Eating better is one of the main ways advised by healthcare providers and medical professionals to ensure good health, which is vital for longevity and happiness. The following article describes how you can both eat healthier and save money. The tips are simple and can easily be implemented, even if you only choose to do one at a time it will go a long way to helping.
Cook extra when you do
If you’re cooking at home, then the best advice that we can give you is to always cook a little more than you will need at the current meal. The idea is to have a small amount of left-over supper that can be translated into the next day’s lunch or lunch for the week depending on what it was. Some cooked food will store better and longer than others, but generally, vegan and vegetable-based meals and pulses will store quite nicely for a few days in the fridge and will go a long way to saving you money and allowing you eat healthier. Part of this process is improved planning, both for grocery shopping and for meals. Know what it is you plan to cook on each day and then buy accordingly.
The aim will also be to waste as little as possible so as you start to implement this tip you may find that you’re eating a meal for longer than you wanted, persevere and simply adjust the amount cooked until you hit the sweet spot, where you cook just enough for a meal the next day or to put in sandwiches just once.
Always take a packed lunch
If you work outside the home, a packed lunch is one of the best ways to save money and eat what you know is good for you and that you know the provenance of. Remember, a packed lunch can be used for more than just in the office. If it’s a family day trip, then pack it up in individual burger boxes to give each person what they like and an individual meal that’s easy to eat. Make sure that whatever receptacles you use they are reusable and friendly to the planet.
Think diversity and colors
The more diverse your diet the better it is, yes, there are some basics that perhaps you favor and that the family likes, so pastas and rice, beans, lentils and all the greens, these are staples and should be included on a regular basis. However there needs to be diversity in the additions to the staples to make each mealtime exciting and fun as well as healthy. A trend has been to keep eating colorful, healthy eating can be made a lot more fun if a wide range of colors are used to prepare meals. This will naturally include a variety of food into your diet and therefore be healthier than a monochrome meal
Cooking in the home can be a huge money saver and as such is a useful exercise in itself. Home cooked food is also, by its simpler nature, a lot healthier.
Massages are incredibly popular nowadays. Recent statistics show that people are getting a massage on average at least once a month. Yet, there’s more to massage than relaxing music and essential oils. It’s about giving your body time to relax and decompress. This article talks you through some of the biggest benefits of getting a massage and helps you find the treatment you need.
What is massage?
A massage is where pressure is applied to the soft tissue of the body with hands, forearms, elbows, or other parts including the feet and knees. These are often used in conjunction with relaxing music and oils. It can be done on its own or as part of a spa treatment, which usually includes other kinds of natural therapies to help you relax and unwind. Massage used to be done in the nude but it’s now more common to wear underwear or swimwear, depending on the kind of massage you’re getting.
People often think that massage is just about relaxing and giving yourself time out after a hard week. In reality, massage is good for so many things. Now you know what to expect, here are five great benefits to massage that you may not have heard before.
Reduce muscle tension
Massage is often used to treat people with muscular and joint problems. It’s great for relaxation, but it also helps the body get rid of toxins that can build up in muscles and cause pain or tension. By working on knots in the muscle, massage helps enhance flexibility.
Aids muscle recovery
If you’ve had a strenuous workout and your muscles feel tired, massage can also help. This is because it helps the muscle tissue to recover more quickly by releasing endorphins into the body that will give you an energy boost. If you suffer from over-worked or over-exhausted muscles often, then there are specific massage techniques that will help.
The oils and ointments used during massage can also help with muscle recovery, so be sure to choose something that works best for you. For instance, you could use muscle balms or massage oil infused with echinacea, mint, or even cannabidiol! You can buy CBD from various locations across the world, and many retailers have products specifically designed for massage. Be sure to shop around before making your purchase.
Eases pain
If you have a sports injury or an old injury, massage can help. The physical pressure helps to release both serotonin and endorphins, which are associated with pain relief. It’s possible to take this further by focusing on problem areas; for example if you have back pain all over but it’s mainly at your lower back. By applying pressure to that area specifically you can bring relief to your whole back.
Better mobility
Once you’ve had a massage, it might take some time for your muscles to get used to being worked on. However, after that point, the benefits are clear to see. Tighter muscles will become easier to work with and they’ll also allow you greater flexibility in your joints. This is due to the fact that your muscles serve as a kind of support system for your joints, so the more pliable they are, the better you’ll feel overall.
It’s relaxing!
The final major benefit is that massage can be a great way to unwind and relax. Many people suffer from chronic stress throughout their lives, which leads to a variety of problems.
A massage won’t necessarily solve these problems by itself, but it can give you some time out from your busy life.
Industrial interior design is immensely popular right now. Industrial interior design rejects the complex opulence of older styles in favor of a raw, simple, spacious atmosphere. This rejection of complexity is one of the reasons why industrial interiors so entrance modern homeowners. The complexity of modern life is perhaps contrasted and counteracted by the interior of our safest spaces – our homes.
If you are thinking of restyling your home with industrial conventions in mind, there are a few things you can do that don’t require a great deal of work but still create the right atmosphere. Here are some objects and processes that will help you get the industrial look.
Cast Iron Radiators
Remember the thick cast iron radiators you had in your classrooms at school? Those bulky behemothic radiators are back in style – and for a good reason. Cast iron holds heat immensely well, which made it an attractive material for the construction of radiators in public or industrial settings. The chunky, machine-like quality of cast iron radiators makes them perfect for neo-industrial houses. Although you can get reclaimed radiators, companies like warmrooms.co.uk also sell newly built cast iron radiators that incorporate modern, user-friendly design. Older radiators can be prone to leaks, so a new build is recommended.
Exposed Brick
Bricks can be beautiful. They patinate wonderfully over time, are easy to clean, and contrast perfectly with iron, aluminum and copper. Some industrial interior designs position isolated exposed brick walls as the focal point in a room. Chipping off the plaster on a wall to expose the bricks beneath is by no means an easy job. You need to be careful not to damage the pointing on the bricks beneath. If you are not entirely confident in your skills as a mason, seek out the help of a local expert.
Bare Floorboards
There is treasure underneath your carpet. Many old houses have solid oak floorboards – often the original boards used in the construction of the house. For an industrial interior look, exposed oak floorboards can look just right. In addition, Oak ages remarkably well and keeps color and strength for hundreds of years.
Exposed floorboards help to give a room a warehouse-like quality. They are also very practical. Bare floorboards are easy to clean and replace. Go on, do away with your rotten old carpets!
Let The Materials Do The Talking
All of these tips have essentially been about one thing: letting the materials do the talking. Materials are not static: they are constantly changing. They rust, patinate, gain palimpsest meanings. Raw, exposed materials tell myriad stories while remaining simple. Appreciating the ever-changing and warping nature of materials can help bring about a renewed appreciation for nature, as well as a more surface-level appreciation of industrial design.
Raw materials interact with each other aesthetically to create something intangible: an atmosphere. This intangible crafting is the bread and butter of a good interior designer. So let your home speak about nature, history, and interaction.
If you have not touched your garden space, now is the time to change it. Your garden space should be a little oasis all of your own. It should be where you can comfortably spend hours upon hours outdoors, which means designing a great space that combines natural elements with modern comfort. You should be able to enjoy the space rain or shine, indoors or outdoors, and to do that you will want to follow this guide to make your garden space stylish and family-friendly:
Sketch Out the Layout
The first thing you will need to do is take measurements of your space and then sketch out a general outline. While you do not have to overly plan areas where you intend to plant flowers, trees, or bushes (though you should remember the mature heights and widths of them!), you do need to be accurate when it comes to dining spaces, and even if you want to add a waterfall or pond. By focusing first on these areas that have very strict size guides, you can plan the rest of your garden – the natural, growing elements, that is – around these fixed spaces.
Know What You Want from Your Space
Green and blue spaces are great places to improve mental and physical health, but not everyone will be interested in the same things. Some might want a more tropical vibe, others might enjoy local flora and fauna. Regardless of what you choose, you need to be consistent. Some plants work very well together and have a symbiotic relationship, others do not. You need to choose plants that work together, and avoid invasive species to your area.
The same applies to your blue space. While you can easily add a water blade waterfall from water-garden.co.uk without worrying too much about the surrounding space, the same will not hold true if you want to add a full pond. Always pay attention to how every plant, pond, and other natural element you add will work together. You will need to edit your wish list, but that is okay.
Use Vertical Space
Chances are you do not have a huge, sprawling property to work with. Instead, you will want to look vertical. There are limits, of course, you will not be able to always block out your neighbours with hedges, but you can use the space along your fence and wall, as well as within your garden to add vertical interest that automatically adds style and interest.
Integrate Style and Function
If you want your garden to be beautiful and enjoyable for the whole family then it needs to be tidy. Plants can become overgrown of course, but items that need to be stored should have a very simple, almost invisible solution. For most this may mean a cabin at the back of your property to put gardening tools, bikes, and other equipment.
Make Your Garden a Learning Environment
There is so much that kids can learn from gardening, so do not just try to make your space a good area for your little ones to play ball games. Instead make it easy and fun for them to get involved with. A kitchen garden is a great option, as is putting fish in your pond.
Our Thrive Market review shows that their prices are slightly lower than competitors most of the time and dramatically lower some of the time.
Overall, we found that the savings substantially outstripped the annual membership fee. But that’s not why I ended up loving it.
Thrive Market does one thing so well that it’s hard for other sites to compete. More details on that below.
