Category: Health

Efficient Ways of Relieving Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ever since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, many have been feeling a new form of pandemic-related stress, on top of the everyday pressure they already experience in their personal and professional lives. Apart from disrupting our daily routines, the uncertainty of the pandemic has also forced us to worry about our health and well-being, as well as the economy, leading to additional anxiety and accumulated stress. But even though the situation might be difficult to handle, relieving the built-up stress during the COVID-19 pandemic is still possible with these efficient methods:

Focus on proper nutrition

While it’s a well-known fact that proper, healthy nutrition aids in boosting immunity, maintaining a healthy weight, and encouraging optimal digestive functions, not many people are aware that eating healthy could also reduce stress and improve the mood by helping to balance your hormones.

If you want to improve your nutrition, focusing on a healthy and balanced diet is key. Besides including more colorful fruits and vegetables into every meal, this also means increasing your protein intake through meat, eggs, and nuts, focusing on fiber-rich foods like whole grains and beans, choosing unsaturated fats found in fish and seeds, as well as drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day.

Prioritize restful sleep

Sleep
A woman is sleeping in her own bed

Although often overlooked, sleep is incredibly important for our physical and mental health. Apart from reducing stress and allowing your body to rest and repair itself, quality sleep can also improve your memory and make you more focused and alert, thus being quite beneficial for your overall health.

To that end, aim to get between seven and nine hours of restful, uninterrupted sleep each night. In case you’re having trouble falling asleep due to pandemic anxiety, limiting daytime naps, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, as well as creating a dark, cool, and calm bedroom environment can all aid in improving your nightly sleep.

Construct an exercise routine

Helping to lift the mood, improve sleep, control weight, and even combat certain health conditions and diseases, regular physical activity is arguably one of the most efficient ways to reduce stress levels. However, if you are unable to visit gyms and fitness centers during the pandemic, and are forced to work out at home, adhering to an exercise routine can be quite a difficult task.

For that reason, many experts recommend simply finding activities you truly enjoy. Whether that means going on morning runs, frequent bike rides, doing pilates at home, or even dancing in your living room, doing what you love will give you more motivation to continue exercising.

Invest in massage tools

Whether you are working from home, slouching over your desk for hours, or even stressing about the current global situation, the built-up tension you feel doesn’t only affect your mental health but could accumulate in your body as well. In an effort to relax, unwind, and relieve some of this stress, frequent massages could be a wonderful option.

To that end, it might be a good idea to invest in high-quality massage devices that are efficient at reducing tension yet simple and practical enough to use at home. From eye massagers that help to treat tired and strained eyes caused by prolonged work in front of a screen, to handheld gun massagers that can target any muscle in an effort to relieve tension and pain, massage devices are truly some of the best stress-reducing tools your could use during the pandemic.

Give meditation a try

Even though it’s a spiritual practice, anxiety relief and stress reduction are among the main reasons people try meditation nowadays. By calming your mind and allowing you to focus on the moment, meditation has been shown to not only promote relaxation and reduce stress but also improve certain stress-related symptoms.

If you want to give mediation a try, simply find a calm and quiet place to sit, and focus on the sensations around you and how they affect your body and mind. Even five to ten minutes of this mindful practice every day could have great benefits for your overall health and well-being.

Create a self-care routine

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted our daily routines, forcing us to suddenly change our regular schedules and practices. If this is the case with you as well, simply creating a new self-care routine might do wonders for relaxation and stress relief.

Whether that means eating well and exercising, spending time in nature, taking a break from electronics, starting a gratitude journal, reading a good book in silence, or simply enjoying an indulgent bubble bath, self-care allows us to slow down and enjoy the present moment, giving us the opportunity to handle everyday stressors in a more effective way.

Solitaire Bliss is also an excellent way to relax and relieve stress and anxiety. You can choose an activity to stimulate your brain among our 36 free-online versions of strategic games.

Emphasize positive thinking

When we are constantly worrying about the pandemic and the state of the world, our thoughts will naturally dwell on the negative side. And while such a reaction might be natural, negative thinking only leads to more accumulated stress that could have a detrimental effect on your physical and mental health.

Instead of being anxious about the things you can’t change, your goal should be to think more positively and look optimistically at things that are in your control. No matter how simple, try to focus on the things you can do at this very moment to be happier and more productive, in an effort to strive for a better tomorrow.

The coronavirus outbreak has impacted our lives in a number of unexpected ways, leading us to constantly worry about our health and well-being. Fortunately, pandemic-related stress can easily be relieved, as long as you adhere to some of the beneficial practices mentioned above.

