Better Living Through Innovation
These days, high tech gadgets in their various forms is not something unusual. Latest features added to those gadgets and become main attraction. One of those features is reminder.
We become more and more dependent to those reminders and tend not to trust our own brain. We can reduce our dependence to gadget if we can optimize our brain memory. Here is some tips to maximize our brain memory capacity. [Read more…]
By Diana
Whether you’re a seasoned exercise veteran or have recently started a new work-out regimen, sticking to it through the holidays can be difficult if not downright impossible. The holidays are incredibly hectic making exercise and diet slip to the back of the mind. With advanced planning, you can stay on track with your fitness program; here’s how:
Workout Before You Do Anything Else!
As soon as you open your eyes in the morning, roll out of bed, throw your tennis shoes on and start your work out. If you can get your exercising done first thing, there’s less chance of skipping it later in the day. If you aren’t an early bird, make your work-out part of your lunch hour! Even walking briskly around the block or walking up and down a few flights of stairs several times can keep you on track.
Plan Your Workouts In Advance
Chances are you know your work and holiday party schedules well ahead of time. Just like you plan the rest of your life, pencil your work outs into your day book or plug them into your organizer app. If you organize your work out schedule just as you organize the rest of your life, you’re less likely to skip the gym.
Thwart Temptation!
Whether it’s at the office or at your family’s house, you’re bound to be faced with platefuls of goodies. While you don’t have to skip the cookies and cakes all together, eating only one or two is a much better idea. Keep a favorite protein bar in your bag or drink a protein shake before you leave the house. Not only are they better for you, but they’ll also give you a sense of fullness that may help you resist having just one more cookie.
Give Yourself A Day To Cheat
Studies have shown that people who allow themselves a ‘cheat day’ are more apt to stick to a diet and exercise program. Choose a day of the week or certain days during the month and allow yourself to eat how you’d like. Remember, though, that eating what you like doesn’t mean stuffing yourself to bursting! Increasing your insulin sensitivity will also benefit you on these days. 200mcg of Chromium Picolinate and 300mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid will do the trick nicely.
Work Out Extra Hard When You Do Cheat
While you are planning your workouts, plan for a tough one on your cheat days and cheat after you exercise. This will help ensure that most of the excess in nutrients goes toward recovery. In addition, you can look at your cheat meals as a reward for your extra effort!
Sticking to an exercise and diet program can be difficult, especially if you haven’t made it to the point of seeing the results of your efforts. The holidays can make it doubly as difficult. Following these tips will help ensure you don’t fall off of the wagon during the hectic season.
Get all the equipment you will need to get that workout at home over at the BHI Store
Matt Porter has been a personal trainer for over twenty years. He recommends protein powder to all his clients to gain muscle definition and strength.
Eczema is an uncomfortable and unsightly skin condition that is experienced by about 1 in 10 people throughout the world. While it may seem like this flaky, rash-like skin condition can be treated simply with lotions and other medicated creams, more intensive, systematic approaches are often required as it is caused by an autoimmune response in the body. If you suffer from eczema, here are a few natural remedies that you can try to relieve or even clear up this troublesome skin condition:
Eliminate Irritants
Reaction to chemicals and other irritants in common household cleaners and soaps can often trigger or exacerbate an eczema outbreak. Eliminate harsh soaps or other personal hygiene products, or switch to a natural product that does not contain chemicals or fragrances. Next, eliminate products such as laundry detergent and dish soap with these same ingredients. Doing so will reduce irritation to the skin. Wearing loose-flowing cotton clothing will also help provide relief to the skin.
Improve Digestive Health
Digestive health is directly linked to immune system health. Improve your digestion by taking a high-quality probiotic and eating foods that are naturally rich in probiotics, such as kefir, yogurt, and fermented foods like sauerkraut. Doing so will increase the ratio of “healthy bacteria†in your stomach and intestines, which can counteract unhealthy bacteria that can promote yeast and other agents that will diminish your digestive and overall health.