Getting the Best Prices on Organic Items
Shopping to get high-quality organic food at a reasonable price isn’t easy.
One of my personal hacks is to do a lot of comparison shopping for any packaged goods our family eats.
Fresh and local fruit, vegetables and meat form the staples of a healthy diet. But we use farmer’s markets, CSAs and local grocers for that portion.
Getting the very best deals involves some time and diligence, so I’ll show you how we do that below.
For the packaged goods, I’ve been testing out a newer website called Thrive Market and comparing it to other online grocery store options we use.
The standard ones we use most frequently are Vitacost and Amazon, so these are the ones we’ll compare in this Thrive Market review.
10 of the Best Organic Products You Can Buy at Thrive Market
Product
Why I Like It
Price
Nature’s Path Honey Oat Crunch Granola Bars
Certified organic dark chocolate chips with whole grains and gluten-free oats
Primal Kitchen Mayo
Made with no junky oils like soy, corn or canola
Thrive Market Ghee
Clarified butter; one of the best-selling items on Thrive Market
Bob’s Red Mill Baking Soda
Processed without the use of chemicals
Lundberg Organic Brown Rice Syrup
Lightly sweet, amber-colored and smooth; great alternative for sugar
Annie’s Organic Bunny Grahams
Made with organic whole grain wheat; non-GMO
Thrive Market Organic Maple Syrup (Grade A)
Straight from wild grown maple trees harvested in the Green Mountain state
Big Tree Farms Organic Coconut Sugar
One of the lowest glycemic index sweeteners
Clif Kid Organic Fruit Rope
Made with organic fruit pureé concentrate and apple juice concentrate
Alive & Radiant Foods Kale Krunch
Dairy-free despite the cheese flavor
Vitacost has an extensive selection of both online grocery and other household items. We typically only order from them when there is a decent promo of 15%+ off running. Their site and ordering process can be clunky compared to others and you usually have to order quite a bit at once to get free shipping, so we often combine orders with friends or tag along on each other’s larger orders. They do have some items that aren’t easily found elsewhere and on certain items we use, they reliably have the lowest prices.
Amazon
For Amazon, we have a Prime membership, which I highly recommend for many reasons but especially if you shop for groceries online. Without Prime, shipping fees can add up. Also, with Prime, the shipping times are truly blazing fast. They are currently running a special that allows you to try it free for 30 days and I think that’s worth doing.
Thrive Market Review
The new entrant is Thrive Market. Thrive Market is focused on natural and organic foods and household products, so it’s more niche than the other two, but we use a lot of those products in our household. Thrive Market has taken $159 million (!) in venture capital funding, so they are very serious about becoming dominant in their niche.
A Thrive Market membership is a bit different than the other two; it is more like Costco than Wegmans. Here are the pros and cons of using Thrive Market:
Thrive Market Pros:
Generally low item prices, sometimes dramatically lower than competitors
Decent selection of foods chosen for their healthiness
Stocks some otherwise hard-to-find items
Free shipping over $49
Have their own branded items that can’t be found elsewhere
For every paid membership, donates a free membership to a family in need
Attempting to reduce carbon footprint in their shipping practices
Thrive Market Cons:
There’s a cost for being a member
Shipping isn’t free under $49
Shipping can be slow
The selection is somewhat smaller than other vendors (but appears to be expanding very quickly)
As you can see above, there are definite pros and cons. The fact that shipping isn’t free under $49 doesn’t bother me because we don’t order in small quantities so it never comes into play. In that way, it’s similar to how we use Vitacost.
Thrive Market tries to save on shipping both for financial reasons and to be more green by packaging everything into as few boxes as possible. This means there’s more variability in the shipping speed. I’ve gotten orders as quickly as 3 days and as slowly as 2 weeks. So you have to think further ahead when shopping at Thrive Market than Amazon, but the savings to the planet of the reduced packing materials and carbon footprint are no doubt real. It just depends on what you value, and as I said, we make use of all three of these options.
What’s with the negative reviews?
One of the reasons it took me a while to try out Thrive Market was that I read online reviews. Nearly every Thrive Market review has some pros and cons in it. It appears to be a service you either love or hate.
There are quite a few very negative reviews on Thrive Market out there so I spent some time sifting through them. They mostly seem to fall into two camps:
“I didn’t know there was a membership fee.”
“It’s hard to cancel.”
Thrive Market runs a lot of promotions, often touting free products. However, their free products come with a trial membership and once it expires they will bill you for the annual fee.
This is how almost all subscription services work, going all the way back to the Columbia House Records deals from my youth. I don’t actually expect to get anything for free so this isn’t a turn off to me, but beware; if you accept their offers they will bill you after the trial period.
The other one is that the membership is hard to cancel. I have started it, canceled it and restarted it without any real issues. Like most subscription products, they try to talk you out of leaving when you express that intent. Again, I expect that so it doesn’t offend me to jump through the hoops to leave when that time comes.
Let’s Talk about the Membership Fee
The part of the Thrive Market membership that will make most people balk is the fee. It’s a little unusual to pay a fee like that for a grocery store (unless you use Costco or BJ’s). And to be honest, it initially rubbed me the wrong way so it took me a while to give it a try. However, I now think it’s one of those things that at the end of the day makes no serious difference.
The reason I say that is that using Amazon frequently means you’ll need to buy Amazon Prime, which is another membership fee. Amazon’s annual fee is 50% higher than a Thrive Market membership. However, it’s a higher value fee as the selection at Amazon is nearly limitless and it includes a streaming TV membership that can make Netflix blush. But it is a membership fee. Also, Amazon doesn’t carry some items that we look for (hard to believe but true).
Vitacost and other online vendors also have free shipping over a certain order size and we make heavy use of their coupons, but the per item prices are often somewhat higher. So there’s no up-front membership fee but it all comes out in the wash because, at the end of the day, shipping costs money and these are low-margin products.
The BEST Feature of Thrive Market
What makes Thrive Market amazing isn’t the fact that their prices can be somewhat lower than other stores. The best (and my favorite) feature is the filtering of their products on the site.
By that I mean everything is categorized into any conceivable diet or concern you might have about food.
Need to see just low FODMAP foods? No problem.
Just certified biodynamic foods? No problem.
Only plastic-free products? Again, no problem.
Here are the specific diets you can filter for on Thrive Market:
Gluten-free
Paleo
Raw
Vegan
Vegetarian
Ketogenic
AIP
Low FODMAP
Organic
But it doesn’t stop there. You can filter for 11 different certifications and awards like kosher or GAP Animal Welfare certified.
You can filter for 34 health and ingredients labels like peanut-free, yeast-free and soy-free.
You can also filter for 32 environmental and social certifications like ethically-sourced, made by hand, and woman-owned businesses.
Seriously. No matter what your concern is, Thrive Market can show you just the products that meet your restrictions.
THAT is the unique genius of Thrive Market.
Thrive Market Coupon Codes
The way Thrive Market promotes their service is through semi-constant sale promotions. There’s pretty much always a sale going on at Thrive Market. It’s often free samples of popular items; other times it is a percentage off of your total purchase. We’ll keep the most recent promo codes and offers on this page to make it easy. Be aware that taking advantage of any such promotion will mean that you are signing up for a Thrive Market annual membership fee.
Current Thrive Market Promo:
Get an Extra 25% Off Your First Order
A Sample Trip to Thrive Market
Another thing I want to do, to demonstrate some of our own comparison shopping, is to show all the goods we bought from a given shopping trip and compare the prices with other online grocery store options where you can get the same products. We might not have gotten the best deal we could have, but these post-purchase comparisons are important to help us make the best choices down the road.
One difficulty with this is that there aren’t a lot of places to source the goods we use. I’ll explain why I buy each item below because there’s always a reason.
We’ve recently updated and expanded this Thrive Market review and item list for 2020. Click on any price below to view the item at the site indicated. For Thrive Market private label items, they can’t be purchased elsewhere so we chose an equivalent item for comparison at the other two sites.
Important Note: Family Fitness Food is an affiliate of Amazon, Vitacost and Thrive Market but we actually use and can honestly recommend all three. The prices actually vary quite a bit because they are frequently updated on the respective sites. Because prices fluctuate frequently, the comparison should be considered a snapshot in time. Frequent price changes are why we don’t list Thrive Market prices right on the page, but we’ve created a link that goes to that exact product and opens in a new page to make it easy.
We use these for treats in the kids’ lunches. They don’t contain any low-quality oils like soy or canola and they have flax seed for extra nutrition. They also don’t contain any nuts. Our kids aren’t allergic to nuts but they can only take things to school that are nut-free and this qualifies. They are sweeter than I’d like, but they don’t taste sweet compared to other more conventional granola bars.
This product is difficult to find but it’s one of only two mayos I could find anywhere that isn’t completely stuffed with poor ingredients. This one is made with no junky oils like soy, corn or canola. It contains no sugar. It also uses avocado oil, which has many health benefits. On top of this, it’s also delicious, like real mayo should be.
This is an interesting one. Ghee is clarified butter, which is easy to make at home. It isn’t much harder than making ice, though it is a bit messier. But, folks buy bags of ice every day, and like ice, this is a purchase of convenience.
I may be in the minority in my thinking because it’s one of the best-selling items on Thrive Market and it’s easy to see why.