4 Tips for Improving Your Body Shape

Your body shape is the result of how the fat is distributed in your body. Fat distribution depends on several factors, including genetics, sex, age, and lifestyle. Some people are pear-shaped, meaning they accumulate fat in the lower body. Some have inverted triangle body shapes so they have more prominent, wider shoulders. Others, however, have hourglass-shaped bodies so they gain weight in both upper and lower parts of the body. Regardless of the shape of your body, there are ways to improve it by changing your everyday habits. Here are a couple of tips to help get you started. 

Change your eating habits for better health

Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for improving your body shape, and diet plays a vital role in this process. Eating healthy foods that nourish your body and watching your diet is important, even more so for ruler-shaped bodies. While it may be more difficult for them to gain weight, it’s vital that they pay attention to their diet to mitigate health risks that come with extra weight.

The question is, where do you start with changing your eating habits for better health? For starters, you want to incorporate more organic foods, fruits, vegetables, high-fiber foods, and low-fat protein into your diet. Stick to your native diet since it’s the most suitable one for your unique biochemistry. Also, do your best to build proper digestion, and take the time to eat and properly chew your food. 

Understand the health risks associated with your body shape

Many people don’t know this, but our body shape is directly linked to our health. For instance, apple-shaped individuals are at a higher risk for diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases due to larger waists. Pear-shaped bodies are also prone to heart disease, and losing weight in the lower body can help reduce cholesterol. Different shapes carry different health risks, and it’s up to us to manage our lifestyle so that we can mitigate these risks and ensure optimal health.

That said, navigating the healthcare system can be quite complicated. One way to address this issue is by consulting with Health Partners who can make your experience simple and convenient. Whether we’re talking about scheduling comprehensive check-ups or finding the best solutions for different health concerns, by taking the time to understand your individual needs, these professionals will keep your health in check while you’re working on improving your body shape. Not only will you be getting the necessary guidance but also top-of-the-line, personalized care.

Focus on workouts that target the right areas

Whether you’re looking to change your body shape for health or aesthetic reasons, making changes to your workout plan is another great way to achieve your fitness goals. Not all exercises are created equal, and you want to focus on the ones that target the right areas.

For apple-shaped individuals, this will mean performing workouts that target the upper back, hamstrings, and glutes. Some examples include Bulgarian split squats, dumbbell hip thrusts, and stability ball leg curls. Hourglass and pear-shaped individuals, on the other hand, need to focus on workouts that help even out the proportions. This means doing exercises like kettlebell deadlifts, lat pulldowns, and dumbbell curls that focus on arms, shoulders, and upper back. With an exercise routine that fits your body type, you can build some muscle while simultaneously improving your overall health. 

Women are doing an exercise

Ensure plenty of rest to give your body the break it needs

Last but not least, it’s important to emphasize the role of rest in supporting your fitness and health goals. Our bodies are amazing mechanisms, but unlike machines, they require frequent breaks and rest in order to function properly.

The thing is, our modern lifestyle and unhealthy habits often stand in our way of getting enough restful sleep. When you work out too frequently or stay up late regularly, you don’t give your body a chance to recover. This only hinders your progress, doing more harm than good and leading to an unfavorable body shape. Our bodies are designed to grow stronger when they’re resting, so make sure to give your body the break it needs – it will thank you.

Wrapping up

Changing your body shape is not about reaching for some fancy diet pills or scheduling a cosmetic procedure. It’s about changing the way you approach nutrition, sleep, exercise, and your general health, and doing what you can to change your lifestyle for the better. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to improving your body shape forever.

How to be an Eco-Friendly Parent

Being eco-friendly can seem impossible when you have kids. There are enough things to worry about without having to parent the planet, too.

But it doesn’t have to be too tricky to try and live a little more sustainably. In fact, if parents instill a more eco-conscious mantra into themselves, the world will hopefully be a better place for our little ones in the future. Just look at the auto industry, right now every brand in the auto industry has a 100% electric car in the offer that offers best auto insurance for green living. But there’s a lot to do in other business areas and industries!

With more and more brands becoming more eco-conscious and the conversation about our impact on the planet being brought to the forefront, people are finding ways of making parenting a little more sustainable and planet-friendly.

Here are three ways in which you can be an eco-friendlier parent.

Cheeky Panda Biodegradable Nappies

Nappies have long been an unsustainable necessity for new-borns. Unfortunately, there aren’t many out there that are very eco-friendly. Nappies normally end up on a landfill, piling up endlessly.

