Health

These do it yourself drinks for natural energy boost are quick, easy and highly nutritious. Drink them before or after exercise, between meals, or to replace a meal when you’ve no time to eat.

Most of the ingredients are common, everyday foods that you probably already have at home. If not you should be able to find them in any large supermarket or health food store.

Some of these drinks for natural energy boost will require a juice extractor to make fresh juice and a blender to make smoothies. If you don’t have these, most household appliance stores stock them and they’re relatively inexpensive – just think of the money you’ll save not buying ready-made energy drinks!

Note: Some of the below energy drinks include soy milk, a somewhat controversial product these days (genetically modified soybeans, high pesticide levels, artificial additives, etc). However, if you want to drink it you can make your own from organically grown, whole soybeans blended with purified water and naturally sweetened, as I do here in China. Like any food or drink though, moderation is key one or two glasses a week of homemade, natural soy-milk should be fine. Check with your health professional first though if you have concerns about soy milk. 

5 Best Homemade Energy Drinks Recipe

All energy drinks should be consumed immediately after making them.

#1. Banana & Fig Smoothie

Ingredients: 1 ripe banana; 3 or 4 figs (sun-dried best); 1 tablespoon honey; 1 cup water

Method: Put all the ingredients in a blender and mix till smooth. Add a heaped teaspoon of bee pollen powder (or equivalent in capsules) for an extra boost. Sun-dried dates or raisins can be substituted for figs.

Benefits: Bananas benefit your nervous system; figs, dates & raisins contain natural sugars to boost energy; honey nourishes digestion & boosts energy.

#2. Honey & Bee Pollen Drink

Ingredients: 1 tablespoon honey; 1 heaped teaspoon bee pollen powder; 1 cup warm water

Method: Put ingredients in a large glass, add water, then mix with a spoon. Add ginseng extract for an extra energy boost.

Benefits: Honey benefits your digestion & is a quick energy booster; bee pollen contains essential fatty acids & amino acids & stimulates the production of sexual hormones; ginseng boosts energy & enhances digestion.

#3. Egg Yolk & Carrot Juice

Ingredients: 1 large cup of freshly extracted carrot juice; 1 egg yolk

Method: Add the egg yolk to the carrot juice then mix well with a fork. Add 1/2 a teaspoon of spirulina powder for an extra boost.

Benefits: Carrot juice is highly cleansing & nourishing & improves blood quality which helps relieve fatigue; egg yolk stimulates sluggish, exhausted adrenal glands; spirulina is a super-nutritious vegetable protein.

#4. Soy Milk, Egg Yolk & Honey Smoothie

Ingredients: 1 cup natural soy milk (unsweetened, unflavored); 1 egg yolk; 1 tablespoon honey

Method: Put all ingredients in a blender and blend them till smooth.

Benefits: Soy milk is a protein alternative for pasteurized cow’s milk which does little more than clog up your system; egg yolk contains lecithin which benefits your brain & nervous system; honey nourishes digestion & provides a rapid energy boost.

#5. Carrot, Apple, Egg Yolk & Honey Smoothie

Ingredients: One carrot (finely diced); half an apple (finely diced); 1 cup natural soy milk (unsweetened, unflavored); 1 egg yolk; 1 tablespoon honey; ginseng extract (3-9 grams, liquid or granulated form).

Method: Put ingredients into the blender and blend them till smooth.

Benefits: Energizes, strengthens and invigorates.

What Are Some Foods That Increase My Energy?

If you’ve ever wondered “What are some foods that increase my energy?”, here’s a list of over twenty everyday foods that do just that.

Many boost energy not just because they are nourishing, but also because they tonify your digestive organs and it is via the digestive process that you obtain energy.

If you’re often tired and aren’t including at least some of these highly therapeutic foods in your diet, start doing so today.

At the same time give these foods a greater chance of boosting your energy by eliminating foods from your diet that are nutritionally dead. For instance: Pasteurized dairy products, overcooked meats, white bread, cakes, candy, cookies, pastries, soft drinks and canned, processed foods.

Read 5 Foods You Should Never Eat Again

The fresher your food and the closer it is to its natural state, the better it is for you and the more likely you are to obtain real energy from it.

What Are Some Foods That Increase My Energy?