Change Your Diet
Changing your diet can be the most difficult step to take in improving your eczema, but it can also have the biggest and most long-lasting impact. Many common food allergies trigger eczema and other health problems in the body. The most common food allergens include dairy products (including milk and eggs), wheat, gluten, nuts (especially peanuts), soy and shell fish. Often, the best way to determine if you have an allergy or sensitivity to any of these foods, or to determine if they are catalysts for your eczema, is to try an elimination diet. Eliminate one of the suspected food groups for two or three months and see if there is any improvement in your eczema or in the way you feel. Then gradually add that food back into your diet. If you experience negative health outcomes or see an outbreak of eczema, that food group is likely a culprit.
If you eliminate a food from your diet and see improvements, but your eczema has not cleared completely, you may have more than one food allergy. Work your way through the list to determine which foods are the cause of your troubles.
Topical Home Remedies
There are many topical treatments that you can create at home that may offer some relief. Rubbing pure coconut oil or castor oil on the inflamed areas can reduce or eliminate the problem. Others have found success by drinking a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water. However, with all of these treatments, relief was not seen until two or three months of consistent treatment was applied. Anecdotal reports from some eczema suffers suggests that some of these treatments can even clear the eczema completely. Just remember that every body is different, and what works for someone else may not work for you.
Though eczema is an irritating and sometimes embarrassing condition, it need not be one that you have to live with forever. There are treatments that do not include steroidal creams and other medications that can offer relief. Experiment with these remedies to see what might work for you.
About the author:
Amanda Tradwick is a grant researcher and writer for CollegeGrants.org. She has a bachelor’s degrees from the University of Delaware, and has recently finished research on college student grants and arizona education grants.
By Angela
Stress is part of the body’s natural, protective response system. It can help you out of a dangerous situation, or make you perform better at work and in life. However, if stress is not managed properly it can have a negative effect on work, relationships and even your skin. Stress can cause aging, wrinkles, blemishes and even skin cancer. On the other hand, happiness can improve the blood flow causing a skin-glowing effect. Here are some of the affects of stress on your skin and what you can do to improve it.
Aging Skin
Were you greeted by the mirror this morning with dark, under-eye circles or wrinkles on your forehead? You might think that walking around with that frown is causing premature wrinkles. The truth is that when we don’t take time out of our busy schedules for ourselves, premature aging skin is a common problem. Unhealthy eating habits, lack of exercise and lack of sleep are all reasons your face may start to take on an aged look. Exercise is a great stress beater releasing endorphins in the body ands or wrinkles on your forehead? You might think that walking around with that frown is causing in the body and giving you an instant high. It can also improve your mood, help with sleep habits and improve blood flow causing oxygenation for skin cells. Your health is worth at least 20 minutes a day to walk, run, dance or ride a bike to start improving your skin and overall health. Breathing exercises also improve skin by boosting oxygen levels. Try 20 minutes of meditation with cold teabags or a cold spoon under the eyes to relieve stress and minimize under-eye circles.
Acne and Eczema
Stress causes the body to produce a hormone called cortisol which makes your skin produce more oil causing acne. Take time out to care for your skin. Drying creams or lotions can help excess oil that causes blemishes. Drink plenty of water to hydrate your skin naturally. Stress causes pre-existing conditions, like eczema, to trigger flare-ups due to a lowered immune system which limits the body’s ability to fight off illnesses and limits the skin’s healing levels. What’s a fun way to improve your immune system? Laughter has much of the same effect as exercise, activating the immune system and even lowering blood pressure. Take time out for a movie night and watch a comedy.
Skin Cancer
A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute showed that chronic stress combined with UV radiation caused suppression of the immune system. The tumors developed by the mice in the study were shown to be squamous cell skin cancers, a fairly common, non-melanoma cancer, which usually occurs on the face. Protect yourself from UV rays by wearing facial cream with at least SPF 15 every day. Recognize when you are stressed. Muscles will be tight and breathing might be labored. Calm yourself with your senses. Burn a candle: lavender and citrus are great aromatherapy stress relievers. Listen to soothing music. If you are not in to soothing calming sounds, that’s okay! Upbeat, high-energy music can also improve mood and decrease stress. Keep a journal and write positive thoughts before the start of each day.
The power of a positive attitude is underrated. Have some Chamomile tea before bed and have a good night’s sleep. Improve your body’s overall defenses with simple stress management techniques and taking time for yourself.
You can also check out the light therapy collection over at the BHI Store.
Cindi Lewis write for GLOSSY, a hair care and beauty products online retailer.