Luckily, you can still get plenty of information from LloydsPharmacy and blog posts like this one. Here are a few health issues you may not be used to talking about:

Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is more common than you may think, and it refers to the inability to keep or get an erection for long enough to have sex. You may have heard it referred to as impotence. Some men get erectile dysfunction occasionally, such as when they’re stressed or anxious. But if you’re experiencing it often, you may need to talk to a professional.

There are a number of causes of erectile dysfunction, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, injuries, obesity, age, relationship problems, alcohol use, smoking, and more. It’s important to speak to a medical professional so they can rule out any of these underlying conditions.

Hair Loss

Up to a quarter of men begin going bald before they hit thirty. However, there’s a difference between going bald and hair loss. While male pattern baldness is genetic, hair loss can be treated.

It’s important to remember that most males will go bald. Hair loss typically starts in their twenties, and approximately 50% of men in their fifties will be relatively bald.

If hair loss is impacting your life, there are a number of treatments that may help. These include lotions like Rogaine, and tablets like Finasteride.

Contraception

Historically, the only option available for male contraception has been condoms or a vasectomy. But now, a male contraceptive has been developed which doesn’t harm sex drive and is entirely safe to use.

Efforts to mimic female contraception were stalling since men metabolise the hormones much too quickly. However, the new drug, known as DMAU has been produced with a long-chain fatty acid. This slows down its metabolism and means men can take just one per day. While this is not yet available at the pharmacy, it’s only a matter of time.

Emergency Contraception

If your partner asks you to get her some emergency contraception, you may not be sure what she’s referring to. These are known as “morning after pills”, and include brands like Plan B. This pill is not an abortion pill, but actually works to prevent the pregnancy in the first place if the usual contraception method has failed (or was forgotten).

Don’t go running (or limping, as the case may be) to your local sports store just yet though. You might be eager to rid yourself of this persistent pain, but we’re here to offer you three great ways to deal with back pain.

Take a hot bath

The NHS recommends heat as one of its top tips for back pain. Heat packs are good, but hot baths are better. The buoyancy of the water will help release pressure and strain on the joints, according to EverydayHealth.

The heat of the bath will also ease any tight muscles in your body, including your back. Plus, heat is intrinsically relaxing; you probably haven’t done much of that since your back pain started. The hot bath encourages circulation and, according to PainScience.com, wins out over heat packs because hot baths can increase the temperature of the muscle itself by deep heating.

You can turn your hot bath treatment into a real treat with some bath bombs and scented candles. After all, your back hurts — you deserve to be pampered.

Gentle exercise

It’s probably the last thing on your mind when you have back pain. Chances are, you want to lie down and not move until the pain subsides. But EverydayHealth and the NHS both agree that gentle exercise is far more beneficial for back pain. In fact, too much rest can make some types of back pain worse.

You don’t need to reach for the sweatbands, though. Just a slow, gentle walk can help, or a few stretches. If you feel up to it, yoga can be great for chronic lower back pain – a review in the Clinical Journal of Pain revealed strong evidence of this. Yoga builds strength and reduces tightness in the muscles, both of which can help with back pain.

Try and do a little bit of movement, even if it hurts a little. Obviously, if the pain gets worse, or it is bad enough to prevent your movement, seek medical attention.

Painkillers

It might seem obvious, but usually the simple solutions are the best! Taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory can help reduce back pain, says the NHS. Paracetamol, however, isn’t recommended to treat back pain on its own. If you can, try taking ibuprofen instead, as it is an anti-inflammatory, where paracetamol is not.

An alternative to ibuprofen would be a pain relief gel, such as Voltarol. Gels can be a great option for people who hate swallowing pills, or if you’re looking for more targeted action against backache. These pain relief gels can help alleviate discomfort and swelling in the muscles, making them a top choice for dealing with back pain.

Be sure not to use diclofenac-based gels alongside ibuprofen. It’s important to always read the label of any medication you take and seek your GP’s advice if you’re unsure about anything. If the pain in your back doesn’t improve, or gets worse, see your GP.

Fortunately, you don’t have to over-complicate things to benefit from strong, healthy legs. No gym membership is required, as you can achieve great results using bodyweight exercises that can easily be incorporated into any exercise program or slotted into your daily life.

In fact, doing leg exercises at home is much more straightforward than you’d think. No leg-press machine or squat bar is required. All you need is maybe a chair, any necessary support clothing such as a newer version of compression leggings and, of course, the motivation to feel the burn in your hamstrings and calves.

