Stress. It’s something that’s prevalent in our lives whether we like it or not. It comes and goes in waves, and we all deal with it differently, but how does stress affect our physical bodies? Our mental well being? Well, cortisol, the stress hormone, is the key to that question.
Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands which sit above your kidneys. Cortisol causes and maintains a lot of different processes in your body. It stores fat, energy, but most importantly its levels are attributed to stress. The most stressed out you are, the higher your cortisol levels will be and thus, the more fat you’ll store, and the more energy you’ll lose.
Having high cortisol levels isn’t only linked to stress, it leads to mental illness. Depression, anxiety, insomnia, are all byproducts of having out of control cortisol levels. In fact, stress can also lead to physical changes in the body like lower bone density, lower immune function, and an increase in blood pressure which we all know leads to higher risk of heart disease.
Fortunately, doctors are researching various ways we can control stress and mental illness. However, the best thing you can do is a Cortisol Home Test Kit, because after you do it you’ll know what times of day your cortisol levels are highest and therefore, when you’re likely to be more stressed out. Then you’ll know what activities and people to avoid until your levels become normal again. You’ll also be able to take preventive measures in managing stress and mental illness.
Description
The MTHFR Cortisol Home Test Kit will help you measure your cortisol levels and give you detailed information about when to avoid stress. After you make your order you’ll receive the home test kit which includes four vials. The four vials must be filled with saliva and be marked with the specific time of day you took each sample.
The first sample should be taken within 30 minutes of waking up before you brush your teeth. The second sample should be taken before lunch. The third sample should be taken and round five in the afternoon, and the last one should be done before bed. Remember not to take any cortisol medication like cortisol cream while making the samples. You should also avoid caffeine, chocolate, caffeinated tea, or any other stimulant that would affect your cortisol levels.
After you’re done, put the vials in the bag provided and await your results. Look at how easy that was. You didn’t even need to leave your home!
Benefits
Getting tested for cortisol levels is extremely important. Not only for your physical health, but for your mental health. We live in a very technologically fast paced world and it’s easy to get stressed throughout the day, and then turn to unhealthy behaviors to cope with it. Not to mention the toll stress takes on your physical well being. So get tested and find out how you can avoid getting stressed and live your best life.
While drinking can be fun, excessive drinking can cause turmoil for your mental health. Here are the mental effects of alcohol and how to stop drinking.
More than 15 million people struggle with alcohol use disorder in the U.S. To make matters worse, only 8% of these people receive proper treatment.
You might think that vomiting, nausea, and headaches are the worst effects of drinking alcohol. Well, you’re wrong! The effects of alcohol go beyond the hangover.
While it’s true that alcohol can help you socialize at a party, excessive drinking can cause turmoil for your mental health. Here are five mental effects of alcohol and how to stop drinking:
Memory Impairment
Excessive drinking makes your brain to process information slower as well as stops the brain from recollecting memories. This impairs the general intellectual functioning of the brain.
This is why most people wake up the next day after drinking hardly remembering the activities that transpired the previous night.
Brain Disorders
Wet brain, scientifically known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS), is a brain disorder that affects up to 90% of chronic alcohol users. This condition occurs when the excess alcohol in your body interferes with your body’s ability to absorb and convert thiamine. The end result is a deficiency of Vitamin B1 in the brain.
Lack of Vitamin B1 can make you hallucinate, have vision impairments, and lose muscle coordination. If untreated, this brain disorder can lead to permanent brain damage.
Shrinks the Brain
Excessive drinking causes faster brain aging. In fact, taking as little as four drinks in a span of two hours lowers the volume of gray matter in the brain. This is the part of the brain that houses nerve-cell-rich brain tissues.
A lower volume of the gray matter means fewer nerve fibers that transmit signals to the brain. This may result in severe memory problems.
Depression and Anxiety
Being an alcoholic can lead you into depression and/or anxiety since excess alcohol imbalances your body’s hormones and feelings. Though excessive drinking will suppress negative feelings, its effects don’t last forever.
Many consider committing suicide or crime when they feel like the alcohol isn’t working anymore. This happens their bodies build up the tolerance for alcohol. If you find yourself depressed and thinking of committing self-harm, look for help at an alcohol treatment facility near you.
Anti-Social Behaviors
Chronic users of alcohol often find themselves alone because they tend to be aggressive and impulsive in social environments. If you’re anti-social and drink excessive amounts of alcohol, you might find it hard to cope with others because of the stress, anger, and shame.
