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Researchers Reveal Why Red Hair Means You Have A Higher Risk For Skin Cancer

June 25, 2019 by Power of Positivity

All kinds of cancer are frightening. But did you know that skin cancer affects a whopping 20% of all Americans before they hit 70 years of age? That’s one in five of all people, making it the most common type of cancer experienced by those living in the U.S.

This is already a worrying enough statistic without considering those who are naturally at a higher risk for the disease. Redheads, for example, are much more at risk for developing melanoma. Although melanoma isn’t the only kind of skin cancer, it is estimated that it will invasively affect around 96,480 United States residents this year alone.

Though it accounts for only 1% of skin cancer cases, melanoma is responsible for the highest number of deaths from skin cancer. In the past 30 years, melanoma cases have risen significantly. Between just 2006 and 2015, there was a 3% increase in cases every single year.

This means that your chances of dealing with skin cancer are relatively high as is – but as a redhead, these risks jump even higher. Is this a cause for panic? Not necessarily – but it is a cause to educate yourself!

Researchers Reveal Why Red Hair Means You Have A Higher Risk For Skin Cancer

1. Understanding Melanin and Light Damage

You may know of melanin as the component that gives us color. This is essentially correct. It is a pigment that works by absorbing the light that it comes into contact with. This allows it to absorb the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, distributing and dissipating it to prevent it from damaging the body.

Ultraviolet radiation is something many people don’t think seriously about, but it can actually be quite dangerous. Prolonged exposure causes damage to skin cell DNA, and this, in turn, can cause a skin cell to mutate into a cancerous one. Essentially, melanin has a positive function: it defends the body against this type of damage. (1)

Melanin is found in areas such as:

Skin
Eyes
Hair

As a general rule, more melanin in the body leads to darker skin, hair, and eye color. This goes further to explain the statistics behind melanoma and skin cancer and racial demographics.

Here are some facts and figures regarding melanoma and melanin:

Those with dark hair have eumelanin as a pigment, which is responsible for helping the body tan in sunlight.
Those with red hair – and lighter hair – have the dominant pheomelanin pigment, which means they are at a higher risk for sunburns instead of suntans.
White people are 20 times more likely to receive a melanoma diagnosis than black people.
Women are more likely to receive a melanoma diagnosis than men before they turn 50.
By the time they turn 65, men are twice as likely to receive a melanoma diagnosis.
By the time they turn 80, men are thrice as likely to receive a melanoma diagnosis.
Melanoma is more common in older individuals but can occur in those below the age of 30, too.
Melanoma is one of the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer in young women.
There is a:
- 92% five-year survival rate among melanoma patients on average.
- 98% five-year survival rate for those with thin, non-spreading melanoma.
- 80% five-year survival rate for those with thicker melanoma.
- 64% five-year survival rate for those with thick, spreading melanoma.
- 23% five-year survival rate for those who have melanoma that has spread very widely.
Using tanning beds leads to a 75% increase in melanoma risk.

Of course, these factors will vary from person to person. You should always make it a point to speak to your doctor before jumping to conclusions.

2. Why Red Hair Means A High Risk For Skin Cancer

We know that redheads typically burn easily under the sun because of their pale skin. Their melanin receptions are unique, with special variants within their MC1R, or Melanocortin 1 Receptor, that make them at higher risk for developing skin cancer.

MC1R is a type of protein and it is responsible for human pigmentation. Until very recently, little was known about it, but recent research has unveiled that MC1R goes through palmitoylation. Palmitoylation is essentially a process whereby the MC1R is modified, and without this process, MC1R simply cannot function correctly.

The variations that red-haired individuals have in MC1R are the reason behind their higher sensitivity to skin cancer. They also have less melanin in their bodies, making them much more susceptible.

But it’s not all bad news, so maintain positive thinking!

Recent research has shown possible ways to provide preventative care against skin cancer. (2)

A study entitled “Palmitoylation-dependent activation of MC1R prevents melanomagenesis” was published in issue 549 of the acclaimed Nature journal back in September 2017. Researchers on the study, in alphabetical order, were:

Baoen Chen
Bo Zhu
Changpeng Han
Chengqian Yin
Chunying Li
Colin R. Goding
Jun Zhou
Rutao Cui
Shuyang Chen
Tongzheng Liu
Wei Liu
Xiang Chen
Xin Li
Xiumei Gao
Xu Wu
Zhi-Xiang Xu

This research involved the use of a special, small type of molecule that they believed could boost the palmitoylation processes within palmostatin B, which is one of the types of MC1R. Once this molecule was added, the specimen (or experimental model) was placed under heavy UV light.

Results revealed that when given palmostatin B treatment, a model would develop melanoma at a much lower rate. This means that the use of palmitoylation-activating processes may be able to prevent the high risk of melanoma faced by redheads – and other at-risk groups.

This study broke a lot of ground as essentially the very first to provide such comprehensive evidence and analytical proof of this effectiveness. As such, we can look forward with positive thinking to a future with better treatment for redheads with melanoma or at risk of melanoma.

3. Types and Stages Of Melanoma

To better understand melanoma, here are all four types of this disease:

· Acral lentiginous melanoma

This type of melanoma is incredibly rare compared to others, and it is not linked to UV exposure. It is also much more common in those with darker skin, usually popping up on the foot soles, palms, and beneath nails.

· Superficial spreading melanoma

By far the most common type of melanoma, This type shows up on limbs most often. It also tends to be slow to spread in the beginning, though it speeds up quickly over time.

· Lentigo maligna melanoma

This melanoma is more common in the elderly, and it usually begins manifesting in locations that are most exposed to the UV rays of the sun. In most cases, it begins with a freckle-like maligna which resembles a stain. Thankfully, it is slow-growing and therefore less dangerous.

· Nodular melanoma

This variety of skin cancer is the most common after superficial spreading melanoma. It might start to show up on the neck, head, and body, and it usually becomes red instead of black. It is also quite quick-growing.

In addition, here are the stages of melanoma and how they are determined.

· Stage 0

In this stage, the topmost skin layer is the only one affected. It is not technically known as melanoma in this state.

· Stage 1

In this stage, the cancer reaches a maximum of 2 millimeters of the skin. It might be ulcerated, but it also might not be. It has not spread elsewhere in this state.

· Stage 2

In this stage, the cancer reaches at least 1.01 millimeters of the skin and may exceed 4 millimeters of the skin. It might be ulcerated, but it also might not be. It has not spread elsewhere in this state.

· Stage 3

In this stage, the original cancer may not be seen any longer. If it can be seen, it may reach more than 4 millimeters of skin. It might be ulcerated, but it also might not be. It has spread to one or a few close-by lymphatic channels or nodes.

· Stage 4

In this stage, the cancer has spread to lymphatic channels or nodes or even organs that are far away from its original site.

4. Symptoms of Melanoma and Additional Risk Factors

If you’re a redhead who goes out in the sun a lot, you may, understandably, want to know about the symptoms of melanoma. This will allow you to take positive action as soon as possible when you spot them. Here are some common symptoms: (3)

Changes in the skin
Color changes to moles
New spots, “stains,” or moles
Shape changes to moles
Size changes to moles
Painful, tender, bleeding, or itchy skin spots or sores
Scaly, rough, or dry spots that are reddish and flat
Unhealed skin sores
Bleeding or ulcerated lumps that are reddish and firm
Shiny, smooth, pale, or waxy lumps or spots in the skin

Are there other causes or situations that put you more at risk of melanoma?

Here are a few factors that increase your risks, aside from red or light hair:

High levels of intermittent sun exposure
A tendency towards blistering after sun exposure
Light eyes
Pale skin that burns easily
High freckle density
A high number of moles
A large number of unusual moles
High freckle development after being in the sun
High sunspot/age spot density
Birthmarks
Family history
Age
Organ transplants

Do note that there is more and more research surrounding melanoma, and all forms of cancer, so more and more information about melanoma will be revealed as more studies are completed. In the meantime, it can help to refer to pictures of melanoma in order to help you determine whether a certain spot or mark is a symptom or not.

Final Thoughts On Why Red Hair Means You Have A Higher Risk For Skin Cancer

Melanoma and other forms of skin cancer are serious and frightening. When you know you’re at a higher risk for developing a type of cancer, it’s easy to become anxious and nervous. But practice positive thinking!

Recent research developments have revealed more and more potential treatments for skin cancer, and, with enough awareness, you can catch symptoms early and better guard yourself against them.

Worried that you may have melanoma? Schedule an appointment with your doctor. Worried about your risks? Talk to a doctor about what you can do.

21 Ways to Save Money To Never Forget

June 25, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Trying to save money can be a difficult task. Being strapped for cash can make things difficult, and the thought of setting aside some cash for an emergency might bring apprehension.

In order to aid you in your money saving endeavors, we’ve brought together some of the top money saving tips we could muster. Follow these great money saving tips and even with the smallest of incomes, you’ll find your bank account start to look better and better each week!

