Tag Archives: body

Apr19

4 Skin Problems & What To Do About Them

Posted on by
Standard
4 Skin Problems & What To Do About Them

It can often be quite surprising how many of us take our skin for granted. If you have never dealt with a skin ailment during your life, you may not have any idea of the kind of issues it can bring up for a sufferer. We all have our health issues, but usually, we can keep them private. Skin conditions, however, are much more difficult to hide – simply because quite a lot of our skin is out for show much of the time. Our skin is delicate, and it varies in many different parts of the body. For example, the skin on your hands has adapted to wrinkle when immersed in water, to give you more grip in poor weather conditions. You will also find that the skin on your body is much less oily than the skin on your face because the body has far less sebaceous glands. That is partially why we have different products for use on our face than we have for use on our bodies – it’s all about caring for and preserving your skin.

Having a condition, however, can make this whole process much more complicated. Some skin issues can be little more than an annoyance, whereas others can be serious and even life-altering. Here are a few that you may have heard of and some others that you may not be so familiar with, and what to do if you think you may be living with any of them:

Excessively Dry Skin: If you have very dry skin, you may just regard it as ‘one of those things’, much in the same way that you may have curly hair or have brittle fingernails. But if you are experiencing any discomfort from your dry skin, you could have a problem on your hands (quite literally!). Dry skin is one of the leading causes of itchy palms, a condition that can be incredibly frustrating for sufferers and something that can possibly interfere with your sleep.

Be mindful of how you react to your itchy, dry skin. If you are absentmindedly scratching it, you might be breaking the skin without realizing it. This can be incredibly painful, and can put you at risk of developing infections. The best way to avoid the incessant itching caused by dry skin is to keep your skin full of moisture, so invest in a good hand cream and a body butter to keep your skin supple and itch-free.

Psoriasis: Psoriasis is a condition that relates to dry skin but in a much more serious way. Its main symptoms are red, flaky patches of skin across the body that are often covered with silver scales. These patches can be itchy or sore, and some people have more severe symptoms than others. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition, but there are things that you can do to ease the effects of it. If you think you may have psoriasis, visit your doctor, as they may be able to prescribe you medication or cream to ease some of the symptoms.

Vitiligo: Vitiligo is not a condition that tends to cause the sufferer physical pain, but it can have a big impact on a person’s self-esteem. This particular condition causes white patches to appear on the skin, which vary in size and shape. This can give the skin a ‘mottled’ effect, and it shows up more clearly on people who are naturally dark-skinned. It is a long-term condition, although it can start to develop at any time in life. As of yet, there is no cure, but you can minimize the appearance of the condition with makeup, steroid cream, or even phototherapy. (Notice that Converse and Gap are both using models with Vitiligo in their campaigns!)

care3

A good makeup brush is a must.

Scabies: Scabies is often considered to be an illness of the past, normally associated with pirates living on unhygienic old ships! In reality, however, scabies is caused purely by tiny mites called Sarcoptes scabiei, which burrow into the skin, causing the itchy feeling. Scabies can develop and spread easily in environments where people are living in very close quarters with each other, which is partially why it is more common during the winter than the summer in most Western countries. It is not serious but can be uncomfortable, and can be worsened if you repeatedly scratch at the affected areas. So if you think you might have scabies, visit your doctor. He or she will most likely prescribe you a cream of sorts that contains insecticides, which will kill the scabies mites. Permethrin cream and malathion lotion are the two most commonly prescribed types.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Apr10

Technology To Keep You On Track

Posted on by
Standard

When it comes to health and fitness we could all use a helping hand. Whether it’s counting calories or charting our progress, it can be difficult to keep on top of things when we’re trying to get in shape. Increasingly, the worlds of technology and fitness have been overlapping. Here’s how you could be using some clever tech to get fit just in time for summer:

Healthy Eating: There are plenty of tech gadgets that make eating healthily easier. Apps are particularly popular for those looking to lose weight. We’re told a lot about the importance of keeping a food diary and holding ourselves accountable. This is good advice but can be so difficult (and annoying!) in practice. When we cook at home or eat out it’s difficult to track our calorie and sugar intake. Not only that, but it’s a lot of work to carry around a food diary and fill it in every day.