Get Help for These Mental Effects of Alcohol
If you’re suffering from any of the above mental effects of alcohol, it’s recommended to find help as soon as possible. Talk to your friends and family, remove all alcoholic temptations in life, and find a hobby to keep you busy. Don’t forget to live a healthy life.
If you’ve joined the aromatherapy trend, it’s high time to start using essential oils.
These guys are incredibly versatile – they can be used to wake you up, calm you down, boost your memory, and so much more.
The trick, of course, is knowing how to use essential oils for aromatherapy. This guide can help.
Inhalation
One of the most popular ways to use essential oils in aromatherapy is through inhalation. It’s like taking a fresh breath of vibrancy and calm.
A common way to do this is by using an oil diffuser. There are four main types of diffusers:
Heat diffusers
Nebulizer diffusers
Ultrasonic/humidifying diffusers
Evaporative diffusers
Heat diffusers take water with a few drops of essential oil and apply heat. As the water heats up and evaporates, it releases the oil into the air with it.
Nebulizer diffusers are the most powerful type of diffusers. There’s no heat and no water. Instead, the diffuser uses an atomizer to create fine particles of the essential oil, which it then blow into the air.
Ultrasonic or humidifying diffusers are similar to nebulizing diffusers, but they rely on water to create a cool mist. They double as a humidifier, which is good for the winter.
Finally, evaporative diffusers use a fan to increase airflow across a pad soaked in essential oil. As the oil evaporates, the fan blows the scent into the air.
Of course, if you want a quick fix of essential oils and don’t have a diffuser, you can do it the old fashioned way – spray some in the air.
Topical Use
Another popular option is topical use, in which essential oils are rubbed into the skin.
However, you should always be careful to dilute your oils before applying them to your skin, and always remember that less is more. Essential oils are absorbed through the skin, and too much oil can result in an overdose.
In addition, some oils (lavender and tea tree oil) can interfere with certain medications, so you should always check with your doctor to see if there are any you should avoid.
If you decide to try topical use, always test the oil first to make sure your skin isn’t allergic to it. To do this, add one drop of essential oil to 1/2 teaspoon of vegetable oil and apply it to your arm. If the area turns red or you experience any burning or itchiness, avoid that oil.
Choosing the Right Oil
There’s so much information about oils that it’s tricky to know what does what.
If you’re wondering, “Does it really work?” the answer is yes – as long as you choose the right oil for the job.
Tea tree oil, for example, has long been cited as a treatment for burns and skin irritation to promote healing. Peppermint has long been used to wake people up, while cinnamon can boost focus.
When in doubt, start with oils you can recognize – lavender, peppermint, lemon, orange, etc. You already know what they smell like.
Figuring Out How to Use Essential Oils for Aromatherapy
Figuring out how to use essential oils for aromatherapy is mostly a matter of trial and error. Find the method you like, find the oils you love, and you’re ready to go.
What’s your experience been with essential oils? What works for you? Let us know in the comments below!
One day, sooner or later every man understands that even extraordinary career can’t kiss him goodnight or support in a rough time. Someone is lucky enough to find the special one in a girl next door, but the other one must fly across the world just to meet his future wife.
Lately, getting married to a mail order bride from Ukraine become a trend worldwide. Thousands of Western men willing to fly to East Europe just to date these charming women. They must have a very good reason for that. Actually, it’s more than one reason and in this article, we’ll focus on them. All right, friends, buckle up! Below you can find the main benefits of dating or getting married to Ukraine bride.
Smoking hot appearance
People say prettiness makes no pottage. It’s true, but don’t you want your woman to be good-looking and well-tended? Ukrainian wives always know how to demonstrate their best with the help of make-up and clothes.
Hot bodies, like Sports Illustrated cover models, even after pregnancy – is another distinguishing feature of brides from Ukraine. No wonder that Western women can’t be competitive with them.
Great personality
When you look into the eyes of Ukraine women – it’s something more than pretty face only. Delicate and adventurous, emotional and mild, relaxed and temperamental. It’s not a complete spectrum of inner world colors Slavic ladies have. If you want to date someone, who is interested not in your social status, but in your soul and feelings – Ukrainian lady would be a perfect choice.
Well-educated and smart
Life is learning, that’s the motto of modern Ukrainian mail order brides. They are not getting enough with college or university degree but continue getting additional education. Foreign languages, self-empowering courses and so on. Therefore, into any society women from Ukraine integrate significantly fast.
Incredible sense of humor
Without any exaggeration, it’s a fundamental factor of successful romance and marriage. Moreover, couples with a similar sense of humor have extremely strong relationships. Of course, your Ukrainian lady is not an award-winning stand-up comic, but her jokes will cheer your hard days up. She will share a laugh and ignite a spark in your lonely heart.
