Eight Ways to Improve Your Marriage Before it Begins

I was over at my brother’s house a few days ago. While doing all the things that brothers do (drinking beer, reminiscing about growing up, and goofing around) we got to talking about our current lives. He and I both got married within the last five years and honestly, both of our wives are everything that we could ask for:

• kind
• smart
• caring
• loving

I’ve often been told that hindsight is 20/20. Believing that, I wondered what life would be like if I had known how to answer all the questions that I have had to answer while being married:

1. Does this look good on me?
2. What have you planned for date night?
3. Are you even listening to me?
4. What did I just say?

In talking to other men, I realize that I am not alone in wishing I had known the answers to these ahead of time. Saying that, here are eight pieces of advice that will make your life easier.

Learning to recognize the signs

Just because you haven’t been verbally told something doesn’t mean that it isn’t an issue. To avoid upsetting your partner, you must learn to read them. It sounds simple in theory, but I assure you it is more difficult than reading a Sanskrit document. Pay attention to everything. This includes, but is not limited to:

• an eyebrow raise
• tonal switch in the voice
• sighs
• arms crossing

Your success hinges on your ability to read your spouse.

 

A good love story

Yes, the “chick-flick”. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you will have to endure one or two of these in your lifetime. My advice is to either learn to become very good at hiding the fact you are sleeping or, pay just enough attention that you can answer the pop quiz at the end of the movie.

The t-shirt

There is a good chance that your favorite t-shirt will also become their favorite t-shirt. Accept this and understand that there is no point in asking where it is. Instead, teach yourself to become automatic enough to walk over to the laundry basket and pull it out. Don’t bother checking it with the smell test either. It will usually lead to a series of questions that you don’t want.

Dog farts

Don’t laugh. On occasion, the dog did it might actually be the truth. In fact, in my experience I know that my two are proud when they do, but that’s not the point. Know that when it wasn’t the dog, how you bring it up directly reflects how the rest of the night will go. You must decide how often to bring it up and under what circumstance you do. Fyi: the answer is “as close to zero as you can make it”.

Your job

I shovel the snow. Period. Do I enjoy it? Doesn’t matter.
Relationships and marriage are built on sacrifice. It could come in the form of freezing in the middle of winter, or not watching your team play on Sunday. If you want your marriage to last, learn to make sacrifices.

Confirming the grocery list

Whenever you go to the grocery store, do not forget your phone. Without fail, you will have to make a phone call that goes something like this, “Which brand of ______ do you want me to pick up?”
Take notes and don’t forget what she’s said. It only makes it worse if you have to call back or bring home the wrong item.

How/when to pick your battles

Before engaging in any sort of battle, ask yourself, “Is this really worth it? What benefit will come to me because of it? What will I be giving up later down the road if I fight back?” Contrary to what you may believe, you can’t always win. You must learn to either:

• Humbly accept defeat.
• Create an outstanding reason that you are correct.

My suggestion would be to go with the hidden third option. Learn to compromise as much as you can.

Chocolates and flowers

According to Gary Chapman, each of us has a love language. It is:

• receiving gifts
• quality time
• words of affirmation
• acts of service
• physical touch

While it sounds a little too corny to be true, I can promise you that it is in your best interest to figure out which one your spouse is. It will make things a lot easier for both of you.

In closing

This list isn’t foolproof. In actuality, it is only a brief guideline for the challenges that lie ahead of you. However, while marriage is hard work, its rewards are worth every moment.
The only other piece of advice that I can give you is to make sure you take some time to let her know that you appreciate her.
Featured photo credit: www.pixabay.com via pixabay.com

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8 Life-Changing Skills You Can Learn in Less Than 6 Months

 Photo credit lifehack.org

Everyone has the ability to learn a life-changing skill not just this year, but in the next 6 months.
By life-changing, I mean something that can have a positive impact in your life moving forward, even if it’s something you can’t envision today. Certain skills we can immediately reap the benefits of, while others will be life-changing when we least expect it.
In this article, we’ll share 8 life-changing skills you can learn in 6 months, where you can learn them, and how you can get started today.

1. Speed reading

Bill Gates has been known to state that if he had one superpower, it would be the ability to read faster. What Bill and the rest of the mega-successful understand is that knowledge is power. The ability to process information faster from books, articles, and reports is what will help us learn faster, and therefore improve each aspect of our life faster as well.
Where you can start learning: Speed reading courses are becoming more popular, as more people realize how important it is with the limited time we have. You can check out free courses like Read Speeder or you can start learning how to use Spritzlet, which allows you to speed read articles online with a browser extension.

2. Public speaking

Research shows that people fear public speaking more than death itself. There’s something terrifying about being in front of dozens or hundreds of people, and exposing yourself completely. It’s when you’re most vulnerable, but learning how to public speak is a life-changer.
Warren Buffett has given advice to recent graduates that the number one skill you can have to succeed is public speaking skills. Everything from communication, confidence, and sales is developed when you develop your public speaking skills.
Where you can start learning: Luckily, there are great communities out there like Toastmasters that organize local meetups all around the world. You’ll find amazing public speakers that are looking to get to the next level to beginners that are just getting started. Check out Toastmasters’ website here.

3. Spanish

As the third most spoken language in the world, the ability to speak Spanish will allow you to reach over 500M people around the world. No matter where you live, knowing how to speak Spanish is becoming increasingly more important, with the Hispanic population and economy spreading quickly worldwide. If you’re living in the US, this is even more important, with over 30% of the population being Hispanic.
Spanish is also on this list, because it’s one of the easiest languages to learn. Sure, Mandarin is an important language to learn, but it’s an incredibly difficult one to learn. If we were to measure the level of importance and the time to learn for all the languages available, Spanish would make it to the top of the list.
One of the biggest reasons why people never reach fluency in any foreign language is: using the wrong method, and lack of time. In this free course on how to learn a new language in 90 days, there’s proven research which points out how humans best learn.

