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5 Reasons to Stop Drinking Alcohol (At Least for a While)

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5 Reasons to Stop Drinking Alcohol (At Least for a While)

If alcohol is negatively impacting your life, it’s probably time to quit. Even if it’s not causing major problems, you can experience some major benefits from taking a break. Here are 5 great reasons to stop drinking alcohol, whether it’s for 30 days or forever.

Sure, drinking can be fun, especially in social situations. In fact, the vast majority of people drink alcohol in some capacity according to research. But that doesn’t mean that you should take a break every now and then.

Whether you’re struggling with addiction or just want to shed some pounds, we’re outlining five of the best reasons to stop drinking.

1. Your Wallet Will Thank You

Drinking, while fun, can be expensive. Even if you’re not going out to bars more than one night a week, chances are you’re spending quite a bit on alcohol.

Let’s say you buy one 12-pack of beer a week. We’ll even say that you’re skipping the good stuff and going with the most affordable 12-pack available at your local store.

You’re still spending around $11 per 12-pack. Over four weeks, that adds up to $44 per month on beer alone.

Sounds bad, right? It gets worse.

At $11 before tax per 12-pack, you’re spending $572 per year just for casual drinking.

2. Drinking Can Get Dangerous

For some people, what started out as a hobby can quickly devolve into a crutch. That once fun activity soon becomes a necessity in order to function on a daily basis.

No one deserves to live that way.

Alcoholism is a very real and very dangerous threat. Excessive drinking has the potential to damage your liver irreparably and cause brain damage. In some instances, alcoholism may put you at a greater risk of certain types of cancer.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, checking into a rehab center such as Silver Ridge Recovery in North Carolina may be the solution.

3. Alcohol Makes Weight Loss More Difficult

If you drink on a regular basis, you’re ingesting a ton of empty calories. Over time, these calories can come back to haunt you.

For those who are looking to drop some weight, start by cutting out alcohol. While you don’t necessarily need to cut out drinking completely, it can help quite a bit if you struggle with moderation.

When combined with a healthy diet, abstaining from alcohol can result in quick weight loss.

4. No More Hangovers

While a night of drinking with your friends is a blast, the morning after is often anything but.

And while drinking a glass of water and taking an Aspirin before bed can lessen the effects of a hangover, the best way to reduce hangover problems is by eliminating them entirely.

5. You’ll Sleep Better

A lot of people wake up feeling groggy and disoriented after a few drinks. That’s because alcohol directly inhibits your natural sleep cycle.

According to The Sleep Foundation, excessive drinking can prevent REM sleep as a whole, causing exhaustion and grogginess that can last days.

Final Thoughts On Reasons To Stop Drinking

Not convinced that these reasons to stop drinking are legit? Try them for yourself and see how you feel. Not only will you feel healthier, but you’ll have better finances, too.

 

Check out our health blog for more awesome tips to help you live a better, healthier life!

If You Are Suffering From Regular Food Poisoning, This is What You Are Missing

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Have you ever been a victim of food poisoning? Food is delicate and requires lots of attention as we handle it. According to statistics, one person in a group of 6 is a victim of food poisoning every year. How does it happen? Some causes may be as small as forgetting to wash your hands before handling food.

The high cases of food poisoning inspired us to enlighten you everyone on how to prevent it from happening. It is worse when it happens to children who are more prone to diarrhea and vomiting than an adult. Find out what causes food poisoning and how we can prevent it.

Causes of food poisoning

Bacteria, parasites, and viruses cause food poisoning. Salmonella is a significant bacteria that causes most food poisoning. Salmonella bacteria cause more than 20, 000 among a million cases of food poisoning.

Sometimes, parasites contaminate food and cause poisoning. Toxoplasma is a famous parasite that is associated with intoxication. It likes hiding in places near our pets. Doctors say that you can live with parasites in your body for a long time without detecting it. It is more prevalent in people who have a weak immune system, as well as, pregnant women.

More than 19 million people have food poisoning from a famous virus called Norovirus. Regardless of the cause, the symptoms of food poisoning are the same and can be severe. Experts reveal that it is impossible to eradicate bacteria from food entirely. That is why we should be careful with handling food to prevent stomach aches or worse symptoms.

How can you treat food poisoning?

Take fluids

Food poisoning can make you lose plenty of water within a very short time through vomiting. You lose a lot of minerals through diarrhea for instance sodium, calcium, and potassium. That is why your fluid intake should be high to prevent dehydration.

Take more fluids at the beginning because it is hard to take anything solid after a few hours of stomach pains. You can start with glasses of water or natural juices. Get ice chips to suck or clear broth to keep yourself hydrated.

Some people believe that taking food and drinking alcohol at the same time reduce the chances of food poisoning. Such notions do not have any scientific backing, and they are unhealthy. Avoid alcohol and caffeine when dealing with food poisoning.

Try Ginger

Taking ginger enhances the absorption of nutrients in your body. If you are feeling nauseated from food poisoning, ginger will give you relief. You can make the extracts in tea or chew it raw. If you like the tea version, you only need grate your ginger then put it in a cup of hot water. You can sweeten your tea with honey. It minimizes any pain and inflammation that exists.

