Essential Oxygen

5 Highly Effective Habits of Calm and Happy People

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Guest Post By: Sophia Smith

Most of us are looking for that special, foolproof recipe for happiness. However, the truth is that there is no recipe because there isn’t just one way to be happy. In other words, happiness means something different to each person looking for it. That being said, there are certain habits that most happy people share, which could bring you closer to finding out what makes you happy.

So, if you’d like to become more like those people, here are five habits you should consider.

  1. They appreciate the present moment

Even though “stopping to smell the roses” sounds like a cliché, this kind of “savoring” the moment truly can make you happier. It allows you to focus on what’s going on around you. For that one moment, you won’t be thinking about your past mistakes or future plans – you’ll be living in the present. Moreover, the unfortunate truth is that there is a lot of negativity around us. Even though you shouldn’t ignore that negativity completely, focusing on it too much can only bring more stress into your life. So, be mindful of the good things around you, and learn how to appreciate the little things in life.

  1. They forgive, but they don’t forget

When speaking about happiness, being able to forgive is extremely important. This is why happy people don’t hold grudges. After all, holding a grudge means hanging on to resentment, anger, and other negative emotions towards the person who wronged you. Plus, the more grudges you hold, the angrier you will be. Letting go of such emotions would provide more room for positivity in your life. That being said, you still shouldn’t forget; forgetting means repeating the same mistakes instead of learning from them. For example, if one of your friends borrows something from you and returns it in poor condition – or doesn’t return it at all – forgive them, stay friends, but never lend them anything again. And finally, forgive yourself for making mistakes.

  1. They eat healthy

Happy people know the importance of a good diet – in order to be happy, you need to be healthy. So, learn how to prepare healthy and tasty meals. Also, don’t eat too much junk food, and opt for healthier snacks instead. Of course, there’s nothing wrong in enjoying some fast food when you’re out with your friends or enjoying a movie night, but eating fast food is one thing that should never become a habit. Also, think about ways to spice up your food – literally. For example, curcumin, which can be found in the spice turmeric, is a very healthy chemical that can boost your energy levels, improve your focus, and help you detox. However, to experience the full effects of this chemical, you need a lot of it. So, besides spicing up your food a bit, you should also consider adding curcumin tablets to your diet. This way, you’d experience all the benefits of it in no time.

  1. They don’t worry about the little things

People who are calm tend to focus only on the things that really matter to them. The thing is, becoming consumed by things that don’t matter can make you constantly frustrated and edgy. So, learn how to pick your battles – some things are simply not worth worrying or arguing about. Also, don’t overthink about things that may or may not happen. If there is something that is beyond their control, calm and happy people see no point in stressing about it. For them, it’s a waste of time, energy, and nerves. In short, if there’s nothing you can do to change the thing that’s bothering you, don’t dwell on it for too long.

  1. They never stop growing

People can be divided into two types according to their mindset. Some people believe that they are who they are and there’s nothing they can do to change that. On the other hand, there are people who are always learning, developing, changing, and evolving as persons. They believe that there’s always more to see and do. Such people are much calmer and happier, because they are more comfortable with changes and challenges. They are also comfortable with not knowing everything. For them, it simply means that there’s more to learn – and every time they learn something new, they grow.

If you want to be happier and calmer, think about adopting some habits of happy people. Take it one habit at a time, and try to enjoy the change. The results are bound to show sooner or later, and you might even be surprised by how much better you’ll feel.

How to Help Your Teen Learn About Hygiene and Skincare

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Guest Post By: Brigitte Evans

As an adult, you probably have good hygiene and skincare habits, but it’s not easy to transfer these positive habits to your teenage child. Teens require a different type of beauty routines than adults because their skin and bodies are still undergoing many changes. So, how can you help your teen learn about good hygiene and skincare? This article might help.

