7 Travel-Sized Health Essentials

7 Travel-Sized Health Essentials

It’s no secret that we women carry our lives in our handbags. Riffle through any woman’s handbag, and the contents in there will tell you a short, succinct story of who she really is.

In this article, we’re very interested to know what’s in yours – but not because we’re inquisitive about the kind of lipstick you buy or the perfume you wear. We just want to make sure you’re kitted out with all the tiny lifesavers that can keep you healthy through the cold, winter months. We at Hydralive Therapy will help you out!

So here goes:

What are Good Items to Keep in Your Car for Winter?

# 1: Hand Sanitizers

It’s flu season folks, and germs are festering everywhere. Whatever you touch, like a door handle or an innocent-looking office file, could be contaminated with sick-making germs, and a small bottle of hand sanitizer could stand between you and being laid up for the next 7-10 days with high temperatures, cough and cold.

Just, remember to use it!

# 2: Lip Balm

Lip balms or chapstick, as millions of women will tell you, is more than just a hydrating, soothing, emollient-rich beauty picker-upper. It’s a lifesaver, a mood enhancer, and a best friend they couldn’t imagine stepping out of the house without. 

This co-dependency has reached such gigantic proportions that a debate rages on about lip balm’s so-called “addictive” properties. Experts, however, have discounted this theory, citing an `emotional’ factor that has many women forming an attachment to the tube.

Even if you don’t use them regularly, lip balms can literally save your day during winter months if you suddenly find your lips are preparing to dry out and flake (and you know that deeply uncomfortable feeling!).

# 3: Lotion Facial Tissues

If you have a runny nose this winter, stop using whatever tissue is close at hand. Ordinary tissues create painful friction with the skin after repeated use, and before you know it, your nose is red and scratched, making further wiping a painful process. 

Switch to soft, facial tissues with lotion that lock in the moisture and save your nose from damage. Brands like Puffs and Kleenex (the ones with lotion and aloe) first come to mind…

# 4: Zinc Lozenges

Zinc is a mineral that keeps the immune system strong, during winter months. In fact, some studies have found that zinc lozenges may reduce the duration of cold, perhaps by as much as 50%, and may reduce the number of upper respiratory infections, particularly in children. 

# 5: Echinacea Capsules

Echinacea, a health-promoting herb which was used by Native American tribes, stimulates the immune system and gives you the power you need to fight flus and colds. Research shows it increases the number of white blood cells in the body, which fight infections. 

# 6: Nose Masks

No, they don’t look cool. But if you’re in a crowded space, like a bus, train or airplane cabin, this fabric barrier can give you some protection from people coughing and sneezing into the air you’re directly breathing. And they’re so small, you can stuff them into a handbag pocket and forget about them – until you actually need one.

# 7: A Bottle Of Water

Keep a small bottle of water in your handbag at all times. We cannot stress enough on the importance of staying hydrated to fight germs and infections in winter.

Good luck! If you have further questions, please be sure to checkout Our Menu!

8 Tips on How to Keep New Year’s Resolutions

8 Tips on How to Keep New Year’s Resolutions

Do you find it hard to transition from the holidays into the New Year without missing a beat? 

If you do, you’re not alone. 

Post-Holiday depression is a pretty common phenomenon during the tail-end of December in the United States. We all know the festivities are now drawing to a close, the lights and decorations will come down, and our emotions, which had been stretched like an elastic band during the excitement of the holidays, will soon snap back – with a vicious sting!

Back to normallife. Back to contemplating how we’re going to make the coming year better than the last one. What we’re going to do to improve yourselves, our circumstances, our lives.

Let’s face it. New Year resolutions are fun to think about, but pretty hard to act on sometimes. Which is why 80% of them fail by mid-February.

In fact, Strava, a social network for athletes that has analyzed over 31.5 million pieces of data on this has even predicted the day when the first cracks in our New Year resolutions begin to show: January 12.

Just 12 days into the year, we set ourselves up for failure.

Why?

Lack of planning mostly. 

Ideas will remain just ideas unless you have a timetable of concrete actions to materialize them.

In this article, we’re going to help 55% of adult Americans who make New Year resolutions to live healthier, look better and feel great (according to the Personality & Psychology Bulletin) by itemizing an actionable plan that doesn’t weaken in less than 2 weeks and finally fall apart by mid-February.

Here’s 8 Tips on How People Keep Their New Year’s Resolutions

Read on:

# 1: Make A Vision Board With “Good Food” Inspirations

You will probably buy a shopping cart-full of salad ingredients in the beginning of the year because you have resolved to eat healthy. But if you don’t actually enjoy leafy greens, those packets of spinach and kale will just rot in the fridge, and all you’ll have done is waste money on food you somehow “forgot” to eat. (You know exactlywhat we mean.)

