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Researchers Reveal Potential Ovarian Cancer Treatment with Frankincense Essential Oil

July 22, 2019 by Power of Positivity

HISTORY OF ESSENTIAL OILS

Dating back to 3500 B.C., essential oils have long-since been utilized by many cultures around the world for their purported healing properties. These aromatic plants supposedly have whole-body benefits. They aid in the optimization of everything from digestion to muscle recovery. Most holistic treatments have virtually no merit in the world of allopathic medicine. However, one particular resin, frankincense, might bridge the gap after outperforming chemotherapy at killing ovarian cancer cells. (1.)

Over five millennia ago, ancient Egyptians first harnessed the power of essential oils. They cultivated and harvested specific crops before extracting their essences for cosmetic, healing, and mummification processes.

Ancient times

China and India, the latter of which constructed an entire system of health, known as Ayurveda, wholly believed in the intrinsic healing abilities of plants. They also began their investigation into essential oils such as frankincense.

Greeks and Romans jumped on the bandwagon as well. They adopted such practices as massage and aromatic baths to expedite healing, inside and out.

Hippocrates, one of the earliest and most well-known holistic physicians, routinely prescribed essential oils to his patients for various ailments.

Modern medicine is just now beginning to understand two of his famous quotes.

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” –Hippocrates

“All disease begins in the gut,” –Hippocrates

Each of these sayings speaks to the impressive amount of wisdom harbored by ancient healers.

The Renaissance

Homeopathic medicine faded away until the Renaissance period when it saw a rapid resurgence. Paracelsus (1493-1541), a Swiss physician, alchemist, and astrologer, used plant resins to supposedly cure diseases. He treated ailments like leprosy, previously considered a lifelong condition.

Military use of essential oils in WWI

Later on, in the early 1900s, French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse sustained severe epidermal burns as a result of a failed laboratory experiment that left his hands covered in gangrene. Upon applying lavender oil to the wounds, he experienced rapid, unprecedented healing beginning the following day.

Gattefosse had not been a proponent of homeopathic medicine before the accident. However, his incredible discovery opened a door that would forever remain ajar.

He took his newfound knowledge to the battlefield and treated soldiers in military hospitals during World War I. This generation coined the term “aromatherapy.” That word now implies “inhalation or bodily application (as by massage) of fragrant essential oils (as from flowers and fruits) for therapeutic purposes.” Several other medical doctors subsequently began utilizing essential oils in the context of war.

Modern-day medicine begins to acknowledge essential oils

Fast-forward about half a century to the 1980s, when French doctor Daniel Pénoël and biochemist Pierre Franchomme experimented with more than 270 different essential oils. The pair was able to determine their precise healing effects and its potential usefulness in clinical settings. They published their book, L’aromatherapie Exactement in 1990. It was long regarded as the gold standard of information on essential oils for many years thereafter.

Natural medicine is a phenomenon ever-increasing in popularity. However, recent findings suggest it to be much more than a passing trend. Essential oils are proven to support the function of nearly every bodily system, including digestion, circulation, sleep…and even repair on a cellular level. According to the National Library of Medicine, compounds found in frankincense oil have potent anti-cancer properties.

INFORMATION ABOUT OVARIAN CANCER

Cancer stems from the mutation of a cell’s DNA. This error communicates to the cell that it needs to multiply rapidly, which creates a mass of abnormal cells – otherwise known as a tumor. Whereas a healthy cell would eventually die, cancerous cells continue living and can break off from the tumor to metastasize or invade other organs. Ovarian cancer is one of the disease’s most sinister types because it is challenging to detect in its early stages. By the time a woman begins experiencing symptoms, such as:

Abdominal bloating or distension
Rapid onset feeling of fullness while eating
Weight loss
Pelvic discomfort
Changes in bowel habits
Frequent urinary urgency, (2.)

Cancer has often already spread into the pelvis and abdomen. Even more unnerving is how ambiguous and nonspecific the symptoms mentioned above are. So despite having several or possibly all of them, an afflicted woman may not express any concern to her doctor.

Three varieties of ovarian cancer

As far as what precisely causes ovarian cancer, it all comes down to which type a woman has. The three known varieties are:

Epithelial tumors: these initially occur in the thin layer of tissue lining the ovaries and are responsible for approximately 90 percent of ovarian cancer cases
Stromal tumors: begin in the ovarian tissue containing cells that produce hormones. These account for about 7 percent of cases and are typically diagnosed at an earlier stage than epithelial tumors.
Germ cell tumors: By far, the rarest type of ovarian cancer. These tumors begin in egg-producing cells and tend to occur in younger women.

Risk factors for developing ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer may often be a silent killer, but it usually isn’t random. Several risk factors increase a woman’s likelihood to develop the disease, including:

Age. Ovarian cancer is most common in women between 50 and 60 years old, although it can occur at any age.
Genetics. Although rare, a woman can inherit the gene mutations that cause ovarian cancer. These genes are the breast cancer genes 1 and 2, or BRCA1 and BRCA2. And, as the name would suggest, they also increase the risk of breast cancer. Several other unrelated gene mutations, such as in cases of Lynch syndrome, also make a woman more susceptible to developing ovarian cancer.
Family history. Women with two or more relatives who have or had the disease are at a higher risk of also developing it.
Estrogen hormone-replacement therapy. Especially when used long-term and at high doses, estrogen HRT is connected to the onset of ovarian cancer.
Age when female entered puberty. Women who began menstruating at an early age and/or entered menopause later than average have a higher likelihood of developing ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is an extremely complex disease with many different causes, prognoses, and risk factors. Therefore, it would only make sense that treatment isn’t a one-size-fits-all ordeal. Of course, surgery and chemotherapy are beneficial and should be respected and utilized when necessary. However, emerging research is pointing towards another treatment modality that would bring the art of healing full circle back to the ancient wisdom of those who came before us.

