Heat waves and record high temperatures present one primary challenge for people: how is it possible to stay cool? This proves more difficult if there is no air conditioning. To avoid rolling blackouts, some cities or counties advise people with air conditioning units to use more eco-friendly temperatures. That’s fine and great, but not everyone has functioning AC, or some people want to simply save energy and money by avoiding AC usage. 

With record high temperatures of 105-115º F, it’s very easy to feel uncomfortable all the time. Not to mention, going outside seems like an impossible task. The heat from the cement seems to warm your feet through the soles of your shoes. Opening windows may not even let in a refreshing breeze. Occasionally, in fact, it may feel more like opening an oven door, depending on where you live. 

To help people beat the summer heat without air conditioning, use the following tips and tricks. You may find that hot and sticky summer days and nights become more bearable, refreshing even. Let us know if they work for you in the comments below. 

Cold Compresses Keep You Cool

If the heat is getting to you, apply a few cold compresses or ice packs to key areas on the body. When you feel overheated, apply ice packs to the back of the neck, lower back, and wrists. Do not apply ice packs or ice directly to the skin, as it can result in ice burn. Place a thin layer of cloth between the cold and your skin, preferably an old shirt or something of that nature. It’s also beneficial to take a cold shower to cool down, especially before bed. 

Keep The Blinds Down And Curtains Shut

The darker you keep your house or apartment, the cooler it will stay when it’s hot outside. It’s wonderful and healthy to let natural light in your home, but reconsider that when it’s blazing hot outside. Heat can linger at night if you let sun rays in during the day. When it gets cooler at night, your home will cool off much more quickly than if it was light all day inside the house. 

Get Creative With Fans

Fans don’t just blow air around, and if you think that’s all they do, prepare to have your mind blown. If you have a box fan, face it out against an open window so that it pushes out hot air that’s in the house. You can also adjust ceiling fans to have the blades spin counterclockwise, which helps draw hot air in an upwards motion. Position fans in a specific way to create more of a cross-breeze in your home. Set up multiple fans around the room, with one by an open window, to create optimal airflow. 

Old School Tip: Place a tray of ice cubes in front of your fan and face it in your direction. The fan will provide a chilled breeze by picking up the cold that emanates from the ice. 

Always Have Water With You

When it’s hot outside the body sweats at a rapid rate, which puts the body at a higher risk of experiencing dehydration. The body loses not only water via sweat, but also essential electrolytes. To counteract the water loss, make sure to always replenish with cold water. Regular water intake helps to counteract dehydration and heatstroke or heat exhaustion. If you feel thirsty then you are already in a mild state of dehydration. Get ahead of dehydration by drinking water before you feel thirsty.

Avoid The Meat Sweats

During summer, it’s common to grill large amounts of meat and eat until you can no longer move. Instead of heavy, meat-centric dinners, opt for smaller dinners that are easier to digest. When you ingest a lot of meat, it takes a toll on the body, making it work harder to break down the food. Swap out a large steak for a plate of whole grains, vegetables and legumes. Additionally, don’t eat two to three hours before you go to bed because eating late can make you feel hot or sweaty when trying to go to sleep. 

SHARE:

The post 5 Tricks To Beat The Summer Heat Without AC appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

It’s always hotter during summer, and to think otherwise would be foolish. This year, however, temperatures exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit in many areas around the United States. Wildfires in California, the Pacific Northwest, Utah, and even across the world in Turkey resulted from excessive temperatures and dryness. Both fires and heat waves are uncomfortable and dangerous, and present a major health threat.

The Dangers Of Heat Waves

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), extreme heat is defined by temperatures that are much hotter and/or humid than average for certain areas. Some areas experience excessive dry heat, while other areas have muggy, humid temperatures. The humidity can make it feel hotter than it is, and dry heat can feel like you are in an oven. According to data at the CDC, about 700 people in the United States die each year from heat-related exposure. Heat waves pose several health risks, including:

• Heat cramps
• Kidney damage
• Dehydration
• Heatstroke
• Heat exhaustion
• Impaired mental health

While the end of summer may be in sight, temperatures are still hot and dangerous. Heat waves can come at any moment, and it’s best to be prepared. Continue reading to learn about a few tips that can help you stay healthy when temperatures rise.

