Headaches: Causation, Treatment & Prevention

While the science behind headaches stems from a biochemical disorder, psychological influences can play a key role in the onset or maintenance of a headache. Research has shown that there is a comorbidity between psychiatric symptoms and headaches, particularly that of anxiety and depression. Due to biopsychosocial factors, headaches can have serious influences on a person's overall quality of life. In this post, we are going to take a look at the causation of headaches and ways you can treat/prevent them.

Primary Headaches

There are 2 types of headaches that a person can experience- primary or secondary. Primary headaches happen when there is an issue with the pain sensitivity structures or they go into overdrive. Nerve or blood vessels around the skull, head or neck muscles, or chemical activation in the brain can all play a role. One of the most common types of primary headaches is a migraine.

Migraine

Symptoms can cause intense pain or throbbing typically on one side of the head. While the verdict is still out on the causation, researchers believe that the causation is related to unstable nerve cells that overreact to different triggers. These triggers can include...

• Issues with sleep

• Depression, Anxiety or Stress

• Hormonal changes in the body (including PMS)

• Fatigue or hunger

• Alcohol Use or caffeine withdrawal

• Bodily strain related to posture

Secondary Headaches

These headaches are typically related to a secondary cause, such as a medical condition. These can include...

• Head Injury (such as a concussion)

• Infection

• Overuse of medication

• Congestion of the sinuses

• Tumor

• now COVID-19

Treatment of Headaches

As there are many ways to treat a headache, I will touch on a few common and not-so-common treatments.

Over-the-counter

Anti-inflammatory medications (such as Aspirin or ibuprofen) and acetaminophens (i.e., Tylenol) are what many individuals use for pain relief. These medications either block the production of chemicals that cause inflammation or elevate pain thresholds to relieve pain and reduce fevers (in the case of acetaminophens). If you see a primary care provider or specialist, they may recommend other types of medications which call for a prescription.

As we stated before, because there is a psychological aspect that can onset headaches, there are other forms of treatment that don't require medication (but an appointment with a psychologist or therapist). These include...

Stress management

Using learning relaxation techniques- such as deep breathing, muscle relaxation to manage stress which can reduce headaches. Additionally, Cognitive Behavior Therapy can teach coping skills to manage pain.

Acupuncture

Some research shows acupuncture to be effective in the treatment of headaches by restoring the flow of energy in the body and removing negative energy related to pain by dividing the body into zones and pressure points (typically near the nerves).

Feedback Treatment

Biofeedback is a common modality used in headache treatment. It involves sensors placed on different parts of the body that monitor physiological changes in the body (including muscle stress, heart/ respiratory rate and skin conductance). In turn, instant feedback is provided to the specialist who helps teach the individual how to gain control of these bodily processes.

Additionally, neurofeedback is another feedback modality where sensors are connected to the head to determine neural activity levels in specific brain areas. This information is relayed in real-time, and the specialist provides techniques to teach the individual ways to control brain activity responses.

These feedback modalities can decrease psychiatric symptoms like stress or anxiety, reduce pain and muscle tension, as well as strengthen brain activity.

Headache Prevention

As we've discussed, there are many things that can cause a headache and while some of these may be out of our control, there are still preventative steps that you can take to either reduce some of the characteristics of headaches (duration, intensity, frequency). These include...

• Diet changes & increase water intake

• Healthy sleep regimen

• Reducing stress

• Seeking Therapy to decrease psychiatric symptoms

• Increasing opportunities for self-care

• Talking with your doctor

As always, this post is only to provide general information. Please consult with your provider regarding treatment for your specific needs.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Meditation

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The art of meditation has grown in popularity over the years. It is recommended for everyone because of its benefits. Physically, mediation is said to lower blood pressure, improve blood circulation, lower heart rate, lower respiratory rate, and lower blood cortisol levels.

Meditation is also associated with mental health. It's believed to be helpful for those who experience anxiety and depression, helping them maintain peace of mind. It also helps reduce stress, increase relaxation, and improve cognitive skills like concentration and attentiveness.

With all the wonderful effects of meditation that encompass physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual health, there's no question why many are eager to try it out. If you're trying meditation for the first time, here's a guide to help you get started.

