SHEmazing!
follow us
more
 
HomeTagsPosts tagged with "health"

health

by

Whether you deal with anxiety on a day-to-day basis or experience random bouts of stress and unease, it's important you know how to remedy these feelings before they overwhelm you.

One particular GIF, which has been doing the rounds online since 2014, has recently made a reappearance, and it sounds like it works WONDERS during stressful times.

The GIF shows a straight line expanding slowly into triangle, then a square, before transforming into a pentagon, hexagon, and octagon in a series of movements which is said to trigger calm feels among those gazing at it.

According to experts in the field, if you time your breathing with the GIF's movements, you can almost instantly soothe your overworked mind.

Girls, why not take a moment to relax…

Source: Tumblr

Trending

by

Most of us would think nothing of sharing our earphones with a mate or work colleague, but it looks like we may need to re-think that one after a professor of Environmental Health offered some toe-curling insights into the practice.

Speaking to BuzzFeed, Kelly Reynolds of the University of Arizona, reminded us just how many gross things lurk within our ears – something we tend to block out when passing our earphones to the person next to us, right?

Explaining the function of ear wax, Kelly said: "It’s a by-product of our ear trying to cleanse itself of germs and dust. And everybody has a particular bacterial flora in their ears – meaning the bacteria is normal and doesn’t cause infection in the body."

So while ear wax does contain pseudomonas, staphylococcus, and strep, these types of bacteria aren't actually harmful…until they suddenly are.

"If the bacterial count becomes too high and passes your body’s “threshold,” or new bacteria enters your ear, it can cause an ear infection," Kelly warned. "If wax coats or builds up on your earbuds, it can act as a layer to trap bacteria and prevent it from drying out so it can survive and grow."

So, the next time you're about throw your earphones across the desk to your work wife, remember what Kelly told us: "When you share headphones you’re doubling the microbial flora in your ears and introducing new bacteria,”

Ew, get your own, hun.

 

Trending

by

We normally hear about the dangers of drinking a can of coke everyday, and generally, fizzy drinks are a big no-no because of their high sugar content.

But now, as it turns out our cup of high street coffee is waaaay worse. Three times worse, in fact.

A charity called Action on Sugar performed an analysis on 131 hot flavoured drinks from various coffee shops you'd see on the high street.

They found that 98 percent of the drinks tested would receive a red label for nutritional value since the content of sugar is so high.

The drink with the highest sugar content is Starbuck's venti hot mulled fruit with grape, chai orange and cinnamon. While this drink might make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, it has a shocking 25 spoons of sugar in it.

A Starbuck's venti white chocolate mocha with cream has 18 spoons, while a regular hot chocolate has 15 spoons of sugar.

Costa cafe isn't much better, with an average of 9 spoons of sugar in each drink – the same as a can of Coke.

Graham MacGregor, the chairman of Action on Sugar, commented: "This is another example of the scandalous amount of sugar added to our food and drink. No wonder we have the highest rates of obesity in Europe."

So it might be time to stop your habit of that daily latte. Sorry, ladies… 

Trending

by

Okay, your best intentions for that gym membership and your new Spiralizer might have fallen by the wayside now that mid-January’s here, but there’s one really simple thing you can do for better health all around this year.

Find a quiet room, take five minutes, and calm your thoughts with some mindful meditation.

A recent survey by Avonmore Slimline Milk found that 60% of Irish women believe stress is the biggest barrier preventing them from being their best self. So here’s your chance to kill two birds with one stone by de-stressing AND doing something great for your mind and body.

It’ll help you sleep
Is there any worse feeling than lying in bed trying to silence one million different thoughts as they go through your head? Just five minutes of meditation before bed can calm the mind and clear unnecessary thoughts, leading to a sounder sleep for you.

You’ll be WAY more focused at work
Set yourself up for the day with a few minutes of meditation before you leave the house – you’ll notice a huge boost in your concentration levels. Why? Studies have shown that meditation increases stability in the ventral posteromedial cortex, the part of the brain which causes those pesky wandering thoughts.

Your stress levels will plummet
You don’t need to be sitting cross-legged on the floor saying ‘om’ to reap the stress-busting benefits of meditation, you know. Just five minutes of slow, steady breathing and mindfulness can help ease psychological issues like stress and anxiety.

It’s a legit health booster
Meditation has been shown to reduce pain and beat inflammation at a cellular level, with many complementary therapists recommending it for chronic pain management.

It really CAN alter your brain
Our brain is constantly growing and changing throughout our life, and regular meditation has been proven to stimulate the growth of new brain cells. This can have any number of positive effects. including reducing activity in our amygdala, the brain’s stress centre.

It can slow ageing
The ageing process is linked to a reduction in the brain’s grey matter, but regular meditation has been shown to slow this reduction – meaning you’re more likely to be sharp as a tack in your old age.

It’s 100% free
No fancy equipment, no pricey workout gear (unless you want it, of course) and no gym membership needed. Just you, a quiet room and five minutes of your day.

