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Pediatricians Share What Baby Poop Reveals About Infant Health

November 7, 2019 by Power of Positivity

You can tell a lot about infant health by the color, smell, consistency, and frequency of their baby poop. Although soiled diapers are one of the less pleasant aspects of having a newborn in the house, it is necessary that parents keep an eye on what goes in them and learn how to interpret what they see.

Learning what is and is not a healthy bowel movement will help parents to catch possible health problems and diagnose illnesses.

Some illnesses don’t have obvious symptoms. Fevers, vomiting, rashes, and swelling are all undeniable signs of disease, but coupled with runny, off-colored, or infrequent bowel movements can change the diagnosis. What seems like an infection can, in fact, be a food allergy. And what may seem like a little gas or crankiness can, in fact, be a severe medical condition. Tracking and observing your child’s bowel movements will help you give your doctor the tools they need to make an accurate diagnosis.

So what is a healthy bowel movement, and how often should your baby be pooping?

Infant Health: Frequency and Consistency of First Bowel Movements

For the first week or so of the child’s life, you should have a dirty diaper for every day of life.

Let’s make that statement more clear.

Meaning on the first day, a single bowel movement is normal. On the second, two bowel movements, and so on until you reach the fifth day. On the fifth day, you should have approximately five soiled diapers, but not all of them need to be bowel movements.

Going forward, the size, consistency, and frequency of bowel movements will change as your little one’s digestive system and a diet change.

Infant health doesn’t have to equal a bowel movement every day or even several times a day. As long as the bowel movements are soft and pass comfortably, the baby is gaining weight normally, and there is no apparent discomfort, you don’t need to worry. Skipping a day or two is normal. This is true for babies who are breastfed, bottle-fed, or a mixture of both.

As for texture, breastfed babies tend to have looser stool. It may be seedy or look curdled like mustard-colored cottage cheese. Formula-fed babies usually have more well-formed stools.

What Baby Poop Reveals About Infant Health

Newborn Poop

The first few diaper changes can be surprising. The poop may be dark or black in color and sticky like tar. These first bowel movements are called meconium and are a sign that your newborn’s brand new digestive system is working. After a few days, the bowel movements should change in color and consistency. They will still be dark in color but seedy or grainy in color, especially if you are breastfeeding exclusively.

Again, this is entirely normal and healthy. After about a week, the stool will change back in color and texture according to your child’s diet.

Breastfed Baby Poop

Breastfed baby poop is usually yellow, green, or brown and resembles cottage cheese or paste. It is generally pretty loose and can be confused with diarrhea. Unlike formula-fed babies, breastfed infants’ poop is sweet-smelling at first. Don’t worry, the odor will come, but not for some time. Breastfed babies poop more, on average than their formula-fed counterparts, though the frequency of their bowel movements decreases significantly during the first three months.

Formula Fed Baby Poop

Typically, formula-fed infants have more significant, smellier bowel movements. The color is usually yellow or brown, and the consistency is like firm peanut butter. They don’t poop as often as breastfed babies, but their bowel movements tend to be larger. Formula-fed infants may go a day or two without a bowel movement during the first few months.

Undigested Food in Bowel Movements

As your infant begins to eat food, you may see bits of undigested food in their stool. Sometimes food travels through the digestive system so fast that the body doesn’t have time to break it down properly. In some cases, your child simply can’t yet digest the food properly.

In either case, there is no need for you to be alarmed. Don’t be surprised if, after introducing them to a new food, their stool comes out the same color or smelling like the new food.

Green Poop

Infants who take iron supplements will often have dark green poop. They will also have green poop as they are introduced to solid foods, especially iron-fortified cereals.

Green poop may also be an indication of an imbalance of hind-milk and fore-milk when breastfeeding. Fore-milk is low in fat and high in sugar. It is the first milk that your breast releases when you breastfeed. If your infant has short nursing sessions or if you switch breasts too quickly, your infant’s poop can come out green and frothy.

Food intolerance can also lead to green poop. If your infant is using a milk-based formula, consider switching to a non-dairy formula.

Orange/Yellow/Brown Poop

These are standard colors for poop. They may vary widely in shade, from a tawny brown to a bright, mustard yellow. Sudden changes in the color of the poop are no cause for concern. It could be caused by changes in their diets as they are introduced to new foods.

Black Blood in Poop

You may find small bits of dried, black blood in your infant’s poop. This is usually caused by small amounts of blood digested with breast milk. Often, this happens when the mother’s nipples are cracked or bleeding.

There is no reason to be alarmed, although you may want to consult a lactation specialist to make sure there isn’t an underlying problem.

However, this shouldn’t be confused with melena, which is thick, black, tarry stool that occurs after the infant is three months old. This is blood in the bowel movement and is an indication of bleeding in the digestive tract. This is a severe problem, and you should call your doctor right away.

Diarrhea Is A Severe Threat to Infant Health

Diarrhea is a simple issue to address and treat. However, for infants, delayed treatment can be fatal. One of the leading causes of infant mortality worldwide is diarrhea. The loose and runny stool causes the infant to dehydrate. Most Diarrhea is caused by allergies or infections. While it is essential to address the underlying causes of diarrhea, it is also important to treat the loss of fluids and electrolytes caused by diarrhea, itself.

Pebbled Poop

Hard, pebble-like poop is a sign of constipation. The most common causes of constipation are food allergies or lack of tolerance for an ingredient in the infant formula you use. Some children will also become constipated as they are introduced to new foods.

You should contact your doctor if your child is consistently straining to pass their stool. If the pebbled texture is accompanied by vomiting, dehydration, or discomfort, contact your doctor immediately.

Red Blood in Poop

Poop can turn red if you have introduced red foods to your child’s diet. Strawberries, beets, tomatoes, and even fruit punch can all become the stool red.

Barring that, red stool with a healthy consistency could be a sign of a food allergy. Usually, that allergy is a milk protein.

