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Nutrition & Healthy Food

Health Benefits Of Going Into A Low Carb Diet

Carbohydrates are the most common and preferred source of energy for most of us since childhood, which makes up the “go” or “energy-giving” foods in the food chart.

However, when a person ages, the body’s ability to burn carbohydrates slows down, which can be deposited as fats, possibly causing overweight and obesity. In addition, chronic diseases may also develop because of increased carbohydrate intake, such as hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes.

A low carb diet is a recommended diet for those who want to lose weight and those who want to regulate their blood pressure and blood sugar levels to stay healthy and fit.

So what are the benefits of going into a low carb diet?

In this article, you’ll become more aware of the health benefits of trying a low-carb diet to draw motivation and achieve your health and fitness goals.

What Is a Low Carb Diet?

A low carb diet may range from zero to 150 grams of carbohydrates per day. And there are different types of low carb diets depending on the goal you want to achieve. While some people take a low carb diet to maintain weight, others want to lose weight, treat disease, or to follow healthy diets and eating practices of ancestors.

According to a study, dietary guidelines may consider a low carbohydrate diet as safe and effective for weight management among overweight and obese individuals who have consumed equal or less than120 grams of carbohydrates per day.

How Does It Work?

Low-carb diets trigger a greater breakdown of body fats of lipolysis—the body shifts from burning carbohydrates to burning fat, making it as its primary fuel source. A low carbohydrate diet forces the body to utilize fat reserves to convert them into energy, translating into better health and a slimmer waistline.

Health Benefits of a Low Carb Diet

1. Improved Cardiovascular

Health Like Paleo, a low-carb diet helps improve blood pressure, cholesterol or triglycerides, and overall cardiovascular health. You don’t have to necessarily avoid saturated fats because fats don’t have an impact on blood levels. The real culprits are carbohydrates, which lead to overweight or obesity leading to insulin resistance and thereby increasing saturated fats in the blood. In short, cutting off the carbs can get you back on track in your body weight, and your blood levels will follow.

It’s perfectly healthy for any individual to follow a low carb diet, … Read the rest

Lifestyle

7 Common Causes of Ear Discomfort

Did you know that, other than the common cold, middle ear infections are the most common childhood illness?

Unfortunately, ear discomfort can strike adults as well. It’s not always clear whether it’s a common infection or something deeper.

As it turns out, there are quite a few common causes of ear pain. But how can you identify the cause?

We’re here to fill you in! Check out our guide below to learn about seven of the most common causes of ear discomfort!

1. Swimmer’s Ear

Swimmer’s Ear is the common name for external otitis, an infection typically caused when water gets trapped in the ear canal. Swimmer’s Ear causes a feeling of fullness in the ear and discomfort, along with pain if the earlobe is pulled.

External otitis can also develop if one sticks cotton swabs or their fingers in their ear. This can damage the skin lining the ear canal and lead to infection.

2. Ear Discomfort Due to Change in Pressure

Ear barotrauma is the name of the ear discomfort that occurs when you experience a change in pressure. This happens commonly when there’s a change in altitude, such as when you’re on a plane.

Another common cause is deep-water diving. Luckily, it can usually be remedied without medical intervention—yawning or chewing gum are a couple of ways to relieve ear barotrauma.

3. Earwax Buildup

If the ear produces too much earwax, the excess wax will harden and cause a blockage. Attempting to clean out wax from the ear can actually push the wax farther inside the ear. This can lead to temporary hearing loss, as well as the possibility of infection and discomfort.

4. Cholesteatoma

Cholesteatoma is a benign skin growth that is typically a result of frequent middle ear infections.

The growth is usually a cyst, and as it grows it can cause pressure and aching pain in the ear. Treating cholesteatoma is best handled by professionals, as it requires surgical removal.

5. Ear Pain Due to Toothache

Ear pain is not always due to internal complications. External factors can also be at fault. This is the case when ear discomfort coincides with tooth pain.

Cavities, incoming wisdom teeth, and gum disease are a few dental-related issues that can cause ear discomfort.

6.  Middle Ear Infection

A middle ear infection, also known as otitis media, is what you’d consider the most common type of … Read the rest

Nutrition & Healthy Food

Nutrition Through Time: 7 Things Your Body Needs More as You Age

Following a healthy diet and meeting nutrition needs is important for everyone, but as people age, their nutritional needs change.

While they need less of some things, such as calories, they need more of other things. Understanding these revised requirements will help seniors and anyone helping to take care of them provide the optimal diet for longer life.

Although diet can’t cure all ills, it can help minimize the risk of developing many of the health problems common among older individuals.

Water and Other Fluids

One problem common among older adults is dehydration. Staff members from Brandywine Senior Living and other assisted living facilities need to be particularly careful to watch for this problem. It often goes unnoticed, and the symptoms of dehydration can easily be confused with those from other health issues. Part of the reason for this problem is that as people age, their sense of thirst doesn’t work as well. It helps to keep a glass of water handy to sip from throughout the day because not all people can drink an entire glass at once comfortably.

Protein

Many people don’t realize that people need more protein as they age. Additional protein in the diet helps limit muscle loss, especially when paired with strength training exercises. Aim for 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. The only exception is for people with kidney issues.

Calcium, Vitamin D, Potassium, and Magnesium

Older adults are at a greater risk for osteoporosis, and these four nutrients are all important for strong bones. Vitamin D and magnesium help keep the immune system functioning well, and potassium helps minimize blood pressure levels. As people age, they don’t absorb as much magnesium, so they need to include more in their diet.

Iron

You can develop anemia if you don’t consume enough iron. Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies. Symptoms include being lethargic and tired. Vegetarians may be particularly in need of a little extra iron, as the iron found in plant foods isn’t as easily absorbed as that from animal foods.

Fiber

If your digestive system isn’t working as well as it used to, this is a common occurrence in older people. Increasing fiber intake can help minimize this issue and get things moving on a more regular basis. Higher fiber intake also helps limit the risk of heart disease. Just remember that, when you increase … Read the rest

Lifestyle

The New Normal When Dining In Restaurants Syracuse

The restaurant industry has been suffering for months because of the coronavirus pandemic. The
reopening of dining rooms across Central New York brings hope to the hospitality sector in the
“new normal” setting.

Ryan McMahon, Onondaga’s County Executive, believes that Central New York has a low rate of coronavirus infections and high testing capabilities to move into phase three. The state has recently released its rules and guidelines, including those for the restaurant business.

In this post, you’ll know more about the rules and guidelines concerning the new normal when dining in restaurants in Syracuse.

New Normal Setting

The term “new normal” was coined way back during the aftermath of the global recession from 2009 to 2012, way before the coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic struck. It pertains to the drastic changes in existing rules due to the financial and economic impacts of the crisis.

With the current pandemic, the new normal calls for drastic changes that restrict people’s usual routine activities, including dining in their favorite restaurants. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and other restaurants in Syracuse can now serve customers indoors as the state is in phase three of the reopening plan of new normal.

Guidelines for Restaurants’ New Normal Setting

While meals delivery is available, many people crave to dine in their favorite restaurants. It’s also one way to meet friends and relatives again after the lockdowns and restrictions. Before heading to your favorite restaurant, check out these guidelines for the new normal setting.

1. Limit Indoor Capacity

While it’s fun to go back to the old setting when families and friends dined together in restaurants, the new normal requires adherence to certain limits. Now, a maximum of fifty percent of the indoor seats can be filled. This number excludes employees.

