The Beach Health Blog

            Sex; we’ll discuss it openly with friends, watch it depicted on television, and read countless articles about it. In fact, we’ll often discuss it with just about anyone except the people that matter most: our partners. Let’s be honest; talking openly about sex can be a bit awkward and quite stressful. With such a sensitive subject matter, we often fear rejection and embarrassment. Despite this, those tough conversations are most definitely worth having as they can ultimately lead to much more rewarding and pleasurable sexual experiences for both you and your partner.             Talking about sex can seem like a very daunting task. Making a discussion out of something that television and media constantly depicts as spontaneous and passion-fueled can seem unnecessary. In the real world, however, individual desires and boundaries can be more difficult to deciphe...

All of us desire to get fit at some point in our life, but not all of us want to join a gym or a health club. Many of us cannot afford a gym membership or perhaps there’s no gym close by; or maybe even you have a gym membership, but are too busy to go; or maybe you’re simply independent in regards to your health and exercise. Including all of these reasons and maybe others, you might feel that working out at home is the best option for you. It does not take much effort or money to design an effective workout program at home. There are various inexpensive pieces of equipment you can use to create an exercise routine that works on all the major muscle groups in our body. For example, you can use fit balls, exercise bands, dumbbells, or push-up bars to create an exercise routine at home. These can be bought low cost on line or at some stores, like Big 5, Big Lots or Target.  There are five components of fitness/exercise: Warm up A warm-up can include a simple walk...

What are mindfulness and meditation? According to Mindful.org, mindfulness refers to when “the mind is fully attending to what’s happening, to what you’re doing, to the space you’re moving through.” Instead of just floating through your day, mindfulness aims to make your conscious of every action and reaction you have. Yoga International defines meditation as “the technique employed to focus the brain, and reach higher levels of consciousness.” Mindfulness meditation is a centuries old practice that dates back to ancient India. So why have people continued this practice for so long? Below, we’ll take a look at just a few of the many benefits of mindfulness meditation! Reduce Stress and Anxiety Countless studies have shown that focusing on breathing and clearing the mind lower the amounts of cortisol (the hormone related to stress) that is found in your brain. This calming effect can be felt within minutes, so setting aside even five minutes to meditate each day can b...

If you think you don’t like Brussel sprouts, think again! This recipe for crispy, savory Brussel sprouts will be sure to leave you wanting more. Although the ingredients may look deceptively simple, this very healthy side is packed with delicious flavor. Follow these directions carefully and the effort will be worth it! Ingredients: ·        1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts, ends trimmed and yellow leaves removed ·        3 tablespoons olive oil ·        1 teaspoon salt ·        1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup. Place trimmed Brussels sprouts, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large resealable plastic bag. Seal tightly, and shake to coat. Pour onto a baking sheet, and place on center oven rack. Roast in the preheated oven for ...

If you’ve ever felt your heart pound prior to a big presentation or your face warm after saying something embarrassing, then you’re already familiar with how powerful that thoughts can be on the body. The “nocebo” effect (“I will harm”) and the “placebo” effect (“I will please”) have been regarded as such powerful forces that credible scientific research often require control groups to rule out results that may have been altered by them. Studies have shown time and time again that the effects of the mind over our bodies are profound. So the question arises; what implications does this have on our health? When thinking negative thoughts, we can cause our bodies to release chemical signals that do harm. In a 1997 study conducted by neurophysiologist Fabrizio Bendetti, consenting patients were injected with normal saline but told that it was a pain-triggering medication. Some of those patients also received anti-anxiety drugs to block negative thoughts. Only the group that did ...