Red poop that is watery or red diarrhea is a sign of a bacterial infection. Check with your doctor.

Mucus in the Baby Poop

The appearance of slimy streaks in your baby’s poop may be shocking but isn’t necessarily a problem.

The intestines naturally produce mucus to help stool pass through. Sometimes children pass some of that mucus when they move their bowels. Children who are recovering from a cold or the flu may have mucus in their poop. The same is true for children who are teething.

However, mucus in the poop is often a sign of infection. If it persists for more than a day, consult your doctor.

Final Thoughts: Connecting Baby Wellness to Gut Health

Having a healthy gut and regular bowel movements is as important for babies as it is for adults. The effects of poor digestive health or food allergies can compound quickly in children’s bodies, so it’s essential to educate yourself about warning signs. Healthy bowel movements are a sign of good overall health, and monitoring your child’s poop is part of maintaining their health and well-being.

Much of your immune system is found in your child’s gut and a healthy balance of bacteria in the child’s digestive system. The first one thousand days (or roughly three years) will establish the basis of your child’s overall health. The bacteria that colonize your child’s gut in the first few months will vary according to internal and external factors, including diet. Encouraging a healthy, reliable, and diverse colonization of microorganisms in the gut during the first year will set children up for healthier lives.

During the first few months of life, everything is changing rapidly, including the state of the baby’s poop. Knowing the full range of healthy bowel movements will help to relieve some of the anxiety. Keeping your doctor aware of any concerns you may have about your infant’s health or any deviations to the typical pattern is an important task.

Foods to Eat and Avoid for Normal Blood Pressure (#3 is a winner)

November 7, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Are you struggling to maintain normal blood pressure?

Your blood pressure (also referred to as BP) is the force in which your blood is pushing against the walls of your blood vessels. Sometimes, situations will arise where someone will have BP which is too low or too high. This can cause issues for all systems in your body and cause severe medical issues.

High BP is called hypertension, while low BP is called hypotension. Hypertension occurs when the BP in your arteries is higher than the normal range, and the opposite is the case for those with hypotension.

Since BP affects all systems in your body, it is important to try to regulate it as much as possible. It has been proven that the following situations can cause abnormal BP:

Certain foods can cause an increase or decrease in BP.
Gaining weight can cause an increase.
Losing weight can cause a decrease.

What Happens When You Don’t Have Normal Blood Pressure

Normal blood pressure is around 120/80. If your BP is abnormal for any reason, there are side effects that can be life-threatening.

Side effects of high BP:

Hardening of your arteries
Stroke
Kidney disease
Heart failure
Facial flushing
Dizziness

Side effects of low BP:

Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
Nausea or vomiting
Fainting
Dehydration
Overall weakness
Inability to concentrate
Blurry vision
Cold, pale, or clammy skin
Rapid or shallow breathing
Fatigue or always feeling exhausted
Depression

12 Foods to Eat for Normal Blood Pressure

1. Skim or 1% milk

A source of calcium that is low in fat, skim or 1% milk is the perfect drink to help lower BP.

2. Yogurt or Greek yogurt

Eating at least five servings of yogurt is said to lessen your risk of hypertension by 20%. This is because it provides nearly half of the calcium you need and almost a quarter of your required magnesium intake. It provides around 18% of your potassium intake, as well.

3. Lean meat, turkey, and chicken (no skin)

This contains a nice portion of the magnesium and potassium you need each day with much less fat than other options such as red meat. Plus, the added protein will keep your muscles (including the heart) strong. That makes this one a real winner!

4. Cheese that is low in fat and low in salt

Whole fat cheeses contain too much fat to aid in maintaining or achieving a normal BP. So instead, consume cheeses that are low-fat and low-sodium varieties.

5. Fruit

Bananas are a great source of potassium, which is a key nutrient for having normal BP. Berries such as blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries contain flavonoids, a compound that has been thought to prevent or reverse hypertension.

Mangoes are another fruit to eat for normal BP, as it contains fiber and beta-carotene, two nutrients that can lower BP. Many other fruits are effective, as well.

6. Vegetables

Bell peppers contain large amounts of vitamin C which improves BP. Carrots also contain vitamin C, and they also contain beta-carotene. Even better, spinach contains vitamin C, beta-carotene, and fiber.

Most other vegetables are good for lowering BP, as well, as long as they are not canned. Fresh or frozen is the way to go in order to avoid preservatives and sodium.

7. Pasta

While pasta noodles are a good food to eat for normal BP, you will have to be careful of the ingredients of the sauces you put on top. Bear in mind, though, that pasta is high in carbohydrates. Thus, overeating can add pounds that further complicate your health. Enjoy in moderation.

8. Potatoes

Potassium and magnesium are key nutrients found in potatoes, along with high amounts of fiber. This allows blood vessels to relax in order to control your BP.

Just like with pasta, you still have to be careful of what you put on your potatoes. Some seasonings or toppings may cause hypertension.

9. Seeds that have not been salted

Think of seeds like pumpkin, fenugreek, or sunflower seeds.

10. Leafy greens

Romaine lettuce, arugula, kale, turnip greens, collard greens, spinach, and other leafy greens help lower your BP because their potassium content helps filter sodium out in the urine.

11. Pistachios

A good way to decrease BP is by eating pistachios because they reduce your heart rate and relax any tightening of your blood vessels.

12. Olive oil

Containing polyphenols, olive oil is a good source of healthy fat that can help reduce your BP.

13 Foods to Avoid for Normal Blood Pressure

1. Butter or margarine

Both are full of sodium and fat, leading contributors of high BP.

2. Meats with lots of fat

Full of saturated fat and sodium, fatty meats can lead to hypertension. The red meat especially can contribute to clogged arteries, putting you at a greater risk of heart disease and strokes.

3. Canned soups

If you’re like me, you probably thought that canned soups were at least a little healthy. Quite the opposite is true, however, as the extremely high sodium content in each can of condensed soup can cause many health problems.

