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“You are what you eat” isn’t literally true, but it is a reminder that diet matters. Here are some top anti-inflammatory foods you should be eating.

What you eat directly affects your health. Consuming excessive sugar, alcohol, or highly processed foods stripped of most of their nutrients makes you vulnerable to diseases such as heart disease and obesity and may worsen chronic conditions such as arthritis and diabetes.

When challenged by a disease-causing pathogen such as a virus, the body responds by heating up—that’s why a fever is a signature of an infection. Inflammatory responses to these invaders can also appear as swelling or redness.

When the natural inflammatory response of the immune system has done its job of fighting off illness, the inflammation is supposed to recede. When it doesn’t, your body enters a state of chronic inflammation, raising the risks of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, and even depression and Alzheimer’s disease. Because of the risks associated with inflammation, it’s essential to implement some of the top anti-inflammatory foods into your diet.

Persistent inflammation may be related to what you eat. Red meat, fried foods, sugary sodas, refined carbohydrates, processed meats, and certain fats contribute to inflammation. The good news is, there are foods you can eat that combat chronic inflammation. Here are a few of the top anti-inflammatory foods you should be eating:

Berries

Blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries are all packed with antioxidants and vitamins. The antioxidant anthocyanin reduces the activity of cell-damaging free radicals in the body. Their cell-protecting action reduces inflammation and wards off diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

Olive Oil

One of the “good” fats, extra-virgin olive oil is rich in antioxidant polyphenols, which reduce inflammation, cholesterol levels, and possibly the risk of cancer. It also contains monounsaturated fats, which are good for blood vessels. Olive oil has a low smoke point and is best used in salad dressings.

Avocados

Another food filled with “good” fat, avocados also provide the essential minerals potassium and magnesium. They can help you lose weight, and any time you reduce obesity, you can reduce inflammation.

Oily Fish

Salmon, mackerel, sardines, and tuna are rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats. These fish also provide a variety of minerals and vitamins, such as vitamin B-12, vitamin D, selenium, and potassium.

Green, Leafy Vegetables

You already know you should be eating more spinach—plus some chard and kale. Spinach is high in folic acid, and all dark green leafies have antioxidant properties.

Turmeric, Ginger, Garlic, and Cinnamon

Sometimes you can find better health in your spice cabinet. Curcumin is the active anti-inflammatory in turmeric. Ginger contains an anti-inflammatory substance called gingerol. Garlic is antifungal, antibacterial, and extremely flavorful. It can reduce cholesterol and ease high blood pressure.

No single food can solve inflammation. Instead, a diet filled with colorful, antioxidant-rich variety can help you lose weight and help your body calm inflammation that contributes to disease. Know the top anti-inflammatory foods to incorporate into your diet and care plan. Dr. Philip Rabito is an endocrinologist on the Upper East Side of NYC who can help you create an anti-inflammatory diet plan for better health.

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When starting your exercising routine, it’s common to have an abundance of enthusiasm. You’re excited to begin and eager to see results. But that eagerness can quickly give way to discouragement if you don’t see immediate changes or feel as though progress is taking too long. Feeling stagnant can lead individuals to exercise less and less due to seeing their work amount to very little, but knowing fitness tips on how to stay motivated to exercise can prevent this feeling.

By having strategies to turn to, you can maintain your motivation levels to keep you going, even during weeks where you see less progress than you would’ve hoped. Consider these when starting your journey into exercising to prevent discouragement or burnout.

Give Yourself Goals

Every weight loss journey begins with having a goal in mind that you must reach. Without any concept of where you want to end up, your efforts can be unfocused, leading to stagnation in weight loss. But these goals that you set do not have to be long-term ones. They can also be milestones that you want to achieve from week to week or even from one day to the next.

Always Show up With a Plan

Regardless of whether you go into the gym or do exercises at home, you need to know what you’re doing on that particular day. You need to have a plan regarding what machines you’re going to use, how long you’re going to use them, what intensity you’ll set them at, and how many sets or repetitions you’re going to do. Having this plan will keep your efforts focused and ensure that you’re exercising the necessary parts of the body for maximum effect.

