Page 577

10 Eating Habits of Naturally Slim People

June 5, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Some people are slim by nature, and some are heavier. Sometimes, a person’s weight depends a lot on factors that he/she cannot help, such as genetics and body chemistry. However, several habits that help slender people to stay thin without dieting.

10 Habits of Naturally Slim People

Here is a list of ten practices that foster a slimmer physique.

1 – They Eat Only When They Are Hungry

What a lot of people don’t realize is that there is a tremendous difference between appetite and hunger. Hunger is when you are actually hungry for food. It is when your body is telling you that it is time, once again, to acquire nutrients.

Appetite is the feeling of being hungry. Just because you have an appetite, that doesn’t mean that you are starving. Appetite is affected by a variety of different factors. For example, the smell of a particular food may trigger a desire to eat, even if you aren’t really hungry.

Many people learn as children that they must “clean their plates.” This means that they have to eat everything on their plates—regardless of whether or not they are truly hungry. This is a destructive mindset because it encourages people to force-feed themselves, which can make them overweight or obese.

There are people who eat out of a response to an emotion. They eat whenever they feel anxious, angry, sad, or annoyed. Eating out of emotion is another extension of the appetite concept. People have an appetite, suddenly, when they are facing a stressful situation. There is that infamous habit of scarfing down a pint of ice cream out of sadness or stress.

Slim people eat when they are actually hungry for food. They do not eat until their stomachs feel like “exploding.” They also know that it is not a wise eating habit to eat things just because those things are right in front of them.

2 – They Actively Think About Nutrition

Slim people engage in the wise eating habit of actively thinking about nutrition. For example, while preparing meals, a slim person might think about the most nutritious ratios of food to include in a meal. Generally, nutritionists recommend that ½ of a meal consists of vegetables, ¼ consists of protein, and ¼ consists of carbs. A slim person might take these ratios into account to create the healthiest meals.

Someone who is actively thinking about nutrition will think about the nutrition content of each ingredient as they are preparing and eating food.

There are situations where you may end up eating whatever your friends and family members are eating. Your loved ones might eat things that you would never touch on your own time. However, as a result of being around them, you might end up taking on their eating habits. Again, this is where actively thinking about nutrition comes in.

3 – They Stay Away from Options That Are Unhealthy

Slim people tend to stay away from unhealthy food options. For example, fast food items have a reputation for being exceptionally unhealthy and fattening. It is the type of food that slim people would stay away from on their thoughtful eating journeys. They also try to stay away from junk food items like candy, cookies, cakes, fried foods, and whatever else.

4 – Slim People Eat Slowly

It takes some time for your brain to register the fact that you have eaten enough. Slowly eating gives your mind enough time to make your body aware that you are satiated. If you devour food, you will not provide your brain enough time to register being satisfied, and in a quest to be satiated, you may eat more than you need.

It is especially important to chew slowly because the more you do, the more appetite-suppressing hormones release into your body. At the same time, there is a drop in appetite-stimulating hormones.

5 – They Consume Water

Another wise eating habit is to drink water to stay hydrated. There are some people who eat more food or drink sugary beverages when, in reality, they are just thirsty for water. As a result, they are putting extra nutrients and calories into their bodies that they do not really need. Also, 60% of the human body is water. Water is a crucial nutrient that directly affects metabolism.

6 – Cooking Meals Using Healthier Ingredients

Slim people try to cook and eat healthier alternatives. For example, many people cook with plant-based oils like vegetable oil, olive oil, and walnut oil—as opposed to animal-based fats like butter. People who consume dairy may opt for dairy products that are low-fat. Sometimes, you can just completely omit an ingredient from your meal if it is too unhealthy.

7 – They Prefer Eating Fresh, Wholesome Foods

Slender people make it a point to eat the most wholesome foods that they can find. Ideally, your meals should be as close to being composed of fresh, whole ingredients as possible. For example, you are much better off eating fresh broccoli that you recently bought from the store than eating packaged, pre-processed broccoli in a container that has preservatives, butter, salt, and artificial flavors added to it.

Ideally, you should be eating meals that have been prepared from fresh foods. The least processed, the healthier the food is.

You don’t need to make meals overly fatty or salty to make them taste “good.” Using the right mixture of ingredients, you can easily create meals that are tasty, satiating, and sit well in your stomach.

8 – Slim People Develop a Taste and Habit for Eating Healthy

People who are slender develop a taste for healthy food. They veer themselves away from the stuff that they know is worse for their health. For example, they may only have appetites for healthier kinds of food. Slender people may develop a repulsion toward foods that are not good for them while craving healthier foods.

After a while of veering yourself toward healthier foods, you may notice a difference between how the unhealthy foods taste and how the healthy foods taste.

Develop a habit of wise eating by surrounding yourself by foods that are good for you. Stock your home with fresh, whole, unprocessed ingredients that are nutrient-dense and healthy. Make sure to bring snacks with you that are healthy so that you are not forced to buy unhealthy foods.

9 – Choosing Quality, Not Quantity

Some people have it in their minds that eating as much as possible is a good thing. This is even a value that is ingrained in many cultures. “Eat, eat, eat!” is the motto of people from some cultural backgrounds. Many people have grown up in these cultural backgrounds to find themselves overweight and with health issues.

However, it is not good to eat as much as possible. When it comes to wise eating habits, you must focus on quality—not quantity. Focus on the quality of the food that you are consuming—not the quantity. Is your food nutrient-dense? What nutrients are plentiful in the food?

Eating as much as possible on a regular basis is generally not healthy, even if some people encourage it. Having such a habit will give you a one-way ticket to not being a slim person. It may even give you a variety of health problems.

10 – Looking at The Ingredient Label

Slim people always look at ingredient labels. Manufacturers are sneaky because they sometimes put undesirable ingredients into their food products that would have otherwise been considered “healthy.”

For example, a lot of companies put added sugar into their foods. At first, a can of peaches might appear healthy. After all, peaches are healthy, right? Well, if you look at the label and see that there are 50 grams of added sugar added to the peaches, then that is a sign that the canned peaches are not healthy.

This is also the same deal with ingredients such as salt and fat. You may purchase frozen food, thinking that it is healthy. However, upon looking at the ingredient label, you may realize that the company laced the food with butter and salt.

The ingredient label informs you about the nutrition status of a food product. You can tightly plan out your meals based on the information that you see on nutrition labels. For example, if you need more fiber in your diet, the nutrition label on a bag of flax might inform you of its high fiber content. A nutrition label that shows a higher fat content might warn you to stay away from that product.

Final Thoughts on Adopting Some of the Habits of Naturally Slim People

These are ten habits that slim people have. Some would argue that naturally slender folks have a faster metabolism. And that might be true, in part. However, if you adopt these healthy eating habits, you may optimize your body for effective metabolic processes Then, you can lose weight with less effort–and maintain that weight loss for life.

10 Ways to Beat Heartburn (That Work Better Than Drugstore Antacids)

June 5, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Acid reflux is a miserable condition that affects more than 60 million Americans each month. While some have periodic episodes, others have a chronic problem that causes an interruption to their life. The medical community calls this condition GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. These people rely heavily on drugstore antacids to relieve the burn.

But what if you could alleviate your heartburn naturally? Today, we examine this sometimes underutilized treatment option.

Reflux is a common disorder in the ring of muscles that link the esophagus to the stomach. The ring is called the esophageal sphincter. The sphincter opens to allow the food you ingest to pass to your belly. In some instances, the lower sphincter malfunctions, and it doesn’t close properly, which allows the contents of the stomach to back up into the esophagus.

Though the technical term is GERD, it’s often called heartburn. The intense burning sensation that this condition causes in the chest and throat is miserable. Many describe it as a fireball shooting from their stomach to their mouth.

The burning sensation that they feel is stomach acid coming into the esophagus and throat, causing discomfort. If you have chronic heartburn and don’t take care of it, you can develop a condition called Barrett’s esophagus.

It’s essential to get the acid reflux under control as soon as possible. Your doctor will put you on antacid medications, called PPI or proton pump inhibitor drugs. Sadly, one of the most common of these drugs on the market now links to a massive amount of colon and stomach cancers.

Read about the antacids that link to cancer.

Holistic Solutions to Cool Down Your Heartburn

Another standard option is to take antacids from the drugstore. Unfortunately, these do little to help the long term. They may calm the acids in the stomach temporarily, but it’s just a band-aid to the problem.

While medications and antacids seem to be the first choice in the Western world, we can learn a lot from Eastern culture. Many things in nature can cure heartburn that doesn’t have such devastating side effects. Here are ten things that you should try for your acid reflux.

1. Avoid Certain Foods

They always say you’re what you eat, but what you eat may be what’s troubling you. If you eat a diet that is high in fatty foods, then the problem with your gut may be your consumption. The following things have been reported to cause issues with heartburn:

•Garlic
•Onions
•Mint
•Fruits
•Chocolate
•Alcoholic Beverage
•Sodas and Sugary Drinks
•Spaghetti Sauce
•Pizza Sauce
•Tomatoes
•Coffee
•Other Caffeinated Drinks
•Fatty or Deep-Fried Foods

If you are unsure what is aggravating your GERD, then keeping a food journal can help. Identify the foods that seem to flare up your stomach acids, and you should cut them from your diet. A few lifestyle changes can mean everything.