Clean hands are half the battle

One of the best ways to maintain good hygiene is to wash your hands often and thoroughly. This will ensure that your body will stay protected from dirt and germs. Make sure to encourage your teen to give their hands a good scrub before touching their face or fixing their makeup. Another thing that needs daily cleaning is phones. This is something many people neglect, but since their phone regularly touches their face and mouth, it needs to be clean.

Shower regularly

There are no written rules about showering and every teen can tailor their showering schedule to their needs. However, if your child has oily skin or hair, they should take a shower every day. On the other hand, if they struggle with dry skin, bathing every other day is preferred. Showers that are too frequent will strip their skin of natural oils and make their condition even worse.

Conduct good dental hygiene

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Proper dental hygiene not only makes teeth look white and healthy but also prevents all sorts of ailments. Regular brushing removes various types of bacteria that cause bad breath, gum infections and cavities. Flossing is another must, since it penetrates deep between the teeth and removes trapped bacteria. If those bacteria stay in the mouth, they can get into the bloodstream and cause all sorts of health issues, even heart disease. Your teen might not think about cardiovascular health right now, but they will be grateful for this advice when they grow older.

Acne battle plan

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More than 85% of all teens have acne, the most common skin problem at that age. They are marked by painful pimples, whiteheads and blackheads and sometimes even hard and deep lumps on the face, back, chest and shoulders. Luckily, you can find acne treatment for a teenager that will help them keep the condition minimal, prevent permanent acne marks and leave their skin glowing and healthy. There’s everything from toners to oil control lotions, so your child will definitely find something that works for their skin!

Careful cleansing benefits

If your child battles with oily skin, their best path towards clean skin is a daily gel or foaming cleanser. They can cleanse once or even twice a day if their skin gets very oily and dirty. If your teen wears makeup, it’s best to remove the makeup first and then cleanse. Another trick that can encourage good skincare is washing the face before PE class or sports practice. If that’s not an option, provide them with facial tissues for skin blotting. On the other hand, teens with dry skin will benefit from a milky cleanser and moisturizer.

Stay clear of beauty myths

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Another great advice to give to your teen is not to trust everything they heard from their friends or read online. Some of these odd remedies for acne control (like putting toothpaste on the blemishes) can even make the condition worse. Since there are tons of great acne products today, there’s really no need for these myths.

Encourage proper skin protection

Careful skin protection is important for many reasons. It will ensure your teen’s skin is healthy and soft and their breakouts less visible. Encourage them to use sunblock when hitting the beach and look into cosmetics and makeup with an SPF. If they insist on getting an artificial tan, self-tanners are a much better and healthier option than tanning beds. They cause all sorts of issues from early wrinkles to skin cancer.

The importance of makeup removing

Even if their BFFs sleep with makeup on and have no skin problems, it’s always good to remove makeup before bed. In case they are too tired to conduct a full face cleaning routine, encourage them to at least grab a cleansing wipe to take off makeup, oil and dirt. Teens who regularly sleep with makeup have a much greater risk of breakouts and perioral or periocular dermatitis (a bumpy skin rash).

Once your teen takes up these healthy hygiene and beauty routines, they will have some great habits for the future. Plus, they will definitely feel better and more comfortable in their own skin.

Owning it: The growth of women-owned business

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When we opened Essential Oxygen as a woman-owned business, we didn’t realize that we were part of a bigger trend that’s changing the landscape of business across the country. That’s because the total number of women-owned business is exploding across the United States. No longer prevented by antiquated laws from owning a company or establishing credit, women are taking business by storm, employing more people and generating more income than ever before. In fact, women-owned businesses employ about 9 million people and generate over $1.7 trillion in revenue. And the rate at which women-owned businesses are growing is much faster than the rate of other businesses.
There are certain business types that find more women owning them than others. Services and health care, for two, are that find more women at the helm. And there are some companies that are experiencing phenomenal growth, including OrangeTheory Fitness. Want to learn more? This graphic reviews the topic.