4. Salad dressing

You could use more than your daily recommended amount of sodium in one salad if you use a little extra salad dressing.

5. Dairy products made with whole milk

Whole milk contains over 100 mg of sodium in each serving, and the whole fat leads to weight gain. Both sodium consumption and fat content contribute to hypertension.

6. Salty snacks

Processed foods and snacks covered in salt have an enormous amount of sodium. Avoiding these completely is your best bet.

7. Lunchmeat

Lunchmeat (aka deli meat or cold cut meat) is normally preserved using salt, making the salt content extremely high in each serving.

8. Bacon and sausage

Being mostly fat and having high amounts of sodium and calories, bacon and sausage are both pretty unhealthy for you despite the belief that they are a healthy breakfast choice.

9. Table salt

Avoid adding extra salt to anything that you eat. Adding just a little bit of salt to your food can shoot your intake up more than you realize. Most of the foods we consume already contains salt, anyway, so adding more might be unnecessary.

10. Condiments

Ketchup and soy sauce are two huge causes of hypertension, and most other condiments contain a high amount of sodium, as well.

11. Bread

This includes bagels, rolls, tortilla shells, English muffins, and sandwich bread. All of these have a high amount of salt and if you choose to then add lunch meat to your bread, you are well over (or at least close to) the limit you should follow for the day.

12. Pickles

In order to make pickles, they must soak in a salt bath, absorbing every bit of sodium possible.

13. Alcohol

Consuming alcohol can lessen the effects of BP medication, causing your already abnormal BP to worsen. Large amounts of alcohol consumption on a regular basis can lead to BP problems for a previously healthy person, so it is wise to stick to moderate consumption of alcohol to stay on the safe side.

The Problem With Salt and Hypertension When You’re Striving for Normal Blood Pressure

Salt contains sodium, an ingredient that causes your body to hold extra water. When this happens you not only become bloated, but you also run the risk of your BP getting too high. The extra water your body is holding on to causes stress on your blood vessels and your heart.

Other Causes of Abnormal BP

It is important to note that food and drinks are not the only causes of abnormal BP. While a person’s diet is often the cause of their BP issues, the problem may be caused by other factors such as pregnancy, loss of blood, medications, heart conditions, endocrine issues, infection, allergic reactions, and other medical conditions.

Likewise, the cause of high blood pressure could possibly be stress, genetics, old age, smoking, thyroid disorders, or many other conditions. Only after you have sought medical attention for abnormal BP should you assume the problem is with your diet. It wise, however, to follow a low-sodium diet as the American Heart Association suggests that you should only consume 1,500 mg of sodium each day.

Final Thoughts Selecting the Best Foods for Normal Blood Pressure

Maintaining normal blood pressure is important in all stages of life. Hypertension can cause many serious health problems including heart disease and stroke. Hypotension, on the other hand, can cause fatigue, depression, lightheadedness, and many other issues.

While it is important to seek medical advice for the cause and treatment options for any abnormal BP issue you are having, changing your diet could be a huge help in achieving and maintaining normal levels. Furthermore, if you wish to prevent yourself from ever having a BP issue, following these guidelines ahead of time will make that goal achievable.

Doctors Share Skin Cancer Prevention Tips Most Women Forget

November 6, 2019 by Power of Positivity

According to a study published by the American Academy of Dermatology, melanoma is the second most common form of skin cancer among women under the age of 29.

In this article, we will take a closer look specifically at melanoma and some of the steps that women can take to protect themselves against this disease and other forms of skin cancer.

WHAT IS MELANOMA?

For those who may not be familiar with melanoma, it is a type of cancer that occurs when the cells that are responsible for the skin’s pigment, also known as melanocytes, start to grow abnormally. Unlike other forms of skin cancer, melanoma, which is also known as malignant melanoma and cutaneous melanoma, is more likely to metastasize to other organs if not detected and treated early.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF MELANOMA OR SKIN CANCER?

Although melanoma is more common in women, the symptoms are not too dissimilar from that of men who it. Because melanoma cells are still capable of producing melanin, the moles that form on the skin will often appear brown or black. Additionally, they will be more pronounced on those with lighter complexions.

Melanoma can occur anywhere on the body, including areas not exposed to the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. Such areas include the bottom of the feet, hands, and even underneath fingernails.

However, in women, they are most likely to occur on the face, chest, and legs. It is also worth pointing out that melanoma is not limited to skin surfaces only. Several studies have revealed that this form of cancer can develop in parts of the body that most people would never expect, including the rectum, eyes, mouth, and genitals.

WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO DEVELOP MELANOMA SKIN CANCER?

Having established that melanoma affecting the skin is more common in women than men, it is essential to point out that some women are more at risk of developing the disease than others. According to the American Cancer Society, Caucasians are more likely to be diagnosed with the condition than African-American and other darker-skinned women. However, it is worth noting that those with dark skin often develop melanomas on parts of the body where their Caucasian counterparts generally do not, including on the palms of their hands and bottom of their feet.

HOW TO DETECT MELANOMA EARLY

The earlier melanoma can be detected and treated, the better the chances are of surviving this form of cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, when detected early, the 5-year survival rate for melanoma is as high as 99 percent. To detect skin cancer early, it helps to perform regular self-exams or skin cancer check at least once per month, which can help you quickly notice changes in the appearance of moles or freckles on your skin, not to mention new marks that might be indicative of cancer. In addition to brown or black moles, signs of melanoma can include the following:

Noticeable changes in the shape, color or size of existing moles
Existing moles that become itchy or painful
Existing moles that start to bleed
New moles or freckles
Sores that take a long time heal

Most general physicians, oncologists, and dermatologists will advise those who are at high risk of developing melanoma to perform self-exams as frequently as possible. Those who have an above-average risk of developing this particular form of cancer include

Those with a family history of melanoma
Those previously diagnosed with melanoma
Those who have dysplastic nevus syndrome (unusual moles with irregular features)

WHEN SHOULD YOU CONSIDER SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT WITH A PHYSICIAN?

