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15 Quotes on Beauty Explain Why It’s in the Eye of the Beholder

December 6, 2020 by Sarah Barkley

Wise people often say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and these quotes on beauty help explain why. Everyone is different, both physically and mentally. Different things resonate with different people, and there is no sure definition of beauty.

What one person finds beautiful, another person may find hideous. Beauty is also normally a reflection of what a person feels inside. So, things that don’t reflect who they are may not seem beautiful to them, while things that do will be beautiful.

People tend to find beauty in things that align with their souls. When someone makes them feel alive and awakens their spirit, they will think that person is beautiful. To further explain why beauty is in the eye of the beholder, read these quotes on beauty.

Fifteen Quotes on Beauty Remind Us That It Is in the Eye of the Beholder

Remember these quotes, so you can see the beauty all around you.

1. “Beauty is no quality in things themselves: It exists merely in the mind which contemplates them, and each mind perceives a different beauty.” – David Hume

As Hume explains, each mind views beauty differently. No one can say what truly qualifies as beauty because everyone finds beauty in different things.

2. “Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.” – Khalil Gibran

Only those who see the light in your heart can truly love you. No matter how someone portrays you physically, true beauty comes from within. So, if you want someone to think you are beautiful, make sure you show them the good in your heart.

3. “She was beautiful, but not like those girls in the magazines. She was beautiful for the way she thought. She was beautiful for the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about something she loved. She was beautiful, for her ability to make other people smile, even if she was sad. No, she wasn’t beautiful for something as temporary as her looks. She was beautiful, deep down to her soul. She is beautiful.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

Everyone thinks differently and loves different things, and this is where much of their beauty lies. Behavior and attitude also contribute to beauty.

This is why beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Since beauty is different for everyone, people will recognize beauty only when it aligns with their soul.

4. “I say that the most liberating thing about beauty is realizing that you are the beholder.” – Salma Hayek

With all of these quotes on beauty explains why it’s in the eye of the beholder, this quote is important. You can’t only think about what beauty means to others. When it comes down to it, you determine what beauty is, and no one can change that.

5. “The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode, but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.” – Audrey Hepburn

Those that you show love to and those who see your passion are the ones that will find you beautiful. When you allow people to see your soul, they will see the beauty within. Even still, not everyone will find you beautiful, but the right people will.

6. “Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical.” – Sophia Loren

One of the many reasons beauty is in the beholder’s eye is that it is what is inside of you. Each person is different, and you won’t always attract everyone else. You will only attract those who see the inner beauty that is reflected in your eyes.

7. “Beauty is not who you are on the outside; it is the wisdom and time you gave away to save another struggling soul like you.” – Shannon Alder

When you help others, your beauty will be evident. The person or people you helped will see the beauty you carry within. Plus, those who witness the kindness will see the beauty.

When people see that you are genuinely kind, their image of you will be more positive. Plus, when they see you are willing to give others wisdom and time, their image of you may change for the better. The way people see you behave will have an impact on the beauty they see in you.

8. “The value is always in the eye of the beholder. What is worthless to one person may be very important to someone else.” – Peter Ackroyd

Since everyone sees things differently, the definition of beauty is different for everyone, as well. What one person sees no beauty in, another may think is the most beautiful thing.

9. “Some of us teach ourselves and our children to love the superficial outer; our looks, hair, skin, clothes rather than the greater beauty that resides within whereas it is that inner beauty that really defines you and who you truly are.” – Rassool Jibraeel Snyman

The reason superficial beauty doesn’t appeal to everyone is that true beauty comes from within. Being a good person and treating others with kindness will make you more beautiful.

10. “There is a road from the eye to the heart that does not go through the intellect.” – G.K. Chesterton

It is on the road that Chesterton describes that you will find beauty. When someone speaks to your soul, you will see the beauty in them without thinking about their physical appearance. You will see them and immediately feel it in your heart.

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

Other people may not see your beauty, but that shouldn’t matter. Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, you should be the beholder who decides it for yourself. Everyone won’t ever accept you, so your ultimate goal should be to find yourself beautiful.

12. “We turn outward, attracted by the beauty we see in created things, without realizing that they are only a reflection of the real beauty. And the real beauty is within us.” – Ernesto Cardenal

People find beauty in things that reflect who they are internally. The things that speak to your soul and make you feel alive are the things you will find beautiful. This is why beauty is in the eye of the beholder because everyone finds beauty from what they feel inside.

13. “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” – Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

If someone can recover from their hardships, they will be more beautiful to everyone who encounters them. This is because they have developed an appreciation for life and are more compassionate, gentle, and loving. These characteristics will help their beauty shine through for the world to see.

Those who see the good that arises from the pain will find this beautiful. Rising from hard times and being positive afterward will deeply resonate with some people.

14. “The common ‘eye’ sees only the outside of things, and sadly judges by that. But the loving eye pierces through and reads the heart and the soul.” – Mark Twain

When someone loves you, they will see the beauty in your heart and soul. Those who don’t love you, however, will fixate on your outward appearance. This is why some people find you beautiful, and others do not.

15. “Beautiful has nothing to do with looks. It’s how you are as a person and how you make others feel about themselves.” – Anonymous

When someone feels connected to you, they will see your beauty. If you make them feel good about themselves, your beauty is even more obvious to them. Your connection with people and the way you make them feel are the things that constitute beauty.

Final Thoughts on Quotes on Beauty Explain Why It’s in the Eye of the Beholder

Beauty is defined differently for everyone, and this is because no one is the same. What one person may find beautiful, another may not. These quotes on beauty explain why this is the case.

Remember these quotes on beauty the next time someone makes you feel inferior. While they may not have seen your beauty, there are plenty of other people who do. It is all about the way you connect with someone and the way you make them feel.

It is important to remember that oftentimes the things someone finds beautiful are a reflection of their soul. So, someone’s opinion of you may truly have nothing to do with you. Keep this in mind, and remember that you are beautiful.

15 Quotes on Loving Yourself

December 6, 2020 by Sarah Barkley

No matter what stage of life you are in, you may struggle to put yourself first. This is likely because you have been taught that you must put others first, although that is far from the truth. As these quotes on loving yourself will explain, putting yourself first is most important.

It is important to remember that you have to take care of yourself if you want to take care of others. If you have no energy or motivation left in you, it would be impossible to be the person you want to be. This is why putting yourself first is so important, so that you can continue doing what you set out to do.

This isn’t selfish at all, as it is beneficial to all of those around you. If you are happy and taken care of, you can help make those around you feel the same way. Plus, spreading happiness and positivity will change the world, which you will also be able to do.

On the other hand, if you don’t put yourself first, you won’t be fulfilled. You will feel like something is missing, or you will constantly be drained of energy. If you are starting to feel this way now, remember the following quotes on loving yourself and putting yourself first.

Fifteen Quotes on Loving Yourself Remind You to Put Yourself First

1. “Your relationship with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship you have.” – Robert Holden

If you don’t love yourself, you will struggle to love anyone else fully. The way you think of and treat yourself sets the tone for how you think of and treat everyone else. Keep this in mind and treat yourself the way you want to treat those you love the most.

2. “Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.” – M. Scott Peck

Your time will never be used wisely if you don’t value yourself. You have to value your time and learn to use it for the best possible scenarios.

