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6 Morning Energy Drinks That Wake You Up Better Than Coffee

February 11, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Most people wake up to a warm cup of joe in the morning to give them a much-needed energy boost. For others, coffee serves as a source of comfort and routine practice. However, some studies have found that large amounts of caffeine can harm our bodies and minds. After all, caffeine is still a drug, and with the current popularity of energy drinks, one of the most widely consumed of them all.

What the FDA says about coffee and caffeinated energy drinks

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),

“In the U.S., 80 percent of adults consume caffeine every day – the average adult has an intake of 200 mg per day, the amount in two 5-ounce cups of coffee or four sodas. A study of 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students in Ohio found that students took in an average of 53 mg of caffeine per day, but almost one in five students took in more than 100mg of caffeine each day.”

The FDA states that a 5 oz (small) cup of coffee contains 60-150 mg of caffeine, depending on the darkness of the roast.

Small amounts of coffee have negligible side effects, but it still raises cortisol and adrenaline, which activates the fight-or-flight response. Many people report feeling calmer and less restless without caffeine in any form. In our on-the-go society, most of us resort to caffeine to help us get through the day, but perhaps we should ask ourselves why we feel the need to keep such a busy schedule in the first place. Instead of needing more caffeine to power through the day, we could carve out more time for ourselves to rest. However, I digress, back to talking about coffee.

FDA calls caffeine a widely-used drug

Caffeine is classified as a drug as well as an additive, according to the FDA. Plus, it is still one of the most widely consumed sources of caffeine in the world. Even though it’s a drug, it does not seem to cause harm in most cases, so the government does not regulate it.

However, just like other drugs, caffeine can cause withdrawal symptoms and fall under a substance abuse disorder, according to the American Psychological Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual version 5. Using large amounts of caffeine to the point where the user feels physical and mental symptoms classifies it as a substance abuse disorder.

Benefits of trading coffee in for natural energy drinks

If you’ve been looking to give up coffee, here are some reported findings of benefits you might notice after just seven days:

– Reduced headaches after an initial withdrawal period

– Reduced muscle tension and tightness

– Better concentration

– Feeling more alert in the morning without restlessness

– More regular and healthy bowel movements

– Return to regular sleep cycles

– Better awareness of hunger and fewer junk food cravings

– More balanced, healthy response to stress

Enjoy improved cognition when you try these natural energy drinks and give up the java

According to the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, caffeine from coffee can affect sleep, alter mood and blood flow in the brain, your metabolism and genes, and the neurotransmitters in the brain that affect memory processing and cognitive performance. Their research found that ‘Peak plasma caffeine concentration is reached between 15 and 120 min after oral ingestion in humans.’ Also, keep in mind that caffeine takes about six hours to leave the body altogether, so if you have an afternoon cup, it may still be in your system when you go to sleep. This might be contributing to the insomnia epidemic sweeping the globe, in combination with other factors such as stress and using technology at night.

While many people believe that caffeine helps them function better, studies have shown that it doesn’t help in all cases. The above-cited research found that ‘An increase in arousal improves the performance of tasks where relatively few sources of information have to be monitored, particularly under conditions when the need for selective attention is stressed by time pressure. When, on the other hand, multiple sources of information or working memory have to be used, an increase in arousal and attention selectivity has no apparent beneficial effect on performance, which may consequently even decrease.’

One of the metabolites of caffeine in the body is paraxanthine. Paraxanthine blocks the body’s adenosine receptors, which then raises epinephrine levels in the blood and diastolic blood pressure. So, in other words, when you drink coffee, your body responds as if there is a threat and activates the fight-or-flight response. This explains how so many people get through their days on caffeine because they’re running on pure adrenaline.

So, now that we’ve gone over the potential dangers of coffee and how it can affect the mind and body, what are some alternatives? We will go over six natural energy drinks you can make in the morning that will give you just the boost you’re looking for!

THESE SIX HEALTHY, NATURAL ENERGY DRINKS CAN IMPROVE YOUR MOOD AND BOOST YOUR ENERGY LEVELS

1 – APPLE-BANANA SMOOTHIE

Both bananas and apples provide a ton of vitamins and minerals, and the natural sugars will give you a huge boost of energy in the morning! Bananas have a ton of potassium and B vitamins to help boost brain health and increase stamina. Apples contain a lot of potassium as well, and also Vitamin C.

Ingredients:

1-2 peeled apples
Two bananas
¼ cup cold, non-fat milk or dairy-free alternative
½ cup crushed ice

Directions: Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth and serve the energy drink chilled.

2 – KOMBUCHA TEA

Kombucha – a type of fermented green tea – contains probiotics, vitamin K-2, vitamin B-12, and fatty acids. The last two ingredients are very beneficial for a healthy brain. Keep in mind that making it yourself can be dangerous if you don’t follow the recipe exactly, or use ceramic wares to make it. Lead from these containers can seep into your kombucha, so avoid ceramic at all costs. Also, be sure to clean all other containers you use prior to making the tea, so harmful mold doesn’t form in the mixture.

Ingredients:

1 gallon of water
Four black tea bags
¾ cup of organic sugar or organic artificial sweetener

3 – SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Yeast and Bacteria)

Directions: First, place the SCOBY in a glass jar and set aside. Bring your water to a simmer and mix in the tea. Add the organic sugar (or sugar substitute) and boil for about 15 minutes over low heat. Allow the mix to cool before pouring it into a glass container. Place a rubber band over a paper towel or coffee filter and put it on top of the jar. This will allow the mixture to breathe and ferment. The culture will develop in seven to ten days.

4 – LEMON WATER

Lemon water aids in digestion and detoxification, adds a healthy glow to the skin, promotes weight loss, boosts energy and mood, enhances immunity, and helps to prevent kidney stones. Lemons also provide 187% of your daily Vitamin C and a good serving of potassium, magnesium, and copper.

Ingredients:

Three lemons
1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
One liter of water
1 tsp of cayenne pepper

Directions: Mix thoroughly and enjoy!

5 – COCONUT-MATCHA ENERGY DRINK

Matcha is touted around the world due to a natural calming agent called l-theanine. When consumed, it provides a calm, focused, and happy energy. While it still contains caffeine, matcha doesn’t cause jitters and other unpleasant side effects like coffee does. Coconut contains a fatty acid called medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). MCTs provide a quick burst of energy while also promoting brain health and lowering cholesterol.

Read more about the benefits of coconut.

Ingredients:

1 cup of coconut water
Two teaspoons matcha powder
Orange slice for garnish (optional)
A few ice cubes (optional)

Directions: Mix matcha powder with coconut water and mix thoroughly. If desired, garnish with an orange slice and serve over ice cubes.

6 – MINT TEA

Along with some refreshing mint, vitamin-C-packed lemon juice will become a go-to energy drink!

Ingredients:

1 cup of cold-brew green, white, or mint tea (decaf)
1 cup of cold water
A glass full of ice
One whole freshly squeezed lemon
A few sprigs of fresh mint

Directions: First, combine all ingredients in a shaker bottle of some sort. Then, pour into a water bottle and enjoy!

Final thoughts about drinks that can replace coffee for energy

While it might seem daunting to give up coffee, you’ll get used to it quickly when you notice the cleaner energy boost you receive from the drinks listed above. You can even try one per day so that you have a nice variety throughout the workweek! We don’t want to demonize coffee, as it has been proven to have health benefits, but some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others.

Many people report having more energy without the jitters and anxiety when giving up coffee. While it does do its job in awakening the world, it also comes at a price. Once you get used to life without coffee, we guarantee you’ll have a new kind of addiction to a life with free-flowing, calm energy in the mornings!

