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Signs of Short-Sightedness and Steps for Reducing it

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Some people can see objects closer, but far away, objects are a distant blur. This condition is called short-sightedness or myopia. It is a problem that occurs mainly among young adults and children. Myopia occurs in people with incorrect eye shapes. The refracted light of the objects focuses before the retina instead of at the retina.

See a Doctor

If you have myopia, you might be having difficulty performing tasks correctly, or your vision quality is detracting you from your daily activities. See an eye doctor immediately who can determine the level of your nearsightedness. Most probably, the doctor may prescribe eyeglasses and you can get new eyeglasses tomorrow as it’s so easy and fast when you order online.

Spend Time Outside

Increase the number of your outdoor activities as much as possible. Spending time outdoors during your early adult life and adolescence can decrease the risk of myopia. The ultraviolet ray of the sun changes the structure of the cornea and sclera to maintain a standard eye shape.

Protect Your Eyes

Wear sunglasses while out in the sun because they can shield your eyes from ultraviolet rays and halt the progression of myopia. Make sure you invest in high-quality as some cheap sunglasses can be detrimental to the eye muscles in the long run if worn for too long.

Eat healthy Food

Try to consume plenty of vegetables, fruits, and leafy greens. Your eyes can tremendously benefit if you include fish items, especially salmon, that are high in fatty acids and omega-3 fats. Including these in your daily diet can work wonders for the health of your vision.

Get proper Rest

Try to reduce your eye strain as much as possible. Taking breaks between your computer work by looking far away from screens for 20 seconds is a good strategy. This practice would give your eyes proper rest and can slow the development of short-sightedness.

Get surgery treatment

Sometimes doctors advise you to get laser or lens surgery to improve your eyes. The good thing about such surgeries is that they are permanent solutions that can see you through your lifetime. Laser surgery reshapes the eye, and lens surgery replaces the lenses with artificial lenses. Furthermore, short-sightedness can be a hindrance to professional and personal endeavors, but the Best Laser Eye Surgery in London offers a transformative experience, freeing individuals from the limitations of visual impairment.

Wearing special lens

Depending on your conditions, some opticians may advise orthokeratology, a lens worn overnight. This treatment can help improve your vision without contact lenses or glasses. If this is a suitable option, talk to your optician and see whether it would fit your situation.

Implantable Collamer lens

An implantable Collamer lens, popularly known as ICL, is a soft contact lens implanted in the eyes. It is made of polymeric materials. The lens is embedded in your eyes with a microscopic incision between your iris and your natural lens. It corrects the light refraction so that it falls right on the retina as opposed to before the retina.

The topical medication

Atropine drops are used as topical medication as a treatment for short-sightedness. It’s a prescribed eye drop, and the doses vary from person to person. When you drop them in your eyes, your pupil will dilate. This treatment can be a good treatment for some people.

Wear correct lenses

If worn correctly for the prescribed time frame, the right lenses can optimize and bring your vision to your natural sight. Regular exams are the best way to know whether you use the correct prescription lens. Wearing too weak a prescription can increase the progression of nearsightedness.

Maintain your health

If you have diabetic retinopathy, maintaining your weight and exercising can help not just your weight but also your vision. This condition can hurt the eye’s blood vessels due to the excess sugar circulating in the bloodstream. Check your sugar levels regularly and stay fit to lower the odds of developing short-sightedness.

Smoking is bad

Smoking raises the likelihood of developing short-sightedness. Avoid smoking for as long as you can, or smoke in moderation. The less you smoke, the more you will benefit by easing off the inflammation throughout your eyes, which can prevent age-related eye disorders.

Signs of short-sightedness

If you are experiencing the following, you may be having short-sightedness:

  • You cannot see distant objects as clearly as you see nearby objects, which affects your normal daily functioning
  • The vision beyond a certain peripheral point seems blurry but gets more apparent as you come close to those objects
  • You often partially shut your eyes or squint to see things, especially if they are far away
  • You get migraines and headaches often due to eyestrain caused by a hard day’s work
  • It is difficult for you to see things clearly while driving or have trouble reading signs at night

An ophthalmologist or an optometrist can quickly diagnose any of the above symptoms. Your eye professional will also consider your other health aspects and advise you on the right way forward. You may have to get surgery, a pair of contact lenses or eyeglasses to correct your short-sightedness.