Optimistic and enthusiastic
Women from Ukraine believe that an optimistic outlook on life helps to be successful and are ready to bring this mindset to the Western husbands. You may argue, that it’s impossible to change long-established attitudes so easy, but these ladies work their magic really fast.
Sincere and open-hearted
Once you date a woman from Ukraine, you’ll be surprised how open and sincere her heart is. The society, where she grows up appreciates traditional moral values, such as faithfulness, genuineness, unselfishness, and sympathy. Actually, Ukraine brides want to find a life partner with such character traits as well. There is an opinion, that they want to communicate with foreigners because of the money or gifts, but it’s not true, their intentions are rather clean.
Loyal spouse
Ukrainian women are really devoted. So, if you are sick and tired of betrayal – it’s a great choice. But don’t forget to give loyalty in return. Be her real shoulder to cry on. Through your behavior, gain her never-ending respect.
An incredible lady
It’s about the mental qualities of Ukrainian mail order brides. They have absolutely perfect manners. Looks like, that etiquette lessons in high school were the obligation to attend. Be sure, you’ll never be ashamed of your partner.
Caring partner
Relationships and marriage are not about passion only. We bet that you want your woman to be a compassionate person, who takes care of you. Ukrainian brides have a feeling, that being a wife and mother is a meaning of life. So, these women will give you all their tenderness and concern.
Kind-hearted
For women from Ukraine kindness is something like a basic instinct. They are always happy to help those in need. Therefore, your Ukrainian bride has a good understanding of human psychology and resolves domestic problems easily. Furthermore, she will constantly be concerned about your feelings and mood.
Very supportive
No matter were you right disputing with someone or no – she’ll always be by your side. Ukrainian woman trusts and respects your actions. You are her Prince Charming and that’s it.
Family-oriented
You already know that Ukrainian woman dreams about her own family from childhood. She wants to care about her husband, cherish children, keep the house clean and cozy. Ukraine brides love to cook, bake tasty pies, spend weekends with the family. If you need someone, who is a chef-cook, interior designer, accountant, stylist, and housekeeper in one person – take a look to profiles of wonderful Ukrainian ladies.
Fantastic mothers
In Ukraine, the child-free lifestyle is not welcome at all. The majority of Ukrainian women want to have a big family, with at least two kids. They don’t usually need babysitting services, because are dedicated to raise children and build their capabilities personally. You won’t hear from these ladies that they are not ready for the motherhood. If she got married to you, it means that she sees you as a father of her future children.
Integrate into your country and traditions
Ukrainian mail-order brides are always excited about traveling and discovering new lands. They learn the traditions and way of life of new countries right away. So, it wouldn’t be a stressor in your relationships.
There is a popular opinion that Ukraine brides want to find rich Western men and simply run away from poverty to a better life. These words sound pretty offensive for ladies who are looking for true love. So be ready to protect your sweetheart from skeptical comments of neighbors.
We hope that these fourteen factors will help you to understand the mystery soul of women from Ukraine. They are such a treasure! Don’t think for a long time, otherwise not make up your mind. Jump in the love ocean with both feet, your Ukrainian princess is waiting.
Raising a child isn’t a walk in the park, but how you raise a child in their early years will directly affect how they perceive themselves and the world throughout their life. It’s therefore incredibly important to foster their happiness as much as possible to give them the best chance in life.
To raise a happy child, consider the following 10 tips.
Praise your child’s efforts
Praising your child is very important because self-esteem and confidence are linked to happiness, but you should be careful to praise the right things. You should never expect perfection from your child because it’s counterproductive. Instead of praising the result or outcome or something you should praise the effort and the journey. If a child knows the value of the effort they give and how it matters just as much – if not more – than the outcome, they will be more fulfilled and, in turn, happier.
Allow room for failure
Truman Capote once wrote, “Failure is the spice that gives success it’s flavour” and while this is an important notion for adults to grasp, children should also understand the benefit of failure and why it’s important. If your child doesn’t understand that’s it’s OK to fail at things and that being “perfect” is unrealistic, they will find more joy in their successes and lead a happier life.
Encourage outdoor play
Outdoor play is extremely beneficial for young children. It can enhance their cognitive wellbeing as well as their social and emotional skills. It can also spark creativity, curiosity and joy. The more play time a child has, the happier they will be.
Physical activity is important for your child’s growth and development, and outdoor playhouse for kids can play a huge role in getting them to move around outside. With all of the running, climbing, crawling, and sliding they’ll do, it’s helps them to keep their bones the muscles, hands, and legs strong and healthy as well as their overall growth. And also, it encourages kids to get away from the video games and TV and play outside in the fresh air with other children.
