Health – Page 2 – Eco Karen

The Ugly Truth About Plastic

Plastic is an integral material in our everyday lives, but unfortunately, it has extremely destructive capabilities to the environment. Plastic pollution refers to the build-up of plastics in the environment, it is a huge environmental issue that has adverse effects on the planet. The issue is worsened by our actions, with some of us not fully comprehending the negative effects. Therefore, it is important that we fully understand the damaging effects plastic pollution is having on our environment and capably tackle the issues at hand. This article will discuss the dangerous effects plastic pollution is having on the Earth’s environment, and outline tips on how to aid in its prevention.

One of the main factors contributing to plastic pollution is the rapidly increasing production of disposable plastics. According to Oceans Plastic Free, plastic production requires an enormous amount of energy and resources. This process causes carbon emissions and contributes to global warming. Furthermore, recycling plastic is extremely inefficient- only 9% of plastic ever produced has been recycled. Two-thirds of unrecycled and incorrectly disposed plastics come from land-based sources, which eventually find their way into our oceans.

A large number of plastics in our oceans creates detrimental effects on our marine life. Plastic takes up to 500 years to fully break down and eventually fragments into smaller and smaller plastics called microplastics. There are 51 trillion microscopic pieces of plastic in the planet’s environment, this equates to roughly 500 times the number of stars in our galaxy. These microplastics are extremely harmful to our marine life, with a lot of marine creatures becoming trapped or confusing them for food; causing blockages and pain in the stomach and intestines. One in three fish caught for human consumption contains plastic- directly affecting humans. Are we eating plastic? And if so, how harmful is it to humans? In seawater, plastic absorbs crucial chemicals that have been linked to endocrine disruption and certain cancers. Regardless of whether we eat fish or not, 70% of the oxygen we breathe is produced by marine plants-which is more the reason for us to protect our marine life. For more information, take this quick quiz regarding plastic pollution:

It is clear that plastic pollution is extremely damaging to the environment, but it is impossible to remove all plastic pollution from our oceans. Only 1% of marine litter floats, with the vast majority of it sinking to the seafloor. It is also impossible to remove all microplastics from our oceans due to their microscopic nature. However, there are various ways in which we can help. For example:

Refuse plastic whenever you can- try not to use plastic straws, plastic bags, etc. Use a reusable straw, or carry a reusable coffee cup to prevent waste.
Recycle- make sure you recycle any plastics and split up your waste into different bins.
Try to buy things that aren’t in plastic packaging- for example, a lot of items are unnecessarily wrapped in plastic. Try to avoid buying these items where you can.
Buy products in bulk- this will prevent excess plastic waste.
Stop buying water- plastic bottles contribute to a large amount of plastic waste, stop throwing away plastic bottles, and switch to reusable water bottles to reduce waste.

It is clear that plastic pollution has extremely damaging effects on the environment, but becoming eco-friendlier can be a massive help. As a community, we can collectively make a significant difference and continue to make improvements in this increasingly worrying situation. The future of the planet rests on our shoulders, and the smallest of changes to everyday life can make the world of a difference.

4 Natural and Holistic Health Remedies for Stress

Stress affects everyone to a different degree, but research has found that it does compromise everyone’s health to some extent.

Stress affects everyone to a different degree, but research has found that it does compromise everyone’s health to some extent. In addition to raising your risks for mental illness, stress can also compromise the immune system and expose you to a variety of physical health problems. Fortunately, there are several ways for you to relax and reduce your stress levels.

Get More Exercise

Your mind and body need exercise for a variety of reasons, and you should be getting a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate to high-intensity exercise each day. In addition to helping you guard against physical disease, exercise will help you to relieve stress. As you experience difficult situations, your brain responds by releasing the stress hormone cortisol. This was originally intended to prepare the body for the fight or flight response, but those reactions are no longer needed in modern society. As a result, cortisol continues to build up until something is done to counteract the effects of that hormone. That’s where exercise comes into the picture. As you engage in physical activity, your brain will release endorphins, which are also known as “feel good” neurotransmitters. Since you can’t feel stressed and euphoric at the same time, your brain will stop producing cortisol and your existing stress level will subside. This is why you always feel happier after a workout or playing a game.