Keep Your Goals Realistic

Having high standards for yourself isn’t necessarily bad, but there’s a fine line between having high standards and unreasonable expectations. You need to know how much exercising your body can realistically handle from day to day; otherwise, you run the risk of sustaining an injury or experiencing fatigue. Start with smaller, more easily attainable goals and follow those up with more challenging ones to push yourself further. Just be sure not to push yourself too hard.

Keep Records of Your Progress

Having goals may not always be enough to keep you motivated. You may also need to keep track of what you’ve done to truly have an idea of the effort you’ve put in and the progress you’ve made. After you’ve complete an exercise session, write down what you’ve accomplished on that particular day, and at the end of every week, record how much weight you’ve lost.

Physical Evidence of Your Accomplishments

Exercising and reading numbers off of a scale can be too abstract to find much meaning from, but having your progress written down serves as a physical copy of the growth you’ve achieved. It reminds you that what you’re doing is working and that you’re better than you used to be. Even when you feel you haven’t made the progress you want, you can look back to see just how far you’ve come.

Fit Exercise Into Your Day-to-Day Routine

There may be days when you don’t have time to dedicate to full exercising sessions, but it’s still important to get in some physical activity. This can take the form of walking to the store or riding your bike. You could also take time during your lunch break at work to do some light exercises or go for a walk.

Avoid a Sedentary Lifestyle

While these little additions to your day may seem as though they do not offer sufficient exercise, they add up over time and are far more beneficial than remaining inactive and sedentary. Even if you’re at home and watching the television at the end of your day, try doing some activity instead of being stationary on your couch. Sitting and remaining unmoving for long periods of time is unhealthy for the body, so you should intersperse idle moments with physical activity, no matter how light and mundane the exercising may be.

Have a Support System

Surround yourself with loved ones that will support and encourage you on your journey. Have people who will keep you accountable if you haven’t been meeting your goals or have neglected to go to the gym. Having someone who will accompany you to the gym and exercise with you can help you get more out of your workouts since you can work together.

Make Your Activity Fun

A gym’s environment can at times feel sterile, boring, and unfulfilling. These feelings can be enough to drive you away due to the monotony of regular exercising sessions. This is why it’s important to mix up your physical activity with activities that you find compelling, enjoyable, and stimulating. Whether you find excitement from doing sports like soccer and volleyball or activities like dancing, martial arts training, and outdoor running, finding ways to exercise while also having fun will keep you driven.

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Variety

Getting out of your everyday routine of going to the gym can refresh you and renew your dedication to your exercising plan. Spending time away from the gym to try other activities can rejuvenate you and give you a new source of motivation that will get you out of a potential rut. Spending too long in one place can make you feel stagnant, which makes variety a necessity to maintain motivation levels.

Know What Your Body Needs

Knowing how to stay motivated when exercising is one of the most vital skills you can have on your weight loss journey. However, there may be other issues you need to deal with that can prevent you from seeing the progress you want. For instance, you may have chemical imbalances in your body that slow its fat-burning rate, resulting in very little weight loss despite your hard work.

Dr. Philip Rabito is an endocrinologist in New York City who helps patients navigate their way through their unique chemical issues to get them on track with their weight goals.

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Knowing what calorie deficit for weight loss is, some tips, and how to do it safely will allow you to diet and exercise in a more efficient and healthy manner.

When you begin your weight loss journey, the most valuable information you can have is how calorie deficit affects weight loss. Knowing this, along with how many calories you take in during the day and how many you burn, allows you to more efficiently calculate and plan your weight loss, giving you far greater control over your body.

But it is not enough to know what a calorie deficit is; you must also know how to go about losing weight by burning calories safely. There are ways in which you can cause unintentional harm to your body, and knowing the correct methods of calorie deficit for weight loss can aid in you avoiding these unnecessary dangers.

The Basics of Calorie Deficit

We consume calories through food and drink which fuels our bodies and gives us energy throughout the day. Excess calories that we do not burn off are stored for later use as fat; this had an evolutionary benefit of providing us energy in times when food was scarce.

