There are natural ways to boost your energy without having to take any energy drinks. They are all related to the five human senses. Here are our tips on how to boost your energy naturally:

1.) Sound – Listening to music for approximately an hour a day can reduce daytime fatigue according to a recent study. Listening to music can also play an important part in the growth and repair of cells. The music should be upbeat, it can be classical or by Lady Gaga as long as it’s upbeat! Talking to a friend or family member can also help you gain energy. Hearing the voice of someone familiar can release oxytocin – a stress-fighting and mood-elevating hormone.

2.) Touch – Touching something smooth such as a ring or flat rock with your thumb can help to calm social butterflies. A hand or foot massage can also help to lower heart rates.

3.) Sight – The colour yellow is most closely linked with a healthy mood. Other colours that can be deemed as positive are orange and lilac. Sitting next to a light box for 45 minutes a day can also help to increase wakefulness during peak hours according to a study done by Harvard Medical School and Northeastern University.

4.) Smell – The smell of orange and peppermint have been linked to people having more positive experiences at events. The smell of peppermint is a natural stimulant that can lessen stress according to the North American Journal of Psychology. The smell of lemons can also bump up your energy.

5.) Taste – A combination of cooling and tangy citrus flavours can also boost your energy by activating nerves in the mouth and throat that can trigger an increased level of brain activity. Chewing gum can also increase energy. Chewing gum increases energy by increasing heart rate and alertness. It also stimulates the nervous system.

Tag(s): Nutribar

energy, energy boost, energy boosters, five senses, lifestyle, well-being

The holidays are meant for relaxing and spending time with friends and family, but that doesn’t mean exercise should be put on the back burner. People tend to cancel yoga classes and avoid the gym during the holidays.

There are also many holiday treats that can be very tempting to eat. To avoid feeling the fitness consequences of the holidays, make a workout plan that you can stick with. By having a workout schedule that you can follow during the holidays, you will not have to work as hard or as much to shed the extra holiday weight during the month of January.

There are a few things that you can do to ensure that you do not have to lose too much weight once the holidays are over. One thing you can is to make sure you do not starve yourself the whole day if you have a dinner or party to attend. People often make much poorer food choices and ear more when they are hungry. If you eat healthily throughout the day, it is less likely that you will eat poorly during your evening event. Another thing to do is to ensure that you are well hydrated, thirst can sometimes be mistaken for hunger. It is important to have fun during the holidays and indulge carefully!

Tag(s): Nutribar

Exercise, exercise tips, fitness, holidays, nutrition, well-being

Increasing your metabolism is a way to help shed those extra pounds. Here are some ways to increase your metabolism:

1. Drink green tea. Green tea contains a plant compound called ECGC, this compound promotes fat burning.

2. Get enough iron. Iron is important because it helps carry oxygen to your muscles, if your muscles don’t get enough oxygen, metabolism slows. To get more iron into your diet you can eat iron-fortified cereals, dark leafy greens, and beans.

3. Sleeping early also helps to boost your metabolism. Get at least 8 hours of sleep a night so that you do not throw off the amount of leptin and ghrelin in your body. Leptin and ghrelin are hormones that regulate your energy use and appetite.

4. Eat a good breakfast every day. Some things to eat for breakfast include lean protein with complex carbohydrates and healthy fats. Egg whites are a great example for proteins and steel-cut oats are also great for complex carbohydrates.

Tag(s): Nutribar

green tea, health tips, iron, metabolism, nutritional information, sleep

Herbal teas are growing in popularity because of all the wonderful health benefits that they provide. Herbal teas release various phytochemicals and compounds that are found within the herbs that have great effects on the body. These compounds and phytochemicals are found in the stems, leaves, bark, fruits, and roots of certain plants. Using herbal teas for health benefits is not something new, herbal teas have been used to treat and prevent various ailments for many years.

Stinging Nettle
-A flowering shrub that can be used as an anti inflammatory
-Prevents the creation of histamines which are substances that can cause allergy symptoms

Chamomile
-A study done by the University of Pennsylvania determined that those who used chamomile daily, were less anxious than those who did not
-Chamomile comprises of chrysin – a compound that has a relaxing effect on nervous systems

Valerian
-This herb enhances levels of gammaaminobutyric acids
-Gammaaminobutyric acids are a brain chemical that can aid in generating sleep and relaxation

Peppermint
-Great for freshening breaths
-Also helps with digestion because it eases bloating and helps stomach muscles to relax

Sage
-Stimulates the nervous system and digestive system

Lobelia
-Helps sedate nerves which releases panic and tension
-Can also be used to aid in the treatment of asthma

calming teas, health, health tips, healthy eating habits, healthy teas, sleep, tea

Have you ever had someone tell you to ‘eat right!’ or ‘Exercise!’? Chances are that you probably have. It’s almost impossible to set foot in modern society without hearing those phrases, or something similar. 

A recent article in the Vancouver Sun is saying that doing those basic things isn’t enough. Sure, it’s key to your overall health, but our needs are deeper. 

The article goes on to say that what actually makes us happier is targeted – higher the income, higher the happiness. 

Interesting stuff, if nothing else.

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In a day and age where everything is accessible to kids, parents have to be watchful. Kids pick up bad habits easier too, and nothing is more attractive to an impressionable child than smoking. Cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos flavoured to taste like fruit and candy only make the situation worse, creating a product that entices kids.

The Canadian federal government is in full agreement, and yanked said products off the shelf. The Toronto Star wrote:

“…The legislation makes it illegal for retailers to sell cigarettes, cigarillos and blunt wraps which contain specific additives or flavourings aimed at youth.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says the government is committed to protecting youth from “unscrupulous marketing practices by the tobacco industry.”

He is calling on tobacco producers and retailers to respect the spirit of the legislation, as well as its legal obligations”.

Read the rest of the Toronto Star’s ‘Flavoured cigarettes banned in Canada’ article.

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