Bodyweight exercises have the advantage of being functional. For instance, when you perform a squat, you are repeating the act of sitting in a chair, and when you stand from a squat, you brace your core and drive through your heels. If transferred to real life activities such as rising from a chair, these exercises will help give you better form and posture.

By learning bodyweight leg exercises, you are also laying the foundations of proper form for moving onto weights at a later date. And the final advantage of bodyweight exercises is that they’re free! You can perform them anywhere, whenever and wherever is convenient. These great bodyweight leg exercises may help you build up strength and at the same time prepare you to eventually start doing exercises with weights.

Bodyweight squats

First, you need to stand so that your feet are shoulder-width apart yet turned out slightly. Ensure that your weight is in your heels. Bend forward at the hips and sit back in a squat, then bend at the knees so that your thighs are parallel to the ground. To stand up straight again, drive down through your heels, keep your core tight and squeeze your butt.

Reverse lunge with a knee lift

As with the first exercise, begin with your feet shoulder-width apart. Step back onto the ball of your left foot, while at the same time bending both knees to make two 90-degree angles. Push onto your right heel to stand up, and as you rise, drive your left knee up towards your chest, then repeat the exercise on the other side.

Plié squat calf raises

Begin with your feet shoulder-width apart, with your toes turned outwards and your hands on your hips. Squat down so that your thighs are parallel to the ground. While still in the squat, raise both heels and hold for a count of two, then lower your heels.

Squat jumps

This time, you have to stand with your feet wider than hip-width apart. Bend forward at the hips and sit back into a squat, bending your knees until your thighs are parallel with the floor. Jump as high as you can, straightening out your legs as you jump, swinging your arms down for extra momentum and keeping your chest up and your back straight. Ensure that you land with soft knees and go straight into another squat.

High knee toe taps

Start by facing a bench, box or chair with your hands on your hips. Tap your foot on the bench or chair, then swap and tap the other foot, alternating sides as quickly as possible. Ensure that your back remains straight and your chest lifted at all times.

Side lunges

With your feet hip-width apart, make a big step to the right, then bend at the right knee and push back with your butt, ensuring that your left leg remains straight, your core stays tight and your chest remains lifted. Then repeat on the opposite side.

Single-leg calf raises

From the same starting position as the last exercise, lift your left knee to the level of your hips, with your toes pointed and your hands on your hips. Keeping your core tight, lift your right heel as high as you can, using the ball of your foot to balance. Hold this position for a count of three, then drop your heel and repeat the exercise on the other side.

There are lots of easy and effective bodyweight exercises that can help to boost your leg strength, but these should help you make a good start and will also set you up well to take on more intensive weight work in the gym when you are ready.

What is there to do if you get sick while traveling? We have gathered some tips for you – so read on and find out more.

Do your research

Don’t leave home without knowing whether or not your insurance company will cover you while abroad, what your options are, and what is the embassy phone number. These things can be complete life-savers when you’re abroad and sick, especially if you’re on a tougher situation than an average cold or anything of the sort. Do your research before you leave and keep your insurance, your ID, and your emergency contact in handy throughout the trip.

Ask for local medical assistance

In some cases, local pharmacists and doctors know best what to do to help you, especially if you got hurt by something that’s very common at that particular location. For example, if you’re at the beach and you get stung by a jellyfish, the nearest pharmacy will most likely be able to help you. This is a common issue in the area, so the pharmacist there will automatically know what type of medication to give you.

Take a small first aid kit with you

When traveling, don’t forget to pack away some of the basics as well – band aids, disinfectant, ibuprofen, and other basics medications you might need if you get sick. Although there will be pharmacies where you go (most likely, at least), it’s easier to just use what you have in your luggage, rather than buy something new (and which might be slightly different than what you and your body are used with).

Stay safe

Prevention is the best treatment in any kind of sickness, anywhere in the world you may be. Stay generally safe and know what dangers you’re exposed to when you travel to a particular country. Not that you should obsessively think of those dangers and make your entire trip feel stressful – but being aware of the things that might go wrong is very important because it will help you prevent unfortunate situations, as well as know what to do if anything bad happens.

Aside from the particularities of each country (which you should definitely know before you embark on your trip), always keep your common sense in handy as well. Not eating in places that do not meet the basic sanitary needs, not going too off-the-track when visiting the surrounding areas of a city – these are just a couple of things your common sense will dictate.

Other than that, live your travels as the amazing experience they are! Don’t be stressed out something bad might happen, but be prepared to face any kind of situation you may encounter – it’s the healthiest attitude you can have!