• Figs: Highly nutritious; enhance digestion & improve appetite
• Dates: Nourish blood; benefit digestion
• Raisins: Like figs & dates; a quick, high energy snack
• Beef: Nourishes & strengthens digestive organs
• Lamb: Improves appetite; nourishes blood; good for general debility
• Pork: Alleviates general debility; nourishes the internal organs
• Chicken: Aids general physical debility; nourishes qi (energy) & blood
• Salmon: Contains essential fatty acids for white blood cell production
• Tuna: As per Salmon
• Eggs (raw yolks): Nourish blood; stimulate adrenals
• Honey: Nourishes & strengthens digestive organs (add to warm water & drink it)
• Molasses: Nourishes blood (add to warm water & drink it)
• Oats: Good for general debility; nourish the digestive organs (great winter breakfast)
• Papaya: Nourishes digestive organs; improves digestion (great summer breakfast)
• Bananas: Good for nervous exhaustion
• Grapes (dark): Tonify digestion; nourish blood
• Spinach: Nourishes blood
• Almonds (raw): Good meat substitute (first soak in water overnight)
• Pecans (raw): Good for nervous exhaustion
• Walnuts (raw): Nourish blood & kidneys
• Wheat germ oil: Good for nervous exhaustion

In addition to these foods that boost energy, other equally simple and effective ways to increase your energy level include consuming nutritious drinks and doing breathing exercises to flood your system with energy boosting fresh oxygen.

Mounota

Dietitian with around 3 years of experience in assessing the nutritional needs of patients, counselling individuals, communicating the appropriate nutritional information to other members of the health care team and implementing nutritional care plans by following all the standards.

For so long, people have neglected their mental health while prioritizing their physical well-being. The reasons for the neglect are vast and often personal, but for many people, addressing their issues feels like an admittance to having problems society often stigmatizes (1).

The truth is, all of us will struggle with our mental health at some point in our lives, and when your mental health suffers, it can manifest in some not-so-pleasant ways. Untreated mental illness can take over your life; it can affect your relationships, career, and physical health.

Taking care of yourself mentally requires a fair bit of self-reflection. You have to observe your emotions and the motivations behind them. From there you can figure out how to nurture yourself and get the attention you need through radical acts of self-care.

Make Sleep a Priority

About 1 percent of the human population is physically capable of running on just a few hours of sleep a night (2). The rest of us need to clock in around eight to nine hours of slumber to fully function physically and mentally. Sleep deprivation is a huge contributor to mental health issues. Yet, because of our busy lifestyles and reliance on artificial light, about 40 percent of us aren’t getting the rest we need every night (3).

Making healthy sleep a priority in your life may seem silly. After all, in a world where time is money, spending it asleep feels like a waste. However, if you aren’t getting enough sleep, you impede your ability to think clearly. Driving while sleep-deprived can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Sleep concerns are often co-occurring with various mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and ADHD. So, as silly as it may seem at first glance, just try out prioritizing your rest and see how much your waking life improves.

Sleeping well at night means performing well the next day. If sleep is an issue for you, start with the mattress. You may not be getting the amount of support you need, which leads to nights full of tossing and turning then back pain in the morning. Find a mattress that complements your sleep style and you’ll likely see an increase in both the quality and time of your sleep.

Other ways you can improve your sleep:

• Have a consistent bedtime and waking time.
• Exercise during the day. Try not to do it too late as to prevent post-workout insomnia.
• Stop drinking caffeinated beverages after 1 pm.
• Turn off electronics and dim the lights before bed to help the mind relax.
• Avoid alcohol before bed. Drink a soothing herbal tea

Say ‘No’ and Mean It

We are inundated with images and marketing campaigns that make it seem like everything needs to be positive all the time. In our quest to be like, many of us grab onto that idea and let it affect how we act toward others, often defaulting to our people-pleasing ways even if it isn’t in our best interests. Saying “no” is an important part of establishing a healthy life. It is one of the simplest ways to honor yourself and your truth.

It establishes healthy boundaries and respect in relationships. Saying “no” isn’t mean or selfish. In fact, when you take on things that you don’t really want to do, it creates feelings of resentment and negativity in your relationships. By being firm and committing to only that which you can do, you prevent future conflict and foster more honest communication.

But perhaps most importantly, saying “no” is a huge part of caring for your mental well-being. It gives you room to tend to your own needs before anyone else’s. It also shows the world that you respect yourself and the value of your time. So instead of overcommitting to projects at work or taking on the bulk of the housework while everyone else lies about, say “no” to the things that are weighing you down and communicate your needs with those around you.

Eat Well and Get Moving

While caring for your physical health shouldn’t be your only focus, a nutritious diet and ample exercise are important factors in a well-rounded self-care routine. According to nutritional psychologists, what you eat can have a profound effect on how you feel (4). That’s partial because 90 percent of serotonin, the body’s natural mood and sleep regulator, is manufactured in the gut. Eating more clean, whole foods and supplementing with probiotics can improve your mood and help reduce the stress that causes anxiety and depression.