It turns out that humans retain only 5% of what we learn from lectures, 20% of what we learn from apps (visual cues), and 90% of what we learn from immediate immersion. Yet, how do 90% of learn a new foreign language? Language schools (lectures), books, Duolingo (apps), etc that don’t provide the real-life immersion required for our brains to learn faster.
Where to get started: If you want the most effective way to learn a language, learning from real-life interactions is the best way to do it. There are great websites like Rype, which offers Spanish coaching for busy people, solving the issue of lack of time and bringing real-life immersion to your screen. With Rype, you can book as many lessons as you want, at any time of the day, any day of the week, allowing you to fit it into your schedule, no matter how busy you are.

 

4. Accounting

If you’re looking to get into business, accounting is one of the core fundamentals you’ll need to succeed. While you don’t need to be an expert, you definitely should understand the basics.
This skill can also be used to manage your personal finances, to meet your financial goals, and having more control over your life.
Where to get started learning: If you didn’t learn accounting in school, no worries. You can either teach yourself using books, or check out free accounting courses online.

5. Microsoft Excel

Most people reading this probably have a basic understanding of Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. While this is a good start, there are so many powerful functionalities that are hidden, which could make your life a lot easier.
Excel is also a great asset to have whenever you’re looking for a job, as many corporations rely on Excel to organize and manage multiple parts of the business.
Where to get started learning: With the popularity of Excel, you can find tons of free resources and videos online to learn. Check out Excel Exposure, Lynda, and Excel with Business.

6. Blogging/Vlogging

Blogging is a powerful tool if you want to spread your ideas, build your brand, or grow your business. Since it was introduced, blogging has taken on a life of its own, and today there are ~2M blog posts being written on a daily basis.
Where to get started learning: Anyone can start blogging today. All you need is a content-management system like WordPress, which is completely free. Personally, I think the best way to start learning how to blog is to just start writing. There are techniques you can learn on how to promote your blog, but the best way to grow your blog is to write great content.

7. Weight training

Yes, weight training is a skill. It’s not as advanced as learning how to code, nor will it take as long as learning a new language, if you just want to learn the basics.
We’re not promising that you’ll get a body like Arnold Schwarzenegger, but you will see much faster results for whatever goal you have, just by understanding how to workout properly. And of course, when you’re dealing with an activity that involves physical strain, you’ll always want to caution yourself.
Where to get started learning: There are amazing body builders that are sharing all of their secrets for free on Youtube. You can check out Bodybuilding.com’s Youtube channel to get started.

8. Photo and video editing

In the digital world that we live in, from Youtube, Instagram, and Facebook, there is no avoiding photos and videos. In fact, social media has increasingly gone away from text sharing and almost everything to photo and video editing.
Where to get started learning: For photo editing, you can use Photoshop. For video editing, you can use iMovie or Final Cut Pro. Keep in mind, there are dozens of editing software tools for video and photo editing, but what’s more important are your editing skills, not the tool itself.
Check out education websites like CreativeLIVE or Skillshare, where you can learn from experts themselves on how to best use design and software tools.

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6 Creative Home Design Ideas You Have Try out

One of the best feelings in the world is having a warm, cozy home to come back to. Without this feeling, your house is just another living space. It’s even better when your home is decorated according to your own wishes and taste. Having a home design that fits your own personality and lifestyle is the right way to do it. Of course, furniture can be easily bought. There are numerous designers and companies that create furniture and décor items. But if you are feeling a little bit artistic, you can always make a house your own with some DIY projects.
Here are a few creative suggestions you could try out in your own home. They will make the space more interesting, as well as enjoyable. Without a doubt, you will be running back home immediately after work.

1. DIY Furniture

Sure, being in charge of decorating your home is pleasurable. But it also requires buying furniture, then putting it in your house. What if you decorated with a really personal touch in the form of DIY items? You could imagine and create something completely on your own, made according to your taste. Moreover, you would do all the hard work, which makes this even more valuable. Without a doubt, you would appreciate that piece of furniture more than others.
For instance, you could make something small like a coffee table. This is an item you would definitely need and use all the time. Therefore, it is perfect for becoming your personal project. Even better, it wouldn’t be much work. The table could be of a smaller size, and made using palettes, for example. In order to make it, you would need a few tools, some paint and wood, all of which can be found at your nearest hardware store. Furthermore, you have the internet to teach you about building a coffee table. You can find numerous instructions and video tutorials on how it’s done.
If a coffee table is not your preference, you can choose to make a bookshelf, picture frames, storage or anything else that is easy and practical.

 

2. Bold Colors on the Walls

One feature that will make your interior pop out is the color scheme found on your walls or furniture. You have probably noticed that a lot of people choose to have one wall painted in a bold color, while the others are painted neutral. For example, your bedroom could be beige, all except one accented wall, painted in red, blue or whatever color you want. This will give the room a special flair and an interesting look.
Another option you could try is to have a room painted in clashing colors. For instance, have one room painted in red and green, or pink and orange. This type of design would create a “wow” effect every time you enter the room. It doesn’t even have to be whole walls. You can just have a few details painted this way, like the door and the carpet, or one wall and the door. Either way, it is important to have something extraordinary that will make your house look unique.

3. Glass Floor

For those who want something more extravagant, as well as daring, go for a glass floor. You could have a gallery above your living room, for example, with the floor being all made of glass, or at least some part of it. Or, if you are a wine lover, you could create a glass trap door leading to the underground wine basement – something that is very popular at the moment.