Romanticize the right kind of foods instead. 

Create a vision board with pictures of wonderfully healthy foods. Display it in your kitchen, so whenever you’re about to prepare your breakfast, lunch or dinner, you can see just how tasty the cherry tomato looks. Or how mouthwateringly crunchy that caesar salad appears with just a tiny dollop of fat-free dressing. Or a nutty, tasty quinoa salad.

# 2: Plus The Good Foods – Don’t Minus The Bad Ones!

Concentrate on addition instead of subtraction. The more you think of what you can’teat, the weaker your resolution will get. Focus on all the food you caneat instead and expand your weekly food choices with them.

# 3: Don’t Wait Until You’re Hungry To Think Of Food

This is a very common mistake we make with our daily meals. When you’re hungry and don’t have a meal plan for the day, you’ll reach for all the wrong things when you realize you’re starving.

# 4: Detox Your Kitchen

Remove all temptations from your pantry and fridge. They’re called temptations for a reason!

# 5: Put On Your Exercise Shoes

Unless you’re a habitual runner or a fitness buff, motivation is hard to come by at the end of a tiring workday. We find that during those bittersweet moments when you’re choosing between a workout or the television, putting on your exercise shoes tips the balance towards the better decision.

Try it. You’ll be surprised.

# 6: Treat Failures Like Wobbly Footstools To Success

Don’t give up the first time you fail your self-improvement plans. It’s par for the course and nothing’s lost – yet. Resume your diet or exercise schedule and remember each day is a brand new beginning.

# 7: Find 3 Minutes To Experiment With Cryotherapy

Let’s put you in a cryrotherapy chamber for just 3 minutes and allow the exposure to extreme cold do its magic. You’ll come out feeling elated and energized by a rush of endorphins and happy hormones, and the feeling will last for days. In fact, do it once a week, and you’ll probably be sailing through mid-February with no thoughts of giving up on your New Year resolutions. (Book a Cryo session by clicking HERE. Or get in touch with us at a Hydralive therapy clinic nearest you, and we’ll tell you all about it).

# 8: Write: “I am Enough”

Finally, a golden piece of advice that comes from Marissa Peers, Britain’s best-known motivational coach. Personal failures, she believes, are born from a cellular memory planted during childhood of not feeling worthy of good things. The simplest and easiest way to break this disempowering psychological block is to write “I am Enough” and displaying it in a prominent place where you will see it every day. The 3-word affirmation of self-worth works like a charm, if you let it. Your subconscious mind will start letting go of its customary resistance to self-improvement and you’ll rock your resolutions this year.

Good luck! If you have anymore questions, please feel free to check out Our Menu!

7 Beverages for Diabetics to Reduce Hydration

7 Beverages for Diabetics to Reduce Hydration

Updated: April 28, 2023

It’s a balancing act. For patients living with diabetes, the risk of dehydration is significantly higher than others, and getting plenty of fluids is a year-long concern, no matter how hot or cold the outside temperature is.

Diabetes symptoms are often subtle, but excessive thirst and increased urination are two very common ones.

When the condition leads to excessive glucose build-up in the bloodstream, the kidneys are forced to work overtime to process it. And when excess glucose is pushed out of the system via urine, it takes essential fluids from the tissues along with it – leaving the diabetic patient feeling dehydrated and thirsty.

Excessive thirst (polydipsia) triggers more urination, and the cycle becomes a vicious and dangerous one if blood sugars are not balanced the right away.

November is National Diabetes Month, and we’d like to take this opportunity to give our diabetic clients a list of beverages they can safely take to battle dehydration throughout the year. 

Deal with Diabetes and Hydration With These Drinks:

•Water

Obviously the best choice, as it won’t raise blood sugar levels. The Institute Of Medicine suggests 9 cups for women and 13 cups for men.

•Tea

The beverage can help reduce blood pressure and lower LDL `bad cholesterol’ levels. Research suggests that 6 cups a day may even lower risks of type 2 diabetes.

•Coffee

study conducted in 2012 found that drinking 2-3 cups of coffee may also reduce risks of developing type 2 diabetes. (Both caffeinated and decaf.)

•Sparkling Water

The zero calorie versions with no added sweeteners not only hydrates but improves swallowing ability and relieves constipation as well.

•Infused Water

Adding a few slices of fruit or herbs (lemon, oranges, watermelon, basil, ginger, cucumber etc.) to water can give your drink the hint of flavor you need to encourage you to drink more.