2. Limit Outdoor Capacity

When it comes to outdoor tables in restaurants, six feet distance must be maintained between
tables.

3. Physical Barriers

If distancing isn’t available, there should be physical barriers, like plastic shields, placed between
tables. Here’s how:

  • Physical barriers may include partitions and sneeze guards, not just between tables, but
    also cash registers, food pick-up areas, host stands, and restaurant kitchens.
  • Physical guides must be provided to maintain social distancing. These include placing a tape on floors and sidewalks and installing signage to ensure everyone remains at least six feet apart.
  • Restaurants should also consider providing guides wherever there are lines, like at the bar and in
… Read the rest

Nutrition & Healthy Food

Why Should Students Eat Healthy?

With all the stress students experience with studies in college, gaining weight is easy. Healthy food helps not only keep fit but feel better in general.

How Eating Healthy Can Help You In College

Being a student is not easy: even though you finally get the desired freedom and the ability to hang out with friends not being constantly controlled, you still have a lot of responsibilities. You need to study hard, pay off your student loan, earn some cash, and just be mature. Sometimes the studying process gives you so much workload that you think «I just need someone agreed to do my homework. That`s it.» When it happens too often, you order an essay to cope with academic papers, at least. And then you feel burnt out and here is when stress comes.

You would be surprised to know that this stress can be reduced (if not removed) by leading a healthy lifestyle: eating well, going to the gym, and not staying up late. Although it seems almost impossible, as students are used to eating junk food, play video games and study at night. In this article, we will discuss why eating healthy in college is important and how it can help you feel better in general.

The Importance Of Healthy Food In A Student`S Life

For many young people, college is represented with a series of new challenges, including the pile of regular home assignments, increased stress, lack of money, and future uncertainty. If you can cope with studies by asking someone, «Can you do math homework for me?», stress is an unavoidable part of your university experience.

While all people deal with stress differently, there is still one thing that can help you feel well, which a healthy diet is. Even though it can be hard to resist the temptation to eat a hamburger after midnight with your friends, the benefits outweigh it. So here are top pros of having healthy food in college:

1. Weight Loss

This is probably one of the main advantages if you are concerned about looking good, but you have no time to go to the gym. Besides, losing weight can also benefit your health as it reduces the risk of chronic diseases like problems with heart and diabetes. If you get enough fiber, you can easily manage your weight and regulate hunger feeling fuller for longer;

2.

… Read the rest

Lifestyle

9 Critically Helpful Benefits of Psychotherapy

Did you know that many Americans have reported increased levels of emotional distress? Mental health conditions have appeared or worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Do you find that you’re struggling now more than ever? If you’re overwhelmed and need help, consider connecting with a local psychotherapist.

If you’re unsure about the benefits of psychotherapy, we can help. In this guide, we’ll answer the question, “does psychotherapy work?” and go over how it can improve your mental health and relationships.

Want to learn more? Keep reading to find out.

1. Learn About and Treat Depression

Depression impacts how people think, feel, and act. People with depression suffer from sleep problems and appetite changes. They also may experience feelings of apathy or guilt.

Individuals with depression can seek out treatment for their symptoms. Some people will have a combination of medication and psychotherapy treatment.

A therapist will work hard to make their clients feel comfortable and safe so they can heal. They will discuss the potential causes and solutions to the client’s concerns.

A therapist can help someone with depression learn new ways of reacting and thinking.

2. Treat and Manage Anxiety

Anxiety is different from daily life stressors people experience. Clinical anxiety is a chronic symptom, and it makes people feel on edge a lot of the time.

People with anxiety disorder tend to struggle with their relationships. They often have a difficult time controlling their emotions.

Psychotherapy can help an individual understand their emotions better. Instead of getting paralyzed by fear, they can learn and understand their feelings.

Psychotherapy can help someone learn how to cope with daily negative thoughts.

3. Treat Compulsions and Obsessions

An obsession is an unwanted and persistent thought fixed on a particular goal or topic. A compulsion is an irrational and repeated behavior that people feel they must do.

People perform compulsions to release the anxiety they feel from their obsession.

Mental health professionals work with clients to examine their behaviors to bring change. The client will understand negative thought patterns and learn alternatives to their compulsions.

With a psychotherapist’s help, people can learn how to break the cycle.

4. Repair Your Relationships

When you work with a psychotherapist, you can learn how to improve your relationships.

If you’re struggling with your marriage, consider calling a marriage counselor. A psychotherapist will help you open lines of communication with your partner.

The same can be … Read the rest

Lifestyle

How To Choose The Right Stainless Steel Wire For Your Project Needs

Are you looking for a tough metal wire material for your next project?

The first metal that pops into your head is probably stainless steel. Stainless steel wire is without a doubt, one of the most durable metals on the market today.

But there’s more than one type of stainless steel wire to choose from.

One can divide stainless steel alloys into roughly 5 main groups. Each group of steel consists of a different mix of metal alloys offering different benefits and durability. Using the wrong type of steel wire for your project can cause serious problems.

You must also consider the strength, gauge, and machinability of the wire. The size and durability depend on your wire needs.

How do you choose the right stainless steel wire for your next project? You start with this guide. Here’s how you can find the perfect steel wire for your project needs.

5 Main Types of Stainless Steel Wire

The metal alloys that make up stainless steel can vary. Different combinations of metal alloys allow the steel wire to become stronger, magnetic, softer, and so forth. Here’s a closer look at each one.

1. Austenitic Steel

This type of stainless steel wire is the most common. Austenitic steel is not magnetic and contains low amounts of carbon and higher amounts of chromium and nickel. In some uses, austenitic steel can become magnetic for certain uses.

Its benefits include resistance to corrosion, formability, and availability.

2. Martensitic Steel

Martensitic stainless steel consists of a high amount of chromium followed by lower amounts of nickel and carbon. It has a greater amount of carbon compared to other steel types. It’s also the rarest type of stainless steel.

Martensitic steel is strong, durable, and corrosion-resistant. Its composition makes it one of the best options for fabrication. You can find it in applications ranging from medical tools to mechanics.

3. Ferritic Steel

Ferritic stainless steel is the second most popular type of steel. This type is magnetic steel consists of high levels of chromium (10-30%) and lower amounts of carbon. Its strength makes it an ideal choice for smaller lighter applications.

Like most stainless steel, ferritic steels are resistant to corrosion and oxidation.

4. Duplex Steel

Duplex steel is a mix of ferritic and austenitic stainless steels. This stainless steel is much stronger than either ferritic or austenitic and is tougher than ferritic steels. They also … Read the rest

Nutrition & Healthy Food

10 Misconceptions Regarding Healthy Nutrition For Seniors: Do You Still Believe These Myths?

Older Americans who do not have the latest nutritional information can suffer malnutrition because of believing food myths. People who live alone and isolated can find it hard to get the proper food and prepare healthy meals for themselves. Some older people find life on their own harder when they do not feel well or are suffering from cognitive or memory issues.

When Is It Time To Move To A Home Where Help Is Available?

No one wants to give up their independence before they must for health or other reasons. There are services including CaringAdvisor that help seniors live healthier, happier lives as they age. Some people can get by living in their family home with some in-home help and services, while others need to move to a senior housing community that better meets their needs.

These services have professionals who meet with families to give them advice on the type of community to seek in their neighborhood or city. There are different types of senior communities, including independent living communities, assisted living communities, memory care facilities, and nursing homes. There are senior communities that offer all of these solutions so a couple or single senior can start with one type of housing and move to the other types of housing as the need arises without moving long distances.

