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Dermatologists Reveal 10 Beauty Treatments That Are a Waste of Money

January 13, 2021 by Power of Positivity

Unlike good wine, skin doesn’t improve with age. Over time, your skin gets wrinkled, dull, and speckled with brown spots. Keeping your skin looking as healthy as possible is essential, but many beauty treatments are a waste of money. Here is a list of 10 beauty products that don’t deliver as promised.

Skincare is a big deal.

Your skin is the biggest organ in your body, so it makes sense to take good care of it. The Journal of Clinical Investigation reports that Americans spend $43 billion a year on topical creams, enhancements like Botox, and spa treatments. Your daily skincare routine can have a big impact on the quality of your skin. Using the right products with the right ingredients best for your complexion can make all the difference.

The two biggest skincare woes

The two biggest skin problems as you age are wrinkles and age spots.

Wrinkles

As you age, your skin naturally wrinkles from over-exposure to ultraviolet light of the sun (UVA), environmental causes, and gravity. Many products promise to make your wrinkles go away, but most of them don’t work.

Age spots

Liver spots or age spots are brown, flat spots that show up on your skin. They’re caused by years of being in the sun. You usually get them on your face, neck, arms, and back. Daily use of a good sunscreen can slow down and even prevent them. The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends using a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30. This number will block at least 97% of the sun’s UVA rays. Higher numbers will block even more UVA rays. Reapply the sunscreen every two hours if you’re outside all day.

Dermatologists say these 10 beauty treatments waste your money.

Save your money, don’t fall into the trap of spending your hard-earned dollars on these things.

1 – Expensive cleansers

It’s important to clean your skin. A cleanser’s role is to remove makeup, dirt, and oils that have accumulated on your face during the day. Because the cleanser isn’t on your skin that long, they really do little besides clean your skin. Expensive cleansers that promise to remove wrinkles aren’t worth your time or money. Choose a facial cleanser that suits your skin type. Here is what to look for according to your skin type.

Dry skin

If your skin is dry, don’t choose a cleanser that strips your skin of moisture. Choose a gentle cleanser to remove dirt and oil but not dry out your skin even more. Never use hot water on your face. Instead, rinse your face with warm water. Hot water can dry your skin even more.

Oily skin

Foaming cleansers are supposed to be better for cleaning oily skin. There are gentle facial cleansers made just for oily skin. These cleansers usually contain alpha-hydroxy acids like glycolic acid, citric acid, and lactic acid. These ingredients remove dead skin cells as you wash your face.

2 – Cellulite and stretch mark creams

Stretch marks and cellulite aren’t attractive, but they’re normal for aging skin. According to dermatologists, creams that swear to rid you of cellulite and stretch marks don’t work long term. They’re temporary at best. If you really hate the way the stretch marks and cellulite looks, you can talk to your dermatologist. Some medical procedures can diminish cellulite and stretch marks. Exercise is also helpful to tone and diminish the look of cellulite. Otherwise, save your money and don’t buy cellulite and stretch mark creams.

3 – Eye creams

You have ultra-delicate skin under your eyes. This skin sometimes becomes wrinkled and dark. Eye creams may do a little to remove these wrinkles. If you use a good moisturizer on your face, use the same moisturizer under your eyes to hydrate the tender skin. Moisturizers like vitamin C serum, retinoid cream, and sunscreen may be all you need to keep the skin under your eyes looking good instead of paying for a high priced eye cream.

4 – Toners

Toners are used after you cleanse your face. They make your face feel tingly clean. They may be good to remove excess oil and exfoliate, but a good cleanser can do the same thing. Don’t waste your money on a toner just because it smells nice and feels good on your skin. It’s a waste of money. Some toners actually irritate your skin and actually unset your skin’s natural oils. This is a wasted beauty treatment you don’t need to buy.

5 – Self-tanners

Self-tanning creams may be better than sitting out in the sun all day or going to a tanning salon, but if you have an obsession with changing your skin tone, it could reveal that you are having a hard time with body image issues. Feeling like a tan makes you look better means you aren’t comfortable in your skin. It’s important to accept your beauty rather than trying to look like someone else. Your natural skin tone is the healthiest one for you. Enjoy how you look! Try to find ways to accentuate your beauty rather than hide it.

6 – Pore shrinking creams

Pores are tiny openings that keep your skin healthy. Your pores are hereditary, and they tend to look larger as you age. Keeping your skin hydrated and clean can reduce the appearance of your pores. Products that promise to shrink the size of your pores aren’t telling you the truth. Some products can reduce the size of your pores temporarily, but not long term. That’s not physically possible. Be sure to use sunscreen every day since too much sunlight can cause your pores to look larger. Retinoids can also help your pores look smaller.

7 – Pore strips

Pore strips are trendy and sort of fun to use, but not worth much more. If you have clogged pores, pore strips can’t do a deep clean of your pores. You can better clean your clogged pores by using a natural facial scrub, steam, or a charcoal mask to do the job.

8 – Pricey facial masks

Facial masks are popping up everywhere. They genuinely can make a difference in the appearance of your skin, but this may be short term at best. Like many other things, you get what you pay for, but this doesn’t mean you need to pay a fortune to get a good facial mask. The most important thing to look for is the quality of the ingredients. The cheaper a mask is, the cheaper the ingredients will be. Look for ingredients like

Yogurt
Papaya
Benzoyl peroxide
Salicylic acid
Clay
Charcoal

But in the end, a daily skincare routine using a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen can actually be the best beauty treatment you need to use.

9 – Coconut oil

Because coconut oil is a natural oil, it’s easy to assume it will be good for your face. Wrong! Although it could be a decent one-day moisturizer in a pinch, coconut oil isn’t good for your face. It’s known to clog pores and cause acne breakouts. Coconut oil tends to sit on top of your skin, which suffocates your skin’s ability to breathe. Keep your coconut oil in the kitchen instead of on your face.

10 – Eye masks

Skincare trends come and go. Eye masks are flaunted as the new anti-aging wonders. Although eye masks can make the skin under your eyes look brighter and less wrinkled, it’s usually short term at best. Like facial masks, eye masks contain ingredients that plump up your skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles short term. So, if you need a quick under-eye boost, you can try an eye mask, but don’t expect your new look to last too long.

How can you keep your skin healthy?

Good skincare should occur over your lifetime, but years of being out in the sun cause wrinkles and age spots. Fortunately, it’s never too late to begin good skincare. You can not only eliminate some damage done from years of poor care but prevent further damage to your skin. Follow these simple tips to keep your skin looking healthy and bright.

Use sunscreen

Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to block the sun’s dangerous UVA rays. Plan on sunscreen all year round, not just in the summer and even when it’s cloudy outside since UVA rays can penetrate through clouds. If you’re outside for a long time, reapply the sunscreen every two hours.

Wear sun-protective clothing

Wear a hat with a wide brim to protect your ears, face, neck, and head. Also, wear sunglasses that block UVA rays. Choose lightweight long-sleeved shirts, skirts, and long pants if you’re out in the sun for a long time.

Don’t tan

Our culture still views a tanned face as healthy, but in reality, tanned skin means skin damage such as age spots, wrinkles, and maybe even cancer. In the United States, approximately three people die of skin cancer every hour.

Final thoughts on finding beauty treatments that give you the best bang for your buck

Beauty treatments come and go, but good skincare never goes out of style. The sun’s UVA rays and environmental toxins may cause your skin to age, but maintaining a daily skincare routine is can keep your skin looking healthy. There are many trendy products on the market, making it difficult to decide what is really worth the money. Although these 10 beauty products sound good, they can’t deliver as promised, so don’t waste your money. Instead, choose a gentle cleanser, good moisturizer, and sunscreen to keep your sin looking the best it can throughout your life. You can also attend some Dermatology Trade Shows to learn more about the right beauty treatment for you.