For some of the best money saving tips you won’t ever wont to forget, continue reading:

21 Ways to Save Money To Never Forget

1. Check Competing Grocers To Get The Best Deals

Keep a close eye on how much you are spending on common items when you are out grocery shopping and then check at competing stores at a later date to ensure you are paying the smallest amount. You’ll be surprised to find that often times similar items are offered at a fraction of the cost at different stores.

2. Pack Your Own Lunch

Instead of dining out for lunch every day, bring your own lunch to work or school. Eating out for lunch every day really racks up in just a little amount of time. When you cook and bring your own lunch to work every day, you’ll find you end better at money saving As an additional benefit, you’ll likely begin to eat healthier foods as well.

3. Be Your Own Repair Man

Plenty of resources are available to you with instruction on how to complete a variety of repairs all by yourself! The next time something breaks, consider researching online to see if it is a task that you are capable of completing. Not only will you end up better at money saving, but it is especially satisfying to know that you can fix something if it breaks.

4. Opt For Store Brand Or Generics

Consider purchasing a store brand or generic merchandise over the name brand for your everyday use items. A lot of the time, these are much cheaper and are of similar quality to that of the much more expensive name brand items.

5. Keep Up On Your Auto’s Air Filter Maintenance

If you aren’t already cleaning and replacing your own auto’s air filter yourself, consider learning how and starting now! For just a small fee, you can increase the mileage and efficiency of your car by meaningful amounts, which can net you some decent money saving over the course of a year!

6. Don’t Throw Out Your Leftovers

If you’ve already made the decision to cook your meals at home, that’s great! Don’t waste your leftovers, though. Leftover food gives you the opportunity to eat for cheap the next day, and with little extra effort on your part! Whether you eat them as is, or transform them into a new dish completely, using your leftovers is a great opportunity to save some dough.

7. Skim Your Local Weekly Fliers

Each week, most grocers send out fliers with their most up to date sales and deals. If you aren’t reading these over before setting out to shop for your week’s food, consider starting now! Knowing what’s on sale ahead of time makes it easy to plan your grocery list around what’s cheapest and will enable you to save some extra money, whether through the use of the best money making apps 2022 or other odd jobs.

8. Cook Your Own Meals

If you are like a lot of people nowadays and find yourself eating out more than not, consider making the change to home-cooked meals! Preparing and eating your own food is a great way to save a lot of money and will likely enable you to eat much healthier. Cooking at home can also be therapeutic and is something everyone should make the time for!

9. Gift Homemade Items

If you have a birthday or holiday coming up and will be needing to provide gifts, consider crafting them yourself this year! Gifting handmade or crafted items is a great way to show you really care, and in the process, can be a great money saving opportunity! Taking the time to craft a gift yourself is a way to add a real personal touch to the gifts you hand out.

10. Double Up On Your Casseroles

If you find yourself preparing casseroles regularly, consider doubling or even tripling the recipe next time! For little extra effort on your part, you’ll have lots of extra prepared food that you can freeze in order to make for quick and convenient meals at a later date! Doing this also allows you to shop in bulk which makes for even more money savings!

11. Empty Out Your Closets

Take a look through your closets and consider getting rid of any items that you don’t use or wear any longer. But don’t just throw it in the garbage. Try selling your old stuff on eBay or Craigslist, or consider a garage sale in order to get some money back.

12. Stay Away From Fast Food And Convenience Foods While Travelling

If you travel a lot, it’s likely you get a lot of your meals from fast food establishments or convenience stores. This ends up costing a lot of money in little time, though. So consider shopping ahead of time and providing yourself with some healthy alternatives such as nuts, trail mix, or jerky.

13. Stop Smoking Now

If you still smoke, stop it right away! Not only is it terrible for your health, but it is a huge money sink. If you smoke, then quitting is likely one of the single largest improvements you can make to your health, and also your bottom line!

14. Opt For Water

If you’re spending lots of money on sweet sodas or other beverages, consider making the switch to cheap and healthy water! Drinking water offers your body numerous health benefits, while also saving you lots of dough in the process. Another benefit of this is that when you maintaining adequate hydration, you are much less likely to overeat, which is another great way of saving money!

15. Switch Out Old Light Bulbs For More Energy Efficient Options

If your lamps and light fixtures are currently fitted with older, energy hog light bulbs, consider switching them out for LED or CFL light bulbs instead. These newer technology light bulbs are much more energy efficient, and as your electricity use goes down, your cash savings will go up!

16. Shop Around For Better Banking Establishments

If you are currently paying a yearly or even monthly fee for the use of a bank, simply for them to hold onto your money, think about looking around for cheaper alternatives. Banking is extremely competitive and you’ll be surprised to find that there are many great banks out there that won’t charge you a thing!

17. Get Rid Of Your Old Collections

If you fancied yourself a collector at one time, consider ridding yourself of the burden of these unnecessary items. If you are no longer passionate or interested in the collection in question, then why hold on to it? Despite what you may think, most collections do not ever appreciate in value, and they end up just costing you in mental energy, and if you’re paying to store them, real money as well. If you’re lucky, you may even find someone who’s interested in purchasing your old collections off of you, so you’re able to regain some of the losses you may have incurred.

18. Be Your Own Tailor

If you are the type of person that throws away clothes at the earliest signs of wear, consider being more frugal and making repairs to your clothing in order to hold onto them longer! A small rip or tear is a surprisingly cheap and easy repair to make, and it is a real shame to get rid of an article of clothing that you love when with just a little time, you can bring it back to near brand new condition! Tailoring or clothing repair is easy to learn and can even develop into a very interesting hobby if you fancy it to be.

19. Close Out Unused Club Memberships

If you are a member of a country club, gym, or another club that requires a monthly or yearly fee, and you aren’t utilizing its benefits to the fullest, consider canceling. If you aren’t taking advantage of all that these clubs and services have to offer, they’re just a money sink, and you’re better off canceling the membership and utilizing the money saved elsewhere. If you decide later on that you actually do want to use these club’s services, you can always sign back on later.

20. Try Buying Used Over New

Plenty of items can be bought for mere pennies when purchased used, and a lot of the times you won’t even be able to notice a difference over the brand new article. Consider shopping around at consignment shops, garage sales, or thrift stores once in a while and you’ll be surprised to find some great deals for pennies on the dollar. Buying used is a great way to save a boatload of cash, and ends up benefiting the seller, as well as the environment!

21. Use Your Own Bank’s ATMs

Don’t waste your money on ATM fees for the sake of convenience. If you need to withdraw money, go straight to your bank’s own ATM machines in order to avoid paying a fee for nothing. It may seem like little is lost when you pay a fee here and there, but over time these costs can really rack up.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON MONEY SAVING

There are plenty of ways to make money-saving achievable. After reading through this list, you should be armed with plenty of great money saving tips that you can begin to employ in your daily life right away!

Whole Foods: 21 Smart Reasons to Give Them a Try

June 24, 2019 by Power of Positivity

If you’re looking to be as healthy as possible and your diet isn’t currently comprised of whole foods, it’s time to make some changes!

If you’re not sure what exactly constitutes whole food, here’s a brief primer.

Whole food is a real, single-ingredient food item. They are usually unprocessed and are free of additives and chemicals that are often associated with processed foods.

An easy way to think of it is that whole food usually has only one ingredient listed on the label. So, if you look at the “ingredients” label, you should only find 1 or 2 items there.

Processed food items may be more convenient in the short term. However, whole foods (also called real foods) offer you so much more! To give you an idea of why you should center your diet around real foods, we’ve brought together 21 good reasons. Continue reading to learn more:

21 Reasons To Eat Whole Foods:

1. They Are Packed With Vital Nutrients

Where most processed foods go through a variety of mechanical processing steps which strip them of many of their vital nutrients, minerals, and vitamins, real foods are left intact. Real foods are exceptionally high in the nutrients your body needs in order to thrive! Examples of whole food that is high in nutrients include liver, eggs, and nuts.

2. Reduce Your Daily Intake of Sugar And Refined Carbs

Compared to their processed counterparts, whole food will typically be much lower in sugar. As a part of processing, many food manufacturers add extra sugar to foods to make them more appealing to people. But, this ends up costing us in the long run.

Consuming excess sugar is associated with increased risk of fatty liver disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and obesity!

3. Improve Your Heart Health

As was previously mentioned, real foods are chock-full of nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins which all go towards improving our health! One way in which your health may be improved by incorporating more real foods in your diet by reducing inflammation, which is purported to be one of the leading causes of heart disease.

4. Real Food Is Better For Our Environment

During the manufacturing and processing of processed foods, greenhouse gases are often emitted and excessive amounts of fuel are consumed. Also, the packaging that you usually see come along with processed food will eventually end up in a landfill. Whole food will not typically result in such negative impacts on our environment.

5. Real Food Is Higher In Beneficial Fiber

During processing, most foods end up being stripped of their beneficial fiber, as well as the vitamins and nutrients. Real foods leave the fiber intact, which provides you with increased satiety and can improve both your metabolic and digestive health!

