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15 Snacks That Help Reduce Inflammation

May 13, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Inflammation is the cause of a wide variety of bodily ailments. It’s the way that your body responds to change in your body, like pain or irritation. It’s a natural process that your body needs to heal and recover from things like muscle soreness and injury. A healthy diet can rebalance your body, and don’t overlook the importance of healthy snacks.

Eating things like processed dairy and sugar can harm your body by causing chronic inflammation. These foods put your body into a constant state of inflammation because of the food you are giving it. If you want to beat chronic pain and give your body the nourishment it needs to thrive, read on. We share 15 great snacks that help reduce inflammation.

15 Snacks to Help Reduce Painful Inflammation in Your Body

Learn all about what healthy snacks you should keep on hand to enjoy when you need a nutritional boost.

1. Almonds

Almonds are the ultimate quick and convenient snack. They have a ton of protein, are entirely unprocessed, taste great, and are great to have handy around the house when hunger strikes. They contain plenty of monounsaturated fats (the right kind) as well as vitamins like manganese. Almonds are a great option as a filling, protein-filled snack that won’t irritate your body.

2. Avocados

The trendiest food of the past ten years, avocados have become popular on toast and salads nationwide. While they have become ubiquitous, they’re more than just a trend: They have a ton of highly nutritious fat and other vitamins. They are one of the most nutrient-dense fruits available and are incredibly versatile to cook with. Their anti-inflammatory properties include the rich antioxidant content they have.

Avocados work great on a salad, sandwich, blended in a smoothie, or eaten just as they are.

3. Broccoli

Another classic “healthy” food, broccoli is standard among fitness enthusiasts and health nuts for a reason. It’s exceptionally high in phytochemicals known as glucosinolates — antioxidants that pack a powerful punch. It’s low in calories and has plenty of fiber as well.

Try to eat it both cooked and raw — you get a greater variety of the nutrients within the vegetable that way. The best way to get the most flavor out of broccoli is to caramelize it by cooking it at high heats with plenty of oil like butter or coconut oil.

4. Blueberries

Blueberries are an antioxidant champ. They contain tons of polyphenols that cause antioxidant production in the body, which guards against all kinds of inflammation. Another incredibly easy addition to your diet, blueberries are one of the quickest foods to grab as a snack when you’re on the run or just busy. You can also add healthy snacks like blueberries to salads or smoothies for an easy way to incorporate them into your diet.

5. Carrots

Colorful and orange, carrots contain nutrients that are crucial to your health and wellness. Carrots can help reduce inflammation by their rich antioxidant content. In particular, the antioxidants present in carrots can help reduce your risk of cancer by guarding the healthy cells in your body. They’re also super low in calories and easy to incorporate in juices or other foods. They’re great roasted, raw, or pan-fried.

6. Kale Chips

Another nutrient-dense healthy snack, kale contains vitamins, A, K, and C as well as iron and potassium. Kale chips are genuinely delicious. Kale is an incredibly sweet vegetable, especially when it’s roasted.

You can buy pre-made kale chips or make them yourself at home.

Just gather a bunch of fresh kale, chop it to manageable pieces and toss it in a large bowl with olive or coconut oil. Season with anything you like — kosher salt, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder are all great options. Bake them on a cookie sheet it at high heat for around 15-20 minutes, or longer for crispier chips.

7. Cauliflower popcorn

Another great addition to our list of healthy snacks, cauliflower, rivals broccoli in terms of its nutrient content and health benefits. Cauliflower contains plenty of fiber (which is excellent for gut health) and is delicious on its own eaten raw.

A great way to make it into a healthy snack is to make cauliflower “popcorn.” Just toss the vegetable in oil and roast in the oven for around 30 minutes. Coat with whatever seasoning you like.

8. Paleo Trail Mix

Trail mix is one of the best healthy snacks available. The issue is that most trail mix contains a ton of sugar, one of the biggest culprits for causing inflammation in the body. Paleo trail mix is a healthier option that can help you in your quest to reduce inflammation.

Try mixing banana chips, nuts and seeds of any kind, and things like dried cranberries or goji berries. Make sure they’re unsweetened. Add some dark chocolate chunks if you want — these usually are lower in sugar and generally excellent for you.

9. Baked Zucchini Crisps

Coat your crisps in almond flour — its’ inflammation-free and a more natural alternative than regular flour. These are a great appetizer option to help you reduce inflammation in your body and improve your gut health. Incorporating any vegetable as a snack is a great option, and cooking zucchini like this makes it tastier than any chip.

10. Chocolate Coconut Cashew Bars

Energy bars seem pretty great for convenience and some fast protein. However, they also contain ingredients like processed sugar and soy that make them pretty hard on your body. The good news is that you can make your super-healthy energy bars with things that you have lying around the house.

Try mixing nuts and figs in a food processor to make your base. You can coat it with dark chocolate, peanut butter, or other ingredients like coconut or dried fruit. These can be left in the fridge or freezer to harden, and then enjoy as a great all-around snack.

11. Oranges

Oranges can help reduce inflammation with their high vitamin and folate content. Their vitamin C content helps your body fight inflammation overall as well as guard against sickness. They’re great on their own — they’re also portable, which makes them incredibly convenient.

They’re more than just a healthy snack. Learn how you can use oranges to boost the health of your hair.

12. Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potatoes reduce inflammation in their body by virtue of their high vitamin content. Like carrots, they contain beta-carotene, which is a potent antioxidant. Sweet potatoes fries rival regular fries in terms of taste, and they’re a bit healthier depending on how you prepare them.

Try slicing a sweet potato (skin-on) into long, thin strips. Coat in olive oil. Kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder and baked at high heat for around 30-40 minutes. Serve alongside a burger or on their own as a great snack.

13. Ginger Turmeric Orange Smoothie

The great thing about smoothies is that you can put any kind of inflammation-fighting ingredient you want in them, and they still generally taste great. One classic combination for smoothies is ginger and turmeric. Both of these ingredients are powerful inflammation reducers in the body and add unique flavor and color to any dish.

Try combining fresh ginger and turmeric with oranges, mangoes, and bananas in a blender. Add some raw honey for extra sweetness. This drink is a great breakfast option as it is quick and easy to make and loaded with powerful nutrients.

14. Turmeric Ginger Muffins

Another great way to use the classic ginger and turmeric combo is to combine it with coconut or almond flour in a muffin. The name of the game when it comes to healthy snacks is convenience — you want options that are quick and easy to grab as alternatives to things like chips or cookies.

15. Kombucha

Soda is a significant temptation for many of us. It’s sweet, fizzy, cheap, and refreshing. Here’s some excellent news: Kombucha fits all of those requirements without any of the adverse health effects. Kombucha is a fermented black tea drink. It’s made with live probiotics that give it a healthy gut bacteria culture that can aid your body in a myriad of ways.

Gut health is one of the key players to help your body reduce inflammation. You can make Kombucha at home with relative ease — you just need to purchase a live culture starter pack known as a “SCOBY.” You can also buy it at most major grocery stores for reasonable prices.

It’s much cheaper to buy in bulk; a liter generally costs around eight dollars. Kombucha is an excellent replacement option for soda that tastes great and has a ton of health benefits.

Final Thoughts on Snacking Healthy to Reduce Inflammation

The best method for changing your health and lifestyle is to provide yourself with healthy alternatives to typical “unhealthy” foods. Healthy and nutrient-dense food can be affordable, cheap, and convenient. You just have to take some time and figure out what works best for you.

Besides, when you commit to eating healthy food, your body will begin to experience the effects and reduce inflammation. As an added benefit, you will feel your cravings for unhealthy foods decrease. In time, you will naturally want the new diet that you’ve started. Give some of these recipes a try to start feeling better today.

