Archives for December 2015

The Truth About Carrageenan (And Why It’s Good For You)

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The Internet is a mine of information, but sometimes it can also breed myths rather than facts. One such example in case is with a food ingredient called carrageenan. You may have seen it listed with other things in the foods that you eat. But what is it exactly, and why is there some misinformation about it? Let me explain.

What is carrageenan?

In a nutshell, carrageenan is a natural thickening or gelling agent derived from seaweed. All edible red seaweeds contains plenty of carrageenan.

Food manufacturers use carrageenan as an alternative to gelatin. In case you didn’t know, gelatin is animal-derived. As you can imagine, carrageenan is useful in making a product suitable for vegetarians.

Why is carrageenan good for me?

The obvious fact is that carrageenan is a natural ingredient. It’s easy to extract from red seaweed (see the infographic below), and there are a few health benefits to it. For instance, it’s used as a natural remedy to get rid of some stomach complaints.

How come there is some misinformation about carrageenan?

Some groups believe that carrageenan can cause long-term health problems. Controlled studies have shown no adverse effects to humans.

There is some confusion between carrageenan and another ingredient, poligeenan. Some evidence suggests there are health issues associated with poligeenan.

The thing is; many people assume it’s the same ingredient as carrageenan! It’s important to note that they are both different, and that poligeenan is not approved for food use.

So, as you can see, carrageenan is one of nature’s good ingredients. I hope you’ve found this information useful today; thanks for reading!

Infographic Produced By foodsciencematters.com

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Lifestyle Hacks To Supplement Your New Fitness Regime

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So, you’ve found a killer new workout, and you’re determined that it can be the foundation of an improved you.

That’s great. But to see the best results, you’ll have to make a number of other upgrades to your life. After all, regular exercise is only one ingredient for living a healthy lifestyle and achieving the best fitness of your life.

The clue is in the title; healthy living is a lifestyle choice. Here are four fantastic items that will accelerate your progress and ensure that you achieve your goals and targets. Good luck. I hope you enjoy your new and improved body.

Improved Diet

Physical activity comes as a package with healthy diet. Quite frankly, there’s no point in employing one without the other. After all, there’s no point burning off that energy if you aren’t fueling your body with the right things too.

Cooking from scratch instead of using processed foods will help you understand what is going into your mouth. Choosing nutritious forms of protein, like farmed salmon, will serve as a fantastic foundation. Meanwhile, cooking multiple meals at once and storing them in the freezer can save you a lot of time. In today’s busy climate, this can be crucial.

As well as various foods, you can get your nutrition from dietary supplements too.

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Increased Sleep

Making these improvements to your working day is great. However, your body needs suitable time to recuperate. Increased quality of sleep can become your secret ingredient for a healthy life, and should be a priority.

Investing in a better mattress should allow you to tick this box. As well as the increased levels of energy, you should see improvements to your skin and other physical features too. If nothing else, it will put you in a better frame of mind.

Listen To Your Body

Your body is a very complex machine, and it will let you know when something is wrong. Reacting to these issues is a must for everyone. But it’s especially important when you are trying to become a health freak.

Detecting illnesses as the earliest stage will help you get back to full health far sooner. Meanwhile, you must remember to appreciate hormone changes from PMS and other testing moments. Ignoring the issue, will only exasperate matters. And that’s something that all women would rather not face.

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Take Up Green Living

What better way to encourage looking after your body than looking after the planet? Taking a more responsible role with greener living may feel unrelated, but those positive vibes will bring personal gains too.

Growing fruit and veg can promote a better diet. Meanwhile, learning to walk rather than drive everywhere will see you burn more calories and live a more active lifestyle. Apart from anything else, taking responsibility can help change your mindset. In turn, thi encourage better personal decisions too.

In addition to improving your physical and mental health, many of those changes will actively benefit your bank balance too. What more could you ever ask for?

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Awesome Tips For The Untidy Traveler

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Are you an untidy traveler? Do you find yourself throwing your clothes into a bag, and spending hours searching for your passport at the boarding gates? When you finally arrive at your destination, do you litter the floors with all your possessions? And, do they stay there for the duration of your trip?

If so, you have come to the right place. This guide will help you become a tidier traveler, and give you some ideas about how to change the way you do things. There are plenty of benefits of tidying up your travel act, so read on to find out more.

