As 2020 comes to and end and we reflect on how hard the year has been for many of us with the pandemic and how it has impacted all of our lives, it has left many of us thinking about our health and questioning: “Am I really in the best physical and mental shape that I can be in?” The UK government has been clear throughout the pandemic that we MUST get sufficient exercise, even during the national lockdowns they have insisted that we must go out for daily exercise and that it is vital for our physical and mental health.
Are you questioning your physical and mental health?
Deep down we all question whether we are really putting in maximum effort to stay physically and mentally healthy. For most people our health has been at the forefront of our thoughts this year, knowing that we need to exercise to stay healthy and have our body in the best shape it can be in should we catch COVID-19 so that we have the best chance of defeating the virus. On top of the physical exercise we should be doing, many of us also have underlying health issues that we may or may not be fully aware of, and it’s these issues that can really let our health down. Many people reassess their health and wellbeing and what they can do to naturally improve health at the start of a new year, is it time you did the same?
What can I do to check for underlying health issues?
A good way to check for any underlying health issues is through a ‘health check’ style blood test, also known as a ‘full comprehensive blood test‘ such as the one provided by Balance My Hormones. Our comprehensive blood tests will check many health markers and will help detect anything that needs treatment or warrants further investigation.
Symptoms to watch out for that warrant a blood test
There are countless symptoms that warrant a blood test, some of the main ones are:
- Frequent headaches
- Fever or chills
- Aches or soreness in parts of the body that won’t go away
- Mind fog, lack of focus
- Low libido and genital problems
- Lumps and bumps on the body that are new
- Yellow colouration in the eye whites
- Frequent urination, dark urine
- Pale stools
- High body fat levels, lack of lean muscle
If you are suffering from any of these issues, consider taking our hormone test and ordering one of our comprehensive blood tests.
What can I do to stay healthy?
We’ve compiled a list of 5 things you can do to maintain your physical and mental health:
Exercise
Get plenty of exercise, try and exercise 3-4 times a week at a moderate and high pace. Studies have shown that High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is very effective at burning fat from the body, you can learn more about HIIT training here.
Eat well
Eat a well balanced diet high in cruciferous foods, fruit and fish, staying away from lots of processed meats, red meats and sugar. Try to eat organic where possible even if it’s a little bit more expensive, it’s worth paying for naturally produced produce
Vitamins and Minerals
Eating well should give you a good amount of natural vitamins and minerals, however during the winter months when there are more viruses about and little sunlight you may wish to consider taking a multi-vitamin supplement that includes vitamin D.
Avoid Stress
Avoid stress whenever possible as having an elevated levels of the hormone cortisol in your blood for prolonged periods of time may cause adrenal fatigue, which brings with it many unpleasant symptoms that you simply don’t want. Make time for yourself and learn the power of meditation.
Get your health checked by a professional
Consider getting a blood test such as our comprehensive blood test to check your overall hormonal health and wellbeing. These tests only serve to benefit your health and weed out any potential issues you may or may not have known about.
How can Balance My Hormones help?
We are one of the UK’s leading hormone health clinics, operating with specialist doctors who have vast experience in hormonal health. If you believe your hormones are not functioning correctly or are suffering from any of the symptoms mentioned in this article then please do get in touch below to speak to get a free consultation.
Scientific references / Resources / Further Reading / Study Material
https://www.hormone.org/your-health-and-hormones/glands-and-hormones-a-to-z/hormones/cortisol
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/exercise-health-benefits/
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/stress/index.shtml