America has a love affair with chocolate. From the moment it touches your lips, you’re longing for more. Seriously though, why does chocolate make you happy? Science tells us it’s because chocolate stimulates endorphins — the happiness hormones. 

Could it also be the processed sugar stimulating all of that guilty pleasure? There is a healthier way to get your chocolate fix, and it’s called raw cacao. But first, let’s see why chocolate makes you happier. 

Why Does Chocolate Makes You Happy

Tryptophan keeps you happy and satisfied

America’s obsession with chocolate began hundreds of years ago. That’s because there’s something in chocolate that not only improves mood but also alters brain patterns. That something is tryptophan. 

This amino acid helps the brain make serotonin, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel happy and satisfied. In fact, research from Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews found that tryptophan may even promote good social behavior. 

Phenylethylamine provides pleasure and reward

Ah, that feeling of falling in love. Phenylethylamine, another chemical in chocolate, provides that high you often get when you’re falling in love by increasing dopamine secretion in the body. 

Dopamine, like serotonin, is a neurotransmitter but with a slightly different function. Dopamine provides feelings of pleasure and reward. 

Theobromine boosts good energy

Theobromine, a mild stimulant in chocolate, has a similar effect to caffeine, suggests research published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology. It’ll give you that “pick-me-up” people often experience after eating dark chocolate. 

It doesn’t keep you up at night but it does give you that boost of good energy you crave when eating chocolate. Theobromine is also known as an aphrodisiac since it widens blood vessels, increasing oxygen and decreasing blood pressure.

Magnesium lifts your mood

Magnesium plays a huge role in mood and brain function. In fact, every cell in your body needs it to function. But sadly, it’s the most deficient mineral in the Western world. And low levels are linked to an increased risk of depression.

Is it any wonder you’re reaching for chocolate to boost your mood? While dark chocolate is very rich in magnesium, raw cacao is actually the highest known source of magnesium on earth. 

When it comes to chocolate, quality is key

Unfortunately, your regular candy bar is made with cocoa powder that has been chemically processed and roasted. This destroys the things that make it healthy. Plus, commercial bars generally have more sugar, dairy, and additives than actual chocolate. 

Raw organic cacao, like that found in Cacao Bliss, contains no sugar, milk products, or additives — and is the healthiest form of chocolate you can get your hands on!

A Healthier Alternative To Chocolate

Cacao Bliss is a delicious, creamy, and nutrient-dense elixir loaded in raw cacao and nine other superfoods. It will satisfy your craving for chocolate without the nasty side effects you’d normally get from added sugars and artificial ingredients. Not only that, one mug a day can also help keep you focused, boost your energy, and crush your sugar cravings. 

If you’re looking for a feel-good treat with all the health benefits and none of the guilt, click the link below to indulge in Cacao Bliss today!

Shop Cacao Bliss Here!

Menopause marks the end of your menstrual cycle and, often, the beginning of some not-so-pleasant side effects like night sweats, hot flashes, mood swings, and weight gain. And if that’s not bad enough, sleep is often disrupted, too. 

Is it simply stress? Or does menopause mess with sleep? Of course, menopause symptoms can vary from woman to woman, but sleep issues are generally common. Here’s what could be keeping you awake and how to fix it.

Menopause & Sleep

Women need around seven to nine hours of sleep each night. And getting too little sleep can lead to a whole host of health issues. Unfortunately, sleep disturbances are common during menopause — and even perimenopause and postmenopause.

One year after your periods have stopped, your ovaries gradually decrease production of estrogen and progesterone. The changes in these hormones contribute to poor sleep and often continue into postmenopause. 

If you’ve ever experienced a hot flash then you know it comes on suddenly and involves intense heat that affects the face, upper chest, and the entire body. Research from the Journal of Mid-Life Health suggests they last from two to four minutes and are followed by chills, sweating, palpitations, and even anxiety.