If you can do this, you will find that your time is being used well. Before you know it, you will see that you are accomplishing much more than you were before.

3. “Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.” – Anna Taylor

Set boundaries and hold people to them. Your time and energy are more important than what other people want from you.

The choice is entirely yours, so you have to remember to put yourself first in every situation. By doing this, you will be setting the tone for how others treat you, too.

4. “Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.” – Lao Tzu

You don’t have to convince others of your greatness or receive their approval. The only approval you need is yours, and the only way you can get that is by putting yourself first. With self-approval, you will suddenly receive the approval of those around you.

5. “Loving yourself starts with liking yourself, which starts with respecting yourself, which starts with thinking of yourself in positive ways.” – Jerry Corsten

To respect and love yourself, you have to think positively about yourself. Put yourself first and do what will make you happy and make you better to love yourself.

6. “The only person who can pull me down is myself, and I’m not going to let myself pull me down anymore.” – C. JoyBell C.

This reminder is intended to make you realize you are the one holding yourself back. If you want to get past this, you have to put yourself first and keep moving forward. Decide to stop hindering your progress and work toward your goals instead.

7. “Self-care is never a selfish act — it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.” – Parker Palmer

Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish at all. You can’t take care of anyone else if you haven’t taken care of yourself first. Remember this so that you can keep giving the best of yourself to those around you.

8. “Never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance in the world to pursue your dreams.” – Hillary Clinton

You are greater than you may initially realize, and you deserve all the things you seek in life. As Clinton says, you are valuable, powerful, and deserving. Remember this, and make sure to put yourself first always.

9. “Love yourself. Enough to take the actions required for your happiness. Enough to cut yourself loose from the drama-filled past. Enough to set a high standard for relationships. Enough to feed your mind and body in a healthy manner. Enough to forgive yourself. Enough to move on.” – Steve Maraboli

Put yourself first and do what needs to be done so that you can be happy. Let go of negativity and set high standards for those you let close to you. Be healthy, forgive yourself, move on, and put yourself first.

10. “We need to learn to love ourselves first, in all our glory and our imperfections. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create.” – John Lennon

No one is perfect, including you, but you should still love yourself as if you were. Love your imperfections and mistakes, and love who you are. This is the only way you will ever be able to love someone else fully.

11. “There is nothing noble about being superior to some other man. The true nobility is in being superior to your previous self.” – Ernest Hemingway

Being better than others won’t make you love yourself any more than you already do. What will increase your self-love is being better than you used to be.

Every time you learn or grow, your self-love increases. So, put yourself first so that you have growth opportunities. You won’t ever have these chances if you are constantly putting other people first.

12. “Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves even when we risk disappointing others.” – Brené Brown

As stated before, you have to set boundaries and enforce them. As Brown explains, even if it upsets other people, your boundaries and well-being should come first.

13. “Falling in love with yourself first doesn’t make you vain or selfish – it makes you indestructible.” – Unknown

By loving yourself, you are becoming stronger and more resilient. You are taking control of your happiness away from others and leaving it in your own hands, instead.

14. “The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours – it is an amazing journey – and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.” – Bob Moawad

This is your life to live, no matter what happens. Remember that and put yourself first because you are the only one who can make the most of your life. You can only rely on yourself, so you have to make sure your well-being comes before that of others.

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

Be true to yourself. Stick to your morals and ethics, and do what you know is right. Don’t change yourself for anyone, or you will lose yourself completely.

You are better when you are original and real. Make sure you portray yourself this way always, no matter what those around you want.

Final Thoughts on Quotes on Loving Yourself Remind You to Put Yourself First

Many people find it hard to love themselves and put themselves first truly. They constantly think that putting themselves first is selfish, but that is far from the truth. To take care of others, you must take care of yourself first.

If you are struggling with self-love, remember these quotes on loving yourself. They will remind you always to put yourself first and to think of your well-being above the well-being of others. This is the only way you will be strong, successful, and happy in life.

Now, this isn’t to say you shouldn’t consider the well-being of others. It would be best if you continued to do that, but only after taking care of yourself first. Remember these quotes on loving yourself, and you will quickly find that everything else in life falls into place.

15 Quotes About Moving on After a Breakup

December 5, 2020 by Sarah Barkley

Breakups are hard no matter what the situation was, but these quotes about moving on will help. Despite your feelings about the end of the relationship, you must move on. You can’t stay stuck in this negative place forever, and you owe it to yourself to be happy again.

While moving on is easier said than done, it is still easier than you may think. With the right mindset and positive reminders, you will be well on your way to healing.

If you are struggling to move on, read these quotes about moving on after a breakup. They will remind you why it is important to move on and what you have to look forward to. Plus, they offer tips for positively moving on and doing what is best for you.

Quotes About Moving on Post-breakup

1. “Sometimes you must let people go because their pieces no longer fit. This departure is for the betterment of your energy, your space, and your precious life.” – Melody Lee

As life changes, the people in your life might have to, as well. The things and people that once seemed to fit may not fit anymore. When this happens, moving on from them is the best thing you can do for yourself.

You will be able to focus on yourself and your dreams. Your energy will all be given to what you want to do and become the best you that you can be.

2. “If you don’t leave your past in the past, it will destroy your future. Live for what today has to offer, not for what yesterday has taken away.” – Unknown

When you spend your time fretting over your past, your future is the only thing that will suffer. You have to spend that time and energy, focusing on making your future great instead. Stop living for the past and start living for the present and the future.

3. “The thing about heartbreak, I realized, is it’s not really about waiting for things to stop hurting before you start moving. A broken heart can and will heal in time, but for time to actually do its job, I needed to acknowledge what I had lost, and move on.” – Ana Tejano

You can’t wait for the pain to go away before you begin to move on. Instead, you have to begin moving on if you ever want to heal. Accept what has happened and that the relationship has ended, and then you will feel yourself healing.

4. “When thinking about life, remember this: no amount of guilt can solve the past, and no amount of anxiety can change the future.” – Unknown

You can’t guilt yourself into changing the past. The past has already happened and cannot be changed no matter how badly you want it to. Being anxious won’t change it either, so try to stay positive so that you can move on.

5. “If life can remove someone you never dreamed of losing, it can replace them with someone you never dreamt of having.” – Unknown

Remember that you will be happy again one day, and you will find someone who makes you understand this loss. When you find them, you will realize that this breakup happened for a reason. You will find someone who is even better than you ever imagined spending time with.

6. “Those awful things are survivable because we are as indestructible as we believe ourselves to be… We need never be hopeless because we can never be irreparably broken.” – John Green

This moment may seem like it will end you, but it won’t. You will survive because you are strong and indestructible. As long as you can remember that, you will be able to move on and heal from this hard time.

7. “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Dan Millman

Put your energy into your future. Stop fretting over the past and wasting your energy on things you cannot change. Instead, put that energy into building a new life and a new opportunity for yourself.

This is your time to shine, and you deserve to create the best future possible. If you can do this, you will realize that the break up is not the end of the world for you. Keep moving on and working toward a better future.

8. “Let go of your mistakes and failures. You can’t do anything about the past, but you can do something about right now.” – Joel Osteen

Make an effort to let go of the things that are hurting you. If you made a mistake in your relationship, you can’t change it now. So, accept it and accept what the outcome was.