HOW FRANKINCENSE KILLS OVARIAN CANCER CELLS

Frankincense, derived from the Boswellia plant, possesses antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatism, and anti-cancer properties. Consistent with these findings, a 2017 study concluded that frankincense, pine needle, and geranium essential oils “suppressed cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion in human BC MCF-7 cells.” These are breast cancer cells, which, as previously discussed, are also involved in the development of ovarian cancer. The three oils also demonstrated an ability to induce apoptosis, the process by which a cell dies. Considering cancer cells do not follow a typical life cycle, this discovery is incredibly significant. (3.)

Also notable is the fact that, when replicated in rodents, frankincense oil also induced apoptosis while additionally stalling tumor growth. All three of the oils mentioned earlier help to regulate the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. This is the body’s master regulator of cellular energy homeostasis. It is therapeutic in treating diseases such as type II diabetes, obesity, and cancer. (4.)

The healing compound in frankincense

The healing compound specific to frankincense oil is AKBA or acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid. This amalgam is where most of the plant’s benefits are found, including its anti-cancer property. According to Kamla Al-Salmani, who is a Ph.D. student from the University’s Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, “After a year of studying the AKBA compound with ovarian cancer cell lines in vitro, we have been able to show it is effective at killing the cancer cells. Many people take frankincense with no known side effects. This finding has enormous potential into a clinical trial in the future and developed into an additional treatment for ovarian cancer.” (5.)

One of the experiment’s most novel findings was that the cancer cells responding positively to the frankincense treatment were resistant to chemotherapy. This promising discovery offers a potential solution to drug resistance, which is an ever-growing epidemic concerning not only cancer but many other diseases as well. Implementing frankincense oil in the treatment of late-stage ovarian cancer could improve the shockingly low current survival rate of 47%. (6.)

FINAL THOUGHTS ON FRANKINCENSE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CHEMOTHERAPY

IN THE TREATMENT OF OVARIAN CANCER

Essential oils, including frankincense, have been used for thousands of years because of their innate healing properties. These aromatic plants contain powerful resins that can aid in the treatment of sore muscles, headaches, and even ovarian cancer.

Recent laboratory findings have shown that a compound called AKBA found in frankincense oil can kill late-stage ovarian cancer cells that are resistant to chemotherapy. This offers hope to not only those currently afflicted by the often-terminal illness but also the world of oncology as a whole. We consider holistic and allopathic medicine polar opposites. However, findings like this could bridge the gap between the two schools of thought in a beautiful way the world has never seen before.

This Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe May Be The Best Ever (And 1 Million People Agree)

July 21, 2019 by Power of Positivity

There’s nothing like a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup to warm the soul on a cold winter night. Not to mention, chicken noodle soup can benefit your body as well!

Homemade versions of this soup contain lots of vitamins and minerals from the various vegetables and broth in the dish, and if you have a cold, chicken noodle soup can boost your immune system. In addition to the health benefits and warmth that this dish provides, it also doesn’t take a lot of effort to prepare.

Of course, picking up a can of soup from the store is by far the easiest option, but canned soups usually have a mountain of salt and other unhealthy preservatives in them. You’ll feel better knowing you made this dish yourself since you can control what you put in the dish.

This “Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup” recipe on the site Taste of Home got over 1 million views, which shows how many people enjoyed this recipe. It’s the third most viewed recipe on the site, so you know it’s good.

What makes this chicken soup recipe so special, you ask? Well, the bone-in chicken thighs cooked in canola oil add rich flavor to the broth, and the garlic, onions, carrots, and celery add texture and antioxidants. The recipe calls for cooking the thighs in the broth until they’re juicy and tender, which ensures maximum flavor as well.

Prepping this recipe only takes 15 minutes, and cooking time is 45 minutes (plus cooling time). The recipe makes ten servings (3 1/2 quarts). We’ll go over the steps for making this delicious chicken noodle soup below!

Chicken noodle soup recipe:

Ingredients

2-1/2 pounds bone-in chicken thighs
1-1/4 teaspoons pepper, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon canola oil
10 cups chicken broth
1 large onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
4 celery ribs, chopped
4 medium carrots, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
3 cups (about 8 ounces) of egg noodles
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

1. First, pat the chicken dry with paper towels, then sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of pepper and salt. In a 6-qt. stockpot, heat the canola oil on medium-high. Add the chicken slowly with the skin down, and cook for about 3-4 minutes. Take the chicken out of the pan and remove the skin. Save two tablespoons of the drippings and throw out the rest (or save for another dish!)

2. Add onion to drippings, cooking and stirring it for 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Then, add the broth and bring it to a boil. Put the chicken back in the pan and add celery, carrots, bay leaves, and thyme. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cover the pot to let the chicken cook until tender, or about 25-30 minutes.