Try Meditating

Meditating is not as easy as it sounds, so you should be prepared to practice consistently on a nightly basis. It involves focusing your thoughts on a single image or thought that you find relaxing or pleasing. As you start out, try to maintain that thought for just 15 minutes. If you feel your mind starting to wander, simply return your focus to the pleasing thought. You can use incense sticks to help you out. Don’t scold yourself or allow yourself to feel frustrated. As you practice, you’ll be able to keep your mind focused for longer.

When you do have more success with meditation, you’ll feel your concerns and worries drift away. Each session will leave you feeling relaxed, and that will give your mind the break it needs to stop producing cortisol. Instead, there will be more serotonin in your mind, which is a hormone that promotes energy and better mood control. Meditation also helps to strengthen cognitive functioning, which is why people tend to solve more problems after meditating. If you struggle to reach a calm enough state to meditate, consider using home remedies, like chamomile and magic mushroom tea, to promote a sense of relaxation.

Guided meditation is an excellent approach to divert your attention away from the stresses of everyday living. There are several guided meditations accessible on the internet that might assist you in finding 5 minutes of focused calm. Another popular way to reduce stress is using products that include CBD and magic mushrooms. To see the variety available online and to find out more information, search ‘buy magic mushrooms online‘.

Undergo Physical Therapy

There are several different types of physical therapy and most of them are effective in regulating stress without the use of drugs. One example is deep tissue massage, which involves massaging various muscle groups throughout the body to reduce inflammation. As the inflammation subsides, the pain and restricted movement you experience in those areas will also be alleviated. Since the brain sends out cortisol in response to pain signals, you’ll also feel less stress. A related type of physical therapy includes reiki healing services, which involves using the ancient Japanese practice of applying pressure to certain parts of the body. By pressing hands against the body in certain areas, the Japanese practitioners believed they were redirecting the flow of energy. There is a similar belief in acupuncture. While both types of therapy are effective, there’s no evidence that they do redirect energy. They may just be effective in that they help the individual relax, allowing stress hormones to subside.

Get Back to Nature

There are several ways you can get involved with nature and animal life. You can get the benefits of this activity right at home by petting your cat or dog. Research has found that interacting with a pet helps reduce stress levels almost immediately. In one study, seniors relaxed and exhibited better mental health simply by caring for pet crickets. In other studies, it was found that spending time outdoors had similar effects. The symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other emotional health problems were alleviated when individuals spent a minimum of 30 minutes outdoors in a natural setting. Whether you go to a beach, park, or forest, getting back to nature can have a positive effect on your stress levels. You can double those benefits by exercising outdoors.

If you have tried several methods of relaxing and still feel the symptoms of stress, talk to your doctor. There may be a medical reason for your heightened stress levels. Your doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes that will make it easier for you to alleviate stress naturally.

How to Take Care of Your Hair (for Men)

Today, there are countless people who are looking for ways to take better care of their hair. This includes men. Even though balding used to be commonplace among men, medical technology has come a long way. Therefore, there are ways for men to take care of their hair. What do men need to know about taking care of their hair? What are a few key points to keep in mind?

Use a Natural, Gentle Shampoo

If you want to take care of your hair, one of the most important things you need to remember is to always use a natural, gentle shampoo. You need to wash your hair regularly, but you do not necessarily have to wash it every day. Unless you exercise every day or spend all of your time outside, you probably don’t need to wash your hair every day.

When you do wash your hair, take a close look at the ingredient list on the back of the bottle. Make sure it uses all-natural ingredients. If you aren’t sure what something is, take a few minutes to look it up. If you use shampoo products that have a lot of strong chemicals in them, they may damage your hair. Try to stay away from these artificial ingredients.

Visit the Barber Regularly

Next, you should visit the barber regularly. A good rule of thumb is to get your haircut once per month. That way, you can remove dead ends from your hair, making sure your hair is always lively and vibrant. Going to the barber regularly is also important because it gives the barber a chance to take a close look at your hair. There might be issues with your hair that you may have overlooked. Then, if you have questions about what you need to do to take care of your hair, you can talk to the barber. For example, you may be looking for recommendations to make your hair soft and bouncy. A barber should point you in the right direction.

