Got Allergies?

 Got Allergies? Avoid these 7 mistakes 

Misery loves comfort, and with approximately 50 million Americans plagued by seasonal allergies, there are plenty of people feeling miserable and seeking comfort when pollen is in the air.

But in an attempt to relieve their sneezing, stuffy or runny noses, and itchy eyes, allergy sufferers might make a few mistakes. 

The good news is that "seasonal allergies are totally treatable. The key is to have a plan in place.

Mistake 1: Spending unwisely on over-the-counter medications

When people with allergies feel lousy, they may head to the drugstore and try a variety of products, such as antihistamines, nasal sprays and eye drops. This isn't necessarily a smart or cost-effective way to relieve their symptoms, though. It's better to see an allergist who can pinpoint exactly what your allergies are and create an allergy action plan.

Mistake 2: Opening the windows

Wind is not a good friend to people with seasonal allergies. But when the weather gets warm, it's tempting to let fresh air and cool breezes into your home or car. This is a big mistake for people with seasonal allergies because this allows pollens to visit.  They recommend keeping windows shut, running the air conditioner to recirculate inside air and using HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters to trap pollen. 

Mistake 3: Not taking steps to keep pollen away

Your shoes, clothes, hair and glasses can all track pollen from outside into your home. Pets also bring pollen inside, so keep them clean. You should keep your own hair clean, too. Wash hair at the end of the day to avoid transferring pollen to your pillowcase and sleeping on a pollen cloud. It can also help to use saline nasal sprays, which are like a shower for your nose, to gently irrigate pollen from it. They also recommended that people avoid hanging laundry on an outdoor clothesline during allergy season.

Mistake 4: Neglecting your eyes

Many people don't realize that lots of pollen enters the body through the eyes. Protecting your eyes offers a great opportunity to reduce the pollen load your body experiences. A brimmed hat and sunglasses can help block pollens from your face before they find their way into your nose and eyes. Eye rinses can wash away pollen, and antihistamine eye drops can relieve red, itchy eyes.

Mistake 5: Waiting too long to take allergy medications

Treat allergies at the onset of pollen season, rather than waiting until symptoms get more severe. They advise patients to begin taking their medications one or two weeks before their allergy season typically begins. A proactive approach works better for many people; it may reduce the severity of symptoms, and the patient may end up needing less medication.

Mistake 6: Overusing nasal sprays

People should generally limit their use of over-the-counter nasal decongestant spray to a maximum of five days in a row; otherwise the spray may irritate the lining of the nose and sinuses. With too much use, these sprays can make the nose severely congested, and some people just keep squirting in more spray to ease the stuffiness. Rebound congestion creates symptoms worse than the original problem.  

Mistake 7: Eating foods that aggravate allergies

When some people with pollen allergies eat certain fresh fruits and vegetables, it may result in an itchy mouth or throat. This is known as oral allergy syndrome. The allergic cross-reaction occurs shortly after the offending food is eaten. It happens because the immune system recognizes a similarity between proteins in some pollens and those in fruits, vegetables, nuts and spices. For example, a person with a birch pollen allergy may develop oral allergy symptoms after eating an apple, carrot, peach, almond or hazelnut. Sometimes peeling, cooking or avoiding the food altogether during allergy season may prevent symptoms.

ANYTHING THAT CAN HELP... I KNOW I'M WILLING TO TRY BECAUSE BAD ALLERGIES CAN RUIN YOUR DAY, EVERYDAY! 

BECAUSE WE CARE...

#TEAMBOUSEHOUSE

#OCREALESTATE  #REMAX

EGGS... An Egg-ceptional Superfood

 

Happy week after Easter everyone!!

After such a week and weekend of dying eggs and Easter egg hunts... since eggs were on my mind here is what I found for you guys. It is so very true and interesting. Have a read😉

Why Are Eggs Good for You? An Egg-Ceptional Superfood

Many healthy foods have been unfairly demonized in the past, including coconut oil, cheese and unprocessed meat.

But among the worst examples are the false claims about eggs, which are one of the healthiest foods on the planet.

Eggs Do Not Cause Heart Disease

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Historically, eggs have been considered unhealthy because they contain cholesterol.

A large egg contains 212 mg of cholesterol, which is a lot compared to most other foods.

However, many studies have shown that the dietary cholesterol in eggs does not adversely affect cholesterol levels in the blood.

In fact, eggs raise your “good” HDL cholesterol and change your “bad” LDL cholesterol from small and dense to large, which is benign.

One analysis of 17 studies on egg consumption and health discovered no connection between eggs and either heart disease or stroke in otherwise healthy people.

What’s more, multiple other studies have led to the same conclusion.

SUMMARY

Despite incorrect assumptions about eggs in the past, eating them has no association with heart disease.

Eggs Are Rich in Unique Antioxidants

Eggs are particularly rich in the two antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin.