10 Tempeh Cooking Hacks That Every Vegan Should Try

February 10, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Interest in eating plant-based diets is at an all-time high. Eating a plant-based diet is healthy for you and the planet. However, people raised on meat and potatoes often struggle to adapt to a completely different type of diet and cooking.

Tempeh is a healthy, high-protein addition to a plant-based, vegan, or vegetarian diet. Admittedly, it looks and tastes quite unappetizing straight out of the package; however, if cooked correctly, it is delicious. Here are some tips about how to prepare delicious dishes with this high-protein food.

What is tempeh?

First, let’s talk about what this product is and how it is made. Like tofu, it is made out of soybeans. However, unlike tofu, the entire soybean is incorporated into the final product. The soybeans are soaked in water and then partially cooked. Then, they are mixed with spores from a mold, Rhizopus oligosporus, or Rhizopus oryzae. A mild acid like vinegar is added to prevent the growth of other organisms during the fermentation process. The beans are then incubated at 86 degrees F for 48 hours. The mold grows into the soybeans and binds them together into a solid, creamy block.

The final product is perishable and can only be kept in the refrigerator for two or three days. However, it freezes well and can be kept frozen for up to six months.

This substance is very nutritious. Each 100 gram (3.5 ounces) serving provides:

192 kcal
20.29 g of protein
10.80 g of fat
7.64 g of carbohydrates
3.5 g of fiber

It is a rich source of B vitamins and contains important minerals such as manganese, magnesium, iron, calcium, and zinc. Unlike most plant-based protein sources, the protein in this fermented product is considered to be complete since it contains sufficient quantities of all of the essential amino acids.

How to cook tempeh

Hack #1: Steam it to get rid of the bitterness

Many people dislike the bitter flavor of the raw product. Before doing anything else with it, you can remove the bitterness by steaming. Steam the entire block for about 10 minutes, flipping it over at the five-minute timepoint.

Alternatively, try soaking it in brine or vinegar for about half an hour.

Hack #2: Make tempeh tacos

Cut your block into small cubes and then crumble it up until it has the texture of ground beef; it can also be crumbled using a cheese grater or a food processor. When used in strongly flavored dishes that traditionally contain ground beef, it can fool people into thinking it is ground beef, since it has a very similar texture. Go ahead and use your crumbles in red pasta sauces or vegetarian chili, or add traditional taco spices and serve it in tacos. You need to use it in strongly flavored dishes to mask its strong, natural flavor.

One delicious recipe is to season the crumbles, so they taste like Italian sausage and then add them to a red sauce along with onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, and spinach. This can be served over pasta or zucchini noodles.

This makes for one pound:

One tablespoon red wine vinegar
Italian sausage seasoning to taste
One teaspoon salt
A teaspoon black pepper
One teaspoon garlic powder
One teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon ground fennel seed
tiny pinch of oregano
tiny pinch of thyme

Hack #3: Marinate before cooking

This fermented product absorbs marinades well. Cut it into small cubes and place it in your marinade of choice. Leave it in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to overnight. Then, it can be fried, sauteed, or baked along with the rest of your ingredients. These flavored cubes can be used in place of tofu or chicken in any dish. They make a nutritious addition to most Chinese stir-fry dishes and are outstanding when served in rice noodle dishes or used in place of chicken in chicken-fried rice.

One delicious recipe is to marinate it in Thai peanut sauce and then bake it at 375 degrees F for 20 to 30 minutes. It will carmelize and turn a golden-brown. This can be added to stir-fries and spring rolls, used as a salad topper or served with rice noodles and sauteed vegetables.

Hack #4: Mix it with whole grains and beans

For an incredible nutritious punch, try cubing it into small pieces and sauteeing it with onions and any seasonings of your choice for about 15 minutes. Then, add it to bean-based or whole-grain based dishes. One excellent, easy dish is to mix it with quinoa, corn, and black beans. Season the dish with lime juice, cumin, and hot red pepper. Garnish with avocados, cilantro, and cherry tomatoes, and enjoy.

Hack #5: Fry it up

One of the most common ways to serve this soybean product in countries where it is a staple food is to fry it. In Indonesia, it is often cut into blocks that are seasoned with garlic, coriander, and salt, and then deep-fried, preferably in coconut oil. Some cooks like to batter it before frying. Then, they serve the fried blocks over noodles or salads or enjoy it as a small meal. Think of this variation as a substitution for chicken nuggets. You can experiment with the seasonings and with the battering to see what you prefer. It can also be marinated before deep-frying.

You can also make it into fries, a great way to boost your protein intake and cut down on carbohydrates. Cut it into fry-sized and shaped pieces. Season with soy sauce and, if desired, hot pepper and garlic, or really, any dry rub seasoning blend you enjoy. Let it sit in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to allow the seasonings to permeate deeply. Deep-fry it and enjoy your fries with any dip you enjoy fries with, like vegan mayonnaise, ketchup, spicy mustard, or barbecue sauce.

Hack #6: Swap for tempeh instead of sausage or bacon

For a great vegan breakfast, turn it into sausage or bacon. For sausage, the night before, crumble it up and add the seasonings of your choice; you can look up home-made sausage recipes for your favorite type of sausage and substitute this soybean product for the meat. With your hands, mix the seasonings in well and then leave it in the refrigerator overnight. The next morning, shape the mixture into patties or links and fry it like you’d fry sausage. Serve it with fresh fruit for a delicious, healthy start to the day.

For convenience, freeze the patties of links after you form them. Then, you will have ready-made breakfast ready to pull out of the freezer as needed.

To make it into “bacon,” mix maple syrup, olive oil, soy sauce, liquid smoke, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Cut the tempeh into thin strips about the size of a piece of bacon and marinate in the sauce for at least two hours. Then, bake it at 400 degrees F for about half an hour, until crisp. This can be eaten as is, but it also makes a delicious high-protein addition to any sandwich.

Hack #7: Churn tempeh butter

Process it in a food processor until smooth. Then mix it with mayonnaise and a little mustard; if desired, finely chopped pickles, celery, or scallions can also be mixed in. You can also fold in some pureed avocado. Use this mixture as a high-protein, tasty sandwich spread. For extra protein, try frying a battered, seasoned slab of tempeh. Spread the sandwich spread on a toasted bun, then add the fried slab of tempeh, lettuce, and tomato, and now you have a very healthy non-meat “chicken” burger. If you want to be fancy, you can add some “bacon,” see Hack #6.

Hack #8: Grill some kabobs

That’s right. You can also grill tempeh, too. If you have a favorite kabob recipe, substitute chunks of it for the meat you’d normally use. Marinate it and then thread it onto the kabobs along with your favorite kabob vegetables. Then, grill away until you cook the veggies to a pleasing texture.

Hack #9: Make your tempeh in an Instant Pot

Can’t find any of this substance in any of your local stores? No problem, you can make your own at home. Buy some peeled, split dried soybeans. Rinse them and pressure cook them in the Instant pot for 40 minutes. Then, remove as much of the water as possible by letting the partially cooked beans sit on paper towels for about 20 minutes.

Next, toss the soybeans with a tablespoon of vinegar and the tempeh starter. You will probably have to order your starter online and have it delivered because if your local grocery stores don’t sell the finished product, it’s pretty unlikely that they sell its starter.

Pack the beans tightly together in freezer bags. Then, use the Instant pot on Yogurt Mode to ferment the beans. Pour a cup of water into the liner, add the steamer, and place the bagged beans on the steamer such that they aren’t touching the water. Let the Instant pot do its yogurt thing for 16 hours, then turn it off and leave the beans to incubate for a total of 40 hours. When the beans have turned into white loaves, transfer them to the refrigerator or freezer.

Check out 25 healthy Instant Pot recipes.