6. Real Food Helps Regulate Your Blood Sugar

Estimates by the International Diabetes Federation peg the number of people suffering from diabetes to be at over 400 million currently! In the next 25 years, it is estimated that this number will tip past 600 million! When you eat whole foods that leave fiber intact, your blood sugar levels will likely remain lower. This choice goes far to reducing your risk of developing diabetes.

7. Real Food Is Beneficial For Your Skin

Due to the vitamins and minerals left present in real foods, your skin will be much better off as well! real foods such as avocados and dark chocolate have the amazing ability to protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. If you consume real foods such as a fish, vegetables, olive oil, and beans, you’ll likely enjoy a reduction in wrinkles, and may preserve the elasticity of your skin.

8. Real Food May Lower Triglycerides

It is said that blood triglyceride levels are heavily influenced by the foods you eat. When you consume refined carbs and excess sugar, your blood triglycerides are likely to increase. Opting for the unprocessed, whole foods will result in better triglyceride levels overall, which will pay dividends in the long run!

9. Real Food Provides You With A Variety Nutrients

If you find yourself eating the same old processed food over and over again, it can get old fast! Aside from this simply being a bore, eating a larger variety of foods is just healthier overall. There are so many different options for whole foods available to you, that you’ll likely never run out of new ideas for things to eat! real foods provide you with the opportunity to change things up regularly with your diet.

10. Save Money In The Long Run

When you look at the price tags on food, it’s easy to think that processed food is more affordable than whole foods. In the short-term, this may be so, but when you factor in the added costs of dealing with chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, whole foods can end up looking a lot more frugal before long!

11. Real Food Is Higher In Beneficial Fats

Lots of processed foods contained added processed fats and trans fats which can be incredibly detrimental to your health! real foods will usually contain much healthier forms of fat. Examples of healthy fats include coconut oil, and extra virgin olive oil, which contains medium-chain triglycerides, and oleic acid respectively. Both have many purported health benefits. Benefits of these healthier fats include reductions in inflammation markers and better overall heart health.

12. Real Food Can Reduce Your Disease Risk

When you eat whole foods you stand to reduce your risk of developing a whole host of chronic diseases! Diets such as the Mediterranean diet, which focuses on consuming healthy whole foods, has been shown to reduce the risk of followers developing diabetes, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome! Additionally, studies have shown that a diet of mainly real foods is associated with reduced rates of heart disease and cancer.

13. Real Food Has Many Antioxidants

Many real foods contain beneficial antioxidants. These compounds help your body combat the damage caused by free radicals. These antioxidants can be found in nearly all real foods, such as from fruits, nuts, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Other foods that contain beneficial antioxidants include egg yolks and berries.

14. Improved Environment For Your Gut’s Microbiome

Consuming healthy amounts of real foods is especially beneficial to the bacteria that your gut microbiome is comprised of.

Plenty of real foods are prebiotic in nature, which means that the bacteria in your gut ferment it into short-chain fatty acids. Besides just offering you improvements to your gut health, these acids are purported to improve your body’s ability to control its blood sugar levels, which provides you with many health benefits.

15. These Foods Help to Minimize Overeating

Compared to its processed counterparts, real foods contain healthy amounts of fiber, without the unnecessary additions of sugar and flavorings which can drive you to overeat! Maintaining a diet that is high in fiber will go a long way to preventing you from overeating and may result in weight loss in the long run.

16. Enjoy Improved Dental Health

Because of the lack of refined carbs and added sugar that is often found in processed foods, real foods are much better for your teeth. The aforementioned sugars and refined carbs can increase the rate of tooth decay and also provides the plaque-causing bacteria in your mouth with the food that it needs to thrive.

17. Real Food Can Reduce Your Sugar Cravings

When you eat whole foods, after a while you’ll likely find that your cravings for sugary processed foods start to wain. By limiting your intake of highly processed and sugar-laden foods, your taste for sweets will likely reduce, making you far less likely to consume these unhealthy foods. You’ll find that you also begin to appreciate the real foods you are eating more, as time goes on.

18. Your Food Choices May Inspire Those Around You

Aside from just improving your own health by focusing on a diet rich in real foods, you’ll also likely inspire those around you to follow suit. Take the opportunity to improve the health of those around you by eating and advocating for a real food diet.

19. Eating Better Takes the Focus off Dieting

For many people, trying to stick to a rigid and structured diet can be a drag. Having a hyper-focus on the foods you eat and the numbers on the scale can be daunting, and depressing. People often lose sight of the fact that a healthy diet should make you feel good, and provide you with sustaining energy throughout the day. When you focus on eating whole foods, maintaining good health and a healthy weight comes much easier.

20. Show Your Support of Local Farmers

By avoiding processed food options and sticking to real foods, you’ll be supporting local farmers! By heading out to the local farmers’ market and shopping there for real foods, the local economy will take a positive hit, and you’ll be contributing to the prosperity of your local community! An additional benefit of shopping at the local farmers’ market is that the foods they offer are often much fresher than what you’ll find in your chain grocery store.

21. Real Food Is Much More Delicious

If for no other reason, sticking to a real food diet is just plain delicious overall. Who can argue with the amazingly fresh flavors of unprocessed, real foods? Once you’ve begun following a real foods diet, you’ll find it hard to switch back to processed foods. Why? Because the taste just does not compare!

FINAL THOUGHTS ON ENJOYING THIS NEW LIFESTYLE

After reading through this, you just have plenty of reasons to make the switch from processed foods to their real-food counterparts! When you eat real foods, you’ll find you feel better overall. If you aren’t currently sticking with a whole and real food diet, then today is the day to make the change!

10 Natural Bleeding Gums Treatments To Skip The Dentist

June 24, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Struggling with the social, medical, and financial consequences of bleeding gums? You’re not alone. Millions of people around the world live with gum bleeding, a condition that can cause bad breath, swelling, and loosened teeth, among other symptoms.

According to the CDC, approximately half of all Americans suffer from gum disease, a condition that occurs when plaque (a thin bacterial film) hardens under your gums and forms tartar. (1) In addition to gum disease (also known as gingivitis or periodontitis), bleeding gums can be caused by:

Using a toothbrush with hard bristles
Vitamin C or K deficiencies
Denture-wearing
Hormonal changes during pregnancy
Medical conditions like hemophilia and leukemia
Trauma or injury to the gums

THE SYMPTOMS

Gum bleeding is an inconvenient and dangerous condition that can lead to serious medical consequences. What are some of the most serious signs of bleeding gums?

Symptoms can include:

Swollen and red gums
Gums that pull back from the surface of the tooth
Constant halitosis (bad breath) or a persistent bad taste in the mouth
Teeth that are loosening in their sockets
Pus around the gums or teeth
Bloody, inflamed gums

For best prevention, follow a good oral hygiene regimen that will keep your teeth and gums in top condition. Good practices include:

1. Brushing your teeth gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush twice per day for two minutes.
2. Flossing once per day with a flat-surfaced dental floss.
3. Using a good mouthwash twice per day for 30 seconds or more.
4. Seeing a dentist regularly for check-ups and maintenance.

While an effective dental regimen is strong insurance against dental problems, sometimes you can’t afford repeated visits to the dentist. What can you do if you’re struggling with bleeding gums and want to treat your condition on your own? Fret not – here are 10 tried-and-true home remedies for gum bleeding that you can use at home.

While home remedies can provide relief for minor gum issues, it’s important to recognize when professional care is needed. Persistent gum bleeding may indicate an underlying issue that requires attention from a dental professional. Regular visits to a dentist like Smiles Restored, ensure a thorough examination and personalized treatment plan to address the root cause of gum problems. With the expertise of skilled dentists, not only can your oral health be maintained, but any serious concerns can be identified and managed effectively, restoring your confidence and allowing you to enjoy a healthier smile.

1. HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, BAKING SODA AND SEA SALT RINSE

For convenience and effectiveness, you can’t beat a simple hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and sea salt rinse for gum bleeding. All three ingredients are inexpensive yet powerful agents that have stood the test of time. You can find the products at the drugstore or supermarket, where they’ll only cost you a few dollars.

A powerful antiseptic, hydrogen peroxide has antibacterial properties which oxidize the mouth. In this 2017 study (2), it was found to be effective as a treatment for gum disease. Baking soda alkalizes the pH level of your gums, fights bacteria and addresses fungal infections in your gums. (A) Sea salt also alkalizes the mouth, allowing for a gentle treatment that doesn’t irritate the mucous membranes.

How to Use

To make this rinse, combine these four ingredients in a glass:

1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide
2 parts warm water
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp sea salt

Rinse with the solution for 1 to 2 minutes, twice a day.

2. EPSOM SALT

As an alternative to a hydrogen peroxide rinse, Epsom salt is also a powerful home remedy for many health conditions. Its main medicinal effect for bleeding gums comes from its antibacterial properties, which get rid of the bacteria in our gums which causes inflammation and bleeding. You can buy Epsom salt at the drugstore or health food store, but be careful not to buy products that have essential oils or other scents added.

