Wellness Mama Queen

Not all fats are created equal. Not all unsaturated fat is healthy, and not all saturated fat is bad for you. Plant-based saturated fat, such as that found in coconut oil actually provides some health benefits. Coconut oil is primarily made up of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). These types of fatty acids are processed differently by the body than their cousin the long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), which are found primarily in animal fats. Because of their shorter chain length, MCT’s can be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and transported directly to the liver via the portal circulation without incorporation into chylomicrons in the lymphatic system, which are the body’s primary fatty acid transportation mechanism. As a result, MCTs are oxidized to a greater degree and more efficiently than are LCTs. Since MCT’s have less of an opportunity for deposition into adipose tissue, they have been used successfully to support healthy weight management programs.

You need a vacation. It’s OK to admit that. Work is a grind. Every day can start to seem the same. Your daily routine has dug a deep rut. It’s time to crawl out of it. So, go ahead—make your daydream about a relaxing afternoon at the beach a reality. It might be just what you need. That’s because the benefits of vacations are bountiful, and boost your overall wellness. Escaping your everyday life strengthens all the pillars your well-being is built upon. Many positives await when you leave your frustrations at home and immerse yourself in a fun, new environment. And it’s about more than the warm, fuzzy feelings you get from dipping your toes in the sand. Although the warm-fuzzies do help (as you’ll see later). The benefits of vacations are backed up by science. That’s right. You have solid scientific reasons for stealing away for a while. So, there’s no need to make up excuses to escape.  This may seem obvious. Of course a vacation should give you a break from the normal ...

Music is powerful. Think back on the epic-ness of experiencing your favorite bands in concert, or the nostalgia of listening to an album you revered in high school. Or stifling the urge to dance to your favorite song while shopping. Nothing’s quite as validating as your tunes echoing through the food court or down the baked goods aisle. Music speaks to the soul. That’s part of how music is calming and can help you relax, pump you up during a run, or even help you focus at work or school. Thanks to science, this emotional range isn’t just anecdotal. Listening to music comes with tangible benefits, including a direct correlation between music and stress relief. Understanding the chemical reactions in your brain relating to sound is key to unlocking the calming magic of music. Even if you already know how awesomely powerful music can be, now you can explain it with  sound science . How Sound Harmonizes with Your Mood Sound waves affect hearing, one of your five primary senses...

  Stress is part of the human experience. Since the evolution of early man, you’ve been hard-wired to encounter stressful situations. And though threats from predators may not be common in modern life, the fight-or-flight response has not been left behind. Evolutionary mechanisms for survival are useful tools for long-term health. By harnessing the power of stress, you can empower your health. It’s true, a certain level of stress can be quite healthy. And given it is nearly impossible to escape stress in your daily life, this is good news. There are ways to utilize the benefits of short-term stress to create a calmer, more relaxed mindset. Purposeful stress—or good sources of stress—can activate cellular pathways that support greater resilience to other stresses. Too Much Fight or Flight Moments of crisis trigger complex physiological adaptations deeply engrained in your DNA. When you perceive your safety is in danger, these instincts prepare you to react. Short-term stress respons...