneous fat is the layer of fat directly underneath our skin. Subcutaneous fat is made up of a combination of white, brown, and beige fat, and makes up about 90% of fat in our body.
• Visceral fat: Visceral fat is white fat that is stored within the abdominal cavity around organs such as the heart, liver, and pancreas.

What Does Body Fat Percentage Indicate?

Body fat percentage can indicate whether you are a healthy weight, overweight, or underweight. However, body fat percentage is not a foolproof indicator of general health or of a healthy lifestyle.

Body fat percentage depends on multiple genetic factors that vary between individuals, such as metabolism, activity levels, and musculature. Also, where body fat is stored has a large impact on health outcomes. For example, if you have a healthy body fat percentage but an unhealthy amount of your fat is visceral fat around your waist, you may be at increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.

What Is A Healthy Body Fat Percentage?

A healthy body fat percentage for males is generally between 8% and 18%. When men get to age 50 and over, a body fat percentage of between 8% and 22% is considered healthy.

A healthy body fat percentage for females is generally between 14% and 20%. From age 50 and over, a body fat percentage of between 8% and 27% is considered healthy.

Risks Of An Unhealthy Body Fat Percentage

If you have an unhealthy body fat percentage, you increase the risk of various negative health outcomes. These include:

• Heart disease
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Fatigue
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Autoimmune diseases

If your body fat percentage is too low, you risk:

• Hormone imbalances
• Loss of reproductive function
• Dehydration
• Loss of muscle tissue
• Dry, fragile bones

What Is The Immune System And What Does It Do?

The immune system is the network of organs, tissues, and cells that prevents invaders such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites from taking hold in the body and causing disease. When germs get into the body, the immune system triggers the release of special cells that attack them. So how does body fat affect the immune system?

How Body Fat Percentage Can Influence Immune Function

Studies suggest that excess visceral fat, particularly around the stomach, can trigger the immune system to release proinflammatory immune cells. By circulating in the blood and causing inflammation, these cells can damage the body rather than protect it.

Can Excessive Body Fat Lead To Immune Disorders?

Studies suggest that excessive body fat can lead to immune disorders that cause inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer.

Can Low Body Fat Affect The Immune System?

Studies suggest that lowering body fat can change immune system activity quickly and positively and reverse some of the adverse inflammatory changes seen in obese people with diabetes.

Lowered body fat percentage causes the immune system to reduce the amount of proinflammatory cells circulating in the blood. This reduces chronic inflammation throughout the body and can improve prediabetes and type-2 diabetes.

How To Reduce Body Fat Percentage

You can reduce body fat percentage through:

• Reducing alcohol intake
• Eating a healthy diet
• Getting more sleep
• Aerobic exercise
• Weight training

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The liver is a vital organ. As well as being the largest solid organ found within the body, it performs a lot of crucial tasks. It removes any toxins that happen to get into the blood, helps to regulate and maintain proper sugar levels, and ensures that the blood clots as it should. While these are among the most important functions of the liver, it also plays a role in hundreds of other functions that the body needs to perform to stay alive, such as producing bile.

When the liver isn’t working as it should, every other system can be compromised. Toxins can build up, causing illness; inadequate bile production can lead to digestive issues; and a lack of sugar regulation can cause lowered energy levels. To say the liver is important would be a vast understatement!

There are several things that can compromise liver health. One example is a high body fat percentage. But what does body fat percentage mean, and how does fat affect the liver? Read on to learn all you need to know about how body fat percentage can influence liver function.

What is body fat percentage?

Every person has to have some level of body fat to survive. Typically, men need less than women, but both require it because fat on the body is used for a variety of functions.

Body fat percentage is essentially the way levels of fat on the body are measured against everything else such as lean tissue, muscle mass, organs, and body water. Many people use body fat percentage as a way to gauge their overall health, and the measurement is often used to determine a person’s fitness level.

Body fat percentage is also more important than total weight. For example, if a person is overweight according to the Body Mass Index (BMI) but has a healthy body fat percentage, their overall level of health is better than someone who falls into the category of healthy on the BMI scale but has a significant amount of body fat.

As a general rule, calculating body fat percentage is a better indicator of overall health because it shows a better picture of fatty tissue. People with higher levels of fatty tissue are often at risk of having obesity-related disease, so even if a person fits into the normal weight category, they could be in trouble if they have a lot of body fat and little lean muscle mass.

How does fat affect liver function?

The liver is supposed to have a small amount of fat in it. However, when those levels increase because a person eats more sugar or fat than their body can process, it can lead to a buildup of fat within the organ. In turn, this can lead to various health issues – most notably, fatty liver.

Fatty liver is a broad term used to describe too much fat in the liver. There are various types of the condition, all of which can lead to the organ becoming damaged or scarred. Scarring, in more severe cases, can lead to liver failure, which is when the liver cannot perform its functions.

There are two types of common fatty liver disease: non-alcoholic and alcoholic fatty liver disease. The former is caused when fat builds up within the liver without the presence of excess alcohol use, while the latter is closely associated with excessive consumption of alcohol. The cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease isn’t as clear as its alcoholic counterpart; however, some factors that can play a role in its development can include other health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome.

Body fat and liver function

There is a clear connection between body fat percentage and liver function because of how fat can affect the way the liver works. However, it’s worth mentioning here that not all types of body fat are the same.

The human body can hold two types of fat. The first is subcutaneous fat, which is stored in the layer located right beneath the skin. Typically, people hold most of their fat in that layer, and roughly 90% of body fat is thought to be subcutaneous. While subcutaneous fat is associated with a higher degree of fat in the liver and has been shown to contribute to fatty liver disease, it’s actually the second type of fat that people need to pay more attention to when thinking about liver health.

Visceral fat is often referred to as “hidden fat” because of the way it sits on, or in, the body. Unlike subcutaneous fat that sits on the outside of the body, visceral fat is stored inside the belly and ends up wrapping itself around vital organs, including the liver. Research shows that visceral fat is strongly associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and that those who have more visceral fat on their bodies are at a higher risk of experiencing liver dysfunction.

The association between fat and liver health is strong, and it’s thought that body fat percentage can be a good measurement to use when determining a person’s overall risk of developing fatty liver disease. Basically, the more fat a person has on their body, the more likely they are to have a buildup of fatty tissue within the liver, and to suffer the subsequent health problems.

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Getting enough sleep in today’s fast-paced world is a challenge. We have to maintain social, professional, and family lives, take care of household duties, make food, exercise… The list goes on. Because of all these factors, many people are unable to get the quality and quantity of sleep that they need to wake up feeling rested, restored, and ready to take on another day.

What many people don’t consider when they think about their personal sleep habits is the detrimental effects that poor sleep can have on overall health. Several health issues can be tied to a lack of good-quality sleep, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.

Considering how serious these diseases and conditions can be, it’s important that we think more critically about our sleep. As well as the specific issues mentioned above, sleep can also affect how well your body’s general defense system functions. But how does sleep influence immunity, exactly? Read on for all you need to know about how your quality of sleep can influence immune function.

Sleep quality and immune function

It can be difficult to commit to proper sleep habits if you don’t properly understand how sleep affects your body overall, or how it contributes to keeping you as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

The reason why sleep is so important for immunity is because of the way it ties into the circadian rhythm, which is the body’s internal clock. Also known as the circadian cycle, this function regulates the body’s sleep–wake cycle – the natural cycle that prepares you for sleep and then wakes you back up again. This natural cycle is crucial in giving the body the time it needs to rest and refresh for the upcoming day.