5 Signs That Reveal You May Live Longer Than Other People Your Age

May 13, 2020 by Power of Positivity

In a perfect world, we would all live longer and know when our life would end. This way, you’d be able to get your affairs in order and get things ready before the moment comes. On second thought, knowing when the moment was happening might be an awful thing to know.

Whether you’d want to know when it’ll happen or if you’d rather not know, we’re all curious about one thing. The thing we want to know is what makes some people outlive others. While there’s no exact science to figure it out, there are some ideas of what leads to a longer life.

Each of the ideas relates to your overall wellbeing. It seems that taking care of your body and mind is the ultimate key to living a long life. Since wellness is such a vast topic, it’s essential to narrow it down. Once you narrow it down, you can understand some of the signs that reveal you may live longer.

5 Signs You May Live Longer Than Others

Remember that there is no exact science to determine how long anyone will live. Many factors determine the length of life, but these signs are ones that anyone can work on.

1. You’re Organized, Make Plans, and Budget

Studies show that those who are organized, disciplined, persistent, and hard-working typically outlive others. This indicator is because they take fewer risks, are healthier, and have regular check-ups and doctor visits. Since they are more conscientious about their health, this benefits them in the long run.

Those aren’t the only reasons that organizers, planners, and budgeters live longer, however. Since these things go along with cognition, it can help prevent degenerative cognitive diseases.

People who have these characteristics are also less likely to smoke cigarettes and consume an excessive amount of alcohol. Plus, they’re more likely to have a steady job and a healthy marriage, leading to less stress and health problems.

In total, those who are organized, planners, and budgeters are expected to live around four years longer than others.

How You Can Work on This

Luckily, it’s not too late to develop this type of lifestyle. For those who aren’t naturally organized, a planner, or a budgeter, it’s still possible. It may just be a little tougher and will take more determination.

You can start by practicing writing schedules and budgets for yourself or your family. Start with a plan for the day, and then stick to it. Once you have a routine of planning your day and stick to it, you can begin planning for longer things.

If you wish to live a life like this, it’s crucial to consider relationships, careers, and friendships before jumping in. By doing so, you’re giving yourself a chance to review what may come from life change. If it might be toxic for you or cause overwhelming stress, think of your wellbeing before deciding.

2. Your BMI is Normal

Being overweight can decrease a life span, so an abnormal Body Mass Index (BMI) could mean a shorter life. With a healthy BMI, however, you are likely to outlive others.

Keep in mind, however, that an abnormal BMI calculation isn’t always a cause for alarm. If yours is too high or too low, you should discuss it with your doctor.

An average BMI calculation is between 18.5 and 24.9, and the index for being overweight is between 25 and 29.9. Then, an obese index is between 30 and 34.9. If you are above the obese calculation, you must change your lifestyle habits.

To calculate BMI, you have to divide your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. If this is too complicated, it’s easy to find accurate BMI calculators on the internet.

Read about the connection between BMI and overall wellness.

How to Reach a Normal BMI

The only way to change your BMI is to change your lifestyle. If your BMI is too low, you can work to gain weight or muscle. On the other hand, if your BMI is too low, you will have to do the opposite.

There are two natural ways you can successfully reach a normal BMI. One is by eating healthy foods and sticking to a nutritious diet. The other way is by exercising regularly and leading an active lifestyle.

It seems that the most critical factor for those who are overweight or obese is to eat less. Try leaving some food on your plate at each meal. A study performed at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis proves that this can help you live longer.

In the study, researchers determined that a diet that is low in calories yet high in nutrition is the best option. This is because that type of diet decreases the number of T3 hormones in your body. T3, a thyroid hormone, not only causes a slow metabolism, but it also speeds up the aging process.

3. You Look Younger Than You Are

When scientists conducted a study on twins, they were able to determine one of the signs of a longer life. The twins were monitored over the course of 12 years. In the end, scientists decided that the twin who looked younger lived longer.

The Secret to Looking Younger

Take care of yourself. Things like cigarettes and alcohol can make people appear older, proving that they are not suitable for the body. Eating healthy foods will help, along with regularly being active. Another way to look younger is by getting enough sleep.

4. You Have Regular Social Interaction

Healthy social interaction doesn’t have to mean there are many people in your life. Even a small group of people, you have a meaningful relationship with can help your overall wellness.

When you have people that you can trust in tough situations, you’ll have more help through the hard times. This increases the chances that you’ll have support when you’re sick, hurt, or just need a companion.

Other reasons that regular social interaction leads to a longer life are health-related. Studies show that those who aren’t regularly social tend to have more negative health patterns than others.

These negative health patterns include inactivity, obesity, hypertension, and increased blood clots. Those who are social also get sick less often when exposed to viruses than those who are generally isolated. They also have less inflammatory markers than those who don’t have regular social interaction.

Another health issue that stems from social interaction is that those who are isolated are more likely to smoke tobacco. Plus, those who have social interaction are less likely to have high blood pressure and increased heart rate from stress.

How to Become More Social

Be careful not to let social media become your only form of communication with friends and family. To get the full benefits of social interaction, you have to have people in real life.

Make plans with the people you care about and follow through on them. Don’t wait for them to call you to make plans. Instead, reach out and let them know you’d like to spend some time together.

If you don’t know anyone in your area that you can reach out to, look for friends in other places. Join a group or start spending time in places that interest you. By doing this, you’re likely to find friends like yourself.

5. You Often Exhibit Positivity

Positive people experience less stress in their daily life and outlive negative people. Since there is less stress, blood pressure and heart rate tend to stay more regular. Both of those things are a vital part of living a long and healthy life.

The most crucial topic to remain positive about is aging. It’s believed that being positive about aging and life can lead to living up to 15% longer than negative people. Plus, you’ll have a better chance of making it 85 years old than those who can’t see the positives.

The Way to Become More Positive

Work on staying positive in your life each day. When things aren’t going as planned, look for a positive in the situation. There is always going to be at least one good thing going on, no matter how insignificant it may seem.

One way to remind yourself that life is good is by keeping a gratitude journal. Write one thing each day that you were grateful for. You can also say positive affirmations to yourself and surround yourself with other positive people.

Final Thoughts on Signs That Reveal You May Live Longer Than Other People Your Age

Even though there is no definite answer, there are signs that you may live longer than others. These signs are based on scientific evidence and research, so it isn’t just speculation. The best part is that anyone can achieve all of the signs mentioned.

If you struggle with any of the things listed, you can change something about your life today. Your wellness is the most significant part of life length, and each sign focuses on wellness in some way.

Take care of your mind and body, and you’ll become one of the people who may live longest. You only have one life, so you might as well make it the best one possible.

15 Things to Get Rid of In Your Home Right Now

May 13, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Your home should feel like a calm, comfortable place where you can unwind.

With clutter, however, you may struggle to enjoy your space. It’ll feel crowded, disorganized, and can make you feel overwhelmed or stressed out.

The reason for these negative feelings that arise from clutter is explained in the Journal of Neuroscience. It is explained that your brain can’t handle seeing so many objects at one time. Since this is the case, a cluttered environment can bring on overwhelming or stressful feelings.

With a home that is organized and less cluttered, you’ll feel calmer and happier. You’ll be able to find things easier, and you’ll utilize what you have much more often than you do now.

Whatever the reason, you may struggle to part with some of the items in your house. You need to reassess the reasons that you are keeping everything.

If it is used often, needed, or a sentimental item, you should keep it. Otherwise, consider getting rid of it to make your home a more enjoyable space.

15 Things to Get Rid of In Your Home…Right Now!

Counselors explain how your home can give you anxiety.

1. CDs or DVDs

Think back to the last time you listened to a CD. If you can’t remember, it’s time to get rid of them. The same goes for DVDs.

