As homeowners, we must ensure we are choosing the right things to invest in. We want to leave a lasting impression on guests while sticking to our budgets. Interior design is about so much more than colour schemes, décor and furniture – flooring should be a priority too! 

One of the more popular types of flooring that has been installed in homes across the world is that of laminate flooring. Keep reading for a discussion of some of the benefits and reasons why you should choose laminate in 2021!

It’s durable 

One of the best things about laminate floors is that they are entirely durable. The flooring is made from multiple bonded layers which make up one highly durable material. This is why people tend to go for laminate as it lasts a long time and serves as the perfect type of flooring for busy households. 

Laminate is scratch-resistant, making it the ideal choice for families with pets or for homes that have a lot of people going in and out. With that being said, it is a fantastic option for homes that need flooring that’ll last!

It’s easier to install

Secondly, laminate flooring is much easier and cheaper to install than other types of flooring. Laminate is made in bulk which means that suppliers usually have quick and easy access to it – this lessens the amount you’d be expected to pay in most circumstances. 

Moreover, it can be installed by a professional or you if you are confident enough to do it. Other floor types such as hardwood and carpet tend to need a lot more care with installation, but laminate can be installed with ease, worry-free. 

It’s affordable 

A third reason why you should choose laminate floors for your home in 2021 is that it is very affordable. More often than not, those who tend to go for laminate are the ones that like to redecorate every so often. This is very useful as laminate can be replaced cheaply and consistently if that’s what you want to do. 

Rather than replacing an expensive carpet every six months to a year, replacing laminate is easier, cheaper and more worthwhile in the long run. 

It’s suitable for the whole home

Finally, another benefit of laminate is that it is suitable for the whole home. It can be installed pretty much all over the house as it has several features making it more durable. As we mentioned, laminate is scratch-resistant; not only this, but it is also moisture-resistant. This means that it can withstand higher levels of moisture. 

Laying flooring like solid hardwood in a bathroom isn’t a great idea as we run the risk of the wood warping and splitting when exposed to higher moisture levels. With laminate, we don’t have to worry about where we lay it as it will suit most rooms around your home. 

Will you consider laminate floors in 2021? 

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When in youth, many of us take a certain amount of pride in running ourselves ragged, in going out and experiencing all life has to offer. While the last year has prevented us from doing that, it can seem that many of us may wish to overcompensate when we return to normality, and who could blame us for doing so?

However, while it can sound boring and yawn-inducing to hear of as a child, caring for your body (no matter how well it can bounce back at the moment) is essential. It’s very important for us to avoid bad habits and to respect our bodies, and their needs. We need to focus on what can sustain us in the long term, and to apply disciplines that help us moderate our vices.

For instance, many people enjoy a drink, but establishing regular binge drinking habits at any time, but especially in youth, can be a problem. The weight of our indiscretions often become harder to bear as we age. We get away with less than we may have done.

For that reason, we believe that no matter what age you are, it’s important to consider how to protect your hearing over time. It’s a sense we often take for granted, but it can be abused. Let’s see how we can avoid that fate:

Monitor Your Volumes

Monitor the volumes you use when listening to playback through headphones, or when attending concerts (hearing protection is well-suited for this), and making sure that you avoid overly loud environments. Hearing damage can often occur in youth based on the environments we put ourselves in or the decisions we make – even if that means neglecting ear protection in a busy work environment. 

Visit Your Doctor When Issues Arise

As soon as you feel a hearing issue arise or you simply feel like you’re saying ‘what?’ more than usual lately, it can be healthy to visit your physician, and from there, an audiologist. They can help confirm if you’re suffering from an issue or not, and to what extent. For instance, tinnitus may signify a neurological problem, or it could mean a heavy buildup of internal earwax.

Don’t Penetrate The Eardrum

Try not to penetrate the eardrum. This involves using ear buds to dig too deeply into the ear canal, using home treatments to remove wax in this context, or pushing ear plugs too deeply into your ear (such as when using in-ear headphones during a workout). It can also be healthy to avoid filling your ears too much at all, as issues such as swimmer’s ears can arise when you neglect to give your ears the breathing room they truly do deserve.

With these efforts, you can prevent bad practices from lessening your hearing quality and contributing to the development of hearing issues. In that respect, you will be doing right by your audiologist, who wants nothing more than for you to hear clearly and to appreciate this sense as much as you can.

Animal sources have a higher protein content than plant based foods, which means you need to eat a lot of plant based protein to match animal sources. Protein is commonly found in meat, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, tofu, pulses (e.g. beans and lentils).