• Vegetable Juice

Fruit juices are loaded with sugar. Even those with labels that say `no extra sugar added’ aren’t good choices for diabetics. In contrast, juices made from cucumber, green leafy veggies etc. provide the necessary fluids and nutrients without the needless sugar intake.

• Low-Fat Milk

Whole milk is rich in good minerals, but they also add a lot of unnecessary carbohydrates to a diabetic’s diet. Low-fat or skimmed milk, therefore, make a more sensible choice.

Combat Dehydration and Diabetes with Hydralive Therapy

If you have any questions or concerns regarding Dehydration and Diabetes, please feel free to check out Our Menu for a solution. 

Labor Day Reminder: IV Therapy Can Help You Fight Physical And Mental Consequences Of Working Too Hard

Labor Day Reminder: IV Therapy Can Help You Fight Physical And Mental Consequences Of Working Too Hard

On the first Monday of every September since 1894, we celebrate Labor Day to pay tribute to the contributions and achievements of workers who make America great.

From the pioneering days of settling this country, our workforce has proved to be foundational in creating a nation of immigrants where dream comes true, through hope and hard work, and we honor all the men and women who are still working long hours and sacrificing their health and wellbeing to make that dream a reality for each and every one of us.

But there’s a huge, long-term price they are paying for their service.

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the rate at which health deteriorates with age is faster in manual occupations than in non-manual occupations. And at Hydralive, we understand the kind of toll exhaustion can take over a person’s mind and body all too well. For example:

• Working overtime or working too hard increases risk for a wide range of health-related problems including heart disease, heart attack and high blood pressure. (A 2010 study found working 10 or more hours a day resulted in a 60% increase in the risk of cardiovascular issues.)

• Work-related stress prompts the body to release hormones like cortisol that can increase blood pressure and cause stroke, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes and even cancer.

• Lack of sufficient sleep because of exhaustion affects judgment, mood, ability to learn and retain information, and increase the risk of serious accidents and injury.

The list just goes on…

For many people whose health and wellness are severely impacted by physical and mental exhaustion, oral supplements are not enough to redress the underlying biochemical issues, especially in cases of long-standing fatigue.

This is where IV therapy comes in with nutrient infusions and cocktails, delivered intravenously, to make up for the vitamin/mineral deficiencies and strengthen the immune system. The nutrients enter the bloodstream directly, instead of having to go via a circuitous route through the digestion system that makes them lose their potency, and patients suffering from exhaustion report feeling revived and energized immediately after the treatment.

At Hydralive, we offer a variety of IV therapies prepared to neutralize the debilitating impacts of exhaustion. We even customize treatments, after personal consultations and health tests, to make sure our clients get maximum benefits from the exhaustion-fighting nutrients we’re replenishing them with.

If you’re suffering from physical and mental exhaustion on account of working too hard, visit one of our Hydralive clinics where we can help you take curative or preventive measures and return your mind and body to a state of optimal wellness.

Labor Day reminds us of the long-term risks of working too hard or working overtime, and we are standing by to help you make the best decision you have ever made for yourself: saving your health before you become one of 43% of Americans who are chronically too tired to function optimally at work.

5 Ways To Cope With Dehydration In Summer

5 Ways To Cope With Dehydration In Summer

They say you know it’s summer in the South when you’re practically living under a fan in your front porch, stinking of bug spray, listening to bullfrogs and whip-poor-wills and struggling to stay awake in 98-degree weather. But even for those who’re not trapped in the land-locked state and grappling with 94% humidity, being caught up in the throes of hot weather is not always comfortable.

As it is, 75% of American adults are chronically dehydrated. (They drink 2.5 cups a day instead of the recommended 8-10 cups.) And if you’re losing more fluids than you are taking in, you’re risking mild to moderate dehydration that can destabilize your overall wellness is so many ways.

Just look at these facts:

• A mere 1.5% of water loss can lead to dehydration.

• Every time you’re thirsty, your body is trying to tell you that you’re already mildly dehydrated.

• Dehydration can catch you off-guard and set in within an hour if you’re sweating profusely or indulging in strenuous physical activity.

To fight the menace of dehydration that summer invariably foists on you, here are 5 things you can do this year to make sure your hydration levels are high and you’re in good health and spirits:

# 1: Drink Water Even If You’re Not Thirsty

Water carries away heat from internal organs to the skin, making you sweat in summer. As the sweat evaporates, the body temperature comes down as well, helping organs to function at an optimal level.

# 2: Prepare For Exercise With Fluids

Before you exercise or do any strenuous activity in summer, prepare in advance with plenty of fluids. Drink plenty of water the day before, an hour before and an hour after you exert yourself.