Consider apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has an alkaline effect. It soothes your gastrointestinal lining to kill the bacteria in you instantly. You can also take it undiluted; it is not harmful.

Rest

Food poisoning symptoms can weaken your body. You, therefore, need to take plenty of rests to regain some strength. Allow your stomach to settle by minimizing your movements.

Use lemon

Lemon has both antibacterial and antiviral properties. It contains a strong acid that kills the bacteria causing food poisoning. You can reduce the sour taste with a pinch of sugar. Use warm water to mix your lemon in it and drink it to get rid of the toxins in your body.

Look for basil leaves

Herbs such as basil can sooth any abdominal discomfort due to its antimicrobial properties that are responsible for fighting micro-organisms. Make basil juice from its extracts and drink it every day. You can sweeten it with honey. Mix it with fresh coriander to benefit from it.

Use basil oil in your drinking water and drink it at least four times in one day to fight the bacteria the entire day. You can also add the basil leaves in plain yogurt to get the good bacteria from the yogurt and allow the two substances to regulate the bacteria in your stomach.

Check your diet

You need to start eating as you maintain a low-fat diet. Take foods that are easy to digest like soda crackers, gelatin, rice, and bananas. Do not eat if you feel nauseated.

Try garlic

This also has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. Garlic relieves symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. You can also chew it as you swallow it with regular water. Try garlic juice if the smell does not irritate you. Rub garlic oil together with soybean oil on your stomach to reduce the pain.

Get cumin seeds

Reduce stomach inflammation with cumin seeds. It reduces the effects of food poisoning.  You can boil cumin seeds in water. Add coriander leaves to the mixture and some salt to give it taste. Drink it, and you will notice how effective it is. It cleanses your digestive system and gives you relief.

Use fenugreek seeds and yogurt

This combination is effective in fighting food poisoning thanks to antimicrobial properties. Fenugreek will heal your abdominal pain. Use a teaspoon of each product at a go. Do not chew fenugreek seeds since swallowing them is all it takes to get instant relief. The mixture also prevents you from vomiting.

Take honey

This is not only a sweetener. It contains antibacterial properties that relieve indigestion. If you don’t like the excess sugar in it, you can add it in tea. Some few drops of honey every day can treat your upset stomach. It also prevents your stomach from producing excess acids.

Get antibiotics with a prescription

If the natural remedies do not work, you can try antibiotics from a doctor. Certain bacteria are severe and do not work with natural remedies. The doctor can prescribe intravenous antibiotics if such bacteria are the cause of your food poisoning.  Don’t use antibiotics without consulting your doctor because if the cause is a virus, it can worsen the symptoms.

Final thoughts

It is how you handle food poisoning that determines if the symptoms get better or worse. Try the natural remedies before going to the hospital. If you are not feeling better, let a doctor know and treat you with medicines. We wish you a quick recovery!

Comfort, Relaxation, and Therapy for Your Terminally Ill Loved One: What You Can Do

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When a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness, it can be one of the most trying challenges any family can face. If your loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness, one of the best things you can do in this situation is to provide them with palliative care, especially palliative care at home. Palliative care focuses on providing care for someone with a terminal illness, and a number of professionals (such as district nurses, doctors, caregivers, and a special team of palliative care workers) work closely together to provide the patient with the right medical care and comfort they need. But you can do your part as well – you can provide your loved one with the right comfort, relaxation, and perhaps even therapy so their last days can be more comfortable and less taxing for everyone. Here’s what you can do.

A comfortable environment

Your loved one may spend a lot of their time in bed and in their own bedroom, and you can provide them with a more peaceful, comfortable environment by making sure the room has a peaceful, calming feel. You can do this with soft, relaxing lighting (lights with dimmer switches are ideal, as are lamps), and you can fill the room with personal photos and mementos which your loved one may appreciate. Pay attention to their bed and bed linen as well, and they may want extra pillows which allow them to sit up from time to time.

Activities which can help them relax

Your loved one undergoing palliative care at home may also appreciate it if you help them do things which they like but can find difficult to do on their own under the present circumstances. You can, for instance, go out to the garden or the local park with them for a stroll if it is a nice day, or you can simply read to them, watch television or a film together, or have a simple chat. Ask them if there is anything they would like to do; sometimes it can be nice to simply sit together, hold their hand, and appreciate the quiet.

Options for therapy

Therapy comes in many forms, and this can include therapy in the form of touch, aromatherapy, meditation, and so on. Touch is a particularly powerful form of therapy – a simple touch or hug can speak volumes and help your loved one relax. Your loved one may even like a gentle, soothing massage, and a massage may help them have better sleep as well. It would be good to remember, though, that there may be days when they don’t want to be touched or massaged, so you should be mindful of this as well.

Therapy can also come in the form of aromatherapy, where essential oils with different scents can be diffused in the room, such as lavender (known for its calming and soothing properties). Of course, you should ask the medical professional first if this can be done; it’s best to be sure. But often, the best thing you can do is to be there for them and stand by their side during this truly difficult time.

