Category: Health

Steps to Achieve Healthy Hair

There was a time I was torn between keeping my damaged hair or shaving it off. The battle with split ends, an itchy scalp, hair breakage, and the dull look want nothing close to easy. My hair’s texture had changed, and the curls couldn’t form. Dryness was the order of the day, and my hair felt limp and weak. These were the days I did not know what was suitable for it. The situation remained the same until I realized that what you sow is what you leap. The more you invest in your hair, the better it gets. This was when I embarked on a journey to bring my hair back to life.

How to Get Healthy Hair Again

1. Wash your hair regularly

I was used to washing my hair weekly, but I did not know that this contributed to the damages to the hair. Washing your hair every two to three days ensures that you do away with the excess oils and dirt on the hair and scalp. Remember to comb your hair before washing it. When buying shampoo, remember to check on its ingredients keenly. That will help you stay away from chemical shampoos that are harsh to the hair causing damage. Ensure that you condition your hair when it is still damp. That allows it to absorb all the nutrients it’s supposed to.

2. How do you dry your hair?

Did you know that too much heat on your hair damages it? It would help if you took the time to dry your hair naturally. Too much heat dries the formation of the cuticles and the production of proteins. Stay away from the driers for healthier hair. That applies when washing the hair too. Avoid hot water and use lukewarm water.

3. Do you oil your hair?

It is not only about oiling your but do you do it appropriately? Many people make the mistake of oiling the hair and leaving the scalp. You should apply oil on your scalp, massaging it with the end of your fingertips. You can choose to oil your hair for three hours or leave it overnight to wash the following day. The following are some great oils that will help your hair get healthier.

• Coconut oil

• Olive Oil

• Rosemary oil

• Argan oil

• Almond oil

• Lavender oil

• Jojoba oil

• Black castor oil

• Neem oil

• Avocado oil

4. A wide-toothed comb saves your hair

When the hair is wet, it is in the most fragile and weak state. It is, therefore, recommendable that you wait till the hair is dry and comb it with a wide-toothed comb to detangle it. Detangle your hair from top to bottom so that you avoid the risk of breakage.

5. Trim your hair once in a while

Though split ends are the primary culprits that make people trim their hair, it is also an encouragement for hair growth. The moment you shorten your hair, then you have solved the issue of tangling in your hair. At the minimum, you should trim your hair three times a year.

6. A balanced diet is good for your hair

A balanced diet gives the body nutrients and minerals to the body. It ensures that your hair stays strong and shiny. Some people go to the extent of taking supplements, especially the Omega-3s that help grow your hair.

Bottom line

The best thing about getting your hair healthy again is that you don’t have to spend too much on it. This is because there are so many home remedies for the same. An avocado and egg treatment is one of the excellent remedies for damaged hair. Proteins and zinc also work wonders when trying to get your hair back in shape.


Having Trouble Sticking To Your Diet? Here’s My Advice

Setting a healthy routine for our diet can be easy, but some of us can have trouble sticking to it. Did you know that having a healthy diet can reduce your risk of disease? Of course, it can also improve your overall mood. If you’re one of those people who want to stick to their diet or don’t know how to set up a healthy routine successfully, here’s my advice for you.

1. Start by having an end goal or simple expectation of what you want to achieve within three months, six months, one year, or a lifetime diet you would like to stick to. So having an achievable expectation can help motivate you and increase your chances of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

2. A perfect diet plan or a perfect combination of food doesn’t exist, so stop looking for it! You read it right. You can eat in a very healthy way but still have one favorite food. Remember, the secret to a successful diet is not just the food we eat but also eating everything in moderation every day. If you get tempted to eat something that isn’t on your “diet plan” list, eat it shortly before bedtime. Allow yourself to enjoy food once in a while but in moderation.

3. Motivation is indeed needed. Rethinking why you’re making healthy choices or what motivates you can help you stay on course. It may sound not that important to you, but listing down specific reasons can help you adhere to it. So, whenever you feel like you need a reminder of your end goal, you can refer to this list.

4. Weigh yourself every day. You have to stay accountable, whether or not you have followed your diet list. It helps to have an accountability buddy to email, call, or text to report your everyday progress. If you don’t want to or don’t have someone as your accountability buddy, you can also have a diary to keep posted on daily progress.

5. Know and teach yourself the difference between craving and hunger. The feeling of wanting or desiring something to eat is called a craving, while the empty feeling or growling stomach when you haven’t eaten for hours is hunger. Knowing and teaching yourself the difference can discipline you to stick to your healthy diet routine. 

6. One ground rule to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is eating when it’s time, not when you feel like it. Set a plan of meals with or without snacks, pick a time, and regularize that eating pattern.

7. Remember to remind yourself that every time matters. When you’re tempted to eat something else, and every time you choose to stick to your plan, you strengthen your resistance muscle no matter how tempted you are. You’re simply training yourself to resist next time and the time after that. On the contrary, if you give in and eat something you’re not supposed to, you’re training your craving muscle, which is more likely to keep giving in the next time after that.