When considering the circadian rhythm to the immune system, studies have found a symbiotic link between the two. The circadian rhythm plays a role in the processes that need to be constantly regulated for immune cells to be properly produced.

For example, the immune system relies heavily on T-cells, which are produced to fight off pathogens and ward off disease and infection. The circadian rhythm’s role to make sure that T-cells are produced and released into the bloodstream in proper amounts and at the right time so that the body can use them effectively.

Other aspects of the immune system known as cytokines are also heavily influenced by sleep. Cytokines are specific proteins released by immune cells that help with proper immune function. They also aid the body in cell signaling processes, which are important for many other systems.

When it comes to the immune system, these proteins can control the deployment of other immune cells that are needed to fight off infection when a pathogen invades the body. Essentially, they are the alarm system that goes off to alert the immune cells to respond to the threat. When someone gets proper sleep, their cytokines work as they should, and the immune system can fight another day. However, when they don’t, this aspect of immunity is compromised.

How are proper sleep and immunity linked?

Proper sleep and immunity are linked because of how sleep affects the action of immune cells and other processes that are required to alert the immune system to take action against pathogens.

T-cells, which we mentioned above, are designed to fight against pathogens that can reproduce inside the cells of the host they have infected. One particular study examined how T-cells were affected by sleep, and found that it is essential for a person to get enough good quality shut-eye in order for these cells to work. This is because of the way T-cells rely on certain molecules known as integrins.

Integrins provide adhesion that allows T-cells that come into contact with a pathogen to target, attach, and obliterate it. Without proper “stickiness”, this task becomes much harder and some pathogens can evade T-cells entirely. So what does this have to do with sleep?

When the body and brain are at rest, the adhesive capabilities of these molecules are much higher than when you’re awake. During sleep, immune cells also peak in specific areas of the body, such as in the lymph nodes. This peak is due to the hormone known as cortisol, otherwise known as the stress hormone. Levels of cortisol go up and down at various points of the day. Right before falling asleep, they are lower, and as soon as a person wakes up, levels peak to their highest of the day.

The reason why this is all tied to immunity and T-cells is because high levels of cortisol make integrins less adhesive. This means that if a person isn’t getting proper sleep and their cortisol cycle is out of tune, integrins may not be able to produce the adhesion that T-cells need to fight off pathogens. 

How many hours of sleep is good for the immune system?

Many studies have examined how much sleep each person needs for optimal health, and the agreed-upon number sits anywhere between seven to nine hours. While all people are different, this is typically the time it takes to go through the proper sleep cycles and receive all the benefits that sleep has on the immune system. However, it isn’t just quantity of sleep that’s necessary. Good quality sleep is far more important than the length of time a person spends asleep.

At the end of the day, sleep is vital to your immunity and your overall health, so getting enough good-quality shut-eye is something that everyone should prioritize.

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Sleep is an unavoidable and crucial part of life. When people think of sleep, they often think of recommended amounts as a kind of suggestion – but what they might not know is that if you want to stay healthy, it’s just as important to get proper sleep as it is to eat the right foods. In fact, sleep is right up there with breathing as a vital basic function!

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 30% of adults don’t get the sleep that they need for their bodies and brains to function at their best. The type of sleep also needs to be factored in here – a person can get eight hours of sleep every night and still not have the adequate quality of sleep they need. So, even if you’re sleeping the amount you think is necessary, you could be missing out on the benefits of good-quality sleep and not even realize it.

But what is sleep quality, exactly? And what do we know about how quality of sleep can influence energy levels and general health?

What does sleep quality mean?

While sleeping may seem simple, it can actually be quite complex. During sleep, the body goes through various stages. These patterns of sleep are designed to help you get the most out of your shut-eye.

There are five particular stages through which each person cycles throughout the night:

• Stage 1: Stage 1 is light sleep and is the shortest of all the stages, only lasting up to 10 minutes or less. This stage is marked by a slowdown of the mind and body to help prime you for the rest of the sleep cycle.
• Stage 2: Stage 2 is also considered light sleep, but other areas of the body begin to decrease here to prepare you for the rest of the cycle. These areas include eye movement, brain waves, and muscle activity. Brain waves actually spike during this stage, though – it’s thought that these spikes are involved in long-term memory and sensory processing. This stage is responsible for forming memories. 
• Stages 3 and 4: The next two stages are considered deep sleep and are marked by a fully relaxed body and a decrease in breathing rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. During this time, the body works on a cellular level to release hormones designed to regulate the immune system and develop and repair tissue.
• Stage 5: Stage 5 is REM sleep. The REM phase is the dream phase, and during it, the brain and body actually act similarly to when a person is awake. It is thought that during this stage, the brain reactivates to help process and store information.

Sleep quality revolves around the stages of sleep. When a person gets through the full sleep cycle several times a night and then wakes up in light sleep, they’re likely to have experienced good-quality sleep. However, if the cycles are disrupted, or if a person wakes up without going through enough cycles or from deep or REM sleep, this can lead to inadequate sleep quality.

How does sleep affect energy levels?

Sleep and energy often go hand in hand because without adequate sleep, you’re likely to wake up tired and drained. When looking at the stages of sleep, the time where the body replenishes the energy lost throughout the day is stages three and four – the deep sleep portion of the cycle. During this deep sleep stage, the body’s ability to produce an energy molecule known as ATP is enhanced. As mentioned above, deep sleep is also the time when other areas are repaired for the following day.

When the body cycles through sleep properly, all the repair that needs to take place does so, and enough ATP is produced to help you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. When cycles are disrupted, you will experience groggy wake-ups that make it feel as though you haven’t gotten enough sleep, even if you’ve spent the entire night in a sleep state. In this case, it’s not the amount of sleep that’s the problem – it’s the poor quality, which has resulted in a lack of energy that was supposed to be produced while you slept.

Does more sleep mean more energy?

As mentioned above, the amount of sleep a person gets does not necessarily play a role in how refreshed they are, because there are sleep cycles that need to be experienced in order for energy to be there upon waking. If you sleep too little, you will not have gone through an adequate number of cycles in the night for your body to prepare for the next day.

The same issues can arise when you sleep too much. This is because sleep cycles depend highly on the internal biological clock that every person has. If you sleep for too long, that clock can be thrown off. On a cellular level, the clock is supposed to tell certain cells how to regulate energy levels, and too much sleep gives those cells misinformation that leads to tiredness.

Why am I so tired after sleeping?

Waking up tired can happen for many reasons. The phenomenon is referred to as sleep inertia and is often characterized by grogginess or drowsiness. If you’re waking up tired, it’s likely because you didn’t get good quality sleep; you didn’t cycle through the stages of sleep properly throughout the night and possibly woke up in the middle of a cycle that had not yet finished.

There are many reasons that sleep cycles may be disrupted, including:

• A disorganized sleep schedule
• Drinking too much alcohol or caffeine
• Using cell phones in bed

There are also specific disorders that are defined by disruption to the sleep cycle, such as irregular sleep–wake syndrome. Other conditions that can disrupt your body’s natural sleep stages include:

• Depression
• Cancer
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Schizophrenia
• Stroke
• Head injuries

When you don’t get good quality sleep, regardless of how many hours you spent in a sleep state, you will wake up tired, groggy, and drained of energy. Because of this, focusing on sleep quality over sleep quantity is the best way to reap all the rewards of a good night’s rest.