4. Multipurpose Features

For people who like practical things, having multipurpose furniture is very important. They find it really useful, and think it is a smart financial move. Not only would you get two-in-one features, but you would also save money on making or buying more furniture.
For example, you could have a mirror that doubles in size once you open it; you could have a dining table that turns into a pool table when the top is removed.
One more smart thing would be to use your stairs to the fullest. Usually, there is a lot of space left unused underneath the staircase. However, if you think carefully, you could turn this into a bonus for yourself. For instance, you can make drawers that would hide storage space below each step, or maybe have a bookshelf or a closet on the side of the stairs. Whatever the choice, it wouldn’t go to waste.

5. Vertical Garden

If you like plants, but do not have a lot of space for flower pots, you could build a vertical garden. This represents a type of shelving that would be used for holding small or big plants instead of books. One way you could use it is for herbs that could be used for cooking. Moreover, this vertical garden could be built in your kitchen, so it is close to you while you are making meals. Another example is to have succulent plants built into your bookshelf, or a garden standing on its own on a wall. Not only would it give you more space for numerous plants, but it would also be a rather cool design trick, and a décor item.

6. Colorful Tiles

Use colorful tiles to create a vibrant styling or a fake carpet effect. You could combine different styles of tiles, like bigger ones and then smaller colorful ones in the center, as a carpet. This is a great solution for people living near beaches, as they can easily walk in and out of the house without worrying about ruining the carpet with sand. Also, tiling is awesome for warmer cities because it provides a cooling effect.
Another great way of using tiles is to put them on walls as decorations. For instance, you could use colorful tiles mixed with white ones. They would serve as décor instead of pictures, or just give you a special pop of color.
There are numerous ways of decorating your house, and each one can be creative in its own way. You could do DIY projects, experiment with glass, or have a garden wall. Your home should have your personal touch. So, get down to work and decorate your house however you wish.
Featured photo credit: https://unsplash.com/@_entreprenerd via unsplash.com

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8 Things You Should Consider Looking At When Buying A Home, Part 2

One of the biggest decisions that you will make in your life is buying a new home, for yourself or for your family. It is imperative for you stay prudent throughout the entire process. Fortunately, there are sound principles that can help you handle this task with ease.
I’ve already covered the first half of the topics here. This time, I will dive into a broader scope. Let’s take a close look at another eight things you should consider looking at when buying a home.

Use the Right Real Estate Listings Website

There are dozens of listing sites around today. It is vital for you to focus on using a credible real estate site with home listings that appeal to your area, budget, and target price. An exceptional real estate listings site will give you guides that can help you save precious time and find the home of your dreams.

 

Get More Details on the Listing

A real estate listing website will give you an opportunity to see many homes for sale in your area. You should get more details on the listings that get your attention. Real estate search engines like Zillow and EstateBlock provide in-depth demographics and neighborhood information, making it easier for you to gauge if the property you are eyeing is suitable for your needs and preferences. Let’s zero in on several important questions:

• Is the home located near schools?
• Is the crime rate low in the area?
• Are hospitals or clinics nearby?
• Is the home in an area where public transportation is accessible?

The answers to these questions will help you decide if the home will be ideal for you and your family.

Know Your Realtor

A realtor plays a big role in the home-buying process. You should choose an experienced realtor that has sold homes in your targeted area. A local realtor will be in the position to offer better results. It is also important for you to choose a realtor that speaks your language.

Inspect the Property

You cannot make a final decision without inspecting the property. A same-day showing with your realtor will give you a chance to see the home in person. Attending an open house is important because this will give you an opportunity to inspect the property. Keep in mind, though, that an open house is a selling tactic used by realtors. You and others will be invited to see the home during the same time period. Realtors use open houses to get home shoppers to compete with each other.
Take your time while inspecting the property. Look at the home’s structure, landscaping, and amenities. A thorough home inspection will let you know if the home is suitable for you and your family.

Examine the Surrounding Area

Concentrate on buying a home in an area with rising property values. Homes located near hospitals, shopping malls, and schools normally increase in market value over time. This will increase your home’s equity.

Move-In or Fixer-Upper?

You need to determine if the house is ready to move in or if it’s a fixer-upper. A move-in house does not need any cosmetic work. It is ready for you to move in as is. A fixer-upper requires minimal to major cosmetic work, such as re-painting, repairing minor damages to wood floors, fixing roof gutter and electrical systems, etc. Unlike the seller of a move-in home, a fixer-upper seller will be easier to negotiate with.

Terms of the Payment

Does the seller want full payment? Is the seller willing to take most of their money upfront and create a second mortgage? A second mortgage allows you to pay the remaining balance owed to the seller in the form of monthly payments. You should consider dealing with a home seller that is willing to accept a second mortgage if your lender will not provide the full amount for the purchase.

Go With Your Instincts

Your instincts will let you know if you are looking at the right home. Relying upon your instincts will help you make the right decision. You should also determine how the home will be used. Will it serve as a primary residence or a vacation home? It would be a grave mistake for you to ignore your instincts!
Buying a home will be one of the most important decisions that you will make in your life. Using the eight pointers listed above will help you buy the home of your dreams with ease.
Featured photo credit: Christian Koch via unsplash.com

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Buying A Home? Here are 8 Things You Should Consider

