Feeling Bloated? Try These Easy And Effective Home Remedies (With Recipe)

If you’re feeling bloated, you’re not alone. Most people go through the discomfort of bloating and stomach cramps at some stage.

The main causes are eating habits like gulping with your mouth open, a diet high in fat, an extra intake of fiber, a bowel disorder, smoking, or even spurts of stress. Sometimes it may be an infection in the gastrointestinal tract or a bowel disorder. Fortunately there’s an effective home remedy – ginger and mint lemonade!

Just mix chopped ginger with mint, add boiled water and let it steep 30 minutes. And you’ll feel much better. (For more details of the recipe, check this.)

So how does it work?

The Ginger Root

Ginger root is an underground stem that has been a medicinal  component for thousands of years. It has been savored as a healing root for bloating in various cultures, including the Ancient Greeks.

Herbs that help to soothe the digestive tract and relieve gas are known as carminatives. Ginger is a particularly effective carminative; according to James A. Duke, author of The Green Pharmacy Guide to Healing Foods, ginger helps alleviate gas, bloating, and cramps.

Ginger also aids in calming the intestinal activity that expels gas. It thins the blood, improving circulation, which effectively relieves any signs of bloating. The element of Gingerols in ginger are pain relievers, and are useful for the abdominal pain that may accompany bloating.

The Mint Family

Spearmint and peppermint are effective natural remedies as well. Menthol in peppermint oil relaxes the muscles and the gastrointestinal tract blocking calcium channels, and encourages smooth motion in the digestive system. Peppermint oil stimulates the increase of localized circulation and bile within the digestive enzymes.

The mint family includes peppermint, spearmint, and basil, all herbs that may be helpful in reducing stomach bloating and gas. The soothing mints calm activity in the digestive tract and dissolve the gas pockets that cause bloating. According to The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook, there are several mints that relieve bloating. You can chew on fresh mint leaves, or add peppermint oil or extract drops into hot water to create a healing tonic. Peppermint herb tea will help relieve the pain or cramps associated with bloating.

Featured photo credit: epicurious.com via assets.epicurious.com

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Is Your Vaginal Discharge Normal Or Abnormal? Use This Chart To Find Out

Vaginal discharge is normal for women. Normal vaginal discharge is clear or white in color, and does not smell. It is clearer and more slippery during ovulation, and thick and sticky during the rest of the menstrual cycle.

However, if the vaginal discharge you experience is accompanied by an unusual color, odor, vaginal itching or burning, you might be experiencing abnormal vaginal discharge. If your discharge is abnormal and corresponds with any of the symptoms illustrated in the chart below, please go see your doctor.

Also, in instances where you’ve just experienced childbirth and are in the process of shedding the lochia, call your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms (in addition to the lochia symptom above):

• The bleeding is too heavy
• The discharge smells bad
• You have a fever of 100.4 F or higher
• You see blood clots

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3 Simple Steps To Help You Get Rid Of Oily Skin

When the sebaceous glands in the skin produce excess sebum, it results in excess oil on the skin. If you take good care of your skin, you can have a glowing complexion, instead of a greasy one with large pores.

When the excess oil accumulating on the skin combines with pollutants, like dirt, the pores of the skin may get sealed and this often leads to the presence of skin irritations like whiteheads, blackheads, or even worse, painful pimples.

Image source

Genetics can be considered the primary cause of oily skin in some people, and dry or normal skin in others. But hormonal changes in the body due to puberty, pregnancy, birth control pills, or menopause can also trigger oily skin. Lifestyle choices, like diet or too much stress, can also be a cause of overactive sebaceous glands.

Although this is quite a common problem that has simple remedies, many people turn to expensive, chemical-based skin care products that leave their skin inflamed and peeling. If you are plagued by oily skin and pimples, try out these 3 simple, but effective steps that are scientifically proven to help you get rid of your oily skin.