Sit quietly for two minutes

The art of meditation requires peace and quiet so you can get in touch with your body and mind. For most people, it can be difficult to sit quietly with minimal movement for a long time. That's why it's ideal to take things slow, especially for beginners. In the first few days of trying out meditation, start with sitting quietly for only two minutes. Do this every day and you'll find that you'll be able to do it for longer periods of time as you go along.

Don't worry too much about knowing how to meditate

Most beginners worry too much about the logistics of meditating. They try to find the perfect spot, get a comfortable cushion to sit on, etc. These are all really good when it comes to maximizing your meditation efforts, but for your first time, you don't really need to worry about these things. You'll figure it out sooner or later. But for now, all you have to do is sit quietly and begin without worrying about whether or not you're doing it right.

Keep track of your breathing

Once you're all settled down, close your eyes and keep track of your breathing. Count how many breaths you're taking, starting with 1 and ending with 10. Repeat the cycle again and again. When you do this, you're focusing your mind on one thing. But later on, your mind will start to wander. You may recall good memories, see peaceful places, or think happy thoughts. This is all completely normal. Allow yourself to live in the moment and then start counting your breaths again later on.

Acknowledge thoughts and emotions

Many people think that meditation is about clearing the mind. It is at some point, but that's not entirely the purpose of it. Oftentimes, when you meditate, you'll feel all sorts of different emotions. You may feel anxious, scared, lonely, or sad. But it's all part of the process. Learn how to embrace these emotions and allow yourself to go through them. Stay and get curious about where your thoughts will take you, but be careful not to dwell on them and make sure to end your meditation on a good note.

Commit to it

It's easy to say you'll meditate every day. But with the hustle and bustle of life and our busy schedules, it's easy to neglect it. But in order to maximize its benefits and really feel the power of meditation, you have to commit to it. Set a reminder for yourself to meditate at least 10 minutes daily. You might even want to consider getting mala beads to serve as a reminder to live in the moment.

Meditation is a powerful art, and all you really need to master it is dedication. Use these tips to help you get started, especially through these trying times that we are currently experiencing present day.

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The Importance Of A Strong Circle

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When it comes to wellness, most people completely forget that one of the most important tools in the bag is a good, supportive circle of people who love you and want to help you to get well again. When you’re in a crisis, the last thing you want to do is feel like a burden on others, so asking for help isn’t always the priority. The thing is, regular contact with family and friends can make you feel distracted from the pain that is going on in your own life, or it can mean that you have a good sounding board to get the support you need for your own issues.

The problem with a lot of mental health issues is that they make you think that you have no one to rely on, when in fact, you have a waiting circle of family and friends who want to know how you are doing and how they can help you. If you are suffering with depression and anxiety, these are the people that can make sure you’re not alone enough to feel so low there’s no way back. If you are suffering through the pain of addiction, these are the people who will be there for you with the information you need, such as Medication-Assisted Treatment: Fact vs Fiction, to help you to get the right treatment that you need. You need a strong, lasting circle to enrich your life and make you feel like you have something to live for. Friends and family around you make you feel good about yourself - even indirectly, and if you are struggling to recognize who is a good friend in your life, then think about these traits:

• You respect, like and trust them, and they feel the same way about you.

• They accept you the way you are. If you’re suffering depression, they’re there just to sit in silence with because they know that is what you need from them at that moment.

• They will listen to you and share with you, whether good or bad.

• They keep your confidence and trust you to keep theirs, too.

• They will allow you to feel your emotions and not judge you for them, criticize you for them or make you feel like your feelings are not valid.

• A good friend will give you the best advice - when you ask for it - and will assist you in taking the right action to feel better about yourself.

• Will allow you to help them when they need it.

• You look forward to being with them, but you’re not obsessed about it

• Will never take advantage of you.

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Not everyone in your circle will meet all of your emotional needs, but you can have a group, a solid circle of people who will all in some way make you feel like you want to be alive. They will appreciate you for your quirks and the way that you love them, and you’ll appreciate their support and friendship and the ability to make you smile when you don’t feel there’s anything to smile about. Looking after yourself means surrounding yourself with people who make you want to be better than you are. Making a list of the people that you feel close to in life can really help you to be a better, happier person because you can see on paper who you have that loves you in every avenue of your existence.

You should be able to rely on the people in your life for support and having a network of people who want to be with you and make you feel like a good person is important for your recovery. Emotional health and mental health are often fragile in those with depression and addiction, and if you know that you have a strong group of people who will always believe in you, even when you do let them down, you are lucky. You won’t always let others down, but it happens - in the same way that they may let you down. Your life can be a happier, more enjoyable thing to live when you have the right people making it worthwhile for you. Social relationships play a very important role in the quality of life that we achieve.