While science isn’t entirely sure why hot flashes happen, hormone fluctuations are likely to blame. These changes can affect your blood vessels, which dilate and cause abnormal sweating while you sleep. This, of course, can make it hard to get a good night’s rest.

Try managing hot flashes with these lifestyle changes:

• Stay cool — Open a window or lower the room temperature. Keep a cold drink by your bedside. And, dress lightly.  
• Monitor foods — Avoid spicy foods. Caffeinated beverages and alcohol can also trigger hot flashes.  
• Quit smoking — Smoking is linked to more hot flashes. 
• Lose weight — Losing a few extra pounds could help ease your hot flashes.

If your sleep is disturbed by loud snoring and gasping, then you may be suffering from sleep apnea. This potentially serious sleep disorder causes breathing to repeatedly stop and start. Research published in the Journal of Sleep Disorders & Therapy suggests that menopausal night sweats and hot flashes could contribute to sleep apnea. 

Postmenopausal weight gain or even progesterone may be the problem. Keep in mind, sleep apnea in women may not be about loud snoring and gasping for air. It can also cause insomnia, headaches, depression, anxiety, and daytime fatigue. If you suspect you might have sleep apnea, it’s best to talk to your doctor. 

Superfood Support For A Restful Night’s Sleep

Tossing and turning all night not only drains you mentally but also puts your health at risk. Your body needs quality sleep and Golden Superfood Bliss can help get you there.

Twelve powerful ingredients, including superfoods, adaptogens, and ancient mushrooms, make up this super elixir. Just one rich and delicious scoop of Golden Superfood Bliss added to your favorite dairy-free milk before bed can help:

• Ease occasional anxiety, so you fall asleep faster
• Support a healthy inflammatory response, rebalance hormones, and relax your body
• Combat cravings, boost your immunity, and boost fat loss

One tasty mug of Golden Superfood Bliss is all it takes to help support your body and promote restful sleep. Click the link below to give it a try today!

Shop Golden Superfood Bliss Here!

When you’re stressed, sad, or bored, is comfort food your answer? Do you eat when you’re not hungry and continue eating even though you’re full? Using food as your emotional crutch not only causes unwanted pounds, it also derails your confidence. 

The good news is, food does not have to control you. You can control what and when you eat. So, read on to find out how to stop emotional eating — once and for all! 

What’s the deal with emotional eating?

First, you’re not alone. Emotional eating affects all kinds of people. And while some people may lose their appetite when dealing with emotionally charged issues, others turn to food to soothe their aching soul. 

At its core, emotional eating is basically a distraction. Instead of dealing with your emotions, you focus instead on finishing that entire bag of chips. As a result, you end up feeling worse about yourself, which often starts the vicious cycle all over again. 

Here’s how to take back control and stop emotional eating

Create healthy lifestyle habits

This seems simple but often feels overwhelming. The key to handling emotional eating is to create healthy lifestyle habits. A few ways to start are…

• Learn to relax — Through techniques like mindfulness meditation you can clear the endless chatter in your head. Based on Zen Buddhism, it’s a popular way to self-calm and soothe emotional eating behaviors.
• Get plenty of rest — Lack of sleep messes with your appetite-regulating hormones. As a result, you’ll be hungrier and crave carbs more, making it that much harder when emotional eating strikes.
• Exercise more — Research from the Journal of Eating Disorders found that regular exercise helps reduce stress, which is often at the root of emotional eating. 

Practice mindful eating

Your emotions are running amuck and before you know it, you’ve eaten an entire pint of ice-cream without really enjoying it. This is what mindlessly eating looks like. Mindful eating, on the other hand, can help you gain control of your eating habits, according to a pilot study published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 

It takes 20 minutes to realize you’re full. So, by eating fast, you’ve likely eaten too much. Mindful eating is a way to slow down and really focus your attention on the food you’re eating: how it tastes, the texture, how you feel while eating. Mindful eating not only helps you enjoy your food more but it also helps tune you into your body’s hunger cues so you can stop eating when you’re full. 