Avoid Excess Caffeine & Alcohol Consumption

It’s common for people to over-consume both alcohol and caffeine during summer, especially at parties or gatherings. It’s more habitual than anything, but these beverages don’t promote hydration. Actually, caffeine and alcohol can dehydrate the body. If you notice that the color of your urine is dark yellow, you need to stop drinking everything except water and electrolyte beverages. Maybe go for some electrolyte-rich beverages like coconut water or homemade detox waters. 

Stay Hydrated

This seems like an obvious tip, but too many people suffer from dehydration in hotter weather. You should always have fluids with you, especially water, when it’s hot outside. If you find a great electrolyte powder that has minimal sugar content, you can pour that in your water. When you sweat, you lose electrolytes and you need to replenish those stores to avoid health complications like dehydration, kidney problems, or heat exhaustion. Water intake will depend on activity level, sex, age, and overall bodyweight. When the weather is hotter, drink more water than you think you need to. Click here to learn simple tips to improve hydration.

Look For Indoor Activities

Most indoor places have the air conditioning working overtime during the summer. If you want to save energy and avoid running your A/C unit like crazy, head to a place that is naturally cool. If you don’t want to go to a mall, head to a movie theater, library, museum, or other establishment with A/C. 

Dress For The Weather

If you are experiencing a heat wave, don’t wear jeans and a hoodie. There’s no reason to do such a thing. It’s best to wear light, breathable clothing that fits loosely. Additionally, opt for light colors to avoid overheating. It’s also beneficial to wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses with polarized lenses for even more sun protection. Depending on how long you plan to be outside, consider lathering exposed skin in sunblock. 

Eat Lighter Meals

If you want to keep your body on the cooler side, it’s best to eat meals that don’t weigh you down. Rather than scarfing down potato salad or fries, ribs, brisket, chicken, rice, corn, and other heavy foods, opt for lighter meals. Consider an entree salad or Buddha bowl with quinoa and roasted sweet potatoes. Smoothies are also an excellent option. When the body has to work hard to digest food, it generates heat within the body. Keep food options light and be conscious about the size of your portions. 

SHARE:

The post How To Stay Safe During Summer Heat Waves appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Summer is a wonderful season, but the heat can be oppressive. Depending on where you live, you may feel blazing dry heat or humid, sticky heat. Neither one is optimal and both require you to drink lots of water to avoid dehydration. There’s no reason to suffer from heat stroke when you can easily keep the body hydrated with the tips in this article. 

Water is necessary for many biochemical reactions in the body. It works to aid with waste removal, maintain proper circulation, regulate body temperature, and deliver nutrients throughout the body. Without water, the body quickly becomes dehydrated. Dehydration can show itself in many ways, for example, thirst, bad breath, muscle cramps, or general fatigue. It’s also possible to experience headaches, constipation, or dizziness. 

When it’s hot outside, getting enough water is more important than ever. The body easily dehydrates in intense eat, and it can be easy to forget about water if you participate in fun, summer activities. Don’t end up in a hospital hooked up to an IV to replenish the body. You can easily avoid that if you use the following tips to stay hydrated during hot weather. 

Always Have Extra Water If You’re Outside

If you are outside in the heat, you can dehydrate quickly. It’s also easy to lose electrolytes via sweat, specifically sodium and potassium, so you have to replenish the body with water and electrolytes. To avoid low blood sodium and dehydration, bring a large water bottle and hydrate throughout your entire time outside. Additionally, consider buying all natural coconut water for electrolyte replenishment. 

Cool Down

Drinking water isn’t always enough to properly hydrate the body. People tend to neglect the fact that regulating body temperature is integral for proper hydration. The risk of heat stroke is much higher during summer, so do your best to keep the body cool. Wear loose-fitting clothing, avoid strenuous activity, and wear lighter colors when it’s hot outside. Protect your body by staying in the shade when possible, or cool off in a body of water. Lastly, keep a spray bottle of cold water on hand to mist yourself if need be. 

Hydrate Before A Hike

Hiking is a classic summer activity, but it’s easy to overheat and get dehydrated if the sun is blazing. Drink up before you hit the trail and get a head start on your hydration efforts. You can even bring a snack that helps to hydrate the body. Watermelon, cucumbers, and celery are great hydrating produce items. Additionally, carry a backpack with a bladder full of water, like a Camelbak. Not only will your back be cool, but you’ll have a hose to hydration on you at all times. 