You should also enrol your child in a top quality child day care centre in Kairong that encourages outdoor play and promotes a positive environment.
Allow them to be bored
No one – especially a child – likes to be bored. However, being bored forces us to learn, to think creatively and to find pleasure in new things – all of which greatly benefits young children as it enhances their cognitive development.
Give them responsibilities
Having responsibility, a purpose and a sense of belonging is the essence of happiness. By giving your child responsibilities – however small – they will feel like they are contributing to the family, which will boost their self-confidence. For example, you could make it your child’s responsibility to set the table before dinner or to fill up the dog’s water bowl. Not only will this teach them about chores but it will make them feel more valued.
Share quality time
Sharing quality time with your child is crucial, and the more loved they feel the happier they will be. Be affectionate and generous with your time. You don’t have to shower them in gifts or bribe them with toys, simply spend time cuddling them, hanging out with them and talking to them as you do day-to-day tasks (this will also give them life skills). The more undivided attention they get from you, the closer, the more supported and the more loved they will feel – three prerequisites for happiness.
Instil family values
Having a strong family network is important for your child’s happiness. Even if your family is conventional, you should make it a priority to instil good family values and spend time together. For example, you should make an effort to sit down and have family dinners every evening, as this will strengthen your connection.
Find your own happiness
As a parent, you should try to lead by example, especially when it comes to happiness. If you are happy, you can love and nurture your child as best as possible. Do everything you can to nurture your own happiness and your child will be happy, too.
Encourage altruism
Teaching your child to be kind and helpful towards others will allow them to build a positive foundation upon which they can live a happy and healthy life. Human connection is powerful, and the more love and kindness they give, the more they will receive.
Practice gratitude
By encouraging habitual practicing gratitude, your child will lead a happy life. Encourage him/her to appreciate everything they have and all of their blessings, and they won’t look for the things they don’t have. The more optimistic they are, the more goals they will achieve and the more pleasure they will get from life.
Police have released footage of the dramatic moment they found a newborn baby girl wrapped in a plastic yellow bag and left alone on the side of Daves Creek Road in Forsyth County, GA.
The baby girl was located after a family living in a nearby home heard her crying. When they went outside to check and saw that it was a newborn baby, they immediately called the police.
When the authorities found the baby, it was naked, covered in blood, and its umbilical cord was still attached to her. Not knowing whose she was or where she was from, investigators called the baby India.
In a statement, the sheriff’s office said that it “is continuing to aggressively investigate and to follow leads regarding Baby India. As of today, we are still receiving tips from across the country on the possible identity of ‘Baby India.’”
The police also explained that they shared the dramatic video in the hope that it’ll help them “receive credible information on the identity of Baby India and to show how important it is to find closure in this case.”
And as for the state the baby is in now, they said: “We are happy to report that Baby India is thriving and is in the care of the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services.”
Tracy Tong from Queens, New York, was recorded jumping to the defense of a Muslim woman who was being verbally attacked by a Puerto Rican female passenger on the subway in New York City.
The video, which went viral in no time, starts off with the Puerto Rican woman saying to the Muslim passenger: “Why are you here? Why are you in this country? You’re not with us.” Then an off-screen voice says: “Who’s us?” to which the Latina woman responds, “Us.”
It is at this moment that Tracy Tong steps in to challenge the Puerto Rican woman. She says to her:
“Whether you’re born from here, Puerto Rico, wherever. Wherever you are from. Okay, because I am born here, and I don’t like the way you’re treating her. It’s rude. We’re here in it together, okay? We’re all in this together.”
Tong’s admirable defense captured the attention of millions of people, including the popular television host Ellen DeGeneres.
DeGeneres invited Tong on to her TV talk show and they did a great interview. Tong explained to her that she didn’t know she was being recorded on the subway. She also said that when she heard the Puerto Rican woman verbally assaulting the Muslim passenger, she felt the need to step in and defend her.
Tong said:
“I’ve been bullied for a couple of things, like your weight, your height, whatever it is, and those are things you can change. Those are things that are easy to change.
“But when it’s your religion, that’s your identity, and you should never feel bad about your religion, or your race, or your color of your skin, never. That’s who you are and you should let that be ok.”
If you want to know what else this fearless woman told DeGeneres, scroll down to watch the video.
Everywhere I turn, people are constantly mistaking love for desire. More and more people are settling down for superficial relationships. They are convincing themselves that what they have is love when in reality the only thing that they have is mutual interests.