3. Put the chicken on a separate plate and remove the soup from the heat. Add the noodles and let stand, covered, for 20-22 minutes.

4. When the chicken has cooled, take out the bones and discard them. Shred the meat and return it to the stockpot. Stir in parsley and lemon juice. Remove the bay leaves and adjust the salt and pepper as necessary.

Remember to save the veggie scraps and chicken bones so you can make broth for another soup!

Nutrition Facts:

1-1/3 cups: 239 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 68mg cholesterol, 1176mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 18g protein

If you make this recipe, let us know how you enjoyed your homemade chicken noodle soup in the comments below!

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

12 Super Healthy And Delicious Cucumber Salad Recipes

July 20, 2019 by Power of Positivity

There is nothing better than cucumber to remind you of the sunny days of summer. If you need a passing dish for a barbeque or dinner, or if you are just wanting to try a new side dish, a cucumber dish is a way to go. Therefore, cucumber salad recipes have increased in popularity. And, there is a wide variety of them online.

Because cucumber is delicious, crunchy, and healthy, it pairs well with many other foods. Also, it is so versatile and well-liked that cucumbers have become a popular highlight of a salad. This means it has replaced quickly begun to replace the typical lettuce-based salad recipes of the past.

With a high water content and nutritional value, cucumber offers many health benefits while tasting delicious. Additionally, it is easy to make cucumber the star of a dish. Of course, there are so many options for what to mix in with your cucumber salad recipes.

12 Cucumber Salad Recipes

cucumber

Cucumber and Onion Salad

Ingredients

2 medium cucumbers
2 tablespoons fresh dill
1/2 medium red onion
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons avocado oil
2 tablespoons raw honey
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

1. Thinly slice the cucumbers and onion.
2. Chop the fresh dill.
3. Combine the dill, apple cider vinegar, avocado oil, honey, and salt.
4. Mix them together until the vinegar, oil, and honey have completely coated the dill.
5. Add the cucumber and onion, and mix until the vegetables are coated.
6. Refrigerate the salad for 30 minutes to 1 hour to allow the flavors to come together.
7. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Gaby’s Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 small or medium garlic cloves
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 avocado
2 medium cucumbers (approximately 12 ounces)

Instructions

1. Thinly slice the cucumbers.
2. Mince the garlic cloves.
3. Slice or dice the avocado.
4. Mix together in a bowl the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and the garlic.
5. Add salt and pepper to taste.
6. Put the avocado and cucumbers into the bowl and toss until combined.
7. Serve immediately after mixing.

Cucumber and Tomato Salad

Ingredients

2 medium cucumbers
1 pound cherry tomatoes
¼ cup red onion
¼ cup fresh dill
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
½ teaspoon salt
black pepper (to taste)
vinegar (to taste)

Instructions

1. Thinly slice cucumbers and onion.
2. Chop cherry tomatoes and fresh dill.
3. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.
4. Serve immediately.

Thai Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

Half cup unseasoned rice vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 medium cucumber (about 12 ounces or 2.5 cups)
½ small, red onion
1 Thai chili
¼ cup roasted, unsalted peanuts
½ cup cilantro

Instructions

1. Thinly chop the cucumber, onion, and Thai chili.
2. Chop peanuts and cilantro.
3. Mix the vinegar, sugar, and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat to medium.
5. Cook until the consistency is similar to syrup (approximately five minutes).
6. Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl.
7. Let the mixture cool completely.
8. In addition, stir the cucumber, onion, and Thai chili into the bowl and toss until the mixture and the vegetables are combined completely.
9. Let sit together while the cucumbers soak up the liquid (approximately five minutes)
10. Toss salad again and refrigerate.
11. Just before serving, add the peanuts and cilantro to the top, but do not mix.

Basil Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

4 medium cucumbers
¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
1 teaspoon each of salt and mustard
1 tablespoon milk
½ teaspoon each of pepper and garlic powder
½ cup fresh basil

Instructions

1. Thinly slice the cucumbers.
2. Mince the basil.
3. Mix together in a small bowl the mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, milk, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
4. Put the cucumbers into a larger bowl, and then pour the dressing mixture over top.
5. Gently stir in the basil until it has evenly coated the cucumbers.
6. Refrigerate until the salad is ready to be served.

Cucumber and Feta Cheese Salad

Ingredients

1 large cucumber
½ medium red onion
1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled
4 tablespoons Italian salad dressing

Instructions

1. Peel and seed the cucumber.
2. Chop the cucumber and onion into bite-sized pieces, then place them in a bowl.
3. Sprinkle feta cheese over the cucumbers and onion.
4. Add Italian salad dressing.

Japanese Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

2 medium cucumbers
1 tablespoon dried wakame seaweed
4 crab meat
White sesame seeds (to taste)
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
½ tablespoon soy sauce
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons dashi

Instructions

1. Peel alternating strips that are 1/2-inch wide down the length of the cucumbers, but leave some of the skin intact. This offers an extra bit of crunch to the cucumber salad.
2. Cut the cucumbers into thin slices.

Make cucumber slices very thin.