But in our modern society, we are typically in no short supply of food. This process of storing calories now more commonly works against us rather than benefiting us as we consume more energy than we burn.

How Our Bodies Typically Burn Calories

There are a few ways that we burn calories throughout the day; some of these processes are automatic, while others require physical activity on our part.

Resting Energy Expenditure

The body naturally burns calories to keep itself functioning. Every time your heart beats or your lungs breathe, your body is using calories to make that happen. You burn calories just from your body existing, whether awake and active or at rest and asleep.

Thermic Effect of Food

Your body also uses up calories to digest the food you eat and to metabolize that food.

Active Energy Expenditure

This is what we typically think of when we picture burning off calories, playing sports, or taking part in other such physical activities. Whether you are walking, running, doing pushups, or playing soccer, your body must exert itself and spend more calories to fuel your body in order to continue moving.

Calories in V.S. Calories Out

A caloric deficit is based upon expending more energy than you take in to maintain your ideal weight. If, to maintain your current weight, you need to eat 2,000 calories worth of food, then eating 2,300 calories will result in weight gain. But, taking that same number to maintain your weight, if you eat 2,100 calories and burn off 500 through exercise, then you are left with 1,600 calories. You are at a deficit of 200 calories, resulting in eventual weight loss if that pattern keeps up over time.

How To Best Achieve a Calorie Deficit

There are two main ways that you can achieve a calorie deficit: diet and exercise. It does not require both, but the effects can be enhanced if you use a combination of the two in tandem.

Dieting To Lose Weight

To put it simply, there are calories in everything we eat, from potato chips to steak. There are other nutritional values to think of, such as sugar content, protein, and fats, but let’s keep it simple by only focusing on calories for now. As mentioned, if you need 2,000 calories to maintain your current weight, simply eating food throughout your day that equals less than that number will cause your body to lose weight.

Health Concerns With Dieting

It may be tempting to starve your body of calories to lose weight quickly, but that will cause harm to yourself. Depriving your body of sufficient energy will result in your body shutting down. While decreasing the number of calories you intake will result in weight loss, decreasing your calories too much will deny your body the energy it needs to survive.

Keep Nutrition in Mind

You also need to consider the nutritional value of the food you are eating. Eating food based solely on the amount of calories it has can result in you depriving your body of the other necessary nutrients it needs to keep healthy. You need to ensure that you include monosaturated fats, protein, fiber, and vitamins. Lacking these nutrients will negatively affect the process of your body, so make sure your dietary choices consider the nutritional value as well as the calories.

Exercising To Lose Weight

As mentioned, exercising subtracts calories from the amount you have consumed, which results in weight loss if your total calories are below the threshold to maintain your weight. While this is a reliable way to lose weight, it is best used in combination with a proper diet.

Don’t Neglect Eating Before Exercising

While you may be hesitant to skip a meal before an exercising session, it is vital that you do not go into your workout on a completely empty stomach. You need to prepare your body for the strenuous activity that you will be subjecting it to, and adequately filling yourself with calories, protein, and fiber will make sure that your body can properly process the activities.

Don’t Push Your Body Too Hard

While losing weight may be your goal, you also do not want to lose weight too fast. Rapid weight loss can reduce your metabolism and result in nutrient deficiencies in your body. It is recommended to take your weight loss journey at a slower pace to ensure your body has time to adjust to the changes.

Be Meticulous in Your Calculations

Keeping track of your caloric deficit can sometimes be a challenge when you are unsure of the exact calories a food may have and the precise calories you burn during exercise. But you still need to record what you eat and what activities you do to ensure that you are on the right track.

Know How Your Body Works

Every body works a little differently, especially when dealing with weight loss and all the bodily chemicals associated with it. There are times when losing weight seems impossible, even when you are doing everything right. In these circumstances, you may need to consult a specialist to identify what is going on with your body that is preventing you from reaching your weight goals.

Dr. Philip Rabito is one such specialist and is among the top-rated endocrinologists in New York City. With an extensive history of helping patients identify and treat their bodily chemical issues, he can offer solutions to your specific needs and get you back on track with your weight loss.