Washing pizza down with soda sets you up for a bout of acid reflux. Learn the foods to avoid for GERD.

2. Chamomile Tea

If you suffer from GERD, then you know that nighttime can be the worst time for heartburn. When you lie down, your stomach acids can easily flow to your esophagus. Thankfully, a soothing cup of chamomile tea can help.

Drink a cup of this potent tea with calming properties about an hour before you go to sleep instead of reaching for antacids. This herb’s potent properties can help you rest, but it will also calm the stomach acids and keep your gut healthy.

3. Baking Soda

Did you know that baking soda is a cure for many ailments? It’s used in deodorants, toothpaste, cleaning products, and even baked goods. Since it has a PH of 9.0, it’s a neutral base that can help to absorb acid.

To cure your heartburn, simply take a glass of water and mix a teaspoon of baking soda with it. When you drink this elixir, it neutralizes the stomach acids, preventing it from coming up into the esophagus.

You must be careful if you use too much of this as bicarbonate soda has a high salt content that can affect blood pressure. Additionally, too much of it can be like taking a laxative. You should never have more than seven teaspoons within 24 hours.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

Sipping natural, unfiltered apple cider vinegar relieves stomach acid. This method only works when the gut is not generating enough acid, which is a common problem.

The standard medicinal dosage is one tablespoon of vinegar with eight ounces of water. You can drink this 2-3 times each day to help with chronic heartburn. It’s also advisable to drink before a meal.

5. Aloe Vera Juice

Stomach acids eat away at the esophagus and stomach lining and can leave ulcers. The condition can be excruciating. So, you need something that can act as a balm to repair the irritation.

Aloe Vera has been used for burns to bring instant relief to the pain. However, taking it internally can have the same effect. It can ease the wounds caused by acid on your throat and calm the acid inside your stomach.

You must be careful with ingesting Aloe Vera if you take any prescription medications as it tends to interact negatively with some drugs. Also, follow the container’s instructions as it can cause some mild side effects, but it’s still a better option than antacids.

6. Ginger Root

Ginger root is another herb that has so many benefits to the body. Not only can it aid in digestion, but it can also help you balance the acids in your stomach. When GERD rears its ugly head, ginger can put it back into its place.

It’s always best to use fresh ginger root rather than the processed varieties. Simply peel it or grate a teaspoon to make into a tea or mix with cold water. You can take this mixture up to three times each day, and it will do better for you than any antacids you can buy.

7. Slippery Elm

Slippery elm has been used for hundreds of years to treat heartburn and ulcers. It has hundreds of uses. The native tree comes from North America, and the bark is the part that has medicinal properties. You can find this her in capsules or tablets.

It’s recommended that you take 500 milligrams each day, which is equivalent to one tablespoon of the bark powder. You can take it up to three times each day, but don’t take for more than six weeks without talking to your doctor first.

If you find that the taste is unbearable, mix a little bit of organic honey to soften the bitter punch it carries.

8. Licorice

When you think of licorice, you probably think of the sweet red varieties you can find. Licorice, in its natural form, has many medicinal properties. Look for pure licorice root and not the tablets.

You must have the variety that doesn’t have glycyrrhizin acid in them as it can be harmful. You can find licorice in most health food stores as it’s commonly used for ulcers. It’s better than any antacid on the market, and it brings quick relief.

9.Chewing Gum

When you are chewing things in your mouth, your body has signals that let it know to make more acid. Saliva helps to clean your gut, which can rid acid.

By simply chewing a piece of gum after eating a meal, you can cut the amount of acid in your stomach. Plus, another advantage of chewing gum is that it can help to improve your dental health.

10. Sleep on Your Left Side

It’s crazy to think that your sleeping position can matter when it comes to heartburn. However, sleeping on your back is out of the question with GERD. Sleeping on your left side causes the esophageal sphincter to relax.

When you keep the sphincter above the gastric acid level, it’s more difficult for the fluid to pass. Many have found that adjusting the way they sleep improves their heartburn, and there are no harsh side effects with position adjustment either.

Final Thoughts: Choose Nature First and Skip the Antacid Tablets

The first thing that you want to do is run to the drugstore to get antacids when your heartburn flares. However, you are only masking the real problem. You are either producing too much or not enough acid, or the little flap between the stomach and esophagus is not working correctly.

You need to take control of the situation, and nature is there to help. By using one of these ten listed methods, you can bring relief. You can also fix the problem by changing your sleeping position, diet, and adding exercise.

When you maintain a healthy weight, avoid fatty foods, and throw the soda to the curb, you can live a life without heartburn. If you continue to have issues even after exhausting all the items on the list, speak to your doctor.

Conditions like Barrett’s esophagus shouldn’t be messed around with as it can quickly turn to esophageal cancer. Stomach acid can do a significant bit of damage, and it’s more harm than antacids can manage.

15 Memorable Quotes to Live a Life of Positivity

June 4, 2020 by Power of Positivity

While a life of positivity sounds ideal, everyone still has negative thoughts sometimes. Quotes to live a life of positivity can help you get through the difficult times.

These quotes to live positively offer insight on how to change your way of thinking. Plus, they can advise on changes that you should make in your life to attract positivity. If you’re not looking for insight or advice, you can just turn to these quotes for a chance to relate.

When you relate with others who have felt the way that you do, it may be easier to get through it. Simply knowing that someone else overcame a negative mindset may be all you need to help yourself.

15 Quotes When You Want to Live a Life of Positivity

1. “A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results.” – Wade Boggs

If you want to live a life of positivity, you have to adjust your attitude. With a positive attitude, you’ll find your thoughts becoming more positive. Then, the other aspects of your life will begin to become more positive.

2. “You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot–it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that, I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.” – Maya Angelou

As Angelou explains, you are what you have experienced. Each part of your life affects who you are today. So, make sure that all you take in is positive and you’ll quickly see your life becoming more positive.

This mindset doesn’t just apply to your thoughts, either. If you want to live a positive life, consider what you eat, see, converse about, and just surround yourself with. All of the seemingly small details play a part in your mindset and the outcome of your life.

3. “You have to open up to the world and learn optimism…Contentment with the past, happiness with the present, and hope for the future. Learned optimism.” – Jennifer Crusie

Optimism isn’t something that just comes naturally. You have to learn to be optimistic. You can do this by looking for the good in all situations and accepting the past.

Once you learn optimism, you’ll find all parts of your life are better. You’ll begin naturally thinking positive thoughts no matter what is happening. When you can do that, the events of your life will be better and you’ll be happier.

4. “What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficult, and every difficulty has an opportunity.” – J. Sidlow Baxter

The outcome of every situation will depend on your attitude toward it. If you can be positive, the outcome will be more in your favor. However, if you think negatively, you likely won’t succeed.

Don’t let yourself down simply because you thought negatively about something. When you do that, it’ll become an obstacle. Instead, allow the situation to become an opportunity for something else by thinking positively.

5. “When the negative thoughts come — and they will; they come to all of us — it’s not enough to just not dwell on it… You’ve got to replace it with a positive thought.” – Joel Osteen

It’s impossible to never think negative thoughts. As an inevitable part of life, there is no avoiding it. You can’t dwell on those thoughts, however, as Osteen explains.

Instead, the next time you find yourself thinking negatively, change your thought process. Start consciously thinking positively by seeing the best in the situation. You can also think of all the good parts of your life when you’re having negative thoughts.

6. “Optimism is the most important human trait because it allows us to evolve our ideas, to improve our situation, and to hope for a better tomorrow.” – Seth Godin

When you’re optimistic, your entire life will become more positive. Your ideas will become better, you’ll work harder for what you want, and you’ll have hope. Don’t miss out on living your best life because you can’t change your thought process.

7. “It’s a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack.” – Germany Kent

Negativity can be all-consuming and you’ll find yourself feeling like your life is lacking. If you change those thoughts into positive ones, however, you’ll see a difference.

When you think about all the things in your life that you’re grateful for, you’ll think more positively. As the previous quotes explained, thinking positive thoughts will lead to more optimism in all areas of your life.

8. “Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve
done before.” – Bonnie Blair

Don’t be down on yourself because you didn’t come in first. Instead, praise yourself for doing better than last time.

The only person you should compare yourself to is you. Once you begin focusing on being the best version of yourself, you’ll be happier.

9. “Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo

When you bring your sunshine, you’ll always have a good time. No matter where you are going, if you show up with positivity, you can change the entire dynamic. Even if it isn’t the best situation, continue looking for the good because that’s the only way you’ll stay positive.

10. “I think it’s important to get your surroundings as well as yourself into a positive state – meaning surround yourself with positive people, not the kind who are negative and jealous of everything you do.” – Heidi Klum

Think about the situations you are often in. If you are often surrounded by negative people or places, you have to change it. With negativity in your life, it’ll be harder for you to remain positive.

