Tuesday 14 September 2021

Four Ways To Make Your Home More Comfortable

    Having just the necessities of life, like a bathroom and a bed, is very different from having a place you really feel at home in. Renters are especially susceptible to this. Those places where you aren't likely to stay more than a year or two or where you don't share the same tastes and styles as your landlord or roommate can be challenging to establish yourself. Regardless of your surroundings, you can cultivate a true sense of home no matter where you live.




Here are some ideas to get you started with making your house feel more homely:

Hang Art And Family Pictures 

There is evidence that just looking at art reduces stress and makes you happier. As well as adding a sense of beauty to your house by hanging art, it also helps to bring your own personality into the room. One of the best ways to make your house your home is to use Best4Frames to put up some familiar faces in your home. 

Keep It Clean

Do you remember how good it feels to crawl into freshly washed sheets? Having a dirty, cluttered, and/or dirty place can be extremely uncomfortable. If you want your home to feel cozy, you need to start by cleaning it. When you feel relaxed and at ease in your space, you will feel truly comfortable, and you will feel truly at home when you are able to snuggle up there. Keep your towels and sheets clean regularly, keep your floors clean, and deal with clutter as soon as it arises.

Surround Yourself With Softness

If you want to make any room feel more peaceful and inviting, a cozy throw can do the trick. You can find a throw that fits any budget. Those who suffer from anxiety or stress may be interested in purchasing a weighted blanket. By placing gentle pressure on your body, the bedding accessoriess help you relax and feel calm.

Add Light 

It is hard to imagine anything more uninviting than a house with insufficient lighting or even fluorescent lighting. You should use lighting fixtures that emit warm colors, such as yellow or white. If additional lighting is needed, add it. By using well-placed lamps, string lights, or candle lanterns, you can instantly transform any room into a homey setting. Install dimmers in a room so you can change the lighting intensity in the room according to your mood and time of day. 


The house you live in or the apartment you rent should be more than just somewhere you go to crash at the end of the day. The smallest design detail creates a feeling of warmth that permeates the space and you pass this feeling on when you are in it. In either case, whether you're in a dorm, a rental, or still getting settled into your newly purchased home, surround yourself with the things that increase your level of happiness above all else. 

The more things you have around you that make you feel happy, the more likely you are to make your house feel more like home. Do you have any other ways to do this? Please share some of them in the comments below!





Thursday 2 September 2021

7 Tips To Make Your Workouts More Effective

According to the National Health Service (NHS), obesity is a common problem in the UK that affects about one in four adults. Therefore, it isn't surprising to see many people exploring various ways to remain fit and healthy. Working out is undoubtedly high up on the list of things you can do to stay fit. However, it is essential to make your hard work in the gym pay off by exercising smarter. If you wish to learn more about making your workouts more effective, please consider these points.

1. Create and listen to a great workout playlist



     Music and exercise are excellent pairings, so it isn't uncommon to find people with earbuds and headphones on in the gym. Therefore, consider creating a great playlist that you can listen to on your way to the gym and during your workout sessions. Music reportedly distracts people from the full effects of pain and fatigue, so it can make your workouts more bearable. In addition, music elevates mood, boosts endurance, and lowers perceived efforts. Therefore, people often swim faster, run farther, and bike longer when listening to music, mostly without realising it. However, it is crucial to select the right music to keep you preoccupied and focused as you work towards your fitness goals. You can queue your favourite songs to enjoy. Also, consider the emotions, associations, and memories that different songs evoke when selecting your workout music instead of just queuing up many fast, high-energy songs.



2. Fuel your body before and after exercising

It is never a good idea to arrive at the gym hungry, so eat properly in advance to make your workout sessions more effective. If you plan on consuming a big meal, do so at least three to four hours before exercising. Additionally, ensure that the meal consists of protein, fats, and carbohydrates to maintain your energy levels. Also, if you opt for a quick snack instead before your workout, eat it one to two hours in advance. This snack should not have more than 200 calories and must be a great mixture of protein and carbs without too much fat. After working out, it is also crucial to fuel your body and recover appropriately since exercising breaks down your muscles and depletes your glycogen reserves. You can eat protein bars 15 minutes to an hour after exercising. They contain the perfect mixture of protein and carbohydrates that can replenish your lost energy and rebuild muscle tissue.



