Category: Health

Best Health Food Blogs to Follow

Healthy food is one of the most important things that should be on your list of daily routines.  Healthy Food makes it easy and enjoyable to eat well and feel great. Healthy living is all about a holistic and balanced approach. Get all necessary information from the blogs we chose you should follow for the best advice to help you live your best life.

1. Food and Health

Food and health are closely related. It’s very important to make healthy choices when we eat every day. All we eat today may come in handy in the future. Making balanced meals not only contributes to the body’s well-being but also helps to ward off diseases and medicines, making the best of everyday life.

2. DIY Home & Garden

DIY Home & Garden started in 2016 and they’ve been growing ever since! They have a local American feel with an international audience. While 80% of their readers are American, they now enjoy traffic from over 90 nations. They adore cooking and baking, and consider home-cooking DIY. They often share original recipes as well as family favorites. There are very few restaurants in the very rural area of North Carolina that they call home, so they cook at home more often than not. In this article, you can read about Recipe for  Chocolate Protein Booster.

3. The Veggie Table

The Veggie Table is a site for vegetarians as well as anyone interested in healthy eating, animal rights, and the environment.

4. Family Focus Blog

Family Focus Blog is a resource for all things family-related from parenting tips to green living tips to family travel. Nashville mom, Scarlet Paolicchi, founded the blog in 2009 and she enjoys offering resources for better family living. She is also the author of three books and very active on social media @familyfocusblog.
On Family Focus Blog you can find great and healthy food ideas, healthy food products, and healthy recipes that kids and the whole family will love!

Bon appétit!

 

Winning Eco-Solutions for Our Homes

Globally, builders, developers, and professional remodelers of family homes are offering more green options than ever before.

Interestingly, the start of this growth can be traced back a decade, to 2009, when the global recession in the residential construction market was at a very low ebb. One conceivable explanation researchers have found is that builders started to use the advantages of green building to attract buyers at a time when the market was exceptionally sluggish.

According to a SmartMarket report by the Massachusetts-based McGraw Hill Construction company, that discusses the growth of green multi- and single-family homes in a “recovering market,” the three primary triggers were:

  1. Continued increases in energy costs.
  2. Changes in code ordinances and building regulations including the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Code Council (ICC) 700 National Green Building Standard which is approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
  3. Increasing availability and affordability of “green” products.

Additionally, various government and utility incentives placed an important role too. Unfortunately, many of these have been, or are being, phased out.

Statistics provided in the report show a phenomenal increase in green building projects. While builders that undertake very few (less than 16%) single-family home projects decreased progressively from 63% in 2011, 38% in 2013, 23% in 2015, to an anticipated 16% in 2018, those boasting that more than 90% of their projects were green rose from 12% in 2011 to 19% in 2013, 24% in 2015, to a projected 38% in 2018. The figures were similar for multi-family projects: from 69% in 2011, 46% two years later, to a consistent 21% from 2015-2018. Not as many boasted that more than 90% of their projects were green though a similar trend is evident. While there were only 6% in 2011 and 2013, this increased to 9% in 2015 and was expected to double to 18% in 2018.

Similarly, those firms undertaking remodeling projects, of which at least 90% of which were green increased from 7% in 2011 to 25% in 2018. Those admitting that less than 16% of their remodeling projects were green decreased from 70% in 2011 to 21% in 2018.

So what do builders and remodelers do to make homes green?

Eco-Solutions for Family Homes

Around 95% of builders and remodelers regard energy-efficiency as the most important element of green homes. Other important green practices that provide eco-friendly solutions include:

  • Durability of materials
  • Water efficiency that incorporates more water conservation products and practices
  • The use of materials that emit low volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
  • Improved quality of indoor air
  • Management and reduction of construction waste and a focus on material conservation and recycling
  • Eco-friendly site planning and development with a focus on environmental sensitivity

The motivation for opting for eco-solutions varies, with the promise of long-term utility cost savings remaining the most powerful argument for going green. Operating efficiency is also a priority, followed by a belief that quality construction, along with durability and the need for reduced maintenance, is associated with so-called green features. Homeowners also consider high performance and sustainability important and, to a lesser extent, the fact that an eco-friendly home will have a reduced environmental impact.

