Monthly Archives: June 2013

5 lesser-known benefits of having a beard

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Beard istock.jpg

From sprouting a little scruff to going straight-up Zach Galifianakis, there’s good reason to take a break from your razor this summer—and not just because it can speed up your morning routine. Research shows that growing a beard is actually the key to keeping you younger-looking, naturally moisturized, and cancer-free. Here, five doctor-approved reasons to let your beard grow. 1. Sun Protection According to recent research from the University of Southern Queensland, beards block up to 95 percent of the sun’s UV rays, which can play a huge role in preventing basal-cell carcinomas (the most common form of all cancers). Key stats to know: Four out of five cases in men appear on the face, head, or neck and the sun is to blame for up to 90 percent of the visible signs of aging. So while facial hair won’t keep your forehead from developing Jack Nicholsonesque creases, it will keep the bottom half of your face looking young. If you are growing a beard and want need shaving products for your neck and face go to shavingforbaldmen.com they have high quality products for great prices. 2. Blemish-Free Skin Forgoing the razor doesn’t just hide blemishes—it actually prevents them. “Razor rash, acne, and folliculitis [hair-follicle inflammation] are often the result of shaving,” said Dr. Shannon C. Trotter, a fellow of the Osteopathic College of Dermatology and a dermatologist at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. “Razors can irritate the skin or even spread bacteria, causing an infection of the hair follicle.” If you have some irritated skin and you are looking for a dermatologist in NYC here is a great dermatology clinic in NYC. 3. More Masculinity There’s a reason you’d never steal a lumberjack’s lady: The more facial hair a man has, the more masculine both men and women perceive him to be, according to research published in Evolution and Human Behavior. If pure, unadulterated masculinity is what you’re going for, let your beard hang low. If you’re looking to impress the opposite sex, skip the razor for 10 glorious days in a row; the study found that’s the length women find the most attractive. 4. Natural Moisture You probably didn’t know your face has its own built-in moisturizing regimen—it’s called your sebaceous glands (oil glands for short) and, according to Trotter, it secretes a natural oil that keeps skin moisturized. A thick beard not only prevents you from rubbing it off of your face, it also protects the face from wind exposure, which leads to redness and dryness (just in case you were planning your next high-altitude climb). 5. Trapped Allergens Your nose hairs trap more than you think they do. In addition to what you see in a tissue, nose hairs trap pollutants that could actually cause your body harm. So the more hair you have under your airways (read: the bigger your beard), the more pollutants you’re snaring every day, according to Dr. Clifford W. Bassett, Allergy and Asthma Care of NY medical director. Just be sure to treat your beard like any other filter and wash it regularly.

Source: http://www.foxnews.com

HOW TO CHOOSE THE HEALTHIEST MEAT

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How To Choose The Healthiest Meat

It is important that you know which is the best meat option for your specific diet and lifestyle, for most types of meat, more fat means more flavor, but a healthy seasoning can boost the flavor without fat.

Don’t be fooled by fancy names, the USDA grades meat based on juiciness, flavor, and texture, but it doesn’t take nutritional information into account, therefore cuts labeled “Prime” are the fattiest, with thick marbling, which can be read as layers of fat, tender meat, and lots of flavor. “Choice” cuts are high quality but leaner, and “Select” meats are the leanest cuts with little to no marbling.

The following chart will can give you a more complete guide on how to choose the healthiest meats depending on your taste:

meatc

meat 2

meat3

meat4

meat5

meat6

Recent studies have questioned the popular idea that saturated fat is linked to cardiovascular disease and other health problems, but some research actually suggests a little saturated fat can actually be beneficial to health.

Those sticking to a Paleolithic or low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet may want to seek out fattier steaks and chops.

People trying to manage high blood pressure or cholesterol are often advised to pick leaner cuts of meat.

The great meat debate isn’t just about fat content, consumers are considering more environmentally friendly and ethical choices like grass-fed beef and free-range chicken which tend to be slightly lower in overall fat and higher in omega-3 fatty acids than conventional meats because of the compounds found in grass and other naturally-occurring animal feed.