Start Drinking Early

Water, we are talking about water. Drinking alcohol is a surefire way to dehydrate the body in no time. The body is naturally dehydrated when you wake up, so start your day with at least 16 ounces of water before you eat anything. Mornings are often the coolest parts of the day, so get ahead of dehydration. Additionally, consider doing strenuous activity in the mornings or evenings because you won’t sweat as much and you’ll stay more hydrated. 

Drink Water When You Sweat

Whether you play a pick-up game of basketball or head out on a hike, it’s your obligation to your health to drink water every time you sweat. The humidity, how much you sweat, and how long you exercise all contribute to dehydration. A great recommendation is to drink about 20 ounces of water two to three hours before exercise. Drink eight ounces of water 20-30 minutes before you exercise, and drink about 7-10 ounces of water every 20 minutes during exercise. Within 30 minutes of finishing your workout, drink eight ounces of water.

Eat Foods With High Water Content

About 20% of your daily water intake comes from food, so it’s wise to consume a variety fruits and vegetables for optimal water intake. Most fruits and vegetables contain some water, but some have more than others. Cucumbers, celery, tomatoes, radishes, bell peppers, watermelon, strawberries, broccoli, spinach, and grapefruit are great water-rich produce items. All of them contain 90% water or higher, so eat up!

SHARE:

The post The Best Ways To Stay Hydrated During Hot Weather appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Heat stroke is a condition that occurs when the body overheats, typically as a result of prolonged exposure to high temperatures. During the summer, it is very common to experience heat stroke or heat exhaustion. If you experience a heat stroke, it is very important to seek emergency treatment as it can be a life-threatening situation. When you don’t treat heat stroke immediately, you can damage muscles, heart, kidneys, and the brain. 

The scary part about heat stroke is that you don’t always know that you are in danger of it until it’s too late. What happens is that you end up in a state of confusion or deliriousness because nerve damage takes place. If you want to keep yourself out of harm’s way this summer, you have to take steps to ensure that you are hydrated and cool. There are things you can do and things you can avoid to reduce the risk of heat-related illness. 

Heat Stroke vs. Heat Exhaustion

Heat stroke happens when the body’s ability to regulate core temperature fails, so you overheat as a result. It is the most serious phase of heat-related illness. Heat exhaustion, on the other hand, is the phase just before you experience heat stroke. You start to feel the signs of heat illness, including muscle weakness and fatigue. How does the body get to these stages, though? Well, the body regulates core temperature to maintain a constant of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, even in the hottest and coldest climates. When the mechanisms that regulate core temperature break down, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can occur. If you want to prevent this from happening and avoid heat exhaustion this summer, make sure to keep the following tips in mind. 

Avoid Direct Sunlight

Avoid heat-related illness by limiting your exposure to direct sunlight, especially during the hottest parts of the day. The sun tends to be at its hottest during midday, so make sure to find shade or remain inside during those times. If you are outside, take additional measures to protect the skin by applying sunblock with an SPF of 30 or higher. 

Drink Water

When you are in the sun, it is natural to sweat because that is the body’s way of regulating core temperature. The body loses water and other minerals via sweat, though, meaning that you need to replenish that water by drinking lots of it. If you enjoy electrolyte powders, you can incorporate them into your hydration efforts as well; just don’t go for sugary electrolyte beverages. Always keep a full water bottle handy if you venture outside during the summer, and make sure to refill throughout the day. Additionally, consume more liquids if you do any sort of physical activity outside. 

Eat Hydrating Foods

In addition to drinking a lot of water, enhance your hydration efforts by eating water-rich foods. Various fruits and vegetables have high water content and contain electrolytes that can replenish the ones you lose via sweat. When you are able to maintain your fluid balance in the body, you can help keep blood pressure stable and aid with nerve signaling. Some great hydrating fruits and vegetables include carrots, watermelon, berries, cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, grapefruits, kiwis, pineapples, oranges, broccoli, honeydew, cantaloupe, and grapes. 

Check Your Medications

Believe it or not, certain medications increase your risk of heat stroke. They either interfere with your salt and water balance or affect how the body reacts to heat. Medications that increase the risk of heat exhaustion include antibiotics, laxatives, diuretics, antidepressants, antihistamines, blood pressure or cholesterol meds, and antipsychotics. If you take any of those medications, talk to your doctor about an increased risk of heat stroke. 

