You are here: Home / Archives for Wellness

Easy and Effective Ways to Combat Stress

May 19, 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]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Reap the Health Benefits of Flax Seeds With These Recipes

February 18, 2016 by

Flax seeds are some of the healthiest foods on earth due to their high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and other beneficial nutrients, and luckily, it’s very easy to incorporate them into many of your favorite foods. Here are just a few great recipes that will help you to reap the health benefits of flax seeds!

Oatmeal Cranberry Lemon Cookies [Bob’s Red Mill]
This unique recipe offers the best of both worlds: the sweet, chewy taste of cookies and the bodily benefits of a health food. These cookies are also gluten-free, vegan, and low in calories, making them great for all kinds of diets.

Kale and Banana Smoothie [All Recipes]
Fuel up in the morning or after a workout with this quick and easy recipe that not only uses flax seeds, it’s also packed with fruits and vegetables. Simply blend kale, bananas, and soy milk with one tablespoon of flax seeds for a drinkable snack on the go.

Banana-Flax Breakfast Muffins [Vegetarian Times]
Keep these flax-filled muffins on hand throughout the week for a quick breakfast that you can eat on your morning commute. The combination of bran and flax is great for digestive health, while four whole bananas offer a boost of potassium.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Allergic to Dairy? Watch Out for These Surprising Sources of Lactose!

July 9, 2015 by

If you’re lactose intolerant or a strict vegan, you likely already avoid food products with lactose in them. This is a fairly simple way to cut lactose out of your diet, but did you know that there are quite a few other products that contain hidden lactose in their ingredient lists? Here are three surprising sources of lactose.

  1. Medications. It may seem hard to believe, but your prescription medication or that over-the-counter pain reliever may contain lactose. The most common culprits are birth control pills, quick-dissolve Vitamin D tablets, and digestion remedies, but there are often others on the list as well. Because many brands use the sugar as a filler or base, it’s a common ingredient in many medications that come in pill form.
  2. Grain mixes. Pre-packaged items like waffles, cookies, potato chips, and granola bars may contain lactose in the same what that medications do. The lactose sugar is used as a filler that helps the rest of the ingredients to stick together, and even if you purchase a boxed mix that you bake yourself, it’s often difficult to avoid the lactose.
  3. Processed meats. It may seem strange that meat products would contain lactose, but it’s often found in processed types like hot dogs, sausages, and lunchmeat-style cold cuts. To avoid the lactose, purchase kosher or an openly lactose-free brand instead.

8 Surprising Sources of Lactose [Best Health]
Lactose Intolerance [NIDDK]
Learn to Detect “Hidden” Lactose [Cornell Women’s Health]
Hidden Sources of Lactose [Lactose Ninja]
What is “Hidden” Lactose? [Lactaid]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Are You Left-Brained or Right-Brained? Take These Quizzes to Find Out!

June 18, 2015 by

Most people know the old study that says that people who are left-brained are more organized and logical, while people who are right-brained are more creative and spontaneous. If you’re unsure about which side of the brain is your dominant side, these fun and fascinating quizzes can help you to find out.

Left Brain / Right Brain Test [PsychTests]
This online quiz from PsychTests helps you to zone in on your dominant brain hemisphere by offering a series of 12 situations with options for how you would respond to each one. At the end, you’ll receive a detailed description of your results based on your unique personality.

30-Second Brain Test [Sommer+Sommer]
Sommer+Sommer created this fun game to help you discover more about the way that your brain thinks and operates. It tells you whether you use your brain’s right side or left side more by giving you a series of photos, mini games, and simple quizzes to analyze.

Are You More Right-Brained or Left-Brained? [Buzzfeed]
This quiz from Buzzfeed is more straightforward, offering a list of traits and asking you to check off all that apply to you. One section of traits applies more to those who are right-brained, while the other section relates to people who are left-brained.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Helpful Tips for Controlling Your Blood Pressure

February 5, 2015 by

Controlling your blood pressure is important as you age, as it may decrease your risk of stroke or heart attack. High blood pressure, otherwise known as hypertension, is a blood pressure level of 140/90 mmHg or higher. If you feel that you may be at risk for high blood pressure or you simply want to take preventative measures, these simple tips can help. But first, remember to consult with your doctor!

  1. Start a heart-healthy diet. The most important way to control your blood pressure through your diet is by decreasing your sodium intake and not consuming saturated fats. You should also incorporate more lean meats, fish, and fresh fruits and vegetables into your daily diet.
  2. Lose some weight. The majority of people with high blood pressure are at least 10 pounds overweight, so this makes a good starting point for how much you should lose to see blood pressure results. If you’re already on blood pressure medication, this can also help make it more effective.
  3. Decrease stress. Although stress isn’t the main cause of high blood pressure, it is certainly a contributing factor. Practice meditation and deep breathing to help ward off stressors in your daily life.
  4. Quit your vices. Bad health habits like smoking, drinking, and consuming too much caffeine can all increase your blood pressure, so try to cut them out of your life.

Prevention & Treatment of High Blood Pressure [American Heart Association]
Lower Your Blood Pressure Fast With These Tips [Healthline]
Preventing High Blood Pressure: Healthy Living Habits [CDC]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Pin It on Pinterest