Red Light Therapy For Burns

I never imagined that red light therapy would be a healing component. In fact, for many years I thought it was just another snake oil cure. But I started working with an alternative health practitioner when menopause hit me hard and she highly recommended using red light therapy in addition to some vitamins.

I can’t say that red light therapy has cured my hair loss or even triggered any new regrowth. This is really disappointing because I would love to tell everyone and their dog that they can sit in front of a red light and be cured miraculously.

My Red Light Therapy Treatment

I have used a home red light therapy device almost daily for the last three months. I aim it at my bald head, my neck, and my belly during the treatment. My daily treatments last between 10-20 minutes. When I started using the red light device, I would spend more time in front of it. When I got discouraged by my lack of results, I started getting lax about using the red light device.

The red light device is placed about 10 inches from my body in order to help my skin absorb the light rays. I do wear eye protection to ensure that my eyes aren’t damaged. However, in most treatment sessions I simply shut my eyes.

The Red Light Therapy Benefits

I had burned my neck with a curling iron a few days before I learned about red light therapy. There was a pink one-inch burn on the left side of my neck. The burn seemed like it could be permanent. The pain had subsided from the initial contact with the curling iron, so I didn’t think much about it. Within three days of using the red light therapy device, the red burn had completely vanished.

I hadn’t been too worried about living with a burn scar on my neck. It was mostly covered by my hair, but my skin now felt more pliable and soft. The original color had returned much more quickly than I had expected it to return.

Red light is 660 nm and is readily absorbed by the skin and cells. This promotes healing by increasing the circulation to the cells. Increased circulation can assist in delivering vital nutrients and removing toxins from the cells. In fact, human cells respond to the 660 nm red light therapy in a similar way that plant cells respond to sunlight. The cells produce energy and optimize cell function. This in turn stimulates the body’s innate healing processes.

Red light therapy is also advertised as having the following benefits:

  • Temporarily increases blood circulation
  • Relieves muscle spasms and stiffness
  • Promotes relaxation
  • Rejuvenates skin cells

Photobiomodulation Activates Healing

Red Light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, activates the TGF-beta 1 proteins which promote tissue healing and regeneration. Based on a study done on mice, it was determined that photobiomodulation activated the myofibroblasts which promote wound contraction. As the wound contracts, the wound size decreases.

Red light therapy has been shown to accelerate the resolution of erythema (heat) and accelerate wound closure. The increased circulation can reduce inflammation and prevent further infection. Since phototherapy is anti-bacterial, LED red light therapy done prior to surgery will decrease the presence of c-acne bacteria. This can reduce the chance of infections due to surgery.

Light Therapy Reduces Scarring

My own experience with red light therapy and burns has shown that red light therapy can reduce the scarring that can happen from burns. There is additional research that also backs up the healing modality. In a low-level laser therapy study done on 19 burn scar patients, 17 of the patients showed an improvement with low-level laser therapy. They were treated with a 400 mW 670 nm Softlaser twice a week for 8 weeks. There were no negative effects from the low-level laser therapy.

red light therapy


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red light therapy for burns

Doing the 30 Day Walking Challenge

I’m embarrassed to admit that I got lazy and a little out of shape. Throughout my life, I have gone from athlete to sedentary lifestyle and back. I do find that when I am consistent with physical activity that I do feel my best. Some of the reasons that I may stop my physical activity have included seizures, weather, and extra work. Getting back on track can seem difficult at first, but having a challenge can kick-start that journey. 

I’ve been focused on getting more sunshine and natural light into my life as a way to combat depression, increase my vitamin D levels, and hopefully reverse my alopecia universalis. Last weekend, I went on a hike to the lovely Great Falls national park and realized I should combine my sunbathing with walking. Apparently, there are thirty day walking challenges for those of us who have neglected their physical activity!

What is the 30 Day Walking Challenge? 

It is a commitment to getting active for 30 days in a row. The challenge for most people will be to fit a daily walk into their already busy schedule. Whether you are just starting out, or already have a walking routine, the 30 day walking challenge helps you increase your stamina and set a routine that you can live with. 