11. “Appreciate every little beautiful moment in every day of your life. Give it a try and you’ll see the world from another perspective.” – Thea Kristine May

When you take the time to acknowledge and appreciate the little things, the big things will become even better. It’s impossible to be negative when you are always looking at the good in the world.

Try to change your mindset and always look for something to appreciate. When you regularly do this, you’ll notice a positive change in yourself.

12. “If you have a positive attitude and constantly strive to give your best effort, eventually you will overcome your immediate problems.” – Pat Riley

Remember that the problems you are dealing with right now are temporary. With hard work and positive thinking, you’ll be past the problem sooner than you thought. Don’t let negative thinking slow you down because the more positive you are, the quicker you can get through it.

13. “Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words, keep your words positive because your words become your behavior, keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits, keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Living a life of optimism begins with your thought process. Positive thoughts result in positive words, actions, habits, and values. Eventually, this positivity will become a lifelong destiny.

14. “Surround yourself with the dreamers, and the doers, the believers, and thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don’t see it yourself.” – Edmund Lee

Don’t allow negative people in your life regularly. Instead, choose to spend your time with positive people who have dreams that they work hard to achieve. Choose those who think, see the good in you, and who push you to be the best version of yourself.

15. “Stay positive and happy. Work hard and don’t give up hope. Be open to criticism and keep learning. Surround yourself with happy, warm, and genuine people.” – Tena Desae

By thinking positively and working hard, your hope will turn into something much greater. When you allow yourself to accept criticism and continually spend time learning, you are setting yourself up for life-long optimism.

Final Thoughts on Memorable Quotes to Live a Life of Positivity

These memorable quotes to live a life of positivity can help you refocus your thoughts. It’s impossible to never think a positive thought, but you can work on changing your mindset. Over time, you’ll find it to be more natural for you to be optimistic.

Everyone deals with negativity sometimes, and all you can do it teach yourself to avoid it. Surround yourself with positive things and people, and avoid allowing negative people in. With these small changes, you’ll notice a positive change in yourself.

As these quotes to live a positive life explain, changes are necessary to change your way of thinking. It’ll take conscious effort at first, but eventually, it’ll become natural for you.

4 Healthy Habits (That Aren’t Really Healthy)

June 3, 2020 by Power of Positivity

There are so many different, conflicting sources of information about healthy habits out there. Some sources claim one thing is helpful, while others claim it is harmful, and you’re caught in the middle.

Unfortunately, there are some big myths out there as to what constitutes a healthy habit. To weed out the misinformation, you have to look to science for answers. Here are four healthy habits that aren’t that healthy.

1. Taking Certain Medications

Medications and supplements are excellent when prescribed by a doctor. If you decide to take them without a medical professional’s advice, though, you could wind up hurting yourself. Here are some habits to avoid:

· Taking Daily Multivitamins

There is now growing evidence that not only may these vitamins be ineffective in preventing chronic disease, but taking them in large doses is straight-up harmful.

It is best to simply maintain a healthy diet that is suitably varied instead of taking supplements. After all, all the vitamins and nutrients in the world can be found in our vegetables, fruits, and dairy products – along with fiber and various other trace elements we need!

· Always Reaching For Pain Medication

Unfortunately, there is an alarming trend where people assume that purchasing and consuming all sorts of over-the-counter painkillers is somehow both an effective and safe way to relieve oneself of pain quickly.

The misconception is that the pain-relieving effects will stack with additional pill consumed. Although pain relievers are not prescription, they are still a medication – and their compounded effects can quickly become dangerous.

· Taking Lots Of Antacids

Heartburn and acid reflux isn’t always caused by high stomach acid. Low stomach acid is more common than you may think – and that often is a contributing factor to any lower esophageal sphincter issues you may have.

While antacid medications may ease or relieve you of the symptoms, they do not address the root cause. That said, if you are on a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), do not go off them without your doctor’s supervision.

· Consuming Calcium Supplements Daily

Calcium may be necessary, but a recent analysis by research suggests that calcium supplements may increase the risk of plaque buildup in one’s arteries.

By contrast, a diet full of calcium-rich foods seems to offer protection instead. As such, consider avoiding calcium pills, and eat calcium-rich foods like leafy greens and dairy products to get your calcium intake instead.

2. Meal Habits

What you eat defines your physical and mental health, and there are all sorts of myths surrounding what the best meal habits are. Here are some that are decidedly not healthy habits at all:

· Not Eating At Night

Contrary to popular belief, eating after a particular hour at night doesn’t cause weight gain – a fact several studies back that. Instead, what is more, essential to your health is your general diet. Apple and peanut butter or hummus with pretzels will always be healthier than eating ice cream, regardless of whether it’s day or night.

Instead, listen to your body and eat when you feel hungry – even if it’s just before bedtime. You will have more positive sleep as a result. And as it turns out, good sleep has a more significant impact on your metabolism than any nighttime snacks you consume, in addition to helping you feel better the next morning.

· Having A Very Small Breakfast

Having just a fruit smoothie or a single banana for breakfast is actually incredibly unhelpful for you. These substances fill you up with some fibers and easy-to-digest sugars but lack the healthy fats and proteins the body craves at the start of the day. By contrast, studies have proven that it’s easier to maintain a healthy weight if you have a full breakfast that is packed with protein.

If you must have a banana, eat it with other sources of protein and fats. Alternatively, consider avoiding bananas and have some eggs with avocado toast instead. Regardless of what you decide to have, take the time to ensure it gives you the nutrients needed to kickstart your metabolism from its slow overnight mode.

· Counting Calories

The calories in food are much more complicated than you think, and your body is also incredibly intelligent in utilizing those calories. There is no “standard” number of calories that should be consumed each day – frankly. It is impossible to quantify health with numbers.

Additionally, counting calories in any way, even loosely, can quickly become an unhealthy obsession. Simply eat well by paying attention to your body’s hunger and fullness cues, and adjusting accordingly.

· Skipping Meals

Skipping breakfast is already a bad idea, but skipping lunch and dinner is just as bad. As a result, people – especially those who are trying to lose weight – end up replacing square meals with an endless stream of snacks throughout the day.

This habit creates an unhealthy cycle where you are always left feeling hungry, which makes you inclined to eat more unhealthy snacks instead of eating wholesome and healthy foods at a sit-down meal.

3. Hygiene Habits

It’s important to stay clean and healthy, but there’s confusing misinformation out there about what the best hygiene habits are – and some of that misinformation is pretty bad for you. Here are some examples:

· Washing Your Face Twice A Day

This is standard advice for skincare, but it isn’t suitable for everyone. While this is suitable for oily skin, this can dry out your face if you have dry skin. Over-washing your face is a possible thing – so washing twice a day isn’t going to be a magic number for most folks. That said, you should always wash it after a workout – no matter what.

· Cleaning Ears With Ear Swabs

Unless your ear canal is blocked or it’s causing you hearing problems, you should just leave your earwax alone. Ear wax actually serves a purpose – it helps push dead skin cells out of your ear, in addition to being antibacterial and antifungal.

Do note that about 5% of adults produce excessive amounts of earwax that might have to be cleaned out. If you are going to clean out your earwax, however, make sure you don’t use cotton swabs. Because ear-swabs are often bigger than half the diameter of your ear canal, it effectively blocks some of the earwax and pushes it further in and doesn’t produce any positive results.

· Using Hand Sanitizer

Hand sanitizer is undeniably helpful, but it is nothing compared to how efficient hand washing is. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), scrubbing your hands with soap and water is still the best way to kill germs and bugs like the norovirus.

The CDC advises washing your hands whenever possible, though you can use a hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol if no soap and water is available.

10 Tips for using hand sanitizer and performing handwashing the right way.

· Washing Hair Daily

Most people will actually only need to wash their hair twice a week. At most, maybe five times a week. It’s not worth washing it more often – it doesn’t make your scalp any cleaner, and neither does it help your hair grow any faster.

Instead, over-shampooing can cause dry up your scalp. This causes it to develop flaking and intense itching and leaves it vulnerable to scalp and skin disorders like folliculitis or seborrheic dermatitis.

4. Diet Habits

A lot of people turn to diets to lose weight and get fit, but a lot of constrictive diets are more harmful than helpful. Here are some examples:

· Consuming Diet Foods

Diet food and drink is still wildly popular, despite increasing awareness that it is very unhealthy for you. For instance, zero-calorie diet sodas often contain all sorts of preservatives, additives, and chemicals that offset any supposed benefits it brings.

Reduced-calorie bread, low-fat yogurt and cheese, 100-calorie snack packs, and similar types of food are also items that truly healthy people will avoid. Instead, look towards buying wholesome foods like lean meats, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, butter and oils, and nuts and seeds. These are the types of foods that will fulfill and satisfy your body’s cravings and help you become truly healthy.