Avoid Alcohol, Caffeine, And Sugary Drinks

When you go through the effort to drink a lot of water during hot weather, the last thing you want to do is sabotage your hydration. When you focus on sugary, sweetened drinks, or beverages that contain alcohol or caffeine, you work to dehydrate the body. All of these drinks increase the need to urinate, which depletes your water and electrolyte supply. Additionally, consuming too much alcohol or sugary drinks can increase inflammation, which worsens symptoms of heat exhaustion.

SHARE:

The post Helpful Tips To Avoid Heat Exhaustion This Summer appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Even though your body rests while you sleep, it’s always at work. Catching some quality shut-eye doesn’t mean that your digestive system takes a moment to rest. It may operate at a slower speed than it does when you’re awake, but it still works to repair itself during your sleep, according to health experts. 

What you do before bed can influence your digestive system’s repair and reset processes. If you want to continue thriving and don’t want to upset your digestive system, prepare your gut for its nightly processes by adopting these bedtime habits. 

Skip That Bedtime Snack

When you eat too close to bedtime, you can disrupt your microbiome, the roughly 39 trillion bacteria that inhabit your gut. That’s why most health experts discourage large dinners and late dinners. If you can, eat dinner at least four hours prior to bedtime, and when bedtime rolls around, resist the urge to look for a little snacky snack. The reason for this is because the bacteria in your gut have a biological clock that tells them not to expect food at night. When the bacteria encounter food at night, not only is their biological clock thrown off, but they also don’t produce normal amounts of short-chain fatty acids needed for healthy metabolism. It’s not a big deal if you have a snack every once in a while, but consistent late night snacking can make it difficult to lose weight and can throw the digestive process out of whack. 

Drink Water

We don’t endorse chugging a half gallon of water right before you go to bed, but you should hydrate throughout the day. Don’t let waking up at 4 a.m. to pee deter you from drinking water all day. When you maintain proper hydration levels, you fuel numerous bodily processes. For example, water encourages healthy digestion and keeps your organs running smoothly. Additionally, water works to break down food in the digestive tract and helps prevent constipation. Water also reduces inflammation in the gut microbiome and works to enhance the body’s natural detoxification processes. Need an easy way to determine how much water to drink every day? Divide your body weight in half to get the number of ounces you should drink per day. If you weigh 150 pounds, aim to drink 75 ounces of water per day. 

Gently Move Your Body

You don’t need to run three miles before you hit the hay, but gentle movements can aid digestive function. In fact, various yoga poses can do wonders for digestion and even discourage bloating. According to health experts, gently moving the body before bed can encourage the growth of healthy bacteria within the gut. Try to engage in stretching, yoga, or even a walk outside during your evening routine. If you have a furry friend, it may appreciate the extra walk!

Limit Screen Time

Everything is perfectly fine in moderation, but winding down your evening in front of a screen is not what you need before bedtime. What do screens have to do with your digestive system, though? When you watch something on a screen, be it a series of reels on Instagram or a few episodes of your favorite show, you can increase stress hormone levels. The reason for this is because whatever you’re looking at requires you to pay attention. In this revved up state, falling asleep becomes a challenge. If your sleep suffers, so does your digestion. 

Reduce Stress Levels Before Bed

The stress of to-do lists, too much screen time before bed, and work projects can prevent you from falling asleep at night. If your partner is sound asleep next to you and you continue to stare at the ceiling, that can cause even more stress. Not only does stress interfere with sleep, but it also interferes with gut health. The gut-brain axis is the connection between the gut and the brain. High stress levels can affect the communication between the brain and the gut, altering gut microbiome and making you more susceptible to certain health issues. Although stress is an unavoidable part of life, there are ways to manage it. About an hour before you go to sleep, practice simple stress-relieving techniques to promote better sleep. Breathing exercises, meditation, or even restorative yoga can calm the mind and body, and help maintain optimal digestive health in the process. 

SHARE:

The post Things You Can Do At Night For Better Gut Health appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

If there’s one thing that all adults have in common, it’s that they have experienced chapped lips. Clinically called cheilitis, chapped lips appear red, dry, flaky, or swollen, and you experience soreness, itchiness, or burning. The lips, and the surrounding border, can suffer from these symptoms. The feeling is incredibly annoying, but you’re in luck because there are numerous remedies that can soothe the situation.

