Tag: body

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Healthy Lifestyle – Daily Health: Sleep

 

Dear Earth’s Enrichers

cute african mother and baby sleeping in bedYour body requires certain things to help it get through the day and maintain a balance of good health. Without these things, it could produce small signs, which are messages or SOS signals, if you will, from your body saying it needs them.

So your body’s basic needs boil down to sleep, food or nourishment, physical activity, sun, and water. Of course, oxygen or being able to breathe is one of them, but I think you all already have that down. This week our topic will be sleep.

Sleep is one of the most important ways to gather energy to help you face the challenges of your day. If you don’t sleep well, how do you feel when the alarm clock goes off? We know, you feel like picking that thing up and tossing it across the room. A restless night or not enough sleep could leave you cranky, lethargic, and most of all not ready for your day.

We also know that it is not easy getting a good relaxing night’s sleep especially if you are a student, a business person, or parent. It gets hard to find the time to decompress before bed.   If you’re still reeling about what Johnny did at work this morning, you’re probably not going to sleep well.

The saying, “don’t go to bed angry” should be one written on your bed’s headboard. Find a way to relax before going to sleep, create a plan and back-up plan to get the work done or have the kids in bed. An adult individual should have at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. The most popular way to detox before sleeping is a bath or shower. Something semi-long and with your favorite scent to ease the pressures of the day.

Another reason why sleep is so important is because it can affect your health, not just your lifestyle. Lack of sleep can stress out your body physically. Stress to a constant and extreme degree can aid in factors like anxiety attacks, hypertension, chest pains, and Infarction (heart attack).  Also, sleep deprivation during daily activities could lead bad health decisions in your daily activities. This could not just effect your health but the health of others around you.

Sleep deprivation in daily activities could increase the risks of obesity. Believe it or not, sleep helps you regulate weight! I bet you didn’t know that. It helps keep your body balanced. Insufficient sleep could lead to an increase in the amount you eat and a greater BMI (or body mass index).

Also, being extremely tired and sleepy while driving could be very dangerous to you and others around you. You could become drowsy, impatient, and non-observant of the drivers/pedestrians around you. There is a term for this called drowsy driving. If you are too exhausted to drive, don’t be afraid to give yourself those extra minutes to rest up or wake yourself up.

Question for you all, when you’re sleepy to the point of no return are you happy? You kind of don’t want to be bothered, which means you aren’t the most cheery of people. Too much exhaustion and extreme sleepiness on a constant basis can lead to things like depression or substance abuse. For instance, when you are having trouble sleeping, the bath didn’t work, and you have a choice between a pill or sleepy time tea—GO FOR THE SLEEPY TIME TEA! The last thing you want is to depend on a pill to get you to sleep. Besides there could be side effects.

There are plenty of reasons why sleep is so important. Try your best to get a good night’s rest. We know that lifestyle (being a student, business person, parent, etc) can play a major role in one’s ability to relax before sleeping. If you are having trouble and you have tried all the other natural options, then consult an expert like your doctor. As always, know your body and do what is best for you.

The EE 411:

Benefits of Sleep

  • Prepares you for daily activities
  • Regulates your weight
  • Helps you stay organized
  • Helps you control your emotions
  • Reduces stress
  • Helps your performance
  • Helps your heart
  • Improves memory
  • Can positively impact life expectancy –of course longevity depends on other factors as well
  • Aids in repelling depression

Sleep Guidelines for Different Age Groups

  • Newborns 11-18 hours
  • Infants 14-15 hours
  • Toddlers 12-14 hours
  • Preschoolers 11-13 hours
  • 5-10 year olds 10-11 hours
  • Teens  8.5-9.5 hours
  • Adults 7-9 hours

Tips for Better sleep

  • Aromatherapy (Lavender, Chamomile, etc.)
  • Herbal teas (Chamomile, Lavender, Sleepy Time)
  • Relaxing/ Baths
  • Meditation before bed (like a light yoga)
  • Gentle music
  • Your favorite pajamas or sleep wear ^-^

Share with Us: What helps you get to sleep at night?