Luckily, Cheeky Panda’s Biodegradable Nappies, made from bamboo, have very little impact on the planet. They’re two-thirds biodegradable and plastic-free, plus they boast ‘Aqua-lock’ technology save from unfortunate spills.

Because they’re made from bamboo, they’re also naturally hypoallergenic and soft on baby’s skin. Cheeky Panda also make super soft bamboo baby wipes, which are also biodegradable and good for the planet!

 

Plastic-Free toys

Plastic is baaaad. Everyone knows it (now anyway, back in the day nobody paid much attention).

One way around facing the war on plastic is to avoid buying toys and games with BPA in them. BPA is the bad one which is toxic and lives on the Earth for years and years.

Brands like Green Toys are great eco-alternatives to toys made from plastic. You can even subscribe to monthly toy box clubs, which will send your child a box of toys to play with each month, which you then send back. Toys are then cleaned and sent on to another lucky child! It’s the ultimate circular economy.

Green cleaning

When struck down by a stain or your surfaces need a sweep, take a look in your food cupboard before reaching for the spray bottle.

Cut down your use of harsh chemicals in your cleaning kit. These are potentially harmful and toxic, something you don’t want your baby breathing in.

Alternatively, use natural cleaning products such as lemon or vinegar, around your home. These are just as effective at killing germs, wiping down surfaces and making sure your home is sparkling clean. Plus, they’re loads cheaper in the long-run.

By using natural ingredients, you’re reducing your plastic use as well as your waste. Plus, you’re reducing the chances of your baby coming into contact with toxic substances.

 

It’s no secret that kids can be an environmental nightmare – the amount of ‘new’ things they require as they grow up is enormous – much of which is disposable and single-use.

However, with just a few small changes like the ones above, you can reduce your impact and effect on the Earth for not only yourself but your little one, too.

5 Tips to Balance Your Macronutrient Intake with Ease

With so many conflicting bits of information you can hear from people and find everywhere around you, it can seem impossible to achieve some kind of balance in your life. It’s as if there’s always some kind of deficiency you’re competing against, or some kind of health issue you’re trying to ward off while retaining your energy levels. Food is our fuel, and although there is so much we have yet to learn, we can easily put our existing knowledge to good use and achieve that elusive idea of balance by focusing on one core concept: macronutrients!

With three main macros to consider, proteins, carbs, and fats, the math doesn’t have to be too complicated. There are so many free online calculators that can help you find that ballpark number to match your activity levels, fitness exertion, caloric needs, and overall health goals. Macros Calculator is the best way to calculate a balanced diet as it is available online and provides quick calculation.

However, the business of actually consuming these macros and balancing them is a little tricky. To help simplify this journey, here are a few tips to help you balance your macros without too much hassle!

Start with optimizing your water intake

Now, even if you do manage to balance your macronutrient intake in terms of food, if you fail to drink enough water, your body won’t be able to absorb all the nutrients properly and your digestion and metabolism will suffer.

That is why water is considered a vital nutrient as much as the three listed macros! Make sure that you drink plenty of water during the day so that you boost nutrient absorption, help your body make the most of your macros, and flush out toxins from your system with ease.

Work around your food sensitivities

Can’t have dairy or gluten? Your macronutrient intake shouldn’t suffer for it. Many people with certain food sensitivities fail to consume enough protein in a day because they replace this macronutrient with, let’s say, more carbs or fat. Fortunately, the pandemic has inspired more healthy meal delivery options to allow people with this particular issue to maintain their diet without jeopardizing their health.

As a result, you can actually have dairy free meals delivered from Mighty Macros USA to your home and not worry about your macros at all. This is a great way to reduce the stress and hassle of meal preparation during the week, so you can combine home-cooked meals with delivered meals to your door.

Include smart and healthy snacking

After all this talk about healthy choices, you might think that you’d need to ditch all your treats – but when you work them into your meal plan, why not treat yourself to the occasional panettone cake slice or something else you love? Snacking can help you stay energized and consume all the macronutrients you need in a more structured way, as long as you work your snacks into your daily macro menu.

The sources of your macros count, too

Although technically processed sugar counts as “carbs” just like a fresh salad, we can all agree that they are far from equal in terms of nutritional value, let alone their viability for boosting your health. For one, sugar is in no way good for you and it’s much more calorie-dense, while veggies and fruits are low in calories, but packed with minerals, vitamins, fiber, and they are a vital source of healthy carbs for your body to use as slowly released fuel.

