New Life Holistic Center

Yes! Exercise boosts your memory and thinking skills both directly and indirectly.

"The benefits of exercise come directly from its ability to reduce insulin resistance, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the release of growth factors—chemicals in the brain that affect the health of brain cells."

"Indirectly, exercise improves sleep and mood, and alleviates stress and anxiety. Problems in these areas can negatively affect memory and lead to cognitive impairment. "

-- Harvard Health Publishing

More than 60 percent of U.S. adults do not engage in the recommended amount of activity. Approximately 25 percent of U.S. adults are not active at all.

The most common reason reported is, "I don't have enough time to exercise."

Research from UCLA shows that when you exercise, your brain works faster and you're able to have the time to do the things you want to do.

Consistently, it has been found that exercise:
🧠 Increases growth factors in the brain which makes it easier for the brain to grow new neuronal connections
💬 Improves memory both directly and indirectly
❤️ Boosts the cardiovascular system and improves lung health
🧘 Reduces cortisol levels and releases endorphins- feel good hormones
❤️‍🩹 Reduces pain by increasing pain tolerance. (The release of endorphins!)
😊 Supports and encourages regular bowel movements.

This list is non-exhaustive. How will you move your body today?

Did you know-

To get an adequate amount of Vitamin D, it takes only 10-30 minutes of sun exposure several times a week? ☀️

Some Vitamin D can be attained from food, although few. Those include dairy, salmon, cod liver oil, tuna, and egg yolk.

As with any supplement, be cautious of overly high levels in supplements, as you may be attaining enough from your diet and sun exposure.

Make sure you protect your skin with a mineral-based sunscreen and step out to enjoy San Diego's sunny weather each week. ☀️

During acute stress, the hormone adrenaline suppresses the appetite. But with chronic stress, elevated levels of cortisol may cause cravings, particularly for highly processed foods high in sugar.

Opt for balanced meals with a whole food protein, fat, and (complex-chain) carbohydrates (i.e. black or brown rice, or quinoa instead of white rice). Incorporate leafy greens daily to intake healthy levels of minerals and vitamins such as magnesium, iron, and calcium.

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As always, check in with your Nutrition Response Testing provider to ensure no deficiency goes unnoticed.

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For those who love their coffee in the morning- this ones for you. ☕
There's something incredibly soothing about drinking a fresh cup of coffee just the way you like it. But is it helping or hurting your health- or a little of both? Let's discuss health benefits and the possible presence of pesticides and mold hidden in some brands of coffee.

Good news- the case for coffee is stronger than ever. According to John Hopkins Medical journal, both decaf and regular coffee seem to have a protective effect on your liver, you may be less likely to develop conditions such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, and it contains a variety of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin B2, magnesium, potassium, and antioxidants.

The downside... coffee is one of the most chemically treated crops in the world. According to CS Monitor, up to 250 pounds of chemical fertilizers are sprayed per acre on conventional (non-organic) coffee. Due to this, pesticides and mycotoxins (formed by molds) successfully make it into the coffee we drink on the regular.

Don't discard your morning routine just yet- with a little bit of research, you might be pleasantly surprised to discover that there are plenty of coffee suppliers that care deeply about the quality and purity of their products, and offer fresh coffee that is pesticide and mold free. Try an find an organic coffee and you may find that it tastes even better.