Could High-Fat Foods Be the Secret to Weight Loss? (Answer: Yes!)

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Are you struggling to shed those extra pounds? Have you tried every diet out there? Well, it may be time to swap all your beliefs for new ones. Read this article to find more about how high-fat foods could be the secret to weight loss.

Who doesn’t desire a diet that encourages you to eat more meat, cheese, and butter?

This secret to weight loss has been around for over 5,000 years. When scientists uncovered the remains of a 5,300-year-old mummy, they found his last meal was high in fat. Over 50% to be exact.

The mummy man showed signs of a balanced and nutritional diet and was living in good health.

So, does this mean a diet in fat is where it’s at?

Read on for how high-fat foods can help solve all your problems with weight loss.

Not All Fat Is Created Equal

The battle between saturated and unsaturated fats continues to rage on. Both are full of fat and flavor, yet completely differ from a nutritional standpoint.

Saturated fats come from animal products, such as butter, cheese, and meat. Coconut oil also falls into the saturated fat category.

Unsaturated fats get divided between monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats.

Monounsaturated fats are healthy and found in avocados, nuts, and olive oil. Polyunsaturated fats contain your essential omega fatty acids, coming from fish and flaxseeds.

Then you have factory processed fats, which contain additives. These are unhealthy and should get avoided in any diet plan.

The goal is balancing your fat intake. Focus on fats that offer other extra nutritional benefits.

Such as fiber, protein, and vitamins.

How Do High-Fat Foods Help with Weight Loss?

You need to eat fat to lose fat. It may sound confusing, but science shows that a high-fat diet can speed up weight loss.

It works by breaking down stored fat for fuel. When you replace carbs with fatty foods, your body turns to fat storage to find energy. This is the idea behind ketosis, hence the keto diet.

Forget What You Heard…Fat Is Good for You

Forget the age-old myth that all fat adds to your waist-line. Yes eating too many muffins will give you a muffin top. But the right kind of fats can actually help you lose weight.

Fat fills you up and lets you go longer between meals. It stabilizes your energy levels, giving you more strength and endurance for workouts. It helps balance your blood sugar to avoid those spikes and crashes between meals.

It reduces cravings, letting you make smarter snacking choices. It satisfies hunger, keeping the awful symptoms of “hanger” at bay. You’re able to think clearer and consume more well-rounded meals.

Fat also promotes a healthy brain and heart. It makes you smarter, which is why pediatricians recommend babies drink full-fat milk for brain development. Fat helps with cholesterol levels and diabetes.

It helps lower risk of dementia, depression, and heart disease. It also balances hormones and decreases bloating and water retention.

When to Worry

Following a proper diet and exercise plan, but noticing your weight increasing?

Excess body fat is a sign of certain health concerns, such as low testosterone or metabolic syndrome. If you’re experiencing weight gain, be sure to visit the doctor to rule out health problems.

Fat First Diets to Follow

The trick is to cut back on carbs and fuel your body with fat.

Opt for high-fat meals, with little to no carbs at all. There are many easy diet plans that follow this rule.

Low Carb Diet

Fill up on low carb high-fat foods. Go for natural fats, from nut butter, fish, and eggs.

Eat a small amount of bread, pasta, and above-ground grown veggies. These include foods like broccoli, spinach, and tomatoes.

Keto Diet

All hail to the diet that encourages you to eat bacon and hot dogs every day. But the price is that you are far more limited in your carb intake. Dairy and veggies are also in strict moderation.

Keto calls for about 80% of your calories to come from fat. But it is much more strict than a low carb diet. The keto diet allows carbs as only about 5% of your calories per day.

Some people can get away with a single slice of bread per day. But others consider all carbs as cheating on your diet.

Follow these tips for cutting carbs. To burn fat stores, you should only have high-fat foods present in your body. This article explains why carbs should be absent from the diet.

Atkins Diet

Atkins follows a similar idea of putting the body into ketosis to burn fat. It’s a high protein diet, yet it is less strict about carbs than keto.

You should avoid high-carb fruits and vegetables. This includes bananas, carrots, and potatoes.

It uses phases to cut carbs, rather than going cold turkey. It’s also more lenient with dairy.

Mediterranean Diet

This diet focuses more on plants, nuts, and legumes. It’s heavy on fish but less accommodating to red meat.

It doesn’t hate on those who choose to dip bread in olive oil. It also calls for the occasional glass of wine.

Other Ways to Add More Fat to Your Diet

Use butter, oils, and other natural fats for cooking. Fat adds flavor to recipes and dishes.

Load up on avocados, lean proteins, and almonds. Nut butters, beans, and hummus are other good choices.

Ghee is another great source of healthy fat. Use it for cooking or blend some into your morning brew. Bulletproof coffee is a great way to start your day with a healthy dose of fat.

Replace low-fat and non-fat with full-fat ingredients. Pay attention to fat vs carbs in meals. Load leafy salads with nuts, seeds, and full-fat oil-based dressings.