3. Walk into the gym with a plan



It isn't uncommon for people to come to the gym brimming with enthusiasm but without a clear plan of action to channel this zeal into getting results. Consequently, develop an action plan before you go to the gym so you can avoid wandering while you decide what to do next. Indecisiveness at the gym makes your workout sessions longer and less efficient since your heart rate can significantly drop as you seek out subsequent routines. 


Thankfully, you can readily outline a gym action plan using pen and paper. You can list down all the exercises you will do, where you will do them, and in what order. Additionally, come up with a backup plan, just if someone else beats you to the space or equipment you were planning on using. For instance, you can move to other parts of your workout routine and return when the space or equipment is free. Alternatively, you can switch to a backup exercise that uses different equipment to pursue fitness goal.



4. Channel your inner competitor

Researchers say that competition is a stronger motivator than friendly support, so it is crucial to introduce competition into your workout sessions one way or another. Encouraging texts from friends and family members may be appreciated before a workout session, but a Fitbit challenge will enable you to run or work out faster. Therefore, consider wearing a fitness tracker during your sessions to spur yourself towards achieving your fitness goals. Also, you can sign up for a race and run it with a personal time target in mind. Furthermore, you can work out with a friend to channel your inner competitor.



5. Try foam rolling

Foam rolling has become increasingly popular with fitness enthusiasts these days, and a growing body of research suggests that this trend deserves to stay. According to a study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, rolling reduces muscle soreness and significantly boosts recovery. Foam rolling reduced muscle soreness up to three days after a squat routine and increased motion range in the quadriceps muscles. Also, you don't even need to roll it out for a long time to reap the benefits since just two minutes of foam rolling can increase motion range by ten degrees. What's more, foam rolling can help you warm up your body for a workout session, recover from one, or loosen tight muscles, so you can use a foam roller for many purposes when pursuing your fitness goals.



6. Be mentally present 

Many people dissociate from their workouts by fixating on their instructors or chatting with friends. However, it would be best to focus on the muscles you are engaging while exercising rather than going through the motion mindlessly. Concentrating on contracting the muscles you involve in your workouts can help you better your sessions. For instance, while performing squats, you can think about how your glutes are helping you through each rep to ensure that you use good form and engage them appropriately.



7. Reduce workout time but increase the intensity



Various studies indicate that one minute of all-out exercising can have the same effects as 45 minutes of moderate exercising. Therefore, intensity matters over the length of your workout sessions, so you should consider shortening the time spent at the gym and increasing your sessions' intensity instead. Interval training is a great way to increase the power of your workouts gradually, so keep this in mind. As such, you can alternate between eight seconds of high-intensity activities and 12 seconds of lower intensity exercises for 20 minutes. Researchers believe that doing this three times a week can lead to more weight loss than exercising consistently for as long.





Monday 16 August 2021

Affordable Ways To Look Younger As You Age


There are times in peoples’ lives when they need to reign in their expenses a little bit. Skincare and a beauty regime are normally some of the first things to go. If you have wrinkles or other signs of aging, that could end up in you looking older than you are.

You don’t have to choose an expensive skincare regime to overcome this. There are multiple ways to look younger as you age, most of which can be more affordable than expected. If you’ve got a strict budget, then you might want to try a few of these.

While regular exercise can help, that might not be an option if you’re too busy. It’s recommended that you try as many as possible, but experimenting can also be an option.


How To Look Younger On A Budget


Plump Up Your Hair’s Volume

As you age, your hair can lose its volume and look flat. Plumping things up will prevent this, with there being a few ways to do so. Switching to a mousse could be one of the more affordable options.

Mousse should cost the same as most other styling products, although it thickens your hair while also lifting it at the root. You can enhance this effect by drying your hair upside down. The trick to this is rubbing a little bit of mousse into your roots before drying and then drying away from the hair.

By the time you start styling it, your hair should barely be damp.


Look After Your Smile

Outside of wrinkles, your smile can be one of the largest indicators of your age. It can be so dramatic that it can even make you look older than you are. Looking after your teeth and gums will minimize that impact, if not outright avoid.

