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Here’s How Holland Became The First Country with No Stray Dogs

July 18, 2019 by Kristen Lawrence

If you look around your neighborhood or community, you’ll probably notice stray dogs roaming around. Unfortunately, there are about 70 million strays in the U.S. Only six to eight million cats, and dogs get put in shelters each year. In other words, there’s a massive stray dog problem in not only the U.S. but also in the world overall. In Holland, they’re taking this problem seriously and ensuring that all stray dogs stay off the streets.

How did Holland accomplish this? The government started implementing the PSVIR method (pick, sterilize, vaccinate, identify, and return). Because of this, it became the first country to have no stray dogs in 2016. Think of how wonderful it would be if every government could implement this strategy and save all beautiful animals from a life on the streets!

Here’s How Holland Became the First Country with No Stray Dogs

How the stray dog problem began

Since the 19th century, Holland’s dog population has grown tremendously. Virtually every family in Holland had a dog as a pet because they viewed it as a status symbol. However, rabies soon spread among the dogs since the population was so high, and it became one of the leading causes of death. This outbreak caused many pet owners to abandon their pets, which led to the stray dog problem.

Mandatory medical examinations

Holland wanted to reverse this problem somehow. They started setting days of compulsory sterilization and castration to take place. The government paid all expenses, so there was no excuse to avoid the responsibility. Because of this, they could sterilize 70% of female dogs. The services included medical examinations to see if the dogs needed any vaccines or other medical attention.

Making abandonment illegal

To ensure that the stray dog problem wouldn’t continue, the government made it illegal to abandon pets. The new laws protected pets from abuse and inadequate treatment from their owners. If owners broke the rules, they could be punished with up to three years in prison and a fine of $16,000 or more.

Increasing taxes on purebred dogs

Many people who want a dog choose to get one from a breeder because they’re considered better looking and healthier. Because of this, the Dutch government raised taxes on bred dogs in hopes that fewer people would buy them. It worked because people started going to shelters more often, which helped decrease the stray dog population.

Awareness campaigns

They also decided to raise awareness through campaigns to educate people about stray dogs. During the campaigns, people had the opportunity to give stray dogs a forever home. We’re happy to say that over a million stray dogs found homes during these campaigns, proving the beautiful things that can happen when people are made aware of a problem. 90% of the population ended up adopting a pet.

The end of stray dogs in Holland

The government decided to hand the job over to “Animal Cops” in 2011, a group of policemen who ensured that all dogs in Holland were safe and protected. Now, all dogs in the Netherlands have a safe home and are even allowed in most establishments.

How to Help Your Local Shelter Care for Stray Dogs and Cats

Shelters give stray dogs and cats a second chance by taking them off the streets and allowing people to adopt them. Caring for the animals takes monumental efforts from volunteers and staff, and they can’t always do it alone. If you’re an animal lover and want to help your local shelter, we have a few options for you below.

1. Walk the Shelter Dogs.

When stray dogs get taken to a shelter, they can no longer roam freely through the streets. Instead, they spend most of their time in a kennel and don’t get much opportunity to move around. The staff does walk the dogs each day, but as more stray dogs enter the shelter, it’s challenging to keep up with their needs.

Volunteers can help by walking the dogs around the shelter to get them used to humans and provide them with exercise. Plus, walking dogs benefit humans on a physical and emotional level.

2. Feed the Animals.

While the staff does take care of feeding the animals, they could always use a few extra hands. You can help shelters immensely by simply refilling water and food bowls for the stray dogs and cats. This gesture also gets the animals used to human interaction and will help them become more adoptable.

3. Bathe and Groom the Stray Dogs and Cats.

You can also help care for shelter animals by bathing, brushing, and grooming them. These kind actions help the animals look and feel their best, making them more desirable for potential adopters.

4. Clean the Kennels.

As you can imagine, kennels can get pretty messy after a while. Shelters need volunteers to clean the kennels so that the dogs and cats have a safe environment. To do this, you’ll want to remove the animal and other items from the kennel first. Then, clean any waste and debris from the kennel and spray it with hydrogen peroxide.

Next, use a long-handled brush to scrub the floor and let the disinfectant sit for 5-10 minutes. Finally, use a squeegee to push the water down the drain and allow the kennel to dry. This will give the animals a clean place to relax and reduce disease risk in the shelter.

5. Answer Phones at the Shelter.

Some people don’t enjoy the intensive hands-on duties required in animal shelters. Luckily, shelters also need help with administrative tasks such as answering phones or tending to guests. Jobs you could assist with at the front desk include filing paperwork, walking guests through the facility, and answering general questions.

6. Volunteer at Adoption Events.

Depending on the location, local pet stores usually hold adoption events weekly or monthly. They need help from volunteers to coordinate adoptions and answer questions that the public may have. Organizing these events can help the shelter find forever homes for deserving pets.

7. Use Your Natural Talents to Help.

You can help stray dogs and cats by using your innate talents to provide a service to shelters. These could include photography, website design, dog training, or simply cuddling with the animals! If you’re a veterinarian, you already help animals by spaying and neutering them and giving life-saving vaccines. Everyone has something they can contribute to help animals live a better life.

8. Donate Supplies.

Shelters welcome gently used or new supplies to keep their animals well-fed, happy, and healthy. Some items that shelters frequently ask the public for include:

treats
pet food
cleaning supplies (paper towels, laundry detergent, hydrogen peroxide, etc.)
pet beds
collars
toys
blankets
grooming supplies
kitty litter
puppy pads
office supplies, such as printer paper, pens, markers, file folders, etc.

Check your local shelter’s website to see if they have a wish list or specific supply requests.

9. Neuter or Spay Your Animals.

Each time you spay or neuter a stray dog, you prevent another animal from possibly living on the streets. Plus, it keeps shelters from becoming overcrowded since most shelter animals were strays at one point. Also, you can help your local shelter by microchipping and vaccinating your pets and keeping them in a fenced area.