No diet calls for fried foods. But if you have to have it, select a healthier oil option. Go for peanut oil or some delicious duck fat fries.

In any diet, it’s always important to only eat until you feel full. Adopt the gremlin diet and don’t eat after midnight (or well before). You should also limit processed foods and sugar.

Choose High-Fat Foods to Enhance Your Mind, Body, and Lifestyle

High-fat foods will help you lose weight. As long as you practice portion control, and choose healthier fats in your meals and recipes.

It’s all about balance and determining which diet plan is right for your lifestyle.

Exercise is also a key component in losing weight. Get fit and look fabulous with this list of gym essentials.

Senior Living: 10 Realistic Options For Elderly Care

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When it comes to looking after your loved ones, you want to be sure you’re making the right choice for everyone involved. We take a look at 10 realistic options for elderly care that you should consider.

Do you have a loved one who is aging and you’re left wondering how to approach some potentially difficult decisions?

We all want the best for the people we care about most, and that can mean making some changes to their lifestyle to protect their health and ensure their safety.

But you don’t have to jump to a retirement home as your first choice. There are many other options to improve their quality of life and allow them to maintain their independence.

Read on for the top 10 realistic options for elderly care.

Changes to the Home

If your loved one isn’t ready to leave their house, some things can be done to the home itself to make it safer and easier to live in and maintain. There may need to be some slight modifications, and suddenly, your parent can extend their time in that home for years.

Make sure doorways are wide enough for a wheelchair or walker to fit through easily. If there are stairs in the front or the back of the house, consider removing them and installing a ramp for easier access to and from the home.

Check places like the bathroom, which can become slippery when wet and are more likely to cause a fall. You can install handlebars in the shower or bathtub, traction mats, and even a shower chair or stool, so they don’t have to stand at all.

Making some concerted tweaks around the home will give you and your loved one peace of mind and allow them to stay in the home for longer than perhaps anticipated.

Items that Can Help

There are ways to help your loved one continue doing the day-to-day tasks required when living at home. Consider adding extra lights to dark places or swapping out bulbs for brighter voltage.

You can add light sensors that are activated when they walk by. This is especially helpful if they wake during the middle of the night, so they aren’t struggling to find the light switch.

Keep emergency contact numbers written clearly in several areas of the home. You can also enlarge the font on their computer monitors and cell phone screens for easier viewing.

You can assist with any hearing issues by adding volume amplifiers to phone rings and television sets. You can even purchase items that will vibrate and can be worn around the wrist if a sound is detected, so they’re alerted without having to worry about volume.

Food Delivery Services

As people age, the many things to remember and manage while cooking a meal can become problematic. Does your loved one forget to turn the stove off? Perhaps they are too tired at the end of the day to cook themselves dinner and end up eating something that lacks nutrients or even nothing at all.

Hiring a food delivery service will ensure your loved one has fresh, wholesome meals whenever needed. Many services specialize in senior needs. They’ll deliver frozen meals weekly to the home, and they only have to be put into the microwave for a few minutes and then enjoyed.

This also saves your loved one a trip from the grocery store and makes for one less thing they have to worry about.

Cleaning Services

If your loved one is having trouble bending down, carrying bulky items or just trouble with their agility in general, view here about hiring a service to clean every other week or so.

The chances of injury increase when someone is pushing themselves and engaging in a physical activity they don’t always do. In order to avoid this, take the burden off this person and allow someone to come to take care of the cleaning.

Transportation

If it hasn’t already happened, at some point, your loved one will need to give up getting behind the wheel. Whether for reasons regarding vision, hearing or dexterity, giving up driving may be difficult for your family member and you don’t want to keep them on house arrest when they do stop.

Several transportation companies specialize in senior care; they can take your parent to and from doctors appointments or on designated routes with other seniors with some regular stops like the grocery store or the movies.

If this isn’t an option financially, ask other family members if they’d be willing to take shifts each week driving your loved one around and where they need and want to go. Just because they can no longer drive, doesn’t mean they can’t accomplish tasks on their own or live a busy, independent life.

MEDCottage

This option has become popular as of late. Sometimes referred to as “granny pods,” these MEDCottage’s are a guest house-like structure that is built in your backyard or on the property of another loved one with some room to spare.

The home has a room, kitchen, bathroom, running water and electricity. It acts like a stand-alone studio apartment. They can decorate it as they wish and make it feel like home, but it will only be steps from a family member or friend.

Adult Day Care

Exactly what it sounds like. Seniors can thrive off of socializing and interacting with others and activities can keep their brain stimulated. This can increase their quality of life and even allow them to make new friends.

If your loved one is home most of the day alone, this is a perfect option. Attendees can engage in physical exercises, arts, and crafts, games and more. They’ll also have someone present who can monitor their status and ensure they’re taking any necessary medication.

Home Care Manager

This will be a person who is hired for your loved one. They are typically billed by the hour and come to their house to help out with decisions and day-to-day tasks.

This person can keep doctors appointments in order, make sure there’s food in the fridge, help with bill payments and ensure the home continues to function smoothly and stay in order.