Owning it: The growth of women-owned business

Owning it: The growth of women-owned businessInfographic by Quill

Why Are Your Gums Bleeding?

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Guest Post By: Amanda McIntyre

While flossing and brushing your teeth daily are essential oral health habits, caring for your gums is also an integral part of an effective oral hygiene regimen. Your gums are as exposed to bacteria as all the other parts of your mouth. Not paying them enough attention may give rise to oral health problems like bleeding gums.

Spitting blood in the sink as you brush your teeth may not seem like a big deal to you at all, but it is definitely not something that you should ignore. Many people are quick to brush off bleeding as a mere result of aggressive flossing or brushing, but more often than not, bleeding gums are an early sign of gum disease or some other oral health problems.

Although there are cases where bleeding gums can be cured without having to see the dentist, seeing traces of blood every time you brush should be enough reason to pay your dental professional a visit. If some people don’t have any qualms about visiting a cosmetic dentistry office for, say, gum reshaping, then you should not hesitate to have your regular dentist check you out for chronic bleeding gums.

What Causes Bleeding Gums

To determine the most appropriate treatment for bleeding gums, you have to understand what may have caused them in the first place. One of these could be the reason why your gums are bleeding:

Gingivitis

You may find it hard to believe, but bleeding gums could signify that you’re experiencing one of the earliest signs of gum disease – gingivitis. The condition causes your gums to suffer because of the plaque and bacteria build-up that irritates and infects the gum area. Gingivitis is one of the reasons why you should not take bleeding gums lightly. If the condition progresses into the more advanced stages, you may find yourself facing its more severe consequences including receding gums and tooth loss.

In its initial stages, gingivitis is easy to reverse. Your dentist can help you get rid of the plaque, and then all you have to do is brush and floss regularly to keep the bacteria away for good.

Pregnancy

A lot of women experience bleeding gums when they are pregnant. The hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy may lead to the development of “pregnancy gingivitis,” where gums become swollen and sensitive. It is, therefore, important for soon-to-be mothers to take extra care of their oral health. Regular brushing and flossing should be enough to avoid the condition, though it won’t hurt if you consult your dentist for better ways on how to keep “pregnancy gingivitis” at bay.

Medicine

Even if you practice excellent oral hygiene habits, your gums may still bleed because of the drugs that you take. When you consult your dentist about your bleeding gums, one of the first questions would be if you were on any new medications. Some prescription drugs can cause gum inflammation; others thin your blood, while there are also those that leave you with a dry mouth.  

If you’ve experienced bleeding gums around the same time that you started taking new medications, then the drugs may be to blame. In which case, talk with your dentist about possible oral regimens that can help alleviate the situation.

New Oral Care Routine

There are instances, however, when your gums will bleed because of your new oral health routine. It could be that you’ve started brushing or flossing more often, and your gums need time to get used to your new oral care habits.

If this is the reason your gums are bleeding, you should have nothing to worry about. The bleeding will eventually stop as your gums get accustomed to more frequent cleaning habits. Soon enough, your gums will become healthier when you incorporate products like the Essential Oxygen BR Organic Brushing Rinse into your oral care routine.

When To See Your Dentist

It’s normal for your gums to bleed on occasion. If you’re someone who maintains good oral hygiene, then the bleeding should eventually cease without a visit to the dentist. However, if your gums bleed too often and come with other telling signs of gum disease such as swelling, sensitivity, and persistent bad breath, then it might be time for action. The sooner you seek professional help, the better the chances of reversing the condition.

Top Home Remedies for Dry Hair

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Guest Post By: Amanda Hutt

Dry hair means your scalp is not absorbing enough moisture and that can make your hair texture rough, brittle as well as fragile. Dry hair looks unhealthy, but the good part is that this health condition is not something serious. There are a lot of factors that contribute to dry hair including too much exposure of the sun, excessive hair washing, using heat styling products, swimming in chlorinated water and more.