When it comes to exercise, you don’t have to overdo it to get the mental health benefits moving your body provides. A simple walk with your pet, afternoon in the garden, or stretching routine can help reduce stress, improve muscle tone, and trigger the release of endorphins that make you happier – both immediately and over time. The goal with physical activity is to find something you love so you’ll be more likely to keep doing it.

Of course, there are plenty of excuses that keep us from prioritizing healthy eating and regular exercise. Usually, it’s time, money, or both. When life gets busy or stressful, it’s important to look for ways to make your healthy lifestyle more convenient. If you don’t have time to go to the grocery store, try a meal delivery service that brings healthy, easy-to-prepare food right to your door.

If you can’t afford a gym membership, hit play on a YouTube video and get your sweat on from your living room, free of charge. No matter what solutions you come up with, one thing is for sure: staying on track will be worth every bit of effort you put into it.

Listen to Your Body

Your mental and physical health are intrinsically related. If one suffers, you’re going to see that suffering manifest in the other. For instance, anxiety often results in physical side effects such as headaches, upset stomach, rapid heartbeat, fatigue, muscle aches, and other pains. It’s important to check in with your body from time to time and listen to what it’s trying to tell you.

Every gut feeling you have is your body trying to tell you something. Slow down and figure out what exactly that feeling means to you. A good way to do that is through meditation. While seated in a comfortable area free from distraction, allow yourself to relax and be still.

Keep a steady and intentional breath that feels comfortable. Notice the physical sensation of simply being in that spot, at that moment. Scan your body for any discomfort. Try to release any physical tension and keep your thoughts on your body scan until you’ve reached the very end.

You don’t have to do a full-on meditation to listen to your body, though. Listening to your body can be as simple as avoiding the person that creeps you out rather than engaging in conversation for the sake of being polite. If your body is telling you something is off, that most likely means something is indeed off. Human intuition is remarkably evolved take advantage of that for the good of your mental health.

Neglecting your mental health can make symptoms so severe that they have a negative impact on your relationships, career, physical health, and your overall happiness. Caring for your mental health shouldn’t come with stigma; it’s an important part of self-care. So, sleep well, set boundaries, take care of your body, and listen to your intuition.

Brad Krause

Brad created SelfCaring.info to share his own knowledge and the many great resources he has found on his self-care journey.

selfcaring.info

Honey has gotten used for generations as a natural sweetener that provides sugars that don’t come out of a bag from the store. Unlike bleached, processed sugar, honey is more beneficial for your body, when consumed appropriately.

As is the case with food and consuming beverages, moderation is crucial to enjoying nature’s candy. If you have diabetes or a similar body sugar disorder, you’ll want to be especially careful in consuming large quantities.

While a teaspoon or two in a cup of hot tea likely isn’t going to cause problems, most people remain unaware that any side effects exist at all. You probably won’t need to make any severe adjustments to your diet or lifestyle, but it is better to remain aware of what could happen when you ingest too much.

Are There Any Disadvantages of Honey?

Below are some of the most frequently encountered side effects of ingesting too much honey. Keep these warning signs in mind if you find yourself eating through a few jars each month.

It Can Pack on the Pounds

Everyone is familiar with the children’s book classic Winnie the Pooh. And while it’s funny when he gets too plump to fit into entrances, it isn’t too far-fetched that his honey addiction is to blame.

Medical studies have shown that the human mind reacts to sugar similarly as it does to narcotics like cocaine. The reason why is your more addictive brain centers latch on to the temporary euphoria, as well as the sugar rush that comes soon after eating.

As a result, if you always seem to have your hands in the honey jar, you, too, will experience some increased stuffing around your waist as well. Anyone who has read the books has seen how difficult it is for Pooh’s friends to get him unstuck.

Moderation is the key to honey consumption, and even bears in the wild tend to favor heart-healthy raw salmon over too many sweets. Make sure that you eat honey sparingly to keep your mind from craving more, leading to unwanted weight gain.

It Can Cause Abdominal Pain

Many people claim that after eating honey, they experience severe abdominal pain and discomfort for hours afterward. While it is certainly possible that eating honey can cause aches and pains, the reason behind why can differ between people.

If the pain is mild or it tends to only last a few moments to an hour, it likely is not a digestive issue. The problem could stem from some mild reaction or intolerance to the allergens and pollen within the food.

For others, however, it might be that something is preventing their body from digesting it properly. As a result, their intestines struggle to break it down and pass it through, causing severe discomfort.

Every day, the medical community becomes more aware of dietary intolerances and allergies, and it may be that you just can’t enjoy honey. Speaking with a specialist or dietician may help you narrow down what your body’s reason why remains, or if you need to cut it from your diet altogether.