Crush your cravings with Golden Superfood Bliss

Yes, there are superfoods that not only curb hunger cravings but also fight day-to-day stressors. Golden Superfood Bliss is a super-tasty and easy-to-use elixir blend that combines powerful spices, herbs, and ancient mushrooms to soothe occasional anxiety and stress. And we all know what that stress does to our hunger signals. *

Just one mug a day can help: 

• Crush hunger cravings
• Support a healthy, normal appetite
• Soothe occasional anxiety and stress
• Support a deep, restful sleep
• Boost your immune system

Add Golden Superfood Bliss to your evening routine to help stop emotional eating, once and for all! Click the link below to give it a try today!

Shop Golden Superfood Bliss Here!

If you’ve searched the internet for ways to boost weight and fat loss, then you’ve likely come across MCT. But what is MCT, you ask? MCT is found in either coconut or palm kernel oil. It’s separated and turned into a concentrated oil via a process called fractionation. But unlike other fats, MCTs are processed by the body differently. 

These medium chain triglycerides move straight from the gut into the liver. And, since MTCs are easier to digest, the calories are used right away. That means this supercharged fat will deliver fast and efficient energy, and is less likely to be stored as fat. 

The most common MCT is coconut oil, which is often used to help boost energy and support ketosis. But there’s so much more to MCTs than that. In fact, you might be surprised to find out its health benefits include supporting weight loss, gut health, and healthy blood sugar levels.  

Health Benefits Of MCTs

Helps with weight loss

A study in the journal Physiology & Behavior found that MCT oil may help you eat less and feel full longer. It can also convert into ketones — which are produced from the breakdown of fat — when eating a low-carb diet. 

A study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition found that MCT will help keep you in ketosis. So, if you’re following a low-carb/high-fat keto diet and you want to stay in fat-burning mode, then MCT is your go-to oil. 

Improves gut health

If your gut health is out of whack, you might have trouble absorbing nutrients, regulating your blood sugar, storing fat, and even knowing when you’re full. Adding MCTs to your diet could improve gut bacteria and support the gut lining. 

Research from the journal Nutrients suggests that MCTs not only improve gut health but could also be used as an anti-obesity supplement. 

Boosts energy

Since your body absorbs MCTs faster than long-chain triglycerides, they move quickly between the gut and liver. When fat hits the liver it’s either used as fuel or stored as fat. 

But since MCT enters the cells without needing bile to break it down, it acts as a fast and efficient source of energy. In fact, taking MCT before exercise may actually help you burn more fat for energy. And that means getting more out of each workout.

Adding MCTs to your diet

If you’re looking to add MCTs to your diet, Cacao Bliss and Golden Superfood Bliss are both tasty ways to do it. Each superfood elixir offers a variety of incredible health benefits. They’re both loaded with powerful ingredients — and MCT of course — so you can… 

• Burn more calories
• Stimulate weight loss
• Feel satiated and full longer
• Release stubborn fat deposits

If you’re ready to experience the benefits of MCTs, as well as the other powerful superfoods in Cacao Bliss and Golden Superfood Bliss, click the link below to try the “I Am Joyful” Bundle today!

Buy The “I Am Joyful” Bundle Here!

Life these days can feel so hectic and stressful. Add in poor quality sleep, demanding schedules, and unhealthy eating habits and it’s no wonder we feel so sluggish some days. But there are many other reasons why you might be experiencing day-to-day fatigue. It is, after all, one of the top complaints many doctors hear from people. Thankfully, there are ways to feel more energized. Here’s what you can do to boost your energy levels, naturally. 

