Are your joints getting stiffer? Is your back or neck pain troubling you? Are you struggling with an eating disorder or drug addiction? Do you face problems with concentration and decreased energy levels? Are you battling anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia, cardiovascular disease, or cancer? Last but not least: Have you considered yoga? No? You must learn health benefits of Yoga. It may seem too easy to think just yoga can improve your quality of life, but the fact is; yoga has many benefits on the body and mind. These will not only leave you amazed, but you might end up enrolling in your first class. Who knows, maybe you become a full-on Yogi. What Are the Health Benefits of Yoga? Here are some health benefits of Yoga, which you can’t skip. 1- It makes you flexible. We all know that yoga = flexibility, AND it is the first thing you will notice. Starting yoga is quite uncomfortable. You may experience muscle cramps and strains. BUT – those aches and pains begin to disappear. YES, our body gets used to it; you become flexible, and suddenly, what you couldn’t do a few sessions ago becomes easy. Is flexibility a good thing? Mixed reviews. It doesn’t improve your endurance or strength. BUT, as the joints and connecting tissues start loosening, your range of motion improves, your posture improves, you have a lower risk of injury doing daily activities like reaching down to tie your shoe, or reaching overhead for something, looking over your shoulder, etc. As you get more flexible, you’ll be able to complete more complex poses, and your self-confidence will skyrocket! And these are all good things. 2- Improves your blood flow Another direct effect of yoga is improved circulation. The twisting, inverting motions, relaxation techniques, and breathing exercises all increase blood flow and oxygen delivery to your entire body. It not only increases the flow of oxygen to your blood, fueling your muscles and brain with energy, the higher oxygen also improves your immunity and makes your blood thinner. This may seem like a small thing, but it is not; it lowers your risk of heart attacks and stroke; blood clots often cause these. Overall, this benefits all the other types of exercises you will want to practice by helping your body maximize oxygen uptake and use. 3- Lowers your stress level Stress is another big talk! So I’ll try not to get too detailed here. Cortisol is a stress hormone. This hormone is good to have when you need to combat a crisis; It is 1 of 3 stress hormones that induce the “fight or flight response” of your body AKA the sympathetic nervous system. The different aspects of yoga help your body to shift from a fight-or-flight to a more relaxed state, AKA parasympathetic nervous system. To be exact, yoga is known to reduce cortisol levels. This not only lowers your stress levels but also prepares your body to deal with stress more efficiently. Why would this be important? No doubt, cortisol is essential. BUT Excessive cortisol in the blood can cause Depression, osteoporosis (bone loss), insulin resistance (diabetes), and high blood pressure. By regulating the amount of cortisol, yoga boosts your immune system, decreases stress and also helps you cope with stress. 4- Improves your Sleep Cortisol is not just a one-job hormone. It also plays a role in your sleep cycle. Cortisol is low when you are falling asleep, and goes up towards the end. This means that a rise in cortisol decides when sleep ends. So if your cortisol level is always high because of stress, falling asleep will NOT be easy. From what I said before, yoga helps lower cortisol…so you can get the ZZZ’s you need! 5- Makes you happier Yes, one of the long-term benefits of yoga is an increase in happiness. Practicing yoga for a long time increases the level of serotonin in the body, which makes you feel happier. Lowering serotonin is a reason why it also helps with Depression. Yoga also decreases Inflammation in the body. Why is that a good thing? Patients with Depression have been found to have higher levels of Inflammation. So it is thought that Inflammation has a role in depressive symptoms. Meditation, which is a part of yoga, helps you to be in the moment and connect to your higher self. This also helps you to lead a peaceful and contented life. Just look at the YOGI bear! Such a happy bear! 6- Improves your Sex Life That’s right! Yoga enhances your sex life! Especially if you are a female over the age of 45 and are having issues with sex, this includes arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and pain. Being peri-menopausal and even post-menopausal doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy everything life has to offer, and this includes sex. So, is it only suitable for women? NO! It’s also helpful to men. Men who are under a lot of stress commonly have trouble in the bedroom. Stress has been shown to cause erectile dysfunction and decreased libido. Knowing that yoga reduces stress… what do you think yoga will do for these men? ERECTION! Well… not right then during yoga! But definitely when at the right moment. CONCLUSION: Health Benefits of