Senior Nutrition Is An Issue During The Aging Process

As people age, their nutritional needs also change in ways that may not be well understood. For instance, senior citizens need more protein and calcium as they age but may need fewer calories. Each person will have different nutritional needs depending on their health issues and personal situation. They should eat fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich foods, get 1,200 mg of calcium each day, and choose whole grains instead of white flour.

These 10 Nutrition Myths Need To Be Forgotten

  1. Our stomachs shrink as we get older. This is not true though our appetites might change. Not eating well can make us age faster and be less healthy.
  2. Losing weight is healthy. Losing too much weight and obesity are unhealthy as we age. A doctor should guide a senior citizen in keeping the proper weight.
  3. As people age, they need to eat less. Seniors need to eat a healthy diet with plenty of protein, minerals, and vitamins.
  4. Older people only need to eat what they like or feel like eating. Even
… Read the rest

Lifestyle

Most Popular Food Supplements to Make You Healthy, Strong, and Beautiful

Choosing dietary supplements can be somewhat challenging, especially if you’re new to this area. Lots of people walk through the supplement aisle idly, looking through a wide range of products in search of a magical pill that can help them improve their health, boost mental capacities or immune system.

Getting the sufficient amount of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins can be difficult even for those people who try to eat healthily, let alone those whose lifestyles are so hectic and stressful that they can barely grab a sandwich during the breaks.

It not a secret that if your organism fails to get the recommended nutrients and vitamins on a regular basis, you run the risk of developing health problems over time, which may substantially worsen your quality of life. Below are the four food supplements that are worth not only checking but also your hard-earned dollars.

  • For more detailed overview of the most popular food supplements, kindly refer to the full article at timeforlifenow.com

#1 Omega-3

The first supplement on our list is omega-3. Getting omega-3 supplements is important to have plenty of DHA and EPA because to help your brain function at the peak of its performance.

It may be surprising for you to know that your brain is mostly fat, 60 % of which is omega-3 DHA. DHA is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid that is essential for brain development. As for another important component of omega-3, EPA, it is great for ligaments and joints of the body.

Among other noteworthy benefits of omega-3 is its ability to speed recovery time, increase focus and concentration, improve eyesight, and reduce risk factors for heart diseases.

What’s more, omega-3 is famed for its anti-inflammatory properties. Omega-3 supplements can come in handy if you’re struggling with short-term or chronic inflammations. Since chronic inflammation also may be responsible even for such terminal diseases as cancer and Alzheimer’s, omega-3 may be effective in treating patients suffering from such conditions.

#2 Vitamin A

Vitamin A comes in two forms. First, there’s preformed vitamin like retinol. These carotenoids directly provide human bodies with vitamin A and are found in animal sources like dairy, fish, and meat, especially liver.

The other types come in the form of provitamin A carotenoids like beta-carotene. This is found in darkly-colored fruits and vegetables like cantaloupe, broccoli, and carrots.

If you follow a vegetarian diet or are deficient in some … Read the rest

Nutrition & Healthy Food

Boozy Sweets: The Art of Making Ice Cream with Alcohol

Did you know that we celebrate National Ice Cream Day every July? This year, it falls on Sunday, July 19th, but you really don’t need an excuse to beat the summer heat with some deliciously sweet ice cream.

This summer, however, we can all use an extra special treat. Why not take things to a new level and add some boozy goodness to your sweets? Yep, we’re talking about learning how to make ice cream with alcohol.

Sure, you can simply stick to a boozy ice cream float. But, if you want to get really creative and crazy, here’s how to make alcoholic ice cream that’ll be the hit of any summer party this year.

How Alcohol Affects the Texture of Ice Cream

Before diving into some delicious recipes, it’s important to understand how adding liquor to ice cream affects the texture of the desert. So, let’s start off by answering the question: does alcohol freeze?

No, alcohol doesn’t freeze, which means that when you’re making boozy ice cream, adding liquor results in a creamier texture. Alcohol such as tequila or vodka will help prevent large ice crystals from forming in the mixture, therefore making it softer and creamier.

It’s important to note, however, that to reap the benefits of this kind of creamy texture, you need to add hard liquor that’s about at least 40 percent alcohol. You can, of course, add liqueurs and other flavorings such as creme de menthe, but it’s not going to help as much with the texture.

And, you’ll also want to be mindful of the fact that adding more alcohol to the mix can eventually result in a runny mixture that won’t freeze at all. So, stick with the amount that the recipes call for (adding a sneaky extra shot won’t hurt, though).

Things to Keep in Mind When Making Ice Cream with Alcohol

Liquor-infused ice cream is delicious and aside from being mindful of how much you’re adding so as not to affect the texture too much, there are a few other things to keep in mind.

You’re going to want to make your ice cream base first. So, whatever alcoholic ice cream recipe you’re following, you’re going to make the base first as you normally would. Then, think about adding in the right kind of alcohol to mix with the flavor of the base.

You can, of course, add a little … Read the rest

Nutrition & Healthy Food

9 Food and Supplements to Help Boost Your Energy

Low energy? Tired all the time? Even simple tasks seem impossible? We get you. It happens to the best of us. And, oftentimes, it’s truly not your fault: it may actually be a problem with your diet. You see, our bodies require a diverse, dynamic, and powerful set of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to function optimally. Without receiving the right fuel, your body can feel tired, your mind can feel sluggish, and you can overall just not feel like yourself.

That’s where superfoods and supplements can come in handy. Today, we’re talking all about energy-boosting supplements and foods that you can purchase today and start feeling more like your old, energetic, vibrant self in no time. Check it out.

Caffeine Boosts

One of the fist places people turn when they’re feeling exhausted and worn out is caffeine. This quick and dirty solution can get you feeling energized and alert for a couple of hours, but if you source it from an artificial or over-processed beverage (think cheap coffee or gas station energy drinks⁠—yuck.), that feeling of energy will be followed by a sharp crash.

Try an all-natural matcha beverage for clean, sustainable source of caffeine to keep you powered through the day.

Natural Memophenol

Does your mind feel sluggish and slowed? Do you hate that feeling of not quite catching a joke until the moment has passed? Us too. All-natural memophenol supplements are the perfect antidote. Focus, mental sharpness, and overall clarity can be enhanced with just a simple vitamin, so you can stop feeling like you’re just a little too slow thinking to be productive.

Powerful Anti-oxidants

When oxidants enter the blood stream in extreme amounts, you better believe that trouble is on the way. Natural antioxidants, however, can cleanse your blood stream and help you feel cleaner, fresher, and more energized⁠—not to mention more heart-healthy in the long run!

Pick up a fresh box of blueberries, or delicious acai smoothies, for the perfect anti-oxidant dosage.

Plant Powered Protein

Protein from animal meat tends to be filled with cholesterol-boosting fats and amino acids. Plus, given how processed most meat is, you’re eating tons of salts, preservatives, and antibiotics without even knowing it. They’re bound to slow you down.

Try a natural plant-powered protein powder to feel full, powerful, and thoroughly strengthened no matter what challenge lies ahead.

Cleaner Carbs

Carbs are an essential part of your diet. … Read the rest

Nutrition & Healthy Food

5 Tips You Must Know To Grill That Perfect Steak

As summer reaches its peak, the best time for having a backyard barbecue is upon us. Break out the old grill and fire it up because today I am going to tell you how to make the best steak you have ever had.

