Category Archives: health and fitness

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For a lot of people, it can often feel as though stress is just a natural part of everyday life. After all, whether it’s work, friends, family, money, or anything else, it almost always feels like we have at least something to be stressed about at any given time. However, there’s a big difference between the levels of stress that we all deal with on a daily basis and the moment when it all gets to be too much to handle. The crucial question is how can you deal with it when your stress levels reach that point? Well, here are a few things that you can do when the stress of life feels like it’s too much to handle.

Talk to people

One of the biggest mistakes that people make a lot of the time is to hide their heads in the sand and pretend that everything’s fine whenever things get tough. This is one of the worst things that you can do because hiding from your problems is only ever going to make them worse. Don’t forget that there are people in your life who are looking out for you and want to support you in everything that you do. Even if they can’t directly offer solutions to the things that are causing you stress, having someone to talk to can make it feel as though a great weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

Find solutions

Of course, sometimes the only thing that you can do is to try and find a way out of whatever circumstances are causing you stress. A lot of the time these solutions are actually a lot simpler and more straightforward than you might think, but that doesn’t mean that they’re easier. Contacting someone like KM Family Law when things get too tough at home is a huge decision and not one that should be taken lightly. The same goes for changing your job or having to make some significant changes to your life in terms of your finances. But sometimes making the tough call really is the best thing that you can do.   

Get some perspective

When you’re in the thick of it, it can be near impossible to focus finding solutions to things that are making you stressed. This is why it’s so important that you take the time to step back every so often and try to see things from the outside. Looking at your life objectively isn’t always easy, but it can be incredibly valuable to see if you really do need to be quite so stressed about things or if there are ways to deal with it that you’ve not yet considered.

When you feel buried in stress here are some helpful tips to gain a better understanding.  https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/stress/ it can often feel as though there’s no way out and that you’re never going to be able to get past it. But remember that every single time you’ve ever felt like you can’t get past something in your life, that’s exactly what you did. However difficult this period of your life might be, don’t forget that it’s temporary and that you’re always going to be able to get through it.

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Have you got a bike? Most adults don’t. In fact, fewer children spend time playing outdoors on their bikes and some never even learn. When we were kids going out on bike rides with our parents was a fantastic way to spend the day. Now, your kids would probably look at you like you’d gone mad. But, there are so many benefits to cycling. So, if you are one of the many adults that haven’t put their bum on a bike since they left school, here are the top reasons you should go out and get one.

To Get More Exercise

As a society, we’re doing less exercise than ever before. We drive to work; we sit at computers all day, we go home and watch TV. Then, at the weekend whole families sit behind different screens barely even communicating with each other. Obesity is at an all-time high and is affecting people’s lives even at a young age. Getting a bike will get you out there exercising much more.

To Avoid Busy Commutes

Commuting to work can be nothing short of hellish. You spend hours a week stood on a busy train or sat still in horrific traffic. Getting more and more stressed out and annoyed so that you feel like you’re ready for a break before you even get to work. Cycling to work gives you a great early morning boost, helps to wake you up and lets you avoid the commute.

To Save Money

Yes, bikes can be expensive. But, they don’t have to be, and you’ll save a fortune on petrol and public transport.

To Stay Safe

Cycling is often thought to be dangerous. After all, a small push bike is no match for a large van or car. But, over the last 80 years cycling on the road has become significantly safer, with fewer accidents reported all of the time. And, if you are unlucky enough to get hurt, this blog

could help.

To Get Away from Screens

Children today are spending more time in front of screens than ever before. While this does have some benefits, it can get too much. Too much time on screens can contribute to issues with weight and health, and lead to kids having problems with communication and social skills. Buying bikes for the whole family can get you all away from your devices for a few hours.

To Have Fun

Cycling isn’t all about exercise, getting from A to B or saving money. It can also be incredibly good fun. Can you remember as a child, speeding down a hill on your bike with your legs spread wide? Has anything in adulthood ever come close to that feeling of complete and utter freedom? Don’t just ride to get places, do it for enjoyment.

To Get Some Fresh Air

Getting outside more means getting more fresh air. Especially if you take your bike to a local park. Fresh air helps detox your body, cleaner your mind and improve your skin tone.

Getting bikes for the whole family could give you a great chance to spend more quality time together and keep fit as a family. Don’t hesitate, get shopping before you change your mind.