For me, the 30 day walking challenge will be walking 5 miles per day for 30 days. I have been walking 10,000 steps for the last ten days. That equates to just above 4 miles per day. My challenge will be to fit a few more steps in and keep it consistent every single day! 

How to Get Started with the Walking Challenge

This challenge is pretty simple. You just take a walk everyday. But if you really want to set yourself up for success, you may want to take these additional steps. 

  1. Find a specific time each day that you can commit to walking. 
  2. Set a goal for how long and how far you will walk. Keep in mind, if you are trying to fit in 5 miles, you will be walking for about 2 hours per day. The walking distance can be broken up into two or three shorter walks. 
  3. Track your progress. Use your iphone as a step counter or purchase a FitBit to track your mileage. You can also just walk a path that you know the distance. 
  4. Keep it fun. I have been listening to music and podcasts during my walk. It keeps me entertained and motivated to keep putting one foot in front of the other. 
  5. Reward your consistency. Goals are fun, but goals that have rewards may keep you more motivated. Reward yourself with a night out or some new shoes. You could treat yourself to a Starbucks coffee or a drive in movie. Try not to let the reward be something that will derail your fitness goals!

Benefits of Walking

This walking challenge will do more for you than simply get you putting one foot in front of the other. You will notice incredible health benefits. You won’t believe how the simple act of taking a walk can improve your mood and overall health. 

Below are some of the documented benefits of walking:

  1. Improved well-being.
  2. Increased joint health.
  3. Increased metabolism.
  4. Extra vitamin D from being out in the sunshine.

How to Walk 

Poor posture can impact your overall health. If you are doing the walking challenge with bad posture, you won’t see all of the benefits that are possible. Stand up straight to ensure that you are breathing efficiently. As you walk, you may want to think about how you are moving. 

  • Neck: hold your head up and think about the distance between your ear lobes and shoulders. Your head should be balanced above your shoulders and not hunched forward. Holding your head up reduces the hunched posture that can come from sitting too long at a computer. 
  • Arms: Allow your arms to flow back and forth like a pendulum. Don’t force the movement. 
  • Hips: Keep your abdominals lifted in and up to strengthen the core. 
  • Feet: Allow your foot to have a nice, soft roll from the heel to the toes. 

Go for a walk! 

Now that you know how great walking can be for your health, set some walking goals and hop on this 30 day walking challenge with me! While I’m not overly optimistic that it will cure my baldness (hey, I’ve been working on doing that with a gazillion diets for the last 15 years), I know that my mood is much better with the increased step count. I’m loving getting out in the sunshine and taking walks at the crack of dawn. I do find that I am becoming more productive too! 

8 Ways to Transform Your Life with a Positive Mindset

Transform Your Life with a Positive Mindset

We can’t emphasize how important it is to have a positive mindset. We keep undermining our achievements and tend to focus on negative things in life, which gives us the feeling of self-loathing. Positive thinking can literally give you tremendous results.

We’ve come up with 8 powerful ways to transform your life with a positive mindset. These will help change the quality of your life and simplify your life.

#1. Start Accepting 

We always keep dwelling in our past, failed relationships, regrets and disappointments. We contemplate on the things, which we can’t change anymore. 

Dwelling in the past makes no sense. Since we can’t change the situation, we should drive ourselves forward,  thinking more about the present and our future and think of ways to fix the current situation. 

Let bygones be bygones! The only solution which we have with us is to fix our present and if you are unable to fix it, learn to accept it as it is! 

As Dale Carnegie pointed out throughout his book “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living”, the best way to live a stress-free life is to not fuss over things that are beyond our control.

Here’s one activity for you that can help you feel at peace. 

Take a page, and write down all the bad things that happened to you in the past, don’t start contemplating on them,  Instead take a look at them for the last time, and then take another page and write down all the goals which you have for the future or things you’re are looking forward to.

Burn the page where you mentioned all the bad experiences and let it go. Stick the other page on your work desk/mirror and start working towards it.