It’s the perfect complement to yoga
As any yoga teacher will tell you, calming the mind is just as important as working on the perfect Downward Dog. Most yoga classes finish up with five minutes of meditation, so use that time wisely and you’ll soon reap the benefits.

Avonmore Slimline Milk want to help bring out the best in you and are giving away a month’s FREE yoga membership everyday this January. To enter check out the Avonmore website.

Avonmore Slimline Milk Editorial Header

Trending

by

We all know that taking the time to read a good book is informative, relaxing and well, just good for us. 

However, we did not realise that reading certain books actually made us better human beings. 

According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology, JK Rowling's seven seminal books about the wizarding world actually help children to understand the social stigmatism of minority groups. 

Uncovered by the Debrief , the research investigated how people tended to view stigmatised people in society and found that those lucky enough to have read about our favourite wizard, had a better understand of disenfranchised people. 

Yes, Harry Potter actually heavily influenced their world views and informed their perception of minority groups in a positive way whether it was a muggle, a lowly house elf, a refugee or an LGBTQ person. 

Magical!

So yeah, if you haven't already encouraged every child in your general vicinity to crack open Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone then we suggest you do.

Trending

by

Well the rest of us will be content to stuff our faces with our very own personalised jars of Nutella, we know there is going to be some individuals who would rather just eat the whole Turkey (minus the stuffing). 

When it comes to Christmas, we think of food, food, The Late Late Toy Show, and then more food. 

For those among us who enjoy a slightly more balanced approach, the endless festive parties and chocolate decorations can become a bit tedious. 

If you were struggling to find the perfect gift for that fit freak in your life (that does not include a trip to a sports shop). then we found it!

Bodyfirst Nutrition are selling a protein bar Christmas selection box:

For anyone who wants to ensure they don't fall off the clean eating wagon completely this Christmas, this is the perfect stocking filler. Ditch the sugar-heavy Christmas selection boxes and get yourself one of these bad boys ASAP.

You can choose five of your favourite protein bars from Nutramino, Quest Nutrition, Muscle Pharm Combat Crunch or Oh Yeah Low Carb and add them to your box. 

The website also suggests using the hashtag #HappyFitmas to show off your healthy goodies.

We reckon you're going to get some serious eye rolls from fellow social media users, but we all know that they'll probably just be jealous they hadn't though of the idea first.

You have to admit, it is kind of the perfect gift for anyone in your life who just cannot stop talking about the temptations surrounding them during the Christmas period. Stick one of those in the office kitchen and problem solved. 

You can find the selection boxes online here for €14.95. 

Trending

by

We know that not all foods are created equally: yup, a cucumber and a can of cola are certainly NOT going to do the same things to your body. 

However, and while 'superfoods' has been the dietary buzz word of the last few years, having to trek across town to try and source a €4-a-pop portion of something you can't quite pronounce is just tiresome. 

Actually, it's positively enough to make us reach for a large chips and a garlic bread with cheese combo.

Fear not! Because many truly fantastic superfoods are totally affordable and readily available on everyday supermarket shelves.

Here, SHEmazing! rounds up the 14 best ones that will help you celebrate your 100th birthday. Tuck in!

 

1) Eggs

Cheap, versatile – and really very good for you

2) Sweet potatoes 

A delicious alternative to our national veg

 

3) Fish

Hello there, omega-3 fatty acids

 

4) Walnuts

Help prevent diabetes and stroke

5) Black beans

Even from a can, these are brilliant used in lieu meat

 

6) Fresh herbs

A great way to add flavour too with no extra calories

 

7) Feta cheese

Makes your heart stronger

 

8) Tofu

Full of amino acids, iron, and calcium 

 

9) Fresh fruit

It doesn't matter what type either

10) Seaweed

Fights fat and keeps hunger at bay

 

11) Chilli

Fire up that metabolism

 

12) Wild rice

Naturally gluten-free too

13) Prawns

A great source of unsaturated fat

 

14) Garlic

Delicious, simple to use – and cancer-fighting

 

Trending

by

There is nothing worse than getting prepared to tackle a workout with enthusiasm and then opening the door to find that a blizzard has arrived. 

Staying fit during the winter months can be a challenge. Waking up at the crack of dawn for a jog and coming home with icicles clinging to your face is less than pleasant. So, we found some genius life hacks that will help you stay motivated and fit despite the temperatures dropping.

1. Do a quick warm-up indoors before you leave the house. 

2.  Buy a great pair of cold-weather running tights. 

3. Run with mini heat patches in your gloves if you need the extra heat. 

4. Get out of your sweaty clothes as soon as you’re finished exercising and avoid any nasty coldsorflus. 

5. Accept that you’re not going to be running your best times or distances. 

Don't be discouraged, but do be realistic.

6. On windy days, avoid large open areas on your running route. 

7. Cover your ears and fingers as they will get colder faster than the rest of your body. 

Just go ahead and accept that you're not going to be running your best times.

8. Stay hydrated! 

When the weather is freezing it may not be obvious that you're sweating as much as usual, but you still need to stay just as hydrated after your workout.

 

Trending

by

Feeling sluggish after eight hours at your computer? Desk yoga could be the answer.