Professionals play an important role in terms of identifying which green products, practices, and features are best for purpose and location. This includes builders, architects, and those providing engineering solutions in Chicago, New York, London, Paris, Moscow, or whichever city you live in or are near to.

Green Products, Practices, and Features

There are so many ways to ensure that our homes are eco-friendly. These are some of the winning solutions for new homes and renovations:

  • Ensure your house is energy-efficient in every possible way
    Switch to high-efficiency water heater and heating, air-conditioning, and cooling (HVAC) systems that are correctly sized and properly installed. Make sure all lighting and appliances are energy efficient. Insulation should exceed code minimums and windows should exceed code-mandated performance. Opt for above-code energy programs and passive solar design.
  • Do everything possible to conserve materials and resources
    While there are different priorities for new homes versus those being renovated, there is definite value in using more durable materials as well as recycled products or materials that are easily recycled. This is particularly true for homes that are being remodeled. The use of prefabricated components and engineered wood is gaining significant attention and interest as is the use of lumber that is certified to have been sustainably harvested.
  • Put systems in place that will enable you to conserve water
    The ability to conserve water comes from installing appliances and fixtures that are designed for this purpose. Efficient plumbing techniques also help a great deal. Look for WaterSense labels and harvest rainwater if you can.
  • Aim for the very best indoor environmental quality possible
    There are many products and practices that will improve the indoor environmental quality of your home from filtration and air-cleaning systems and low-VOC materials (including paint, synthetic fibers, wood finishing products, and cabinetry that contains formaldehyde) to systems that increase moisture control and ventilation. A company that offers mechanical engineering services in Chicago or wherever you live will be able to assist with the latter.

There is little doubt that the challenges of finding appropriate eco-solutions for your home will be easier if you work with a professional, there is certainly a lot that each and every one of us can do ourselves. It simply requires commitment.

About the author

Michael Tobias is the founder and principal of New York Engineers, an Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Company in America. He leads a team of 30+ mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineers from the company headquarters in New York City, and has led more than 1,000 projects in New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, and California, as well as Singapore and Malaysia. He is passionate about sustainability and renewable energy.

5 Best Practices to Avoid Relapse After Recovery

If you are back from drug or alcohol rehab treatment programs it is important for you to know how to avoid a relapse. There are very few people who do not relapse after rehab; most others do. The article lists a few steps which you can take to avoid a relapse.

Drugs and alcohol rehab is an ongoing process, and completing a treatment program is only the first step towards complete recovery. Very few people never relapse after rehab; most others don’t have that same experience. 

If you are back from a drug treatment program you need to know how to avoid a relapse.

Here are 5 best practices to avoid relapse after recovery:

1. Avoid Triggering Situations

A host of things can act as a trigger. For example:

  • Withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, nausea, physical weakness, mood swings, poor sleep
  • Poor self-care leading to stress, and eating and sleeping disorders
  • People, places, and things that remind you of your old habits like friends who are addicted, bars, clubs, certain areas of a college campus, etc. 
  • Uncomfortable emotions like hunger, loneliness, exhaustion, anger, etc.  
  • Relationships and sex 
  • Isolation 

It becomes important to avoid all these triggers, especially in the early stages of recovery when temptations are often strong.

2. Get Rid Of Toxic People

Once you’ve decided to give up on drugs or alcohol, you need to change your day to day life. The first step in this direction would be to get rid of the toxic people in your life. Spending time with people who are addicted is not going to help and you may not succeed in giving up on addiction. 

Surround yourself with people who would support you to live a substance-free lifestyle. Whenever you have an urge to use, call a friend or someone in recovery. Just talking to them about your urge going through would do the magic.

You will see that the minute you start to talk about your feelings your urges begin to disappear. 

3. Stay In Therapy

It is important to continue with your therapy and attend group meetings for at least a year or two after getting sober. This will provide you the much needed coping mechanisms to maintain sobriety.