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Put a cost on your untidiness

Money talks, as they say. So, why not put a price on your inability to travel in a tidy manner? There are many different little costs that can add up, which might make you think about addressing your bad habits. Take your luggage as an example. If you are stuffing in your clothes without folding them, you will need bulkier, heavier suitcases – or maybe even more than one. That’s all going to cost you in baggage handling fees. There’s also time to consider. You pay for every single second you spend on vacation. So, it seems silly to pay for the pleasure of rooting through your clothes every time you need to get dressed.

Get better luggage

If you are an untidy traveler, then find luggage that helps you be more organized. Buy suitcases with dedicated sections, or try something like packing cubes. They will make it easier for you to spend a little more time packing your clothes and accessories away. And that means you will spend less time finding things while on your trip.

Pack less

The less you pack, the less you have to tidy up. So, it makes sense to be as minimal as you possibly can when it comes to taking a trip away. Make a list of absolute essentials, before going over it and refining it further. Be ruthless about everything, and be realistic about your need for bulky items. Most trips away only need a few changes of clothes and only a couple of pairs of shoes.

Look around your hotel

The next time you go to a hotel, look at everything in the room. There will be a wardrobe for your clothes and some drawers for your other belongings. They are there for you to use, so don’t feel shy! Hang up your clothes, and put all your important documents in the hotel safe. If you know where everything is, you will find it much quicker.

Treat your accommodation like your home

Plenty of messy and untidy travelers aren’t the same when it comes to their own home. But, if you can treat it with respect, you will have a nicer environment to spend the rest of your vacation. Plus, you will avoid any embarrassed glances between you and the housekeeper when they finish with your bedroom!

Are you a messy traveler? Or have you reformed your ways? Why not share your story in the comments section below?

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Let’s Turn 2016’s Resolutions into New Year Solutions

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With the beginning of 2016 just around the corner, you can be sure that you’ll be hearing lots of people making promises they know they’ll never keep. “This time,” you tell yourself, “it’s going to be different.” But it never is, is it? After a solid start, you eventually fall off the wagon, and you’re back to square one. At least for another eleven months.

Well, why not make 2016 the year that you finally change the habits of a lifetime? A new year means endless possibilities for self-improvement, but only if you’re willing to give it a real shot. Here a few of the more common resolutions that seem to go awry, and how to stick to them in the face of adversity.

Quit Smoking

This is usually at the very top of every smoker’s wish list come the new year. Not only is it bad for your health, but it’s also equally bad for your bank balance and personal hygiene. It’s about time to cut it out. People have always had their own preferences for quitting smoking. They would either go cold turkey, which doesn’t work for everyone, or embrace patches and pills.

Now, though, the most popular choice is the electronic cigarette. Truth be told, the jury is still out on how much better they are for your health, but kicking the cigarettes is no bad thing. Either way, there has been a drastic reduction of smokers since they became readily available. It may be just the trick that finally works for you.

Pay Off Your Debts

There are many people that have become consumed by debt as a result of frivolous purchases. Try not to feel bad about it. You could soon be on the right path to becoming debt-free.

There is no great secret to paying off your debt. It just means cutting your spending and putting more savings aside to go towards repayments. Yes, that does mean you’ll have to go without certain luxuries for a while, but, what’s more important than being debt-free?

Reduce Energy Bills

This is a promise that isn’t exclusive to the new year. How often do you find yourself vowing to cut your bills, only for old habits to die hard? Every home is a giant all-consuming energy monster. Between central heating, home appliances, and air conditioning service, that’s a huge chunk of your wage. Gone. Just like that.

Start by making sure your house is insulated properly. Avoid turning on the heating when you can. Switch off lights when not in use. It’s not difficult to form good habits, as long as you reinforce them. It just takes a little bit of time and determination.

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Some other popular options are joining the gym, embracing new diets, and quit drinking. The secret to these are simply how well your willpower fares under temptation. Advice can only get you so far. The rest is up to your own steely determination. What are some of your new year’s resolutions going to be? Feel free to let us known in the comments below.

 

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The Ultimate Guide to a Great Family Adventure

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All families need a great family adventure from time to time. You probably won’t be able to have them all that often, thanks to home life and work commitments. That means when you have the opportunity for a family adventure, you really need to make the most of it! Want to know what you need to do to have the best time? Read on to find out…

Plan Your Adventure in Advance

Plan your adventure in advance so you know what you’re going to do. This also gives you a chance to research wherever it is you’re going and create a loose itinerary. Having an itinerary does help when a family tries to spend time together, otherwise things can get a little haphazard. People can get upset when they don’t have time to do what they want, especially kids. With an itinerary, everybody gets to do something they want to do. You can always jump in the car and go off on a whim, but it can be more stressful!