You can’t change what has already been done, but you can change the future. Use those mistakes and failures as a learning opportunity, so it doesn’t happen in other relationships.

9. “They say heartbreak is a blessing. It helps you grow and turns you into a better, more powerful person. You become as strong as a beast.” – Priyanka Agarwal

There is no better time to grow and become stronger than after a breakup. You will have so much negative energy afterward and, when used wisely, it will help you. It will lead to you becoming better in all areas of your life, and you will learn your true strength.

10. “Eventually all the pieces fall into place… Until then, laugh at the confusion, live for the moment, and know that everything happens for a reason.” – Carrie Bradshaw

Life always works out the way it was supposed to. Keep moving, even when things get hard, and remember that it will all fall into place. In the meantime, laugh at the unexpectedness of life and bask in every moment you are given.

11. “The curtain has fallen on the past, the performance has gone dark, and the actors have moved on. Applaud the show, but don’t stay in the dark, hoping for a reprisal that will never come. It’s time to get up and move toward the next act, the one that stars YOU.” – Toni Sorenson

The past is already done, and you can’t go back and change it or re-live it. Everyone else has moved on from it, and it is time that you do the same. Enjoy the good moments when you look back, but you have to keep moving forward.

If you stay in one place, waiting for the past to return, you will stay in the dark, as Sorenson explains. Instead, you have to focus on what is coming next, which is your future. Focus your attention on that, instead, so that the next show will be even better.

12. “The best revenge is moving on and getting over it… Don’t give someone the satisfaction of watching you suffer.” – Unknown

Personal suffering will never bring anyone back into your life. Sometimes, unfortunately, that person may enjoy the knowledge that you are suffering. Make a conscious effort to move on; instead, you don’t give them this opportunity.

13. “Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” – Marilyn Monroe

When a relationship ends, it normally happens because it wasn’t meant to be. Without that relationship ending, you would never be able to encounter the one meant for you. So, remember that the end of this relationship signifies that something better is out there.

14. “I’m choosing happiness over suffering. I know I am. I’m making space for the unknown future to fill up my life with yet-to-come surprises.” – Elizabeth Gilbert

As Gilbert explains, the unknown future ahead of you will be filled with surprises. Choose to move on and to do what makes you happy so that you can choose happiness over suffering, too.

15. “Real love moves freely in both directions. Don’t waste your time on anything else.” – Cheryl Strayed

When love is real, both people will feel the same way. There will be love flowing from both of you, and not from just one.

If the relationship you were in wasn’t this way, the breakup was likely for the best. Remind yourself that you now have a chance to find one that is. You will be happier, and your life will be more fulfilled than if you had stayed in a one-sided relationship.

Final Thoughts on Quotes About Moving on After a Breakup

Going through a breakup is hard, but these quotes about moving on will help you get through it. Just remember what you are worth and what you deserve. You will be happy again, and you will find someone who is even better for you.

Keep moving forward and working on making your future better. If you can do that, you will heal quicker than you thought possible. If you are struggling to do so, remember these quotes about moving on. They will give you all the reminders you need about why you have to move forward with your life.

You are stronger than you realize, and you can get through this. As long as you are moving forward and focusing on your future, things will work out for the best.

Dieticians Reveal 5 Best Foods For Women Over 40

December 4, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Getting older comes with its fair share of challenges. You’re more at risk for diseases. You may lack positive thinking about how your appearance changes. And your body needs more carefully chosen meals in order to continue functioning healthily. For women, the added challenge of menopause and other risks can be a little overwhelming.

Choosing foods intelligently as you age can help to reduce the risks of many complications in your later years. They’ll keep you healthy and make sure you’re alive and kicking for more decades to come! Here’s how dieticians reveal 5 best foods for women over 40.

1. Broccoli

Broccoli is a green cruciferous vegetable, many children cite it as the “least favorite vegetable.” Luckily, they’re likely to be safe avoiding the veggie until they hit a certain age. But for those who grow to be women, at the age of 40, that broccoli could be very useful!

According to NYC Surgical Associates’ Dr. David Gruener, MD, broccoli is packed with all sorts of minerals and vitamins that provide multiple benefits to the body. Here are some of the ways it can help:

· Lowers Bad Cholesterol

Multiple studies indicate that broccoli is capable of reducing bad cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol while balancing and bringing down triglyceride levels. It is also known to help boost levels of positive cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. This can help heart health and prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases. Those may be a concern for those aged 40 and above.

· Promotes Bone and Joint Health

As you age, you are more likely to develop joint or bone problems. Broccoli can help curb some of those effects, as it provides calcium and vitamin K. These two components are vital in the health and strength of bones, say studies. But that’s not all! Zinc, phosphorus, vitamin A, and vitamin C are also largely present in broccoli, and those ingredients might be able to aid bone strength while preventing osteoarthritis.

· Slows Mental Decline

Mental decline is a huge concern for many over the age of 40. Studies have found that broccoli – and other dark green vegetables – may successfully reduce the rate of mental decline while boosting nervous tissue function. Other research indicates that a compound called kaempferol, which is present in broccoli, can reduce neural inflammation and brain injury risk. There is also sulforaphane in broccoli which further supports brain health thanks to its effects on balancing inflammation in the organ. It’s worth noting, of course, that most studies in this realm are animal-based, and more research is needed for conclusive human evidence.

· Eases Aging

One of the biggest anti-aging factors of broccoli is that it, on the whole, completely eases the aging process in a rather impressive and very positive way. This is due to sulforaphane, one of broccoli’s main bioactive nutrients, which may be able to increase antioxidant gene expression. Antioxidants fight the oxidation process of cells, thus reducing oxidative stress and helping to smoothen out natural aging so it happens gracefully and with fewer complications.

2. Fatty Fish

Fatty fish like mackerel, salmon, and herring are rich in healthy fats that work wonders for the body. Physician and Ethos Medical Spa Medical Director Dr. Hardik Soni, MD, states that the omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish varieties are fantastic for women, especially aging women. Here are some reasons why:

· Cardiovascular Health

Heart conditions are among the world’s most common causes of premature death, specifically strokes and heart attacks. The fatty acids in fish can prevent this by having positive effects on the heart, reducing the risks of developing such problems.

· Hormone Balancing

Women over the age of 40 typically experience fluctuations in their hormone levels due to the onset of menopause and the gradual changes leading up to it. Fatty fish with healthy fats can help manage those hormones so they don’t become too skewed.

· Cognitive Strength

It’s common for mental facilities and cognitive abilities to worsen as one ages. That’s one of the reasons fatty fish can be so good for women over 40 – it works to help reduce the severity of cognitive decline and slow its progress over time, according to studies.

· Vision Health

Many older adults suffer from age-related macular degeneration, and research seems to imply that omega-3 fatty acids – specifically from fish – can reduce the risk of such a development. In fact, a study brought the risk down by 42% among women!