 

Quick mango pudding

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Quick mango pudding

Preparation time: 5mins, Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 1 large ripe mango
  • 6 scoops vanilla ice cream
  • 2 tbsp thick cream
  • 3 passion fruits

Preparation Method

  1. Peel and dice a large ripe mango; whizz to a purée in a food processor. Add 6 scoops of vanilla ice cream and 2 tbsp thick cream and whizz again. Spoon into bowls and scoop ½ passion fruit over each.

10 NATURAL REMEDIES FOR MUSCLE PAIN

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10 Natural Remedies for Muscle Pain

Are you limiting your workouts to the weekends? Then you’ve probably learned that infrequent physical exertion often has its revenge the following day in the form of sore, stiff muscles.

Achy muscles are a harmless but unpleasant phenomenon that usually disappears by itself after a few days, and is best alleviated through heat applications, if you train regularly and feel fit you’re not likely to suffer unduly from this malady. Muscle cramps can also be due to overload or other causes such as circulatory disorders or a mineral deficiency.

• Sore muscles
1- Take it easy during the first 12-48 hours. Sore muscles don’t have full function, and continued strenuous demands carry a heightened risk of injury.

2- A hot bath can help you feel better. Add some hay flowers or moor mud, plus spruce needle or mountain pine extracts for a soothing effect. The caveat: avoid excess heat for two to three hours after a tough workout, as it will promote circulation and increase inflammation.

3- A warm wrap with arnica tincture can ease the pain. First moisten a cloth with hot water and wring it out, then put a few drops of arnica tincture on the cloth and apply to the sore muscle.

4- Massage can help ease sore stiff muscles.

5- Ample fluid intake flushes excess acids from your body, and supplies it with important minerals. Good choices include herbal teas and vegetables and/or fruit juices diluted with mineral water containing
Little or no sodium

• Muscle cramps
6- To relax a leg cramp in the calf, carefully stretch the muscle against the direction of the cramping, then walk back and forth a few paces. In stubborn cases, sit on the ground pull your toes toward you, and stretch your leg out fully, after that, gently massage the muscle.

7- Rubs containing extracts of menthol, camphor, or horse chestnut can add extra oomph to a massage loosen up cramps, so can essential oils containing St. John’s wort, eucalyptus, spruce needle, or thyme.

8- A lack of minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium is probably the biggest cause of nighttime leg cramps, they are abundant in fennel, broccoli, bananas, dried fruits, oatmeal, nuts, milk, cream cheese and cheese.

9- Cider vinegar provides your body with potassium, drink 3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in 1 cup of water every evening for at least four weeks.

10- If your cramps are the result of a magnesium deficiency, taking magnesium in the form of effervescent tablets, in consultation with a doctor, is a good idea.

24 Tips for Conflict Resolution

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Write up by Darlene Lancer, JD, MFT 

It’s normal to have conflict in relationships. People are different, and their desires and needs will inevitably clash. Resolving disagreements in a healthy way creates understanding and brings couples closer together. The objective should be the betterment of the relationship. This is positive conflict. Below are 24 suggested rules – 12 Do’s and 12 Don’ts – for actualizing this goal.

couple standing back to back not talking

Arguments are Good!

Arguments aren’t necessarily a bad sign. It means differences are surfacing, but in some relationships, differences aren’t acknowledged, because either one partner dominates a subservient one, or because both individuals are merged and don’t really know themselves or are sacrificing who they are to please one another. These solutions to differences usually backfire, because they build resentment and passive-aggressive behavior, and closeness and intimacy suffer. With these couples, conflict is a sign of growth and maturity. At the other extreme are high-conflict couples, where differences escalate into power struggles and communication becomes aggressive.

The Role of Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is essential to assertiveness and healthy communication, which lay the foundation for avoiding fights and handling conflict. Unfortunately this isn’t the norm, especially among codependent couples. Not having had good role models for expressing anger and handling conflict, one or both partners is usually passive or aggressive. When it comes to disagreements, low self-esteem leads to:

  • Taking things personally
  • Defensiveness
  • Inability to express needs and wants
  • High reactivity
  • People-pleasing
  • Not taking responsibility for behavior, feelings, and needs
  • Inability to be honest
  • Undisclosed expectations of others

Rules of Engagement

In positive conflict, ideally, you’re able to verbalize your needs and wants and mutually work out compromises. Your intent and how you approach differences are critical. The objective should be to resolve a dispute to the satisfaction of both of you. It’s not about winning and losing. You can “win” an argument, but the relationship may suffer if your partner feels discounted, deflated, or resentful.

