New Study: The More You Hug Your Kids, The More Their Brains Develop

The time spent with the family and children is an essential part of human interaction. It strengthens the bonds and leads to countless physical and health advantages.

Apparently, at a biological level, it causes amazing positive changes.

Oxytocin is a hormone first discovered in 1906, by Sir Henry Dale, who coined the term, and derived it from the Greek “ωκυτοκίνη” (articulated as okitokini), which means “swift birth”.

This hormone is released in high amounts during childbirth and allows the uterus to contract amid birth and milk to eject during breastfeeding.

Oxytocin regulates numerous vital social behaviors, like the ability to bond with friends and family.

It helps the mothers to have healthy bonds with their babies since from an evolutionary aspect, dealing with our progeny has enabled our species to survive. This is why this hormone is also known as the “love molecule”.

Our survival is determined by love and social bonding, as they improve human experiences, help reproduction and boost the development of the brain by reducing anxiety and stress.

On the other hand, group exclusion leads to physical and developmental disorders, like elevating the risk of death in both animal models and primitive human tribes.

Therefore, we are designed as social animals, and oxytocin positively correlates to trust, which enables healthy emotional relationships, group inclusion, and social bonding.

Oxytocin is released during mother-infant bonding and positively affects social behaviors. Its production is stimulated by hugging, breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact.

Abnormal bonding, like a lack of hugging, has negative effects on the confidence of the child and its ability to establish healthy relationships with other people.

For instance, stress during the gestational period may be linked to behavioral deficits in later adulthood, as a result of the way to influences oxytocin systems.

The findings of studies conducted on rats showed that in case of paired prenatally stressed mothers and offspring, the low oxytocin levels lead to increased aggressiveness and anxiety-like behaviors.

After the birth of the child, its emotional and social developments are based on the positive social experiences and maternal bonding in the early life of the baby, which also heighten the resilience during stress.

Studies found a correlation between the levels of this hormone in both mothers and fathers of 4-6-month-old children and the level of social engagement and bonding of the baby with the parents.

Increased oxytocin levels in mothers are linked to the increased mother-infant bonding. Hence, bonding with the child, for instance, through hugging,  elevates oxytocin in the body, and thus enables a healthier relationship between the parent and child, lowers stress, and prevents social deficits as the child grows up.

Therefore, feel free to hug that little miracle of yours whenever you can!

Keep Reading: Wrapped Ginger – Treats Bad Cough And Removes Mucus From The Lungs In Just One Night, Especially Good For Kids! Recipes For Every Occasion

Maca Powder: The Perfect Food For Hormone Imbalance, Anxiety, Energy, Sleep, And Libido

Maca comes from the brassica (mustard) family, similar to turnip, cabbage, and watercress. This superfood was first used by the Incans who grew this hearty plant high in the Andes Mountains of Peru.

The Incans valued maca, which they commonly called Peruvian ginseng, for its incredible sources of vitamins, minerals, proteins, fiber, carbohydrates, tannins and amino acids, as well as a number of complex alkaloids and up to 20 essential fatty acids, along with numerous other phytochemicals.

I really think that you’ll be amazed when we tell you that the Incan imperial warriors regularly ate maca prior to battle to help increase their “fighting spirit,” strength, stamina, and libido. Although relatively small, this vegetable was so potent that its use was restricted mainly to royalty and their court. Incans respected the value of this plant so much they even used it as a form of payment.

Even today, many athletes and even bodybuilders still use maca to help build their strength, stamina and overall performance.

But, ladies and gentlemen, you should know that maca has another, lesser known benefit that researchers are only beginning to understand. This potent vegetable has the ability to balance hormones, which makes it invaluable for both men and women in various stages of life.

According to the experts, maca is especially good for women during menopause. Take a look at the article below and find out more about this.

Maca for Women

1. Regulates Hormonal Imbalances

First of all, you should know that maca is considered to be an endocrine adaptogen. Maca doesn’t contain any hormones, but it does contain the necessary nutrients to support normal hormone production within your body.

One of these nutrients is DIM (Diindolylmethane), a phytochemical that is found in many cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cabbage. DIM has been found in numerous studies to greatly improve hormone balance (both estrogen and testosterone) in both men and women.

Maca is also effective against some forms of cancer. A recent study has revealed that maca can help to normalize hormone levels by working with your endocrine system.

For women, maca can be a lifesaver, especially when most conventional options typically involve synthetic forms of hormones that are proven to be dangerous, even causing such things as ovarian cancer, stroke, and asthma, among other things.