Kids shooting on football station

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The key to a happy, healthy life is making exercise a part of our daily routines, and if there’s one habit to pass on to our children, it’s having an active routine.  But these days, with the lure of the tablet and the TV, sometimes it can be hard to get them engaged in sport – the figures we hear about childhood obesity levels show that we need to do more to get our kids to embrace playing a sport – it can also help combat bad behaviour in bored teens. Give them the gift of a healthy future by making exercise a part of their lives from an early age. Here’s how to get them exciting about playing sports:

Pick a Team

If there’s a local school team in a sport you like, getting your child involved in watching and supporting their games, even before they are old enough to join in, can give them a desire to be a part of the team themselves when they’re older. Its all about finding what inspires them. Do they want to watch the basketball team shoot hoops? Are they interesting in the gymnastics squad? Or even something like a martial art or wrestling, If they see the team in their bright custom wrestling singlets, its likely to make them want to wear one themselves. So get out there and support your local school teams with your child and get them excited to play.

Make It Effortless

Fitting family exercise into your daily routine shouldn’t be a big struggle. Make it a part of your daily lives and your children will grow up with high levels of activity. For example, if you need to pick up some supplies, have the family strap their helmets on and go on a bike ride to get it. Or make an after-dinner walk part of your routine. Finding ways to work activity around other things you already need to do embeds it into your life and will make it second-nature for kids growing up.

Lead by Example

In order for your kids to lead an active life, they need to see you doing the same. So make sure you practice what you preach and not only will your health benefit, but your kids will too. Set your own goals and make sure that you celebrate sporting achievements with your family. Whether it’s training for a fun run or that weekly game of squash, let them see that exercise is a rewarding part of your own life and they’re likely to follow suit.

Choose Active Hobbies

Doing a team sport isn’t the only way to introduce your family to a world beyond the couch. Consider starting a garden together, where the whole family grows something together and uses the produce to make a meal together. Even if you only have space for a window box, plant some carrots, have your kids tend to them, and when they’re ready, harvest them and turn them into a delicious carrot cake together. The activity of being outside and gardening together is a gentle enticement to activity without being too forced – and it’s a fantastic family activity to do together as well.

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 It’s fair to say Life is a bit draining sometimes. And when you are a busy parent with a job, trying to hold down a relationship, as well as some sort of social life.  It can be a big drain on your reserves. So are there any tricks to keeping your energy levels up when you have a busy life? There are plenty and surprisingly these have nothing to do with caffeine!

Trick Number One: Get All Your Nutrients

This is probably the most important thing of all. If you don’t have the right nutrients to keep your body going, you are going to feel drained regardless of how much sleep you have. So, apart from having a wide and varied diet make sure you have the right supplements in place to keep your strength up. Depending on your age, you may begin to feel weaker as you get older. Many people swear by 5HTP as a way to stop those energy levels dipping quite so fast.

There are also things you can do to stop yourself physically getting weaker as you age. AlgaeCal plant calcium is a supplement that has been used by people who are suffering from osteoporosis and is rich in calcium and magnesium, as well as trace minerals. Many people underestimate the importance of trace minerals such as potassium. If you have enough of these in your diet it means you are giving yourself a healthy base level in which to operate.

Trick Number Two: Power Napping

 Many of you  are probably thinking that you don’t have enough time for a proper power nap.   If you don’t, then you need to make the most of the drop nap. This is usually enough to give you a boost to get you through the next few hours and only takes a few minutes. The way to do it is to sit in a comfortable chair and shut your eyes. You need to make sure you’re holding something in one hand that when you drop it on the floor upon drifting off  will make enough of a noise to wake you up with a sense of alertness. You would be surprised how rejuvenating these micro naps are!

Trick Number Three: Shock Your Body!

This is something a lot of people do when they are hitting the wall. Doing something to shock your body into waking up is an excellent form of rejuvenation. The way to shock your body is very simple, just do something that will likely scare the living daylights out of you or give you that rush of energy! A good example is if you are up late and need to stay awake for a few more hours, fill a sink with cold water and add ice cubes (as many as possible), and dunk your head in! The shock of it will make sure that you are vibrant and alert to get through the last part of your day, and the cold has some surprising health benefits too, such as reducing stress and helping us get over colds!

We all need ways to keep our energy levels up, and these are a few simple ways that have excellent benefits!

Unfortunately, I don’t mean wine. Today I’m going to give you the best ways of keeping your health at its best through the drinks that you consume.

1. Water
   We all know that water is the most hydrating source of liquid that you can consume. There are no additives to it and it is the cheapest drink available. Even if you live in a country where it’s not advised to drink the water from your taps at home, you can buy a filter jug to cleanse the water, and you can pop it in the fridge to keep it icy cold.
   