This person will work as a liaison between the senior and their family member or friend and keep them up to date with the status of their loved one and let them know when it’s time for them to move out of the home and into a more hands-on environment.

Independent Living

Independent living is designed exclusively for seniors, giving them the chance to live on their own but reside in a community. Here, the day-to-day chores are handled by the employees which allow your loved one to remain worry-free about meals, cleaning, and laundry.

The set up is much like a college campus and is primed for socializing. They also have group activities much like those offered at the adult day care programs.

Assisted Living

This is a more managed living situation for those who require more assistance. Assisted living is for those who can live alone but require some help. Help can include bathing, dressing, administering medication, meals, housekeeping and more.

This allows your loved one to maintain a sense of autonomy but never be alone as care is typically offered 24 hours per day at these facilities.

Consider These Options for Elderly Care

As you can see above, there are many options for elderly care other than a retirement home. It’s important to be realistic about the ability and needs of the person you love and know when to make a change.

Their safety and quality of life are most important, so be sure to offer them some of the options above to see if these ideas can help make their lives easier.

Be sure to check out the rest of our blog for more lifestyle and health tips!

8 Essential Tips For Cutting Out Carbs From Your Diet

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If you want to lose some weight, the first thing you need to change about your diet is to reduce your carb intake. Here are 8 essential tips for cutting out carbs so you can start losing weight.

Are you unhappy with your body? Maybe you are rushing to get beach-ready for your summer vacation, or you feel you need a change in your overall lifestyle. Well, you’re not alone. At any time, roughly 40-50% of women are trying to lose weight.

Navigating through all these different diet and exercise routines can be stressful. You may begin to feel like you are in over your head. Once you finally settle on a low-carb diet, you may think the hard part is over.

However, sticking to that diet and cutting out carbs can be harder than expected. With so many delicious carb-filled foods, like cookies, pasta, and bread, figuring out how to cut carbs will be a learning curve.

But we’re here to help! Keep reading to discover 8 essential tips for cutting out carbs from your diet.

1. Forget the Sugar

The first step in reducing your carb intake is learning to curb your sweet tooth. Sugar is a carb, so all that soda and ice cream isn’t going to fit into your new diet.

It can be hard to do at first, but it will get easier over time. You’ll feel more energized and save your teeth too! If you’re addicted to your late night sugary treat, consider having some substitutes available, like fresh fruit.

2. Dial Down the Artificial Sweeteners

Don’t even think about dumping 4 packs of artificial sweeteners into your coffee or iced tea. The more you indulge in sugar and artificial sweeteners, the worse your cravings will be. You’ll find it harder to stick to your diet when you want something sweet.

By dialing down (or completely removing) artificial sweeteners from your diet, you’re helping your body adjust to a less sugary diet. Over time, you’ll also want to decrease your fruit intake. While fruit has many benefits (and it’s okay to include in your diet), it is full of natural sugars and carbs.

3. Cook More at Home

The best way to learn how to cut out carbs is to learn which foods and ingredients contain a lot of them. When you go out to eat, it’s much harder (even impossible sometimes) to track your carb intake. Since carbs hide in things like sugar and milk, you’d need to know every ingredient in your dish.

Instead, make an effort to cook more at home. If you don’t have a lot of energy during the work week, consider cooking your meals in bulk during the weekend and eating leftovers during the week. This way, you’ll know exactly what is going into your body and how many carbs you’re consuming. Bonus points if you commit to buying organic or local meats and produce!

4. Snack Correctly

Many new dieters find avoiding snacking to be the hardest part of the day. But, you don’t need to avoid snacking, just learn how to snack correctly. Get rid of all your junk food and replace it with high protein, low carb snacks.

The high levels of protein will help you feel full longer, so you’ll eat less at dinner and won’t have the urge to snack later in the day. Nuts and cheese are both excellent options. They’re easy to grab and munch on while watching TV, and they’re good for you too!

5. Swap Your Chips for Veggies

Are nuts and cheese not enough to fulfill your snack craving? If chips and dip used to be your go-to snack, consider swapping it for veggies and hummus.

The veggies will give you that crunch you may miss from chips and the hummus stands in place of high-carb dips. Plus, you’ll get a lot of protein from the hummus, so you’ll fill up faster and feel full longer.

6. Substitute Wraps the Lettuce

On your quest to cutting carbs and eating healthier, you may have made the adjustment from eating sandwiches to eating wraps. While flour tortillas can be better than bread, they are still loaded with carbs. That doesn’t mean you have to give up your wraps for good! Substitute that high-carb tortilla for a healthier lettuce wrap!

This is a great option because many people don’t eat wraps because they like the taste of a tortilla. They eat wraps because the ingredients inside are what makes it great. You won’t even miss that flour tortilla!

7. Opt for Alternative Flour and Milk

Is baking your pride and joy? Unfortunately, many desserts are high-carb due to the flour, sugar, and milk (milk contains lactose, which is a sugar, and thus a carb). However, there is a way to make lower-carb desserts. One of the best things you can do is swap traditional flour and milk for their coconut or almond counterparts.