Certain apps allow users to check their intake easily. These apps are pre-programmed with nutritional information from thousands of restaurants and recipes. Not only can you keep track of your calories, but these apps can also tell you how far away from your goal you are. They can even work out the right amount of calories you should be eating, based on your BMI. So if you’re wondering what your BMI is, then you’ll need to look into a BMI calculator online to try and figure that out (they’re free). Some apps also have features which allow you to input your workout and see how many calories you’ve burned. So handy!

techie

YUM!!

Quitting Your Bad Habit: It’s no surprise that people looking to increase their overall health and fitness try and cut back on any bad habits. Whether your indulgence is chocolate, alcohol, or cigarettes, it’s best to try and curb these less than healthy habits for good. The world of technology came up with vapes and e-cigarettes as an alternative aid for those looking to quit smoking. Vapes and e-cigarettes require liquid and chargers, like the ones found at Vaporesence. This aid to stopping smoking is usually used as a first step on the road to cutting down or cutting out cigarettes altogether for an ultimately healthier lifestyle.

techie1

Pixabay Image

Lumo: Lumo is at the forefront of some pretty impressive fitness tech. Lumo Run, for instance, is a sensor that you clip onto your running shorts. The device links up to an app on your phone and gives you a post-run analysis. Along with the usual details, Lumo Run can advise you about your running form and even recommend specific personalized exercises. It measures your pelvic drop, rotation, bounce, and braking to come up with feedback on how to improve your technique for a better work out.

Lumo Lift, on the other hand, is all about great posture. Again, you attach a clip to your shirt and it will gently vibrate when you slouch or have bad posture. It can track your posture, calories burned, steps, and distances too. So get those shoulders back, but if not, let Lumo remind you! Now, straighten up!

techie2

Go, go, go!

Apr7

Are You Looking After Your Skin The Way You Should?

Posted on by
Standard
Are You Looking After Your Skin The Way You Should?

As the largest organ in the body, our skin’s health is something that we should always take seriously. When we look after our skin, not only do we avoid a range of diseases and disorders but it also looks more beautiful, too- which is not a bad thing! Nice skin can improve confidence and self-esteem and is something that will always be considered an attractive asset. Are you looking after your skin the way that you should? Here are some things to bear in mind:

Cut Back On (Or Quit!) Your Vices:

Smoking, alcohol, and drugs all have a huge impact on the skin. Using these toxic chemicals will make you more prone to age damage, cause the skin to become dehydrated, and even give it a sallow appearance. Not only are these vices horrendous for the body but they’re not good news for the way you look, either. If you’re suffering from addiction, speak to your GP who can advise you on what to do next. If not, cut back on the things that you know are bad for you.

Another habit people have is cooking themselves in the sun in the name of beauty – but that tan will fade. However, the damage it leaves behind won’t! Clinics these days have great treatments to combat the signs of aging, Botox for example from companies like http://kitagawadermatology.com/botox can help to blur fine lines and wrinkles. Botox is a great tool for an instant glow up on your face and it is so important to go to someone reputable for it. This is especially true if you’re going in for a more specialised treatment. It’s now possible for example, to go to a dentist for Botox injections and other oral treatments, but it’s important to be safe. To find a trusted practice, you should search online for a “dentist that does botox near me“ to find a reputable clinic in your area. But of course, keeping your skin youthful for as long as possible is your best bet. So start looking after your skin today, your future self will thank you!

Exfoliate The Right Way:

If you’re regularly exfoliating your skin, that’s great news. It can remove dead skin cells which make the skin look dull and also stimulate the skin to create more collagen. However exfoliating should always be gentle. If your face feels raw, tight, or sore afterwards, you’re either going too hard or using the wrong product. Never use a body exfoliater on your face, the grains are far too large and can cause damage. On the flip side, try to avoid ‘microbeads’, too. While these work well for gently exfoliating the skin, they’re awful for the environment and water companies struggle with removing them from the water. Cleansing brushes are also a good option as they clean deep down into the pores and also remove flakes and dead skin, too. These can be used with your regular facial wash. Again use gentle motions and be very careful not to scrub too hard which will damage and irritate the skin.