Applying the same logic will help you discover particular foods that are suitable for your health and fitness goals (to stay within your calorie needs in a day and avoid foods that cause allergies or sensitivities for you).

  • Go for protein-rich meals that consist of complete protein, that is, the ones that contain all nine essential amino acids. That includes meat and dairy if you can consume them, but also eggs and seafood.
  • Choose healthy sources of unsaturated fat mostly (such as avocado, salmon, nuts and seeds), and a moderate amount of saturated fats (meat and dairy). Avoid trans fats altogether!
  • Aim for complex carb sources such as fruits, veggies and cereal in various forms.

Time your meals right

Instead of obsessing over food or trying to postpone the next meal for hours, why not try timing your meals and distributing healthy portions of food throughout the day? It’s much easier on your metabolism and it will sustain your energy levels if you consume healthy meals at regular intervals.

Since you now have a clear goal as to how much of each macro you need to eat every day, instead of overburdening your belly in a single load, you can enjoy even meals with plenty of flavors to keep your productivity and energy up. Plus, it turns out, your fat-burning potential grows this way, too.

 

There’s no need to introduce a whole slew of complicated and time-consuming recipes (unless you enjoy the process, of course!), especially if your goal is to stay healthy and lead a balanced life with less effort. By tweaking your behavior just a little bit and by focusing on macronutrients in your diet, you can reap the rewards sooner rather than later and elevate your energy levels while boosting your immune strength, too.

A final piece of advice for the most dedicated among you: start leading your own journal or use an app to track your eating habits, and you’ll soon notice the difference in how much free time you’ll have, as well as how much easier it becomes to pursue your fitness goals with the right approach!

7 Simple But Effective Ways to Burn Fat Fast

Losing fat is not an overnight event, and there is no shortcut to it. You need to work hard for it, not just to look good but to gain a healthy body. However, strength training or workout to lose that belly fat may not be suitable for everyone.

If you want simple but effective ways to burn fat fast, read on. Not only that you will become fit with these tips, but you will also gain optimum nutrition.

1. Stay hydrated.

Water is necessary to burn fat. This fluid naturally suppresses appetite and reduces overall calorie intake. Drinking water also aids in flushing bodily wastes and staying at the right temperature. Hydration during a workout decreases the risk of having muscle cramps on legs or any other fatigue.

When the body is dehydrated, it’s difficult to control the body temperature. Also, the body won’t be able to metabolize carbohydrates or stored fats. So keep those bottles close and drink enough water for your body. In addition to proper hydration, some individuals exploring ways to optimize their workouts and fat-burning potential consider complementary approaches like NAD injections. NAD injections are believed to enhance cellular energy and metabolism, potentially offering an additional edge to those aiming for efficient fat-burning and improved overall fitness.

2. Reduce sugar intake.

Are you burning fat or sugar? Not only fats can be burnt but sugar too. When you’re irritable and always hungry after a few hours of eating, there’s a high chance that you’re a sugar burner. That means that your blood sugar increases whenever you eat high-carbohydrate food, and it triggers the release of insulin. This hormone then decreases your blood sugar but stores it as fat; it’s a fat-storage hormone! When your blood sugar becomes too low, you will crave more sugar or carbohydrates to be energized, and that’s a dangerous cycle.

Although sugar makes you fat, cutting it totally from your diet will not be helpful. Sugar is glucose which is the energy source of your body. It’s needed by your organs to function properly. You also can’t burn that fat without sugar.

To make sure you’re going to burn that fat, eat sugar, but the right kind and amount. Reduce the added sugars in your diet. They are the sugars that when eaten in excess can make you easily gain weight. They’re high-calorie food, and they have low nutritional value. Added sugars are on your cakes, cookies, pancake syrup, candies, fruit drinks and sugary drinks. Watch out.

3. Increase your fibre intake.

If you want a balanced and healthy diet, eat enough fibres. If you don’t want that belly fat, eat more fibre-rich food. It keeps you fuller for a longer period so you won’t need to go unnecessary snacking or eat a full meal again just a couple of hours after.

What’s also good with fibre is that it helps lower blood glucose and consequently insulin. You already know insulin, it makes you crave for high-calorie food. When increasing your fibre intake, make sure it’s gradual so you won’t get bloated.

4. Follow a high-protein diet.

Do you know that eating a high-protein diet is associated with a lower risk of belly fat? This diet also helps preserve muscle mass and metabolism during weight loss.

