Have you ever moved house or travelled for an extended period and prior to going taken all your worldly possessions and put them into storage? Something like a “Big Yellow” storage unit.
Some things you hear once and never forget. For me, it was during a college lecture on cardiovascular health. The lecturer introduced hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna, Crataegus laevigata) as the “Arteries of Great Britain.”
It made perfect sense. From the air, the British countryside is stitched together by endless hedgerows of hawthorn – a living, breathing network that nourishes and shelters wildlife. Just like our arteries, they carry life. And right now, in late summer, those hedgerows are heavy with bright red berries, a symbol of vitality.
Sleep is something we take for granted, until we get deprived due to a bad night’s sleep. Often this means we struggle through the day trying to focus and get things done. Everything seems to be an effort. Sleep is essential to feeling rested, refreshed on waking and alert. Getting the right amount for your mind and body feels wonderful and helps you wake up feeling ready to go. Every person is different when it comes to the amount of sleep that’s optimal for them, but most people fall within a range, depending on their age.
Adaptogens are a large group of herbs that might be described as the key to health. The word “adaptogen” refers to the nonspecific endocrine-regulating, immune-modulating effects of certain plants that increase a person’s ability to maintain optimal health and balance in the face of physical and emotional stress. Who doesn’t have some stress in their life? Stress is not all negative, but exploring how stress affects the body we understand why adaptogens are so effective at sustaining health and wellbeing regardless of the challenges faced.
In recent years, GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have been hailed as groundbreaking drugs in the fight against obesity. Originally developed and approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, these medications are now being marketed—and increasingly prescribed—for weight loss, with some even calling them a "miracle cure." But are they really the solution they’re touted to be?
Let’s take a closer look at what’s really going on beneath the surface.
What Are GLP-1 RAs and How Do They Work?