1. Choose a Cleanser that Works for You

To avoid blackheads and acne, it is vital that you keep your skin clean, especially if you have oily skin. But don’t think that just any cleanser will do the trick. ^[1]

Cleansers have specific ingredients that take care of different skin concerns. Choosing the wrong types of cleansers can actually be detrimental to your skin care. Look out for the following signs and choose your cleanser with care:

Look For The Right Specialty Ingredients

Even though it doesn’t have to dry out the skin or make it squeaky clean, your cleanser should not leave you with an oily feeling after the washing. Cleansers specifically intended for oily skin should remove the built up oil and, preferably, give an additional boost in fighting acne. Such cleansers are usually formulated with specialty ingredients like bentonite clay, which has oil-absorbing properties, alpine willowherb, and/or benzoyl peroxide, which can reduce oil production and fight bacteria.

Consider Ingredient Strength

Before choosing a cleanser, you need to consider just how oily your skin is. If your skin feels extremely dry or stretched after cleansing, then you need to use a cleanser with less harsh oil-removing ingredients. To remove excess oil from your skin, you need to strike a balance in how strong the ingredients need to be.

Additional Benefits

The right facial cleanser makes your skin feel clean and bright and ready for the application of the next skin care step, whether it be a sunscreen or a night-time moisturizer. It is helpful if your cleanser has additional ingredients that benefit your skin. Cream-based cleansers with lavender or soothing chamomile can help retain the moisture on your facial skin while helping to cleanse the excess oil. Citric acid is another great addition in cleansers, as it is a natural skin brightener.

2. Hydrate Your Skin

According to Deniz Ataman, a Clarins skincare specialist and the managing editor for Perfumer and Flavorist Magazine, “Dehydration can stress glands to produce more oil.” She suggests using a clay mask on a regular basis to help hydrate the skin.^[2]

Leyda Elizabeth Bowes, MD, head of Bowes Dermatology in Miami, warns that using moisturizers with ceramides can lock in bacteria and lead to pimples. She recommends using moisturizers with hyaluronic acid instead, to keep the skin hydrated. This helps to prevent stressing out and overstimulating the sebaceous glands

3. Avoid Foods with Inflammatory Fats

Saturated fats and trans fat are considered inflammatory fats that can cause oily skin to become inflamed and acne-ridden. A report published in “Lipids in Health and Disease” reveals that Omega-3s have anti-inflammatory properties and acne is rare in populations that consume plenty of this good fat. ^[3]

Fried foods, high-fat dairy, and fatty meats, like bacon and steaks, are high in saturated fat and are best avoided by those suffering from acne breakouts.^[4] Commercially-made cookies, cakes, pies, and other processed foods that list hydrogenated vegetable oil as an ingredient, are high in trans fats that can inflame and irritate oily skin.

Try to include more healthy fat alternatives in your diet, especially ones rich in omega-3s, such as flaxseeds, walnuts, and oily fishes, like salmon and mackerel.

Conclusion

Keep your oily skin clean using the right type of cleansers that contain the required specialty ingredients in the right strength. Ensure you hydrate your skin, using a good moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, rather than one with ceramides, which might actually inflame an oily skin.

A healthy diet that includes plenty of omega-3 sources, like oily fishes and flax seeds, and avoids inflammatory fats will surely help clear up all that troublesome acne and give you the glowing smooth skin of your dreams.

Reference

[1]	^	http://ift.tt/2h3NVrQ
[2]	^	http://ift.tt/1MVceir
[3]	^	http://ift.tt/2h3GYH9
[4]	^	http://ift.tt/2g7R7p2

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Feeling Tired After A Good Night's Sleep? It Can Be A Sign Of An Unhealthy Gut

Have you been getting enough sleep lately and you’re not sick or going through any stressful changes in your life? But for some reason, you’re still feeling tired? This could be the sign of poor digestive health, as our stomach is lined with a complex system of neurons, referred to as the second brain^[1], which does more than just digesting food. If your digestive system is not working correctly, your body can become a toxic environment, which leads to fatigue.

What Can You Do to Maintain a Healthy Gut and Stop Feeling Tired?