The skin on the lips is much thinner and more delicate than it is on other areas of the body. Because the lips are always exposed to the sun, cold, and dry air, they are much more prone to dryness, flaking, peeling, and cracking. The unfortunate phenomenon of chapped lips is because the lips lack oil glands. That means that they can’t produce their own moisture; however, natural moisturizers can offer relief. Below, you’ll learn about expert tips to soothe chapped lips quickly and naturally.

Try “Lip Slugging” Before Bed

Some swear by this trend, which has been popularized on TikTok. “Slugging” involves slathering your skin with a petrolatum-based product that acts as an occlusive. That means that the product seals moisture into the skin. Why the name “slugging,” you ask? The name comes from the fact that slugs leave a slimy trail behind. Although the origin of the name sounds gross, slugging may positively impact your lips. Use a moisturizer or hyaluronic acid serum on your lips and top that with a coat of Vaseline or Aquaphor to avoid chapping overnight. 

Exfoliate Your Lips

Have you ever seen lip scrubs? You may not think that the lips require exfoliation, but gently exfoliating them may help remove dry skin. Dry skin on the lips can prevent the healing ingredients in lip balms from reaching the area to fix the problem. That’s why beauty experts encourage you to scrub this layer of dry skin away with lip scrubs that contain baking soda or sugar. When choosing a lip scrub, make sure the ingredient list contains ingredients that soothe and moisturize the lips. If you want to make your own lip scrub, click here. 

Change Up Your Lip Balm

Lips can dry out for a variety of reasons, according to dermatologists. Cold weather, hot weather, forced indoor heat or air conditioning, contact dermatitis, and lip licking can all cause lips to chap. A common trigger, believe it or not, is your lip balm that you got at a random store. More often than not, these lip balms make your lips produce less of their own moisture, making them feel dryer and rough. You apply more lip balm and the cycle continues. Menthol, camphor, fragrances, and phenol can irritate your lips, but so can eucalyptus, salicylic acid, and flavorings. If your lip balm tingles your lips, it is probably irritating them, so treat your lips with the balm they deserve. Try to choose a balm that contains lip-friendly ingredients, such as petrolatum, shea butter, dimethicone, and ceramides. 

Drink Water

One of the major causes of chapped lips is dehydration. You may not experience chapped lips if you are slightly dehydrated, but avoiding water throughout the day can increase the risk of dry or cracked lips. Dehydration, of course, occurs when the body loses more fluid than you take in. The body starts to pull water from certain areas to ensure that cells stay hydrated. That can cause dryness all over the body, including the lips. Aim to drink half your body weight in ounces of water per day to stay properly hydrated, adjusting that figure if you exercise. 

Remove Lipstick Gently

It’s important to understand that long-wear or matte lipstick has a drying effect on your lips. If you suffer from chapped lips, or you find that certain lipsticks aggravate dryness, you may need to find a new lipstick. Lip gloss may serve as a better temporary option while you figure out a better option for lipstick. Although lip gloss isn’t hydrating, it doesn’t dry either. Anyways, when you remove lipstick, dermatologists suggest using a gentle makeup remover, as opposed to scrubbing your lips. Micellar water, for example, works like a charm on the reddest of red lipsticks!

SHARE:

The post 5 Expert Tips For Soothing Chapped Lips appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

If you have to take vitamins, medications, or supplements, the last thing you want to do is gag or choke during the process. “Pill dysphagia,” or trouble swallowing pills, is very common. What’s interesting is that people who have this difficulty don’t struggle to swallow solid foods or liquids. If you are one of the many people who have difficulty swallowing pills, you’ll want to learn about the different strategies in this article. 

For some people, large “horse” pills are the primary difficulty. For others, swallowing any little pill or capsule can seem like an impossible feat. Swallowing a pill is not as easy as it looks! The nerves in your mouth, throat, and esophagus work in unison to move food, liquids, and pills into the digestive tract. Typically, you don’t have to think about this teamwork when you swallow, but you become aware of all that goes into swallowing when pills or supplements enter the equation. The more you think about it, the more difficult it is. Fortunately, there are alternative strategies that may make swallowing pills a whole lot easier. 

Hydrate Your Throat

When your throat is dry, it is much more difficult for a pill to go down smoothly. Ideally, you want to lubricate your throat by drinking a glass of water before attempting to swallow your pill(s). Then, you drink more water when it comes time to actually take your pill/supplement. Some manufacturers make pill swallowing sprays, which are over-the-counter products that make the throat a bit more slippery. These sprays often contain food-based ingredients that are generally safe, according to a July 2018 study. Your average glass of water works just as well, though.