Hack #10: Use chickpeas, if you’re intolerant to soy products

People who are allergic to or intolerant of soybeans, or are concerned about their phytoestrogen content, can make their tempeh out of chickpeas by simply substituting chickpeas for soybeans in the recipe given in Hack #9.

Final thoughts on adding tempeh to your vegan lifestyle

Tempeh is an extremely versatile food. Until you learn these cooking hacks, you will undoubtedly pass up tempeh, due to its raw appearance and taste. However, once you learn to deal with it properly, you will incorporate it into many different recipes. Furthermore, it adds a very nutritious, delicious touch to the dish. Vegans and vegetarians should incorporate this fermented soybean product into their diets, and meat-eaters trying to reduce their meat consumption could also benefit from eating one or two meals based on it per week.

8 Effective Ways To Stop A Noisy Mind

February 10, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Do you ever have moments where your brain is reeling and will not calm down? A noisy mind, often jokingly referred to as a “monkey brain,” can be quite frustrating to deal with every single day. If yours never entirely goes silent, it can be tough to get through everyday life in one piece.

Luckily, a noisy mind doesn’t have to remain noisy. In fact, there are ways that you can teach it to become quiet and peaceful if needed.

Here Are 8 Ways To Stop A Noisy Mind

1. Create Counter-Thoughts

When you think of negative or noisy, unwanted thoughts, counter them with newer, more positive thoughts. It sounds simple, but it’s a handy tool that is even commonly used in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy by professional psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists.

Humans often automatically respond to situations with negativity – it’s just part of how our minds work. As such, learning to shift your thoughts from the bad to the good can be a very crucial skill for everyday living. Here’s how to start turning your bad ideas to foolproof positive thinking:

· Test Your Reality

When you’re stuck in negativity, all you can think about is that, and it can make you feel like the world is ending when it isn’t. Take a step back and think to yourself for a moment – where’s the evidence to support your bad thoughts? Are you leaping to incorrect conclusions? What is the evidence saying?

· Consider Your Goals First

Are your negative thoughts serving any purpose? Are they propelling you towards your goals? Chances are, they’re in your way. Don’t let them be.

· Seek Out The Positive

What’s the bright side of the situation? Many times, when you focus on the bad, you accidentally block out the good things that could be seen. Look for the silver lining – even if it’s just the lesson, you will learn from the bad situation.

2. Keep A Journal

Journaling is a great way to get your thoughts in order. But you have to keep the journal in the right manner if you want it to work in quieting your mind truly. Here are some tips to make it work:

· Journal Time Is Noisy Time

Every day, tell yourself this – whenever your brain gets noisy, you must silence it and save it for your journaling time, which can range from 10 to 30 minutes. This designated time means your noisy mind will be forced to wait for its window before it can run wild, allowing you to get rid of impulsive thoughts and only have real concerns left once you get to journal time.

· It Must Be Daily

Don’t let a day go by without your journaling time. If it seems to take up too much time in a day, then reduce the number of minutes spent daily. What’s important is that you’re committed; the length of time can always be adjusted.

· Let Yourself Write Freely

While you’re in your journaling time, write about absolutely anything that your noisy brain comes up with, whether it’s fears, worries, thoughts, emotions, or anything else. Letting it all out can boost positive thinking.

· Once It’s Over, Stop

Time yourself. Once your allocated journal time is up, stop immediately and push the journal aside. You must wait for your next session tomorrow to think noisy thoughts again.

· Have A Mini-Journal For Grounding

Bring along a small notebook around with you wherever you go, and when you feel the loud thoughts begin to blow, take your small tablet and write down the stimuli around you to distract yourself. What can you see? Hear? Smell? Who are you with? What are you doing? What’s the time? Not only will this help you figure out your triggers, it will also help ground you.

3. The Connection Between a Noisy Mind and Breathing

Breathing is natural and automatic, but conscious breathing isn’t. When your thoughts are noisy, you can focus on breathing well in order to bring it all to a halt. A lot of the time, when you experience anxiety, you will take quick and brief breaths. Instead, switch your focus to long, slow breathing.

There are a few easy techniques for breathing you can try. The most basic method is not so much a technique, but an awareness:

Place your hand on your stomach.
Focus on feeling your stomach rise when you inhale and fall as you exhale.
Breathe slowly and deeply for about six breaths per minute or one breath per ten seconds.

You can also practice a better version of mindful breathing like so:

Step 1: Close your eyes and relax your gaze.
Step 2: Focus entirely on your breathing. As you inhale and exhale, experience with full clarity, the breath entering and leaving you – how it passes through your nose, mouth, and lungs.
Step 3: At this point, your mind may start to wander. When this happens, it’s your queue to exhale.
Step 4: As you exhale, re-focus again back to the inhale.

There is one final technique you can use. It’s called Piko-Piko breathing, an ancient practice of Hawaiian Huna belief. The word “piko” literally means “center” or “navel.” Here’s how to do the technique:

Step 1: Inhale deeply. Shift your focus to your head’s crown.
Step 2: Exhale. Now, focus on your navel.
Step 3: Continue to breathe in and out, with your focus moving between the two spots.
Step 4: Do this until you feel calmer.

Regardless of what technique you choose, remember one thing: meditation has positive effects on stress, anxiety, and mood.

4. Laugh

In the moment of a noisy mind, it can be difficult to find humor in the world. But laughing is highly effective. It releases positive hormones and clears your mind, sharpening it and giving you heightened concentration. Laughing immediately helps to sharpen your focus and allows you the space to breathe, think, and evaluate your choices and what could come of them.

It’s also a good idea to work on your sense of humor in general when you’re working on improving your noisy mind. Start working on finding the comedy in everyday life. Tell jokes, watch stand-up or comedic movies and shows, hang out with funny people who love to laugh, and don’t be afraid to find the humor in a situation.

5. Release Expectations

Often, piled up expectations are behind a noisy mind. When you cling to what you want to happen or thought would happen, life can have other plans, leaving you blindsided by what comes.

There’s nothing wrong with having hopes, but don’t allow them to transform into all-consuming, all-powerful desires that don’t let you prepare for the unexpected. You need to be ready for the possibility that things won’t go as you planned without fixating anxiously on that chance.

All anyone can indeed do is live each day one step at a time. If you find yourself in doubt, consider other times that things didn’t go to plan, but you still came out unscathed and even happy.

6. Distract Your Mind

When you engage a noisy mind in something else, you can distract it from its noise and chaos. Think about it – when is your mind most often still? It’s when you’re very engrossed in some other task! Engaging your mind can help you to quiet it down. You can do so by:

Watching a show or movie
Reading a book
Writing
Playing a musical instrument
Playing a video game
Drawing
Doing yoga
Blasting music and dancing or singing along

It is essential that your task occupies your mind entirely and not only partially. If it isn’t occupying you wholly, it will be difficult for your mind not to use its extra bandwidth to continue with all its noise!

7. Stay Curious

People often say that curiosity killed the cat, but rarely do they finish the full phrase: “…but satisfaction brought it back”. What does this mean? Curiosity can benefit you in many ways if you choose good things to be curious about!

Seek to enter new situations and conversations, aiming to learn from your experiences, even if it is uncomfortable or ends up going less smoothly than you had hoped. As you become accustomed to being curious and trying new things, your drive for knowledge and new situations will slowly overpower your loud head.

As humans, we are all gifted with “Beginner” minds. This concept essentially means that our brains are easily capable of learning new things and are eager to pick up on traits, skills, and other tidbits of knowledge. When you keep an open mind, it will happily and regularly seek new things instead of becoming overcrowded with fear and worries.

8. Use Positive Affirmations and Mantras

Positive affirmations are a great way to redivert your thinking patterns in a more effective and productive direction. You’ve probably heard that if you insult yourself too much, you will eventually thoroughly believe in and embody those insults. The same goes the other way around. Repeating mantras to yourself every day, especially in the mirror, can internalize them.