To treat your dry hair at home, we have compiled a list of some of the most amazing yet simple home remedies. Have a look.

  • Use The Hot Oils

Naturally extracted oils are great for dry hair if appropriately massaged. Olive oil is generally recommended for everyday hair massage, but there are other oils as well that you can try, for example,

  • Almond oil
  • Coconut oil
  • Corn oil
  • Castor oil

The best thing about all these oils is that they contain so many oxidants as well as vitamin E, which help in sealing the layers of the hair on the outside and this is how it repairs the damage. You can prepare this home remedy easily in a few steps:

  • Firstly, take half a cup of any oil of your choice and warm it.
  • Gently massage the warm oil into your hair for a few minutes.
  • Once you are done with the hair massage, cover your head using a warm towel.
  • Leave it for an hour and then rinse hair using a sulfate-free shampoo.

It is a phenomenal treatment for dry and dull hair. It not just adds shine but also strengthens the hair.

  • Use Hair Care Products Specific To Your Hair Type

When selecting the shampoo and conditioner, always go for a mild one that comes without sulfate and silicone. Adding to it, do not wash your hair with shampoo more than twice a week.

  • Add Fish Oil To Your Hair Care Routine

Fish oil is quite rich in omega-3 and comes with potent anti-inflammatory properties. It helps open the hair follicles promoting the growth of your hair; thereby, it is known as anti-hair fall. Also, omega-3 is considered a healthy fat so it would not make your hair dry. So invest in top-quality fish oil for better hair health.

  • Apply Coconut Oil Mask

You may have heard about the soothing properties of coconut oil. It not just moisturizes the scalp but prevents it from drying and makes the hair healthy as well as shiny. You can make a coconut oil hair mask at home, which is cost-effective and very easy to prepare. All you have to do is boil a few curry leaves in coconut oil, stir it properly and then leave it to cool down a little. After a few minutes, gently apply it to your scalp and hair using your fingertips and once applied, make sure to cover your hair. Leave it for half an hour and then wash it with lukewarm water.

You can handle your dry scalp and hair with a few lifestyle as well as health changes along with these simple home remedies mentioned above. Good luck!

Why Self Care is so Important for Health and Well-being

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Guest Post By: Kali Bliss of http://kali-bliss.com www.instagram.com/kaliblissyogadiva

Kali bliss health

Self care and body care are critical components to creating good health. While our western culture often denies the importance of taking care of our body, Eastern cultures know taking care of our body is necessary to sustain a long and healthy life. Practices like yoga, meditation, and more, can help us adjust our lifestyle so we can stay balanced, happy, and well in our mind, bodies, and hearts.

Creating self care means creating discipline for ourself, and being able to adjust our lifestyle so that it optimally serves us.

The more ease we feel within, the less stress we hold, the more balanced we become, and the better life gets. Good health after all is created through the mind and body. The more we can take time to care for ourselves, exercise, eat right, and give ourselves time to chill out, the more the body can naturally self heal and sustain itself.

Health Wellness Meditation

Our lifestyle choices and what we eat and say to ourselves creates our human experience. Our bodies are more powerful than we know. With proper care, some self love, and routines, we can help our body thrive. Improving our mindset and attitude can help us overcome insecurity and problems. By upgrading our lifestyle, making new choices, and changing some habits, we can tap into our natural ability to feel good. In a world where we reach for distractions constantly, seek pleasure, over consume, and celebrate well, we all need more balance and care, to keep our bodies healthy and alive.

We can feel good, look good, and love ourselves. However, it takes our own willingness to gain strength, and step into positive patterns that can transform who we are, and how we do life. Making better choices every day, and learning to honor ourselves, can improve our health, happiness, and total wellbeing.

Taking care of ourself is key in order to develop a loving relationship with us, and with other people. The more we can honor ourselves, love our body, and be friends with our positive and negative qualities, the more we can raise our own self esteem, and enjoy life. Body care helps to keep us going, and ensure we have energy and enthusiasm for our day.