Making a steak is not that hard, if you can avoid burning the meat to a crisp, the final product will taste decent, but how can you get the steak quality served at high-end restaurants? How can you grill a steak that rivals the flavor and texture of expensive steaks?

You will find the answer in this post because today I am going to share five fantastic steak grilling tips that will allow you to make a perfectly grilled and juicy steak.

Choose The Right Meat And The Right Cut:

Many different kinds of meat are available at drastically different rates from an average steak you get from the supermarket to high-quality Japanese wagyu. If you want your steak to be perfect, you need to choose the right type of meat.

Now, you can’t go for wagyu, or Angus beef every time; you have a backyard barbeque, these meats are more of a luxury. It would be best if you aimed to find a delicate balance between expensive and economical to get the perfect meat for your requirements.

The cut you choose from the meat also plays a significant role in determining your steak’s flavor and texture. A good rule of hand is that the thicker the cut, the better the flavor. When talking about red meat, thicker cuts are easier to get perfectly medium rare, and they have more flavor and marbleized fats that make for a fantastic texture.

You may have also noticed that high-end restaurants and steak houses also prefer to serve thicker cuts of beef, like T bones and porterhouse. This is also why the fillet mignon is the most popular cut for steaks.

The problem with grilling thin steaks is that by the time you are done searing the steak and getting it perfectly charred on the outside, the insides get overcooked. Therefore, it is harder to get a medium-rare cut.

Therefore, instead of grilling single flank steaks for everyone, get some thicker cuts and slice them after cooking.

Season Your Steak Deliberately And Consider Marinating It As Well:

 

Seasoning the steak is an essential part of getting it right; the … Read the rest

Lifestyle

How 3 Online Delivery Apps are Meeting Surging Demand for Online Food Delivery amid Stay/Work from Home Orders

The measures put in place to curb the COVID-19 pandemic have unquestionably accelerated the adoption of online shopping by millions of people.

People cannot visit their favorite restaurants or local grocery stores as frequently as they did in the past as people are advised to stay home. With restaurant and store traffic declining significantly in the U.S. during this period, people’s desire to enjoy their favorite food has shifted online.

Digital restaurant orders and deliveries surged by a staggering 63% and 67% respectively compared to the same period in 2019. In light of this positive news for food vendors, which online food delivery apps are driving the market?

FoodPanda

FoodPanda is one of Asia’s largest food ordering apps. The app has established a foothold in 41 countries and banded together close to 40,000 local restaurants in various cities.

With COVID-19 fuelling a new appetite for food deliveries and driving aggressive growth in Asia and around the globe as more people work from home, the company has seen positive development. The company has particularly seen growth in new areas such as semi-finished meals and a surge in usage by older customers. 

Mercato

Mercato.com is an online grocery e-commerce platform that hosts independent groceries and specialty food stores across the United States. The platform currently hosts over 900 stores, including stores in high-density cities that are more vulnerable to the crisis, to rural communities across the nation.

The platform works by connecting people with the best independent grocers in their neighborhoods and delivering food with the click of a button. The platform allows you to choose food items and add them to a basket, and you can shop from one vendor or combine different items from multiple stores in a single order. Once you’re done choosing you simply schedule your preferred delivery or in-store pick up.

UberEats

UberEats, the food delivery app by car-hailing service Uber, currently operates in over 1000 cities across the world. Despite the company’s car-hailing service being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, the app has certainly seen an increase in the food delivery business.

To help support restaurants, the company is funding initiatives that seek to support them in keeping their kitchens firing to cater to people. The company is funding in-app marketing for small business restaurants and it recently introduced a 0% service fee for all pickup orders. 

Ultimately, the COVID-19 crisis has changed how people … Read the rest

Lifestyle

Make Time: Are Your Eating Habits Impacting Your Health?

In the hectic pace of daily society, one of the first things to fall by the wayside is our eating habits. It’s easier to grab some food on the go or throw together a processed meal than it is to plan ahead and cook healthily.

For some people, this is because of time constraints. Others simply don’t understand how their eating habits impact their overall health and the health of their loved ones.

But, as the saying goes, if you don’t make time for your wellness, you’ll have to make time for your illness. With sites like braceyourhealth to instruct you on the importance of nutrition, there’s no excuse not to understand how food affects your body and mind.

These quick eating habit lessons will help you decide if you need to adjust what you’re doing or if you’re on the right track to a healthy lifestyle!

Tips for a Healthy Eating Lifestyle

If you’re frequently on the go or mostly sedentary, you can still have a healthy eating lifestyle. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when you’re choosing what to eat for each meal:

  1. Choose foods that are full of nutrients. If you must eat processed meals or unhealthy options, make sure you also include foods that give your body the nutrition it needs to function. Choose whole-grain bread, eat lots of lean proteins, fresh fruit and veggies, and switch your dairy to low-fat for fat-free.
  2. Include grains in your diet. The trend frequently shifts to avoiding carbs, but your body needs healthy carbs to create energy. The trick is to swap out unhealthy, sugary foods with whole-grain pasta and bread, oatmeal, and cereal. You can have carbs; you just have to choose the healthier versions.
  3. Don’t skimp on the protein. Meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans all require protein. It’s one of the most essential aspects of nutrition. Protein builds and repairs your muscles, a necessity for daily functioning. Whether you get your protein from lean meats, seafood, or plant-based foods, pack it into your meals.
  4. Fortify your bones with dairy. Milk tends to swing on the pendulum from must-have to stay-away-from trends. The fact is that dairy contains calcium and Vitamin D that your body needs. You don’t have to have cow’s milk to get your daily dose of dairy products. Soymilk, yogurt, and cheese are also options.
  5. Your body is made of water, so drink
… Read the rest

Lifestyle

5 Useful Tips For Shopping Abroad

It does not matter whether you are taking a trip abroad for vacation or you are just visiting for a work-related thing when you are in a foreign country you are bound to go shopping and bring home some new stuff.

When you are shopping in a foreign country, there are certain things that you need to keep in mind because shopping in your own country is completely different than shopping abroad.

And even though today you have the luxury to shop from any store in the world online, it is still no substitute for shopping in an actual store. So, if you are visiting a country in the near future and are planning to do some shopping here are a few things you need to keep in mind:

Clothing Sizes

When you are shopping for clothes and shoes in a foreign country, always try them before purchasing because the standard small size shirt you will get in Europe will be completely different than the one you will get in Australia.

Also, when it comes to shoe sizes, different countries use different metrics, so don’t just go into a shop and ask for the same number of shoes you wear back home. You will have to convert the number first, which you can do easily online these days, and then you can look for the size that suits you. For example, you can check this link for adult and children’s shoe size conversion in Australia as it has all the information about different metrics systems.

Do Your Research

Another important thing that you need to do before shopping is research. When you are shopping in your hometown, you are aware of the stores that are overpriced and the ones that offer you value for your money.

But when you are in another country you are only familiar with the international brands and even they will differentiate highly in price. That is what is why you need to do your research and gather information before you visit the country. There are a lot of websites out there where you can find country-specific shopping advice, use that to your advantage.

Get Familiar the Tax and Customs Rules

Before you go out there and start shopping, you need to get yourself familiar with the taxes and customs. Customs may not allow you to fly out with a certain product, so it is better … Read the rest

Lifestyle

Getting the Best Sleep: How to Get More Deep Sleep for a Better Night’s Rest

We’ve all been there before.

You wake up to go to work in the morning and you’re absolutely exhausted due to lack of sleep. Throughout your day, you’re extremely tired and have a hard time focusing on what needs to be done because of it.