These antioxidants gather in the retina of the eye where they protect against harmful sunlight and reduce the risk of eye diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts.

SUMMARY

Eggs contain large amounts of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, both of which dramatically lower your risk of age-related eye disorders.

Eggs Are Among the Most Nutritious Foods on the Planet

Just think about it, one egg contains all the nutrients and building blocks required to grow a baby chicken.

Eggs are loaded with high-quality proteins, vitamins, minerals, good fats and various trace nutrients.

A large egg contains:

• Only 77 calories, with 5 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein with all 9 essential amino acids.
• Rich in iron, phosphorus, selenium and vitamins A, B12, B2 and B5 (among others).
• About 113 mg of choline, a very important nutrient for the brain.

If you decide to include eggs in your diet, make sure to choose organic and free-range eggs.  They are much more nutritious.

Make sure to eat the yolks, since they contain pretty much all the nutrients.

SUMMARY

Eggs contain all 9 essential amino acids, are highly concentrated with vitamins and minerals and are among the best sources of choline you can get. Omega-3-enriched or pastured eggs are the best.

Eggs Are Filling and Help You Lose Weight

Eggs score high on a scale called the satiety index, which means that eggs are particularly good at making you feel full and eat fewer overall calories.

Also, they only contain trace amounts of carbohydrates, which means they will not raise your blood glucose levels.

In a study in 30 overweight or obese women that ate either a bagel or eggs for breakfast, the egg group ended up eating less during lunch, the rest of the day and for the next 36 hours.

In another study, overweight adults were calorie-restricted and given either two eggs (340 calories) or bagels for breakfast.

After eight weeks, the egg-eating group experienced the following:

• 61% greater reduction in BMI
• 65% more weight loss
• 34% greater reduction in waist circumference
• 16% greater reduction in body fat

This difference was significant even though both breakfasts contained the same number of calories.

Put simply, eating eggs is an excellent weight-loss strategy.

SUMMARY

Eggs are a nutritious, protein-rich food with a strong impact on satiety. Studies show that eating eggs for breakfast can help you lose weight.

An Egg-Ceptional Superfood

Eggs are exceptionally nutritius, weight-loss friendly and high in antioxidants.

If you need any more reasons to eat eggs, they are also cheap, go with almost any food and taste great.

If any food deserves to be called a superfood, it’s eggs.

6 Reasons Why Eggs Are the Healthiest Food on the Planet

Eggs are so nutritious that they’re often referred to as “nature’s multivitamin.”

They also contain unique antioxidants and powerful brain nutrients that many people are deficient in.

Here are 6 reasons why eggs are among the healthiest foods on the planet.

1. Whole Eggs Are Among the Most Nutritious Foods on Earth

One whole egg contains an amazing range of nutrients.

In fact, the nutrients in there are enough to turn a single fertilized cell into an entire baby chicken.

Eggs are loaded with vitamins, minerals, high-quality protein, good fats and various other lesser-known nutrients.

One large egg contains:

• Vitamin B12 (cobalamin): 9% of the RDA
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin): 15% of the RDA
• Vitamin A: 6% of the RDA
• Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid): 7% of the RDA
• Selenium: 22% of the RDA
• Eggs also contain small amounts of almost every vitamin and mineral required by the human body, including calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, manganese, vitamin E, folate and many more.

A large egg contains 77 calories, with 6 grams of quality protein, 5 grams of fat and trace amounts of carbohydrates.

It’s very important to realize that almost all the nutrients are contained in the yolk, the white contains only protein.

SUMMARY

Whole eggs are incredibly nutritious, containing a very large amount of nutrients compared to calories. The nutrients are found in the yolks, while the whites are mostly protein.

2. Eggs Improve Your Cholesterol Profile and do NOT Raise Your Risk of Heart Disease

The main reason people have been warned about eggs is that they’re loaded with cholesterol.

One large egg contains 212 mg of cholesterol, which is a lot compared to most other foods.

However, dietary sources of cholesterol have a minimal effect on cholesterol levels in the blood.

Your liver actually produces cholesterol, every single day. The amount produced depends on how much you eat.

If you get a lot of cholesterol from food, your liver produces less. If you don’t eat cholesterol, your liver produces more of it.

The thing is, many studies show that eggs actually improve your cholesterol profile.

They raise HDL (the “good”) cholesterol and they tend to change the LDL (the “bad”) cholesterol to a large subtype which is not as strongly associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

Multiple studies have examined how eating eggs affects the risk of heart disease and found no association between the two.

On the contrary, eggs have been linked with health benefits.

One study discovered that eating 3 whole eggs per day reduced insulin resistance, raised HDL and increased the size of LDL particles in people with metabolic syndrome.