If you have noticed any of the symptoms detailed in this article, schedule an appointment with a physician.

It is also smart to schedule routine appointments with a physician if you have a family history of melanoma. In addition, advise your doctor if you meet any of the criteria that may increase your risk of developing the disease. During these appointments, the physician will look at moles and freckles to determine if they may be cancerous.

If the physician suspects cancer, they will likely perform a biopsy. This procedure entails cutting away a part of the mole or other marks on the skin and having it evaluated by a pathologist. If the results confirm cancer, the physician will then outline a course of treatment.

HOW TO PREVENT SKIN CANCER

If you’re a woman who is concerned about developing melanoma, you will be happy to know that there are several things that you can do to reduce your risk of developing the disease, including:

1 – Avoid excessive sun exposure

Although sun exposure is great for vitamin D, too much can damage the skin and increase the risk of developing melanoma. So if you have to be in direct sunlight for any length of time, use sunscreen, preferably one that is SPF 30 or above. Also, wear a hat to protect your scalp and sunglasses to protect your eyes as the disease can form on these parts of the body as well.

2 – Avoid indoor tanning

Studies show that the UV lights and sunlamps used in most tanning salons are just as damaging as natural sunlight. According to a study published by the National Institute of Health, inside tanning can increase the risk of melanoma by as much as 20 percent. This rate rises among those who are start tanning before the age of 30.

3 – Stay healthy, in general

A robust immune system has been shown to help decrease the risk of developing melanoma, according to several studies. Fortunately, there are several ways to boost your immune system naturally, some of which include

Not smoking
Consuming a healthy, well-balanced diet
Exercising
Maintaining a healthy weight.
Limiting alcohol consumption
Getting enough sleep
Reducing stress

Making healthy lifestyle choices won’t necessarily prevent cancer. However, they can go a long way toward lowering your chances of developing the disease.

HOW AVOIDING OTHER DISEASES MAY LOWER YOUR RISK OF DEVELOPING MELANOMA

According to the American Cancer Society, some diseases can adversely affect the immune system. and increase the risk of developing melanoma. Some of these diseases include HIV and AIDS. However, you can avoid this by practicing safe sex and not partaking in intravenous drug use. Diabetes can also negatively impact the immune system. However, taking insulin as prescribed can help limit the chances of developing melanoma or diabetic complications.

HOW CERTAIN MEDICATIONS CAN POTENTIALLY LEAD TO DEVELOPING MELANOMA

Ironically, some of the medications that many take to treat certain diseases can also negatively impact the immune system. Some of those prescriptions include those for autoimmune diseases, chemotherapy, and transplant rejection drugs. Of course, this is not to suggest that one avoid taking these medications as a way to prevent cancer. However, it is still worth noting.

HOW DO DOCTORS TREAT MELANOMA?

Sometimes, even leading a healthy lifestyle and consuming a well-balanced diet is not enough to prevent cancer. And melanoma is no exception. That said, some of the most common treatments recommended for those who have developed the disease include

Immunotherapy drugs
Targeted therapy drugs
Chemotherapy
Radiation
Surgery

Melanoma can be treated by a dermatologist, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist, surgical oncologist, or dermatologist, depending on how far the disease has progressed.

FINAL THOUGHTS: IS IT POSSIBLE TO PREVENT CANCER?

In summation, it is impossible to prevent cancer. However, there are several things that women can do to reduce their risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers. So the best way to go about lowering your chances of developing melanoma is by performing self-exams and following the other tips outlined in this article.

Of course, if you suspect that you have skin cancer, you should seek advice from your physician immediately. Early detection can significantly improve your chances of surviving the disease and also improve your overall quality of life.

5 Daily Habits That Reduce Global Warming

November 6, 2019 by Power of Positivity

When you think about the global warming issues that plague the world, it’s difficult to not be discouraged. Climate change is happening on such a huge scale, and a lot of the main contributing factors feel very out of the hands of the ordinary citizen. However, your daily habits can make a significant contribution.

But is that really true? You may be pleased to know that you can actually help to reduce global warming all on your own. You see, each person has a carbon footprint, produces waste, consumes energy, and purchases goods. In all these areas, you can take more sustainable actions.

So, what can you do? You have many different options, but there are a few daily habits that are especially easy to incorporate into your busy life.

Here Are 5 Daily Habits That Reduce Global Warming

1. Control Your Energy Usage

Many of us use energy without mindful thinking. You might not even realize the extent of your energy consumption. Luckily, it’s not too difficult to manage your overall consumption to a reasonable level. Here’s how you can do that:

· Read Appliance Labels

The labels of your appliances will give you a good idea of how much energy they use. Try to go for ones that are actively more sustainable than others.

· Choose The Right Light

We all need to use electric lights sometimes. But what you should do is make sure that you choose the right ones. LED lights are great recyclable options, and they come in a large range of colors. There are also plenty of energy-saving lamp options.

· Don’t Use Standby Mode

Standby mode is a very convenient way to keep your appliances ready to go in an instant. But that still takes up energy. Just having the TV’s standby light on, leaving a charger plugged in and switched on, or keeping the main switch of your microwave ready can eat up a lot of energy. Make it a habit to turn things off directly when you’re done using them.

· Put A Lid On

When you cook, put the lid on your pots or pans. This allows the contents to cook more quickly thanks to the trapped steam, saving energy. (On that note, make sure you close your fridge whenever you’re not using it!)

· Use Renewable Energy

Plenty of renewable energy options are now available in this modern time. If you have the means to afford such an investment, then go through with it! Install solar panels and use them for energy. You’ll save on electricity costs while reducing global warming.

· Keep It Warm, Not Hot

We all love a good, comfortable, toasty atmosphere in the colder months. But a lot of heat can wrack up your electricity bill and make your carbon footprint that much more severe. Stick to keeping it warm, not hot. Just one or two degrees less could reduce carbonic acid gas release by 200 kg and save up to 10% of your energy consumption.

