Healthier Lifestyle Tips

I received these Bioglan Kid’s Smart Omega 3 Fish Oil Chewable Burstlets from Moms Meet. All thoughts, opinions, and photos are our own.

From the time we are each is born, docosahexaenoic acid, commonly known as DHA, is a key component for developing a healthy brain and eyes. DHA is also one of the omega-3 fats recommended by the American Heart Association and USDA Dietary Guidelines for good cardiovascular health. Especially for children.  And one of the best Omega-3 for Kids? Bioglan Kids Smart Chewable Fish Oil Burstlets.

What are fish oil burstlets?

These Bioglan Kids Smart fish-shaped burstlets, containing your child’s daily recommended dosage of omega-3, are just a fun way for you and your kids to get your daily omega-3 fix.

Why Bioglam Kids Smart Burslets?

While there are loads of fish oil brands on the market, Kids Smart High DHA Fish Oil Chewable Burstlets provides up to 10x more fish oil than other kids’ supplements, including two essential omega-3 fatty acids: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). As both are essential fatty acids our bodies cannot produce, it is important that we get them from either the food we eat or supplements. These kid-friendly burstlets are also free of gluten, yeast, wheat, and dairy.

This supplement also provides your kiddos at home with fun chewable vitamins that can be consumed. Ensuring your child enjoys their DHA-consumption experience each day at home. You can also twist the tail off and squeeze the liquid into your kid’s mouth or favorite drink. The burstlets can be also be dissolved in your mouth. 

Its also worth noting that while these burstlets do come standard fruit flavors, including berry and grape, they are still fish oil and do taste like it. This is why I personally opted to add this to my morning smoothie or glass of juice. A fun way to disguise the natural fish oil flavor for your little ones at home.

While its no secret that quality fish oil is great for you, and as much as I love sharing this ish oil burstlets review with you all, we are NOT doctors though and you should always consult a physician before adding a new supplement to your diet.

Where to buy Bioglan Kids Smart Burslets

You can snag these burstlets online at Amazon. Currently, you can save 20% on a 30-count bottle of Kids Smart High DHA Fish Oil Chewable Burstlets by using the promo code 20MM20KS. Offer ends March 14, 2020. You can also check out these Bioglan burstlets, in a 30-count bottle typically retails for $9.99. A 180-count bottle typically retails for $54.99. Also, be sure to check out their other lines of vitamins and supplements on their site, too!

Friends, will you be trying the Bioglan Kids Smart DHA Burstlets at home? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. 

There is nothing better than enjoying a cozy night in when the weather outside is less than appealing. Tucking yourself into warm blankets, making hot chocolate and spending time at home with your loved ones is something you truly love to do. If you’re trying to find something fun to do during a winter weekend, there are so many different activities to choose from. You don’t have to break the bank with anything expensive either. Here is some inspiration for your next cozy night in.

Marvelous Movies

If you’re trying to be savvy and save money, you probably don’t want to venture out to the movies or the theater during the winter months. You can have an equally enjoyable experience in the comfort of your home. Take a look at TroyPoint and you will soon discover how to download your favorite television shows and movies straight to your device. You can have an entire marathon lined up which will make your evening even more enjoyable!

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Brilliant Board Games

If you are spending an evening at home with the family, then why not enjoy a family board game night? You can pull out the classics such as Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit; you will soon start to see everybody’s competitive sides! This is definitely an inexpensive and super fun way to spend your winter evenings at home.

Creative Cooking

Getting creative in the kitchen is not only good for your health but it is so rewarding too. Spending an afternoon cooking and batching your meals will help you to feel super organized. Most people also find cooking very relaxing as soon as you get into the flow of things. If you’re not normally the type of person who enjoys cooking, you might want to try challenging yourself to a new recipe. Choose your favorite home comfort and see if you can recreate it in your own way. You might be pleasantly surprised with the outcome!

Relax and Read

Not only is reading an excellent form of escapism, but it is also really good for your health too. The more you read, the more you expand your vocabulary and stimulate your imagination. If you haven’t read a book in a while and you’re not sure what type of genre you like, why not step out of your comfort zone? If you would usually indulge in chick-lit, then try a crime mystery; if you’re normally a sci-fi lady, try an autobiography or comedy read. You will be surprised at how much you enjoy something a little bit different.

It is so easy to get into the habit of going out and paying for expensive activities such as the movie theatre, ice skating, and dinner at a restaurant. You don’t have the brave the cold anymore, because there is so much fun to be had in your own home! Embrace these cozy evenings in and enjoy partaking in fun family activities as often as possible.