· Making Strict Food Rules

Trying to instill both hard and fast rules that eliminate or restrict your diet is often both ineffective and completely unnecessary. Examples include entirely cutting out all refined sugars and pizzas, or only have one dessert a week.

In reality, these are unsustainable limits and often create lots of stress and decreased positive thinking. For example, it’s nearly impossible to know what goes into the recipes of many restaurants, and avoiding pizzas entirely may force you out of potential opportunities to network and socialize. In the end, it’s best to make sure you just have a healthy, balanced lifestyle instead.

· Eating Low-Fat

Plenty of research has been done since the advent of low-fat diets in the 90s. These days, there is an increasing awareness about how essential fats are in a healthy diet. Dietary fat may help us lose weight.

By contrast, most low-fat yogurts often contain plenty of artificial sweeteners and added sugars – all of which are incredibly unhealthy.

· Cutting Carbs

When carbohydrates are unavailable, our bodies will turn to other energy sources like body fat. This has resulted in dieters assuming that cutting out carbs will help them lose weight. However, the reality can’t be further from the truth.

In reality, in response to a lack of energy, the body will start slowing down its metabolism rate to conserve energy. This leads to lethargy, breakouts, and less effective exercise sessions – all while staying the same weight or even gaining more. Instead, ensure that you have a balanced diet of starches, fruits, and complex carbohydrates for useful energy that will last.

· Trying Popular Diets

According to the US News and World Report, fad or elimination diets like Whole 30 and paleo are some of the worst diets in terms of creating lasting weight loss, preventing heart disease and diabetes, and providing good and proper nutrition.

In reality, gluten being bad for you is a myth, and the paleo diet does not biologically make any sense. Instead, these elimination diets offer false promises of weight loss and health to the detriment of positive thinking, and they often cause people to binge-eat foods that they normally would not crave. Regardless of what you eat, the act of binging is just simply not healthy.

Final Thoughts On Some Healthy Habits That Aren’t Really Healthy

The world of health is an industry – and as such, it’s a business just as much as any other, so you need to be aware of what’s right and what is just a myth. Keep yourself on your toes and make sure the habits you participate in are backed by science!

10 Reasons Never to Accept Body Shaming

June 3, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who has the perfect body of them all? Why, of course, you do! There has never been anyone quite like you in the history of humans, nor will there ever be. Then why is our society so caught up in body shaming when we each have unique qualities that make us individuals?

Thanks to global media, you are continually being assaulted by images of what they consider the perfect body. Of course, they fail to mention that these models are often malnourished, and the photos are tweaked with light, makeup, camera, and computer tricks. These fake silicone-injected models display expensive goods and services and suggest that they will make you just as beautiful, successful, and wealthy.

These images and advertisements subliminally promote body shaming, and we continue to buy into the sham. Average Americans sink billions of dollars annually into the beauty and diet industry, hoping for miraculous results. It’s a slippery slope that can bankrupt you financially, emotionally, and spiritually.

How can you boost your self-confidence and finally discover self-acceptance? Many Hollywood stars are speaking out against body shaming and are sharing their stories of overcoming poor body images. Although former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was often cruelly criticized for not measuring up to society’s beauty standards, she remarked that nobody could make her feel inferior without her permission.

10 Ways to End Body Shaming and Love the Skin You’re In

It’s time to start accepting and loving yourself just as you are. You don’t need a product or service to make you just as good as anyone else, because you already are. Consider these ten reasons why you will no longer need or tolerate body shaming in your life.

1. You are Unique

Even identical twins have unique fingerprints and genetic makeup. Nature abounds with countless variety and individualism, so why would humans want to be any different? Instead of fighting against having a diverse body, embrace it.

You must revel in the body you have. If someone has a problem with your body, it’s their problem and not yours. You must love yourself to the fullest.

2. You have Redefined Beauty for Yourself

Each era and culture have its definition of beauty, so why can’t you? Not every culture values skinny figures, overly processed hair, or artificially plumped bosoms. You will be hard-pressed to find any of these fake images in an average crowd at the grocery store.

Make it a habit to notice people when you are in a group. Notice how different colors of skin, eyes, hair, and body shapes weave an intricate quilt of beauty. Take a cue from nature and find joy and grace in being different.

3. You’ve Made Friends with Your Body

Body shaming creates a culture of self-loathing with negative consequences. Eating disorders are still a life-threatening epidemic, especially among young women. The hallmark of these often- fatal mental diseases is a distorted body image.

Talk to your professional healthcare provider about the diet and lifestyle that is right for you. Make it a habit of looking in the mirror every day and love yourself. If you need to lose a few pounds, do it out of love and appreciation, not hate.

4. You Show Gratitude Every Day

It’s normal to feel a little blue and down on yourself occasionally. One way to start loving yourself again is to practice gratitude. Since it’s a practice, you must do it regularly to see positive results.

When was the last time you were grateful for your life and who you are? These blessings are more important than any material gain. If you think you’ve nothing to be thankful for, then visit a few hospitals and nursing homes and talk to folks who would give anything to have your health and vitality.

Consider keeping a gratitude journal or writing positive affirmations on sticky notes to place around your house. Whenever you enter your journal or see a happy note stuck to your mirror, you will be reminded of all the beautiful things that make you unique.

5. You’ve Learned to Eliminate the Negative

Body shaming is a devastating force that thrives in a negative environment. Once you have decided to defeat it with self-confidence, you will discover other negative influences that must go. Cultivating a loving and positive atmosphere takes work and determination, but you are up for the challenge.

You work too hard for your money and resources to waste it on things that make you feel bad about yourself. Unsubscribe to any magazine or media outlet that promotes body shaming and a false sense of beauty. While you can’t eliminate negative influences, you can choose what to believe.

How about friends and family in your close circle? Are they positive influences in your life, or do they burden you with criticism? If someone can’t love you for the beautiful soul you are, then don’t waste any more energy to keep them near.

6. You Want to be Healthy instead of Skinny

Since obesity has been an epidemic in America for a while, most of us could lose a pound or two for health’s sake. How many times have you watched the late-night infomercials on tv about popular weight loss programs? Most of these gimmicky programs promise to make you skinny in little time with minimal effort.

After you lost a ton of money and a few pounds, you probably gained the weight back plus some. Body shaming and fad diets go hand in hand, and they’re a lucrative ploy. In those cheesy infomercials, you will probably see skinny actors prancing around who never even had weight issues.

If your healthcare provider has recommended a sensible weight loss and fitness regimen for you, the goal is to be healthy, not necessarily skinny. Did you know that many rail-thin people are often malnourished and have as many health risks as those who are overweight? Your body size will never dictate your beauty or worth as a person.

7. You Accentuate Your Inner Beauty

We all know the saying that beauty is only skin deep, but that saying is only partially true. Humans are hardwired to be attracted by the lust of the eye, so beauty is beauty at first. However, it is originality and a beautiful spirit and attitude that will solidify the attraction.

Did you know that your most beautiful accent piece is your smile? Even if your neck is ornamented with diamonds, your pearly whites will be what stands out the most. How you feel about yourself and the world will be evident in your expressions and how you carry yourself.

Learn the habits of people who have genuine inner beauty.

8. You Create Your Sense of Style

Back in the day, you often found clothing tags that falsely proclaimed one size fits all. Even when clothing manufacturers revised it to one size fits most, it still isn’t so. No color, style, or shape is flattering to everyone who tries to wear it.

Don’t put a lot of credibility into fashion trends. As you learn to build your wardrobe around your styling sense, trendiness won’t matter as much. Buy classic pieces that will mix and match with other things in your closet. When you buy the best quality you can afford, these pieces will allow you to dress for several seasons.

Refuse to allow current fashion to dictate your wardrobe choices. Wear colors and styles that flatter your figure and make you feel beautiful. Dress age-appropriate and learn how to use accent pieces to your advantage, remembering that understated is often most attractive.

9. You No Longer Need a Mask of Makeup

The same rules apply when you use makeup, which should be used only to accent your natural beauty. When you lean heavy on the cosmetics, you may appear more like a clown than a queen. Don’t hide your lovely radiance behind a mask of makeup.

A genuine smile and an attitude of self-acceptance are worth far more than overloaded lashes or artificially plumped lips. Nobody is happy all the time, so you needn’t glue a smile on your face if you aren’t feeling it. As a beautiful person, you let your soul shine through and are true to your feelings.

10. Be an Advocate for Yourself and Others

An effective way to fight the plague of body shame is to let your voice be heard. Stand up for yourself if someone says something inappropriate or hurtful, even in jest. Let these people know that you won’t tolerate their judgmental attitude.

Your money is a powerful force in the market, so refuse to patronize businesses and companies that promote false body perception and exclude customers who are different. Instead, buy goods and services from those who value individualism, freedom of expression, and multiculturalism.

Final Thoughts: Stop Body Shaming Yourself and Wear Self Confidence Instead

It’s been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When you are self-confident, you don’t accept body shaming in any way. You become your definition of beauty in body, mind, and spirit.