Life is a gift, and friends are the ribbons and bows on top that make us feel fulfilled. Making your heart feel full is easy, when you have a group of people around you who love you very much.

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Does Depression Have A Physical Cause?

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Depression is classed as a psychiatric illness, and rightly so. For the majority of sufferers, chronic depression is caused by an imbalance of chemicals in their brain. This causes a mood disorder, with the most common symptom being a persistently low mood and feelings of anhedonia.

While depression awareness has risen over the past few years, it’s still a relatively misunderstood and misused term. Perhaps the biggest misconception is that depression is only caused by a few wonky hormones and unbalanced brain chemistry - when it can actually have a very physical root.

Depression As A Physical Ailment

The reason that depression is so often treated as a purely mental thing is that its primary symptoms are mental. That’s what makes it a mental illness, after all. While there are occasionally physical symptoms of depression, these tend to be found in more advanced cases, and are often overridden by the impact the illness has on mood.

So it’s easy to see why the physical causes of depression are overlooked. If you were to immediately jump to looking for physical causes of depression, then it’s akin to hearing hoofbeats and immediately assuming it’s zebras rather than the far-more-likely horses.

But sometimes, it might just be zebras after all.

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Depression As A Symptom

Depression is not always an illness that is self-contained and in and of itself; it can sometimes be a symptom of physical health conditions. Most commonly, depression is a symptom of deficiency.

This makes sense. If your system is deficient in something, then it’s not going to be able to run on full power. Something has to give; and it’s far easier for your body to prioritize physical health over mental health, so depression is the end result. 

There are a variety of different deficiencies that can lead to depression. Vitamin B12 deficiency is often associated with the condition; the same is true of Vitamin D. Then there are minerals such as calcium, with hypocalcemia listing depression as one of its most common symptoms. 

These deficiencies are relatively easy to treat when you know you have them. A calcium supplement can change your life for the better in a variety of ways with very little in exchange; AlgaeCal side effects are next to non-existent, and it’s a great boost of calcium. The same is true of B12 and D vitamin supplements; next to no side effects, but plenty to be gained from taking them. 

How Do You Find Out If You Have A Deficiency

If you suspect a physical cause for your depressive issues, then the only way to be sure if this is the case is through a blood test to ensure you’re getting what you need from your diet. Express your concern to your doctor and they should order one for you.

Depression is a terrible illness that can blight lives, which is why investigating potential physical causes should be part of the diagnostic process. However, it’s often overlooked, despite the fact the medical link is well known and established. There is no harm in having a blood test just to check and see if something is amiss, so press your doctor until you are furnished with the information you need.

Now that we have talked about some of the symptoms and onsets to depression, there are many ways for you to get started on the road to recovery. The first step would be speaking with a clinician who is a specialist in helping people suffering from the many symptoms depression can cause. You can learn more about depression at thrivetalk.com.

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Your Rights Pave The Way To Recovery

Recovering from a traumatic event takes time and support. Not everyone can bounce back. Most people experience severe depression during the recovery period. Indeed, as you learn to get better — whether your suffering is the result of physical or emotional pain – you get to spend a lot of time thinking about what happened to you and living the same situation over and over again.

Your recovery is first and foremost a mental journey. Indeed, you might find that you need to tackle stress and anxiety issues. Don’t ignore these. Your mental health is precious and ignoring issues don’t make them go away. On the contrary, they establish themselves stronger every day. Most of those who are trying to heal choose to tackle their fears through therapy and a positive and loving environment. However, dealing with post-traumatic stress and worries is only half of the battle. When you’ve been injured – physically or psychologically –, you can develop a feeling of vulnerability as a response to an unfair situation. Your self-confidence is shattered. And, if you don’t claim your rights back, you can fall into a victim mindset. Your rights are the way to recover your mental strength.

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You’re entitled compensation

First of all, you have rights which are designed to protect you. Consequently, when you suffer as a result of someone else’s negligence or fault, you can and should be defended after a personal injury or another claim of a similar nature. What this means is that you don’t have to pay for something you didn’t do. The recovery process is long and painful enough. But making your rights known and respected ensures that you can regain your dignity and self-worth in the process. Indeed, you shouldn’t feel guilty for someone else’s mistake, nor should you let them get away without taking responsibility for the event they caused.