If you’re noticing any of these symptoms or are unsure whether your vision has changed, it might be time to consult a professional. Thankfully, there are local opticians who do home visits, making it easier than ever to get your eyes checked without needing to travel.

Look and Feel Younger with Better Sleep

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Eating healthy food and getting regular exercise are great practices in taking care of one’s health. However, these are not enough to live a good life.

In a 2019 international survey published in the World Economic Forum, about 62% of adults don’t feel like they’re getting enough quality sleep. Their reasons include worry and stress, physical environment, hectic schedules, entertainment from technology, food disruptors, and existing health conditions. As these continue to pile up daily, it’s more important than ever to discuss what sleep deprivation does to our mind, body, and health.

Promoting Healthy Aging with Aging Science

The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA), which is a national institute, is the longest study on aging research. It has released several studies and journal articles on topics about aging science, drug development, cell biology, and molecular biology.

Apart from the BLSA, the other national institutes that produce research studies on aging science are the Buck Institute and the Albert Einstein College. They provide public access through their websites.

By doing multiple clinical trials using model organisms, these institutions are beginning to discover ways to target aging. They gather data and produce analysis from the clinical aspects of their studies by performing experiments on mice and flies.

More than just extending a person’s life, researchers from all around the world have been working on further understanding the biology of humans and the nature of aging. It’s not just about the human lifespan anymore but about the human health span, which refers to increasing a person’ squality of life by living more years disease free.

Aging has three types, chronological age, biological age, and functional age. Recent studies have also started uncovering what is called epigenetic changes while studying aging processes. These are genetic changes in DNA as a person ages. By studying genes and proteins, scientists found out that aging varies from person to person.

The Benefits of Sleep

Investing in your health and overall well-being now.

Prevents Age-Related Diseases

Human aging comes with a variety of different illnesses caused by the body’s weaker immune response. This is primarily because the cells of the body undergo cellular senescence, a critical state where cells are incapable of undergoing growth or cell division. Senescent cell accumulation is a hallmark of aging that drives various age-related diseases including Alzheimer’s and heart disease.

Cardiovascular Problems

The number one cause of death among older adults in America is heart disease. While a variety of lifestyle habits can cause this illness, continuous lack of sleep among young people can have negative effects on their cardiovascular health. Getting adequate sleep can lessen this risk.

High Blood Pressure

This chronic disease causes the blood in the body to exert too much pressure on the arteries. This can lead to chest pains, headaches, and fatigue. Sleep regulates blood pressure by lowering it as you sleep and bringing it to normal levels when you’re awake.

Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease

These illnesses cause cognitive decline among older adults. They target the cognitive function of the brain, causing memory loss, mood swings, and poor communication. Sleep lowers your chance of acquiring these diseases because it allows your mind to rest and strengthen your memory.

Diabetes

Diabetes compromises the body’s ability to process glucose or sugar.. Getting enough hours of sleep lessens the risk of diabetes since the body at rest regulates the release of insulin and normalizes the release of sugar in the bloodstream.

Regulates Hormones

The circadian rhythm controls our bodily functions in a 24-hour period, including the release of hormones throughout the system. Since hormones send signals needed for organ and tissue function, proper sleeping habits keep your rhythm on track. Furthermore, by regulating hormones that affect stress and blood glucose levels, your body can maintain healthy blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Renews Tissues and Boosts Cells

Aside from cleaning out wastes within, restorative sleep benefits tired and stressed bodies by repairing damaged tissues, boosting the performance of various cells, and increasing stem cell production. This is the reason why getting enough sleep has been found to strengthen the immune system. It boosts the production of one of the main components to battle aging called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). This molecule can also normalize your sleeping rhythm and make you feel energized the following day.

These positive sides of sleep can contribute to your longevity. No matter how busy and hectic your day may be, keep in mind that sleep is an essential need in your lifestyle practices. You’ll pat yourself on the back in the long run.