Doctors Explain How the BRAT Diet Helps You Recover from Diarrhea

June 3, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Let’s be honest. Everybody gets diarrhea once in a while. It makes you feel washed out, exhausted, and dehydrated. Once you’re feeling better, you may wonder if it’s okay to eat regular food. Because some foods can make your symptoms return, doctors suggest the BRAT diet.

So, how does the BRAT diet help you recover from diarrhea, exactly? This article will explain the answer to that very often-asked question.

Yuck, diarrhea

Diarrhea is no fun. You get it from different things. If you have celiac disease or chronic pancreatitis, you’ll be prone to diarrhea. You can catch viral or bacterial diarrhea while traveling overseas, or from contact with someone who didn’t wash their hands properly. The stomach flu also causes diarrhea and vomiting. No matter how you get it, diarrhea is miserable.

Diarrhea symptoms include stomach pain, intestinal cramps, watery, smelly stools, and maybe uncontrollable gas. If you have a bloody stool, you should call your doctor. You may need testing to see if you have Shiga toxin. You can get infected by Shiga when you eat contaminated meat that’s not cooked correctly or even raw.

Foods to avoid when you have diarrhea

If you have diarrhea, the best thing to do is not to eat anything at all. But if you suffer from a chronic illness, you need to eat foods. But some foods make diarrhea worse, so skip eating them until you’re healed or feel better. Foods to avoid include:

Alcohol or alcoholic drinks
Coffee, hot chocolate
Dairy foods like cheese, ice cream or milk
Greasy fried foods
Fruits like pears, watermelon, peaches
Hot spicy foods
Diet drinks
Sugar-free candies

Doctors suggest the most important thing you can do when you have diarrhea is to stay hydrated. Getting dehydrated can cause serious problems. Diarrhea depletes your fluids and throws off your electrolyte balance. Electrolytes aid your nerves, and muscles function properly, balance your blood pressure, and restore damaged tissue. Replenish your fluids when you have diarrhea, drinking water, Gatorade or Pedialyte to replenish electrolytes plus hydrate you.

Recovering from diarrhea

Once you’ve gotten over diarrhea, you can begin to eat some foods. Don’t jump into eating regular foods too quickly. It could make your diarrhea return.

The BRAT diet

Studies found that the BRAT diet goes easy on your digestive tract. The BRAT diet is a bland diet that stands for bananas, white rice, apple sauce, and toast. These BRAT foods are easy to digest, low in fiber, not spicy, and go easy on your digestive system. They allow your body time to recover and don’t overwork your GI system. A bland diet is low in acid, so it firms up your stools and makes you have fewer bowel movements.

Why BRAT foods?

The BRAT diet is simply an acronym for the four foods on the list. It’s an easy way to remember what to eat when you’re recovering from diarrhea.

Bananas

Bananas have potassium, which is an essential mineral that replenishes your fluids.

White rice

Even if you know brown rice is healthier; under these circumstances, white rice is best. White rice doesn’t have as much fiber, You’re eating to recover from diarrhea, and you won’t be eating like this too long.

Applesauce

Applesauce is not only easy to digest but full of water, so it helps hydrate you.

Toast

Your grandma may have told you to eat tea and toast after you’re sick. She was right. White bread. when toasted, is easy on your gut.

As a side note, avoid taking aspirin or ibuprofen tablets when you’re recovering from diarrhea, because they can hurt your stomach lining.

Push Fluids When Recovering from a Stomach Bug

You need to continue to hydrate while you’re on the BRAT diet. It also helps your digestive system work better. Add these liquids to your list of safe drinks during and after diarrhea.

Unsweetened seltzer water
Weak, hot tea
Diluted apple or grape juice
Clear broth
Sports drinks with electrolytes

Can I eat other soft foods?

Yes, you can eat other soft foods, but begin with the BRAT diet. Then as you continue to feel better, add other softer foods to your diet, such as the following offerings:

Eggs
Pudding and custard
Cream of wheat
Tofu
Lean meats like skinless chicken or fish
Tofu
Non-citrus fruit juices
Oatmeal, pasta
Herbal teas
Almond milk or cashew milk.

Take probiotics

It’s essential to take probiotics while recovering from diarrhea. Probiotics help your gut get back the proper balance of good bacteria that gets lost when you have diarrhea or vomiting. Probiotics come as supplements that come in pill or powder form. They contain live bacteria, which boosts your GI tract function and health. Usually, you don’t want to eat dairy products when you’re recovering from diarrhea, except for those that contain probiotics like kefir, yogurt, or fermented drinks.

Read up on 18 foods that provide you with prebiotics naturally.

How long should I stay on the BRAT diet?

So, how long should you stay on this diet? The BRAT diet is an excellent way to ease into eating while you’re recovering from diarrhea, but it doesn’t give you all the vitamins and minerals to be your healthiest.

Stay on the BRAT diet for a short time, around 24 to 48 hours, but no longer. Staying on the BRAT diet too longer prevents your body from fully recovering from diarrhea or stomach flu.

The BRAT diet is your first step into eating foods. After this, you’ll need to add other foods with a little more fiber to your diet. If you go without fiber for too long, it can cause health problems. High-fiber foods lower your bad cholesterol, stabilizes your blood sugar, helps your gut get back to normal, and helps you manage your weight.

If you continue to have diarrhea, contact your doctor. You may need some tests to find out what’s going on in your gut.

Does the BRAT diet work?

Even though the BRAT diet has been used for many years, some people point out that relatively few studies to prove its effectiveness.

However, anecdotal evidence suggests that it seems like a logical first step when recovering from diarrhea. Plus, the acronym makes it easy to remember what to eat.

It’s crucial you know that studies have only been done on bland diets in general, but not specifically the BRAT diet. It does relieve your symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting but must be short-lived. Today, not all doctors recommend it. Instead, they recommend eating a bland diet for a day or two. This increases the types of foods you can eat and still gives your stomach a break.

Besides the BRAT diet, you can safely eat these soft foods while you’re recovering from diarrhea.

Boiled potatoes
Brothy soups like chicken noodle
Saltines
Unflavored rice cakes
Pasta
Salted pretzels
Noodles that aren’t spicy

Stay on the BRAT diet, no longer than two days, then begin to add foods to your menu with a little more fiber.

Here are some meal ideas you can try as you gradually begin to eat more fiber to your diet.

Breakfast:

Try adding a slice of whole wheat bread to eat with your scrambled eggs.

Lunch:

Eat a bowl of vegetable soup. On the side, have a bowl of canned peaches and a whole wheat roll without butter.

Dinner:

If you feel up for it, try a small salad of romaine lettuce without dressing—chicken without the skin, and grilled or roasted zucchini.

If after eating more fibrous foods, diarrhea or vomiting returns, back off, and go back to a bland diet. Call your doctor if your diarrhea lasts more than two to three days. You may have an infection, and you must seek professional advice to avoid dehydration.

Final Thoughts on Consuming the BRAT Diet as You Recover from Diarrhea

Is the BRAT diet the only way to go when recovering from diarrhea? Not necessarily. All the foods on the BRAT diet are soft and easy to digest. Eating these foods is a helpful first step to recovering from diarrhea.

But because the BRAT diet hasn’t been extensively studied, doctors are sometimes hesitant to tell you to eat only this diet. Your doctor will give you a list of bland foods, which, of course, includes the four items on the BRAT diet. The point is to stay on this diet for a short time, a day or so, then move onto foods with a little more fiber.

This way, you’ll give your stomach a break without limiting the nutrition your body needs to fully recover from the stomach flu, vomiting, or diarrhea. Who knows, research on the BRAT diet may be around the corner but in the meantime, if you have diarrhea, stick with the BRAT diet for a bit after you recover.

16 Money Habits Every Parent Should Teach Their Kids

June 3, 2020 by Power of Positivity

What is a money habit? It’s a sustainable, repeatable way to you manage some aspect of your money. The money habits you keep – whether good or bad – can tell you a lot about your finances. You can see the results of your habits in your savings, earnings, and how much you invest.

We pass our habits along to our kids as they model their behavior off what they watch us do. That transfer of knowledge and habits can either be intentional or involuntary – it’s up to you.

If you want to set your children up to be successful adults, then a great thing to do is to help them establish good money practices at an early age. Children are ready to learn as early as age 3. Start with small habits like counting out dollars and coins, and work your way up from there.

There are a lot of tips and tricks that will help you achieve this goal as your child goes through every stage of development. There are also some pitfalls to avoid so you can steer your kids clear of bad money habits.

In this article, we are going to introduce strategies to handle good and bad financial habits and parenting advice that you can use to help your children at any age.

16 Money Habits Every Parent Should Share with Their Children

1) Create a Budget

To make sure that you are not over-spending, create a budget for your household. This is a great exercise for older kids and teenagers to understand living expenses and how to manage them.

Itemize all of the costs of living, from the rent or mortgage to the electricity bill. Calculate the average monthly price of each. Then you have a budget.

You can get kids of all ages in on this process by creating a mini-budget for them. For example, make a budget for a summer project or a micro-business like a lemonade stand. It’s all about the practice of understanding how much things will cost and spending and saving accordingly.