Dermatologists Explain 10 Tips for Healthy Combination Skin

January 13, 2021 by Power of Positivity

When you think of your body’s organs, you would probably list your brain, heart, lungs, liver, and others. While you can’t see these, your body’s largest organ is in plain view every day. It’s your skin, and the average adult’s skin can weigh between 7-22 pounds, per an article published by Informed Health.

It’s imperative to take proper care of your skin because it serves a variety of essential functions. According to an article published by the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, its primary job is to be a barrier between you and the environment. Your skin’s outer layer, the epidermis, is waterproof, and it protects you against harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun.

The middle layer of your skin, the dermis, contains vital blood vessels, nerves, and sweat glands. It also has oil glands that work to keep your skin supple and moisturized. You also have hair follicles in the dermis and a thin layer of fat for insulation.

What’s Your Skin Type?

Although many products are formulated for “normal” skin, everyone’s complexion is different. If your complexion tends to be oily and prone to breakouts, you have an oily skin type. When your skin has rough, dry patches with flakiness, you have dry skin. Maybe you have an oily forehead, nose, and chin, but the rest of your skin is dry, which is a combination variety.

Tips for Keeping Your Combination Skin Healthy

All these skin types can also be subcategorized as sensitive. How do you care for your complexion if you have more than one type? Here are ten helpful tips for keeping your combination skin beautiful and healthy.

1. Avoid Touching Your Face

Do you often catch yourself touching your face when you are talking, thinking, or just resting? Everyone is guilty of doing this without even thinking about it. An article from Plos One Journal shares that face touching is a spontaneous action humans have that may regulate their emotions or memory functions.

While it may be an automatic habit, it’s one that you can minimize. Your hands are constantly touching things in your environment and picking up microscopic debris and harmful microbes. Unless you’re washing your hands every second, you are transferring these bugs to your face.

Microscopic dirt particles from your hands can clog pores and cause unsightly blemishes. To keep your combination complexion healthy and blemish-free, avoid touching your face as much as possible. If you need to handle your facial skin, remember to wash your hands first.

2. Consider a Cleansing Face Mask

When’s the last time you pampered yourself with a cleansing face mask? There are countless brands on the market that you can purchase inexpensively. Facial masks also are formulated for your skin type, oily or dry.

What type of mask should you use if you have combination skin? Consider using two different kinds for each part of your face. Treat the dry areas with one for dry skin, and treat oily spots on your face with a mask for oily skin.

3. Give It a Good Blotting

If your skin didn’t produce its oil, called sebum, you would feel like a dried-out alligator all day. Fortunately, the oil glands (sebaceous glands) in your skin work to keep your skin smooth and hydrated. The oil also acts as an additional barrier to safeguard your skin.

When your sebaceous glands are overactive, it produces oily skin prone to acne and other breakouts. If your skin is combination, you’ll usually have oil problems across your forehead, down your nose, and to your chin. This oily area creates a T shape, so it’s called your “T Zone.”

How do you deal with these irritating oil slicks when they pop up throughout the day? Try to keep a supply of blotting sheets in your car, desk, or purse. When you notice an oily patch forming, use these handy tissues to gently blot (not rub) away the access oil.

4. Use a Quality Facial Cleanser

Washing your face every day has probably been part of your beauty regimen since you remember. You can gather much microscopic debris, germs, dead skin cells, and excess oil while you sleep. Having an excellent facial cleansing product and routine is vital for a glowing complexion.

Consider using a product that is formulated for combination skin. It will efficiently absorb excess oil while moisturizing dry patches. Don’t forget to repeat your face-washing routine before you go to bed, and never sleep without removing makeup.

5. Keep Your Skin Moisturized

It’s a bit tricky to keep your combination skin moisturized because some moisturizers can cause problems in your oily areas. If your complexion isn’t properly nourished and moisturized, you may notice more fine lines, wrinkles, and premature aging.

The solution is choosing a moisturizer that is made for your combination complexion. These are formulated without oils, so they won’t add to access oil problems. Instead, they will hydrate the dry areas outside of your T Zone that tend to be arid and flaky.

Try these twelve blackhead remedies at home.

6. Exfoliate Your Skin

Your body does a superb job of shedding dead skin cells while replacing them with new ones. An article published by the American Academy of Dermatology Association states that you lose an average of 30,000-40,000 dead skin cells in a day. At that rate, your skin will have replaced itself entirely within a month.

Sometimes, your complexion can look dull and flaky with excess dead skin cells. Give your face a boost, and use a gentle exfoliation cream a couple of times a week. Consider a brand formulated for all skin types, so it treats both conditions of your combination skin.

7. Don’t Forget Your Sunscreen

It’s a misconception that you only need sunscreen when you are outside on a warm summer day. An article published by the American Skin Cancer Foundation warns that harmful UV rays are present on overcast days and all seasons. Snow can reflect up to 80 percent of these rays, which can be hazardous to your skin.

Do your skin a favor and wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 or higher. Some moisturizers have SPF sunscreen, and they are good to use, too. You can also be kind to your complexion by limiting your sun exposure and wearing sun-protective clothing outdoors.

8. Drink Plenty of Water

A study published by the University of Illinois found that your skin is composed of nearly 65 percent water. So, it stands to reason that you need to drink enough water to keep your body healthy and hydrated. You may notice more dry patches on your skin when you aren’t sufficiently hydrated.

An article published by the American Cancer Society recommends that men drink at least 13 cups of water a day while women should have at least nine. Water cleanses toxins from your body, including your skin. Be sure to stay hydrated for your overall well-being.

9. Try Hypoallergenic Skin Products

Another challenge of having combination skin is a sensitive complexion. Some soaps and other beauty products have harsh chemicals that can irritate delicate skin. It can cause blemishes in your oily T Zone and rough, sore spots in the dryer areas of your face.

You’re best to avoid products with fragrances, dyes, and alcohol. Instead, use products that are certified hypoallergenic that are formulated for combination or all skin types. Steer clear of products with heavy moisturizers like lanolin and plant oils, which can clog your pores.

10. Wear the Right Makeup

If you are a woman, makeup may be an integral part of your beauty routine. It hides the little flaws in your complexion while highlighting your best assets, like your eyes and lips. However, not all makeups are created equally.

Have you noticed more breakouts in your T Zone and more flaky patches in your dry zones? Maybe your makeup is a culprit. Finding the right makeup for your combination skin requires a little research with trial and error.

The same suggestions for other combination complexion products are correct for your makeup. Choose light, oil-free products that will work with your oily and dry areas. You may need to use different products and formulations for the right effect.

Be sure you read the labels as some oils can be hidden under other names. You want to make sure that it’s a natural makeup that won’t clog your pores or cause you to have a shiny appearance after a couple of hours.

Final Thoughts on Tips for Combination Skin Care

Remember that everybody’s skin is different, so you may need to do some experimenting to find what’s best for you. The key is to keep your skin clean, exfoliated, and hydrated in a way that treats both oily and dry areas. Treat your skin with loving care, and it will stay radiant and beautiful for a lifetime.

Scientists Link Social Media Addiction to Depression

January 13, 2021 by Power of Positivity

These days, most people have at least one social media account. It doesn’t matter what walk of life people are from, there is a networking site for everyone out there. People are more connected now than they have ever been.

It’s no surprise that social media addiction has become a problem. Social media provides so many things that people need these days – attention, entertainment, the ability to be someone else inconspicuously, an escape from reality, and more. It seems that this type of addiction provides many of the highs that drugs do.

Unfortunately, like drugs, social media has a major downside. For a long time, scientists observed behavior changes in people who have a social media addiction. A study done by a team at the University of Pittsburgh has confirmed the personality change – it seems people are more depressed when they constantly use social media.