Too many people ignore the signals our bodies give us. Often we load up on medication for an easy fix, rather than attempting to change the problem, heal, and get to the root of the issue. Stuck emotions and unresolved traumas can cause us conflict and worry. We all can do a better job at managing stress by taking time to slow down, calm down, be still, and feel in our body. Learning to tap into our own wisdom and inner truth, helps us overcome distress and disease.

Self care is the practice of appreciating our body, learning to love ourself, and allowing ourselves to be ourselves.

Although it’s not easy, taking time for you, it’s a gift you can give to your soul. I’ve noticed that the more I get on my yoga mat, breathe, take a time out, and honor myself, the better I feel. Indulging in acupuncture, massages, reflexology, and other natural holistic forms of care, does wondrous to my whole system. I’ve taught myself to react less, care less about what others think, and have made peace in myself. The better I feel internally, the more my external world changes, and the happier I become. Those self sabotaging patterns and the fears I use to carry, no longer limit me, or keep me in a disconnected state. It’s through self care I’ve become happier and healthier in myself, and life choices.

It’s ultimately up to us to create our own happy life, and hopefully, honor and care for our body. We get one body in a lifetime, and it’s so important to help ourselves find ways to move, breathe, and feel good within.

While self care gets many stereotypes now, it’s more than flaunting a yoga outfit, or taking a time out at the spa. Self care is learning to become a master. It means being emotionally intelligent, and in touch with what’s happening inside.

We can create more self care and self love with awareness, and helping ourselves make better choices. Learning to understand our own human behaviors and patterns can give us clarity in how to change. Realizing why we crave what we do, why we indulge, and why we do what we do can be positively enlightening, and help us shift from the old into the new. Breaking patterns, releasing toxic foods and people from our lives may not be easy, however, at the end of the day our choice to choose us, always wins.

Beginning to say yes to you, can truly enrich your lifestyle and teach you how to develop self care for you, and create more self love.

Everything changes when we begin to take responsibility for ourselves, adjust our mindset, and our behavioral issues. We can elevate our life, and live better, by finding balance, and more self care, and understand what it means to live happy and well in our mind, body, and self.

Guest Post By: Kali Bliss, a Yoga Teacher in San Diego: kali-bliss.com  Connect with her on Instagram: KaliBlissYogaDiva

You’re Probably Taking Your Health for Granted – Here’s How to Change That

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Guest Post by: Brigitte Evans

health

For most of us, health isn’t something we really think about much until we get sick. Before we get the flu, or our blood pressure skyrockets, or our stomach balloons around us, we feel almost invincible—other people get sick, but not you. You’re made of sturdier stuff, and you’ve got bigger things to worry about, like errands, and relationships, and your career. And then disease strikes, and suddenly all those other things become so irrelevant. As the old Indian proverb goes, a healthy person has a thousand wishes, but a sick person has only one.

Even something as simple as a passing cold makes us feel weary and frustrated, and if a bigger issue comes knocking on our door, it can completely overwhelm us. To avoid this, it’s important to stop taking our well-being for granted and start caring for ourselves. If you want to know how you can do that better, take a look at our tips.

 

Stop postponing checkups

Getting a Pap smear isn’t the most enjoyable activity in the world, but it’s entirely necessary for a woman to stay on top of her reproductive health. STI screenings, mammograms, and general OB/GYN checkups are important, and there’s really no excuse to be avoiding your doctor anymore. Checking your thyroid hormone levels, your cholesterol, and your glucose is also encouraged, and if you’re in pre-menopause you might want to start tracking bone density, especially if you have a history of osteoporosis in your family. Find a doctor that you trust and feel comfortable with, and don’t allow yourself to avoid any more appointments. Monitoring your health regularly means you can quickly discover a problem if it pops up, and then it can be safely treated.