Do Something Brand New

Instead of doing something you’ve done 100 times before, do something brand new. This will be exciting for everybody. You’ll all get the opportunity to challenge yourselves and try new things, which is brilliant for character building. Maybe you could go to a museum somewhere you’ve never been. Maybe you could go zorbing. There are so many fun days out you can look into, you’ll be spoiled for choice!

Stay Safe

Make sure you all stay safe on your adventure. You should all have a way to contact each other in case any of you get split up. Arrange a meeting point, and make sure everybody has an emergency number they can call. When it comes to young children, it might be a good idea to use reigns to keep them close to you. Make sure you research safety tips for the area you’re visiting, and stay on the lookout for anything suspicious. Don’t let it ruin your day out; just be aware!

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Pack Carefully

Pack a day bag carefully so that you have everything you need on your family adventure. It might be a good idea to take drinks and snacks, just incase the kids get hungry. Not only that, you may need a first aid kit in case somebody falls over and grazes their knee. You don’t want to lug a ridiculously heavy bag around, but you do want to make sure you’re well equipped for your adventure.

Take Lots of Pictures

Make sure you take lots of pictures on your family adventure, including candid action shots! You want to be able to look back years later and remember all of the fun times you had. Just make sure you’re not so busy taking pictures that you forget to actually be in the moment and enjoy your time together.

Are you ready to have a great family adventure together? This will be a great experience and bonding opportunity for you all, so make sure you use these tips, Then you can relax and fully enjoy it!

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Booking A Fantastic Family Vacation On A Budget

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When you start to plan a holiday for your family, there is a lot to consider. You need to think about where you’re going, where you’ll stay and what you will do. But you also must weigh in price. It doesn’t matter who you are. The cost of a holiday always comes into a play when planning a vacation. But, there are easy ways to make a holiday fantastic even when you’re sticking to a budget. Here are some ideas to help you out.

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Book Early

It doesn’t matter where you’re going, if you book early, you’re bound to find some great deals on accommodation and travel. That could be true whether you are heading to the south of France of into the heart of Florida. You will commonly find that the tourist seasons are a lot cheaper if you book a year ahead.

Book During Term Time

Another tip, if you want to risk it, is to book during school term time. That means that if you are going to somewhere like Disney, all the other kids will still be in school. Your family can enjoy the parks without facing crowds everywhere you go. The problem is that this will involve your kids missing a little of their school time. But if they’re still young a couple of weeks won’t hurt. You certainly won’t regret it once you discover what Disney is like when you don’t have to queue everywhere.

Avoid Hotels

It’s unfair to say that hotels aren’t worth the money you pay. They certainly can be, particularly if you pick a luxury resort. That said, it is true to say that they are not worth as much as many believe. As well as this a hotel room can be a nightmare if you have a large family. You will all be cramped in one or two rooms. It’s only natural for you to start getting on one another’s nerves. That’s why you might consider looking at a vacation rental by owner. That means that you will be able to rent an apartment or villa in a popular tourist destination. You’ll get plenty of space at a fantastic price. Of course, you will need to cook and buy your own food. But there’s nothing stopping you going out to restaurants as you would have to if you were staying at a hotel.

Buy Tickets Before

If you’re going on holiday with children, there are probably destinations and events that you’ve already decided on. It’s a good idea to book these before you go. That way, you’ll find that companies are offering tickets at the best prices. You’ll even find package deals that are particularly useful for a holiday such as going to Florida or California. You will often find you can buy tickets in bundles anywhere there are multiple attractions.

Start Saving

Finally, if you’re booking your holiday a year before, that’s when you should start saving spending money. That way you’ll have more than enough for anything that you need to pay for or want to buy when you’re over there. It will make the holiday seem a lot cheaper if you start getting the money together now.

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Preparation Is Key When It Comes To DIY

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As an avid fan of DIY, I think that I have a little bit of knowledge that I can share with the world. Even if the people that know me don’t agree, I know that this post is very important for the DIY lovers out there. Why? It is important because I am about to tackle one of the major aspects of a successful project – preparation. Yes, good preparation is essential if we want to achieve a high standard when we finish the task at hand. But, preparation is not easy, which is why I have compiled a list of the best ways to prepare for your next project.