Research from the University of Pittsburgh

The idea of linking social media and depression is not a new concept. In fact, it’s been studied for decades. However, research is just beginning to bear fruit as the effect of social media on people’s mental health takes time to show up.

The team of researchers was headed by Dr. Brian Primack. He is the dean of the College of Education at the University of Pittsburgh as well as a professor of public health at the University of Arkansas. Other members of the team were Ariel Shensa, PhD, Jaime E. Sidani, PhD, César G. Escobar-Viera, MD, PhD, and Michael J. Fine, MD, MSC. The findings were published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine (AJPM) on December 10, 2020.

The study was started in 2018 and followed over 1000 participants for six months. The participants ranged from ages 18 to 30 and were separated into groups. These groups were created according to how much time the participants spent on social media. They were also created according to people who were initially depressed vs. people who were not initially depressed.

The most interesting result from the study was that almost 10 percent of the participants who weren’t initially depressed became depressed after six months of constantly using social media. That may not sound like a lot, but when you consider that over 3.6 billion people worldwide use social media, that’s a lot of people that are going to be depressed. Maybe scientist have known that the internet makes people depressed for decades, but this study shines a light on the fact that this may become a global epidemic.

Effects of Social Media on Society

Why is social media having such a negative effect on people’s mental health? When you look at social media on the surface, it seems like a wonderful advancement for society.

People can keep in touch with distant loved ones. They have quicker access to world news. They can be entertained by adorable cats. Social media even adds to the expansive selection of knowledge that people now hold in the palm of their hands.

No one disputes that all of this is great. But your favorite platform might still have a negative effect on people. The bigger question is if the good outweighs the bad? The answer to this probably won’t clear for a long time, but as long as scientists such as the team from the University of Pittsburgh continues with research objectives, the answer will become evident (hopefully before too much damage is done).

Misinformation problems

One of the biggest problems with social media is that it is widely unregulated and people can put anything out there, even if it’s not true. This leads to many major problems that send a ripple effect throughout the entire world. Misinformed people tend to behave in ways that they would not otherwise do because of these lies.

The scary part of this is that these lies don’t just affect small things in people’s lives. They can upend governments, economies, and even militaries. Social media has become a powerful weapon, and unfortunately any and everyone has access to it.

While most people use social media responsibly, it is the ones who use it irresponsibly that tend to make the most noise. This noise is attractive for both sides – everyone loves a bit of drama. In fact, it adds to the issue of social media addiction.

The Boost in Anti-Social Behavior

Another issue is that social media tends to make people antisocial. This is ironic since the whole point of social media is to connect with people more than ever before. However, social media tends to cause empty connections.

People are connecting for entertainment, gossip, news, business, and more. However, they aren’t necessarily making meaningful connections. Their connections might be called friends on the social media platform, but they’re really just names and faces.

In fact, researchers have identified different categories of anti-social behavior that is caused by the internet. These categories are:

Illegal downloading
Pornographic or aggressive, obscene information
Cyberbullying
Cheating
Online gambling

The more people engage in these antisocial activities on their favorite platform, the more they feed their social media addiction. Unfortunately, their desire for attention is never fulfilled and neither is their addiction. It becomes a savage cycle of what some could call internet abuse.

Can Social Media Be Used in a Healthy Way?

Social media isn’t all bad. Plenty of people use it in a healthy way. These are usually the people that do not have a problem with social media addiction.

Social media was never supposed to take the place of real, physical connections. It was simply supposed to connect people in ways that was innovative and exciting. The fact that social media addiction, as well as other mental conditions, are being exacerbated by people’s use of this technology may indicate that there are serious underlying mental health issues that have not been properly addressed on a mass scale before social media came along.

Unless mental health issues become a widescale public concern, social media may continue to have the wrong effect on people. Indeed, depression seems to be a trend among social media users that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Depression Affects Everyone

Depression is an equal-opportunity condition. It affects all races, genders, religions, ethnicities, and any other groups you can think of. While it’s true that certain groups have a higher rate of depression than others, this is likely due to other factors relating to socioeconomic status. The condition itself doesn’t rely on genetics.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression affects more than 264 million people globally. It’s already such a huge problem that it’s scary to think that social media is going to exponentially increase cases of depression.

Depression Statistics and Facts

A look at depression statistics can put the problem into perspective. A couple of statistics were given above about how many people suffer from depression. Below are a few more from the National Institute of Mental Health and some facts to go along with those.

In 2017, over 7% of the United States population had suffered at least one major depressive episode.
More women than men have major depressive episodes.
Depression hits the 18-25 age group harder than other age groups.
Around 35 percent of adults don’t get treatment for their depression.
Over 70 percent of people who have had a major depressive episode suffered from some type of impairment.

Depression is a real problem and internet addiction is clearly not making it any easier to deal with this mental health crisis. The next section has some tips to help curb back an addiction to online platforms.

Tips to Curb Social Media Addiction

1. Deactivate your accounts for a while.

There is nothing wrong with taking a break from these platforms for a little while. The accounts will still be there when you go back.

2. Silence your notifications.

Notifications are good at their job. The purpose of notifications is to get your attention. In other words, to distract you from what you’re doing. You’d be surprised how much less you’d be on social media if you aren’t reminded of it every five minutes.

3. Connect more over the phone or in person.

It’s easy and convenient to connect with people through social media but make an effort to use other connection methods. You’ll find that it’s much more enjoyable when you have real social interactions.

Final Thoughts on Social Media Addiction

There is no doubt that connecting with a long-lost friend has its perks. When used responsibly, it can be entertaining, and it can make people happy. It can be a great addition to anyone’s life.

However, too much of anything is bad. It’s like overeating, taking drugs, partying, or even working too much. The addiction takes you past the benefits and straight to mental health issues like depression. If you or someone you know has an addiction to social media, take the advice above or seek help before it gets too bad.

15 Quotes on Loving Yourself (Because You Deserve It!)

January 12, 2021 by Sarah Barkley

Each person is different and has unique qualities and characteristics, and these things are the reason others love someone. You should see yourself in that same light and embrace your differences. These quotes on loving yourself will help you understand how important this is because you deserve self-love.

When you can love yourself, you’ll be able to give more love and affection to those around you. Without self-love, you won’t have as much to give, as these quotes on loving yourself will explain. To fully embrace your life and those who are important to you, you have to accept yourself.

Loving yourself may be hard sometimes, but you must learn how to do it despite anything else. You have to love yourself during the hard times as well as the good times. When things aren’t going as planned, you should focus on self-love even more, to help get you through.

If you can do this and focus on loving yourself, you will become stronger and braver. You will see that you can do anything and accomplish whatever you set your mind to.

Fifteen Quotes on Loving Yourself

If you ever find yourself struggling with self-love, remember these quotes on loving yourself.

1. “You were born an original work of art. Stay original always. Originals cost more than imitations.” – Suzy Kassem

Everyone is different, and those differences are what make you special. You are meant to be who you are, so embrace every unique thing about yourself.

Stay true to yourself and never waver in who you are because you are special. The real you is worth much more than the you who tries to fit in with everyone.

2. “To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

As long as you accept yourself, you will be beautiful. When you are comfortable in your skin and comfortable with yourself, your beauty will shine through. Don’t worry about what other people think of you. Instead, only work to approve yourself.

3. “When admiring other people’s gardens, don’t forget to tend to your own flowers.” – Sanober Khan

It is normal and okay to admire what other people have and the lives they live. Don’t let that admiration turn into envy, however. Instead, put your energy into loving yourself so that you can grow and develop, too.

4. “No other love no matter how genuine it is can fulfill one’s heart better than unconditional self-love.” – Edmond Mbiaka

You can try to love other people and have them love you, but you won’t feel content unless you love yourself. Self-love is the most fulfilling love, and it will help you accept and give love to others more positively.