   Another benefit of drinking water is that it fills our stomachs. Very often, we mistake thirst for hunger and end up grabbing a snack, which in the long run makes us more dehydrated. Next time you feel hungry, have a pint of water beforehand to see if it curbs your hunger at all. You’ll be surprised at how often that ‘hunger’ feeling is actually thirst. Also, remember to aim for two liters of water every day.

2. Smoothies
   Making your own smoothies are a great way of getting some extra nutrients into your body. You can either blend fruit and vegetables on their own, or add milk/yogurt to the mixture to make it thicker and creamier. Not only are you able to tick off a few of your five a day, you’re getting the goodness from the yogurt and milk. This includes good bacteria for digestion and calcium for healthy teeth and bones.
   
   Smoothies also make us feel full, because it is essentially liquified food. This can be great for the promotion of weight loss and tiding you over until your next meal. They’re really easy to make too. Just put your favorite fruit and veg into the blender and blend the ingredients until it’s of a liquid consistency.

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1. Skinny Tea
   You’ve probably seen skinny tea advertised, but have never tried it. Consuming skinny tea has many benefits to your health such as; it promotes digestion, reduces bloating, detoxes your body for clearer skin, and it is totally organic so you know it doesn’t contain any nasties that will upset your body.
   
   All you have to do with this tea is simply add it to hot water and you’re away. This is great because it’s being added to the best liquid to keeping your body hydrated too.

2. Fruit juices
   You can either buy fruit juices from the store, or make them yourself by squeezing the juices out of your favorite fruit. A small serving counts as one of your five a day and each fruit has it’s own health benefits. Drinking a fruit juice a day will ensure that your body is getting the nutrients that it needs. Plus, they taste amazing. Grab a glass with some ice and your favorite fruit juice, it will go down a treat!

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Remember to accompany these newly found drinking habits with a healthy balanced diet to ensure that you’re as healthy as you can be.

Alzheimer’s is one of the most dreaded health conditions out there. And when your family is hit by a diagnosis, it can shake the family badly. But what does it mean for the family? And how can it cope? There are so many things to consider, and here are a few of the things you should know before going any further.

It Doesn’t Have to be the End of the World

The first thing to point out is that many people live for a long time with this kind of condition. It can be managed and treated for a long time, and it’s certainly not an imminent death sentence. Of course, it’s a nasty disease that leads to eventual decline. But that doesn’t have to mean that you need to start worrying about that just yet. Think about what it could mean for you and those around you, and deal with the here and now. It’s important to stay grounded and deal with each day as it arrives. That’s always the best course of action.

Care Arrangements Will Need to be Considered

There are many different forms that Alzheimer’s care can take. And it’s important to start thinking about how you will manage this as a family. There are care professionals will be able to help you with these decisions. You might be able to cover much of that person’s care yourselves as a family. But there are external providers that can offer the specialist care that you are not able to offer too. Combining these things and making sure that the balance is right is always important. It’s something that can be discussed with their doctors.

Dependent Dementia Old Age Woman Alzheimer’s

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It’s Worth Meeting Other People in a Similar Situation

It’s easy to feel isolated when you have a close family member going through something like this. And they might feel pretty isolated as well. That’s why it’s a good idea to meet other people who are going through a similar thing themselves. When you know other people who know what you’re going through, everything can feel so much easier, and you can learn a lot from these people. It’s good to have that support network full of people who have an understanding of what you are experiencing. It’s not something that should be underestimated.

Learning About the Condition Could Help You All

Knowledge is power; that’s what they always say. And it really can help you out when you are coming to terms with a family member’s new diagnosis. The more the family understands about the disease and how it all works, the better placed they will be offer the right kind of care and the right environment. This is not always easy to do, but learning really can help. There are groups that can help you, as well as care professionals will be happy to tell you more about it. You might also want to do some reading in your own time.

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Finding the right support and getting the right medical help is always key, so remember that too.

When you are younger it is usual to take your senses for granted. You breeze through life with perfect hearing and eyesight and give no thought to what life would be like if something should go wrong with them. As you get a little older, you start to realize that you have to look after your senses. The more you care for them, the better they will serve you as you reach midlife.

Here are some tips for looking after your eyesight and your hearing. Once they are damaged, the consequences could be more far reaching than you are aware of.

Looking after your hearing

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The main way that you can protect your hearing is to prevent it from being exposed to loud noises. This is most likely to happen at work. It is estimated that around 15% of Americans have some form of noise-induced hearing loss. This is nearly always caused by the work environment but leisure activities do play a role.