The post Calorie Deficit for Weight Loss: What It Is, Tips, and Safety appeared first on Philip Rabito, MD.

Thyroid conditions can have far-reaching effects all over the body and result in serious deterioration of health. Knowing the signs it’s time to see an endocrinologist for your thyroid disorder can save you from serious illnesses and long-term debilitating conditions. Be aware of your body, its functions, and how it responds to stimuli; that information can be invaluable when discussing possible treatment for your thyroid.

Your Symptoms Don’t Improve

If you have been seeking treatment for your thyroid gland from your general practitioner, your treatment may have been limited due to a lack of specialization. This might not be enough to handle your condition, resulting in symptoms that don’t improve over time and perhaps actually get worse. If you don’t see the desired results from your treatment, it’s time to find an endocrinologist.

You Have a Noticeable Lump in Your Thyroid Gland

If you have a known problem with your thyroid gland, palpate the area to make sure no lumps or nodules have formed. If you do happen to find a growth on your thyroid gland, that will require the attention of a specialist to properly diagnose and treat it. Strange lumps may be due to a goiter, an enlargement of portions of the thyroid gland, or a complete enlargement of the whole gland. Most of the time, these nodes and lumps are benign, but there is a chance they may be the cause of certain thyroid conditions, and they may even be cancerous. An endocrinologist must observe them to determine why they have formed and if there are any negative effects.

You’re Pregnant or Trying To Conceive

Thyroid conditions significantly affect the chemicals in your body, and becoming pregnant also changes how your body produces and regulates chemicals. A thyroid condition can affect pregnancy, and vice versa, which makes consulting a specialist necessary to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy.

Find the Right Doctor

Identifying the signs that you need to see an endocrinologist is one thing, but finding a suitable doctor to treat your condition is another. Make sure you find a doctor who is conveniently located—someone you can reach quickly in an emergency and with whom you feel comfortable. Dr. Philip Rabito is considered among the best endocrinologists in New York City. He has extensive training and experience in diagnosing and treating thyroid disorders.

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Weight loss can be a long and difficult process, especially when you’re following the advice of others, but you don’t feel that you’re making the progress that you should. The reason for this is that the same parameters won’t work equally for all people. While everyone’s bodies are similar, each person has specific characteristics they must account for when coming up with a diet and exercise plan. There are a few reasons why personalized weight loss programs are effective and help individuals with their weight loss challenges.

They Can Change According to Your Progress

What worked for you at the beginning of your weight loss journey may not necessarily work for you six months into it. Your body goes through changes as you lose weight, and the methods you use can become less effective after a certain point.

Many people find that they plateau at a certain point. They interpret this as their bodies hitting their limits and believe there’s no more progress to make. However, changing your approach to your weight loss can help you to continue making progress. A customized plan enables you to do that whenever necessary.

They Align With Personal Goals

Everyone starts at a different place and can plan to end in a different place. Based on how much you can do in a day, how much you need to lose, and when you want to meet your goal, you can adjust your personalized weight loss program. All these factors will affect the time frame that you work within. Some people prefer a slower pace, while others want to speed up their progress rate halfway through their program.

They Can Be tailored To Individual Circumstances

Everyone’s situations are distinct, and no two bodies process food in the same way. Whether biological, financial, or personal, individual circumstances affect how a person should approach their weight loss program. Personalized weight loss programs are effective because you can take these factors into account to create a schedule that works and fits your budget.

Know How Your Body Reacts

It can be simple to see how your body handles stimulus and food. But it’s more challenging to discover the chemical issues that you may suffer from internally. These problems may require a specialist’s expertise to treat and control them properly.

Dr. Philip Rabito is one such professional. He is an endocrinologist in Manhattan, New York , who has extensive experience in bodily chemical imbalances. He has assisted patients in identifying the issues and implementing strategies to understand and handle their conditions.

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Problems with the endocrine system and problems with the body’s regulation of chemicals and hormones can prove to be challenging issues to treat and diagnose. However, there are common tests and diagnostic methods used by endocrinologists to help determine what specific condition you may be suffering from.

