Looking for some healthy snack ideas? Check out this guest post by Michael Shaw:
At around 3 or 4 pm every day, many of us hit a significant wall, one that makes us stare hazily at our computer screens and want nothing more than to put our heads down over our keyboards and nap, or at least rest. If you don’t suffer these big dips in energy, then consider yourself lucky; you’re either immune, or you’ve somehow figured out a way to pace yourself, and eat just right. The mid-afternoon crash is simply a phenomenon that many of us experience, one in which our energy levels become so sapped that all we want to do is zone out, and, sooner or later, eat something.
I’m guessing that you’re smart enough to recognize that grabbing a candy bar at this point is not a good call. In case this needs clarifying, let me point out why this is wrong on many levels: the very brief sugar rush that you’d get from ingesting a candy bar would be quickly replaced by another, likely even heavier crash. Also, there isn’t one, single nutritional benefit to a candy bar; it may fill us up if our stomachs are growling, but there are plenty of far healthier things we can choose if we just need to satiate hunger. Likewise, there are a ton of “protein bars” out there that are really no more than protein-loaded alternatives to candy bars, so I would advise staying away from them as well.
So what are the right things to reach for, then? Ideally, some form of high protein, no flour, no sugar vegetarian superfood is best, such as quinoa, lentils or maybe a hard-boiled egg. Unless you’re super-organized and regularly plan ahead, however, I realize that those options aren’t especially realistic, so here are some good, easy to grab/bring alternatives:
An apple- it has natural sugars, but also fiber, so they give you just the right balanced boost (I like mine refrigerated- seems to bring out even more sugars, taste-wise).
A banana- sweet but not too sweet, filling and that good ol’ potassium is good for energy.
Aw, nuts- choose nuts based on both your preference and your tolerance: some people have allergic reactions, even if mild, to some nuts but not others. Learn to be conscious of what nuts you have and how they affect you on an ongoing basis. Universally, the best nuts in my experience are walnuts and almonds; soy nuts or cashews can also be good, depending on your tolerance to them.
A healthy protein bar- this isn’t necessarily the perfect option, but it can be great if you have the right metabolism and make-up for it. Larabars are my go-to option because they have no added sugars whatsoever (with the exception of their bars with added chocolate chips, which are in the minority). They’re mainly sweetened with dates and whatever other dried fruit goes into the particular flavor. Dates are high in sugars, but they’re natural sugars, so the effect on your body and energy levels tends to be much more even-keeled, as long as you’re not a diabetic.
Dried fruits- raisins, dates, banana chips (the unsweetened kind- double check the ingredients), figs, and other dried fruits are good in terms of fibers, but they have high sugar levels, so I’d recommend pairing them with nuts, and making your ration 3:2, or even 2:1, nuts to dried fruit.
Try all of the above options individually. Pay attention to the effects each snack provides you over the course of an hour after eating, and then you can determine what works best for you. And when you do- you’ll have developed your ideal antidote to the mid-afternoon crash!
Michael Shaw writes about healthy alternatives to refined flours and sugars, including unrefined sugars, at his website, No Flour No Sugar Diet.
Tags: food, healthy snacks, snacks
Guest Post:
A good Fall cleaning doesn’t get the same amount of attention as Spring cleaning, but for allergy sufferers it can be the key to being more comfortable all season long. The trick is to use the right tools and cleaners so that you don’t inadvertently exacerbate your symptoms instead of making them better.
Vacuuming is Terrific, Except…
A high quality vacuum cleaner can be worth double its weight in gold for an allergy sufferer as long as it’s taking allergens out of the air instead of spreading them around. Make sure that your vacuum is equipped with a HEPA filter and leaks a minimum amount of dust from the casing. Otherwise, you’re only spreading dust, pollen and dander into the air.
A vacuum cleaner with attachments for cleaning blinds, drapes and upholstery can help you get as much dust as possible out of those surfaces. Be sure to use the right pressure setting for the surface you are trying to clean. High pressure isn’t always better! Using the highest pressure setting on drapes, shag carpeting and similar surfaces only pulls the material into the vacuum, which will prevent it from working correctly.
No matter how good your vacuum, some dust will be kicked up into the air so consider wearing a dust filtering mask while you work.
Feather Dusters are Cute, But…
Using a lightly dampened cloth works better and will capture dust instead of scattering it around. Work from high to low using lint-free dusting cloths moistened with a bit of allergy friendly dusting solution. Avoid heavy dusting and polishing solutions as these can leave a residue which will trap even more dust.
