Tag: wellness

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Health & Home Wellness

At-Home Wellness Treatments – 6 I Tried and loved

at-home wellness treatments

From saving you tons of money to keeping you safe from public interaction, our at-home wellness treatments ensure that your lockdown experience feels like you’re on vacation. Here is how you can pamper yourself with spa-like luxury without having to spend tons of dollars on wellness treatments.

1.    Steam Facial

You can get glowing and clear skin with simple tools at home. Steaming is a classic at-home wellness treatment that makes your face look instantly brighter and radiant. All you need is to fill a bowl with hot water and wait till it cools very slightly.

Once you’re sure it will not burn your skin, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, lean over the bowl and cover yourself with a towel. Make sure the towel drapes from your head to chest level to keep the steam from escaping. Pair this treatment with a moisturizer, toner, or clay mask for the best results.

2.    Mask and Bath time

Another at-home wellness treatment I love is combining my bath-time with a luxurious mask. I try to throw some rosemary or aromatics into my bathwater that help my muscles and my senses uncoil and relax.

Then, I lather on a glow mask while soaking in the scented bathwater. When you step out, you’ll feel like a royal woman, alright!

3.    Body Scrub

Exfoliate your body and uncover radiant, glowing skin by combining olive oil and brown sugar. If you like, you can mix in some honey as well as an orange essential oil. Scrub your entire body with this mixture in circular motions, more in the elbows and other rough areas.

4.    Deep Hair Conditioning

This at-home wellness treatment makes my hair shiny, lustrous, and utterly lovable each time. It’s my go-to natural conditioning treatment with simple ingredients that are always in stock in my pantry.

To give your locks a new life, mash an avocado and apply it directly onto your hair. If you want a more protein0packed mask for your mane, combine the mashed avocado with a beaten egg and leave it on for 15 minutes.

Then proceed to rinse off with cold water and your regular shampoo and conditioner. You’ll never find frizzy hair again.

5.    Candlelight bath

I’m sure candlelight dinners with your partner are magical but have you ever luxuriated in a candlelit bath too? Trust me; you’ll find this an out-of-the-world experience. Light a couple of perfumed candles around your bathtub, add a few drops of essential oil into your warm bath water, and sink in.

You’d never want to get out of this magical space, I promise. As for wellness? Tell me if all your aches, pains, and anxieties don’t melt away with this magic you create in your bathroom.

6.    Eye Treatment

Your eyes deserve as much pampering and attention as your face and the rest of your body. Give your irritated, dry, or puffy eyes some relief with a soothing and refreshing at-home wellness treatment. The traditional cucumber slices and chamomile tea bags cool the eye area while potatoes also soothe puffiness.

As with all other wellness treatments, I recommend putting on some slow, relaxing music and light some scented candles. Then lie back and cover your eyes with chamomile tea bags, potato, or cucumber slices and unwind completely.

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Health & Home Wellness

Secret RF Microneedling vs. Laser Scar Removal

microneedling vs. laser scar removal

Microneedling vs. laser scar removal are two of the most effective skin spa treatments catering to different issues such as stretch marks, wrinkles, lines, and more. Laser scar removal has been in the mix for a while, but is the Secret RF Microneedling more effective and worth it? Well, to find out, you must read this article and learn which treatment will help address your specific skin issue better. Both microneedling and laser scar removal have different types of treatments, which is why it might get confusing for you to choose the right one.

Microneedling vs. Laser Scar Removal

Both these treatments have some major similarities, but both give different results depending on the issue you face. One of the main similarities of both these treatments is that they use “dot therapy.” Dot therapy helps treat specific affected areas as this allows all the surrounding tissue to support and keep up with the healing process. When undergoing any of these treatments, you will see a wound on the skin that naturally triggers the healing process.

If you plan on using any of these treatments, you will need to get it at least three or more times for effective results. Then, you will see major skin upgrades. Both microneedling and fractional laser treatments treat acne scars, stretch marks, lines, and wrinkles. As you can see, there are many similarities between both these treatment types, but when it comes to laser stretch mark removal, only one of these is the best option.

Laser Stretch Mark Removal

Stretch marks are a very common occurrence in women and some men as well. They are a result of sudden weight gains, pregnancy, use of corticosteroid creams, and puberty. Sometimes, stretch marks become so prominent that they turn red and ruin your skin appearance. If you don’t like the appearance of stretch marks, you can get a laser treatment to fade them.