Bottom line – maca provides the nutrients your body needs to naturally produce its own hormones to effectively restore balance. The conventional hormone treatments introduce synthetically made chemicals that can wreak havoc on your endocrine system. Hormone regulation is vital as these substances are responsible for virtually every process in your body.

2. Reduces Symptoms of Menopause

As we said, maca can help you balance your hormones, which means that it’s extremely helpful for women to reduce the typical symptoms associated with menopause.

A recent study has discovered that maca can help to alleviate the negative physiological and psychological symptoms experienced by women in perimenopause, such as the frequency of hot flashes, the incidence of night sweats, interrupted sleep, nervousness, depression, and heart palpitations.

The lead researcher said:

“It appears that Maca-GO may act as a toner of hormonal processes, leading to alleviation of discomfort felt by perimenopausal women, hence, its potential use as non-hormonal alternative to HRT program.”

Another study revealed that for women, maca is able to successfully restore hormone balance. The researchers have concluded that the changes in hormone levels was accompanied by a substantially-reduced feeling of discomfort associated with menopause.

Unfortunately, many women complain of “brain fog” during menopause, which has been linked to fluctuating hormones levels. Maca can improve this type of memory loss and it’s a potent neuroprotective agent, which makes it a potential treatment to help prevent or slow disease, and possibly, even in the case of injury, halt or at least slow, the loss of neurons.

3. Lowers Cholesterol Levels

You should know that maca is loaded with plant sterols, including sitosterol, campestrol, ergosterol, brassicasterol, and ergostadienol. According to the experts, these chemicals are essentially the equivalent of the cholesterol found your body.

These sterols help to form the cell membranes in plants. YES, there are different types of plant sterols, but they all have a similar chemical structure and have been shown by researchers to help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol in humans as well as combat three of the most common types of cancer.

4. Lowers Glucose Levels

Study has revealed that after just two weeks, subjects who took maca experienced significantly improved glucose tolerance, and lowered levels of glucose in their blood.

5. Reduces High Blood Pressure

Study confirms – maca can significantly inhibit the hypertension relevant angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE).

Maca for Women… And Men?

– Reduces Prostate Size

As we said, this super healthy powder is very beneficial for men as well. Study – a specific type of maca (red maca) can suppress prostatic growth and even reduce prostate size, which makes it a valuable tool for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a problem older men often face.

A group of experts have revealed that maca may be as potent as finasteride (a popular drug used to treat BPH) in reducing prostate size.

– Increases Fertility

Maca can also be a potential treatment for male infertility, especially if it is a result of lead exposure. Maca can effectively improve sperm production and motility.

Source: www.InTheHouseOfHealth.info

The Oils That Can Help You Fix Your Hormones

Herbs possess numerous health benefits and they are mostly beneficial in regulating the hormonal balance. Some of the most beneficial herbs used for hormonal balance include: myrtle, sandalwood, clary sage, lavender, holy basil and thyme.

What does hormonal balance mean? We are taking about:

– Thyroid hormones: thyroxin and triiodothyronine are produced by the thyroid gland, and their function is to regulate the metabolic processes.

– Sleep hormones: sleep hormones, such as: melatonin produced by the pineal gland, may greatly affect the overall health if they are imbalanced. Bad sleep quality can make the human body weak and prone to diseases.

– Adrenal hormones: cortisol, produced by the adrenal glands, aids the metabolic processes and regulates stress levels.

– Reproductive hormones: progesterone and estrogen regulate menstrual cycles, vaginal pH and female fertility.

Testosterone regulates male fertility, libido, bone mass and the production of red blood cells. In fact, men and women have 3 hormones, and any hormonal imbalance may increase the risk of cancer.

The function of the endocrine system is to maintain the hormonal balance. If one of the hormones is out of balance, it may affect the others, thus causing numerous symptoms, including weight gain, pain, fatigue, etc.

SYMPTOMS OF HORMONAL IMABALNCE

Some of the most common symptoms of hormonal imbalance are:

– Insomnia

– Low libido

– Weight loss or weight gain

– Irregular menstrual periods or infertility

– Anxiety and depression

– Appetite changes

– Fatigue

– Digestive issues

– Hair thinning and hair loss

CAUSES OF HORMONAL IMBALANCE

Hormonal imbalances are caused by numerous factors, like medical history, diet, stress levels, genetics, and exposure to toxins in the environment. Some of the most common contributors of hormonal imbalance are:

– Gut issues and food allergies

– Being obese or overweight

– Increased levels of inflammation caused by sedentary life and an unhealthy diet

– Genetic susceptibility

– Lack of rest and poor sleep quality

– Toxicity (exposure to toxins, pesticides, cigarettes, viruses, alcohol and chemicals)

HERBS FOR HORMONAL BALANCE

The five most beneficial herbs used for hormonal balance include:

1. Holy basil for reducing anxiety

According to the studies, holy basil possesses properties, which reduce the cortisol levels, the stress hormone. It has been also shown that the extract of holy basil aids in reducing the levels of anxiety.