The same goes for air conditioning, of course. Keep it cool, not as cold as it can get! In addition, you may hire a dependable contractor to service your ac unit and maintain it’s energy efficiency. If you need a professional ac service in Delray Beach, FL, there are local hvac companies you can depend on. According to a ac repair corona company, your ac unit’s operational lifespan may even get extended if it gets regular maintenance services.

· Be Wise

Some energy-saving tips are fairly obvious. Just be smart about it! Turn off lights and fans when you leave a room. When you’re done listening to music or watching a show, turn off the related electronic. It’s as simple as that to make a positive change!

2. Learn To Recycle

As a rule, everyone should learn to recycle. That’s a crucial skill. You could probably find programs or educational classes about the basics of recycling in your area, and if not, there are lots of resources to do so online. Here are some tips for recycling to reduce global warming:

· Reduce

Start by reducing the number of things you use on a daily basis. Find ways to keep your consumption to a minimum.

· Reuse

Try to reuse as many items as is healthily possible at home. Slowly phase out single-use items from your daily life. When you do need to buy new things, try dropping by second-hand markets, thrift stores, and other similar places. It saves money and the planet at the same time!

· Recycle

Try to only use recyclable materials. Things made from paper, glass, plastic, and metal are fantastic options as they can be recycled most of the time, costing far less energy to manufacture new products from them.

· Up-cycle

Thought there were only three steps in reduce, reuse, and recycle? Well, there are, but up-cycling is an excellent candidate for the fourth. Take your waste items and, instead of throwing them out, turn them into something more useful. You can make art from fragments of certain materials, make pots or item holders, and more!

3. Change How You Travel to Decrease Global Warming

Travel is essential for you to get from point A to point B, but there are more positive ways that you can get around. Chances are, your current travel arrangements are adding a significant contribution to global warming. Here’s what you can change:

· Reduce Car Travel

Motor vehicles reduce countless harmful emissions into the air which leads to air pollution, climate change, and the exacerbation of health problems. This includes an increased risk of complications from heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory infection, stroke, COPD, and asthma.

If your car uses a combustion engine, diesel fuel, or anything similar, you should work on cutting down car travel time.

· Carpool

Carpooling or ride-sharing is a good way to still use common vehicles to get to farther places. It’s not exactly environmentally friendly, but one car is much better than four or five of them – especially if you’re all going to the same place.

So rope your colleagues, schoolmates, friends, or other people heading in the same direction into your environmental efforts!

· Use Public Transportation

Public transportation runs daily and riding this instead of taking your own vehicle can help you get to faraway places quickly without the emissions of your car affecting the world.

· Reduce Air Travel

Air travel burns through huge amounts of fuel and results in the production of high volumes of carbon dioxide. The resulting vapor trails and a wide range of other high-altitude issues can be horrible for the ozone layer, and one plane ride can add the equivalent of a year of driving a car in the carbon footprint.

· Walk or Ride A Bicycle

These are great ways to get some extra exercise. You and the planet will both benefit. As long as you don’t need to travel too far away and will be in a safe area, these are viable options.

4. Stop Using Single-Use Plastics

Single-use plastic production is one of the main reasons behind production-based waste. Here are some 2010 statistics about single-use plastics that do not reflect in a positive way about the state of the world’s plastic pollution. These statistics all occur on an annual basis:

Approximately 275 million tons of plastic waste is produced globally
9 million tons of plastic waste is very poorly managed, causing them to leak into the oceans
5 million tons of plastic waste gets into the oceans from coastline areas
Approximately 270 million tons of plastic are produced per year – plastics virtually never degrade and can never be destroyed
There are between 10,000 and 100,000 tons of plastic in the ocean

So, how can you reduce plastic waste? It’s a good idea to start phasing out all plastic from your life in the things you buy. Of course, we’re not expecting perfection. After all, plastic is cheap, durable, and accessible, and virtually everything is made from it in some way. But work on slowly buying more sustainable products instead! With some positive thinking, you can break away from the daily habit of using plastics..

In the meantime, though, work on phasing out single-use plastics specifically from your life. Here are some things to avoid buying or using:

Food wrapped in plastic wrap
Plastic water bottles
Plastic bags (don’t use paper bags, either; opt for reusable canvas, bamboo, or cloth bags!)
Anything in a plastic wrapper or package

5. Change How You Eat

Diet changes are difficult to make, but doing so can be a big positive step in your personal journey towards a more sustainable lifestyle overall as well as increase healthy daily habits. Here are some changes that you can make:

· Red Meat

The production of red meat – through the raising, breeding, and harsh treatment of lambs, cows, and other livestock – has especially negative effects on the environment.

It can be hard for meat-lovers to give up these foods, but with positive thinking, it can be done. Opt for protein that comes from plants (like nuts) or use white meats instead!

· Shop Locally At A Farmer’s Market

A farmer’s market is full of healthily produced produce from local farmers. As such, they don’t go through the difficult and often problematic production processes of factory farms or large-scale production plants.

In addition, buying local produce means you’re not eating products that had to be flown or shipped to you over long distances. This reduces your carbon footprint and contributes less to the emissions caused by those shipments.

· Go Vegetarian

If you eat a vegetarian diet, you’ll be contributing a mere half of the usual CO2 emissions that a “normal” diet would produce.

· Go Vegan

If you’re very committed to reducing global warming and have the positive thinking needed for this big diet change, you can go vegan. Reducing dairy and meat intake is a huge step forward in doing your part to reduce global warming.

· Reduce Food Waste

Don’t waste food. Cook and take only what you need. Instead of tossing out leftovers, consider composting. Don’t buy food in plastic or non-recyclable plastic when you can.