With many streaming services accessible from televisions, DVD’s are becoming useless technology. If you don’t ever watch them, clear the space for something more useful.

2. Bed Linen with Holes

There’s no reason to hang onto old sheets, pillowcases, or comforters that have holes. You only need a couple of extra, so throw out the old ones that you skip over anyway. This will clear up quite a bit of space in your linen closet.

3. Old Clothes with Missing Buttons

We all have those items in our closet or dresser that are missing a button. There’s always a plan to repair them, yet it never seems to happen. Just get rid of those clothing items and open up some closet space for items you wear.

4. Board Games with Missing Pieces

There is no reason to keep a game that is missing pieces. Living with the idea that you may one day find the pieces is a bit extreme. While you wait for the pieces to appear out of thin air, you’re keeping games that may never be used again.

5. Socks with Holes or Missing Mates

You don’t want your toe poking through a hole, or your barefoot rubbing against the inside of your shoe all day. Get rid of socks with holes, so you have more space for the socks that are in good condition.

You should also get rid of any socks that don’t have a mate. At this point, they’re just taking up space in your sock basket. Face it. The mate is gone forever.

6. Plastic Containers Missing the Lid

We all have food storage containers or other plastic containers that don’t have the lid. These containers take up so much space, you’ll be glad when they’re gone.

On that note, think about any lids you have that are missing the container. There is no way to know for sure how this happens, but it does. Clear those out, too.

Read tips on getting an organized home on a tight budget.

7. Equipment from Hobbies You No Longer Participate In

If you used to scrapbook but don’t anymore, get rid of the supplies. Same with golf clubs that are gathering dust and taking up space.

Think about anything you used to do but haven’t done in a long time and get rid of the equipment that goes along with it. You’ll be happy with the extra space, and you won’t miss the material or equipment that you never used anyway.

8. Unused Cords or Chargers

As adults, we tend to collect every charger or cord we come in contact with. It’s hard to keep track of what they are all for, so it tends to be easier to keep them just in case.

Before you know it, you have a box or drawer full of cords that haven’t been used in years. The worst part is that it seems like when they end up in the box, they never come back out. Dump it all and use that drawer or box for something more useful.

9. Old Receipts

If you are hanging onto a receipt for something that cannot be returned or exchanged, you may not need to. You only need to keep it if it’ll be necessary for your taxes or for a warranty. If taxes are the reason for keeping it, then follow typical rules for length of time to keep it.

If you won’t need to return or exchange, and it doesn’t pertain to your tax returns, get rid of it. These receipts and just interfere with your organization and take up lots of unnecessary space. Keep things under control by minimizing the receipts that you still have.

10. Takeout Menus

You can find most menus on the internet. There’s no need to keep the old take out menus when you can find everything you need online. The best part is that you don’t have to worry about having an out of date menu when you want to place an order.

11. Empty Wine Bottles

There are so many crafts or décor projects that involve using empty wine bottles. Because of this, so many of us save all of our empty bottles. Then suddenly, you have too many piling up and no projects being done.

Just accept the fact that you don’t need the empty wine bottles. They are just taking up space and getting in the way.

12. Clothes That Don’t Fit Anymore

This goes for adult and children’s clothes. If you have boxes of clothes that have outgrown the owner, it is time to get rid of them. Whether it is your clothes that are too big or too small or your children’s, it’s time to get rid of them.

If you are saving something to fit into after you lose some weight, stop saving it. You’ll want new clothes when the time comes, and the old ones may not fit the way you had remembered.

13. Books You Have Already Read

Most don’t reread the same book twice unless it was a favorite. With this being the case, there is no reason to keep every book you read. Think of all the new books you could get if you had more shelf space.

14. Toys That No One Plays with Anymore

Your kids are constantly growing and evolving. This means that they’ll outgrow toys they once loved. Instead of leaving those toys around your house taking up space, donate them or throw them away.

You’ll get over the loss of the toy pretty quickly, despite it being a bittersweet reminder that your child is getting older. Remind yourself that your child likely won’t miss it at all or even notice that it is gone. Plus, it opens up space for toys they’ll be getting for holidays or birthdays.

15. Cookbooks

With recipes being easily available online, that’s where you likely go for your recipes. Cookbooks are hardly used anymore, as it’s just easier to find new ideas on the internet. Unless you use your cookbook collection regularly, you should probably get rid of them.

If you have a few recipes that you reference a cookbook for, photocopy those recipes or rip them out. Then, gather all of your favorite recipes into a simple binder or folder and get rid of the bulky books. Even better, you could create an online gallery of your favorite recipes by scanning them to your computer.

When to Donate, Sell, or Throw Away Unused Home Items

Now, the hard part. It’s hard to decide the things you should throw away, donate, or sell. When you are making the decision, you have to consider several factors for each scenario.

When to Sell

-The item is in great condition
-You’re motivated to sell and have the time
-It will sell for enough to make it worth the hassle

When to Donate

-Item is in good condition
-You know someone in need
-The item would be useful to most people
-The time or energy required to sell isn’t worth the return

When to Throw Away

-The item is broken
-It’s in poor condition
-You don’t have time to get to the donation center

Final Thoughts on the 15 Things to Get Rid of In Your Home Right Now

Everyone struggles to get rid of things sometimes, and there are many different reasons for this struggle. Whatever the reason, however, you have to just get started and get rid of the clutter.

There are plenty of items sitting around your home right now that you could get rid of. By doing so, you’ll be opening space for things you need and regularly use. Plus, as stated before, having a home free of things you don’t need can also improve your mental state.

You can’t keep everything forever, so try not to waste time when choosing to get rid of it. Be picky about what you keep, and get rid of things you don’t use regularly.

Doctors Reveal 10 Bad Habits That Cause Sleeplessness

May 13, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Oh, the long nights of tossing and turning! Do you struggle from not getting enough rest each day? Are the hours of sleeplessness adding up to a significant loss?

You may be surprised to know that insomnia is a growing problem, and it’s only getting worse. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all adults need seven or more hours of slumber to feel refreshed. Sadly, the lack of rest can have a dramatic impact on your life.

10 Bad Habits That Cause Sleeplessness

If you are tired of your nightly routine being mixed up and dragging as you go into work the next day, then there are things you can do to improve your sleeplessness. Here are ten of the worst habits that can cause your sleepless nights.

1. Falling Asleep To The Television

Having a television in your room seems like a good idea, right? Well, that is one of the worst ways for you to fall asleep. A TV has bright lights and noise that can affect your brain.

While you may think it’s helping you to get to dreamland, the lights are sending scrambled messages to your brain. Your brain is seeing the lights and hearing the noise, and it prevents you from going into a deep REM state of rest. Meaning, you won’t feel refreshed because you will never enter the healing part of your sleep.

2. Having Cell Phones and Computers Near Bed

Another problem that is significant in our day and age is a cell phone close to the bed. These little devices have replaced the alarm clock and house phone, but are they causing more harm than good? Cell phones emit a light that will mess with your circadian clock rhythm.

If the cell phone is more than five feet from your bed, then you are safe. However, most people keep it within an arm’s length from them at all times. When your circadian clock rhythm gets out of whack, then your body won’t produce melatonin that helps you get and stay asleep.

Science explains the risks of 5G technology.

3. Not Keeping a Nightly Routine

Remember the importance of keeping your newborn on a schedule for sleep? If their timing changed in any way, it could cause significant problems. Well, the same problem also happens for adults.

Many adults use their sleep as a bargaining tool. If they want to stay up to watch a movie, then they will cut their sleep by a couple of hours. Your rest is just as important as eating a nutritious meal each day. Without it, your body will suffer.