The Best Treatment for Stretch Mark Removal

The best FDA-approved treatment for stretch mark removal is Microneedling, especially the radio frequency kind. Though Microneedling Vs. Laser scar removal is effective; Microneedling gives far more effective results in diminishing stretch marks. There are many advantages of getting a laser procedure using the Microneedling treatment for your stretch mark. These cater to a more significant reduction. The fractional laser treatment is entirely safe and adjusts to all skin types.

The Microneedling treatment includes modified ways to tighten skin tissue better, allowing the stretch marks to diminish faster and effectively. Other than treating stretch marks, the Microneedling treatment also helps in treating acne and is very good for the whole body and neck specifically. Hence, you achieve an all-rounder effect with the help of the Microneedling treatment.

What Is The Benefit Of Using Secret RF?

The Secret RF treatment is a Microneedling treatment that helps eradicates stretch marks, fine lines, wrinkles, scars, and extra skin on the body. The Secret RF treatment successfully manages to target these issues through the use of insulated needles and radiofrequency energy that helps create heat in specific areas.

 This type of treatment helps increase collagen production, improving your overall skin appearance. According to the Cosmetic Surgery National Data Bank Statistics Reports, secret RF treatment has increased by 99.5% over the recent years due to its remarkable success rates. Some of the main things that Secret RF targets and improves include wrinkled skin, acne, scarring, and sun-damaged skin, stretch marks, and fine lines.  Mentioned below are the benefits of using secret RF treatment.

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Health & Home Wellness

6 Energy-Boosting Rituals To Do Each Morning

energy-boosting morning rituals

Radical energy-boosting self-care is the talk of the town nowadays. Despite being a raging trend, it’s also the need of the hour. Most of us tend to focus more upon a beauty-enhancing ritual in the mornings, while others prefer a slower start. A cup of java with a nice book might be more to your liking, perhaps.

But have you considered focusing on the more energy-boosting rituals? Considering how all sorts of infections, germs, problems, and challenges plague the world outside, you need all the energy you can get for the day ahead.

Here are some energy-boosting habits I tried and believe you will benefit from as well:

1.    Start with a Glass of Hot Lemon Water

I cannot enlist all the benefits of this one simple routine for you. A glass of hot lemon water works wonders for the health. It provides hydration and flushes toxins out of your body in the morning.

This energy-boosting ritual also sets you in motion for a day of other good habits. It will warm you up, activate you better than coffee, and make you feel less acidic too.

2.    Opt for a Energy-Boosting Superfood Blend as Breakfast

Some of us live under the misconception that a breakfast laden with sugar will give us a boost of energy. Truthfully, having items like donuts, muffins, or pancakes to go with your coffee for breakfast doesn’t do much for your nutrition intake or energy level.

I recommend opting for super-food, full-spectrum blends that give you much more energy and are great for health. Or you could opt for a simple yet nutritious meal of your choice, but the whole idea is to kick start the day with a burst of energy, not useless calories and sugars.

3.    Try Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting is one great way of starting your day on an energetic note. It works in the sense that you quit snacking on foods or binge-eat while going through your Netflix regime every late evening onwards.

Hence, the great idea is to consume healthier and complete meals during the first part of your day and then quit eating from the evening. Intermittent fasting will give your system more time to consume nutrients and vitamins from your system and deliver them to your organs as well.

4.    A Light Workout

A rigorous workout will not do much to energize you or reduce stress. Instead, opt for low-impact and precise movements as a light workout every morning. The low-intensity exercises will help you connect more with yourself and energize you for the day ahead.

5.    Energy-Boosting Smoothies and Juice

Look for smoothie recipes with natural ingredients and avoid adding sugar to any of those. These are the best option for strengthening your immunity naturally, giving you a clear head and an active body alongside.

Celeries, cucumber, strawberries, apple, lemon, and ginger make some of the best energy drink options every morning. You will love how active you will feel after consuming these, and the freshness these will add to your skin, and overall appearance is even better.

Final Thoughts

Our morning rituals define how the rest of our day will be. When you begin your day with unhealthy choices, the rest of your day will lack energy and pertness in your physique. Trade your rituals for the ones I have provided in the article, and you will be like a brand new person in just a week.

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Health & Home Wellness

Losing Belly Fat: Best & Worst Foods To Fight It

fight belly fat

Are you struggling to lose your belly fat? Tell us about it!!

The problem is not yours alone: millions worldwide wish they could flaunt their bod at the beach, but the unflattering flab doesn’t allow it. But fret not: your days of despair have come to an end right here.

Below we share the best and the worst foods in your battle against belly fat.