10. Adopt a Pet.

Of course, one of the best ways to help a stray dog or cat is to adopt them from a shelter. Shelters are better than a life on the streets, but no animal wants to stay in a shelter forever. Like humans, dogs and cats require love, companionship, and stability, so giving them a permanent home is an ultimate way to support them.

Plus, by adopting a pet, you allow the shelter to make room for more animals who need a loving home.

11. Post Adoption Information on Your Social Media.

One benefit of social media is its ability to relay information to a broad audience. You could help shelters increase their adoptions by posting information about animals on your social media pages. Simply sharing a cute animal photo is often enough to get someone’s attention nowadays.

12. Offer to Transport Shelter Animals.

Some people who adopt animals from a shelter live in different cities or states, making it difficult to pick up their furry friends. This is where volunteers come in, as they can help transport animals to their forever homes. Roman, a young boy from Texas, started his rescue program called Project Freedom Ride to connect people with unwanted, stray animals. The organization coordinates efforts to transport shelter animals from Texas and Georgia to other parts of the United States and Canada.

Even if you don’t want to start your transportation service, you can still check with your local shelter to see if they need help transporting animals.

Meet an extraordinary boy who founded a “Freedom Ride” service to save lives.

Final Thoughts on Keeping Stray Dogs Off the Streets

Countries like Holland have succeeded in keeping stray dogs and cats off the streets by implementing strict policies. The government-mandated medical exams, made abandonment illegal, increased taxes on purebred dogs, and spread awareness about stray dogs. They also recruited a special police force to ensure all animals in Holland remained protected.

Hopefully, other countries around the world will follow suit. In the meantime, you can help keep animals in your community by adopting them from local shelters or volunteering at animal care facilities.

How do you help stray dogs in your community? Would you like to see your country implement these initiatives? Let us know in the comments!

7 Signs You Are Addicted to Sugar

July 18, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Do you think you might be addicted to sugar? Natural sugars are necessary. Added sugars are poison. That’s right, poison. There, we said it. And, you know what? It just happens to be completely true.

Does the word poison seem too harsh? Well then, let’s look at the definition of “poison.”

The Oxford English Dictionary defines poison as “a substance that causes death or harm if it is swallowed or absorbed into the body.”

Addicted to sugar…what harm does it cause?

Let us count the ways – all backed by scientific evidence:

Consuming added sugar increases the risk of chronic diseases, including:
- cardiovascular disease (CVD)
- diabetes
- non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
- obesity
Added sugars have been implicated in the development of certain cancers.
Sugars may induce brain fog and contribute to cognitive decline.
High sugar intake is linked to an increased risk for mood disorders, including depression.

That sounds like poison to us.

Another thing: sugar is addicting. No, it has addictive qualities. We’re using the word “addictive;” or, more accurately, addiction – in a clinical, completely non-hyperbolic way.

This is terrible news. Especially so for Americans who consume, on average, roughly twenty teaspoons of added sugars daily. The recommended maximum intake? Nine teaspoons for men and six for women.

This article will discuss how sugars are addictive, signs that you may have a sugar addiction, and how to recover. First, let’s quickly make an important distinction: natural sugars versus added sugars.

Added vs. Natural Sugars

There is one exception to this conversation: natural sugars. As the name implies, natural sugars are found in nature. More specifically, they’re present in fresh foods such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, and grains. Unlike added (refined) sugars, natural sugars are digested slowly. In turn, they deliver a continuous supply of energy to your cells.

Also, natural sugars are not implicated in the increased risk of developing illness or disease. Per Harvard Health Publishing of Harvard Medical School, natural sugars are okay and even healthy:

“A high intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains (has) been shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.”

Again, sugars from fruits, vegetables, grains, and even some dairy are healthy. Of course, if you are trying to cut back on carbs to lose weight, you may want to limit eating fruits that contain large amounts of natural sugar.

Your Brain Addicted to Sugar

“Sugar not only tastes good but is also potentially addictive. Consuming or even thinking about sugar can trigger a dopamine release, a neurotransmitter that controls pleasure and reward-motivated behavior, into your system.” – Addiction Resource (source)

The human brain does not accept foods manufactured in some manufacturing plants. Last of all, refined sugars.

Eating sugar causes the dopamine levels in your brain to rise drastically. Even thinking about sugar can trigger a dopamine release into your system, producing feelings of euphoria.

The novelty of this neurochemical reaction remains short-lived. However, the body becomes used to the sugar high and eventually craves more. In the short run, these changes are temporary and seemingly harmless. We cannot say the same for the long term.

In the long run, the neural rewiring in the brain following continuous sugar consumption is linked to mood disorders.

In a study published in The British Journal of Psychiatry, researchers discovered that, of the 3,486 participants, two dietary patterns emerged: “whole food,” characterized by high consumption of fresh fish, fruits, and vegetables, and “processed food,” which included a heavy load of fried food, high-fat dairy products, processed meats, and refined grains.

Scientists used a clinical instrument to measure depression with the CES-D scale. Indeed, the results prove that those who consume large quantities of processed foods suffer increased odds of depression:

“In middle-aged participants, a processed food dietary pattern is a risk factor for CES-D depression … whereas a whole food pattern is protective.”

7 Signs You’re Addicted to Sugar

“I’ve always joked that I have a sugar addiction, not really taking it seriously. But as I reflect on so many attempts to deal with depression … I binge behind closed doors on sugar, and not facing that it is a real addiction, even as I comforted myself that it wasn’t that bad.” – User ‘Done’ on SAMHSA’s Addiction Resource (source)

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), about 80 percent of all packaged foods sold in grocery stores contain added sugars.