4. Do Not Give Up Your Medicines

Psychological disorders like anxiety, depression, anger, mood swings, etc are major factors leading to the use of drugs and alcohol. Most rehab programs prescribe medicines to control the symptoms of these diseases.  However, just a disappearance of symptoms does not mean that you are cured. So, continue taking your medicines throughout the recovery period as suggested by your therapist at the drug rehabilitation center.

5. Practice self-care

The most important thing that you can do to prevent relapse is to take good care of yourself. Most people take to addiction as a way to escape or relax. You relapse when you don’t take care of yourself and create situations that are mentally and emotionally draining which makes you want to escape.

For example, if you don’t take care of your eating and sleep habits, you may feel tired and try to escape. But if you take care to eat nutritious food and sleep properly you can avoid exhaustion, urge and consequent relapse.

How PCR Is Helping Us to Make Our World Better and Safer 

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used in molecular biology to amplify or make multiple copies of small DNS sections. The technique has emerged as an extremely common tool in biological and medical research laboratories and has transformed the way biological and molecular scientific research and diagnostics are conducted. PCR, along with its variations has a very wide range of applications, some of which are:

Environmental Microbiology

PCR continues to contribute to the understanding of numerous environmental issues that plague our planet, especially in the matter of the detection of environmental microorganisms. With the help of PCR, it is possible to identify and quantify specific target species of microorganisms, even when the sample size is very small. A common example of the use of PCR is the identification of pathogens in water supplies such as coliform that can be deadly for health and environmental safety.

Consumer Genomics

PCR has now made it possible for testing genomes on a personalized basis, which has resulted in the establishment of an entire industry that offers consumers custom products and services based on specific genome information. For example, nutrigenomics, which deals with the effect of food and food components on the expression of genes and how the nutritional environment is affected by genetic variations? It helps to achieve a better understanding of how human health may be affected by specific dietary regimes or nutrients.

Forensic Science

PCR continues to play a vital role in the analysis of organic crime scene evidence like soils, semen, blood, pollen, hair, etc. for the identification of criminals. MyBioSource PCR kits allow forensic biochemical analyses and diagnostics such as DNA fingerprinting, genomic DNA isolation, familial relationship identification from very small samples; even a single DNA molecule can be sufficient for allowing PCR amplification. According to bitesizebio.com, PCR is especially helpful in DNA fingerprinting for the identification of criminals.

Medicine

PCR is now widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of numerous diseases as well as an integral research aid in the diagnosis and identification of potential cures for many other ailments. With the help of PCR, it is possible to focus on the DNA segment that is of interest rather than the whole genome. Many genetic disorders can now be diagnosed and monitored by very small genetic samples. PCR also plays an important role in the determination of the sex of embryos as well as genetic and chromosomal defects in the fetus. 

Food and Agriculture

PCR is commonly used in agricultural research laboratories for genetic modification of existing organisms for improving the quality and yield of food crops. Even though selective breeding has been in existence for a long time, genetic modification techniques can make the impact more specific and result in the faster development of better seed varieties.

Conclusion

Even though PCR is not very well understood by the general public, researchers have realized its potential for altering genetic compositions for a whole host of improved outcomes ranging from disease control to forensic science and agriculture. The principal advantage of PCR is that genetic modification can be initiated from very small DNA samples that would have ordinarily served no purpose in scientific research. 

Author bio

Ariya Stark is a health expert who has been running many health seminars and public discussions. She also manages her blog and reviews the health-related details provided by authentic sources.

Health in Your 70s – How to Prevent Common Health Issues on Time?

We can all agree that prevention is the best type of cure. This statement becomes even more truthful and essential as we age. Once you reach your 70s, it’s important to do everything in your power in order to better your health and lifestyle. After all, this is a period when you actually have time to enjoy your free time and hobbies, and it would be a real shame to miss out on these experiences just because you failed to put your health and well-being first. That said, keep in mind the following preventative measures crucial for the most common health issues that people in their 70s tend to face.