To stick with it, turn low carb baking into your new hobby. You’d be surprised how many options are available. Are you in the mood for blueberry muffins? You can discover more recipes for the perfect low-carb muffin.

8. Keep Things Simple at the Bar

Do you have a night out planned this weekend? The bar can be your best friend and worst enemy. While you may be due for a well-deserved night out, you’ll have to be careful about what you drink.

Fancy cocktails tend to be mixed with sugary fruit juices and syrups and should be avoided when you’re cutting out carbs. Beer is also a high-carb drink that won’t fit into your new diet. When it’s time to order, consider sticking to wine or liquor on the rocks. If you need a mixer, avoid things like soda and cranberry juice. Opt for club soda, lemon slices, or lime slices instead.

The Best Tips for Cutting Out Carbs

If you’re trying to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle, you’ve probably been researching low-carb diets. Cutting out carbs can be harder than you think when they are everywhere. By following our tips and tricks, cutting carbs will be easier than ever.

Did you like these tips? Check out our health blog page for more great posts like this.

How To Save Your Teeth And Protect Your Smile

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When you look at a person, one of the most noticeable things about them is their smile, and when their teeth are shining and white, they stand out to us. Not everyone has a smile like this, but they could do if they take care of their teeth correctly. There are many things that we eat and drink which can damage our teeth, and with a few lifestyle and diet changes, you can make sure that you have no significant dental problems and keep your smile shining and white.

Eat A Healthy Diet

You can always take advantage of those dental crowns Gold Coast dentists offer. Still, it would be best to ensure that you eat a healthy diet which does not include too many foods and drinks with refined sugar. There are certain foods and beverages which also stain the teeth, so these are also best avoided as much as possible, such as;

  • Red Wine
  • Tea
  • Coffee
  • Carbonated Drinks
  • Sweets

Eating a healthy diet will not only help us to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but it will also help you to take care of your teeth and avoid any significant dental work.

Brush Twice A Day

Brushing in the morning is always best as it also helps to freshen up your breath for the day ahead. In a perfect world, you would brush after every meal, but this is not always possible, and you also need to avoid over brushing. An alternative to this is to brush your teeth after your breakfast on the morning and whenever you eat something or have a sugary drink, rinse your mouth out with water thoroughly and try and get rid of any food particles or liquid residue from any drinks. You can then brush your teeth before you go to bed or after the last time you eat or drink something at night.

Floss Your Teeth Daily

Flossing your teeth makes a massive difference in the overall health of your mouth. When you floss, you can remove the food particles that get trapped between your teeth that brushing cannot reach. Once you get into the habit of flossing, it will only take you a couple of minutes to complete, and the health of your mouth will improve significantly.

Avoid Smoking

Not only is smoking bad for your health but the smoke will also stain both your fingers and your teeth. If you wish to keep your teeth shining white, then this is a habit that you are best to avoid entirely.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

The last step to ensuring your oral health and looking after your teeth is to visit a dentist on a regular basis. Children that still have their baby teeth may not need to attend as regularly, but adults should visit their dentist for a check-up twice a year. The more often you visit the dentist, the earlier potential problems can be picked up and doing so can also avoid additional expensive treatments to fix issues if they are found too late.  For information on finding a reputable dentist that is local to you, take a look on the Health Direct website.

Things You Need To Know About a Biopsy

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A biopsy is a medical process wherein a small amount of tissue is taken out of the body. The sample taken will be examined through a microscope so that the doctor will see any abnormal cells. If your doctor is requesting a biopsy, you don’t have to worry about anything. They are just trying to understand what is going on inside you.

What are biopsies for?

Biopsies are often used to diagnose cancer. It is done if you can feel a lump or a little swelling in the body with no possible cause. A biopsy is conducted to determine where exactly the cancer cell is located.

Inflamed organs can also be seen after a biopsy. It identifies the particular cells that are affected as well as the specific reason for the inflammation.

It can further assess the condition of a current disease too. It also determines the stage and type of cancer so that your doctor can provide you with the best course of treatment for you.

Different types of biopsies

  • Punch biopsy. This is done to diagnose different kinds of skin conditions. A small hole is punched by an instrument to remove a sample of skin.
  • Needle biopsy. This is done for organs that are underneath the skin. A long needle is inserted through the skin to reach the kidney, thyroid, liver and bone marrow.
  • Endoscopic biopsy. A thin flexible telescope is used to view different organs. A biopsy of a tissue is taken during this procedure. An example of which is gastroscopy.
  • Perioperative biopsy. This is done during surgery wherein the surgeon takes a small amount of tissue and examines it for a few minutes. It aids doctors to asses how they shall proceed with the operation.

Who should undergo a biopsy?

The best person to assess if a patient needs to undergo a biopsy is an internist or an organ specialist. It can also be used to check for another type of diseases that may be a side effect of an existing treatment. Before a biopsy is performed, it may be necessary for the patient to undergo a private scan in London to assess which organ should undergo the biopsy.

If your doctor suspects that your current condition is worsening, they may also request a biopsy. The result of the biopsy can help doctors to provide you with a much better course of treatment to enhance your condition.