Don’t use your sleep as a mathematical equation where you can subtract and add time as you please. You need a routine schedule to avoid sleeplessness. With a set schedule, you will look and feel better in the morning.

4. Consuming Too Much Caffeine

Caffeine is a stimulant that speeds up your heart. While drinking a cup of coffee or one soda a day isn’t going to kill you, it can keep you up at night. If you have a caffeinated drink too late in the afternoon, it can cause
sleeplessness.

Part of your nightly routine should include nothing caffeinated after 4 pm. If you have the willpower to cut these beverages, it would be beneficial for your body. Caffeine is very addictive and follows the same pathways as cocaine in your brain.

5. Having Your Bedroom Too Warm

Have you ever noticed how you always look for that cool spot on your pillow? Well, studies prove that you will sleep better in a cool room. That doesn’t mean you should turn off the heat as you will get sick, but you need to keep it about five to seven degrees cooler when you are sleeping.

Your body is better able to rest when it’s nice and cool in your bedroom, and you can save on the electric or gas bill too.

6. Using Alcohol To Sleep

So many people think that alcohol makes them sleep better, so they will take a shot of something strong to knock them out. The problem is that alcohol can be counterproductive.

While you may fall to sleep faster, the induced slumber won’t last long. You are more apt to be aroused easily if you have alcohol in your system. Plus, these arousals can cause periods of apnea, which can be deadly.

7. Save Your Workouts For The AM Hours

It may seem like it’s best to workout before you take your evening shower, but the popular philosophy is misleading. When you exercise, you get your heart pumping, and you’re releasing endorphins that stimulate and you not relax you. Though your body may be tired, your brain is wide awake.

The problem with all this stimulation is it can make going to sleep difficult. Your sleeplessness can be caused by the timing of your work out. Try an AM workout to see if it improves sleep problems. You may be surprised how it fixes your sleep deprivation.

8. Don’t Depend on Sleep Aids

There are so many sleep aids on the market that you can get both by prescription and over-the-counter. However, the real problem is that these aids are simply masking a problem. You can overcome much of your sleeplessness by simply practicing good sleep hygiene.

These medications, even if bought at a local drug store, are not harmless. They induce sleep, and your body becomes dependent on them. You will often need more of the drug to get the same effects. If you’re not sleeping, don’t throw a pill at the problem as it can make things worse.

Taking something natural like melatonin can help your body to fall asleep and stay asleep longer. Other natural herbs can also be beneficial. Don’t drug yourself to get the rest you need. Explore natural options like meditation and herbal treatments.

9. Eating Too Late

Your job may dictate your dinner time. Some people eat early at around 4-5 pm, while others may have their nightly meal between 7-9 pm. The only problem with eating late is that it can cause you to have a rough night of sleep.

If you overeat, you can feel bloated, having indigestion, and fight these problems all night long. You need to allow at least four hours between your last meal and sleep. Your food needs proper time to digest so that it doesn’t interrupt you at night.

These five habits can leave you feeling exhausted.

10. You Don’t Have Adequate Bedding

While no one wants to spend excessive amounts of money on mattresses, it can pay to have one that is supporting your body. Every single thing, including pillows, blankets, and bedding, will have a dramatic impact on your rest.

Some people can’t sleep well with a quilt because they are heavy, but a comforter provides a lighter touch that seems to make someone sleep better. Remember how kids pick a favorite blanket and won’t let it go? It’s because they find comfort, and the blanket helps them to get quality sleep.

It’s okay for adults to have a favorite “blanket,” too. If a weighted blanket helps to ease your angst and provides your safety net for slumber, then, by all means, use what helps you.

Rule Out Underlying Medical Conditions

Sometimes, there is a medical condition that is causing you to get the sleep you need. Insomnia is a real problem that needs to be treated. While you should be wary of throwing prescription medications at the problem, you could have an underlying issue like sleep apnea, causing the issues.

Sleep apnea is a condition where you stop breathing during the night. These periods of breathlessness are dangerous, but they are treatable. Having a C-Pap machine can ensure that your airways are open and responsive to the brain’s signals to make you breathe.

Additionally, if you’re taking medications, they can also have a dramatic impact on your sleep. Thinks like depression and anxiety can cause you to sleep too much or too little. If you’re having issues, then the first thing you need to do is evaluate your sleep hygiene.

Final Thoughts: End Sleeplessness by Improving Your Sleep Hygiene

Using the list above, what can you do to improve your sleep health? Is your phone sitting by your bed every night? Do you have computers, iPads, and televisions going an hour before you go to sleep?

Are you eating too late or bargaining with your sleep like it’s an optional part of your day? You can change some of the sleep patterns. Naturally, that doesn’t require any medications. Before you reach for sleep aids, try some herbs or a nice herbal tea that can help to stimulate rest and avoid the drugged or hungover feeling the next day.

You need at least seven hours of sleep. If you’re not getting that amount, then you need to change some things for your health’s sake. Your body must have time to heal and restore.

10 Rashes That Could Reveal a Dermatologic Disease

May 13, 2020 by Power of Positivity

The skin is the largest organ of the body. When you have a skin condition or dermatologic disease, it is quite noticeable and uncomfortable. This can be embarrassing and quite alarming.

It can even bring someone’s self-esteem down, so you want your skin to look better right away. Many skin conditions can look similar, but it’s important to know the different diseases to determine what you have and how to fix it.

Here are ten rashes that could reveal a dermatologic disease.

1. Acne

Acne is a skin condition that occurs when pores fill with oil or other foreign materials. This clogging causes pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads on the skin. It can happen just about anywhere on the body, but it often occurs on the face and back. It usually starts to develop in the teenage years during puberty. Sometimes it clears up, and other times it continues throughout adulthood.

There are several different types of acne that vary in appearance and severity. In severe cases, acne can create scars on the skin that may not go away. It’s not wise to pop pimples as they may develop scars.

There are several products you can find at your local drugstore. However, if those products don’t work with time, you may want to go to a dermatologist to get something more active.

If you do suffer from acne, remember that it may be just a face. If you have a severe case, look for the beautiful things about yourself, and treat your skin to the best of your ability.

2. Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a dermatologic disease that derives from a staph infection. It’s identifiable with red skin and pain. The skin may also be warm to the touch. The area can also develop blisters. Swollen lymph nodes and fever may also accompany the condition. It generally appears on the face, arms, or legs.

This condition is one of the more dangerous conditions on the list. While other conditions are mostly skin-deep, cellulitis can lead to sepsis if left untreated.

Sepsis is a severe infection that, in dire cases, can lead to death. This is because the skin can crack open and allow bacteria into the body. If you suspect you have this condition, set up a doctor’s appointment. In some cases, treatment may be tricky due to a lack of response to antibiotics.

3. Shingles

Shingles are a group of blisters that appear on the body. The blisters can be quite painful and generally filled with fluid. In many cases, the blisters will pop and may even crust over.

The condition is a reemergence of chickenpox later in life. The disease mostly affects people above 50 years of age.

However, once already contracted, there is no cure. Instead, a doctor will attempt to reduce the pain and discomfort of the symptoms. The doctor will typically do this with pain medication and antiviral medications. There may even be pain after the rash is gone. Unlike chickenpox, shingles are not contagious.

Learn about the causes and signs of shingles.

4. Eczema

Eczema is a relatively common skin condition that affects up to 30 percent of Americans. Symptoms include inflamed skin, redness, scales, and sometimes blisters. The skin can also be itchy. Severity varies greatly. Some people live with it every day or their lives while other people only experience flare-ups on occasion.

Eczema generally develops in infancy. It can clear up or continue into adulthood. Certain irritants can exasperate symptoms.

Unfortunately, there is no actual cure for eczema at this time. However, it is possible to help minimize the symptoms through different medications and lotions. While it doesn’t look attractive, the condition is not contagious.

