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Tzippy Bernstein, in-house dietitian, back for the last post in our Sleep & Hormones series. We’ve already learned about ghrelin, leptin and cortisol, but there’s one more hormone we need to really keep our eye on when it comes to weight, appetite and the risk of chronic disease: Insulin.
Did you know that approximately 72% of Canadian men have unhealthy habits? That men are 57% more likely to die from diabetes than women, and 79% more likely to die from heart disease than women? How about the fact that 67% of Canadian men are overweight or obese, and that those men are 40% more likely to die from cancer than women are? Yikes.
There are different types of stress we encounter in our day-to-day lives. You might be rushing to get the kids to school because you overslept, pushing hard at the gym, or approaching a deadline at work. Regardless of the type of stress we encounter, our bodies go into fight-or-flight mode. In response, our body increases the production of a hormone called cortisol; aka the stress hormone.
Since 2014, wine lovers across Canada have raised a glass every May 25th to celebrate National Wine Day. As for their wine consumption on the remaining 364 days, it’s hard to say—but we’re not here to judge, only to help. We know first-hand how a drink in the evening feels like the balm you need after a stressful day—but the truth is it’s not actually helping you to relax and drift off more easily, like you think it is. So, before you uncork that bottle tonight, find out just how alcohol may be impacting your sleep.
May is Global Employee Health and Fitness Month, and it’s the perfect time to jump into some new, healthy practices—sleep included! With our Canadian spring in full bloom across the country and the promise of more beautiful weather just around the corner, resolve to improve your wellbeing with a month-long celebration of health and fitness—regardless of whether your workplace is at home or in the office.
This May 3rd through 9th, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) celebrates its 70th annual Mental Health Week—a tradition that aims to celebrate, protect, and promote mental health in communities, workplaces, and schools nationwide. While the event was first established in 1951, the message remains firm: Mental Health Week works towards shifting societal beliefs about mental health—it promotes attitudes fostering well-being, supports good mental health, and strives to create a culture of understanding and acceptance.
How many times have you felt like the burden is on you when it comes to managing your weight and regulating your appetite? “I have no willpower”, “I have no self-control”, “I don’t have the energy” are common thoughts that bog us down when it comes to making healthy choices related to food and portions, and they lead to decreased self-confidence in our ability to change our habits.
Whether snoring from your partner interrupts your sleep, or you’re the one making all the noise, we’re sorry to hear it! After all, it’s hard to get quality sleep if the snoring machine next to you is chasing you from your own bed on a nightly basis. In addition to being disruptive (ahem, and irritating), snoring can also be an early indicator of a more dangerous problem—obstructive sleep apnea.
Young and restless? Middle-aged and sleepless? It’s more common than you think. In North America alone, it’s estimated that upwards of 70 million adults suffer from at least one sleep disorder—that’s a real problem your health can’t afford to ignore.
If you sleep well, you’ll know there’s nothing quite like waking up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world—that happens to be how we feel about our new brand!