Eat The Right Foods:

A well as looking after your skin on the outside, you also need to nourish it from the inside, too. A healthy diet will provide your body with all of the vitamins and minerals that you need to keep your skin at its best. If you lack in anything, it will be quick to show in your skin. Fresh produce, healthy fats (such as avocados and fish), and whole grains will all boost your skin’s health. Hydration is important, too. Eating fruits and veggies with a high water content and drinking plenty of water will all be beneficial for your skin.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Apr7

What’s Giving You A Headache?

Posted on by
Standard

If you look down a list of the symptoms for pretty much any illness in the world, you’ll see “headache” listed as one of the symptoms. From the mundane through to the catastrophic, it seems that where there’s an illness there’s an associated headache with it. Then there’s the fact that headaches themselves can be idiopathic, occurring for no other reason than you’re a human being with a head – and sometimes, they just hurt because they feel like it. It’s actually considered fairly standard to suffer from a headache every day, especially the muscular, nagging tension headaches that we’re all so familiar with.

However, if you have a headache outside of the “norms”, how do you go about figuring out the cause? Or even if there is a cause? While no means exhaustive, below are some of the reasons why you might be experiencing a persistent and nagging headache. Some are for simple reasons, while others are more of a cause for concern. Have a glance over them and remember to always speak to your doctor if you have headaches that are concerning you. It’s almost certainly nothing to be worried about, so don’t panic, just be proactive about scheduling an appointment.

Dehydration: It seems that a glass of water is the cure for all illnesses these days, but that’s largely because… a glass of water can cure all illnesses. Water is fundamental for a human body that’s made up of 80% water, so if you’re not drinking enough, then it’s a cause for concern. Dehydration is speculated to be a primary cause of all headaches that don’t have an underlying condition. So your first step at the sign of throbbing temples should be to drink a few glasses of water and increase your intake of water-rich vegetables.

headache

H2O!!

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Carbon monoxide is a stealth killer. The symptoms begin slowly and with no detectable cause, as the gas is odorless and undetectable without special monitoring equipment. If your headache is always at its worst when you’re at home, then it’s worth considering this as a cause. Always make sure that your gas supply is properly maintained by a plumbing service that you trust and ensure that you have carbon monoxide detectors both fitted and working at all times. It’s one to take seriously because carbon monoxide kills around 500 people per year. (Yikes)

Medication/Supplement Side Effects: If you take any medication or supplements on a regular basis and are experiencing headaches, then you should suspect them as the cause. Even the most benign of over-the-counter supplements can cause head pain, while prescribed medications are even more likely to be the culprit. This is especially true if your headaches have only started after beginning a new medication. Talk to your doctor to rule medication in or out. If it’s found to be an issue, there are usually alternatives that you can try to keep your headaches at bay.

headache1

Pexels Image

Apr6

Smile With Confidence

Posted on by
Standard
Smile With Confidence

Are you one of those people who feels too shy to smile with an all out toothy grin? Do you try to hide your teeth behind your own lips out of embarrassment for how they look? There’s something particularly heartbreaking about a person who doesn’t feel able to show the most basic of emotions because of self-consciousness about the state of their teeth. But all is not lost – if your teeth makes you shy, give some of these things a go:

Embrace Imperfections: If you think your teeth are too big, too crooked, or your smile is too gummy, it can be really difficult to grin with abandon. But we are our own worst critics – what we see in the mirror is almost a caricature of ourselves, with bright spotlights focused in on the aspects of our image that make us feel self-conscious. What everyone else sees is an overall picture. They don’t focus in on the spot on our chin or the slightly wonky front tooth like we do.

If the imperfection is having a tremendous impact on your self-confidence, it could be worth speaking to an orthodontist about restorative work. Now, you can straighten teeth with Invisalign so you don’t have to worry about a mouthful of metal. Invisalign is offered as a treatment by most orthodontic practices, so simply search something like “tandreglering göteborg” (Orthodontics Gothenburg) to find an orthodontist near you. If it makes you feel better about smiling, then it’s totally worth it.

Go Bright White: Everywhere we seem to look in the media there are women with huge, bright smiles and pearly white teeth, and it can be difficult not to compare ourselves to them. But those smiles are completely available to everyone with the use of veneers or even home teeth whitening kits, depending on how permanent you want the change and how much cash you have to throw at it. Some women swear by just rubbing baking soda on their teeth regularly to remove staining caused by coffee, wine, or smoking.