3. Flax Seeds

Flax seeds – especially freshly ground ones – are capable of fighting aging in multiple different ways. They’re good for the skin and moisture and also deliver all sorts of nutrients. Dermatologist Dr. Cynthia Bailey, who is also the founder and CEO of a skincare company named after herself, touts flax seeds as superfoods that rally hard against aging. Here are some ways that they do so:

· Reduced Blood Pressure

Blood pressure struggles often worsen as you get older. If you’re over the age of 40, you might be especially concerned about it. Flax seeds are capable of reducing blood pressure and balancing it out, and multiple studies have found this to be true. Even just 30 grams, consumed daily over half a year, can considerably lower diastolic and systolic blood pressure. When taken with blood pressure medication, it can even reduce high blood pressure. Indeed, you might get to the point you regain control. This also leads to a 7% reduction in heart disease mortality rates and a 10% decrease in stroke mortality rates.

· Better Cholesterol Levels

LDL cholesterol can be reduced by as much as 20% when you consume flax seeds regularly, with only 30 grams of flaxseed powder over three months leading to an overall 17% cholesterol decrease. Even those with diabetes can benefit, as they may gain HDL cholesterol by 12% from just 10 grams over a month! This is likely due to the high fiber levels contained within flax seeds, which helps as that fiber binds to bile salts so they pass through the body harmlessly.

· Reduced Cancer Risk

Flax seeds contain a lot of lignans, which are antioxidant plant compounds that contain a lot of estrogen. Both of these factors can help reduce cancer risk. In fact, flax seeds have a whopping 800 times more lignans than many other common plant foods! Postmenopausal women benefit from these significantly, as those who eat flax seeds have been found to have a reduced risk of breast cancer by an impressive 18%, according to a study.

4. Sweet Potato

Many women in their 40s notice that their nails, skin, and hair weaken and need additional care as they age, and one of the ways they can be aided is through biotin, a B vitamin found in sweet potatoes. According to Austin Urology Institute research team leader, Dr. Koushik Shaw, MD, sweet potatoes are backed with numerous other nutrients like magnesium, anti-inflammatory beta-carotene, and vitamin C to help with that.

But that’s not the only reason sweet potatoes are good for you. There’s more than just aesthetic and appearance-based upkeep to them! Here are some more ways they help you:

· Strengthens The Brain

Many older individuals may be concerned about the health of their brains as they age. Purple sweet potatoes might be able to help with that! These kinds of potatoes contain anthocyanins, which are capable of fighting inflammation and reducing free radical damage. More human studies are needed before these findings are 100% conclusive, but most experts agree that sweet potatoes should aid cognitive health.

· Promotes Healthy Vision

Orange sweet potatoes have a lot of anti-inflammatory beta-carotene, which is also an antioxidant. For women over 40 concerned about their vision, sweet potatoes may help. Studies say just one baked sweet potato with skin has seven times more beta-carotene than is needed per day! But why beta-carotene? Well, this component turns into vitamin A as it digests. That helps keep eyes strong and reduces the risk of macular degeneration by protecting the cells of the eyes from damage. Purple sweet potatoes can also protect the eyes!

· Can Fight Cancer

Cancer is a significant fear for many older women, who struggle to keep their positive thinking about their risks of different types of cancer. But the anthocyanins in purple sweet potatoes can slow cancerous cell growth in the breasts, bladder, and colon, say test-tube studies. Experts posit that this is due to a protective effect that the anthocyanins have, but they need more research for proper conclusions.

5. Quinoa

Renowned award-winning OB/GYN and expert on women’s health, Dr. Sherry Ross, weighs in. She says that quinoa should be the choice for a type of food you’d bring with you to a desert island! Its nutritional content sufficiently provides the human body with all the necessary essential amino acids and a ton of vitamins and minerals. Here are some more reasons women over 40 should eat it:

· Aids Metabolic Health

Metabolic disease is a significant problem in the United States, with older individuals being more at risk for complications from it. Studies have found that quinoa is better than other forms of gluten-free carbohydrates in reducing levels of components related to poor metabolism.

· Low Glycemic Index

Foods with high glycemic indices are commonly implicated in multiple diseases, especially those common in people aged over 40 years. This includes heart disease, stroke, and even type 2 diabetes. Quinoa, however, has a low glycemic index, meaning it doesn’t raise blood sugar levels that quickly, allowing the body time to adjust. It has a lower index than even simple foods like white rice, so it makes a healthy and positive carb substitute.

· High Antioxidant Level

As previously mentioned, oxidation and oxidative stress can rapidly speed up certain factors of aging. Quinoa contains antioxidants that can fight free radicals and help reduce disease risk while easing the aging process. In fact, over multiple different kinds of cereals and legumes, quinoa has a noticeably high antioxidant content, according to research.

Final Thoughts On Some Of The Best Foods For Women Over 40

Eating healthily isn’t age-restricted, but in many cases, it becomes more and more important as you get older. If you’re a woman over 40, start eating well today. Start by trying some of the aforementioned 5 best foods for you into your meal plans!

12 Emotional Scars Abused Children Carry Into Adulthood

December 4, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Suffering from any abuse leaves deep emotional scars. While bruises, cuts, and broken limbs will eventually heal, the emotional trauma takes a lifetime to overcome. The issue is that abuse brings about a betrayal of trust.

For instance, a child depends on their parents to protect them and keep them safe while they grow. The only thing that they should be focused on is playing and enjoying the carefree lifestyle. However, when a parent violates them in an abusive way, it destroys their trust in the people they love most.

It’s not like boxing up a toy that they’ll never see again; the hurt is so much deeper. The agony is so profound that the brain often rewires itself to cope with the pain.

If only you could un-read those pages in your life’s book, or if there was a way to erase the images and flashbacks that come to your mind. Sadly, these traumas are written into the fiber of your being.

Emotional Scars Change Adulthood

Victims of abuse learn what they need to do to survive. The things that have happened to you give you the drive to survive, however possible. Your past has conditioned you to respond a certain way to people and life’s stressors.

For all the times that you felt defenseless as a child, your self-protection mode kicks into overdrive. Here are twelve emotional scars that abused children carry into their adult life. You can easily place people in your life that fit the description of these issues.

1. Inability to Trust

As discussed above, once trust has been broken, a child is altered. In adulthood, it makes it difficult to make friends or have meaningful relationships. These people are always on guard and looking for red flags of deceit.

2. Sexual Inadequacies

It’s commonplace for a person that has been sexually abused to look at sex as a dirty and disgraceful act. What was created to pleasure each other and connect physically has become a horrific nightmare. Some will become hypersexual to combat the trauma around this act, while others will become a-sexual and avoid it altogether.

Some evidence supports that a male family member sexually abused a girl, she might turn to a same-sex relationship as she can’t stomach the pain of being with another man. When such an intimate act is defiled, it alters the pleasure receptors. Some children don’t know how to enjoy something that brings them so much pain.

3. Fear of Men/Women

If their parents physically beat a child, they might fear ever getting close to anyone again. If the father used a belt to abuse them, they might shy away from people who wear it as it can trigger their trauma.

Even long into adulthood, the brain remembers when the threat of abuse is gone. Triggers can be small, but they take the person’s mind back to the abusive acts.

4. Constant Need for Validation

Seeking approval from those around you is a big part of healing from past wounds. A child often grows up with feelings of worthlessness, and that something was wrong with them. To counteract these feelings, they will seek validation and approval from everyone.