5. Folliculitis

We all have multiple follicles in our skin where hair can grow. These follicles can become irritated and cause what is known as folliculitis. You will notice the irritation because of redness by the follicles. The skin can also be itchy and painful. While generally not very serious, the condition can lead to hair loss and scarring.

The condition can occur after shaving or getting bacteria from a hot tub. To avoid the situation, you should be careful when shaving.

You should go to a doctor if the problem is covering a huge part of the body or doesn’t go away in a couple of days. Generally, a doctor will prescribe an antibiotic.

6. Impetigo

Common in young children, impetigo is a dermatologic disease that produces patches of blisters on the skin that continue to develop until they rupture. Another common sign is yellow crust around the blisters.

This condition is contagious. If the burst blisters contact other parts of the skin or other people, it can spread. Unfortunately, many young children aren’t great at not scratching when they itch, so it can be challenging to contain.

Babies are delicate. When you go to the doctor for the condition, the pediatrician will generally advise cleaning the infected area with warm, soapy water multiple times a day. Of course, you also want to be careful not to wash the area so much that it becomes overly dry and irritated. If the condition doesn’t get better, the doctor may prescribe an antibacterial cream.

7. Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes the skin’s cells to grow until they raise on the surface in unsightly patches with white scales. The white scales are the dead skin scales that developed too quickly. It mostly affects the scalp, elbows, and knees. Psoriasis generally shows up as a person enters adulthood. The disease can be quite unsightly and cover large areas of skin at times. This disease lasts for life, but there may be times it goes away.

Psoriasis can be genetic. Stress, infections, and medications can also cause it. There are many different treatments depending on the patient and the severity of the condition. One of the principal treatments involves steroid cream or moisturizer. Another option is light therapy.

8. Ringworm

Ringworm is a fungal skin condition caused by, as suggested, a fungus. Some people assume that the disease is caused by a worm, but that is incorrect. While “worm” may be a bit misleading, “ring” is more accurate. The condition will be red in a circle shape but colorless in the middle.

The fungus is contagious. You can get ringworm from another person who has it, a pet, objects, or even the ground. It’s common, and anyone can get it. You can also get it anywhere on the body from the scalp to the groin to the feet. Ringworm on the toes is referred to as athlete’s foot while ringworm in the groin area is casually called jock itch. A doctor will generally prescribe an antifungal medication to treat the problem.

9. Rosacea

Rosacea is a dermatologic disease known for specifically affecting the face. It causes red skin and can make the blood vessels visible. In some cases, there may even be little pus-filled bumps. The condition mostly affects adult women with light skin.

Common triggers include sun, hairspray, and stress. Many times people will confuse it with acne, but it is its condition. Rosacea will typically be localized in one area of the face as acne generally is spread all over the face. When not treated in any way, it can become worse with time. Treatments include antibiotics and acne medication.

10. Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a condition that involves the skin losing pigment in different parts of the body. This is a very noticeable condition because of the drastic difference in the color of the different parts of the skin. Plus, it happens all over the body. It will often be on the face, body, and even inside the mouth. This dermatologic disease occurs when the cells that create pigment die in certain areas.

There is no cure. However, there are ways to manage the condition or make the skin appear more even. Some conventional treatments include light therapy and surgery.

Some people choose to embrace this skin condition and appreciate how it makes them look unique compared to other people. In fact, there are several models with vitiligo who are crushing the fashion scene.

Final Thoughts on Identifying a Dermatologic Disease

If you have a dermatologic disease, you need to remember that you are still beautiful. Don’t let the problem get you down. Instead, repeat different positive affirmations about beauty and get on with your day. While you should not put your worth in how your skin looks, you should call a dermatologist to get assistance with your condition right away. Even the conditions that aren’t dangerous can get worse with time if you don’t take action, so schedule an appointment today.

10 Ways to Get in Shape (Without Exercise)

May 13, 2020 by Power of Positivity

If you want to get in shape without spending all day in a gym or even breaking a sweat, you can. Some people don’t like the thought of exercise, physically can’t, or don’t want to face the aches and pains. If you can’t commit to exercise right now, we’re about to reveal ten easy ways you can still get in shape without exercise.

10 Ways to Get In Shape Without Working Out

1. Reduce Your Overall Calories

This is pretty much a no-brainer for most people. When you reduce your calorie intake, you don’t have to work as hard to lose weight. This doesn’t mean going on a crash diet. When you consume 3,500 calories, you gain that pound of fat.

The easiest way to intake fewer calories is to think that in order to lose weight all you have to do is not to eat more than the number of calories as you burn in a day. You may be surprised at how many calories are in the things you eat. Start writing each thing down as you consume it. The calories add up quickly, so plan ahead.

Eat until you feel full, but fill up on foods that are healthy instead of just calorie fillers like sugar. After a while, it’ll be easier to eat healthier as you watch those numbers fly off the scale.

2. Don’t Drink Sugary Liquids

Throw out the drinks with sugar. You may think that gaining weight is all about dessert and high-fat foods. But sugary drinks are a scary thing. You’ll notice a big difference once you put away the soda and fruit juice. Sweetened drinks like coffee and tea can also pack a punch of calories. It gets even worse when you go for a drink with friends ordering margaritas and mixed drinks full of sugary sweetness.

You don’t need to drink your calories. Instead, opt for unsweetened drinks or water. This resistance means don’t eat them in the frozen form either. Frozen alcoholic beverages or popsicles seem innocent enough, but they can have hundreds of calories.

Remember this rhyme. Sugary drinks are yummy, but they’ll start to show on your tummy.

3. Take A Walk

To some people walking is exercise, but everyone has to walk. If you’re walking anywhere, use it as a means to get in shape without the sweat. Walking is actually one of the best ways to burn fat. When you’re walking, you use every muscle as you move your body. You might not notice it, but your body and mind is working together to move you along your path. You can think of it as cardio without all the sweating and tough work.

Walking even burns a higher percentage of calories from the sources of your fat than running. You don’t have to walk a million miles either. Take a few short walks around your block. Get in small ten minute increments of walking throughout the day. Park further away as you walk into places. These small changes will get you on the path to get in shape.

This new commitment could even mean taking a walk a few times a day up and downstairs whether at work or at home. Think of it as something you need to do to get places instead of something you have to do like exercise.

4. Don’t Starve Yourself

You’ll lose weight quickly on fad diets, but that weight won’t stay off. If you want to get in shape, don’t do starvation diets. You’ll probably gain all of your weight back, and you could hurt your thyroid in the process. Fad diets just slow down your metabolic weight. Slow and steady wins the race when you’re trying to lose weight and get fit. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Cortisol levels rise when you starve your body. This makes your body think it is in danger so you may also retain fat. This includes liquid cleanses and fasting. If your body thinks it is starving, it’ll do drastic things. You’ll also crash at the end of fad dieting.

This cycle means you could binge eat consuming a few thousand calories in a day because your body is plain hungry. It will then reach for anything to make it feel better. Starving yourself will also lead to gaining more weight at the end of your crash diet. Your body is trying to make up all of the calories and weight loss. It isn’t worth it.

5. Do Something You Enjoy

One of the best tips to get in shape without exercise is to find something you enjoy. Many people find exercise boring and frustrating. They want results but don’t want to put in the time and effort. If you do something you love, you won’t even think you’re working out.

For example, you could dance to your favorite songs as you clean the house. You may not enjoy cleaning, but the dancing makes it more fun. Or, you can stretch and turn yourself into a pretzel with your kids while laughing. If you like to go to the pool in warm weather, play around and swim a little.

Find the thing that pushes you to really love movement. As long as you’re moving, you’re burning calories. If you like to garden or work in the yard, you’re actually burning calories.