Go Easy on the Hair

Furthermore, make sure you take it easy with your hair. If you spend a lot of time outside, try to wear a hat. That way, you can shield your hair from UV radiation. This could be a way for you to prevent the color in your hair from fading. If you spend a lot of time in the pool, chlorine can damage your hair. When you get out of the pool, make sure you use a clarifying shampoo to remove the chlorine from your hair. While you are in the pool, wear a swim cap. Even though this will not protect your hair against everything, it can reduce the damage chlorine might do to your hair.

Hair Transplants Have Become More Common and Accepted

If you notice bald spots in your hair, you may want to talk to a professional about a hair transplant. A hair transplant for men has become more common and accepted. As people continue to live longer, men place a greater emphasis on taking care of their hair. Even though taking good care of your hair might prevent some hair loss, it probably won’t prevent it entirely. If you want to improve the look of your hair, you may want to take a look at a hair transplant. This is a safe, effective way to improve the distribution of the hair on your head.

Take Care of Your Hair

If you are looking for a way to take better care of your hair, these are a few important points to keep in mind. Remember to clean your hair regularly, but always use a natural shampoo. Try to avoid chemicals that will otherwise strip the life from your hair. You should also be careful if you spend a lot of time in a swimming pool or out in the sun. If you have concerns about your hair, you may talk to a professional about hair transplants. This could be a way for you to improve your hair and your overall look. If you have questions and concerns about what to do to take care of your hair, you may want to talk to your local barber.

5 Health Issues You Can Catch Early With Thorough Checks

It is imperative that you regularly check yourself, or get professionally looked at, to look after your health. This can come in different forms depending on which aspect of your health you’re focusing on. Fortunately, this guide will cover some health checks that could help you spot a problem early.

Heart Issues

The first thing you should be aware of when it comes to the heart is that weight can play a major part in its health. This will mainly be due to the arteries being clogged or the blood running into problems in general. Signs and symptoms of heart disease include any chest pain or tightness within the chest, alongside pressure or discomfort in general. If you are suffering from shortness of breath then this could be a sign that your heart is in trouble.

Speak to a doctor if you are also suffering from any pain or weakness in your legs or arms. This will be a sign that your blood vessels are narrowing, and could cause coldness in this area too.

Cancer

With there being over 200 different types of cancer that could potentially affect your body in some way, it becomes even more crucial that you get anything you’re unsure about checked. There may be some things that you notice yourself, and there may be some things that you need to then get professionally looked out.

As cancer can come in many different forms, each one may be diagnosed differently and more importantly treated uniquely. That’s why you should find these cancers early to give you the best chance to cure them or manage them. Some cancers have a much higher recovery rate if they are caught early, as they go through different stages.

They are graded from zero to four, usually numbered in roman numerals. Stage zero refers to cancers that have not spread at all, and often have the highest curable rates, with surgery being able to remove them.

Stage one refers to when cancer has not grown deeply into nearby tissues yet, but it has begun, which is why it’s the most commonly caught early-stage cancer. With stages two and three, the cancers have grown deeper into nearby tissues, but not yet to other parts of the body.

As you can imagine with the final stage, is where cancer has started to spread to the other parts of your body or even organs. It is often known as advanced cancer.

There are some unique ways you can notice cancers developing, from a change in your body to lumps appearing. If you have any suspicions such as this then you will need to speak to a doctor for further examination. Consider using this cancer screening program provided by Ezra that can provide you with a full-body scan or a more specialized scan to focus on one area of the body. Regular scans can help catch potential cancers early, making them easier to beat.

STDs

STDs, which stand for sexually transmitted diseases, may work differently. It’s possible to see the signs of certain STDs yourself, as they may break out in your genital areas. However, around 50% of men and 70% of women will not have any visible symptoms, meaning you will need to get tested.

You should be aware that these days there are many walk-in test centers in towns and cities or places you can book to get tested. A simple Google search for Syphilis test near me will help you find the nearest clinic. Luckily, plenty of STDs is curable, meaning you should get tested as soon as possible and avoid sexual intercourse until you’ve figured out what’s going on with you.

Vitamin Deficiencies

There is a range of natural vitamins your body will need to live a healthy life. However, due to several personal circumstances, you could be lacking crucial vitamins. Commonly, this could be Vitamin D. Vitamin D is important because it helps to maintain healthy bones and teeth, as well as protect you against diseases such as diabetes.

You may notice you are lacking in certain vitamins if you start to feel weaker or different in any negative way. You can be tested for your vitamins through a blood test, which requires a small sample of your blood to be taken through a needle.