They need to do a good job and to make sure they get the attention they deserve, well, most of them. Some want to tower in the corner and make the world go away.

5. Low Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is hard to repair once it’s been broken. Even if abuse isn’t involved, one child can have high self-esteem while the other one can barely look at themselves in the mirror. Through counseling and the use of positive affirmations, it’s possible to repair esteem issues.

6. Mental Illness

Sadly, those who have suffered from abuse often deal with mental health issues in adulthood. Depression, anxiety disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder, and personality disorders are commonplace. The brain rewires itself and finds ways to cope, but the new coping methods are often disorganized and bring about adverse changes.

7. Emotional Instability

Self-regulation is something that people learn at an early age. When you’re upset, you can calm or soothe yourself by counting your blessings or thinking about something pleasant. Sadly, many adults lose self-regulation abilities, and it causes problems.

They will seek ways to calm themselves, which can get them into serious trouble. A person could be agitated because they didn’t get a job promotion at work. They need a rush and something to burn off the dash of adrenaline and cortisol, the stress hormones, they feel inside.

Some turn to illegal acts, like stealing, to try to combat those feelings. Once they take something insignificant, it calms their senses, and they can relax. It’s strange what abuse does to the bodies and how the emotional scars are different for each person. However, some engage in self-destructive patterns that cause more pain.

Know these signs that reveal someone is suffering from mental abuse.

8. Problems Finding A Stable Partner

The goal of most adults is to find someone to spend life with. You want the fairy tale, and you’re happily ever after. Sadly, finding a stable partner is not always an easy task when you carry emotional scars and baggage.

You don’t trust, you’re always waiting for the other shoe to drop, and the past haunts your present. Many people who’ve been abused will have several marriages or jump from relationship to relationship without committing fully. Others will latch on to the first partner who shows them any attention, and many become stuck in abusive partnerships that they don’t know how to end.

9. Stress and Physical Effects

Many children can’t remember the abuse that occurred, especially at a young age. When it comes to sexual abuse, many people form mental blocks so they cannot recall the horrific events that violated them. While the brain does everything possible to push those occurrences from the memory bank, the body remembers.

Strangely, your body can feel the stressors of events that happened to you. Many people with chronic stress and physical joint pains are often caused by previous abuse. Not every case where a person has joint pain comes from a horrific childhood, but it can affect it.

10. Substance Abuse Issues

Methods to self-medicate are commonplace for someone with deep-seated emotional scars. They will look for ways to ease the pain. They often start by doctor-shopping for medications like antidepressants and benzodiazepines. However, many medicines don’t work, or their effects are short-lasting.

They will use marijuana and whatever they can get their hands on. It’s estimated that one in seven children are abused every year. Since the formative years foretell the future, it’s a sad statistic to consider.

11. Resentment and Aggression

Resentment and aggression are commonplace in abuse. Adults will resent what’s happened to them and the people who caused these actions. Additionally, they may become aggressive to thwart off any further abuse.

Think about the bully on the middle school playground. They seem to be in control and running the show having every kid bow to their command. They scare and intimidate others by using control.

Consequently, this child is probably suffering from abuse, or neglect, or other issues that they need help with their life. They only know how to deal with things by being in control. Now, how many people in your adult world act the same? They could be harboring emotional scars from the past.

12. Sleep Disorders and Nightmares

While you can somewhat control your thoughts during the day, your mind can wander and roam through past chapters of your life at night. Your subconscious mind processes everything from the day, including past triggers. Chronic nightmares and other sleep disorders are common because anxiety is highest when it’s dark outside and all is quiet.

Sleep disorders can range from insomnia to night terrors, and all these sleep issues are just as troubling to handle.

Final Thoughts on Dealing with Emotional Scars from Childhood

Abuse can be a one-time ordeal or an ongoing issue. However, no matter the duration, it can affect the rest of your life. Most child abuse cases are handled, but many abused children go undetected.

The scars of events so tragic don’t ever go away. While the physical pain subsides, the emotional pain and scarring last a lifetime. Some cope better than others, most of which involves having a strong support system and getting the proper help early on.

You don’t have to let the emotional scars of childhood define your adult life. You can rise above the pain and the shame of what’s happened to you and live victoriously. There is happiness after the storms of life.

Chilean Desert Might Provide Clues About Life on Mars

December 4, 2020 by Kristen Lawrence

Research funded by the European Research Council reveals that the Chilean Desert could hold clues about life on Mars. Scientists have found diverse microbes in layers of clay-rich, shallow soil in the Atacama Desert in Chile. Because this dry environment bears a striking resemblance to Mars, scientists believe microorganisms may exist below Mars’ surface as well. Future rover missions or landing crafts could easily detect any sign of life below the dry surface.

The research published November 5 in Nature Scientific Reports offers an example of identifying microbes potentially found in clay on Mars. Led by Cornell and Spain’s Centro de Astrobiología, this research could help guide future rover missions’ efforts.

The discovery in Chile

In the Chilean Desert’s arid environment, the researchers discovered layers of wet clay about 12 inches beneath the surface. They believe this could offer a glimpse into life on Mars as well.

“The clays are inhabited by microorganisms,” said co-author Alberto G. Fairén, a visiting scientist in the Department of Astronomy. “Our discovery suggests that something similar may have occurred billions of years ago – or it still may be occurring – on Mars.”

If microbes ever existed on Mars previously, scientists would likely find their biomarkers preserved there, Fairén said. “If microbes still exist today,” he said, “the latest possible Martian life still may be resting there.”

Mars will have rovers sent to its surface shortly to search for any signs of life. In February 2021, NASA’s rover Perseverance will land, and Europe’s Rosalind Franklin rover will arrive in 2023. Both of these missions have the aim of detecting microbial biomarkers in the clay below the surface.

“This paper helps guide the search,” Fairén said, “to inform where we should look and which instruments to use on a search for life.”

In the Chilean Desert, the microbial life beneath the soil had been previously unreported. However, in the Yungay region of the desert, scientists found that at least 30 microbial species inhabit the clay layer. The species include metabolically active bacteria and archaea (single-cell organisms), which survive in the salt-rich soil. Scientists believe this discovery supports the idea that Mars could have had a similar environment, especially in its first billion years.

“That’s why clays are important,” Fairén said. “They preserve organic compounds and biomarkers extremely well, and they are abundant on Mars.”

A previous study finds more evidence of possible life on Mars.

Last year, findings published in Frontiers in Microbiology revealed that subsurface soil samples contained unusual microbes. A robotic rover deployed in the Atacama Desert in Chile collected these soil samples during a trial mission. Their goal was to detect signs of life. Researchers found highly specialized microbes spread out in patches in the soil, which they believe occurred for several reasons. According to the researchers, the scarce water and nutrients, along with the chemistry of the soil, contribute to the distribution pattern of the microbes.

These findings will also help in the quest for detecting signs of life on Mars in the future.

“We have shown that a robotic rover can recover subsurface soil in the most Mars-like desert on Earth,” says research lead Stephen Pointing, a Professor at Yale-NUS College, Singapore. “This is important because most scientists agree that any life on Mars would have to occur below the surface to escape the harsh surface conditions where high radiation, low temperature, and lack of water make life unlikely.”