A calming mantra can also help you to gather your scattered and noisy thoughts, focusing them over the repeated phrase to promote positive thinking. Here are some examples of useful mantras to use when you are experiencing a noisy mind:

I am calm.
I am in charge of my life.
I’m falling in love with myself.
I am in control.
I accept myself.
I’ve done my best.

More specific and more extended affirmations are also possible, though these are best for routine repetition, and not as emergency calming methods! Examples include:

I am in control of all of my thoughts.
I attract positivity and reject negativity.
I’m content with my current circumstances.
I am prepared for unexpected circumstances.
I am resistant to negativity.

Final Thoughts On Some Ways To Stop A Noisy Mind

Your mind is capable of many things – and, thus, it is capable of processing way too much information at a time. A noisy mind can be quite a nuisance, but it doesn’t have to be one of your problems forever. By taking systematic steps to stop these loud thoughts in their tracks, you can learn to circumvent negativity and focus on positive thinking instead.

Cheater Words to Never Ignore from Your Partner

February 10, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Has your partner been tipping their hand about extraneous activities, using cheater words or giveaways?

For any man or woman, finding out about a cheating partner can be devastating. But catching your partner is not as easy as it seems. Sometimes, it takes years before you know. Confronting your spouse or partner soon turns into an ugly argument because cheaters rarely admit infidelity.

If you are trying to suss out whether your partner is cheating or not, search for clues in his behavior. In case you don’t find anything unusual, look for any red flags to identify gaslighting or subtle manipulation in his conversation.

In most cases, cheaters will do everything in their power to deny their betrayal. No matter how much evidence you gather against them, they will always have amazing comebacks and won’t confess unless you catch them physically in the act.

Here 14 common cheater words to never ignore from your partner.

1 – They lie to you.

While this one seems obvious, it may come to you as a complete shock if you truly love your partner. Even if you know all about your partner’s habits, cheating is never an easy one to embrace.

But how do they cover-up? By lying to you as frequently as the need arises.

2 – They lie to themselves

Chronic cheaters are dishonest, not just with you but also with themselves.

If you had a chance to enter into a chronic cheater’s head, you would find out that they use lying as a weapon to fight guilt and justify their behavior. Over time, this habit becomes so strong that they turn into pathological liars.

In most cases, they assure themselves that whatever they are doing is not hurting anyone. It really doesn’t matter what they are lying about. The issue is that they fail to be honest and true to their partner.

3 – They are guilty of gaslighting

Gaslighting is when someone attempts convincing you not to trust your own mind. As a result, you feel disillusioned and crazy. It’s common for cheaters to gaslight their partners in many ways.

Here are some of the cheater words that come out of your partner’s mouth when they are gaslighting.

4 – ‘You are overreacting.’

If you ever tried asking your partner about something unusual that recently happened, a cheater may want you to feel as if you are blowing something out of proportion. What they are actually trying to do is change the subject as quickly as possible by making you feel as if you are overreacting to the whole situation.

5 – ‘You are just paranoid.’

Are you really? When he smells like perfume all the time and comes home late every Friday, that’s the last thing you want to hear. Whether you saw your partner kissing someone or caught him having dinner with any of his colleagues, that’s the reply you get when you are upset or flustered. Maybe he’s right. But if it starts happening too often, it’s time to trust your eyes and not give in to him.

6 – ‘You are crazy.’

As if being paranoid wasn’t enough, now he wants you to think that you are downright crazy. That’s the reply you usually get when you are questioning your partner about his infidelity. Cheaters have a hard time admitting that they are lying to their partners. So the easiest way to deceive them is to make the idea so absurd that you start wondering if you are going crazy. Mind games and confusion become a regular part of this ugly cheating game, and you start believing that you are the crazy one in the relationship.

That’s not a very pleasant thing to hear, especially when it comes to your special someone. The highly insulting retort is just another gaslighting technique to shift the blame. These famous cheat words make you doubt your instinct and concerns.

In addition to these statements, remember to look out for these common cheater words when you doubt your partner.

7 – ‘I have to be out of town for the weekend.’

Who works on weekends? Even if he does, it can’t be twice or thrice a month. Ask questions to find out details about accommodation and travel. If your partner stutters or struggles to find the right words, you can confront him.

8 – ‘She/he is just a friend.’

Is your partner or spouse labeling an obscure relationship as a platonic friendship? It may be an excuse to spend time with someone other than you, without any guilt or remorse.

9 – ‘My battery died.’

All battery-related excuses are becoming absurd, with so many hi-tech options available to keep your phone alive. However, people continue to use this one to account for missed communications and lost time. Your partner or spouse is likely to avoid your calls when he is with someone else. Unless he is stuck in a four-hour-long meeting, your partner can always find a way to contact you to ensure everything is ok.

10 – ‘It’s all Your fault.’

But is it really? Do you remember the last time your spouse or partner admitted their mistake? Is he always trying to shift the blame on you no matter how hard you try to right things between the two of you?

Another way to shift the blame on you, your partner tries to make you feel guilty by giving you this lame excuse. While everyone has problems in their relationships, it is not one individual job to fix everything.

11 – ‘It’s not my fault.’

Again, if they are not blaming you, they are saving themselves from any blame. This blame game continues until the day you finally catch them. Your cheating partner says this every time you two have an argument. By blaming everything on you, they are not just lying to you but themselves as well.

12 – ‘You Are Not Meeting My Needs’

That’s another way of putting the burden of all your relationship problems on you as your partner transfers the blame on you again. Apart from being a cowardly move on his behalf, it is also another way of saying that you are not enough for him. Well, that still doesn’t give him any reason to cheat on you.

Remember never to accept responsibility for the mistakes they made, because you are not the one who cheated.

13 – ‘I am not going anywhere.’

If they constantly feel the need to assure you that, maybe the thought is lurking somewhere in their mind. They insist that everything is perfect and nothing or nobody is pulling them apart from you. In reality, they are only making a false promise only to disappear without leaving any trace.

That’s just one of the comebacks they have for the ‘Where are you?’ question. Even if you didn’t ask them, they would keep on telling you that they are not going anywhere and that they are always going to be around. Sometimes, that’s just another of saying that ‘I am already gone, but you don’t know it.’

14 – ‘I’m not being myself.’

Exactly! Don’t mistake these cheater words for an honest confession. Try asking why and your cheating spouse or partner is going to be at a loss for comebacks. If you complain to your partner about being distant, that’s all they have to say to you, without any solid reason.

Learn the primary reasons why couples argue.

Unless you are sick, depressed, or stressed-out, you are going to be just the way you want to be. Remember to track their behavior and point out changes in their behavior or routine on special occasions such as holidays and family events.

You Might Be Wondering Why Cheaters Lie?

While we all have our own narratives about why people, especially cheaters, lie, it is just a way of denying the facts and fooling your partner. Chronic cheaters are prone to lying. Making up excuses and cooking up stories helps them convince you that you are the one at fault.

Sometimes, they make up the most bizarre stories only to deny they ever had a choice in the first place. Cheaters usually play the victim until you catch them red-handed. For many cheaters, lying is the best way to stay free of guilt and confrontation. It buys them more time and gives them an easy way out to continue cheating on you for as long as they like.

While it’s of little comfort, you are not alone in the demographic of relationships that face infidelity. Statistics suggest that as many as 25% of men and 20% of women admit to cheating at least one relationship.

Final Thoughts on Detecting Cheater Words and Actions

Although it is true that some women and men can carry on affairs for decades without their romantic partners or spouses knowing, it is rare. Catching your cheating partner, becomes easy when you are aware of some of the most popular cheater words, including the ones we mentioned in this article.