In addition, it is also beneficial for treating memory issues, exhaustion, sexual issues, and sleep quality.

2. Myrtle for improved sleep quality

Even though myrtle has been used as a hypnotic herb and a sedative by some cultures, its effects on the humans are still not known. Nevertheless, there have been numerous studies on its effects on mice and rats.

According to the findings of the study, the animals that took extract of myrtle slept more often and their muscles were relaxed. It has also shown that the myrtle extract has anti-anxiety properties.

In addition, another study has shown that the extract of myrtle has relaxing properties on some animals. In fact, mice that took myrtle essential oil had prolonged sleeping activity, which slowed down the function of the brain.

3. Clary sage for healthier menopause

Clary sage has the ability to reduce the levels of cortisol. A recent study has shown that 50-year old women, who inhaled oil of clary saga, experienced reduced levels of cortisol. In addition, even though the reducing was rather slightly, there was also a decrease in the thyroid hormones.

It is also considered that clary saga can increase the levels of estrogen in women, who have menopausal symptoms as a result of decreases estrogen levels.

4. Thyme for preventing breast cancer

In vitro study evaluated the effects of a few herbs extracts on breast cancer.

The herb that was able to act with progesterone, a female sex hormone produced in pregnancy and menstrual cycle, was thyme.

According to the researchers, thyme has a great number of phytoprogestins and phytoestrogens, which were tested to find out of they have effects on the growth of the breast cancer cells.

Interestingly, the findings of the study have shown that the thyme had the same effects in inhibiting the breast cancer cell growth and preventing the function of the progesterone.

5. Sandalwood for lowering stress

A recent study assessed the effects of aromatherapy on women, who underwent breast biopsy, a test to find out if a lump is malignant. Undergoing breast biopsy may be rather stressful for most women.

Therefore, participants in the study were told to try a combination of two essential oils.

The findings of the study have shown that the combination of peppermint oil and orange oil was less effective than the combination of lavender oil and sandalwood, which has shown calming effects in the participants and reduced anxiety.

In addition, another study has shown that patients with poor sleep quality experienced improved sleep by inhaling different types of essential oils.

One of the essential oils used in this combination was sandalwood. Nearly 64 % of the participants experienced a slightly imropved sleep quality.

6. Ashwagandha

It can be especially effective at regulating hormonal balances. It is beneficial for the thyroid as it promotes elimination of free radicals, which lead to cellular damage. In addition, it can be also used to enhance an overactive thyroid gland, and aids in overcoming adrenal fatigue.

7. Fennel

Gut health issues have been considered to cause autoimmune reactions, as well as thyroid disorders. You can use the fennel oil to calm down your body, enhance digestive processes, and improve metabolism and lower inflammation.

All you have to do is to rub two drops of fennel essential oil on the stomach or pour 1 – 2 drops of the oil in lukewarm water or tea.

8. Lavender

Lavender oil enhances emotional balance, because it significantly treats depression, anxiety, stress and mood swifts. In addition, it is used to improve sleep quality, which in turn helps to regulate hormones.

HOW TO USE HERBS MEDICINALLY

You can use herbs in many ways. The simplest way to experience their benefits is to include them in your smoothies or diet, even though you can find them in essential oils, teas, and extracts. You can use medicinal herbs in ointments and poultices.

Extract forms represents concentrated doses of medicinal herbs, which can be found in powder form (loose powder and capsules) when the water is eliminated completely from the herb or tinctures (liquid). It is best to use tinctures on an empty stomach for 1 – 2 ml.

Essential herbal oils can be used in numerous ways:

– Mix it with a carrier oil, such as: coconut oil, and apply it on the skin

– Add several drops to a warm bath

– Use it as a diffuser. Put a few drops in a distilled water and place it in place it in somewhere in your home.

When you prepare or buy herbals teas, you should look for herbal ones.

Moreover, you should buy whole leaf teas instead of teabags, which may often contain pesticide residues. Consume the herbal teas three times on a daily basis.