Consider Mixing The Pill With Food

Depending on the supplement, medication, or pill that you need to take, mixing it with food may be your best bet. You can crush a pill into yogurt, applesauce, or pudding, making the medicine go down a lot smoother. If you want to do that with medication or vitamins, you may want to consult your pharmacist or doctor to see if that is a viable option. The reason for this is that crushing up a drug, for example, can alter the way it works, especially in regards to extended-release pills. Additionally, there are certain food-drug interactions that you want to be aware of, as they may affect your meds. If you have a capsule like one of the many herbal supplements from Dherbs, you may be able to open the capsule and empty the contents into a smoothie or juice. 

Change Your Posture

It is completely normal to tilt your head back when you have to swallow vitamins or pills. For some people, this strategy helps the pill go down easier, while others increase their risk for gagging or choking by doing so. You can actually get better results when you lean forward, according to the Patient Preference and Adherence review. When you have a pill in your mouth and you lean forward, the pill will float toward the top of your mouth. When you swallow, the pill  actually goes down first. Your airway widens when you lean forward, making it easier for the pill to go down the hatch. Stand or sit up straight, place the pill on your tongue, and take a medium sip of water. Bend your head forward a little and, with your chin tilted toward your chest, swallow the water and pill together. 

Use A Pop Bottle

Designed by German researchers, the pop bottle method was intended to help people swallow dense tablets. If you want to swallow capsules, this method will not work well because they have air inside them, and air weighs less than water. If you want to swallow pills the “pop bottle” way, you need a full water bottle with a small opening, like a plastic bottle. Place the pill on your tongue and bring the bottle to your mouth, closing your lips around the opening. Use the pressure of the water bottle’s narrow opening to essentially force water down your throat as you swallow. This technique can make it much easier to swallow pills. In fact, a small study found that it eased pill-swallowing for 60% of the participants. 

Try A Pill-Swallowing Cup

There are special pill-swallowing cups and straws available at many pharmacies. These cups have a special top that extends toward the back of your throat. Although there isn’t a lot of clinical research published about pill cups, there are a lot of positive anecdotal accounts. They are made for people with dysphagia, as they have an increased risk of choking.

SHARE:

The post These Strategies Make Swallowing Pills Easier appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Boozy brunches, potlucks by the lake, or a tailgate session before a game are all alcohol-related summertime activities. Drinking alcohol during the day in these settings can lead to some stories you’ll never forget, but also some nasty hangovers. The pounding headache and grogginess are all part of the hangover, right? Well, there may be ways to minimize the effects of a hangover after some day drinking. 

Alcohol dehydrates the body very quickly, and the heat of a summer day only accelerates this process. Additionally, the average person isn’t focused on their water intake when they are day drinking, or drinking in general. Drinking throughout the day can be especially dangerous if the temperature is hot because it can increase your risk of heat exhaustion. That is one of the primary reasons day drinking is dangerous to your health. 

We should clarify that highlighting tips to help you minimize a hangover isn’t an excuse to drink heavily whenever you want. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that you should only consume alcohol in moderation. That translates to one drink, sometimes two, per day. Binge drinking usually occurs at some sort of event that involves consuming four or more alcoholic beverages within two hours. As a final note, any dark drinks or drinks that are artificially-colored can give you a hangover later in the day. 

Eat Before You Start Day Drinking

One of the biggest mistakes people make when drinking during the day is that they don’t eat before they drink. When you eat a healthy balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats, the body has an easier time absorbing alcohol. That, in turn, leads to a lesser chance of experiencing toxic or negative effects. In addition to eating before the drinks flow, try to protect yourself from sun exposure by wearing a hat, wearing sunscreen, and finding shade wherever possible. 

Alternate Between Alcohol And Water

Alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it causes the body to get rid of water via urination. That means that you can experience dehydration very quickly, especially on a hot day. The best thing you can do for your health is to drink a large glass of water between your alcoholic beverages. Not only does this help you slow down, but it also helps you detox as you go. Think of this as diluting the pollution. 