Don’t suffer abuse in silence

Discrimination, hate speech, and racist abuses are, unfortunately, everyday occurrences. More recently, a passenger of a low-cost flight was filmed insulting an elderly woman. The man, who has been identified by his neighbors – after they’ve seen the video on social media – has been named and is currently undergoing investigation for his behavior. Authorities have come together and demanded an explanation from the airline company as to why they failed to remove the abusive passenger. Supports from all over the country have gathered online on behalf of the victim. The video – which was taped by another passenger – brings a new dimension to the recovery process. Nobody has to recover on their own, and the victim here is receiving messages of support from all over the world every day.

Ignoring your rights is dehumanizing yourself

Your rights are not only part of a legal book. They define you as an individual. The moment you refuse to acknowledge that your rights have been violated, you authorize others to break you. When you do, you describe yourself as somehow less worthy and human than others. Ignoring your rights is the highest form of dehumanization. You matter, and so do your rights.

The recovery process is a long and painful journey, during which you need to rebuild your confidence and strength. The journey begins with making your rights respected because your rights bring protection, empathy, and humanity to your journey.

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Stepping Stones of Mental Recovery

When we receive a physical injury after an accident, there are logical steps to help us through. For one, we know to visit our doctors for treatment as soon as possible. The hope being that they can lead us to a (hopefully) quick recovery.

Alongside that, there are legal avenues we can take. These help us afford the costs of medical care, and can go a long way towards recovery. There are plenty of physical injury lawyers out there who can help. Even those suffering from burns and other less common injuries can call for an appointment with a lawyer who could see justice done. Again, this is a step most of us know to take in cases like these.

What you might not expect is that physical injuries aren’t merely physical. Often, accidents and injuries also have unexpected mental repercussions. What’s worse, these could impact your life far more than a broken leg. But, it doesn’t need to be that way. By preparing for matters like these, you can set some logical steps in place for tackling these issues as well. All you need to do is consider risks like the following.

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Treatment-related stress

Even if compensation can cover costs, recovery causes stress. For one, an injury could mean leaving your routine. You’d also need to embark on all types of stressful situations- such as intense hospital appointments. In some cases, you may even need to stay in hospital. That can cause undue amounts of stress, especially if you don’t look after your mental health here. The best way of getting around this would be to let others help. Instead of getting yourself to and from appointments, let a friend drive you. Put a positive slant on things by going out for coffee afterward. It’s a small step, but it’ll make a huge difference.

Appearance anxiety

In some incidences, accidents can leave us with long lasting scars which may alter our appearance. That can lead to feelings of anxiety. You may become nervous to leave the house because of how you look. However there are many options from therapy to consulting a doctor for reconstructive surgery (if needed). Either way, finding a solution for you can help to get you comfortable in your skin again.

Fear you can’t face

Much like anxiety, fear can lead to panic attacks and depression. There’s a chance you’ll be fearful of whatever caused your accident. Those who have been injured on the road may struggle to get driving again. Those who were involved in a fire may feel a tightening of the chest at the sight of flames. The sooner you face those fears, the sooner you may find you can move forward. Bear in mind that, in extreme cases, it would be best to only face fears with the help of a professional. Still, determination here could help you get back to your old life.

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Health Conditions Millennials Need To Look Out For

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The Costs of Screen Time

Millennial’s are the first generation to grow up with technology by their side almost from birth. They’re switched on to the digital world in a way that older people can’t understand. While there are benefits to this - studies have shown that millennial’s are better at critical thinking and multitasking - there are some downsides; chiefly, the effect that screen time has on the eyes and wrists. You need to take breaks every 20 minutes or so to keep your eyes in tip-top condition and learn how to type properly to avoid the problems of repetitive strain injury. If you’re using a laptop, get a Bluetooth keyboard and raise your computer up so you have the correct posture.

In the Ears

Older generations would gather around a record player or wireless radio and listen to music every once in a while. Millennial’s are plugged in all the time, and they’re playing music way too loud. As a result, there has been a sharp rise in hearing-related problems among young adults, specifically tinnitus, which produces a constant ringing in the ears. While prevention - in the form of turning your music down - is the best option, there are effective tinnitus relief options for people who are already suffering. It can be enjoyable to crank your favorite track to the highest volume, but don’t forget that your poor ears might not appreciate it in the long-term!