SUMMARY

Studies show that eggs actually improve the cholesterol profile. They raise HDL (good) cholesterol and increase the size of LDL particles, which should lower the risk of heart disease.

3. Eggs Are Loaded With Choline, an Important Nutrient for the Brain

Choline is a lesser-known nutrient that is often grouped with the B-complex vitamins.

Choline is an essential nutrient for human health and is needed for various processes in the body.

It is required to synthesize the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and is also a component of cell membranes.

A low choline intake has been implicated in liver diseases, heart disease and neurological disorders.

This nutrient may be especially important for pregnant women. Studies show that a low choline intake can raise the risk of neural tube defects and lead to decreased cognitive function in the baby.

Many people do not get enough choline. As an example, one study in pregnant, Canadian women found that only 23% reached the adequate intake of choline.

The best sources of choline in the diet are egg yolks and beef liver. One large egg contains 113 mg of choline.

SUMMARY

Choline is an essential nutrient that few people get enough of. Egg yolks are an excellent source of choline.

4. Eggs Contain High-Quality Proteins With a Perfect Amino Acid Profile

Proteins are the main building blocks of the body and serve both structural and functional purposes.

They consist of amino acids that are linked together, kind of like beads on a string, and then folded into complex shapes.

There are about 21 amino acids that your body uses to build its proteins.

Nine of these cannot be produced by the body and have to be obtained from the diet. They are known as essential amino acids.

The quality of a protein source is determined by its relative amounts of these essential amino acids. A protein source that contains all of them in the right ratios is a high-quality source of protein.

Eggs are among the best sources of protein in the diet. In fact, the biological value (a measure of protein quality) is often evaluated by comparing it to eggs, which are given the perfect score of 100.

SUMMARY

Eggs are an excellent source of protein, with all the essential amino acids in the right ratios.

5. Eggs Are Loaded With Lutein and Zeaxanthin, Which Protect the Eyes

There are two antioxidants in eggs that can have powerful protective effects on the eyes.

They are called lutein and zeaxanthin, both found in the yolk.

Lutein and zeaxanthin tend to accumulate in the retina, the sensory part of the eye, where they protect the eyes from harmful sunlight.

These antioxidants significantly reduce the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts, which are among the leading causes of vision impairment and blindness in the elderly.

SUMMARY

Eggs are very high in the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which can drastically reduce the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.

6. Eggs for Breakfast Can Help You Lose Body Fat

Eggs contain only trace amounts of carbohydrates, but plenty of protein and fat.

They score very high on a scale called the satiety index, which is a measure of how much foods contribute to satiety.

For this reason, it is not surprising to see studies showing that eating eggs for breakfast may lead to fat loss.

In one study, 30 overweight or obese women consumed a breakfast of either eggs or bagels. Both breakfasts had the same amount of calories.

The women in the egg group felt more full and ate fewer calories for the rest of the day and for the next 36 hours.

In another study that went on for 8 weeks, eating eggs for breakfast led to significant weight loss compared to the same amount of calories from bagels. The egg group:

• Lost 65% more body weight.
• Lost 16% more body fat.
• Had a 61% greater reduction in BMI.
• Had a 34% greater reduction in waist circumference (a good marker for the dangerous belly fat).

SUMMARY

Eggs are very satiating. As a result, eating eggs for breakfast may reduce calorie intake later in the day and promote fat loss.

Not All Eggs Are the Same

It’s important to keep in mind that not all eggs are created equal.

Hens are often raised in factories, caged and fed grain-based feed that alters the final nutrient composition of their eggs. It is best to buy organic and free-range eggs, which are more nutritious and healthier.

However, conventional supermarket eggs are still a good choice if you can’t afford or access the others.

SUMMARY

The nutrient content of eggs largely depends on how the hens were fed. Omega-3 enriched or pastured eggs tend to be richer in healthy nutrients.

The Bottom Line

Eggs are among the most nutritious foods you can find, providing virtually all the vitamins and minerals you need.

To top things off, eggs are cheap, taste awesome and go with almost any food.

They really are an exceptional superfood. 

Simply amazing right??

Because we care...

#teambousehouse

#ocrealestate    #Remax

 

 

Outdoor exercise vs indoor exercise

 

Outdoor vs. Indoor Exercises

Several studies demonstrate that exercising outdoors may improve energy and decrease stress to a greater extent than working out inside.

1. It allows you to burn more calories and work longer.

People exercising inside are pretty limited on the treadmill or elliptical, while working out outside promotes "muscle confusion,” which can help the body burn more calories. Besides that, there is no doubt that fresh air is superior to the recycled air inside of a building. Fresh air will give off more energy and the opportunity of working longer. Furthermore, it is easier to lose track of time when working out in a beautiful environment than in the gym, where it is easier to constantly check how much time is left.