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Be careful with double negatives. Here, you’re implying what good sleep does to the mind and body.

This makes it seem like sleep is the underlying answer to all disease treatments. Please remove this sentence or rewrite this section.

What Are Health Benefits Of An Electric Bike Give ?

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Here are some reasons why you should consider getting an electric bike for yourself!

With the continuous advancement of technology and the rise of portable electronic devices, most people just sit in front of their screens and lie on the couch all day. This lifestyle has been prevalent since the pandemic has started. Although some parts of the world are still on lockdown, having a little physical exercise around the block should not hurt. Cycling, for example, is an effective way to reduce your health risks, and what better way to do cycling than with electric bikes!

Although it may sound counterintuitive, having a bike with an electric motor is not really a form of cheating. Even though an electric bike, or ‘e-bike’, does give you the extra power you need to conquer those hills and inclines, it still does give you the pump that you get when pedaling a normal bike. In fact, the assistance that these e-bikes give you in navigating challenging terrain gives you more benefits in the long run.

Best electric bikes level up the fun and excitement you enjoy with a traditional bicycle. Powered by electric motors and portable batteries, e-bikes are not just made for improving the daily commute because they also make a good companion for leisure and outdoor activities. But most importantly, electric bikes offer countless advantages and benefits to our physical and mental health, so here are some:

Health Benefits of Using Electric Bikes

1. Improves Heart Health

Like any other cardiovascular exercise, cycling using an electric bike does keep your heart strong! With the regular use of an e-bike, it is proven that the low-impact exercise it offers helps build stamina more consistently. It is mainly because it is not as taxing on the joints, unlike the intense muscle workouts that regular bicycles provide. Moreover, it is found that people who frequently go cycling have about 15 percent fewer heart attacks than non-cyclists.

A research conducted in 2008 associated the change of transport (from non-cycling to cycling) with the change in cardio-respiratory fitness. The study resulted in a significantly higher cardiorespiratory fitness associated with cycling as a mode of transport; hence by cycling, especially with the help of electric bikes, you can have a healthier and stronger heart.

2. Effectively Burns Calories

Although an electric bike makes use of pedal-assisted technology, cycling using it is considered as a form of exercise after all. An e-bike lets you pedal more conveniently therefore reducing the intensity of workout you have to go through.

The cardio exercise that e-bikes provide you does not only improve your heart health but can also help you effectively lose weight. By using electric bikes, extra calories are burned through those longer distances that you can cover compared to when using conventional bikes. As a matter of fact, it is found out that an hour of cycling using an ebike can help you burn as much as 500 calories.

An article from Healthline shows how many calories you can burn in biking based on how long and much you travel by time and distance.

3. Helps maintain a habit of cycling

Maintaining a good workout routine is hard, especially when you are the type that easily gets bored. It only gets worse when other workouts leave you so exhausted that you do not look forward to doing them again— beats the purpose of an ‘actual routine,’ right?

That is the good thing about e-bikes. It may not give you the rigorous exercise of traditional cycling, but it does help you build a healthy habit. With assisted pedaling, you can take longer rides that would take you to see more views and explore more places which will definitely build up your excitement and help you continue what you have started.

4. Better Sleeping Pattern

The habit of cycling using electric bikes leads to sustainable exercise. And experts say that with regular exercise comes better sleep. Studies have found that people who get regular exercise fall asleep more quickly compared to control subjects and are less likely to wake up in the middle of the night.

In a study conducted by the Sleep Foundation in 2013, where they correlated exercise to sleep, it was found that over 75% of respondents who exercise get good to very good quality of sleep. And as a form of exercise, cycling with the aid of electric bikes can actually help you get better sleep at night.

5. Relieves Stress

Regularly exercising, in general, boosts your mood. Happy hormones are at their peak after a good workout, and frequently doing so leads to better mental health. Of course, what better way to maintain an active lifestyle and a healthy mind than riding e-bikes! With the encouragement to be consistent with strolling through the great outdoors, one can avoid getting stressed out and enjoying long rides.

