Category Archives: ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

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The Dos & Don’ts When You’re Trying To Lose Weight

The Dos & Don’ts When You’re Trying To Lose Weight

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Losing weight isn’t an easy feat, but then, if it were, no one would be overweight. Unfortunately, there is also no one-size-fits-all solution for those who want to lose a few extra pounds, as everyone is different and everyone’s body burns off fat differently.

However, there are a few general rules that everyone should follow when they’re trying to lose weight. Here they are for you to consider.

Don’t Starve Yourself

The first and possibly most important piece of advice for anyone trying to lose weight is to never starve yourself. Not only is this incredibly unhealthy and could lead to anorexia, but it also isn’t a successful way to lose fat. In fact, your body will try to store more fat than it’s burning, and you’ll lose muscle instead. You will also likely start overeating at some point and will put on even more weight than you initially lost. Additionally, consider incorporating supplements into your daily routine to support your weight loss goals. You know that these female fat burners are good for assisting in shredding fat, boosting metabolism, reducing cravings, and combating fatigue, when taken in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Do Create A Meal Plan

Instead of starving yourself, make an effort to eat foods that are healthy and full of nutrients, rather than fat and sugar. Creating a meal plan will help with this, as you’ll know what you’re supposed to be eating for each meal, so won’t just order a takeaway or buy a microwave meal on a whim.

Don’t Expect A Quick Fix

There is no quick fix for losing weight, so don’t look for one. Despite what the internet may say, there is no magic pill that will fix all of your problems. Liposuction won’t work either, as it is meant to contour the body after weight loss, rather than remove large amounts of fat. Just look at some liposuction videos, if you don’t believe me. Losing weight is a long game, I’m afraid.

Do Drink Lots Of Water

It’s important that you drink enough water each day for good health, but if you’re trying to lose weight, it’s even more important. This is because it is necessary for metabolism to occur, which burns calories and fat. It also helps you to feel full, so you don’t feel the need to eat as much.

Don’t Cut Out Foods

If you want to eat healthily and lose fat, the last thing that you should do is deny yourself the odd doughnut here and there. Trust me, having an unhealthy snack once in a blue moon isn’t going to ruin your weight loss, but not having one could, as you’ll just crave unhealthy foods more and more.

Do Have Will Power

Unfortunately, once you’ve had one unhealthy snack, you might want another one, so you’re going to have to stop yourself. Don’t start thinking that it’s okay to have two slices of cake just because you’ve had one, because, before you know it, you’ll have had the whole thing to yourself. You can treat yourself, but you can’t overindulge.

Losing weight is difficult, and it’s different for everyone. However, as long as you follow these general rules, you should find it a lot easier to shed your fat and lose a few pounds.

​Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on TwitterTikTok, or Instagram.

A Pain In The Neck: How To Treat Neck Pain

A Pain In The Neck: How To Treat Neck Pain

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Neck pain can occur due to a variety of reasons. It could be strain from staring down at a computer or an injury as the result in whiplash. In both cases, it can be aggravating, and in serious cases debilitating. Here are a few of the steps worth taking to help treat neck pain.

 

See a doctor

 

You don’t need to see a doctor if it’s a simple strain, but if it’s pain as a result of an injury, your first step should always be to get checked out. The pain could be muscular or spinal pain in some cases, which may need specialised treatment. Doctors may also be able to recommend activities worth avoiding such as driving or sports, as well as medication and stretches.

 

Know your legal rights

 

Neck pain can often be caused by whiplash. This may be the fault of someone else, which could mean that you’re entitled to compensation. Its worth seeking out legal advice to if you’ve got a case. Compensation could help pay for your recovery or help fund you if you’ve been signed off work (i.e. you may not be able to perform a driving job with a neck injury).

 

Consider alternative medicine

 

Certain forms of alternative therapy such as chiropractic and acupuncture work for some people with neck pain. Even a regular massage could help to ease chronic neck pain. Look into different forms of therapy and see what works for you.

 

Use hot and cold methods

 

The heat and the cool can both be effective methods against neck pain. When it’s an injury, you may want to use cold methods within 48 hours of the incident to reduce swelling. This could involve applying an ice pack to the affected area or a bag of frozen vegetables. For chronic pain or for injuries after two days, hot methods are generally better at combating inflammation by helping the muscles to relax. This could include applying a heated towel on the injury or taking a long hot bath.

