Essential Oxygen

Reasons to Choose Yoga Over The Gym

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Guest Post By: Ayushi Bhatnagar from Sharda Hospital

yoga

Getting healthier and fitter in life calls for lifestyle changes and continued efforts. Joining a gym to stay healthy is a common decision people make, but what if you cannot spare 2 hours every day to go to the gym?

That’s where yoga brings a great opportunity. Not only it does it help in developing a strong and flexible physique, but also offers calm and tranquility.

Although all forms of exercise help in keeping you fit, there are several reasons why yoga over the gym would be a YES for you. From increased focus to flexibility to health, we give you 9 clues for why you should be rolling out the yoga mat.

Why Yoga over Gym?

Here’s a roundup of interesting arguments about why to choose yoga over the gym.

 

  • A Bucket Full of Choices

 

You must be thinking that the gym also offers a variety of exercises including squats, lunges, crunches, etc. How is yoga any different?

To your answer, ‘Yoga can be different every single day.’ Want a challenge? Add pincha mayurasana or bakasana into your practice. Need to focus? Try natarajasana or vrksasana. Or if you’re seeking relaxation, practice savasana or balasana.

There’s always something new to learn in yoga. 

 

  • Lesss Injuries

 

Unless you’re trying any intensive yoga aasans, you can be sure to ward off injuries.  As in yoga, you learn to connect your body and mind. There are no rigorous workout sessions or pushing yourself to limits until your body gives up.

You are not pulling up heavy equipment that could you injury or muscle soreness. It’s just you and your whole self.

 

  • Flexibility of Place

 

Whether you’re on a vacation, caught up in work, or simply busy, you can practice yoga anywhere. It doesn’t require a formal setting, machinery, or any other equipment.

All you need is your body and a place where you can be free. On the other hand, gyms turn out to be restrictive in terms of time and space. If your work hours do not match the gym hours, you end up missing it most of the time.

 

  • Easy on Your Pocket

 

Again, no formal set-up is required, just you and your mat. On the other hand, when you register for a membership in the gym, you pay a huge amount. And, that is not it, if you are a beginner, you will ideally need the assistance of a personal gym trainer. Therefore, big bucks flowing out of your pocket.

In yoga, no critical training is necessary. If you need some guidance, there are plenty of great, yoga guru online videos available. Besides, you can wear any type of clothes that allow you to move freely.

 

  • No Competition!

 

Once you enter the gym, you can possibly feel the streak of competition running around. Be it the woman running on the treadmill next to you or the man lifting weight against you. 

In fact, people often do not hesitate in trying risky workouts for the same reason which might even hurt them badly. On the yoga mat, it’s just you with yourself. Competitiveness does not exist in yoga studios either. Everyone focuses on their own poses and try to feel the peace yoga brings to them.

 

  • Concentration Booster

 

While practicing yoga, you focus on the posture, breath, and the gaze. Distractions automatically tune out. If you try concentrating at the gym, the focus and silence are not exactly the same. Besides, yoga teaches how to control your negative thoughts and embrace who you are.

 

  • Gives Balance and Peace

 

Yoga chitta vritti nirodha which means yoga quells the fluctuations of the mind. It drains out the emotional clutter and helps you concentrate better. Simply put, it melts down the loops of regret, frustration, anger, fear, and desire that cause stress.

As a result, you experience peace and serenity in your surroundings. In other words, yoga brings mindfulness. You start to live in present, appreciate little things around you and enjoy life at its best.

 

  • Benefits from Head-to-Toe

 

Yoga is a full body workout. Unlike gym workouts, which works on particular body parts at a time, yoga bestows its benefits to every nook and corner of your body.

Where a gym workout is focused on strengthening muscles and cardio, yoga detoxes the body and improves the cardiovascular system. It also helps in keeping the mood calm. Practising yoga brings a sense of composure in oneself, further leading to get through any situation without feeling pressured and stressed.

Still looking for reasons to choose yoga over gym?

 

  • No Withdrawal Effects

 

The best perk of practicing yoga is – its discontinuance doesn’t cause any major effects to the body. On the other hand, quitting gym may result in losing the body tone. Moreover, there might be body pain and soreness of muscles.

Other withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, anxiety, depression, guilt, tension, and discomfort, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, and headaches.

Are you up for yoga now? If yes, then, you’re ready to love your curves and edges, your mind and soul. You’re ready to work on yourself in calmness and tranquility regardless of worrying what others are doing or thinking. It’s you and the benefits yoga will bestow on your body.

Contributor Bio – The blog is presented by Sharda Hospital and intends to spread awareness about better health through yoga. Sharda Hospital is one of the largest super speciality hospitals in Delhi National Capital Region (NCR).