Photo credit lifehack.org

Buying a new home is always an exciting project. Our experience closely matches the experiences of almost every single family we’ve encountered over the years. During our forays into the real estate market, we’ve heard not only many horror stories, but also many stories of the wonderful little things some home sellers and real estate agents have done.
To be fair, I believe that many of the ugly awakenings that arise after purchase of a home are not necessarily the fault of dishonest sellers or disinterested agents. Most homeowners are honest hard-working people, and most will already have poured a lot of money into their residence; money we can’t always see at first glance. But we’re all human. Sometimes even the most observant are blind to defects that to another person might leap out at them, and of course, vice versa.
When I mention things we should consider, I’m looking beyond a home inspection. We normally get a home inspection, but we should always remember that a typical home inspection can go only so far. Even an experienced home inspector cannot see behind the walls. Surface indications may only give him/her hints. Of course a competent inspector will get up and look at the roof, get down and check beneath the house for signs of termites or other deterioration. A good home inspector will probably check a lot of little details that may not have occurred to us.
But there are a few things we should do ourselves, and through our many years of having to move from time to time, we’ve learned to give particular notice to the following:

1. The floors

Of course they should be solid, but are they going to work for our needs? Are they hardwood? If so, what kind of floor maintenance does it need? Are they going to need frequent work or are they durable? Are they really wood, or just a laminate? Floors take a lot of beating over time, so it’s important to get down and make sure that our floor is going to be a good match for us.

 

2. The Walls

Carefully wander around giving close scrutiny to the walls. Any signs of patches? If patches are ever made for whatever reason, a professional will repair them in a way that we’ll never know. If we can see the patch, it was done in some DIY fix and we may find out to our regret one day why that repair was put there in the first place. Check with the seller on these things.

3. Insulation and AC

Today nearly every home has air conditioning. Or has it? We’ve encountered some very nice homes, and although the furnace and blower were upstairs or even in the attic, we found to our dismay that with the air on, the first floor was just perfect while the upstair rooms remained suffocating. The best is of course, to have separate air conditioners for the upstairs and downstairs, but that isn’t always possible.

4. The Windows

We’ve learned to make certain all the windows open, close and lock properly. They should be double pane as well, although in some older homes, we may accept the single pane window.

5. Plumbing system

It pays to get down and carefully examine the floor around the toilet. The slightest sign of leakage can be a warning of ongoing problems. Not a big fix, but still not something you want to walk into with your eyes closed. You may probably need a help from a plumbing expert before it will become worse.

6. Appliances

Appliances should be checked. I don’t mean just to turn them on and see if they light up. Many appliances, be it a range, refrigerator, microwave or whatever, turn off and on, but do all their particular functions work properly? This can take a little time, but dealing with any such problems later on will cost not only more time, but more money as well.

7. Its Layout

We should really give some thought to the floor plan of the house. Sometimes we don’t at first stop to consider this, but later on, will there be bottlenecks as a busy family scurries about the house in preparation for the new day? Can we open the refrigerator without bumping into the dishwasher? Can we open the bathroom door without slamming it into the toilet, or perhaps its current occupant?

8. And Its Exterior

We had the roof examined and also took the pain to have a licensed roofer give us a certificate certifying that the roof had at least five more years of useful life, but what about the overall exterior? I’m not talking about work we didn’t notice before, but about the general color scheme and landscaping? Are we going to be satisfied with these for some time or is repainting the house going to be job number one? Are we happy with the landscaping? Can we live with it for a few years?
These are only eight of the many considerations we’ve encountered over the years when we’ve had to go out and look for a new home. A home is a major purchase and aside from that, unless we’re buying rentals or something, we have to live in it. Being comfortable and satisfied is what owning a home is all about.

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8 Delicious Flower Cupcakes: Both Delicious and Beautiful

 Photo credit gono.net

With flower cupcakes, you can make a tasty delight look pretty as well. Numerous bakeries ensure that they create the beautiful designs using either creams or fondants. At the same time, they are available in different variety to ensure that the taste requirements of anyone can be met without any hassle. Let us check out, how we can use such cupcakes:
• You can use flower cupcakes as gifts to your special someone to celebrate a particular occasion, like birthday or anniversary. A box full of such cupcakes is as good as sending them a bouquet and chocolates.
• You can even use flower cupcakes as centerpiece during family dinner or any holiday dinner. From the conventional desserts, you go different with cupcakes, it also has that unique taste, which makes the guests, and family members present there to be delighted with the experience. They are also affordable for the host’s pocket.
• People even opt for flower cupcakes as giveaways during different promotions to their audiences present at live events. It is an easiest and affordable way of getting into the mind of your audiences.
As you can see, there are different uses for flower cupcakes. Order your batch today and make use of one of those benefits.
Source Lea & Jay
Source Martha Stewart
Source Bobbies Baking
Source The Baking Sheet
Source Sugarplum Cupcakes

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4 Ways to be Supportive When Addiction Hits Close to Home

Drug addictions and substance abuse are rampant in today’s society – and it’s no longer something that only impoverished and crime-ridden communities deal with. From siblings and friends to coworkers and teammates, we’re all exposed to people with addiction on a daily basis and it’s imperative that we understand how to be supportive.

If you’ve been dealing with someone who suffers from an addiction, then you know how all-encompassing their behavior can be.

“When an individual is struggling with addiction, families also bear the consequences of the disease,” American Addiction Centers explains. “As a result, families often experience a poor quality of life financially, psychologically and spiritually, and take on enabling and/or codependent behavior.”

That’s why you have to step in and take action. It’s not just one person being affected – it’s a whole group of people. Here are a few practical ways you can be supportive.

1. Educate Yourself

Most of us are wholly uneducated when it comes to addiction. This isn’t anything to feel embarrassed about, but simply means you haven’t had much experience with the issue in your own life. Well, before you confront and offer your support to a loved one, it’s important that you educate yourself and learn everything you can about the science behind addiction.
The biggest thing you need to understand is that addiction isn’t voluntary. Sure, people make stupid mistakes that put themselves in compromising situations, but addiction physically reconstructs the brain and hardwires individuals to behave in certain ways. Once you truly understand this, you’ll begin to see your loved one differently.