The Best Foods To Fight Belly Fat:

  1. Black beans are the best food sources for the good bacteria in your gut. They consume the soluble fiber from the beans and transform it into butyrate, a chemical that increases your calorie-burning potential.
  2. Avocados- have tons of monounsaturated fat that reduce your appetite and prevent belly fat accumulation. Why fear the creaminess when it is just what you need to melt that ugly flab on your stomach? Let avo toast be your healthy-indulgence from now on.
  3. Salmon have rich contents of omega-3 fatty acids, squash inflammation, and fight the ungainly belly flab. This fish increases your adiponectin levels, boosts your metabolism while burning fat.
  4. Miso paste- the priority in losing belly fat is to support your balanced gut microbiome by eating certain foods. Miso paste is just one essential food that would team up with your healthy bacteria and stimulate your digestive system. Do you know why? Because miso paste contains fermented soybeans with koji and salt. These strengthen your immunity and fry the extra belly fat.
  5. Eggs- these fill you up with protein and help you keep up a healthy gain to help your muscles steal the fat cells from your abdominals. What happens as a result? You get washboard abs while consuming only 78 calories from an egg and a whopping 6 grams of protein. What more do we need to say?
  6. Yogourt- predominantly greek yogurt for fighting belly fat.
  7. Sardines- contain even more fatty acids than salmon and improve cholesterol plus belly fat.

The Worst Foods To Fight Stomach Fat:

  • Processed foods- these are your primary enemy; they cause a flab on your belly as round and significant as the donut you grabbed off a counter. Why? Because they contain sodium, and sodium attaches to water. As a result, you end up with bloating or swelling. You will find tons of sodium in processed and packaged foods. Even the sauces, dressings, baked goods, deli meats, and canned soups that please you so well are your arch-rivals.
  • Fat loaded foods- These are your favorite pizzas, crispy bacon strips, and all the fried foods that make your mouth water. Unfortunately, these also make your tummy bulge out just as much and clog up your arteries too. It is best to limit your saturated fat intake to ten percent of your calories a day.
  • Dairy foods- Yes, calcium is necessary, but dairy foods come in various forms such as ice cream, milk, and cheese. These are potential troublemakers for the tummy because of the lactose content inside. People from specific backgrounds are susceptible to lactose and don’t digest it too well. In case you cannot give up on dairy, try to take an enzyme supplement alongside such as Lactaid. Before you consume dairy, have one supplement so that it breaks down lactose better.
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Health & Home Wellness

A Low-Carb Diet: The Ultimate Guide

Ultimate Guide to a Low-Carb Diet

If you are a beginner in the low-carb diet world, this is the ultimate guide you need.

You are probably aware of the massive success of the low-carb diet around the world. People are drawing more towards it in health consciousness and because of its successful results in reducing weight and improving health.

These diets have existed for several decades, and doctors of all ages have been recommending them. An even better idea is not to resort to unique or expensive products and not count calories either. The best low-carb diet is to fill yourself with plenteous whole foods and consume more nutrition that way.

What Is A Low-Carb Diet?

A low-carb diet reduces your carbohydrate intake, which you consume through pasta, bread, and sugary foods. Instead, you eat lot more vegetables, fats, proteins, and whole grain foods in this diet.

In this diet, you eat more fat and protein to full your calorie-requirements, with fat being the primary source of necessary calories. Most low-carb eating plans incorporate more fat because they contain the essential macronutrients your body needs.

The advantage of fat is that it is the lowest effect on your insulin levels and blood sugar. Controlling sugar and insulin levels in your body is key to burning fat better for energy. However, whether the fat is a body or dietary fat depends on how recently you had a meal.

Low-carb eating plans exist in several shapes and sizes. The most common worldwide are carb cycling, the Keto diet, the Atkins diet, the paleo diet, and others. It is better to run a medical exam with your doctor, analyze your health-status and then meet a nutritionist to determine the best diet plan for you.

Another essential fact to acknowledge is that not all diet-plans suit or affect everyone in the same way. We all have different body types with different medical histories. How a particular diet would affect us depends on our metabolism and the workings of our digestive system.

Hence, selecting a diet just because you noted satisfactory results in people around you is not a wise thing to do. It would be best to go through a proper channel with healthcare experts for the best diet-plan and execute accordingly.

Basics

To simplify the diet for you, we have broadly categorized the foods you must eat and must not.

You Must Avoid:

  • Bread
  • Pasta
  • White rice
  • Potatoes
  • Beans
  • Artificial foods
  • Processed meats
  • Starchy foods
  • Sugary foods

You Must Eat:

  • Natural fats like butter
  • Vegetables and especially leafy greens
  • Eggs
  • Fish
  • Meat

You can snack on berries, nuts, quinoa salads, and foods that fill you up well but do not increase your body’s carb level.