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We all want to feel happy, yet it’s not uncommon for life to throw stress and setbacks at us from time to time. The important thing is that we have tactics to cope during tougher times. We must all learn to value our mental well-being as much as our physical. Perhaps you’re looking for a few tips on how to give your mental well-being a boost. If so, these nine ideas will give you plenty to think about. 

1. Cook mindfully

Mindful cooking is all about being aware of what you put into your body and considering which foods you need to eat depending on your mood and energy levels. Apps like Yogic Foods, are helpful to get a head start on mindful cooking. In each recipe, the app tells you the health properties of every single ingredient. You’ll also get details about how each recipe is related to a chakra ( these are thought to be the connected energy centers of the body). With the Yogic Foods app, you can learn about which foods will benefit your mood and emotions, plus learn some tasty vegetarian and vegan recipes.

2. Quit A Bad Habit

Oftentimes in life, removing negatives is even more impactful than making positive additions. Aside from directly improving your health, it is a great way to prove that you are capable of achieving your goals. In turn, this can create a snowball effect that truly allows you to transform your life. The key is to set a realistic challenge and establish a clear strategy that can help you achieve it. Waving goodbye to cigarettes is a common choice, which is why asking “How long do zyns last?” should be on the tip of your tongue Similarly, putting the right preventions in place to avoid destructive habits will boost your hopes of success.

3. Social media breaks

To improve your emotional health, reducing your time spent on social media can be a good way to do so. One study cited in Forbes magazine reports that excess time spent on social media has adverse mental health effects. Try to limit your consumption to just fifteen minutes a day, or take a break for a week or so altogether. When you do use social media, ask yourself- which content makes you feel positive, and which content makes you feel negative? Doing so can allow you to make better choices in terms of who you follow and which articles you read.

4. Keep on learning

Lifelong learning refers to the process of always continuing to seek out new knowledge, throughout your entire life. It’s easy to get comfortable in a job or a family role and then, unintentionally, not push yourself to learn new things. When you learn consistently, you increase your chances of improved positivity in your social life, emotional life, and work life. Depending on your aspirations, your learning goal could arrive in many forms; it could simply be reading widely across different genres. It could also be practicing a language learning app or even taking a postgraduate degree. Institutions like Regis College offer some excellent online courses to study from the convenience of your own home.

5. Use a journal 

Writing in a journal is a wonderful gift to yourself, with both practical and emotional benefits. You could start by using a journal simply to plan your schedules and to-do lists. Gaining improved organization over your life can help you to feel more calm and productive. Journals are also a great space to write down positive memories or deal with difficult feelings that have been troubling you. Many feel that writing is both calming and therapeutic during times of stress, whether it’s a letter to yourself, a poem or a simple health goal for the day.

6. Give something back

One study reported on Web MD reports that altruism offers positive mental health benefits. To enhance your own mental health, helping others is the key. There are plenty of charities out there that you can support. Take a look at ’‘This Is My Brave’, a charity that helps individuals with mental illnesses to share their stories via creative means such as poetry or music. The website offers details of how you can get involved by ‘becoming a brave champion’. You’ve likely heard of Women’s Aid, a charity that works to protect women and children against domestic violence. This organization also offers many opportunities to help by campaigning or fundraising. There may also be local charities close to home that you could reach out to. 

7. Get back to nature

The natural world is the perfect space for us to lift our endorphins and reduce tension levels within the body. Ask yourself how much time you spend in nature. Think about how you could increase this with a few simple steps. It could be adding a bike ride to your weekend regime or perhaps taking up a sport that involves being outdoors. Another great way to get back to nature is by trying a foraging class or course. Foraging involves going to a woodland area, gathering wild foods from the earth, and then using them in cooking. Typical foods you’d look for include herbs, berries, nuts, mushrooms, wild garlic, etc. You’ll get a lovely stroll in the forest plus you’ll get to learn all about wild foods and cooking.

8. Gratitude

Practicing gratitude is a really simple way that all of us can improve our mental health. True gratitude is about valuing everything you have, especially the small things that you take for granted. Start by writing yourself a list of the things that you are grateful for. Make it part of your daily routine to look over the list, so that you can be more mindful. Put small practices into your routine that help you reflect on all of the good things in your life.

9. Home improvements

Our homes are the spaces where we want to feel relaxed and at peace, so we have to ensure that we create a welcoming space. You don’t have to blow the budget to improve your home. One of the easiest things that you can do is to clear out your unwanted items and give everything a deep clean. Next, invest in a few health-boosting decorations; from indoor plants to aromatherapy candles. Hang inspirational quotes on the walls and pictures of your loved ones. Invest in comfy blankets and huge pillows for those chill-out times on the sofa. If you want to feel more relaxed, simple touches to our home can make all the difference.