I had to do some math to create directly comparable prices here, so what you see below is different than what you’ll see when you visit Amazon and Vitacost. The Simply Ghee product is the closest comparison to this Thrive Market brand grass-fed ghee, but it comes in a 9 oz. jar as opposed to Thrive Market’s 14 oz. jar. Because of this, you can more easily compare apples to apples with the Thrive Market price.
This is another food we use as a treat for the kids. Again, not the healthiest food choice but it is made with organic whole grain wheat, it’s non-GMO, and it doesn’t taste as syrupy as similar conventional options. Sometimes you need a quick snack that can easily be packed into a lunch and this one fits the bill. I like to buy items that don’t taste as sweet because it trains our kids not to expect as much sweetness in their foods. Note: Amazon only offered this as a 12-pack of boxes at the time of this writing so the price below is the per box price based on that quantity.
It was particularly difficult to do a direct comparison on this one. Vitacost also carries a private label version that is “grade A dark” which is what they used to call grade B so I used that. Amazon only carries two options right now so I chose the cheaper one, which is also grade A dark.
We try to keep sugar intake to a minimum but when we splurge we often go for maple syrup. As sweeteners go it’s a wholesome option, particularly this organic version.
I should note that grade A vs. B in maple syrup is really a flavor distinction rather than a quality distinction. I actually prefer the deeper flavor of grade B so I’ll probably buy this from Amazon in the future and save a few bucks.
Coconut sugar is fabulous (as sugars go) because it’s low on the glycemic index and produces a slow release of energy. It is also high in nutrients compared to other sugars. Coconut sugar is often mixed with other, less beneficial, sugar so make sure you choose a pure one like this version from Big Tree Farms. This one is also fair trade, which is nice.
Again, this is not a health food per se, but a replacement for what “other kids” eat and our kids want to try. We very rarely go to a theater but if we do or if we watch a movie at home and want to give the kids a rare treat, we give them these as a substitute for brands like Twizzlers. Twizzlers are of course so full of refined sugars, dyes and GMOs that they are hardly a food at all.
I will say that these don’t taste like Twizzlers at all really, they just kind of look like them. They don’t taste worse than Twizzlers, just different. They are actually sweeter to my palate than Twizzlers. They are also stickier and have less of a waxy texture. It’s still candy, but the ingredients are FAR better than real Twizzlers. Note: This is an add-on item at Amazon; to get free shipping it has to be tacked on to a larger order.
Here’s one you probably don’t think about. We are big sushi eaters in our household; even the kids love it though they eat veggie-only sushi. Conventional sushi ginger has tons of added chemicals. This organic sushi ginger has wonderful, pure ingredients. It’s more expensive than the free version that comes with the sushi of course, but if you eat it frequently I think it’s a worthwhile upgrade.
I like to buy organic spices when possible. They’re free of fillers, chemical preservatives and pesticides. This is especially important for spices like turmeric that come mainly from regions with fewer regulations than we have in the US (not that those are fantastic either).
This is a brand (Simply Organic) that you can get pretty readily at many grocery stores but I often find better deals online.
Note: This is an add-on item at Amazon so free shipping will only apply if you combine it with a larger order.
We’re big on probiotics and fermented foods; anything that is healthy for your gut. Bragg is a leading brand in this regard so it’s not too difficult to find this at a local health store. However, it’s also just the kind of packaged product on which you can get a better deal if you shop online.
This is a seasoning, essentially a salt replacement. I’m not really convinced that sea salt is bad for you, but this seasoning adds some flavor and nutrients that you wouldn’t get from sea salt.
Sometimes when you’re cooking you need the consistency that gelatin provides or a good binding agent. It’s not for the vegans, but this gelatin is derived from beef and provides the collagen that helps with joint issues. It’s also said to be good for your skin.
Collagen has increased in popularity due to its claims that it can improve/strengthen hair, skin, and nails and help reduce bone and joint pain. Studies conducted to determine the effects of collagen in reducing joint pain or arthritis come up with mixed results. So, there is no real evidence or strong studies to back up these claims at this time. However, collagen is typically seen as safe so there are no serious side effects that would arise from taking collagen. However, a few people have reported rashes or diarrhea.
Those on keto or paleo diets will love this, because it is pure protein. And this is a cut-and-dry case of much better pricing at Thrive Market.
Everyone probably gets that I’m not a huge fan of seafood that comes in a can. However, it’s a very common way to eat fish and this canned salmon is still a healthier option than many choices on the market.
The closest comparison is Wild Planet’s products because they are also sustainably caught in the wild. This Thrive Market brand salmon is labeled prominently as “Non-GMO” though I would assume that’s true of all wild-caught salmon.
We use a lot of apple cider vinegar. It’s great for recipes, home remedies, and just as a daily tonic. I take a couple teaspoons in my water as soon as I wake up every day.
This is another tough direct comparison because Thrive Market’s private label version comes in an unusual 16.9 oz bottle. The comparison product is the most common brand, Bragg, and prices are calculated to be equivalent to Thrive Market. That means the prices below are all for 16.9 ounces.
Turmeric has many health benefits and is a flavorful addition to many dishes. It’s a product that I consider critical to buy organic though, because it can otherwise contain a lot of pesticides otherwise.
To make a direct comparison I scaled all the prices to be based on 1.45 oz. like the Thrive Market version. The others come in a bottle rather than a bag but that’s irrelevant to me as I wouldn’t pay extra for packaging. As usual, there’s a big advantage to buying in larger quantities with turmeric. If you bought a one-pound bag you could cut all these prices in half. It just depends on how much turmeric powder your household uses.
We’re always on the lookout for laundry products that both work well and are all-natural. It’s always a bonus when no one in the house is allergic to what’s in our clothes.
This oxygen brightener fits the bill, helping to keep white things white and remove stains to some degree. Vitacost doesn’t carry this particular product.
Choosing a better toothpaste is an easy way to cut down on your exposure to toxic chemicals. This one from Dr. Bronner’s uses natural non-GMO and vegan ingredients. It has no fluoride (a good thing) and uses no sweeteners.
I’ve used non-fluoride toothpaste for years without any issues. The job toothpaste needs to do is pretty limited. If I didn’t mind the flavor I’d just use some baking soda and be done with it.
Another great way to cut toxic chemicals out of your life is by changing your deodorant. When I was in college I went to the doctor with rashes under my arms and he told me that he hadn’t used deodorant in 20 years and I should stop too.
I wasn’t quite comfortable with that so I went out and tested a variety of them, landing on one that kind of worked and was natural. These days there are many options but this is one of the best in my opinion. I’ve been using it for years and specifically like the lemongrass scent version. A lot of people have to apply natural deodorants twice a day, but that’s a small price to pay to avoid slathering yourself with aluminum and other toxins.
We love this soap and use it for showering mostly. Here’s the thing about this soap is that it clogs. It gums up the reasonably large hole in the cap, so putting it in a dispenser is out of the question.
However, if you can put up with that minor annoyance you’ll get a soap that smells good, cleans well and has very natural ingredients. It also comes in a large container that lasts a while.
My husband LOVES this stuff. It’s the only hair gel he’ll use now. Like most personal care products, hair products usually contain a lot of toxic chemicals. They’re probably worse than most personal products in that regard.
This one feels fairly light going on but holds well and has the unusual benefit of making your hair appear darker than it is. My husband has salt and pepper hair but when the gel is on it looks about half as gray as normal.
We’ve been buying this for years and usually when we have a good discount code we’ll buy ten at a time. At this quantity, I know our target price for this item is between $5-$6. I’ve gotten it as low as $5.25 but sometimes had to pay $8 because of limited availability. Thrive Market’s normal price is in my target zone though, which makes this a slam dunk for them.
Here’s one I bet most people don’t think about–baking sheets. What surface does your food touch while it bakes? Hopefully it’s not a non-stick surface, which guarantees you some toxins with your baked goods.
Many other products contain either toxic chemicals or metals that you’d be better off not consuming with your freshly-baked cookies. As usual, you have to read the labels, but I have and so I use this particular baking paper. It’s a quality baking paper and is created with a mind toward not imparting toxins to your food.
Amazon
Thrive Market
Vitacost
Thanks for reading our Thrive Market review! Are there other products you’d like to see? Give us feedback, we’re happy to swap these out for more popular items or even review some more Thrive Market private label items if you’d like. Tell us what’s in your pantry and we’ll review it. Let us know in the comments!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who owns Thrive Market?A: Thrive Market is a venture-funded start-up company that has taken on a lot of funding. This typically means that the company’s founders and employees own a minority stake and that most of the company is owned by the investors.
Q: Where is Thrive Market located?A: Thrive Market is not a physical storefront but an online-only store, much like Amazon. This usually means there are multiple distribution centers from which they ship products. However, the company is headquartered in Marina Del Rey, California.
Q: How does Thrive Market make money?A: They make money the same way Costco does. They charge a small annual fee, but most of their profit comes from selling products for more than they pay for them. It’s the same business model that every retail store has.
Q: What products does Thrive Market carry?A: Their product set is broad and growing. Most of the products are food, but they also sell personal hygiene items, supplements and some durable items like essential oil diffusers. In all, their product set is similar to any large grocery store, just focused on healthy products.
As someone considering Lap-Band surgery, you already know there are many changes you’ll need to make before and after the procedure. Here are a few of the most important things to prepare for as you explore the procedure further.