Surprising ways to kick fatigue and boost energy

Exercise daily

You might be thinking “won’t exercise make me feel more tired?” But the short answer is no. When you exercise, changes occur inside your body on a cellular level. Muscles produce more mitochondria, which are powerhouse cells that create fuel out of the glucose you get from food. Having more could boost your energy levels significantly. Exercise also boosts oxygen, which helps your body use its energy more efficiently. 

Boost your morning coffee

Coffee keeps you alert and sharpens your mind. Now add a healthy scoop of raw cacao to your morning cup and you’ll increase your energy, too. If you struggle with low energy, low levels of magnesium could be the culprit. One study published in the journal Scientifica found that up to 68 percent of Americans are magnesium deficient. 

Raw cacao is the highest known source of magnesium on the planet. Cacao Bliss is a natural superfood blend loaded with raw cacao and nine other powerful superfoods. When added to your morning (with or without coffee), it can help support mental focus and boost energy naturally. *

Drink plenty of water

Think of water as your life force. Energy and water are intricately linked. In fact, all energy, including electricity, needs water. So, it makes sense that if you’re not getting your daily supply of water, you’ll fizzle out. Your body is made up of 60 percent water and even a small percentage of water loss can affect motivation, leaving you feeling drained. So, drink up!

Choose your food wisely

While all foods provide energy, some are better at boosting energy levels and helping you stay focused throughout the day. Proteins, for instance, are complex molecules that take longer for your body to break down. As a result, they are a longer-lasting source of energy than carbs. So, it makes sense to swap out that processed cereal for a veggie omelet or that high-sugar snack for a smoothie made with a scoop of Cacao Bliss. 

When it comes to energy, what you choose to put in your body can either build you up or wear you down. And good dietary habits will affect your energy levels throughout the day. So instead of another cup of coffee or a sugary treat, try reaching for a mug of Cacao Bliss to help keep you focused, improve your mood, and bring back your energy. 

Shop Cacao Bliss Here!

If you’re looking to boost your immune system before winter hits, now’s the time to start! Why? Because as you age, you’re more susceptible to infections, year-round. Now more than ever, a strong immune system is your life force! 

Your immune system is your body’s natural defense system…

Your immune system is pretty awesome; but it’s also complicated. It involves a whole lot of cells, tissues, molecules, and organs. If you don’t take care of it, germs can invade your body and make you sick. But while boosting your immune system won’t actually cure viruses, it will help your body better defend itself. Here are five healthy tips to help strengthen your immune system naturally.  

5 Tips To Strengthen Your Immune System Naturally

Avoid getting infected

Ok, so this may seem like a no-brainer, but there are reasons why infectious diseases spread. And some things bear repeating. Help strengthen your immunity by:

• Washing your hands regularly
• Keeping countertops and other frequently touched surfaces clean 
• Ventilating your home regularly by opening windows to circulate fresh air
• Preparing food safely
• Avoid touching your face while out in public

Get a handle on your stress

If you don’t get a handle on your stress, it could be causing mental, emotional, and physical issues. A study in the journal Current Opinion in Psychology found that if stress goes unmanaged, toxins can build, creating sickness and disease. 

A quiet walk, mindfulness meditation, or yoga can help you destress. Also, try adding a comforting mug of Golden Superfood Bliss to your evening routine to help relieve anxiety and stress.

Get your body moving

Each time you exercise, bacteria is flushed out of your lungs and airways. This lessens your chance of getting sick. And even if you’re already infected, the rise in body temperature helps fight infection better. Overall, the immune system responds really well to exercise, stimulating cells and antibodies to detect illnesses sooner and help you avoid getting sick in the first place.   

Get enough sleep

If you’re not getting enough sleep, you’re more likely to get sick when exposed to a virus. That’s because antibodies and cells that typically fight infections during sleep decrease when you’re sleep deprived. 

But a study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine suggests that if you get enough sleep, you’ll actually improve immune cell function. And that means improving your ability to fight off germs and viruses.  