Planning when, where, and how you approach a disagreement is important for achieving satisfactory results. It’s helpful make up rules of engagement in advance. Here are suggested 12 Do’s and 12 Don’t’s. You won’t be able to achieve all of them or any all the time, but they’re guidelines to strive for:

DO:

1. Make it okay to “agree to disagree.” You don’t have to agree on everything. Try to accept irresolvable differences that don’t violate your values.

2. Have time-limited discussions and stick to the pre-set time. A half-hour is plenty. You can always reconvene.

3. Work through things as they come up. Don’t stockpile resentments; otherwise, each postponement becomes a block to the next communication.

4. Remember to maintain goodwill by separating the person you care about from the behavior. Assume he or she is doing their best and isn’t hurting you intentionally.

5. Take responsibility for your behavior, needs, and feelings. Use “I” statements to share your feelings and thoughts about yourself. This doesn’t include “I feel you’re inconsiderate.” Instead, say “I feel unimportant to you.”

6. Examine what unmet needs are making you angry. With I statements, be direct and honest about your feelings and needs in the relationship. Communicate the positive consequences of compliance.

7. Listen with curiosity and a desire to understand your partner, and to see the world through his or her eyes. When you don’t understand, ask for clarification. Remember that your partner is telling you his or her experience. It reveals the truth about them, not you. You’re free to disagree, but first see where the person is coming from.

8. Use a “we” approach. “We have a problem,” not “My problem with you is . . .”

9. Rather than demand your way, brainstorm solutions. Request your partner’s input, especially when it comes to changing his or her behavior.

10. Take a time-out if you start to get angry. This allows you to calm down and stop reacting. Reassure your partner that you’ll resume.

11. Use breaks to take responsibility for your part, think about solutions, and to self-soothe any hurt feelings.

12. Communicate your fears and guilt in the relationship.

DON’T:

1. Don’t have controversial discussions when you’re tired or the bedroom, which should kept a safe place.

2. Don’t make accusations or use the words, “always” or “never.”

3. Don’t bring in allies – other people’s opinions – or make comparisons to others.

4. Don’t switch topics, or retaliate with, “but you did . . .”

5. Don’t judge, blame, belittle, or be sarcastic or dismissive in words or facial expressions, such as rolling your eyes or smirking.

6. Don’t expect your partner to read your mind.

7. Don’t analyze your partner or impute motives or feelings to him or her.

8. Don’t interrupt or monopolize the conversation.

9. Don’t react or defend yourself. Instead communicate your point of view.

10. Don’t bring up the past – anything more than a few days old.

11. Don’t rolodex grievances. Stick to the current one. You don’t need more “evidence” that you’re right and your partner is wrong.

12. Don’t compromise your bottom lines in the relationship, if they’re non-negotiable. It will lead to more conflict later.

Effective problem-solving takes time and practice. It first requires learning assertiveness.

8 Reasons to Live Beneath Your Means

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8 Reasons to Live Beneath Your Means

(Update: I fear it may have sounded like I am blaming the financial misfortunes of others on themselves. This was not my intention. While some financial hardship is some self-inflicted, but much is just unavoidable. With this post, my aim is  only to encourage and offer advice, not judgment.)

I know so many people who are struggling financially and my heart breaks for them. One of my goals with this blog is to show you how to use your money wisely and make your household budget stretch further. My family has been blessed with a sound financial picture, but we have also been diligent in practicing good financial habits. Since we have been married, my husband and I have always sought to live beneath our means, spending less than we earn.

When I started my home business, we lived on one income until the business was established. This was a tight time for us financially but we managed to stick to our budget and not go into debt. Now that we have sold the business, we are again living on one income, but this time around it’s much easier. We are used to being frugal, even though we have 3 more kids than the first time we were a one-income family!