Floss: There is nothing more reassuring than knowing you have dental floss in your handbag, especially when you’re going out for a meal. Not being sure if everyone can see the food stuck between your teeth is a surefire way to put you off smiling. When you’re feeling self-conscious, nip off to the restrooms and give yourself a quick tooth checkup. The handbag floss is a lifesaver, especially when you have a huge piece of lettuce lodged between your two front teeth!!!

teeth6

I definitely need to floss more -___-

If In Doubt, It’s All About The Lippy: Certain colored lipsticks have an amazing ability to either detract from teeth or to make them seem far brighter and whiter. If you choose a lippy with a more blue-based formula, rather than orange reds, they detract from any yellowness in teeth. In a way which seems more like magic, the blue forces the eye to balance the two colors out, whereas orange colors flag them up like a beacon. According to Elle magazine, MAC Ruby-Woo is the ultimate tooth-flattering lip shade. And it’s a beautiful color and consistency to boot. A must buy!

The key to smiling with confidence is realizing that nobody notices your imperfections quite like you do. But there are also ways to diminish things which you deem to be problem areas, like staining or dull teeth. The most important thing to remember is to hold your head up high, and feel fabulous in who you are. A smile is worth a thousand words, after all.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Apr5

Living With A Disability: Overcoming Everyday Challenges

Posted on by
Standard
Living With A Disability: Overcoming Everyday Challenges

Disabilities can be very hard to come to terms with, even if you were born with one. No disability or long-term health condition is the same, and they each come with unique challenges that sufferers have to overcome on a daily basis. Even though there can be major differences between them, there are still some similarities. Here are some things that everyone who has a disability will have to face on a daily basis, as well as some ideas for how to deal with them:

It’s OK To Get Assistance: Some people who suffer from long-term disabilities try to be more independent than what they should be, and try to get by without the assistance of wheelchairs and walking sticks. This often does more bad than good, as it can be ever so easy to end up falling or having an accident when you try to avoid equipment that can assist you. The main reason why people try to get by without the likes of wheelchairs is that, then, their disability isn’t so visible. But, at the end of the day, you shouldn’t care what people think about you and your illness. It is much more important to get the help and assistance that you need to keep yourself in good health.

The same goes for support at home or considering assisted living. If your disability is preventing you from safely completing household tasks like cooking or cleaning, you are putting yourself in danger every day. Programs like Sunnysights disability support (or something similar in your local area) can provide help while maintaining as much independence as possible. This can include assistance at home or with accessing the community for appointments, errands, and fun.

living2Pixabay Image

And That Goes For Financial Assistance, Too: With the cost of doctor appointments, medications, and different therapies, a disability can be expensive. Thankfully, there is plenty of support from the government that you can claim in benefits. You can also find details here about how to claim compensation after a personal injury that might have caused your condition. Make sure that you are clued up on all of the financial help that you are eligible for as these can make your life a lot easier to manage as you will be able to afford a lot more help and support.

If your disability is a result of an accident or personal injury, now is the time to start researching law firms that can help you like Long & Long Injury Attorneys (or a similar practice in your local area). You can assist in this process by keeping meticulous medical records and all documentation related to the incident. Do not be afraid to shop around to find the best fit for you as you will want a lawyer who is easy to work with, trustworthy, and well reviewed.

Self Advocacy: One of the most important things you can do as a person with a disability is learn how to advocate for yourself. This will ensure that your rights are protected at all times and enhance your quality of life and relationships. Self advocacy can be easier said than done, especially if you have never done it before. You can find disability help here that can provide self advocacy workshops as well as teaching skills in negotiation, problem solving, and coordination assistance. These are all valuable skills and can offer a whole new lease on life.