While it improves your physical health, e-cycling also helps reduce tendencies for anxieties or depression to occur. As we all know, stress is not entirely a good feeling as it denotes emotional or physical tension. A recent study published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management found that people who cycle are less stressed. Especially for workers who spend a whole day at the office, cycling to and from work can significantly reduce stress.

Why you Should Get Yours Now?

Truth be told, there are innumerable reasons why you should get an electric bike. Aside from being an efficient and eco-friendly mode of transport, an electric bike serves as a fun way to exercise and stay fit with its pedal sensor and assistance features. Ebikes are not plainly for commuting purposes; there are many different types of e bikes used in extreme sports like hunting and mountain biking. There are electric bikes made specifically for casual rides and there are some made for outdoor adventures. We can go on with more reasons why you should buy an electric bike but ultimately, having an ebike by your side makes a really huge difference to your life.

Summary

All-in-all, e-bikes are sure to be enjoyed by all ages, from little kids to the elderly. With the lessened intensity that electrically assisted pedaling offers, e-bikes are sure to encourage more people to get into cycling and make a healthy lifestyle out of it.

By Trevor James

About the author:

Trevor James is the founder of Electric Bike Paradise, the #1 online seller of electric bikes, electric scooters, electric skateboards, mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs, and electric golf caddies. Trevor has been selling bicycles, electric bikes, and electric scooters online as 2010 and finally established Electric Bike Paradise in late 2013 when he happen to meet a car enthusiast that introduced him to electric bikes. And also, Trevor spent time penetrating for electric bikes online but couldn’t find a website that obtainable a wide selection of electric bikes, scooters, and informational articles. That is why he determined to start a website where everyone can shop expediently, browse buying guides, and read educational posts. The website is called Electric Bike Paradise.

Benefits of Botox Treatment in Calgary

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Are you looking for a technique to enhance your natural beauty and turn back the clock on aging? Look no further than Botox treatment in Calgary! Botox is a quick and safe way to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, leaving you with a smoother, more youthful complexion.

At our dermatologist clinic in Calgary, we understand that aging is a natural part of life, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to look and feel your best. Botox injections are a accepted and effective way to minimize the signs of aging without undergoing invasive surgery or lengthy recovery times.

Botox Treatment in Calgary

Botox Treatment in Calgary

One of the many benefits of Botox treatment is that it is a non-invasive procedure that can be completed in just a few minutes. Our experienced and trained staff will administer a series of small injections to the targeted areas of your face, which can include the forehead, around the eyes, and between the eyebrows. The injections work by provisionally relaxing the muscles in these areas, which softens the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Another benefit of Botox treatment is that it is a safe and effective way to enhance your natural beauty. Our clinic uses only FDA-approved Botox products, which have a proven track record of safety and effectiveness. Our staff is highly skilled and experienced in administering Botox injections, so you can feel confident knowing that you are in good hands.

Botox treatment is also a great way to maintain your youthful appearance over time. By receiving regular injections, you can prevent new wrinkles and fine lines from forming, and maintain the results of your previous treatments. This can help you to look and feel your best for years to come.

So if you’re looking for a safe, effective, and non-invasive way to enhance your natural beauty and turn back the clock on aging, look no further than Botox treatment in Calgary. Contact our dermatologist clinic today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how Botox can help you achieve the youthful, vibrant look you desire.

How To Get The Gastric Sleeve On Nhs –Alternatives

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When it comes to weight loss surgeries, the gastric sleeve success rate is the highest, 80-90%, with people losing 60-70% of their excess weight within the first year post-op.

This and the fact that in the UK’s private clinics, bariatric surgery prices are one of Europe’s highest, make gastric sleeve on NHS a much sought-after option.

Do I qualify?

To be listed for gastric sleeve on NHS, there is a certain base frame you must fit into (pun intended). That is, have a BMI (body mass index) of 40 or above OR BMI 35+ and any serious obesity-induced illness (heart condition, Type 2 diabetes, etc). You must also be able to prove that you have tried other certified means of weight loss, but have been unsuccessful. You need to agree to a long-term follow-up after surgery and of course, be fit enough for both anaesthetic and the surgery itself.

In case your BMI is 50 or over, surgery may be considered without needing to try other weight loss methods first.