Add micronutrients to your diet

If vitamin C has been your go-to immunity booster, well… that’s a good start. But the truth is, you need more than just C to keep you healthy. Make sure your diet includes micronutrient-rich foods. Vitamins A, D, C, E, B6, B12, folate, iron, zinc, selenium, and copper all play an important role in boosting immunity.    

Bonus: Add Golden Superfood Bliss to your diet

This powerful dietary supplement is loaded with superfoods that help reduce stress, support a healthy immune system, and promote restful sleep. Plus, it’s a delicious elixir that you’ll actually enjoy incorporating into your diet. 

Incorporating a healthy diet that includes Golden Superfood Bliss, along with healthy lifestyle habits, can help support your immune system naturally. Click the link below to give Golden Superfood Bliss a try today!

Shop Golden Superfood Bliss Here!

Activities like jogging, tennis, or HIIT sessions can be tough on your knees. So, learning how to avoid knee injury should rank high on your to-do list. Particularly since knee pain affects about 25 percent of all adults in the U.S. 

The truth is, knee injuries are extremely common — and often preventable. But beyond the usual stretching and cooling down before and after exercise, what else can you do? Read on to find out.

3 Tips To Avoid Knee Injury

Pay Attention to Your Posture

Did you know poor posture is the number one cause of most joint pain? From your spine to your feet, posture is critical to the alignment of the joints in the body — and that includes your knees. Whether you’re working at your desk, glued to your smartphone, or sprawled on your couch, poor posture could wreak havoc on your knees. 

In fact, even the act of slouching and bending at the waist can lead to knee injuries. And it’s usually the result of a weak core. Here’s what to do:

• Sit and walk with your head squarely above your shoulders. Keep your shoulders aligned with your core.
• Add a back pillow, placed in the lumbar area of your chair, to remind you to sit upright.
• Change your position every 30 minutes so your muscles and joints don’t become cramped and stiff.

Change How You Exercise

Hitting the pavement hard with repetitive motion is tough on the knees. So, to avoid injury you could change things up with a low-impact activity like swimming. In fact, research from Japan found that walking backwards in water not only boosts heart rate but also uses more muscles. Water workouts are also great if you’re already dealing with an injury since the more submerged your body is, the lighter the load is on your joints. 

Consider adding weight training to your routine to help strengthen your leg and knee muscles. Cycling also offers the perfect alternative to running. Cycling outdoors or indoors on a stationary bike allows you to improve and maintain your fitness without stressing your knees.

Supplement with Collagen Peptides

Collagen is found in every part of your body: skin, bones, cartilage, tendons, and teeth. It’s literally the glue that holds you together. But as you age, collagen production in your body decreases, which means your chances of developing discomfort in your joints and reduced bone density increases. 

Adding Collagen Peptides into your morning smoothie is a great way to help support joint health. In fact, one study published in the journal Nutrients, found that postmenopausal women, in particular, increased bone mineral density significantly just from taking Collagen Peptides daily for one year. It even reduced bone loss and increased bone formation.

Choose a superior form of collagen

Earth Echo’s Collagen Peptides is a pure hydrolyzed, grass-fed protein, sourced from 100 percent bovine collagen. This means it’s incredibly bioavailable and easier for your body to digest and put to good use. Plus, it’s flavorless, which makes it ideal for adding to your favorite drinks and recipes. Supplementing with Collagen Peptides daily can help support: 

• Improved digestion
• Radiant skin
• Stronger hair and nails
• Stronger bones
• Healthier joints
• And much more…

Knee injury can significantly impact your livelihood. But incorporating these three simple tips can help you maintain joint health and even prevent knee injuries — before it’s too late. Grab your bag of Collagen Peptides through the link below and feel the benefits for yourself!

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Whether you’re trying to lose weight or simply want to start eating healthier, you know that it’s all a matter of adopting good habits. Eating more vegetables. Cutting out processed foods. Paying attention to macronutrients and thinking of good-for-you foods as a joy to eat. Eating well feels good. Now think how much better it would feel if you could get your family to do it too.