As bad as some of the food is for you, says SAMHSA, the highest concentration of sugars is in many of today’s most popular beverages. For example, certain brands of orange drinks contain up to 35 grams of sugar in just eight ounces. Unfortunately, our children love these drinks.

Drink McDonald’s Frappe’ Mocha? You may want to reconsider, as the beverage contains a whopping 62 grams of sugar.

Anyways, enough hammering on the irresponsibility of the American beverage industry (and McDonald’s!). Let’s look at the seven signs of sugar addiction:

1. Cravings

Yeah, so a pretty obvious #1, right? Cravings ensue immediately following the stoppage of sugar intake. Regarding sugar (and many other tasty foods), these cravings surface because of the fluctuation in the brain’s levels of hormones, including neurotransmitters. The hormones leptin and serotonin influence the rising of cravings, as does the reward-pleasure chemical, dopamine.

Besides sugar, cravings for salty and fatty foods are also common.

2. Tiredness

Lack of energy is a common symptom of those without refined sugar, which can serve as one’s primary energy source if misused. The initial lethargic feelings kick in about 24 hours after ceasing sugar intake. Mentally, you may feel numb and dull and have difficulty communicating and thinking clearly.

At this point, one may begin to develop depressive feelings if some dependence on sugar was present.

3. Anxiety

In a study by Princeton University researchers, rats deprived of sugar displayed withdrawal behaviors that mirrored opioid withdrawal, including teeth chattering, forearm tremors, and head shakes.

The study led researchers to conclude that excessive sugar intake and withdrawal is similar to that of opioid withdrawal. Other quantitative measures indicated that some rats showed symptoms of withdrawal similar to morphine or nicotine, “suggesting that the rats had become sugar-dependent.”

4. Headaches

Headaches are perhaps the most common nasty side effect of consuming sugar. Eating simple carbohydrates (white sugars, pasta) can even cause migraines.

Headaches and migraines occur due to the sudden spike in blood sugar – known as hyperglycemia – and the sudden crash of blood sugar following use. For migraine sufferers, skipping meals may also induce headaches and migraines.

5. Guilt

Okay, so we all feel guilty about eating something we shouldn’t have from time to time. However, when you’re always giving into sugar (or any other food), it may be a sign of an eating disorder. Eating disorders can be very serious to the point of interrupting your daily life and endangering your health.

If this describes you, please consider seeking professional help.

6. Irritability

Any time the brain’s hormone and neurotransmitter makeup changes, behavioral changes may result. We already know, for example, that not eating regularly leaves us lethargic and on edge.

Ever heard of the word “hangry”? A combination of “hungry” and “angry,” the Oxford English Dictionaries defines hangry as feeling “bad-tempered or irritable as a result of hunger.”

7. Other withdrawal symptoms

Here are some other signs of addiction to sugar:

Gas and bloating
Insomnia
Muscle pain
Nausea

These symptoms typically reach their peak 24 hours following sugar consumption.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Stay Addicted to Sugar

Regardless of what the supposed champions of willpower claim, quitting – or cutting back on – refined sugar is a challenging endeavor. As noted above, the brain and body quickly adapt to depend upon sugar if used regularly, which changes the body’s delicate physiology.

Sugar is no different than any addictive substance. Cut back. Sure, it isn’t easy, but it’s certainly possible. One of the biggest mistakes people make when going carb- or sugar-free is quitting sugar cold turkey. Abruptly stopping sugar consumption can lead to terrible side effects (as noted above) and also, much of the time, relapse.

Instead of setting yourself up for failure by suddenly quitting the sweet stuff, prepare to fight back sugar cravings by having plenty of viable food substitutes.

Some of the best foods you can eat to prevent sugar cravings include berries, chia seeds, dark chocolate, dates, fruit, prunes, snack bars, sugar-free gum, sweet potatoes, trail mix, and yogurt.

21 Signs He is Madly in Love With You

July 17, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Is there any better feeling than being in love? When you fall in love it seems like the entire world stands still. Time almost stops as you take in this wonderful new adventure.

But how do you know if he’s madly in love with you? After all, love is not something that should be sacrificed on the altar of compromise. If it’s not true love, it might be time to move on.

In this piece, we’ll give you 21 tell-tale signs that he’s madly in love with you. By “madly in love” we mean that he’d do anything to make you happy.

You deserve true love, and should never settle for less.

Now, let’s dive in.

Signs He Is Madly in Love With You

1. He Wants to Cook For You After a Long Day

Life is exhausting. Waking up at 6:30 A.M., getting yourself ready, heading to work, putting in long hours and commuting home is sometimes all we have to offer in a day.

After we get home, it’s time to deal with the chaos of the house. The kids are all over the place, the living room is a mess and dinner is an exhaustive mystery.

Imagine walking in and seeing him preparing a meal for you without you lifting a finger. If he understands your stress and is madly in love with you, this will be common.

2. He Forgives You Without a Grudge

None of us are perfect. We all make mistakes. Do your mistakes turn into big issues within your relationship, or is he ready and willing to forgive those things which are forgivable?

A man that loves you won’t hold grudges or constantly remind you of the things you’ve done wrong.

3. He Learns to Enjoy the Things You Enjoy

As an avid biker, I enjoy taking 8 – 10 mile bike rides on my lunch break every day. I work from home so I have the freedom to do so.

My fiance was never much of a biker before he met me, but soon after started to join me on these daily adventures. He even bought an expensive bike that fit him perfectly so he could enjoy our time together even more.

4. He’s Very Giving in the Bedroom

This is where you’ll know for sure how much he cares for you. Does he expect certain things out of you and get upset if you don’t live up to his expectations?

Or does he give freely without expecting anything in return?

5. He Gives You Freedom Without Hassle

Every girl needs a night out with friends. However, if that night comes with a third-degree from your partner, it’s just not worth it.

When you fall in love with the right man, he won’t hesitate to accept your need for a girl’s night out. In fact, he’ll encourage it.