Final Thoughts: It’s Easy to Adopt New Daily Habits That Reduce Global Warming

It can certainly be upsetting to think about the quick advancement of climate change, but all is not lost. Your one actions may be small, but they still contribute to the world’s efforts, and if even just a fraction of the people on the planet make these changes, there can be hope yet.

Having difficulty adding these global warming reduction methods to your everyday schedule? Don’t worry! These kinds of changes can be pretty tough to make, especially all at once. It’s a learning process, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you slip up now and then.

Just slowly get better and better at implementing these daily habits, and before you know it, you’ll be living an environmentally friendly and sustainable life! And, you will be helping to slow down global warming.

7 Things to Never Do On Social Media

November 6, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Ah, the wonders of social media. Isn’t it lovely to be able to post whatever you want? To blast your thoughts out into the world and find solidarity in the people who agree with you? In fact, some of us may have found our communities and lifelong friends this way! For architects, social media is also a fantastic platform to market your architecture, showcasing your unique designs and connecting with potential clients who appreciate your vision.

These days, however, social media is getting less and less anonymous. Not necessarily a bad thing, since it means people can’t hide behind a mask when they want to spew hurtful words.

It does, however, mean that you have to be a little more careful when you’re posting things online. Just about anyone can see it – including your future or current boss! For your own sake, here are some things you should never do on social media.

7 Things To Never Do On Social Media

1. Post Identifying Information

Alright, so this seems a bit odd. We exist in an age where we’re posting selfies, showing off our beloved pets, and talking about our glamorous holidays. So, keeping your identity secret seems to be – dare we say it? – the complete antithesis of what social media is for. There are at least two good reasons for this:

· The World Is Still A Dangerous Place

Your full name, your age, your address – these are all basic information that can be easily taken advantage of by the right people, be it a stalker with an ax to grind or a thief planning their next robbery.

· Your Email Is Linked To Too Many Things

If the email you have visible on your social media is the same one you use for said social media (or even your bank account), you have a problem. All would-be thieves need to do is take that information, and that’s half your login details there. They just have to brute force the rest – and that, sadly, can be shockingly easy.

While you can make it harder for that information to be accessed, it’s best to just not post it in the first place – no amount of positive thinking is going to shield you from potential baddies.

2. Publicly Post Things Emotionally

You’ve likely seen it – a post gone viral, is usually some heartfelt story or an incredibly satisfying takedown of some fool who got too big for their britches. It’s all satisfying to read, but it also stands as a terrifying testament to the fact that the internet never forgets.

Remember – even after you’ve deleted a post, all it takes is for someone to screenshot before something gets circulated out of your control. Consider the various people that might see and interact with your posts:

Your boss
Your future boss
Work friends and colleagues
Friends of friends
Friends from different social circles
Acquaintances
Neighbors
Members of your society
Total strangers

Alternatively, have you considered all these separate social circles interacting with each other? Is that really something you want, especially if you’ve been venting your frustrations where everyone can see them? At the very least, if you’re going to vent, put some thought into it first and be prepared for the potential consequences.

On the other hand, you could also take advantage of this. Posting things that encourage positive thinking and brighter outlooks are always wonderful. Perhaps you can publicly write an appreciation post about your friend, or post pictures of your beloved pets!

3. Post Explicit Content

While being positive about sex is certainly a healthy thing, the graphic details of what you have been up to really isn’t something everyone wants or needs to know. There’s a lot of reasons for this – and some of them are more obvious than others:

· People Didn’t Ask For This

If your friends are following you on Twitter or Facebook to stay up to date with you, they really don’t need a graphic description of your genitals’ yeast infection. It’s one thing if you asked for their consent to talk about it – it’s another to dump this information on them when they least expect it.

· It’s Illegal On Some Platforms

Thanks to some more recent rulings, companies can get slammed with lawsuits over illegally-created explicit content – even if it is content created by the users, not the platform itself.

Twitter of the few remaining mainstream social media platform that currently still allows explicit content – but this could change anytime. And when it does, you might get into trouble.

· That Content Can Travel

There’s no guaranteeing just where your explicit photos or content can and will go. What if your boss sees NSFW pictures of you floating around on the internet?

4. Conduct Private Discussions In Public

Yes, this includes the comments section on your friend’s post. The thing about social media is that it is very easy to feel like you’re carrying a personal, private conversation in what is actually public space. While that sort of heart-to-heart talk online actually has positive effects on your well-being, public spaces aren’t really the best place to do it.

With tech savviness on the rise, this isn’t as much of a problem as it used to be. If you rewind the clock a few years, you may notice some people getting angry at Facebook about revealing what they thought was a private chat. In actuality, it had always been public – they just didn’t realize it.

Still, it is very easy to be caught up with an intense discussion with a person on Twitter or the like, forgetting that all your arguments are aired in the open for anyone to see. The next thing you know, someone else sweeps in to hijack the discussion, leaving you shocked and upset!

5. Post Without Thinking

The internet doesn’t forgive, and it doesn’t forget. It can be so very tempting to post that video of you at work or to play up the villainous role of that ex who scorned you in your rant. The problem is, people can and will trace that all back to you – and that might just spell the end of your social life and career.

Need some examples? Run through this list and see if you recognize any of these people who posted something insensitive and paid for it with their career and social life:

Walter Palmer, a dentist who had killed and beheaded a beloved lion.
Justine Sacco, who made an insensitive, racist comment.
Anthony Weiner, a New York Congressman who accidentally tweeted an explicit photo

As their posts went viral, all these people were quickly harassed by the internet into the point of obscurity. They will be lucky if they can get some kind of job without being recognized, let alone continue using their established online presence.

The internet can be a positive place sometimes, full of people trying to help each other. You just have to be careful about the times that it isn’t.

6. Talk Bad About Someone Behind Their Back

This one should be a simple one. No matter how vague your post, no matter how much you obscure it, someone is bound to notice if you are talking about them. And things won’t end well, once they realize what’s up. Remember – information travels, and the person is bound to find out, even if you have them blocked.