When you can get your spouse or kids to eat healthy food, you help yourself and you help them too. You can get rid of the junk food in the house and eliminate temptation. You’ll know that everybody is fueling themselves with nutrients that build a better, stronger future.

Here are nine of our top ways to get your family on board and get everybody on the same healthy eating plan.

1. Have a family meeting where you explain the new food habits you are introducing. Talk about the many benefits of eating nutritious foods, targeting your reasons to the specific needs that apply to your family. After your first meeting, schedule a new session once a week where you address things like reading food labels or how cutting processed or fast foods can help clear up their skin.
2. Don’t try to do everything at once, or your family will be sure to rebel! Try getting rid of soda first and replacing it with water, almond milk or green tea. Then move on to switching out snack foods for fruit and veggies, and on from there.
3. Make sure that breakfast is part of your family’s daily routine. There is a lot of research to show that kids who eat breakfast do better in school than those who don’t. It’s easy to have a delicious breakfast ready the day before so it’s ready to go. Try overnight oats, or a piece of  raisin Ezekiel toast with fruit.
4. Pack your kids’ lunches to make sure that they’re eating healthy during the day.
5. Clear junk food out of your pantry and replace it with healthy snacks. Your whole family will love nuts, cheese, yogurt, fruit and cut up vegetables with hummus.
6. Make sure that every meal has at least one serving of vegetables. Work to make sure that your meals are colorful – it’s one of the best ways to make sure that it is healthy. Here are a few tips to sneak in some extra veggies too (link back to blog on this)
7. Don’t skip having meals together. Family dinners are important to your sense of togetherness as well as to encouraging healthy attitudes towards food. And don’t allow television or screens at the dinner table.
8. Make sure that you’re making everybody do as you say and as you do – in other words, set the right example. Don’t tell your kids that they have to cut out sugar while you’re snacking on donuts. The goal is to improve everybody’s eating habits, as a family unit.
9. Get your family involved. Ask them to come with you to the market and give them options for menu items. Ask them to help prepare the meal. Teach them about the origins of different fruits and vegetables, and what nutrients each offers.

Maybe you slipped up on your weight loss commitment. Maybe you haven’t been able to slim down as much as you’d hoped. One way or another, the good news is that there are visual tricks you can use when you want to look trimmer. Whether you’re going to your high school reunion or a special date, check out these hacks to help you look thinner by tonight.

1. Look Longer and Leaner With a V-Neck

V-neck tops are a secret most short girls know. The V-neck’s upside-down triangle shape draws the eye up and makes you look taller and leaner. It also pulls the eye away from areas that may be a problem, like your belly, hips and thighs.  You can find V-neck shapes in all types of clothing, from sweaters and blouses to dresses and tank tops. Also, wearing an open jacket like a long blazer will hide curves.

2. Pull Your Hair Up

In the same way that a V-neck pulls the eye upward, so too does a ponytail or bun. The more your hair is off of your face, the longer your face looks. If you want to appear taller, you can do a bit of teasing on top.

3. Use Jewelry to Draw the Eye

One of the best ways to keep people from focusing on your body, give them something else to look at. If your upper arms make you unhappy, wear a big bracelet to draw attention to your wrists. If you want people to look at your face, wear some gorgeous sparkly earrings. Want the eye drawn to the center of your body? Wear a long, glamorous necklace.

4. Keep Your Color Constant

If you wear contrasting colored top and bottom you draw a line across your middle, which draws the eye. Wearing the same color on top and on bottom makes you look taller and thinner. The same is true for your shoes: if you’re wearing a dress and your legs are showing, wear shoes that are the same color as your legs to make your legs look longer. If you’re wearing tights, your shoes should match them.