If your occupation involves any form of loud noise, your employer should carry out a risk assessment to determine what hazards you are exposed to. Your methods of working may need to be altered to reduce the risk. You should also be offered personal protective equipment such as ear defenders to protect the delicate structures inside the ears. Loud noises can cause permanent hearing loss. People who work with noisy machinery, vehicles and in the music industry are most at risk.

However, it is not just the workplace that causes the problem. You could be causing damage to your hearing at home. The World Health Organization has estimated that up to 1.1 billion teenagers and young adults worldwide are putting their hearing at risk when they use audio devices to listen to music and videos and to play games.

There is a simple rule for all age groups to protect their hearing. When you are using headphones, you should listen at no more than 60% of full volume for no more than 60 minutes a day. Over-the-ear headphones are safer than ear buds as they are further away from the eardrum. If you are hosting a party, you can help by keeping the volume at a level where people can have a conversation without shouting.

If you have started to notice a deterioration in your hearing, this is not something that you have to put up with. An Otofonix Elite hearing amplifier is an advanced open-fit behind the ear digital personal hearing amplifier. It is perfect for social situations where you struggle to understand soft speech and have difficulty hearing conversation above background noise.

Looking after your eyesight

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As you get older, protecting your eyesight is all about regular monitoring and being aware of what could go wrong. Find out about your family’s health history. If you have or are at risk of diabetes or high blood pressure then you may have an increased risk of sight-threatening eye diseases and you need to regularly be monitored.

If you start noticing any changes in your vision at all, you need to make an emergency appointment to see your doctor. Some symptoms such as double vision, hazy vision and difficulty seeing in low light conditions could be a sign of serious health conditions and need to be checked out. This is also true if you experience red eyes, frequent flashes of light or floaters (dark spots in your vision).

A healthy diet is vital for protecting your eyesight. It has been shown that antioxidants can reduce the risk of cataracts. You can get plenty of these in your diet by eating lots of fruit and colorful or dark green vegetables. You also need a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids which you can get from oily fish such as salmon. Studies suggest that it can reduce your risk of developing macular degeneration.

One of the best things that you can do for your eyes is to give up smoking. Research has shown that people who smoke are much more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. The toxins in cigarette smoke are bad for all aspects of your health.

Eyes need protection from physical dangers too. Wear high-quality sunglasses to protect them from UV light. You should also always wear safety goggles or glasses when you are working with machinery or with anything that could fly towards your face and enter your eye. Where eye injuries are concerned, prevention is always better than cure.

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You’ve probably read in a few places by now that stress is a big killer in the modern world. A lot of people don’t quite get how stress affects your health, though. Isn’t it just a state of mind? Well, if you’ve ever been really stressed then you know it’s not just something that affects your mind and your mood.

Stress causes headaches, stomach pains and high blood pressure. Prolonged stress can lead to problems with the heart. If strong stress is experienced consistently over a long period of time, it can induce episodes of depression and anxiety.

Needless to say, you don’t need these things in your life if you want to stay healthy. If you want to relieve stress effectively, follow these tips!

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Sleep more!

Sleep deprivation is one of the leading factors that exacerbate stress. As I’m sure you’re well aware, a bad night’s sleep makes you more irritable and slow to react come the next day. When you’re at work and dealing with high-pressure situations, those factors make you much more stressed.

Talk to someone

Getting something off your chest is an amazing way to relieve stress. What I mean by “talk to someone” can be taken in two ways, and you should consider both. One is to simply relax with a friend and have a good conversation. Have a vent and see what advice they have to give (or jokes they can offer to cheer you up!). Some getaway options may have on-site people to talk to; maybe you should find a Christian retreat center. You could also try speaking to your doctor, or even your boss, who may lighten the load for you.

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Stop using those harmful “stress relief” substances

A lot of people turn to smoking or alcohol when they want some stress relief. I shouldn’t have to spend too long telling you why these substances are bad for your health! Neither of them is a long-term solution. Cigarettes may help you in the short interval in which you’re actually smoking them. But that’s only because you’re satisfying cigarette cravings, which exacerbate your stress. A nice drink can be a good short-term solution, but it’s not going to help long-term stress.

Have a cup of tea

This one sounds too obvious, almost. Of course, not everyone really has the time to just sit down and have a cup of tea. But you should really consider making the time every now and again. A short break with a hot drink can do wonders for you immediately. A comfortable seat, some premium caffeine-free tea, and a good book will help your body calm down in no time.

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Listen to music

Music helps you escape. The same can be said about things like films and video games, of course. These are also great stress-relieving things. But if you’ve got something on your mind, it might be best to think about a solution. And that’s hard to do when you’re engaging in a story or with something interactive. Some nice background noise can help in several ways. Heck, maybe you should just throw on something blood-pumping and have an energetic solo dance in your room. (Seriously, it’s effective. Just, erm, make sure no-one else is around.)