How To Use

You can best use Epsom salt when mixed with warm water, which soothes and nourishes the gums and adds to the effectiveness of the remedy. For a great twice-daily ritual, follow these instructions:

1. Boil 8 oz water for 3 to 4 minutes and let cool until it is slightly warm.
2. Add 1 tsp Epsom salt and stir well. Let dissolve.
3. Gargle and swish the solution in your mouth for 1 minute and then spit out. Do not rinse.

3. OIL PULLING

One of the oldest, most effective home remedies for gum bleeding comes from ancient India, where it was used for thousands of years. Oil-pulling, or swishing a small amount of oil through the mouth, removes bacteria from the teeth and gums which can cause gum disease, cavities, and other dental problems. When properly used, oil-pulling can replace your need for a dentist, saving you thousands of dollars yearly in dental fees.

How to Use

To treat bleeding gums, choose an oil that has antibacterial properties. Popular choices include a good sesame oil, olive oil or coconut oil. Take 1 tbsp of the oil and swish it in your mouth like a mouthwash for 20 minutes. At the start, you will only be able to swish for a minute or so but be persistent and you will soon be able to manage the full treatment.

After 20 minutes, the oil will have liquified in your mouth. Spit it into the toilet and brush your teeth thoroughly with a good toothpaste. There’s no need for flossing or mouthwash after an oil-pulling session. Repeat once daily for a perfect smile!

4. ALOE VERA

For a natural remedy used to treat bleeding gums, there’s nothing like aloe vera. Aloe vera is an East African herb which is used in the treatment of everything from acne to upset stomach. Its long green stalks are sold in supermarkets across the world, from Whole Foods to the neighborhood bodega.

Aloe vera’s antiviral, antifungal, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties make short work of the bacteria which often cause gum bleeding. The herb also works to soothe the gums, thus helping in the case of gum bleeding caused by hormonal changes, medical conditions or denture-wearing.

How to Use

To use aloe vera:

1. Take one stalk of aloe vera and wash it thoroughly with a mild wash.
2. With a knife, cut the stalk open lengthwise to expose the pulpy gel underneath.
3. Remove the gel and apply it to your gums in a thick layer.
4. Let it work for 15 to 20 minutes, spitting occasionally to keep from swallowing.
5. Rinse with lukewarm water.

For optimal results, repeat several times a day.

5. APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Apple cider vinegar is a miracle product for millions of people who seek to cure their acne, manage their weight, and improve their health. As a treatment for sore and bleeding gums, its healing powers lie in acetic acid, which has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. You can find apple cider vinegar at your local supermarket.

How to Use

To use apple cider vinegar:

1. Mix 1 tsp of apple cider vinegar with one cup of warm water.
2. Swish the solution in your mouth for 1 to 3 minutes.

For best results, use this rinse once daily.

6. NEEM

Another healing remedy from India, neem is an herb that has been used for millennia as a folk remedy. With anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, neem is extremely effective at controlling bacteria, irritation and fungal infections. In studies, it has been proven to be helpful in the fight against gum infection. (3)

How to Use

To use neem, you can either chew on 1 or 2 fresh neem leaves (available in some countries) or use holistic products that contain high concentrations of neem oil. These can include toothpastes, mouthwashes, or essential oils. For best results, use these products after every meal.

7. HONEY

Who knew that good old honey from the back of the kitchen cabinet could heal the gums? As an age-old remedy, high-quality honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that address a wide range of gum concerns, from gingivitis to gums wounded by denture-wearing or conditions like leukemia.

How to Use

For the best results, choose quality honey that has plenty of antioxidants in it. Things to look for include raw honey in liquid form, organic honey, locally-produced honey, and honey that is well within its expiration date. Store honey in a cool dark place to preserve its medicinal properties.

To treat bleeding gums, massage fresh honey into the gums gently with your fingertips. Let it sit on your gum line as long as possible without swallowing. Repeat twice per day or more for best results.

8. ESSENTIAL OILS

Since the time of the ancient Egyptians, essential oils have been used for healing and rejuvenation. Distilled from the leaves, petals, and resins of herbs and flowers, these potent oils contain the concentrated medicinal power of the plants. From acne to migraines, healers use essential oils to address a wide range of health complaints.

How to Use

There are many essential oils which can be used to treat bleeding gums. In this post, we will focus on one of the most effective oils for this condition, CLOVE OIL. With compounds like eugenol, clove oil has proven anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, as demonstrated in this National Institutes of Health study(4). It also has analgesic effects, which are helpful in managing sore gums.

To use clove oil as a treatment for gum bleeding, gather:

2 drops of high-quality clove essential oil
1 tsp of coconut oil

1. Mix the essential oil with the coconut oil on a flat surface.
2. Apply the solution directly to your gums.
3. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes.

For the best outcome, repeat at least twice daily.

9. COLD COMPRESS

A cold compress can be extremely useful in addressing many of the issues that come along with bleeding gums, such as soreness and inflammation. It also tightens the blood vessels in the gums, stopping the bleeding.

How to Use

To use a cold compress, wrap an ice cube in gauze or a clean cloth and press it to the site of the bleeding. You can also use a gauze pad dipped in ice water. Press the compress to your gum for several minutes. In addition to the cold, the pressure of the compress against your gums will help relieve the swelling and bleeding.

10. TEA BAG COMPRESS

Surprisingly, one of the most effective home remedies for gum bleeding is a simple warm compress made from tea bags. As a healing agent, tea is one of the most effective in the world. Black tea contains compounds called tannins, which help to heal gum bleeding. It also has astringent and antiseptic properties, which kill bacteria and shrink the tissues in your gum.

How to Use

To use a tea bag compress:

1. Steep one bag of black tea in hot water for 2-3 minutes.
2. Remove the bag from the water and let it cool until it is warm enough to use.
3. When ready, place the tea bag on your wounded gums.
4. Let sit for 4-5 minutes.

For best results, repeat 3-4 times per day.

With these highly-effective treatments to treat bleeding gums, you may never need to see a dentist again! Enjoy these holistic, all-natural remedies and relish your larger bank account and reliance on gentle, everyday herbal products. Try your new smile on a date or job interview and feel the freedom!

Pictures Captured of Poachers Smiling After Killing A Rare Leopard

June 24, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Endangered and vulnerable species are often protected by law. The idea that some amazing animals are at risk of disappearing from our world completely by poachers is a deeply saddening thought. Unfortunately, that’s the reality that many creatures around the world face.

One such animal is the clouded leopard. The clouded leopard is native to Asia, mainly found in a variety of hunting grounds, the Himalayan foothills, and Indonesian rainforests. Named after the spots on its coat, people rarely see this mysterious creature. Thus, officials consider it vulnerable in terms of the species population.

Sadly, as with every rare animal, hunters and poachers desire to kill these endangered creatures, whether for profit from their body parts or simply for sport and “fun.” Recently, a graphic image of a dead clouded leopard being carried and posed with by a group of smiling men began circulating social media.

Outrage sparked after the image went viral, prompting animal welfare advocates to demand justice. Here’s everything you need to know about the pictures showing poachers smiling after killing a rare leopard.

Pictures Captured Of Poachers Smiling After Killing A Rare Leopard

1. The Horrifying Picture

On the 8th of May, a post was shared on a Malaysian Facebook group called Hiking & Camping Around Malaysia that shocked and angered locals.

The post, which contained multiple screenshots of another Facebook user’s personal post, showed a group of men proudly smiling and showing off a dead clouded leopard. Here are some more details about the pictures.

We will not share the photograph of this illegal hunting activity, out of respect for this beautiful cat species. Instead, we will describe the photos. But here is what a healthy clouded leopard looks like:

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A post shared by Clouded Leopard Working Group (@cloudedleopard.clwg)

a) Location

The original pictures were supposedly taken in Tampin, which is a district in Dangi in the state of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. There is no way to confirm this for certain, but the original pictures’ caption claimed this.

b) People Involved

The post’s uploader, named Siva Nadarajan, shared the screenshots after seeing the original post on his feed. Siva was driven to share the screenshots due to his outrage at the mercilessly and cruelly killed vulnerable animal.

The original pictures were posted by a Facebook user who went by Max Mantra, though searches could not turn up any positive results for users by that name. None of the men in the pictures has been successfully identified.

c) Men In Uniform

In the background of one of the several images, a separate group of men, donning blue uniforms and one in an orange hat, are standing and kneeling. It is unknown why those men are there and what their connection is with the scene.

Siva states that these men work at JPAM, which is now known as the Angkatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia or APM; basically, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force. However, there is currently no word on whether the men really are from the APM or not.

d) Reactions

Thus far, Siva’s post has gained over 1,700 likes and 800 shares, and many angry reactions from those equally appalled by the cruelty of the men pictured.

Siva reportedly attempted to reach out to the Jabatan Perhilitan Semenanjung Malaysia, or PERHILITAN, which is also known as the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, in order to report the event. PERHILITAN is responsible for all protection and management tasks surrounding national parks and wildlife within the nation.

The call from Siva was initiated at 3 in the afternoon, and he wanted to make his report, but it was not to be. An operator placed Siva’s call with the Tampin PERHILITAN agency, but the person who picked up informed him that they could not take this report as all staff had allegedly gone home for the day.