Protein is an important nutrient when trying to lose weight. Protein-rich food includes meat, eggs, legumes, dairy products and seafood. Increasing your protein intake will leave you feeling full. As a result, it will reduce your hunger and appetite, causing you to eat fewer calories without being too conscious about portions.

Additionally, the body’s metabolic rate increases with the consumption, digestion, metabolism and storage of proteins. This is known as the thermic effect, and it makes you burn fats even while sleeping.

5. Eat more healthy fats.

Not all fats are the same. Fats are also an important part of a healthy diet. Healthy fats like omega 3 can help you burn those harmful bad fats. They are also good for the heart.

Good unsaturated fats help you lower your disease risk and aid in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. They are present in nuts, seeds, vegetable oils (olive, canola, sunflower and soy), fish and avocados. If you are trying to lose your belly fat, eat more of these.

Meanwhile, bad fats are trans fats that, even when eaten in a small amount, can increase your risk of being sick. These fats can be found mainly in processed foods. They are also in your movie popcorn, french fries, doughnuts and margarine.

6. Avoid processed food.

Processed food is addictive to eat. It’s engineered that way. What’s more, processed food is very high in added sugars, calories and bad fats. This should be enough reason for you to avoid consuming lots of this food.

If you want to burn that fat fast, throw out all the processed food you can find in your pantry. This kind of food has chemical disruptors that may alter your body’s metabolism and cause it to deposit fat. They can also modify your satiety hormones, and all of these can lead to obesity.

7. Get enough sleep.

Having enough sleep matters when losing fat. Why? Because not getting enough of it can alter your hunger hormones and may give you a higher risk of gaining weight.

Sleeping early may be a bit difficult, but making it a habit will pay off. When you’re about to sleep, turn your phone off as it emits blue light. This light hinders the production of the hormone that controls your sleep-wake cycle, melatonin. You should also avoid caffeine before sleeping.

If you have tried everything you can think of and still are not losing weight it may be time to look into the benefits and bariatric surgery cost.

Why Everyone Needs Dietary Supplements

Natural and herbal supplements such as Nature’s Happiness can help restore your body to a state of balance when it gets out of whack. They can also help to maintain the body’s natural balance. If there’s a serious imbalance, it may take upwards of seven supplements to return you to your balance, depending on the complexity of the issues. Here’s a quick look at some good reasons for supplements.

Rest

Most of us don’t get enough sleep. If this sounds familiar, try an ashwagandha supplement. Although this supplement has been in use for centuries, you may know it better by the names Winter Cherry or Indian Ginseng. This supplement is a great natural source of vitality and energy. It’s a sort of adaptogenic herb known for promoting healthy responses to physical, emotional, and environmental stress.

Stress, Stress, and More Stress

It’s no question that all of us lead busy lives. Yet, some of us are arguably busier than others and face more stress! Between things like commitments to your faith, community, work, school, and family, your daily life can be totally stressed and in serious need of some vitamins and minerals. All of the stress we’re under will eventually take its toll on our bodies and can make the immune system weak. Taking supplements can help bridge the nutritional gaps and give the body a few of the building blocks it relies on to function properly.

 

Overcooked Food

As Americans, many of us have a bad habit of cooking foods to death, which results in a considerable loss of its nutritional value, far less when it comes to the vitamins and mineral content, and in enzymes and antioxidants. Even worse is that eating nutrient-depleted foods can create health issues over time. Too much cooking time can kill all the goodness in your food, resulting in a loss of nutritional value. If you’re trying to eat healthy, with fruits and veggies, try to eat them raw or as close to it as possible.

Lack of Regular Meals

Many people might know about the importance of regular eating, but they may neglect to do so anyway. Grabbing a doughnut or bagel while you slam down a cup of coffee and rush off to get your day started can’t really be considered a meal. Trying to make up for the lost opportunity a bit later in the day at a buffet isn’t good for your body either. These types of unhealthy habits can add too much stress on your digestive system and might eventually lead to quite a few symptoms that can be uncomfortable, at the least.

Long Transit Time

Have you ever paid any attention to the amount of produce that finds its way into your grocery store from various countries? Think about your fave pineapple or mango – more than likely, they come from the Philippines. They were cut at the very acme of their ripeness, then put immediately into a box before being shipped here. However, that’s the best-case scenario. There are times when that food is actually harvested weeks and sometimes even months before it arrives at the grocery stores. So much for getting the very best nutrition. This is why it’s critical to buy from local farmers so that the food’s nutritional value is at its highest.