2) Provide Cash Flow

To understand income ane expense, your child needs some income. Give your children some money like a small allowance and help them manage it. If (and when) they mismanage it, help them understand the consequences and correct course without reprimanding them. It’s a learning process.

3) Set Up a Savings Account

One in 3 Americans have $0 in savings, and only a fraction have enough saved up to deal with an emergency.

Your savings account is the one in which you are going to save your money instead of spending it. Help kids understand the concept of a savings account by making your budget and calculating what it would cost if something didn’t go as planned. That’s what a savings account is ultimately for, but you can also make it more engaging by helping them save up for something more fun. Visit https://thechildrensisa.com/faqs/ for more information.

4) Auto-transfer

One of the easiest ways to save money is to set up auto-transfer. For example, if you are trying to save $1000 in six months to buy a new laptop, set up your account. It will automatically transfer $42 a week into your savings account.

You can teach a child about this by helping them set up a checking and savings account. Deposit their allowance into the checking account and show them how to schedule an auto-transfer. Tie the savings to a goal like purchasing a toy they really want so they can understand the concept more tangibly and treat it like a fun game!

5) Use Shopping Lists

Instead of going shopping without a list and buying things you don’t need right now, make a list of items that are important to buy and stick to it. This simple habit helps save money and stick to a budget.

Practice this with your kids every time you take them to a store. Get them in on the activity by making a list together. If they’re old enough to do basic math, talk about the budget for the shopping trip and give them a calculator so they can subtract the value of each item as you pick it up. Making (and sticking to) a list builds impulse control and helps kids understand the importance of a dollar.

6) Buy with Cash

Buying with cash creates a tangible connection between an item and its value. Psychologists have studied this concept and proven that when people pay with cash, they have a greater respect for the goods and services bought. Allowing your kids to fork over dollars to the cashier to pay for things can start at a young age and build an understanding of the financial exchange taking place.

7) Track Expenses Daily

Keep an eye on the expenses that you pay daily. Use an app or journal to keep a list of every purchase you make for a week – no matter how big or small. Have your kids do the same.

If they’re wondering where their allowance went, they may find the answer quickly reveals itself in regular purchases of sodas or video game add-ons. Seeing it all laid out helps visualize the cash flow so you can adjust it into your budget and shopping lists better.

8) Define “Bad” Money Habits

Understanding poor financial habits and how to avoid them is important, too. Discuss bad these money habits and break them before they start:

Spending more than you earn
Depending on debt to pay expenses
Taking quick payday loans
Not saving for the future
Not having goals
Thinking negative
Blaming others or making excuses

9) Track What You Spend

Spending money without knowing where it’s going is a quick way to slide into financial distress. Keeping a budget and taking inventory of what you spend is a necessary habit to be responsible with your money and stay on track with your goals.

Create a self-auditing process and share it with your kids so that money becomes a concept that’s manageable and understandable instead of stressful and out of control.

10) Save With Intention

Even if it’s just a couple of dollars a month, saving is an important habit both mentally and financially. Spending every single penny you have earned can start you or your kids down a path of lack instead of abundance.

If an emergency comes up or an unexpected opportunity arises and you have no money saved to take care of it, then what are you going to do? Saving isn’t just about emergencies, it’s about opportunities as well. You don’t want your kids to miss out on opportunities or befall a tragedy just because they didn’t have some padding in their budget.

Decide on a reason to save and help your child set a savings goal to give them an understanding of this important concept.

11) Understand the Consequences of Credit

At the time of need, credit cards can look like a miracle. The truth is, more often than not they quickly become a burden and can create emergency financial situations all their own.

Paying interest on a purchase you made months (or years) ago really stings. You can help kids understand this concept by doing the math visually.

Take the price of a toy they want to buy now. Calculate how much that toy would cost if they paid it with cash in hand versus over a period of a year or two with an APR of 19%. Explain the difference: they can either save up and buy the toy for less money, or forego a chunk of their allowance for the foreseeable future.

Instead of teaching your kids to rely on credit, teach them to budget, and rely on cash.

12) Achieve a Goal

You don’t have to make a lot of money to manage it well. Having good management skills will help in achieving one’s goals. A person who has better money habits will be set up to have a better, more stable quality of life. Tie your child’s new financial habit to a goal like buying or doing something they want.

13) Model Your Advice

If you want your kid to learn good money habits, you have to show them practically. It’s important to model the behaviors for them in a transparent way and help give them tangible examples they can work through themselves. Experience is the best teacher, after all! Remember, children follow the same thing as their parents. Become a role model. Inspect your own behaviors and feelings about money. If needed, make adjustments.

14) Get Teenagers Involved with the Household Budget

Teenagers are on the precipice of independent living, so financial know-how is especially important for them to grow into successful adults.

It is your responsibility as a parent to help prepare them for the practical necessity that is managing money. Since teenagers are more mentally mature, they can handle more complex, real-world information to help them learn and prepare.

It may seem scary, but getting your teen in on managing the household budget is a fantastic exercise for this age group. Here are some steps you can take:

Tell your kid about every expense.
Inform them about the household’s monthly income.
Walk through the monthly and yearly budget, plus any retirement and college funds that you’re paying into.
Help your child open their bank accounts (checking and savings) if they don’t already have them.
Every week discuss your expenses and tell them how you manage them.
Give your teen tasks like grocery shopping or running an errand with a list that helps them develop the habit on their own.
Research and share stories of financially prosperous people and what you can learn/integrate from their approaches.

15) It’s Never Too Late to Learn – Help Your Adult Children with Money Habits

So, maybe you got to this a little later in the game. Parenting advice isn’t just for parents of young kids – there’s still valuable information you can pass on to your children even if they’re adults. Here are some ideas for how to help your adult children manage money:

Help them make a budget according to their income and expenses.
Talk with them about money in a calm, non-confrontational way.
Discuss their larger purchases and financial goals like buying a car or moving to a new city and make a financial roadmap to help them get there.

16) Break Bad Money Habits.

If your child has picked up some poor money habits, then you can use that as a learning opportunity. We all make mistakes with money at one point or another. Bouncing back is part of the process.

Identify the issue and why it’s a problem.

Talk about how this bad habit would really affect them in the future. Ask what they want to do – fix it or continue down the path they’re on.

If they choose to fix it, make a plan together for how to get through the problem. Be sure to include action steps that you can measure. Talk regularly about how the plan is going and measure their success. Celebrate when they’ve achieved their goal and un-done the problem.

If they don’t choose to fix it, then you may need to let them suffer the consequences of their financial mistake. The stakes during childhood and teenage years are usually much, much lower than in adulthood. Better they learn now than when they have a family of their own.

What if you’re the one with the bad habits? Look at it as an opportunity. You can learn together and even use yourself as an example of why it’s important to manage money well. Parents aren’t perfect, after all!

What better way to humbly show your kids how to do something than to learn and develop those great habits side-by-side.

Final Thoughts on Teaching Smart Money Habits to Your Kids

Money is a fundamental part of life. It’s how we obtain basic necessities like food and shelter, as well as indulgences like travel and toys.

Parents and caregivers play a significant role in shaping their children’s habits around money. Managing money is a reality that every adult must deal with. Because of that, it’s better to be more transparent with your kids and help them learn the skills to manage their money rather than letting them think it, “grows on trees.”

People don’t just spontaneously know how to manage money. If you help your kids understand that early on, then they’ll have a head start in life. Every parent wants their child to be equipped to live a happy, healthy life. Money management is simply a part of that journey.

12 Red Flags Your Partner is Hiding Secrets from You

June 3, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Have you ever felt your partner has a secret or is hiding something? It’s an ominous sense that hits you in the pit of your stomach. It’s important not to jump to conclusions as you may be overthinking the situation. However, you can’t ignore those red flags that keep popping up either.

It would be best if you confronted your partner. You need to tell them why you are suspicious and tell them you want the truth. What they say next means everything.

If your partner has a secret they don’t want to tell you, you may get some big production from them. He or she may become angry and start throwing accusations your way. They will deflect from the matter as they can’t believe you don’t trust them.

Signs Your Partner is Hiding Secrets

Always trust your gut instincts because something fishy is undoubtedly going on when they have such a strong reaction. Now that you’ve let the cat out of the bag, things may be different between you.

Experts say that there are some hallmark signs that someone is hiding something, even if they won’t spill the beans. Here is a list of 12 common behaviors from someone who has a secret but won’t tell.

1. They’re Being Overly Nice

Is your partner trying to wine and dine you all of a sudden? While getting special attention is not bad, it can undoubtedly be questionable behavior if it’s out of character for them. He or she may attempt to improve your relationship so that you won’t be suspicious of wrongdoing.

Some may say it’s a sneaky way of covering their tracks. For instance, if you get a dozen roses or your favorite candies, then it may be a sinister approach for them to get you off their trail. Again, you must trust your gut on this one because their motives could be deceptive.