Pre-Op Diet
Your doctor will prescribe a preoperative diet you’ll need to follow anywhere from six weeks to two weeks prior to your gastric band surgery date. The diet will vary based on your doctor as well as your physical condition and goals, however, these diets are typically very heavy on protein and vegetables. Expect to stock up on protein shakes and protein bars, and to get creative with how you cook your veggies.
Two days ahead of your procedure, you will switch to a clear liquid diet to ensure there won’t be any leftover food in the stomach that may interfere with the surgery. The majority of your nutrition will likely come from broth, but you can also enjoy sports drinks, popsicles, coffee and tea in most cases. Your surgeon might suggest sugar-free alternatives and limiting caffeine, depending on your current state of health.
Medication Adjustment
Many types of over-the-counter medications and prescriptions must be discontinued or adjusted before undergoing surgery. Warfarin and other blood clotting prescriptions, for example, increase blood loss during surgery so your doctor will tell you when you need to stop taking them before surgery.
If you’re taking insulin for diabetes, the dosage will need altering to counterbalance your new preoperative diet. Other medications like metformin are typically stopped two days prior to the procedure.
As a general rule, weight loss medications, supplements, gout medication, ibuprofen and NSAIDS should be discontinued a week before surgery.
Preparing for the Day of Surgery
On the day of gastric surgery, you want to be as comfortable as possible to alleviate stress and handle pain you may experience afterward. Don’t wear makeup or jewelry, and avoid bringing any valuables with you to the facility.
Come prepared with a good book and your phone charger, as well as a pair of slippers and comfortable outfit for your trip home. Bring minimal documentation, including your insurance information, a photo ID and a comprehensive list of any medications you are taking and allergies you have. You will need a designated individual to drive you home when it’s time to leave the surgical facility.
Setting up for Lasting Change
The Lap-Band procedure can make it possible to lose weight and keep it off, but only if you fully commit to a new lifestyle. Your doctor will outline a post-op diet that may be tough to swallow, especially if you’ve become accustomed to eating without rules. You’ll have to get used to eliminating snacks, eating specific portions and balancing your nutrition for optimal health.
Many people who have this surgery struggle to stay on track afterward, so it’s a good idea to seek out support groups that can provide tips on staying the course. You may even want to consider counseling to help you change your relationship to food and lock in weight loss for the long term.
It’s one of those frustrating facts of life that some people’s hair will grow much more quickly. Some people can grow long hair or a big beard within no time at all, while others might take years to cultivate such locks. And, of course, some of us are cursed with hair that stops growing altogether! Whatever your problem, we would imagine that you don’t want to resort to the use of a wig or other hairpiece. So, if you don’t want that, you might want to try some of the methods described below. According to Nisim.com, there are the five proven ways that you can promote healthy hair growth.
1. Try Certain Herbal Oils
This might sound unlikely to some people, but certain herbal oils have been found to promote hair growth. These can be applied externally or internally, and are nearly always safe. There are many herbs that have traditionally been used to treat Alopecia (the technical term for baldness). Here is a list of those whose effects have been tested by science. They include:
Diets and herbal medicines are both good ways to increase the health of your hair, but there is an even simpler method: Regular scalp massage. You can do it yourself or have someone else do the massaging (doesn’t really matter). Of course, it should be a gentle massage, as a more vigorous massage can actually cause hairs to be pulled loose. It is tempting to think that these effects are the result of the power of suggestion (i.e., it works because people think it does), but there is some proven science behind this idea.
According to this study, you can actually increase the thickness and fullness of your hair with regular massage. It might be that the stimulation of moving the skin also stimulates the follicles to grow. The test subjects were given 4-minute massages every day for 24 weeks. Although some of these men showed no improvement, a number of them did come away with measurably thicker hair.
3. Don’t Go On Restrictive Diets
If you are one of those people who is constantly dieting, that might have something to do with your thinning hair. You see, the body uses certain nutrients (particularly keratin and other proteins) to grow new hairs and to “feed” the existing ones. All living parts of the body must receive nutrients in order to continue functioning, and the hair follicles are no different.
Science does not yet entirely understand all the different nutrients that can affect hair growth. As such, any nutrient deficiency will inhibit your ability to grow hair. That’s just one good reason to avoid restrictive diets (sometimes called “starvation diets” because you eat next to nothing). On this same subject, you need to make sure that you get plenty of protein (about 50g per day). These are the nutrients that seem most important to the health of your hair, and keratin is only one of them.
4. Drink A Little More Caffeine
We hesitate to give this advice because too much caffeine is not good for you. Like any stimulant, it can produce neurotic behavior and is slightly addictive. However, even if it does have some problems, it seems that caffeine does help to promote good hair growth.
We should mention that we only found one study to confirm this, but others will probably seek to confirm or refute these findings in the future. The production of testosterone can suppress the ability of the hair follicles to grow, but it seems that caffeine counteracts this suppression. Thus, the caffeine method would probably be more effective for men than for women.
5. Try To Reduce Your Stress
As a final step, you should examine the stress in your life and where it comes from. Try to identify and deal with the root problems rather than just getting angry or flustered. Just remember that raw, uncontrolled emotion doesn’t solve much of anything. The good news is that stress-related hair loss can often be reversed.
Conclusion
Although there is no guarantee that any of the above methods will work, all of them have been shown to be effective. Many of these steps are things that you ought to do anyway, of course (particularly number five). If you do a little more research, you will find that there are plenty of other ways, but most of them won’t be as well-proven as these. Whether you are experiencing a problem with thinning hair or trying to ward off total baldness, we wish you the best of luck.
If you are someone who is struggling with a parasite, you’re going to want to stick around. Parasites can cause trouble in your digestive system and make it difficult to eat certain types of food, among other challenges.
Thankfully, there’s Diatomaceous Earth (DE). If you find yourself feeling bad often and you’ve become frustrated trying to find a solution, Diatomaceous Earth may just hold the key to improving your health and well-being.
That said, you should always consult with a doctor before trying anything new. While there are indeed many health benefits associated with using Diatomaceous Earth, your health care practitioner can tell you if DE is right for you.
With that out of the way, you’re probably wanting to know what all the buzz surrounding Diatomaceous Earth is about. Let’s explore.
What Is Diatomaceous Earth?
Food-grade Diatomaceous Earth is just a chalky powder that comes from single-cell organisms that have been fossilized. These fossils are mined from the bottom of dried lake beds and pulverized to produce the chalky goodness that makes up DE.
And once DE is in its chalky form and consumed, it has a powerful drying effect on the outer exoskeleton of parasites. So as you can see, Diatomaceous Earth is a very effective tool you can use to kill parasites.
It’s important to mention that not all DE products are created equally. Unfortunately, some companies choose to make their Diatomaceous Earth compounds with extra additives and chemicals.
Sketch of what DE looks like under a microscope.
The safest DE is one that is organic in nature and doesn’t include potentially harmful ingredients. Since many people use Diatomaceous Earth on themselves and their animals, you want your DE to be as all-natural as possible.
As such, you should always make sure that you check out all Diatomaceous Earth products to ensure that what you’re buying is free from unnecessary additives.
Can Diatomaceous Earth Kill Viruses?
Yes, it can, and much more. Diatomaceous Earth not only kills viruses in your body, but it naturally eliminates free radicals, parasites, insects, and other organisms that could harm you and your pets and animals.
It is the powerful desiccating (drying) effect of DE that makes it a popular choice for farmers who need to keep their livestock safe from the above potential hazards. What’s more, a study was conducted in 2018 that showed Diatomaceous Earth effectively killed termites with a 100% rate of death.
Farmers regularly use DE when storing their livestock’s feed. When applied on a two-week cycle, Diatomaceous Earth can kill insects and other threats with an 80% rate of death and effectiveness.
Are There Any Risks to Using Diatomaceous Earth?
DE is ground up into a very fine powder. Because of this, you want to be careful not to breathe it in. It has the potential to make breathing difficult if you do. As such, anyone with asthma or other lung issues should take extra precautions when handling Diatomaceous Earth.
What Does Diatomaceous Earth Do for the Human Body?
When you consume DE, you can look forward to many benefits. Even better, this parasite cleansing gut powder has no taste. If you’ve tried other gut powder products in the past, you can probably attest to their nasty taste.
That’s a non-issue with Diatomaceous Earth. Sure, it’s a little on the gritty side and its chalky makeup reminds you of chalk, but that’s to be expected. Other than that, you can comfortably ingest DE without disrupting your palate.
Once in your body, DE gets to work. Let’s take a moment to discuss what you can expect from this powerful product.
Reduced Serum Cholesterol
One study revealed that taking Diatomaceous Earth for just 6 weeks can help to significantly reduce the cholesterol in your bloodstream. As such, you should seriously consider investing in this supplement if you struggle with cholesterol issues.
Cholesterol is frequently connected to heart disease. This is due to low-density lipoproteins (LDL) that can gradually build up in your arteries, thereby restricting or even blocking your blood flow. While it’s true that you need small amounts of cholesterol to properly digest foods and to make certain hormones and vitamin D, too much can lead to heart problems.
Cholesterol is a kind of fat known as a lipid. This lipid travels through your body’s bloodstream in small molecules that are enclosed within proteins, known as lipoproteins. There are two types of lipoproteins in your body. One of these is LDL, which is the main type of lipoprotein in your bloodstream.
The other is a high-density lipoprotein (HDL). There is also a third type of lipid that circulates in your blood called a triglyceride. LDL is considered to be bad cholesterol, while HDL is good cholesterol.