(This post was brought to you by Earth’s Enrichments.  Similar posts can be found by visiting our Blog.  More information about our  company and products (USDA Certified Organic Soaps, Organic Bath Salts, Organic Sugar Scrubs, Organic Body Balms and Organic Lip Balms) can be found on our Website. Thank you Earth’s Enricher!) 

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Organic Skin Care – Winter Routine

 

Good Winter Earth’s Enrichers!

Organic Skin Care- Winter RoutineThis is the coldest part of the year. Do you have what it takes to complete the winter routine challenge? Each day during the harsh cold of the winter season, there is a routine to keep your skin healthy and give it what it needs to protect itself from the cold atmosphere. The goal of this winter routine is to keep your skin moisturized– that way it won’t become chapped or blistered.

Believe it or not, during the cold winter season your skin is introduced from one extreme climate to the next. When you’re outside it’s pure cold, maybe a harsh wind or two, and sometimes without enough moisture to help your skin. Then when you go inside to warm up, it can be too hot for your skin reducing the amount of its moisture.

There are routines that you can do to keep your skin hydrated and protected.  The most important area of focus is the skin on your face. In the winter you are more than likely covered neck to toe in warmer clothes that shield your arms, legs, and sometimes hands from the harsher weather. Your face has to endure the whipping wind and extreme cold—so it should be your priority before you leave the house to have it properly moisturized.

To moisturize properly, look for moisturizers especially for your face that protect from the cold and also the sun! Even though it is freezing and it feels like the sun is on vacation, it is really still emitting rays that could negatively affect your skin, depending on the sensitivity. Look for moisturizers that contain sunblock. That way you add another layer of protection to your facial skin.

The usual morning routine consists of washing your face.  During cold weather, it’s best to take extra precaution in your facial cleansing.  Since the cold weather already has the capability of drying out your skin, try not to use cleansers that will aid in this. Instead, try looking for cleansers that do not contain sulfates or alcohol, which tend to dry out and chap skin.

Remember, your lips are a part of your face and they need their own special kind of care. When it’s cold it can be even more difficult to keep your lips from falling apart, so be sure to look for moisturizing lip balms or chapsticks that contain sunblock. That way your entire face is happy and you can show it through your lips with a perfectly comfortable smile.

Your hands are very important you, so it makes sense to keep them moisturized as well, especially if you don’t have gloves. That way you give your hands a fighting chance against winter’s scorn. Keeping them moisturized helps prevent abrasions (such as splitting of the skin due to dryness) and uncomfortable things like hangnails.  Since your hands are one of the most busiest parts of your body, you might want to use creams to help keep them moisturized longer.

Outer beauty isn’t always all that counts; it’s inner beauty as well. Eating and drinking properly can keep your skin nourished. Other than moisturizing properly, you should drink lots of water. It helps keep your skin moisturized. It’s almost like your body’s back up plan against dryness. So keeping it fueled with enough hydration helps keep you looking young and refreshed, instead of dry and ashy.

Even though we highlighted a few areas that need the most care in this weather, it is important to moisturize all of your skin on a daily basis. That way your entire body is protected.   So we challenge you to take up these routines in 2014 to shield your skin from the harsh elements of the outdoors. 

The EE 411: General Steps

For keeping your face moisturized and ready for the day:

  1. Wash your face using alcohol-free (sulfate-free, etc.) cleansers.
  2. Use moisturizers that are beneficial for your skin type and contain sun protection
  3. Avoid exfoliating when skin is dry or chapped; it could cause blistering. (If this happens, you should see a medical professional.)
  4. Apply lip moisturizer (balm, chapstick, etc.) that is beneficial for your lips and also contains sun protection.

What not to leave the house without:

  1. Lip balm (or chapstick, etc.)
  2. Water bottle
  3. Hand sanitizer
  4. Hand cream
  5. Gloves

Give your hands a hand! Moisturize them before you leave the house and after washing your hands when going outside. That way they can help you do the activities you do every day. Stay warm!

Share with Us: What are your winter routines to keep your skin protected?

(This post was brought to you by Earth’s Enrichments.  Similar posts can be found by visiting our Blog.  More information about our  company and products (USDA Certified Organic Soaps, Organic Bath Salts, Organic Sugar Scrubs, Organic Body Balms and Organic Lip Balms) can be found on our Website. Thank you Earth’s Enricher!)