Why Hormones Make You Go Crazy?

Photo Courtesy: Leonardo Iheme

Most often females experience hormonal imbalance. What about it makes females experience it so strongly?

Hormones are chemical messengers in our bodies. They are produced in endocrine glands, travels through our bloodstream and assign tasks to our organs and tissues. Controls functions such as metabolism and reproduction.

Some symptoms of hormonal imbalance includes-

  • Weight gain /loss
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle weakness /pain / tenderness
  • Oily /acne prone / dry skin
  • Brittle/ oily/ thinning hair

Though the word hormonal imbalance mostly associated with females, it occurs in males too – testosterone – a hormone essential in male development.

Potential causes of hormonal imbalance can be – Hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, stress, diabetes, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, cancer, cushing’s syndrome and more.

Check out my blog on blood tests to know how you can rule out hormonal imbalance.

Posted on by Onpathtogrowth 0

Blood Tests for Examining Stress and Psychological Issues

Photo Courtesy: Hush Naidoo Jade Photography

Blood holds ample information and insight into not only our physiological but psychological status as well.

Using blood tests in measuring psychological issues can help the clinicians in better understanding your concerns as well as give relevant details as well as plan treatment accordingly.

3 best blood tests which are well-validated in clinical diagnosis and stress-reactive induced both psychological and physiological disorders are:

1. Hormone —testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), estradiol, thyroid and cortisol.

2. Cytokine Panel —IL-1, IL-6, TNF-A

3. White Blood Count including c-reactive protein panels.

It’s always a good idea to have an early diagnosis which is not just based on one mode but is comprehensive to have a better treatment plan and rule out possible medical conditions.

Posted on by Onpathtogrowth 1

Why Colors Matter?

Photo Courtesy : Jeremy Thomas

Tippy tippy tap – which color you want? I choose pink, I choose yellow, I choose red, and on and on… Why are rainbows colorful?

As a child weren’t you choosy about the colors you’d wear or have a favorite toy of a particular color? Why do colors matter?

One of the most beautiful thing about nature is colors. They are present in everything from soil to sky, from bird to animals, from flowers to fruits. Everywhere and in everything that we see is filled with colors just like the children’s book.

There have been hundreds of books written on colors and the psychology behind it. Two of my favorites are – The Little Book of Color and Handbook of Color Psychology .

Colors have meanings, for example, red symbolize stop 🔴 and green symbolize go 🟢. Colors are often used as expression, for example, emojis – 😊🥶🤢😡.

The Global Color Survey gives you a approximately 130,000 results from all over the world once you take a small survey on what you think about color.

While some colors have a warming effect, such as yellow 🟡 or orange 🟠 others may have a cooling effect such as blue 🔵 or white ⚪.

Colors even have an impact on our appetite – what if all the green 🟢 vegetables turn white ⚪ or if all the fruits were purple🟣 in color. This study talks about the psychological impact of food color and people’s expectations relating flavor based on color.

Ending on a colorful note! 🌈

Posted on by Onpathtogrowth 0

Gut-Mind Connection

Photo Courtesy: Vicky Ng

Human beings are super-organisms. The diet we consume shapes the gut microbiodata. Gut microbiodata plays a crucial role in understanding the mind connection and sometimes mental and neurological disorders.

The modern diets have transformed our genes. Researches indicate that gut-brain connection. Brain communicates via microbiodata-gut-brain axis. This influences the mental processes including mental illnesses and neurological disorders.

The microdata-gut-brain axis (GBA) is composed of nervous pathways, endocrine pathways, and immune pathways. As per a study, there is strong evidence which suggests that gut microbiota has an important function in bidirectional interactions between the gut and the nervous system. It interacts with the central nervous system by regulating brain chemistry and influencing neuro-endocrine systems associated with stress response, anxiety and memory function.”

Here are some super foods for good gut health:

  • Yogurt
  • Kimchi
  • Pickles
  • Fruits
  • Beans
Photo Courtesy: Julius David

Fermented foods are brilliant for gut health. Besides, probiotics have shown to impact gut health positively. Alongside, working on stress management – yoga, meditation, talk therapy are equally important.

Happy gut 🔁 Happy mind!

Posted on by Onpathtogrowth 0

Remembering RBG

Photo Courtesy: Google Images

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was born on March 15, 1933. She became the court’s second female justice as well as the first Jewish female justice in the U. S. Supreme Court. Not only that, she was the first tenured professor at Columbia University.

Martin her husband once said: “My wife doesn’t give me any advice about cooking and I don’t give her any advice about the law.”

While she was commendable in her work, she is best known for presenting her strong voice in favor of gender equality.

Here are some of her most cherished quotes:

“Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.”

“Reacting in anger or annoyance will not advance one’s ability to persuade.”

“I’m a very strong believer in listening and learning from others.”

“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.”

“I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability.”

There is a documentary about RBG on Netflix which is amazing!

Posted on by Onpathtogrowth 0