11 Last Minute Burning Man Gift Ideas

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By: Emmi Buck

burning man gift gifting

So you’re headed to the Black Rock Desert for a week of community, art, music, adventure, fun, hard work, and personal growth – but you haven’t figured out your gift yet? Have no fear! The below list of gift ideas are easy to procure, and tried-and-true crowd favorites on the playa! Have some gift ideas of your own to share? Let us know in the comments!

 

Pickles

Whether or not you like pickles, there are TONS of people at Burning Man that LOVE pickles, and pickle juice. The heat at Burning Man can leave you craving pickled goodness (hence why many camps feature this item) because it has nutrients that you need when dehydrated. Some benefits are: relieving muscle cramps, hydration (sodium + potassium), electrolytes, antioxidants (vitamin C + E), and gut health / digestion (vinegar/fermentation).

pickles

Help Out!

The majority of the time, people don’t need a trinket, necklace, or sticker… they’d LOVE to connect with you as a person especially while you help out! Keep your work gloves on you, and as you travel Black Rock City, look for people: moving heavy objects, struggling with a task, setting up camp, etc. Seriously, the best and most memorable gift you can give is to practice 7 of the 10 Burning Man principles at once by lending a helping hand. While doing so you’re observing: Radical Inclusion, Gifting, Radical Self Expression, Communal Effort, Civic Responsibility, Participation, and Immediacy. Being a part of others’ experiences at Burning Man is one of the most rewarding things you can do for yourself and those you’re interacting with. Bonus points: carry a charged drill around with you during build days and you’re an instant hero (especially for camps setting up domes)!

help out burning man

Organic Brushing Rinse (BR)

Oral care usually isn’t discussed on playa, but I’m here to tell you that it’s crucial! While you sleep (or don’t sleep), your body processes toxins and some end up in your mouth, creating some nasty morning breath (and stuff you don’t want to re-ingest). Give the amazing gift of taking care of oral bacteria, teeth whitening, bad breath, dry mouth, and so many other oral care needs by sharing your Organic Brushing Rinse with everyone! I’d guess it’s a 98% increase in chances of getting a playa kiss if you gift and use BR 😉

Essential Oxygen Organic Brushing Rinse biodegradable

Light-Up Gifts

While sometimes “MOOP-y” these gifts are extremely practical and easily found at many stores. Glow-sticks, glow-rings, glow-in-the-dark makeup, you-name-it; if it glows, it’s a great gift for “darkwads” or people who are out and about after the sun sets without being lit-up. To make your gift more sustainable, shoot for items that can be re-charged or batteries replaced if possible! Prevent bike and art car accidents by being visible at night and educating others on the importance as well. I’m an 8 year veteran and I still very occasionally find myself at sundown not totally equipped for night, so these are great gifts!

burning man at night

For Burning Man at night, always be wearing at minimum some lit object. A headlamp, and/or coat lights, wig lights, glow anything, EL wire on your bike, etc. is very important for safety!

Share Your Talents

Whether you’re great at singing, engineering, playing an instrument, bike repair, hula hooping, massage, listening, dancing, painting, language translation – or – honestly anything, share it at Burning Man. That’s by far the most genuine way to both gift and self-express at the same time. I’ll never forget my first time on playa not really having “gifts” and being nervous about bit. However, I was constantly being told various things (knowing I could help make a situation better with a talent, joke, or expertise) were the greatest gift I could give.

bikes

Local Treats

Do you live near a beach with a plethora of beautiful shells or beach glass? Perhaps your local trees drop beautiful leaves that you can make bookmarks from? Maybe you have some neat paper-weight worthy rocks you’ve recently dug up in your garden… No matter what you might have access to or excess of, gifts that have a local flare always warm people’s hearts!

beach glass sea glass

Infused Water / Alcohol

This is a really easy and extremely appreciated gift at Burning Man. It’s as simple as getting some water or alcohol (vodka tends to work best, but experimenting with various types and flavors is fun too) and some infusing items. Some fun combos include:

  • Cucumber mint water
  • Lemon lime water
  • Berry water
  • Raspberry basil vodka
  • Orange clove vodka
  • Cinnamon whiskey

Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide

Since 3% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide (FGHP) is non-toxic and naturally oxidizing, it’s a great eco-friendly all-purpose item at Burning Man. It can disinfect cuts and scrapes from playing on the interactive art, it’s great for getting stains out of clothes and rugs, it can disinfect cutting boards, cups, plates, cutlery (and pretty much anything you deem ‘dirty’). Sore throat? Gargle with some 3% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide. Ketchup on your favorite tutu? Blot with FGHP. Travel cup full of mystery liquid and dust? Rinse with FGHP. The uses are endless!