Then, nighttime arrives again, and for whatever reason, you can’t fall asleep. This means the next day is just as bad as the previous, if not worse, making your life that much more difficult.

If this sounds like you, and you’re looking for a guide on how to get more deep sleep in your life, you’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we’ll breakdown 9 tips and tricks that you can use to help yourself sleep better, and for more time, allowing you to function at a high level.

We’ll also tell you when it’s time to go see a specialist as well as some basic lifestyle changes and nightly routine ideas that you can use to improve your sleep!

Now then, let’s get started!

1. Create a Sleep Schedule and Stick to It

Before you look for ways to improve your sleep schedule, you first need to make sure that you have a sleep schedule in place.

It may sound trivial, but something as simple as having a set bedtime, or a time that you’re lying down in bed, can improve your current sleep schedule greatly.

Even if you’re not tired at 10 PM, getting in bed and shutting down can help you give your body the rest that it needs in order to function properly the next day.

Once you have a sleep schedule, be sure to stick to it. Not doing so, even for just one or two nights in a row, can really turn your world upside down, leaving you in the dumps.

2. Practice Relaxing Bedtime Rituals

There are certain things that you shouldn’t be doing right before bed if you want to get a good night’s rest.

Watching an exciting movie or working out, for example, isn’t the best idea if you’re trying to go to sleep in the next few hours.

The best way to make sure your body is relaxed in time for bed is to practice relaxing bedtime rituals. Things like reading, listening to relaxing music or podcasts, or practicing meditation can help you wind down before it’s time to close your eyes for … Read the rest

Nutrition & Healthy Food

Italian Food Has Multiple Influences

When it comes to Italian food, you need to understand that Italians are not the only ones who have shaped the taste or appearance of the food.

There are many of the other influences that make up Italian food that we know today, and if you look really hard, you can see some other countries’ works and footprints on Italian culture. The Greeks, who were close and comfortable neighbors, were on the Italian food scene, and until they came across history, Italians and Greeks shared and improved many recipes.

As the Arabs migrated to the territories of Italy and left their mark, the Persians may have had similar assistance. If you want your Italian food at your door step you can browse academy hospitality as soon as possible. Here we are going to discuss what influences the Italian foods have.

The New Evolution Of Seafood

Although the Italians have an abundant Italian food scene on the coast, seafood is not actually included as a major choice. Italians have taken to showing that seafood is plentiful and that you can really make dishes with a selection of crustaceans and feathered fish.

There is a large Italian fishing industry today, and this is most evident by the people you find at the local fish markets on Saturday morning. The Greeks introduced Italian cuisine with white sauce and fine pasta, and the Italian adopted and practiced these fare.

Today, you will find many great Italian eateries that use seafood as their staple, and the sales of seafood plates going through the roof.

The Grain That Changed A Culture

If you look at what really changed the Italian culture in relation to Italian food, it is the introduction of rice by Arabs. When the Arabs moved to Italy, they brought a grain now known as rice. It was brought to Italy by Spain and Greece, and did so very well when settled in Italy.

In Italy, land crops are well-equipped to grow rice because there is less flat land close to great water sources. Italians have used rice for years, which is one of their most recognizable dishes to this day. And when you dine at an Italian restaurant, you’ll find many dishes served as a main course or side rice.

The Great Range Of Food Is Not Forbidden

When it comes down to it, there’s no denying the sumptuous range of fine … Read the rest

Lifestyle

Why Is Health Important In Life? 10 Top Tips for Making Health a Priority

Health is wealth.

This proverb might seem cliché but the message it bears shouldn’t be taken for granted. Great health is your greatest possession in life.

Yet many people don’t realize that a healthy body is priceless. If they did, they would value and take care of their health more.

So, are you still asking: Why is health important in life? Read on for some great information about the importance of good health and our top tips for making your health a priority.

What Is Health and Why Is It Important

Health is the state of being free from illness or injury. Generally, health is a state of mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness.

Without good health, it is difficult to succeed in other areas of your life. This includes your career, finances, relationships, and charity work. You need energy to perform at your best so health should be your top priority.

How important is health? Many rich people with chronic illnesses would pay millions to get their health back. Unfortunately, some health conditions have no cure, meaning no amount of money can buy perfect health. This is why taking care of yourself is an irreplaceable task.

How can you make sure that health is your number one priority? There are things you should do to keep your wellness in optimal shape.

1. Put Yourself First

Before flights take off, they tell you that in case of an emergency you should put on your mask before attempting to help other people. The same principle applies to life. You must be healthy to accomplish all your other goals or help others.

Many people have a problem with putting themselves before others because they feel that it is selfish to do so. Yet, if you get sick or burned out your loved ones will suffer too as you won’t be able to assist them as needed. Prioritizing your health and wellbeing gives you the energy needed to care for others.

2. Add Self-Care Activities to Your Daily Calendar

Schedule your self-care activities on your calendar as you do with other important meetings. Items that should be in your calendar include exercise, meditation, and sleep. Once an activity is on your calendar, the likelihood of doing it greatly increases.

3. Have a Healthy Routine for First Thing in the Morning

To ensure you complete your self-care every day, schedule the activities in the … Read the rest

Nutrition & Healthy Food

How to Perfectly Sear a Steak

Americans are a nation of beef lovers: the average adult in the U.S. consumes just over 222 pounds of red meat and poultry per year. But how many among us can claim to perfectly cook a steak?

Like checking your car’s oil or balancing your checkbook, knowing how to sear a steak the right way is something every grown-up should know how to do. And it’s surprisingly easy if you keep a few tips in mind.

Here’s the All She Cooks guide to cooking a steak so that it’s caramelized on the outside and juicy on the inside every time.

Let It Reach Room Temperature

You’ll want to make sure your steak is completely thawed and has reached room temperature first. Any cold spots will take longer to cook and the cut of meat won’t cook evenly.

You can run a frozen steak under cool water to start the thawing process but prepare ahead of time by allowing the beef to completely soften and warm up before you cook it.

Dry It Off

Moisture is the enemy if you’re trying to achieve a good sear. Before you begin cooking, pat both sides of your steak completely dry with a few paper towels.

Even if the steak looks dry out of the package, you’d be surprised how much blood may still be lingering on it.

Prep Your Pan

Next you’ll want to choose an appropriate pan and get it ready. Cast iron pans work extremely well for cooking steak, as they help achieve that slightly crispy outside you’re going for. Click here to see the best cast iron skillets for steaks.

Heat the pan for a few minutes over medium-high to high heat. Brush a little oil onto the pan, making sure it’s evenly coated.

Season the Steak

Now it’s time to give your steak a little simple flavoring by sprinkling a bit of salt and pepper on each side. This step shouldn’t be done until you’re ready to start cooking the steak, because letting salt sit on it will draw moisture out of the meat and make it wet again.

Make it Sizzle

Place the steak in the pan; you should hear a nice sizzle. If not, your pan isn’t hot enough yet, so remove the steak immediately and increase the heat.

Allow the steak to cook without moving it. Flip it to the other side when it’s ready and … Read the rest

Lifestyle

Building an Effective Muscle Building Training Plan

Building huge and beautiful muscles takes a lot of time, hard work, and a well-structured training plan. A training plan for the physical goal of building muscle relies on strength training, which focuses on basic exercises and isolation exercises. The aim is to stimulate the muscle to grow with permanent stimuli.

