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Easy and Effective Ways to Combat Stress

January 7, 2016 by

Everyone gets stressed out from time to time, but if it starts to interfere with your day-to-day life, you could be dealing with something a bit more serious. The next time you start to feel those overwhelming feelings creeping on you, try these simple tips for combating stress naturally.

  • Don’t let it go too far. It’s much easier to manage stress when it first begins than when it starts to spiral out of control, so watch out for the warning signs early. If you can tell that it’s going to be a stressful week, prepare in advance so that you can manage your tasks without becoming overwhelmed.
  • Address the physical side effects. While stress itself is mental, its side effects are often physical. When you start to get jittery or your feel your heart racing, do some relaxing stretches, practice breathing exercises, or simply close your eyes and count to 10 to counteract those feelings.
  • Watch your diet. Before you start stress eating or grabbing unhealthy fast food while rushing to work, stop and plan your meals. What you eat can have a big impact on your mental state, so be sure to try to eat fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins to stay energized. Try to steer clear of caffeine!
  • Do something silly. Take a break from life (even if it’s just for five minutes) to laugh at a silly video or dance it out. Sometimes that’s all you need!

Top 10 Instant Stress Busters [Lifehacker]
7 Best Ways to Bust Stress [SheKnows]
15 Easy Ways to Bust Work Stress [Men’s Health]

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Crazy About Cosmetics? Check Out These Makeup Boards on Pinterest!

August 20, 2015 by

If you’re a fan of makeup, even the most average day can feel like playing dress up. From the latest cat eye looks to bold-hued lipsticks that add a dramatic flair to your look, there are always new makeup trends to try. Here are three great Pinterest boards that cosmetic enthusiasts will love.

Nail Art Designs
Your face isn’t the only thing that you can doll up with cosmetics. This Nail Art Designs Pinterest board is filled with fun and exciting ideas for your fingernails and toenails, and it even includes seasonal designs that will help you to coordinate your nails with the current holiday. Try out a classic chevron print or add lace decals to make your nails look professionally done right from your own home.

Makeup Looks
Whether you’re looking for something edgy and high fashion or a look that’s more natural and feminine, this Pinterest board has a makeup look for every mood. There are even costume makeup ideas with instructions that go along with them, so you can create the perfect cat whiskers or scary Halloween makeup for your next costume party.

Lip Colors
This board is dedicated entirely to the latest lip colors from your favorite makeup brands, including MAC’s dramatic mattes, classic Chanel shades, and more affordable options from Maybelline and Cover Girl.

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Fill Your Tank: What to Eat Before a Workout

June 18, 2015 by

The foods that you eat before your workout can make all the difference when it comes to feeling energized and seeing results. If you’re unsure about what types of foods to eat for an added boost of energy, check out these great snack and meal ideas.

  1. Wheat toast with peanut butter and banana. Slice up a banana and sprinkle it on top of peanut butter toast for a healthy boost of carbohydrates for energy and healthy sugar from the fruit.
  2. Greek yogurt with fruit and nuts. Greek yogurt is packed with protein, while the energy-boosting nuts and sweet fruits will give you a little boost of energy.
  3. Fruit smoothie. If you don’t have time to sit down for a meal before the gym, pack a fruit smoothie in your gym bag. Add some Greek yogurt for protein and granola for carbohydrates.
  4. Apple slices with almond butter. This on-the-go snack is easy to prepare and easy to eat. It also offers just the right amount of healthy sugars and hearty protein.
  5. Oatmeal. Oats are packed with fiber, which slowly release carbohydrates into your bloodstream throughout the course of your workout. Eat one cup at least half an hour before working out.

Best Pre-Workout Foods [Men’s Health]
What to Eat Before and After a Workout [Fitness]
What to Eat Before, During, and After Exercise [WebMD]
The Best Foods to Eat Before and After Your Workout [Shape]

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Essential Beauty-Enhancing Products You Already Have at Home

February 19, 2015 by

The next time you want to try a new beauty product, you might want to start by browsing your kitchen cabinets instead of heading to the drugstore. Many common foods and oils can double as creams, scrubs, and skin treatments! Here are a few beneficial beauty products that you likely already own.

  1. Tea bags. Instead of investing in a pricey eye cream to get rid of those dark circles after a night out, use some tea bags instead. Soak two green tea bags in warm water and lay them on your eyelids. The caffeine will shrink the appearance of blood vessels, while the antioxidants reduce inflammation.
  2. Oatmeal. Make your own face treatment by using your favorite breakfast oats. Place a handful of whole oats inside of a washcloth and secure it closed with a rubber band. Soak the whole thing in a sink of warm water until the water turns cloudy, and then splash it onto your face. This will create a protective barrier on the skin that seals in moisture and provides anti-inflammatory properties.
  3. Oranges. Use oranges to get rid of pesky dry patches on the skin. Squeeze half of an orange into a bowl and mix in 1/4 cup of granulated sugar and 1/4 cup of olive oil. Rub the other half of the orange on dry knees or elbows to loosen the dead cells, and then rub on your homemade scrub to slough them away.