Gather The Info

Before you start, get all the info with regards to the project at hand. The last thing you want is for an issue to arise from nowhere and you not to have an answer to the problem. If you have all the information you need, you have all the knowledge to get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible. For your research, head to your laptop and do a Google search. A Google search should give you everything you need, but if it doesn’t ask family and friends. They may have tips and advice that could be essential for the future.

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Make A List

Not every project is going to take five minutes. Some will take a lot longer, and for that you are going to need to remember a lot of info. No one is expecting you to remember everything off the top of your head, which is why you should make a list. List everything from the tools you need to the cost of materials to give you a better indication of what it is going to take to finish the job. And, just as importantly, make a list of all the dangers and hazards that you can predict before you start.

Move Everything Out Of The Way

To attempt a DIY project, you are going to need space to move. If you are cramped and confined when you are tackling a job, you are bound to make mistakes. At the very least, you will find the job hard work, and it will frustrate you to tears. Thankfully, there is a solution. Get a hold of all the items that are not bolted to the floor, or that are too heavy to move, and escort them from the area. Moving big and bulky items away from the zone will give you a lot more freedom to do your thing.

Tidy Up

Don’t wait until the job is over to tidy up – tidy as you go along. Again, mess causes clutter and restricts your space, which makes a DIY task harder to complete. Throwing unnecessary items in the bin, or putting them back where they belong, will unclutter the working area. And, when the job is over, get in touch with cheap rubbish removal services to ensure you home is spotless.

Keep One Extra

DIY will sometimes make you use more than you have. When that happens, it is a problem because you have to waste time sourcing the item. However, if you have one extra with the ‘one extra rule’, you will always be prepared.

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What All Fathers Should Teach Their Daughters

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Check out What All Fathers Should Teach Their Daughters

by Tend Editor at Mode

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What Are The Best Ways To Maintain A Healthy Physique?

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Healthy living is something that vast portions of the population tend to struggle with in modern society. After all, juggling the complexities of work and personal lives is tough enough without worrying about exercise. However, the human body is a precious asset that nobody can afford to undervalue. Quite frankly, maintaining a great health is one of the biggest responsibilities that anybody ever faces.

Most people that struggle do so because they are uneducated on the subject. Conversely, those that follow a winning blueprint often see great results. Here’s how those in the know keep their bodies in great shape. In truth, anybody that wants to achieve improved health in 2016 should look to follow it too.

Healthy Eating

The human body is a complex machine that requires the right fuel to perform as intended. Therefore, employing a good diet has to be the foundation of any healthy living routine.

No two bodies are identical, and the smartest people know that finding the right habits for their specific goals is a must. However, there are some common factors to look out for. One of the most important aspects is good hydration. Not only does this bring many health benefits, but drinking a glass of water can also suppress appetites too.

Regular Exercise

Controlling input is vital for living healthy, but it’s equally important to monitor output. After all, the basic equation for determining weight is calorie intake minus calories burnt. In truth, it’s a little more complex than that. Nevertheless, it is a good rule of thumb, which is why regular exercise is crucial.

Modern life is extremely fast paced. Hitting the gym is great, but most people find that physical activity time is somewhat limited. Therefore, getting the most out of these routines is a must. Switching to high-intensity interval training is a popular method among modern gym-goers. As well as bringing better results, it allows more time to enjoy other life goals too.

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Health Boosts

A platform of good eating and exercise will help any human achieve improved health and appearance. However, most people need a little push in the right direction from time to time. That’s certainly true when it comes to removing fat.

Coolsculpting technology is a fantastic option for those that do not wish to endure surgery. It’s a natural and healthy way of taking results to a new level. Apart from anything else, that push in the right direction can be crucial for maintaining motivation.

Stop Bad Habits

Living healthy isn’t only about taking positive steps. It’s equally important to avoid harmful substances. Finally learning to quit smoking, for example, can be the most influential move that any human takes.

The most enthusiastic health freaks will make removing these bad habits their number one goal. As well as the various products on the market, there are plenty of support groups to help with nicotine, alcohol or drug addiction. With those dangerous elements taken out of the equation, the body will soon repair itself to a far stronger position.