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A good night’s sleep involves a lot more than just sleeping for a set number of hours. Typically, it’s advised that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. While the time you spend asleep is a great jumping off-point when you’re looking to get quality sleep, it is nowhere near the entire picture of what is means to have high sleep quality. But what is sleep quality, exactly? And how is it connected to your bodyweight? Read on to learn all you need to know about how quality of sleep can influence weight.

What is sleep quality?

To understand sleep quality, it’s important to first understand what sleep is and everything that goes on within your body when you shut your eyes at night. The process of sleep may seem simple – close your eyes, sleep, wake up! – but it’s much more than that.

Sleep revolves around the body’s circadian rhythm, which is our internal clock. The clock itself follows a 24-hour period and affects the physical and mental changes that go on during that period. Importantly, the circadian rhythm controls your sleep–wake cycle, which determines how you sleep at night and how you awake each morning. It’s tied in with consistent, restorative patterns of sleep, so if your circadian rhythm is off, so is your sleep.

While you’re in the sleep state of the sleep–wake cycle, you go through various stages, each with its own important physiological purpose. The stages are:

• Stage 1: Light Sleep. This stage lasts only five to 10 minutes and primes you to get a good night’s rest by slowing down the body and mind.
• Stage 2: Secondary Light Sleep. This stage causes more changes in the body to prepare you for the next stage. Your eye movements, muscle and brain activity begin to slow. However, brain waves can spike sporadically during this stage, which experts believe helps retain long-term memory.
• Stages 3 and 4: Deep Sleep. These occur when the body is completely relaxed. Your breath rate, blood pressure, and body temperature are all decreased during this stage so that the body can release hormones designed to repair and produce tissue as well as moderate immune function.
• Stage 5: REM Sleep. This is probably one of the most well-known stages because of how often it is talked about. It’s the time in which the body processes and stores information through the act of dreaming.

These stages all have a specific role to play in our quality of sleep, but they are also symbiotic in the sense that a person must go through all the stages three or four times per night to get a good quality sleep.

How are sleep and weight related?

It may seem as though sleep and weight couldn’t possibly be related. After all, you’re not overeating in your sleep or slacking out on that exercise session! However, the two often go hand-in-hand because of the physiological processes that occur within the body during sleep.

The connection between sleep and weight has a lot to do with whether a person gets good quality sleep every night, or whether they continue to burn the midnight oil and avoid the shut-eye their body needs to be rested for the following day.

Recent research has found that sleep can play a role in obesity as well as during weight loss journeys. When looking at this from a sleep quality standpoint, the length of sleep as well as how “good” it is are both factors in weight. 

How does bad sleep affect your metabolism?

Your metabolism is the process that turns the food you eat into energy. It also provides cells with energy they need to complete their basic functions. During sleep, the body’s metabolic rate, or the rate at which it burns calories for energy, is reduced by roughly 15%.

Some may draw the conclusion that because you’re burning fewer calories during sleep, you may be able to mitigate this by sleeping less during the night. However, the opposite can be true.

Even though you burn fewer calories during the night, if you don’t spend enough time in good quality sleep, your metabolism can actually malfunction when you are awake, leading to issues that can either drive weight gain or slow weight loss. This is because of how sleep can affect glucose as well as insulin sensitivity. When people do not get proper sleep on a regular basis, their body’s ability to use glucose stores effectively is hindered, as is their insulin response.

Does quality of sleep affect weight?

When looking at sleep in relation to weight loss programs, research has found that people who get better sleep on a regular basis are more likely to have weight loss success over those who don’t. This is likely because of the aforementioned effects that sleep has on the function of the metabolism.

What’s more is that when people are losing weight, they are often subject to muscle mass loss as well. However, if you incorporate good-quality sleep into your weight loss plan, studies have shown that you are more likely to lose more fat while preserving your muscle mass. 

To sum up: while not getting enough good-quality sleep can be harmful to various areas of your health, it can also be harmful to your waistline.

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Everybody experiences some form of stress – it’s just a normal part of everyday life. Whether it’s acute stress, such as having a really tough day at the office, or something more chronic because of a continually stressful situation or lifestyle, there isn’t a person on the planet who hasn’t felt this emotion at some point in their life.

The stress response is an evolutionary part of human existence and initially acted as a way to protect you from harm. However, it was designed solely for this purpose, and typically, when our ancestors were out of the stressful situation, their bodies returned to normal because the stress response was no longer needed.

Today, however, that initial stress response (also known as fight-or-flight) still works for you and your health, but it can be skewed in the sense that it may be activated for too long. When that happens, different bodily processes can be negatively affected. One such system that can be affected by stress is the immune system – but what is the role of stress in immunity, and can it make your immune function worse? Read on to learn more about how stress can influence immune function.

What is the relationship between stress and the immune system?

The immune system acts as your body’s first line of defense, and technically speaking, stress can actually be helpful when it comes to your immune response. As mentioned above, stress was initially a psychological response that protected people against harm. In terms of the immune system, that initial response primes the body to be better prepared to fight off infection and avoid or heal any injuries a person may have from fleeing a dangerous situation.

Since the same rules don’t apply today (the stimuli our ancestors experienced were very different to the ones we experience today!), that stress response now invokes an immune response that isn’t necessarily needed. For example, if you get stressed while waiting in line for coffee while you’re late to work, your body isn’t in any real danger – but you’re still stressed. The physiological response is still the same, and the activation of your immune system to help heal injury or prevent infection will still occur, even though it isn’t really needed.

How does stress affect the immune system?

Stress can affect the immune system in many ways because of the way it influences various bodily systems that tie into immunity. For example, the bowel is a large part of immunity since it houses immune cells needed to fight off infection. Stress can cause issue with the bowel that can lead to various unpleasant symptoms.

When it comes to immunity, stressful situations can reduce the amount of nutrients that are absorbed into the body and the gut bacteria can become imbalanced. The immune system can become weakened when the nutrients it needs are not getting absorbed, and when gut bacteria are off balance, immune function also falters. 

The nervous system also gets activated during times of stress. During this activation, stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline are released. These are designed to help the body prepare for battle, so to speak – but when there is no battle, the body doesn’t really benefit from their release.

An overproduction of cortisol that is not used appropriately, or remains high due to constant and chronic stress, hinders the action of the immune system. This is because too-high levels of cortisol end up causing the immune system to become less responsive to the hormone, thus increasing the production of inflammatory cells that hinder the immune system’s function.  

Cortisol also has the ability to disrupt how well the immune system works because of its effect on the endocrine system. The endocrine system acts as a series of messengers throughout the body to regulate the action or organs and glands. Because acute levels of stress cause inflammation to occur due to the production of cortisol, chronic stress drives chronic inflammation.

When the body’s inflammatory process isn’t acting as it should, the immune system does not activate when it needs to, because the connection between it and the glands that produce stress hormones is compromised.Altogether, when chronic inflammation and the connection pathways in the body are hindered, you are more at risk of chronic diseases.

Can stress cause a weak immune system?

As mentioned above, stress can weaken the immune system. While acute stress isn’t as much of an issue, chronic stress can cause real problems. Brief periods of acute stress are a normal and typical response that leads to the re-regulation of the immune system once the stressful situation has passed. Chronic stress, on the other hand, drives crossed wires and poor functioning because the body is in a constant state of stress when there is no actual situation that it needs protection from.

While avoiding stress completely is essentially impossible, one of the best things you can do for your immune system is practice stress reduction techniques. This could include meditation, practicing a hobby you enjoy, or exercising regularly. Keeping overall stress levels down as much as possible will ensure any acute stress you experience doesn’t stick around to harm your health in the long run.