Cheaters do everything to hide their secret so you or nobody else can know about it. But they are sure to make a mistake sooner or later. For that reason, there are always making up excuses to cover it up for as long as they can. Sometimes, strong women can tell when their man is lying.

All you have to do is be ready with the comebacks, every time they try gaslighting you when you confront them. Remember the most common cheater words that we highlighted in this guide to make sure you never fall for their lies again.

Psychologists Reveal 25 Phobias Diagnosed Commonly Around the World

February 10, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Phobias are more than just regular fears as they cause those who suffer from them to change their lifestyle or build their lives around their aversion. Even imagined fears could set them into a panic, so coming anywhere near the fear can be completely debilitating.

As a diagnosable mental disorder, a psychological professional can treat or ease phobias in their patients. With more than 19 million people suffering from phobias in the United States alone, the number from across the world is significantly higher.

Even if someone knows that their phobia is unwarranted, it doesn’t stop the uncomfortable feelings that accompany them. Some of those feelings include sweating, chest tightening or pains, anxiety, fear, shaking, and many other sensations.

Research reveals that many common phobias are the same across the world, and they include the following:

Trypanophobia
Escalaphobia
Astraphobia
Agoraphobia
Equinophobia
Hoplophobia
Cynophobia
Aquaphobia
Mysophobia
Zoophobia
Aerophobia
Hypochondria
Gerontophobia
Necrophobia
Acrophobia
Emetophobia
Ligyrophobia
Nyctophobia
Ophidiophobia
Claustrophobia
Autophobia
Social Phobia
Arachnophobia
Nomophobia
Pyrophobia

Common Phobias Around the World

1. Trypanophobia

The fear of injections can cause people to avoid doctors, dentists, and other health professionals altogether. If they know a medical treatment will require the use of a needle, they’ll either skip the procedure or experience increased heart rate and feelings of dread and anxiety in the time leading up to the treatment. Others with trypanophobia pass out during an injection.

2. Escalaphobia

The fear of escalators is real for those who suffer from escalaphobia. If escalators are the only way up or down, the person will likely opt-out.

3. Astraphobia

People with this phobia may experience increased heart rate, shaking, and sweating during a thunder and lightning storm. During a storm, you’ll find those who have this phobia hiding out until it’s over. They may also spend more time than others tracking the weather.

4. Agoraphobia

This phobia brings on a fear of being alone or being in a place where escape isn’t always easy. Those who have agoraphobia may avoid crowded areas, open spaces, and anywhere else they may be left alone or without a direct escape route. In some cases, the person may avoid leaving their home altogether.

5. Equinophobia

The fear of horses causes those who suffer to panic or have anxiety at even the mere thought of horses. Sometimes the idea isn’t enough to trigger the phobia, and being near a horse is what triggers it, however. Either way, this fear is all too real.

6. Hoplophobia

Just the thought of guns can cause feelings of anxiety for people who suffer from this. Movies or TV shows that include guns are avoided, and if they know someone carries a weapon, they’ll likely avoid that person altogether.

7. Cynophobia

More commonly called the fear of dogs, personal experiences from childhood usually cause this phobia. Whether a child saw a dog behave aggressively or if they have been bitten themselves, the fear can carry on throughout their lives.

Suffering from cynophobia is different than just being skeptical of strange dogs because it is excessive. This excessiveness causes instances of avoiding places where there are dogs, even if those dogs are familiar and known to be excellent.

8. Aquaphobia

This fear of water includes lakes, oceans, swimming pools, and even bathtubs. It can cause a huge problem when it comes to hygiene.

9. Mysophobia

This is the fear of germs and dirt. It can lead to or be the cause of the obsessive-compulsive disorder. Those who have the phobia will compulsively wash their hands, engage in extreme cleaning, regularly, and avoid places that may be dirty.

Taking it even further, some who have Mysophobia avoid physical contact, overuse disinfectants, and obsess over illness outbreaks.

10. Zoophobia

This phobia applies to all animals. No matter the shape or size, animals will trigger anxiety or other uncomfortable feelings in those with zoophobia. This condition normally stems from some traumatic events earlier in life.

11. Aerophobia

Although airplane accidents are rare, the fear of flying still affects a significant amount of adults. This fear can cause trembling, increased heartbeat, disorientation, or avoidance of flying. It can be overcome through exposure therapy by first envisioning riding in an airplane, then by seating in the seat, and eventually by flying a short distance.

12. Hypochondria

This sounds like something everyone deals with, but for those with hypochondria, the fear of becoming ill is more than just worry. It causes the person to be overly concerned with their health, and they begin fearing they have many illnesses based on undiagnosed conditions and symptoms.

13. Gerontophobia

This condition contains two separate fears; the fear of growing old and a fear of the elderly. Both fears can cause problems in life, as everyone has to face growing old, and everyone has to face older people at some point.

14. Necrophobia

The fear of death or of anything pertaining to death is called necrophobia. Sometimes just the mention of death can cause concern for those who have this phobia, while others need to see corpses, coffins, or the like before their anxiety sets in.

15. Acrophobia

The fear of heights affects a large portion of people from across the globe. This phobia can cause anxiety attacks, and those who are afraid tend to avoid heights altogether.

16. Emetophobia

The fear of vomiting causes severe anxiety and can be related to vomiting in public, the fear of seeing vomit, the fear of watching someone vomit, or the fear of feeling nauseous.

17. Ligyrophobia

This is the fear of loud noises, including loud voices or even a person’s own voice. It can cause people to avoid going out or having people over to their home.

18. Nyctophobia

The fear of darkness causes breathlessness, sweating, nausea, dry mouth, a general sick feeling, shaking, the inability to think or speak clearly, and many other uncomfortable feelings. Since this fear is common in children, it is only considered a real phobia if it lasts for more than six months or occurs in older children and adults.

19. Ophidiophobia

Also known as the fear of snakes, this phobia is common. The reason for the phobia varies, however, as some people are turned off by the idea that snakes are disgusting, and others are afraid of poisonous bites.

20. Claustrophobia

An overwhelming fear of tight or crowded places can cause the person to avoid windowless rooms, elevators (especially crowded ones), and even driving on busy roads. As one of the most common fears in the world, it can lead to panic or anxiety attacks and oftentimes, requires therapy to cope with.

21. Autophobia

The fear of being alone or being abandoned can cause a person to cling to those close to them in an unhealthy way. It stems from being abandoned as a child or of just feeling like they were alone as a child.

22. Social Phobia (AKA Social Anxiety Disorder)

Being fearful of social situations is a real phobia that affects many people across the world. It can cause people to avoid social events or any place that may be busy. While this is technically not a “phobia,” it does impact millions of people.

While those with a minor case of the phobia will avoid public speaking, others with a more severe case avoid school and work. This causes problems with everyday functioning and interferes with the person’s ability to take care of themselves.

Psychologists explain how to fight social anxiety.

23. Arachnophobia

The fear of spiders and other arachnids often causes uncomfortable feelings in people. Arachnophobia can be triggered by a simple picture of a spider in some with this phobia, while others may have to see a real spider to be bothered.

From hearing stories of ancestors who were poisoned by a spider bite to watching movies where spiders killed people, arachnids are a common fear amongst people from all over the world.

24. Nomophobia

This is a newer phobia and is the fear of being away from a cell phone or electronic device. If someone uses electronic devices impulsively or as a way to avoid socializing, they may suffer from this fear.

This fear goes so far for some people that they carry multiple devices with them at all times and always have a charger handy. They never turn their phone off, keep it nearby even when they are sleeping, and they constantly check it for missed calls or messages.

25. Pyrophobia

The fear of fire can become so intense for some people that it becomes a true phobia for them. They may feel fearful even when a fire isn’t an actual danger at the time, as even just the thought can cause anxiety. This same phobia also includes high temperatures.