2. Exposure to sunlight boosts Vitamin D production.

Vitamin D, one of the fat-soluble vitamins essential to strong bones and a healthy immune system, can be attained via sun exposure. Some researchers suggest that 30 minutes of sun exposure at least twice a week is sufficient for vitamin D synthesis. According to Harvard Health Publications, a proper level of vitamin D can help to prevent diseases like osteoporosis, cancer and heart attacks.

3. Outdoor activity has a better effect on mental health.

A study shows that just an hour spent interacting with nature can improve memory performance and attention spans by 20 percent, double of what one can get with indoor exercise. Natural environments is indeed connected to greater feelings of revitalization and positive engagement.

4. It is useful to break the routine.

When exercising outside, the environment is every day a little bit different. Even if someone tends to always work out at the same place, the weather and surroundings will never be the same as the day before. People spend most of our days indoors using technology for work-related reasons. Disconnecting from virtual world and breaking away from daily routine is helpful to clear the mind and reduce stress; it will probably also help with professional and personal life.

5. It allows you to save time.

Going to the gym means spending time to get there, coming back, putting stuff in a locker, taking it out of the locker, all with the distractions involving a place frequented by other people. Running or walking outside may start as soon as someone gets out the door.

Being outdoors or indoors, working out is vital to stay healthy and fit. Fitness freaks have their own conceptions about choosing the kind of environment they want to exercise in. However, to help you take the decision rather easily, here are some of the advantages associated with both kinds of environments.

ADVANTAGES OF EXERCISING OUTDOORS

• It is possible to choose from a variety of places for exercise.
• It increases exposure to nature and fresh air.
• You get to work out alone as well as in groups.
• It is a great mood booster with proven positive psychological effects.
• Outdoor exercises allows for more quality interaction with family members and pets.
• Working out outdoors increases the scope for better absorption of Vitamin D which helps improve bone mass.

In fact, studies show that people who exercise outdoors or take up any kind of physical activity like walking, biking, or hiking tend to be more physically active than those working out at fitness joints and gyms.

ADVANTAGES OF EXERCISING INDOORS

• Your fitness session is not dependent upon the weather.
• An indoor workout prevents you from exposure to allergens like pollens and dust.
• Indoor exercises are far more consistent and contain tried and tested methods for fitness.
• Specific equipment meant for spot reduction are easily available in the gym guaranteeing a more effective workout.
• Working out in a gym enables you to work out amongst people with common mindsets, thereby helping you achieve your fitness goals with increased motivation.
• You have a variety of fitness programs, diet charts, and exercise schedules.

BEING FLEXIBLE IS CERTAINLY ADVANTAGEOUS

Keeping an open mindset will help you enjoy the benefits of both worlds. Both indoor and outdoor environments have pros and cons. It is up to you to decide how you can derive the best from both.

BECAUSE WE CARE...

#teambousehouse

#ocrealestate

#remax

 

Wake Your Mind Up With a Hug

Sometimes we wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Whether it’s due to lack of sleep, a toddler elbowing you all night, or nerves about a big meeting, we all know that not-so-pleasant feeling we get when we pull the sheets off, plant our feet on the floor, and think about the day ahead.

While it isn’t realistic to wake up every day with a smile on our face, it is possible to improve our moods first thing in the a.m.

This week Wake Your Mind Up tip is simple, effective, and the perfect amount of warm and fuzzy — give your partner a hug.

Or your roommate, kids, pet, or even yourself. Give them (or you) a hug!

The point is to begin your day with a grounding gesture that reminds you you are not alone in life, and that whatever you’re worried about probably isn’t all that bad. A hug is an incredibly easy and effective way to melt stress, clear brain fog, and even re-energize you.

A

ccording to integrative medicine specialists, hugging helps lower our stress throughout the day. Some researchers believe hugging (and other interpersonal touches) boost oxytocin in our bodies, making us feel instantly calmer and all around better. 

What else can hugs do?

• They can give our immune system a healthy boost
• They can lower heart rate and blood pressure
• They can lead to decreased feelings of depression

Takeaway

A hug can be an instant reliever of anxiety, not to mention a feel-good expression that can be felt all day long. Hugs serve as a reminder that you are loved, cherished, and supported — and really, there’s no greater feeling than that.

Other ways to wake your mind up

-Say one thing you love about your life while your coffee is brewing.

Out loud, and with a smile on your face!

-Dance a little while you brush your teeth.

This is what I call multi-tasking at its finest — and in my opinion, the only type of multi-tasking that works — when it’s short, fun, and a little bit silly.

-Do a 2-minute power pose.

Stand in a posture you mentally associate with being powerful, with the belief you will feel and behave more assertively throughout the day.

It's the little things we shouldn't take for granted. Do it for yourself but also to help others, it's more important than you think.

Human touches, human feels... we all need it, no matter who you are😉

BECAUSE WE CARE...

#teambousehouse

#ocrealestate 

#remax