Overall Fitness

As millennial’s grow up during an age when outdoor play gave way to playing on consoles indoors, many haven’t developed the core physical fitness needed to stay healthy. As such, a significant portion - somewhere in the region of 40% - of millennial’s are overweight, and around 70% will be by the time they’re 35. It’s much easier to get into shape while you’re young, so make the most of that gym membership before it’s too late.

Alcohol-Related Issues

There’s no getting around the fact that alcohol is an issue for all generations, and actually, young people are generally drinking more than older generations, and when they do, they’re going big. There can be serious consequences for those people who are downing shot after shot; the body is not meant to take in that much alcohol in such a short period.

Mental Health Concerns

It’s possible that the world has always had mental health concerns, and that we’re just talking about it more now, but studies do suggest that issues such as social media, a tough job market, and an increasing emphasis on one’s looks might be responsible for more mental health troubles. If you’re suffering from anxiety, depression, eating disorders, or anything else, then reach out: there are many avenues of support and since it’s more of an accepted issue, you don’t need to worry (as much) about a negative stigma.

Millennial’s and Sugar

Millennial’s are pretty good at eating healthily: we’re the ones who brought kale and quinoa to the public’s attention, after all. But some damage may already have been done. They grew up when a time when sugar was king, when cereals and other daily mainstays had far too much sugar in them. They were delicious, sure, but they may have produced unprecedented problems with our teeth. Keep an eye on yours to ensure they’re always pearly white and strong; you’ll need them for a long time.

If you’re going to be a big player in the 21st century, then it seems like you’re going to have to contend with some of the issues above! The good news is that if you’re aware of them, then you can at least control your actions to reduce the chances of them happening.

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Squashing The Addictions Once And For All

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I get it, we can all find ourselves getting into bad habits when it comes to general things in life. Our lifestyle can change from one day to the next and there can be a lot of deciding factors in it. We now live in a world where technology and answers are at our fingertips, where things are more readily available to us than ever before, and with advancements in all sorts of ways, bad habits can develop. But these addictions don’t need to take over our lives.

I wanted to share with you some of the common addictions we can all face at some point,  and hopefully give you some comfort and direction on how to overcome them once and for all.

Are you addicted to drinking alcohol?

Alcohol can be the biggest issue some of us face, and it is because the addiction to it can vary so much. You have those people who just need that glass of wine at the end of each day. You have the people that can’t be out socially without a drink, and then you have the people that can’t get out of bed without a drink. All different version of addiction, but each one of them need to be handled, albeit differently. Often alcohol can be the answer after a tough day or when you are going through a tough time. But it is also known as a depressive and it can make things worse in your mind, not better. If you do think you have an issue, speak to someone regarding it.

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Do you smoke more frequently?

Smoking is a bad habit that can really affect our health. It doesn't matter whether you smoke one cigarette a day or fifty, the chance of getting cancer is high because of it. Many people looking to kick the habit have switched over to vaping. Websites like License to Vape reviews different options for you, so it might be worth doing some research. You could also speak to health professionals about other methods available to you, but often just deciding to stop is the biggest change you can make.

Do you work too hard?

Would you believe me if I said there was an addiction to work and you could be struggling with it? Workaholism is a real thing, believe it or not. People are working harder than ever, chasing the big pay brackets and the difference in lifestyle it can make. But it can also be detrimental to your health if you don’t get enough rest. Try and ensure that you take time away from work every now and again. Enjoy annual leave and don’t overdo it when you don’t need to. Life's too short.

Are you endlessly scrolling your phone?

Finally, do you find that you are on your smartphone more than you should be? There is a real addiction to your phone and the endless scrolling you can do on social media. Perhaps not even taking in what your eyes are viewing. If you think you spend more time on Instagram than you do with your family, it is time to put the phone down and enjoy the art of conversation.

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3 Ways Your Physical Health Affects Your Emotional Health

People often put physical and mental, or emotional, health in different categories, as if they could be easily separated out from one another. This is a pretty terrible idea, because when all is said and done, the different aspects of health and wellness are intimately tied together, and it by no means is a simple matter to divide the different causes and effects of poor physical health, poor emotional health, and poor mental health.