As you dust, look for ways to declutter. The more surfaces you have in your home to collect dust, the more difficult it will be to keep things clean. Choose a few special pieces to display, store what you can’t bear to part with and sell or give away the rest.
The Smell of Clean isn’t Always a Good Thing
Many of us associate clean with the smell of pine scented cleaner or bleach. These kinds of cleaners certainly have their uses, but it’s best to always use the most gentle cleaner you can find that will do the job. Many commercial cleaners contain chemicals that have been known to trigger allergies or asthma attacks so avoid them as much as possible. Baking soda, vinegar and elbow grease will clean almost anything without causing headaches, sneezing, watering eyes and respiratory problems.
If you do need to use a harsh cleaner for a tougher mess, protect yourself with a mask and gloves and make sure that the room is well ventilated. Always read the instructions on the bottle! Many people neglect to measure and use far too much, increasing their exposure to fumes.
Be Your Own Home Inspector
Mold spores spell trouble for allergy sufferers! Not only that, if left to spread it can ruin your home’s structure, causing tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage. It’s worth it to make the time to give your house a top to bottom inspection a few times a year to look for evidence of mold and water damage. Do it safely though – a dust mask and gloves is a good idea if you’re going into the dusty, damp corners of your home like basement, attic or crawlspace.
If you find mold, take steps to fix the problem right away. It’s not enough to just clean off the moldy spots with bleach, you’ll also want to look for the underlying cause and find a long-term solution. Small patches of mold (less than one square meter) can usually be handled without calling in a mold remediation specialist, however larger patches will require professional help.
Making sure that your home is as free of mold spores as possible will help increase your air quality so that your home can be a refuge from your allergy symptoms, not the cause of them.
Jacob Maslow is a blogger for Allergy Be Gone , a site that sells allergy control products as well as mold control.
Tags: allergies, allergy control, dusting, fall cleaning, guest posts
Cold Shower, Anyone?
Guest Post:
How Cold Showers Can Improve Over All Health
Many favor warm showers—and who can blame them? After all, they’re cozy and can leave your muscles feeling rested and relaxed. But did you know that as uncomfortable as a cold shower may be, it can in fact encourage an array of health benefits? That’s right. Cold showers can actually improve your overall physical appearance, longevity and can help promote mental health. To learn why you should switch to cold showers every now and then, continue reading below.
1. Improves Circulation. Unlike warm water which increases your body’s blood flow to your skin (the reason why you may come out looking a little pinkish), cold water actually increases the blood flow to your organs—thus switching the water temperatures periodically through your shower from warm to cold (or at least finishing your shower in cold water) will help improve circulation throughout your entire body. This circulation in turn can help you prevent you from developing unattractive varicose veins, can help fight against high blood pressure and can even prevent the hardening of the arteries—which can help reduce the chances of having a heart attack or developing heart disease, the leading cause of death in America.
2. Boosts Immune System. According to researchers, cold showers can even help boost one’s immune system and help fight against contracting certain illnesses and viruses. This is because some researchers argue that when a warm body is splashed with freezing water, it goes into cold shock. As a result of trying to warm the body up back up, your metabolic rate increases which researchers believe directly triggers the immune system to produce virus-fighting white blood cells.
3. Improves Skin & Hair. In short, warm water opens your pores while cold water closes them. You want to open your pores to make sure that dirt and residue is removed from both your hair and skin—more specifically the typical acne-prone area, your face. But you also want to make sure that you close those pores so that dirt, oil and toxins in the air don’t immediately seep right back into them. In addition to closing your hair’s pores (which are actually called cuticles) cold water will also boost your hair’s shine and make it stronger, which in turn can help slow down the process of hair loss.
4. Improves Mental Stability. Some researchers also argue that cold showers can even help fight against contracting mental illnesses and diseases, more specifically depression. This is because cold water helps stimulate a portion of the brain that produces noradrenaline—a chemical that helps prevent depression.
5. Instant (and Natural) Energizer. Lastly, cold showers are a sure fire way to immediately wake you up and help shake off drowsiness any time of the day. This is because cold water will stir up your central nervous system which will get your heart pumping and give you an instant boost of energy. So skip the caffeine and energy drinks, and just take a cold shower.
This guest post is contributed by Leslie Johnson, who writes about health, green living, parenting related articles at masters in health administration.
Tags: cold shower benefits, cold showers, cold water benefits