He says that the microbes they found have adapted to high salt levels. Those results are similar to what they’d expect in Mars’ soil. The microbes discovered in the Chilean Desert differ greatly from those found previously in desert environments. In the upcoming rover missions to Mars, they will drill below the surface for the first time to look for life signs. Scientists test the technology in Chile to ensure the success of these future missions.

“The core of the Atacama Desert in Chile is arid, experiencing decades without rainfall. It has high surface UV radiation exposure and is comprised of very salty soil. It’s the closest match we have on Earth to Mars, which makes it good for testing simulated missions to this planet,” argues Pointing.

Microbes found in patches in the desert.

An autonomous robotic drill and sampling device designed by Carnegie-Mellon’s Robotics Institute recovered samples 80cm into the soil. The sediment samples came from the Atacama Desert; researchers compared them to some they had recovered by hand. Using DNA sequencing, they discovered similarities in both samples, indicating a successful mission. However, the samples showed that the microbes had a patchy distribution, showing the difficulty of survival in the harsh environment.

“These results confirm a basic ecological rule that microbial life is patchy in Earth’s most extreme habitats, which hints that past or present life on other planets may also exhibit patchiness,” explain study co-authors Nathalie Cabrol and Kim Warren-Rhodes of The SETI Institute. “While this will make detection more challenging, our findings provide possible signposts to guide the exploration for life on Mars, demonstrating that it is possible to detect life with smart robotic search and sampling strategies.”

Final thoughts on how further studies can help us understand Mars

Pointing says that in the future, they will drill even deeper. This depth will permit them to observe how far below the surface the microbes can survive.

“Mars missions hope to drill to approximately 2m and so having an Earth-based comparison will help identify potential problems and the interpretation of results once rovers are deployed there. Ecological studies that help us predict the habitable areas for microbial communities in Earth’s most extreme environments will also be critical to finding life on other planets.”

In the next few years, the missions to Mars will hopefully prove successful and help us find evidence of past or present life. Advancing technology greatly aids in this endeavor. Thus, we will likely see huge discoveries made about life on other planets.

Astronomers Find Hell Planet with Lava Oceans

December 4, 2020 by Kristen Lawrence

Scientists have recently found an exoplanet where it rains rocks, and lava fills the oceans, so they’ve fittingly called it a “hell planet.” Winds there reach supersonic speeds, and temperatures can reach over 5,400 degrees Fahrenheit. It gets so hot there that the rocks not only melt but become vaporized, creating a thin, inhospitable atmosphere. Because it orbits so close to its host star, planet K2-141b remains fiery hot at all times.

“Our finding likely means that the atmosphere extends a little beyond the shore of the magma ocean, making it easier to spot with space telescopes,” said co-author Nicolas Cowan.

The bizarre hell planet is located around 210 light-years away from Earth, and its host star is slightly smaller than our Sun. Astronomers have said they have discovered few exoplanets as extreme as this one. Their findings have been published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Scientists from McGill University, York University, and the Indian Institute of Science Education contributed to this hellish planet’s research.

The conditions of the lava planet

The lava planet resembles the size of Earth, but the weather patterns and atmosphere differ greatly. The exoplanet’s atmosphere, surface, and oceans all consist of one ingredient: rocks. Winds on the planet can reach over 5000 km/hr, and the lava oceans have a depth of over 100 km. Computer simulations run by the scientists predict continued extreme weather, which could permanently change the lava planet’s atmosphere.

“The study is the first to make predictions about weather conditions on K2-141b that can be detected from hundreds of light-years away with next-generation telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope,” lead author Giang Nguyen said in a news release.

Since the planet orbits are so close to its host star, it completes one revolution in only six or seven hours. In comparison, the closest planet to our Sun, Mercury, takes about 87 days to complete one orbit.

When the researchers looked at K2-141b’s illumination pattern, they discovered that the sun never sets on two-thirds of the planet. Because it revolves so closely to its host star, the gravitational pull gives one side of the planet perpetual sunlight. This also explains the scorching hot temperatures on the planet. On the dark side of the planet, temperatures can reach a bone-chilling negative 328 degrees Fahrenheit.

What creates the lava?

Because of the scorching temperatures on the sunny side, the rock’s become vaporized, forming precipitation. Water evaporates, goes into the atmosphere, condenses, and comes back as rain in the water cycle on Earth. On the hell planet, sodium, silicon monoxide, and silicon dioxide form the rocks go through this process as well.

On Earth, the rainwater flows back into the oceans, repeating the water cycle. But on the lava planet, the rock vapor gets blown into the dark side by the supersonic winds. The rocks rain back down into the magma oceans, and the currents flow back to the sunny side. There, the cycle is repeated, and rocks evaporate once more.

However, scientists say the hell planet’s “rock cycle” doesn’t have the same stability as Earth. The magma ocean’s currents move slowly, and due to this, scientists predict a change in the mineral composition over time. This will cause alterations to the surface and atmosphere of the planet.

“All rocky planets, including Earth, started as molten worlds but then rapidly cooled and solidified. Lava planets give us a rare glimpse at this stage of planetary evolution,” says Professor Cowan of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.

The scientists will test these predictions in their next phase of research. The team obtained data from the Spitzer Space Telescope, which should give them an idea of the exoplanet’s day-side and night-side temperatures. The launch of the James Webb Space Telescope in 2021 will greatly help them in verifying their predictions.

Astronomers believe they found a ninth planet.

Other hellishly hot exoplanets discovered.

Similar exoplanets have been discovered recently, such as WASP-76b located around 640 light-years from Earth. While it may not have lava oceans, it has a strange characteristic: it rains liquid iron. Temperatures here can exceed 4,350 degrees Fahrenheit, which can easily vaporize metals.

Researchers first discovered this planet using the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the European Southern Observatory (ESO). It also orbits close to its host star, which causes one side to remain in perpetual sunlight. While that side resembles hell, the other side stays constantly dark and cool. Strong winds on this planet blow the vaporized iron into the dark side, which causes the iron to condense into droplets, forming rain.

On the hot side, the planet gets thousands of times more radiation from its host star than the Earth does from the Sun. This intense heat creates strong winds that carry the iron vapor from one side to the other. There, the temperatures cool off to around 1,500 degrees Celsius – still insanely hot.

“One could say that this planet gets rainy in the evening, except it rains iron,” David Ehrenreich, professor at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, said in a press release. Ehrenreich led the study on WASP-76b, which got published in the journal Nature. Located in the constellation Pisces, it’s a gas giant like Jupiter and Saturn in our solar system.

Using the new ESPRESSO instrument on ESO’s VLT in the Chilean Atacama Desert, astronomers observed day-night chemical differences for the first time on a Jupiter-like planet. They discovered a large amount of iron vapor separates the planet into two sides. Astronomers from Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, and ESO made these observations in September 2018.

The team will keep using the spectrograph to locate other Earth-like planets and exoplanets with extreme atmospheres. “What we have now is a whole new way to trace the climate of the most extreme exoplanets,” said Ehrenreich.

Researchers Reveal People Would Ghost Their Dog for Their Smartphone

December 4, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Man’s best friend just got ghosted. A recent survey by Simple Texting, an SMS marketing and communications service, revealed that 40% of dog parents say they would choose separation from their dog for a month instead of giving up their smartphone.