You’ll see a drastic shift in the quality of your thoughts. Don’t be surprised when you feel more motivated and positive!

#2. Don’t Blame External Factors

We, humans, tend to give excuses, every time things don’t work out. 

“If this had not happened, I wouldn’t have been here!”

“If only this hadn’t gone wrong, I wouldn’t be in this situation!”

Avoid blaming the external factors for the cause of your distress. 

Instead, learn to own up to your mistakes. This will enable you to take responsibility for your actions. This will result in you being mindful of the things you do and understand the consequences of the same. 

If you’re in a toxic relationship and your partner makes your life miserable, know that blaming your partner won’t help.

It’s you who’s choosing to stick around. Seek help and end it rather than moping around, or worse, suffering.

#3. Be Determined

The power of determination towards reaching your goal is incredibly amazing. If something is important to you, you’ll leave no stone unturned to make it possible. 

If you aren’t able to make it happen, that means the thing’s not that important to you. If you really want something badly, you’ll manifest that. 

J K Rowling wouldn’t be one of the most renowned authors today if she had given up on her dream early on. 

It’s your determination that will keep you going so make sure you develop the habit of not giving up so easily.

#4. Don’t Surround Yourself with Negative People

There are two kinds of people: the ones who love and support you and the ones who drag you down.

They can be anyone: your friends, your colleagues and even your family members.

When you surround yourself with such people, they start influencing you and the more you hang out with them, the more you expose yourself to their negativity.

You should instantly stop hanging around with negative people. If you can’t cut them off completely, make sure to maintain a healthy distance.

Spend more time with people who genuinely care about you, motivate you and are there for you during the bad times.

It’s one of the easiest ways to have a positive mindset.

#5. Start Focusing on the Good Aspects of Life

You shouldn’t dwell on the bad side of life, instead start searching for the silver lining in life. 

Doing so, would answer all your questions like “Why did this happen to me?”, “Why was I so unlucky?”

Generally, people spend their whole day thinking about the bad side, which makes them believe that everything worse is happening to them, and they’re the only sufferers left and then they start neglecting the good things that happened to them and what they should be grateful for.

#6. Overcome Fear

Fear generally stands for “False Expression Appearing Real”, and is one of the biggest factors that limit you from achieving your dreams. 

Often, because of fear, people aren’t able to make their dreams come true. They limit or confine themselves by developing fear.

#7. Take Action

Generally, people manifest their dreams without taking action. Thinking about your dreams and not turning them into reality, goes in vain. 

It’s necessary to transform the idea or thought into reality which has to be followed by the action. 

Thinking about becoming a writer, wouldn’t turn you into a writer until you actually start writing. There’s no perfect time to start doing things. Taking action is important to manifest your dreams. 

#8. Improve Yourself

There’s always room for improving yourself. 

People generally think that they can’t explore various possibilities of improving themselves. 

There’s one thing that has always helped me to get better, that’s reading books. You can literally transform your life just by reading more.  Get your hands on some Self Help books as they’ll literally do wonders and will bring more positivity to your life than you can ever imagine!

The Takeaway

I hope these simple tips helped you understand how you can transform your life with a positive mindset. 

What do you do to stay positive and what are some of the tips you’d like to share with our readers to stay happy? Tell us in the comments section below!

Author Bio:

Aayushi is a content writer at F and B Recipes. When not writing, she can be found creating a list of “Things That Make Me Happy” or coming up with creative Food Blog Names.

Gravatar ID: aayushikhandelwal750@gmail.com

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7 Quick and Easy Ketogenic Snack Ideas

Ketogenic diets are great at keeping you satiated. You almost don’t ever need snacks. When you first get started on the ketogenic diet, snacks can help you to adjust. Friends and family may still be snackers and still want something to munch on when they visit.

Keep these ketogenic snack ideas in mind when you go to parties. You may feel like you can’t eat anything, but if they have some of these ketogenic snacks on hand, you can indulge! These ketogenic snack ideas are great for serving as appetizers too!