Having healthy digestion requires commitment and lifestyle changes. Although, there are some things you can start doing now to get you on the right track. The tips below are just to help alleviate you from feeling tired. After you start to get your energy back, you’ll be motivated to take on bigger health changes.

1. Stop Snacking! Eat an Apple Instead!

Source

Apples are full of pectin, which has both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber absorbs water, making you feel full for longer. Insoluble fiber helps smooth the stool in your intestines. This gets your digestive system moving which helps prevent constipation. So, next time you want a bag of chips, grab an apple instead. Just make sure to increase your water intake as you consume more fiber to prevent digestive problems. You should stop feeling tired once your digestion improves. ^[2]

2. Drink More Coffee, Tea, or Milk

Source

If you love coffee, this should be an easy fix. Not only will the caffeine help with feeling tired, but it also promotes movement in your colon muscles which gets your entire digestive system moving. This can help eliminate constipation and expel the buildup of toxins in your body. The caffeine in tea has the same effect. ^[3]

Drinking fat-free milk helps your body increase the production of two peptide hormones. These hormones are beneficial in stimulating the digestive tract to help you get rid of built up toxins and waste. If you’re lactose intolerant, however, avoid this tip. ^[4]

3. Don’t Drink Cold Beverages!

Source

Surprised? According to traditional Chinese medicine, everything we put into our bodies should be close to its temperature. This is because you have enzymes in your stomach that can only survive at body temperature. When you down an ice cold refreshment, it lowers your internal temperature and slows down digestion. This means your waste is not expelled and provides the perfect environment for increased bacterial production. What can you do instead? Drink warm or room temperature water, particularly in the morning and on an empty stomach to stop feeling tired and avoid constipation. ^[5]

4. Start Stretching

Source

Stretching your body or doing yoga poses can also help relieve constipation. According to Dr. Rebekah Gross, a gastroenterologist and clinical assistant professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, stretching helps move food, gas, and waste through your digestive system. ^[6]

One excellent stretch to stimulate digestive function is:

1. Lay down on the floor.

2. Stretch legs and raise arms above your head, flat on the floor.

3. Raise your left knee and hug it to your chest with both hands.

4. Hold it for 10 seconds.

5. Then, lift your leg at a 90° angle to the floor.

6. Hold onto your leg with both hands, just below your ankle.

7. Maintain this position for 10 seconds.

8. Then, cross your left leg over your right knee.

9. Grab your right knee with both hands and stretch it toward your chest.

10. Switch sides and repeat.

Watch this video to see it done.

Reference

[1]	^	http://ift.tt/1KcPfSA
[2]	^	http://ift.tt/1U5ljOm
[3]	^	http://ift.tt/2h3MQ3j
[4]	^	http://ift.tt/2g7VFMe
[5]	^	http://ift.tt/28TSqRH
[6]	^	http://ift.tt/1qOyQhN

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9 Ways You Can Market on Mobile

As smartphone users become increasingly reliant on their mobile devices, mobile marketing is essential for modern-day brand awareness.

At the end of 2015, mobile e-commerce transactions were over 40%, and are expected to grow to 70% by 2017. But if you fail to optimize your marketing campaign for mobile, you could miss out on these huge conversions. Marketing campaigns through mobiles can be either B2C i.e. business to consumer or as B2B marketing – business to business marketing.

If you want your brand to stick out among the competition, it’s crucial that you optimize your marketing campaign for mobile devices.

We’ll talk about 9 different ways for you to market your business on mobile and how they can help increase your conversions.

1. Social media ads

Social media channels such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter all have millions of users that interact every day. This makes social media the perfect place to advertise your company.

Many top brands have already hopped on board with social media channel’s paid promotional options in order to share ads for their business.

Social ads are successful because, on nearly every platform, they allow you to target your most valuable customers based on demographic, interests, and even location.

This strategy is successful in mobile marketing because 91% of mobile users from ages 18 to 29 use social media on their phones.

2. Snapchat

Snapchat boasts 150 million users on its platform every day, which makes it another great platform for mobile advertising.