The survey involved 1,000 people from various walks of life from all fifty states. According to the survey, man’s new best friend is the smartphone.

Seven incredible benefits of having a dog

Although the survey shows dog parents are willing to give up their pooch for a month, they could be forgetting the many benefits of having a dog. In general, pets are well-liked by Americans. Approximately 68% of all households in the United States have a pet. Studies found that having a pet, especially a dog has many health benefits.

1 – You will become more physically active

Dog owners get outside more than people who don’t own a dog. They walk their dogs or play with them in their backyard. Older people are more likely to take a regular walk if they have a dog. Owning a dog helps you get daily moderate exercise, which researchers say will boost your health. In comparison, you would need to go to the gym every day to get the same amount of exercise you get when you own a dog.

2 – You’ll lessen the impact of stress in your life.

If you have a dog in your life, you’ll be less stressed. Cortisol, a stress hormone in your body, gets released when you are under stress. Being around a dog can reduce your cortisol levels, researchers prove. You may have visited a dentist or doctor that has a therapy dog. These dogs can sit on a patient’s lap if they feel stressed. Many patients who wouldn’t go to a dentist are willing to go if a dog is present. Dogs are often employed in hospitals to aid patients’ emotional welfare and facilitate healing.

3 – A dog can lower your blood pressure (a smartphone can’t!)

Having a dog around not only helps you feel less stressed, but your pet eases your high blood pressure. High blood pressure or hypertension is dangerous. It makes your heart work hard, pumping blood throughout your body. It causes atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, strokes, kidney disease, and heart failure. Hospitals found that heart patients’ blood pressure went down as much as 10% when therapy dogs were around. Dogs naturally make people feel better.

4 – A pet might reduce your depression

Your dog has an innate ability to sense when you are sad. If you suffer from depression, having a dog will help you fight your emotional ups and downs. Your dog can give you comfort and help you calm down. Taking care of a dog also improves your mental health and feeling of being needed. Plus, you’ll be outside more often walking or playing with your dog, which is also good for fighting depression.

5 – A canine helper might assist older people

As people age, having a dog helps them stay healthy. Walking the dog, interacting with a dog companion, and caring for a dog, gives older people a sense of well being. Dogs also help older people who have dementia or other ailments to feel happier about their life. Plus, dogs are cute and funny. Everyone needs a good laugh now and then, and dogs love entertaining their family.

6 – You will feel safer

If you live alone, having a dog eases your mind about your safety. Dogs can sense danger or when something is wrong. They will be quick to alert you if someone is at the front door or creeping around your backyard, which will help you sleep easier at night and feel safer.

7 – You will feel loved

Having a sweet dog to hug does wonders for your heart. Their eager face greets you when you come home from work without judgment or demands. They are happy to see you. In the midst of the craziness of the world, it’s nice to have a dog companion who loves you for who you are.

Science shows that your pooch’s heart rate increases when you say “I love you.”

Benefits of having a smartphone

So, what are the benefits of having a smartphone? Smartphones are well…smart. They make your life easier with a GPS, a camera for picture taking, music, and contact with others. Apps offer an assortment of handy tools for your work and entertainment.

Of course, your smartphone allows you to call or text your friends and family as long as you are connected to any of the phone plans listed at the link . There are also communication tools you can use for work, such as video calls and emails. A smartphone also gives you access to Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, all-important social media sites you can use to stay connected or do your work.

Other benefits of a smartphone include the following:

Searching the internet from anywhere
Stream live videos
Podcasts
Compass
Flashlight
Calculator

One device with many applications, smartphones are portable and easy to use. There are limitless ways a smartphone benefits your life and lifestyle. The best and most helpful apps include those that help you.

Do your finances
Security for your home
Monitor your kids while they sleep
Borrow and read books
Fitness, exercise, and calorie counters
Radio
Draw
News
Sports
Kids games
Pharmacy
Grocery store
Health monitoring

Smartphones are great tools for an easier life. In the survey, people said they’d be willing to say goodbye to alcohol, coffee, and sex instead of giving up their smartphone. That’s how much people love them. Fortunately, you don’t need to choose between your beloved pooch and your smartphone. You can have both, but could one be affecting the other?

Does your smartphone negatively affect your dog?

You can have your trusted companion and play your favorite word game on your smartphone, but spending too much time on your smartphone may harm your dog. Some researchers say that using your smartphone a lot around your dog could cause your pet to feel neglected and even depressed.

1 – Dogs are social

Because your dog is social, they need human contact and interaction. Paying more attention to your phone instead of your dog can also make them feel lonely. Your dog isn’t getting their social needs met by interacting with you through talking, petting, or cuddling.

2 – You are your dog’s pack leader

Dogs are social. They are pack animals by nature and accustomed to having a leader. You are your dog’s pack leader. Your dog looks to you for clues as to what’s going on and how to act. If you aren’t focused, your dog may feel confused, getting mixed signals about what you want for them to do.

3 – You are your dog’s lifeline

Every day, you take care of your dog’s needs. You feed, toilet, and water your dog. You make sure they have exercise and a place to sleep. Your dog gets annual checkups, and if they’re sick, you take them to the vet. Because you are your dog’s caretaker, you are the lifeline for your dog. Not giving your dog enough attention could cause your dog to feel isolated. You may miss some of your dog’s signals that they aren’t well. Your dog may begin to be nervous and feel insecure. Nervous, insecure dogs display certain behaviors, including

Whining or barking-Your dog may do this to pull your attention away from your smartphone. Some dogs actually will growl or nudge their parent’s hands when they are using their smartphone.
Excessive yawning or licking-Long stressful yawns or licking all the time.
Pacing or shaking a lot-This is a clear sign your dog is stressed out and needs your touch and attention.
Tucking tail underneath their body-Your dog may feel insecure due to your lack of attention because they aren’t sure what to do.
More shedding-This can be a subtle way of letting you know things are going great for your pooch. Pay attention, please.
Losing bowel or bladder control-Frequent accidents is common when your dog is nervous, scared, or isolated.
Refuses to eat-Distressed dogs stop eating as a sign they are distraught.
Hiding-Avoiding situations or hiding is a way dogs communicate; they feel like escaping.

Final thoughts on man’s best friend versus your smartphone

Smartphones provide you with many helpful tools to better your life. Having a dog can improve your health, help your mental outlook, and provide companionship. Choosing between your smartphone or your dog would be difficult. Hopefully, most dog parents would stick with their pooch and give up the use of their smartphone for a month, even if it was inconvenient. But surveys don’t lie, and smartphones have changed lives.

Perhaps it’s as simple as choosing to put down your smartphone more often and interact with your dog with extra cuddles and hugs. You can enjoy the wonderful benefits of having a faithful dog friend and using a smartphone with all the awesome tools.

8 Reasons Why Orange Cats Are The Most Special

December 4, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Domesticated cats have been around for over 10,000 years. They were first valued as pets in the Middle East when villagers saw the need to control the rodent population eating their grain storages. The ancient cat looked very different in comparison to today’s cat. Because of human preference in breeding, cats’ looks have changed over the years. Enter orange cats, aka ginger cats.

According to studies, these green-eyed, medium fur-length cats are very popular with cat owners, making them one of the favorite cats to own.

Why are they orange?