Lean On Your Friends And Family: I’m sure that your friends and family will all be there for you to help you live your life to the fullest. Their offers to help and assist you are made because they love you, and is something that there is no shame in accepting. Your friends and family will all want to help you improve your quality of life, and they will also be able to keep your moods up in the process. So, let them help you rather than ignore the offer or feel embarrassed over it. That really is what friends and family are for!

living3Pixabay Image

Push Yourself Every So Often: It’s also good to challenge yourself and push yourself every now and then. You might be surprised at what you can do even with your disability! These challenges can be as big or as small as you need them to be. The main thing is that you keep them personal and achievable. For instance, the first challenge you might set for yourself could be to take five steps unaided, if that is something that you struggle with. Once you ace this, you might want to take this to the next level and aim for ten steps.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Mar30

Cures In The Kitchen

Posted on by
Standard
Cures In The Kitchen

If you’re feeling under the weather or suffering from an embarrassing complaint, you might not have to visit the doctor at all. There are a number of effective cures for all kind of maladies sitting right there in your kitchen. Check out these kitchen cures for common illnesses and cut down on those annoying trips to the pharmacy:

Ginger: Ginger doesn’t just give your curry a kick and make your cookies taste better – it can also help to relieve sickness and cure menstrual cramps. Many pregnant women are advised to eat crystallized ginger or drink a tea made with the spice if they want to prevent morning sickness and it is very effective at doing just that. However, what is less well-known is that ginger can also be used to ease the pain of menstrual cramps, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Cranberries: Urinary tract infections are no fun, nor is seeing your physician about the problem, but if you have some cranberry juice in the fridge, you might not have to visit the doctor at all. You see, cranberries contain proanthocyanidins – a compound that can fight the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections. By drinking a small amount of cranberry juice each day, you can protect yourself from further instances of UTIs, so it’s worth stocking up next time you’re at the store.

Cream of Tartar: Cream of tartar is usually used to leaven bread, cakes, and other foods, but did you know that it can help to cure everything from hemorrhoids to Candida, providing instant relief for the embarrassing conditions? Eating foods with cream of tartar in it or on its own might do very little, but if you can mix it with a glass of water and drink it down, it will do you a world of good. If that sounds too disgusting, a good cream of tartar supplement will give you all of the same benefits without making you want to throw up. Take it regularly and you’ll cut your chances of suffering from the conditions again in the future, although there is no guarantee of that.

Milk & Cheese: If you suffer from PMS and the mood swings that come with it, eating more calcium rich foods could help to reduce your symptoms. In fact, studies have shown that women with lower levels of calcium in the blood suffer more from PMS than those who don’t. So, drink your milk and have a slice of cheese daily to keep the condition at bay.

Sea Salt: If painful dry skin is your problem, before you spend your hard-earned cash on expensive skin creams and remedies, combine a cup of sea salt with half a cup of olive oil and massage it into your skin. Do this once a week and it is likely that you will see an improvement in the look and feel of your skin. This treatment, however, isn’t suitable for your face – a mixture of coconut and brown sugar will be better for those delicate parts of the body.

Although these remedies are all tried and tested, it is important that you seek your doctor’s approval if you have any doubts or questions about your condition.

Featured Image By: Flickr

Mar29

You’re Never That Old! How To Slow Down The Aging Process

Posted on by
Standard

Most of us wouldn’t dare to admit it, but there are certain times in life where it feels good to be just that little bit smug. This could be when the work project you pushed for that no one else had any faith in comes good. Or maybe the investment that friends and family said was a waste of time actually brings you back a healthy return. The majority of people will try and hide their smugness in these kinds of situations, even if they feel pretty happy with themselves on the inside! But one thing is certain, and that is that internally, we are patting ourselves on the back and enjoying basking in a little bit of self righteousness.

Another example of this happening is when people think that you look younger than you are! We are a society that is obsessed with aging and with trying to hold the years off for as long as possible. The media plays a huge role in this. Just watch television for a matter of minutes, and you are sure to see at least one anti-aging product grace your screen in an advert. This has made much of the general public fearful of getting older and is why we praise people for looking younger than their years. On a more personal level, retaining some of your youthful features can simply be a big confidence boost, especially if your body-image is at all important to you. Of course, none of us are (regrettably) going to stay 21 forever. But there are certain things that you can do to keep an air of youth about you, even if the years are creeping up a little bit faster than you would like!

Work Out Regularly:

When it comes to working out to stay looking young, you need to first be aware of your body’s limitations. No matter how hard you try to convince yourself otherwise, you simply won’t have the physical prowess at 40 that you had at 15. Forcing yourself through hard workouts just because you used to be able to do them means you probably won’t enjoy your fitness journey all that much. Plus, you could put your body at risk of serious damage, too. A youthful body is not worth any long-term damage, so just be realistic about your expectations. All that said, working out on a regular basis obviously does have many benefits to both your physical and mental health – and can contribute to you looking younger.