Ketogenic Snack Ideas

  • Pork rinds– For those with salty and crunchy cravings, pork rinds provide you with a savory crunch without the carbohydrates. Pork rinds can be used in place of chips and dipped in guacamole or ranch dressing.[easyazon_image align=”none” height=”500″ identifier=”B07SDR587Q” locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51jprozFj-L.jpg” tag=”mcurle08-20″ width=”500″]
  • Macadamia Nuts – Macadamia nuts are not filled with inflammatory omega 6 fats. They have high amounts of monounsaturated fat and minimal omega-6s.
  • Boiled eggs- Boiled eggs are a simple and easy way to get some protein in. These ketogenic snack ideas are easy to make and can be used in a number of different ways like deviled eggs and egg salad.
  • Pepperoni slices – Pepperoni slices are a very convenient and keto-friendly snack. Pork rinds can be packed up and taken on road trips or to sporting events. Look for pepperoni without added dextrose, maltodextrin and unhealthy preservatives.[easyazon_image align=”none” cart=”n” height=”500″ identifier=”B00JH4U7US” locale=”US” src=”https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/6158JtnxF8L.jpg” tag=”mcurle08-20″ width=”500″]
  • High-fat cheese – Hard cheeses can serve as a great high-fat snack on the ketogenic diet. They pack well with meat and nuts. String cheese, cheddar cheese cubes, and slices of Colby jack cheese are easy and convenient for keto snacking.
  • Cherry Tomatoes – Summertime means eating fresh veggies. My garden is full of cherry tomatoes, which can be a great snack. They do have some carbohydrates, so make sure you don’t overeat them!
  • Pickles – Satisfy your salty and sour cravings with pickles! These ketogenic snack ideas are low-calorie and can provide you with the minerals you need.

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Remember, the goal isn’t to make snacks an integral part of your life. The goal should be to eat full ketogenic meals. These ketogenic snack ideas are there for you during times when you haven’t eaten enough or when a normal meal won’t happen for example when you are traveling or at a party.

How to Avoid the Covid-19 Virus

First and foremost, let me put it out there… I am not a doctor. But if I was, you may not want to take my advice. Doctors don’t study virology. They study medicine. They write prescriptions for medicine. Sometimes, medicine can harm you. So, it may be a good thing that I’m not a doctor. I don’t have a bias towards harmful drugs which provide temporary relief.

This is going to be advice on simply staying healthy and avoiding getting sick. I don’t think there is any possible way to avoid exposure to the virus at this point. But I do believe that you can avoid the awful symptoms if you are exposed to it.

Let me explain.

Boost Your Immune System

From my limited knowledge of the immune system, if it is healthy, you will fight off viruses and bacterial infections like a pro. If your immune system is compromised, you will come down with every flu and cough that is going around.

Boosting the immune system’s health will help you to avoid getting the covid-19 virus symptoms. It may also decrease the intensity of any symptoms that you feel.

It is unlikely that you’ll be able to avoid the virus altogether. But consider who is telling you to avoid the virus. Politicians. And do you really trust them? Yes, they have their advisers who are well-paid by the pharmaceutical companies who create the vaccines.

If your immune system doesn’t work, it won’t matter how great the vaccine they create is going to be. Your immune system needs to be functioning properly to create antibodies. Otherwise, the vaccine is going to cause more harm than good.

So, we should all be ensuring that our immune system functions. To do that, eliminate the processed foods in your diet. Forget about eating any sugar. That depletes your immune response by 50%.

Eliminate Toxins

One of the things that stresses out the immune system’s response is an overload of toxins. This can be anything from the chemicals in your cleaning products to the pesticides on your foods.

Throw out cleaning products that are not organic. Buy a spray bottle and fill it with a solution of apple cider vinegar and water to clean windows. Dilute some bleach and use it to sanitize surfaces in the bathroom. Look for products that are organic and only have a few ingredients to clean your home.

Stop using non-stick cookware. The chemicals that make it non-stick often start to come off within a few months of use. The ‘poly- and perfluoroalkyl’ substances used in cookware are linked to thyroid disease, infertility and organ damage. Instead, opt for cooking with a cast-iron skillet.