There are many ways that you can use Snapchat to advertise your business on a mobile device. You could first offer VIP access into your brand and behind the scenes footage at your business using Snapchat’s story feature.

You could also demonstrate your product, give previews of new products and promote upcoming events.

3. Mobile beacons

Beacon technology consists of in-store devices that detect mobile phones with Bluetooth technology. After your phone is located, the beacon will tap into your shopping behavior and customize your shopping experience.

Beacons can do everything from enticing a customer to enter a store, or making personalized offers if the customer has the app downloaded to their smartphone.

Mobile beacons are definitely the future of shopping.

4. Multi-device mobile marketing

Remember that not every potential customer is online with a smartphone. There are plenty of other devices out there that you should include in your mobile marketing strategy, from tablets and smart watches to smart TVs, gaming platforms, and various other “smart” home appliances.

It’s important to stay up to date with the ever-changing world that is digital marketing. You have to make sure your campaigns are compatible with every device out there!

5. Live video streaming

87% of online marketers use video content as a way to advertise their business.

Videos are a great marketing tactic because they interact with the customer and provide entertainment while they’re looking at your products.

Not only can you use video for ads, but you can also use them to show behind the scenes footage of your company, demonstrations of your products, and introductions of your staff.

Not to mention, 92% of mobile video consumers share videos with others which increases your brand awareness.

Just make sure your videos are optimized for mobile!

6. eCommerce and social media integration

It’s a fact that we’re currently witnessing the socialization of online consumerism, as demonstrated through Facebook’s “buy now” buttons and Pinterest/Instagram catering more and more towards the eCommerce side of things.

The line between social media and the shopping cart is blurrier than ever, and you can benefit from it with some smart marketing. Taking advantage of this trend lets you kill two birds with one stone – you can up your social media presence and social proofing while simultaneously generating more leads and sales.

7. Coupon codes and discounted offers

Special offers, discounts, and coupons are great for boosting your brand image. Consumers love free products and samples, so this is a way to connect with potential customers.

96% of consumers use coupons, and 81% of consumers use them on a regular basis.

You can make your special offers through social media or email marketing to reach the most qualified customers.

8. Customized lifestyle apps

Some apps have evolved beyond their “novelty accessory” roots and are fully integrated into many consumers’ lives. Look at FitBit, Mint, MyFitnessPal, and so on for examples of apps that people rely on day in and day out for important financial and health information.

If your brand is a lifestyle brand, you can’t ignore the vast potential of custom lifestyle apps.

9. Informative, quality content

Content is the most important element to any marketing campaign, and mobile is no exception.

When you produce and share great content that is optimized for mobile, you’ll be able to generate quality leads from people who are interested in your products and services.

If you need help with content creations, there are many SEO agencies out there that can assist in content creation and presentation for your website.

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10 Things Successful People Do During Their Lunch Break [Infographic]

It’s hard work to be successful and, in many cases, you’ll find that those who have already found success have done so by years of hard graft. There’s nothing which can replace this level of effort (not even technology), however, you tend to find that these sort of people do things a little differently to the rest of us. They always seem to have a plan, know how to make the most of every second of each day and, above all else, keep their cool!

While most enjoy office lunchtimes simply by grabbing a bite to eat and a coffee, those successful people often use the time a little differently. To see just what they do (and how you can use your time in this way too), Noticeboards Online Ltd recently launched a fantastic infographic titled ‘10 Things Successful People Do During Their Lunch Break‘:

Ten Things Successful People Do During Their Lunch Breaks – Infographic | Notice Board Online Ltd.

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Scientists Are Learning How To Use Bacteria to Produce Specialty Biochemicals

Think about all of the food that ends up in your household trash or down your garbage disposal. Now imagine the vast amount of food waste like coffee grounds or tomato pomace generated by big food manufacturers.

From seeds and stems to grains and fibers, these manufacturers are generating tremendous volumes of food waste every day. Manufacturers have learned that they can recycle, reuse, and compost some organic waste, but it costs money to store and transport it.

In other words, going green isn’t exactly a financial boon.

Until now, that is.