3. Sprinkle salt over the cucumber slices and rub in using your hands.
4. Let the salt sit on the cucumbers for about 5 minutes and then wash it off in cold water.
5. Squeeze the cucumber slices to remove excess water.
6. In a separate, small bowl, soak the wakame in water for about 10 minutes.
7. Squeeze the water out of the wakame at the end of the 10 minutes.
8. Cut the crab into pieces, and then shred it up.
9. Combine the remaining ingredients in a small saucepan and mix well.
10. Heat those ingredients until the sugar has dissolved.
11. Remove this mixture from the heat and set it aside to cool.
12. Combine the cucumber, wakame, and crab in a large bowl.
13. Pour the dressing mixture over the ingredients in the large bowl and mix it together.
14. Sprinkle sesame seeds over the top.
15. Serve this salad at room temperature or chilled.

Cucumber and Sour Cream Salad

Ingredients

Two medium cucumbers
2 tablespoons onion
2 tablespoons sour cream
salt and pepper (to taste)

Instructions

1. Peel the cucumber and chop into small pieces.
2. Dice the onion.
3. Add the cucumber and onion to a bowl.
4. Add the sour cream.
5. Mix together, and taste.
6. Add salt and pepper as you see suitable.
7. Chill for 20 minutes in the refrigerator.

Easy Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

1 large cucumber
4 tablespoons sour cream
1 tablespoon white vinegar
Divided in half one teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon fresh dill
1 teaspoon fresh chives

Instructions

1. Chop the fresh dill.
2. Mince the chives.
3. Thinly slice the cucumber.
4. Place the cucumber in a bowl and sprinkle half the salt and half the pepper over the top.
5. Leave the cucumbers and seasonings together for 20 minutes.
6. In a separate bowl, mix the sour cream, vinegar, the remaining salt and pepper, the dill, and the chives together.
7. Stir the dressing mixture into the cucumbers.
8. Chill the salad in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.

Zippy Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

2 large cucumbers
1 large onion
2 teaspoons salt
1 large jalapeno pepper
¼ cup carrots
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1 teaspoon ground ginger
5 teaspoons white sugar
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. Peel half of the skin of the cucumbers.
2. Thinly slice the cucumbers and onion.
2. Remove the seeds and mince the jalapeno pepper.
3. Mince the carrots.
4. In a medium-sized bowl, place the cucumber, onion, and salt with water.
5. Place this mixture in the refrigerator and let it sit together, covered, for about 30 minutes.
6. Drain the water from the mixture.
7. Place the mixture into a large bowl and add the jalapeno and carrot.
8. In a small bowl, mix the rice vinegar, ginger, sugar, and pepper together and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
9. Pour the liquid mixture over top of the cucumber mixture and stir until it is evenly combined.
10. Cover the cucumber salad and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.

Cold Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

2 large cucumbers
1 teaspoon each of salt and white vinegar
½ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
1 tablespoon fresh dill
Pepper

Avoid these unhealthy salad ingredients.

Instructions

1. Peel and slice the cucumbers into thin slices.
2. Place the cucumbers in a bowl.
3. Sprinkle the salt and vinegar over the top of the cucumbers.
4. Let stand for 30 minutes, covered.
5. Drain the extra liquid from the cucumbers by placing it in a colander for 30 minutes over the sink.
6. Add the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
7. Chill in the refrigerator before serving.

Mexican Cucumber Salad

Ingredients

1 medium cucumber
1 can sweet corn, drained
2 large tomatoes
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon dried, crushed chilis
1 clove garlic
½ teaspoon cumin
¼ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Fresh, chopped coriander to taste

Instructions
1. Chop the cucumber, tomatoes, green pepper, and red pepper into bite-sized pieces.
2. Mince the garlic clove.
3. Mix together the cucumber, sweetcorn, tomatoes, peppers, and vinegar.
4. Season with the rest of the ingredients.
5. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Final Thoughts on Super Healthy and Delicious Cucumber Salad Recipes

As you see, cucumber salad recipes are fun and delicious for a spring or summer dish. They are generally easy to make and take minimal time. Because of the wide variety of salad recipes available, you are sure to find at least one that you love.

Perhaps the most fun thing about cucumber salad recipes is learning the different ways that other cultures prepare the salad. You can make a different cucumber salad for each event this summer, and impress everyone you know.

15 Incredibly Useful Personal Finance Tips to Help You Save Money

July 20, 2019 by Power of Positivity

It goes without saying: We’re all trying to save money. And these personal finance tips can help.

This is more important than ever: A 2018 survey showed that 40% of Americans could not cover a $400 emergency expense.

This means that we all need to do a better job of saving money, even if we can’t afford to hire the best financial experts. Here are 15 personal finance tips to help you cut your expenses and put more money in your wallet.

Personal Finance Tips to Help You Save Money

Establish a budget

This is the most basic of all personal finance tips: Establish a budget. Judge your income and expenses, and track the results during the month. The first few months may be tough, and you’ll probably be shifting money around. However, you can’t save money if you don’t know how much you have, or how much you are spending.

Thankfully, you don’t need insanely expensive software to make this work. An excel sheet will do just fine. Conversely, there are plenty of free websites you can use, including Mint, or You Need A Budget.

Audit your expenses

This is one of the personal finance tips that’s often overlooked! A budget won’t do you any good if you aren’t looking at the data it reveals. Once you have a budget done for a few months, check out the results. Where can you save money? Are there things you find yourself purchasing that you don’t need? What can you cut out? Do a full audit of your own expenses, and see where you can save.