You may find that as your approach middle age you put weight on more easily (this is typically known as ‘the middle-aged spread’), so you need to switch up your exercise regime to accommodate for this. You may need to simply accept that you will be a little heavier as you get older, but that doesn’t mean that you need to be ‘out of shape,’ necessarily. Change your gym routine so that you are doing more weight-based exercises, as this will help to tone up any excess fat you are carrying. You may be bigger and heavier overall, but if you are still fit and toned no one will really be able to tell that you’ve aged.

old.png

Namaste Forever Young!

Seek Professional Help:

Sometimes the aging process isn’t all that kind to us and it can creep up on us when we least expect it. If you look down at yourself one day and don’t recognize your body as your own, it can be pretty shocking and disheartening. When this happens, you need to assess the situation and see if it is possible for you to turn back the clock on your own. Often, there is only so much that you can do with exercise and supposed ‘miracle’ products – and you could end up wasting a lot of time and money in the process of trying both of these. Instead, it might be worth finding out about Dr. David Halpern or a similar expert in both general and reconstructive surgery. Then, you can ensure that you are speaking to someone who is trained in this medical field and they will be able to offer you concise and honest advice on whether this could be the kind of route for you to go down. And, contrary to some beliefs, there is absolutely no shame in this!

old1

Flickr Image

Be Good To Your Skin:

Our skin is probably the biggest giveaway for our age. If you have always been plagued by oily skin, you could be in luck, however, as oily-skinned people tend to develop fewer wrinkles. Why? Well, mainly because the sebum (oil) helps to keep the skin plump and full of moisture, which in turn wards off wrinkles. People with sensitive skin or dry skin may find that they develop wrinkles earlier, or that the wrinkles they do develop are deeper or more pronounced. This can be a severe knock to your confidence and many of us end up piling our faces full of makeup to mask any lines. But this, in turn, can actually make us look older, as the makeup inevitably seeps into the lines and gives that ‘cakey’ effect.

The best thing to do if you have noticed lines and wrinkles appearing is to go back to the basics – stay out of the direct sunlight, drink lots of water, and get enough sleep! UV rays are the leading cause of aging on the skin, as they damage the DNA that makes up our skin cells. Try and stay out of the sun between 11 AM and 2 PM when it is at its lowest and always wear sunscreen. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water a day and to get around 8 hours of sleep every night. These things might not seem like much, but adopting a healthier lifestyle can help infinitely in keeping your skin looking healthy and fresh. Have you ever noticed how dull your skin looks after a poor night’s sleep or when you’re feeling dehydrated? And finally, don’t overburden your skin with products either – find a gentle cleanser and a moisturizer that works for you and stick to that. Your skin will be radiant and you can bask in all of the compliments you will receive for looking younger than your years – smug, who?! Oh yes, me!

old2

Best. Eye Cream. EVER!

I’m still working on finding the Fountain Of Youth, myself, but hopefully these tips and tricks will motivate you to make some healthy changes to stay on your eternal youth A-game!

Mar28

Recipes For A Happier Life

Posted on by
Standard
Recipes For A Happier Life

Okay, so this isn’t a usual recipe post. There isn’t one particular set of instructions for you to create an amazing meal. Instead, it is a post which links to a few different recipes that we love.  Ones that are going to make you happy if you are feeling a bit blue, maybe after your holiday or because you are fed up with the weather. But, no matter how you’re feeling, we can all agree that food is awesome.

There is a lot of focus on our health and physical fitness. Some of us work towards our holidays by going for the ultimate bikini body whilst others pack a few self improvement books and read our way to a better place. However, what we fail to do is focus on regularly consuming a variety of nutrient rich, wholesome foods. You know, improving our diet to improve our life. It isn’t going to give you instant results, but eating good quality foods consistently will improve your mental function, mood, and energy levels. Now, let’s get cooking:

So! What should you be eating and where are the recipes?