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Unfortunately, there is no way to completely avoid situations that may cause you to feel stressed – stress is just a part of life. However, when a person is stressed, their health is often hindered because stress can impact the body in negative ways (right down to a cellular level).

When we experience short-term stress, the body activates its “fight or flight” mode to prepare us to get out of harm’s way. This is an evolutionary response that kept our distant ancestors alive. Today, there are much fewer immediate dangers for most people – however, the stress response has stuck around and can be activated when there is no imminent threat to your life. During short bouts of stress, hormones are released that increase how hard the body works in order to get you out of a difficult or dangerous situation. Your breathing and heart rate speed up, your skin may grow pale or flushed, and your pupils dilate.

When stress is long-term or chronic, the body believes you are in danger a lot of the time. Because of this, you may experience headaches and stomachaches, your blood pressure may increase, and you may have difficulty falling asleep. Many people also experience a depletion of energy when they’re stressed. Read on to learn exactly how stress can influence energy levels.

Does stress deplete energy levels?

In short, the answer is yes: stress can significantly affect your energy levels. When people experience acute or chronic stress, their body essentially goes into overdrive, and when that happens, a lot of energy is used. Without adequate rest time or a break from stress, the energy that is being used up will not be restored properly.

How does stress impact energy levels?

The reason energy levels are zapped when you’re under chronic stress is because of the body’s physiological responses. The main system affected by these changes is the hypothalamic pituitary-adrenal system. When this system activates, it does so in various steps.

First, the stressor activates the hypothalamic pituitary axis. This action stimulates the pituitary gland to release a substance known as adrenocorticotropic hormone, which in turn stimulates the release of corticosteroid, or cortisol, from the adrenal glands. When cortisol is produced, glucose is released from the liver.

This hormone release is designed to help the body maintain adequate levels of sugar in the blood so that it’s prepared to take action in response to the stressor, and to return to normal once the stress has passed.

The automatic nervous system is also activated during this time – specifically, the adrenal medulla. The adrenal medulla releases adrenaline, which causes the body to prepare itself to either fight the threat or run away from it. While the automatic nervous system is activated, which prepares the body for better control, the parasympathetic nervous system is reduced so that certain processes within the body are quieted.

This entire reaction occurs quickly after a person experiences stress. When the stress is chronic, these physiological responses affect overall health in various ways.

Does short-term stress drain your energy?

During bouts of short-term stress, the process described above actually increases your body’s energy for a short period of time so you can be prepared to fight or run away from the potential threat. This short-term boost comes from stored glucose in the liver.

When the stressor has been eliminated, the body rebalances itself back to a normal state. During this time, you will not typically experience any sort of energy loss. It is only when stress is chronic that you will begin to feel your overall energy levels drop.

How does chronic and long-term stress affect energy levels?

There are various ways that long-term stress impacts energy levels. One has to do with your metabolic process and digestive system: acute stress hinders the appetite because the body determines that it doesn’t need to feed itself when it is preparing for danger.

However, when stress is persistent, the response that affects your appetite and digestion messes up your entire metabolic process. Not only are you not eating enough to properly fuel your body, your energy metabolism is also under-functioning and not providing you with the fuel you need to get through the day.

Bouts of chronic stress can also make it difficult for you to get proper sleep, and may lead to the development of mental health disorders that can further disrupt the way energy is stored and dispersed throughout the body. When we don’t get enough rest, our energy levels do not have enough time to replenish themselves. During sleep, the molecule ATP is made; this molecule plays a large role in energy levels, and if there isn’t enough of it, you will lack energy.

Because of the various effects that stress has on the body, especially chronic stress, low energy levels could indicate that you have been too stressed for too long. It’s important to manage stress levels to ensure your body stays healthy and your energy levels stay consistent.

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Many factors are at play when it comes to our weight. Food (the types eaten and how much), exercise (how often we move our body), and genetics can all play a role in whether a person gains or loses weight easily, or how well they are able to maintain a healthy weight. Metabolism – the rate at which we burn or store calories – can also influence weight.

There are other lesser-known factors that contribute to weight loss or gain just as strongly as those mentioned above. One such factor that many people either don’t know about, or pay little attention to, is stress levels. Read on to learn how stress can influence weight in terms of both loss and gain.

What is chronic stress?

Everyone experiences stress at some point in their lives. Whether those stresses are small, such as being stuck in traffic while late for work, or large, such as losing a loved one, feeling stressed from time to time is unavoidable. Typically, passing stressors don’t do much in the way of weight gain or loss, because the body can cope well with the type of stress that doesn’t stick around. However, when chronic stress strikes, it’s a whole different story.

Chronic stress is characterized as consistent and unrelenting periods of high stress that tend to last for three months or more. People who experience chronic stress often find themselves dealing with other physical symptoms such as aches and pains or the inability to get a good night’s rest. When a person deals with this level of stress for a long time, several physiological changes can occur.

One such change is the level of cortisol in the blood. Cortisol is referred to as the primary stress hormone. In the natural stress response, cortisol raises and encourages the release of more glucose into the blood stream. That glucose is then used by the brain and bodily tissues as a way to repair injury. It also stops the functioning of certain processes that could hinder a person’s ability to fight or flee in a dangerous situation.  

During a chronic stress situation, levels of cortisol stay high and the processes that are hindered as a form of protection remain that way, even when there’s no threat or danger. This leads to various malfunctions within the body, one of which can affect your weight.

How does chronic stress affect your weight?

Chronic stress can affect your weight in different ways because of the high levels of cortisol you’re experiencing. High levels of cortisol change the way many processes in the body function and can make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight by either encouraging weight loss or weight gain. But how does stress cause weight gain or loss, exactly?

Can stress cause weight gain?

Cortisol and weight gain often go hand in hand because of the way the hormone affects the body. When a person is constantly under stress, they may experience sugar cravings because the body is using up all the glucose it has stored in order to be ready for the perceived threat.

However, when there is no threat and that glucose storage is getting used up, the body will crave more and more sugar because it won’t have any left to power up the areas needed for the fight or flight response. This increase in sugar cravings can lead to a person eating more sugary foods that cause weight gain. The body also stores sugar after stressful situations so that it’s well prepared, and if these stores don’t get used as energy, they can end up on your waistline. 

If you’re trying to lose weight but are constantly stressed, cortisol will make that difficult, too. This is because cortisol slows down your metabolism. When the metabolism slows, less calories are burned on a day-to-day basis and you will find it increasingly difficult to lose weight.

How to stop cortisol weight gain

If you want to stop the cortisol weight gain, you will first have to lower your levels of cortisol – that is, by reducing your stress levels. This can be easier said than done, but one proven way you can do this is by practicing mindful meditation. Studies have shown that the practice of meditation can effectively lower cortisol levels in people who perform it regularly. Regular moderate exercise may also help to lower cortisol levels over time, leaving you less stressed in the long run and more able to either lose weight or maintain your weight over time.

Research has shown that other activities and stress reduction techniques can also help to lower cortisol levels within the body. These activities include:

• Music or art therapy
• Yoga
• Being out in nature
• Focusing on positives

Does stress cause you to lose weight?

On the opposite side of the spectrum, stress can also cause a person to lose weight. While most of the clinical research surrounding chronic stress and weight focuses heavily on weight gain, there are some reasons why stress could also cause a person to lose weight, including a loss of appetite or an inability to sit still (causing more calories to be burned throughout the day).