Occasionally, that could be as large as new dentures, while it can also be as small as a cleaning. Comparing different dentists can help keep costs low, which will make things more affordable. Many dentists will also offer a free consultation, so you could also address any other potential issues.

Regular check-ups are also recommended to make sure that everything is looked after. That’ll help you staying looking younger as you age.


Cover Up Your Brown Spots

Countless people develop brown spots as they age. If you do, then you could look much older than you actually age. While you mightn’t be able to get rid of them, you can make them less visible. That will reduce the overall impact they have on how you look.

Using a concealer, followed by strategically placed foundation, will get rid of them. Finding the right blend for you might take a while, but it’s one of the more affordable ways to look younger as you age.


Plump & Define Your Lips

As much as your teeth and gums can affect how old you look, so too can your lips. If you have thin lips, then you should plump them up and define them. Pick a lipstick that matches the colour of your lips from when you were younger.

Once applied, add a thin line around your lips’ border with a pencil that matches your lipstick. That’ll make them look fuller and thinner, which helps them look younger. You’ll need a steady hand, but practice makes perfect.


Minimize Your Circles

Many people develop circles under their eyes as they age. That can be one of the primary indicators of their age. Minimizing them avoids the issue. While you mightn’t be able to get rid of them completely there are a few ways to make them less visible.

Using tea bags can be one of the more affordable. Putting these on your eyes a few times a week will reduce the darkness of the circles. When trying this, make sure the tea bags aren’t too hot. The tea bags will shrink the darker blood vessels, which makes them less visible.

If you have more of a budget, you could try using concealer and blending it in with your makeup.


Give Your Eyes A Lift

The eyes can be one of the more pronounced areas for wrinkles and fine lines. Outside of using makeup, you can reduce the aging effect that they had. You’ll only need to pick up one or two things, making it one of the more affordable ways to look younger as you age.

If you curl lashes correctly, then they’ll look fuller and make your eyes look younger. To do so, use a curler at the root of the lash and give three gentle tugs.

Many people believe that holding the curler in your lashes will have a greater impact. That isn’t the case, as it can damage the hair without providing any benefits. Three firm, gentle tugs will have more of an impact without the associated damage.


Smooth Out Your Imperfections

Wrinkles and lines can often be enhanced by makeup, if you don’t apply it correctly. Makeup can settle into these lines, which will make them more pronounced. To avoid this, you’ll need to smooth out the makeup and reduce the wrinkles.

A dry makeup sponge is affordable and can effectively smooth out foundations and other makeup. You should also use the sponge to blend everything after applying.

There are a few other tips and tricks to this. One of the largest is to avoid wiping. That will remove the makeup, which you’ll want to avoid. Instead, try rubbing it gently.


Easy Ways To Look Younger On A Budget: Wrapping Up

Finding affordable ways to look younger as you age can seem more complicated than it actually is. Implementing a few changes and looking after certain areas, however, will have a larger impact than you’d expect.

The key to the process is patience. Some methods will have a more immediate impact than others, although you can expect the overall effect to take a little while. Once you know that going in, the whole process will go much smoother than you’d expect.

Planning and scheduling out these ways to look younger will also help you budget better. Separating out the costs will make sure that you don’t break the bank with the above.




Tuesday 8 June 2021

4 Ways You Can Conquer Obesity This Year

 Gaining weight can happen in the blink of an eye, and if you lead a busy life, it's very possible that you'll grab the quickest meal available so that you can get back to work. Fast foods, on the other hand, are generally high in calories and low in nutrition, and if you live a sedentary lifestyle, you're bound to gain weight. Then came COVID-19, which forced everyone on the earth to stay at home, which may or may not have helped your weight problem. Whatever your motivation, if you've decided to make a positive change in your life, congratulations! You've already taken the most difficult step.



Consider keeping a food diary

It's easy to lose track of what you're putting into your body, and things that seem healthy on the surface may not be as healthy as they appear. For two weeks, keep a food journal, noting the calories consumed beside each meal. Remember to include snacks and non-water drinks in your calorie totals at the end of each day and week. You'd be shocked how many calories a little chocolate bar can load into your daily quota! Once you’ve seen where your shortcomings are you can make positive changes to your meal plans.