Don’t let the love you have for yourself waver. Accept who you are, forgive yourself for mistakes, and love yourself always.

5. “Self-love is not selfish; you cannot truly love another until you know how to love yourself.” – Unknown

Loving yourself isn’t selfish. Instead, it is the only way to truly love anyone else.

So, if you want to love someone completely, you have to learn to love yourself. When you love yourself, you will be able to give fully to another person.

6. “Whatever you are doing, love yourself for doing it. Whatever you are feeling, love yourself for feeling it.” – Thaddeus Golas

Love yourself for whatever it is you choose to do in life. Likewise, love yourself for having feelings, too, as Golas explains.

By loving yourself for what you are doing and feeling, you will be living a life that you love. Plus, you’ll always feel good about yourself, and you won’t question who you are.

7. “To love yourself right now, just as you are, is to give yourself heaven. Don’t wait until you die. If you wait, you die now. If you love, you live now.” – Alan Cohen

If you want to live a blessed life, learn to love yourself. You will love the life you live, and you will be full of joy and happiness.

If you don’t love yourself now, your life will seem to be without meaning. When you choose to love yourself, however, it will be full.

8. “Loving yourself…does not mean being self-absorbed or narcissistic, or disregarding others. Rather it means welcoming yourself as the most honored guest in your own heart, a guest worthy of respect, a lovable companion.” – Margot Anand

As stated before, loving yourself isn’t selfish. It doesn’t make you self-absorbed or narcissistic, either, as Anand explains. Plus, it doesn’t mean that you will disregard other people and their feelings.

Instead, it means that you know your self-worth and that you love and respect yourself. This will make you more aware of other people and their feelings. Plus, it will make you kinder and more thoughtful, too.

9. “Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do.” – Brené Brown

Everyone has a different story, and life goes in unexpected directions. Own what has happened to you and where you have been.

Then, accept all the things that didn’t go as planned. When you can do this, you’ll love yourself along the way, making you braver and stronger than ever.

10. “Respect, Love, and Value yourself. Always remember to be good to yourself by taking care of yourself. Make yourself a priority and know that it’s okay. Don’t feel guilty for loving yourself first! You’re just as important as anybody else.” – Stephanie Lahart

You have to take care of yourself, and this means showing yourself love and respect. Taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your loved ones. You shouldn’t feel guilty for doing it because you are just as valuable as those around you.

11. “You can never meet your potential until you truly learn to love yourself.” – Teresa Collins

It will be impossible to live up to your potential if you don’t love yourself. Negative self-talk and constantly doubting yourself will stand in the way of your goals and dreams. Make sure you love yourself so that you can accomplish more in life.

12. “To accept ourselves as we are means to value our imperfections as much as our perfections.” – Sandra Bierig

No one is perfect, and everyone has imperfections. Value these imperfections you see in yourself because they are what makes you unique. When you value the imperfects as much as you value perfection, you’ll find that you have truly accepted yourself.

13. “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” – Unknown

Love yourself because you deserve it just as much as anyone else. You show love to those who are important to you, and you must show affection to yourself, too.

Remember that you can’t give to others if you are lacking. So, take care of your well-being so that you can take care of others. You deserve it just as much as you believe other people deserve it.

14. “If you aren’t good at loving yourself, you will have a difficult time loving anyone, since you’ll resent the time and energy you give another person that you aren’t even giving to yourself.” – Barbara De Angelis

You can’t give genuine love to others if you don’t love yourself. Taking care of yourself is what leaves you fulfilled and capable of giving so much to someone else.

If you want to give your all to someone, make sure to take care of yourself first. It is the only way to truly love others because you have to have something left to give.

15. “We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.” – Mary Dunbar

Every unique characteristic you possess is a gift and should be treated as such. There is a reason that you are the person you are, and it is imperative to acknowledge this.

Get to know and love yourself and learn all the things that make you different and special. You will find that you become much happier when you do this, and life will seem so much brighter.

Final Thoughts on Quotes on Loving Yourself (Because You Deserve It!)

As you go through life, remember these quotes on loving yourself. You deserve your love just as much, if not more than anyone else does. Always remember that you have to love and accept yourself if you want to truly give love to someone else.

Taking care of yourself and your well-being is essential to living a happy and fulfilling life. Make the time for yourself, and work on thinking positively about yourself.

When you can love yourself, so many more great things in life will become possible for you. Recall these quotes on loving yourself if you ever struggle, and you’ll be reminded of how much you deserve it.

Science Explains How Unbalanced Hormones Can Make You Gain Weight

January 11, 2021 by Power of Positivity

Many things can cause you to gain weight, but have you ever considered that your unbalanced hormones may be the culprit? Your hormones have a significant impact on your entire body, and many people don’t realize the significant part they play in their overall weight. Think about it; hormones can cause you to have a low mood, can make you feel tired all the time, and they can even lower your libido.

Is it such a far stretch to think that they can also cause you to gain weight? You must be careful and not lay too much blame on your hormones because the most common reason a person is overweight is that they overeat. St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center did a study with other New York area hospitals that found that your calorie intake is the biggest culprit in weight gain.

Conversely, it’s interesting to note that having unbalanced hormones can hinder you from losing weight, which is mostly observed in women. During menstruation, ladies often go through various hormonal fluctuations because of their cycle, which men don’t encounter. That doesn’t mean that men don’t have issues with their hormones.

Men can deal with hormonal weight gain when they don’t get enough sleep, drink too much alcohol, have poor nutrition, or their genetics dictate.

Symptoms of Hormonal Weight Gain

Both men and women have several hormones in their bodies that can play a crucial part in weight loss or gain. The most unbalanced hormones that make this an issue are:

•Cortisol

•Estrogen

•Testosterone

•Progesterone

•Growth Hormone

•Aldosterone

•Thyroid

•DHEA

Shockingly, so many hormones can have such a significant part in your weight. Here are seven symptoms that your body has a hormonally related weight problem.

1. Sweating/Night Hot Flashes

Do you find that you sweat more often than the next person? You put on deodorant, but by your lunch break, you must reapply it to keep from stinking. Most people don’t consider that sweating continually is a sign that your body is deficient in progesterone or estrogen.

When a woman goes through menopause, she has night sweats because she is low on estrogen. You don’t need to be in menopause to have unbalanced hormones affecting your body.

2. Chronic Headaches

Numerous medical issues can cause you to experience a headache. Did you know that there are 11 types of headaches, and according to the World Health Organization, one in 20 people have headaches every day? The interesting fact about their reports is that most of these headaches are caused by hormonal imbalances.

Having low estrogen in the body can cause headaches, specifically when they occur during menstruation. Insufficient estrogen levels also affect the metabolism making it sluggish. A sluggish metabolism only hinders the body from using blood sugar as efficiently as it should.

If you think that a low level of estrogen could be to blame, then you may also have problems with irritability, bloating, fatigue, and feeling sad.

3. High Blood Sugar

If your diet consists of processed and high-carbohydrate foods, then your blood sugar levels can be unstable. When your body’s glucose is always at an elevated level, you can develop insulin resistance. The body relies on the hormone insulin to help transport useful sugar to the cells.

When your cells are saturated with too much glucose for extended periods; then it can lead to diabetes. People with diabetes often gain weight because their insulin levels are off-kilter, and they’re eating the wrong foods.

4. Exhaustion

Are you tired all the time? Do you get 7-8 hours of sleep each evening but still awake tired? It could be that you have unbalanced hormones that are causing you issues. When you have no energy and feel exhausted continuously, you likely have unbalanced levels of:

•Testosterone

•Cortisol

•Thyroid Hormones T3-T4

Since fatigue can indicate a severe medical problem, you should never guess what’s wrong. Instead, you should see a doctor for a confirmed diagnosis.