Here are my favorite 8 reasons to live beneath your means financially:

  1. To build an emergency fund. If you don’t already have one, get one! $1,000 is a great start.
  2. To save for the future. Retirement and college costs will be here sooner than you think.
  3. In case you have to cut your budget later due to unexpected circumstances, if you are living frugally, you might not even feel the pinch.
  4. To set a good example for your kids. When they leave your home for college or the working world, they probably won’t be able to afford the same lifestyle they enjoy at home. When you demonstrate financial restraint, you are encouraging them to do the same.
  5. So you can pursue your dreams. Stephanie Langford and her husband are spending an entire year traveling the globe with their 4 young children! This would not have been possible for them without a lot of sacrifice and frugality.
  6. So you can give generously. Crystal Paine and her husband have financed an entire Child Survival Program  in the Dominican Republic because they were frugal starting early in their marriage and scrimped and saved their way to financial stability and incredible generosity.
  7. To practice contentment. When we continually want the best and greatest (phone, car, wardrobe, vacation) we can afford, we will inevitably be disappointed and unhappy when something better comes along. Have you ever noticed that you can never truly be satisfied with things? It’s true. Instead when we decide we have enough, we can experience contentment right where we are. And that’s a beautiful thing!
  8. To be good stewards of our money. I believe we are called to use our money wisely. And when we do, all of the other things in this list open themselves up to us.

Are you able to live beneath your means? What are your reasons?

14 NATURAL AND BIZARRE BASIC HOME REMEDIES

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If you have ever burned your tongue or found yourself with an unshakeable case of hiccups, here is a list of natural and home remedies that may help you next time.

  • Foot Odor – Vodka

Apparently vodka is not only for drinking but may also help you with this smelly situation. This is because alcohol in vodka is an antiseptic and has drying properties, this destroys odor-causing fungus and bacteria and dries out the moisture that lets these organisms grow.

Breath 3

  • Headaches – Pencil

Put a pencil between your teeth but don’t bite, this relaxes jaw muscle, preventing a tension headache, do this as soon as you start feeling a little anxious or stressed.

bad breathe

  • Bad breath – Yogurt

It might sound bizarre, but yogurt has a live bacterium that suppresses levels of bad breath-causing bacteria, this means that “good” bugs crowd out the “bad” stink-causing bacteria.

  • Blisters – Listerine

Pour some Listerine onto a piece of cotton and rub the affected area 3 times a day until the area dries out and no longer hurts.

  • Cold sores – Lemon Balm Tea

Lemon Balm has antiviral properties that work to tame the cold sore outbreaks. Try to make this your first herbal treatment choice.

  • Calluses and Corns – Licorice

Licorice is not only a sweet treat but also may soften the hard skin of calluses and corns
because of an estrogen-like substance they contain.

achy feed

  • Achy Feet – Tennis Ball

If you feel you need to stretch and soothe your aches grab a tennis ball and roll each foot over it for a few minutes, its like a free massage.

  • Eczema – Olive Oil

Olive oil is packed with antioxidants that can reduce the inflammation associated with eczema, that’s why its the basis for many moisturizers. Apply it directly to the affected area to soothe flare-ups.

  • Hiccups – Sugar

Sugar modifies the nerve muscles that would otherwise tell the muscles in the diaphragm to contract spasmodically and contribute to hiccups. The customer feedback about the supplement that is going around is really good, mainly they rave about how you swallow one spoon-full and hiccups will be gone in minutes.

  • Motion Sickness – Olives or Lemons

Motion sickness causes you to produce excess saliva and olives have compounds called tannins that dry out your mouth and can help soothe queasiness.

  • Brittle nails – Vegetable Oil

Apply vegetable oil to your hands before you go to bed, it will penetrate your skin preventing your hands and nails from getting too dry.

  • Mouth Burn – Ice Cream

The coolness of the ice cream can bring temporary relief from a food burn in your mouth, remember the tissue on the roof of your mouth is only a few millimeters thick, so it’s very sensitive to hot foods.

before_after

  • Whiter Teeth – Apples

Crunchy fruits and vegetables have a natural cleansing action that works on tooth enamel to remove stains as soon as you chew them.

  • Cuts – Cloves

Clove oil is rich in eugenol, a chemical that’s both antiseptic and pain-killing, sprinkle powdered cloves in the cut and it will prevent it from getting infected.

Source:PositiveMed.com