check-ups doctor

Good food for good health

The gist of dieting revolves around veggies, fruit, and lean meats, but the biggest challenge is usually time. We can barely stay on top of all the chores and errands we need to run every day, so cooking often isn’t an easy thing to pull off for a busy person. To counter this problem, the best thing you can do is organize your time a little better and prepare huge meals in advance. As long as you take Sunday evening to chuck some vegetables and chicken into a slow cooker, you can wake up in the morning and simply divide all of it into plastic containers that you can keep in the fridge. You can also simply have healthy food delivered to you which is particularly useful if you’re on a diet. That way you get a nutritionally balanced meal without the fuss of having to figure everything out yourself, and you don’t have to spend any time in the kitchen to make it on your own. Another thing you should do is limit your sugar intake and replace candy and cookies with healthier snacks around your house. Once the hunger craving hits, make sure you have a few homemade granola bars and nuts lying around instead of reaching for a bar of chocolate.

healthy food

 

Become more active

Exercise plays a large role in our health, and our sedentary lifestyles are really detrimental to our well-being. From your spine to your cardiovascular health, sitting around and turning into a couch potato isn’t really the best way to stay youthful, vibrant, and fit. Of course, the solution to this is easy—move more. Find an activity that you like, such as yoga, pilates, martial arts, volleyball, swimming, or anything else and engage at least a few times a week to build up your strength and stamina.

However, bear in mind that it’s not just about exercise, it’s about generally not allowing yourself to constantly be in that sedentary stupor, it’s about being more active every day. Taking bike rides with your kids, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and walking instead of driving the car whenever you can is a good start. You could also consider getting a dog, especially if your children have already been begging you for it. Adopt a cute stray from the shelter and you’ll always have company when you take long walks.

active lifestyle health

 

Don’t forget your mental health

Physical health isn’t the only thing to focus on, especially because your body and your psyche are connected. When one suffers, so does the other, and the fact that you’re feeling depressed will usually mean you’ll forget all about diet and exercise because you’re just too tired to do anything about it. Talk to your partner, your friends, or a professional instead of keeping everything bottled up inside, and engage in self-care activities to unwind from stress. Reading books, for example, is a great way to lift your spirits, grow intellectually, and take time to nurture your mental well-being.

And remember, prevention is a lot easier and less stressful than the actual treatment. Putting your health first is important if you want to function well on a daily basis, so don’t neglect your own needs in favor of anything else.

health

Clean Your Fruits & Vegetables Properly With These 4 Tips

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Guest Post By: Luna Regina

 

Reasons to clean fruits and vegetables properly

To Consume Raw Fruits & Veggies

Most fruits and vegetables are best to be consumed as they are, as lush and fresh as possible. Not only can they be made into delicious healthy treats like smoothies or salads, but it is also because of the number of nutrients fully reserved. Most cooking methods involve heat and despite being effective in eradicating bacteria, they also destroy nutrients present in fruits and vegetables.

clean fruist veggies hydrogen peroxide

There are also opinions claiming removing the skin to be a good option. Well … that’s a good one indeed, but not the best. Some fruits or vegetables have edible skin, a few of which even contain lots of vitamins (apple skin for example) and therefore should not be thrown away. To those with inedible skins, it’s inevitable that you will contaminate their flesh with either bacteria or pesticides remains on their skins during the food processing progress.

To Remove Pesticides Residue

Even when eating raw fruits doesn’t suit your taste, As mentioned earlier, there are still residues of indigestible chemical substances and unfortunately, cooking won’t entirely eliminate these.

pesticide reside clean food grade hydrogen peroxide

California,USA

Therefore, to consume raw fruits and vegetables safely, properly washing is not a considerable option, but rather, a must.

Effective Tips to Clean Your Fruits and Veggies

Tap water doesn’t remove all toxic substances and bacteria present. If it is not enough to wash your hands with just plain water, it is also not enough to wash what you consume in the same way. For a healthier lifestyle, I strongly recommend you to follow these tips.