Chronic stress is bad for the body in many ways, and weight fluctuation is one of them. In addition to eating well and exercising, the best thing you can do to maintain a healthy weight is undertake stress management/reduction techniques that can help you curb chronic stress.

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The liver is one of the most important organs because of the variety of life-maintaining functions it performs. Essentially, the liver acts as a sort of detox program built right into the body, processing the blood that leaves the stomach and intestines so it can create nutrients the body needs to survive. This process also ensures that any medications can be effectively metabolized so that the body can use them without harm.

Since the liver plays such a vital role in filtration, digestion, metabolism, and detoxification, its proper function is essential to our overall health. A healthy liver ensures your body gets everything it needs (and that everything it doesn’t is removed), but when it isn’t working as it should, some serious health issues can occur.

Diseases such as hepatitis B and C and excessive use of alcohol can both lead to liver damage or failure. But does stress have the same effect? Read on to learn how stress can influence liver function and what you can do about it.

Can emotional stress affect the liver?

Emotional stress can take a toll on your mental wellbeing and cause a host of mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression, but it can also cause issues with your physical health. When the body feels high levels of emotional stress, it releases a hormone known as cortisol. While cortisol can be beneficial in terms of preparing to respond to danger or increasing metabolism to help process glucose, there is such a thing as having too much cortisol.

According to the American Psychological Association, when levels of cortisol are too high (especially on a regular basis), many of the body’s systems can be negatively affected. For example, the muscles naturally tense up in an effort to be on guard when cortisol levels are high. However, when there is no actual threat of danger, that prolonged tension can lead to the development of disorders tied to muscle tension, such as migraines and chronic pain.

Every other system in the body can be negatively affected by too much emotional stress, including the cardiovascular system, the respiratory system, and the digestive system (which includes the liver). Research has found that when someone is constantly experiencing high levels of emotional stress, it can lead to issues with the blood flow in the liver. When that happens, the liver cannot get enough oxygen stores and its blood vessels can narrow, ultimately leading to liver damage.

If your stress levels begin to affect your liver, you may start to experience symptoms such as:

• Changes to the color of your skin
• Chronic digestive issues
• Aches and pains
• Dark-colored urine
• Mood swings
• Low energy
• Pain in the chest or abdomen

Does stress contribute to fatty liver?

For people who already have an issue with how their liver functions, high levels of stress can make the issue worse. This is especially true in the case of fatty liver disease – a condition that develops when a person has an excess level of fat within the liver.

Over time, high levels of fat in the liver cause damage, which comes with a host of health problems such as:

• Fatigue
• Unintentional weight loss
• Jaundice (a yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• Spiderlike blood vessels on the skin
• Itching that doesn’t go away 

If the condition worsens, it can lead to cirrhosis, a disease that can develop into liver failure and even lead to the need for a liver transplant. Various studies have examined how the liver is affected by stress in relation to fatty liver disease. One particular study looked at the livers of healthy adults to see how high levels of stress may influence the development of the disease. The results showed that fatty liver disease was correlated most often with people who had higher levels of stress – indicating that stress itself can bring on fatty liver disease for people who may already be at risk of developing the condition.

Another research paper looked at people who had already been diagnosed with fatty liver disease and how stress affected the health of their liver following onset. The study found that stress, especially prolonged and chronic stress, was a main factor in the worsening of the disease because of the way it can lead to an increase in both cholesterol and triglycerides in the liver. 

Can stress and anxiety cause elevated liver enzymes?

Various substances assist the liver in performing its job. One substance that is vital for liver function is liver enzymes – proteins that help the processing of blood from the stomach and intestines. Liver enzymes are designed to speed up those chemical reactions for the best possible result.

Research has shown that people who experience high levels of emotional stress and anxiety often have elevated levels of liver enzymes. High levels are associated with inflammation and liver damage.

The effect stress has on the liver is an entirely negative one, especially in instances where the stress is chronic. Since your liver is vital to your overall health, the best thing you can do to keep it healthy is eat right, take care of yourself, and do your best to reduce stress wherever possible.

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The world today is full of stressors that cause mental anguish. Many of these stressors are unique to our modern society – novel “first world problems” that nonetheless provoke a stress response that is very real, and often chronic.

Our ancestors may have been susceptible to dying from an illness that modern medicine has neutered and made benign… But they also lived much more in accordance with their circadian rhythms, suffered less Instagram-induced status anxiety, never had to grind their way through rush hour traffic, and didn’t use email!

The modern world is a fantastic place to live, but it can also be stressful. Stress can have an impact on many elements of your life and health – let’s take a look at a few below.

How Stress Can Influence Fitness Levels

Most of us would agree that at the end of the day, our health, and the health of those we love, is the most important thing in the world. So why do so many of us live in ways that are damaging to our health?

Stress can have a very negative impact on our health and physical fitness levels. Being physically fit is a crucial component of overall health, but unfortunately many of us have compromised fitness because we are chronically stressed.

How Does Stress Affect Fitness?

Does stress reduce fitness? Yes, stress can reduce fitness levels. Some of the negative effects that stress has on fitness are:

• Increasing muscle tension
• Increasing appetite and promoting storage of body fat
• Increasing risk of injury
• Reducing sleep quality and energy levels

How Do Stress And Anxiety Affect Exercise?

Stress and anxiety can…

• Make exercise less enjoyable

• Negatively affect concentration, ability to focus, and exercise quality
• Hinder recovery after exercise
• Reduce sleep quality, which makes exercise more difficult
• Make people avoid gyms and exercise classes

What Are The Physical And Emotional Symptoms of Stress?

The most common physical symptoms of stress are:

• Headaches
• Clenched jaw and grinding teeth
• Muscle tension, aches, and pains
• Nervousness and shaking
• Upset stomach
• Chest pain and heart palpitations
• Trouble sleeping
• Low energy levels
• Frequent colds and infections
• Loss of sexual interest
• Ringing in the ears
• Cold or sweaty extremities
• Dry mouth and difficulty swallowing

The most common emotional symptoms of stress are:

• Low or erratic mood
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Being easily agitated
• Frustration
• A feeling of overwhelm or panic
• An inability to relax your mind
• Negative internal dialog
• Low self-esteem

What Are The Cognitive And Behavioral Symptoms Of Stress?

The most common cognitive symptoms of stress are:

• A pessimistic outlook
• Chronic worrying and rumination
• Racing thoughts
• Forgetfulness
• Trouble focusing
• Disorganized thinking

The most common behavioral symptoms of stress are:

• Overeating
• Undereating
• Using alcohol and/or drugs
• Procrastination
• Avoidance behaviors
• Engaging in compulsive coping behaviors such as masturbation, pacing, nail biting, or fidgeting

What Are The Effects Of Stress On Physical Health?

Short-term stress has physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioral symptoms. If/when stress goes away, these symptoms will usually abate. However, long-term chronic stress can lead to a variety of physical health problems, including:

• Obesity
• Cardiovascular disease
• Gastrointestinal diseases
• Menstrual problems
• Sexual dysfunction, such as impotence and premature ejaculation, or loss of desire
• Skin problems, such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis
• Balding and permanent hair loss
• Long-term mental health problems

Causes Of Stress In The Modern World

Some of the main causes of stress in the modern world are:

• Financial concerns
• Overwork
• Internet overuse and addiction
• Alienation and a lack of face-face connection
• Status anxiety
• Sleep deprivation
• 24-hour news coverage
• Omnipresent advertisements and marketing
• A lack of connection to nature
• Exposure to artificial light that interrupts our circadian rhythm

How Can We Manage Our Stress Levels And Improve Our Fitness Levels?