To determine your serum cholesterol level, you need to measure your LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. This will give you your body’s total blood cholesterol level. And in doing so, your doctor will be able to determine your risk of getting heart disease for the next 10 years.
Regardless of whether you are currently at risk of developing heart disease, taking Diatomaceous Earth now could potentially prolong your heart health.
Beneficial Silica
Another big plus of DE is that it is rich in silica content. What is silica? It is an essential micronutrient that’s needed for healthy hair and nail growth. But that’s not all silica is good for, as it also plays a big role in aiding your body’s calcium and magnesium balance.
Long-term Diatomaceous Earth consumption will ultimately help keep your hormones in check. And if you are already taking collagen for healthy skin, nails, and hair, Diatomaceous Earth’s silica will assist in your body’s collagen formation.
If you’re wondering how food-grade DE is rich in silica, it is because silica is naturally found in mineral quartz, sandstone, and other various types of rocks. Being mined from the bottom of dried lake beds, it makes sense that Diatomaceous Earth contains high amounts of silica.
Exfoliating Power
Diatomaceous Earth is a versatile compound that also serves as an excellent exfoliant. Thanks to its rich mineral makeup and gritty composition, you can mix it with your favorite shower gel to create a powerful facial cleansing formula.
Simply mix about half a teaspoon into your body or face wash. Then, clean your face using soft circular motions. Scrubbing too hard can cause the skin on your face to get too oily. Furthermore, the rough grittiness may not feel very nice if you aren’t extra gentle during use as a facial cleanser.
How Long Does It Take for Diatomaceous Earth to Work?
It really depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. If you are trying to get rid of insects or infestations, you should leave DE alone for at least 24 hours after application. The longer you leave Diatomaceous Earth undisturbed, the more effective it will be.
Killing bed bugs, for example, can produce noticeable effects within 24 hours of use. However, you should wait at least 5 days before cleaning it up if you want to get the best results.
Silverfish and some beetles require a bit longer wait-time to be effective. You’re looking at anywhere between 7 and 21 days to get the best results in removing pests from your residence. Black and red ants are exceptions, however, and can be eliminated in just 24 hours of application.
Please keep in mind that there are many factors that can affect the effectiveness of Diatomaceous Earth. These factors include:
Infestation size
Temperature
Insect type
Humidity
For best results, it’s better to create lines of DE when you apply it to infested areas. Just sprinkling down some powder here and there likely won’t do much.
Treating Pets
If you are treating your pets, such as cats and dogs, you’re looking at around 1 month. Whether you are trying to eliminate fleas, worms, or lice, you can trust Diatomaceous Earth as a safe and effective supplement.
When giving DE to your pets, always make sure that you keep plenty of water on hand for them to drink. DE will likely make them very thirsty while they are being treated, so it’s important for them to have access to water at all times.
The size of your pets makes a big difference in how much DE you give them. Refer to the data below to make sure that you deliver the correct amount.
On Your Cat
7 pounds and under – Half a teaspoon in wet food
10 pounds – 1 teaspoon in wet food
Over 10 pounds – 1 1/2 teaspoon
Do this for 10 days and then give your cat a break from Diatomaceous Earth for 1 week. After 7 days have passed, put the appropriate amount of DE in their food for another 10 days.
Furthermore, any time that you’re trying to rid a cat of a parasite, a bit more TLC is usually a good idea. At around the fifth day of your cat’s DE treatment, perform a deep clean in and around their litter box.
If you have carpeting, give it a good application, too. Here, you may sprinkle DE instead of making thick lines. Just half a cup will do, and a sifter works well to sprinkle it around your floor. Once applied, let it sit for at least 30 minutes.
It’s important that you carefully pay attention to this next step, as it could potentially save you from damaging your vacuum. You need to make sure that you sweep up the DE powder using either a shop vac or a vacuum that doesn’t have a filter. Using a standard vacuum will cause the filter to become clogged, thereby killing your vac’s motor.
On Your Dog
25 pounds and under – Half a teaspoon in wet food
25 to 50 pounds – 1 teaspoon in wet food
Over 50 pounds – 1 tablespoon
Do this for 10 days and then give your dog a break from Diatomaceous Earth for 1 week. After 7 days have passed, put the appropriate measure of DE in their food for another 10 days.
If you’re trying to eliminate parasites on your pet’s fur, put on some rubber gloves first and wear a shirt with long sleeves.
dog with leather leash waiting to go walkies
On a dog, you want to sprinkle half a cup of DE on their coat and gently work it into their fur. And on a cat, use a 1/4 cup of DE. It’s best to do this outside to reduce the risk of breathing in any particles.
Treating Yourself
Many people who start taking Diatomaceous Earth begin to notice a difference in about 3 days, with complete benefits taking effect within 2 weeks. If you’re unsure whether DE is right for you, it’s best to speak with your doctor. Keep in mind, though, that everyone has some amount of parasitic load in their bodies.
In some cases, this load can become too much and start affecting your well-being. The chances of parasites affecting you are even greater if you have pets. Some of the most common signs and symptoms of there being parasites present in your intestines include:
A persistent digestive imbalance, such as gas or bloating
Skin conditions (such as acne on your back)
A sudden food allergy
Persistent diarrhea
Brain fog
Anxiety
Fatigue
If you are tired of struggling with the above indicators and are ready to make a change, food-grade Diatomaceous Earth may very well be the answer you’ve been looking for.
From personal experience, DE helped to relieve inflammation while promoting faster hair growth. My brain fog was also lifted exponentially, giving way to clearer thinking and better overall thought processes.
Food grade DE is an effective tool that works to absorb heavy metals, fungus, pesticides, and even drug residues from the body. People who have substance abuse problems and are trying to rid their bodies of any substance particles may find Diatomaceous Earth to help in their experience.
The many health benefits of DE cannot be overstated. If you and your family want to be your absolute healthiest, Diatomaceous Earth is a great place to start for improving human health. You will likely notice a big improvement in your digestive tract, as DE works to vastly improve digestive function.
Gut health is very important, yet is sadly overlooked by many people. Removing bacteria from your gut will go a long way in reducing or even eliminating unwanted gas, bloating, and discomfort.
While it’s true that some bacteria are healthy, there are many that are not. As such, you should do all that you can to safely reduce the number of bad bacteria. Diatomaceous Earth is just the product to do this for you and your family.
When you have less bad bacteria, you are likely to experience better immune function, thus reducing your frequency of getting sick. What’s more, your children can safely consume DE and stay healthier. In a time when everyone is fearful of viruses, it pays to be proactive in combating as many as possible.
Notable Benefits
Obviously, ridding your body of parasites is one of the most notable benefits of taking Diatomaceous Earth. Parasites are present in everyone’s bodies. However, whether you are negatively affected by these parasites depends on who you are and the nature of the parasite.
The more parasites you can eliminate, though, the more likely you are to be healthier overall. If you want to lead a healthy life, DE can certainly help to make sure that happens.
Healthy hair growth is another plus that comes from taking DE. Some people notice a sizable increase in hair growth after starting Diatomaceous Earth, but your results may vary.
As we’ve already discussed, gut health is incredibly important to you and your family’s overall health and well-being. Impressive, too, is the fact that food-grade DE eliminates E. coli. So not only does it safely and effectively combat parasites and improve gut health, but it keeps harmful bacteria like E. coli at bay.
When it comes to protecting your loved ones, Diatomaceous Earth may prove to be your best friend. Even better, it’s very affordable, so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank to keep your family and pets safe.
If you have trouble eating certain foods all of a sudden, DE can help to balance out your digestive tract and function so that you can enjoy the foods you love. Most people notice this change to come on rather quickly, letting you get back to your regular diet.
If you struggle with acne and blemishes, you should consider giving Diatomaceous Earth a try. Not only will it help to make your hair look healthy, but your skin, as well. This powerful powder is chockful of health benefits that help control hormonal imbalances.
When there’s a hormonal imbalance, acne is usually one of the first things to pop up. The problem, however, is that skin can be tough to treat, with most people turning to countless over-the-counter acne medications to no avail.
Not only is Diatomaceous Earth much cheaper than those medications, but it is more effective, too. This is because it gets to the root of the problem, whereas topical medications only treat what’s on the surface.
What then typically happens is that the problem comes back, requiring an endless cycle of acne medication and more money spent. Diatomaceous Earth serves to control this issue and can help give you clear, healthy skin.
Diatomaceous Earth can also be used on your teeth. Thanks to its abrasive nature, you can safely remove harmful bacteria and buildup. It might prove difficult to add DE to your toothpaste, so you may want to make your own formula.
By combining equal parts of Diatomaceous Earth and baking soda with water, you can make an effective paste that works better than traditional toothpaste. If you have kids and are concerned with their fluoride intake, DE-based toothpaste is a safe and effective alternative that will work wonders for the teeth of your children.
Additionally, Diatomaceous Earth is beneficial in strengthening bones. In relation to healthy hair and nail growth, your bones will likewise be made stronger and healthier.
What Are the Side Effects of Diatomaceous Earth?
As you have just learned, DE comes with a wealth of benefits. Its ability to safely remove toxins and parasites from your body ensures that you’ll live a cleaner, healthier life. With so many great things going for it, you’re probably wondering if Diatomaceous Earth has any side effects.
Because DE is such an abrasive compound, it can be hard on the skin if you’re not careful. As we talked about earlier, you want to be especially careful when adding DE to your face or body wash. Remember, it is very gritty and may cause skin irritation.