10. Make a book of memories

Do you ever feel like all your lovely pictures only end up on social media? Make it your mission this year to print out all of your favorites and put them into a photo album. It’s nice to have tangible memories to look back on in years to come. Spending time to make a book of memories just for you is a great gift of self-care.

Friends, what are your goals to boost your mental health this season at home? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

We all want to make sure our diet is as healthy as possible. Sure, we’ll indulge in the occasional treat, but chances are we have health goals that we want to pursue and altering a diet will form a big part of that. If we want to lose weight, we may follow diets that cut fat or carbs. If we want to build muscle, we might follow diets that boost protein and cut fats. Whatever your goals, there’s bound to be some sort of fad diet out there that promises to give you results quickly and easily. But should you buy into them?

Being Wary of Fad Diets

It’s generally acknowledged that fad diets are simply a quick fix. They might give you the immediate results you want, but they’re often unsustainable and can’t be carried out as a permanent lifestyle change – whether that’s because they’re unhealthy in the long run or unenjoyable. This is why it’s absolutely essential that you don’t see them as a fix-all solution. Generally, fad diets shouldn’t be relied on as something that will change your life. Instead, the actual solution to reaching your health goals will be a combination of a healthy diet and meeting recommended amounts of exercise. The infographic below will help you to find the right diet for your overall health and wellbeing. If you want any further advice, always remember you can consult your doctor, who will be able to recommend which diets will best suit your personal needs and dietary requirements and preferences.

Infographic Design By USC

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Looking after your health is vital, but there is one area that people often overlook when it comes to taking good care of themselves, and that is their hearing. 

Your ears are important, they bring in so much vital information to your brain and they help you to make sense of the world around you. Every day you will process millions of pieces of information, and much of this will come to you from your ears. Sounds can make you happy and they can make you sad, they can let you know when there is danger around, and they can provide you with facts. Your hearing will bring your favorite songs into your brain for you to enjoy. 

But we often just think that we’ll not experience hearing loss while we’re still young. Losing the ability to hear well is normally associated with old age. This is not the case though, hearing loss can affect you at any point in your life and you should take care when you are young to ensure you keep your hearing. 

What Are The Signs That You Have Hearing Loss

There are a few key signs to look out for that will reveal whether you have hearing loss. If you find that you miss words or phrases that people say to you often and you need to ask them to repeat themselves, this is a common sign of hearing loss. 

If you need to turn the volume on your TV higher than you used to, or you find that people complain about how loud you have it, even if you think it is a normal volume, this may mean that you have hearing loss. 

Noticing the signs of hearing loss can lead to you dismissing them, however, you should go and visit an audiologist to get your ears tested. 

What Does An Audiologist Do?

When you visit an audiologist they will make an assessment of your hearing to see if there is any damage or infection causing your hearing loss. They will test your hearing to see the full extent of your hearing loss and get an idea of what you can actually hear. 

They will then make recommendations of hearing aids if needed and then help you set it up. An audiologist can also able to help with supplying and replacing hearing aid batteries.

Taking Precautions To Avoid Hearing Loss

Preventing hearing loss means doing your best to take care of your ears. Avoid listening to very loud music, especially through headphones. Check out the information from the manufacturer of your headphones or music device to find out about the safe volume levels. 

If you work or spend a lot of time in noisy places such as construction sites or factories, then you should make sure you make use of protective wear that is provided. Visit the doctor if you ever get an ear infection or a blockage and get it treated as soon as possible to avoid further problems.

With the Christmas tree composting and radio stations shelving Bing Crosby music for another year, let’s get real with something: ‘Tis the season for melancholia.

We all know the feeling. You’re more tired these days. More anxious or moody. Cocooning with high-carb fare while you and your fuzzy kid’s binge-watch Netflix, sounds better than hanging out with friends and family. Your appetite for the good company is currently on hideous. It’s harder to get out of bed, and when you do, your mood resembles the landscape you see-cold, dark, abysmal nastiness.

If you feel this way each January you’re not alone.

The issue? Mother Nature’s gloomy new year’s forecast is biologically felt to some degree by an estimated 1:20 people who live in colder climates during the winter. Starting around October and ending in April with spring’s thaw. For most people, it manifests as the winter blahs. The age-old doldrums of wanting the winter to end so badly that our bodies can produce mild but manageable feelings of external sluggishness, worsening of cold, flu, and bronchitis symptoms, and food cravings.

