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5 Nutrition Tips to Boost Concentration Levels
25 April, 2020
Food can have a major impact on physical and mental health. Eating the right foods is important for long-term health, but some foods can also provide a short-term boost to cognitive function and physical performance. Poor concentration levels can affect learning, memory, creativity, and productivity, but most people can significantly improve their concentration levels by eating certain foods. Here are five nutrition tips to boost concentration levels.
1- Antioxidants
Antioxidants help to protect brain cells from damage caused by free radicals in the body. Free radicals lead to disease, a slowing down of cognitive function and acceleration of the aging process. Boosting your intake of antioxidants helps to counteract these harmful effects. Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants that are thought to help protect brain cells and prevent age-related dementia. Seasonings such as dried peppermint and star anise are great sources of polyphenols, as well as foods like berries, dark chocolate, black olives, and hazelnuts.
2- Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Omega 3 fatty acids (a.k.a. “fish oil”), have received a lot of attention in the press, due to the powerful and well-researched benefits they can have on heart and brain health. Omega 3 fatty acids can boost concentration, memory, and general cognitive function, particularly when eaten two or three times a week. Omega 3 fatty acids also have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Salmon, mackerel, sardines, trout, and walnuts all contain high amounts of omega 3.
3- B Vitamins
B vitamins, particularly B6 and B12, can boost concentration, aid memory, and protect against dementia. B vitamins help to protect the brain from age-related disease and nerve damage, with several studies showing the importance of B vitamins in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease. Lean meat, fish, eggs, nuts, and whole grains are among the best food sources of B vitamins. Nutritional yeast is a great healthy source of vitamin B and other vitamins.
In regards to vitamin B6, it benefits the central nervous system. Deficiency in vitamin B6 can result in mood changes and low energy, which would directly affect one’s concentration. In the search of vitamin B12, you are likely to come across two forms of its supplement: cyanocobalamin (a synthetic form) and methylcobalamin. Cyanocobalamin is a synthetic form of B12 while methylcobalamin is the natural form, found in animal-based foods. If you can, definitely go with the natural form for your body to digest – methylcobalamin.
4- Fiber
Dietary fiber is essential for a number of important functions, including a healthy digestive system and optimum cognitive function. Including plenty of fiber-rich foods in your diet can make a big difference to your concentration levels and ability to retain information, both of which are needed for effective learning and creativity. Whole grains, beans, broccoli, peas, and artichokes are all great sources of dietary fiber.
5- Small Meals
Balanced blood sugar levels are also important for maintaining concentration. Spikes and dips in blood sugar affect mood, concentration, and general health. Avoid eating large meals and foods high in sugar when you need to concentrate for long periods of time. Although sugar-rich foods may initially give you a boost and make you feel more alert, blood sugar levels will quickly dip, leading to a drop in energy and concentration levels. Eat small meals that include plenty of complex carbohydrates and high-quality protein.
Food and diet can have a big impact on concentration levels, as well as general physical and mental health. Making a few small changes to your diet can improve concentration, memory, and overall cognitive function. Antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids, B vitamins, dietary fiber, and balanced blood sugar levels can all help boost your concentration levels and cognitive function. It is important to have well-balanced nutrition because it affects your well-being. Be attentive to your health; concentration plays a crucial part in success.
5 Natural Remedies for Hay Fever
03 April, 2020
Hay fever can produce a wide range of symptoms, some of which can be debilitating and have a negative effect on the quality of life. Also known as allergic rhinitis, hay fever’s most common symptoms include cold-like symptoms such as nasal and sinus problems (e.g. a blocked or runny nose), along with watery, dry or itchy eyes. Many sufferers also experience an itchy or burning throat, skin irritation, tiredness and low mood. Asthma sufferers can also experience a worsening of symptoms, particularly when the pollen count is at its highest, while other people may only experience asthma-like symptoms during hay fever season. There are several natural remedies that can help to reduce the symptoms of hay fever.
Allium Cepa
Allium Cepa is a homeopathic remedy used to prevent hay fever and associated symptoms. Homeopathic remedies work on the principle of “like cures like,” which means that remedies are derived from substances that would normally cause the symptoms you want to cure. In the case of Allium Cepa, the active substances are derived from onions. Allium Cepa is available in tablet form from most health food stores. As with all homeopathic remedies, the effectiveness of any treatment will depend on a number of different factors, as each person can respond differently to the remedy.