5. Texture Is Not Your Friend

You may love that fluffy, fuzzy sweater, but it’s not helping you look thinner. In fact, it’s adding bulk to your body. When choosing clothes, think smooth and flat. Anything with texture will work against the slimming effect you’re looking for. The same is true when it comes to choosing your jeans. The new, embellished styles may be cute, but they’re calling attention to the areas you’re trying to minimize.

6. Underneath it All

After you’ve chosen your clothes carefully, don’t mess it up with underwear that works against you. If your bra is poorly fit or your underwear is too tight or too loose, it will mess up the smooth lines you’ve worked so hard for. Invest in getting a bra that fits you, and a few pairs of smoothing underwear.

If you hear the word “charcoal” the first thing that hits you is the grill and campfire leftovers. Well, I’m not talking about your barbecue grill charcoal. Those coals are full of toxins and chemicals. 

This charcoal is different. It’s an ancient secret ingredient used by the Egyptians and Native Americans. It serves many purposes due to its versatility . 

Activated charcoal – What is it?

First of all, activated charcoal is NOT the same as your grill charcoal. Activated charcoal comes from carbon containing material.  Natural materials like wood, bamboo, coconut shells contain carbon. 

Burning such carbon materials in the absence of oxygen, forms a “char.” At high temperatures heating char turns it into a pitch black powder. The high heat results in a powder with a porous surface. 

It’s this porous surface that gives the typical properties of activated charcoal. The broad surface area of the activated charcoal enables it to grab contaminants. Toxins, poisons, chemicals, and other elements adhere to the surface of the charcoal. This binding process is adsorption. This is not the same as absorption, note the difference in spelling B and D.

How activated charcoal works?

The nooks and crannies in activated charcoal do the trick. Its porous surface has a negative electric charge. It causes toxins with a positive charge to bond with it. This is how chemicals and toxins get trapped in its millions of tiny pores. This ability to bind to toxins makes it a detoxifying agent and has many benefits. 

Check out these five uses of activated charcoal

Eases gas and bloating: 

A study found that activated charcoal reduces bloating, intestinal gas. It binds to the by-products in foods that release gas and can help prevent stomach cramping. 

Food poisoning: 

Activated charcoal finds frequent use in emergency rooms for treating food poisoning even drug overdoses. It’s a safe home remedy for non life threatening cases of stomach bug and food poisoning.

Soothes insect bites:

It soothes the skin after bug bites, rashes from poison ivy and bee stings. Mix activated charcoal powder with water or coconut oil and apply on affected area for relief.

Natural deodorizer: 

Activated charcoal is a powerful deodorizer. Use it for reducing odor for stinky smells in shoes, refrigerators, and gym bags. It’s also a safe as an armpit deodorizer. 

Protects the gut: 

A preliminary study shows that activated charcoal pulls up antibiotics.  Overuse of antibiotic can wipe out healthy bacteria. Intake of activated charcoal can adsorb excess antibiotics and protect your gut.

Who should not use it?

Activated charcoal is safe for most people, but you should always check with your doctor, especially if you:

• Have conditions such as intestinal bleeding, blockages or had recent surgery.
• Take certain medications for alcohol and opioid dependence, morphine, etc.

Buying activated charcoal

• Choose activated charcoal from natural resources like coconut shells and wood. 
• When choosing capsules always avoid products with additives.
• Buy from a reputable company that uses eco friendly methods to make activated charcoal.

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3521259

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2017/08/04/169813

When you’re trying to lose weight, a lot of things can work against you. It’s important that you do everything you can to give yourself the best possible chance of success, and the first place to start is with your own home. There are many ways that you can set up your home to help you with your weight loss goals. Here are our favorites.

• Make sure you have a fruit bowl in the right place

Having fruit isn’t enough. A recent study showed that if you want to lose weight, your fruit bowl needs to be in front of the snack cabinet. If you see the fruit first, you are more likely to make the healthy choice. Another good idea is to put fruit near your car keys. That will remind you to take a piece of fruit with you for a snack. Keeping a bottle of water there is a good idea too!