Buy gift cards online

Of all the personal finance tips we have to offer, this is one of the more creative ones. Do you make purchases at major chain stores? If so, check out Gift Card Wiki, an amazing website which aggregates other websites that allow you to purchase discount gift cards at a discount.

So, let’s say you go to Target regularly. During certain promotions, you can purchase a Target gift card for as much as a 15% discount! And, if you leverage that purchase with a credit card which gives you points on your purchases (more on that below), you can make even more money.

Do this enough, and you can save major bucks.

Save automatically

Saving isn’t supposed to be about saving what’s left at the end of the month – that means you’ll never get to put anything away! Instead, set up your bank account so that you save at the beginning of every month, and make the transfer automatic. This way, you’re guaranteed to put away money with every paycheck, ensuring that you save what you need.

Set a “24 hour rule” for expensive purchases

We’ve all been there – You see that television set, and think: Yes, you really want that! It will look so good in your room, and you can finally play all the video games you want! I mean, yeah, it’s a little expensive, but it’s on a special clearance sale!

Here’s one of those personal finance tips which involve restraint: Wait. Don’t make any major purchases until you think about it for at least 24 hours. This will give you time to answer a few important questions:

Do you really need that item?
Can you afford it? What does your budget say?
Can you get it less expensive somewhere else? Is it available in another store, purchasable with a discount card, or cheaper online?

Don’t make impulse buys on major purchases. Take a breath, wait a day, and see if you still want or need it in the morning.

Take advantage of credit card point programs

So many people leave money on the table. Have you checked out credit card reward point programs? Depending on the card, you can get anywhere from .5% – 5% of your purchase back, and use that money to pay down your credit card, earn gift cards or miles on travel purchases. Even better, many of these cards are available without any additional fee, or the fee is waived in the first year. This means that it may cost you nothing to save money!

Cut down on eating out

Eating out is a huge expense. It sounds cliche, but it’s true: If you’re buying a $4 coffee every day, you’re costing yourself $1,460 a year – enough to save towards a down payment of a house, reduce your debt or make a dent in your college loans. Thankfully, with proper planning (see the next item) and a little bit of restraint, you can help cut down on this cost. If you find that eating out or going to the bar is a big part of your social life, try having pot-luck dinners instead. As with most personal finance tips, sacrifice is a must.

Plan your meals in advance

Have a set time every night to plan out what you are having for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and to the extent that you can, cook the meal or get all the prep done. This will make it easier for you the next day, and will prevent you from waking up in the morning and saying, “Gah, I’m too busy, I’ll just grab a coffee on the road!”

Figure out how to save on your energy usage

This can take two forms. First, if your state allows it, see if you can purchase power from a cheaper generation service. This may allow you to buy money from a less expensive source.

Second, check your house, and give yourself an energy audit. Common ways to save money here include:

Turn off unnecessary lights and use more natural lights.
Turning off the water and fixing a leaky faucet.
Unplugging unused appliances.
Purchase lower wattage light bulbs and more energy-efficient appliances.

Consolidate your debt

Debt consolidation can lower your monthly payment, reduce your interest rates and make it easy so you only have one monthly payment. You may pay more over the length of a loan, but this can help you free up cash that you can use for other purposes – including paying down your debt quicker.

Remember that some loans cannot be consolidated, and others may already have low interest rates. It’s essential that you review your options to get a better handle on your debt and consolidation possibilities just by implementing our personal finance tips.

Comparison shop for major purchases

Never make a major purchase – totaling hundreds or thousands of dollars – without checking out other options first. In a digital age, there are no shortage of options to check out how to save money on big purchases. Examples include:

PriceGrabber, which lists a slew of products and possible purchase options.
Google Shopping, which, of course, hooks in the impressive power of Google.
RedLaser, which has an easy to use smartphone app which allows you to scan a bar code and get a price comparison.

This is one of the more basic personal finance tips, but it also comes back to the general principles: Take your time, don’t impulse buy, think about your purchases, and do your homework first.

Let someone else negotiate your bills

If you aren’t sure how to negotiate major purchases (like your utilities or gym membership), fear not: There are major services like Trim and BillCutterz which will do it for you! All you have to do is list what you pay and to whom you pay it and turn it over to these companies. They will negotiate lower rates for you and get paid by charging you for a portion of the savings – usually around 30-40%. This means that you will save a ton of money and someone else will do all the work!

Create a grocery spreadsheet

Have you ever tracked how much your regular purchases cost at different grocery stores? You’d be surprised how much the purchase price varies from store to store. To that end, grab your receipts and create a spreadsheet that allows you to analyze and compare your purchases.

Of the personal finance tips we’re offering here, this one is more labor-intensive. But, it can save you a pretty penny – maybe as much as 5%.

Inflate your tires and save fuel

Here’s one of those smaller personal finance tips that can make a big difference: Ensure your tires are properly inflated. Did you know that under-inflated tires can cost you big money? It’s true. Properly inflated tires can save you 3-4% on fuel costs, and given the gas price, that’s real money! Additionally, under-inflated tires increase stopping distances, hurt your steering control and increase the risk of a tire blowout. This can all cost you big money on repairs, which says nothing about the safety hazards!