6. Get Enough Sleep

Sleeping actually helps you get in shape. When you don’t get a good night of rest, your body craves more calories. You usually lunge for the comfort foods around you. Your brain is seeking something that comforts it because its reward centers are in overactive mode.

Get at least 7 hours of sleep per night. This doesn’t mean you’ll suddenly lose weight because you’re sleeping more. It does mean you won’t grab all of the fatty foods around you because you’re drunk in a sense. When you’re drunk, your mind is off balance and you don’t make much sense with your decisions. The same goes for your mind on a loss of sleep. It’s trying to figure things out in life without balance.

Learn how collagen can help promote weight loss.

7. Drink a Lot of Water

Water helps you feel full. It’s that simple. Not only is water good for your entire body, it keeps you from being dehydrated. Drinking lots of water helps boost the number of calories your body is able to burn throughout the day. Your body has to work harder to process this water. You also feel full leading you to stay away from random foods. When hunger hits, try to grab a drink of water instead of a handful of food. Staying hydrated will help you have more energy and lose weight over time.

8. Eat Smaller Portions On A Smaller Plate

Food is a vision for many of us. When you get a huge plate of food, you may feel inclined to eat all of it. Use a smaller plate with a smaller portion of food. Try this, and see if you feel full. When you have a smaller portion of food on a smaller plate, your brain is tricked into thinking it is eating larger portions of food. This will help you not overindulge at each meal. If you’re still hungry, add a little food at a time.

9. Use a Journal to Write Down Your Goals

It’s important to see your weight loss and fitness goals. Do this by writing out your goals. You can visualize your goals better this way. If you want to stick to your healthy habits, write them out. Check them off at the end of each day. You should divide your goals evenly. Try not to write down things that will be too hard to accomplish. Write the things you eat down each day.

Before you stick something in your mouth, think if it is worth having to write down the calories. Visualize yourself completing each goal on the list. This will help you change your habits throughout the day. You’ll realize the areas where you fall short and the areas where you know you can hit your goals easily.

10. Eat Whole Grains, Fiber, and Protein

Try to eat more whole grains, fiber, and protein in your day. Replace your refined white bread and carbohydrates with whole grains. Your blood sugar won’t crash this way leading you to eat even worse.

The fiber in these types of foods will also help you feel fuller longer. Protein is a great way to cut back on feeling bloated. It will help you feel full without the bloat. Lean protein will help you lose weight quickly, but you will gain the weight back if you don’t eat a balanced diet. Don’t do crash diets without any carbohydrates. Try to eat a well-balanced diet overall with whole grains, fiber, and protein as the main nutrients.

Final Thoughts on How to Get in Shape Without Exercising

In the end, getting in shape should be fun. You shouldn’t have to drag yourself to the gym or eat boring food to lose weight. You can do it by being active and making better decisions for yourself.

10 Things to Never Tell Your Family About Your Life

May 13, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Family is important, and they’re likely some of the people closest to you. They are there for support, advice, fun, and through the hard times.

Even so, your privacy is still important and you shouldn’t tell them everything.

This doesn’t mean you have to lie or avoid them. It simply means that there are some things in your personal life that your family doesn’t have to know about. Even your parents would be better off not knowing some of the details.

It’s hard to figure out where to draw the line when it comes to sharing personal details. With that being the case, an article explaining the things you should never tell your relatives would be helpful.

The things you shouldn’t tell your relatives include things from your love life to your job and everything in between.

10 Things to Never Tell Your Family About Your Personal Life

1. Marital or relationship problems

When you talk negatively about your partner, your family may have a harder time forgiving them than you do. Your relatives don’t have the same emotional connection with that person that you do. While you may be able to easily forgive their mistakes, your relatives are more concerned about you.

This could cause tension in your relationship and with your relatives. It’s best to just avoid the whole situation and keep the relationship problems to yourself.

This way, they will only have their own opinion of your partner. Avoiding having them find out anything negative about your partner is your best bet. Don’t give them a reason to doubt your relationship.

2. Someone else’s secret (especially another family member)

If you feel that you can’t keep a secret from your friends to them, make sure you mention that before listening. Don’t listen to a secret if you know you’ll run back to your parents, children, siblings, or cousins with the information.

Whatever you were told isn’t your story to tell. You have to leave it to that person to tell others. Even if you think they won’t tell anyone, just keep the secret to yourself.

3. The amount of your income

It is probably fine if your relatives know the ballpark range of what you earn in a year. They don’t need to know down to the cent what you make. You should also keep raises to yourself.

Money issues are one of the biggest problems in a familial unit. By avoiding the topic of your income, you can avoid quite a few uncomfortable topics.

4. Anything about your sex life

Your relatives do not need to know who you are sleeping with. They also don’t need to know any of the details. This is private information that could be used against you or someone else one day.

If it isn’t used against you, it’s still not necessary for anyone to know. Information about your sex life could even change someone’s opinion about you. Since it isn’t something that your relatives need to know, it’s best to avoid any potential negative outcomes of confiding.

5. All the details of your goals

You’re more likely to succeed at your goals if you avoid telling people all of the details. While it is fine to tell them what the end goal is, don’t tell them what the plan is. The more details you keep to yourself, the better off you’ll be.

Even though your relatives are trustworthy, they may slip up to someone who isn’t. If the details of your plan get out to the wrong person, they could do something to mess up the plan. They may also try to change your mind about something when it is only your decision to make.

There is another, more personal, reason for keeping the details of your goals to yourself. Studies show that when you talk about the details, you get the same satisfaction as if you had done them. This can hinder your drive and motivation.

Since it elicits the same feeling as if you’d done it, you’re less likely to follow through. The feeling has already come and went, causing you to not feel like it is as important anymore.

6. Anything about your therapy sessions

When you’re in therapy, it likely means that you have some inner struggles that you’re dealing with. Even if these problems stemmed from someone in your familial unit, there is no reason to bring it up to them.

Your therapy is about your healing, and by sharing that information with others, you’re compromising your healing process. You are also compromising your privacy when you allow others to gain information that they didn’t need to know.

Relatives may also try to contradict something your therapist told you which can lead to frustration and doubt. Plus, if they don’t agree with your therapist, they’ll continue trying to compromise your faith in the therapist. Sometimes it’s best to heal without the input of others.

7. Financial information

If you are running into financial hardships, keep that information to yourself. Your relatives don’t need to know all the details of your problem. Plus, it can bring unwanted advice and comments.

Likewise, if you had a financial increase or did something to increase your finances in the future, keep it a secret. As stated before, money is the leading cause of familial problems. Plus, you don’t want relatives asking for money or expecting you to cover the costs of everything you do together.

8. Past family mistakes that do not affect the current situation

If you made a mistake in the past and it isn’t affecting anyone or anything now, keep it to yourself. Oftentimes, these mistakes only make things worse when they are shared. Not only will they change the opinion your relatives have of you, but it could also cause tension.

These mistakes could cause people to feel like you are untrustworthy. The mistakes could even cause strong relationships to end completely. Also, you could put people in an uncomfortable decision of defending you from other relatives.

9. Habits that may unnecessarily change their opinion of you

If you have a weird or unusual habit that others wouldn’t understand, keep it to yourself. This will protect you in more ways than one.

It’ll save you from criticism or hurtful jokes. Plus, it’ll prevent your habit from leaking to those who may use it against you.

Whatever you do in your home is your business and doesn’t have to be shared with anyone. As long as you aren’t hurting yourself or others, allow yourself the comfort of knowing that your secret is safe.

10. The resentments you felt in the past

Bringing up things from your past that caused resentment can just make the resentment resurface. Keep it to yourself to prevent this from happening.