Tip #1: Make sure your tap water is clean

“What’s wrong with tap water? The government takes care of it, so of course, it’s safe to drink.” – me in 2014. However, things aren’t that simple.

Our water source lies mainly underground, and it is toxic waste from factories that eventually infiltrates into the soil and contaminates the water. Therefore, purifying water is an extremely difficult progress because it takes a lot of steps to remove indigestible substances and bacteria while keeping water safe to drink.

Here’s what might be in your tap water:

  • Disinfectants (chlorine, chloramine, fluoride)
  • Hormones, pharmaceuticals
  • Microorganisms, which include Giardia, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Legionella
  • Inorganic materials such as phosphorus, sulfur, cyanide, asbestos, mercury
  • Volatile organic materials (VOCs) like styrene, benzene, and other carcinogens

While the best is being done by authorities to make tap water safer, why not protect yourself first? Water filters are now available, conveniently installed under your sink and filter out all impurities within tap water. Regarding the best under sink water filter systems, have a look into this review made by Healthy Kitchen 101.

Tip #2: Soak your fruits and vegetables in a proper solution

Having clean water is one step to make, but cleaning fruits and vegetables takes more than just that. It’s important that all of them are soaked in clean water mixed with a special cleaning agent for about 5 minutes.

Salt and baking soda are two among possible cleaning agents. Salt is commonly known for its antibacterial property, while baking soda is reported to be super effective in removing pesticides. Simply soak your vegetables with clean water, and stir in several teaspoons of baking soda, or salt, or both. Personally, these are my favorites as they’re always available around my kitchen, thus super cheap!

Tip #3: Know your veggies

Vegetables and fruits are diverse in shapes and sizes, and so are the methods in which they are washed.

wash veggiess

The key is to make sure all spots on your vegetables are revealed and exposed to your veggie cleaning solution. If you’re leaving lettuce leaves “lingering” each other, all pesticides residue in hidden spots might not get washed off completely. Water can sure reach these spots, but a good rub raises the chance of getting all those toxins off. Although, broccoli and cauliflower would appreciate a gentle rub rather than a hard one..

Tip #4: Keep your cutting boards and knives clean!

Of course, these have to be clean because they WILL touch your food A LOT of times!

There are various kinds of cutting boards out there regarding the materials used to make them. Although easy to wash, glass, steel or cutting boards made of harder materials can easily dent or even chip knife edges.

Wooden and plastic boards are the most common among all, and they are also the friendliest to knives. However, the more they are used the more cuts they have, and bacteria thrive within these cuts, especially if they are regularly exposed to meat, fish or any sort of proteins. Dish soaps don’t usually reach these spots.

The best solution is to spray these cutting boards with a cleaning solution that could be easily washed off with water when needed, and 3% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide is the perfect candidate. After cleaning your board with soap, grab the bottle and make a few puffs. The solution should eventually steep into the cracks and have those bacteria eliminated.

clean knife cutting board

Knives are easier to clean. There’s no hidden spots that dish soap can’t reach. One wipe and  all bacteria are gone.

It’s the knife blocks that we all must pay close attention to. When knives aren’t cleaned properly, bacteria might migrate into these slots and build their own community, contaminating knives before each use later on. Therefore, it’s best to spray your knives with the Hydrogen Peroxide liquid after washing so no bacterium gets near your knives while they’re in storage.

7 Ways to Help You Beat Jet Lag

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Guest Post:  Global Journeys

jet lag travel tips

No one wants to sacrifice the first day or two of their holidays to jet lag. With limited time, you want to hit the ground running and start exploring rather than begrudgingly dragging yourself around feeling fatigued and frustrated. However, after a long flight (or three!) across multiple time zones, it is normal to feel anything but normal. The good news is, there are some things you can do to lessen the effects of jet lag. Here are some of them.