Cost of a gastric sleeve surgery

While gastric sleeve on NHS does not tap into the patient’s wallet, it costs the NHS a pretty penny (the exact amount unclear, but pricier than gastric bypass, which is listed for £6000 and above). NHS annual cost of bariatric surgeries exceeds £45 billion and while the British government is constantly increasing the budget for bariatric surgery, it is nowhere near to lift it up the funding priorities ladder.

Meanwhile, gastric sleeve surgery prices in the UK’s private clinics are unaffordable to many (not to say most) people in dire need of it – depending on location and other variables, anything between £8000 to £13 000.

The alternative? Bariatric tourism

Turkey is starting to get „out of fashion“, with more and more people choosing to have their gastric sleeve in Europe. Gastric sleeve in Latvia is also on a steady rise, and the reason for both is the same – more affordable, quality service with much shorter waiting time, and fewer qualification conditions.

Add to this but a short, comfortable flight and it makes no one wonder, why bariatric tourism is leading more and more people to discover the eastern part of Europe, namely the Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Latvia, starring the Weight Loss Riga clinic, is definitely winning more and more glory for their personal-but-professional service, very high success rates, and all-inclusive surgery packages. Just to compare the prices –

  • Gastric sleeve in the UK – £8000-13 000
  • In Turkey – £3000-3500
  • In Belgium – £5000-6000
  • In Poland – £3600

All of the previously mentioned prices have been non-inclusive, while Weight Loss Riga stands out with a gastric sleeve surgery package of:

£4980

 In conclusion, while gastric sleeve on NHS is definitely a possibility, especially with NICE vouching for more bariatric surgeries for Type 2 diabetes patients, it is also a long and hesitant wait. To those who cannot afford to wait but may be able to afford some self-funding, the all-inclusive bariatric surgery packages are game – and life! – changers.

What Is a Mental Health Coach And The Certification Process

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Mental health coaching is a relatively new field that aims to bridge the gap between clinical mental illness and life coaching. It focuses on the emotional well-being of clients to better their mental health.

Life coaches tend to focus on helping people get their lives together and find their life’s purpose. Mental health coaching is in high demand because people nowadays lead stressful lives that make them subject to their emotions. This post will clarify what mental health coaching is and how to get certified.

What is a Mental Health Coach?

A mental health coach helps people who don’t have mental illnesses overcome emotional and mental conflict and deal with stressful situations. The coach meets with clients who need support to keep their mental space clean in their everyday lives.

For example, clients with depression may need a coach to help them with daily obstacles and equip them with skills to keep their cool. The sessions conclude when a client is emotionally intelligent and makes decisions after thoughtful deliberation.

What does Mental Health Coaching entail?

Mental health coaching is different from seeing a counselor or a therapist. The process does use some counseling skills, but the coaching process aims to help clients with their current mental well-being.

Mental health coaching helps people overcome mental issues that aren’t considered clinical issues like dealing with self-sabotage habits, negative thinking, work-life balance, or improving your personal life. The process isn’t therapy, but you can work on conflicts in your personal or professional life with a mental health coach.

Moreover, mental health coaching is a short-term endeavor. For example, you can talk to a coach when you move to a new place and have trouble coping. Another scenario is when you have difficulty dealing with stress at work for a project. A mental health coach can help out with the mild mental health issues you are dealing with instead of going to friends and family.

Are Mental Health Coaches Professionals?

Yes. Mental health coaches are highly trained and certified to assist clients with their issues. They are not therapists, and they won’t attempt to deal with mental problems that require a medical professional. Overall, reputable institutions ensure their coaches have all the necessary certificates before they can work with clients.

How to Get Certified

You can get a mental health coaching certificate by undertaking an intensive course from a reputable institution. The coursework combines several training courses that train you to be a life coach, teach you how to mentor clients, and learn how to do mental health coaching.

Anyone can enroll in the course and study to become a coach. Online courses are available, and the instructors are usually experienced mental health coaches. Therefore, you will be taught by a professional who can give you examples that relate to real-life problems. You will be certified after completing the course, and you can start working immediately after graduation.