Risks and complications

There are only 2 major risks of biopsy – bleeding and infection. Bleeding is normal, especially if a cut is necessary. Infections may be prevented by inducing medication prior to the procedure. A patient may also experience nausea, fever, vomiting and excruciating pain. If in case you feel any of these, inform your doctor immediately.

Aside from those mentioned above, there are several reasons as to why a doctor might request a biopsy. So next time your doctor requests you to undergo such a procedure, don’t think its cancer. They might just want to further understand what is going on in your body.

10 Signs That You’re an Alcoholic

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10 Telltale Signs of Alocholism

The problem with drug addiction is that the drugs reduce the users’ ability to self-evaluate. This is especially true when it comes to alcoholism. If you suspect you might have a drinking problem, here are 10 telltale signs of alcoholism.

Alcoholism is becoming more common.

A recent study found that one in eight American adults are alcoholics. That’s 12.2 percent of the U.S. population!

The problem with drug addiction is that the drugs reduce the users’ ability to self-evaluate. This is especially true when it comes to alcoholism.

If you suspect you might have a drinking problem, here are 10 telltale signs of alcohol addiction.

1. Hiding or Lying About Your Drinking

If you find yourself hiding anything about your drinking, you probably have a problem. You wouldn’t lie about how much you had to drink if you thought it was normal. Denial is familiar with addiction.

Be honest with yourself and your family. If you don’t have a problem, you shouldn’t have anything to hide.

2. Drinking to Feel Better

If you need alcohol for a mood boost, you may have an unhealthy addiction. A glass of wine or beer while toasting at a special occasion or a night out with friends is normal. If you drink to feel better because you are unhappy, there is a big red flag.

Alcohol mood enhancement is only temporary and can increase anxiety and depression. Using alcohol to get rid of your stress, unhappiness, or negative feelings will not help you in the long run.

If you have a bad day and feel like you need to drink more, you may be drinking as an emotional crutch. You should be able to relax without drinking. If you don’t think you can enjoy yourself without alcohol, you most likely have some sort of dependence.

3. “Blacking Out” Regularly

Having so much alcohol that you don’t remember what happened is a big problem. You drink too much. You should clearly remember most of your night as if you hadn’t been drinking.

You are drinking an excessive amount of alcohol to have this happen. Your brain cannot function normally when you have extreme blood alcohol levels. If this happens regularly, this is a huge red flag for a serious problem.

You shouldn’t risk brain damage for alcohol. Alcoholism can lead to irreversible brain damage. If you black out often, its time to seek professional help.

4. Drinking at Weird Times

Having alcohol first thing in the morning is a sign of a big problem. If you can’t start your day without a drink, you have a significant issue. Drinking before work is definitely not normal.

If you take medication but still drink, this is another big red flag. Also, you shouldn’t be consuming a significant amount of alcohol before you drive or go to work. If you do, you are willing to take risks that make alcohol a big priority in your life.

5. Relationship Problems

Do you have regular arguments with your family or friends about your drink? You may be addicted if you can’t give up alcohol even after your family or friends have expressed concern.

It’s difficult to turn your back on your family, and you wouldn’t do that if you didn’t have a problem. The sooner you address your drinking habits, the sooner you can heal your body and your relationships. Your family and friends should be the essential thing in your life.

6. Drinking More

Has your tolerance increased? If you find that you can drink more than you used to, this could be a sign you are an alcoholic. Having a higher tolerance means your body is exposed to alcohol enough that it has learned to process it better.

When you increase the amount you drink, your health also declines. You may notice that once you start drinking more, you gain weight, have memory issues, experience blackouts, or have tremors.

7. Experiencing Withdrawal

Having withdrawal is not a hangover. It is a reaction to lack of alcohol. You may feel tired, depressed, anxious, or irritable.

Other symptoms are sleeping issues, appetite changes, and shakiness. Hangovers can have some of the same effects, but if you experience these symptoms for days, this is not a hangover.

Your body is telling you that it is physically addicted to alcohol. These symptoms will subside after you eliminate alcohol for a long time. Your body will readjust to your healthier state of mind.

8. Not Wanting to Quit or Can’t

Have you tried to quit drinking and realize you can’t? You may need additional help to quit. Because you can’t stop on your own, this means you probably have an alcohol addiction.

It’s not unusual for some of us to want to cut back our drinking at some point. Once you are addicted, you won’t be able to cut it back.

Your body relies on alcohol when you have an addiction. Withdrawal can also be life-threatening, so you may need medical assistance as you begin your recovery.

9. Changes in Your Face

Have you noticed any changes in your face? Physical signs of alcoholism include broken capillaries and flushed skin on your face. These symptoms can range from rosy cheeks to large blood vessels visible on your face.

Having large amounts of alcohol in your bloodstream regularly damages your skin and your smaller blood vessels. If you have any of these signs, your body is changing, and you need to seek help.

10. Trembling Hands

Trembling hands is a big sign of alcoholism. If you notice your hands are shaking after you drink, this is because the alcohol damages the nerves in your body.

