Tag: Health

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Beauty Nutrition

Benefits Of Cocoa In Skincare

Cocoa is well known for being the primary ingredient in chocolate. Cocoa has been shown to not only be delicious but have many health benefits, for your body, brain and skin. Typically people access cacao’s benefits by eating it whether it be in the form of dark chocolate, cocoa powder, or any of the other many forms of cocoa. But maybe you’ve seen cocoa as an ingredient in a few skincare products. So can cocoa actually help our skin not only from the inside but also on the outside? Yes! Cocoa actually has many external benefits for the skin. 

For one cocoa is a very powerful antioxidant. This is because cocoa is high in a powerful antioxidant called flavonoids. Antioxidants can help the skin repair itself and reduce visible damage on skin such as acne scars. Cocoa is actually a more powerful antioxidant than green tea. 

Along with its powerful antioxidant properties, cocoa is also great for anti-aging and providing the skin with a youthful, glowy look. For one cocoa has been shown to reduce wrinkles, as well as this cocoa, can reduce the harm done by UV rays. This happens because cocoa contains theobromine. Theobromine helps increase blood flow to the skin’s surface. This is the same thing that happens to the skin when it is sunburnt in efforts to repair the damaged skin. As well as minimizing effects from UV damage the increased blood flow can also result in more glowing and young skin. 

But that’s not all, cocoa is also soothing and calming externally. A cocoa mask can help soothe irritated and damaged skin. Cocoa butter (a fat extracted from the cocoa bean) is also a great natural moisturizer. Cocoa butter is especially great for oily skin because it repairs the skin’s moisture barrier so that the skin will only produce as much oil as needed and not extra. Lastly, cocoa butter is easily absorbed and doesn’t leave the skin with a greasy film which is another bonus for people with oily skin.

The most popular and my favorite way to use cocoa on the skin is in a mask form, but as mentioned earlier cocoa butter is also a great way to use cocoa to benefit your skin. Also even though this article was mainly talking about the external benefits of cocoa you can still get all these benefits for eating dark chocolate. Yes, really dark chocolate is not only delicious but eating it can actually help you achieve radiant and healthy skin.

Categories
Movement

When Is The Best Time Of Day To Workout?

Everyone already knows exercising has many benefits. The question is when is the best time to exercise to get the full benefits. There have been many different opinions on when the best time to exercise is, which makes it hard to figure out which is actually the best.

Taking in every different factor here is actually the best time to work out for your health, sleep, schedule and more. 

Working out in the morning

Working out in the morning is the best time to burn fat. It can also get your day going by giving you a boost of energy and can actually make your day more productive and happy. 

Even if the idea of getting up early in the morning to workout sounds terrible, working out in the morning may actually be able to help. Studies have shown that working out around 7-8 am can actually shift your sleep schedule to get tired earlier in the evening and get up earlier in the morning. 

Lastly working out in the morning is a good way to ensure other activities won’t get in the way of your workout. I personally prefer working out in the morning so I can get it out of the way and wont have to worry about it the rest of the day. 

Really the only con of working out in the morning is just having to get up earlier. But if you can try to get yourself up a little earlier to squeeze in a workout you may have a better day!

Working out in the afternoon

If you can’t get yourself up for a morning workout an afternoon workout is not a bad second choice. If you notice you start to feel tired or lazy in the afternoon, moving your workout to the afternoon may be a good idea. Working out in the afternoon can give you an extra boost of energy to get you through the day. 

Working out in the afternoon can also increase the quality of your workout, because you’ve probably eaten a few meals. The biggest con to exercising in the afternoon is fitting it into your schedule. For most the afternoon is the busiest time so fitting in exercise may just be overwhelming. 

Working out at night

While working out at night may be the easiest option, that’s basically the only benefit. Yes for some you may have more energy allowing a more high intensity workout but for others it’s quite the opposite. Sometimes after a long day working out is the last thing you want to do. 

As Well as the lack of pros there is also a con to workout out in the evening. Studies suggest that working out at night can make it harder to sleep, and throw off your sleep schedule. However as long as you workout 1 or 2 hours before bedtime you should be able to avoid this. 