If you need convincing for some reason, here’s a list of reasons why you shouldn’t be doing this in the first place:

· Gossip Spreads

Ever seen how a rumor grows? News spreads fast – and on the internet, it spreads like the plague. What may have been just a brief, minor vent about someone you’re struggling to deal with can snowball out of your control. And before you know it, you’ll need to do some serious damage control.

· It’s Hurtful

No matter how malicious your intent originally was, just like in-person slandering, it can hurt people. Relationships may be ruined, and their reputation permanently marred. If it all gets traced back to you, you’ll wind up in some serious trouble – or even a lawsuit on your hands.

· It’s Emotionally Immature

If you get hurt, or if you’re bothered by someone, why not take the higher road? Just talk to them directly, face-to-face, and see if you can resolve the issue. Who knows – perhaps it was just all a misunderstanding, in the end, one that could have been fixed easily.

7. Post Screenshots Of Personal Conversations

This one is just straight up a breach of trust. Unless you have the consent of the other person involved, there should be no reason for you to publicly post a conversation that was private.

Think about it – when you DM a friend or a colleague, you both enter an unspoken contract of privacy. Things said in this chat will be kept private, between the both of you – even more so if it contains sensitive information. So it doesn’t matter if your name was blanked out or not – just how hurt and shocked would you feel if you saw what was a private conversation with you made public?

Even worse – in this day and age, things go viral. Sure, seeing viral conversations from other people on the internet is amusing to read, but can you imagine just how it would be like if that was your secrets aired out in the open for all to see?

If you insist on doing this anyway, don’t be surprised if people stop trusting you with anything personal or important ever again. You would have proven yourself to have the online equivalent of loose lips, after all.

Final Thoughts on Social Media Safety

Younger people reading this may find this list to be just pure common sense, but we have to remember that the internet is a relatively new phenomenon. The internet as we know it today only really came into being in the early to mid-2000s. Only in the last decade or so have we really started figuring out what internet politeness should be like.

As such, don’t feel bad if you’ve been doing these things. This is all stuff we are still learning, and still trying to figure out. The internet is new to us all, after all! With that in mind, hopefully, this article will give you a good idea of things you should not be doing if you want to avoid getting into trouble.

The final takeaway should be easy. If you don’t want something to be potentially used against you, then don’t post it in the first place!

Science Explains Why Grateful People Live Longer

November 6, 2019 by Power of Positivity

The scientific research surrounding gratitude and health has led to a multitude of promising discoveries. Among the many significant findings within this field of study, UC Davis Health reports the following: Being grateful is related to decreases in measures of stress and depression.

Furthermore, practicing gratitude can slow the effects of neurodegeneration. Gratitude practices lead to decreased inflammation and lower blood pressure. Writing one letter of appreciation decreased hopelessness in 88 percent of suicidal patients and increased optimism in 94 percent.

The findings detailed above only scratch the surface of the beneficial impacts that science has revealed practicing gratitude can have. It is becoming more and more apparent that practicing gratitude has a plethora of clinical applications. Include utilizing gratitude interventions to improve a person’s mental and physical health and to treat many medical conditions and disorders.

BECOMING A MORE GRATEFUL YOU

With the extraordinary effects of gratitude being consistently demonstrated, more and more people are becoming interested in this topic. But what, exactly, is gratitude, and how can you practice it in your everyday life? Many people learn to express gratitude at an early age. But not nearly as many people learn why it is so important to do so. Nor do many people understand wholly what it looks like to practice gratitude in their daily lives.

This article will explore definitions of gratitude and explain how you can become a more grateful person. Scientific research will be utilized to demonstrate how developing and expressing gratitude can improve the quality and longevity of life. If you are interested in learning how to enhance and lengthen your life by cultivating and practicing gratitude, keep reading.

DEFINING GRATITUDE AND GRATEFULNESS

The authors of “Gratitude and Well-Being: The Benefits of Appreciation” provide the following as a clinical definition of gratitude: “gratitude is the appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself; it is a general state of thankfulness and/or appreciation.”

Gratitude is both a state and a trait, according to the authors of this peer-reviewed article. The authors explain that as a state, gratitude “is a positive, social emotion experienced when an undeserving act of kindness or generosity is freely given by another person.” As a trait, gratefulness is a characteristic or virtue of people that vary in frequency, magnitude, and length. Grateful people “experience gratitude more times per day and across a wider array of life circumstances compared to those lower in gratitude.”

An important aspect of gratitude is merely having an awareness of and appreciation for the positive aspects of life. People who practice gratitude tend to view the world through a positive lens. This outlook includes acknowledgment of the positives in their own lives and the world as a whole. Even during difficult times, people who practice gratitude count their blessings. When this takes place, people are much more likely to be thankful for their experiences and lives.

HOW BEING GRATEFUL CAN INCREASE QUALITY AND LENGTH OF LIFE

Much scientific research has revealed a significant and strong link between gratitude and improved measures of well-being and health. Being grateful can increase your quality of life and help you to live longer in the following ways:

1 – Increased Happiness:

The results of this scientific study revealed that expressing more gratitude was correlated with less depression in study participants. The study’s data also demonstrated that gratitude “fully mediated” the link between increased well-being and decreasing depression. Another study also aimed to determine the impact that gratitude has on measures of depression. Researchers found that grateful individuals dealing with financial difficulties had significantly fewer depressive symptoms than ungrateful people.

2 – Heightened Physical Health:

The results of this study that examined whether gratitude predicts physical health revealed that participants who practiced gratitude were healthier. The authors discovered that gratitude improved participants’ mental health, healthy activity participation, and willingness to obtain medical attention for health concerns. Another study had participants write a daily list of things that they were thankful for. At the end of the study, the participants practicing gratitude reported less physical affliction. Authors of this groundbreaking study investigated the impact gratitude had on the physical and mental health of breast cancer patients. Their data demonstrated that gratitude was “strongly” related to less cancer re-growth, less distress, and more positive emotions. Additionally, the authors of this article published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology report that gratitude can strengthen the immune system.