As a mom, you’re constantly bombarded with healthy living advice, everything from what you should eat to how much exercise you should do. The government recommends that people get 20 minutes of moderate exercise three times a week. But if you actually investigate the science, you soon realize that the is watered down advice, designed to fit in with American couch-potato lifestyles.

When scientists investigated the relationship between exercise and all-cause mortality, they discovered that exercising for 20 minutes three times a week reduced your chances of dying by about 6 percent. But what they didn’t put in their recommendations to the public was the fact that exercising for 40 minutes three times a week reduced your chances of dying by 12 percent, and exercising for 80 minutes, reduced it by 20 percent.

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As a result, moms should be doing a lot more exercise than many imagine. But how? After all, being a mom is a full-time job. You’ve always got to be thinking of your kids.

The good news is that there are things you can do to include more activity into your life. This is what to do.

Schedule Your Gym Classes Around Your Child’s Schedule

As a mom, you know your child’s schedule inside out. You know when they’re likely to be most active and when they’re quiet. Take advantage of these natural variations in their rhythm and start your classes during their down time. You can go to all sorts of classes, no matter what your level of fitness. If you’re super fit, try spin. If you want something a little less intense, try Zumba. The great thing about the science is that it says that any type of exercise or movement is beneficial, so take your pick of classes and be happy.

Buy The Right Tools

Getting fit is one thing, but you need the right tools, especially if you’re trying to raise a child. The good news is that there are many tools out there that moms can use to combine daily exercise with childcare.

Jogging Stroller Hub recently pointed out the benefits of using a jogging stroller. Rather than separating spending time with your kids and time doing exercise, the idea behind the jogging stroller is to combine the two, allowing you to workout and care for your children at the same time. Jogging strollers are essentially specially adapted prams which are able to be pushed at speed and have extra features like foldability and performance wheels.

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You could also try setting up a stepper or a treadmill in your living room if that’s where you spend a lot of time with your kids. You could interact with your children while doing cardiovascular exercise.

Ask Trainers For Advice

Worried you’re not using the right technique? Don’t be afraid to ask the trainers at the gym for advice. Trainers are often on hand to give a free fitness assessment and to point out which areas you might want to improve – great if you want to know more about fitness and doing it in a time-efficient manner.

In life it’s easy to brandish a health issue as innocuous. It’s easy to think something is not harmful because it causes you no pain in the present. It’s easy to think that a health issue you have isn’t problematic or offensive simply because it is ‘common’. Yes, it is easy to think these things. However, thinking this way can lead to detrimental consequences. Below you can find some of the most innocuous, yet surprisingly dangerous, health issues known to man, as well as a few ways to combat them.

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First of all, as innocuous as it may seem, the building up of earwax can have a detrimental impact on your health. If left untended and untreated it can cause sudden or partial hearing loss. It can cause sever pains in your ear. It can cause drainage from your ear. And it can even emit an odour from your ear too. So, you should always seek to combat the buildup of earwax, no matter if you deem it to be troublesome or not. One way is to consistently tend to the building of earwax by using cotton buds to clean it away. Another way, if you feel that the build up is too strong to be combatted by the simple earbud, is to seek professional earwax removal. By doing so you would be able to cut this innocuous health issue out of your life before it can take a detrimental hold on it.

Another area of your head/face that you should give precedence to in this vain are your eyes. Going blind is, of course, a big fear for most. As much support as there is out there for people who are unfortunately afflicted with this plight, nobody wants to go or be blind. That’s just the truth. And you can protect your eyes from such a circumstance by refusing to deem any problems you may have with your eyes as innocuous. There are many serious eye symptoms to (excuse the pun) look out for. These include flashing lights, floaters or grey shadows in your vision. Pain felt in the back of your eye. A persistent feeling of discomfort in your eye. And suffering from a constant bout of red eye. If you suffer with any of these symptoms, then stop deeming them too innocuous and ‘common’ to get checked out, and get them checked out by an optician or your doctor.

If you are worried about how to spot the signs of a potentially detrimental circumstances regarding your health arising, then fear not. Your skin plays a massive role in alerting you to any potential dangers your health may face in the future or be facing now. It can even alert you to circumstances that aren’t related to it. For instance, dry patches on your skin could be a sign that you have an underactive thyroid. So, make sure to keep a tab on what your skin is telling you, and make sure not to ignore anything it does tell you!

Everybody takes a different approach when it comes to the attaining of good health. But an approach everybody should take is listening to their body and acting upon what they hear.