“Eat Clean”

I’m sure you’ve heard this advice before. Eat clean. But what does that even mean? Many people go vegan. There are hundreds of diets out there promoting good health.

I will tell you what it means to me. It means eating foods that are unprocessed and unpackaged. I focus on buying pasture raised beef and eggs when I have the money. During the summer months, I grow a garden and will eat some of the vegetables out of there.

Avoid packaged and processed foods. Cereals, breads, and pastas. Packaged foods tend to have preservatives in them. Do you really want your organs preserved or well-functioning?

Buteyko Breathing

I learned the Buteyko Breathing technique years ago. It is a method of correct, diaphragmatic breathing through your nose. Apparently when you breathe through your mouth, you don’t tend to get enough oxygen for your body to function properly.

Buteyko noticed a correlation between disease and the rate of breaths per minute. As people became sicker, they often increase the number of breaths they took per minute. He taught people to slow down their breathing and breathe through their nose. Patients started to eliminate their health conditions as they did this.

As a substitute teacher, I was able to observe many students in a variety of classes. I noticed that the students in honors classes often breathed through their nose with their diaphragm. In non-verbal autism classrooms, the students were often mouth breathers who rarely relied on nasal breathing.

Get Fresh Air

We are being told to stay indoors, but the indoors has many environmental toxins. There is off-gassing from carpets, chemicals that we use to clean, and some places even have mold. The more you connect with nature, the better you will feel.

Sunshine provides you with vitamin D, which is an essential hormone for many bodily functions. Vitamin D has been shown to fight off respiratory infections that are similar to the Coronavirus. While sunshine is the best way to get your vitamin D, you can also supplement with it.

Scientists also believe that breathing in the airborne chemicals produced by plants known as phytoncides increases our levels of white blood cells. This in turn helps us to fight off diseases and infections.

While none of these recommendations will help you completely avoid covid-19, each of them may better equip you to handle the virus when you do come in contact with it. As you incorporate these into your life, you may discover that your health and overall happiness improves!

ButcherBox Review – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

ButcherBox Review

Name: ButcherBox Meat Delivery Service

Website: Butcherbox.com

Price: $129

Overall Rank: 75 out of 100

Butcherbox, Product Overview

Butcherbox is a meat delivery system for those of us who don’t live particularly close to farms, but want meat from sustainably raised, grassfed, healthy animals.

The service will deliver a box of 8-11 pounds of meat per month to your doorstep. The meat is frozen and delivered with dry ice to ensure that is stays frozen until you get home and put it in your freezer.

The Good & the Bad

The Good:

Pro #1: The meat was very flavorful. It didn’t taste gamey like some grassfed meat does.

Pro #2: There were a variety of cuts included. While I received four pounds of ground beef and only two steaks, I also got a roast and some sirloin tips. It was kind of fun to have someone else select my meat cuts for me. It challenged me to look up some new recipes.

Pro #3: It is super convenient to have things delivered to your house.

The Bad:

Con #1: I received an email asking me to evaluate the meat before I received it. This freaked me out a bit that someone stole the meat from my front porch. (They didn’t. It came 10 hours later…) 


Con #2:
The price is just okay. The local farmers market has some grassfed meat that is comparable. You can also choose cheaper cuts and pick ones that have more marbling when you are at the farmers market.

Con #3: Not all the cuts will be processed to your liking. For example, the “free bacon” that I received as a promo was thick cut bacon. It was so thick that it never crisped up when cooked. I prefer thinner bacon that crisps on the edges.

Who is ButcherBox For?

Butcherbox is great for someone who is insanely busy, but interested in eating healthier. It is great for people who already use a grocery delivery service. Butcherbox is ideal for people who have more money than time. They will enjoy the convenience of receiving their high quality meat in a box every month.

It is NOT for people who want to bargain shop and get the lowest price. It is NOT for people following the GAPS diet or the PKD diet and want the unusual cuts of meat like organs and offal.