It shouldn’t be that way, though. As with all things in life, you should be looking at the bright side: aging means you’ve already gained enough life experience to be able to enjoy everything more intensely. It also means you have reached a point where you can slowly stop working so much and start living the best life has to offer. And, ultimately, it means you are more self-confident than ever too.

How to make sure you stay fit as you age, though? We have some tips for you – so read on and find out more.

Accept that things are changing

This is not about physical fitness, but about the mindset you should adopt as you proceed on your journey to aging gracefully.

Yes, things are changing – but that’s fine. So they changed when you were a teenager, and they continued to change throughout your entire life. This is no different – accept what’s coming into your life, be grateful for all the awesome things you’ve accomplished and for the amazing people surrounding you, and, ultimately, learn how to “work” with your new self.

Consult your physician before you start a workout regimen

Exercising is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body at any age. And, same as at any age, consulting with your doctor before you start working out is essential. Some workouts may simply not be good for you, others might not offer you the benefits you are looking for. Have a physician assess your physical state so that you know where you stand and what are the things you can do.

Yes, there are a lot of things you can do.

Choose a type of exercise you enjoy

There’s no point in attending a gym class if you downright hate it. As mentioned before, you should be spending your life doing the things you love.

The great news is that there’s a huge variety of workouts you could try. From dancing to yoga and from simply walking every evening to biking, there’s something that’s definitely suitable for you – both in terms of how you enjoy it and in terms of how your body can take it.

Also, remember that this is not a race: take it slowly, especially when you’re just starting out. Increase the time you spend working out

Eat well and drink plenty of water

Fuel your body with nutritious foods that help it function in its optimal parameters. Fat fish (such as tuna) tends to be an excellent source of Omega-3 oils, which are great for the heart and great for the brain as well. Furthermore, whole grains will help your digestive system work properly, while vegetables and fruit will provide you with the vitamins you need to stay active and healthy.

Also, don’t forget to drink plenty of water too – now more than ever it’s crucial that you give your body the hydration it needs so much.

It’s all about balance in everything you do. And it’s all about doing everything with a smile on your face!

Where do you start? What does it really take to lose weight and keep it off?

Sadly, there’s no secret recipe. There’s no magic pill you can take, nor is there an ingredient that will simply make those pounds vanish.

This is not to say there isn’t anything you can do – on the contrary, actually. There are a lot of things you can do to lose weight – and following, we have gathered 5 of the most important ones. Read on and find out more.

Eat Your 5 a Day

The more fruits and vegetables you eat, the more weight you will lose. This is not any kind of sorcery – it’s simple math. Most fruits and veggies contain a lot less calories than your average snack. An apple has around 100 calories, for example (as opposed to a candy bar, which can go as high as several hundreds of calories).

Plus, eating a lot of fruits will replenish your body with all the vitamins and nutrients it needs to function properly – so it’s really important to get enough of these foods even if you don’t want to lose weight.

Drink Water

We cannot emphasize this enough, but drinking water can change everything. Not only will it make it easier for your body to get rid of all the water it’s been retaining, but water has zero calories. A can of coke has about 140 calories, for example (not to mention it has a lot of unhealthy sugar, additives and it doesn’t actually hydrate your body!).

Focus on Complex Carbs

Contrary to the popular belief, carbs are not evil. It’s just that you have to make sure to eat the right ones – such as whole grains, beans, green vegetables, peas, and so on. These foods will give your body the energy it needs to move through the day (plus, they are rich in fiber, which improves digestion, a very important factor in weight loss).

Focus on Healthy Fats Too

A lot of people believe they have to avoid fat altogether – but that is just a misconception. A lot of fats are actually essential to the good functioning of the body. Moreover, they fill you up and keep you less hungry, providing you with plenty of energy to get through the day. Thus, by eating these fats, you are far less likely to overeat.

Forget about All Magic Diets

There’s no such thing. Some diets work on some people because it helps them keep the calorie intake under control – but that doesn’t mean all fad diets out there are actually healthy (nor does it mean that they will keep the weight off once you start eating “normally”).

Instead, keeping a healthy diet focused on the aforementioned principles and exercising regularly will help you lose weight and keep it that way. It’s the hard way, but it’s the best way!

How? We have gathered some of the most important tips to help you with this – so read on if you want to save money while eating healthy.