2. Offer Genuine Support

There are two types of support: compulsory support and genuine support. Compulsory support is the type of support that people offer when they feel like they have to say or do something. For example, if you catch your friend in the act of using drugs, then you feel like you have to say something to them.
Genuine support, on the other hand, is the type of support that comes from the heart. Genuine support is the overflow of your own personal convictions and your love for the affected individual. While it may not seem much different from your perspective, addicts can feel the difference between compulsory and genuine support – and are much likelier to respond to the latter.

3. Be Consistent (But Not Overbearing)

You can’t expect an addict to drop what they’re doing and commit to sobriety after one conversation. If you’ve done a good job of educating yourself on the science of addiction, you know this is true.
With that being said, the key to supporting a loved one in their bout with addiction is to be consistent without being overbearing. This means regularly having conversations with them while knowing when to back away and give them space.

4. Support the Recovery Process

After getting a loved one to attend a recovery program, it can feel like your job is finished. Unfortunately, it’s not. Recovery is an ongoing process and you must stand with them every step of the way.

“Once your friend or family member is receiving treatment, or going to meetings, remain involved,” explains the National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. “While maintaining your own commitment to getting help for yourself, continue to support their participation in ongoing care, meetings and recovery support groups. Continue to show that you are concerned about their successful long-term recovery.”

Addiction is Hard on Everyone

While it’s easy to abandon and remove yourself from the situation, remember that addiction is a very real disease and must be treated as such. You owe it to your loved one to support them through their addiction.
Featured photo credit: Lifehack.org via media.lifehack.org

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What! A Black Burger From Burger King? You’ve heard right!

Photo credit gono.net

This is somehow so new for us especially Japanese people. We all know we eat same old burger everyday- the same color the same taste. That’s why Burger King Japan has taken a big step in improving the traditional burger into something new and that is “Black Burger Colored With Bamboo Charcoal And Squid Ink.” As you might know Japan is so talent when it comes to good food so this change or improvement would be a new success a long the road.
I don’t know about you guy, but I really want to try one!

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5 Ways to Cure Anxiety and Depression Naturally

Anxiety affects 18 percent of Americans. If you’re female, you’re 60 percent more likely to develop an anxiety disorder.
Even though younger adults are more stressed because they’re under pressure from performing well at school or getting used to their careers, the age bracket with the most clinical anxiety is between 30 to 44 years old. Anti-anxiety pharmaceuticals can carry harmful side effects, but natural anti-anxiety remedies can be effective while also being holistically healthy for you.

Mainstream Medications and Their Problems

Your doctor may diagnose you with an anxiety disorder if you experience any of the following symptoms for longer than a month:

• Feeling restless all the time
• Tiring easily
• Having trouble concentrating or focusing
• Becoming easily irritated
• Muscle tension
• Trouble sleeping
• Episodes of suddenly becoming extremely afraid without any immediate reason
• Feeling stressed around others so much so that you avoid places you know many people will be

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the common medications for anxiety disorders are benzodiazepines, like Clonazepam, Lorazepam, and Alprazolam, which have all been approved by the FDA.
Alprazolam, which you may know as Xanax, binds to receptors in your brain that affect your sleep, muscle relaxation, and safeguards against muscle convulsions.
Despite Alprazolam’s effectiveness, it also poses significant risks. Some common side effects are clumsiness, depression, lethargy, difficulty concentrating, and muscle coordination loss. The uncommon and worse side effects include coughing, eye paralysis, memory problems, painful urination, and seizures! If you take the drug long-term, you could also experience a lowered sex drive, erectile dysfunction (in men), constipation, and weight loss. In fact, last year researchers linked long-term use of Alprazolam with the development of dementia!
It doesn’t stop there – taking Alprazolam while you’re pregnant can harm your baby because the drug can cross the placenta and permanently weaken your baby’s developing muscles. When your baby is born, Alprazolam also gets into your breast milk and is ingested by your newborn during breastfeeding, which can harm your newborn’s developing respiratory system.

5 Healthy Natural Alternatives

If you want to avoid the potentially devastating side effects of common anti-anxiety drugs, you can try these natural remedies. Always remember to do further research and check with your doctor before taking any medications.

1. Garcinia Cambogia

You’ve probably heard the famous Dr. Oz flaunt how garcinia cambogia can burn your fat. Researchers have also found it may help ease anxiety. Its hydroxycitric acid (HCA) content has been found to boost your serotonin levels. Since low serotonin levels can cause anxiety, taking garcinia cambogia may help treat your anxiety.
It’s best to eat the natural fruit rather than take HCA supplements. Garcinia cambogia supplements can cause serotonin toxicity, which can lead to rapid beating of the heart and high blood pressure because the amount of HCA is more concentrated than that of the actual fruit.
The well-documented side effects of taking garcinia cambogia supplements are mild headaches, dizziness, and diarrhea. But these are associated with the supplements and not the actual fruit. If you stick to the natural fruit, there may be little to no risk of any side effects.
Almost all fruits are loaded with antioxidants, and garcinia cambogia is no exception. Its xanthones, benzophenones, and flavonoids have antioxidant properties, including lowering your overall inflammation. Abnormally low antioxidants levels have been found to cause dementia, so regularly eating antioxidant-rich foods may help protect your brain. Garcinia cambogia’s antioxidants have also been found to protect you from cancer.