 

Stretch it out

 

Various stretches can help to ease pain. These are best recommended by a doctor or physical therapist. Physical activities such as yoga and Pilates are great for helping neck pain too – your instructor should be able to recommend stretches based on your pain. Try to avoid any stretches that are instructed against as these might make your injury or pain worse.

 

Buy a firm pillow

A regular pillow could aggravate neck pain. It could be worth buying an orthopaedic pillow that makes lying down more comfortable. When travelling you may also want to buy a travel pillow to help support your neck. In the case of an injury, a physical therapist may be able to make recommendations.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

How to Create a Kid-Friendly Bathroom

By Guest Blogger, Derek L.

How to Create a Kid-Friendly Bathroom

They will all tell you how beautiful it is when your little one says his first word or makes his first steps. But none of them will tell you about the horror of the darkest thoughts that will go through your head and about all that mess that waits for you to clean it up after that little one decides he no longer wants to go pee-pee with his mom, but all by himself – as the true big boy that he is. And speaking of big boys, why did you place that toilet seat so high, so he cannot climb it? And what is a little pee stain compared to the fact your child is now practically an adult? Jokes aside, there are some things that need to be done in order to save both your child and yourself from a lot of potential trouble.

Floors

Floors in a child-proof bathroom should be non-slip. In other words, opt for tiles that are small and rough (anti-slip) in order to eliminate the risk of your little loved one falling down and hurting himself. And if he still isn’t walking quite steadily, a great idea is to incorporate those non-slip mats as well. Finally, after every shower session, make sure every adult family member wipes off all the water puddles.

Fittings

Adult skin is a lot thicker than a child’s skin. And this is why you have to protect your child’s skin from getting burned with hot water. You will do this by incorporating those safe bath tub, sink and bidet thermostat fittings that can only reach a certain water temperature, and select valves with scalding protection. This way, those little hands will definitely remain protected against the heat.

Finishing

Avoid those pointy ceramics for your bathroom at all costs. In fact, you should rather opt for elegant and soft-edged bathroom supplies without any sharp corners that may hurt your child. Next, make sure that all glass areas are well secured. Also, you are more than welcome to install those invisible drawer handles and lockable cupboards that will prevent your child from grabbing the razor, a pair of scissors or a chemical product (which should, by the way, be kept as far away from them as possible – ideally, completely out of their sight and reach).

Space

If you simply aren’t blessed with a big and spacious bathroom, make sure it is always 100 percent decluttered. Use every inch of your bathroom space wisely, so it will both be aesthetically more pleasing, and safer for your child. And if, on the other hand, you do have a large bathroom, you have the luxury to install a large bathtub or shower that will allow several little ones to bathe at the same time, which is both time and money saving.

Levels

Try looking at your bathroom through your child’s eyes (and height). He will definitely need some help reaching the wash basin, so you might want to install a sturdy step-ladder in front of it. Next, keep storage levels on no more than one meter, so it is easily accessible to them as well. Install a showerhead with an adjustable height, so it fits you all. Smart showerheads are a huge trend right now. Finally, note that children quite enjoy seeing themselves in the mirror, so make sure yours is at the appropriate height.

Handling

The harsh truth is that bathroom items are made with only adults in mind – so your child’s little hands may find it quite difficult to use them. So when you go shopping for bathroom furniture, look at it through your children’s eyes. Go with easy-to-open shower doors, choose hooks instead of towel holders, invest in a solid shower caddy, etc.

Fun bathing

It is not always all about safety. What you should also do is to make this a fun experience for your little one. Let him play with his rubber and plastic toys during bath time, invest in a couple of colorful and fun accessories, as well as educational bath toys, have fun with color and maybe even consider putting a cartoon wallpaper to liven the space up a little bit.

Bathrooms can be a dangerous space for kids. And when the time comes when they can use it themselves, do your best to protect them.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram. 

Knowing Who to Contact When Your Health Takes a Turn for the Worse

Knowing Who to Contact When Your Health Takes a Turn for the Worse

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Even as children, we are taught that when problems arise with our health or the health of others around us, it’s absolutely essential to seek help. But no matter our age, it can still remain difficult to determine who to call for the best advice or treatment. For those who often find themselves wavering when it comes to making the decision, here’s a quick recap on who you need to contact when health takes a turn for the worse.