6. He Pets Your Cat

When that new love interest sees your cat and warns you, “I’m not a cat person”, be wary. If he’s really into you, he’ll accept the things that are important to you and do his best to embrace them.

Even if he genuinely dislikes cats.

7. He Writes You Poems or Makes You Art

Not every man you fall in love with will be the artistic type. The point is that he’s eager to make the effort.

A man who feels deeply for you will want to create things about you that inspire him. He thinks about you day and night and wants to show it in a tangible way without you asking.

8. He’s Not On His Phone Much When He’s With You

Yes, smartphones are an addiction. We all deal with it.

But when you’re with someone who can’t get enough of you, the last thing on his mind when you’re together will be his buddy’s latest social media update.

9. He Makes a Point of Introducing You to His Friends

Is he excited to introduce you to his friends? Does he make a point of how much they’ll love you when they meet you?

This is a sure sign that you chose to fall in love with the perfect man for you.

10. He Buys You Flowers for No Reason

This might sound cliche but it really isn’t. A man who’s deeply in love with you will always be looking for ways to make your day better.

Those unexpected flowers delivered to your desk at 2 P.M. on a random Tuesday can turn an entire day around.

11. He Openly and Genuinely Apologizes

We all screw up. He will too. But what happens in your relationship after the screw-up?

Does he hold on tight, saying he did nothing wrong? Or is he willing to admit his mistakes and ask you to move on?

12. You Catch Him Looking At You All the Time

When he falls madly in love with you, he won’t be able to get enough of your beauty. Even the things about you that you don’t like, he’ll love.

When you catch him looking at you at unexpected times, it means his heart is yours.

13. He Shows a Genuine Interest in Your Job

Your career is a big part of your life. Does he ask real questions about it and try to find out what your day-to-day life at work is like?

If he does, don’t be afraid to share details that you think are mundane. He wants to share the experience with you.

14. He Doesn’t Get Jealous over Trivial Things

Jealousy is very unattractive. It’s also a sign of insecurity and possessiveness.

This is not loving.

In fact, it’s the opposite.

A man who loves you will sometimes feel afraid of losing you, but won’t have a desire to possess you.

15. He Offers to Rub Your Feet and Give You Massages

While this would seem kind of weird on a first date, when a man loves you he will cherish every inch of you.

When you’re sitting on the couch binge-watching a show after dinner, he’ll love rubbing your feet after a long day. Before bed, he’ll message you without you even asking.

He can’t get enough of you and it’s a great thing for you to embrace.

16. He Wants to Impress Your Family

Even if your family is skeptical of him, he’ll want to make the best impression possible and show them that he’ll take care of you.

If he doesn’t care what you’re family thinks about him, picture big red flags going up in every direction.

17. He Boasts About You on Social Media

Maybe your new love interest is more of an introvert. That’s OK. Introverts are sort of sexy.

If he’s an introvert, he may want to “show you off” on social media rather than in person. Take this as a huge compliment and roll with it.

It’s his way of saying he loves you.

18. He Does Everything in His Power to Make You Happy

You’ve dreamed of a genuinely happy relationship for most of your life. Finally, you feel like you’ve found it.

But what about it makes you so happy? If you look closely, it’s because he’s doing everything he can do to make you happy.

And he enjoys it.

Making someone else happy shouldn’t feel like work. It should be natural and automatic. He does that for you.

19. If You Lost Everything He Would Still Be There

Do you ever feel like he’s only with you because of what you have? If you lost everything tomorrow, would he still be there?

If you’re not confident about this answer, then his love for you might not be as genuine as you hoped.

20. He Tells You How Sexy You Are When Wearing Sweatpants and a Tee

Getting comfortable means simple clothes and no makeup. Does he make you feel sexy when you’re not even trying?

Remember, when he tells you how hot you look wearing your comfy clothes, he means it. A man that deeply loves you doesn’t care if you’re wearing a black dress and pumps, or gray sweatpants and a concert tee.

He’s deeply attracted to you no matter what.

21. You Can’t Imagine Your Life Without Him

Take a minute and imagine your life without him. What does it look like? Is it lonely and void of love and security?

Or is it a relief that the pressure of him being around is gone?

If you can’t imagine what life would look like if he was gone, it probably means that he so madly loves you that life wouldn’t seem complete without him.

Of course, you have problems together, but are those problems worth the reward? If he checks off most of these points, it probably is.

Does He Love Me, or Does He Love Me Not?

Of course, no relationship is perfect. We all argue and disagree on a regular basis. But if he is head over heels for you, you’ll see it in these 21 sure signs.

Make no mistake, true love is still possible even in the strange times we’re living in. If you’ve found it, hold onto it as strong as you can. Don’t take it for granted.

After all, when you fall in love, it’ll be a story you can tell for the rest of your life.

Turmeric: 15 Reasons Why You Should Eat It Everyday

July 17, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Turmeric is a widely used spice in cultures around the world. While it is an iconic ingredient in some of the tastiest dishes ever made, it’s also known and used for its incredible health benefits.

Whether you’re trying to lose weight, heal your wounds, or treat PTSD, this yellow spice is a powerhouse when it comes to transforming your health.

15 Benefits of Turmeric for Health

With numerous health benefits and powerful properties, turmeric has made a name for itself as a holistic solution to multiple medical conditions.

Ready to see how turmeric can positively transform your life? Keep reading.

1. Fight Inflammation

One of the most popular reasons people turn to turmeric is for its anti-inflammatory properties. Chronic inflammation causes arthritis, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, many people turn to this bright yellow spice to use these anti-inflammatory properties to their advantage.

Want to treat inflammation as all-naturally as possible? Start using this golden spice.

According to certain studies, this spice is almost as powerful as some of the leading anti-inflammatory drugs.