You might be interested in an aura healing appointment in order to help regain your sense of wellbeing, but if your physical health is in turmoil, it’s likely not going to do a whole world of good.

Here are some ways that your physical health directly impacts your emotional health.

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Chronically elevated stress hormones make you more susceptible to anxiety and less able to face your challenges

Stress isn’t just a psychological thing, like people often believe it is. When you’re feeling really stressed out in your life, the answer isn’t just to “toughen up”, because stress is something that is heavily rooted in the body as well as in the mind. When we feel stressed, we are experiencing elevated levels of stress hormones in our bodies including, primarily, cortisol, and also adrenaline.

When these stress levels are chronically elevated — when they’re always high because of poor lifestyle habits — you become far more susceptible to anxiety, and you become far less psychologically and emotionally resilient. Whereas you might once have been more than up to the task of meeting your challenges head-on, and getting a ton of productive things done each day, you are likely to hit a point, after enough time spent in chronic stress, where everything just falls apart.

 “Burnouts” are physical as well as mental.

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Lack of sleep causes depression and makes it harder for you to focus

When we sleep, our brains restructure themselves in subtle ways, and we seem to store and categorized our memories and experiences from the day. When we sleep, our bodies also release various hormones, repair damaged tissue, and do many other things that we’re not entirely clear on the details of.

Because of all of these reasons, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that researchers have found that people who don’t get enough sleep each night (around 8 hours for the average person) experience shrinkage in important areas of their brains, and are significantly more prone to mood issues like depression.

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Too much intense exercise over-taxes the central nervous system

When you work out until you literally collapse on the floor, you might feel like you’re being dedicated and are getting as fit as possible, but if you don’t keep things in balance and get enough rest and the right balance of nutrients for recovery, you’re setting yourself up for real issues in the near future. Intense exercise takes a heavy toll on the central nervous system. When we do too much, we can experience Overtraining Syndrome, which wrecks our health and immune systems.

Needless to say, when this happens, we’re likely to experience severe brain fog, low mood, and have trouble feeling positive about life.

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A Great Framework: Building Healthy Bones

As humans, we all benefit from a decent amount of structure. The greatest example of a structure in us, as people, is our bones. We may not be able to see them, but like depression and other internal issues, we feel them, but they’re not necessarily seen. So, what is the best way to build healthy bones, especially as bone density tends to weaken as we get older?

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Boost Your Calcium Consumption

Yes, it may be obvious, but while people think that calcium is all they need to build healthy bones, this is not the main solution! The key is to pair calcium with vitamin D, as well as other key nutrients, like magnesium. If you have a diet rich in leafy green vegetables this will be a big help, but if you are struggling to fight a losing battle with a bone condition like osteoporosis, you may want to supplement your healthy diet. You can look at the AlgaeCal reviews on Amazon and see that a lot of people who are fighting osteoporosis or osteopenia have a lot of praise for it. However, remember that supplements aren’t a cure just by itself. You need to make sure you have the adequate diet in place to get the benefits of a wide range of nutrients, like vitamin K as well as Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin.

Delve Into Your Family History

If you have any concerns about your bones, you may want to do some research into your family history to see if there are any issues in your immediate family, such as a parent or a sibling. If you have any close members of the family who have had osteoporosis, you are more likely to develop it yourself.

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Start Exercising!

It appears to be the cure all for many health issues, and your bone health is one of those. If you start to integrate weight-bearing exercises into your workout routine, such as running, skiing, or jump rope, these have been shown to keep the bones strong. It's also beneficial to start resistance training, by doing weightlifting or starting at home with body weight exercises.

Cut Down On Your Vices

Yes, unfortunately all those things that we like to consume to excess aren’t particularly good for our bones. Not just nicotine and alcohol, but caffeine has a big impact on how our bodies can absorb calcium. So it's is recommended to cut back on your caffeine intake, but not give up on it entirely, just as long as you have more than your adequate share of calcium in your diet, not just from milk, but leafy vegetables.

Get Out In The Sunshine

As previously mentioned, vitamin D has a sufficient impact on our ability to absorb calcium. If there isn't much sunshine where you live, and you can't get the recommended 10 to 15 minutes in the sun three times a week, you can get your vitamin D intake through shrimp, sardines, egg yolks, or tuna.

Building our bones as a strong framework for our body is a priority. It's what will make us run faster and feel much more vibrant. So it's important for you to take control of your bone structure now.

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