Thanks to advances in biotechnology, organic biomass waste can now be transformed into natural versions of valuable specialty chemicals used as flavorings, fragrances, and colorings, replacing the petroleum-based chemicals that are currently found in over 95% of everyday products.

Consumers are demanding an alternative to petroleum-derived chemicals. This cry has created a desperate need for manufacturers to satisfy the requirement, making naturally-derived chemicals an incredibly lucrative industry.

“Chemicals have traditionally been made through non-eco-friendly processes that are anything but natural—in fact, they’re typically derived from petroleum,” said James Stephens, co-founder, and president of Blue Marble Biomaterials, which manufactures all-natural biochemicals. “Blue Marble has developed and deployed technologies that produce drop-in replacements that are kosher, vegan, certified GMO-free, and compliant with stringent U.S. and E.U. labeling standards.”

So how exactly does this technology work? Let’s explore in more detail exactly how businesses are converting their biomass waste to valuable specialty biochemicals to reap big profits:

Bacteria break down organic waste into commercially valuable natural chemicals

At the heart of the biotech advances that have enabled this breakthrough is bacteria. Scientists have figured out how to use certain types of bacteria from nature under certain controlled conditions to break down organic waste and transform it into highly desired portfolios of natural chemicals, including esters, carboxylic acids, thioesters, and sulfur compounds. These specialty biochemicals are used as flavoring agents for foods, to add color to beverages like soda pop, to give texture to your granola bar, and so forth.

Scientists are learning how to use bacteria to produce more and more specialty biochemicals

Each specialty biochemical produced from organic waste is made by feeding certain types of raw materials to certain types of bacteria. For example, Blue Marble Biomaterials this year created an all-natural, vegan bacon flavoring by repurposing organic waste like coffee grounds and the discarded skin, pulp, seeds, and stems of tomatoes and grapes. “It’s the flavor and aroma of bacon—from plants,” as Colby Underwood, Blue Marble co-CEO, and chief business officer puts it. All of these biochemical creations are the result of years of research and testing; the production processes are patented and top-secret.

Biochemical startups are teaming up with companies that produce lots of organic waste

Any industry that produces large sums of organic waste–including the agriculture, food, beverage, and forestry industry–is a great candidate to team up with a waste-to-value company like Blue Marble. Blue Marble can embed its operations inside the facilities of existing food and beverage companies. Through this mutually beneficial arrangement, Blue Marble is able to maintain future access to a consistent supply of raw materials, which are converted on site. The final specialty biochemical products can be sold for top dollar.

The market for natural biochemicals is exploding

Chemicals are traditionally produced by large corporations like Dow Chemical, where they’re derived from petroleum. These so-called “petrochemicals” end up in an endless supply of consumer goods, from chewing gum to dog food to skin creams to clothes. However, as consumers increasingly demand natural products and to know the sourcing of the materials that make up these products, petrochemicals just can’t cut it. By contrast, biochemicals made from all-natural bacterial processes are organic and can be fully sourced. Hence, the demand for these chemicals is exploding.

These processes are eco-friendly

Not only are the end-product specialty chemicals all-natural, but the processes used to make them are eco-friendly as well. Biochemicals made from organic waste are produced using “green chemistry” processes. These processes provide a sustainable alternative to traditional chemical manufacturing, as they reduce environmental pollution and curb the production and use of hazardous substances.

As the demand for eco-friendly, all-natural chemicals explodes, more and more businesses are realizing there’s untapped monetary value in their organic waste. The natural alternatives to commonly petroleum-derived chemicals are made from this waste, and they are kosher, vegan, organic, certified GMO-free, and compliant with stringent international labeling standards for natural products.

But this isn’t the end. Scientists are developing new pathways and technologies orbiting around how to harness the power of bacteria to produce more and more types of these lucrative biochemicals.

In other words, natural bacon flavoring isn’t the only product that will be affected. It is only one of millions of products that will be transformed by switching from environmentally-damaging chemicals derived from crude oil to natural, sustainable versions of these chemicals that have a positive impact on our planet–and our livelihood.

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