Brain Issues

The brain is one of the most important parts of your body. As such, you should be aware of anything that could be damaging it or changes in general. Some signs that could point you to brain issues could be persistent headaches. Of course, headaches are perfectly normal so there’s no need to be alarmed straight away. If you are suffering from any extreme mental or physical fatigue alongside weakness in general then that will need to be checked out.

If you are suddenly feeling any sensitivity to light alongside seizures, then you will need to speak to a doctor to find out what has changed and what your options are. If nothing else, you should speak to a doctor purely to gain peace of mind.

Simple and Eco for Home Hair Removal

With eco-consciousness on everyone’s mind, many people are trying to embrace the zero waste movement and do their part to reduce their carbon footprint. For those who want to have hair removal, finding an effective hair removal option that does not negatively affect the environment can be a challenge. Here are some simple, eco-friendly hair removal options to try for yourself.

Epilators

While electric razors sometimes require replacement parts and consume energy, they have a longer lifespan than disposable razors. This means your electric razor is less likely to end up in the landfill than your disposable blades.

When purchasing an electric razor, buy for quality. It’s better to invest more to purchase a reputable, high-quality razor that won’t burn out in a year.

Swap Hair Removal Cream for Amber Gel

If you’ve ever opened a bottle of hair removal cream, you’ve likely been assaulted by the pungent smell of chemicals. Most environmental beauty gurus agree that any other option is more eco-friendly than hair removal cream.

Woman body — A young woman is taking the bath

I prefer you can choose Amber gel. This hair removal gel works similarly to sugar waxing. To use it, you spread it on the area where you want hair removed, let it dry and harden, then peel off like wax. Amber gel works on both thick, dense hair and light, soft hair, making it accessible and eco-friendly.

Use a Home Laser Hair Removal Device

If you are looking for permanent hair removal or as close as possible to that, then laser hair removal may be the solution to your problem.

Permanent laser hair removal in an overpriced studio isn’t an option for everyone. Today, fortunately, you can get a high-quality laser hair removal product to take care of the process at home. This option is eco-friendly as the results are long-lasting, and you won’t be burning through single or short-term use products.

The hair removal devices are adjustable to react appropriately to the skin type on different areas of your body— i.e., your bikini line versus your legs. Swapping to a hair removal device from a razor also helps prevent in-grown hairs and unsightly bumps.

This eco-friendly hair removal option will pay for itself over time, as you’ll no longer need replacement razor blades and handles.

According to a study by Selective Photothermolysis published in the world’s most prestigious academic journal Science, a pulse output interval of 0.01s to 0.1s is the best choice for enhanced hair removal. The BoSidin Dual Pulse Epilator utilizes an innovative Dual Pulse technology co-developed with Nobel Prize winner in Physics George Fitzgerald Smoot. It can be fired 2 times within 0.1 seconds, which can ensure that the energy absorbed by each hair follicle is even. Get the results of two regular single-pulse products in one hair removal. Hair removal is faster than single-pulse epilators and the results last longer.

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Summarize

With these simple swaps, you can choose an eco-friendly way of hair removal and reduce your environmental impact. Hair removal is a personal choice, but sustainability affects us all. I’d love to hear your experience and what worked or didn’t work for you!

8 Natural and Healthy Supplements You Should Include in Your Diet

Having a well-balanced diet and proper nutrition is key to healthy living. Most people don’t realize this, but they may be missing some nutrients that are lacking from their diets alone. The good thing is you can start taking the right supplements to help and promote a healthy lifestyle.

1. Vitamin D

One nutrient that people are missing is vitamin D. People are supposed to get this vitamin from the sun for free, yet it seems most people are not getting enough of it. People spend a lot of time indoors. School and work are often done indoors, so it makes sense that many people are lacking vitamin D.

2. Fish Oil

Fish is good, but many people don’t eat enough of it. While fish is healthy, it’s also expensive unless you fish to reduce costs. Most people reserve fish for special occasions. The good thing is that there are affordable fish oil supplements. It’s a vital supplement for the brain and memory.

3. Hormonal Balance

Hormonal balance is important, which is the reason you may need a high-quality natural testosterone supplement. Yes, everyone knows that testosterone is the key to a healthy sex drive in men, but it’s much more than that. It’s pretty important for the development of strong bones and muscles. You also need testosterone to develop blood cells.