2. Dogbane

Dogbane (formally named Apocynum cannabinum) is a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Native American remedies. It’s actually a poison that acts on the heart, but it’s mostly fatal to grazing livestock. For people, the plant was actually used as a heart stimulant.
It’s used to alleviate fevers, rheumatism, asthma, and many other ailments. Researchers also found it has mild dementia-preventing properties. It also has anti-anxiety properties because it produces a small amount of morphine and is a mild opioid.
Don’t take dogbane regularly unless directed by your doctor or a certified alternative health practitioner. Its toxic properties can harm you if taken without professional guidance.

3. Probiotic-rich Foods

Scientists have discovered that probiotics are beneficial for more than just your tummy. Doctors have found that probiotics can also help alleviate anxiety. In a survey of college psychology students, it was found that students prone to high anxiety who ate more probiotic-rich foods experienced fewer social anxiety symptoms.
Remember that probiotics’ well-known health benefit is alleviating gastrointestinal symptoms, like upset stomachs and diarrhea? Psychology professor Matthew Hillmire, Ph.D., says that since anxiety is often accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms (like butterflies in your tummy before giving a big speech), probiotics help directly alleviate some of anxiety’s physical symptoms.
He also says that probiotics have been found to help your body respond to stress better, which also helps ease anxiety. How well your body responds to stress affects how susceptible you are to anxiety and other mental disorders.
You can take probiotic supplements or eat probiotic-rich foods, like yogurt and buttermilk.

4. Tryptophan-rich Foods

Just like garcinia cambogia’s HCA, tryptophan raises your body’s serotonin levels, which is one way it protects you from anxiety. Studies also show that directly ingesting tryptophan lowered participants’ bad behaviors and boosted their moods. They also found that tryptophan is an “effective antidepressant.”
Where can you get your tryptophan? You might automatically think turkey, but plenty of common foods contain twice the amount or more tryptophan than turkey. A serving of light or dark-meat turkey has between 250 to 270 milligrams of tryptophan, but a serving of spinach or eggs has between 600 to 700 milligrams.

5. Exercise

Would you rather take a potentially dementia-causing pill or go for a nice, relaxing walk? Researchers have found that exercise has antidepressant and anxiety-relieving effects. They also found that exercise boosts your brain’s serotonin levels and boosts your tryptophan levels long after you’ve finished your workout.
In fact, the U.K.’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published a physician’s depression treatment guide that recommends telling patients with mild clinical depression to exercise rather than prescribe antidepressants.
Does it work? Here’s a convincing case study:
Sixty-four social anxiety college patients stared at a dotted outline of a person. The researchers said that people suffering from social anxiety would think the outline is facing them and perceive it as a threat. After walking or jogging on a treadmill for 10 minutes, the participants perceived the outline as staring at them less and their anxiety levels dropped down to the same levels as that of an average person. In fact, they felt far less threatened by their environment in general!
If you’re suffering from anxiety or depression, conventional anti-anxiety medications are costly and can have serious side effects, like dementia, if taken long term. Some of these natural remedies cost less than a dollar a day and not only help treat anxiety and depression, but some help prevent dementia and cancer too! Plus, they’re good for your overall health. If you give them a try and they don’t work for you, simply go back to your previous medications!
Featured photo credit: HASTYWORDS via pixabay.com

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8 Delicious Drinks That Can Melt Your Fat Away

 

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here are many reasons that we gain weight.It’s an insecurity for a lot of us, and sometimes even when we cut our calories we still can’t manage to drop those last few pounds. Now that summer is unfortunately coming to an end, it’s often harder to stay on top of a healthy diet and stay in a workout routine. There are a lot of smoothies and drinks out there claiming to help you shed pounds. It’s hard to decipher which ones actually work or not. So to cut down your research time, I’ve done all the trial and errors for you. Below I’ve listed some drinks that can help rev up your metabolism and can teach you how to lose weight easily. Losing weight should be fun and your drinks should be too.

1. Green Tea

• Bring 8 oz of water to a boil
• soak 2 green tea bags for 3-5 minutes
• take mint, lemon and honey to add flavor

This is a drink that you can drink hot or cold. If you drink it cold, I recommend putting the mint in ice cubes. I like drinking this first thing in the morning because it boosts your metabolism and is a healthy way to start the day.

 

2. Dark Chocolate Smoothie

• 1 mango, peeled and pitted
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 3 cups baby spinach
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds, soaked for 5 minutes
• 2 tablespoons cacao powder
• 8 ounces of homemade almond milk
• 1 teaspoon of honey, agave or maple syrup (optional, to add more sweetness if desired)

1. Start by adding the liquid to your blender
2. Add the soft fruit
3. Lastly, add the greens to your blender last.
4. Blend on high for 30 seconds or until the smoothie is creamy.

I recommend this smoothie as a breakfast meal replacement.

3. Super Energy Smoothie

• 2 pints pineapple
• 2 pints watermelon
• 2 quarts coconut water
• 1 bunch spinach
• 1-2 cups blueberries
• 2 green apples

Blend all of the ingredients together in a blender. You can store or freeze extra smoothies to drink later.

4. Black Coffee

Drinking black coffee can speed up your metabolism by almost 10 percent. It’s the caffeine that gives metabolism a boost by revving bodily functions. I recommend black coffee first thing in the morning, or right before a workout. To add some flavor without the calories you can add a pinch or two of cinnamon.

5. Mango Green Smoothie

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup frozen mango chunks
• 1 cup spinach
• 1/2 medium avocado
• 1 cup almond milk
• splash vanilla extract

Combine all the ingredients in a blender and enjoy!

6. Swimsuit Slimdown Drink

• 1 cup of grapefruit, orange or pineapple juice
• 2 tsp of apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp honey

Combine all these ingredients and drink before each meal. This concoction breaks down fat cells quickly.