5. Decreased Libido

Testosterone is a hormone that plays a significant part in your sexual health. If you have a loss of sex drive along with weight gain, this hormone could be to blame. The University Hospital in Ghent, Belgium did a study regarding these essential hormone levels among men.

They found that men who had a higher percentage of body fat often had a lower level of this vital hormone. Interestingly, there is a definite connection between estrogen and testosterone that should not be ignored. Men who have lower levels of testosterone often show an increase in estrogen.

Have you ever seen a man that has breasts like a woman? It’s highly suspect that a higher level of estrogen is causing this to occur. Women who have high levels of estrogen typically have denser breasts.

6. Ravenous Appetite

Some people are hungry even when their bellies are full. If you just ate and still feel like you need to eat again, it indicates that you have a low level of leptin. Leptin is a hormone that sends a signal to the brain that you’re full, which keeps you from overeating.

When your stomach is filled, the cells inside this area release this hormone, which hitches a ride in the bloodstream to the brain. Sadly, many obese people have become less sensitive to the signals from leptin as the body is accustomed to this hormone’s overproduction. Leptin resistant people often have an uncontrollable appetite that leads to weight gain.

If only the problem ended there with this hormonal imbalance. The University of Michigan did a study on leptin-resistance and its role in obesity. When your body feels that it’s not getting the energy it needs from your food, then it tries to preserve the fuel you have by slowing down your metabolism.

People who have leptin-resistance often experience restless sleep, high body fat, and increased inflammation, which they theorize is a significant factor in obesity.

Dietitians reveal a hormone reset diet that can help you shed weight.

7. Abnormally Large Waist

Have you ever seen someone with a “beer belly” when someone has an enormous abdomen that doesn’t match their body? The chances are that it’s not beer causing this unsightly fat buildup. The possibilities are that there is a hormonal imbalance causing the waistline to expand.

A person can be skinny everywhere else, but their belly is larger than average. Yale University did a study regarding men and women who have a considerable accumulation of fat in their midsection. They found that when the body is under stress for an extended period, cortisol is pumped throughout the system.

If the cortisol levels stay high for too long, it slows down the metabolism and increases the appetite. Additionally, they found that having higher cortisol levels causes fat to accumulate in the belly.

Fixing Your Unbalanced Hormones

Thankfully, there are many ways that you can fix your hormonal imbalance. Start by changing your diet to include foods that can help to boost testosterone and lower estrogen. Foods that are rich in vitamin D can help with that goal, and some of these foods include:

•Salmon

•Yogurt

•Cheese

•Dairy products

•Sour cream

•Fatty fish

•Beef liver

•Egg yolks

•Mushrooms

•Tofu

•Caviar

•Cod liver oil

Also, make sure you cut out sugars and processed junk that can only increase your insulin resistance. Watch your carbohydrate intake as it is crucial in keep your weight at a good level.

Next, reduce your stress levels so that your body isn’t sending cortisol hormone levels through the roof. Deep breathing exercises are usually great to help with calming you down and lowering the production of this stress hormone. You also need to reduce the inflammation in your body as it triggers things like metabolic disorders and obesity.

Try consuming more plant-based protein and add more leafy greens to your diet. Lastly, you can’t go wrong exercising regularly. Exercise is a natural way that you can fix those unbalanced hormones. Things like strength training are excellent to balance things like estrogen and testosterone.

When you’re working every part of your body, you will lower your blood sugar levels, which decreases your chances of developing diabetes. A report published in the US National Library of Medicine states that people who engage in exercise regularly can lower their insulin resistance and help blood sugar levels. Even if you can’t do an effective workout each day, you can do simple things like walking.

Walking can help to ease your stress as well as burn fat. It can also improve your insulin sensitivity that can help with weight loss. Why not develop a routine and walk with a friend or your spouse in the cool of the evenings? It can be fun to explore nature and help your body at the same time.

Final Thoughts on Hormonal Imbalances

Hormones can complicate your weight loss. However, there are ways to combat these deficiencies so that you can reach your desired weight. Some unbalanced hormones are a serious medical issue that requires medical intervention. Thankfully, many of these issues you face can be changed with lifestyle alterations and a little bit of hard work.

12 Telltale Signs You Have a Leaky Gut and How to Heal It

January 11, 2021 by Sarah Barkley

The leaky gut syndrome doesn’t only cause symptoms in the digestive system. Instead, it can cause uncomfortable, painful, and sometimes harmful symptoms to appear throughout the body. A leaky gut can result from chronic stress, unhealthy dietary choices, toxic overload, and bacterial imbalance.

This syndrome is recognized by holistic practitioners and nutritionists worldwide. However, many doctors still don’t recognize leaky gut as a real medical condition because it isn’t diagnosable. A healthy gut indicates good overall health, but leaky gut syndrome disrupts it and causes many problems.

Leaky gut is a digestive condition affecting the intestine lining, causing gaps in the intestinal walls. These gaps allow bacteria and toxins to enter the bloodstream, causing issues for your entire body. With bacteria and toxins flowing throughout your body, it’s easy to see why the leaky gut symptoms vary in location and severity.

Understanding the symptoms of a leaky gut can help you make lifestyle and dietary changes to overcome the issue. When you know what you are dealing with, you can limit and prevent the causes. Treatment options vary based on the underlying cause, but you can overcome the syndrome.

What is a Leaky Gut?

Leaky gut is a syndrome that describes porous intestines and allows toxins and undigested foods to get into your bloodstream instead of passing through your feces. While some porousness in your intestines is normal, too much can cause leakage. The leakages typically occur in the small intestine.

When toxins and undigested food leave your digestive system and enter your body, it causes various symptoms. These materials should be confined in your digestive system and lead to widespread complications and symptoms.

In a healthy digestive system, toxins go to a specific area that prevents them from causing damage to areas of your body unprepared for them. With a leaky gut, those toxins can enter your bloodstream and into your organs. These bacteria and toxins cause inflammation and disrupt the immune system.

The tears and openings in your intestine will get bigger as long as the underlying cause is present. As the size increases, more harmful substances slip through.

Leaky gut symptoms go beyond inflammation and immune problems, though. The longer these materials leak into your bloodstream, the more severe and widespread the symptoms become. Plus, your intestine will likely stop producing enzymes required for digestion, leading to even more issues.

What Causes Leaky Gut Syndrome?

The causes of leaky gut vary, but the most common cause is your diet. The foods you consume daily impact your body in ways you wouldn’t expect. Some foods that can trigger leaky gut symptoms include gluten, soy, and dairy because your body treats them as foreign invaders.

Some medications, including antibiotics, steroids, or over-the-counter pain relievers, cause leaky gut. These medications cause intestinal lining irritations and can damage protective mucus layers. The irritation and damage then cause inflammation, leading to a cycle of permeability.

A bacterial imbalance can also cause a leaky gut because the ratio of harmful and helpful bacteria is off in your gastrointestinal tract. Long-term exposure to stress can weaken your immune system and hinder your body’s ability to eliminate harmful substances. When your body can’t eliminate these substances, it leads to inflammation and a leaky gut.

Toxin overload can also cause a leaky gut as your body becomes overloaded with antibiotics, pesticides, aspirin, contaminated tap water, and other sources of toxicity. Because the gastrointestinal tract runs from your mouth to the anus, a leak can cause issues anywhere in between.

Some people have a genetic predisposition to the leaky gut because of a sensitivity to environmental factors. These factors can trigger the body into initiating autoimmune responses when they aren’t necessary.