There’s also the possibility of Diatomaceous Earth making your skin overly dry. As such, you may need to use a lotion to counter DE’s drying effect.
You will need to be extra careful when using Diatomaceous Earth on your face. If it were to get in your eyes, it can be quite irritable due to its abrasiveness. If you accidentally get DE in your eyes, flush them out well with water to remove any rogue particles.
If breathed in, Diatomaceous Earth can cause shortness of breath, so always make sure that you use DE in a well-ventilated area. Dogs and cats should always be treated outside when applying DE to their fur.
When used safely and responsibly, Diatomaceous Earth is an excellent formula that will serve you and your family well. You don’t have to wait until you notice signs and symptoms of illness, either. You can safely begin a regimen of DE now to enjoy its many advantages and prevent the onset of health problems.
Remember, always ensure that you are investing in all-natural formulas of Diatomaceous Earth. Avoid unnecessary additives and chemicals and you can look forward to the best results.
The benefits of running cannot be overstated. Running changes lives. Period. It’s no secret that running is a great way to lose weight. But there’s so much more to it than just improving your looks or making your butt look good.
Having a regular running routine comes with essential health benefits. Not only will you feel good when you start running, but running can help improve your cardiovascular health, put on healthy muscle mass, regulate your body temperature, and maximize your body composition, just to name a few.
A lot of people are interested in implementing a running program into their lives because they want to change their body weight for the better. There is certainly nothing wrong with that being the driving force behind your decision to start running.
Even better, in fact, is that you stand to benefit from more than just healthy weight loss. As you will soon discover, running can exponentially improve your quality of life. Let’s begin with the external benefits of running and work our way inward.
How Does Running Change Your Body Shape?
When it comes to weight loss, the premise is actually quite simple. You need to burn calories, which of course, running promotes. In fact, running burns almost double the calories as that of walking. In short, if you develop and stick to a running program, you are going to lose weight. It’s that simple.
Now, there is a potential downside to this. Running is also going to make you hungry. There are no two ways about it. As you can imagine, this can pose a challenge if you’re trying to lose weight. As such, you will need to implement a sound diet plan in conjunction with your running routine.
There are many factors that can attribute to weight gain and make it hard if you’re trying to get in shape. Not only could you have your metabolism and age working against you, but medical conditions like hypothyroidism certainly don’t matters, either.
These factors, on top of getting hungry after a good run, can serve as roadblocks if you don’t commit yourself to make changes. So, what can you do? Well, first of all, make it a habit to run. You need to get your body used to running and how it feels.
You’re going to have a much harder time adjusting your current diet if you aren’t first used to running. Like any habit – good or bad – you’ll need to give yourself between two and three weeks. After that, running will either be a habit or be well on its way to becoming one.
At that juncture, you can actively begin work on your diet. Chances are that your diet is going to need a complete overhaul. There are eight things that every runner should have in their diet, so if you’re not already getting them, it’s time to get radical about what you consume.
In doing so, you can expect to see noticeable, healthy changes in your body’s shape.
Best Foods for Running and Losing Weight
1. Avocados
First of all, you need potassium in your diet, as it will help you run harder and longer. The first thing that comes to most peoples’ minds is bananas. True, bananas contain potassium, but nowhere near the amount found in avocados.
Just a single cup of sliced avocado has twice the amount of potassium found in one banana. By adding this to your diet, your body will have more electrolytes – fuel that your body loses as you sweat. A good way to ensure that you have the proper balance of fuel in your body is to consume avocados after you finish up with a run.
The advantages of avocados don’t end there. They are full of poly- and mono-unsaturated fatty acids. Why are these important? They help tremendously in the healthy loss of weight.
2. Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is another must-have that you should add to your list. And not the low-fat or non-fat kind, either. You want true Greek yogurt with its natural fat levels. This fat is essential to healthy recovery after running.
You see, every time that you run, your muscle fibers get damaged ever so slightly. Over time, this accumulates and causes unnecessary wear and tear that can easily be countered by getting the right fats in your diet – namely, protein and whole carbs – both of which are found in Greek yogurt.
Protein is needed to rebuild your muscles and increase their synthesis. It also plays a big role in improving your metabolic rate. As such, it’s a good idea to invest in Greek yogurt and consume some after a run.
For an added bonus, eating Greek yogurt before bedtime will ensure that your muscles have the necessary nutrients to build them up throughout the night.
3. Nuts
Looking to get even more protein in your diet? Nuts are a mostly inexpensive food that will provide plenty of protein, among other beneficial things. Aside from protein, nuts provide unsaturated fat and fiber.
Nuts are also linked to lowering inflammation, assisting with healthy weight loss, and promoting longer life. What’s more, nuts are an ideal food choice for runners due to their convenience. You can eat them while you’re out for a run, maintaining your body’s fuel in the process.
As great as this handy food is, it’s important to keep in mind that nuts are high in calories. Therefore, you should limit yourself to about a handful a day. It really doesn’t matter what kind, either. There are some nuts, such as macadamias, that are pretty steep in price.
If you’re on a budget or just don’t care how you get the benefits of nuts, avoid the exotic kinds and stick with what you can afford.
4. Eggs
As a runner, you know you need plenty of energy to adequately and safely complete your exercise regimen. There is perhaps no better food for fueling your body than that of eggs. Packed with natural energy and dirt-cheap, eggs deliver the most bioavailable protein on the planet.
What does that mean for you? In short, your body absorbs and converts eggs into fuel better than any other food on the market. Furthermore, you will be getting the protein needed to lose weight healthily. It’s a win-win however you slice it.
Studies have revealed that most Americans get the protein their bodies need at dinnertime. This practice ultimately does very little for weight loss, since it leaves little time to take advantage of the advantages of protein.
By adding eggs as a regular part of your breakfast, you can look forward to fulfilling energy throughout the day. Get a good breakfast in you, head out for a run, and enjoy the effects that eggs provide.
Moreover, eggs are full of B vitamins and antioxidants that serve to improve energy levels and fight free radicals, respectively.
5. Lean Beef
Did you know that some 10 million Americans don’t have enough iron in their diets? Iron is needed to help ensure that your muscles are getting the necessary oxygen for healthy building. Lean beef is an excellent way to get iron that will help keep your muscles and body in tip-top shape. When you shop for beef, just make sure that it’s at least 90% lean.
6. Frozen Berries
When you run, your body naturally uses oxygen to break down the food you’ve consumed, turning it into energy. Known as oxidative damage, this process can be tough on your body without the proper nutritional balance.
This is where frozen berries come in. They are rich in antioxidants that help combat the stress that your body undergoes during the oxidative damage process. And if you have other exercise programs in your life besides running, you’re going to need these antioxidants even more so.
While it’s true that berries contain antioxidants regardless of whether they are frozen, it’s the frozen state that ensures the berries have the most antioxidants. And you can be sure to get the most benefit from them if you consume frozen berries immediately after a run. This is when your body can most effectively absorb the goodness that’s packed inside.
7. Whole Grains
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when trying to lose weight by running is eliminating carbs from their diets. It makes sense on paper, but in application, you need carbs in your diet. This is especially true if you’re a runner.
Why? Because once you digest carbs, they get stored in your muscles and liver as glycogen. In turn, glycogen becomes your main source of fuel during workouts and running. Now, you might be thinking that you’ll have to eat pasta and bread for whole grains and risk gaining weight.
In truth, you can avoid both and still get whole grains. Foods like oats, quinoa, amaranth, and bulgur will give you the fuel you need for recovery and running. What’s more, these foods will also provide you with enough fiber to help combat cravings and overeating.
8. Water
Lastly, water is quite possibly the single most important thing you can consume if you’re trying to lose weight through running. Did you know that the slightest decrease in your body’s hydration can negatively affect your performance?
This may not sound like too much worry about, but think about this: A decrease in performance means your body won’t be able to burn calories as effectively, nor will it build muscle as well.
The best way to determine whether you need to increase water in your diet is to measure how much weight you lose in sweat after a run. If you’re losing over 1% of your weight, it’s time to add more water to the equation.
So, how can you find out how much weight in sweat you’re losing from running? Simply weigh yourself naked before and after your run. If you weighed 140 pounds before a run and weigh 138 after, that’s more than 1% and a sign that you need more water.
As such, make sure to start drinking before, during, and after runs. Your body will appreciate it and you’ll feel the effects right away.
How Does Running Change a Woman’s Body?
Now that you know what foods are essential to a runner’s diet and how consuming them can help change your body’s shape, let’s take a closer look at women, specifically. There are several things that a woman can expect to experience with regular running.
Maybe there are things you’re hoping that running changes for you. As we have already discussed, the benefits of running include healthy weight loss. Both men and women can expect to experience fat loss when they stick to a running routine.
Women, however, undergo weight loss in different areas. How running changes your body largely depends on your gender.
Buns of Steel
First of all, the female human body will benefit from an incredibly toned butt. A lot of people think that a toned butt comes from pumping iron at the gym, but that’s simply not the case. At least, not exclusively.
True, lifting weights is an effective way to get your butt and body in fabulous shape, but it’s not a necessity. But if you would rather tone that booty without the heavy lifting, running will assuredly do the trick.
Arms of Adonis
One of the downsides to skipping the gym and solely sticking to running is that the muscle mass in your arms will decrease. This is great for some people, but if you’re wanting sculpted arms, we recommend that you incorporate some type of weight training or yoga exercises into your running program.