You may also notice shaky hands when you quit drinking for good. If you have a physical dependence, your body will shake if it doesn’t get alcohol. You will also have issues with your fine motor skills like writing or using utensils.

Seeing Signs of Alcoholism?

There are different stages of alcoholism. If you start to notice any of these symptoms above, it may be time for you to face reality. You may need help.

The most significant step is admitting you need help. There are several ways for you to get the help you need. Do some soul searching to see what is right for you and your family.

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Help! How Do I Know If I Have Sun Poisoning?

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Help! How Do I Know If I Have Sun Poisoning?

When you’re spending a lot of time out in the sun, you have to use an SPF to protect your skin. However, we know sometimes it’s easy to forget to put it on (or reapply it) and we end up with a sun burn. But… What are the signs that indicate your sun burn is actually sun poisoning? Read our article and find out more.

Studies have shown that about 30 percent of all Americans get a sunburn at least once every year.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention does its best to tell people the dangers of going out in the sun without sunscreen. Unfortunately, there are still millions of Americans who do it anyway.

In some rare cases, people are also subjected to more than sunburn. They could get sun poisoning, which is an extreme form of sunburn with even worse consequences.

It can be unpleasant dealing with sun poisoning. In some cases, it can lead to serious health consequences if you aren’t careful.

Here are some of the ways you’ll know you’re likely dealing with a bad case of sun poisoning after a day out in the hot sun.

It Feels Like Your Body Is Battling the Flu

Does your body feel awful after spending a lot of time out in the sun?

This is one of the first signs of sun poisoning. It can almost feel like you’re dealing with a sudden bout of the flu when it first starts to kick in.

When you have sun poisoning, your body releases a bunch of chemicals that send your immune system springing into action. Those chemicals make you feel run down zaps your energy.

The good news is that this proves your immune system is doing its job. The bad news is that it’s a sign that you’re going to feel a little under the weather for at least a day or two.

Your Skin Is Very Prickly and Sensitive to the Touch

Any time you get a sunburn, your skin will feel very sensitive. Even something as simple as your T-shirt rubbing against it will irritate your skin and make you want to scream.

When you are battling sun poisoning, this feeling will be about 100 times worse. A little wind blowing against your red, raw skin will feel like a fire blazing over top of it. You’ll want to jump out of your skin and get relief as quickly as you can.

Unfortunately, this feeling is going to last for quite some time. It’s part of the healing process, and there’s nothing you can do to make the pain go away completely.

But you can try these steps to make your skin feel better:

  • Apply aloe vera to your skin
  • Jump into a cold shower every so often
  • Place a cold compress over your skin
  • Take ibuprofen to relieve some of the pain

Again, there’s no surefire cure for this level of sunburn. But with a little bit of patience, your skin will likely start to feel better in a day or two.

You’re Very Dizzy and Lightheaded

When your body gets too much sun, it can zap your hydration levels. This is especially true if you didn’t drink much water while you were laying in the sun.

When you’re dehydrated, you will usually feel dizzy and lightheaded. You might even have a touch of nausea and feel like you’re going to throw up at any moment.

Rehydrating your body will take time. You should start drinking something that contains electrolytes right away. You’re going to need more than water to get the job done.

You should also avoid alcoholic beverages or anything that is going to dehydrate you any further.

You Have a Fever

When you first step out of the sun, you are, of course, going to feel a little bit warm. The sun is going to cause your temperature to go up a bit.

But if you still feel warm long after you’ve come in from out of the sun, it could be a big problem. If you develop a fever, you might be experiencing sun poisoning.

It’s generally better to be safe than sorry when it comes to a fever associated with being out in the sun. You might want to consider taking a trip to the doctor’s office to get your condition checked out sooner than later.

If nothing else, you should take an over-the-counter medicine designed to bring your temperature down and see if it helps.

Your Skin Starts to Blister

As your skin starts to heal following sun poisoning, you may see blisters start to develop in the affected areas.

On the one hand, this is a good sign because it shows that your body is making an effort to heal. On the other, blisters can allow germs and bacteria to work their way into your body if you aren’t careful while treating them.

You should continue to apply aloe vera to your skin as it heals. This will moisturize it and promote quicker healing.

You should consider seeing a doctor if you experience any blistering on your face, your hands, or any other sensitive areas.

Your Skin Doesn’t Feel How It Usually Does With a Sunburn

There are a lot of people who will brush off sun poisoning thinking it’s just sunburn.

While you don’t want to get paranoid about your condition, you should keep a close eye on anything that looks like sunburn. Make sure that it doesn’t develop into something worse.

If you’re experiencing unbearable pain that won’t go away no matter what you do, it’s time to bring a doctor into the mix to diagnose you.

You should also keep an eye on your skin for signs of skin cancer and other problems following bouts of sunburn and poisoning. This office can provide you with more information.

Avoid Sun Poisoning at All Costs

You can prevent sun poisoning by wearing sunscreen and staying away from too much sun exposure.

It will reduce your chances of dealing with sunburn and poisoning and reduce the risks of sun cancer.

Take a look at our blog to read more about leading a healthier lifestyle.