4. B Vitamins

B vitamins, like vitamin B12, are sometimes missing from people’s diets. You should be able to get most of these from the foods you eat, but some popular diets make that difficult, such as the vegan and vegetarian diets. The good thing is that all you need to do is take B vitamins as a supplement, and you should be good. Without B vitamins, you could suffer from weakness and fatigue.

5. Probiotics

Probiotics are another great supplement you should have. It’s the new kid on the block. Many professionals didn’t know much about it or how important it was for health. Ideally, you’d get this nutrient from the food you eat, but most people don’t eat fermented foods or drinks. Some people eat yogurt but don’t eat it with live bacteria. Probiotics help with digestion and even mood and immunity.

6. Magnesium

Magnesium is another thing that people don’t get enough of. It’s an important nutrient to take because it supports things like energy production, and it even helps with nerve function. Magnesium helps with proper digestion, especially if you’re dealing with constipation.

Magnesium is even vital for those who want to feel relaxed. It’s sometimes called the relaxation mineral because it helps people stay calm. You should be able to get it from foods like pumpkin seeds and certain types of rice, such as wild rice, but people don’t eat these foods as much as they should.

7. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is the superstar of vitamins. Everyone has heard of it. Some people take it when they feel ill. This is because everyone knows that vitamin C helps boost the immune system, and it does, but that’s not all it does. It shouldn’t just be taken to help boost the immune system. It should be taken regularly. It helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol. This vitamin even helps your blood carry oxygen better, which is important.

8. Iron

There is no way to talk about supplements and not mention iron. You may want to consider an iron supplement if your iron levels are low. This is often the case for those suffering from anemia. It’s an important nutrient that’s often missing from people’s diets. Vegetarians and vegans especially need to worry about iron since the more absorbable form is found in animal products, like beef or chicken liver. Sadly, even meat-eaters don’t eat much iron regularly. Folks who are anemic need to have their iron levels carefully monitored. Iron is needed to make healthy and functional red blood cells, which are important for the body to function.

Conclusion

These are some of the nutrients your body needs, but there are many more that you may need supplements for. The best thing you can do is talk to your doctor or a nutritionist to find out what your body is lacking.

Efficient Ways of Relieving Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ever since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, many have been feeling a new form of pandemic-related stress, on top of the everyday pressure they already experience in their personal and professional lives. Apart from disrupting our daily routines, the uncertainty of the pandemic has also forced us to worry about our health and well-being, as well as the economy, leading to additional anxiety and accumulated stress. But even though the situation might be difficult to handle, relieving the built-up stress during the COVID-19 pandemic is still possible with these efficient methods:

Focus on proper nutrition

While it’s a well-known fact that proper, healthy nutrition aids in boosting immunity, maintaining a healthy weight, and encouraging optimal digestive functions, not many people are aware that eating healthy could also reduce stress and improve the mood by helping to balance your hormones.

If you want to improve your nutrition, focusing on a healthy and balanced diet is key. Besides including more colorful fruits and vegetables into every meal, this also means increasing your protein intake through meat, eggs, and nuts, focusing on fiber-rich foods like whole grains and beans, choosing unsaturated fats found in fish and seeds, as well as drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day.

Prioritize restful sleep

Although often overlooked, sleep is incredibly important for our physical and mental health. Apart from reducing stress and allowing your body to rest and repair itself, quality sleep can also improve your memory and make you more focused and alert, thus being quite beneficial for your overall health.

To that end, aim to get between seven and nine hours of restful, uninterrupted sleep each night. In case you’re having trouble falling asleep due to pandemic anxiety, limiting daytime naps, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, as well as creating a dark, cool, and calm bedroom environment can all aid in improving your nightly sleep.

Construct an exercise routine

Helping to lift the mood, improve sleep, control weight, and even combat certain health conditions and diseases, regular physical activity is arguably one of the most efficient ways to reduce stress levels. However, if you are unable to visit gyms and fitness centers during the pandemic, and are forced to work out at home, adhering to an exercise routine can be quite a difficult task.

For that reason, many experts recommend simply finding activities you truly enjoy. Whether that means going on morning runs, frequent bike rides, doing pilates at home, or even dancing in your living room, doing what you love will give you more motivation to continue exercising.