Twelve Leaky Gut Symptoms

Since leaky gut can cause issues all over the body, the symptoms vary widely and can be confused for other health conditions. Some of the leaky gut symptoms include:

1. Chronic Diarrhea, Constipation, Or Bloating

The toxins that leak into areas they aren’t meant for can cause infectious diarrhea. A leaky gut can also lead to constipation or bloating and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. You might not experience all three symptoms, as experiencing only one of them is a symptom.

2. Nutrition Deficiencies

A leaky gut can cause a lack of vitamin B12, magnesium, and digestive enzymes. A doctor might suggest whole-food multivitamins and probiotics for these deficiencies each day. A leaky gut can cause your body not to absorb nutrients from food, so supplementing can help.

Plus, if undigested food leaks out of the intestines, your body never gets a chance to break it down and absorb the nutrients. Without essential nutrients and vitamins, you will experience other symptoms, such as chronic fatigue and brain fog.

3. Poor Immune System

If you develop autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, lupus, psoriasis, or celiac disease, it could be a sign of a leaky gut. Other autoimmune diseases it can cause include fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or psoriasis. When it causes immune system problems, eliminating gluten and other inflammatory foods can help.

4. Headaches, Or Decrease in Cognitive Function

Being prone to headaches or experiencing brain fog or memory loss can indicate leaky gut syndrome. Plus, bad bacteria and candida can cause an overload of histamine, causing migraines, headaches, and other cognitive issues.

5. Fatigue

Chronic fatigue is a common symptom of the leaky gut syndrome. Not only is the fatigue related to a lack of nutrients, but it also stems from the other symptoms. As your body fights off symptoms, your energy levels will decrease, and you’ll be tired even after sleeping.

6. Skin Problems Like Acne or Eczema

Leaky gut leads to skin problems such as eczema, acne, or other inflammatory skin issues. A study in Dermatology Times reveals that the gut-skin connection causes skin inflammation when the gut is inflamed. So, rather than treating your acne or eczema, you must treat your leaky gut syndrome to find relief.

7. Sugar and Carb Cravings

Many people don’t realize that sugar and carb cravings are a symptom of the leaky gut syndrome. This subtle sign occurs because your body cannot digest food, causing a lack of glucose. When you don’t have enough glucose in your body, the sugar and carb cravings begin.

While sugar and carb cravings seem harmless, they are one of the more serious leaky gut symptoms. It leads to severe health problems if you ignore it for too long.

8. Joint Pains

Leaky gut causes inflammation, a direct contributor to joint pain. If you haven’t experienced a joint injury, inflammation is the likely culprit. A leaky gut can cause arthritis, leaving you with intense joint pain and other issues.

Inflammation that causes joint pain can occur because of other issues, so check the other symptoms to see if you have multiple. If joint pain is the only symptom, there’s a good chance that the pain is from something else.

9. Depression and Anxiety

Studies show that having leaky gut syndrome might cause mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. If you notice that you have fluctuating temperaments or unhealthy thoughts, it could be a symptom.

Leaky gut causes depression and anxiety because the toxins in your bloodstream travel to your brain. Once the substance reaches the brain, it causes mental health issues as your brain works to adapt. Typically, you’ll need other symptoms along with mental health issues to get a leaky gut diagnosis.

10. Autoimmune Diseases

A lax zonulin passageway can sometimes cause a leaky gut. Zonulin is a protein that triggers widespread damage, causing your body to attack healthy cells and tissues. When your body attacks healthy cells, it is an autoimmune condition.

Gluten is often the culprit of a lax zonulin passageway. If you have this symptom, you’ll need to follow a gluten-free diet to strengthen the passageways.

11. Seasonal Allergies

The leaky gut syndrome can cause seasonal allergies or asthma. If you start experiencing either of these things and you never have before, it could be a leaky gut symptom. Not only can it cause seasonal allergies, but studies show that a leaky gut can cause food allergies, too.

12. Hormonal Imbalance

Hormonal imbalances such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) are leaky gut symptoms. Leaky gut can also trigger the thyroid gland to generate an immune response, preventing it from producing necessary hormones.

If hormonal imbalances are the only leaky gut symptom you recognize, it can be hard to diagnose. Hormone imbalances can occur for various reasons, so looking for other symptoms can help.

How to Heal a Leaky Gut

If you have a leaky gut, there are ways to heal it. While it’s hard to know for sure if the leaky gut syndrome is the issue, but once you know, you can try the following strategies:

Eat Healthy Foods: Leaky gut can occur when you eat too many unhealthy foods. If you want to heal, you should avoid processed and high-sugar foods. You should also avoid dairy products, gluten, alcohol, and refined oils.
Develop and Maintain a Healthy Sleep Cycle: If you can get enough sleep, your overall health improves and strengthens your immune system. Try changing your sleep schedule and aim for at least seven hours each night.
Eliminate Stress When Possible: Stress intensifies symptoms of leaky gut, so reducing the stress in your life is essential to healing leaky gut. Take time off from stressful things, and exercise, meditate, and do things you enjoy.

Final Thoughts on Leaky Gut Symptoms and How to Heal It

Leaky gut syndrome is becoming more common, although some medical professionals don’t acknowledge it. Watching for the symptoms can help you make necessary changes in your diet and lifestyle before the leaky gut symptoms get out of control.

Once you’ve recognized the symptoms, you can start doing things to heal your leaky gut. The symptoms don’t only happen in the digestive tract, as the condition affects your entire body. Find ways to alleviate the symptoms so you can live a better life.

Why Being With The Right Person Makes You A Better Version of Yourself

January 11, 2021 by Power of Positivity

True love awakens the heart. It puts a spring in your step, and it makes you strive to be better. It’s that feeling when you’ve found the right person that you’re home safe and sound where you belong.

Finding a soul mate is something that many people dream about, but many doubt it will ever happen to them. Some say love is an emotion, while others believe it’s a choice. You wake up each day and choose to be faithful to care and support this person and be there through the ups and downs of life.

Regardless of how you view love, most people will tell you that being in a good relationship brings out your best self. Love is not all about laughter and kisses, as that is merely a sign of emotional bonding. However, true love is when two halves of a whole unite. When two lost souls find their way to each other, they feel that all is right in this world.

Nine Ways That Love Changes You for The Better

You can’t expect to change someone when you fall in love, but love does change you effortlessly. You can’t help but alter who you are because this association makes you a better person.

So what kind of power does love have on you that can make you your best self? Here are nine ways that you become better when you’re with the right person.

1. You Put Others Before Yourself

One of the most beautiful things about being with the right person is how it changes your priorities. While you once put your wants, needs, and desires ahead of everything else, now, you have another person to consider.

It’s about giving up that weekend with buddies or girlfriends because your partner is sick and needs you. You become selfless because their needs are just as important to you as yours. Part of the changes that occur when you fall in love with the right one is that you want to be better for them.

You the right person in almost every decision you make. You give up the extra slice of cake because you know they want it, and you don’t mind getting up early to make sure their car is nice and warm on a cold, snowy day.

Thankfully, this selflessness will transfer and grow as it alters your view of the world around you. It’s as if love increases your generosity and causes you to be a better human being.

2. Communication Skills Are Enhanced

Communication is essential, but when you are with someone who makes the sunshine in the morning, you can’t wait to tell them about your day. They are the first person you text on your lunch break at work, and they’re the last voice you want to hear before you close your eyes at night.

You learn that you’re not a party of one anymore. You have someone there who values your opinion and wants to hear what you have to say. The good communication skills you learn with your partner can help you at work and other aspects of your life.

3. You Learn the Value of The Truth

It’s good to never tell a lie, but white lies are commonplace in society. You say to the bill collector the check is in the mail, or you tell your relatives the reason why you’re late to dinner is that you had to work over. When you enter a committed relationship, you learn to value the truth more than ever before.