In doing so, you can look forward to having slim but solid arms. If you’re not worried about looking like an Adonis, simply stick to running and enjoy your sleek bod.
New Boobs
Losing weight is unquestionably full of advantages that help promote a long and healthy life. However, one of its downsides is that your boobs are bound to get smaller. This true for both men and women, as the chest is one of the first areas to lose mass.
Be that as it may, you shouldn’t worry about losing your sex appeal. Your cleavage can still look attractive, regardless of how much weight you lose. The key is to wear a sports bra when you run. Even if your boobs are already on the smaller side, a sports bra will help them retain their shape.
Not only will a sports bra keep you toned, but it will prevent painful stretching in your breasts, as well. This is because your Cooper’s ligaments are supported as you run, thus ensuring comfort and safety.
Killer Calves
It goes without saying, but you can count on your calf muscles getting sleek and toned when you take up running. If you’re into wearing skinny jeans, though, prepare to make some major adjustments to your wardrobe.
Many women come to find that they can no longer wear skinny jeans after running or weight training. As such, you should hold the expectation that you won’t be able to wear the same clothes as before.
For many women, this is a Godsend. However, not everyone is thrilled with the idea of overhauling their wardrobe. Still, it’s a good problem to have, and you can always start rocking yoga pants instead if you’re into that sort of thing. If nothing else, it’s a good excuse to show off your killer calves.
Toned Thighs
Another one of the most noticeable ways how running changes your body is your thighs. Running can help shed unwanted fat around your thigh muscles, leaving you looking fit and toned. If you want to speed up the process, try to increase your running to longer distances per week.
This will increase the burn you feel in your leg muscles, thereby promoting better muscle definition in less time.
Can You Get a Toned Body by Running?
Without a doubt. As a runner, your body muscles are going to become more pronounced while unwanted body fat burns away. The energy expenditure that running promotes ensures that your body gets the exercise it needs to become defined.
And the more you run, the more defined your body will be. Running strengthens parts of you that you never even knew you had. Just like weight training, you’re going to build muscles that don’t typically get the exercise they need.
Even better, if you struggle with belly fat, you can count on running to shed those unwanted pounds and help you build abs of iron. Belly fat is a common struggle for many people, so don’t feel like you’re alone here.
What isn’t common, however, is a healthy exercise regimen. You can break out of the norm and effectively do something good for your body by taking up running. Initially, you’re likely to hate it. Fortunately, a person who sticks with running usually comes to fall in love with it.
And in going so, benefits from all of the good things that come with it. If you’re tired of the way you look and feel, running can and will change your life for the better. On that note, let’s take a moment to explore some of the benefits that you’ll get from running. We’ve already talked about many of the external benefits. Now it’s time to look deeper.
A Closer Look at a Runner
Improved Sleep
One of the first things you’re likely to notice as a new runner is that you can now sleep like a baby. If you currently suffer from insomnia and tossing and turning at night, running could very well hold the key to sound sleep.
The best way to benefit from this is to get your run in early in the day. Not only will you sleep like a rock, but you will also wake up feeling refreshed and energized.
Please keep in mind, though, that you want to avoid running in the evening. Studies show that exercising before bed actually makes it harder to fall asleep. Without getting too sciencey, your body has its own internal temperature that it maintains throughout the day.
Usually, sometime in the afternoon, your internal body temperature begins to lower as it prepares for sleep at night. When you start any kind of exercise in the afternoon and beyond, you’re causing your body’s natural temperature adjustment to get out of whack.
This leads to a higher internal temperature come bedtime. As a result, you are likely to toss and turn and find it very difficult to get some shut-eye. There’s a time and place for running, and that’s before your body begins its natural temperature drop.
Even if you forgot to get in your morning run, don’t think that making up for it in the evening will make up for it. Instead, it will only serve to keep you up at night. If you forget to run during the day, just skip the rest of the day and pick it up the following morning.
Better Quality of Life
You’ve likely heard the term “runner’s high.” This is what a runner experiences after running for so long. You don’t necessarily have to run a half-marathon to experience runner’s high, although long-distance runs certainly help.
Runner’s high is exactly what it sounds like. It is a natural period of euphoria that provides a deep, relaxed state of being after running longer distances. This includes feelings of joy and elation, and best of all, it’s completely natural; no chemicals needed.
As a brief aside, running can serve as an excellent substitute for someone who is trying to kick a chemical dependency. The energy expenditure that the body goes through during running turns into an all-natural high that few people get to experience.
Many runners will even tell you that they start to miss the runner’s high, which helps to keep them coming back for more. It’s a great excuse to stick with your running program and thus stay in peak condition.
Regardless of your reasons for running, it can help you in more ways than one. So if you’re ready to experience all of the benefits that this activity provides, pick up a good pair of running shoes and get busy enjoying the runner’s life.
No More Overthinking
Does your mind never seem to stop thinking about life? You’re not alone. Without positive exercise and activity, your brain will be the one doing the running. As you can likely attest, this is a trap that can cause mounting fear and anxiety.
If you’re tired of feeling this way and overthinking everything, running is just the solution you need to combat your restless mind. It’s no wonder, then, that most runners enjoy a positive outlook on life.
You’re almost certain to start looking at life through a new lens, not caring about the trivial matters that used to haunt and confound you. On average, runners enjoy more energy, better muscle tone, feeling healthier overall, and less pain. And this brings us to the next benefit.
Feeling Better Physically
When you don’t get enough physical activity, your body starts to let you know in various ways. Your legs may hurt, you may suffer from knee pain, or you may have a poor heart rate, just to name a few.
Running can help improve your health exponentially, resulting in better cardiovascular health, which leads to a longer life. Your muscles are less likely to hurt, as are your knees. With the improved strengthening throughout your body, you aren’t likely to suffer from stiff joints and sore, achy muscles.
Running serves as a major tune-up for your body and is necessary for anyone struggling with daily aches and pains. Plus, with your increased energy levels, you will be able to accomplish more throughout the day.
Furthermore, you can look forward to vastly improved self-esteem. When you have unwanted fat on your body and you hurt all the time, it can make you feel depressed. It’s another reason why runners have a positive outlook on life.
Being physically fit leads to natural joy and happiness, so it stands to reason that you should take up running if you’re struggling with self-esteem issues or depression. If you’ve read this far, it’s safe to assume that you’re seriously considering taking up running.
All it takes is a little bit of your time. It’s likely to be hard at first, but so is everything else. With practice and a commitment to stick with it, you are likely to fall in love with running, making it a regular part of your life going forward.
To give you a better idea of what you can expect from running when you first start, let’s explore what happens to your body composition after the first 30 minutes. By knowing what to expect from running, it will be easier to adjust to.
What Happens to Your Body After 30 Minutes of Running?
At first, you’re going to be out of breath. Your heart rate is going to go way up because you’re not used to running. This is normal. What’s happening is, your lungs are taking in oxygen and your heart uses that oxygen to supply energy to your muscles.
In the beginning, yes, you’re probably going to feel pretty rough. Your stomach is likely to hurt, too. This is because it’s in the process of breaking down the energy in your body. the pain you’re feeling is the result of gas being released by your muscle cells.
At the juncture, your muscles are going to start using something called “Adenosine Triphosphate” for energy. Adenosine Triphosphate is simply an organic compound that works to provide energy to your cells.
Remember earlier when we talked about glycogen and whole grains? Well, Adenosine Triphosphate is stored in glycogen, which is in your muscles and bloodstream. You really only store tiny amounts of glycogen at any given time, but running makes sure that your body produces more, thus improving your overall health.
However, you need to make sure that you’re getting plenty of oxygen, too. Without it, your body can’t create Adenosine Triphosphate and therefore can’t provide you with the energy it needs to keep you going.
This is why when you run, you start breathing faster and harder. Your body is trying to get more oxygen to create Adenosine Triphosphate. What’s more, as you breathe harder, your body knows to divert blood from any areas that don’t readily need it.
As all of this is going on, you are burning calories in your body, which is needed to lose weight healthily. Lactic acid also starts building up in your muscles while your core body temperature increases.
Seasoned runners can go through the above process without issue. But if you’re new to running, your lactic acid building up is going to cause you some discomfort and pain. That’s why it is so important to start out slow. Don’t try to run a half-marathon on your first day.
It’s the same principle with endurance training. You have to build yourself up to it. That means getting your heart, legs, lungs, and the rest of your body in shape. When you’re ready, then you can tackle that half-marathon; but not before.
The Final Lap
As you can see, running just makes sense. There are far too many benefits to running. We’re talking about life-changing benefits that can lead to a longer and healthier life. The key is to take it slowly and stick with it.
Each day, running will become more natural. As long as you know what to expect, you will have an easier time getting used to it. Runners don’t just start out running 20 minutes a day.
It takes time and dedication to get to where you are running comfortably for several minutes at a time. But in doing so, you can expect to lose weight and feel great while you do it.
Removing body hair is a painful but necessary job for many people. Although it’s typically something reserved for women, there are plenty of men who require hair removal, as well. Of course, having this done professionally can get costly fast.
If you’re the DIY type and don’t mind creating your own body hair removal recipe, you’re going to want to stick around. This is a safe and effective money-saving all-natural technique that is sure to serve you well.
If you’re unfamiliar with the term “sugaring,” let’s take a moment to explore its origins.