Invest in massage tools

Whether you are working from home, slouching over your desk for hours, or even stressing about the current global situation, the built-up tension you feel doesn’t only affect your mental health but could accumulate in your body as well. In an effort to relax, unwind, and relieve some of this stress, frequent massages could be a wonderful option.

To that end, it might be a good idea to invest in high-quality massage devices that are efficient at reducing tension yet simple and practical enough to use at home. From eye massagers that help to treat tired and strained eyes caused by prolonged work in front of a screen, to handheld gun massagers that can target any muscle in an effort to relieve tension and pain, massage devices are truly some of the best stress-reducing tools your could use during the pandemic.

Give meditation a try

Even though it’s a spiritual practice, anxiety relief and stress reduction are among the main reasons people try meditation nowadays. By calming your mind and allowing you to focus on the moment, meditation has been shown to not only promote relaxation and reduce stress but also improve certain stress-related symptoms.

If you want to give mediation a try, simply find a calm and quiet place to sit, and focus on the sensations around you and how they affect your body and mind. Even five to ten minutes of this mindful practice every day could have great benefits for your overall health and well-being.

Create a self-care routine

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted our daily routines, forcing us to suddenly change our regular schedules and practices. If this is the case with you as well, simply creating a new self-care routine might do wonders for relaxation and stress relief.

Whether that means eating well and exercising, spending time in nature, taking a break from electronics, starting a gratitude journal, reading a good book in silence, or simply enjoying an indulgent bubble bath, self-care allows us to slow down and enjoy the present moment, giving us the opportunity to handle everyday stressors in a more effective way.

Solitaire Bliss is also an excellent way to relax and relieve stress and anxiety. You can choose an activity to stimulate your brain among our 36 free-online versions of strategic games.

Emphasize positive thinking

When we are constantly worrying about the pandemic and the state of the world, our thoughts will naturally dwell on the negative side. And while such a reaction might be natural, negative thinking only leads to more accumulated stress that could have a detrimental effect on your physical and mental health.

Instead of being anxious about the things you can’t change, your goal should be to think more positively and look optimistically at things that are in your control. No matter how simple, try to focus on the things you can do at this very moment to be happier and more productive, in an effort to strive for a better tomorrow.

The coronavirus outbreak has impacted our lives in a number of unexpected ways, leading us to constantly worry about our health and well-being. Fortunately, pandemic-related stress can easily be relieved, as long as you adhere to some of the beneficial practices mentioned above.

4 Tips for Improving Your Body Shape

Your body shape is the result of how the fat is distributed in your body. Fat distribution depends on several factors, including genetics, sex, age, and lifestyle. Some people are pear-shaped, meaning they accumulate fat in the lower body. Some have inverted triangle body shapes so they have more prominent, wider shoulders. Others, however, have hourglass-shaped bodies so they gain weight in both upper and lower parts of the body. Regardless of the shape of your body, there are ways to improve it by changing your everyday habits. Here are a couple of tips to help get you started.

Change your eating habits for better health

Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for improving your body shape, and diet plays a vital role in this process. Eating healthy foods that nourish your body and watching your diet is important, even more so for ruler-shaped bodies. While it may be more difficult for them to gain weight, it’s vital that they pay attention to their diet to mitigate health risks that come with extra weight.

The question is, where do you start with changing your eating habits for better health? For starters, you want to incorporate more organic foods, fruits, vegetables, high-fiber foods, and low-fat protein into your diet. Stick to your native diet since it’s the most suitable one for your unique biochemistry. Also, do your best to build proper digestion, and take the time to eat and properly chew your food.

Understand the health risks associated with your body shape

Many people don’t know this, but our body shape is directly linked to our health. For instance, apple-shaped individuals are at a higher risk for diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases due to larger waists. Pear-shaped bodies are also prone to heart disease, and losing weight in the lower body can help reduce cholesterol. Different shapes carry different health risks, and it’s up to us to manage our lifestyle so that we can mitigate these risks and ensure optimal health.

That said, navigating the healthcare system can be quite complicated. One way to address this issue is by consulting with Health Partners who can make your experience simple and convenient. Whether we’re talking about scheduling comprehensive check-ups or finding the best solutions for different health concerns, by taking the time to understand your individual needs, these professionals will keep your health in check while you’re working on improving your body shape. Not only will you be getting the necessary guidance but also top-of-the-line, personalized care.