• Get rid of all foods that work against you

Plenty of people make the mistake of leaving sugar and fat-filled snacks in the house. That’s a bad idea. Do a clean sweep and get rid of them. If you don’t want to throw them away, donate them to a local shelter. And don’t make the excuse that you need them for the others who are in your house. Eating healthy will do them good too!

• Memo Board Motivation

Add a memo board to your kitchen and use it for motivations, goals and reminders about eating better and exercising more. You can also use it to keep a healthy grocery list or a workout schedule.

• Use Smaller Plates

There are tons of studies showing that when we use big plates and bowls, we eat more food. Switch to small bowls and plates so your servings stay the right size. Also, pack food and snacks into single sized servings.

• Fill Your Fridge With Healthy Snacks

Dedicate an entire shelf of your refrigerator to fruits, veggies, hummus and other healthy snacks that will support your diet. Get rid of anything that has too much sugar or fat, or at least put it in a hard to reach spot that’s out of sight.

• Camouflage the Candy

Did you ever wonder whether you would have wanted that piece of candy if you hadn’t known it was there? Studies have shown that people eat less sugary cereal when the box it’s in is undecorated. If you must keep bad foods in the house, put the things that tempt you into unmarked boxes that you can’t see inside of. The flip side of this idea is that you should put healthy foods into clear containers that make them look great! Display whole grains in pretty glass jars on your counter and you’ll be more likely to use them.

• Take the TV Out of the Kitchen

If you have a television in the kitchen, you are much more likely to sit in front of it and eat. Get rid of the television and pay attention to your food.

• Give Your Gym Bag Its Own Spot

To make sure you get to your workout, pack a gym bag every night and put it by the door – or maybe in your car. Remember to include a healthy snack and a big bottle of water!

Even though you know it’s going to happen, hitting a weight plateau can be a real downer. Watching the number on the scale go down every week is more than just fun: it’s what keeps most of us going. When it feels like the scale has gotten stuck on a number that’s far above your goal, it’s easy to feel like you’re wasting your time and effort.

The key to weight loss success is to push past that disappointment. Eventually, the numbers will start going down again, but only if you manage to stick to your plan instead of fallng back into old bad habits.

So how do you get your motivation back in the face of a weight loss plateau?

The first step is to make sure that you don’t blame yourself. For every pound that you lose, your body’s needs change a tiny bit. That means that once you’ve lost a fair amount, you may need to readjust your strategy. The best way to stay motivated is to understand what’s happening and make the changes you need to get the weight loss moving again. Here are some helpful hints for doing that.

1. Goal setting – When you first started your weight loss journey you probably had a number in mind. Most of us do. It’s either, “I want to lose this much weight” or “I want to get to this number.” When you’ve lost some weight and the number stops shifting down is a great time to revisit your goal and see if it still makes sense. You may be closer to the right weight than you realize. Either way, by going back and giving your goal a hard look, you’re likely to remember all your reasons and feel motivated again.
2. Give yourself new goals – When you’re dealing with a plateau, give yourself a goal that has nothing to do with a number. Maybe you want to drink more water each day. Maybe you want to exercise for a certain amount of time each day. By taking the focus off of the scale, you can still track some victories until the dial starts to move again.
3. Track your inches instead of your pounds – There is more to shaping up than the number on the scale. It’s a good idea to measure our waist, thighs, arms and hips when you start a diet. Tracking those measurements can make you see your progress, even when it’s not showing in your weight. Other things that you can use as a measure of progress include the amount of sleep you’re getting; how you feel each day; your blood pressure or cholesterol. All of those should improve with healthier eating habits and more exercise.
4. Take a good look at yourself – Hopefully you took a picture of yourself when you started your weight loss journey. Take a good look and see the progress you’ve already made. Doing so is one of the best things around for helping to keep you going.