1. Arthritis

Arthritis is the most common health issue that people experience with age. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two most likely causes. In the case of osteoarthritis, the cartilage on joints and bones gets worn down, which means that the joints and bones suffer from more friction due to movement. This causes discomfort, pain, swelling, etc. Rheumatoid arthritis involves the swelling and infection of the membrane around the joints, which is really painful and can cause severe bone damage. Unfortunately, the perfect cure for arthritis doesn’t exist. However, this condition can be delayed and its severity effectively minimized with a balanced diet and regular exercise that doesn’t put additional stress on the joints. Swimming and aerobics are great choices for the seniors in this case. 

2. Deteriorating eyesight

Problems with eyesight are common as you grow older. Deteriorating vision and other issues such as dry eyes, glaucoma, cataract, tearing, foggy vision, and so on are all common occurrences in your 70s. But, even though you might think that these issues are not the biggest health concern in the world, leaving your eyes untreated once you start experiencing certain problems can actually lead to blindness. That said, you really need to be careful. Luckily, even if you happen to get a cataract, which is a rather dangerous eye condition, doing your laser eye surgery in Sydney by the most professional surgeons in the field will definitely make the situation a lot better. And even before you start suffering from a serious eye issue, do your best to consume foods rich in vitamins C and E (or take supplements), try to quit smoking and alcohol completely and wear sunglasses accordingly. 

3. Hearing problems

Just like your eyesight can deteriorate in your 70s, you could experience health issues with your hearing, too. Sadly, age-related hearing loss is difficult to reverse (but not impossible!), especially when you ignore it for a while. This can affect both of your ears, leading to hearing impairment that could negatively affect your lifestyle in general. That said, it’s crucial that you seek medical help as soon as you notice the signs of deteriorating hearing. Certain supplements such as gingko biloba and omega 3 fatty acids can do wonders in the beginning. Also, the doctor can assess the effectiveness of different treatments a lot better when the hearing problem hasn’t taken its toll completely.

4. Heart disease

Heart is the engine of your body and it works non-stop. This is why you need to make sure your engine gets the right type of fuel consistently. What’s more, you really have to take good care of it as you grow older. Many people neglect this aspect when they’re younger, but keep in mind that it’s never too late to start. Being overweight, eating junk and fatty foods, suffering from hypertension or impaired glucose tolerance are all issues that can lead to coronary heart disease. Obviously, light but regular exercise and healthy balanced diet are a must. If possible, try to quit smoking completely. These are some of the basic prevention measures when it comes to keeping your heart healthy. However, if you have other health issues that can affect your heart as well, make sure to take your meds properly and follow your doctor’s advice to a tee.

It’s true that you might not be able to avoid every single health problem common for seniors in their 70s, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to prevent most of them or minimize their negative effect considerably with the right attitude and healthy practices in your daily life. 

Benefits of Adding MCT Oil Online to Your Diet Plan

What is MCT oil?

With the advancement in science and technology, humans are continuously digging for more information and design the ideal diet for an individual. The path-breaking discoveries and innovations have led us in the way to a safer world with excellent diet plans for all. One of the leading topics that nutrition experts and researchers are working on is the benefits of MCT oil. 

As mentioned earlier, this oil is used as a supplement as it contains medium-length fat chains or triglycerides. The prime reason to give more priority to this oil is that the medium-chain fats can be easily absorbed, digested and assimilated in our body. The side effects of using MCT oil in food preparation or as a supplement are much less than other oils used popularly.

Benefits of using MCT oil

The excellent benefits of MCT coconut oil in India are mentioned below.

Weight loss promotion

During the consumption of MCT oil, two hormones, Leptin and Peptide YY, are released in our body. Both hormones create a fullness feeling when consumed with food. The concentration of the medium-chain fats is higher in this oil, thus allowing safe applications in high-heat preparations. Due to the full effect, a person does not feel hungry and can easily control the cravings. This oil can aid in weight loss regime management for enthusiasts.

Low calorie

MCT oil which is available online adds 10% fewer calories to the food than traditional coconut oil. It means that a person, on a regular diet, will consume 10% calories from food prepared using coconut oil. Using MCT oil to prepare food can be a good way to cut down unwanted calories.

Instant energy source

Due to its excellent absorption and assimilation rate in the digestive system, it can be used as an instant energy source. This is why it can be used for breaking down stored fat. On regular consumption, it will not get stored in the fat cells yet promote fat metabolism and accelerate losing weight.