Focus on workouts that target the right areas

Whether you’re looking to change your body shape for health or aesthetic reasons, making changes to your workout plan is another great way to achieve your fitness goals. Not all exercises are created equal, and you want to focus on the ones that target the right areas.

For apple-shaped individuals, this will mean performing workouts that target the upper back, hamstrings, and glutes. Some examples include Bulgarian split squats, dumbbell hip thrusts, and stability ball leg curls. Hourglass and pear-shaped individuals, on the other hand, need to focus on workouts that help even out the proportions. This means doing exercises like kettlebell deadlifts, lat pulldowns, and dumbbell curls that focus on arms, shoulders, and upper back. With an exercise routine that fits your body type, you can build some muscle while simultaneously improving your overall health.

Ensure plenty of rest to give your body the break it needs

Last but not least, it’s important to emphasize the role of rest in supporting your fitness and health goals. Our bodies are amazing mechanisms, but unlike machines, they require frequent breaks and rest in order to function properly.

The thing is, our modern lifestyle and unhealthy habits often stand in our way of getting enough restful sleep. When you work out too frequently or stay up late regularly, you don’t give your body a chance to recover. This only hinders your progress, doing more harm than good and leading to an unfavorable body shape. Our bodies are designed to grow stronger when they’re resting, so make sure to give your body the break it needs – it will thank you.

Wrapping up

Changing your body shape is not about reaching for some fancy diet pills or scheduling a cosmetic procedure. It’s about changing the way you approach nutrition, sleep, exercise, and your general health, and doing what you can to change your lifestyle for the better. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to improving your body shape forever.

How to be an Eco-Friendly Parent

Being eco-friendly can seem impossible when you have kids. There are enough things to worry about without having to parent the planet, too.

But it doesn’t have to be too tricky to try and live a little more sustainably. In fact, if parents instill a more eco-conscious mantra into themselves, the world will hopefully be a better place for our little ones in the future. Just look at the auto industry, right now every brand in the auto industry has a 100% electric car in the offer that offers best auto insurance for green living. But there’s a lot to do in other business areas and industries!

With more and more brands becoming more eco-conscious and the conversation about our impact on the planet being brought to the forefront, people are finding ways of making parenting a little more sustainable and planet-friendly.

Here are three ways in which you can be an eco-friendlier parent.

Cheeky Panda Biodegradable Nappies

Nappies have long been an unsustainable necessity for new-borns. Unfortunately, there aren’t many out there that are very eco-friendly. Nappies normally end up on a landfill, piling up endlessly.

Luckily, Cheeky Panda’s Biodegradable Nappies, made from bamboo, have very little impact on the planet. They’re two-thirds biodegradable and plastic-free, plus they boast ‘Aqua-lock’ technology save from unfortunate spills.

Because they’re made from bamboo, they’re also naturally hypoallergenic and soft on baby’s skin. Cheeky Panda also make super soft bamboo baby wipes, which are also biodegradable and good for the planet!

Plastic-Free toys

Plastic is baaaad. Everyone knows it (now anyway, back in the day nobody paid much attention).

One way around facing the war on plastic is to avoid buying toys and games with BPA in them. BPA is the bad one which is toxic and lives on the Earth for years and years.

Brands like Green Toys are great eco-alternatives to toys made from plastic. You can even subscribe to monthly toy box clubs, which will send your child a box of toys to play with each month, which you then send back. Toys are then cleaned and sent on to another lucky child! It’s the ultimate circular economy.

Green cleaning

When struck down by a stain or your surfaces need a sweep, take a look in your food cupboard before reaching for the spray bottle.

Cut down your use of harsh chemicals in your cleaning kit. These are potentially harmful and toxic, something you don’t want your baby breathing in.

Alternatively, use natural cleaning products such as lemon or vinegar, around your home. These are just as effective at killing germs, wiping down surfaces and making sure your home is sparkling clean. Plus, they’re loads cheaper in the long-run.

By using natural ingredients, you’re reducing your plastic use as well as your waste. Plus, you’re reducing the chances of your baby coming into contact with toxic substances.

It’s no secret that kids can be an environmental nightmare – the amount of ‘new’ things they require as they grow up is enormous – much of which is disposable and single-use.

However, with just a few small changes like the ones above, you can reduce your impact and effect on the Earth for not only yourself but your little one, too.