Keep Away from Infants

Feeding young children continues keeping parents in a panic. It seems as if every day, there is a new item that must stay away from your child or else you could cause lasting problems.

Young infants, which are those that are one year old or younger, must not receive honey. Although you might believe that you are doing them a favor by not feeding them processed sugar, you are putting them at risk of severe illness or even death.

In these younger users, honey can lead to botulism, which is a form of poisoning that occurs from bacterial toxins. Unfortunately, the raw honey is too natural for baby’s developing digestive systems to consume safely.

Although the mortality rate of this illness is only about 7.5%, it can quickly grow fatal in young infants. Make sure to keep the honey bottle away until they get a little older.

Beware Honey Intoxication

While it’s true that honey has gotten used in making fermented mead for thousands of years, it’s the raw honey you must stay aware of consuming. Although the condition gets referred to as honey intoxication, it is not the same as too much alcohol.

Honey intoxication is also known as mad honey, and the condition occurs from having too much of the naturally-occurring grayanotoxins present in the sugars. Although it has gotten used as a recreational drug in some cultures, it is best to avoid ingesting it for health reasons.

The grayanotoxins produce a poising effect, which starts mild and becomes increasingly severe. If the person continues ingesting it, it could cause paralysis, nerve damage, and other related symptoms.

Not all honey has toxicity levels high enough to produce the effect, and most jarred honey have the poison removed during the manufacturing process. However, if you purchase yours from an individual seller or farmer, be wary of consuming too much at one time.

You Might Be Allergic

Most medical experts agree that a more neutral approach to fighting back against environmental allergens is regularly consuming locally sourced raw honey. The reason why is that the pollens collected by your friendly neighborhood honey bees will act as a flu shot, where it introduces small amounts of allergens to your body where you can develop antibodies.

However, you might find the hard way that you are far more allergic to the pollens used in production, and that the raw honey has the opposite effect. When you experience food allergies, however, it leads to more than just a runny nose.

Chances are you’ll experience inflammation throughout many areas of your body, from your sinus passages down to your digestive systems. It’s part of what causes the cases of post-consumption abdominal pain discussed above.

If you notice symptoms whenever you eat honey, you may want to stop consuming it altogether or find a different brand. By locating a blend from outside of your community, you might react differently.

Mounota

Dietitian with around 3 years of experience in assessing the nutritional needs of patients, counselling individuals, communicating the appropriate nutritional information to other members of the health care team and implementing nutritional care plans by following all the standards.

Actinic keratosis  (Solar Keratosis) is a skin condition that results in the scaly and crusty texture of the skin. Exposing the skin to ultraviolet radiation from the sun may lead to AK. This condition is also called as solar keratosis.

Medical professionals consider actinic keratosis as a pre-cancer condition (1). It is important to give immediate medical intervention. Otherwise, it may lead to skin cancer also known as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, around 700,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with this type of skin cancer each year which is the second most common form of skin cancer

The most common manifestation of actinic keratosis is skin lesions. They appear in areas that exposed to the sun. This includes the face, shoulders, bald scalp, forearms, ears, neck, and back of the arms. They may also appear on some parts of the legs and on the shins. AKs start as a small lesion that seems like the texture of sandpaper.

To understand more about actinic keratosis, read on this post.

What is Actinic Keratosis

As mentioned above, actinic keratosis is a skin condition that develops. There are cases that the lesions disappear on its own, but reappear later. It may cause itchiness or tender sensation. But, there are times that the redness aggravates and become inflamed.

To identify the condition, the doctor may examine your skin. If the condition is severe, the doctor may request for a skin biopsy. In this procedure, the doctor will get a small sample from your skin laboratory analysis.

Symptoms of Actinic Keratosis

Usually, actinic keratosis appears on the face and other parts of the body in which the skin is exposed to the sun. It may begin as a tiny spot and may progress up to an inch in diameter. Once you notice scaly bumps on your skin, you should see a doctor immediately.

The patch on the skin may flat or slightly raised. It is sometimes mistaken for warts. You may feel some itchiness or burning sensation in the affected area.

Sometimes it is difficult to identify a cancerous spot to non-cancerous ones. That’s why it’s important to see a doctor before the lesions persist or bleed.

This skin condition may happen to anyone. But, some people are more prone to AK including the following:

• A person more than 40 years old
• Living in a place where sunny climate prevails
• Have a history of intense or frequent sunburn
• Tend to burn or freckle when exposed to sunlight
• Have a poor immune system or have a history of skin cancer or actinic keratoses

Causes of Actinic Keratoses

The most common cause of actinic keratoses is constant exposure to the sun. The sun rays are harmful to the skin. That’s why if a person is exposed to the sun most of the time, there’s a great possibility of acquiring skin problems such as actinic keratoses.