Knowing what tests endocrinologists run will better inform your treatment options and provide you with a road map of what you need to do in order to succeed in your health goals. Be aware of what to expect before going into an endocrinologist’s office and know what testing methods are available to you.

What Are Some Common Symptoms of Endocrine Issues?

Before going into a doctor’s office, you need to know what signs to watch out for. Chemical and hormonal problems can stem from underlying issues such as diabetes, Cushing’s Syndrome, and Addison’s Disease, all of which require medical attention.

While showing symptoms does not necessarily mean you have these disorders, you must still consider the possibility. Some common symptoms of endocrine disorders include:

Diabetes

• Fatigue
• Frequent urination
• Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
• Chronic thirst or hunger

Cushing’s Syndrome

• High blood sugar
• Sudden mood changes
• Thinning and weakening of bones
• Skin discoloration

Addison’s Disease

• Depression
• Low blood sugar
• Loss of appetite
• Salt cravings

Acromegaly

• Body and joint aches
• Sexual disfunction
• Sleep apnea
• Abnormally large hands, feet, nose, lips, or tongue

What Tests Do Endocrinologists Run?

Once you identify one or several concerning symptoms, your next step is to contact an endocrinologist to perform some tests. This is a critical component to determine what specific disorder you may be experiencing, and necessary to move forward with your treatment plan.

When going in for a check-up, it’s best to know what testing procedures and methods endocrinologists utilize, so you’re not caught off-guard or made uncomfortable. Some of the common testing methods you may experience are:

Ultrasound

Ultrasound testing utilizes sound waves to detect abnormal masses or fluids inside soft tissues. When used by endocrinologists, ultrasounds are useful in detecting thyroids nodules, lymph nodes, enlarged parathyroid glands, and other concerning masses that may form in the body.

Computerized Tomography

Computerized tomography scans (CT scans) create a cross-sectional image using x-rays, providing the doctor with a detailed map of your chest, neck, and abdomen. CT scans give you and your doctor an inside look at your body without the use of invasive procedures.

Fine Needle Aspiration

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) has the doctor inserting a needle into your body, typically inserting it into thyroid nodules. The doctor then extracts cells from the nodules and spreads them on a slide for further study.

This process of obtaining cells from the body is repeated several times to gain a wider sampling base. The slides are sent off to a specialist, typically a cytopathologist, for a deeper examination of the cells. The cytopathologist then returns the sample to your doctor with a diagnosis.

Sestamibi Scan

Your doctor injects radioactive dye into your bloodstream; this dye then locates abnormal parathyroid glands. These glands become apparent after several rounds of scanning to accurately determine whether they are enlarged or not.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

With the use of magnetic fields, your doctor can create cross-sectional images of the inside of your body. Magnetic resonance also provides detailed images of soft tissues, parathyroid glands, the adrenal gland, and any liver masses.

Positron Emission Test

Positron emission tests (PETs) can identify the increased metabolism of glucose that is associated with many different types of cancers. PETs are useful when attempting to find areas of abnormal and concerning growths that you or your doctor have not found.

Venous Sampling

This type of sampling has a catheter inserted into one of your veins; it then extracts the blood for a doctor to examine the hormone levels in that specific area of the body. The purpose of venous sampling is to determine which areas of the body have abnormal hormone secretion, checking localized areas to narrow down the search. This process is methodical, invasive, and can be uncomfortable for patients after extended periods of testing.

Make It Clear What You’re Comfortable With

When it comes to your body, you have the final say of what doctors do to it. They cannot administer any tests or perform any procedures without your consent. If a diagnostic test makes you uncomfortable, whether it is due to invasive means of probing or concerning materials injected into your body, you do not have to go through with it. There are alternative tests you can take to put your mind at ease.

Consider the Advice Of Your Doctor

While there are some tests you may be uncomfortable with, it is in your best interest to listen to your doctor’s recommendation and consider what they have to say on the matter. If they feel that a particular test is necessary to accurately diagnose your condition, but you are uneasy about the methods used, voice your concerns to your doctor and find a compromise. As previously mentioned, the decision is ultimately up to you, and your treatment will proceed at a pace dictated by you.