Essential Oxygen food grade hydrogen peroxide

Matches / Lighters

I love it when I still see friends carrying the personalized, glow-in-the-dark lighters I made a few years ago for my camp. They always say “it’s one of the best Burning Man gifts I’ve ever received!” Whether you’re lighting a camp stove, candle, palo santo stick, incense, or… *not advised* cigarette, many people at Burning Man would love to ask for a ‘light’ and receive their very own device for lighting things the rest of the burn!

lighter match

Home/(Camp)-Made Food

This becomes especially appreciated towards the end of the week+ in the desert. Many have run out of ideal provisions or fresh food, and are too exhausted to cook even if they have it. Offering a weary traveler passing your camp a plate of what you’re cooking, or bringing your extra breakfast burritos to the sunrise Tycho set will earn you legend status points at Burning Man. Even if it’s sharing half your orange at the temple – some of my best gift memories have been a nibble of delicious food when needed most!

A Shoulder To Lean On At The Temple

The temple is a place of very strong emotions. At times you can feel waves of sadness, relief, grieving, longing, remembrance, pain, anger, shock, disbelief, and so much more. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had or heard of others having life changing experiences there. All of them center around one thing: sharing. Whether you open yourself up and leave a note or momento that moves another person into a state of growth, or you comfort or listen to a fellow temple-goer – it’s a great place to gift compassion and empathy. Many people are either experiencing the temple for the first time, or working through a new grief/dilemma there, so be respectful of space and ask consent, but know that many people there would love  shoulder to lean on or an ear to just listen.

hug

Summer Fun Activities

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Guest Post By: Ryan Varela

 

Summer is the season for different outdoor activities. This is also the perfect time to rest and enjoy doing things that will make you happy. If you have been working for the whole year and you feel tired, you can choose to take some summer leave. This is one way to replenish your energy and build your motivation.

 

Aside from the different individual activities, summer also gives you different options to enjoy with your family. It is the best time to reconnect with your kids and partner. And most importantly, it is the right time for you to explore the world. If you are feeling excited about the season but you still don’t have an idea on how to spend it, here is a list of summer fun activities to choose from.

vacation

Go for Vacation

It has been proven by experts that people who develop critical illness spent most of their adult life stressed and tired of their work and responsibilities. If you want to save your health, you need to go for a vacation for the summer. You can start listing down the different places you want to visit and narrow it down by choosing the perfect destination for this year. You can also consider a place where there is someone you know. You can take this vacation as an opportunity to visit the people who matter to you.

run running jogging

 

Take a Break from Work

Imagine spending the whole year working. That would be so stressful and you will certainly feel burned out before the year ends. Summer is the perfect time to take a break from work. Even if you are not planning to go anywhere, you can still enjoy the company of your family at home. There are different activities that can help you relax while you are not working. You need this opportunity and you have to grab it while the weather is warm and very inviting.

bike ride biking

Go for a Run or Bike Ride

Aside from the different activities that can make you feel relaxed and rested, you should also take advantage of the summer heat by going for a run or bike ride. These activities will not only help achieve a fit and healthy body but it will also make you feel better about yourself. With all the outdoor activities that you can do, you need to prepare your body for it. Running or biking during summer is perfect because the warm weather can help you sweat faster.

beach

Go to the Beach

Nature has its way to accommodate people in the perfect season. During summer, you will notice that the waves are calm and the sand is warm. It is the best time to bask under the sun. Go to the beach and just enjoy the blue horizon. You can watch the sunrise and the sunset. And to make the experience more rewarding, try water activities such as diving, snorkelling, surfing and others. You have all the day to enjoy when you are at the beach.

 

Go Camping

Summer is the best time to go back to nature. You can always do this with the kids or with some friends. Camping can make you feel relaxed and renewed. After the tiring days at the office and the stressful traffic jam in the city, you can go out and try to live a simpler life even just for days. Camping is a good way to connect to nature. You can enjoy sleeping under the stars and you can hear the sound of nature. This will certainly revitalize your soul.

mountain trekking

Go for Mountain Trekking

If you are a person who loves adventure and you are physically ready for some long walks, you can go for mountain trekking. This activity will help you harness your energy and it will teach you so many things about achieving a goal. Reaching the peak of the mountain will give you a view that will certainly take your breath away. But more than that, it can give you the confidence to live your normal life again and go for your dreams. The bright summer days will make this activity more enjoyable.

lake

Spend Some Time on a Lake

Now that the lake is clear and you can observe life in it, you will surely love to spend your summer days around one. There are different activities you can do when you visit one. You can stretch your fishing rod while you enjoy a small talk with your friend. Going back to the basic activities in life is relaxing and it gives joy to the soul.

 

Summer only happens once a year. Make sure that you are spending it right. The few days of summer can be the best days of your life if you know how to make it worth it. Consider the different activities enumerated above and make your personalized list of things to do on your summer break now.

 

Author Bio:

Ryan Varela is the CEO of Boost Health Insurance which provides customized and affordable health care plans for thousands of customers across the United States. Ryan has nearly a decade of experience in the health care industry and continues to serve the greater need to educate and deliver access to affordable options to those who need health care the most.