ButcherBox Support

The support offered with the product is great. I emailed them regarding my order and the weird email I received prior to getting my box. They assured me the box was on the way through a chat. I didn’t have to wait hours for them to respond.

When I sent them an email, they were responsive as well, they responded within 24 hours.

ButcherBox Price

The price of meat ordered from Butcherbox comes to about $10-$12 per pound. This is a bit pricey for grassfed ground beef, but a good deal for NY strip steak.

To compare, the local grocery store sells grassfed ground beef for about $6 per pound. The local farmer’s market sells ground beef for $7 per pound. It is important to keep in mind that grassfed beef will always be more expensive than conventionally raised meat. The quality and omega 3 to omega 6 ration will be better because the animals are raised on a natural diet.

My Final Opinion of Butcherbox

My opinion of Butcherbox is rather neutral. While the quality and convenience were good, I didn’t love using the service. Sadly, I am not going to recommend the product or continue to use it on a regular basis. I wanted to love it and recommend it. I really did!

The prices at the farmers market and grocery store are often much better than Butcherbox. For me, the grocery store is only a mile away, so it isn’t very inconvenient to go to the grocery store. The same is true with our farmer’s market. 

If you truly don’t have the time to swing by a farmer’s market or stop by the grocery store and money isn’t a factor, Butcherbox is a great option. You get popular cuts of grassfed beef and it is conveniently delivered to your door. 

Butcherbox at a Glance…

Website: Butcherbox.com

Price: $129-$169/month

Rank: 75 out of 100

VERDICT: LEGIT! They delivered meat. It did taste good. My family enjoyed eating the meat. However, I just like picking out my meat and talking to local farmers more than stressing out about whether or not someone stole my order from my front porch!

The Best Way to Take CBD: The Experts Weigh In

 

 

Unless you have successfully managed to avoid all forms of human interaction over the past couple of years, it is likely that you will have heard all about the amazing benefits of CBD. Not only is it thought to successfully treat serious disorders like anxiety and epilepsy, but a small regular CBD dosage also works to strengthen and repair your immune system, help with chronic pain, Alzheimer’s disease, Crohn’s disease and has potent anti-inflammatory properties. And although medical marijuana, cannabis, THC, Hemp, and CBD all come from the same plant, cannabis sativa, they all have completely different qualities.

 

If you are curious to start your own journey with CBD, then you are likely feeling a little overwhelmed right now. With new brands and products popping up on a seemingly daily basis, it is still completely baffling that there is relatively little information regarding how much you should take each day or, more importantly, how you should take it to experience the effects in a timely manner.

 

In a bid to help you navigate the green rush successfully, we have consulted some expert opinions on the most effective way to take CBD so you can start experiencing the positive benefits as quickly as possible. Should you take it as CBD gummies, pure CBD in small doses through a tincture, as capsules, through vape oil, a few drops on your breakfast or another way?

 

 

How to Take CBD for Rapid Relief

If you are looking for fast relief from painful physical or emotional symptoms, then you need to ensure that you remove all the hurdles that will make it harder for CBD to penetrate your bloodstream. Taking a few drops of CBD oil under your tongue is one of the fastest ways to feel a positive effect, as the tissue in your mouth and tongue will deliver it to its final destination quickly, where it can start to work its magic. As soon as the CBD tincture has reached the brain and starts triggering the necessary receptors in your central nervous system, you can expect to feel an effect in as little as 30 minutes (although everyone responds differently.)

 

Top Tip: Once you have taken a tincture sublingually, try to hold it under your tongue for as long as possible before swallowing. Saliva can quickly dilute even the highest quality CBD oils, meaning that the effect you experience will not be as potent.

 

 

Vaping CBD Oil

Vaping CBD oil also provides a fast channel for CBD to take effect in your body as it is rapidly absorbed into your body via the tissue in the lungs. Not only will you not have to put up with a sometimes rather disgusting flavor, but you can also easily microdose throughout the day, just as you would vape your usual liquid. Many companies recognize the demand for delicious CBD e-liquids and you will easily be able to find premium CBD vape oil online, regardless of where you are located.