Have A Spa Day…At Home! 10 DIY Beauty Treatments! [Seventeen]
Our Favorite All-Natural Home Beauty Treatments [Fitness]
Crazy Beauty Tricks That Really Work [Whole Living]
6 All-Natural Beauty Fixes [Woman’s Day]

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You Might Be Surprised That These Common Foods Are High in Sugar

July 24, 2014 by

Some foods are obviously high in sugar, such as cakes, sodas, and ice cream. But did you know that there are sneaky high-sugar foods that may be sabotaging your diet without you even knowing it? Here are a few foods that are surprisingly high in sugar.

  1. Fat-free yogurts. Sure, fat-free yogurts don’t contain fat, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re low in sugar, too! In fact, the majority of low-fat and fat-free yogurts overcompensate by adding quite a bit of sugar to sweeten up the taste. Be sure to check the label on your favorite sweet side, because some 0% yogurts can contain as many as 20 grams of sugar.
  2. Marinara sauce. Marinara sauce is often viewed as a healthy alternative to creamy Alfredo sauces, but this savory pasta topping can be packed full of sugars. Beware of store bought cans and jars especially, as they’re the most common culprits.
  3. Bread. Even supposedly healthy breads, like whole grain and wheat, can contain about three grams of sugar per slice. Processed breads are usually much higher in sugars than freshly baked options, so opt for a loaf from the bakery or a sprouted wheat bread from the health food store.

6 Surprising Sources of Sugar [Eating Well]
6 Hidden Sugar Mines in Your Diet [Next Avenue]
Sugar: Five Foods Surprisingly High in Sugar [BBC]

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6 Tips for Avoiding the Flu This Season

January 22, 2014 by

When it's flu season, it's best to take extra precautions to avoid getting sick. The flu affects thousands of people each year and can become very severe. Check out these six tips to avoid getting sick this flu season.

1. Cover your mouth and hands.
Not everyone will do this, but you should! Each time you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and wash you hands as soon as possible.

2. Avoid close contact.
It seems like a no brainer, but it can be tough if it's a friend or coworker who is sick. Make plans for another time to let a friend's bout with the flu run its course. Similarly, avoid sitting close to sick coworkers at work.

3. Eat healthy.
They best defense to sickness is a strong immune system. Make sure you eat plenty of vegetables, drink lots of water, and take vitamins to keep viruses at bay.

4. Wash your hands.
Another obvious one, but folks tend to forget this means at home, too. Wash hands often and thoroughly. If they get dry during the winter, keep a small bottle of lotion handy after washing.

5. Don’t touch your eyes.
Viruses are always looking for easy entry into the body. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible during flu season.

6.Consider a flu shot.
Antiviral drugs may help in some cases. Before taking any, make sure you speak to your doctor to see if this is right for you.

Preventing the Flu [CDC]
Prevention [Flu.gov]
14 Ways to Avoid Colds and Flu [Health]
Ways  to Avoid the Flu [Fit & Health]

 

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6 Surprising Facts About Brown Eyes

December 18, 2013 by

If you have brown eyes, you might find it interesting to note that your eye color makes you seem more trustworthy. That's right, according to a 2013 study involving 238 participants, brown-eyed people's faces were rated more trustworthy than blue-eyed faces. Here are six more facts about brown eyes that you probably don't already know.

1. Originally, all humans had brown eyes. Blue eyes (and other light colored eyes) resulted from a genetic mutation affecting the OCA2 gene that "turned off" a person's ability to produce pigment, or melanin. This mutation occurred between six and ten thousand years ago and is said to be traceable to a single person.

2. Darker eyes are most common in North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Southern Europe. You'd be part of the minority in Denmark, though: Only 11% of the population there has brown eyes!

3. Very light-colored brown eyes are referred to as honey or copper colored.

4. People with brown eyes are said to have quicker reaction times. This could be due to the fact that brown-eyed people are less sensitive to light.

5. Two parents with brown eyes can yield a blue- or green-eyed child. Often, recessive traits for light eyes are passed along for generations before surfacing.

6. Many brown-eyed people are born with blue/gray eyes, which darken over time as melanin is formed. Unlike hair and skin, eyes don't continuously produce melanin, which means they can lighten or darken over time.

Blue-Eyed Humans Have A Single, Common Ancestor [Human N Health]
Human Eye Color Charts [All About Vision]
Reasons to Feel Good About Having Blue Eyes [Mental Floss]
Your Eye Color Reveals A Lot About You [Bit Rebel]
People With Brown Eyes Appear More Trustworthy, But That’s Not The Whole Story [Scientific American]

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