There is currently no follow-up information, so we are not certain whether Siva was able to make his report after all, or if he never managed to get through to the agency. As of yet, this incident remains uninvestigated, and the poachers present in the photos have not been identified.

2. What Is The Clouded Leopard?

The clouded leopard is native to a variety of Asian countries, not just Malaysia. They are believed to be the part of the evolutionary chain that links small cats to Pantherinae cats, as it is the smallest species of the latter.

Surprisingly, clouded leopards aren’t actually very close relatives to leopards, making their name a little misleading. Here are some other features of clouded leopards.

a) Appearance

Clouded leopards have fur that is either ochreous or dark grey in hue, with dark grey and black spots in a blotchy pattern occurring throughout their fur. They have stout and short legs with wide paws.

These animals often have stripes in some form over their cheeks, with black ears. They have larger black splotches on their head, spine, loins, shoulders, and forelegs. Their flanks, tail, and lower legs typically have more irregular spots, often with curved stripes.

Clouded leopards have vertical slits for pupils, and their eyes vary from yellowish to greenish in shade (and their eyesight is also pretty sharp!). Their long and low skulls provide a strong facial structure.

b) Teeth and Mouth

Clouded leopards are often dubbed the saber-tooths of today thanks to their extremely large canines, which are the biggest when measured against body size among big cats. In their throat, they have an ossified hyoid bone that allows them to purr when in a positive mood.

c) Climbing

Clouded leopards are exceptional climbers, due in part to their big paws, strong but short legs, and sharp claws that can easily dig into an item for a better grip. Their rear ankles are rotating so they can climb down from high locations headfirst with no problem.

These animals are known for being some of the best climbers out there, and they have been seen hanging upside down from branches. The tails on these wildcats are decently long, too, for good balance.

Thanks to long hind limbs that allow for easier jumping, clouded leopards are also very agile in general. The fact that their radii and ulnae bones are not fused means that they can move better, allowing for easier hunting and stalking as well as good climbing ability.

d) Diet

Clouded leopards might have great climbing ability, but they don’t use this much when hunting. Their diet mainly consists of animals they can easily catch and hunt on the ground, ranging from smaller animals such as birds to larger ones such as pigs and deer.

e) Behavior

Not many researchers have been able to observe clouded leopards at length in the wild, so scientists truly have no idea what their behavior is like. However, some features can be known.

Clouded leopards keep to themselves, living solitary lives and primarily coming out in the evenings and at night. They tend to spend their days in trees, lounging around, then heading to the ground for nighttime hunting.

These wildcats scent mark – much like house cats! – and they can call by “crying” or meowing, both typically to aid in locating other clouded leopards. When greeting another one of their kind, they react respectfully with raised muzzles; if they become aggressive, however, they start to hiss and growl.

f) Cubs

Most clouded leopard females will have between one and five cubs per litter, with each litter being born once a year. Cubs will stay with their mothers and be mostly dependant on them up to around the age of 10 months.

3. The State of The Clouded Leopard

Clouded leopards live in forest areas that are slowly shrinking due to deforestation; habitat loss can lead to significant risks in population building. They are also frequently poached and hunted. It is believed that fewer than 10,000 of them still live today, with less than 1,000 of them per habitat.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers the clouded leopard a vulnerable species. Sadly, they continue to be hunted. Here’s what they are hunted for:

Their spotted fur coat and skin, for clothing
Meat and bones (which are used in traditional medicine)
Their teeth and claws, for clothing and decoration
Alive, as exotic pets

In the past few years, domestic markets for the clouded leopard and the products made from its body parts have clearly operated in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Myanmar. In fact, in a survey of just four markets from 1991 to 2006, 301 different clouded leopard body parts were spotted in Myanmar, believed to have come from a minimum of 279 of these wildcats.

4. Current Laws on Poachers in Malaysia

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A post shared by FAWPS-INDIA (@fawpsindia)

As of April 2019, an amendment to Malaysia’s Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 makes its laws much stricter. It boosts the potential penalties for poachers. The current minimum sentence for those caught is five years of jail time and an RM1 million (approximately US $240,000) for their crimes. This might increase to RM5 million (approximately US $1,200,000).

Although the act will be tabled at the end of the year, animal rights activists and environmental conservation activists are calling for stricter laws throughout the nation. So, we can keep our positive thinking on for some change and better protection in the near future.

Zoo Negara, the country’s national zoo, has been attempting to convince the government to increase the penalty even further. Suggestions include the possibility of life in prison or even the death penalty for convicted poachers. This isn’t due to clouded leopard numbers, either. It’s due to the decreasing number of wild tigers, now dipping below 200.

Dr. Mat Naim Ramil, the Zoo Negara Malaysia Zoology, Veterinary & Giant Panda Conservation Centre’s director, believes that the country should start to follow in China’s footsteps. China harshly punishes poachers of the giant panda with zero-tolerance. Punishment ranges from 10 years in jail to the death sentence.

Activists also believe that the country may need to set up a special army division designed to protect species at risk in the country. Ideally, this division can help to prevent trophy-hunting by poachers, as currently done in some African nations as well as in India.

Final Thoughts On Some Pictures Captured Of Poachers Smiling After Killing A Rare Leopard

Poaching is a serious problem all around the world. It is truly disheartening to see how brutally and cruelly this clouded leopard was treated. We also feel concerned at how proud and unashamed those in the picture appear. We hope that ongoing investigations will uncover the identities of those who killed the wild cat. Indeed, they must face justice.

31 Motivational Mantras About Weight Loss

June 24, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Motivational mantras can help you develop a strong mindset when you’re trying to lose weight. Staying healthy is all about getting regular exercise and eating properly. Though many of us want to see the results of our workouts almost immediately, we all have to put in the hard work it takes to get there.

Best Motivational Mantras About Weight Loss

There will be days where you can’t wait to get in the gym and there will be times when you’d rather stay home. If you find yourself searching for inspiration, keep reading for the best motivational quotes.

1. If all it takes to become fit and rich is the knowledge of how to do it, we’d all have everything we want. In reality, it isn’t about the information you have, it’s about what you do!

Many of us rely on learning as much as possible about getting fit, thinking that this is what will help us get the bodies we want.

The truth is that the only way to actually work out is to physically do it. As they say, “The only way out is through.”

2. There are no bad workouts—every day that you put in effort is a good day.

Getting fit and staying in shape is all about consistency. If you don’t have the dedication to keep pushing yourself to go further and harder every time, you won’t get the results you want. This motivational mantra is a great reminder.

3. You are already the person you want to be—the only thing preventing you from seeing this is the work that must be put in to achieve these goals.

Motivational mantras like this show you where your true power lies.

There isn’t some magical transformation that will occur to get you from where you are now to where you want to be.

The only thing standing in your way is you. The only person responsible for getting you to the next level is still you.

4. If you want to change your body, you must start by changing your mind.

Whenever we think that we aren’t progressing as much as we like, it isn’t what we are or aren’t doing that’s holding us back—it’s our mindset.

Approaching your workout routine from a mindset of passion, fulfillment, and personal responsibility will always yield better results than someone trying to that is motivated by their low self-esteem or lack of confidence.

5. Someone with a busier schedule than you is finding the time to prioritize fitness.

While we all are on our own fitness journeys, it can be helpful to look to our peers for inspiration.

Finding time to work out can often seem overwhelming, but just remember that someone that has more on their plate is finding the time to work out.

It’s not about competition—it’s about pushing yourself harder than you’ve ever gone before. Use motivational quotes like this one to inspire you to go the extra mile in the gym.

6. Working out is rarely convenient, but it’s worth it.

No one said the important things in life come easily.

The more you want something, the harder you must work to achieve it. While it will rarely be comfortable, this is where you’ll experience the most growth.

7. I may be tired, but I won’t stop until I’m done.

Too many of us quit before we’ve really begun to put in any work.

Being tired isn’t something to fear. We all get tired, we all want to rest, we all would rather go back to sleep.

The key to moving forward and making progress is to keep going. Use these motivational mantras to remind yourself to keep pushing.

8. Working out shouldn’t come from a place of self-hate—you must work out because you love yourself and want the best for your life.

Working out is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

While we all have certain things we’d like to change about ourselves, the passion that drives you to keep working out can’t be self-hate.

The more you love yourself, the greater drive you’ll have to keep perfecting your body.

9. Feeling uncomfortable? Good—that’s when true growth takes place.

Looking at the science behind working out can teach you a lot about life.

When we work to train our muscles, we break them down so they can rebuild stronger. When it hurts or feels uncomfortable, this isn’t a sign that you’re broken—it means you’re getting stronger.

10. If you can use social media for an hour, you can spend an hour in the gym.

Scrolling mindlessly through social media is an easy way to waste your time.

Get intentional about working out and start spending those minutes you’d use scrolling through Instagram at the gym.

11. You can’t predict the future but you can change your future—put your health first by working on your body today.

Building a better future starts with putting in the work right now.