Pack Electrolyte Mixes

There are almost too many electrolyte-rich mixes and powders to count! Some are healthy and some have loads of sugar and preservatives. In addition to keeping up with your water intake, you also have to maintain your electrolyte balance. When you are in the sun and drinking, it is very easy to lose electrolytes, especially since alcohol increases urination. People who drink water or water with electrolyte mixes in it tend to feel much better and experience fewer hangovers than those who avoid these hydrating beverages. Just remember to keep hydrating before, during, and after your day drinking to minimize hangovers. 

Plan To Drink Less Than You Think You Can Handle

As a general rule of thumb, it is better to be modest about your alcohol consumption whenever you are drinking. This is a great way to prevent hangovers because excess consumption will leave you with an enormous headache. People consume more over the course of the day than they might in a night, and the drinks you consume can influence what happens later. Sugary alcoholic drinks may lead to a quick buzz, but they also increase the risk of throwing up. Vomiting is a major way to dehydrate the body! You can avoid this by not drinking too much and not suddenly pounding water to make up for the fluids you lose. 

End The Day Right

Sometimes, all you want to do is go to bed after a day drinking session. It’s never a bad idea to engage in a little self-care before you go to sleep, though. You can aid the detoxification process with a cup of herbal tea before bed; stinging nettle and milk thistle are great. Dandelion root tea will also support liver detoxification. Try to focus on a light meal that contains detoxifying ingredients like turmeric, garlic, cruciferous vegetables, lemon, onion, leafy greens, ginger, and dandelion. Prepping the night before will help you wake up more refreshed.

SHARE:

The post How To Minimize The Hangover You Get From Day Drinking appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Everyone has a weekend of eating that they regret. There’s no reason to view yourself as a failure, but it’s very easy to view yourself in that negative life. You may even wake up feeling guilty about everything you ate and drank. Don’t beat yourself up for succumbing to the temptation of unhealthy foods because there are easy ways to get your health back on track. 

Weekends, especially holiday weekends, are notorious for relaxing diets. Whether it’s a potluck party, backyard barbecue, Saturday night drinks, or Sunday brunch, the calories tally up quickly. Not to mention, it’s difficult to stick to your diet in these circumstances, so you abandon ship and join in the consumption. This excess comes in the form of unhealthy carbs, salt, sugars, and fats. This leaves you feeling tired, guilty, hungry, and bloated. 

So how do you find your balance again? If the weekend threw you for a spin and you let yourself go, use the following tips to help you recover. You’ll be feeling like your best self in no time!

Let It Go

After falling off your diet, the first rule of thumb is to leave it in the past. You cannot change the past, but hopefully you learned your lesson. How did all of that binge eating make you feel? Not good, right? That’s perfectly acceptable, but just acknowledge your mistakes and get back on the horse. 

Don’t Skip Breakfast

While it may seem like a good idea to skip breakfast after an unhealthy weekend, it’s actually a horrible dietary mistake. Dietitians advise against skipping the first meal of the day because skipping a meal can slow the metabolism. This leaves you feeling bloated and unhealthy, and you may retain fat or fluid as a result. Instead, opt for a lighter breakfast like a fruit and vegetable smoothie, oatmeal, or chia pudding to start your day. Good fuel is better than no fuel.

Drink That Water

When your diet gets away from you, so do your healthy hydration habits. Additionally, most people forget to drink enough water in unhealthy situations because they are focused on consuming or drinking other things. After an indulgent weekend, drink a tall glass of water as soon as you wake up. The body needs water to move waste through the digestive tract, and it also helps to improve alkalinity and immune function. If you want to enhance the hydration and detox efforts, add a little lemon juice and apple cider vinegar to the water. 

Add Some Fiber

There’s no need to go out and purchase a fiber supplement or anything like that. The goal should be to consume whole foods that are naturally rich in fiber. Focus on fresh fruits, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates from foods like sweet potatoes and quinoa. These foods help to move food through the digestive tract, which you desperately need after binge eating. Plus, fiber keeps you satiated between meals, helping you avoid unhealthy and unnecessary snacking.

Get Moving

One workout isn’t going to undo the damage of a bottle of wine, four slices of pizza, a bowl of buttery popcorn, and a burger. That’s just a fact, but it’s important to get your body moving again. When you slide right back into your regular workout routine, you’ll be able to find that rhythm again. Regular exercise is what helps you stick to your goals and burn off excess calories. Consider engaging in a high intensity interval training session to burn more calories on the first day back after the weekend. You’ll be tired in the best way possible!