Become a Certified Mental Health Coach Today

A mental health coach offers services that bridge the gap between clinical therapy and life coaching. Many people undergo situations that cause mental and emotional conflicts, but they don’t qualify as cognitive issues. Mental health coaching helps clients deal with problems that drain them mentally and help them through those situations. Become part of a growing community of certified mental health coaches and help those around you today.

Top 7 Immune-Boosting Smoothie Recipes

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Feeling like flu is catching up with you? Is the immune system in need of a reboot? You’ve come to the right place! We’ve pulled together a collection of 7 of the most immune-boosting smoothies around.

And the best thing? There’s no need for the endless crunching of carrots or grazing on greens – these smoothies are packed with immune-boosting nutrients you can quickly and conveniently absorb in a delicious drink!

How do smoothies help to boost our immune system?

It depends on what they’re made of! The best smoothies to boost the immune system are low in sugar and packed with fresh fruits and veggies.

Some of the best immunity-boosting ingredients are dark leafy greens, berries, citrus fruits, and root veggies, all of which feature in Little West’s amazing Immunity Boosting Juice Kit. These are rich in antioxidants and vitamins A, C, E which help to supercharge your immune system and keep you feeling happy and healthy.

Plus, unlike juices, smoothies contain fiber! Fiber is great for our gut health and a healthy gut microbiome is essential for a strong immune system.

1.  Brilliant Berry Smoothie –

Immune-Boosting

Berries (especially blueberries, blackberries and raspberries) are bursting with antioxidants, fiber, and other essential minerals. Studies show they may help to reduce inflammation, boost immunity and improve skin health. This immune-boosting smoothie is packed with berry goodness, banana, almond milk, and chia seeds for extra protein.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup frozen blueberries
  • 1 cup frozen berries of your choice – raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, or a mix
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1 banana, chopped
  • ½ cup unsweetened almond milk

Method

  • If you’re using fresh berries, freeze them the night before you plan to make the smoothie.
  • You can also soak the chia seeds in almond milk or water if you prefer a softer texture.
  • Place all ingredients and blend in the blender until the smoothie is thick, smooth, and pourable.
  • Sweeten to taste with agave nectar.
  • Enjoy some immune-boosting goodness!

2.  Get Up & Go Green Smoothie –

Immune-Boosting

Inspired by Little West’s gorgeous green juice The Clover, the GetUp & Go Green Smoothie is packed with leafy greens, raw veggies, and lime. If you’re looking for smoothies to boost your immune system and an easy way to up those daily veggie portions, this one is for you.

Leafy greens like kale and spinach are huge sources of immune-boosting vitamins such as A, E, K, and B6 and minerals like iron, magnesium, and calcium. Don’t like eating your greens? Just drink ‘em instead!

Ingredients

  • ½ cup kale, washed and chopped, fibrous stalks removed
  • ½ cup spinach, washed and chopped
  • ½ cup celery, chopped
  • 1 pear, chopped
  • ½ cup coconut water
  • Juice of 1 lime

Method

  • Place all ingredients and blend in the blender for 3-5 minutes, until the consistency is smooth and drinkable. Add more coconut water if needed.
  • Enjoy some lean, clean, green goodness!

3.  Citrus, Ginger & Turmeric Cold-Busting Smoothie –

Immune-Boosting

If you start to feel a stuffy nose coming on or just want to make sure your body is primed to face germs and viruses, this is the immune-boosting smoothie for you. Inspired by this supercharged Sunrise Juice, it’s packed with the finest natural cold-busting ingredients.

Turmeric and Ginger been used in traditional medicine for their renowned antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. Carrots are packed with vitamin A and add some sweetness, while citrus fruits add some delicious zing, as well as a whole lot of immune-boosting vitamin C.

Finally, it’s finished off with some hydrating coconut water and a pinch of black pepper to increase the bioavailability of all those amazing antioxidants.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups peeled citrus fruits of your choice
  • 1 raw carrot, peeled & chopped
  • ½ “ piece of ginger, peeled & chopped
  • ½ cup coconut water
  • ½ tsp ground turmeric
  • Pinch of black pepper
  • 1 cup ice

Method

  • Place all the ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.
  • Savor each zesty, spicy sip and feel recharged and replenished!