7. Spinach & Avocado Smoothie

• 1 avocado, pitted
• 1 cup fresh spinach
• 1 large ripe banana
• 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter
• 1 cup milk
• Handful of ice cubes

Combine all these ingredients into a blender and serve!

8. Nutella Coconut Chia Seed Smoothie

• 1 cup almond milk
• 1/6 cup chia seeds
• 1/8 cup shredded coconut
• 1 tablespoon Nutella
• 1/4 tablespoon vanilla
• Handful of raspberries
• 1 banana
• Ice

1. Set out Nutella until it’s at room temperature.
2. Combine Nutella, almond milk, chia seeds, coconut and vanilla.
3. Shake vigorously in a Mason jar or container.
4. Refrigerate for at least four hours.
5. Add coconut.
6. Using a blender, combine the above with raspberries, banana and ice.
7. Mix and enjoy!

How to lose weight easily

There are many smoothies, detox waters and teas you can drink that will promote weightless. These six drinks will jump start any weight loss routine, or help you lose those last few stubborn pounds. It’s important to remember that losing weight is not a race, it is a journey. You have to remember to not get discouraged if you’re not seeing the results right away. Each of the above recipes either has one or more ingredients that speeds up your metabolism. In conjunction with a well balanced diet and workout routine, you’ll have no problem dropping those pounds when adding in these drinks.

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Is Your Swollen Stomach Belly Fat Or Bloating? 4 Questions To Find The Answer

 

 Photo credit lifehack,org

For those of you who have ever suffered from a swollen stomach, you will be aware that this can be an uncomfortable and emotionally distressing experience. What you may not know is the root cause of this. While many believe that it occurs as the result of excess belly fat, it may actually be the manifestation of bloating.
It is important to distinguish between these two issues, as both have entirely different triggers and are indicative of potentially diverse health problems. A lack of knowledge and understanding may also cause you to use the wrong approach to deal with the problem, which could exacerbate the issue and the symptoms you are forced to manage.

How Can you Tell the Difference Between Belly Fat and Bloating?

When presented with a swollen stomach, the first step is to monitor your symptoms to determine what is the most likely cause. This can enable you to make an informed decision on how you deal with the problem, ensuring that you pursue suitable courses of treatment that deliver the desired result.
With this in mind, here are four important considerations when attempting to distinguish between belly fat and bloating:

1. Is the Swelling Localized or Widespread?

To begin with, examine your stomach visually. Is the swelling localised, or can you identify bulges in other places on your body? If you answer yes to the former, you are most likely suffering from bloating that has targeted the stomach and the abdominal regions. If you notice additional bulges elsewhere and particularly on the thighs, hips and buttocks, however, you are probably carrying excess fat.

2. Is Your Swollen Stomach Firm or Spongy?

At this point, take the time to press your stomach and focus specifically on the most pronounced areas of swelling. As a general rule, stomach fat will feel spongy and malleable when pressure is applied, whereas bloating usually makes your abdomen appear tight and noticeably firm. As a result of this, anyone who can grasp more than an inch of your stomach, it is probably carrying excess fat.

3. Is the Swelling Constant or Intermittent?

The duration of your swelling is also a key indicator of the root cause, as fat cells build up over time and are likely to remain constantly. In contrast, bloating occurs in intermittent periods, meaning that the shape of your stomach may fluctuate throughout the course of each day.

4. Is the Swelling Painful?

On a final note, it is important to check whether or not the swelling is accompanied by pain. After all, bloating is almost always a painful experience to some degree or another, whereas excess fat is not known to cause any physical discomfort. The presence of excess gas is also a symptom of bloating, particularly if it coincides with the expansion of your stomach.

How Can you Deal with a Bloated Stomach?

Establishing your precise symptoms should offer a clear indication into the root cause of your swollen stomach, and at this stage, you can begin to plot a clear course of action. This is crucial, as the failure to distinguish between fat and a bloated stomach causes many to categorise swelling as a trivial and unimportant problem that only impacts on their physical appearance.
This is a significant oversight, as a bloated stomach may also be indicative of a serious health concern known as dysbiosis. This refers to an imbalance that exists between good and bad bacteria within your stomach, where unhealthy and unnatural organisms such as yeast and protozoa become prominent in the intestines and alter the bodies fundamental nutrition patterns.
This imbalance, which hinders the growth of the 400 organisms that are naturally found in the stomach, can cause a multitude of health complaints in addition to bloating (including indigestion, diarrhoea, nausea, iron deficiency, stomach infestations, fatigue and even skin conditions).
So if you have determined that your stomach is bloated rather than covered in excess fat, here are some initial steps you can take to manage this problem:

1. Stay Hydrated At All Times

Let’s start with the basics, as when you are not drinking enough fluids, your body automatically retains water to prevent dehydration. So, by maximising your fluid intake and drinking at least six, eight-ounce glasses of liquid each day, you can remain hydrated and prevent the retention of water. Just be selective about the drinks that you consume, with the best bet being to focus on water and avoid sugary or artificially flavoured drinks.

2. Consume Largely High-Protein Meals

Similarly, high-protein meals can also reduce water retention and alleviate the symptoms of bloating. This is because such diets promote the elimination of fluids through urine, helping tissues to dry out over time. This is particularly effective for women, who are most likely to suffer from water retention and subsequent bloating.

3. Reduce your Carbohydrate Intake

In case you weren’t aware, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains the most common digestive disorder in the world, affecting an estimated 14% of the global population (most of whom are undiagnosed). Bloating is a common symptom of this ailment, but even if you are not suffering from IBS, this conditions may offer an insight into the root cause of your problem.
More specifically, indigestible carbohydrates known as FODMAPS are known to drastically increase stomach bloating and exacerbate the symptoms of IBS, so reducing or at least modifying your carb intake can lead to a dramatic improvement in your condition over time.