Don’t Write Off Treatments Immediately

If your doctor suggests a treatment that you’re not interested in undergoing, such as venous sampling, allow them time to explain the exact procedure that the testing involves. Hearing more information about diagnostic procedures may convince you that they are safe or necessary for your continued health, but don’t feel as though you’re forced to choose a treatment because your doctor recommends it.

Find the Right Doctor for You

Don’t feel that you need to settle for the first specialist you find; visit multiple doctors and find one who is most understanding and knowledgeable about your needs. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or make it known when a concerning topic comes up during your conversations; every piece of information you give them informs how they treat your condition. Be aware of what tests endocrinologists run and always come prepared with any questions or concerns.

Dr. Philip Rabito is an endocrinologist in New York City with extensive experience in helping treat patients with their bodily chemical and hormonal conditions. Dr. Rabito will work with you to help you better understand your condition and develop a treatment plan that best fits your lifestyle and medical needs.

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Losing weight isn’t always as simple as dieting and exercising; a number of factors, seen and unseen, can affect your progress. When you encounter one of these unseen aspects of weight loss, you may not understand why you’re not losing the weight; this is when you need to consider visiting an endocrinologist. By understanding how seeing an endocrinologist can help you lose weight, you can break through the barriers that previously held you back.

What’s Halting Your Weight Loss?

Before you set up an appointment, you need to know the basics of the problem you may be facing: the endocrine system. This system is a collection of various organs in the body that produce hormones. The hormones affect multiple facets of your body, including physical development, emotions, and chemical regulation. When your hormones are out of balance, the body begins showing physical effects. This might mean your metabolism has slowed down to the point that you’re not losing any weight or that your body is being forced to store more fat. These complications can result in stagnant progress with weight loss and lead to obesity, among other health concerns.

Why See an Endocrinologist?

Endocrinology is the study of the endocrine system, and endocrinologists specialize in treating conditions that originate from this system. With special tools and training, they can diagnose specific illnesses and conditions, whether they’re due to the thyroid gland, hypothalamus, or pituitary gland. Seeing an endocrinologist can help you lose weight by first helping you regulate the hormones in your body, allowing your metabolism to absorb and expend energy more efficiently.

The Risks of Not Getting Your Condition Under Control

The endocrine system is a complex assortment of organs that have significant sway over the functions of the body, and allowing your condition to go unaddressed can be a safety risk. One of the most common conditions related to untreated endocrine complications is diabetes; without careful monitoring, treatment, and lifestyle changes, you can jeopardize your safety and risk your life in the process.

Diabetes is probably the most well-known condition related to the endocrine system, but it’s far from the only one. Don’t hold off on seeing the specialist you need; waiting can have significant negative consequences that may harm your body. Dr. Philip Rabito is one such specialist; he is among the best endocrinologists in NYC. His expertise can assist you in diagnosing and treating your condition, giving you the best chance to get your body under control.

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Stress is a natural part of our everyday lives that we must learn how to deal with in a healthy manner. There’s no avoiding the stress-inducing elements of our lives, and we largely can’t control the aspects of our lives that cause us so many problems. However, we can control how we respond to daily stressors by learning how to deal with life’s inconveniences, both large and small.

Knowing how to deal with stress can help you maintain your bodily health as well as your mental wellbeing. Because the varied effects of stress on the body hurt more than just your mental state, it can have physical and chemical effects as well. Know what those side-effects are, and if you find yourself under pressure in your day-to-day, then consider some stress-relieving activities.

How Your Body Responds To Stress

As mentioned, your body can react to stress in several different ways. The reason for this is because stress causes your body to produce certain hormones that set your bodily response into motion.

Many of these responses are meant to aid us in our survival, but chronic stress leads them to harm us instead of help. Humans have developed these hormone responses to better react to danger, but in our modern society, they oftentimes manifest themselves in health issues.

Being aware of what those symptoms look like can help you understand your body better and help explain the side-effects if you are unsure what else could be causing them.

Respiratory System

When you are stressed, it creates a response in your breathing patterns. Your body forces you to breathe faster to quickly distribute oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. Forcing your lungs to perform this action can make it difficult to breathe, a symptom that is made worse if you already have difficulties due to asthma or emphysema.