Another reason you should avoid sharing it with your relatives is that people don’t normally like talking to negative people. Talking about it can make you seem negative and like someone to avoid.

If the resentment you fault is directed at a certain relative, still keep it to yourself. By bringing it up to them, you’ll only be restarting the problem. Most people don’t see anything wrong with their actions, and they may make you feel even worse.

What You Can Tell Them Instead

Your family wants to know about your life, and you should be excited to share it. Even with this list of things to never tell, there are things you can and should share.

While you shouldn’t tell them all the details of your life, you can still share some of it with them. Telling them your desired career path or what you’re taking classes for is fine. Just don’t tell them the exact details of how you will accomplish it.

If any of the things mentioned on the list affect a relative directly, you could consider telling them then. Another time you can tell is when someone is in danger. These examples will be tough situations, but it is up to you to decide what is right.

When it comes to therapy sessions, you can always tell them that you are in therapy. If they inquire about what happened during the session, you can politely turn them down. By explaining to them that you’d rather keep the details of your therapy session private, they’ll likely back down.

Final Thoughts on Things to Never Tell Your Family About Your Life

As long as you set boundaries about your privacy, you can tell your relatives whatever is comfortable for you. Never feel bad about wanting to keep things to yourself. They will understand that you can’t talk about everything in your life.

You should also remember that you don’t have to tell your relatives that you are leaving anything out. Give them vague details and don’t mention the rest. This will prevent pressure to give more information and it’ll prevent others from being hurt that you didn’t want to share.

As an adult, there’ll be many times when there are things to never tell anyone about your life. The decision of what to share and what to hold back is entirely up to you. This guide should help give you an idea of what you may want to consider keeping to yourself.

15 Quotes from Buddha to Help You Find Inner Peace

May 13, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Many are in a place of turmoil right now. If you need to find some inner peace, consider these quotes from Buddha to guide you. Surrounding yourself with buddha wall art can also serve as a calming reminder of mindfulness and tranquility, helping to create a serene environment conducive to reflection and self-discovery.

Buddha, whose real name was Siddhartha Gautama, is considered one of the greatest spiritual leaders in history. He traveled the region, sharing his teachings about inner peace. He lived and taught Buddhism in and around modern-day Nepal and India sometime between the 6th to 4th century B.C. His very name means “one who is awakened” or “the enlightened one.”

The Early Life of Buddha

Buddha grew up in a palace as the son of a great ruler of the Shakya clan. His father wanted to raise his son away from all the suffering and tragedies in the world, so he sheltered him inside the palace walls. However, one day Siddhartha left the palace with a charioteer and quickly realized the realities of the human condition. He saw an older man for the first time, and Buddha’s charioteer had to explain to him that all people eventually grow old.

He went on future trips where he encountered a man with the disease, a rotting corpse, and an ascetic (one who practices severe self-discipline and abstinence from indulgence). The charioteer told Buddha that the man had renounced the world to escape the natural sufferings that come from engaging in life. After seeing all of this, Buddha left his palace and kingdom to find a right way to avoid universal pain and overcome the human condition.

Buddha’s path to enlightenment

For the next six years, Buddha lived as a renunciant, studying, and meditating under different philosophies and religious teachings. However, he wasn’t finding the answers he sought with these teachings, so he decided to increase his discipline and level of renunciation. He endured pain, fasted almost to starvation, and didn’t drink water for long periods. These practices didn’t lead to any spiritual understanding, however, until one day, a girl offered Buddha a bowl of rice.

He then realized that simply giving up worldly comforts did not lead to inner freedom and nirvana, so he then ate the rice, drank some water and took a bath in the river. That night, he meditated under a Bodhi tree and made a promise to himself that he wouldn’t get up until he found the answers he needed. He remained under the tree until the sun came up the next day, purifying his mind and seeing his whole life, including his past ones, flash before him.

Reaching Enlightenment

While he sat under the Bodhi tree, he had to overcome a demon named Mara, who attempted to “steal” Buddha’s enlightenment. When Mara challenged him, Siddhartha touched his hand to the Earth, asking it to bear witness to his wisdom. At that moment, Mara left his mind, and Buddha reached nirvana or the final stage of enlightenment.

After this, Siddhartha got the answers to all the questions he had about the universe and found the ultimate way to release himself from suffering. At this moment, Siddhartha truly became Buddha or the enlightened one.

Buddha’s Teachings

In the beginning, Buddha didn’t want to spread his teachings because he didn’t know how to communicate the vast knowledge he had learned. However, according to legend, the king of gods named Brahma encouraged Buddha to teach. So, he got up from under the tree where he became enlightened and set out to show others what he had learned.

When he got about 100 miles from the tree, he crossed paths with five ascetics he had meditated and studied with years prior. They had abandoned him in the evening when he became enlightened because they thought he’d given up the way of renunciation. Buddha then told them they should find a middle ground instead of giving up everything or indulging in every desire. He called this path the Middle Way.

These ascetics became his first disciples who helped him form a community of monks called Sangha. As he traveled, many gathered to hear him preach his teachings, which he called the Dharma. In these teachings, he included the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which became the foundation of Buddhism. For the rest of his life, he set out to teach this path. Thus, he helped others find their way to enlightenment as well.

When Buddha died, he told his disciples they shouldn’t follow anyone, but should “be [their] own light.” Today, around 350 million people across the world practice Buddhism. However, you don’t need to follow the religion to benefit from the quotes below. No matter your stance on faith, you can put these principles into practice in your daily life to find inner peace.

Here are 15 quotes from Buddha that will help you foster inner peace:

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”

In this quote, Buddha shows the importance of thinking positive thoughts. Even better than feeling good ideas, however, is being able to quiet the mind to hear your intuition. Between the turbulence of feelings, both positive and negative, you can listen to the silence of your soul speaking wisdom to you.

“The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.”

Depend only on yourself, and you will never meet disappointment. We should have other people in our lives to enjoy and give love to, not to use them or require anything from them.

“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”

Self-love forms the foundation for us to build our love for others. Without love within our hearts, we cannot spread it to other people.

“To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others.”

Conquer your own mind and ego, and you will conquer the world.

“Desire is the root of all suffering.”

The attachment to people, objects, or places causes suffering. This doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the things of this world, but they aren’t meant to be a permanent fixture in our lives. Indeed, we should learn to observe all happenings with a calm non-attachment.

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”

Purify the mind through meditation, and you will find the riches you seek.

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

Happiness becomes amplified when shared. Selfishness and an overactive ego cause unhappiness and misery in the world.

“A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals a secret of hidden treasure.”

The best friends will give you constructive criticism so you may improve yourself.

“In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.”

We create barriers in our minds. We all arrive here as equals. Pay no mind to one’s skin color, age, race, religion, sex, class, or any other label we give ourselves.

“Do not be jealous of others’ good qualities, but out of admiration adopt them yourself.”

Instead of being envious of others, try to imitate the good qualities you love about other people.

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”

Looking for peace outside yourself will only lead to dead ends. Build it within yourself, so everywhere you look, you see tranquility.

“The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.”

Look within for all the answers you seek, just as Buddha did.

“All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?”

Transform your thoughts, and all else will follow.

“Even though a speech is composed of a thousand words, but those words are senseless, one word of sense is better; when people hear it, they become quiet.”

The quietest people have the most to say. Practice speaking only words of love and encouragement, and feel the vibration shift within you.

“Health is the greatest of gifts, contentment is the finest of riches, trust is the best of relationships, nirvana is the highest happiness.”

Buddha taught simplicity as the way. Take care of your health, honor your relationships, and look within for answers.