Cook at home

This comes without saying, but cooking at home is the best thing you can do for your health AND for your finances. Eating out is not only expensive, but it can also affect your health as well – simply because you don’t know what the restaurant is putting in your food. Ergo, you don’t know how many calories it has, if it’s actually healthy, if there’s no added sugar, and so on. When you cook at home, you know what ingredients you use and you know if they’re healthy or not.

Buy from local farmers

…as opposed to supermarkets. Even when they’re on discounts, the produce in supermarket has already been through a few filters that added to their price. Buying from local farmers and producers instead will actually help the local economy, it will be much healthier than whatever you get in supermarkets (which frequently comes from imported sources or very large industrial farms that use a lot of chemicals in their food growth process), and it will be much cheaper as well. Sure, it may not be as comfortable to go out of your way and buy from the local farmers, but it can actually be better from every point of view!

Do your shopping list

Yes, we know you’ve heard this a million times before – but creating a shopping list can ACTUALLY help you stick to your budget. It takes a few minutes to make a list before you go shopping and to include all the items you’ve run out of or the items you need to cook certain foods – but it can save you from one of the most dreaded mistakes you could make: buying things you don’t need or actually want.

Use fish from cans

It’s not as healthy as fresh fish, but if you pay attention to what’s written on the label (how much salt it has, whether or not it’s in natural brine or in oil, etc.), you can actually pull this off. Fish is very important for your diet due to its Omega acids that help every single part of your body, but, depending on where you live, the healthy types of fish can be quite expensive – it’s thus a better financial solution to use fish from cans.

Eat less meat

We’re used to adding meat to every single one of our meals – but that’s not necessary, nor is it actually healthy. Plenty of vegetables can successfully replace meat: beans, mushrooms, and soy for example. They are cheaper and they are healthier – so why not use them to replace your meat every now and again?

Sure, it can be done. But truth be told, not many of us have the time (or the patience) to actually go through all the counting and the balancing act every day. Even more, many of us simply don’t assimilate well certain nutrients – and, in time, this can lead to an energy deficiency.

What are some supplements you should consider for more energy? We have gathered 5 of the most powerful ones right below – so read on and find out more.

Vitamin B12

You may not know this, but your body finds vitamin B12 absolutely crucial to the way it metabolizes energy. Every single cell in your body needs this vitamin to create cellular energy – but sadly, our bodies do not generate vitamin B12 on their own. This means you will have to make sure your diet includes this vitamin – or to supplement your diet with vitamin B12 pills. Generally, this supplement is safe to take, but you might still want to discuss things with your physician first.

Does it actually work?

Yes, studies show that people who took a dosage large enough of this vitamin found an increase in energy in a matter of weeks. Furthermore, some studies also show vitamin B12 can help reduce chronic pain.

Ginseng

Some of you may think ginseng supplements are just another fad. However, science has discovered that this herb can act as an element that supports the body’s response to anxiety, physical effort, and stress. Moreover, ginseng supplements can also help you lower the level of free radicals and toxisn in the body – which can also contribute to eliminating fatigue (even of a chronic nature).

Although this supplement is safe to take, it is still important to make sure you only take it from reputable suppliers – so keep that in mind if you decide to take ginseng pills.

L-carnitine

This biochemical is also crucial for energy metabolism. What it does is transport the fatty acids to be converted into actual energy. The body does create L-carnitine naturally, but it normally uses it to support the brain. Therefore, taking L-carnitine (also known as ALCAR) supplements can help your body metabolize energy and maintain neural health at the same time.

Ginkgo Biloba

Another popular supplement, Ginko Biloba may feel like a fad for many of you. However, it has been proved to be an excellent antioxidant, as well as a great supplement for improving blood flow. What it does (and this is, again, a science-proven fact) is improve mitochondrial respiration and cellular energy production in our brain cells. This makes the entire metabolic activity work normally at a cellular level, protecting our health and improving our body’s longevity.

Vitamin C

Probably the most common supplement ever, vitamin C is relatively easy to take from foods (especially since many fruit and vegetables contain it). However, many of us need to take it as a supplement as well (the official name for the supplements being “L-ascorbic acid”).

As popular as it may be, not many people know just how essential vitamin C is for our bodies, especially when it comes to healing wounds and protecting the body from free radicals. Science has proved vitamin C works quite OK in common colds (not because it cures the symptoms, but because it makes them less durable).

Furthermore, taking vitamin C daily can improve the immune system in its fight against bacteria and viruses, it can help prevent muscle soreness (after strenuous exercise), and it can even reduce pain (in a way similar to vitamin B12). As a result of all these benefits, vitamin C can also increase the amount of energy in our bodies.