2. They’re Protective of Their Cell Phone

A cell phone is a private device. However, within the confines of a relationship, there must be specific allowances for openness. You should have your partner’s code to get into their phone, and there is nothing that they should have on their mobile that you cannot see.

If they take their phone everywhere, even to the bathroom, it may be suspicious. How were their previous cell phone habits? Is their newfound obsession with this electronic device new or have they always been this way?

Ask them why they are so guarded over their phone. If you find that they get defensive, then it’s probably because they have something to hide. However, if they release the lock and allow you to browse, then you probably have nothing to worry about.

3. They Continue to Over-React

The first conversation where you expressed your concerns might have made them nervous. They may feel that you are onto their hidden secrets. When someone acts out, they may be doing this to get you off their case.

However, it may also be a subconscious action because all the fear and anxiety they are feeling is coming out. If you ask how their day was at work, they may blow up and act like you are invading their privacy.

4. They Turn the Tables and Accuse You Of Cheating

One of the hallmarks of a cheater is to project their guilt onto someone else. If you want to see their phone, they will say that you are sneaky or have an issue with trust. Their goal is to make you feel guilt.

The manipulator’s objective is to show you that you can trust them by playing the guilt card. Do you find they are picking at you for things they wouldn’t usually care about? For instance, did he or she blow a gasket because you spend too much at the grocery store this week?

Have they tried to claim that you are lying to them? These are all red flags that they are fighting to turn the attention from their wrongdoing and blame you.

Know the 15 signs of a partner with a wandering eye.

5. They’re Emotionally Aloof

Does your partner seem to be distant, both physically and emotionally? Someone who was always the life of the party and now tends to be quiet could be because they have a guilty conscience. If they have a secret, they may not want to burden you with it.

They are stepping away because they’re hiding secrets. Though it may not destroy your relationship, it could be devastating in other ways. It would be best if you encouraged your partner to share it with you. Let them know you can work on things no matter what happens.

6. Their Schedule is Erratic

Making a life change often requires a shift in activities and new habits. If your partner is experiencing life transitions, then their schedule could be altered. However, a shift in their schedule could be suspect if they don’t have a new job or haven’t taken on any responsibilities that you know about.

Keep in mind that hiding secrets don’t always mean they’re cheating. Their new habits may indicate that something is going on in their life that they are trying to keep from you.

7. You Catch Them in Lies

Trust is crucial in any relationship. However, when someone tries to hide something, their stories might not add up. Something as small as asking them what they had for lunch may spark concern, and they feel the need to lie.

For instance, your partner may tell you they are going out to lunch with friends during a text message, but in the evening, they may say they ate at the desk. While it’s impossible to remember every detail of your day, they surely should remember where they ate. Any inconsistencies can point to hiding secrets.

8. Your Partner Cuts You Out of Their Life

If you’ve always done everything together but are suddenly uninvited to things, it’s a red flag. While having a day to hang out with buddies is okay occasionally, if these outings increase or they don’t want you going anywhere with them, it’s suspicious.

At the very least, this behavior needs to be investigated. You need further information as to why they are acting this way. Are they hiding secrets?

9. Their Body Language Seems Off

Your partner may not need to utter a word; some people can tell that things are amiss because of their body language. Do they avoid looking into your eyes? When someone is hiding secrets and telling lies, they may have a hard time making eye contact.

Has your romantic life suffered? Your partner may close off all affection because they don’t want to be close to you. They are detached and cold because they have created an uncomfortable situation and don’t know how to deal with it.

10. They Don’t Disclose Details

Is your partner vague about their whereabouts? When you ask questions about how their day or activity went, they always answer with “good” or “fine?” When a partner is involved in something they want to keep you out of, they won’t care to recall any stories of their day.

Forget trying to talk or make any plans for the future, either. They may avoid the topic at all costs if they’re cheating.

These 12 actions show that a man has lost interest in his relationship.

11. They’re Continuously Staying Late at Work

Have you noticed that he or she is staying late at work suddenly? Do they have unforeseen meetings, overtime, and why they can’t come home right after their shift? Partners who are hiding secrets almost always use work as an excuse to change their schedule.

12. They’ve Become Mean

Guilt is a powerful thing. If your partner knows he or she is doing you wrong, they may become mean. It’s not that they don’t love you anymore or hate you, it’s that they are trying to avoid you at all costs.

They want to make excuses in their mind about why they need to end this relationship. It’s all about the justification for the manipulator. If a person who was once sweet and loving has turned into a monster, it’s a big red flag.

Final Thoughts on Detecting a Partner Who Is Hiding Secrets and Telling Lies

Over 40 percent of first marriages end in divorce, and over 73 percent of second marriages don’t make it either. The number one reason for marriages to end is infidelity. A committed relationship still faces the same woes even if you’re not married.

It’s also important to note that medical or mental health issues can cause changes in behavior. While your partner may not have done anything, they may be experiencing high levels of stress, and it’s altering their mood. Talk to them to see if they will open up about the underlying causes of their actions.

No matter what you’re facing with your partner, it’s always important to trust what your gut is trying to tell you. You were given those instincts to help you through situations like this in life, so you need to use them.

4 Best Ways To Get A Good Night’s Sleep

June 3, 2020 by Power of Positivity

You’ve tried to sleep early, wake up at consistent times, and get a decent length of rest. But for some reason, you either have trouble getting into a relaxed mood, or you just wake up feeling tired regardless. You just cannot get a good night’s sleep.

If that sounds familiar, then you’re in luck, because we’re here to help you out! Here are the four best ways to get a good night’s sleep.

1. Make The Bedroom Comfortable

Your bedroom is where you lay your head to rest at the end of the day. If your bedroom isn’t comfortable, getting a good night’s sleep becomes much more difficult. As such, you need to make sure your bedroom is truly cozy. Here’s how:

· Optimize The Environment

There are a lot of things that can affect the way a bedroom is optimized. Multiple factors surrounding a bedroom environment are believed to have negative or positive effects on sleep, ranging from noise, temperature, lighting, and even the arrangement of furniture!

Studies have found that 50% of people are likely to notice a better quality of sleep in low-light, low-noise rooms. Noise from traffic, artificial light from devices, and even the ticking of a clock can all affect your sleep quality.

· Set The Right Temperature

We mentioned briefly that the temperature of a room could dramatically affect how well or poorly you sleep. This means that you need to make sure your room is just right if you want to get a good night’s sleep. It can affect sleep quality even more than noise can. If you need residential hvac services, you may visit sites like https://alohaairmemphis.com/ac-services/repairs/ to learn more.

Looking for a heating and air contractor Greensboro contact Triple A Heating & Cooling. Those who are looking for professionals in Boise, ID to help them install a new ac unit may contact companies like Boise AC Replacement | Home Heating and Air Conditioning.

If you live in a warmer climate, you may consider an air conditioning installation by hiring a T.E. Spall & Son – AC installation expert to help you. You may also visit a site like https://allheatingservices.com/ac-installation/ for more info. You can also purchase an electric fan or some kind that can keep you cool. If you live in a cooler climate, think about turning on the heating at night, or about investing in warmer pajamas and bedding.

However, the main concern you’ll want to focus on is being too warm, as higher body temperature can make you more wakeful and ruin your sleep quality. Try experimenting with setting temperatures until you find one that works best for you. You can contact HVAC professionals to replace your old ac unit in Steiner Ranch, TX and nearby areas if you’re uncomfortable with your current unit.

· Make Sure Your Bedding Is Comfortable

Ever wonder why hotel beds always give you better sleep? It’s a mix of the relaxing atmosphere and the quality of the bedding. Using a new or comfortable mattress can reduce aches and pains while boosting sleep quality.

The exact kind of bedding that you may like best will vary depending on personal preference. Try out firmer and softer mattresses, pillows, and bedsheets and see which ones give you the most relaxing feeling.

2. Watch What You Eat and Drink

What you consume, especially later in the day, tends to affect how you sleep. This is due to how the body processes and digests food – the effects of what you drink or eat are often felt quite a while after you consume them! Here are some areas to be cautious of:

· Caffeine

This is a bit of a no-brainer, but it needs inclusion. Caffeine is a very powerful and beneficial component that can boost energy, focus, and even overall performance in sports and daily life. It’s pretty good to consume in the day, especially if you’re feeling very sleepy in the morning or early afternoon.

But late consumption of caffeine, even as far back as 6 hours before bedtime, can significantly worsen the quality of sleep. This is because caffeine is capable of remaining elevated and influential within the bloodstream for even up to 8 hours. Those who are caffeine-sensitive may want to stop consuming any caffeine after noontime.

If you do need some coffee in the evening, try something decaffeinated and see how it affects you. If it doesn’t seem to ruin your sleep quality but still helps you stay alert, that’s a good compromise.

· Alcohol

Alcoholic beverages are known for increasing feelings of sleepiness, but they also shorten your deep sleep phase, resulting in worse overall sleep. On top of that, excess alcohol consumption can affect your body’s hormones and increase sleep problems like disruption, snoring, and even sleep apnea.