Brain fuel

As mentioned earlier, MCT oil breaks down easily and gets assimilated at a cellular level faster than normal coconut oil, it is perfectly absorbed by the brain cells and work as an elegant source of fuel. This oil passes through the liver cells and acts as a fuel source for various tissues, especially the brain.

A good ingredient for ketogenic diet plan

The fitness buffs around the world are fascinated by the concept and usefulness of the ketogenic diet. MCT oil can be used as a perfect ingredient to prepare food according to this diet plan.

It is now easy to find MCT coconut oil in various stores offering supplements. Get the best products and transform your life.

Summary

Medium Chain Triglycerides or (MCT) oil is the latest fad of the fitness buffs. This oil is way different from what we are consuming these days. It is found naturally in various sources. Let us dig deeper and find out its benefits one can avail. It is extracted from coconut oil and then purified to avail in this form.

3 Reasons To Have The Drinking Water Filtered

Introduction

The human body consists of 80 % by volume as water. With this information, it would bring to mind immediately the importance of water to daily life.  We take in water as moisture from the food that we eat as well as just the plain glass of water that is drunk at the table and elsewhere. Water could be the most carried along with substance wherever people tend to travel or move.    

Since water can be found in practically every nook and corner of the world, the second aspect of utilizing water to drink is to understand the quality of the water being ingested.  Everyone must always have access to clean drinking water. Compromising on the quality of water does bring on health issues and can, at times, mean fatal conditions being developed.  

Considering the importance of water to life as a whole, an entire industry has come up that aims at providing safe and clean drinking water to those that need it – companies such as Bonfilt started emerging to help solve different problems in the water filtering industry..  This has meant that a lot of people are relying on providing an essential commodity to live as their means of earning. Here it would be pertinent to understand the three main reasons why drinking water should be filtered and made safe to drink. 

Bacterial Contaminants

When rains fall onto the ground and flow onwards as streams and rivers; one of the most common incidents that take place is that the water gets contaminated with dirt and other extraneous bodies. It must be understood that no place on earth is free from bacteria. Bacteria are so common that there are some useful ones too that grow in our guts and helps with our digestion.   

Harmful bacteria are inevitably mixed along with the water as it flows from the source to the reservoirs. This process cannot be controlled or handled without actually involving large sums of money to have it done. The more practical aspect is to clean up the water as it enters the municipal supply to restrict the number of bacteria that enter the water stream. 

Complex filtration systems have been put into place to clear the drinking water of its load of contaminants.  But at the same time, it must be pointed out that some of the filtration systems are so hard on the cleaning part that not only is the bacteria removed, but essential water-soluble compounds are also cleared away too.  So we need to devise methods that would retain the good qualities of stream water and remove just the bacteria in the drinking water. 

Dissolved Matter

One of the properties of water that has a lot of good uses is that it can dissolve many substances.  Under certain circumstances, it is possible for water even to dissolve glass. Thus most of the municipal water that gets channeled for drinking purposes tends to have a fair bit of dissolved impurities in them.  

In certain circumstances, certain minerals that are present in the soil and rock formations that the water flows through tends to give it a unique flavor and even color. There are mineral water companies that tend to use these properties of the water to attract people to use more of their products over their rivals.  

Simple filtration does not help remove the dissolved impurities most of the time. When the Fill2Pure NZ Review is undertaken, it would be evident that there are actions in place to eliminate the dissolved contaminants in the drinking water that is processed with the system.  This particularly useful in the case of outdoor adventure and tourism as it is possible to arm oneself with a filtering bottle and not carry around large amounts of water most of the time.  Additionally, for those involved in trekking, it is possible to have dissolved isotopes of radioactive material in the drinking water as well. Thus the system is suitable to ensure safe drinking water, as well as that is healthy to drink.  

Causes of diseases

It is easy to filter out what is visible to the naked eyes most of the time. But a factor with water is that they tend to flow where ever the slope takes them, and it is not possible to keep track of all the places and substances that it has come through.  Contaminated drinking water is a cause for a lot of diseases like 

 -Behavioral and learning problems in children.

 -Immune system deficiencies.