Exercise your problem areas

One of your motivations for losing weight could be to feel more confident in your own skin, and there's nothing wrong with that! Everyone has problem areas they want to fix, whether it's flabby arms, bulging tummies, or big legs. When you work out, focusing on your problem areas will help you notice improvements much faster. You could try new and alternative workouts such as the Aussie pull up to focus on your arms, or find a new stomach fat busting technique to keep your exercise exciting. What happens when you see the results? You're even more inspired to stick to your new healthy lifestyle!

Meet your water quota

Water is crucial to health, and the average person should drink 2 litres of water each day (more if you exercise) to stay hydrated. Even if it's only once a day, replacing fizzy drinks, coffee, and other unhealthy drinks with water will make a huge difference in your weight reduction, fitness, sleep, and even skin. To help you stay on track, you can download free applications that remind you to drink a glass of water, or you can use water bottles with prompts to help you consume more water.

Turn regular activities into exercise

Finding time to exercise can be challenging, especially if you have a career, children, and a home to run, so try to include exercise into your normal routines! If you spend a lot of time sitting at a desk while working, try out some of these desk exercises. Alternatively, look into buying a standing desk, or a standing desk adapter. Other chores, such as cleaning your home or straightening up your garden, can be turned into exercise by dancing to music, moving considerably quicker than usual, or even adding weights to your arms and legs.


With these tips, mindful eating and motivation levels high, you can conquer obesity this year!





Saturday 27 March 2021

Date Night: Creating An Extra Special Evening For Your Other Half

 

     2020 and 2021 have been fairly unexciting years for many people. With the world recovering from Covid-19, going out and enjoying yourself has been very difficult for the last year or so, and this has left a lot of couples feeling the spark leaving their relationship. Of course, though, there is no reason that being stuck at home has to stop you from enjoying a date night together; you just need to make the effort to make it happen. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the key steps that can be taken to create an extra special evening for your other half.

The Entertainment

     Having been stuck at home for so long, most people have just about exhausted the entertainment that television and movies can offer over the last year. Thankfully, though, there are loads of other forms of entertainment available, giving you the chance to spice this up. Playing a game together, listening to music, or going for a walk are all great ways to make your date more interesting, but you will benefit from doing some research to find options that will appeal to the person you love.

The Food

     Food is always one of the most exciting parts of a date, with the special occasion giving you an excuse to enjoy something that you usually wouldn’t have the time or budget for. There are loads of recipes available online for those that want to cook, though you could also choose an option like being able to order restaurant-quality seafood to your home. Catering like this will make it easier to focus your attention on your other half.

The Mood

    Setting the mood for a great date night can be a challenge when you live a busy and stressful lifestyle. A lot of couples find themselves arguing and getting upset when they try to do something nice together, and it’s worth working hard to avoid this on your date night. Forcing yourself to adopt a happy mood is a great way to achieve this, as this will quickly rub off on your partner and they will find themselves smiling no matter what.

A Special Touch

     Date nights offer a chance to show your partner how much you care about them, but you need to work hard to achieve the best results with this. Coming up with an extra special touch for your date will be a good way to do this, with gifts being a good go-to if you can’t think of anything else. Finding a meal that was important to your partner when they were a child, hiring a musician that they like to play, or using the chance to refurbish your engagement/wedding rings can all be great ways to make your date very special.

     Giving your partner the night of their dreams is something that many people want to achieve. Date nights offer a good opportunity to do this, especially in the wake of the restrictions you’ve both had to face over the last couple of years.




Monday 1 March 2021

5 Steps To Take To Boost Your Mental Health



    Recently, mental health awareness has grown in leaps in bounds. People are more sensitive to mental health and illness and are willing to engage in talks to promote their solution. It would help to be careful about your mental health by learning how to care for and improve your mental health.
 
    Sound mental health - the engine that drives your body's functionality- is vital for your daily sanity and organization. Therefore, you need to take stringent measures to ensure your mental health is always in tip-top form. Though it might be hard to achieve this condition due to the daily challenges and stresses of life, you can take various precaution measures that will help you balance your life and maintain a stress-free life.
 