Mixed Pollens
Many health food stores now sell mixed pollens in tablet form. Mixed pollen tablets contain small amounts of pollen from weeds, grass, blossoms and other common pollen sources. By taking mixed pollen tablets, you can reduce your sensitivity to pollen and increase your resistance to substances that bring on your hay fever symptoms. In order to benefit from mixed pollen tablets, you need to take them every day for at least two weeks.
Local Honey
Locally-produced honey contains pollens found in the local area. By taking a daily dose of local honey, you can increase your resistance to the pollens most commonly found near your home. Ideally, you should start using local honey at least two weeks before the start of the hay fever season. To give your immune system a boost and provide extra resistance to pollen, mix one teaspoon of local honey with the juice of half a lemon, before adding the mixture to a cup of warm water.
Cucumber
Cucumber is an excellent remedy for hay fever symptoms associated with the eyes, such as dry, itchy or watery eyes. Place slices of fresh cucumber on your eyes and put your feet up for ten minutes. As well as helping to cool and soothe your eyes, cucumber contains properties that can help to neutralize pollen.
Acupuncture
Many hay fever sufferers have found great relief from their symptoms with acupuncture. Acupuncture must be performed by a qualified practitioner and the procedure can be expensive, especially as you are likely to need more than one session. However, if chronic hay fever is having a severe impact on your life, it may be worth saving up for some acupuncture.
The effectiveness of natural hay fever remedies will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of your symptoms and any underlying medical problems. If the above remedies do not improve your hay fever symptoms, check with your doctor to make sure there are no underlying medical conditions that could be causing you to have symptoms similar to those of hay fever.
Your First Year Homeschooling: How to Make it Work
24 July, 2019
So you've decided to home-educate your child. Congratulations! This is one of the biggest and most difficult decisions you'll ever make. Many parents choose to home school their children for a number of reasons, but chances are that you're still a little nervous about making things work. Whether you are going to home educate a kindergartner or your child has already completed a few years of public school, your first year of homeschooling can be a challenge (just like your first year working on your online degree).
To help you with this important challenge, we have put together a list of things for you to keep in mind that will help you make home-schooling a better and more efficient experience for you and your family.
1 – Be Patient and Understand it is a Learning Experience
When you first start homeschooling, make sure you talk with your spouse and your children openly about the experience. Make sure everyone understands that this is a learning experience for the whole family. It will take everyone some time to adjust to the change that homeschooling brings. It may take some time for you to figure out what curriculum works well for your family, as well as to work out a schedule that makes sense for each family member. Remember to be patient with your family as you figure things out together.
2 – Be Upfront with Friends, Relatives, and Neighbors
It's also important that you be upfront with your friends, relatives, and neighbors about your plans to home school. Many people may assume that since you home school, you'll have endless amounts of free time. This couldn't be farther from the truth! As a home educator, you'll be responsible for planning each lesson for your children, as well as for grading papers. You'll also spend quite a bit of time actually teaching your children. As a home school parent, you'll need to set firm boundaries with your friends and let them know that you can't plan activities during your school hours. While this can be a challenge at first, learning to plan things after your lessons are done will become easier.
3 – Join a Home School Group or Co-Op
Many parents find that joining a home school group or co-op can be beneficial, especially during the first year of home education. A home school group typically meets once a month and is a reasonable way to meet other home school parents, make new friends for your children, and even connect with home school sports teams and dance groups. A co-op is more education-centered than social and offers homeschooled children the opportunity to take a variety of different classes.
4 – Keep Things Fun, Interesting, and Different
It's also important to remember to keep things fun, interesting, and different. Homeschooling doesn't have to be boring. In fact, home education opens up many doors for fun learning activities. Don't be afraid to plan interesting field trips to local museums, take day trips to the zoo, or even join new classes you might not have otherwise enrolled your child in. Homeschooling doesn't mean you stay at home all day. In fact, most home school families find that the opposite is true!
5 – Keep Your Head Up and Take One Day at a Time
No matter how much experience you have when you start homeschooling, your first year can be overwhelming. Remember to keep your head up. Things may not be easy at first, but as you learn how to teach your child and how to explain things in ways that make sense to him, you'll gradually get the hang of things. Whether you plan to home school temporarily or on a long-term basis, remember to be patient with both yourself and your children. Instead of getting angry or frustrated if you face an obstacle in your home education journey, remind yourself why you chose to home educate and remember to simply take one day at a time.