5 Tips to Balance Your Macronutrient Intake with Ease

With so many conflicting bits of information you can hear from people and find everywhere around you, it can seem impossible to achieve some kind of balance in your life. It’s as if there’s always some kind of deficiency you’re competing against, or some kind of health issue you’re trying to ward off while retaining your energy levels. Food is our fuel, and although there is so much we have yet to learn, we can easily put our existing knowledge to good use and achieve that elusive idea of balance by focusing on one core concept: macronutrients!

With three main macros to consider, proteins, carbs, and fats, the math doesn’t have to be too complicated. There are so many free online calculators that can help you find that ballpark number to match your activity levels, fitness exertion, caloric needs, and overall health goals. Macros Calculator is the best way to calculate a balanced diet as it is available online and provides quick calculation.

However, the business of actually consuming these macros and balancing them is a little tricky. To help simplify this journey, here are a few tips to help you balance your macros without too much hassle!

Start with optimizing your water intake

Now, even if you do manage to balance your macronutrient intake in terms of food, if you fail to drink enough water, your body won’t be able to absorb all the nutrients properly and your digestion and metabolism will suffer.

That is why water is considered a vital nutrient as much as the three listed macros! Make sure that you drink plenty of water during the day so that you boost nutrient absorption, help your body make the most of your macros, and flush out toxins from your system with ease.

Work around your food sensitivities

Can’t have dairy or gluten? Your macronutrient intake shouldn’t suffer for it. Many people with certain food sensitivities fail to consume enough protein in a day because they replace this macronutrient with, let’s say, more carbs or fat. Fortunately, the pandemic has inspired more healthy meal delivery options to allow people with this particular issue to maintain their diet without jeopardizing their health.

As a result, you can actually have dairy free meals delivered from Mighty Macros USA to your home and not worry about your macros at all. This is a great way to reduce the stress and hassle of meal preparation during the week, so you can combine home-cooked meals with delivered meals to your door.

Include smart and healthy snacking

After all this talk about healthy choices, you might think that you’d need to ditch all your treats – but when you work them into your meal plan, why not treat yourself to the occasional panettone cake slice or something else you love? Snacking can help you stay energized and consume all the macronutrients you need in a more structured way, as long as you work your snacks into your daily macro menu.

The sources of your macros count, too

Although technically processed sugar counts as “carbs” just like a fresh salad, we can all agree that they are far from equal in terms of nutritional value, let alone their viability for boosting your health. For one, sugar is in no way good for you and it’s much more calorie-dense, while veggies and fruits are low in calories, but packed with minerals, vitamins, fiber, and they are a vital source of healthy carbs for your body to use as slowly released fuel.

Applying the same logic will help you discover particular foods that are suitable for your health and fitness goals (to stay within your calorie needs in a day and avoid foods that cause allergies or sensitivities for you).

Go for protein-rich meals that consist of complete protein, that is, the ones that contain all nine essential amino acids. That includes meat and dairy if you can consume them, but also eggs and seafood.
Choose healthy sources of unsaturated fat mostly (such as avocado, salmon, nuts and seeds), and a moderate amount of saturated fats (meat and dairy). Avoid trans fats altogether!
Aim for complex carb sources such as fruits, veggies and cereal in various forms.

Time your meals right

Instead of obsessing over food or trying to postpone the next meal for hours, why not try timing your meals and distributing healthy portions of food throughout the day? It’s much easier on your metabolism and it will sustain your energy levels if you consume healthy meals at regular intervals.

Since you now have a clear goal as to how much of each macro you need to eat every day, instead of overburdening your belly in a single load, you can enjoy even meals with plenty of flavors to keep your productivity and energy up. Plus, it turns out, your fat-burning potential grows this way, too.

There’s no need to introduce a whole slew of complicated and time-consuming recipes (unless you enjoy the process, of course!), especially if your goal is to stay healthy and lead a balanced life with less effort. By tweaking your behavior just a little bit and by focusing on macronutrients in your diet, you can reap the rewards sooner rather than later and elevate your energy levels while boosting your immune strength, too.

A final piece of advice for the most dedicated among you: start leading your own journal or use an app to track your eating habits, and you’ll soon notice the difference in how much free time you’ll have, as well as how much easier it becomes to pursue your fitness goals with the right approach!