 -Breast and prostate cancer. 

 -Risk of weight gain

 -Trouble during puberty. 

These are some of the more severe issues that would not become apparent with just a single drink of the water but develops into health issues as time goes on. Ideally, water must be filtered to remove any pathogen or material that causes diseases in the short term, as well as in the longer time frame as well. A sound filtration system is thus not just handy to have around but essential too.

What to Consider When You Hire a Pest Control Professional

Dealing with pests is one job that isn’t much fun. Most times, it’s best you hire a professional to help out than handling it by yourself. And if the infestation worsens or the control products needed are only available to authorized personnel, then you don’t have many options. Here are some things to consider when hiring a pest control officer. It isn’t quite as simple as searching for an “exterminator near me” – there is a lot to think about before hiring the help you need.

Here are some things to consider when hiring a pest control officer.

1. The company

The first thing you want to consider when hiring a pest control professional is the type of company. According to Brisbane Bennetts Services Pest Control, you’ll need to find out if the company is insured and bonded, to stay protected against liability. To go about this, visit their website and ask lots of questions.

From your research and findings, you’ll be able to determine if they are knowledgeable and professional enough to control the pest situation for you.

2. The technician

The technician you hire is perhaps the most important consideration to keep in mind. Even after selecting a pest control company you feel is right for you, you still have to confirm if the technician is perfect for the situation.

Before allowing any technician into your home, ask for their license, certification, and identification, and make sure they are all current. Every state mandate that pest control technicians be certified, so there’s no excuse for not having these requirements. The growing number of providers increases the chance that many are not certified, as only technicians who haven’t participated in the annual training have outdated licenses.

3. How knowledgeable the sales representative or technician is

If you just discovered pests in your home, you’ll have lots of control questions to ask. And what better people than technicians and sales representatives to answer them? It’s okay to not know everything since there are so many aspects of pest control. However, a basic understanding of what needs to be done and how the control process will occur is crucial information every technician and sales representative must know.

4. Professional appearance

An aspect of quality that every service company must have is the right appearance. Indeed, most people decide on who they hire based on what they can see and deduce from the technician. Their overall appearance, truck, and equipment must be clean and professional.

5. Price

A low-priced service is perhaps not the best deal, and neither is an expensive one. The ideal price is somewhere in the middle, and the best way to find it is to compare it with the price of other companies. In your search for the right pest control professional to pick, don’t compromise quality for the price.

6. References

What other people have to say about a business or service greatly affects the number of customers they’ll have. Therefore, before you go about ringing a pest control company, ask your neighbors and friends for referrals. You can also check your state’s pest control association. If you don’t seem to find anything, then ask the provider directly for referrals.

7. Contract details

Like in any other service business, ensure you discuss contract details at the onset. You should not assume that the frequency of care is known to the technician or sales representative. Make sure you read carefully through the contract and ask the right questions before you go on to sign it.

8. Chemicals

Chemicals for elimination are usually the most used. However, the technician should be open to discussing their adverse effects and whether non-chemical options are available. In either case, the container should be clean and have a professional appearance. A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) should be provided upon request for every chemical used.

9. Service

Before going on to carry out any service, ensure that you discuss with the technician, and they are fully aware of what the problem is. After this discussion, the technician should inspect your property to determine the best plan of action.

10. Documentation

The technician should be able to provide you with a report after the process has been completed. Also, any follow-up action and customer advice should be included to ensure your house and property remains pest-free.

11. Guarantee

A sign of a good pest control company is in its ability to give its customers a guarantee for its services. You should read this guarantee carefully to know when you can invoke it, what it covers, what you need to do to keep it, and how long it lasts for.

In conclusion

If pests or rodents have recently infected your home, then seeking professional help is a smart decision to make. With their advanced equipment and expertise, you should be assured of a complete and proper inspection of your property and the control of pests in it.

Ensure your checklist all the things to consider we have included in this article against your potential pest control professionals.

Keep Your Dental Health on a High Level with these Simple Steps

As you probably know, most dental problems can be avoided and postponed if you take constant care of your teeth. It takes a lifetime of care to have healthy teeth and such care includes choosing the right dental care products and steps. To help you have the best and the healthiest teeth possible, we’ve prepared the following tips you should definitely follow.