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DIY Mistakes To Avoid Like The Plague

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Property owners have to learn about one thing when they buy a house – DIY. Unless they have experienced it before, or they are naturally handy, DIY will hit them like a ton of bricks. What seems easy to start with, soon escalates into a problem if they do not treat it with the respect that it deserves. Lots of people don’t treat DIY with respect, and they make mistakes as a result. For the most part, mistakes are not a critical issue because they can be fixed, but that requires time and money, so it is important to get them right at the first time of asking. And, from time to time, the mistake can be fatal.

So, what are the common DIY mistakes, and how can they be avoided?

#1: Thinking That The Pros Have No Use

Well, the professional have a lot of uses, especially if the person in question is a beginner. What they need to ask themselves before they start is whether they will improve the house, or whether they will make it worse. There is no point attempting the job if they are not going to complete it to the level that they want, even if they do save a lot of money. Otherwise, what is the point? Plus, household tasks can be dangerous, and they can happen at any time of the day. Theoretically, a homeowner could have a problem with the electrics at three o’clock in the morning. If that situation occurs, 24 hour emergency electricians are a necessity. A person in need should never turn up their nose at expert advice and help.

#2: Thinking That Pros Are Too Expensive

Again, this is another myth. Certain trades, like plumbers, are expensive, and that is the nature of the job. If a home requires emergency plumbing, DIY is not going to cut the mustard and the property owner will have to fork out. But, if it is another trade, there are affordable options on the market. Thanks to the Internet, the competition is a lot higher than it was in the past. Plus, new firms can make themselves readily available nowadays. The result is that the price is getting lower and lower, so there could be a firm that offers a good service at a fair price.

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#3: Not Using A Level

A level is everything when it comes to DIY. Although a shelf may seem like an easy task, it will take much longer if it turns out skewed. Then, what should have been ten to fifteen minutes turns into half an hour to an hour. If someone is attempting DIY for the first time, or even if they are a professional, they should always use a spirit level just to make sure. A couple of seconds with a spirit level will save them massive amounts of time and energy because it will turn out right the first time around.

#4: A Lack Of Preparation

There is nothing like preparation when it comes to a DIY project. An easy project can soon turn into the project from hell if the person attempting the repairs makes a wrong turn. Even fixing a leaky faucet could end in disaster. To make sure it doesn’t, always think ahead and try and imagine what may go wrong. For example, with a leaky faucet, the pipe could leak causing the water to flood the room. If the person is thinking straight, they will take a bucket with them and place it under the pipe. Should anything start to leak, it will end up in the bucket instead of on the floor.

#5: Going For The Quick Fix

One myth that surrounds DIY is that it is an easy fix. DIY, in fact, is not an easy or quick fix as it needs time to prepare and time to properly finish the job. The quick fix is often the fix that a homeowner wants to avoid at all costs. A lot like a bandage on a gunshot wound, it is pointless and won’t have any effect. Instead, take the time to evaluate what needs to happen to solve the problem for good. The money that can be saved is monumental as there is no need to redo constantly something that is fixed for good. When DIY novices take the time to think it over, it soon becomes apparent that this is the best form of action.

#6: Trying To Use Any Tool For Any Job

There are tools that will do for any DIY project. For example, most conventional screwdrivers will work for most screws. However, if that screw is not conventional, a Phillip’s Head screwdriver is a necessity. Anyone who doesn’t have that screwdriver in their bag will not be able to undo the screw, and will therefore not be able to complete the job. It cannot be overstated how important it is to have the correct tools at hand every time a project is attempted. Otherwise, the task will not happen, or it will end up in a bad state.

#7: Underestimating The Cost

It may be that the person in question is going with DIY rather than hire a pro because they are looking to save money. There is nothing wrong with that because not everyone can afford help. However, they also don’t want to try and cut corners and save as much money as possible. Why? Because if they do, they will potentially end up ruining their home.  Cutting corners on essential materials is a sure-fire way of a project going wrong. When they don’t have the right materials and the right amount of materials at their disposal, they are putting everything at risk. Always account for the budget to be bigger than it appears on paper. That way, there is more leeway to spend more money and to make sure it runs like clockwork.

#8: Leaving The Repairs To The Last Minute

As soon as a repair appears, it is essential to take care of it as quickly as possible. If a homeowner leaves a repair to the last minute, the problem will spiral out of control. What was once a ten-minute job soon turns into a massive task.

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