 

Emergencies

 

Let’s start with the area that people tend to have the most confusion: emergencies. People know less about emergency health procedure because they generally have less experience with it. We may know to call emergency services if something major happens (severe bleeding, heart attacks, or unconsciousness for example), but if there’s isn’t significant and obvious visual evidence of someone’s life-threatening state, many of us will hesitate. We don’t want to call emergency services unnecessarily and waste their precious time that may be needed by someone else. Generally, it’s best to remember that heavy bleeding, difficulties breathing, serious headaches, broken bones, and incapacitation are all extremely valid reasons to report an emergency. If you are unsure, it’s better to be safe than sorry and call to find out. The operator will guide you through what to do until professional paramedics or links air evac arrive.

 

Check-Ups

 

If you notice any minor change in your health or body in general, it’s best to contact your doctor at the surgery you’re registered with. While the care isn’t as urgent as in critical cases, you should be able to get an appointment on any given day the surgery is open. Just because your problem isn’t debilitating, doesn’t mean you should put it off until it becomes serious. The better it is seen to, the better. Not only will these doctors have your entire previous medical record (giving them a better understanding of you as an individual), but they will be able to deal with the majority of common complaints that people have. If not, they will be able to refer you on to other specialists if your condition needs further investigation and treatment.

 

Medication

 

If you have concerns regarding your medication, how to take it, when it to take, or how much of it to take, you should seek the help of a pharmacist. Generally, your pharmacist will offer succinct advice when handing over the medication, but many people feel hesitant to ask any further questions. They take their products and walk away, inputting their questions into search engines once their home. This is inadvisable. After all, anyone can say anything they please online. A registered and trained pharmacist will be able to give you straightforward answers to anything you may need to know, and you needn’t doubt their advice.

 

These are just a few situations where you really need to know standard protocol and who to contact. The more aware you are of who can help you, the sooner your problems can be seen to and rectified. So don’t delay!

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

Five Little-Known Risk Factors of Sinus Infections

Five Little-Known Risk Factors of Sinus Infections

If you fear the winter weather, and are expecting to spend a few weeks with a terrible sinus infection, you should think about the reasons why your body is reacting this way to bacteria and viruses. From immune disorders to environmental factors, there are several reasons why some people are more likely to suffer from a sinus infection than others. Below you will find five risk factors to consider.

Ill Handkerchief Flu Disease Allergy Cold Girl

via Max Pixel

  1. Smoking and Secondhand Smoke

When you smoke, your airways will need to face constant irritation. Your lung functions at a reduced capacity, and this means that less oxygen gets in your system. Your body will not be able to fight the virus and bacteria as well as it could if you were not smoking. At the same time, the toxins of the smoke  will damage the nasal cells. You will be more likely to get respiratory illnesses and sinusitis.

  1. Asthma

When you have asthma, you will not be able to breathe at full capacity with an infection. As a result, less air will be going through your sinus, and the natural cleansing will not work. Asthma sufferers are more likely to get an inflammation of the ear and the nasal airways, as well. You will have to consult with your healthcare provider to find out how you can prevent a sinus infection.

  1. Hay Fever

If you have hay fever, you will get blocked nose from dust and pollen. This will make the mucus in your sinuses build up, causing a serious infection. Inflamed and swollen airways can make you more prone to infections, and this means you will get sinusitis more often than other people. It is important that you take your antihistamines in cold season and when viruses and bacterial infections are around.

  1. Air Conditioning

Air conditioning can make your starting sinus or ear infection worse. If the air filter in your car, home, or workplace hasn’t been cleaned or changed recently, it might be time to check whether or not this causes the problem. Air conditioning can cause serious sinusitis and even temporary or permanent hearing loss if the infection spreads to your ears. Learn more about ear infections and hearing loss to avoid the most common causes.

  1. Autoimmune Diseases

Hands Girl Cold Hat Coat Frozen Face Cute

Image via Max Pixel

 

If you have any type of autoimmune disease, such as food intolerance, asthma, or diabetes, your body’s immune system will not be able to fight the infection. You might have to take antibiotics immediately to avoid serious complications, such as ear ache and infections. You need to be more careful when going out in cold weather, and wear hats and scarves every time. You need to remember that you are more vulnerable to infections and viruses than most people.

 

If you are wondering what makes you more vulnerable to sinus infections and other complications of common colds, your immune system or genetics might be to blame. At the same time, if you get fresh air regularly, and make your body adapt gradually to the change of temperature, check your air conditioning, you can prevent a few painful complications of cold, such as sinus infections.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.