An excellent partner is always truthful, even when it hurts. They’re the one that knows you inside and out, and they can see in your eyes if you say something deceptive. They know you so well that they can almost gauge what you’re doing and where you’ve been.

Some say that it’s an intuitive nature that couples have towards each other. Why do so many wives feel that their spouse is cheating on them before they have any proof? It’s because the connection you have with your soulmate is built on honesty, and when someone breaks that trust, the other person suffers.

You learn in a relationship that even the white lies can be hurtful and damaging, and you quickly learn candor. Truth is always the answer at all costs.

4. Loneliness is Not an Issue

There’s nothing worse than loneliness. What’s Valentine’s Day without someone to buy roses and chocolates for? How does one get through Christmas or Hanukkah without someone to eat a feast and snuggle in on a cold winter’s morn?

Having someone beside you through the holidays and all the other essential seasons in life is priceless. You understand quickly how those who have no one to share their experiences with feels, and you become more sensitive to lonely people’s needs.

It’s no fun being alone, even for one night, and having the right person by your side makes even the most trying days better.

5. Fears of the Future Dissipate

Fears and anxiety about the future are commonplace, especially when you don’t have someone to share your responsibilities. You worry about having money to pay your bills, funds for retirement, and having a job that provides good health benefits.

When you’re with the right person, they help shoulder that burden. They help to ease your stress as you now have someone else that can help. It opens your eyes to what single people around you must struggle with as they have no one to help them through those dark financial periods and fears of their future.

6. Teamwork Becomes Common

If you’ve always been a person who prefers to work alone, you will soon learn that it’s all about teamwork in a relationship. Thankfully, the skills you use working as a team at home can spill over into the job. You learn that having someone to helps is valuable and a better way than always doing things solo.

You become your best self when you realize that you can’t do everything in this life on your own. Sometimes, it’s okay to ask for help and to get assistance from others.

7. You Learn the Power of Intimacy

Intimacy is something that alters you and your views for life. Anyone can have sexual relationships, but when you have real closeness, it makes you feel desired. Being wanted can boost your self-esteem and make you walk with a bounce in your step.

Intimate moments include things like playing a song and singing it to the other person on an instrument or having someone hold you when you cry over a loss. It’s a closeness that comes during private moments, and it’s the observation and knowledge of the other person.

Intimacy can change your views on the world around you because you know how it feels to have someone who cares about you on such a deep level. Sexual encounters last but for a few minutes. However, real intimacy with the right person can enhance your world indefinitely.

8. You’ll Live Longer

If you want to be your best self, it helps to be happy, healthy, and alive. A study found that married people or those in a committed relationship live longer than those who are divorced or single. The Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health posted the study.

The shocking fact is that 40 percent of married people live longer lives than others. It shows that there’s truly something unique and magical about having the right person in your life that gives you the desire to keep fighting to live another day.

9. You Keep Going Even When You Don’t Think You Can

There are many times in this life when you will want to throw in the towel. It may be all you can do to get out of bed in the morning because you didn’t sleep the night before. No matter how you feel or what’s going on at work, you get up and keep going because you have someone else that depends on you.

Quitting isn’t an option when you know that it could mean everything to the other person if you stop. The drive and instincts to keep going during the toughest adversities in this life will help you in all avenues.

Final Thoughts on Finding the Right Person to Complete Your Soul

A recent Marist poll found that 73 percent of the population believes that they have a soul mate out there waiting. Is there something to this belief that one person can make you happier, healthier, and give you the ability to live a longer life?

No matter how many articles you read, websites you explore, or people you ask, love is about taking risks. As the old saying goes, you may kiss a few frogs before you find your true prince (or princess).

If you want that someone that makes you go weak at the knees and makes you a better person, then you must be willing to take risks. There is someone for everyone, and the right person is waiting for you.

10 Symptoms of Caffeine Withdrawal (and How to Stop It)

January 11, 2021 by Power of Positivity

Did you know that caffeine is a drug that is used the same as many dangerous stimulant medications? It’s shocking when you dive into the science behind this substance what it can do to your body, which is why you experience withdrawals when you stop consuming it. Yet, you can become addicted to this “drug” by drinking soda, coffee, chocolate, or even ice cream.

According to Coffee and Health, caffeine is an alkaloid substance that occurs in over 60 plants naturally. The most recognized plants with this substance are coffee beans and tea leaves, but it’s also found in things like guarana berries and kola nuts.

Drinking just one cup of Joe contains an average of 75-100mg of caffeine. Now, what if you have a supersized cup of Java to get you going in the morning? The Mayo Clinic states that you can consume around 400 milligrams of caffeine each day safely. However, if you consume larger amounts, it can cause all sorts of issues in your body, similar to a drug overdose. Here are the most common signs of caffeine overdose:

•Irregular heartbeat

•Heart palpitations

•Headaches

•Confusion

•Vomiting

•Nausea

•Diarrhea

•Feeling faint

•Anxiety or jitters

•Shortness of breath

•Death (extreme cases)

Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms

It’s easy to see that many people in today’s world think that caffeine helps keep them awake or stimulate them to get through the day. However, you can become just as addicted to it as you would cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs. The withdrawal issues are the real problem.

Trying to come off caffeine can make you extremely sick, and it can take a few days or even a week to get over the symptoms of stopping this drug. It depends on how much pop, soda, or tea you drank regularly and how it will affect you. Here are the most common symptoms of caffeine withdrawal and what you can do to combat it.

1. Mood Fluctuations

One of the most common things that people experience when kicking the caffeine habit is mood fluctuations. Habitual caffeine consumers are the ones that are most affected by this concerning problem. According to the National Library of Medicine, they can trace caffeine withdrawals back more than 170 years, which means this isn’t a new problem as many suspects.

They also published a study regarding side effects from those who are ceasing their consumption. Shockingly, irritability was found to be one of the top complaints from the nine survey studies. It stands to reason when you cut something out that affects the brain to alter your mood.

2. Fatigue

It’s not uncommon for you to have problems getting things done when you quit coffee or soda. The focus and energy levels you once had are altered due to the lack of stimulation. It’s been proven that stopping this substance can cause you to be sleepy.

Astonishingly, a study was conducted using truck drivers and their coffee consumption. During this case-control study by BMJ, they found that those who regularly consumed coffee had a 63 percent reduction in their chances of having an accident. It’s kind of scary when you consider the number of truckers on the road and the need for stimulation to stay awake. What about those that don’t drink anything caffeinated?

3. Low Energy Levels

Low energy levels go along with fatigue. The only difference is that you might not be sleepy, but you don’t have the energy to do what you need to do. Your life can significantly suffer when it doesn’t have the stimulation it’s become accustomed to.

It will take time for your brain to adjust to the lack of coffee/tea/soda that has helped you wake up and face the day.

4. Flu-Like Symptoms

It’s shocking to think that withdrawing from caffeine can give you flu-like symptoms. Many people experience aches and pains, typical of what comes along with the common flu. They have muscle stiffness and nausea too.

Keep in mind that a person who drinks one soda a day will probably not have as severe issues stopping caffeine as someone who drinks a pot of coffee to get going. Additionally, each body is different, so you never know which symptoms you may experience.

5. Headache

Headaches are the number one complaint of someone trying to get rid of their caffeine addiction. In fact, a study found that 50 percent of people complain of this symptom. The severity of the headaches is also all over the board.

Some report that they have a mild nuisance, while others say their head pangs are entirely debilitating.

6. Depression

You can become both physically and psychologically dependent on this substance. Though it sounds silly to someone who has never experienced it, going through any withdrawal symptoms can be very depressing. Once you kick your body’s cravings for it, you must also kick your psychological dependency.

7. Anxiety

Anxiety can come from psychological disturbances, or it can come from feeling that there’s something wrong in your body. However, it’s noted that once the thing that gets you up and going is gone, you struggle with the reality that you don’t have this crutch to lean on.