In conclusion what time you work out really depends on your personal needs and preferences. As I said earlier I prefer to work out in the morning because it fits my needs and schedule but what’s really important is just getting in a workout no matter what time.

Categories
Beauty Lifestyle

Benefits Of Using A Jade Roller.

You’ve probably seen jade rollers, whether it be on instagram, in conversation or at a beauty store. They have been super popular recently, but what exactly are they? They have been said to do everything from improving circulation, sculpting, reducing puffiness and even more. So do they actually work and what are the real benefits. 

Although these jade rollers may seem new, they have been used in traditional chinese medicine for centuries. The chinese used them for healing and cleansing. They are supposed to work by aiding in the lymphatic drainage, which is a process in which the lymphatics in the face drain out toxins and waste. When the lymph is drained it can make the face and skin less puffy.

All this being said it sounds as though jade rollers seem to be pretty great why not try them, but it is important to note that the technique in which you use the roller is super important. Below is a chart on how to use a jade roller.

Jade roller benefits

  • It makes the skin extra glowy

This is where that lymphatic drainage comes in. The lymphatic drainage process can slow down the process of aging and boost skin town which is what really gives you that glowing look. They are also typically cool to the touch (and if it’s not you can use cold water to make it so) which can help brighten your complexion. 

  • Makes other skincare products work better 

When you use a jade roller after using serums and moisturizers, it helps the product soak into the pores. 

  • It soothes the skin

Getting a facial massage is super soothing, and is made easy to do by yourself with a jade roller. As well as this as I mentioned before they have a cooling effect which helps give the skin a soothed feeling.

  • Reduces puffiness

Puffiness reduction is probably the most well known benefit of a jade roller. This also leads back to that lymphatic drainage. When your lymphs get drained it reduces the look of puffiness because actual waste products are under your skin.

Categories
Wellness

What Essential Oils Are Best For Stress Relief?

Stress is inevitable especially in modern day. It’s super important to do as much as you can to reduce stress. There are so many stress relieving activities, but something that can help support stress relief is essential oil. Essential oils have so many benefits. They can change your mood, get rid of headaches, help you relax and so much more. Below are some of the best essential oils for stress relief. 

  1. Lavender

Lavender is a super popular essential oil for reducing stress and anxiety. It has been scientifically proven to slow heart rates and lower blood pressure plus it smells great. Lavender is also great for improving quality of sleep. 

  1. Neroli 

Neroli reduces the feelings of anger, irritability and stress. In ancient Egypt it was used to heal the body, mind and soul. 

  1. Lemon 

Lemon promotes energy and relieves nausea and anxiety. Lemon is a super popular essential oil and along with stress relief it also promotes energy with its trong citrus scent. 

  1. Ylang Ylang

Ylang Ylang boosts feelings of joy and comfort and it reduces negative emotions such as stress and anxiety. 

  1. Frankincense

Frankincense is a super popular essential oil. It boosts mood and reduces feelings of anxiety and stress. It can also improve focus and decrease pain, mentally  and physically

  1. Chamomile

Chamomile has an amazing soothing smell and much like chamomile tea promotes relaxation, and calmness. 

  1. Jasmine

Jasmine has been used in Asia as a natural remedy for anxiety, stress, insomnia and depression. 

  1. Rose

Rose is amazing for relaxation; its scent soothes emotions, headaches, breathing rates  and balancing hormones. 

  1. Bergamot

Bergamot promotes energy, fights bacterial infections and stimulates joy and freshness.  

Using essential oils for stress relief

Now that you know what oils to use you need to know how to use them. There are a few different ways you can use essential oils; here is a list of some of my favorite ways to use essential oils.

  1. Diffuser

This is one of my favorite and the easiest ways to use essential oils. All you have to do is place a few drops of your oil of choice with water in your diffuser. 

  1. With a carrier oil

Putting oils on the skin is a great way to get the most benefit of the oil. However It’s super important to dilute oils with a carrier oil when you’re putting them directly on the skin. This is because the essential oils are too potent to be put directly on the skin. My favorite carrier oil is jojoba because it’s super easy to use. Just mix 20 to 25 drops of jojoba with a drop of essential oil. 

  1. In a bath

The best part about this method is that you’re doing two stress relieving things, a bath and essential oils. Just be sure you’re still using carrier oil.