Eating healthy, working out regularly, and living more mindfully will have powerful and lasting impacts on your future.

12. While you shouldn’t run from your problems, running can help you work through them.

When life gets you down you may be tempted to stay home, avoid the gym, and Netflix the day away. While this may feel good in the moment, hitting the gym will make you feel even better.

As you get your blood flowing, release endorphins, and block out the world by focusing on your fitness, you’ll find that you feel better after a trip to the gym.

13. Fake the motivation you need.

Wish you were as motivated as your favorite Instagram fitness models seem to be?

The truth is that no one feels happy to work out 24/7. The best motivational quotes show you how to transform your mindset into what you’d like it to be. Regardless of what your feelings may be, working out should be a habit that you do no matter what feelings you may be experiencing.

14. Excuses won’t make you stronger.

Some of us can come up with the best excuses in the world to get out of doing what we know we should do.

While you may have a great reason to stay in and eat your favorite fast food, this will prevent you from getting stronger.

15. Your mind is always speaking to your body. Change the narrative and tell yourself you can do it!

Motivational quotes like this teach that the purest form of motivation is found within yourself. Don’t look to someone else to inspire you. Indeed, you must inspire yourself first.

Keep a positive mindset to help you push through all the doubts and fears that would otherwise keep you from working out.

16. Work to make yourself proud.

Self-motivation is essential when working out and during weight loss. The only one driving you to better yourself is you.

Keep up this persistence as you work to make yourself proud. Keep building up your endurance and stamina as you grow stronger each day.

17. Just go! Go fast or slow—as long as you’re moving, that’s all that matters.

Much like one of the best motivational quotes, “Just Do It”, you need to develop a one or two motivational mantras that inspire you to go.

You’ll never make progress standing still. Taking daily steps towards your future is all that is needed to keep going.

18. Stop starting over; quit giving up.

You’ll never have to start over if you never give up.

19. Your ideal health and body are at the end of your next workout.

Keep pushing yourself. Health is a journey, not a destination.

20. Can you do it? Yes. Will you do it? You must!

You can do anything you put your mind to.

21. The harder the workout, the stronger you’ll be.

Working out is all about building on what you already have. Strengthen yourself each day by going harder than the day before.

22. Even when others say you can’t, you must.

The only person’s opinion that matters is your own.

23. Work hard, then work harder.

There’s always more to be done. Never leave a workout half-heartedly.

24. Workout as if your health and life depend on it.

Health is wealth. If you value your life, you should live like it.

25. Fitness requires loyalty—no cheating is allowed.

If you want working out to work for you, you have to be loyal to it. Allow your motivational mantras serve as a touchstone to your success.

26. Make time to work out.

One of the simplest motivational mantras, yet always true. The only way to get it done is to prioritize working out and remain consistent.

27. Champions aren’t born this way, they must become champions.

Whether you’re attempting to prepare for a marathon or you just want to find a consistent workout routine, you have to realize that this fitness journey is just that—a journey.

You won’t reach your goals overnight, but you will make important steps towards them every day you are consistent.

28. Why try at all if you aren’t willing to go all the way?

In fitness and in life, it’s never beneficial to do things half-heartedly. If you’re going to do a workout, give it everything you’ve got.

29. Believe you can do it. Even if you don’t believe you can, at some point you’ll start to change your mind.

Fitness is all about the level of work you put in. If you don’t believe in yourself, set those feelings aside. Fake the confidence until you feel it.

30. Your only comparison should be the person in the mirror.

You are the only person you should be competing with.

31. You’ll never achieve your goals without taking action.

Don’t just set your goals, go after them. To achieve these dreams you must take action now.

Final Thoughts on Motivational Mantras for Fitness

We are all capable of greatness. The harder you push yourself to achieve this greatness, the more you’ll be able to accomplish.

Keep these motivational mantras in mind as you search for inspiration to improve your fitness training. Remember, stay consistent, work hard, and never stop going.

A Beginner Guide to Restorative Yoga

June 22, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Restorative yoga is a type of yoga practice designed to open your body with slow movements and deep breathing. While many contemporary yoga practices focus on speed of movement and tackling lots of different postures per session, restorative yoga does the opposite. Instead, you may only perform a couple of poses per session and hold them for much longer.

The goal is to sync up your mind, body, and breath through slow, passive stretching.

Restorative yoga (also called Yin Yoga) is a very different experience for people used to more active, athletic practices. If you’ve taken a yoga class recently, chances are it’s been of a more active variety designed to cycle quickly through poses. This type of yoga is great for building up strength and flexibility but does little in terms of relaxation.

The slow, deliberate movements of restoration yoga, on the other hand, are designed to aid your muscles in reaching full relaxation. This is why restorative practices use props so your body doesn’t need to support itself and you can allow your muscles to go limp.

Since Yin Yoga is so different from active practices, it’s a perfect complement to more strenuous forms of yoga. It’s also a great form of yoga for beginners!

Benefits of Restorative Yoga

As yoga has gained mainstream popularity, it’s also grabbed the attention of the scientific community. Health researchers have identified a number of ways that yoga benefits physical and emotional wellness, including:

Stress management
Improved mental and emotional health
Promoting healthy eating habits and physical activity habits
Better sleep
Increased balance and flexibility

Scientific research has also shown that yoga can be used to improve specific conditions and ailments:

Help manage symptoms of anxiety and depression
Relief from low-back pain and neck pain
Relief from menopause symptoms
Manage symptoms of chronic diseases and improve the overall quality of life
Help people manage weight
Help people quit smoking

The Practice

At its very basic level, Yin yoga is the practice of holding a few poses for an extended period of time paired with deep, relaxed breathing. You’re encouraged to use props like yoga blocks to carry the weight of your body so your muscles can deeply relax instead of supporting the body’s weight.

Restorative yoga can be practiced independently or in tandem with active forms of yoga. Some students like to tack Yin Yoga onto the end of an active yoga session to cool down their muscles and breathing. Others practice restorative yoga all on its own to simply relax the body and mind. Yin Yoga is especially helpful when you’re feeling tired, burned out, or have too much energy.

Set an Intention

Before you lay down on your mat, think of why you’re settling in for a restoration yoga session.

When you set an intention, you’re focusing your awareness on a particular goal, virtue, or quality you want to enhance during the session.

In other words, what are you looking to accomplish? Do you want to simply relax and unwind after a tough day? Are you trying to manage symptoms of chronic disease? Whatever the reason is, determine your goal and remind yourself of it throughout your practice. For some, it may be something as simple as expressing gratitude, releasing negativity, or clearing your mind so you can start your day with a blank slate.

Breathing

Proper breathing is the key to getting the most out of Yin Yoga. During your session, you should maintain relaxed, deep, belly breathing. To get into the groove of belly breathing, place a hand on your stomach and feel the gentle rise and fall of your breath. If you ever “fall out” of your breathing routine, simply place your hand back on your belly until your respiration slows down and stabilizes.

Belly breathing forces you to slow down, promoting relaxation and mindfulness. Deep breathing increases the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream, which lowers your heart rate and blood pressure. Plus, by concentrating on your breath, you have less mental bandwidth to devote to stressing about your day or worrying about things you need to get done.

Warm-Up

Before diving into a restoration yoga session, we recommend warming up your muscles. Running through a few gentle poses will limber up your muscles so you can more easily hold restorative poses for an extended period of time. Plus, it will help shed some of your body’s extra energy and restlessness so you can more fully relax into each pose.

The Poses

In restorative yoga, each pose is held for an extended period of time. Unlike more athletic forms of yoga that focus on strength-building and flexibility, Yin Yoga doesn’t quickly cycle through many poses. Instead, you’ll hold each pose for anywhere from 5 minutes to 20 minutes.

The key to Yin Yoga is comfort. At no point should you be in discomfort or pain. Since the goal is to relax, your body also shouldn’t need to exert itself much to hold each pose. If a pose feels strenuous, you can place a block to support that part of your body and help take a load off your muscles. You should feel comfortable, relaxed, and at ease in each pose.

Here are some of the most popular yoga poses for restorative practice:

Child’s pose (balasana
Corpse pose (savasana)
Side-lying corpse pose (side-lying savasana)
Happy baby pose (ananda balasana)
Legs-up-the-wall pose (viparita karani)
Reclining bald eagle pose (supta baddha konasana)
Adept’s pose (siddhasana)
Legs-on-a-chair pose

Hint: Don’t Skip the Props!

Some yoga practitioners don’t like props, but we highly encourage using them to get the most out of your Yin Yoga session. When you forgo props, your muscles have to make up for that extra exertion. The more your muscles exert themselves, the less they can relax.

Remember: you are not looking to build up muscle strength with restorative yoga. That’s the realm of more active forms of yoga like ashtanga, bikram, and vinyasa flow.

When it comes to props, the sky is the limit! Use whatever helps you feel best supported. You can buy props specifically designed for yoga or you can get creative and use things from around your house. Popular props for restoration yoga include blocks, straps, rolled-up blankets or towels, balance balls, furniture like chairs and walls, sandbags, and pillows. Using a combination of props will help you support your body wherever it’s needed so you can sink into the deepest possible level of relaxation.