Plus, any fitness trend that doesn't even require us to stand up is one that we can get behind. 

It won't just help with toned arms and a flat stomach either – studies show that yoga can help people dealing with anxiety and depression. 

So, while you may not be leaping up to sun salutations or downward dog poses while everyone else is gathered at the coffee machine, there are other poses you can do at your desk to help yourself out.

The Neck Roll 

Sit up tall and press your feet into the floor. Tilt you head towards one shoulder and hold for five seconds before repeating on the opposite side.

Back Bends 

Sounds a bit extreme, doesn’t it? No worries, all you have to do is reach behind you and hold the seat of your chair.

Push forward with your chest and tilt your head back. Repeat as necessary. Pro tip: also an excellent way of dramatically avoiding eye contact.

Side Bends 

It helps when your whole body feels stiff from spending hours sitting. Move to the right and sit up tall.

Put your left hand on your chair and press down. Lift your right arm straight up and reach to the left, take a few deep breaths and swap sides. Also a great way of starting an office-wide Mexican wave. 

Trending

by

Former Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice star Kate Walsh has decided to open up about why she won’t be starting a family in the future.

The 48-year old actress explained that after her divorce in 2001 from film executive Alex Young, she felt “like a loser” for not having kids. 

At the time she said she had always imagined she would be married with three or four kids by now but said “I definitely don’t want to do it on my own.”

In her latest interview with SiriusXM she said that going through early menopause has meant her dream of having children was put to rest. 

“I don’t have children. I’m not going to have kids. I went through early menopause. That happened.”

Kate said that her older sister went through early menopause and told her she needed to go see her doctor. While the actress said it was not something she had planned on doing, she eventually went along:

“It was bleak. But that was a great kind of experience and growth,” she said.

“I’ve always felt I’ve been, at times in my life, indecisive or have hard times making decisions. I go for what I want and I also embrace what’s in front of me.” 

Kate also added that the notion of "having it all" is a huge myth.

“I don’t know if you can actually have it all. I think that is actually this American myth. I wouldn’t call it a dream,” she commented.

“I think it’s a bit of a myth in that it’s this huge pressure. We’re like, ‘Wait a minute, am I less than if I’m not a mother? If I’m not a rock star in my career?’"

Trending

by

Any coffee addicts in your life are going to be feeling quite smug with this news. 

Researchers have said that people who report drinking three to five cups of the caffeinated deliciousness are less likely to die prematurely from certain diseases.

These included heart disease, suicide, diabetes and Parkinson's disease. 

Even better news! Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee were shown to have benefits, said the study by researchers at the Harvard University Chan School of Public Health.

The study compared people who do not drink coffee, or drank less than two cups daily, to those who reported drinking "moderate" amounts of coffee, or up to five cups daily.

The study did not prove a cause-and-effect for coffee and the reduced likelihood of certain diseases. However, they uncovered an apparent link that is in alignment with previous research, and that scientists are interested in studying further.

"Bioactive compounds in coffee reduce insulin resistance and systematic inflammation," which according to first author Ming Ding, a doctoral student in the Department of Nutrition, explains many of their findings. 

No protective effect was found against cancer in this study. Some previous research has pointed to a link between coffee consumption and a lower risk of certain cancers.

The study was based on data gathered from three ongoing surveys of some 300,000 nurses and other health professionals who agree to answer questionnaires about their own medical conditions and habits over the course of 30 years. 

"In the whole study population, moderate coffee consumption was associated with reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease, and suicide," said the findings. 

The experts did warn that coffee may not be right for everyone. Shocking, but true.

"Regular consumption of coffee can be included as part of a healthy, balanced diet," said senior author Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard. 

"However, certain populations such as pregnant women and children should be cautious about high caffeine intake from coffee or other beverages."

Trending

by

Oh naps and the glory of naptime.

It is the time of day that people around the world seem to understand the importance of, but we can’t quite work into our daily schedules past childhood. Which is just a terrible shame really. 

The most frustrating thing: in our youth we didn’t appreciate naps at all.Why were so oblivious to the beauty of the midday snooze way back when?

However! Science is stepping up and giving us a helping hand with a new study. It proves at work is the best time to take a nap.

We had already thought this was the case, but it’s nice to know the experts are on our side when our bosses consider the practice frowned upon. 

The sleep experts, along with the National Sleep Foundation, discovered that for people who don’t have trouble sleeping at night, a short power nap of 20 minutes (anything more starts a REM cycle, which is a deep sleep no-no) between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. will leave you rested enough to tackle the afternoon like an Olympian.

Maybe not an Olympian but it definitely feels like you’re some sort of goddess when you can politely decline three coffees at 4 in the afternoon with a certain smugness. 

There is some bad news if you toss and turn at night. These naps can make you groggier than if you never napped in the first place. So perhaps before you decide to commit to the siesta loving life, consider sorting out your night time sleep schedule first.

Does this mean those bizarre nap desks could be coming to an office near you? We think yes! 

Trending
© Copyright 2012-2024 - Shemazing.net. Déanta in Éirinn - Sheology.