2. Take Advantage of Antioxidants

The antioxidants in this beneficial spice are a powerful way to fight free radicals. When left untreated, these free radicals can wreak havoc on our cells and DNA. This damage often leads to cancer and similar medical issues.

By adding turmeric to your diet, you’ll be able to take advantage of its antioxidants.

The antioxidants present in this spice can neutralize dangerous free radicals, highly reactive molecules that cause oxidative damage to our bodies.

According to certain studies, turmeric’s antioxidants are instrumental in fighting free radicals, preventing cancer, and boosting your body’s antioxidant enzymes,

3. Boost Your Cognitive Functions

Cognitive health is typically not a concern until we are older. However, to ensure you maintain cognitive health into old age, it’s essential to take voluntary measures to protect your brain functions adequately.

With the help of this spice, you’ll be able to improve declined cognitive function and help to restore memory.

Additionally, with this spice, an individual can expect to improve memory decline due to age, counteract neurodegenerative diseases, protect against memory impairment, and reduce the impact of cognitive decline as a result of stress.

4. Prevent Blood Clots

As this spice is an effective anti-inflammatory, it makes for an effective treatment for reducing inflammation. This spice is an anticoagulant that is also helpful with preventing blood clots.

According to certain studies, this spice works to affect how blood clots develop, thanks to its blood-thinning properties.

It’s important to note that as blood thinners can be dangerous for certain people. This caution means that you should consult with a doctor to determine if blood thinners are beneficial or harmful to your health. If the latter is true, avoid this spice.

5. Reduce Depression

Can you reduce depression with the addition of Turmeric to your diet? According to certain research, when using turmeric for health benefits, you can help to reduce your depression.

Certain studies show that when taken alongside commercial depression medications, turmeric helps to boost specific effects caused by this drug.

Since this spice is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotectant, professionals recommend it for those diagnosed with depressive disorders.

Additionally, certain studies have connected chronic inflammation and depression, noting that one condition can exacerbate the other. By taking advantage of this spice’s antioxidants, you’ll be able to fight symptoms of depression as you also reduce the effects of inflammation.

6. Boost Your Skin Health

This yellow spice will help to improve your skin health in a variety of ways. By decreasing the oxidation and inflammation in your body, you’ll be able to accelerate your body’s natural healing process.

With the added presence of Turmeric, you’ll help to kickstart the way your body restores tissue in your cutaneous wounds. Moreover, certain studies have linked this spice to increases in collagen, resulting in a boost in the skin’s elasticity.

In addition to healing, this spice provides a natural and healthy glow to the skin. To take full advantage of this aspect of the spice, create face masks, and cultivate a healthy glow.

7. Stimulate Weight Loss

This spice is known for its anti-inflammatory properties that help to promote weight loss. This spice helps to prevent the creation of fatty tissue, ultimately improving one’s overall metabolic health.

Moreover, taking supplements of this spice also have been linked to accelerating weight loss in individuals that are committed to a specific diet and exercise program.

The anti-inflammatory properties of this spice are what makes it so effective as a solution for weight loss. While more studies are needed to determine the positive effect of this spice in triggering weight loss with the help of its anti-inflammatory properties, studies have shown that the curcumin active in this spice helps to improve waist size and systolic blood pressure in individuals diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.

8. Support Healthy Joints

With the power of curcumin, this spice also works to support your joints as the anti-inflammatory properties help to prevent them from becoming swollen and inflamed.

According to a study involving arthritis patients, the curcumin in this spice was more effective when compared to the leading prescription drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

When taking this spice to treat your joints, you’ll experience the most success if you consume it before your symptoms kick in. This prevention is particularly efficient when used to keep joints as mobile and as healthy as possible. However, certain studies do indicate that this spice is also useful in treating osteoarthritis after the onset of symptoms.

9. Promote Heart Health

If you’d like to take a more proactive response to protect yourself from heart disease, consider upping your intake of this spice. Chronic inflammation is one of the main complications of heart disease. So taking this spice for its anti-inflammatory properties will help you to prevent heart attacks and heart disease.

One particularly important benefit of curcumin in this spice is that it will improve your blood vessels’ lining. The endothelium (the lining of the blood vessels) helps to regulate one’s blood clotting and pressure properly. When this lining isn’t working as it should, it can easily lead to the development of heart disease.

Moreover, according to research, the curcumin in this spice make it just as effective in improving endothelial function as aerobic exercise is for the body.

10. Encourage Healthy Levels of Cholesterol

High cholesterol can prompt oxidative stress that is a result of high blood sugar and chronic inflammation.

This is another clear instance where this spice’s anti-inflammatory properties make in an effective treatment for serious medical conditions. By using this spice to reduce inflammation in your body, you’ll be able to support healthier cholesterol levels.

According to a study, this spice’s effectiveness in treating your cholesterol is comparable to prescription drugs like Lipitor that help to reduce inflammation and other symptoms of oxidative stress. In these studies, volunteers noted that after a daily dose of curcumin, their total cholesterol dropped by roughly 12% while their good cholesterol increased by about 30%.

11. Boost Your Stress Tolerance

Turmeric is known as an adaptogen, meaning it will help counteract the effects of stressors on the body.

If you’re hoping to reduce the amount of stress in your life, consider turning to the most effective adaptogens. These types of herbal treatments work to modulate how stress is released from your body’s adrenal glands. This will help your body better adapt to emotional and physical stress, allowing you to be more resilient in the face of stressful situations.

12. Improve Your Mood

While you likely won’t see a complete mood swing from simply adding this spice to your next meal, you certainly can improve your mood over time with the active ingredient in this spice.

The curcumin in this spice works to boost the levels of BDNF in your brain, which will likely help in preventing depression. Moreover, curcumin has been proven to boost the body’s levels of dopamine and serotonin–two chemicals that affect one’s mood.

Want to shift your mood with the help of this spice? Try taking a dose of it twice a day to watch your overall mood improve.