The Basics Of The Muscle Building Training Plan

Preparedness before training is essential to achieve the best result with your training plan.

A training plan for muscle building challenges the athlete in many ways. It is primarily based on heavy basic exercises, for which steadily increasing training weights are used. Short training sets are essential to keep the intensity high. The training plan also includes sufficient regeneration phases to make new muscle formation possible.

Tips For The Muscle Building Training Plan:

Keep A Training Diary

For most bodybuilders, keeping a training diary has proven very effective in achieving the best result. The number of sets, the weight used, and the “feeling” during training can be recorded here. Based on the training diary, the progression (permanent increase in strength) can be observed very well, and occasional adjustments in the training plan can be made.

Supportive Sports Nutrition

With a well-structured training plan, you have done half the battle on the way to successful muscle building. Also, you can support your training goal with the intelligent use of sports nutrition. Also, supplement usage is advisable. Trainers and bodybuilders buy hgh (human growth hormone) to accelerate muscle tissue growth, but they may have side effects.

Whey protein: It serves as a high-quality protein source directly after training. It provides all the essential amino acids for muscle building. It is, therefore, ideally suited as a first-aid after the stress stimulus.

Creatine: Creatine is primarily responsible for increasing strength during training, which then also improves muscle building. With the inclusion of Creatine, you can increase your athletic performance by 10-15%. Of course, a balanced, healthy diet and regular training are the basis without which Creatine does not work.

Exercise Selection

A muscle building training plan should focus on the “big 4” in the basic structure of the exercises. This means basic exercises such as bench presses, deadlifts, squats, and shoulder presses. Since these basic exercises strain the entire musculature, the most significant release of testosterone takes place here. In addition to insulin, this hormone plays a vital role in building muscle.

Approximately two-thirds … Read the rest

Lifestyle

7 Things You Can Do to Stay Safe and Healthy

Staying safe and healthy is important 365 days a year, but it’s even more critical now that there’s a worldwide pandemic threatening to infect us all. Hopefully, you’ve maintained a healthy lifestyle in the months leading up to this crisis and have a strong immune system that can reduce your risk of illness. If not, there’s no time like the present! Read through this list of seven things you can do to stay safe and healthy today, and every day.

Keep Your Hands Clean

The number one way that germs are spread is by making contacting with bacteria, then touching your face with your hands. This allows harmful pathogens to enter our respiratory system via nose or mouth. Therefore, you should stock up on bulk hand sanitizer to keep hands clean anytime they contact a dirty surface.

This is very important at the grocery store and public spaces, but you can also bring bacteria into the house despite your best sanitation efforts. It’s smart to wipe down frequently touched surfaces in your home to kill whatever the kids might have brought back from school.

And always, always wash your hands following best hygiene practices!

Cover Your Mouth

To prevent spreading germs from your hands to your mouth, a face mask is very useful because it stands in the way any time you might subconsciously make contact—which is a natural habit that happens a lot, you’ll begin to notice. Covering your mouth also helps keep others safe and healthy as well as yourself, because you could be a carrier of the disease and not even know it.

Maintain A Six-Foot Distance

When you have to go out in public during the coronavirus pandemic, try to keep at least a six-foot distance from the people around you. This can be harder to do in densely populated metropolises, but the further you can stand from your neighbor, the better.

Stay At Home

Your best bet to stay safe is to just remain at home with your family as much as possible. Everyone might feel a little stir crazy, but breakout the boardgames and try to stay patient while medical experts work on a vaccine. A little loss in sanity at the present is well worth warding off a life-threatening illness in the future.

Take Care Of Your Mental Health

On that note, it’s important to take care of your mental health just as … Read the rest

Nutrition & Healthy Food

5 Easy-to-cook Chinese recipes for Beginners

Right from the basic Hakka noodles, to tangy Manchurians, Chinese dishes surely know how to make our taste buds wiggle. But in this lockdown phase when we all are in quarantine and are missing our café and restaurant stents and adventures where we relished in the pool of food.

But you know what; there is no need to halt your cravings for Chinese until this lockdown ends because you can prepare it in your own kitchen with limited ingredients. Yes, you read it right, and guess what, with some personalized touch – you can sometimes make it better than the original! 😉

Summers with this Covid-19 pandemic has been really difficult, so here’s some treat for you. Nope, we cannot serve the dishes online, so created this beginner-friendly Chinese recipe for you. They might not appear easy while reading, but once you hit the kitchen, you will come out with a delightful food experience. So let’s begin!

1. Fried Rice

Nothing special, yet one of the most delicious and famous delicacies of china: Fried Rice. It qualifies first in this list not only because of its appetizing taste but also because it is the foundation of so many other dishes.

While rice would be the heart and soul of the dish, adding ingredients like green onions, eggs, salt, eggs, soya sauce, and the oyster sauce will keep adding the star-factor. On the other hand, while this dish accompanies the majority of Chinese recipes as a side dish, you can also serve it as a primary dish with some meat and other vegetables.

2. Oyster Sauce Chicken

You might not have heard about this dish in the past, but believe me, you are already missing out on so much if you haven’t yet tried this. Well, the problem here is, that its ingredients might not be available in the local supermarket, and you might require to visit an Asian market for the same. But that’s fine.

Alongside, here’s how you can cook it: Take chicken thighs in a frying pan, add oyster sauce, soya sauce, and wine with some vegetables of your choice, and your seasonings must include pepper and salt. Remember, most of the Chinese dishes are served over rice. While in the making, never forget that chicken in the main part and not the oyster sauce.

3. Pepper Steak Stir Fry

Steak and stir-frying are like soulmates – they … Read the rest

Lifestyle

A Golden Opportunity: How to Truly Enjoy Your Golden Years

Aging is a fact of life. It’s certainly better than the alternative. However, there is still a negative stigma around aging. In fact, many older adults have to face ageist stereotypes about their memory, or mental and physical capabilities.

One stereotype that has some basis of truth is that many people suffer from some degree of hearing loss as they reach retirement age. The nerves involved in the hearing function simply breakdown as our bodies age. The hearing loss is irreversible, but superior quality hearing aids can help improve your hearing.

Hearing Loss Can Put a Damper On Your Golden Years

Despite ageism, many people view the golden years as a time for kicking back and doing what makes you happiest. Unfortunately, hearing loss can make conversations, traveling, and even watching television stressful and not very fun.

The National Institute of Health recommends steps people can take to help ease the isolation and communication difficulties that come with hearing loss. The steps include being upfront about your hearing loss, and other suggestions for coping with your new normal.

Hearing loss doesn’t have to stop you from enjoying your golden years. In fact, when the hearing is diminished, your other senses step up to the plate and overcompensate to make up for the loss. But still, living with hearing loss takes an adjustment period, regardless of your age.

5 Tips for Enjoying Your Third Act

Spending time with grandchildren, or tooling around the garden are just a few things to look forward to when you reach a certain age. You’ve lived a long, full life, but there’s still more life left to enjoy.

Here are 5 ways to truly enjoy your golden years:

  1. Check off your travel bucket list. One’s golden years can be a perfect time to check off that travel bucket list. Traveling at an older age – especially with hearing loss – can be intimidating, and stressful. However, traveling with a companion or asking for help can make it an enjoyable experience.
  2. Stay physically active. It’s important to stay physically active, regardless of your age. Even moderate exercise, such as walking, can reduce stress and help keep your body in physical shape.
  3. Enjoy a vibrant social life. One of the biggest struggles elderly people have is loneliness. Hearing problems only emphasize the feeling of isolation. Maintaining your social connections can help stave off depression, and other mental health
… Read the rest

Lifestyle

DIY Gone Wrong: Home Renovation Projects You Need to Hire Professionals For

As a homeowner, you’re going to get an “itch” to do some DIY projects… that’s perfectly normal. Certain DIY projects are great for even the most novice of homeowners. But then there are those homeowners who overestimate their DIY capabilities and decide they can take on major home renovations just because they’ve watched a few YouTube videos.