 

How Losing Weight Can Be Done Easily Through Some Mental Tricks

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Guest Post By: Alex Gendron

losing weight

The goal of every weight loss program is to help you get a happier and healthier life and a peaceful and contented mind. It is not right to think that people just want to lose weight so that they can enhance and show off their beautiful body. It is more than that. It is something more than what is obvious.

People who are trying to lose weight are doing it for different reasons. Some are just not feeling comfortable about themselves. For some, they are trying to save themselves from health conditions that may arise from their unhealthy diet and lifestyle. No matter what your reason for taking the road to fitness, you will certainly agree that you want to feel contented.

Some people find it really hard to go on a healthy diet. This is really a challenge especially if you just started. But there are some ways on how you can lose weight without really making it hard on yourself. Here are some psychological tricks you can consider:

 

Be kind to yourself

Instead of acting like you are in some kind of a competition, you can make it easier for you to lose weight by being kind to yourself. Do not rush in losing weight. Avoid unhealthy practices such as allowing yourself to starve. You will still be able to make your weight loss project effective even if you do not starve. The best thing that you can do is to eat healthy food. Give up the ones that will only add to your weight but does not really give your body the nutrients it needs.

active weight loss

Ask yourself questions

There will be times when you will find yourself craving for food. The bad thing about cravings is that it is usually about the unhealthy junk food. If you ever come to the point when you want to have that sweet chocolate, you can suppress the cravings by asking questions that will let you get back to the reason why you are on diet. Is it necessary for you to eat that food? What are the nutritional contents of that certain food? Are there other foods that you can eat instead of that?

 

Look beyond the food

Most people who are into weight loss are only looking at the food as the major factor that affects their weight. This is not right because there are other reasons for your weight gain. Instead of focusing on lessening the food that you are eating, you should look at the other factors that are contributing to your weight. It is not just the food itself. It can be the schedule of your meals, your daily activities and some other habits. Do not forget to look at all the aspects.

 

Create food aversions

If you find yourself in a situation where your cravings are too strong, you can consider creating food aversions as an effective way to suppress yourself. Look for reasons why you shouldn’t eat that food. If you are craving for burgers, fries and other food from a certain fast food, you can just think of some stories about the store that will make you change your mind.

 

Don’t panic if you hit a plateau

In your weight loss journey, there will be instances when you will be hitting a plateau. This is according to LipoSci Labs. These are the times when your weight isn’t changing and your efforts do not seem to be effective. You don’t have to panic when you reach this point. It is normal for the body to stop changing for a while. Take this opportunity for you to rest because your body needs that. One of the best ways to deal with this is to change your diet. This way, your body that has already adjusted will be able to go back to the weight loss pattern.

bodybuilding weight loss

Identify your intrinsic motivation

Everybody needs a motivation. With this, you need to be sure of the goals you want to achieve. Why do you want to lose weight? Just by asking yourself this question, you will be able to get back your eagerness to continue with what you have started. Every time you feel like giving up, always think of the goal that you have set during the starting point. This will let you get back on your feet. Do not give up because you feel tired. With a concrete goal, you will be able to continue no matter how many discouragement you hear.

 

Pay attention to what you are eating

Most people do two things at the same time. This should be avoided at all cost when you are eating. Do not watch while you eat because you will lose track of the amount of food you have already consumed. When you eat, make sure that your full attention is on the food.

 

Keep feeding your resolve

The power and the will to achieve a healthy body should be stronger than the alibis. Keep on feeding your will to be healthy. You can do this by reading or watching inspirational videos of people who became successful in losing weight and achieving a healthy body. You can also look for a mentor. Go to the gym, look around you and see how all these people are trying their best and pushing to their limit just to stay fit. This simple view will give you a reason to move forward and to do things better.

 

Choose a dietary approach that works for you

There is not specific dietary approach that will work for everyone. You need to try all the approaches that you have in mind until you get the one that will work for you. As a beginner, you need to be patient with yourself. You will constantly experience the trial and error phase. Do not give up until you get the perfect blend of weight loss program that will work for your own benefit.

It may not be easy to lose weight but it will always be worth it.

6 Morning Habits That Will Transform Your Day

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Guest Post By: Dr. Kojian

morning habits

Have you ever experienced having a bad day because you had an unpleasant morning? Naturally, most people who wake up not in the mood tend to have a rough day ahead of them. Conversely, waking up in a great mood creates a pleasant vibe all day long. This is why you would normally hear someone pleading not to make a mess or scene during the morning hours – because, it can ruin the day.

Along with the tone of your morning hours, your morning routines and habits are also important factors in this matter. They dramatically affect as well the mood of your day. So, if you really want to have a great day ahead of you, try to assess your morning routines.