Here are some ways we can manage stress levels and improve our fitness:

• Eat a healthy diet
• Get plenty of sleep
• Spend lots of time with people whose company you enjoy
• Get off social media
• Limit how much news you consume
• Spend time with animals
• Read a good book
• Go for walks in nature
• Explore supplements that reduce stress levels and improve health

What Are The Best Supplements For Reducing Stress?

CBD oil: Research has shown that CBD oil has the effect of lowering cortisol. CBD also appears to increase sleep duration.

Melatonin: Good-quality sleep goes a long way to reducing stress levels. Research suggests that melatonin can improve sleep in several ways, including encouraging the onset of sleep and improving people’s subjective assessment of the quality of their sleep.

Delta Sleep Inducing peptide: Another promising supplement that can reduce stress by improving sleep is Delta Sleep Inducing peptide. Research indicates that Delta Sleep Inducing peptide promotes higher sleep efficiency and shorter sleep latency.

Bioactive Milk Peptides (lactium): Lactium peptide contains amino acids that can reduce cortisol levels, induce relaxation, improve sleep quality, and reduce stress.

Magnesium: Research suggests that magnesium relaxes muscles, improves sleep time and sleep efficiency, and reduces serum cortisol concentration.

Valerian: Research indicates that valerian may help reduce stress by promoting sleep and relaxation and reducing anxiety.

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Having a well-functioning immune system is one of the most important aspects of bodily health. After all, our immunity is what keeps us safe from disease and infection. Without the immune system working as it should, people become more likely to experience frequent infections, more severe symptoms, and even the onset of various chronic diseases.

Many things can be done to ensure that your immune system is functioning as it should, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising, keeping up with proper hygiene, and avoiding coming into contact with pathogens when possible. That said, those staples of immune health aren’t the only roads you can take to keep yourself protected and your immune system running at its best.

One other avenue that has become increasingly popular for immune health is the use of peptides. But what exactly are they? And can peptides help with the immune system? Read on to learn more.

What are peptides?

Peptides are strings of amino acids, which are what many people refer to as the “building blocks” of proteins. Proteins are important because of how they influence cells that are tasked with maintaining the structure, function, and regulation of tissues and organs. Peptides can be both naturally occurring and taken in synthetic form.

Naturally occurring peptides form within the body during a process known as transcription, which happens when certain DNA gene sequences are copied and turned into messengers to provide code or instructions. They are used to produce or build various vital substances within the body such as hormones, enzymes, cells, and tissues.

Lab-created peptides are designed to act in the same way as the natural peptides the body creates. Recent research has seen synthetic peptides being used to develop viable medications for a large number of different diseases.  

Is there a connection between peptides and the immune system?

Since peptides play a role in virtually every aspect of human health, their connection to the immune system is strong. Various things can affect how the immune system functions, such as hormones, cells, and the health of certain organs. The immune system requires symbiosis throughout the body for it to do its best work, and peptides play a large role in that symbiosis by influencing other substances within the body.

Are peptides good for the immune system?

While naturally occurring peptides play a vital role in immunity, studies on using synthetic peptides for their immune capabilities have also found that they may be beneficial in a variety of ways. One particular study looked at the influence peptides had on the immune response in conjunction with vaccination against diseases, finding that using peptides to create vaccinations could be highly effective at creating the right immune response at the right time. 

Other research has investigated how peptides can influence innate immunity, which is the defense system essentially built in to every person’s body. It doesn’t react to specific pathogens, but it still has two important roles: it prevents access to the body through the use of barriers such as the skin, and it acts as an alarm system that sets off an immune response so that specific antibodies and immune cells can be created to fight specific pathogens.

One particular study investigated key antimicrobial peptides and how they help to form innate immunity. The research shows that these peptides have worked as a team against microbes for hundreds of millions of years. This has led researchers to believe that antimicrobial peptides could open the door to forming new and more viable antibiotics.

What peptides boost the immune system?

While all peptides have their own respective tasks within the body, some may be better for the immune system than others. Those include:

Sermorelin

Sermorelin is also referred to as growth-hormone releasing hormone, or GHRH. As the name suggests, it helps with the release of growth hormone. It has 44 amino acids and is produced in a small region in the brain known as the hypothalamus. When sermorelin helps to release human-growth hormone to maintain overall levels, it can reduce inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation, although useful in some cases, can cause dysfunction within the immune system, so reducing it overall can help to curb any issues.

Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin is another type of peptide that acts on human growth hormone, but is released from the pituitary gland, a small gland located in at the base of the brain. The action of ipamorelin is similar to semorelin in that it helps to stimulate the release of growth hormones.

CJC-1295

Another peptide that affects human growth hormone is CJC-1295. It is a synthetic peptide that has been used to mimic the actions of ipamoreline and sermorelin. When someone takes this peptide as a way to address certain health issues, it can lead to a more active immune response that helps fight off invading pathogens.

Thymosin Alpha-1

Thymosin Alpha-1 is a type of peptide hormone produced within the thymus gland, which can be found in the middle of the upper chest area. According to research, this peptide has a way of helping the immune system by improving the response of immune cells known as T-cells, as well as activating other immune cells known as natural killer cells. It can also help to mediate inflammation so that the body reacts the way it’s supposed to against illness or disease.

Peptides, both naturally occurring and synthetic, can be part of a healthy immune system and play a vital role in your body’s defenses.

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Good-quality sleep is crucial for physical and psychological health. Getting enough quality sleep makes us healthier, improves longevity, enables us to be more psychologically robust, and reduces the likelihood that we will experience anxiety and depression.

Getting a good night’s sleep every night should be a priority for anybody who values their own health and emotional wellbeing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over a third of Americans do not get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep they need to live an optimally healthy and happy life.

There are several things you can do to improve the quality of your sleep. You can implement good sleep hygiene practices such as getting regular exercise, avoiding stimulants later in the day, and having a cool and comfortable bedroom. You may also wish to take peptides or supplements that promote healthy sleep.

Keen to learn more? Read on for our round-up of peptides and supplements that promote healthy sleep.

The Importance Of Getting Healthy Sleep

Not getting enough good-quality sleep can have a lot of negative psychological and physical health effects. Research suggests that being underslept can increase feelings of irritability and stress, and that being chronically underslept can increase the risk of developing mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Research also indicates that people who do not get enough quality sleep have an increased risk of several negative health outcomes such as diabetes, hypertension, and mortality.

What Is A Peptide?

A peptide is the same as a protein, but smaller. Peptides and proteins are substances that occur inside the bodies of animals and plants and participate in essential metabolic functions. Peptides, like proteins, are made of amino acid molecules. Generally, peptides contain between two and 50 amino acids and proteins contain 50 or more. Peptides are present in the animal and plant foods we eat.

What Are The Benefits Of Peptides?

Research suggests that peptides may have many potential benefits, including:

• Reduced inflammation
• Slowed aging of the skin
• Improved immune function
• Prevention of the formation of blood clots
• Lowering high blood pressure
• Destruction of harmful microbes
• Antioxidant properties
• Improved memory
• Improved athletic performance
• Increased muscle mass

Where Are Peptides Found?

Peptides are found in food, and can also be created synthetically in a lab. The richest plant and animal food sources of peptides include:

• Eggs
• Milk
• Corn
• Rice
• Meat
• Soybeans
• Wheat
• Fish and shellfish
• Beans and lentils
• Hemp seeds
• Oats
• Flaxseed

What Peptide Is Good For Sleep?