Cardiovascular System

Related to your respiratory system, stress affects the heart by creating hormones that force the heart to pump faster. These hormones also constrict your veins and divert more oxygen to the bloodstream, resulting in your blood pressure being raised. If you experience chronic stress, it can make your heart work too hard for too long, which can result in a heart attack or stroke.

Digestive System

With increased breathing and a rapid heart rate comes issues with your digestive system. The processes of the body can produce more stomach acid, which in turn causes the increased occurrence of heartburn and acid reflux. Other notable issues caused by increased stomach activity include nausea, vomiting, and an increased risk of developing stomach ulcers.

Muscular System

As a protective measure, stress releases hormones that constrict your muscles, bracing them for any incoming injuries. But when the muscles constantly constrict due to stress, it can cause pain throughout the body. The most common places where this pain is felt is in the head muscles, the back, and the shoulders.

Reproductive Systems

Initially, stress can cause an increase in testosterone in men. But, after an extended period of stress, the opposite effect can occur. Testosterone levels will begin to drop and can lead to decreased sperm count and erectile dysfunction. Chronic stress also runs the risk of increased prostate infection.

In women, stress affects the menstruation cycle, causing irregular, heavier, or more painful periods. Stress can also increase the physical symptoms of menopause.

In both sexes, increased stress results in a reduced sex drive. This comes as a side-effect of more fatigue caused by the physical toll stress takes on the body.

Immune System

While stress-induced responses to the immune system initially strengthen your body’s ability to fight off infection, it has the opposite effect after a prolonged period of time. Your immune system becomes less effective to protect your body from outside invaders, leading to you being more susceptible to illness. Stress can also extend the time it takes your body to recover from sicknesses, thus making it easier to get sick and taking longer to get better.

Results of These Side Effects

While not directly caused by the release of hormones, there are a number of negative consequences that result from experiencing the side-effects of chronic stress on the body, such as:

• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Lack of motivation
• Irritability and anger
• Depression

Where Does the Stress Response Come From?

The point of origin with the stress response of the body can be found in the endocrine system. Signals from the brain send messages to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to release the necessary chemicals to respond to immediate danger. The two chief chemicals that are released are adrenaline, which increases heart rate and blood pressure, and cortisol, which increases sugar in the bloodstream, increasing the amount of energy you have.

Effective Ways To Manage Your Stress Levels

While you cannot eliminate all stress from your life, you can learn how to better handle and respond to stressful situations. Knowing how to manage your stress can reduce the hormonal responses in your body and leave you feeling better as a result. Some effective stress management strategies include:

• Maintaining a healthy diet.
• Ensuring that you have a full eight hours of sleep at night.
• Regularly exercising and staying in good physical condition.
• Learn calming meditation routines.
• Reducing or eliminating caffeine and alcohol from your diet.
• Give yourself time to relax, calm down, and decompress from a stressful day.
• Remain socially connected with friends and family to have a social support network.

Medical Reasons for Increased Stress

There are times when utilizing stress management techniques don’t seem to help; this may be due to a medical condition that you are not aware of. If you are experiencing a medical condition that results in increased cortisol and adrenaline in your bloodstream, then it will be more difficult to control your stress responses. You may need to seek out the aid of medical professionals who specialize in hormone imbalances.

Dr. Philip Rabito is one such specialist, rated as one of the best endocrinologists in New York City. He can help you successfully navigate your way through your condition.

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While losing weight fast is desirable, you need to know the dangers of a rapid weight loss diets or techniques. They may do more harm than good.

Identifying that you need to lose weight and committing to an exercise and diet routine is an admiral step in personal development and physical health, but that’s not the end of the story. Once you decide to make some lifestyle changes, you need to find the right regimen for you. It should be safe and healthy. The dangers and health risks of rapid weight loss can be detrimental to your health and end up negatively affecting your body in the long-term.

What Does Rapid Weight Loss Look Like?

Losing weight quickly is typically achieved by following radical diets that starve the body of essential nutrients, resulting in weight loss and deterioration of the body as a whole. These extreme diets come in several forms that you need to look out for.