Yoga Include Promoting a Healthier Lifestyle Yoga helps you cope with both physical and emotional stress in better ways. It can protect you from injury during daily activities and prevents falls, especially in the elderly. It improves concentration and efficiency. Moreover, it makes you happier, more confident, and may even enhance your sex life. For people who struggle with drug addiction, yoga helps boost their motivation to stay sober. People with eating disorders also benefit from the added confidence and improved self-image. All of these are great benefits of yoga, and let’s not forget it helps you maintain your physique, all while helping the rest of your body. For those of you who have never tried it, those of you that think you cannot do it, those of who think you are “too old,” “too
What’s the first thing you do in the morning? Grab a cup of coffee. You’re not alone! Millions of people around the globe depend on coffee to begin their day. But do they know what the effects of coffee on the body are? Are they positive or negative? Do you think they’ve researched this? Yes! Scientists and doctors are divided over one issue, is coffee good or bad for health? Let’s find out. Among the effects of Coffee on the body, let’s start from the positive ones. What are the Benefits of Coffee? Coffee boosts Performance We can all vouch for that cup of black coffee when it comes to performing at our best. The caffeine present in coffee increases the level of adrenaline in the blood, which helps us to prepare better for physical exertion and gives us more stamina. Coffee boosts memory A study by the University of Florida reveals that having coffee decreases your chance of getting dementia and Alzheimer’s. People who consume coffee regularly experience a slower rate of cognitive decline and lower risk of cognitive impairment. Coffee lowers the chance of getting oral cancer The risk of getting mouth and upper throat cancer is lower in people who drink coffee daily. May decrease pain associated with exercise One study showed that a caffeine dose 1 hour before exercise helped decrease leg pain by 27% if in hot environments (33 C), but had no effects in the cold. Also, pain perception was 74% higher in the heat than in the cold, and caffeine partially tempered it. Cognitive Benefits of Coffee Coffee improves our focus, concentration, and alertness. What about the risk of Diabetes? Reduce the risk of getting type 2 diabetes lowers the risk of stroke. A meta-analysis showed that 4 cups or more of coffee per day was preventative Longevity. A new study found that people who drink more coffee live longer! How? Telomeres are small protective ends on your chromosomes, …which you get 23 from mom, 23 from dad. As your DNA replicates, the telomeres get chopped off, and eventually, the DNA dies, your cell dies, and your age. Coffee was found to be associated with longer telomeres. Therefore you live longer! Negative Effects of Coffee After the positive effects of coffee on the body, let’s see if it affects negatively. But what is wrong about it? Drinking excessive coffee disrupts sleep patterns. It also increases anxiety making you more restless. So, if you have insomnia or sleep deprivation, having coffee may increase your problem. Caffeine interacts with some drugs and may cause adverse effects. If you have thyroid, depression, or take psychiatric drugs, you should consult your doctor about drinking coffee. Postmenopausal women should restrict their intake of caffeine as they may experience spinal bone loss if they are taking enough calcium. People who suffer from heartburn and acid reflux should avoid drinking coffee as it may aggravate the symptoms. Coffee may not be prudent in people with high cholesterol. Studies show that caffeine is bad for babies. Even unborn babies are sensitive to it. So, pregnant women should stay away from it or restrict their intake to only one cup a day, based on their OBGYN’s advice during pregnancy. Why? Some studies show that maternal caffeine intake early in pregnancy results in behavioral disorders later in the life of the child. Other studies show that as long as it’s <300mg/day, then there is little risk to the fetus. Another study showed that high caffeine intake during pregnancy causes adverse effects on fetal growth. Babies were born smaller. They had smaller head circumferences, all of which are known as small-for-gestational-age infants at birth. Meaning, they were born smaller. Are you perplexed? Cannot decide whether to have your coffee or not? We would suggest you drink coffee in moderation. Do not take coffee after 8 ‘o’clock as it may disrupt your sleep, but if you’re like me, you might still get Zzz’s you need. If you have Diabetes or high blood sugar, you may be told to limit yourself to one or two cups of coffee. Studies show that moderatecoffee intake is NOT HARMFUL in these diseases, and some studies even show that average caffeine intake may reduce the risk of developing Diabetes. If you suffer from acid reflux or heartburn, switch to decaf. What about if you have high blood pressure? You can continue drinking your coffee! Studies have shown that regular intake of caffeinated coffee does not increase your risk of high blood pressure (hypertension). Even during pregnancy, no association has been found between coffee and maternal blood pressure. A healthy lifestyle, getting enough nutrition, and physical exercise is what you need to remain healthy. If you love coffee, consume it. If you feel like you had one too many cups today and feel a bit jittery, chances are you should lower your intake the next day. Being of Colombian heritage, I love coffee! And depending on the day, I can drink between 1-4 cups a day. During medical school, I had like 4.. but more recently, I have cut back without trying to. Don’t miss Childhood Obesity in Florida