How Exercising Can Positively Effect Your Physical and Mental Health

Life can be stressful sometimes, mentally and physically. There are quite a few things that we can do to help ourselves get through the day with a healthy mind and body. The most common piece of knowledge in this regard is the importance of exercise. There are lots of exercises out there, including those that can strengthen specific parts of your body, ones that can toughen the tissue around your muscles, and those that can help us expand our minds for a healthier thought process. Of course, we don’t always have the time, but it is important to take advantage of that time when it is there. This being said, here are just a few ways in which exercising can take effect on your life in a positive way.

 1. Morning Routine and Exercise

 Some people have to wake up in the dark and ungodly hours of the morning, whether it’s because we have to go to work, or our body just happens to wake up that way. Either way, a good process to help ourselves conquer the rest of the day is to add morning stretches to our morning routine, preferably before breakfast.

There are certain exercises and stretches that might help our bodies reduce the chance of painful cramping throughout the day or simply help us relax our joints for heavy lifting. We don’t have to do anything we are not comfortable with, especially if we are just starting out with this process. If you want to do this, just find at least three or four exercises that are comfortable for you. Sometimes, this might just involve taking a short walk or jog before breakfast. 

 2. Yoga

 Yoga is not for everybody but for those of us who choose to involve ourselves; it is a wonderful way to simultaneously meditate and exercise. Yoga helps us better understand how flexible our bodies actually are. It also relaxes a lot of tension and helps us to better relax our minds and observe our thoughts. The more yoga we do, the more our bodies and minds will sync up. Yoga can be done at any time of day, so if you choose yoga, pick a time of day that is convenient for you. Make sure you have plenty of space when you choose to exercise with yoga. 

 3. Stretches Before Bed

 In similar regards to morning routines, doing stretches before we lay down for the night is also very healthy. This can reduce the chances of our legs getting locked up in the middle of the night or getting a sudden tension headache mere hours before we have to wake up. Make sure the exercises you do before bed are less strenuous than those you do in the morning or midday. Also, it is very healthy for the mind to lay down and read a chapter in a book before we go to sleep, no matter what age we are.

 So no matter what your day is generally like, it is important to keep our minds and bodies healthy throughout our daily life. Also, sometimes exercising can be dehydrating, so make sure to drink plenty of water in addition to strengthening those muscles! It doesn’t matter what exercises we choose. Just make sure you don’t put too much pressure on your muscles. That would defeat the purpose. Choose routines that are steady for you and easy on your body and mind.


How Safe Are Weight Loss Vitamins, and Are There Side Effects?

There are times when we know we have issues with weight gain, and we know we need to get it under control, but we just can’t afford a doctor’s visit. In this case, a lot of people turn to over-the-counter supplements. 

 The question is since these things are not generally prescribed by a medical professional, are they safe to consume? Do they have any side effects we should worry about? More importantly, do they have any effect at all?

 The answer is, it depends on the supplement. There are a few little signs to look for. Here is a shortlist of the things you should look for when considering an over-the-counter weight loss supplement.

 1. FDA Approval

 One of the most important things to know if you are considering a specific health supplement is whether or not the FDA has considered and approved it. You can find out by going online and researching your specific product before you buy it.

 2. Researching Side Effects and Allergies

 If you are worried about the side effects your chosen supplement may have, then you can go online to research the providing company’s site. While you’re at it, it’s probably a good idea to check and see if you are allergic to any ingredients in it.

 3. Look Up Ingredients

 In addition to researching possible side effects and allergic reactions, you can also benefit from looking up all the ingredients of the supplement in general, so you have a better idea of whether or not it will be safe for you to consume.

 4. Fellow Consumers’ Experience

 If you are confused about or unsure about the weight loss product in general, it’s not a bad idea to look at reviews from other people who have tried the product. If you see more positive reviews than negative ones, chances are it’s probably safe. Still, proceed with caution.

 5. Doctor Advice

 Sometimes we are able to afford a visit, but not a prescription. When this happens, you can ask your doctor about the supplement of your consideration, and they will most likely look into it and tell you what they think or seek the advice of a nutrition specialist.

 6. Multiple Choice

 It is always good to have multiple options to choose from. In addition to all of the above options, you can also take down a list of multiple weight loss supplements and have your doctor look at them all to help you determine which ones might be the safest. 

 In conclusion, whether or not a weight loss supplement is safe depends entirely on the company, in addition to the active ingredients in that particular product. Therefore, it is always a good idea to ask questions and take precautions. 

 So whether we can’t afford a prescription from the doctor, or we’re just trying to look at all of our options before we decide, weight loss supplements are an option that can sometimes need extra careful consideration. 

 That is why it’s a good idea to consult the doctor or nutrition specialist, look at multiple supplements, and take our doctor’s suggestion in mind because while weight loss vitamins are not a terrible solution in general, you can never be too careful.

 Also, some weight loss supplements might say they are FDA approved, but the only way to know that for sure is to ask a professional. If the doctor doesn’t know, they can always consult or refer us to somebody who will.