Final Thoughts on Phobias and Mental Health

Suffering from phobias and serious fears can be debilitating and life-altering. This is especially true when the person suffering knows that the phobia is unwarranted and still can’t control it.

Luckily, there is help if you seek a therapist who specializes in phobias and overwhelming fears. Eventually, you can live a somewhat normal life without the fears affecting your daily life. With many people suffering all over the world, you are not alone.

15 Anemia Symptoms to Never Ignore

February 10, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Anemia is the world’s most common blood disorder. It affects about three million people in the US and over 1.6 billion people in the world. Here’s why it’s critical to know how to identify anemia symptoms. While anybody can develop anemia, it is most common in small children. Anemia can also affect some animals, including dogs and cats.

There are over 400 types of anemia. A patient with anemia, however, will always have an abnormally low number of red blood cells circulating through their body. In many cases, the patient will have a condition that is causing their body to break down red blood cells at an abnormally rapid rate or impairing their body’s ability to produce new red blood cells.

Anemia Symptoms Fall Into Three Categories

The different types of anemia fall into three broad categories:

Anemia caused by blood loss
Anemia caused by the destruction of red blood cells
Anemic blood caused by a faulty production of red blood cell

Blood loss can be chronic or acute. Conditions that can cause chronic blood loss include stomach ulcers and some types of cancer. Acute blood loss can arise from injury or surgery.

Red blood cells usually have a lifespan of around four months, but some conditions can destroy them before they reach that age. One example is autoimmune hemolytic anemia, in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the red blood cells.

There are also a variety of disorders that cause the body to produce either too few blood cells or abnormal blood cells. Examples include sickle-cell anemia and leukemia.

Anemia has a multitude of symptoms. Some, such as a lack of energy, occur with any variation of the disease. Other anemia symptoms are seen only in certain types of the condition. For example, a patient with hemolytic anemia may have abnormally dark urine.

15 Anemia Symptoms to Never Ignore

1. Lack of Energy

Fatigue or lack of energy is the most common symptom of anemia and occurs in every type. The red blood cells have a significant job of transporting oxygen throughout the body. If red blood cells are deficient, there will also be a deficiency of oxygen in the patient’s body so that they will feel constantly tired. Chronic fatigue admittedly has many causes, like stress, poor sleep, or other illnesses. If none of these apply, however, it is probably time to call the doctor.

2. Shortness of Breath

Shortness of breath is also one of the more common anemia symptoms. A patient with anemia will often feel winded even after such a minor exertion as climbing a flight of stairs. As with chronic fatigue, the patient doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to transport the oxygen their body needs. In some cases, dizziness and lightheadedness will accompany the patient’s breathing difficulties.

3. Paleness

Unusually pale skin is another one of the anemia symptoms to watch for. The lack of blood cells and the resulting decrease in circulation will also make the gums and tongue paler than usual. The eyelids have mucous membranes covered with blood vessels. If these look unusually pale, they could also indicate anemia.

4. Headache

There are many things that can cause headaches, so a problem by itself may not indicate anemia. On the other hand, if the patient has some of the other symptoms of anemia plus a susceptibility to headaches, they need to see their doctor. In anemia, headaches indicate that the body isn’t getting enough oxygen or blood. This is especially true if the problems are accompanied by dizziness or feelings of faintness. Frequent headaches can indicate iron deficiency anemia, which is the most common type of anemia.

5. Jaundice

Jaundice is one of the anemia symptoms seen mainly in certain types of anemia. In jaundice, the patient’s skin and eyes take on a yellowish tinge. The color is caused by an accumulation of a waste material called bilirubin. Jaundice is particularly common in hemolytic anemia, which causes the body to destroy red blood faster than it can produce new ones. The destruction of the blood cells causes the production of an abnormally high amount of bilirubin. Jaundice can also occur in sickle cell anemia.

6. Hair Loss

Hair loss can be one of the symptoms of iron deficiency anemia. The hemoglobin in red blood cells stimulates hair growth, so a lack of hemoglobin will make hair fall out. It will also cause the remaining hair to become thinner and weaker.

In 2006, the “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” published an overview of various studies that researched possible links between iron deficiency anemia and different types of hair loss. While the researchers noted that the studies produced mixed results, they also commented that their hospital, the Cleveland Clinic, always screened patients with hair loss for iron deficiency.

7. Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is often one of the iron deficiency anemia symptoms. The condition is characterized by unpleasant sensations like itching or throbbing in the legs accompanied by a compulsion to move them. Patients typically experience the feelings and convulsions at night, and the symptoms’ intensity depends on the severity of the patient’s anemia.

In 2016, the science journal “Neurology” published an overview that described the causes of restless leg syndrome, which can be primary or secondary. Primary RLS occurs by itself, while secondary RLS is symptomatic of certain conditions – like iron deficiency anemia. The scientists reported that RLS occurs in 25 to 35 percent of patients with iron deficiency anemia.

8. Painful and Swollen Extremities

Painful swelling of the feet and hands is one of the anemia symptoms seen in sickle cell anemia, which is the most common inherited blood disorder. The condition affects 70,000 to 100,000 people in the United States alone. It is particularly common in African-Americans and affects about eight percent of them.

Sickle cell anemia is a congenital condition in which the red blood cells are sickle-shaped and rigid. The abnormal blood cells can get stuck in the vessels, and the resulting blockage causes pain and swelling in the hands and feet.

9. Chest Pain

Chest pain can also be one of the anemia symptoms. The lack of healthy red blood cells means that the heart has to work a lot harder to send nutrients around the body. It also isn’t getting the oxygen it needs to function. Consequently, a patient with anemia will experience pain and a feeling of tightness in their chest. Anemia can also cause the heart to develop an abnormal rhythm as it works hard to make the blood circulate.

10. Confusion

Confusion is one of the anemia symptoms seen in vitamin deficiency anemia, which is caused by a lack of Vitamin B9 (folate), Vitamin C, or Vitamin B12. That deficiency, in turn, can be caused by either poor diet or the body’s inability to absorb the nutrients. Pernicious anemia, which is seen mainly in people over 60, is an example of the latter problem. The patient’s body can’t absorb the Vitamin B12 needed to produce healthy red blood cells. Vitamin B12 is also necessary for a healthy nervous system, so pernicious anemia can cause symptoms like an impaired ability to concentrate or remember.

11. Numbness

When the body is short of blood, it will prioritize sending the available blood to the vital organs. Consequently, less blood will go to the hands, feet, legs, and arms. Numbness of the extremities is, therefore, one of the anemia symptoms to watch for.

12. Abnormally Long or Heavy Periods

Growths called uterine fibroids can cause women to have unusually heavy periods. Such periods cause a woman to lose more blood than her body can replace. Uterine fibroids also cause a woman’s period to last atypically long, so she loses yet more blood. If a woman’s period lasts for over a week, or she needs to change pads every hour for several hours straight, she should call her doctor.

13. Cold Hands and Feet

As mentioned earlier, if the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells, it will send most of them to the vital organs. Relatively few will be sent to the feet or hands, and they will thus feel abnormally cold, even if the patient is someplace hot.

14. Pica

Pica is the compulsive desire to eat things that aren’t food, like ice or clay. It is most common in patients with iron deficiency anemia for lack of iron can trigger strange cravings.

15. Susceptibility to Infections

This symptom is particularly common in patients with iron deficiency anemia, for the lack of iron impairs their immune system’s ability to function. In other types of anemia, the lack of red blood cells makes it harder for the body to send oxygen to the spleen, which filters blood traveling through the veins and thus prevents infection.

A patient with anemia will thus be less able to resist infection, and they will still sick longer.