Regular and proper brushing

Most people know that they should brush their teeth at least twice a day, but preferably even more often, i.e. after each meal or snack. It’s especially important to do so before going to bed because that’s the way to get rid of germs and plaque that accumulate during the day. However, it’s not only about how often you brush your teeth.

Firstly, you need to have a good brush, which can successfully remove plaque from your teeth. So, make sure you regularly replace your old one, since it quickly loses this ability. Next, use gentle motions to carefully remove plaque from all teeth from all sides. If you fail to do that, plaque will harden, which will lead to calculus build-up and gingivitis (early gum disease).

Don’t forget the tongue

Many people forget to give the tongue the attention it deserves. Plaque can also build up on your tongue, which leads to bad mouth odour and eventually much more serious oral health issues. The only way to prevent such problems is to give your tongue a gentle brush each time you brush your teeth.

Regular visits to your dentist

It’s vital you never miss an appointment with your dentist. Regular check-ups are crucial in case there is a dental issue that your dentist can spot in an early stage. The sooner it’s diagnosed, the better chances you’ll have of treating it effectively. Also, in case you need some complex intervention, such as the installation of all on 4 dental implants, you need to turn to experienced professionals, who will be able to perform it.

Fluoride toothpaste

The toothpaste you use has a great impact on the quality of your dental care. With so many products available, many people simply look for whitening power and flavours, without making sure the toothpaste contains fluoride. It is the leading defence against tooth decay, which is one of the most common problems. For example, Australians aged 15 and over have an average of 12.8 decayed, missing or filled teeth, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. So, make sure you use a fluoride toothpaste to fight germs that can lead to decay and provide a barrier for your teeth.

Flossing is equally important

Flossing is another activity that many people neglect, which can be a real problem. Namely, flossing removes little pieces of food that get stuck between your teeth, but also stimulate the gums, reduce plaque and help lower inflammation in the area. You should floss once a day at least to enjoy all these benefits. However, flossing can be difficult, especially for young children and seniors with arthritis. Luckily, there are ready-to-use dental flossers you can get in every drugstore, which can help with this issue.

Mouthwash

Mouthwash reduces the amount of acid in the mouth, cleans hard-to-brush areas in and around the gums and re-mineralise the teeth. It helps bring things into balance and is particularly important for children and older people, who might have problems with brushing and flossing.

Drink more water

We know about the importance of staying hydrated, but not many people know that water is also great for your oral health. It washes out some of the negative effects of sticky and acid foods and beverages in between brushes.

Keeping your teeth and mouth healthy is very important and we have to do our best to prevent dental problems. Sometimes, despite all our efforts, we might experience dental problems. It’s important to react immediately and consult a dentist as soon as possible. Such issues never go away without proper treatment and only a professional can prescribe the right one.

Eco-Friendly Lifestyle Tips

When we talk about the lifestyle we mean the way we do things in terms of our behavior, the way we interact, what we consume, the activities we participate in, and the interests that we have. Ultimately, lifestyle also incorporates values that we take into account in our homes and in everything else that we do.

When we talk about an eco-friendly lifestyle, this can incorporate anything from the way we get around (transportation), and our efforts to avoid plastic and ensure that everything we can recycle gets recycled, to using ENERGY STAR-rated appliances and ensuring our homes are designed to be energy efficient. The latter incorporates everything relating to energy and sustainability, including solar heating, eco-friendly lighting, energy-efficient cooling methods, better insulation, and harvesting rainwater.

You may not be able to embrace it all, but here are some tips to get help get you started.

Top Ten Tips for an Eco-Friendly Lifestyle

1. Transportation

Transportation, along with heating and production of electricity, is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. More than 90% of the fuel we use for transportation, including diesel and gasoline, is petroleum-based. For this reason, a lifestyle change regarding transportation really can make a difference.

If you can afford to switch to an electric vehicle do so. Otherwise, ride a bicycle or walk whenever you can. Not only will the environment benefit, but you’ll also improve your health.