Ginger cats have an orange fur color due to a dominant pigment called pheomelanin. This is the same pigment that causes humans to have red hair. Similar to humans, the pigment produces different shades of ginger color depending upon the amount of pheomelanin in a cat’s fur. The intense ginger colors reveal there’s more pigment present. Orange cats may have shades of red, yellow, orange, and even cream colors mixed in their fur. Often white spots intermixed with the orange fur give their fur unique patterns.

Orange cats have four distinct coat patterns:

Classic or swirled: These cats have a dark swirled pattern on their dark orange coat, usually around their midsection
Striped or mackerel: These cats look like tigers and have an “M” on their forehead.
Spotted: These cats look like they have spots, stripes, or swirls that are broken up.
Ticked: This kitty has a solid ginger color, but with a speckled pattern

Meet a sweet ginger cat that will melt your heart.

What are the other names for orange cats?

Orange cats are also called tabbies, though not every tabby cat is orange. Most people don’t know to use the word “tabby” just for distinctively orange cats with characteristic coat markings rather than for a breed. Literally, the word “tabby” comes from the French word for taffeta, a type of silk material. The use of the phrase “tabby cat” first started in the 1690s. Other names for an orange cat include red tabby cat, marmalade cat, or ginger cat.

Why are orange cats so special?

Just ask any orange cat owner why their cat is so special, and they are apt to give you a long list of reasons. Here are just a few of the reasons why these beautiful cats are so well-loved by cat lovers.

Not a breed, but a color

Orange cats are defined by their color, but they aren’t a distinct breed of cat. Many orange cats are mixed breeds, but you can have tabbies in purebred cats. Certain purebred cats have a pale body with tabby coloring and orange markings on their face like tabbies. The breeds with ginger colorings and markings include Maine Coon, Persian, American Bobtail, and the British Shorthair cats.

Predominantly male

Ginger cats are predominantly male. The orange tabby’s fur color occurs when a sex-linked gene with the X chromosome makes the orange color. Only 1 in 5 ginger cats are female, making them unique pets to own.

Loved by a prime minister

Winston Churchill, the well known prime minister who led Great Britain to victory during WWII, owned several orange cats. Tango, his first orange cat, was his faithful companion throughout the war. It was said that Churchill kept his ginger cat, Tango, with him during meetings to strategize about the war, often feeding and talking to the cat during these historic discussions. Another well-loved orange cat, Jock, was at Churchill’s bedside when he died.

Legend of the M

The oral history of Mary states that the marking on ginger tabbies is because there was an orange cat at Jesus’ birth. Supposedly, this orange cat helped him fall asleep. Like other legends, the story has grown over the years. Today’s version of the story has expanded to Mary, Jesus’ mother, touching the cat on the forehead to give it a blessing for helping her out. So storytellers explain that is why orange cats have an “M” on their forehead to represent Mary.

Personality

Part of the attraction of ginger tabbies is their sweet, easy-going personality. Happy and easy to please, they are considered almost dog-like in temperament. These orange cats are so cute and loveable, it’s hard not to like them, an orange tabby cat personality is just amazing. But they also possess other great qualities that their owners rave about, including

Boldness: They’re brave and will approach situations eagerly.
Courage: These cats are good hunters and don’t back down from a fight, even if it’s with a mouse.
Mavericks: Orange tabbies don’t like to be told what to do. Although they love to cuddle, they can be independent at times.

Vote for tabby

Who says a cat can’t be involved in politics? One famous orange cat was elected mayor of a small town in Alaska in 1998. What started out as a joke when Stubbs’ name was written on a ballot during the mayoral election, turned into one town’s love story with a cat. Stubbs, a ginger tabby, served as honorary mayor from his cozy office at Nagley’s General Store where customers could pet him. Supposedly he drank catnip-laced water every day out of a special wine goblet. Stubbs was the town’s honorary mayor until 2017 when he died at the ripe old age of twenty.

The eyes have it

Orange cats typically have golden or green eyes. The eye color is because of the pheomelanin, the same pigment responsible for their orangish coat color.

The Hollywood cat

Of course, orange tabbies are also famous in Hollywood. In the 1970s, a well-known cat food commercial hosted a large tabby called Morris. The first Morris started life in an animal shelter in Chicago. He was adopted and trained to be used in commercials. Morris was well-loved by people across America for many years. The amazing part of the story is that after the original Morris died, subsequent Morrises used in the commercials were all shelter cats.

Freckled face

Ginger tabbies are also famous for having freckles. The little black spots appear on their chin and the upper lip edge. Some people don’t notice these little dark freckles unless they’re close to the tabby’s face.

These illustrations explain what it’s like to love an animal lover.

About Feeding Your Orange Cat

Orange cats love to eat and If you aren’t careful, your tabby will gain weight. Never leave food out for your tabby, because they will eat all day. Obesity in cats is a problem. Like humans, cats can develop health issues from being overweight like feline diabetes, cancer, and joint damage. Keep your sweet tabby at a good healthy weight by following these tips.

Skip the kibble

Cats should eat meat. Dry kibble doesn’t have enough protein to satisfy your cat. Dry food also has more carbohydrates, which causes weight gain in cats.

Read the labels

Be sure to read the cat food labels before you buy the food There should be a statement marked on the can from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) saying the food is completely balanced and meets all your cat’s nutritional needs. Some generic cats foods lack this stamp of approval, so beware.

Homemade foods warning

If you want to give your tabby a homemade diet, be sure to talk to your vet. They can advise you on what your cat needs food-wise. Your vet may suggest that you also give your cat vitamins and supplements to guarantee they are getting the proper nutrition.

Toxic foods

Some human foods are deadly for cats. Be careful feeding your pet off the plate at meals. Avoid giving your cat these foods.

Chocolate
Caffeine
Grapes
Raisins
Onions
Garlic
Chives
Yeast bread
Dairy products

Safe human foods for your cat

Your cat can safely eat many human foods. Just be sure to discuss your cat’s nutritional needs with your vet. Here is a list of safe human food your cat will enjoy.

Salmon
Spinach
Fish oils
Eggs
Cantaloupe
Chicken
Bananas
Oatmeal
Pumpkin
Apples
Blueberries
Turkey

Hydration

It’s important to keep your cat well-hydrated. Many cat owners found that a cat water fountain is best for cats because they like moving water. Cat water fountains are easy to use and encourage your cat to stay hydrated more than a water bowl. The canned cat food has some water in it, but don’t depend upon it to do the job.

Watch kitty’s weight

Cats aren’t known for their energetic disposition, but orange cats are so laid back they can be seen as lazy. This may contribute to their easy weight gain. If you’re looking for a lively pet who will play with you from sunup to sundown, a ginger tabby isn’t for you. But if you’re looking for a sweet-tempered, easy-going cat who likes to cuddle up on the couch while you binge-watch movies, the tabby is your go-to pet.

Final Thoughts on Thinking That Orange Cats Are the Best

Orange tabbies are sweet, good-natured cats that possess beautiful orange coated fur. Deemed as the preferred cat to own, ginger cats are unique due to their coloring, markings, and because most of them are male. If you are lucky enough to own one of these tabbies, you’ll enjoy a cuddly, laid back pet who simply loves hanging out with you all the time.

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