Nearly 20 million Americans have a more severe form of winter depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder, or more aptly known by the acronym SAD. A condition diagnosed only after at least two consecutive years of more intense symptoms.

While a person with winter depression may have difficulty waking up or getting out of bed at times, someone with seasonal affective disorder can’t get to work on time. Which can throw off your entire life? Especially if you are in charge of a household, a parent, or run an online business. Professions that do not allow for sick days or leave from work permission slips.

The cause of this disorder? Sensitivity to a lack of sunlight that results from winter’s shorter days. This causes a disruption in our circadian rhythm or internal body clock. The degree of this sensitivity results in a combination of other factors. Including your geography, genetics, and individual brain chemistry.

With SAD, the lack of sunlight causes the brain to work overtime producing melatonin, the hormone that regulates your body’s sleep patterns. A hormone that has been linked to depression.

Which can cause major issues for those living in uppermost parts of the United States, those living in southern Canada, and due to changing climate change patterns, many other parts of the world that otherwise wouldn’t have known severe winter climate patterns even thirty years ago?

It doesn’t take a shrink to confirm that the weather affects your mood. If it’s rainy, things can get a little gloomy. If it’s sunny, there’s often an extra pep in your step. But what do you do if the winter depression is affecting you now?

9 ways you can start to better your SAD symptoms this winter

Spend time in nature 

Spending time in nature, if only for a few minutes, can help ease symptoms of SAD. Try to get outside within two hours of waking up. Whether it’s cloudy or sunny, spending some time in the daylight can be a big help. Soaking in a little sun, even on cloudy days, can help recharge your spirits, give your body essential D and K vitamins, and give you a chance to put your world into perspective. Just remember, sun damage can occur even on cloudy days. So always wear your SPF when going outdoors, even in winter!

Let there be light

Many doctors may prescribe light therapy to reduce SAD symptoms. By way of the box form. Light therapy boxes range in brightness and type of light, so consult a physician before buying one. Here’s an affordable example. Remember, in winter sunscreen is still a must when spending time outdoors even for short periods of time! 

Talk it out

One study found cognitive behavioral therapy was just as effective as light therapy in treating SAD. A combination of talk therapy and light therapy together was also effective. So, if you need a way to beat the winter blues, talking to others about your mood may be a great first step!

Take a walk

Regular exercise can reduce symptoms of moderate, nonseasonal depression. Studies suggest a combination of exercise and light therapy can also help treat SAD. So put Netflix on pause and consider going for a walk instead. Your mood will thank you!

Go for complex carbs

Complex carbohydrates, including peas, beans, whole grains, and vegetables, are foods your body can turn into glucose (blood sugar) in the body and are used as energy. Glucose is what is used in the cells of the body and in the brain. Complex carbohydrates can help maintain levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood. So eating complex carbs can help you lose weight, have more energy, and beat SAD symptoms in their tracks!

Meditate

Meditation is learning how to quiet your mind in the middle of chaos. It also helps you be intentional about how you react to your moods. Consistently practicing this form of focus balances seasonal depression by decreasing anxiety and enhancing overall well-being.

Create a Schedule

People suffering from SAD typically gain weight and can’t sleep during the winter months. Creating a schedule that enables you to wake up daily at the same time, being consistent in your exposure to daylight, and charting your healthy eating habits can help you improve SAD symptoms long beyond the current cold winter months.

Essential Oils

Essentials oils, the purest essence of a plant, can help promote restoration in the body and influence moods. They have shown to have the effect of an antidepressant on depressive disorders. Some of my favorites to fight SAD symptoms each winter: basil, bergamot, cardamom, grapefruit, frankincense, geranium, jasmine, and sandalwood.

Dawn Simulators

Toss those loud, annoying alarms and stop relying on digital smartphone apps. Even as a minimalist, I love waking up peacefully with clocks that mimic the changing light of the sun. Dawn simulators, or light-generating alarm clocks, gradually wake you up with light that increases in intensity to simulate morning sunshine using full-spectrum light, which is as close to natural light as possible. At both dusk and dawn each day. I keep my simulator bedside and its usage has helped me fight SAD symptoms each winter season immensely.

Those are my 9 tips for helping to minimize the symptoms of SAD this season. Though cold weather is likely to have a lot of us wishing for spring, it’s important not to cast off SAD as an inevitable winter side effect. Taking action when symptoms hit could make the difference between a lonesome stretch and a happy winter season. If you suffer from SAD, consider trying these tips today!

Now I want to ask, do you suffer from SAD symptoms? If so, what are your best tips for keeping the winter blues at bay? I’d love to hear your advice below!