# 3: Balance Beverages With Water

Alcohol, tea and coffee have diuretic effects, which is why you need to compensate for the water loss by increasing your intake of water if you indulge in any of these beverages.

# 4: Eat Liquid-Rich Foods

Did you know that the foods you eat contribute 20% of your daily fluid intake? Nature supports you during summer months with seasonal produce like melons, strawberries, tomatoes, plums, peaches etc. that are rich in electrolytes, carbohydrates and minerals. Take advantage of them!

# 5: Hydrate Yourself With IV Therapy

Replenish your system with fluids, nutrients and electrolytes via IV therapy. At Hydralive (find our locations by clicking HERE), we offer custom treatments that fight the ravages of summer by administering all the nutrients you need intravenously. No nutrient is lost through the digestion process when they’re introduced directly into the bloodstream, and this quick and safe method makes sure you can pursue an active life throughout summer and not worry about the debilitating effects of dehydration.

Struggling With Chronic Back Pain? 7 Smart Things You Can Do Right Now To Get Relief!

Struggling With Chronic Back Pain? 7 Smart Things You Can Do Right Now To Get Relief!

Lower back pain has become so common these days that there are over 31 million Americans suffering from this problem. It is one of the primary reasons for missed workdays in the country and the second most common reason to visit the doctor’s office.

Many people struggling with chronic back pain say their discomfort worsens when they are driving for long hours or doing sedentary work.

And there’s a good reason for this.

The human body is not designed to be sitting in one position for a lengthy period of time, and no matter how well car manufacturers and chair designers modify the shape of their seat, they can only take an average body frame into account, and people tend to come in all shapes and sizes.

If you have noticed that your back pain is getting worse because of all the time you spend driving your car or working at your desk, here are 7 things you can do to ease the situation and give your back a considerable amount of relief:

# 1: Sit More Comfortably

 Take some of the pressure off your discs and vertebrae by using a lumbar support cushion for your back when you’re working at a desk or driving. Remove wallets, keys and anything else that’s big and bulgy from your back pocket before you settle down because they can throw your spine positioning out of alignment.

# 2: Position Your Body Right

Try not to reach out for the steering wheel when you’re driving. Sit as close to it as safely possible to reduce pressure build-up in your back, neck, shoulders and wrists. Consciously sit with your knees positioned higher than the hips while driving.

# 3: Change Up Your Shoes

Don’t wear the same pair of shoes every day of the week. While it’s common knowledge that long, pencil heels can be doing your chronic back pain no favors, sandals, flip-flops and other sorts of flat shoes are not good for prolonged wear either as they offer little to no arch support. Wearing different shoes is the most practical way to avoid a back-breaking shoe impact pattern.

# 4: Think How You Sleep

Sleeping on your back or on your sides is a good posture because it stretches and elongates the spine. If you’re in the habit of sleeping on your tummy, slide a thin pillow under your hips to ease the pressure on your discs, ligaments and muscles.

Also, think of buying a bed mattress of medium firmness if you’re not sleeping on one. Research has shown that people with lower back pain had fewer complaints about aches and pains after sleeping on a medium-strength mattress for 3 months.

# 5: Beware Of Depression

Studies have shown a connection between chronic back pain and depression. If you’ve been feeling moody, sad or lethargic lately, be aware of your spiritual melancholy and work to get yourself off this slippery slope before the symptoms get worse. Don’t lie around in bed or in front of the TV to blank out the blah. Force yourself to go out, take a brisk walk and breathe deeply in the fresh air. Yoga, meditation and other mind-body disciplines can be a huge help too. The more you reduce the production of stress hormones like cortisol, the less your back muscles with bunch up and spasm from pent-up stress.

# 6: Hydrate More

Our muscles need a lot of water. If you’re not drinking sufficient water, then increasing your intake will help protect your spine. The intervertebral (spinal) disc is a fluid-filled structure, which get easily strained if water supply is not sufficient.

# 7: Get Cryotherapy

Find relief from backpain with Cryotherapy.

Cryotherapy, which literally means “cold therapy,” is a technique where the body is exposed to extremely cold temperatures for up to 3 minutes.

Recent studies have shown that cryotherapy can significantly improve lumbar spine mobility, reduce inflammation, decrease back pain and speed up recovery.

Hydralive Therapy is a clinic that offers state-of-the-art cryotherapy for people suffering from chronic back pain, and we’re waiting to show you how transformative the experience can be.

Interested In Getting Quick Relief From Back Pain At Hydralive?

Let Us Know!

Check out our locations by clicking HERE.