Categories
Beauty Nutrition

11 Foods That Boost Collagen Production

Collagen is a huge component in your skin, hair, nails and general health. It makes skin, hair and nails look youthful, bouncy and healthy, however as you get older your body produces less collagen which leads to aging and less healthy skin and hair. However, to keep your body producing collagen, you can eat certain foods that can boost your natural collagen production no matter what age. Here are some of the top collagen boosting foods. 

  1. Fish

Like different creatures, fish have bones and ligaments made of collagen. However the parts of the fish that contain the most collagen are the less desirable parts of the fish such as the skin, bones, head and eyeballs. 

  1. Citrus fruit

Citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, limes and lemon are high in vitamin C. Vitamin C is a fundamental part of collagen production. Getting your daily dose of vitamin C is crucial for the skin. 

  1. Berries

Berries are another fruit with high contents of vitamin C. In Fact strawberries actually have more vitamin C than oranges. As Well as the high vitamin C contents berries also have antioxidants which are great for protecting the skin from damage. 

  1. Garlic

Garlic has so many health benefits, and one you may not know of is its contents of sulfur. Sulfur helps prevent the breakdown of collagen.

  1. Tropical fruits

Tropical fruits are another on the list with high vitamin C. Tropical fruits such as mango, kiwi, pineapple and guava. Guava also is high in zinc which is another great ingredient for collagen production. 

  1. Leafy greens

Leafy greens as we all know are a key feature in a healthy diet. These greens also have chlorophyll which is an amazing antioxidant for the skin. Chlorophyll also increases the precursor for collagen production. 

  1. Beans

Beans are great for collagen because they not only have copper (a nutrient for collagen production) they also have proteins necessary for collagen. 

  1. Tomatoes

Tomatoes (including sundried) also contain the high vitamin C levels needed for collagen production. 

  1. Nuts and seeds

Nuts and seeds boost your levels of zinc and copper. Zinc and copper are great nutrients to support collagen production. 

  1. Bell peppers

Bell peppers are yet another food with vitamin C. In Fact half of the bell pepper is around 117 ml of Vitamin C.  As Well as this bell peppers contain anti-inflammatory properties that combat aging. 

  1. Eggs

Eggs have large amounts of proline, which is an amino acid which is a key component for collagen production.

Categories
Lifestyle Wellness

15 Things You Can Do To Decrease Stress

Everyone gets stressed every once and awhile, it’s almost impossible not to. However, it’s best to diffuse stress as soon as possible before it gets worse. While at the moment it might seem impossible to ease your stress however, luckily there are so many things you can do to decrease the feeling of stress. Below are some of my personal favorite things to do when I’m feeling stressed and anxious.

  1. Exercise

Exercise and just moving your body in general is great to just reset your focus on something else. Exercising also releases endorphins that reduce your perception of pain, these endorphins also trigger a positive feeling. Exercising can also be super easy, even a ten minute workout video can help!

  1. Meditate

Meditation has been known to diffuse stress and clear the mind. Meditation is another thing that can be super simple and easy. There are tons of apps and videos for guided meditation which are super great for beginners, meditation can also be super quick but the more time you meditate the better!

  1. Journal

Journaling can reduce stress by getting rid of negative thoughts. Writing your thoughts down on paper is a great way to clear your mind. When using journaling to reduce stress there are many different methods you can use, personally my favorite is to just start writing what I feel on a page. Although you can also do things such using prompts or state things you’re grateful for. 

  1. Deep breathing

While doing breathwork a message is sent to your brain to relax, this happens because you are doing what your body does when it is already in a relaxed state. There are tons of different types of breathwork but you can do something as simply as a few long breaths in and out. 

  1. Get a full night of sleep

Sleep is super important for almost every bodily function. When you’re feeling stressed it’s best to make time to get as much rest as possible. When you’re asleep your brain regulates and lowers negative emotions such as stress and anxiety. 

  1. Read

Reading is another great way to distract your mind from whatever is causing you stress. Reading is also a very calming and stress free activity. My blog about my favorite books will be linked here. 