 

Which Method Lasts the Longest?

Many experts will agree that ingesting CBD oil so that it has to pass through your digestive system is one of the best ways to experiencing lasting effects. This makes perfect sense when you consider the fact that hash brownies or other marijuana edibles can leave you feeling euphoric for hours on end, rather than for just a couple of hours after smoking a joint. Dropping CBD oils into a cup of coffee or another beverage is the perfect way to ensure that the effects will be longer lasting, but bear in mind you will be waiting for a bit longer for the CBD to actually kick in and take effect, as your digestive system slows it down.

 

CBD gummies are a tasty way of being able to enjoy long-lasting effects and they also make it far more convenient to consume CBD on the go. After all, no one wants to be stuck on the subway with their mouth wide open trying to successfully put drops under their tongue while simultaneously clinging onto a railing to avoid falling over during a busy commute!

 

 

Final Thoughts

As a consensus, those in the know will all agree that taking a sublingual tincture is the best way to experience relief efficiently, but if you are an existing vaper then don’t forget that this is also an exceptionally fast way of topping up your CBD dose when the effects wear off. If you are taking CBD oils for relief from anxiety or migraines, then it is important to know that you can quickly top up your dose without having to wait ages for the next hit to kick in. If you aren’t that concerned about experiencing dramatic relief immediately and you plan on using CBD for long-term health benefits, then consider purchasing premium CBD-infused edibles or adding a few drops of CBD oil to your favorite food or drink.

Guest post by Kim Torres

 

 

 

What to Do When the Ketogenic Diet Fails

It can be very frustrating to see so many people having wonderful results from the ketogenic diet. People are losing weight with it and others are preventing seizures. So, why doesn’t it seem to be working for you?

You may have followed the correct macronutrient intake. Ensured that you were eating 75% fat and 20% protein and only 5% carbs. But you still ended up having a seizure. Or you haven’t lost a pound after six weeks on the diet.

There are a few things that can sidetrack your results. These are often overlooked and not emphasized by the major dieting books and ketogenic gurus.

Common Ketogenic Diet Fails

  • Your macronutrients are off. This is a common mistake that people make on the ketogenic diet that can throw off your results. It could be that you are calculating your macronutrients with net carbohydrates instead of total carbohydrates. However, not everyone can tolerate the additional fiber if their gut microbiome is disturbed. This could be the reason that you aren’t seeing results.
  • You are eating too many fruits and vegetables. Most people assume that fruits and veggies are good for you. However, for people who have autoimmune conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, fruits and veggies can irritate the gut lining. Fruits and vegetables can have more carbohydrates than you think. The carbohydrates in fruits and vegetables add up quickly. Serving sizes of fruits are smaller than you think. This can slow down your weight loss.
  • The transition phase depleted your minerals. When you adapt to the ketogenic diet, often your body will go through a transition period where you may feel worse. Your body holds on to the fat until it needs to release it. When your body uses up the fat for energy and lets go of the water weight, it can leave you depleted of the necessary minerals. This is why so many people in ketogenic diet groups talk about making sure that they are drinking enough electrolytes. When the body releases excess water, often the minerals get flushed out as well.
  • Magnesium deficiency. The root cause of your seizures or excess weight may be due to a magnesium deficiency. Our soils have become very depleted in magnesium. However, magnesium is an essential mineral that is necessary for many body processes. Magnesium deficiency can cause problems such as cramps and seizures. A magnesium deficiency can also be the cause of insulin resistance, which can lead to weight gain.

If you have been struggling to get results with the ketogenic diet, re-examine your macronutrient levels. You may also want to evaluate the amount of vegetables and fruits that you are consuming. Ensure that you are taking in enough minerals and start taking a magnesium supplement. These steps can help to improve your results on the ketogenic diet.

The ketogenic diet can be a wonderful diet for releasing weight and controlling seizures. The ketogenic diet also helps to decrease inflammation in the body. However, if you don’t have enough minerals or magnesium, you definitely won’t see the results you want.

    Chicken and More Chicken, Oh My!