Final thoughts about quoted from Buddha that promote inner peace

No matter what religion you practice, these quotes from Buddha can benefit your life and instill inner peace. Practicing non-attachment, love for yourself and others, a calm demeanor, a healthy lifestyle, and positive thinking will help transform misery into wisdom and peace. Everything we seek lies within us.

6 Ways to Exfoliate Your Skin at Home (and why you should)

May 13, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Like the rest of your amazing body, your skin is constantly rejuvenating itself. Did you know that you lose about 50,000 skin cells every day? While some of these expired cells fall away on their own, others need a little help by manual exfoliation.

Do you want the secret to radiant skin with minimal blemishes? It’s just as important what you remove from your skin as what you put on it. When you exfoliate your body, you start with a clean slate.

Since recorded history, renowned beauties learned how to pamper their skin to look their best. From Ancient Egypt, Rome, the Victorian era, and now, skincare experts recommend that women exfoliate.

We, humans, shed our depleted skin cells by tiny flakes at a time, rather than a solid layer. Many of these cells are rubbed off by your clothes, your hands, or on your bed covers at night. The natural process of exfoliating makes room for new cells that are replenished daily.

Benefits of Exfoliating

The benefits of regular manual exfoliation are vast, such as unclogging your pores to keep blemishes at bay. If you want the appearance of smooth, youthful skin, then it can stimulate collagen production. Gentle exfoliant action may improve your circulation and promote cell regeneration, which can help with the signs of aging.

When you keep your skin adequately exfoliated, moisturizes, toners, and other products you use can penetrate deeper and work better. You’ll probably notice a more even tone and softer texture to your complexion. As you scrub and clean your pores, acne may be minimalized.

How Often You Should Exfoliate Your Skin

Because it can take up to thirty days for your skin to completely rejuvenate, it doesn’t need to be exfoliated every day. Most women can perform this self-care two or four times per month to see noticeably healthy skin. If you do it too often, you can damage newly formed cells and cause overexposure to environmental toxins.

Exfoliating Your Entire Body

Your face isn’t the only part of you that needs to be exfoliated. When you bathe or shower, extend your exfoliant regimen to your whole body. You may find that gently scrubbing with a luffa sponge, and the natural exfoliant of your choice will revive and brighten you from head to toe.

Dry Brushing

For centuries, different cultures have promoted dry brushing for healthy skin all over. All you need is a soft body brush that you can find inexpensively online. Most experts recommend that you dry brush your face and body before showering in the mornings.

For your body, begin with your shoulders and gently brush toward your heart. Go from your hands, up to your arms, torso, then up the feet and legs. After you have brushed the front, do the same to the back of your body.

Use a separate, smaller brush for your face. Starting from your forehead, work in soft strokes toward your nose. Work up the same way from each cheek, your chin, and neck. After a refreshing dry brushing, moisturize your face and entire body for a lovely glow.

Learn the benefits of dry brushing.

Six Ways to Exfoliate at Home

You don’t need to pay a fortune for expensive beauty products to exfoliate your skin effectively. There are quick, natural ways to add to your daily regimen. Try these six simple ways to exfoliate your skin for a lovely glow.

1. Oatmeal Isn’t Just for Breakfast Anymore

Most people enjoy oatmeal for breakfast. Oats are warm, filling, and loaded with vitamins and fiber. You can also glean benefits from this nutritious grain by using it as a face scrub.

The same fiber and heart-healthy fat you get from eating oatmeal can also nourish your skin. Consider using organic grain with no additives or flavors. If you have rolled oats, then you can blend it into soft powdered oatmeal in your food processor.

The next time you want to exfoliate your skin, mix about one-fourth cup of plain oatmeal with enough purified water to make a paste. Gently scrub your face with the oatmeal paste and let it dry for about five minutes, then wash it away with fresh water.

2. Sugar in the Morning, Sugar in the Evening

Sugar is something that should be used as an occasional treat rather than part of your daily consumption. However, sugar isn’t always bad for you. Did you know that it makes an excellent scrub for your skin?

Sugar has natural alpha-hydroxy acids that can improve the texture of your skin. Mix it with olive oil, which is loaded with nourishing antioxidants, and it makes the perfect moisturizer. You can use either white or brown sugar.

Do you want to tone your complexion and tighten your pores? Instead of using olive oil, mix the sugar with freshly squeezed lemon juice. The citric acid in the lemon juice has natural astringent properties and is a better choice if you have oily skin.

Granulated sugar is a mild abrasive, which makes it an ideal exfoliant. To make a homemade sugar scrub, mix about a half-cup of sugar with olive oil until it forms a paste. Apply it to your face or body in small, circular motions and let it dry between 5-10 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

3. Yogurt is Parfait for Your Skin

Many people enjoy parfaits as they are so versatile. Do you like tasty yogurt parfaits for breakfast or a low-calorie treat? How about saving some creamy yogurt for your skin?

The lactic acid in dairy products, like yogurt, can also act as an exfoliant. Have you ever wondered why iconic beauties like Queen Cleopatra insisted on bathing in milk? Even before scientific evidence existed, these ladies instinctively knew what extended their youthful appearance.

Hydrate and enrich your skin with a delightful yogurt mask. Massage a cup of plain yogurt into your skin and body, allow it to sit for about 10 minutes, then rinse with cool water and finish your regimen.

4. Try This Honey of an Exfoliant

Not only can we thank the humble honeybees for pollinating the plants of the world, but they share their delicious honey. Perhaps you enjoy a sweet dribble of honey on your toast in the morning or your tea.

Honey is one of the earliest recorded substance valued for food and medicine. For centuries, honey was recommended for everything from anemia, indigestion, to eczema. Modern science has discovered antibacterial and antifungal properties in this golden elixir.

Save a little from your honeypot to use as an effective skin exfoliant. Create a soothing mask by rubbing a light layer of honey on your face in a circular motion. After you allow the mask to dry for 5-10 minutes, use a soft washcloth and cool water, gently rinse the mask away for a glowing complexion.

5. Salt of the Earth

As with sugar, everyone who is trying to lead a healthier lifestyle is reducing their salt consumption. Although too much sodium can cause water retention and lead to high blood pressure, our bodies still need this precious mineral to function.

Salt is a treasure trove of vital minerals that are good for your skin. Not only is it an exfoliant, but its minerals can also moisturize. You can boost salt’s benefits by mixing it with your choices of emollient, like coconut or olive oil.

Salt scrubs have been a popular skin exfoliant for generations. Before you try it, remember that salt can be more abrasive than sugar. Use the finest texture you can find, like fine sea salt, and discontinue if it irritates your skin.

Make a salty mask by mixing a quarter cup of fine sea salt with enough coconut or olive oil to make a paste. Gently massage into your skin and let it dry as a mask for 5-10 minutes. Gently splash your face with cool water to remove the mask.

6. A Cup of Joe for Your Skin

Do you struggle to get going without your cup of coffee in the morning? Not only do you enjoy the warm, steaming brew, but your body craves the kick of caffeine to wake you up. Whether it’s a latte, cappuccino, espresso, or a plain cup of java, America loves coffee.

You may be surprised to find that coffee can also be a great way to exfoliate your skin. Did you know that a common ingredient found in expensive skin hydration and plumping products is caffeine? Get the same benefits for mere pennies with a coffee scrub.

In a small bowl, mix a fourth of a cup of finely ground coffee with enough olive oil to make a thick paste. You could also use coconut oil or another favorite emollient. Rub the paste on your face, and let it sit for about 10 minutes before you rinse.

Read why you should avoid the temptation to pop pimples.

Final Thoughts: Your Skin Will Thank You When You Take the Time to Exfoliate

Our society commends the virtues of being comfortable in your skin. When you nourish and exfoliate your body from head to toe, it will reward you by framing you in beauty and health. Natural remedies can be an inexpensive way to realize your goals.

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