13. Reduce bloating and Indigestion

Tired of dealing with uncomfortable indigestion and bloating? While you can turn to prescription or over-the-counter solutions, consider trying this spice.

As it is a powerful anti-inflammatory, this spice works to stimulate the gallbladder, which will help your body to produce the bile necessary to break down your food and improve your digestion.

According to a study, this spice is effective in reducing gas and bloating symptoms for individuals that experience indigestion. This research goes on to show that its curcumin content also helps individuals with ulcerative colitis.

14. Treat PTSD

While most people don’t consider turning to their spice rack as a solution for their PTSD, Turmeric can, in fact, be an effective way to treat this disorder.

As the defining symptom of PTSD is recurring trauma and stress, the stress-relieving and mood-boosting properties of this spice makes it an effective all-natural treatment for PTSD,

Additionally, certain studies have linked dietary turmeric with preventing the return of certain fear memories associated with PTSD.

15. Reduce Your Asthma

This spice’s anti-inflammatory agents make it one of the most effective all-natural treatments for bronchial asthma.

This spice helps to clear the airways and works to improve your breathing capacity. As it dilates the blood vessels, it also improves airflow, thins the blood, relaxes muscles, and relieve the inflammation caused by asthma that causes the lungs to become obstructed.

Final Thoughts on Turmeric for Health Benefits

If you’ve experienced any of the above conditions or symptoms, don’t hesitate to take advantage of the power of using turmeric for health benefits firsthand. As an effective anti-inflammatory solution, this spice will totally transform the way your body looks, feels, and operates.

Whether you take this spice as a supplement or add it into your daily diet, trying this spice as medical treatment will boost your health overall. Keep this guide in mind as you experience everything this golden spice has to offer.

5 Reasons Honest People Make The Best Friends

July 16, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Many people say that honesty is the best policy, but how many people live by those words? Most of us are more likely to veer into the territory of “ignorance is bliss”, telling tiny little white lies to spare the feelings of others. Finding best friends you can always depend on to tell you the truth is essential for making it every day.

After all, is a sugar-coated version of the facts what you want from the people in your life – “harmless” bits of deception that give you the wrong idea? Chances are, you’d like to have a blunt, truthful friend who cares for you and will tell it like they see it. And you should!

Here Are 5 Reasons Honest People Make The Best Friends

1. There Is No Doubt About Their Intentions

Someone who is honest has no interest in pretending to be someone that they are not. This means that you will never doubt the intentions of honest people – there’s no room for uncertainty when they are always very straightforward about what they’re up to. Here is why you’ll know their intentions are pure:

· They Keep Promises

A lot of people making statements to indicate their commitment to you. “Just say the word and I’ll be there!” “If there’s anything you need, I’m your guy!” “I’ll help you with whatever you need!” But how many of these statements are true from anyone?

With a blunt and honest best friend, you know that they don’t make promises they can’t keep. They won’t try to comfort you with false promises. They’ll tell you exactly what they can do, and exactly what they can’t.

· You’ll Know The Friendship Is Genuine

Your friendship with someone who is blunt and honest is as real and true and it can possibly get. Their feelings towards you are not a secret and are neither understated nor overstated. An honest person would not pretend to be your friend!

· They Will Never Manipulate You

One of the more frightening parts of becoming close to someone is the vulnerability involved. Someone with less than positive intentions may aim to take advantage of you or manipulate you. Just like any romantic relationship, a platonic relationship can also become toxic or abusive, and you’ll want to avoid that in your friends.

An honest person is not interested in being manipulative. They will never use you to achieve their goals, as that would require deception and cruelty – the antithesis to honesty. If they want something from you, they’ll tell you.

· You Will Never Feel Insecure About Your Friendship

An honest individual will never fake being best friends with you just to appease you, or just to keep things peaceful. If they don’t want to be friends with you anymore, you can bet your bottom dollar that they’d make it clear. They would never “secretly” dislike or hate you while showing you a smiling face.

This means that you don’t have to second-guess the bond you share. Many honest people will become excellent lifelong companions, as they seek to build meaningful bonds with you. (1)

2. They Will Always Tell It To You Straight

If you spend a lot of time around those who are honest, you’ll know that they’re very blunt and direct with you. It’s not that they don’t care about your feelings – it’s that they are willing to deal with the consequences of saying what is right and what is true.

This can be rather surprising to some people, but honesty is an exceedingly valuable trait to have in your best friends. It indicates an individual who is secure in themselves, who is not afraid of the unknown, and who is humble yet confident enough to not fear judgment. Here’s why and how they will always tell it to you straight: (2)

· They Tell You What’s Needed, Not What’s Wanted

Most people tell little white lies to help others feel better. But if an honest friend knows there’s something difficult or unpleasant that you need to hear, they will tell you. They know it may be uncomfortable, awkward, or painful, but they know you need to listen to what they have to say.

This means that these individuals will make sure they don’t butter you up with false ideas that you might want to hear. You can trust them to have your back and tell you what you have to know.

· They Would Never Talk Behind Your Back

It goes without saying that if someone who is honest feels strongly about something, they’ll tell you to your face. Instead of unproductively spreading rumors and false gossip, they will go right to you.

It can seem rather confrontational at first, but this means that you can always trust this person. They won’t spread misinformation about you, they won’t stab you in the back, and you will always know what they want you to know. This opens up channels of communication, strengthening your friendship.

· They Mean Every Word

Did they really mean that compliment? Are they serious about how you good your outfit is? Does your artwork really look great? It does if an honest person says so! You’ll know that if they dislike something, they’ll give you their cuttingly honest opinion – so their kind words are extra sweet!

· They Are The Opposite Of Cruel

You may think that extremely blunt honesty is a sign of cruelty, but this is far from the case. To have the courage to say what is difficult is a huge sign of positive character. It indicates that this person genuinely cares about you and wants you to know the truth!