    This week as I was deciding what I would eat prior to going to the grocery store, I had a few things in mind. I had decided that I wanted to try a pumpkin soup recipe that was similar to butternut squash soup, but used canned pumpkin puree, so I could avoid the mess. Well, that led me to deciding to make a soup so I could use the stock in the pumpkin soup. I decided to buy a whole chicken and debone it myself today! That is quite the task! I could have simply eaten the chicken sliced, but I decided to stretch my meat purchase as far as I could. I will be able to use this chicken in four different recipes this week! 

    Chicken Soup!

    Chicken soup was going to be a no-brainer. I was boiling up the chicken in my pressure cooker and would have plenty of broth. After cooking the chicken, I took it out to debone it. I divided up the chicken into three portions. For the chicken soup, I used a ton of ketogenic veggies – frozen green beans, cabbage, 2 carrots (not keto, I know, but I only used two and the portion of carrot in each soup bowl would only be one or two slices), an onion, celery, mushrooms, sea salt, pepper, an organic boullion cube, and parsley. 

     

    I reserved about 2 cups of chicken stock for my pumpkin soup that I will be making tomorrow.

    Chicken Broccoli Casserole

    I have already posted my recipe for a chicken broccoli casserole. This time, I didn’t have fresh broccoli that I wanted to use for it. I was thinking about using the fresh broccoli for a stir fry or steamed as a side dish later in the week, so I whipped out some frozen broccoli, layered the chicken over it and then spread a layer of cream of mushroom soup and a layer of mayonaise, chopped up some mushrooms and onions and put them on top of that and topped it off with shredded cheddar cheese. So excited to see how the frozen broccoli works when I eat it for dinner tonight! 

    Chicken Salad

    Chicken salad is a dish that I haven’t made in awhile. I took the third portion of the chicken and chopped it up. I added a spoonful of relish and two tablespoons of mayonnaise. I chopped up two celery stalks and mixed it up. I loved it! It is similar to tuna salad, but it has a milder flavor than tuna fish. I loved the relish in it too. It will make a fun lunch meal for tomorrow. But because I was stretching this chicken, it didn’t make a ton of salad. I’m glad that I tried it. I may try out canned chicken for chicken salad next.

    Pumpkin Soup

    This soup is being made with the chicken stock. I’m super excited to test this out tomorrow an may update the blog afterwards.

    Weekly Prep Saves Time

    This week’s food prep is going to save me time during the week as now I have at least half of my meals made. I will be consuming a lot of chicken and veggies this week! It actually only took me about an hour and a half to prepare the chicken casserole and the chicken soup. The main time waster was the deboning of the whole chicken. I could have cut that out by using some frozen chicken breasts or chicken thighs with fewer bones. In the future, I may want to add some more chicken to the batch that I am cooking so that I can have more chicken salad or sliced chicken for eating.

     

     

     

     

    Jumping back into fitness

    It has been awhile since I updated my blog! Life got really busy and after the injury, and I slacked off quite a lot on my fitness journey. Summer vacations and new jobs took their toll on my time and attention.  But, it is time to refocus my energy. I’m getting back on track not only with the exercising, but also with healthy eating. I’m going ketogenic again. While I don’t notice that I feel much better or worse on or off a diet, there is a lot of research supporting the ketogenic diet’s ability to improve brain function and reduce inflammation. These are two key things that I would like to do in my fitness.  [easyazon_image align=”right” height=”160″ identifier=”1623158087″ locale=”US” src=”https://getfitandhealthyathome.com//wp-content/uploads/2017/08/61hG18Us8LL.SL160.jpg” tag=”mcurle08-20″ width=”130″]

    The ketogenic diet is very low carbohydrate and assists many people in weight loss.  For many years, it was used to treat people with epilepsy. While it doesn’t prevent all seizures, supporting the brain function with a healthy dose of fats is a good thing.

    I also need to get back up on my treadmill and exercising again. Working out at home is not always as effective as going to a gym because there is less accountability. It is more accessible and convenient, so I’m making it a goal this week to get my exercising in for at least an hour per day.