Sure, painting your grandmother’s old rocking chair was a project that you attempted and successfully completed but pouring concrete and roof repairs are renovation projects that probably go way beyond your skill level or capabilities. Doing renovations on your own will indeed save on costs of labor but you have to ask yourself if you can actually take on that project and produce the results you desire?

As a homeowner attempting renovation projects, safety needs to be your number one concern. But again, some homeowners have a hard time determining when it’s safe to DIY and when a project is beyond their capabilities. A good rule of thumb to have in determining when a home DIY project is safe to do is to look at these things:

  • Is your home renovation project something you want to do for fun, or is it something that needs to get done? Typically, when a home renovation project is something that needs to be done, it poses more of a sense of urgency and is more than likely something that’s crucial to the overall structure of your home, meaning a professional should do it.
  • Is your home renovation project one that can easily be accomplished just from reading or watching a tutorial? If it’s something that gives you the slightest bit of anxiety about, you need to hire a professional.

When You Should Hire a Professional

Image Address: https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/contractor-painting-a-room-in-house-royalty-free-image-660246447-1552423836.jpg?resize=980:*

Because safety is the number one concern with any home renovation project, the biggest determiner of if you should hire a professional is if any mistake you make with a particular project will cause bodily harm or damage to your home. It could be the tiniest mistake, but if it causes you to hurt yourself or damage your home, you definitely need to hire a professional for it.

In case you’re not sure what type of projects you should hire professionals for, take a look at the top home renovation projects you should always hire a professional for.

Light Installations

Installing new lights isn’t like buying new lamps … Read the rest

Lifestyle

5 Best E-Commerce and Shopping Websites in Europe

The continent of Europe has a massive e-commerce market. It is a hub of retail stores and online shopping for many non-EU countries like the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, India, etc.

The e-commerce industry in Europe is increasing because people across the world like to shop from different product categories, like clothing, footwear, cosmetics, skincare, home furnishings & fixtures, car accessories, electronics, and books.

In 2019, e-commerce sales in Europe were approximately 621 billion euros. It is noted that Americans have a major influence on big online stores in Europe. They do frequent buying from European websites, such as Otto (Germany), Zalando (Germany), and Groupe Casino (France).

If you are an American who is thinking of buying European products from online stores but worry about how to pay or send money from the US to Europe at a minimal cost, then, you can easily find multiple options for payments and money transfer in 2020.

Here, I’m going to list down five major e-commerce websites for you to shop different European products:

#1: Otto

Otto is a well-recognized e-commerce website, which was founded in Germany. This website majorly covers the fashion sector and acquires multiple brands. You can also find a wide array of products, including home appliances, textiles, hardware, electronics, furniture, and sports material. Otto is a key player in the e-commerce market in Europe and other international countries.

#2: Amazon Germany

Initially, Amazon was founded in the US, but at present times, it has been spread to many countries, including Germany. Amazon Germany offers diversified products, such as apparel, jewelry, toys, books, and electronics. Amazon Germany website is a global leader of e-commerce with estimated traffic of 434.5 million visits per month.

#3: eMAG.ro

eMAG is the biggest e-commerce and shopping website in Romania. Romania is a part of Europe and is known for its amazing products, like bead jewelry, Oltenia Carpets & Rugs, Horezu Ceramics, Ie Blouse, Reghin Musical Instruments, and Romanian Wines.

The website of eMAG.ro sells products from 1600 different categories to entertain customers from across the world. This e-commerce website has listed 3,500 sellers and 1.4 million products. eMAG welcomes 500,000 new customers every day. Fashion, sport, home & decor, car accessories, and toys are the major categories from which eMAG generates the highest revenue. In 2019, it successfully managed more than 1.9 million orders and earned revenue of €100 million.

#4: Cdiscount

Cdiscount is … Read the rest

Nutrition & Healthy Food

7 Cool Vegan Recipes For A Perfect Date On Valentine’s Day

At the beginning of February, Valentine’s Day and everything related to it becomes a hot topic. In this article, we’ve put together a few romantic vegan recipes for a cozy dinner for two. It’s a matter of your personal taste which one to choose to surprise your loved one.

When you have a healthy relationship, both figuratively and literally because you’re vegan, it can be tricky to come up with unusual recipes and not eat chickpeas and greens all over again. Alright, let’s do some cooking.

1) Vegan Bruschetta With Tomatoes And Basil Recipe

Ingredients:

  1. Baguette – 3-4 slices
  2. Tomatoes – 2-3 pcs
  3. Basil – 2 bunches
  4. Olive oil – 1 tbsp
  5. Himalayan pink salt & black pepper – to taste
  6. Lemon juice – 1 tsp

Directions:

  1. Grease baguette slices with olive oil;
  2. Put the slices into a dry, heated pan. You can also dry them in a toaster or grill in the oven;
  3. Cut the tomatoes into small cubes and pick the basil leaves, add salt, pepper and lemon juice to your taste. Mix. A few options are possible here: you can use sun-dried tomatoes or blanch them in a pan for 2-3 minutes. All that’s left is to carefully put the filling on toasted slices and sprinkle some greens or seeds on top.

2) Vegan Tofu Cheese Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

  1. Eggplant – 2 pcs
  2. Bell pepper – 1 pcs
  3. Tofu – 150-200 g
  4. Tomatoes – 2 pcs
  5. Cilantro – 1 bunch
  6. Cooking oil – 3 tbsp
  7. Vinegar – 0.5 tsp
  8. Salt – to taste

Directions:

It’s served warm. The ingredients and their proportions may vary slightly depending on your taste:

  1. Peel the eggplant, cut it into medium-thin slices. Salt a little, mix, and leave for 10-15 minutes. Drain the water that has formed;
  2. Cut bell pepper into strips and tofu into cubes. Chop tomatoes and cilantro;
  3. Fry or bake the eggplant, controlling the amount of oil;
  4. Mix the ingredients, add 0.5 tablespoon of any vinegar, mix;

3) Vegan Caesar Salad Recipe

A vegan variant of a famous salad. Here are the ingredients:

  1. Iceberg salad – 0.5 bunch
  2. Romaine lettuce – 1 pc
  3. Crackers (crumb)
  4. Boiled chickpeas – 1.5 tbsp
  5. Olive oil – 1 tbsp
  6. Salt, cayenne pepper – to taste

Dressing:

  1. Cashew – 0.5 cup
  2. Olive oil – 3 tbsp
  3. Lemon juice – 1 tbsp
  4. Mustard – 0.5 tbsp
  5. Salt, pepper – to taste
  6. Water – as
… Read the rest

Nutrition & Healthy Food

7 Incredible Benefits of Not Drinking Alcohol

If you’re thinking of ending your drinking pattern, you’ve successfully completed the first step, which is admitting there is a problem. Second, by reading this, you have taken another step by looking for ways to receive help and change for the better.

While it may not always be easy to see, quitting drinking sure has its perks. Need proof? Here are seven benefits of not drinking alcohol.