So, go ahead and raid your bed for pillows and blankets–your practice will benefit from it!

Tips for Amazing Yin Yoga Practice

1. Timing is key

Restoration yoga is all about slowing down and experiencing the moment. To get the most out of your practice, each yoga pose should be held between 5 to 20 minutes. How long your overall session runs depends on how many poses you want to do.

The long period of time in each position gives your body a chance to fully relax and literally “melt” into the pose. Of course, if you need to, you can always readjust or make small movements to keep your body comfortable throughout the pose.

2. Stay warm

When your muscles are warm, they’re more flexible and limber than when your body is cold. To help your body ease into each pose and comfortably remain there for a long period of time, be sure to keep your room warm and free of drafts. You can also dress in layers as long as it doesn’t limit your range of motion. Get comfy!

3. Put on music

The right kind of music can help you stay mentally grounded during your session. One common struggle people face is the mind-wandering that happens when you’re holding a single pose for up to twenty minutes at a time. Music–as long as it’s not distracting or disruptive–can help keep your mind on track and in a relaxed state.

4. Keep it simple

With the sheer number of yoga poses at your fingertips, it’s easy to get carried away and try to cram your session with tons of elaborate positions you saw on Instagram. For restorative sessions, simple is best! Stick with a couple of basic, comfortable poses. You’re encouraged to use props during restorative practice, but don’t get bogged down by equipment either–if you’re constantly moving blocks or rolling and re-rolling blankets, you’ll get flustered. Instead, just relax and go with the flow!

Final Thoughts on Restorative Yoga

Adding Yin Yoga to your practice is an excellent way to enhance your physical and emotional wellness routine. Restorative yoga is an effective method of dealing with unpleasant situations in life like burn out, stress, anxiety, and feelings of being overwhelmed by work or school. A restorative practice can also help you physically recover after a strenuous workout. With as many physical benefits as emotional, Yin Yoga is a perfection addition to anyone’s practice.

When you finish a restorative session, you will feel healthier, more rejuvenated, and better balanced. As much as our bodies benefit from rigorous physical activity, it equally benefits from slowing down and resting. And since Yin Yoga is such a gentle practice, people of all ages and levels of physical fitness can do it and feel good. Roll out your mat and get started!

21 Budget Friendly Vegan Lunch Meal Prep Ideas

June 22, 2019 by Power of Positivity

It’s been shown that having a good meal prep routine can often be the way to maintain a healthy diet. This is because it is much easier to plan nutritious meals when you plan in advance, giving yourself time to find proper ingredients and recipes. It is also very easy to forget how to cook nutritious meals or stay on top of your diet when you’re hungry, making using vegan meal prep ideas a wonderful way to hold yourself accountable for your diet. Looking for cafes Roanoke, visit Wildflour Café At Towers.

On top of these dietary benefits, it just makes your life more convenient. You don’t have to go to a café or deli for meals, allowing you to save the time and money you would normally spend on meals prepared by other people!

Despite all of these positives associated with meal prepping, though, many people find it very difficult to begin. The act of changing your life in a radical way to benefit yourself in the long run can feel a bit tedious.

Because meal prepping seems like a difficult task for traditional diets, many people wouldn’t even think that it’s possible to be vegan (or other nontraditional diets) and meal prep. Well, people might think it’s possible, but simply not cost effective!

In reality, though, this couldn’t be further from the truth. There are so many different meal prep ideas you can use that are both affordable and vegan. To help you navigate which meals prep ideas are cheap and vegan, we’ve made this list of 21 Budget Friendly Vegan Lunch Meal Prep Ideas:

Vegan Lunch Meal Prep Ideas

1. Veggie Wraps

Who knew that collard greens could be incredibly helpful for giving you a nice, healthier alternative to your sandwich craving? This recipe from Tasteful Venture is incredibly delicious and allows you to get all of your nutrients in while maintaining your vegan diet!

2. Oatmeal Fruit Jars

If you’re somebody who wants to incorporate some healthy meal prep into your daily breakfasts, you’ll love this recipe for oatmeal fruit jars. They’re easy to make, very nutritious, and you can make as many as you want with little materials! Another benefit to these jars is that the recipe itself is very flexible, allowing you to substitute any ingredients you’d like to include whichever type of fruit you’re interested on any given week!

3. Peanut Butter Protein Bars

This recipe isn’t the quickest to make, but it is very rewarding if you’re looking for some delicious vegan snacks to make. If you’re not interested in peanut butter or chocolate, this likely isn’t the recipe for you, but anybody else will love it. This is great for any midday pick-me-up you might need!

4. Tofu Breakfast Tacos

One of the things that many people miss most when going vegan is the comfort that certain breakfast meats can bring. On a cold winter morning, there’s nothing better than a warm breakfast taco or burrito, making this recipe a must for any vegans who want to re-capture that feeling. Of course, this recipe replaces eggs with scrambled tofu, allowing you to mix and match any vegetables or other ingredients you’d like!

5. Tomato Risotto

Having a nice pasta-based dish is a perfect lunch solution to anybody looking to eat something filling, making it a great option for a vegan meal prep idea. You can also mix and match the vegetables in this recipe, continuing to change it each time you make it to get a good amount of variety in.

6. Spaghetti Squash Bake

Just because you’re vegan, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a quiche-type meal! This is why we love this Spaghetti Squash Bake, a recipe that allows you to turn the flexibility of a spaghetti squash to make a really nice bake that can just as easily be breakfast as it can lunch and dinner!

7. Tortilla Soup

On cold, rainy days, sometimes having the right type of soup can be all you need to keep your spirits high. If your workplace has a microwave, we highly recommend incorporating this meal prep idea into your lexicon so you can never feel chilly at work again!

8. Chickpea Bowls with Vegetables

Sometimes it can be most efficient to have a meal that tastes just as good warm as it does cold. This is why we recommend these chickpea bowls, meals that will feel great no matter what you pair them with! Feel free to swap out the vegetables for other ideas you might have as well!

9. Granola

This is out other great idea for anybody who is interested in having a snack to keep them going in the middle of their day. Granola goes well no matter what time of day it is, allowing you to carry it with you as a snack on your commute or eat it during the final hour of your work day!

10. Sweet Potato Bowls

It’s no secret that some of the best meal prep recipes are the ones that can satisfy the requirements for multiple meals. This is why we love these sweet potato bowls—they’re perfect for both lunch and dinner! If you want to make them even more impressive, consider adding some garnish or additional spices.

11. Tabouli Salad

Salads are one of the key power meals that are likely already a part of your diet if you’re vegan. However, have you ever had a tabouli salad with kale? This recipe is incredibly delicious and a great way to get you started!

12. Mushroom Spinach Pasta

Sometimes meals taste better as leftovers than when they were initially made. Some of the spices settle, the heat is turned down, and the vegetables begin to blend together better. This is definitely one of the benefits of meal prepping pasta, as there are so many wonderful vegan recipes to choose from that can give you plenty of variety! We love this mushroom spinach pasta for the same reason and you likely will too.

13. Sweet Potato and Chickpea Salad

We wouldn’t be able to get through this list without providing you with a few great salad options, right? This is why we recommend this sweet potato and chickpea salad for anyone looking to spice up their lunch at work.

14. Tofu Scramble

Remember when we included those tofu breakfast tacos at the beginning of this list? This is the dinner equivalent of that recipe. A tofu scramble goes well with nearly anything, so get creative! We recommend beginning with this recipe and then adjusting or replacing any ingredients as you see fit! You’ll be surprised at how delicious it can be.

15. Lo Mein

Ever want to have Chinese food without having to spend your budget at the local Chinese food shop? This lo mein recipe is a great way around this, allowing you to incorporate your favorite vegan flavors into one of your favorite dishes. It’s also very easy to make a lot of lo mein, making this recipe incredibly flexible to last you even more than a week if you’d like!

16. Stuffed Peppers

You really can’t go wrong with a good stuffed pepper! Not only are these filling, but they’re also very flexible—just put whichever ingredients you’d like in them and you’re good to go! This is also one of the great meal prep ideas that is truly flexible.

17. Lentil Chili

This is another rainy day recipe that is perfect for vegans looking to get some of the spice they miss from meat-based chili. This chili is based off of lentils to fill you up easily, also allowing you to combine your favorite vegetables with it!

18. Plantain and Vegan Bowl

This recipe is one of the most unique vegan meal prep ideas. Plantains are delicious and incredibly healthy for you—when mixed with other vegetables, they’re out of this world!

19. Southwest Salad

If you want a salad that has a little more of a kick than other options, check out this southwest salad recipe. It has couscous, spices…what more could you ask for?

20. Peanut Butter Balls

Effective snacks are the ones that keep you energized when you need it most. That’s why these peanut butter ballsare the perfect solution for losing energy during a long stretch of work. Definitely one of the most protein-filled meal prep ideas on this list.