We’re always being told we drink more water. It’s right for you! Water and Its Benefits: Stay hydrated; it’s right for you! But what is it suitable for? Do you know some or even all the reasons? Maybe you do, but just in case you have a few curiosities. Here is the answer to the Health benefits of water. PS: Before we dive right it, this is a little different from my previous posts that threw tons of science and medicine at you. I can always dive further into any topic you like, but for water, I don’t want to drown you in too many details. PUN INTENDED, ha! Okay, here we go to the health benefits of water, in no particular order. Thermoregulation When it’s hot outside, you sweat; when it’s cold, you shiver to increase heat, and you sweat. No matter the weather, you will have a fluid loss. So regardless of the climate, you have to drink water to make sure you don’t get dehydrated. Why do you need to hydrate, though? Sweat and its evaporation from your skin allow your body to cool. Not having enough water to sweat means your body temperature won’t be well regulated. Heat Stroke is a huge problem, and it often occurs in athletes that workout outdoors under the glaring sun. Let’s not forget the importance of body temperature control in the elderly. The elderly cannot handle heat as well as younger adults, mainly because they have more water losses from their kidneys, and they also tend to drink less water to begin with. Exercise Performance Losing as little as 2% of the body water has been shown to decrease performance during exercise. Reduces endurance, causes fatigue, lowers motivation, and you feel like you’re making a more significant effort than usual.? The Important thing to remember here, you may not feel thirsty while you work out. That does NOT mean you shouldn’t drink water anyway! Plus, your muscles need blood to work to their full potential. Low water intake means a lower amount of blood getting to your muscles, so they don’t work as well, as strong, as long. But that doesn’t mean you can’t exercise to keep water quantity stable. If you think so, read my guide about how exercise benefits you physically and mentally. Mood and Memory Dehydration can lead to loss of concentration, short term memory, and even motor skills that can take a hit. It can also make you very irritable. Sound a lot like the effects of sleep deprivation. Drinking water will also wake up your mind! You will feel more aroused Mentally! Come on, get our account out of the gutter, ha! In the elderly, dehydration can increase the risk of delirium or confusion. This is a fluctuation in the mental status of an older person. It’s even more critical in the elderly that are very ill. Just keep that in mind. Intestinal Health and the Benefits of Water Hydration improves bowel movements. How? Your intestines will absorb water from the stool. If you are well hydrated, the stool can pass easily. But if you’re dehydrated, your colon will take fluid out of the stool; this makes the stool harder to pass.? So, if you have constipation, consider how much water you’re drinking. Of course, constipation is a completely different topic, and other factors play a role. But water is always an important one. But, it will only help bowel movements if you are in a dehydrated state; at least that is what research has shown.? Headaches Dehydration can cause headaches. So if you have one and you haven’t had enough water drink some! See if that helps before you go straight for pills. Not all headaches are wrong, and not all headaches are good. So if you’re experiencing severe headaches, don’t just self-medicate and drink water. Make an appointment with your doctor and have yourself checked out. Some studies have shown that if you have migraines or bad tension headaches, the severity of the pain can be lower if you drink a good amount of water. In this study, it was about 1.5L/day on top of what they consumed daily on their own before the study. It didn’t affect the number of episodes, but the severity of the headaches was.? Skin I’m a huge fan of healthy skin and doing things for the health of your skin. It’s the first line of protection against any infection and anything else in our environment. So treat it well! The water in your skin helps it keep its elasticity and radiance. Many think that being hydrated will prevent wrinkles, but actually, it’s hydration in addition to moisturizers that can do the