Who Is Not Eligible for a Low-Carb Diet

If you do not suffer from any chronic health issues, it is safe for you to begin a low-carb diet. However, those who fall under the categories below must not start with the diet unless they have sought approval from a doctor.

  • Those who have diabetes and are on medications or insulin
  • Those mothers who are breastfeeding
  • Those who suffer from blood pressure problems and are on medications.

Final Thoughts

Low-carb diets help reduce your carb intake while increasing fats and proteins in your meals. The idea is to maintain your sugar and insulin levels to burn fat better, gain more energy and lose weight. Many have experienced multiple health benefits from adopting a low-carb diet, and it could work for you as well.

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Beauty Health & Home

The Skincare Ingredients to Keep Your Eye On

Best Skincare Products

In 2020, we all had to prioritize self-care more than skincare. Now that things are returning to a new normal, we’re all eager to return to our self-soothing and skin luxuriating ways. New technologies and innovations are promising some exciting skin trends.

What newly discovered yet magnificent ingredients do you need to look for in 2021 for your skin? We’re listing them for you below:

1.    Buckthorn Oil

Some of you may be aware of it already. While it’s not a new ingredient, it is not a common one either. We know that spas and skincare facilities will be using a lot of this ingredient for treating skin woes and rejuvenating and regenerating supple and glowing skin.

2.    Tranexamic Acid

Skincare experts tell us that mask-wearing will continue, but it can somewhat damage the skin. To keep our skin healthy, experts are recommending products with tranexamic acid for balancing and minimizing pigmentation.

This will help maskne, actinic damage, and post acneic scars too.

3.    Microbiome

Skin experts are expanding in the probiotic skincare zone. They are going to push people towards probiotic-packed potions and will encourage more probiotic0peddling skin routines.

4.    Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is going to return in the spotlight too. The skincare industry is going to continue its commitment to clean beauty, and we can see why. They’re looking, and more hydration and repairing for the skin and jojoba oil can give you all that.

It has rich vitamins B and E content and can eczema and inflammation too. You’d be wise to start using it.

5.    Baltic Amber

One expert tells us that Amino acid is part of Baltic amber, or perhaps what you may refer to as succinic acid. These ingredients are some of the best antioxidants because they firm up your skin quite well.

They’re also great at reducing signs of aging while cleansing your skin of free radicals and toxins. Let’s load up on this one, people!

6.    Prebiotics

We touted the benefits of probiotics, but you need to incorporate prebiotics into your skincare routine as well. Prebiotic ingredients balance and replenish dull and damaged skin, and you will find a plethora of products along this line in 2021.

7.    Polyglutamic Acid

This skincare ingredient will possibly take the lead and be the leading trend. You know why? Because it is like hyaluronic acid. If that is your favorite, then this one will be too because it binds water just as well.

It will not penetrate your skin but instead form a hydrogel film to prevent water evaporation on your skin’s surface. When your skin locks moisture better, it will look plumper, radiant, and fresh.

8.    Bakuchiol

This is a gentler and plant-derived version of retinol. It will balance the overall texture and tone of your skin and support collagen production as well. Furthermore, this ingredient has the potential to clear sun spots, fine lines, and wrinkles on your skin.

Final Thoughts

Skincare for 2021 appears to be promising, with some exciting new trends that the experts will establish. Some fantastic ingredients are coming to light that has several benefits for the skin. Watch out for these in the latest products 2021 will bring you.

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Health & Home Wellness

Vitamin C, Am I Getting Enough?

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is among the essential micronutrients that are necessary for optimal function. With the ongoing spread of COVID-19 and rampant flu season, it is gaining more popularity.

Vitamin C deficiency is not very common in the more developed countries, perhaps because of the abundance of fresh produce. Furthermore, supplements and certain foods additionally incorporate vitamin C to provide people sufficient quantities. Hence, you will see only 7% of people lacking in it.

Currently, the RDA recommends ninety milligrams of vitamin C in a day for men and women from age nineteen and above. How do you figure if you are getting enough of it in a day or lacking somewhere?

While most symptoms of this deficiency develop in months, you can watch out for some other signs.

1.    Body Hair

One subtle sign of vit C lacking in your body is corkscrew-shaped body hair. If you notice your hair growing in coiled or bent shapes, know that your protein structure is suffering defeats.

2.    Bumpy, Rough Skin

Vit C is essential for your collagen production: the abundant protein in your connective tissues. These consist of your blood vessels, bones, joints, hair, and skin. When you run low on vit C, you will likely develop skin conditions, including keratosis pilaris, with bumpy chicken skin on your buttocks, thighs, and upper arms.