What if You are Suffering from Belly Fat?

For those of you who find that they are simply carrying excess belly fat, here are some tips and techniques that can help you to trim this and restore a healthier physical form:

1. Avoid Refined Sugar and Simple Carbs

Interestingly, those carrying excess belly fat should also look to manage their carbohydrate intake carefully. Avoiding ‘simple’ carbs that are loaded with fat is a good starting point, as it eliminating the type of refined sugar found in chocolate, sweets and so-called energy drinks.

2. Create a Protein and Fibre Rich Body

The cultivation of a protein and fibre rich body can also help to reduce stomach fat over time. Protein is known to reduce unhealthy food cravings by 60%, for example, while also boosting metabolism by between 80 and 100 calories. A diet containing soluble and viscous fibres also triggers a slower and more effective digestion process, making you feel fuller for longer and maintaining a reduced, natural appetite.
Just remember that fibres are similar to carbohydrates in terms of their complexity, so you will need to determine which ingredients are the most conducive to fat and weight loss.

3. Combine Diet with Exercise

When looking to trim body fat, exercise is a key consideration. This should be aligned with diet to achieve the optimal results, although it is important to strike the ideal balance between cardiovascular and muscle work-outs. Performing abdominal exercises alone is not enough to reduce belly fat, as you must engage in high-intensity activity to burn the fat and reduce the circumference of your weight.

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Hernias: Types, Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

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If an internal body part pushes itself into an area where it does not belong, then it is called a hernia. For instance, the intestine parts may break through a weak area in the abdominal wall.
Hernias commonly happens in the abdomen, but it can also appear in the belly button, upper thigh, and groin areas. Most hernias are not life threatening, but they do not go away on their own and require surgery in order to prevent potentially dangerous complications. In this article, we will share with various symptoms, causes, and treatments of this painful disease.

What are the main types of hernias?

1. Inguinal
It is the most common type of hernia and it occurs when any part of bowel squeezes through the lower abdomen and into the groin.
2. Hiatus
It occurs when part of the stomach pushes up into the chest through an opening in the diaphragm.
3. Femoral
This type of hernia happens when any fatty tissue or any part of bowel pushes through into groin at the top of inner thigh.
4. Incisional
It occurs when any tissue pushes through a surgical wound in the abdomen that has not healed completely.
5. Umbilical
When fatty tissues or any part of bowel pushes through abdomen close to the navel.
6. Epigastric
It’s when fatty tissue pushes through abdomen between breastbone (sternum) and belly button.
7. Spigelian
This happens when part of bowel pushes through the abdomen by stomach muscles below the belly button.
8. Muscle
It happens when part of muscle pushes through the abdomen sometimes after a sports injury.

 

What are the symptoms of a hernia?

Generally, a hernia can easily be felt or seen on your body. Some other important symptoms of hernias comprise of:

• Pain when exercising
• Constipation
• An uncomfortable feeling in the gut
• The lump gets smaller when you lie down
• The lump gets bigger when you cough

You can also gently press on hernia to make sure that it’s not a non-reducible hernia. After that, watch out for symptoms which will suggest that yours has become strangulated:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Severe pain

If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor as soon as possible. In many cases, surgery is needed to remove it completely. If it’s not treated immediately, it may increase the risk of gangrene.

What are the causes of a hernia?

The real cause of some types of hernias can’t be pinpointed, but many types of hernias are due to any comparatively weak spot in the abdominal wall, increased pressure within the abdomen, or a combination of these two.
In adults, hernias commonly develop in pregnant women and obese people due to the increased pressure on the abdominal wall.
In men, the hernia will commonly develop in the groin, specifically in a region called the inguinal canal. This is where the blood vessels to the testicles and spermatic cord pass out of the abdominal cavity and into the scrotum. Weak abdominal tissues can allow the bowel loop to pass-out of the abdomen through the spermatic cord path or between the opening into the pubic bone and inguinal canal.
Generally, umbilical hernias are present at birth. Adults may develop this when there is a weakness in tissue in the umbilical area along with increased pressure on the wall of abdominal.

How can we diagnose a hernia?

Hernia diagnosis is usually simple- your doctor can see it and feel it easily. Your doctor may also ask you to cough or to bend or move.
In order to visualize the problem, the doctor can also arrange a bio-imaging test, such as a (computerized tomography) scan or an ultrasound scan.

What are the treatments for a hernia?

For a normal hernia without any symptoms, a usual course-of-action is to watch and wait. But, it can be hazardous for certain types of hernias, like femoral hernias. There are various ways to cure a hernia, but a hernia cure without surgery is one of the best ways to get rid of this disease. Here are two popular ways to cure this ailment:
1. Lifestyle changes
Some dietary changes can usually treat the symptoms of a hernia. You should avoid heavy or large meals, keep your body weight in a healthy range, and do not bend over or lie down after a meal.
Besides, you can improve symptoms by avoiding foods that cause heartburn or acid reflux, such as tomato-based foods and spicy foods. In addition to this, you can avoid reflux by giving up cigarettes and losing weight. If changes in your diet do not eliminate discomfort, you may need medication and surgery to correct a hernia.
2. Surgery
Nowadays, hernias are removed from the body with the help of surgery. Although the surgical option of hernia removal depends on individual circumstances, including its location, there are mainly two types of surgical intervention:

1. Open surgery
2. Laparoscopic operation (keyhole surgery)

Open surgery needs longer recovery process and you may be unable to move around normally for up to 6-9 weeks. Whereas laparoscopic surgery has a shorter recovery period. However, the hernia recurrence risk is higher in a laparoscopic operation.

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