There are dozens of more personal finance tips that you can use to boost your income and save your hard-earned dollars. By and large, it all comes down to common sense and discipline. Think before you spend, don’t buy what you don’t need and engage in some preventative maintenance and planning. Those cents turn into dollars, and those dollars turn into more. Use these tips and more and you will be a long way towards reaching your financial goals.

20 Long Distance Relationship Quotes To Help Close the Distance

July 20, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Long distance relationships certainly get a bad reputation for driving people apart, but this doesn’t have to be true. True love can survive anything if both partners are willing to work for their relationship. Let these relationship quotes serve as your beacon.

Relationship Quotes for Long-Distance Couples

One of the best ways to keep your relationship going strong, regardless of where you are in the world, is to use relationship quotes to remind yourselves of the love you have for one another. The best relationship quotes make it easy to see that love can last any amount of distance.

Read on for the following 20 best relationship quotes that will inspire you to keep going:

1. “Her absence means more to me than the very presence of others’.” — Edward Thomas

Being without your loved one can be particularly difficult to deal with, but there’s a silver lining to missing someone: missing them is a reminder of all the amazing feelings you have when you’re with them. Thus, this absence at the moment means more than another’s presence does.

2. “Let their presence, strengthen your love, let their absence sharpen it.” — Richard Bach

The distance between two lovers can often be incredibly overwhelming. However, absence needn’t be destructive. Let your time apart sharpen your love for one another through phone calls, video chatting, and letters.

When you’re both together again, you’ll feel your love that much more.

3. “The world’s most beautiful things can’t be touched or seen; we must feel them with our hearts.” –Helen Keller

Helen Keller’s beautiful words remind us that wherever on earth our loved ones might be, we can still experience the beauty of their presence and our love for them by digging deep inside our hearts. This is especially true in long-distance relationships; whether your partner is near or far, carrying them in your heart will keep the love ever-present until you can see each other again.

4. “In regards to love, the absence is just like the wind is with fire. Though the wind may extinguish the smallest flames, the greater the fire, the more the air will kindle it.” — Roger de Bussy

Many partners wonder if their long-distance relationships will go the distance. While the miles in between two lovers can spell trouble for some relationships, if both of you truly believe in building your love, any absence or distance will only strengthen your love.

5. “Love is missing your lover when you’re apart, yet feeling warm within because you know you are close in heart.” — Kay Knudsen

The beautiful thing about love is that it surpasses time zones, miles, and years. When two people are meant to be together, no amount of distance can tear them apart. As long as both partners work to feel close through communication and intimacy, it doesn’t matter how far apart they may be.

6. “Though the distance might be far and wide, love can surpass it all. The space between lovers is greater than any distance that threatens to keep them apart.” — Linda Roy

The distance itself won’t be the thing that ruins a relationship. All partners should understand that the love that exists between the two of them should be strong enough to bridge any gap of time or distance.

7. “The truest loves show that while small distances can at times feel insurmountable, the greatest distances can easily be bridged. ” — Hands Nouwens

In love, it can be difficult to just be apart from a partner for a few hours in the day. However, lovers that are committed to one another go above and beyond as they invent new ways to make sure their love goes on regardless of how many miles are between them.

8. “With distance, the heart grows fonder. ” — Thomas Haynes Bayly

Popular relationship quotes like this will always ring true, no matter how far your true love may be. Essentially, the trials that distance puts two partners through will transform their relationship, forcing it to grow stronger until they can be together again.

While this doesn’t mean that couples need to be far apart to learn how to love each other, it is this distance that makes them more cognizant of how they truly feel for each other.

9. “As you listen carefully to the wind, you’ll hear me whispering that I love you.” — Andrew Davidson

Whether your lover is a city away or in another country, being in a long distance relationship can often feel like you both are on two separate worlds. If you start to feel this way, take a break to remind yourself that you both are closer than you think.

The beautiful thing about any relationship, wherever you may be, is that you both see the same stars, moon, and sun from wherever you are. While you may not be next to each other physically, you still get to experience the same wonder of the world that will remind you and your partner of how you feel life in the same way.

10. “People can feel closer than ever, even if they are far away. These loved ones walk with us and stay near every moment of our lives. ”– Senora Roy

If you love someone that is far away, it can be tempting to question if the love you both share is genuine. However, this distance doesn’t need to separate you two.

By investing in intimacy and reminding one another of how you both feel for each other, you will both feel closer than ever before, no matter where on earth you are.

11. “Though parting can be painful, this feeling can never compare to the joy between two lovers meeting again.” — Charles Dickens

Though saying goodbye can be particularly heart wrenching, keep in mind that you will see one another again.

While your long-distance situation is separating you for the moment when you both reunite again, the intense feelings of seeing one another again will be like a wave washing over any feelings of pain or sadness.

12. “Lovers have the same desire: to be close forever. However, the true test of real love is being far apart and managing to still love one another in the same way as both did when they were close.”– Senora Ray

All relationships are hard, but relationships that are long-distance are even more of a challenge. While it’s easy to feel close when physically near to your partner, choosing to pursue a relationship despite the distance will truly test the authenticity of your love for one another.