The peptides that appear to be good for sleep are:

• Delta Sleep Inducing peptide
• Circadian Adjustment peptide
• Bioactive milk peptides (lactium)

What Is The Most Effective Natural Sleep Aid?

Some of the most effective natural sleep aids include:

• Melatonin
• Magnesium
• Valerian root
• Chamomile

Can A Vitamin Deficiency Affect Sleep Quality?

Research suggests that people with a vitamin D deficiency have a higher chance of experiencing sleep disorders.

What Are The Best Sleep Supplements?

Here are five peptides and supplements that promote healthy sleep.

1. Delta Sleep Inducing peptide

How does Delta Sleep Inducing peptide work to improve sleep quality? Research suggests that it causes higher sleep efficiency and shorter sleep latency.

2. Melatonin

Research suggests that melatonin may promote healthy sleep in several ways, including promoting the onset of sleep, improving daytime sleepiness, and improving people’s subjective assessment of how well they slept.

3. Bioactive milk peptide (lactium)

Lactium is bioactive peptide derived from cow’s milk. The amino acids in lactium act appear to have the effect of reducing stress and cortisol levels, inducing relaxation, improving mental function, and improving sleep quality.

4. CBD oil

Research has found that taking 160 milligrams of CBD oil can increase sleep duration. This may be caused by the cortisol-lowering properties that research has shown CBD oil to have.

5. Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that supports healthy cognitive function and mood and helps relax muscles. Some people take magnesium to improve their sleep and report that it reduces anxiety, increases relaxation, and makes it easier to fall asleep.

What Are Good Sleep Hygiene Practices?

• Stick to a consistent sleep schedule. Try to get to bed and wake up at similar times every day.
• Have a pre-bedtime routine that helps you wind down and get ready for sleep.
• Keep your room cool and comfortable. A temperature of roughly 65 degrees Fahrenheit seems to be most conducive to good sleep. Make sure your room is dark and quiet.
• Dim electronic lights after sunset. Avoid bright screens in the hours before sleep.
• Read a book instead of looking at a screen in the final hour before sleep.
• Exercise regularly.
• Avoid caffeine in the second half of the day. The quarter life of caffeine is twelve hours. This means that if you drink a large coffee at 11am, it is the equivalent of drinking a quarter of a large cup of coffee at 11pm!
• Avoid eating in the two to three hours before bed.
• Avoid alcohol and medical marijuana in the hours before bed. Both may negatively impact sleep quality.
• Use your bed for sleep and sex only.
• Avoid napping during the day.

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Sharpening the clarity and efficiency of our thinking can lead to positive results in many areas of life. Performance in work, school, creative projects, and interpersonal relationships will tend to be enhanced if we can improve our cognitive function.

There are many ways to do this. Lifestyle choices such as sleeping well, eating a healthy diet, exercising, reading, writing, and getting into nature tend to improve our ability to think clearly. A generally healthy life will improve our chances of having a clear, optimally functioning brain.

But apart from healthy lifestyle choices, there are also several peptides and supplements we can utilize that may help to optimize our cognitive functioning. An exciting body of research points to the effectiveness of several peptides and supplements in improving brain health and functionality, memory, and focus. Several peptides and supplements also appear to slow age-related decline in brain function.

Read on to discover more about various peptides and supplements that improve cognitive function.

What are peptides?

Peptides are substances that participate in the metabolic functions of living organisms. They are structurally the same as proteins – made of amino acid molecules – but peptides are smaller than proteins. Generally, peptides contain between two and 50 amino acids, while proteins contain 50 or more amino acids. Peptides are present in food and can also be created synthetically. Several types of peptides can have positive effects on various aspects of health when supplemented.

Peptides are contained in plant and animal foods such as:

• Eggs
• Milk
• Soybeans
• Wheat
• Corn
• Rice
• Meat
• Fish and shellfish
• Beans and lentils
• Oats
• Flaxseed
• Hemp seeds

Benefits of peptides

Research suggests that various bioactive peptides may have some of the following benefits:

• Improving immune function
• Slowing aging of the skin
• Reducing inflammation
• Preventing formation of blood clots
• Lowering high blood pressure
• Killing microbes
• Antioxidant properties
• Improving memory
• Increasing muscle mass
• Improving athletic performance

Are peptides good for memory?

Many studies are showing that peptides might be good for memory. Recent research has found that short amylin receptor antagonist peptides improve memory in Alzheimer’s disease mouse models.

What is a supplement?

A dietary supplement refers to any product that is designed to provide extra nutrients in addition to the diet. Supplements typically come in the form of pills, capsules, powders, or liquids. Some of the most widely used supplements are:

• Multivitamins
• Protein powders
• Vitamin B-12 tablets
• Vitamin D

What vitamins improve cognitive performance?

B vitamins such as B6, B12, and B9 (folic acid) play a role in brain health. Research suggests that vitamins E, A, and C may stave off cognitive decline as people age. Vitamin E has been shown to have beneficial effects in moderately severe Alzheimer disease.

Are there supplements to improve brain function?

Yes, there is quite a wide variety of supplements available that claim to improve brain function. Most supplements have multiple effects and improved brain function appears to be one effect of several options, including:

• Multivitamins
• B vitamin complex
• Vitamin E
• Fish oils
• Caffeine tablets
• Creatine
• Ginkgo biloba
• Bacopa monnieri
• Resveratrol

What peptides and supplements are good for the brain?

Here are eight top peptides and supplements that improve cognitive function.

1. AC253 peptide

Research has discovered that the AC253 peptide, in studies on mice, can lead to a significant improvement in Alzheimer’s symptoms. Daily injections of this peptide improved the mice’s memory, lowered brain inflammation, and resulted in less accumulation of beta-amyloid, the harmful protein that characterizes Alzheimer’s disease.

2. Selank peptide

Research indicates that Selank, which is a synthetic nootropic peptide, can reduce anxiety, as well as improve learning, memory, and cognition, and reducing depression.

3. Delta Sleep Inducing peptide

Research suggests that Delta Sleep Inducing peptide can improve sleep quality by causing higher sleep efficiency and shorter sleep latency. Sleep is very important for cognitive functioning, which suggests that Delta Sleep Inducing peptide may be beneficial for this purpose, especially in people who have problems getting enough sleep.

4. Fish oils

Fish oil supplements are rich in omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Both of these fatty acids are essential for brain health. DHA accounts for around 90% of the omega-3 fat found in brain cells, and EPA has anti-inflammatory effects that may protect the brain against damage. Research suggests supplementing with these fatty acids can improve brain health.

5. Ginkgo biloba

Dietary supplementation with ginkgo biloba appears to increase blood flow to the brain and to have the effect of improving memory and focus.

6. Creatine peptide

Research has indicated that creatine supplementation can improve memory and cognitive function in vegetarians.

7. Bacopa monnieri

Research suggests that supplementation with bacopa monnieri, which is typically used in traditional medicine practices such as Ayurveda, has the potential to improve cognition, particularly speed of attention.

8. Resveratrol

Research indicates that resveratrol improves learning, memory, and mood function in rats. This appears to occur through modulation of hippocampus plasticity and suppression of chronic low-level inflammation. Further research suggests resveratrol can improve memory performance in humans.

Other ways to improve cognitive function

As well as taking supplements, there are several lifestyle changes you can make to improve your cognitive function. These changes include:

• Eating a nutritious diet
• Intermittent fasting
• Regular aerobic exercise such as running, cycling, soccer
• Yoga
• Weight training
• Meditation
• Conversation with friends
• Reducing alcohol consumption
• Journaling
• Reading
• Getting into nature
• Sudoku
• Getting lots of good-quality sleep

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There is an entire facet of the health industry focused on fat loss. There are many reasons why people would want to shed fat, from overall health to cosmetic reasons and even to improve mental health.