21. No Cook Snack Boxes

At the end of the day, sometimes meal prepping is even too much to keep track of. This is why we recommend these no cook snack boxes for anybody who wants to put together meals, but can’t always cook them in advance. They’re incredibly easy to make and are also very affordable!

As you can see from our list, there are many different meal prep ideas that you can incorporate into your routine that are incredibly affordable and vegan. Once you do so, you’ll find that not only will you live a healthier life, but a happier one as well! Through meal prepping more effectively, you will not only be able to increase your overall nutrition, but also give your workdays more positivity overall! If you need even more vegan meal prep ideas, we’ve also got you covered.

10 Ways to Get Rid of Vertigo Without Medicine

June 22, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Vertigo is an uncomfortable feeling that many people experience. While this can be treated with medication, there are several natural remedies that help ease the discomfort caused by this condition.

The Best Natural Vertigo Cure

If you’re ready to get rid of vertigo once and for all and would prefer not to take medicine, there are quite a few methods you can try. While some of these methods are physical actions that help establish equilibrium within your body, others help to prevent your body from becoming imbalanced in the first place.

Consider the following 10 strategies as you prepare to treat your vertigo:

1. The Epley Maneuver

The Epley maneuver is also known as the “canalith” maneuver. This technique is usually the go-to method for restoring balance to people that are experiencing vertigo.

Certain research shows that this maneuver is quite effective for individuals dealing with benign positional paroxysmal vertigo (one of the more common types of this condition). While medical professionals can perform this technique, it is easy enough to do on your own at home through the following steps:

1. Position yourself upright as you sit on a flat surface, placing a pillow behind your back as your legs remain outstretched.

2. Next, move your head 45 degrees right.

3. Keeping your head tilted, recline quickly as you place your head on your pillow. Remain in this position for the next 30 seconds.

4. Turn your head towards the left about 90 degrees. As you do this, refrain from lifting your neck.

5. Engaging the whole body, turn yourself towards the left until you are fully on the left side of your body.

6. Then, slowly come back into the initial position, sitting straight up and looking forward.

If you have someone nearby to assist you, have them guide your head based on the above steps. This maneuver can be repeated up to three times, however, you’ll likely feel dizzy with each movement.

2. Semont-Toupet Maneuver

This maneuver is another set of motions that can help restore equilibrium within your body. While this maneuver is not as well known, many studies show that the Semont-Toupet maneuver is as successful as other treatments for this condition.

Perform this method through the following steps:

1. As you sit up on a flat surface, keep a pillow behind you and your legs outstretched.

2. Lie down and turn to the right. Look to the left first, then look upward.
3 Sit up quickly then turn to the left. Keep your head facing your left. Next, look down towards the ground.

4. Return to the original sitting position as you look forward and sit straight up.

3. Brandt-Daroff Exercise

The Brandt-Daroff is a simple vertigo cure that anyone can do on their own unsupervised. This exercise is easy to do but should only be performed by someone that is safely at home that won’t be driving for a few hours. While this maneuver can reduce the symptoms of this condition, it can actually increase dizziness before it cures it.

Perform the Brandt-Daroff exercise through the following steps:

1. Sitting on a surface that’s flat, leave your legs stretched as they would if they were dangling.

2. Turning your head towards the left, lay on your right with your torso and head on the ground. Keep your legs as still as possible and stay in this position for 30 seconds.

3.Repeating this exercise on your opposite side, turn your head towards your right, then turn to lay down on the left side of your body

This exercise can be done in sets of five repetitions. Repeat this maneuver up to three times each day twice every week.

4. Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo biloba is as effective in treating this condition as prescription medication. This extract can be taken in capsule or liquid form.

If you experience dizzying symptoms on a regular basis, try taking 240 mg of ginkgo biloba daily to lessen these feelings.

5. Stress Management

Conditions like Meniere’s disease can lead to dizzying symptoms. Stress is often the underlying trigger to Meniere’s disease and can be successfully treated by practicing coping mechanisms for relieving stress.

Help reduce symptoms of this condition by practicing deep-breathing and meditation techniques daily. This will help you respond to stressful situations in a healthier way.

When it comes to handling long-term stress, consider going to therapy. While these therapy sessions won’t eliminate your stress overnight, it will help you overcome long-term anxieties and traumas over time.

6. Practice Tai Chi and Yoga

Tai chi and yoga can also reduce stress in the body while increasing your balance and flexibility.

Signing up for a tai chi or yoga class will help to train your brain and restore equilibrium to your body. If you’re practicing on your own, start off with basic yoga poses like Corpse Pose and Child’s Pose.

7. Sleep Properly

One of the easiest ways to get your body out of whack is to not get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can easily trigger these dizzying feelings.

Overcome this temporary experience by prioritizing your sleep schedule. In the moments you start to feel these uncomfortable sensations, consider taking a nap. The more sleep you get, it is likely that your feelings of vertigo will be resolved.

While many people want to get enough sleep, they may not be able to on their own. Conditions like sleep apnea and insomnia can make it incredibly challenging for an individual to get the proper amount of sleep. Moreover, these issues can also rob an individual of sleep quality as well.

Try to control the quality of sleep you get with the following tips:

Avoid Caffeine and Spicy FoodsThese additions to your diet can be incredibly disruptive to your sleep. While caffeine can make it difficult to fall asleep, spicy foods can lead to indigestion or heartburn, making you wake up in the middle of the night.
Avoid Using Your Phone Before BedThe bright lights of your phone can interfere with your ability to fall asleep. While you may already be in the habit of watching your favorite shows or movies before bed, this interrupts your body’s natural inclination to go into rest mode when it’s time to sleep.Do your best to avoid your mobile devices for at least an hour before it’s time to go to bed.
Keep Your Room Dark
It makes sense to have brighter lights if your room doubles as a home office, but make sure your room can go into “bedroom mode” just as easily. Keeping your room dark with dimmer lights and blackout curtains will make it easier for you to get the rest you need at night.

8. Stay Hydrated

As the majority of our bodies are made of water, failing to stay hydrated regularly can wreak havoc on the body. While dehydration can cause many issues, one of the more discomforting ones is this imbalance within the body.

Keep your equilibrium in check by making it a point to stay hydrated throughout the day. Do this by keeping a water bottle on hand everywhere you go. If you’re really serious about your hydration, consider downloading an app to help you stay on top of your water intake.

Additionally, think about reducing the amount of sodium you consume and any diuretics.

9. Take More Vitamin D

Everyone knows that a consistent intake of vitamins and nutrients are essential to living healthily. What most people don’t realize is that a lack of vitamin D can increase symptoms of BPPV, leading to intensified feelings of dizziness.

Bolster the vitamin D in your diet by eating more egg yolks, canned tuna, orange juice, and fortified milk. Ensure you are getting the right amount of this vitamin by checking with your doctor to monitor your levels of vitamin D.

10. Avoid Alcohol

While alcohol can give us euphoric feelings, it’s impossible to deny the uncomfortable feelings of dizziness and nausea that come with drinking.

In addition to this, drinking alcohol actually changes the composition of fluids within your inner ear. This can ultimately affect your balance, even long after the alcohol leaves your system.

The best way to maintain your body’s equilibrium is to avoid alcohol completely. If you don’t want to go on a total alcohol cleanse, try to cut back on your consumption. After drinking alcohol, be sure to drink a large amount of water to help your body flush the toxins out of your system.

Final Thoughts on the Best Vertigo Cure

Each person experiences this condition differently. The better you are able to determine the cause behind this feeling, the sooner you can eliminate this feeling completely. In the meantime, keep practicing these exercises and putting these suggestions to use.

While all 10 of these suggestions may not work as a vertigo cure, they should do their job to make you feel better in the moment. As you attempt to treat your vertigo, be sure to speak with your doctor to ensure you’ve chosen the method for your health.

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

21 Reasons To Eat Whole Foods:

1. They Are Packed With Vital Nutrients

2. Reduce Your Daily Intake of Sugar And Refined Carbs

3. Improve Your Heart Health

4. Real Food Is Better For Our Environment

5. Real Food Is Higher In Beneficial Fiber

6. Real Food Helps Regulate Your Blood Sugar

7. Real Food Is Beneficial For Your Skin

8. Real Food May Lower Triglycerides

9. Real Food Provides You With A Variety Nutrients

10. Save Money In The Long Run

11. Real Food Is Higher In Beneficial Fats

12. Real Food Can Reduce Your Disease Risk

13. Real Food Has Many Antioxidants

14. Improved Environment For Your Gut’s Microbiome

15. These Foods Help to Minimize Overeating

16. Enjoy Improved Dental Health

17. Real Food Can Reduce Your Sugar Cravings

18. Your Food Choices May Inspire Those Around You

19. Eating Better Takes the Focus off Dieting

20. Show Your Support of Local Farmers

21. Real Food Is Much More Delicious

FINAL THOUGHTS ON ENJOYING THIS NEW LIFESTYLE

Benefits of Restorative Yoga

The Practice

Set an Intention

Breathing

Warm-Up

The Poses

Hint: Don’t Skip the Props!

Tips for Amazing Yin Yoga Practice

Final Thoughts on Restorative Yoga

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!