First of all, let’s talk about fat.  You may have been told that fat is the enemy, but that isn’t true.  Trans fats are the enemy. You find this fat in processed foods like sausages and ready made meals. Unsaturated fat is really good for you. In fact, our brains are made up from 40% fat and we need plenty of it to ensure that our brain stays healthy. Healthy oils can be found in olive oil, avocado, nuts, and seeds. So, our first recipe is this fantastic Quinoa and Sprouted Sunflower Seed Salad & Avocado Dressing from the fantastic Food Spa blog. A delicious way of boosting your healthy fats.

recipe2

Love, love, love avocado!

In addition to these healthy fats, you also need essential fatty acids, AKA the Omega 3 Oils.  Research has shown that these improve mood and reduce depressive symptoms. The best sources of essential fatty acids are oily fish like salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, pilchards, and trout and you should aim to eat a couple of portions per week. So, here is an amazing recipe for Wild Salmon and Black Rice which will have you topping up on plenty of Omega 3s and a fabulous mood.

Next up is whole grains, fruits, and vegetables:

The best food is whole food – food in its most natural state. Think wholegrain cereals, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. They provide us with the fiber, vitamins, and minerals that our bodies need to function their best. So if you want to get fit fast, eat plenty of whole foods. Serotonin, Vitamin B, and Zinc are all really helpful at managing depression.  Eating complex carbohydrates such as oats, grains, brown rice, and vegetables such as squash will release serotonin into the brain. Marmite is a fabulous source of B vitamins or you could also buy fortified wholefoods.

Maple Roasted Butternut Squash with Freekeh is a perfect way of ticking all of the things on this list. Give it a go, because Freekeh is super delicious and the new Quinoa. You know the deal with fruits and veggies: 5 servings a day, okay? If you struggle with that, then buy a juicer or Nutribullet and blitz your 5 a day for breakfast. While it is better to maintain a steady supply rather than take them all in one hit, at least you know you are getting the recommended amount!

Protein, please (for vegetarians and carnivores alike!):

Protein is required for our bodies’ growth, maintenance, and repair. A lack of protein in our diets can lead to irritability, fatigue, and a lack of concentration. Most of us will think of steak or chicken when protein is mentioned. However, you can get plenty of protein in plant based foods like lentils, beans, nuts, and seeds. Soy beans, peas, and broccoli are also excellent sources of protein.

recipe3

Pexels Image

But, if you want a protein kick, then you can’t get better than Steak Frites. A delicious fillet steak, served on a bed of spinach with some sweet potato straw fries on the side. Perfecto! We also ought to add that eating dark chocolate, with 75% cocoa content, can improve your mood because of the protein in it. You’re welcome!

To wrap this post up, let’s talk about water – which we don’t have a recipe for! Water plays a huge role in our brain function. You need to be drinking around 2 liters of water a day to avoid effects like addled concentration, memory, and learning ability. Now, fill up a glass and drink up!

Delicious Featured Image By: Pexels

Mar27

Preventing the Aging Process

Posted on by
Standard
Preventing the Aging Process

A lot of us take our lives for granted, and before we know it we are at a stage where we are unable to do the things we once loved. Unless we keep at something, do it regularly, or at least have it on the brain for a bit, there is little chance that we can go back to it and pick it up just like that – and that goes for both physical and mental activities. It also sets a standard for our health and well-being, too; if you don’t take care of your body now, then you are setting yourself up for trouble in the long run. Not everything lasts forever, as much as we wish sometimes that it would. Our bodies change over time, and sometimes there is no stopping what age can bring us … but we can prevent it, if only for a little while with these steps:

Take Care Of Your Teeth: Our teeth don’t last forever. There probably isn’t a person on the planet over the age of 70 who hasn’t had at least one of their adult teeth fall out or had them taken out. With good care they can last longer than expected, but at some stage they will just give up the ghost. This is due to our life expectancy getting longer and longer – the lifespan of our gnashers simply hasn’t caught up yet. They’re still living around 2000 years ago, where you were lucky if you made it to 40 or 50.

There are things that you can do if you are worrying that your teeth have gone past the point of no return. Check in with your dentist for a thorough checkup and see what they recommend or do a bit of searching online for methods that you may want to consider, like dental implants – you can get the info from dental brush. It’s not too late to really start looking after your teeth, and they will always benefit from a good brush and floss. Some people are looking more towards interdental brushes instead of the traditional dental floss for a more precise and thorough clean. Getting yourself into a good routine with it is definitely the way to go to keep your pearly whites picture perfect.