  1. Take a bath

Taking a warm bath doesn’t just feel great but it also relieves stress in the brain. Being in a bath can reduce levels of pain and inflammation as well as calming your nervous system. Bonus points if you put essential oils in your bath, essential oils also have different stress relieving properties. My blog on my favorite stress relieving oils will be linked here, just be sure to dilute them with a carrier oil.

  1. Practice some self care

Self care can be something such as taking a bath or doing a face mask but it can also go so much further than that. There are tons of ways to do self care you can practice meditation, read or talk to a friend.

  1. Do a creative activity

Being creative is another one of those things that is great for just taking your mind away from whatever is worrying you. There are so many ways to be creative such as painting, dancing, writing and so much more which means everyone can find something creative they like to do. 

  1. Yoga

Yoga can reduce anxiety immediately as it combines exercise and breathwork, as well as this the poses and stances involved in yoga can stimulate power in the brain. If you don’t want to go to a studio to do yoga there are tons of yoga videos on youtube that you can do from home!

  1. Listen to music

Music is so effective to our minds, especially soothing slower music. There are lots of music playlists made specifically for stress reduction and some even include songs that are scientifically proven to have an effect of relaxation on the mind which is super cool!

  1. Laughter

Laughter has been scientifically proven to reduce the feeling of stress. Laughter can relax your muscles, improve your mood, soothe tension and so much more. So when you’re not feeling your best it may be a good idea to throw on a funny video or TV show. 

  1. Eat healthy

Eating foods such as vegetables, fruits and grains increase the release of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical that regulates your mood, happiness and anxiety. So eating healthy foods can basically make you happier. 

  1. Go outside

Personally, whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed or stressed going outside for even just a few minutes completely clears my mind and makes me feel so much better almost instantly. Going outside reduces levels of cortisol in one’s brain (cortisol is the chemical that produces stress). I would recommend going on a walk or simply sitting outside if you are feeling stressed.

  1. Talk to friends or a loved one

Talking through why you feel stress with someone you trust is a great way to relieve feelings of anxiety. Talking to friends boosts your executive function which is what makes us better problem solvers.

Categories
Beauty Nutrition

Does Drinking Water Actually Help Your Skin

While drinking water has so many benefits for your mind, body, and overall health. You’ve probably heard before that drinking water can help your acne, or make your skin glow, and maybe you’ve also heard this isn’t true. So is it really true, if so many people swear by it drinking water must help your skin in some way? 

According to science, there isn’t really any evidence that drinking extra water will cure your skin issues. That being said there is no denying that water has so many benefits, and is quite literally crucial to human life. So if it helps your skin or not it is still crucial you drink water. But going back to the question of whether or not water will save your skin, the truth is no. 

So what can you do to help your skin, without water? Rather than upping your water intake try lowering your intake of sugary beverages such as juices and soda. This is probably where the myth came from in the first place. It’s less about drinking more water and more about replacing unhealthy drinks with water. Another thing you can do is to simply take care of your skin on the outside. Following a skincare regime is the best thing you can do for your skin, and while drinking water may not make a huge impact on what you’re eating actually will. Stay away from fast food, eat collagen boosting and nutritious foods, and stay on top of your skincare regime and you should be pretty good.

Categories
Lifestyle Movement

How Does Yoga Relieve Stress

No matter who you are you’ve probably been told yoga can help relieve stress, at some point in your life. But why does yoga actually relieve stress and if so how? Yoga is a great way to combat stress and anxiety, everyone has dealt with being anxious and whether it’s severe or not yoga can help ease that feeling. So here’s how yoga actually does help with reducing anxiety.

  1. Breathe work in yoga

Breathe work is a great method to stimulate relaxation in the mind. This works because when you do breathe work you are stimulating what you do when you’re calm. Yoga methods include breathe work whether it be something super simple such as just doing deep breathing or something more complicated. No matter how simple it is breathe work is a great way to reduce stress.  

  1. Relaxation

Similarly to meditation yoga can produce relaxation and a clear mind. Combined with the breathe work, the poses in yoga helps combat stress. This is because yoga poses stimulate power which doesn’t go hand in hand with anxiety. 

  1. Exercise

            Yoga is a form of exercise which on its own can relieve stress and combined with the  

            relaxation and breath work yoga is a gateway to removing stress. Exercise releases 

            endorphins that relieve stress.