13. “We don’t say goodbyes. Wherever you may be, you’ll be in my heart always.” – Gandi-

Gandhi knows how to make love last. Relationship quotes like this show us that while many lovers do say goodbye to one another, there is something that seems so final in “goodbye”. Instead of giving into this finality, walk away from each other knowing that you will keep the love you both share in your heart until you both are reunited.

14. “Love travels as far as anyone will let it. Love has no limits” — Dee King

Relationship quotes like this one remind us that love is limitless, boundless, and endless. If we truly wish for love to last, it will, no matter how far two people may be from one another.

15. “Love is truly immeasurable and powerful. True love will endure any set of circumstances and will reach across any length of distance.” — Steve Maraboli

Do you believe in the power of your love? If both you and your partner are committed to pursuing each other, no amount of distance will be able to change that.

The best relationship quotes encourage us to let love be as powerful as possible and keep choosing our partners every day.

16. “Though love may be strong, its depths are truly tested upon separation. ”– Khalil Gibran

While it’s easy to feel the pangs of separation, are you still able to feel your love when apart from one another?

With your partner nearby, it’s easy to feel as though you have found your true love, yet separation is the thing that will truly test how deeply you feel for each other.

17. “We were apart, yet we were still together.” — Shannon A. Thompson

Long-distance relationships will only survive if both partners make the effort to be with one another. Though they can’t physically be next to each other, couples can spend time with each other by scheduling dates for phone calls, connecting through social media, and using any other communication tools that will bring them closer to each other.

18. “Long-distance isn’t easy, but if you’ve found someone worth the pain, hardships, and sacrifices, your efforts will always be worth it.” — Anna Agoncillo

The best relationship quotes show us that in true love, any sacrifices that are made will be worth all the effort. These hardships will be painful to experience at the moment, but in the end, your love will win.

19. “Sometimes two people must be apart. Sometimes this separation makes them love each other more.” — Nicolas Sparks

Distance shows us we should never take one another for granted. By being apart from them, we see how much they truly mean to us.

20. “Choose to be the couple that makes long distance work.” — Dee King

If you’ve ever heard that long-distance relationships don’t work, don’t buy into this lie. Choose to be the two partners that make their love last.

Final Thoughts on Relationship Quotes

All relationships require open communication, commitment, and dedication. This is even truer in a long-distance relationship. While these LDR’s can be particularly complicated, they can and do work.

The best relationship quotes show us the beauty of true love, regardless of how far one may be. If you find yourself far apart from your lover, take heart: though you both may be away from one another in the moment, remind yourself of the love you both share. If your hearts are closer than ever, no amount of distance can separate the two of you.

Vegan Food List: 15 Vegan Foods That Are Good For The Waistline

July 20, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Going vegan? While filling your diet with all or most vegan foods will lead to a healthier lifestyle overall, many people that go vegan also happily realize another benefit of veganism: weight loss.

As you fill your diet with beans or snack on nuts, chia seeds, and other popular vegan foods, you’ll find that going vegan will completely transform you–both on the inside and out.

Vegan Foods List for a Smaller Waist

Whether you’re hoping to slim down or you’re just curious as to what a vegan foods list for weight loss includes, read on for 15 great suggestions that are proven to stimulate weight loss.

1. Beans

Beans are one of the most popular foods that vegans and non-vegans alike eat to lose weight. With a wide variety of beans to choose from, you can take part in this power protein-filled diet by eating black beans, navy beans, garbanzo beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, and soybeans.

Lover of beans and bean-filled meals take advantage of the fact that this is one source of protein that is particularly low in fat. Due to their low-fat content, these beans are an excellent choice to include as part of any weight loss diet.

Every bean is packed full of fibers and proteins, which makes it one of the best low-calorie choices for any vegan hoping to slim down.

Wondering what type of beans to start with? If you’re looking for something with no saturated fat, black beans are the way to go. Are you a fan of chickpeas? These types of beans are also low in starch and a tasty way to lose weight.

2. Oats

Having oats as a breakfast staple is a healthy way to start the day, but can also become a staple for any vegan hoping to take off the pounds. Having a serving of oats each day will give your body the nutrients you need while taking advantage of oats’ slow-releasing carbohydrates.

As a low-fat food, oatmeal is recommended for weight loss. Additionally, its fiber content will help to boost your digestive system. This high fiber content makes oats a superfood that will keep you feeling fuller for longer periods during the day.

When making your own oats, choose a daily serving of a half cup or more. This serving size is filled with five grams of the healthy carbohydrate resistant starch. This starch will help to boost your metabolism.

3. Avocados

The avocado is often thought of as fatty food, but experts know that this fruit is included in many vegan foods list for the best solutions for weight loss. Avocados melt belly fat fast as these fruits have monounsaturated fats that work to boost cells’ ability to burn fat.

Additionally, avocados help to improve one’s metabolism by protecting most cells from any free radical damage.

Many vegans turn to avocados when they hope to lose weight. The unsaturated fats found in avocados help to raise the body’s levels of the hormone leptin, which lets the body know when it is full or not. By filling up on avocados, your body will feel fuller longer, allowing you to lose more weight.

Additionally, avocados contain oleic acid that helps to trigger the body’s ability to curb hunger pangs.

4. Pistachios

Pistachios are another food that vegans swear by when losing weight.