Nothing will ever replace a diet that’s healthy and good, but taking whole-food-based, high-quality supplements can go quite a long way when it comes to assisting you with maintaining higher levels of health. And if you happen to be working through poor dietary habits, you’ll need them even more!

Looking and Feeling Good

If you are in your thirties, you might notice that your body is beginning to show visible signs of aging. Fortunately, you don’t have to look or feel your age. Listed below are a few tips to keep you looking and feeling good.

 

Restoring Firm, Healthy Skin

 

In your teens and twenties, your face looks full and firm. That’s due to an abundance of collagen and elastin. Once you enter your thirties they begin to break down causing the face to thin and lose the cheek fullness as part of the aging process. Thankfully, maintaining skin firmness is possible. Collagen supplements, exfoliating, daily moisturizer and the use of a restorative complex are a few beneficial remedies. 

 

A Healthy Diet

 

Eating a well-balanced diet consisting of things like fresh fruits and vegetables, protein, fish, nuts, and omega-3s will make you feel good. Fast-food products contain high amounts of saturated fats and salt. They can raise your blood pressure and have a negative impact on your overall health. When you eat good foods it’s easy to maintain healthy body weight and lean muscle mass. Your mind remains sharp helping improve focus and memory. You also sustain high levels of energy and your body is better able to grow and repair itself.

 

Exercise

 

Along with a healthy diet, exercise is critical to preserving muscle and keeping internal organs functioning properly. Exercising for at least 30 to 40 minutes, 3 to 4 times weekly will improve your overall health. You’ll burn additional calories to help shed extra pounds and look and feel fit. Regular exercise also increases energy, promotes restful nights and stabilizes mood. Additionally, exercise can thwart some diseases and chronic health conditions and improve the appearance of skin.   

 

Plenty of Rest

 

In a fast-paced world, many people don’t get the proper amount of sleep. Unfortunately, a lack of sleep can lead to poor health and an older-looking appearance. You acquire dark circles under your eyes, wrinkles sooner, and a slough. Without proper rest your body doesn’t have time to recharge, leaving you vulnerable to health problems. You will wake up and feel foggy then remain tired and unfocused throughout the day. You may have trouble recalling events of the previous day and have mood swings. If you have trouble falling asleep take a hot bath with lit sleep-inducing scents such as chamomile and lavender. Turn off all electronics at least an hour prior to bed and avoid consuming caffeinated products several hours before retiring.

 

Relieving Stress

 

Too much on your plate can cause an abundance of stress. Unfortunately, too much stress can become taxing on the mind and the body. Stress over time can cause serious health-related issues. The good news is there are several ways to reduce stress. An intense physical workout releases endorphins that make you feel fantastic. Meditation is also beneficial for reducing stress, allowing the mind to lose many thoughts and achieve calmness. 

 

Make Time for You

 

Many moms feel guilty taking time for themselves. However, having no downtime or time set aside to do the things you enjoy, you will over time develop resentment aimed unfortunately at your loved ones. You matter as much as any member of your family. By taking time for yourself, you become a better person for your family. Visit a spa and experience self-pampering. Read a good book or find a hobby that you enjoy. 

 

Become Organized

 

Wasting valuable time trying to find things on a daily basis can cause stress overload. Becoming organized will help free up time and make life easier. Hang a rack for coats and outdoor accessories. Clean out closets in the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom so that everything you need is quickly accessible. Create spots for things like your keys, purse, and bills, and eliminate the clutter. 

 

If you want to look and feel better there are ways to achieve it.

5 Health and Wellness Benefits of Swimming

Swimming is highly beneficial to both your body and mind. It’s a great addition to your workout regime. It not only helps you get an excellent full-body workout, but it’s also a great way to improve your mental health by clearing your mind.

 

Practical Swimming Tips

 

  • Don’t get into the swimming pool before warming up. Start by gliding a few minutes to get the blood flowing and your body ready for swimming.

 

  • Try and do some breathing practice after gliding. Breathing is what helps you achieve a perfect stroke.

 

  • Don’t just buy gear that looks good; buy practical ones that will help you. Wear a swimming cap to prevent the chlorine in pool water from making your scalp flake.

 

  • Get something to wear over your swimsuit; comfortable swim cover ups help you stay warm between sessions, encouraging further exercise.

 

  • Get a plastic box to put in your wet gear after swimming instead of a sports bag.

 

  • Ensure you always wipe your goggles before swimming since they can fog up.

 

Water-based Exercises to Help You Burn Calories

 

  • Walk-in water

 

This is a great exercise to start with since it helps you build resistance. It targets your arms, core, as well as your lower body. Adding hand or ankle weights help create more intensity.

