5 Health Terms you should know

The world of health isn’t always easy to navigate. So many factors come into play, we are all unique, and on top of that there are complicated terms to know and understand. By familiarising ourselves with the language used around the products we consume, we can empower ourselves to take control of our health… and choose the best products for us.

So without further ado, here are 5 health terms you probably want to know.

1 - FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

Functional medicine looks to get to the root cause of disease. Treating just the symptoms does not allow us to understand why we are ill in the first place, and leaves us at risk. The symptoms can come back any time, and the root causes, when left unaddressed, can progress into something more threatening.

To use a very basic example, let’s say you experience frequent headaches. These are often a sign of dehydration. You can treat your headache with painkillers, but ignoring dehydration long-term can lead to serious health concerns. Functional medicine would have you try to understand why you get frequent headaches, in order to give you the proper recommendations so that it doesn’t keep happening (in this case, drink more water).

2 - NOOTROPICS

Nootropics, also known as smart drugs, are supplements and other substances designed to help us maximise our brainpower. They do this by using ingredients that are believed to support the body’s function.

For instance, you might consider coffee a nootropic (although this is a popular debate) because it enhances brain function. Our own Genius Coffee is also a nootropic, as it combines coffee with natural ingredients which, together, have been shown to skyrocket cognitive function.

3. BIOAVAILABILITY 

This is one’s a biggie and it’s really not spoken about enough. The bioavailability of a substance refers to the amount of its active properties that can actually be absorbed into the bloodstream. This is important because it means that the amount of a nutrient that you see listed on, say, your supplements is not necessarily the amount your body is absorbing.

For example, Vitamin C enhances the bioavailability of iron. This means that iron is better absorbed into the body when Vitamin C is also present. Hence the importance of a varied diet.

Rest assured, our products always contain the most bioavailable form of the nutrient to ensure you’re getting maximum benefits out of your supplement routine. 

4. BIOHACKING

When you biohack your health, you look at all the different elements that make or break your health, and address each and every one of them. Tackling all the elements rather than just one aspect has the advantage of maximizing your health because you’re using the holistic approach. 

For instance, in our recent blog on biohacking your energy, we discussed how you can optimise your energy levels by looking at what you eat, what you drink, how you move, sleep, and the importance of mental health.

5. BIO-INDIVIDUALITY

For those of us on a journey to improve our health, there is no shortage of information available. New diets to try. Foods to avoid or foods to implement. Exercise styles. Debates over how many hours’ sleep we should get each night and how early we should wake up.

But the truth is, we are all different. What works for one person might not work for another. And that’s what bioavailability is. The understanding that each of us have our very own, unique biological structure, and that no two of us are alike. 

So if you see somebody claiming their diet is the best and will solve all your problems, be wary. If you’re confused because you’re unsure whether a particular food or food group is good for you or not, pay attention to how it makes you feel and decide for yourself. 

That’s it for our health terms for today…

… but there are many more out there. We wanted to start small, and no doubt we will come back to the topic at a later date.

In the meantime, don’t hesitate to do your own research, and if you come across a term you don’t know yet, investigate its meaning. You are the best authority on your own health and that’s why it’s important that you’re armed with the knowledge to make the best decisions for yourself.

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