2. Recycle

Before you throw anything into the trash can consider whether it can be recycled. The most obvious items include paper, cardboard (including boxes used for packaging of all types), tin cans and other types of metal, glass, and both rigid and flexible (as in bags and wrap) plastic. Depending on where you live, there may be collection services and you may be required to separate different materials from one another. Alternatively, find a recycling center where you can deliver your own waste.

Recycled products can also be used in your home and to build or renovate it.

3. Eco-Friendly Appliances

While not all eco-friendly appliances are rated by ENERGY STAR if they are you can be sure that you’ll be on the right track to using less energy in your home. Not only will you be helping to reduce greenhouse gases, but using eco-friendly appliances is a sure way to save money. In just one year (2017), ENERGY STAR reportedly helped reduce U.S. energy costs by a whopping $30 million.

4. Solar Power & Solar Heating

Instead of burning fossil fuels like natural gas and coal, harvest energy from the sun to provide electricity for heating. The most eco-friendly options can have you living off the grid, though many people generate solar power and then feed any excess back into the grid. Alternatively, batteries installed on-site may be used to store excess solar power and this easily accessible power can be used when required. This is an excellent way to reduce the cost of electricity in your home.

Solar heating systems with collectors in the form of panels or tubes that are mounted on the roof are a great solution for heating water.

Passive solar heating is another eco-friendly lifestyle solution that will help to reduce energy use. However, it is largely dependent on the way your home or office building was designed. For example, shading will help to keep homes cool and large windows that admit sunshine and warm the interior in colder weather conditions.

An MEP engineering firm in Chicago, New York, Toronto, or any of the world’s cities will be able to advise on the many varied options available to take advantage of solar heating systems.

5. Wind Power

Like solar power, the wind can be used to generate electricity. It can also be used to create heat, and you don’t need massive wind turbines to do it. You do, though, need to live in a relatively windy area to take advantage of this kind of system. Have a look at kits that are available, or contact an engineering firm for advice.

6. Eco-Friendly Lighting

Lighting is an element that is easily improved, simply by taking maximum advantage of natural sunlight and using artificial lighting that is energy-efficient, if only by using eco-friendly light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs that are a lot more longer lasting than compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. Some use up to 90% less energy than standard light bulbs.

7. Energy-Efficient Cooling

Geothermal systems that use ground source heat pumps are great for both energy-efficient cooling and heating. You can save up to 50% on cooling bills by replacing old fashioned HVAC systems with these heat pumps, and they will last longer too.

If you don’t want to spend the money required for a geothermal system, you could compromise and try passive cooling rather than traditional air-con units. Like passive solar systems, passive cooling relies on blocking out heat while allowing cool air to enter the house. Roof vents and ceiling fans may also be used to cool interiors.

8. Improved Insulation

The key to any green, healthy building is energy efficiency. In addition to utilizing sources of renewable energy, good insulation of walls, floors, and ceilings is imperative. Properly done, it will go a long way to keeping your house cold when it’s hot and hot when it’s cold.

9. Water Management

It doesn’t matter whether you live in a drought-stricken area or in a place where water is plentiful, capturing rainwater is another key to an eco-friendly lifestyle. Installing greywater systems, ideal for irrigation and flushing toilets is another way that will help you to save on water costs.

Rainwater harvesting systems may be as simple as installing a rain barrel of some kind that channels water from gutters and downpipes to more advanced blue roof systems, both of which are eco-friendly and highly sustainable. The latter involves the detention of water which is then released back into the environment at a controlled rate.

10. Don’t Forget to Breathe

This might seem like a no-brainer, but when you’re trying really hard to do something right you can become so stressed that you start to negate the benefits.

This is just a taste of what you can do to ensure an eco-friendly lifestyle. If you want to take additional steps that will help you minimize your environmental footprint, a New York or Chicago engineering firm, or professional engineers that specialize in green technologies, will be able to provide key solutions that will definitely impact on your lifestyle in a positive way.

About the author

Michael Tobias is the founder and principal of New York Engineers, an Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Company in America. He leads a team of 30+ mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineers from the company headquarters in New York City, and has led more than 1,000 projects in New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, and California, as well as Singapore and Malaysia.