 

  • Water arm lifts

 

This one helps with strengthening your arm muscles. You can add more resistance by using foam dumbbells.

 

  • Back wall glide

 

If you want to tighten your core and lower body muscles, this is the best workout. It helps you activate all the muscles in those areas.

 

  • Jumping jacks

 

Jumping jacks effectively work out your whole body, both your upper and lower body muscles. Wrist and ankle weights help increase more resistance.

 

  • High-knee lift extensions

 

These exercises may help with strengthening the muscles around your core, lower body, and legs. Ankle weights will effectively make the exercise more challenging.

 

Mental Health and Wellbeing Benefits of Swimming

 

Learning how to swim safely and become good at it has benefits beyond mental and physical fitness. You might even end up saving people’s lives. Here are some of the benefits of swimming.

 

You release endorphins while swimming

 

The endorphins are hormones we produce in our body that cause euphoria. Swimming will release them, and you’ll stay in a state of happiness for a long time. Swimming in the morning impacts your energy and boosts positive feelings.

 

Being in the water reduces stress levels

 

Our mental balance can seriously be affected by the adverse effects of stress. Swimming helps with relaxing your mind by reducing stress and anxiety. Swimming also increases your lung capacity, and therefore you can control your breathing. If you have asthma symptoms, they can be improved by the humid air found in indoor pools.

 

Improves blood flow

 

A study conducted in Australia suggests that immersing yourself in cold water increases blood flow. This is important for the body’s well-being since oxygen reaches all the body’s critical parts. In doing so, you provide energy and vitality.

 

Builds cardiovascular strength

 

Cardiovascular exercise involves the heart, lungs, and circulatory system. Workout routines such as water-based exercises are involved in cardiovascular exercises. According to research, the mortality rate for swimmers is half that of inactive people. It can help lower your blood pressure and also manage blood sugar levels.

 

It helps people with disabilities

 

Physical disabilities like paraplegia can limit your workout options. When you’re swimming, the water gives you resistance and support, making swimming a suitable alternative. Your confidence can be boosted by swimming and hence also improving your social skills. It also helps people with some mental disabilities.

4 Sleep Myths Debunked

A good night’s sleep is essential to continued good health, both physically and mentally. 

While most people realize that not getting enough sleep is terrible for you and taking steps to ensure they get enough sleep, there are many misconceptions about sleep that most people don’t know about. Many of these myths can be dangerous to your health. Below you’ll find a few of the worst sleep myths, why they’re false, and how they are dangerous to your public health. 

 

Myth 1: It’s Okay to Sleep Five or Fewer Hours a Night

The myth that it’s okay to sleep five or fewer hours a night is indeed false. While it won’t affect your health right away, sleeping for so little of a time consistently can have long-term effects on your health, both physically and mentally. Full-grown adults are supposed to get between 7 to 10 hours a night to stay healthy, depending on their age. However, the CDC has found that almost one-third of Americans sleep less than seven hours every night. 

If you find that you’re not sleeping but five or fewer hours a night, you should try a sleep remedy such as melatonin gummies to help you get the rest you need in a natural way.

 

Myth 2: Being Able to Fall Asleep Anywhere is Healthy

Some people can sit down in a hard chair and fall asleep instantly or sleep whenever they decide. Many people feel that if they can do this, it’s healthy. The fact is that being able to fall asleep no matter where you are or at any time isn’t healthy for you. This is usually a sign of sleep deprivation. It can lead to many issues, such as having trouble concentrating, being irritable, causing an accident when you’re driving because you’re drowsy, and increasing the risk of developing diabetes. 

If you feel that you’re always tired yet can sleep anytime, anywhere, it’s time to make an appointment with your primary care provider to find out what is causing your sleep issues. Hopefully, that will put you on the road to a restful night. 

 

Myth 3: Snoring is harmless

Everyone snores now and then, after a long hard week or one too many drinks. But it’s not normal if it’s happening all the time. 

While snoring itself can’t harm you, but it is annoying for your spouse, the snoring could be a sign of sleep apnea, which can hurt you. That is a severe sleep disorder that your doctor should check out right away. At the moment, there are over 22 million Americans that suffer from this condition. 

When you have sleep apnea, you wake up constantly due to your snoring and being unable to breathe, so no matter what time you went to bed, you’re not sleeping and will continuously wake up exhausted. If you find that your snoring is waking you up every night and annoying your family, then you need to contact your primary care provider for an appointment to see if you have sleep apnea.