Wake Up Early: Making the most of your day is something that most people can’t do if they sleep in. When you wake up early, you have the chance to use up more time in daylight and generally when the majority of those around you are more sociable; plus you have more chance to get errands done around you with the stores being open. Not everybody lives in an inner city where amenities are open 24/7 and, even if you do, it’s still a thing that you ought to try out. It is said that those who wake up early are the ones with the best sleep routines, and this counts for a lot in life. It means that your body is getting the amount of rest that it needs and waking you up at the same time every day, indicating a pattern that you’re getting used to.

Early risers are linked with having better grades, being more productive throughout the day, and generally being happier people. If you arise before your alarm in the morning, then you have more time to organize yourself for the day and get stuff done – there is less to distract you in the early morning, especially on the biggest time-waster of social media … barely anybody else is awake to interact! It’s also linked to having a better mood, being more sociable, and sustaining a healthier diet. With all of these benefits to go hand in hand with waking up before everyone else, what’s to lose? Give it a try and see how you feel!

Be Kind: It’s hard to get yourself into a personality habit like being kind to everyone and everything around you – especially if you haven’t done it before. It’s not something that can’t be done, it’s just something that needs time and commitment so that kindness comes naturally instead of being forced. We often find it so easy to find the negatives in everything, but sometimes you just need to look for the positives. A lot of people who work with children tend to be kinder than those who are immersed in just an adult world, as the innocence of the kids passes over and you pass it on from them. It shouldn’t be this way – as in, you shouldn’t have to be kind just because you work with the youngsters of society.

In Scandinavia, the first few school years of a child’s life are not learning about the basics of math, science, and English, but teachings of how to be nice to everybody and earn respect. They have proven time and time again, country by country, that they have the happiest nation in the world. There’s definitely something to be taken from that. Spread a bit of kindness and see how far it gets you today.

Get A Good Night’s Sleep: Getting  your recommended eight hours of sleep a day can be tough in this busy world. If you have the chance to nap during the day, take it; it all adds up to your daily total. Quite a few of us have interrupted sleep, with tossing and turning throughout the night. Make your sleep routine better by taking out of your reach anything that can distract you when you wake up for those few seconds. If you have a smartphone, leave it in another room while you rest. These are the biggest distractions and the worst things that can be near us when we’re trying to catch a good night’s rest. The brightness from the screen just by checking the time is enough to wake your body up past the stage that it’s meant to be, meaning that the effects felt in the morning from your disturbance will be exaggerated just that little bit more. That’s definitely not what you want, especially if you have a busy day ahead. Respect your sleeping pattern and it’ll do absolute wonders for you.

Drink Plenty: We are meant to be drinking eight glasses of fluid every day, each containing 8 ounces. This is known as the 8×8 rule, and as long as you stick to it relatively well, there is little chance that you will become dehydrated throughout the day. Of course, you need to factor in more fluids for if you are doing strenuous activities like working out. There are certain things that you can do to push yourself along, such as setting reminders for yourself to get a glass of water, or even investing in a water bottle that will do it for you. Once your get yourself into a routine, you’ll be wondering how you ever got through the day without it; the benefits of drinking the right amount of water are that you will feel more energized, be more focused on what you are doing, and feel less bloated throughout the day. Who can say no to that? Especially the bloated part!

Eat The Right Things: We all know what a healthy diet looks like, and if we are unsure then a quick Google or visit to your local dietician can help. So why aren’t we doing it? Unfortunately, junk food is more accessible for us and generally quicker to get on demand when we are hungry. We look for the easy option. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. If you get the food ready before your week starts by meal planning, then there is less of a chance that you will be queuing up for the drive-thru when you feel a hunger pang. This will help you not only give your body the nourishment it requires, but hopefully set a precedent for those around you, too – especially those with children.

Do Yourself Up: For most, the secret of looking young is … well … looking young! Unless you invest in cosmetic procedures, there is little that can be done to stop the signs of aging apart from a good makeover. Doing yourself up every day and putting effort into your appearance is one of the few things that you can do to give yourself a confidence boost, make yourself feel great, and keep you looking more youthful. Invest in some good quality makeup and go to town on how you want to appear; there are tutorials on Youtube which are great to follow if you’re not sure where to start.

Featured Image By: Pexels