Whether it’s the daily drinking of your weight loss pills or the morning exercise routines, check every habit that you do once you wake up. If you think that there’s nothing wrong with them and yet you still get those unpleasant days, try to incorporate these 6 morning habits on your routines that can certainly transform your day:

1. Drink a glass of water before you do anything
A hydrating first thing in the morning can do a lot of wonders to your health and physique holistically. Sleeping in a full 6 to 8 hours can pretty much dehydrate your system. So, it’s quite essential to drink a glass of water once you wake up.

Now, dehydration can cause several issues to your body and mind which can lead to unpleasant moods. For instance, your brain cannot function fully if it does not receive the right amount of water. Also, your alertness and mindfulness are not quite effective which all factors that can affect your mood are. So, instead of grabbing your warm cup of coffee or tea as you wake up, drink a glass of water first before having other kinds of drinks.

2. Visualizing – Feeling yourself
Visualizing or feeling yourself in the morning is a great practice that can fully transform your day. Picturing yourself in a great mood can create the pleasant vibe in your surroundings. You can do this in many forms or ways.

Once you wake up, before you take a shower or eat your breakfast, try to close your eyes and imagine the things you want to accomplish or the goals you would want to achieve. This will set the mood of your day. Also, you could try to make a thorough To-Do list. List all the tasks that you want and need to do for the day. Additionally, you may create a vision board as well. Place all the things that you want to see here in the morning. The things that you know will help you make feel great.

3. Mindfulness meditation
Along with your visualization practices, complement it with a short mindful meditation just right before you start your day. It could be as short as 5 minutes.

Apparently, meditation can prepare your mind and body to the stress that could possibly go along your way. It calms and relaxes your mind and body so that you can respond to any stress and anxiety appropriately. In fact, people who practice meditation daily appear to be much more happy and pleasant.

4. Go outside
Another morning habit that can help you transform your day is to actually go outside and be in contact with your surroundings. You can do this once you wake up or after you hydrate your system. Whether you would just do a few breathing exercises or even jog, being connected outside also helps your mind and body to relax.

Research suggests that becoming mindful and connected to the outside world has a significant and positive impact on one’s mood.

5. Have a great breakfast
Have you ever notice how tired, exhausted, and stressed you are when you miss the most important meal of the day?

There is a reason why breakfast is stated as the most important meal of the day. Apparently, you can always miss the dinner but never the first meal of the day. This is because it significantly affects your mind, body, mood, and overall health.

But, having a meal in the morning period does not only denotes that you should eat something. You should also be very mindful of the types of food that you eat. Opt to have a healthy meal that includes carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and vitamins. Filling your stomach appropriately can largely affect your mood.

6. Listen to something inspiring
When you wake up in the morning, you should not only visualize yourself. But, you should be able to encourage and inspire yourself as well. When you start your day feeling energized, inspired, and determined, it will be all easy for things to fall into its place.

The best way to do this is to listen to something inspiring. Whether it’s a podcast or a video talk, you should practice to include this habit every morning. This will help you start the day right. As a result, it will be difficult for anything or anyone to stress you out.

These morning habits may seem too easy to do but when you apply yourself, it can be quite challenging. Nevertheless, if you really want to stay positive, pleasant, and lifted all throughout your day, these practices will certainly help you.

A Caregiver’s Guide to Lowering Cortisol Levels

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Guest Post By: Vive Health

hand holding caregiving

Positively adapting to negative sources of stress and trauma in your life is an essential part of caregiving. Some researchers call this process resilient coping while others call it stress management . . . whatever name you give it, you can be certain that the way you respond to stress in your life will directly affect how well you are able to provide care to your loved one.

You have likely already heard of one of the major players in your stress response system, cortisol. But do you know exactly what it is and how your body uses it? Don’t miss this quick caregiver guide to understanding cortisol and how to lower your own levels:

 

What is Cortisol?

Commonly referred to as the “stress hormone,” cortisol is a primary hormone that is released by your adrenal glands when you encounter a perceived threat or external source of stress. As a key player in your body’s internal alarm system, cortisol, along with adrenaline, cues your fight or flight response.

While adrenaline is the source of your increased heart rate and elevated blood pressure, it is cortisol that enhances the way your body utilizes its glucose stores by increasing your blood sugar levels and boosting the availability of substances the body needs to repair tissue. This protective biochemical process is necessary for healthy functioning, however, sometimes it can go haywire, especially when stress is chronically present over extended periods of time.

 

What are the Symptoms of High Cortisol Levels?

In addition to communicating signals to your brain regarding fear and mood, cortisol production also alters your immune responses and suppresses important processes like digestive functioning. An overproduction of cortisol activates these stress responses and they essentially stay in “on” mode for much longer than they need to be. This can lead to symptoms and side effects including:

  • Headaches

  • Increased appetite and weight gain

  • Sleep problems

  • Anxiety

  • Memory impairment

  • Difficulty concentrating

  • Depression

  • Digestive troubles

  • Heart disease

 

How Can I Lower My Cortisol Levels?