 

Myth 4: A Drink Before Bed Helps You to Sleep Better

It’s a well-known fact that though drinking will knock you out, the alcohol disrupts your sleep patterns. Often you will wake up feeling groggy and hung over the next morning. Also, if you already have sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or insomnia, drinking can heighten those problems, making them worse. You’re better off taking melatonin or drinking a glass of warm milk before bed and leaving the alcohol alone. 

These are just a few of the myths out there about sleep that need to be dispelled. If you have problems sleeping, it’s best to contact your doctor to see if there is an underlying cause for your issue that needs to be treated.

Exploring the Viability of CBD for Muscle Recovery

With everyone from former pro athletes to record-breaking Olympian Michael Phelps openly crediting cannabidiol (CBD) for keeping them in peak condition, many casual sportsmen and women are wondering whether CBD is all hype or the real deal. As a non-psychoactive cannabis compound, CBD is often associated with the cannabis plant itself — and by extension its implied side effects on motor skills, coordination and focus. So why all the buzz from top-level athletes?

In order to extricate CBD from negative generalizations associated with cannabis and its primary cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), it’s important to note that CBD isn’t just sourced from the cannabis plant. In fact, because cannabis is still technically illegal at the federal level, most CBD products are isolates processed from other sources, such as hemp or orange peels.

It’s also worth noting that THC and CBD interact with entirely different sets of receptors in the brain, due to key differences in their molecular arrangement. Understanding these differences is key to their distinction in psychoactivity.

How does CBD help athletes?

In a nutshell, CBD exerts modulatory effects upon an endogenous network of neurotransmitter receptors throughout the body, known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

By regulating the uptake of specific neurotransmitters and hormones into the brain — such as cortisol, gamma aminobutyric acid and prostaglandins — CBD can have significant effects on common physiological disorders in athletes, such as chronic pain, inflammation and spasms.

Whether it’s in the form of a tincture or a freeze roller, CBD has become a defining factor in contemporary sports medicine. In this post, we examine three crucial roles CBD can play in muscle recovery to aid athletes oriented toward a wide variety of different sports. Just remember, if you are considering using any CBD products then it is strongly recommended that you do plenty of research first. For example, although on the whole, CBD is safe for most people to use in moderation, there are some potential side effects to be aware of. You can read more about these potential side effects on the Royal CBD website here: https://royalcbd.com/cbd-oil-side-effects/

CBD as an Analgesic for Muscle Soreness, Tears & Other Injuries

Weightlifters, bodybuilders and wrestlers are good examples of athletes who commonly come down with muscle soreness, a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or medial collateral ligament (MCL), or even stress fractures on the weight-bearing bones in the lower leg and foot. During the recovery periods between intense training camps, it’s critical to be free from constant pain — just as it is to keep a sound diet at the macronutrient level.

There’s plenty of evidence in scientific literature highlighting CBD’s viability as a supplement for managing pain from sports injuries. Its analgesic and muscle relaxant properties make it a natural addition to massage oils and recovery balms as well.

CBD as a Spasmolytic for Cramps & Post-Workout Spasms

Athletes in fast-paced, high volume sports such as sprinting, hurdling, parkour or competitive box jumping are by far the most prone to what are called post-workout twitches, cramps or spasms. These are characterized by either involuntary convulsions of one or more major muscle groups, or crucial muscle groups (such as the calf or shoulder muscles) being effectively rendered into blocks of cement.

CBD has been shown to provide significant relief from muscle spasms and cramps, as well as psychophysiological disorders like restless leg syndrome (RLS). In fact, CBD has even been used to ameliorate seizure-like symptoms of epileptic conditions, like Dravet syndrome.

CBD as a Natural Alternative to Lab-Synthesized NSAIDs

Throughout the 20th century, athletes competing in contact sports like Judo or Muay Thai as well as those suffering intermittent onsets of acute inflammatory conditions (such as tennis elbow) were commonly prescribed dangerous opioids and steroids to reduce the swelling from sports injuries. Today, they are prescribed what are known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs.

While NSAIDs are known to produce undesirable side effects including severe allergic reactions, diarrhea and stomach ulcers, CBD’s ability to control inflammation comes with the added benefit of it being a naturally occurring plant compound. As such, it produces virtually no side effects within the bounds of recommended dosage ranges.

Because of its range of medicinal and therapeutic potential — as well as its product variety and accessibility nationwide — CBD has accrued the endorsements of countless athletes and performers, becoming a central element of sports medicine as a whole.