Where It All Started
Sugaring dates back to ancient times, with historic data showing that this hair removal technique started sometime around 1900 BC. And because sugar was once confined to areas like Persia, history tells us that warm honey was likely the first ingredient used in sugaring.
Studies indicate that sugaring is popular in the Middle East, as well as in Turkey and Iran. The reason sugaring is so widespread is due to its safety and effectiveness.
So effective are sugaring methods that they are often compared to traditional waxing. But what makes “sugar waxing” superior to conventional waxing is that homemade sugar wax doesn’t stick to your skin.
Instead, it is a true hair removal-only technique that is far less painful than other methods. Sugar waxing is ideal for people with sensitive skin since it’s safe for all skin types. What’s more, you needn’t worry about burning your skin like that of traditional waxing techniques.
This is because sugar wax can be applied to your body at lukewarm or room temperatures, leaving you feeling far more comfortable than the notoriously hot waxing method of hair removal.
How Do You Make Sugar Wax?
That’s the million-dollar question and one that we’re going to answer for you here. The sugar wax recipe is incredibly easy to make, thus saving you money on expensive, over-the-counter concoctions and time.
Moreover, since sugar is a natural preservative, you can look forward to your sugar wax recipe lasting for quite some time. As such, you can make a single batch and hang on to it for later use.
Before we get started, there are a few ingredients and items you’ll need to round up.
Ingredients
1/4 cup of lemon juice
1 cup of white sugar
1/4 cup of water
Misc. Items
A glass jar or airtight container; the shallower the better
A bowl of water; temperature doesn’t matter
A candy thermometer
Saucepan
Once you have everything ready, it’s time to get started making your very own sugar wax. If you wish to make a whole bunch of sugaring wax, you can always double or triple the ingredients from above.
Begin by pouring 1 cup of sugar into the bottom of your saucepan. Try to avoid getting any sugar on the sides of the pan.
Pour in your water and 1/4 cup lemon juice (but not your bowl of water), making sure not to leave any dry sugar.
Over at your oven, place your saucepan on medium-high to medium heat. Use caution with the heat you use, as you may need to make slight adjustments to avoid burning
Since you are essentially making caramel, it’s best to avoid any heavy stirring, as this can mess with the end result. If you must stir to get all of the ingredients combined, do so lightly and gently.
Next, you want to watch your mixture, waiting until your mixture turns into a honey-like color. The key is to not let it get too dark. As soon as it hits that golden color, take your saucepan away from the heat. Check its temperature with your candy thermometer. You want it to be 240°F. If need be, place your saucepan back over the heat and wait for it to reach the right temperature.
If you’re ready to put your sugar wax recipe to the test, you first want to let it cool enough to where it is safe to touch. When ready, get your hands wet using your bowl of water and scoop out a sizable amount of your freshly-made DIY sugar wax.
Begin kneading it like you would taffy, stretching and folding it. This juncture is key, as it will let you know if the consistency of your sugaring wax is correct. If your hands are left with syrup on them, you’re using too much water. Dry your hands a bit and starting kneading again.
Once the sugar wax is opaque, it’s ready to use. Roll it into a ball and follow the next steps for safe hair removal.
If you’re not ready to use your DIY wax-at-home concoction, it’s important to make sure that you store it correctly. First, roll all of your sugaring wax into a ball. Using your shallow glass jar, lightly oil the inside and place the DIY sugar in it. This will ensure that you can easily remove the ball when you’re ready to use it.
Using Your Sugar Wax Recipe
You first want to make sure that your hair is between 1/4- and 1/2-inch long. If your hair is too long, it will cause you more pain when you try to remove it.
Make sure that your skin is clean and dry. That means no oils or lotions.
Start at the bottom of the site that you intend to remove hair from.
Place your ball of sugar wax against your skin
Using three fingers, push the sugaring wax ball into your skin, but make sure that it’s in the opposite direction of hair growth.
Without letting the sugaring wax lift, re-stretch it across the entire waxing site. You want to make sure that you have good coverage and that it’s sticking well. If your DIY sugar wax happens to pull off of your skin when you try to re-stretch it, there is too much moisture.
To combat this problem, use a small amount of corn starch or arrowroot powder on the site of your skin, as this will help absorb any excess moisture.
No matter where you are sugar waxing, whether your legs, bikini line, or elsewhere, you must keep your skin taut before you start pulling. Remember, pulling in the direction of the hair is equally important.
Keeping the sugaring wax parallel with your body, pull it away from your skin but in the direction of hair growth.
Reshape the ball and repeat the above process. You may continue using the same sugar wax ball until it loses its stickiness. When this finally happens, simply replace the used waxing ball with a new one from your mixture.
Follow Up Care
When you have successfully removed the desired amount of hair, it’s time to play clean-up. Your skin is likely to feel sticky from the sugar paste mixture you just had on your legs or body. To remove it, you just need some warm water and a washcloth.
Avoid using body wash or any other kind of soap. In fact, you want to avoid showering for at least 24 hours. Also, try not to do anything that will cause you to sweat, and take care not to put anything on the site you waxed.
You want to wait a total of 48 hours before you exfoliate the site. After which, you may repeat sugaring anywhere from two to three times a week. By continuing to wax at home often throughout the week, you can effectively prevent ingrown hairs.
If you often struggle with ingrown hairs on your legs or other areas of your body, it’s a good habit to keep sugaring. Your unwanted hairs are removed without the hair follicle, thus providing a much more comfortable experience without the risk of your hair getting infected.
Can You Make Sugar Wax With Just Sugar and Water?
Lemon juice is needed to ensure that the mixture forms properly. Therefore, lemon juice is just as essential as the other ingredients. When you add it to sugar water in the right amounts, you get the perfect consistency needed to safely remove your unwanted hair.
What’s more, the natural ingredients used in sugaring are much safer for your skin compared to traditional hot wax. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between these two waxing methods so you’ll know what to expect from both.
It’s worth mentioning that you may come across other sugaring recipes that call for salt or apple cider vinegar. These are completely unnecessary and should be avoided. Sugaring is all about simplicity and ease-of-use. Adding more ingredients only serves to complicate things. Just stick with sugar, water, and lemon juice, and you’ll be in good shape.
What Is the Difference Between Sugar Wax and Regular Wax?
With sugaring, the sugar paste won’t stick to your top layer of skin. Instead, only your unwanted hair is adhered to. While some similarities are present, hot wax is a different experience entirely.
As we’ve discussed, sugaring is much easier on you and your skin. You don’t have the pain associated with sugaring as you do with natural wax treatments. As such, sugaring is the preferred beauty regimen for hair removal.
Sugaring
As we outlined above, you can see that the sugaring process is simple and straightforward. You spread the ball of wax sugar on your skin while staying “against the grain” of your hair growth and then pull in the direction of your hair growth.
It’s that easy. You are left with smooth, healthy skin that isn’t at risk of getting burned in the process.
Hot wax, on the other hand, can be quite painful and you are at risk of getting burned. If you’ve never been the subject of a hot wax treatment, here’s what you can expect.
Hot Waxing
When you go in for a traditional waxing or choose to do it at home, your skin first needs to be cleaned. This is typically done using a powder or oil. Why is this needed? Wax can leave your skin irritated and uncomfortable.
As such, it needs to be properly cleaned to reduce the irritation that you’re likely to experience every time you go in for treatment.
Next, the wax is applied in the same direction as your hair growth. Cloth strips are usually placed on top of the wax, although paper is sometimes used instead. At this juncture, the entire cloth strip is removed, going against your hair’s natural direction of growth.
The problem with this is that it tends to break hairs in the process. So not only do your hairs get painfully pulled in a way that can leave them broken rather than removed, but your skin is also tugged, causing further unnecessary discomfort.
Because there is so much pain associated with traditional waxing, only small or medium-sized areas are waxed at a time. After your hair has been successfully removed, lotions or serums are applied to your skin to help reduce irritation.
You are likely to have leftover wax residue on your skin after waxing. This can be removed using a cleanser with oil-based ingredients.
Getting the Best Sugar Wax
To ensure that you get the best results in your sugaring ventures, it’s important to understand the heating process during preparation. You will likely have to heat your mixture a couple of times in the creation process to get it just right.
Remember, you can heat your mixture more to get the right color, but you can’t heat it less. As such, it’s best to get to the light honey color stage and apply more heat from there.
Where you live can also affect the heating process, so it’s possible that you’ll need to heat to a higher temperature. If you live in an area that is hot and humid, try heating your sugar wax ball to a temperature of 250°F or 260°F.
This will help prevent the mixture from getting too sticky when it’s time to start kneading it. Keep in mind that the warmer your sugar wax is, the firmer it will be. If you must heat to a firmer consistency, it is advised that you knead it well before storing it. If you don’t, you will have to reheat your sugar ball just to get it out of the glass jar or container.
There is definitely a fine line that needs to be toed when making sugar wax. The more heat you use, the softer the mixture will be. But it will eventually get to the point where too much causes the mixture to burn or harden.
That said, you’re probably going to have to play around with different temperatures until you find the right balance between heat and consistency. Don’t get discouraged if you ruin your first couple of batches.
The great thing about sugaring is that its ingredients are incredibly affordable. So it’s not like you’re going to be out a bunch of money if you ruin a couple or even several batches. Once you get the process down, you will have an effective hair removal tool in your DIY arsenal. Enjoy!