Understand Yourself
    Many people are ignorant of knowing who they are: it is shocking to learn that even most adults cannot describe themselves. You need to learn and examine yourself to know your strengths and weaknesses.
    Spending time alone will most likely help you to learn more about yourself and your "inner voice". It is an excellent time to look yourself in the mirror and ask some tough questions that will help you discover yourself. Once you know your triggers and the place where you can find your peace, it will be easier for you to identify and deal with any issue that arises.
 
Acknowledge Your Struggles
    You should be honest with yourself and pick out factors that trigger your mental stresses. If you cannot find the courage to seek these triggers, you can see a therapist who will help you bring these issues to the surface. Talking about these issues will help you tackle them and get them off your back.
 
Speak Out
    You can also find a confidant or a therapist who will help you get your daily stresses off your mind and chest. When choosing your confidant, who can double up as your partner, ensure you choose one with good listening skills.
    Please do not hold on to issues that are weighing you down. Try to solve the issues or forget about them. Though it may be hard to let go, it is necessary to take this step for the good of your mental health.
 
Refresh Your Mind
    You need to ensure you find a way of refreshing your mind. People often use workouts, yoga, hikes, nature walks, and training to relax after work. It takes your mind off your stresses and teaches you how to be calm and patient within the storm.
    You can also try taking personal trainer courses that will help you to impact your workouts and relaxing moments positively. By learning these trainer courses, you will be able also to form and head smaller workout groups in which you can share and improve each other’s lifestyle.
 
Find Your Calm Place
    For you to survive the numerous daily hustles, you need to identify your 'calm place'. It is a place where you can recollect yourself by dealing with your current stressful situation or deciding to let go. It can be an activity, a person, a game, or a simple conversation that resets your moods and feelings back to normal.
 
    In conclusion, you should strive to know how to care for your mental health. It is an essential life skill that will help you maintain sanity and calmness in your life.




Saturday 13 February 2021

What Really Helps With Hay Fever?

 
Please note that this post is a paid advertisement for allergy awareness.
Please also keep in mind that I never post anything that I don't personally support or believe in.


How hay fever comes about (and what to do about it)

This post addresses the following points:

  • Cold vs hay fever: What symptoms point towards hay fever?

  • How does hay fever come about (and what does our body want to tell us with the symptoms)?

  • How can hay fever be influenced by our diet?

  • What really helps against hay fever?



Cold vs Hay Fever: which symptoms suggest hay fever?

   Many hay fever symptoms are similar to those of a flu-like infection (e.g. sneezing, runny nose, cough, difficulties with breathing, scratchy throat, watery eyes, tiredness). This means that hay fever is initially often taken for a cold.


How does hay fever come about?

   You can think of hay fever as a mix-up and internal miscommunication. In other words, your body's immune system falsely classifies pollen as a threat that antibodies need to fight. Because of this mix-up, the body releases histamine, which then triggers the symptoms that can lead to major discomfort. The result is watery eyes, frequent sneezing, increased mucus formation, redness and itching.


What does our body want to tell us?

   The often annoying symptoms are in fact a sensible reaction of the body: The mucus formation flushes pathogens out of the body, and redness is a sign of better blood flow to the affected parts. This in turn means that immune cells can be transported more efficiently and faster. The itching draws more attention to the affected area so that possible inflammation cannot be ignored. Unfortunately, our body does not know that hay fever is not a real threat, but rather a mix-up.


How is hay fever diagnosed?

   If this is your first time suffering from hay fever symptoms, it is recommended to see a doctor. You will probably be asked a few questions first:

  • How long have the symptoms been going on for?

  • How do you experience the symptoms?

  • When and under what circumstances do the symptoms occur (will the symptoms get worse outdoors? Better after rain?)

  • Is there a family history with allergies?

   If the doctor suspects an allergy, a “prick test” usually follows. Allergen-containing solutions are dripped onto one of your arms, which can then get into your body by lightly pricking the skin. In case of hypersensitivity, an allergic reaction (reddening) occurs within approximately 20 minutes.