3. They Help You To Be A Better Person

Hanging out with honest people, especially if they are your best friends, has the great side effect of your own self-improvement. Their ways rub off on you, and you learn more and more about who you want to be and how to get there in the process.

These people see when you’re slipping up and instantly inform you. They will set you straight when they see you straying from a good path. But they don’t do this in a demeaning or judgemental manner – they do it because they care about you and want you to be happy and successful.

Honest best friends will always keep you on your toes, encouraging you to do and be better. You will find yourself taking their advice and corrections to heart. You will learn to respond in a more positive way to criticism. You will listen to their words with positive thinking.

Before you know it, you’ll be working hard to better yourself based on the advice they give you. You’ll begin to improve yourself and notice your own mistakes, without needing others to point them out for you. That’s what happens when you surround yourself with such honest pals!

4. They Will Always Apologize When They Make Mistakes

We’ve sung high praise about honest people thus far, but they’re not perfect. No one is! As such, they are bound to make mistakes and mess up every now and then. The difference is in how they respond to those mistakes. Here’s how.

· They Apologize Well

Some people are bad at apologizing. Their “sorry”s are filled with excuses, or perhaps they apologize for the fact that you were hurt as opposed to because they hurt you. It takes a truly good person to swallow their pride, put their ego aside, and give a true, genuine apology – and that’s what honest people do.

· They Have Open Minds

It’s not unusual for someone to only want to see things from one narrow perspective. Those who are honest may fall prey to the tendency to see the world only through their opinions, but they are still open-minded.

If someone disagrees with them, they are eager to learn more. This is because those who are honest want to know and spread the truth. As such, they are happy to listen to alternate ideas and statements that are told with equal honesty.

· They Take Responsibility

It can be difficult for someone to own up to a mistake that they have made. Many people are too proud or selfish to do so and will choose to turn up their nose and deflect blame instead. Honest people would never do such a thing.

It’s easy to point fingers and insinuate that it wasn’t your fault, but an honest individual does not make ridiculous excuses. When they know they’ve done something wrong, they step up to the plate and own up to it. Plus, they are willing to do whatever they need to in order to fix the issue they may have caused.

5. They Stand By Their Values

If your best friends are honest, they will likely also be the kinds of people to stick by their virtues and values. They tend to be more confident in their beliefs, and studies have even shown that those with high levels of honesty have more positive thinking overall. (3)

Even those who lie out of kindness suffer significantly, with their happiness dipping over time. Honest individuals are happier and more mature, and you can tell in these ways:

· Their Moral Values Are Always First

An honest person knows what they stand for. They will not allow anyone to shake their personal values. Their standards are high, and they would never compromise them just to please others.

This can rub off the wrong way on some, but that means that they cannot be shaken and that all their friends are trustworthy – yourself included. They pick friends carefully, making sure your values align with theirs.

· They Don’t Take Bad Treatment From Anyone

An honest person knows what they are worth. Anyone who attempts to treat them like less than they deserve will get a sharp talking to. You’ll learn from them how to command respect, and how to react kindly but firmly when you are being mistreated.

· They Are Protective Of Those They Care For

Because they are intolerant of negative treatment towards them, honest individuals also will not stand for bad actions taken towards their best friends. When you’re having trouble standing up for yourself, they will step in front of you – or beside you – and help you out.

Final Thoughts On Some Reasons Honest People Make The Best Friends

Honest people may have a sharp, blunt tongue, but that’s just a testament to their compassion, their strength, and their incredible loyalty to their friends. If you have an honest friend in your life, you’d better never let them go! While you’re at it, you can work on your own honesty so you can be a better friend to those you care about, too.

10 Signs Too Many Negative People Are In Your Life

July 16, 2019 by Power of Positivity

The people you surround yourself with have a significant effect on your life. Hang out in the wrong crowd of negative people, and you’ll get in trouble, too. Befriend those who lift you up, and you’ll be supported to success while doing the same thing for them.

But how can you tell that your life is being overrun by toxic friends, negativity, and other unwanted influences? The answer lies in your own behavior.

Here Are 10 Signs Too Many Negative People Are In Your Life

1. Your Wellbeing Is Suffering

The easiest and quickest sign that you may notice regarding your overall health when you’re surrounded by negative people. Your cortisol levels skyrocket, you become ill more easily due to immune system weakness, and you’re more at risk for a variety of diseases. Here are some signs to look out for:

· You’re Completely Exhausted

When your day is over, you feel completely drained, even if you didn’t do anything particularly tiring.

· You’re Not Doing Much For Your Health

You used to pay attention to eating well and exercising, but now you just can’t be bothered. You may have even started adopting new bad habits such as drinking, eating junk food, or spending hours in front of the TV.

· You’ve Become Oversensitive

When someone says something potentially bad to you, you suddenly find yourself becoming extremely upset. You misinterpret ordinary conversations and feel like others are constantly mad at you. You may also stop reacting well to criticism.

· You’re Less Happy Overall

Your mental health and positive thinking have taken a dive. You feel unhappy, have lost your spark, or are just not feeling too good.

2. You React Better To Bad News Than Good News

Everyone dislikes bad news. But you find yourself enjoying it. When you hear bad news or gossip, you are eager to discover what happened. It’s like you thrive on drama, even if it involves you.

Similarly, most people like good news, right? But now you find yourself feeling anxious when you hear good news. You feel like you’re always looking for a catch and have difficulty taking positive news at face value.

You may also begin raining on other people’s parades. When they get good news, you might talk about the difficulty that comes with it. For example, you may tell someone who just got a promotion that now they have longer working hours. You seem to see the worst bits of everything!