Plan for your flight

There are plenty of factors that come into play when booking your flights. Price, flight time, airline preferences, frequent flyer programs, and whether to choose the aisle or the window. Choosing flight times that help with your transition into a different time zone can also provide some relief from jet lag. For example, choosing an itinerary that has you waking up in your destination in the morning can help with the adjustment, particularly if you are an in-flight sleeper. Or, think about arriving at night so you can sleep and awake refreshed to start the new day if you are not. There are also some aircrafts that have advanced systems to control humidity and lighting to curtail the impacts of jet lag.   

plane sleep

Set your watch

While planning your flight schedule to suit your destination’s time zone can help, chances are your body is still going to be pretty confused. A great way to get a head start on resetting your body clock is to initiate the adjustment early. Before leaving home, set your watch to the time in your destination, and start to work your inflight sleep pattern (where possible) around it. Don’t forget to keep a clock with the current time on you though so you can keep track of your flights and transit times!

Add a stopover

Breaking up a long journey can help you arrive at your ultimate destination feeling more refreshed. Not only does it let you catch up on some rest en route, but it allows your body to adjust more gradually. Adding a stopover will give you a chance to catch up along the way, adapting to a time zone in between your origin and destination meaning that you (and your body clock!) can take it one step at a time making the transition easier and less disruptive.

Stay hydrated

It is easy to lose track of your fluid intake as you travel – your routine is disrupted, and your habits can be thrown completely. It is important to keep drinking water and stay hydrated to help overcome jet lag and that sense of fatigue that many people get when travelling long haul. Pack a reusable bottle in your carryon luggage and steer clear of things that will dehydrate you further, such as coffee and alcohol.

Hold out for night time

So, you’ve arrived a little bedraggled after 30 hours of travel, tentatively propping open your eyelids with your forefinger. If you’ve arrived in the daytime your first instinct may be to draw the blinds and hit the pillow hard. Don’t! Fight against every sleepy fibre of your being and force yourself to stay up during the day. Hopefully exploring until nightfall will tire you out enough to sleep through the first night on your new time – then bingo! If you just can’t, set your alarm then allow yourself a short nap, but when the alarm goes off don’t hit snooze or you’ll likely struggle to get to sleep when night time truly falls.

travel sunshine vitamin d

Catch some rays

If you’re not up for sightseeing on arrival, it is still important to get outdoors. Go for a gentle walk or a swim. Perhaps make yourself at home in a terrace café, soaking up the sunshine and watching the world go by. Melatonin levels help regulate your body clock, and the secretion of melatonin is influenced by the body’s exposure to light and dark. A great way to tell your body that day and night has flipped is to get outside and catch some rays, bringing your body’s hormones into line quicker. It’s also good to limit the use of electronics at night, as the blue light from screens can manipulate your body’s melatonin production and confuse your body further.

Give yourself time

Taking these steps can assist in curbing the effects of jet lag and travel fatigue, however, rarely will you have no symptoms at all (unless you’re one of the lucky ones!). If you have the time, it is good to allow a couple of days at the start of your holiday to take things a little easy. If you are joining a tour or river cruise, arriving early means you will be able to rest a little and find your feet in your new destination (and time zone) before your itinerary kicks off. If you are taking an independent journey then avoid planning too many activities for the first day or two – save your highlight activities for a few days into the journey when you are feeling up to really enjoying them. Taking some extra time out to adjust not only helps your body recuperate but gives you a little ‘me’ time – you are on holidays after all!

 

 

About Global Journeys

Global Journeys is an Online Travel Agency based in Noosa, Queensland, Australia that offers multi-day tours, cruises and river cruises. With a dedicated team of travel consultants and leading technology, Global Journeys partners with the world’s best travel operators to offer their clients over 5,000 trips to choose from worldwide.

Website: https://www.globaljourneys.com/

General Enquiries: [email protected]

Media Contact: Barb Durance – PR & Marketing Manager

 

Media Contact:

Barb Durance – PR & Marketing Manager, (07) 5474 8003

 

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