   An alternative to the prick test is an allergy blood test. Certain substances in your body, so-called immunoglobulins, are activated by an allergic reaction. These are proteins that are actually responsible for fighting parasites inside the body. Doctors recognize these immunoglobulins E by an increased IgE value. You can also find home allergy testing kits from reliable suppliers, especially helpful during the pandemic when you should be limiting outside contact.


When is hay fever season?

   Generally from February (hazel) to September (various grasses, ribwort, mugwort), depending on which pollen triggers your allergy. Apps such as the pollen forecast app offer a good overview of the current pollen count at the respective location. You can download it for free from the app store. If you want, you can even receive warnings as soon as the pollen you have defined appears at your location.


What really helps against hay fever?

There are basically 4 different ways to combat hay fever:

  1. Avoid contact with the pollen

  2. Treat symptoms (with medication or home remedies)

  3. Desensitization (hay fever vaccination)

  4. Diet change

Here you find a brief introduction to the individual options:


Option 1: Avoid contact with the pollen

   While it is not always possible to completely avoid contact with the allergenic pollen, there are a number of things that can help minimize contact.

   For example, you should make sure that you ventilate sensibly. Between 6 and 8 a.m. the pollen count is lowest in the city, in the countryside between 8 p.m. and midnight. The rest of the time you should keep the windows closed as much as possible. Alternatively, you can use protective grilles for the windows. These ensure that pollen does not even get into your apartment. The disadvantage: The fleece material doesn't let pollen through, but that also means less light and above all hardly any air!

   Once the pollen is in the apartment, regular cleaning helps against pollen flying around. Besides that, air purifiers help to greatly improve the indoor climate for allergy sufferers, especially at night.

Further tips to help avoid contact with pollen:

  • Pollen filter for the car

  • Special filters for the vacuum cleaner

  • Change clothes after entering the house and do not hang up outside to dry

  • Shower in the evening to remove pollen from the body or hair

  • Blow your nose using a nasal douche


Option 2: treat symptoms

    There are now countless medications and they all vary in effects. Below are brief introductions to the most common groups. For detailed information or questions, you should contact your doctor or pharmacist.


Medicines that are taken as preventatives:

    There are nasal sprays and eye drops with the active ingredient cromoglizic acid, which are taken preventatively and prevent the release of histamine and other inflammatory substances. However, these take 1-2 weeks to work and should therefore ideally be taken before the first symptoms appear. They are therefore not suitable for hay fever newbies.


Medicines that relieve specific symptoms such as watery eyes locally:

    Nasal or eye drops with the active ingredient azelastine help to alleviate the symptoms after about 15-30 minutes.


Medicines for general allergy symptoms:

    Cetirizine and loratadine help as antihistamines against allergy symptoms by weakening the effect of the body's own histamine, which, as explained above, triggers the symptoms. Loratadin is recommended for working people and children in school because, unlike cetericine, it does not have a tiring effect.


If nothing else works:

    The active ingredient mizolastine requires a prescription but can be an alternative if nothing else helps against hay fever, because according to various testimonials it is particularly effective. However, you should discuss details with your doctor.

    In the case of severe discomfort, nasal sprays containing cortisone or, if necessary, (depot) cortisone injections can also be helpful. These lead to an immediate swelling of the mucous membranes and are also anti-inflammatory. However, it is recommended to not use the cortisone-containing nasal sprays for longer than 4 weeks at a time.

Also a salt inhaler can bring relief. The salt particles have 2 positive effects:

  1. They remove fluid from the tissue in the airways and make the mucus softer, which in turn soothes the mucous membranes.

  2. They prevent the growth of microorganisms and kill germs, which supports the immune system.


Option 3: Desensitization or “hay fever vaccination”

   During desensitization, the body is gradually accustomed to the allergenic substance by injecting the allergen under the skin in a very diluted form and slowly increasing doses over a longer period of time. As an alternative to "subcutaneous immunotherapy" (under the skin) there is "sublingual immunotherapy" (under the tongue: tablet / drops).


