Health

The human mind functions both as intellect and consciousness. Primarily, people associate the mind with the mental faculty of thinking, or processing information, problem solving, and the like. The mind also encompasses memory, emotion, perception, and imagination.

From a health perspective, the focus is on the brain and brain health. For infants and children, proper brain development is key. Good, balanced nutrition and healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids, or omega-3s—whether from foods such as fatty fish and flaxseed or from supplements like fish oil—support brain development and may help with disorders such as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder) as well as alleviate depression at any age.

As people age, concerns about problems with memory and cognitive function increase. Up to 5 percent of the world’s population is affected by Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. Experts recommend the following healthy lifestyle choices to help keep thinking focused and memory sharp. Avoid chemicals in food, water, and products you use at home; eat fresh fruits and vegetables; drink lots of filtered water and green tea; eat choline-rich eggs; exercise regularly; meditate. Recommended supplements include fish oil, alpha-lipoic acid, acetyl-L-carnitine; phosphatidyl serine (PS); curcumin (from turmeric); and B vitamins. Experts also recommend doing mind exercises such as learning a new hobby, language, or musical instrument, or doing challenging puzzles.

Depression is a disorder reflecting a sad or irritable mood beyond usual sadness or grief. Depression affects not only mood, but also can change bodily functions such as eating, sleeping, and libido, and it can raise risks for developing other health problems. An estimated 19 million Americans suffer from major or chronic depression. Healthy lifestyle choices can alleviate depression; recommended supplements include folate (vitamin B9), 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan), SAM-e (S-Adenosinemethionine), tryptophan, selenium, inositol, fish oil, and vitamin C.

The mind-body connection is another popular concept related to individual health, whereby the mind is believed to influence individuals’ health, helping make a person healthier or sicker, depending on conscious and unconscious thoughts and emotions. Studies have shown regular meditation can change the brains physical structure. Other examples might include the placebo effect and studies that show hospital patients recover more quickly when their windows open onto nature as opposed to a city.

American consumers are increasingly interested both in prevention and in natural healing modalities.

What is a natural detox and why should you do it? Find simple, all natural ways to detox—from eating plans to detox herbs and supplements.

In a medical context, a health condition is also sometimes called a disease or disorder; it’s an abnormal state affecting the body, and sometimes the mind. Conditions are associated with specific symptoms, but may be present without symptoms—therefore usually undiagnosed—until found by medical testing (i.e. high blood pressure, or hypertension).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 out of every 2 American adults has at least one chronic illness—such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and arthritis. Much of this illness is partly caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits, including inactivity, poor nutrition, smoking, and drinking too much alcohol. Environmental pollutants—such as bisphenol-A (BPA) in some plastics—likely are playing a greater role in causing cancer and perhaps other health conditions, according to a 2010 report by the Presidents Cancer Panel.

Healthy lifestyle choices, on the other hand, can significantly reduce risk for most health conditions. Beyond regular exercise and stress reduction, eating a moderately low-calorie diet based on deeply colored vegetables and fruits, plus whole grains, lean protein, and small amounts of healthy fats has been shown to reduce risk for most chronic conditions.

Essential supplements for disease prevention may include: high-quality multivitamin/minerals (for cancer); fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids (for heart and brain health, joint health, mood); vitamin D and others.

The body is the physical structure of humans, which consists of body parts (head, neck, arms, legs, and torso) and organ systems (respiratory, circulatory, and nervous). The human body is affected by a variety of factors, including nutrition, the environment, exercise, stress, disease, and genetics. Over time, the human body ages, increasing the risk of certain age-related conditions and diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. Certain supplements and foods, particularly those rich in antioxidants, can help protect the body from harmful free radicals in the environment and decrease the risk of disease.

Here are six of the best nutrition heroes for women, with great-tasting recipes to match. To reap their benefits, include two to three servings of each of these foods in your weekly meal plan.

When life gives you lemons, you make … Orgain—at least if you’re Andrew Abraham. After being diagnosed with muscle cancer 10 years ago (he’s now in remission), this family physician who practices in Irvine, Calif., looked for a meal-replacement drink to meet his daily nutritional needs. After finding a lot of synthetic, overly processed ingredients in these products, Abraham and his wife created their own drink, and since there was an obvious hole in the category, decided to make their product available to everyone.

Eating enough whole grains can help maintain a healthy weight, lower cholesterol, and help reduce risk for conditions

Your secret weapon to weight loss could simply be upping your intake of two important
supplements, calcium and vitamin D, according to a new study
published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.