trick. Just being hydrated is not enough to prevent the effects of our environment, the sun, the air etc. Medical Conditions Dehydration can play a role in the formation of kidney stones. Not pleasant. I had a few patients say it was like giving birth. They were males, so what would they know, ha! But I guess peeing out a stone too large is as close to birth and they can get. Hydration can also prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Also, don’t hold your pee! If you do this, it can increase your risk of a UTI, so try not to if you can help it. There you have it! Drink your water, guys! Yes, it’s great to use replenishing drinks after exercise as I do, but none of those will ever replace the need for water. So, drink as much as you can to get the health benefits of water.? Keep Calm and Drink More Water! The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that adequate daily fluid intake is: About 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids for men About 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women
Things To Know About Me (About Dr. Vero) I am a Doctor. Vero, and these are a few things you should know about me. Aside from being a doctor, I have started this youtube channel and owner of HealthLair. A little about me: I am Colombian by heritage, but I was born and raised in Florida.✓ I did live in Colombia for nine years. Although I was born in Florida, about six months after my birth, we moved to Colombia, where we stayed until I was 9.???? I went to St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale.✓ I double-majored in Biology and Psychology, with a minor in French. Before graduating, I transferred to the University of Miami, where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Psychology. After graduating, I was accepted into???? Grenada is a small island in the Caribbean, right above Venezuela. After graduating from medical school (finally an MD!), I decided to pursue a Masters in Public Health. I am currently completing my masters at the University of Miami, and I couldn’t be happier to be back in Florida.✓ But Why did I create my Blog and a Youtube Channel? During my 3rd and 4th years of medical school, I lived in New York City, where I worked at three different hospitals in almost every department.???? These included: Internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, emergency room, surgery, plastic surgery, urology, orthopedics, OBGYN, cardiology, pulmonology, ICU/CCU, rheumatology, family medicine, and primary care.???? I was able to interact with many patients daily.✓ I started noticing that not many patients asked specific questions about their conditions, or about why they had to eat healthily, why they needed to exercise, or why they should change their lifestyles. What things You Should Know About Me? I wanted to create a platform where I could reach many people all over the world, and that is why I created this blog and the channel.???? But What Will I be Writing About? Fruits! There are so many. Some countries have certain fruits that don’t even exist here in the US. I’ll talk about a few fruits that are native to Colombia, which doesn’t live here.✓ I’ve had the pleasure of being able to see different cultures, different habits, and various countries. I learned many things through those experiences and will share some of them here. I’ll also give you health tips! How to stay active, why you should remain active. What kind of things are healthy for your body. I’ll explain what you CAN do, but also the REASONS why you SHOULD do them.???? Often, not knowing why you are doing something is a huge reason why you won’t continue to do it. I want to explain the bases so that you can live a long and healthy life.????? A few of the other things I’ll say may not relate to you because you may have certain medical conditions that won’t respond the same way, so definitely take everything I post here with a grain of salt! Nothing I say here is mandatory. Doctor Vero Nothing is, “this is what you have to do.” No way! I want to spark interest in your health so you can make adequate changes and continue with them! I want to help you guys know which questions to ask your doctors too. So you can use your Doctor’s visit to your benefit. I have had my issues, back pain, neck pain, etc. We all experience health issues. This is why doctors need doctors! Illness is not exclusive to sick or non-healthcare professionals.???? We all have difficulties, and it’s up to us to help each other achieve a healthy lifestyle. So, this is a safe place for you to voice your concerns and questions.???? I love writing about all these things, but I also love input. Whether good or bad, I want to hear from you. Welcome again to my blog! Please subscribe, comment, and ask me questions. ???? Moreover, don’t forget to check out my youtube channel. Sometimes what I post there won’t be on the blog and vice versa! Love, -XOXO- Dr. Vero
Let’s Stay Connected
Stay Inspired & Keep Learning
Subscribe to receive exclusive health tips, new blog updates, and the occasional wellness surprise — no spam, just real value.
Skip to content 