Get Plenty Of Sleep

People think that they’ll get more sleep on the weekend, but this may not always be the case. If it’s a social weekend and you go out and indulge with food and drink, you may only sleep for a few hours. Additionally, the quality of sleep may not be that great because alcohol can easily disrupt sleep. One sleep study found that people who only got five hours of sleep ate more the following day. People who slept for seven to nine hours ate less. People who sleep well have better food restraint, which helps to decrease overall caloric intake. 

Don’t Get On The Scale

The scale is not your friend after a weekend of unhealthy eating. It will most likely display a higher number than you are used to, but this is most likely because there is extra food sitting in the digestive tract. There’s no reason to start your day with defeat. Instead, try to weigh yourself after you get back on track for a couple days. This will most likely result in the number you’re used to seeing.

SHARE:

The post How To Recover After A Weekend Of Unhealthy Eating appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

When it comes to aging gracefully, the simplest solutions are the most effective. Anti-aging creams and serums that promise a youthful appearance, but they don’t always work. Or, it’s possible that these products are effective, but you aren’t doing the extra steps to maximize the anti-aging efforts. According to experts, though, the answer to a more youthful glow over the years flows freely from your faucet. 

Water, believe it or not, is incredibly effective at helping you age with ease. Not only does it work to transport nutrients to cells, but it also regulates body temperature and lubricates the joints. A person who consumes plenty of water tends to be more alkaline, wrinkle-free, and free of toxins. Additionally, water helps to improve skin elasticity and even support memory function, an integral aspect of health in old age. 

Get a glass of water first thing in the morning, before you eat anything and before you drink another beverage. Older adults are more prone to dehydration, so experts believe that drinking more water may support healthy aging. Continue reading to learn more about how increasing your water intake, especially in the morning, can help you age gracefully.

Reduces Wrinkles

It doesn’t need to be said, but we’ll say it anyway: Water hydrates the body. In doing so, you can help maintain skin elasticity, which may reduce the appearance of fine lines, scars, and wrinkles. As you grow older, these signs are more noticeable, so drinking more water may help you fight back. Additionally, water works to remove toxins from the body, helping you clear up pores on the epidermis. 

Supports Memory Function

The more you tax the body, the more the body’s organs have to work. If your heart, liver, kidneys, and more have to work harder, it has a taxing effect on the brain. Failure to drink a sufficient amount of water means that the body cannot flush out urea, which can lead to cognitive issues like disorientation and confusion. Starting your day with water helps to get the body out of a dehydrated state. In fact, sipping water first thing in the morning has been associated with better short- and long-term memory.

Contributes To Healthier Skin

Many studies indicate that increasing your water intake can improve the appearance and health of the skin. The skin contains about 30% water, which works to keep it plump and resilient. A study from 2015 found that drinking more water has a positive effect on the skin’s physiology. It helped the skin appear youthful and more hydrated, especially in people who typically drank less water. Another study from 2018 found that drinking more water improved the hydration of the skin’s outer layer. Researchers noted that sufficient water intake may not offset the effects that the environment, genetics, and sun have on the skin. 

Protects Your Heart

A recent 2021 study was presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2021. Researchers of the study concluded that sufficient hydration may delay or help changes in the heart that contribute to heart failure. The body cannot operate efficiently if it does not get the nutrients it needs. This is especially true for water. It stands to reason, then, that staying hydrated improves the health of your ticker. 

Improves pH Balance

The pH of any substance ranges from 0-14, with 0 being extremely acidic and 14 being very basic. A pH value of 7 is considered neutral, and that is the exact pH value of pure water. Alkaline water has a higher pH, typically ranging from 8.5-9.5, or somewhere in that neighborhood. Increasing your water intake helps your skin maintain a healthy pH balance. A balanced pH level in the skin helps you avoid early signs of aging. 

Removes Toxins

If you fail to drink water, toxins like urea accumulate in the body. According to researchers, excess urea can interfere with regular bodily functions. Additionally, urea may negatively affect your electrolyte balance. As you can see, this damaging domino effect that stems from electrolyte imbalance can result in delirium, which causes the person to experience severe confusion. This chain reaction can lead to urinary tract infections and more. Drink water to stabilize electrolyte levels and to flush out your bladder.

SHARE:

The post Want To Age Well? Do This Every Morning appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.