Starvation Diets

These types of diets advocate for eliminating solid foods and replacing them with liquids. They usually promise to cleanse the body of toxins, but they actually leave your body starved for nutrients. Rapid weight loss occurs due to a severe lack of food.

Dietary Pills

This kind of weight loss promises to increase metabolism and, as a result, burn more fat. These pills can make this process happen by blocking receptors in the body that absorb necessary nutrients.

Very Low-Calorie Diets

A calorie deficit is the major principle of weight loss; expending more calories than you intake equals a loss of weight. A very low-calorie diet drastically reduces the number of calories you intake in a day, literally starving your body of fat.

What Are the Effects of Rapid Weight Loss?

While these techniques can force your body to lose weight, they come at the cost of serious health risks. Because you are putting so much strain on the body as a result of a lack of proper nutrients, your body can deteriorate and begin to function improperly. Some of these side-effects include:

• Dehydration
• Malnutrition
• Muscle Loss
• Hair Loss
• Menstrual Irregularities
• Headaches
• Fatigue

Is There Ever a Reason for Rapid Weight Loss?

Well, only when instructed by and under the supervision of a doctor. Variations of these rapid weight loss techniques are utilized on individuals who are morbidly obese and need to lose weight quickly. When it comes to people of normal size or who are slightly overweight, then the consequences overshadow the benefits.

Lose Weight the Healthy Way

With knowledge of the dangers and health risks of rapid weight loss, you need to determine a dietary and workout routine that will not only make you lose weight but keep you healthy and safe while doing it. Sometimes that means consulting a doctor, dietician, or physical trainer to find what is healthy for you.

Dr. Philip Rabito is an endocrinologist in Manhattan, New York, and is one such doctor who can help you on your weight loss journey.

The post The Dangers & Health Risks of Rapid Weight Loss appeared first on Philip Rabito, MD.

Endocrinologists treat patients who are experiencing hormone imbalances, and typically they help those who are dealing with diabetes navigate their complex condition. If you’re looking for a new practice to help treat your diabetes symptoms, you’ll need to know the top questions to ask your endocrinologist . These questions will help you better manage and understand your condition while learning if you have found the right medical doctor for you.

Is My Diabetes Under Control To Meet My Goals?

This is an important question because it’ll dictate what is and isn’t safe in your current condition. Whether you’re wondering if it’s safe for you to become pregnant or to exercise enough to reach a certain weight goal, you need to know your current condition. Neglecting to ask the state of your condition can expose you to dangerous situations that can cause significant harm to your health.

Are There Any Concerns With My Bloodwork?

Your bloodwork will show more than just your blood sugar levels; it can determine issues with your thyroid, cholesterol, white and red blood cells, and problems with protein production. Ask if there are any changes, both positive and negative, in your bloodwork. You’ll need to know about any changes that take place to obtain the proper treatment.

Are There Ways To Improve My Diet?

What you eat determines how your body regulates its chemicals and functions. A poor diet will deteriorate health, while a healthy and nutritious diet will ensure continued success. Your diet is especially important when dealing with diabetes, as any deviation from what is recommended can have a far more significant impact on your health.

What Do I Have To Do To Avoid Complications?

Whether your diabetes management is on track or you need to make some necessary changes, always know what the next steps are in your treatment. Having a plan moving forward will give you defined goals to stick by and a way for you to keep track of your progress for your next visit. Always walk away from a visit with a plan of action, know your expectations, and be aware of what you’ve had problems with since your last checkup.

Is This the Right Doctor for Me?

Always know what to ask your endocrinologist regarding your condition and treatment. There may be times when you feel that your doctor is not taking the necessary considerations into account or that their treatment plans are not working as intended. If you walk away from your visits with more questions than answers, or if the answers you were given were not satisfactory, you may need to consider looking for a new doctor.

Dr. Philip Rabito is an endocrinologist in the Upper East Side of New York City and is one such doctor who can help you navigate your way through your difficult condition. He can aid you in your treatment plans and future goals to manage your diabetes.

The post Top Questions To Ask Your Endocrinologist appeared first on Philip Rabito, MD.