3. You Seem Obsessed With Them

Negative people can take up a lot of your time and effort. If surrounded by them, you may slowly become obsessed with them. This gives these individuals so much power over you, which you should never allow! Can’t tell if that’s happening to you? Here are some signs:

· You Think About Them Often

You seem to be thinking about these people even when they’re not around. Perhaps you remember awful conversations you’ve had. You dread what will happen next time you meet them.

· You Talk About Them Often

You seem to want to talk about these people bringing you down constantly. The other people in your life are starting to get sick of hearing about them. You realize that bringing them up feels too easy and natural.

· You Complain About Them Often

You rant and rave about how angry this person makes you, or how much you dislike them. But when you complain, you wind up turning yourself into the negative person instead.

4. You’re Anxious

Negativity can greatly boost your stress levels, causing you to feel anxious or nervous too often. If this goes too far, you may even develop anxiety or panic disorder symptoms. Here are some early warning signs to look out for:

· Your Palms Sweat

Your body will be the first to inform you if you’re feeling anxious, even before you register it properly. Sweaty palms are one of the biggest signs of this. It’s a part of the fight or flight response. Your mouth may also run dry, or your hands and fingers might shake, or you may become drained of positive thinking.

· You Use Vices More

You find yourself reaching for a cigarette more often than you usually do. Or, you always feel like you need a stiff drink. Perhaps you even want to binge on candy or junk food. Whatever your vice is, you crave more of it now due to anxiety.

· Certain Environments Trigger Anxiety

Certain locations where you experienced something bad with the negative people in your life may cause you to become anxious. The same goes for experiences or even phrases that remind you of that.

· You Don’t Laugh That Often

You used to be more cheerful, and you knew how to laugh it off in the face of mishaps. Now, you can’t bring yourself to do so anymore, because you find nothing funny.

5. You Focus On The Bad

These days, you seem especially obsessed with negative thoughts. This is because you’ve internalized the values of those not-too-cheerful people that you deal with. This can manifest in the following ways:

You often put yourself down
Or, you downplay your achievements
You tend to see everything that can go wrong
If you make an error, it can take you ages to get your mind back on track
You are no longer able to solve problems
When you make mistakes, you blow them out of proportion
You are extremely hard on yourself
You cannot take or accept compliments

6. You Seem To Be Getting Less Likable

The people around you will likely notice first when you start to become influenced by all the negative people in your life. They may find you less likable. Suddenly, no one wants to hang out with you, or people don’t respond to your texts as much.

Your current relationships may also be suffering. Perhaps your established friendships have been full of conflict. You and your partner have been fighting more often. Your boss doesn’t seem to be as impressed with your work. Everything seems to be falling apart.

When this happens, you may become even more negative due to your confusion, hurt, and anger. The important step here is to turn that around and focus on the positive. Work on improving yourself and returning to who you want to be!

7. You’re Not Progressing Towards Goals

Negative people often have difficulty meeting their goals. Their personal growth is stagnant. Why does this happen? If you don’t put your mind to something, you can’t succeed. As such, the negativity you’re internalizing from people in your life drags you down, forcing you to fail repeatedly.

Negativity also reduces your energy, causing you to have more difficulty meeting goals because you don’t have the energy to devote to your tasks. It can cause you to underachieve and may get you stuck. All you can see is the possibility of failure, and it stops you from getting anywhere.

8. You’re Extremely Influenced By Them

If your life is starting to become influenced badly by those around you, then chances are you’re being bogged down by those with too much negativity. Here are some signs that this is happening to you:

· Your Emotions Are Controlled By Them

Your emotions run absolutely wild with these types of people. You feel so angry or so upset – more than anything else ever makes you.

· Your Life Feels Limited By Them

A negative person might continually judge you for everything that you do. If you listen to them too much, you’ll stop yourself from doing things you enjoy just because they’ve put it down.

· You Can’t Enjoy Things Anymore

They find something wrong with everything you do and everything you say. They’re quick to critique everything in the world, and you’re starting to follow suit. You have trouble enjoying everything because all you can see are glaring flaws.

· Your Behavior Changes

You find yourself adopting a lot of traits you swore you hated. For example, you disliked the passive-aggression of these negative nancies, but now you’re suddenly becoming passive-aggressive. Your actions are starting to contradict the values you know you have.

9. Your Vocabulary Is Filling Up With Absolutes

Absolutes are words that have absolute meanings. If you’re using a lot of negative absolutes recently, that indicates that you’re becoming influenced by the negativity from those around you. Here are some ways you may use absolutes:

You say “never” to say something never goes right
The fear of saying “now” means you always say “yes.”
You start saying something positive, then switch tracks with the use of “but”

Language has a huge influence over you. Make sure you’re using language that does you favors, not works against you.

10. You Seem To Be In A Bad Mood Around Them

For whatever reason, when you are around these negative people, you’re constantly in a bad mood. You feel a range of bad emotions that mess you up, such as:

· Sadness

You feel upset or hurt when you spend time with these people. You feel like they’re draining you of any even remotely pleasant emotion.

· Anger

These people bring out the worst in you. The things they say make you angry, and you’re usually a much more cheerful person.

· Loathing

There’s no easy way to say this. But you hate spending any time around this person at all. You dread your organized hang-outs. Perhaps you roll your eyes when your phone rings and their number flashes up. Even worse, you cannot stand them and are constantly counting down the minutes to the time you can be away from them again.

· Anxiety

We’ve already covered this, but feeling anxious around someone could indicate their toxicity is severely affecting you. In this situation, cutting the person off is your best bet.

Final Thoughts On Some Signs Too Many Negative People Are In Your Life

No one wants to have to deal with negativity in their life. You’ve probably dealt with your fair share of pessimists and found them difficult to deal with. But if these people are your friends, you risk following in their footsteps and becoming exceedingly negative.

Don’t be afraid to cut off toxic friends or those who are dragging you down. You need to focus on surrounding yourself with supporting, encouraging, and kind people – not those who bring you down.