For a more in-depth understanding of your personal exposure to chronic stress and how it’s affecting your cortisol levels, definitely start a conversation with your doctor. At home, however, you can learn to control cortisol levels and naturally lower them with these helpful steps:

Exercise – the very practice of exercise stimulates positive hormonal activity in the body including the production of serotonin and endorphins that help boost your mood and make you feel good. Squeezing 30 minutes of exercise into your day may seem like an impossible feat, however, when you break it up into smaller increments of 10 or 15 minutes, you develop more attainable goals.

Physical fitness ideas for caregivers include taking a brisk 15-minute walk, practicing yoga at home (stream a free instructional video on Youtube), doing body weight exercises like planks and squats, and strength-training with resistance bands or lightweight dumbbells.

Manage your anger – a 2016 study published in Stress and Health looked specifically at caregivers of people with autism and found that those who exhibited high-resilience characteristics released less cortisol into their system. Caregivers with low-resilience responses and who were more prone to anger, on the other hand, released higher levels of cortisol.

Managing anger responses takes practice but healthy habits can help like meditating, recognizing your anger triggers and trying to avoid them, talking to a counselor, and practicing deep breathing as a precursor to responding in a stressful situation.

Modify your diet – while you might associate your diet largely with how you “look,” it’s actually a primary contributor to how you “feel” on a regular basis too. Foods that help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels and fight inflammation have been shown to help with hormonal imbalances and bring cortisol levels back into normal ranges.

How can you get started? Incorporate more foods with essential nutrients (and phytonutrients) as well as fiber, antioxidants, protein, and probiotics. This means ditch the salty, sugary, fried and fatty processed foods and up your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, healthy fats like coconut oil and avocado, and lean proteins like eggs and fish.

Seek social support – researchers aren’t clear exactly why, but strong social safety nets that consist of people and programs you can rely on in times of crisis and chronic stress seem to counteract cortisol overproduction and increase longevity. Emotional support systems for caregivers may include professionals like therapists and doctors as well as other members like family, friends, faith groups, in-person and online support groups, co-workers, confidants and so on.

 

EMF Hacks [INFOGRAPHIC]

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EMF means an electromagnetic field, which is a physical field produced by electrically charged objects. It affects the behavior of charged objects in the vicinity of the EMF.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences categorized EMFs into two different groups:

  • Low frequency / non-ionizing EMF radiation.  EMFs with lower frequency than visible light that are non-ionizing radiation. Examples include EMFs from microwave ovens, computers, visible light, WiFi, cell phones, Bluetooth, power lines, and MRIs.
  • High frequency / ionizing EMF radiation. These EMFs have higher frequencies than visible light, which are ionizing radiation. Examples include ultraviolet (UV) light, X-Rays, and Gamma rays. These EMFs can, under certain circumstances, lead to cellular and or DNA damage with prolonged exposure.

Chronic high levels of low-frequency EMF exposure can contribute to insomnia, anxiety, depression, brain fog, dizziness, frequent illnesses, adrenal fatigue, hormone imbalances and increased cancer risk. It’s important to remember that the strength of a magnetic field decreases dramatically when you increase the distance from the EMF source.

Check out the below EMF hack infographic on ways to reduce the impact of EMFs on your health.

EMF Hacks Infographic

 

How can you find out if you’re being exposed to EMFs?

If you’re concerned about EMF radiation emitted by a power line or substation in your area, you can contact your local power company to schedule an on-site reading. You can also measure EMFs that might be within your home or workplace by yourself with the use of a gaussmeter, which is available for purchase online through a number of retailers.

 

Additional Resources

5 Ways to Get Rid of Coffee Stains on Your Teeth at Home

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Written by Kathy Gallo

teeth whitening

As any dedicated coffee drinker will know – as well as those who enjoy tea or red wine – our daily brew comes at a price: drinking coffee (or tea or wine) stains teeth. This creates quite a dilemma. We don’t want to give up our favorite beverage but we all want beautiful, white teeth.

If you want to continue drinking coffee but you are looking for a way to maintain your bright and shiny smile, we have a list of methods for whitening teeth at home – as well as some suggestions for avoiding the stains in the first place.

How do teeth stain?

Before we give you our tips, let’s look very briefly at how coffee and other drinks stain teeth.

Our teeth consist of several layers, the outermost of which being the enamel. Enamel is the hardest and most mineralized substance in our body and protects the more delicate layers below.

The enamel on our teeth is covered in microscopic holes. When food or drink becomes stuck in the holes, the enamel becomes stained. This is known as “extrinsic staining”.