While many people understand the ins and outs of weight loss when it comes to burning more calories and eating less food, there is less understanding about where exactly fat goes when we lose weight, and how the body gets rid of it. The term “fat release” is sometimes used to define the body’s way of releasing fat – but what does “fat release” mean, exactly, and what bodily processes are involved in losing weight?

What is fat?

Body fat is made up of a grouping of cells known as adipocytes. These create connective tissue that is an important part of the endocrine system. In fact, adipose tissue is now hailed an organ of its own. Fat is stored in adipocytes and can be used to supply energy to the body if needed.

Fat, while often characterized as “bad,” actually has several valuable purposes when it comes to human health. For example, it helps to cushion the body as well as insulate it. There are two main types of body fat, otherwise known as adipose tissue: white and brown. Both types help to create certain hormones and encourage immune system response by helping in the production of cytokines – immune cells that aid in the growth and function of other types of immune cells within the body.

An adequate amount of fat on the body can be helpful. Too much, however, can negatively affect other organs and lead to chronic disease.

The physiology behind fat loss

When fat becomes deposited in the body, it is referred to as lipogenesis. This process occurs when there is more fat than needed for energy, leading to the fat being stored within the adipocytes and accumulating in excess.

When a person decides to lose weight, they change their lifestyle habits, usually to decrease an excess of foods that may be transformed into unused fats within the body. During this time, the body begins to use its fat stores instead of other energy sources, with the fat in the adipocytes being expelled into the bloodstream.

This fat-burning process is actually quite complicated. Fat that is stored in the cell cannot be burned from within the cell. It first has to be expelled as an energy source, as mentioned above.

Where do fat cells go when losing weight?

Fat cells hold excess fat, but when that fat exits the cell, it is transformed into a free fatty acid within the bloodstream and sent to the body’s tissues. This fat can then be used as an energy source for muscles and tissues. The cell that contained the fat, however, doesn’t move from its original spot – it remains exactly where it is.

Instead of the cell itself being removed from the body entirely, it shrinks. So essentially, when losing fat, you aren’t getting rid of fat cells, but rather the buildup of fat within the cells. As they’re emptied of fat, they become smaller, and thus less fat appears on the body externally.

Each fat cell can continuously grow or shrink. It’s all a matter of how much fat is either deposited into or expelled from the cell.

How does fat release from your body?

The process in which fat is expelled from fat cells involves several different reactions. As mentioned above, these reactions cause the fat to be removed from the cell and sent out into the bloodstream to reach muscles or other tissues that need to use it for energy so they can perform their basic functions.

That energy, however, it still within the body until it can be released. When used, it gets broken down into water and carbon dioxide, which in turn become waste products that need to be excreted from the body. Carbon dioxide is expelled through the respiratory system, meaning that it is eventually breathed out of the body. Water can be expelled through urine, sweat, and exhaling breath. Because of this process, the respiratory system is widely considered an integral part of fat metabolism. In fact, research has found that the majority (84%) of fat release from the body occurs through exhaling carbon dioxide, and only 16% is expelled from the body as water.

This might be hard to wrap your mind around – fat doesn’t seem to have much to do with water or breath! But the above chemical processes are how fat loss occurs. Losing weight can be a challenging process for many people, but when you do go about getting rid of excess pounds, it can be helpful to appreciate exactly what your body is doing to help you achieve this. 

Featured image by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

The human body requires many different substances to run properly. For example, oxygen is required to make sure that every cell in the body can use the energy provided by food. Nutrients are converted into energy that each cell in the body uses to perform basic functions and regulate chemicals and other substances.

Since each process within the body is separate, it may seem as though one aspect can exist without the other. However, all these separate processes rely on the other to ensure that they can do their job properly. Think of your body as a super-efficient factory that needs every linesperson doing their part to complete the project.

One such process that requires a lot of outside help is the immune system. Immunity is your body’s defense system and protects you against illness, but without nutrients and other systems running as they should, that defense system can become powerless to stop infection or chronic disease. One particular piece of the immunity puzzle is antioxidants – but what are antioxidants, exactly, and what is the role of antioxidants in immune function?

What are antioxidants?

Antioxidants are important molecules that exist within the body and can also be consumed through diet. They are mostly found in fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods. Some vitamins, including vitamins E and C, can effectively act as antioxidants within the body as well.

What is the role of antioxidants?

Antioxidants play an important role in the body because they neutralize free radicals, which are compounds that help to fight off pathogens. Free radicals can react with other molecules with ease, and because of this, they can cause certain reactions known as oxidation. Oxidation can be both good and bad, depending on how much it occurs.

Antioxidants and free radicals need to be in balance so that they can support your health. If the body doesn’t get enough antioxidants, free radicals can build up, and when levels are too high, they can cause damage to proteins, fatty tissue, and even your DNA.

Too much oxidation within the body can lead to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress and the damage caused by an overabundance of free radicals can lead to chronic disease such as inflammatory conditions, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s.

Do antioxidants help your immune system?

Both antioxidants and free radicals have an effect on the immune system. It’s because of free radicals that antioxidants are important for immunity. Since free radicals are helpful when they are in balance, as mentioned above, they need to remain at a steady level. Antioxidants help to achieve that stabilization.

To understand the process in more complex terms, we have to understand how immunity and free radicals are connected. Neutrophils are cells that are part of the immune system. They are tasked with regulating how B-cells, or immune cells, respond to pathogens. When there is a pathogen present in the body, these neutrophils begin working their magic.

When they become activated, they produce free radicals as part of the inflammatory process. While many people think of inflammation as a bad thing, it is actually an important step in defense process, because it acts as a sort of signal to where in the body immune cells need to go. Free radicals are needed for that inflammatory process. When there are too many free radicals, and the inflammatory process is occurring all over the place, the immune system doesn’t know how to react. That is where antioxidants come in to balance it all out for proper immune protection and response.

Another important immunity task in which antioxidants may play a role is hindering the free radicals’ ability to help viruses replicate within the body. They help to interfere with this process when a virus or other pathogen comes into the body to cause harm. According to research, the antioxidants’ ability to do this may even help in the treatment of certain viral diseases.  

Is there a connection between antioxidants and antibodies?

Another important aspect of antioxidant stores within the body is the way they help with antibodies, which are specialized proteins designed to fight off infection. Antibodies are created by the immune system in response to certain pathogens and are specifically designed to fight off one type of virus or other illness. For example, if a person were to get a particular strain of the flu, their body would create antibodies that remember that specific strain. If that strain of flu came around again, those specialized antibodies would be ready to fight off the infection.

This is connected to antioxidants because research has found that these helpful molecules can actually aid in producing more antibodies in response to an infection. One study examined antibody levels in healthy older adults who were given vitamin E supplements to act as antioxidants. When the subjects of the study were given hepatitis B and tetanus vaccines, it was found that they had a more powerful immune response.

This draws the conclusion that antioxidants not only neutralize free radicals, allowing the body’s immune system to function as it should, but they also play a role in the power and number of viable antibodies protecting the body against infection.

While antioxidants aren’t the be-all-end-all when it comes to immune health, they certainly play a larger role than medical researchers once thought in protecting you against both infection and chronic disease.

Featured image by Valery Fedotov on Unsplash