Option 4: change in diet

   The right diet can significantly reduce hay fever symptoms. The reason is obvious: hay fever produces histamine in the body, which leads to swelling of the mucous membranes. If you take in additional histamine through food, the symptoms get more severe! On the other hand, if you avoid it, the histamine level is lower overall and the symptoms are weaker. Incidentally, foods that contain the active ingredient quercetin are particularly helpful. This is because it works like a natural antihistamine and helps to lower the histamine level in the blood.

Avoid foods that contain histamine:
vinegar, yeast, sausage, canned fish, mature cheese (e.g. ripe Gouda), sauerkraut, spinach, tomatoes, eggplant, avocado, legumes, mushrooms, strawberries, citrus fruits, bananas, kiwi, pears, papaya, nuts, chocolate, cocoa, soy products, juices and soda.

Eat foods that lower histamine levels:
capers, onions (especially the outer rings), blueberries, apples, broccoli. Of course, you have to pay attention to possible cross allergies. People who are allergic to tree pollen are sometimes allergic to apples, for example, because the allergens are similar.


How can you prevent hay fever?

   Hay fever cannot be prevented for good. However, experience shows that early and slow habituation to various potential irritants can have a preventive effect. The environment around children should therefore never be too sterile. Holidays on the farm can also help to strengthen the immune system of children. In addition, there is no harm in maintaining a healthy intestinal flora. Antibiotics, for example, quickly throw this out of balance, because both good and bad bacteria are destroyed. 

 

Conclusion:

Below is a short summary of the 7 most important points about hay fever:

  1. Avoid allergens (a pollen count app helps)

  2. Open windows at the right time (city: morning, country: evening)

  3. Shower in the evening, wash your hair and hands regularly during the day

  4. A nasal rinse and air purifier for the bedroom ensure restful sleep

  5. Eat little food containing histamine, but a lot of histamine-lowering food

  6. Choose medication carefully and educate yourself on alternative options

  7. If the stress becomes too much: Talk to your doctor about desensitization




Saturday 9 January 2021

Lockdown Workout Ideas

   With January being the traditional yearly workout boom and the impact of yet another lockdown in the UK, it means that many people who are starting new fitness goals need to think outside the box and look for other ways to work out as opposed to signing up for a gym membership.


   Not being able to hit the gym shouldn't put you off finding ways to workout and motivate yourself. Far from it, it means you have to be more inventive when it comes to finding workouts you enjoy and can do within the constraints of a national lockdown.

C25K

   Couch to 5K is a popular app that helps people get off the couch and move more. Aimed at getting you into running in a gentler, easier way, the C25K apps available for both Apple and Android phones can help you to move more without the pressure to be at the top of your game instantly.
   For this, you will need some suitable equipment to get you started. Headphones to listen to the app each day. Suitable running trainers and comfy clothing. Some people may find they need to use suitable eyewear especially for the low winter sun so investing in running sunglasses or even just getting replacement oakley lenses for your existing sunglasses to help you combat the glare from the sun when you are out.



Walking

   Head out to your local beauty spots for a walk. Download a playlist, podcast or even movies and tv shows to listen to on your walk, but using what is free and available in your local area will not only allow you to get out when everywhere else is closed but to also get some much-needed exercise, clear your head and regain fitness levels too. Make a list of everywhere you can reasonably explore while staying local and then make it your aim to visit as many as possible.


Online Exercise Programmes

   Joe Wicks is undoubtedly the UK's favourite PE teacher right now. and the good news is, you can join in even without children, or you can head to his Youtube channel to check out his many free workout videos to follow each day.
   If Joe isn't your cup of tea, then searching online for free workout programmes will throw up a plethora of options for you to choose from and allow you to get moving. From free dance classes, yoga, pilates and the more vigorous HIIT workouts, you will be spoilt for choice. All you need is some motivation to actually get going and you're on your way!


Open Water Swimming

   This activity has been booming since the closure of many local swimming pools. There are many health benefits of open water swimming and you will likely find many individuals and clubs in your coal area you can join to get you started. In the winter, it takes a brave soul to dip their toes into the cold waters of the UK coastline and waterways. However, once you have gotten over that initial shock you can take part in a swim treading water or simply enjoying the feeling of being out in the open water.