3 – Better Sleep:

This scientific study focused on the impact of gratitude on both mental and physical health in 186 heart-failure patients. Researchers discovered that gratitude connected positively with better sleep. Additionally, the study’s data determined that gratitude “fully mediated” the correlation between well-being and sleep quality. In this review of gratitude and health research, the authors report and analyze the findings of much gratitude and health research. One study found that participants who wrote in a gratitude journal for two weeks had “significantly greater sleep quality.” Another study found that gratitude “predicted better sleep quality and duration.”

4 – More Resilience:

Self-efficacy is “the optimistic self-belief that one can perform novel or difficult tasks and attain desired outcomes.” Authors of this peer-reviewed article state that self-efficacy is a “component of resilience,” and resilience is “closely related to self-efficacy.” The results of this study revealed that having more gratitude is related to having more self-efficacy. Another study examining “the role of gratitude in breast cancer patients” found gratitude to be a “common ingredient” of resilience.

5 – Stronger Relationships:

This study is one among many that have examined the role of gratitude in relationships. Results revealed that “gratitude is important for forming and maintaining the most important relationships of our lives.” Similar results indicated in several other scientific studies investigating the impact of gratitude on relationships.

6 – Greater Life Satisfaction:

This study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being examined the outcomes of individuals who participated in a gratitude intervention. Results revealed that after partaking in the 4-week gratitude contemplation, intervention participants reported higher life satisfaction. Based on their findings, the authors of the study concluded that “grateful contemplation can be used to enhance long-term well-being.”

7 – Less Aggression and Improved Patience:

This review of research reports the results of several studies examining the impact of gratitude on aggression and patience. Authors reveal that “feeling grateful seemed to protect against hurt feelings and aggressive reactions.” The research surrounding this topic has shown that individuals who practice gratitude are less likely to be easily provoked. Results demonstrate that people who practice gratitude have higher levels of empathy for others, suggesting they also have more patience.

8 – Better Self-Care Practices:

This chapter from the “Handbook of Positive Psychology” discusses many scientific study results from the leading experts in gratitude research. In one study examining the relationship between gratitude and health, “participants in the gratitude condition spent significantly more time exercising.” Another scientific study revealed that individuals who wrote in a gratitude journal ate 25 percent less fat in their diet.

9 – Can Aid in Addiction Prevention and Recovery:

The leading gratitude researchers that authored this peer-reviewed article report that “gratitude reduces lifetime risk for substance abuse disorders.” Another study evaluated the impact of a web-based gratitude intervention on a randomized sample of individuals receiving treatment for alcoholism. Results revealed that the gratitude intervention increased positive emotions, decreased negative emotions, and “was beneficial in reinforcing recovery” from alcoholism. The author of this dissertation, written for the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, also reported positive findings in this area. Her research revealed that “a grateful disposition has emotional and psychological benefits for individuals in recovery from substance addiction.”

10 – Decreased Bodily Inflammation:

This scientific study analyzed the relationship between gratitude and measures of physical health well-being. The authors of the study focused on how gratitude correlates to measures of fatigue, sleep, mood, inflammation, and cardiac health. Results revealed that patients who expressed more gratitude also had less inflammation.

11 – Reduced Pain:

Authors of this gratitude and health review that appeared in The Journal of Psychology discuss major findings within this field. Including the findings of a pain-induction study in which pain perception was less intense in participants who felt more gratitude.

12 – Lower Blood Pressure:

Both stress and anxiety can elevate a person’s blood pressure. Authors of this study concerning whether gratitude predicts physical health, report that people who express more gratitude have less stress and anxiety. Suggesting that practicing gratitude could lower a person’s blood pressure by decreasing their stress and anxiety. Additionally, the authors of this peer-reviewed article report that gratitude “can lower blood pressure.” And in this review of research, the authors report that high levels of trait gratitude are associated with lower levels of anxiety. The same authors also cite a longitudinal study that reported lower levels of stress in individuals who participated in a gratitude intervention.

10 STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TODAY TO CULTIVATE GRATITUDE

A plethora of scientific research has shown that gratitude and thankfulness can multiply in a variety of ways. You can help yourself to develop more gratitude by adopting any or all of the following practices:

1) Meditate.

2) Thank people often.

3) Write in a gratitude journal.

4) Pay attention to the things you say.

5) Be thankful for people, not things.

6) Practice spirituality and prayers of gratitude.

7) Remember the bad and look for the good in the bad.

8) Think creatively and outside of the box about things.

9) Think positively. Notice, and be thankful for the small things.

10) Do kind things for others and volunteer for meaningful causes.

To learn more about the specific actions that you can take to cultivate gratitude, see the following resource:

Final Thoughts on Growing a More Grateful Heart

In conclusion, developing and practicing gratitude seems to have a variety of health and healing benefits. Appreciation also appears to have the potential to assist in treating quite a few mental and physical health conditions and disorders.

This article proves that a multitude of scientific researchers determined the modalities and efficacy of gratitude interventions for a variety of medical and mental health conditions and disorders. There is much solid research that supports the many beneficial impacts that gratitude may have on one’s psychological and physical health. But being the relatively new area of study that it is, further research continues to provide additional support and evidence for some of the potential uses of gratitude interventions.

Nevertheless, there is no denying that practicing gratitude is beneficial for everyone. Much like any other skill, gratitude is something that needs to be practiced and purposefully developed in everyday life. You can achieve this by incorporating any of the many gratitude-enhancing practices described in this article into your daily routine.

Cultivating gratitude doesn’t have to be overwhelming or time-consuming; you can start slowly and gradually increase your abilities. The power of positivity, recognition, and thankfulness are truly magical and life-changing things! Most importantly, you deserve to love a longer, healthier, and happier life!

You stand to gain a lot from practicing gratitude and nothing to lose. So, why not become a more grateful you today?

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