4.  Amazing Antioxidant Smoothie –

Amazing Antioxidant Smoothie

Antioxidants are plant compounds that can help to fight free radicals in our body,  reducing oxidative stress, protecting our cells, and warding off certain diseases. This immune-boosting smoothie combines fresh ingredients that are naturally packed with beneficial antioxidants.

Almonds and kale provide vitamin E, blueberries and grapes provide anthocyanins (the compound that gives the fruits their vibrant purple color) and carrots are a great source of vitamin A and beta-carotene. That’s a whole lot of immune-boosting nourishment in one delicious smoothie!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1 cup kale, washed & chopped, fibrous stalks removed
  • ½ cup purple grapes
  • ½ cup frozen blueberries
  • ½ cup raw carrot, peeled & chopped

Method

  • Place all the ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.
  • Enjoy a fresh and filling smoothie and absorb all that antioxidant goodness!

5.  Magic Mango Smoothie –

Magic Mango Smoothie

Tropical, sweet, and juicy, mango is one of the most delicious fruits around. But did you know that it’s also a  great source of folate, vitamin C and A, protective antioxidants, and beta-carotene?

This immune-boosting smoothie is bursting with mango magic as well as those delicious herbal healers: ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon. Throw some carrots, banana, and orange juice in and you’ve got yourself an immune-boosting breakfast smoothie that’s bursting with essential nutrients.

Ingredients

  • ½ cup frozen mango pieces
  • 1 large carrot, peeled & chopped
  • ½ banana, peeled & chopped (can be fresh or frozen)
  • ¾ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp ground turmeric
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon

Method

  • Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend on high until smooth. Add more orange juice if needed.
  • Enjoy an immune-boosting breakfast of sunshiney goodness!

6.  Beautiful Beet Smoothie –

Beautiful Beet Smoothie

Taking a cue from Little West’s beet-tastic Go Big Juice, this smoothie is made with plenty of beautiful beets, as well as apples, blueberries, ginger, and kale. It has a sweet, earthy flavor, with just the right level of gingery kick!

Rich in antioxidants, fiber, and anti-inflammatory compounds, studies show that beets help to support better blood flow, reduce inflammation, and promote detoxification.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raw beets, peeled & chopped
  • ½ apple, chopped
  • ½ cup frozen blueberries
  • ½ cup kale, peeled & chopped, fibrous stalks removed
  • ½ “ piece of ginger, peeled & grated
  • ½ cup water or coconut water

Method

  • Place all ingredients in a blender and blend at a high speed until smooth and pourable. You can add more liquid if needed.
  • Enjoy a bright and beautiful immune-boosting smoothie!
  • Note that this delicious smoothie may cause your urine to turn pink or red. This is completely normal and nothing to worry about!

7.  Dreamy Detox Smoothie –

Dreamy Detox Smoothie

Greens, greens, wonderful greens! Packed with super-green goodness, this is a smoothie to boost your immune system, flush out toxins and make you feel hydrated and replenished. And don’t worry if you don’t like eating your greens – this immune-boosting smoothie delivers 2 tasty portions in a refreshing, citrusy smoothie!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups baby spinach
  • 2 cups greens of your choice – kale, chard, parsley, etc.
  • 2 sticks celery, chopped
  • ½ cup green apple, chopped
  • 1 cup frozen sliced banana
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled & grated
  • ½ cup fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup coconut water
  • 1 tsp spirulina powder (optional)

Method

  • Place all ingredients in a blender and blend on high until smooth.
  • Sweeten with your preferred liquid sweetener if needed
  • Enjoy some clean, green nutrition!

To wrap up…

Smoothies are a fantastic and convenient way to up your fruit and veggie intake, get more essential nutrients and boost your immunity while you’re at it. These immune-boosting smoothies are packed with plant-powered ingredients that have been carefully selected for their healing, protecting, and detoxifying powers.

Be sure to check out Little West’s collection of Immunity Boosting Juicesfor even more delicious immune defense drink options!

Vaping 101: Which Vape Juice Ingredients to Avoid

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Vaping is increasingly on the rise, especially with more people learning the benefits of cannabis. More people are now vaping cannabis as an alternative to smoking. Certainly, vaping is safer than smoking, but it also carries potential risks.