Listen to me! There is a huge difference between being wanted, desired and truly valued as a person.
Yes, he/she desires you and wants to spend more time with you, but does he/she really love you and value you as a person?
Are your persona, soul, and heart important to him/her, or is it only the material, superficial part of you that he/she needs?
These kinds of relationships are everywhere. They are based on anything but love. Money, material possessions, ego, looks, social status, what have you. People mistake wanting for loving and they say yes. They say yes to a future and life together. They fall in love with the ideas of each other. With the perfect, photoshopped versions of themselves. They are there for each other in good times, but they are not ready for the bad times. And so…once the bad moments come, their relationships start to crumble.
Suddenly, everything they thought they’ve built together turns into ashes. And pretty soon, they become strangers. Strangers that once shared a bed and pretended that they genuinely love each other.
Relationships based on love, on the other hand, are a different story. They are real because they have depth. They are based on honest conversations, healthy boundaries, a strong self of inner worth, real connection, mutual respect, understanding and admiration for each other. And lastly, love. A pure, genuine love that is based on trust. And mutual trust that is based on respect for each other.
That is why these relationships are always growing. Because they transcend the limitations of the ego and the needs. They are about empathy and passion, but also about brutal honesty. They make you selfless, caring and compassionate. They teach you how important it is to care for other human beings. They motivate you to be your true and flawed self. To dig deeper, to discover yourself and to strive to be better than you were yesterday. They are about giving without expecting anything back.
That is why I am begging you…If you are about to say yes to a person you are not certain about…Don’t do it. Don’t settle for superficial love. Don’t settle for anything that doesn’t feel as pure as the right kind of love does. Find someone who will love you like there is no tomorrow. This is your life that we are talking about. And it is fading away very quickly. Don’t waste it in vain.
But, if you have already found this love, then I salute you. You, my dear, are truly blessed. You are one of the luckiest people on this planet and I want you to know that. If you’ve found a human being who inspires you to love purely and from the heart, you’ve found everything you need for happiness. Make sure to keep it close to your heart.
I know you’ve made many mistakes in your life and I know you regret them.
You’ve given your heart to people who didn’t deserve it. You’ve loved more than you’ve been loved. You’ve offered your soul as a shelter to people who didn’t know any better than destroying it. You’ve sacrificed your happiness for others thinking that one day they will do the same for you.
I know that you are tired of trying all over again.
I know that you are exhausted from hoping.
But you mustn’t lose hope. Because one day, you will find a person who will think that you are more than enough for him. This person will not be afraid to show you what his soul is made of. They will not be afraid to commit to you and love you from the very depth of their heart.
It might be hard for you to understand this now. You are torn and you are tired. There is barely any hope left in your heart. But I completely understand you. I know how you feel.
The only thing that I am asking of you right now is to not give up.
Love is real regardless of what everyone is telling you.
Love exists. And one day, a person will come into your life and prove this to you.
They will make sure you realize your worth. They will do their best to let you know how they feel about you. They will open up their soul and let you in it. You and only you will have the key to their heart.
The one who thinks that you are good enough will not be afraid of the intensity of your heart. This person will be happy to be in your life. They will gladly make space in their life for you and welcome you with open arms.
They will hush down your insecurities, answer all your questions and help you quiet your fears. Everything you once worried about will finally be alright. Everything you once craved will be beside you, around you, inside of you.
The one who thinks you are good enough will be the one who will be there to catch you when you fall for them. They will love you like no one ever loved you before. Unconditionally, madly and passionately from the heart.
This person will be proud to be a part of your life. They won’t hold back from hugging you and showing their affection in front of everyone. On the contrary, they will be more than pleased to show the whole wide world how they feel about you. Because, unlike the ones that were a part of your life before them, they will be 100% certain about you.
Unlike all the others, this person will love you from the depth of their heart. Like there is no tomorrow.
Serenity Aug is an 11-year-old girl that has been legally blind since birth. Thanks to eSight, a company that produces advanced electronic glasses which let visually impaired people see, Serenity’s wish to really see for the first time ever came true.
More than a thousand people came to Pine River School, in Michigan, to help raise money for the lovely girl’s new eSight electronic glasses.
When eSight asked Serenity what she wanted to see the most with her new glasses, well, we’re sure that none of the people present in the gymnasium expected to hear the answer she gave.
Serenity expressed her wish to see her best friend that lived 26 hours away from her.
And her best friend was, in fact, there in the same school sports hall as her.
“I missed you so much” is what Serenity’s friend told her to which she responded: “I missed you more.” These words and the look on the faces of the two girls showed how happy they were when they were finally reunited.
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