However, if we do not regularly clean this extrinsic staining, the tooth below can also become stained; this is known as “intrinsic staining”. Intrinsic staining is much harder to clean, and for this reason, it is very important regularly to remove stains from our teeth.

How can you remove stains from your teeth at home?

Here are our top five tricks for whitening teeth and removing coffee stains at home without the need to see a dentist.

Use a hydrogen peroxide and baking soda mix

food grade hydrogen peroxide essential oxygen HP

This is one of the most popular DIY methods for removing stains. First, you need to prepare a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Take a container to mix it in and start by adding a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. Then add some baking soda and stir to make a paste.

Once you have made your mixture, there are two ways to use it. Either you can use the mixture to brush your teeth just like with a toothpaste or you can spread it over your teeth and leave it to act for around 15-20 minutes. After you have finished, brush your teeth with regular toothpaste.

Some people might be alarmed at the idea of putting hydrogen peroxide in their mouth since this is the same chemical we use for bleaching hair – but actually there is nothing to worry about at all since hair bleach is a completely different product.

The hydrogen peroxide you use for your teeth is nowhere near as strong as hair bleach: it is a perfectly safe and commonly-used teeth-whitening product. You can buy it online or over the counter; Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide from essentialoxygen.com is a recommended product.

Use a home teeth-whitening kit

Teeth-whitening kits also commonly use hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient. There are at least two kinds.

In one kind, you apply the product to a guard which you then place over your teeth. After leaving for a specified amount of time, you remove the guard.

The second kind is similar, but this time uses strips. You place the strips on your teeth and leave them to do their job. When the allotted time has passed, you then remove them. However, using these products in the long term can damage your teeth and gums.

Use a whitening toothpaste or a polish

tooth polish

One of the easiest ways to whiten your teeth at home without the need to see a professional is to use whitening toothpaste. These products are easy to find in any store that sells toothpaste; you simply use it instead of your regular toothpaste.

There is some controversy over these products, however. Most whitening toothpastes contain tiny abrasive particles which polish your teeth by scratching them. Prolonged use may wear the enamel on your teeth. Since enamel doesn’t grow back, this can lead to permanent damage.

Another similar option is to buy a tooth-whitening polish such as BR Tooth Polish from essentialoxygen.com.

Oil Pulling

For those who don’t like the idea of using chemicals on their teeth, a more natural option is to use oil in a practice known as “oil pulling”. The method is very simple: you simply swish a tablespoon of oil around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes before spitting it out.

You can use any oil. Traditionally, sunflower or sesame oil were used but now coconut oil is a popular choice. Coconut oil also has the added benefit of killing bacteria, helping maintain your oral hygiene.

Swill with apple cider

This is a very simple technique. Simply swill with apple cider for 10 minutes or so, spit and brush. This is not recommended in the long term since apple cider is acidic and will damage your teeth.

3 tips on how to avoid stains in the first place

Add milk

By adding milk to your coffee, you will lighten the color of the coffee and so reduce its ability to stain. The proteins in animal milk also bind to the staining polyphenols in coffee and carry them to the stomach where they can be broken down.

This method also works with tea – but you might not want to try with red wine!

Drink through a straw

If you drink through a straw, the coffee will not wash over your teeth and so will not have chance to stain them. This is an effective method of avoiding stains, but some might find it strange with hot coffee.

Rinse your mouth after drinking coffee or brush your teeth

After drinking coffee, simply rinse your mouth with water. This will remove some of the damaging acidity from your teeth.

You can also brush your teeth after coffee – but you should wait an hour since the acidity of coffee leaves your enamel slightly weakened. And there is another situation, How about if you just finished tooth extraction, should you drink coffee or how to avoid stain? you can find the answer here.

Either way, each time you reach for your Keurig coffee machine or other favorite brewing system, don’t forget to clean your teeth and mouth after!

Continue enjoying your coffee – and keep smiling!

We hope this list of tips has been useful. If you follow our advice, there is no reason why you should have to sacrifice your favorite drink or give up your dazzling smile.

If you take steps to prevent stains from happening as well as removing stains regularly when they occur, you can continue enjoying your coffee while maintaining the white color of your teeth. If in any doubt, don’t hesitate to consult a dental professional.

 

Eco Friendly Father’s Day Gift Ideas (That Won’t Break The Bank)

By

By: Emmi Buck

father's day gift ideas

This Father’s Day, try and be green-minded as you shop for your pop. When we say green, we mean both eco-friendly AND money saving 😉

Check out the below list of gift ideas for your dad that will make dad smile and won’t harm the planet or your wallet. 