3.    Damaged, Dry Skin

Sufficient amounts of vit C in your body will keep your skin healthy and supple. The outer layer or epidermis will glow and be smooth. The essential function of vit C is to protect your skin against the sun’s oxidative damage.

Additionally, collagen production combines to plump up and revitalize your skin. When all that lacks in your body from a deficiency, your skin will turn dry and rough.

4.    Fingernails with Lines, Red Spots, and Spoon Shape

If you note thin, brittle, and concave-shaped nails, they are likely a sign of vit C deficiency. Even your nail beds may develop vertical lines and red spots when the blood cells weaken and rupture.

Some Other Signs You’re Not Getting Enough Vitamin C

Some other signs could also be indicators of a deficiency. These include:

  • Joint and muscle aches
  • Weight loss
  • Irritability
  • Weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Loose teeth
  • Brittle and dry hair
  • Bruising and bleeding
  • Your gums may change color or turn purple. You may even note bleeding or swelling frequently.
  • Poor wound healing
  • Anemia
  • Scurvy

Best Sources of Vitamin C

If you’re looking for the best vit C sources to increase your intake, consume more of the following foods.

  • Parsley
  • Broccoli
  • Papaya
  • Strawberry
  • Orange
  • Lemon
  • Lychee
  • Kiwifruit
  • Sweet red pepper
  • Black currents
  • Guava
  • Acerola cherry

You must also note that vit C does not take heat very well and breaks down if you expose it to heat. Hence, you’ll be much better off consuming raw vegetable fruits for vit C intake than cooking the sources.

You must also remember that your body cannot store large amounts of vit C at a time. Hence, the best practice is to eat lots of fresh produce daily.

Final Thoughts on Vitamin C

You can find plentiful amounts of vit C in fresh vegetables and fruits. While a deficiency of it is not very common, it is possible if you don’t consume the right foods. Some signs can help you catch the deficit at the earliest.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-c-deficiency-symptoms#TOC_TITLE_HDR_18
https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/am-i-getting-enough-vitamin-c/
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Health & Home Wellness

Keto Diet: The Ultimate Guide

keto diet guide

Are you planning to lose weight but not sure of the right diet? The Keto diet has been among the most popular eating-plans since past recent years, and we have all the information right here.

Keto or ketogenic diet is high fat and low-carb diet aiming to boost your health while reducing weight.  Many people worldwide have claimed to experience remarkable results, which is not surprising considering how clinical studies provide evidence.

The diet promises to have some significant health benefits for Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, cancer, and diabetes.

What It Is

If you know of the Atkins diet, you will have some similarities in keto too. The latter is a low-carb diet that focuses on more protein and fat intake. It aims to reduce your carbohydrate levels drastically and fill you up with fats that will burn faster and provide you more energy.

When the carb levels begin reducing in your body, we call ketosis into a metabolic state. When you reach ketosis, your body’s burning efficiency improves significantly, and you gain more energy.

The diet’s functions include turning the fat into ketones in your liver and supplying more energy to your brain. Among the many health advantages of the diet, the most prominent is the reduced insulin and blood sugar levels.

We all know how increasing ketones while controlling blood sugar and insulin are highly advantageous for our health.

If you are planning to begin on the diet to experience its results, you can select several versions of it. However, before you start executing your eating plan, it is best to seek your doctor’s approval and consult with a nutritionist.

Often underlying health issues coupled with the diet can cause disastrous results, especially if one is ignorant or negligent.

Types of Keto Diet

The types of Keto diet include:

  • High Protein Keto Diet- you will find this quite similar to a standard keto diet, but you have to consume more proteins in this version. This diet’s ideal ratio is 35% proteins, 60% fat, and 5% carbs.
  • TKD or Targeted Keto Diet- in this diet, you can add some carbs to your meals around your workout.
  • CKD or Cyclical Keto Diet- In this version, you go through periods of high refeeds of carbs. For example, you will have to live through five days of a Ketogenic diet and follow it with two days of high carb days.
  • SKD or Standard Keto Diet- This version includes high fat, moderate protein, and low carbs. The typical percentages have 10% carbs, 20% protein, and 70% fat.

Most of the studies have focused on high protein and standard ketogenic diets, owing to the wide popularity. The other versions, including the targeted or cyclical keto diets, are more advanced in the methods and only suitable for athletes and bodybuilders.

Final Thoughts

Keto is a low-carb, high-fat diet that aims to send your body into a state of ketosis. In this metabolic state, your body relies on more fats for fuelling your energy than on carbs. You can reach ketosis faster by observing intermittent fasting modifying your diet.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ketogenic-diet-101#ketosis
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/keto