If that wasn’t enough, alcohol changes the way your body produces melatonin, which means your circadian rhythm is negatively affected. The human growth hormone production rate is also decreased, which affects many bodily functions both at night and during waking hours.

· Eating Too Late

Just like alcohol consumption, late-night eating can change the way the body produces growth hormones and melatonin. The contents of that meal further exacerbate this. For example, high-carb meals taken 4 hours before turning in for the day can improve sleepiness. (However, it’s worth noting that low-carb diets typically promote better overall sleep quality.)

· Drinking Too Much Before Bed

When you drink right before sleeping, especially if you’re drinking a lot, you may have to deal with nocturia. Nocturnia is the technical term for frequent nighttime urination, often causing you to have to wake up and go to the bathroom several times a night.

This repeated process of waking and sleeping can affect the restfulness of sleep and make you feel more tired the next day. Even just drinking a couple of glasses of water before bed can cause this to happen, so try not to drink too much in the hour before sleeping.

Here are tips to beat insomnia forever.

3. Manage Light Exposure

Light is crucial in regulating your circadian rhythm since your brain uses light exposure as a way to gauge the time of day and produce hormones accordingly properly. This means that you have to manage light exposure in such a way that supports your circadian rhythm.

· Up Daytime Bright Light Exposure

During the day, turn on the lights and stay in bright areas. This helps your brain to get into positive thinking mode, boosting your wakefulness. If you can, spending time out in the sun can help, even more, so draw the curtains and let some sunshine in!

Studies have found that those who experience insomnia often benefit from bright light exposure during the daytime to the point of falling asleep 83% faster. It can also increase sleep duration by 2 hours at a time.

· Reduce Nighttime Bright Light Exposure

Since exposure to light during the day helps to keep you awake, it makes sense that nighttime bright light exposure has the opposite effect. The brain needs dim light to begin producing enough melatonin to get you sleepy. Without sufficient melatonin, you may not be able to enter a relaxed state.

Keep in mind that bright light doesn’t just come from the sun or artificial lights in your ceiling and lamps by your bed. They come from your phone, TV, laptop, and even digital clocks. Even using blue light filters doesn’t necessarily help.

· Put Down Devices

Two hours before bedtime, turn off the TV, put down your phone, and focus on something relaxing – like reading a book, listening to soothing music, or doing some self-care. This will reduce the bright light that you expose yourself to.

4. Try Supplements

When all else fails, sometimes your best option is to opt for supplements that can potentially help you get some sleep. Do note that you should always consult a doctor before starting any supplements, especially if you have pre-existing conditions, and you should never mix them – try one at a time until you find one that works. Here are some to consider:

· Melatonin

We’ve talked about melatonin a lot in this article, and for a good reason. It’s the primary sleep hormone that signals your body and mind that it’s time to turn in and snooze. These supplements are very common among those with sleep troubles, and they encourage faster sleeping.

Studies have found that just 2mg of the hormone taken before bed can boost the quality of sleep and help with energy levels the following day. There are also typically no withdrawal symptoms that happen when you stop. A low dose is usually recommended to begin with, and the dose is taken half an hour to an hour before bedtime.

· Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that is crucial for a large number of bodily functions. More than 600 bodily reactions depend on it! This includes things such as sleep quality, relaxation, and general decreases in stress that help with positive thinking.

· Glycine

This amino acid, in low doses of around 3 mg, may be capable of improving sleep quality and allowing for a more positive night’s sleep. Studies have shown some favorable results, but much more research is needed before concrete conclusions.

· Lavender

This herb is known for having a wide range of benefits to the health, and it’s quite a powerful little plant. Specifically, it is capable of producing relaxing effects that are almost sedative in nature, allowing for calmer periods of sleep. This is why it’s used as a relaxing scent a lot!

Lavender supplements contain linalool, which is the main component that provides these benefits. A small dose of between 80 and 160 mg usually does the trick.

· Valerian Root

A lot of studies have been performed into this interesting root, and most conclude that it is capable of boosting the quality of sleep and improving the speed at which ones fall asleep. 500 mg is the usual before-bed dose taken.

· Ginkgo Biloba

As you may have guessed by its name, this herb is a traditional one used in older forms of medicine – and for a good reason! It has plenty of benefits, primarily for stress relief, positive thinking, and relaxation.

Unfortunately, there hasn’t been sufficient research into this Gingko Biloba for anything conclusive to be drawn for its sleep benefits, but some people do find it works. A 250 mg dose taken half an hour to an hour prior to sleep time may aid your winding down process.

· L-theanine

This is another amino acid, usually taken in 100 mg to 200 mg doses, to boost feelings of serenity and relaxation. Taking it before bed has been found to help the process of falling asleep.

Final Thoughts On Some Ways To Get A Good Night’s Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is about more than lying down at the right time and hoping for the best. Consider your environment, the noise levels, your light exposure, and what you eat and drink, because they could all be determining whether you get good sleep or not!

Weekly tips, affirmations, and small actions to feel your best.

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!

Weekly tips, affirmations, and small actions to feel your best.

10 Habits of Naturally Slim People

1 – They Eat Only When They Are Hungry

2 – They Actively Think About Nutrition

3 – They Stay Away from Options That Are Unhealthy

4 – Slim People Eat Slowly

5 – They Consume Water

6 – Cooking Meals Using Healthier Ingredients

7 – They Prefer Eating Fresh, Wholesome Foods

8 – Slim People Develop a Taste and Habit for Eating Healthy

9 – Choosing Quality, Not Quantity

10 – Looking at The Ingredient Label

Final Thoughts on Adopting Some of the Habits of Naturally Slim People

Holistic Solutions to Cool Down Your Heartburn

1. Avoid Certain Foods

2. Chamomile Tea

3. Baking Soda

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

5. Aloe Vera Juice

6. Ginger Root

7. Slippery Elm

8. Licorice

9.Chewing Gum

10. Sleep on Your Left Side

Final Thoughts: Choose Nature First and Skip the Antacid Tablets

15 Quotes When You Want to Live a Life of Positivity

1. “A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results.” – Wade Boggs

2. “You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot–it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that, I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.” – Maya Angelou

3. “You have to open up to the world and learn optimism…Contentment with the past, happiness with the present, and hope for the future. Learned optimism.” – Jennifer Crusie

4. “What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficult, and every difficulty has an opportunity.” – J. Sidlow Baxter

5. “When the negative thoughts come — and they will; they come to all of us — it’s not enough to just not dwell on it… You’ve got to replace it with a positive thought.” – Joel Osteen

6. “Optimism is the most important human trait because it allows us to evolve our ideas, to improve our situation, and to hope for a better tomorrow.” – Seth Godin

7. “It’s a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack.” – Germany Kent

8. “Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve done before.” – Bonnie Blair

9. “Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo

10. “I think it’s important to get your surroundings as well as yourself into a positive state – meaning surround yourself with positive people, not the kind who are negative and jealous of everything you do.” – Heidi Klum

11. “Appreciate every little beautiful moment in every day of your life. Give it a try and you’ll see the world from another perspective.” – Thea Kristine May

12. “If you have a positive attitude and constantly strive to give your best effort, eventually you will overcome your immediate problems.” – Pat Riley

14. “Surround yourself with the dreamers, and the doers, the believers, and thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don’t see it yourself.” – Edmund Lee

15. “Stay positive and happy. Work hard and don’t give up hope. Be open to criticism and keep learning. Surround yourself with happy, warm, and genuine people.” – Tena Desae

Final Thoughts on Memorable Quotes to Live a Life of Positivity

1. Taking Certain Medications

· Taking Daily Multivitamins

· Always Reaching For Pain Medication

· Taking Lots Of Antacids

· Consuming Calcium Supplements Daily

2. Meal Habits

· Not Eating At Night

· Having A Very Small Breakfast

· Counting Calories

· Skipping Meals

3. Hygiene Habits

· Washing Your Face Twice A Day

· Cleaning Ears With Ear Swabs

· Using Hand Sanitizer

· Washing Hair Daily

4. Diet Habits

· Consuming Diet Foods

· Making Strict Food Rules

· Eating Low-Fat

· Cutting Carbs

· Trying Popular Diets

Final Thoughts On Some Healthy Habits That Aren’t Really Healthy

10 Ways to End Body Shaming and Love the Skin You’re In

1. You are Unique

2. You have Redefined Beauty for Yourself

3. You’ve Made Friends with Your Body

4. You Show Gratitude Every Day

5. You’ve Learned to Eliminate the Negative

6. You Want to be Healthy instead of Skinny

7. You Accentuate Your Inner Beauty

8. You Create Your Sense of Style

9. You No Longer Need a Mask of Makeup

10. Be an Advocate for Yourself and Others

Final Thoughts: Stop Body Shaming Yourself and Wear Self Confidence Instead

Yuck, diarrhea

Foods to avoid when you have diarrhea

Recovering from diarrhea

The BRAT diet

Why BRAT foods?

8. “Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve
done before.” – Bonnie Blair