Physical Improvement

Your body and mind will thank you. Your physical improvement will be the first noticeable change, as you’ll lose a few pounds and will regain full focus again. Physical reform includes your brain, so you’ll abilities for critical thinking, problem-solving, and retaining thoughts and memories will also slowly increase.

You will also begin to lose weight and will gain the energy you previously lost. Quitting drinking will allow your body to breathe, and it will catch up on filling the nutritional deficiencies. Your immune system will no longer be compromised, so you no longer will get sick so easily.

Mental Clarity

Drinking creates a huge toll on your mental health. As it disturbs your sleep and mood, your mental health is affected, leading to depression, anxiety, and other conditions and illnesses. If there are already existing mental illnesses, they could get worse.

In addition, some neurological functions could be affected or cease to work.

Ending your drinking patterns leads to the stabilization of your mood and sleep, having positive consequences on your anxiety and depression.

Control Over Actions

When you stop drinking alcohol, that foggy feeling leaves and you slowly regain power over your actions, words, and thoughts. You’ll no longer be a spectator in your own body and will restart to dictate your movements.

This is extremely important for your own health and safety, as well as those around you. Your friends, family, and others could be affected by your behavior under the influence — and this is reason enough for you to stop drinking.

Better Overall Health

Drinking has an impact on your health, and it exposes you to great danger. It can lead to liver damage, heart diseases, high blood pressure, and many types of cancer. In some cases, it can be the factor that leads toward unprotected sex, exposing you to STDs or STIs.

Your health ranges from mental to physical to spiritual. Once you have cut out the drinking, you will raise your spirits, … Read the rest

Nutrition & Healthy Food

How To Bring Fun Into The Kitchen When Cooking For The Family

Are you tired of cooking? If so, you’re among the large majority of us right now.

Since dining in at a restaurant hasn’t been an option, more of us are spending time in the kitchen. And while that’s a good thing for our waistlines (apart from snacking), it can get to feel a bit like a repeat.

So it’s a good idea to switch things up and have a little fun in the kitchen while you’re cooking for the family.

Here are some tips to liven up your dinner prep.

Get A Meal-Prep Service

When you don’t have to think about what to make each night, cooking becomes a bit more fun. You’ll have the exact ingredients you need at your fingertips and can pretend you’re a contestant on your favorite cooking competition. And this is something people don’t discuss often, but it can be a blessing to not have to deal with leftovers.

Experiment With Ingredients

When you’re cooking for an entire family, it can be scary to try new ingredients. But that’s exactly how everyone’s palate is going to expand. If you only cook the things people know they like, everyone may be missing out on some good ingredients.

And aside from the overall benefit to the fam, it’s fun to work with new ingredients. The more you learn, the more confidence you’ll feel in the kitchen. And when you’re confident, you’ll have more fun.

Invite The Family To Help

It’s true that you don’t want too many cooks in the kitchen, but maybe you can designate one night a week for each person to help you with dinner. It’s great bonding time, kind of like cooking group therapy. And these are the memories your kids will take with them for a lifetime. Especially if you have multiple kids, this can be very impactful.

Most parents of three or more children feel like they struggle to give each child one-on-one time, but this is one way to do it without having to carve out extra time in your day.

Liven It Up With Music

Who said you can’t blast your favorite music and rock out while you’re dinner prepping? If it’s the kids, you definitely don’t have to listen to them. Actually, you probably don’t have to listen to anyone who is lounging on the couch instead of helping you with dinner. And the more fun … Read the rest

Nutrition & Healthy Food

Are Meal Delivery Services Worth It? 5 Ways Meal Delivery Can Keep Your Diet on Track

If you’re on a path to a more healthy lifestyle and a smaller waistline, you know how difficult this life transition can be. It seems like everywhere you look, temptations are lurking to prevent you from attaining your goals.

The sad truth is, nearly 72 percent of Americans are overweight, more than half of them being clinically obese. The key is finding a lifestyle change that works for you and your busy life. If you’re wondering “Are meal delivery services worth it?” the answer really depends on what you need for success for your health and fitness goals.

Are Meal Delivery Services Worth It?

With such staggering numbers, it can be easy to see the weight-loss endeavor as hopeless. However, we urge you not to go down that path. Being overweight or obese can have severe health consequences.

Instead, realize that everyone’s weight loss journey is unique to them. Different diets work for different people, as do different methods of exercise. Find something that you can commit to and take advantage of the resources available to you.

In the meantime, here are some things to consider about meal delivery services.

1. Convenience

One of the biggest obstacles we face when trying to get healthy or lose weight is a lack of time. For some of us, our schedules are so hectic that we hardly have time to microwave a burrito, let alone prepare a healthy meal three times a day.

When asking “Are meal delivery services worth it?” consider how valuable your time is and how important your goals are. Meal delivery services allow you to maintain your schedule without sacrificing your health.

2. Less Temptation

When we go shopping at the local supermarket, we’re faced with hundreds of temptations that can be quite difficult to say no to. Candies, cookies, ice cream, greasy foods, convenience foods, etc.

Food delivery services help you avoid these temptations by delivering pre-packaged meals for weight loss. Your meals are brought to you, limiting your vulnerability to making poor choices.

3. Affordability

When people ask “Are meal delivery services worth it?” they’re typically referring to the cost. However, when you consider what you’re paying for, the cost becomes relative.

The best wholesome meal delivery services grant you flexibility in terms of how many meals you want to be delivered and for how many days. This helps you align your budget with your health and … Read the rest

Lifestyle

What Are Peptides and How Can You Use Them?

There are 7,000 types of peptides in your body right now.

But how safe are they to consume or apply in various health products?

If you’re a health and fitness enthusiast you’ve likely heard of peptides by now. But like any new “super chemical” it’s smart to be cautious about how legitimate the claims are and what they can actually do for you.

Here’s our breakdown of what are peptides really are.

What Are Peptides Anyways?

Peptides are essentially groupings or “strings” of amino acids. They occur naturally in your body. One peptide can have anywhere from two to 50 amino acids.

Simply put, peptides are the link that binds amino acids to form proteins.

Amino acids are one of the key substances that proteins are made of. As science class taught us, proteins are essential to pretty much every core function your body undergoes at a cellular level.

There are different types of peptides that build different proteins. Bioactive peptides are the peptides that are mostly researched for health. They are made of the body’s naturally occurring chemicals like creatine peptides, collagen peptides, and more.

Bioactive is simply a general term to represent the types of peptides that provide some kind of physiological health benefits.

They have piqued the interest of researchers because it’s been found that supplementation or application of these peptides can have a range of health benefits, depending on the type of peptide being used. These include (but aren’t limited to) lowering blood pressure, acting as antioxidants, reducing inflammation, improving immunity, killing microbes, and more.

This is because peptides are made of smaller pieces that are easier for the body to absorb than whole proteins. This means that they can enter the body easily from the skin or the intestines and enter your bloodstream easily.

You can get peptides from a range of sources, including powders, vitamins, serums, injectables, supplements, oats, legumes, flaxseed, soy, hemp seeds, and more.

Benefits of Peptides

Peptides have become commercially advertised as the new anti-aging chemical n skincare, but that’s only the beginning of their benefits.

Multiple reports and legitimate research indicates that there are many health benefits to peptides.

Aging

Peptides are touted as an anti-aging must-have in skincare for good reseason. Collagen peptides can be taken orally or applied to the skin. Collagen is the tissue in the skin that breaks down as you age and causes the skin … Read the rest