 

indosole vegan recycled shoesindosole vegan recycled shoesindosole vegan shoes

 

Indosole Shoes     $35 – $75

https://indosole.com/

Dad will love these shoes for their comfort and be even more excited about helping our planet by up-cycling tires that would otherwise become trash and pollution. Indosole help to alleviate the problem of 1.5 billion tires being dumped each year by turning them into fashionable and functional shoes. Thrown out tires sit in stockyards, illegal dumping sites, and even rivers (yikes!). In tropical countries, tossed out tires can become breeding grounds for mosquitos, which lead to nasty diseases like malaria and dengue fever. Get dad some super hip Indosole shoes and he will help spread the word about the importance of repurposing old goods!

 

alpine start coffee

Alpine Start Gourmet Instant Coffee     $8.99

https://alpinestartfoods.com/

Pops loves his coffee? You should turn him on to Alpine Start instant coffee. These are outdoor folks with a major love for coffee, and their products are nothing short of amazing. Their flagship product, the instant coffee pack, is nothing like the mediocre instant coffee you’ve tried before. They have a patented process for creating their powdered instant deliciousness, and it is out of this world good. They offer original blend coffee (SO GOOD), a coconut creamer latte, and also a dirty chai latte – all of which are focused on high-quality as well as environmentally friendly.

eco friendly golf balls dixon

Dixon Golf Balls     $39.96

http://www.dixongolf.com

If your dad likes to golf, get him some golf balls that’re engineered to have less impact on our planet. Dixon golf balls are comprised of heavy earth salts rather than heavy metal fillers. Also, with the purchase of a Dixon item you are contributing a tree to the ecosystem. Dixon pledges to plant one tree in honor of the all products sold online. They also make every effort to use materials such as SEC certified bond paper and recycled Kraft paper in their packaging needs.

 

bees honey

Poor Valley Beehives     $80+

https://www.poorvalleybeefarm.com/

Starting a beehive might be on your dad’s checklist, and even if it isn’t we bet he would love this concept. Not only will it help your families’ garden, but it i good for the whole ecosystem in your neighborhood! Help save the bees, boost your home garden’s productivity and health, and get delicious homemade honey all at the same time!

 

Recycled Beer Glasses     $15.99

https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/recycled-beer-glasses?source=related

Whether your father likes beer or lemonade, these recycled glasses are sure to be a hit. They’re handmade in Colombia of discarded, recycled and repurposed glass, these glasses are sure to add a sophisticated twist to any bar collection. These sturdy glasses have a slight green hue from the building and car window tints originally added to lessen the sun’s glare, and dad will have a great story to tell when he pours his friends a drink.

avalon organics shave cream

Avalon Organics Shave Cream     $7.99

https://www.avalonorganics.com/en/products/bath-and-body/shave/aloe-unscented-moisturizing-cream-shave/

This shaving cream is not only very affordable, but also is great for your dad’s kin and the environment. Avalon’s gentle, replenishing blend of aloe vera, beta-glucan and plant extracts provides soothing moisture plus razor lift and glide while helping speed repair of nicks and irritation. Your dad’s skin will feel soft, smooth and comfortable after every shave.

 

Framani salami

Framani Meats & Cheeses     $18+

http://www.framani.com

Foodie father? Look no further. Framani’s mission is to keep old world food traditions alive in taste and craft, using ingredients of the highest quality from sustainable sources.Their meat comes from family farmers committed to the well-being of their animals and their land. The animals are never given antibiotics, artificial growth hormones, growth-promoting agents or meat by-products, and are raised on pasture or in deeply bedded pens.You can find their products at many nearby quality stores like Whole Foods, Bristol Farms, Andronico’s, Mollie Stone’s, Central Market, and more!

 

All Good Sunscreen

Photo by Tanya Boggs

All Good Sunscreen     $7.99 – 59.99

https://allgoodproducts.com/shop/reef-friendly-sunscreens/

Does dad spend a lot of time outside? Make sure he is protecting himself from harmful cancer-causing sun rays without exposing himself to extremely harmful chemicals. Most sunscreen products contain ingredients that are not only harmful to humans, but also very detrimental to our ecosystem, especially aquatic life. All Good makes products that are reef-friendly, utilizes solar power at their manufacturing plant, oppose GMO ingredients, and use recycled packaging materials.

 

potted plants

Get Dad A Tree or Plant!     $15+

Head to your local nursery or store that sells plants and trees, then pick out whatever seems most suited to your dad! Whether it’s an apple tree or tomato plant, your father will love planting his own growing item to call his own! You will not only help our planet with this gift, but you’ll be providing dad with years of fun and memories to come.  

 

Sustainable Socks From Thought    $6 – $60

https://www.wearethought.com/sustainable-socks/

We’re pretty sure it’s a proven fact that dads love new socks. We guarantee you father will love these comfy feet-huggers, because who doesn’t love a nice new pair of socks? Treat your father’s feet to heavenly hemp or super soft bamboo fibre socks. These eco-friendly socks are ridiculously comfy, durable and come in loads of different colors and patterns.

 

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