Final Thoughts of Identifying Anemia Symptoms

Treatment for anemia will depend on the type and its cause. In some cases, the therapy will be straightforward. For example, a patient with iron deficiency anemia will need to take iron supplements and possibly modify their diet. Other patients may need more involved treatments like transfusions. If some other condition causes anemia symptoms, the doctor will treat that condition.

Allergist Explains What Happens to Your Body If You Have a Food Allergy

February 10, 2020 by Power of Positivity

In the United States, 32 million people live with a life-threatening food allergy. With that number, there has been a 377% increase in anaphylactic food reactions. The only way to prevent this type of response is to learn more about the allergy.
Learning about what happens to your body when you develop a food allergy is a big part of understanding the problem and the reactions that may occur. The other essential aspect of learning is how to prevent an episode and how to treat the allergy.

Before explaining those things, however, it is crucial to know the signs and symptoms of a food allergy. And, you should know how your doctor will form a diagnosis.

Signs and Symptoms of a Food Allergy

The symptoms and signs of an allergy to food are different for everyone. The differences are based on the severity of the allergy and the amount of the food consumed. Some of the signs and symptoms include:

tingling mouth or tongue
itching in or around the mouth
Hives
Itching and eczema
Swollen lips, face, tongue or throat
Wheezing
Nasal congestion
Difficulty breathing
Stomach or abdomen pain
Diarrhea
Nausea
Vomiting
Fainting or feeling lightheaded and dizzy
Anaphylaxis (which could lead to death)

What is Anaphylaxis? And Why is it Life-Threatening?

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can cause death. This reaction can cause the airways to tighten and constrict. Your throat could become swollen, making it difficult or impossible to breathe.

Additionally, you could experience shock, a severe drop in blood pressure, or a rapid pulse during an anaphylaxis reaction. It can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or even a loss of consciousness.

Discussing this reaction in depth is important because it is such a severe reaction. Anyone with a food allergy could potentially experience anaphylaxis, and knowing the severity can help with prevention and understanding.

How Doctors Issue a Food Allergy Diagnosis

Becoming diagnosed with an allergy can be difficult, especially for children. Since children experience so many bodily changes, doctors may want to check for other issues first. Some doctors may even chalk the reactions up to being only eczema or acid reflux until testing is done.

This is not always the case, however, and you may find that your diagnosis is relatively easy. When you first begin thinking you may have developed a food allergy, you should take notes. The notes should include what your reaction was, what foods you had been eating, and how long it took for the response to ease up.

Take notes like this each time you react. You may be able to narrow down the exact food pretty quickly or, at the very least, you’ll be able to narrow it down to a couple of foods. When you see your doctor, go over the notes with them.

From there, your doctor will likely order an allergy test done by an allergist to be sure that it is the culprit. There are a couple of different types of allergy tests, but the most common one is skin testing, which involves pricking and puncturing the skin of your back or forearm with various allergens. This test will show how severe the allergy is, along with just confirming that there is an allergy at all.

With the prick and puncture method, a raised bump will appear on the area where a specific substance was poked into the skin if there is an allergy to that food.

Other allergy tests include:

A physical exam to rule out other medical issues
A blood test, which measures your immune system’s response to a substance based on the IgE levels
Elimination diet, which is when you will eliminate a suspected food for a full week or two and then adding the suspect back into your diet to see if a reaction occurs
Oral food challenge, which is done in a doctor’s office. You’ll eat the suspected food in small but increasing amounts to see if and when a reaction occurs

Things that can help speed the diagnosis up:

Track your symptoms
Keep track of the foods that seem to cause the reaction
Pay attention to how much of that food you consumed
Give the doctor your family history of allergies

A Doctor Explains What Happens to Your Body

When you develop an allergy, your body suddenly begins viewing a substance (in this case, food) as harmful. Your body will then start producing immunoglobulin E (IgE), which are antibodies. These antibodies attach to cells, causing a release of histamine.

The histamine causes inflammation in more minor cases and a drop in blood pressure or anaphylactic shock in severe cases. This is because Immunoglobulin E antibodies are supposed to fight infections. In the case of an allergy, however, IgE is mistakenly released.

How Does a Food Allergy Develop Later in Life?

Some people are born with food allergies, and others develop them later in life. This concept is confusing for most people because it seems impossible to develop an allergy later in life to something you never had a problem with before. Unfortunately, it happens, and it’s not unusual.

Developing an allergy later in life is common, according to Dr. Davis at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. Dr. Davis is a practiced allergist and has seen patient’s as old as 85 develop an allergy to something new.

Unfortunately, doctors and researchers don’t quite know why this happens later in life, but there are theories. Sometimes it is believed that the allergy developed after being exposed to something that they hadn’t often been around before. That isn’t always the case, however, as an allergy can expand to a food that you’ve consumed regularly.

Food Allergy Treatment Plans

There is no cure, although allergies can go away at any time. There are treatment options, however, to help you along the way.

Prevention

Treatment plans vary, but they all begin in one place: prevention. The number one rule is to avoid the allergen as often as possible and have ideas put into place to prevent a reaction.

This means you should read all the food labels every time. If there is no ingredient label, a person with an allergy should avoid it. Unfortunately, this often means that pot lucks are not an option, so you may need to plan and pack your food.

Another way to prevent a reaction is by telling those you are around regularly about your allergy. They may choose to leave that allergen at home next time they know you’ll be around. This also means they will know to speak up if they see that allergen near the foods you consume.

Other Treatment Options

Create an action plan and make sure those who are regularly around are aware of it
Ask your doctor to prescribe an epinephrine autoinjector such as an EpiPen
Know how to use your epinephrine autoinjector and make sure those you are with also know-how
Wear a medical alert bracelet in case you have a reaction and cannot communicate
Take Benedryl for less-severe reactions

If You Have to Use an Epinephrine Autoinjector

When prescribed, a doctor will show you how to use the autoinjector, but if you haven’t done it before, you’ll likely forget or feel uncomfortable. It isn’t tricky, however. The autoinjector has a concealed needle that pops out and injects one dose of epinephrine into your body when you press the injector into your thigh.

It is also important to remember to tell those who you are often around how to use the autoinjector just in case you become unconscious or aren’t able to administer it yourself for any reason.

You should carry it with you at all times, and having an extra autoinjector in the places you visit frequently could be life-saving. It is also essential to check the dates on your autoinjector to make sure that the medication isn’t past its expiration date.

If you have to use your EpiPen or equivalent medication, you will need to visit an emergency room afterward. Another dose may be required but, even if it isn’t necessary, you still need to be checked out by a professional.

Final Thoughts on Living Life Fully Despite A Food Allergy

While a food allergy diagnosis can be life-altering for everyone in your home, it gets easier as time passes. The more you learn about allergies, the easier it becomes to live with and manage the allergy.

Prevention is critical, but it is also vital to have an action plan in place in case a reaction occurs. While there is no cure, it is manageable.

Following doctor advice (and specifically the allergist’s advice) will help you through. A doctor can also help you understand what is happening to your body.

10 Relationship Goals Every Couple Should Have

February 10, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Relationship goals are essential for living a healthy life as a couple. That’s because humans are very social creatures by nature. They thrive off regular interaction, affection, and warmth from others. In fact, people who are isolated from others suffer from such things as sleep problems and depression.

Romantic relationships are among the most fulfilling methods of receiving the love and deep connection people need. However, maintaining these close relationships requires a lot of work.

All relationships begin with a rush of excitement and novelty. But, over time, these feelings naturally wear off. Fortunately, there are plenty of tips that ensure relationships last longer. Relationship goals make this process more comfortable since they encourage teamwork among couples.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY “RELATIONSHIP GOALS?”