How to get a better sleep, though?

We have gathered 3 ways you can help your body get the rest it needs so much – so read on if you want to find out more.

Take care of your body during the day

The unhealthier you live during the day, the more poorly you will sleep during the night. Unhealthy eating high in protein and saturated fats, heavy drinking of caffeinated products, stress – they can all affect the quality of your sleep. So, even if you do get your 8 hours of sleep a night (which is absolutely crucial for a good rest!), you might not feel like it because your body is unable to actually “turn off” and recharge its batteries.

Follow your body’s natural tendencies

Our bodies are perfect mechanisms functioning on rules that are very well-balanced and well-coordinated with each other. Sleep makes no exception from this rule – which is precisely why you should try to follow your body’s triggers.

For example, one of the best ways to get a better sleep is to simply go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. Furthermore, napping is a good way to catch up on lost sleep – but if it affects your sleep at night, you should try to limit your naps to 20 minutes (!), and only take them in the early afternoon.

Last, but not least, eating heavy meals at dinner can also cause drowsiness and affect the quality of the sleep – so try to follow your natural instincts and eat a lighter dinner. It can make the world of a difference!

Limit the amount of light during the sleep

Most people sleep best in darker rooms – and that’s actually the right way to do it. Sleeping in rooms that don’t provide enough darkness will ruin your melatonin production (and this is a hormone crucial when you want to make sure you really make the most of your sleep hours).

Expose your body to natural sunlight during the day, as close to the moment you wake up as possible. If you need to wake up during the night, limit the amount of light you’re getting until the sunrise. At night, keep your room as dark as possible. These are things that will bring your body’s melatonin production to its natural tendencies (because, yes, thousands of years ago, people didn’t have electricity, or even fire, and they probably did sleep better!).

Getting better sleep every night is easy  as long as you try to live a more balanced life. Eat better, drink more water, avoid stress. These are basic health rules for anyone, anywhere, regardless of age, social status, or occupation. Also do not forget to take care of your skin and try Epicuren Skincare for your new bedtime routine.

How to use summer to your advantage and eat healthier? We have some tips for you – so read on and find out more if you want to provide your body with the best nutrients this summer.

So many veggies, so little time

Summer’s really a great season to start a weight loss program (or just start getting healthier, for that matter). There’s an abundance of vegetables you can eat in a huge number of ways. You can combine them in endless salad variants. You can bake them. You can grill them. You can cook them in one-pot meals. It’s really impossible to get bored with so many options, regardless of what you normally like eating.

In general, a food plate should be filled with about 1/2 vegetables, regardless of how they are cooked. The remaining of the plate should be filled with proteins (about ¼ of the plate), fats and carbs (about ¼ of the plate in total). This is just as a general rule of thumb, if you are not very keen on actually counting calories and macronutrients.

Skip the heavy desserts

You really don’t need that slice of chocolate cake or cheesecake. They’re delicious, we know, but if you take all the sugar out of it, you will discover these desserts lose just about 70% of their charm (Flour and cocoa? Probably not your go-to treat).

The great news? Summer is perfect for healthy snacks like fruit. You have the irresistible watermelon, you have all the berries, and you have a wide array of other fruits you can dive into when your sweet tooth’s calling for duty. You can take them as they are, you can make delicious smoothies out of them, and if you’re in the mood for a cool (literally!) treat, you can freeze them into the best popsicles you’ve ever tasted.

Stay hydrated

Now more than ever it is important to keep your body well-hydrated. Mind you, that means actual water. Sodas contain a lot of sugar and preservatives, and even sweet tea is a bad choice for your health (not to mention all the caffeine-based cold drinks you’ve been taking from Starbucks every day!).

Generally, you should keep your water intake at minimum of 8 glasses of pure, delicious water a day. Given that it’s summer outside and you probably live in a place where, well, temperatures are higher in the summer, you might want to increase that water intake (just enough to make up for all the “melting in the sun” you’ll be doing for the following months).

If you just cannot drink water, garnish yours with fresh fruit (no sugar!) or simply drink tea (cooled down, no sugar!). Green tea is the healthiest, but herbal teas work just as fine as long as you don’t sweeten them up. Remember though, a lot of the teas out there are heavily caffeinated, so you might want to keep that under control.

Other than that, smile! It’s summer, days are longer, people are happier, and the entire vegetation is blooming with beauty. You have all the reasons in the world to put on your largest smile and go about every day on a positive note!