You may feel anxious about starting your day without your cup of coffee or soda, and you need to learn a new routine. Plus, the lack of having the substance helping you each day can also take a toll.

8. Mental Fog

Mental fog is described very differently by everyone. Some say it’s a lack of focus, while others state that they don’t have a clear mind as there is much noise. Brain fog is a common complaint after withdrawing from caffeine.

You may find that you’re a bit confused, forgetful, and can even be disorganized. Did you know that brain fog and headaches are the common reasons why people start drinking caffeine again?

9. Shaking/Tremors

Some people are more apt to tremors and shaking than others. Consequently, those who consume high caffeine levels each day may notice that they have an unsteady hand or tremors as the substance leaves their body. Thankfully, these jittery feelings don’t last long and should go away as soon as you’re done with the withdrawal process.

10. Concentration Issues

Did you know that many people use caffeine to medicate ADHD and other concentration issues? Some people would rather drink coffee than take some of the dangerous stimulant medications. So, when you remove the thing that keeps you going in life, you may have a hard time concentrating.

Self-medicating with any substance can be dangerous, and you can learn effective ways to enhance your focus without taking anything that can be harmful. Additionally, many herbs can help with your attention, such as ashwagandha or Ginkgo Biloba.

Tapering or Quitting Cold Turkey

If you want to avoid all these issues while coming off caffeine, there is an easier way to do it. Many people want to stop cold turkey and be done with the habit, which is great if you can do it that way. However, for those who drink upwards of 400 milligrams of this stimulant each day, you should taper as it’s safer.

Start by slowly reducing your intake even by one cup or can of soda each day. Do this for one week. Then the following week, reduce it by another cup or soda. Keep doing this until you no longer need the substance to function.

It’s also worth mentioning that you may need to seek help if you’re medicating an underlying medical condition. Things like chronic fatigue can cause you problems, and you may be masking those issues by self-medicating.

Adult ADHD is not uncommon. While some children grow out of this issue, many carry it on into their adult life. It’s one of the top reasons people consume caffeine to help them focus and accomplish their daily tasks.

Final Thoughts on the Symptoms of Caffeine Withdrawal

Slow and steady is the best way to rid your caffeine habit. However, many people are faced with situations where they must quit immediately, such as being in the hospital or heart problems. While caffeine is a naturally occurring substance found in many plants, so is opiates.

Just because it came from the poppy flower doesn’t mean it’s safe to consume. While caffeine is not as damaging, caution must be used when turning to natural things for help. If you’re sipping between 300-400 mg each day, then you’re getting remarkably close to the peak allowance.

Now, those who have an occasional soda or cup of coffee are not going to be addicted. Thankfully, the caffeine withdrawal process usually takes about three days on average, but it can take up to a week. It’s the psychological dependence that may be harder to conquer.

Many people drink soda, coffee, and tea because they like how it tastes and what it does to them. For most, the psychological aspects seem the hardest to overcome. Thankfully, you don’t need soda or coffee to live, and you can learn that water is much more refreshing and beneficial for your body.

Researchers Reveal How Loneliness Manifests in the Brain

January 11, 2021 by Kristen Lawrence

A new study discovered a certain type of signature in the brains of those who experience frequent feelings of loneliness. This signature makes them stand out from others who don’t feel lonely as often. In lonely people, researchers noticed variations in the volume of certain brain regions and differences in how those regions communicate with one another. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications on December 15, 2020.

Researchers analyzed the MRI data, genetics, and self-reported psychological assessments of around 40,000 middle-aged and older adults for the study. They volunteered to have this information stored in the UK Biobank, an open-access database that health scientists worldwide have access to. Then, they compared the MRI data of the volunteers who experienced frequent feelings of loneliness to those who did not.

Researchers discovered a few key differences upon further investigation. Most of the differences occurred in the default network within the brain. This region of the brain processes thoughts such as future planning, reminiscing, imagining, and thinking about others.

Key differences in the brains of those who experienced loneliness

The default networks of lonely people had stronger connections and higher grey matter volume in these regions.
Loneliness also manifested itself in the fornix. That is a bundle of nerve fibers carrying signals from the hippocampus to the default network. Lonely people had a more well-preserved fornix than those who didn’t experience loneliness.

The brain’s default network helps us remember the past, plan our future, or imagine a desired situation in the present. Researchers believe that the default network correlates with loneliness because lonely people use this area of the brain more often. For example, to cope with their feelings of isolation, they may dwell on the past or focus intently on the future. They may also find comfort in daydreaming or imagining ideal social situations in the present.

“In the absence of desired social experiences, lonely individuals may be biased towards internally-directed thoughts such as reminiscing or imagining social experiences. We know the default network brain regions mediate these cognitive abilities,” says Nathan Spreng from The Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital of McGill University, and the study’s lead author. “So this heightened focus on self-reflection, and possibly imagined social experiences, would naturally engage the memory-based functions of the default network.”

More people feel lonely in today’s world than ever, and our fast-paced, individualized lifestyles may be to blame. We evolved in small groups to help one another survive, so not everyone feels included in our modern world. With so many different groups, belief systems, and ways of living, some people feel they don’t belong. This causes them to withdraw from social groups, which only worsens the underlying problem.

How loneliness affects mental and physical health

Not only does loneliness take a toll on the mind, but it can also lead to serious physical health problems. Earlier studies have shown that older people who feel lonely have a heightened risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Loneliness can also result in earlier death, hypertension, weakened immune system, and a higher risk of suicide. In the modern world, researchers estimate that loneliness affects about 10-20% of adults who lack companionship and feel left out or isolated from others.

Previous studies have shown that feeling lonely can have a similar effect on obesity or smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. People experiencing loneliness usually have worse mental health, a higher likelihood of developing severe psychiatric disorders, and cognitive decline. They also have a heightened risk of dementia as a result of the neuropathological burden of loneliness. Lonely older adults have nearly double the risk of developing dementia than non-lonely people, even after accounting for mental health factors.

Because humans have evolved to work together in groups to survive, we naturally crave social connections. We actually need them for survival as well as emotional and physical safety. If we can’t cooperate in groups or form bonds with others safely, we start to isolate ourselves due to self-preservation instincts.

Being lonely in society today

Modern society keeps our bodies in constant fight-or-flight mode, as we haven’t yet evolved to process so many stimuli. Our minds may sense a threat around every street corner because they can’t differentiate between emotional and physical stress. Many people work online or from home in today’s world, making the loneliness epidemic even more pervasive.

Of course, not everyone who spends the majority of their time alone feels lonely. Some people feel perfectly content to spend all their time alone, while others crave social connections. It really comes down to individual preferences and personality types. However, for those who have unmet social needs, the feelings of loneliness can become crippling.

In the study, researchers focused on chronic feelings of isolation due to these unmet social needs, which they call ‘trait loneliness.’ This concept differs from the amount of time spent alone or how often a person socializes. As we said above, a person may have very few socialization opportunities and not feel lonely at all. The study aimed to understand the correlation between changes in brain structure and perceived feelings of loneliness.

Says Danilo Bzdok, a researcher at The Neuro and the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, and the study’s senior author:

“We are just beginning to understand the impact of loneliness on the brain. Expanding our knowledge in this area will help us to better appreciate the urgency of reducing loneliness in today’s society.”

Final thoughts: Loneliness affects people in different ways, but it can have severe consequences

Not everyone who spends a lot of time alone feels isolated or lonely, but it can be debilitating for those who do. Loneliness can make a person hyperaware of their environment because they don’t know who to trust or reach. It can cause them to withdraw from society completely, putting a severe strain on their mental and physical health. If you see someone who seems lonely, never hesitate to reach out – you may save their life.

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