People often hear about “relationship goals” in today’s world. Yet, many of us are unclear about what they are. Essentially, relationship goals are a value or outcome shared with a partner. This is similar to other goals for the future, but relationship goals are mutual, not individual.

They inspire relationships and create a goal that both partners can work toward. Creating relationship goals is essential when creating other goals for the future. Not only do they promote conversation between partners, but it also gives both people in a relationship something to dream about.

EPIC RELATIONSHIP GOALS THAT EVERY COUPLE NEEDS

1. KEEP INTIMACY ALIVE

There’s no denying that intimacy is one of the most important aspects of any relationship. This need means both physical and emotional intimacy, which link to one another. Unfortunately, intimacy in a relationship often becomes less exciting over time. As a result, couples are more likely to divorce or break up.

This need not be the case for everyone, though! Intimacy can be rekindled in a romantic relationship. And setting a goal for the future that involves keeping intimacy interesting is a perfect relationship goal.

It’s also not that challenging to keep things interesting for couples. Something as simple as talking about personal fantasies is enough. Or introducing toys or new positions in the bedroom. On the emotional front, couples must always be present and attentive to their partner and be committed to releasing negative thoughts.

2. GO ON DATES

When relationships are new, going on dates is a natural part of the process. People want to impress their significant other and show their love for them via regular surprises and nice dinners. Once the relationship takes root, these activities usually stop. Often because couples get caught up in their daily lives and responsibilities.

Considering that dating is an excellent way of expressing care and concern toward another, it’s no surprise that many people look back on it fondly. This is why dating, even in a long-term relationship, is essential. Not only do dates help couples relive the early days of their relationship, but it also helps them more closely connected.

3. SKIP THE PETTY ARGUING

As much as people may not like it, arguing is a normal part of any relationship. Psychology Today even notes that arguing correctly can be beneficial to relationships. However, conflict and arguing are also one of the most common factors contributing to divorce.

While there are certainly some arguments that signal the end of a relationship, there are also petty arguments that some couples get involved in. These latter arguments should be avoided.

Instead of getting into small arguments about meaningless things, couples must handle fights or disagreements with both humility and maturity. In doing so, they handle any issues present in the relationship. Plus, they foster an open discussion about how each person feels.

4. GIVE PLENTY OF LOVE

Love is a vital part of any relationship. It brings people together and keeps them going during difficult times.

Sadly, many people forget that love was the fuel for their commitment to one another. As time goes on, they get up caught up in the motions of a relationship instead. They don’t put much forethought into how they are making their partner feel. Instead, they do things because they always have.

Couples need to produce as much love for one another as possible to keep their relationship going strong. While giving unconditional love is difficult, it’s a worthwhile ambition for any relationship goal.

5. EMBRACE ALONE TIME

There’s no denying that being in love and receiving that love back is terrific. But, individuals can only create a relationship that is as healthy as they are. So, if one person isn’t satisfied with their own life, they cannot build and maintain a satisfying relationship.

It’s essential that both people involved in a relationship take some time for themselves. This time can be spent with friends, enjoying alone activities, or just working on oneself. Spending time apart from one’s partner gives people the chance to work on themselves.

Without this alone-time, couples cannot thrive. This is why embracing being alone, on occasion, is a crucial relationship goal.

6. TALK HONESTLY ABOUT THE FUTURE

Most of us are already keenly attuned to the importance of regular communication in a relationship. However, many people are scared about discussing the future with their partner. This is especially true if the partnership is new.

Regardless of how scary talk of the future is, couples must discuss their future openly and honestly. This includes discussing their personal goals and interests, along with circumstances in their life that will change.

By talking about these every few months, couples are better able to shape their relationship into one that fits each person’s changing life. Not only that but setting a relationship goal that involves talking about the future keeps both people in sync with one another. As a result, couples enjoy a secure connection.

7. BE SUPPORTIVE

In a relationship, there are fundamental goals that the couple creates together. However, relationships are made of two people. These two people each have their own dreams and aspirations.

Rather than being jealous of these goals, or disapproving of them, partners must always be supportive of one another. They must support the successes of their significant other. Plus, they must be their significant other’s biggest cheerleader as they pursue their own goals. Such support helps both people feel closer and strengthens the relationship, overall.

Knowing that a partner is supportive is also very helpful to the other person. It helps them feel more comfortable talking to their partner and improves their trust.

8. TAKE TRIPS TOGETHER

Traveling is stressful, especially when you go with someone else. This can result in bickering between couples when they do not travel together well.

But, traveling is an excellent way of exposing people to new experiences. It introduces them to new cultures and encourages them to step outside their comfort zone. Naturally, traveling together gives couples new experiences that they wouldn’t have otherwise had.

As they travel, couples lean on one another more to get through the new challenges associated with traveling. In time, this improves their connection since it promotes more reliance on one another. Not only that, but it boosts communication between couples.

9. BE THERE THROUGH THE ROUGH TIMES

Television, movies, and other forms of media love showing just the positive sides of relationships. Unfortunately, this skewed picture isn’t what relationships are actually like. They are tough!

Everyone goes through challenging events — for instance, the passing away of a family member or beloved pet. Being there for a significant other when these challenges arise is essential for a long-lasting relationship.

Beyond that, couples will inevitably encounter challenges that affect them both. In these instances, each partner must handle the other’s faults maturely. They must work on resolving the issue without stopping to name-calling or other immature habits.

10. HAVE FUN TOGETHER

If couples aren’t having fun together, then what’s the point of being together? Life is stressful. There’s no doubt about it. And relationships have their own unique obstacles. But being with another person gives people the chance to go through these challenges with someone by their side.

Connecting in this way helps couples experience excitement and joy together. It makes the relationship more meaningful and boosts the amount of fun each person has in the relationship. That’s why having fun together is probably one of the essential relationship goals that we’ve talked about in this list.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON RELATIONSHIP GOALS

Bringing two individual people together is always tricky. Those two people must connect and commit to sharing part of their lives together. However, having a good relationship, particularly one that lasts for a long time, helps people enjoy healthier lives.

So, whether you’re just starting a new relationship or not, keep these relationship goals in mind. Use them to strengthen the connection you have with someone else. And look to them as you make your overall goals for the future so that you can become the best (i.e., happiest) version of yourself.

10 Relationship Goals Every Couple Should Have

February 10, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Romantic relationships are among the most fulfilling methods of receiving the love and deep connection people need. However, maintaining these close relationships requires a lot of work.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY “RELATIONSHIP GOALS?”

EPIC RELATIONSHIP GOALS THAT EVERY COUPLE NEEDS

1. KEEP INTIMACY ALIVE

2. GO ON DATES

3. SKIP THE PETTY ARGUING

While there are certainly some arguments that signal the end of a relationship, there are also petty arguments that some couples get involved in. These latter arguments should be avoided.

4. GIVE PLENTY OF LOVE

Love is a vital part of any relationship. It brings people together and keeps them going during difficult times.

5. EMBRACE ALONE TIME

Without this alone-time, couples cannot thrive. This is why embracing being alone, on occasion, is a crucial relationship goal.

6. TALK HONESTLY ABOUT THE FUTURE

7. BE SUPPORTIVE

In a relationship, there are fundamental goals that the couple creates together. However, relationships are made of two people. These two people each have their own dreams and aspirations.

Knowing that a partner is supportive is also very helpful to the other person. It helps them feel more comfortable talking to their partner and improves their trust.

8. TAKE TRIPS TOGETHER

Traveling is stressful, especially when you go with someone else. This can result in bickering between couples when they do not travel together well.

9. BE THERE THROUGH THE ROUGH TIMES

Television, movies, and other forms of media love showing just the positive sides of relationships. Unfortunately, this skewed picture isn’t what relationships are actually like. They are tough!

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