One of the leading causes of risks associated with vaping is the type of ingredients used in vape juice. Some vape juice manufacturers use chemicals that could be harmful to the body. Consequently, when buying vape juice, you should check the ingredients to ensure that they are safe.

If you are looking for the best vape juice in 2021, you should know the best ingredients to help you make an informed choice. But how do you know the best or the worst ingredients? It isn’t easy if you are not so vast in chemistry. But you don’t need any knowledge in chemistry because we have a list of the ingredients you need to avoid.

Key Ingredients in Vape Juice

Every vape juice contains Propylene Glycol (PG), Vegetable Glycerin (VG) or both. These ingredients give the vape juice its smooth flavor, but they are mixed with other ingredients, including natural or artificial flavors, to give the user a unique, satisfying experience.

Both PG and VG are safe for human consumption and are common additives in food products and medicines. The best vape juice combines PG and VG even though each can be used independently. VG is too viscous, which makes it unsuitable for vaping, while PG is too light.

While PG and VG are safe, they may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. But apart from allergies, there is nothing of concern with PG and VG.  So, what ingredients should you avoid in your vape juice?

Vape Juice Ingredients to Avoid

1.    Diketones

When you taste your e-juice and notice that it has a creamy, buttery flavor, you are probably tasting diketones. This chemical is used in many food products to add flavor, but you will find it indicated on the label. The law does not require manufacturers to indicate on the label if the e-juice contains diketones like in food products. That’s why you will not see it on the label.

Diketones

The other problem with diketone is that even if it’s indicated on the label, you will hardly notice. Diketones refers to a group of chemicals rather than one. This group comprises diacetyl, acetoin, and acetyl propionyl. Some manufacturers will indicate these chemicals, but many consumers do not know that they are diketones.

Long-term inhalation of diketones could be dangerous to your health. Diketones are associated with severe respiratory infections. Diacetyl is potentially the most dangerous diketones, and you should avoid vape juices that have it as an ingredient.

2.    Cinnamon

Coumarin, the main chemical in cinnamon, could cause liver problems. This must be a surprise because you wonder why people use cinnamon as a spice if it’s dangerous. Well, cinnamon has significant health benefits, but the same chemical that gives it those benefits could be dangerous if taken in large amounts.

You probably don’t eat cinnamon in your food every day, and the amount in food is too little to cause any problems. But if you vape daily, then using e-juices with cinnamon could put your health at risk.

3.    Vanillin

The vanilla flavor is common in e-juices. To acquire that vanilla flavor, manufacturers use vanillin, a flavoring chemical that is toxic if inhaled. Natural vanilla extract is rare and expensive, so manufacturers turn to synthetic vanillin.

Research shows that vanillin can cause cell death and lead to heart disease. Even when used in low levels, it can cause oxidative stress and trigger inflammatory marker interleukin-6. If the vape juice contains vanillin, it could cause damage to your heart over time.

4.    Menthol

Menthol

This is a shocking one because menthol is one of the most common flavors in vape juices. And vapers also like the cooling effect it offers, especially during long vaping sessions. But that soothing feel it gives could camouflage a deadly chemical.

Menthol is potentially toxic to epithelial cells. If you vape menthol-flavored e-juice for an extended period, it could increase cell death risk, especially bronchial cells.

5.    Dimethyl Pyrazine

You probably have never heard about dimethyl pyrazine, but you certainly know the strawberry flavor. Shockingly, the chemical dimethyl pyrazine used to acquire the strawberry flavor can harm your heart cells. Pyrazine derivatives could also cause irritations of the upper respiratory tract.

You may not cause any harm to your body if you use these flavors occasionally. However, regular use could cause small damages that may manifest into serious health issues over time.

Conclusion

Most of the flavorings used in e-juices are widely used in the food industry. Some of these chemicals may not present safety concerns when ingested but could be dangerous if inhaled.

Consumers just know their favorite flavor but never check the ingredients that give these flavors. The next time you buy vape juice, check the label to ensure the ingredients are safe.

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