In addition to being low calorie, these nuts also contain polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. When consumed with other fiber-rich veggies and fruits, these fats can help to reduce one’s risk of developing heart disease. In turn, these fats can also fight diabetes, which has also been linked to weight gain.

if you hope to take advantage of the weight loss benefits of these nuts, eat them in-shell as a snack since it won’t lead to any weight gain. In fact, these nuts will help make you fuller, accelerate your metabolism, and reduce oxidative stress.

Wondering how many delicious pistachios you should eat to melt off the pounds? Experts agree that 24 kernels as a snack after breakfast and before lunch and 25 pistachios for a snack before dinner are the best servings of pistachios.

5. Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are gaining popularity for their ability to stimulate weight loss. These seeds will help to suppress your appetite as they activate the fat-burning hormone glucagon.

These trending seeds are quickly becoming known as a powerful superfood with a wide variety of health benefits that help to shrink the waistline.

According to experts, chia seeds are high in fiber and quite filling, so they’ll make you fuller faster and for a longer period of time. Thus, adding chia seeds to your diet is likely to prevent you from overeating or filling up on unhealthy foods.

As two tablespoons of these seeds contain about 10 grams of fiber, you’ll be able to enjoy around 40% of your recommended daily intake. These types of high fiber diets are linked to losing weight. According to experts, eating about 30 grams of this fiber every day will help you lose the same amount of weight that one might lose in a more extensive diet.

6. Broccoli

One of the world’s favorite vegetables, broccoli is one of the most loved low-calorie foods. This green veggie is high in fiber, meaning that a serving of broccoli will fill you up faster than most other foods.

The good carbs in broccoli will help improve your digestion and curb the desire to overeat. Along with these benefits, broccoli is preferable for losing weight as the fiber content and proteins will help you to feel full on more of this tasty vegetable.

Additionally, the water content in this vegetable will help to balance your meals without adding any empty calories.

Need another reason to fill up on this veggie? Broccoli has been proven effective in fighting cancer as it has antioxidants that help fight cell degeneration and aging.

7. Brown Rice

If you look at any list of popular vegan foods, you’ll likely see brown rice as a top pick. This fiber-packed healthy option is a popular alternative to starchier white rice.

Not used to brown rice? While the taste takes a little getting used to, the resistant starch in this rice will help to burn fat.

Additionally, as a low-density food, brown rice is filling and quite heavy, making it easier to have a filling meal with fewer servings of food. With the vitamins and proteins found in brown rice, you’ll be able to get the flat belly you hope for by eating this food.

8. Pears

Love fruits? Start eating more pears if you hope to melt off the pounds. As one pear has 15% of the recommended fiber amount, it is a perfect fit for anyone hoping to lose weight.

To make the most of this fat-busting fruit, eat the pear without peeling it first. As its skin has high amounts of fiber, eating it will allow you to feel fuller, and ultimately lose more pounds.

9. Lemon

Ever heard that lemon juice will help you lose weight? This is one of the best-kept secrets that many vegans use to pare down.

If you’re hoping to lose weight off your waist, try starting off the day drinking lemon water. As lemons contain high amounts of pectin fiber, this will help to fight your hunger cravings.

Additionally, the lemon juice in your water will stimulate the flow of gastric juice and saliva, ultimately aiding your digestion.

10. Red Wine

While you may debate that red wine isn’t quite a food, consuming this regularly as part of your diet will help to lose weight. Red wine delays young fat cells’ generation, preventing them from developing into mature fat cells.

Additionally, this wine will block insulin’s ability to stimulate genes that play a role in fat cell formation. Moreover, experts point out that this wine helps to burn calories through the process known as thermogenesis.

11. Grapefruit

Grapefruits are another popular fruit that makes it to many a vegan foods list for stimulating weight loss.

Experts agree that eating just half of this fruit before each meal can help one lose one pound every week. A certain compound in grapefruit helps to lower insulin, which will ultimately help to trigger weight loss.

12. Almonds

Filled with healthy fats, almonds are a great choice in nut if you are trying to slim down.

Almonds would be included as the best vegan foods for weight loss as they can curb hunger. High in vitamin B2 and rich in magnesium, these nuts are a great way to fill up and stimulate weight loss.

13. Green Tea

Green tea can improve one’s metabolism by 5% within a 24 hour period. Regularly drinking this tea will keep it high throughout the day.

This green tea will hydrate the body and help to burn calories and fat.

14. Asparagus

This popular vegetable is a favorite when it comes to vegan foods known for triggering weight loss.

As an excellent source of insulin, asparagus helps to regulate blood sugar and helps to prevent overeating.

Additionally, these vegetables contain high amounts of fiber which helps to improve digestion and to stimulate probiotic growth.

15. Tomatoes

Known as an effective fat-fighting fruit, tomatoes help to curb one’s appetite, allowing you to feel satiated for a longer period of time. Additionally, regularly consuming tomatoes helps to detoxify the body and flush any toxins from your fat cells.

Final Thoughts on Making the Shift to Vegan Foods

Eating vegan has a way of making us feel cleaner on the inside and outside. In addition to filling us with all the vitamins and nutrients in some of the most popular fruits and vegetables, an all-vegan diet will help you lose weight.

From veggies and fruits to beans and nuts, this list of foods will definitely help you keep the weight off. Try one or all of these foods to shrink your waist.

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