Another factor that can cause actinic keratoses is the ultraviolet radiation emitted by the lamps used in tanning salons. It is more dangerous that the UV rays of the sun. That’s why dermatologists do not recommend indoor tanning to reduce the risks of developing AKs. X-rays and exposure to industrial chemicals can also cause AKs.

The most prone to AKs are those working outdoors and men have higher incidence especially if they are not using less sun protection. Likewise, people more than 50 years old can easily acquire AKs (2).

10 Actinic Keratosis Natural Treatment and Home Remedies

If your doctor found out that you’re affected with actinic keratosis, you should act immediately to treat the condition. Your doctor may give you prescriptions, but you can also consider home remedies and natural treatment that can help get rid of the skin patches.

Here are some of the natural treatments and home remedies for actinic keratosis:

1. Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is known to treat different health issues including skin problems. If you have actinic keratosis you can try applying apple cider vinegar to the affected area. All you have to do is to soak a cotton ball in apple cider. Place the cotton on your skin and cover it with a bandage and leave it there overnight.

Remove the cotton in the morning. You’ll notice that the skin patch will appear white. The acidic property of the apple cider vinegar will eventually remove the skin patch. Use it consistently until the skin condition is gone.

2. Tea tree oil

Another home remedy that you can use to treat actinic keratosis is tea tree oil. Many individuals affected by AKs testified that using this oil gives relief to the condition. It’s because tea tree oil contains antimicrobial properties.

If you will use tea tree oil, you should dilute it with virgin coconut oil before applying it to the affected skin. You should do it regularly to obtain the best results.

3. Virgin coconut oil

If you will use virgin coconut oil to treat actinic keratosis make sure to choose the organic one. You need to be patient when using virgin coconut oil and make sure to apply it regularly onto the skin patches.

The skin patches may turn red and you should avoid burning it. You’ll see improvements after a month of using the virgin coconut oil. The skin patches will start to fade away, thus leaving your skin softer. The application of virgin coconut oil must be done every day until the patches disappear.

4. Green tea

Green tea is also considered as an effective herbal remedy for various health conditions. You can use it topically by applying it to the affected skin or taking it as a tea.

The astringent properties present in green tea greatly help in treating different skin issues. Green tea is also available in supplement form and you can buy it in leading health stores.

It is safe to take green tea, but should not be more than five cups. Otherwise, it will cause headaches, diarrhea, and irritability. However, you should stop applying green tea if skin irritation appears.

5. Aloe vera

Aloe vera is one of the best home remedies for actinic keratosis. Apply aloe vera juice on the patches every day in your actinic keratosis area. Mix aloe vera with olive oil before applying it onto the affected skin. Do it a few times a day to see good results.

6. Olive oil

You can use olive oil to treat actinic keratosis and other skin problems. All you have to do is to apply it to the affected area. The vitamin E content of olive oil will alleviate the bumpiness without leaving the skin dry.

7. Castor oil

Castor oil has a soothing effect that can alleviate the inflammation of skin lesions. It is worth trying castor oil as it does not show adverse effects. Applying it regularly onto the skin patches will help reduce the seriousness of the condition.

8. Colloidal silver

It is a colorless and odorless liquid supplement that is used to treat actinic keratosis. You can apply colloidal silver on the affected area twice a day.

9. Water intake

As you are experiencing skin problems, it is important to stay hydrated. This means that you should increase your water intake. It can help in flushing out harmful toxins from your body through urination and perspiration.

10. Dietary changes

Using different natural treatments may not be effective unless you are practicing a healthy lifestyle. If you want to spare yourself from diseases you should maintain a healthy lifestyle. Dietary changes are one way to keep your body function properly. This will also help to prevent health problems like actinic keratosis.

It is important to include fruits and vegetables in your daily diet especially those that are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and selenium. These nutrients will boost the health of your skin cells. Boosting your immune system can also reduce the risks of developing diseases like actinic keratosis.

You should also consume foods that are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids that can make your skin healthy.

Final Thought

If you can’t avoid going out and expose yourself to the sun, you should do some precautionary measures. You can apply sun protection or sunscreen, wear long sleeves, pants, or hats. If ever you have developed actinic keratosis, the best thing to do is to see your doctor the soonest possible time.

Mounota

Dietitian with around 3 years of experience in assessing the nutritional needs of patients, counselling individuals, communicating the appropriate nutritional information to other members of the health care team and implementing nutritional care plans by following all the standards.