If you’re eating a plant based diet you might worry about not getting enough protein. 

Anna Mapson, a registered Nutritional Therapist, has created a two day vegan diet plan which shows how to get enough protein through the day. It’s not actually difficult if you think about protein at each meal. 

To help meet your targets aim for protein at every meal and snack. It’s important to think about what your body needs to function each day. When we eat enough protein we tend to have less need for snacks between meals.

Dietary protein is broken down into its ‘building blocks’ amino acids, which the body can then use as it needs. So it is actually the amino acids that are essential rather than the protein.

Protein is a constituent of every cell in the body, and next to water makes up the greatest proportion of body weight. It makes up hair, nails, ligaments, tendons, glands, organs, muscles, body fluids, enzymes and hormones.

Benefits of eating enough protein

Some studies have shown people eating 25% of their energy from protein felt less hungry, and had less of a tendency to snack late during the evening, when compared to people who had a low protein diet. 

Also another study showed people who ate more protein lost more fat mass, and automatically ate less calories (around 400 less) because they were filling up on protein rather than carbs.

Eating a high-protein breakfast has been shown to reduce cravings and calorie intake throughout the day. In a small study with men who ate eggs on toast ate significantly less calories throughout the day than those who ate cereal or a croissant and juice.

What if I don’t eat enough protein?

If your diet is too low in protein you may feel tired, have issues with hair, nails, skin or weight management. 

Here are some examples of vegan protein foods you can build into your diet:

1 cup lentils – 9g

1 cup pinto / kidney / black beans – 9g

1 cup quinoa – 9g

1 cup spinach – 5g

1 cup green peas – 9g

100g tofu – 8g

Including these kinds of foods at each meal will help you meet your protein requirements. 

As well as getting sufficient protein anyone following a plant based diet should also ensure they are including key nutrients through diet or supplementation like B12, omega 3, vitamin D, and iodine. 

It’s very possible to have a healthy vegan diet with some planning, you will build a way of eating that fits with your ethics, and keeps you feeling healthy. 

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Research shows that the average human being should sleep for 7 if not 8 hours. While most people know this, a few adhere to it. Whatever reasons you have for not achieving enough 7-hour rest, you ought to know that this can have adverse effects on your health in the long run.

If you constantly find it hard to get enough rest, it could be due to health conditions such as insomnia. Another thing that may make you lack sleep is anxiety. Especially during this pandemic, with cases rising and affecting loved ones, it may be challenging for some people to sleep at night. That said, as the pandemic has caused a rise in the cases of insomnia and anxiety, several people have taken a liking to products like Blessed CBD öl that are known to ease symptoms of both insomnia and anxiety. Since several studies are known to highlight the benefits of CBD oil (it can help alter serotonin levels without causing psychoactive effects that make you feel high), many people are believed to have opted for this option.

Anyway, it is only natural for humans to worry about the future during this pandemic. However, besides anxiety, too much worrying can lead to depression. These are mental disorders that may affect your sleeping mechanism.

Fortunately, the following tips can help you get enough sleep during this pandemic.

Set a Sleeping Schedule

The first way to ensure you get enough rest at night is by ensuring you always sleep at a specific time. And have a particular waking time. The process is easier than you think if you avoid any form of distractions while in bed, such as scrolling through your phone or watching the pandemic updates.

If your body gets accustomed to a routine of sleeping and waking up at a particular time, it develops a cycle that eventually becomes a habit. Additionally, ensure that your sleeping schedule fits into your lifestyle to help you stick to it.

Watch Your Liquid Intake

It would be wise not to get in bed while stuffed. This can make you find it more challenging to fall asleep. You may experience high levels of discomfort, which can keep you up for more extended hours into the night.

It would help if you avoided high water intake a few hours before your bedtime. If you always drink more wine or coffee at night, this can make it hard to get enough rest, especially if you have urinary incontinence.

Fortunately, for people with such health conditions, you can research incontinence supplies medicaid to access products designed to manage urinary output. Incontinence products play a huge role in leaving your skin dry, making you sleep comfortably throughout the night.

Exercise

You probably hear this all the time that you must exercise to sustain healthy living. This is true as exercise can promote good mental and physical health. If you have good overall health, it is easier to fall asleep at night!

Besides, exercising can distract your mind from the outside world. You can indulge in moderate physical exercises such as aerobics. You may promote your mental health by meditating, which reduces worries.

Create a Conducive Sleeping Environment

A conducive sleeping environment can mean a quiet room. It can also mean a dark room with little or no lighting. Sleeping in a restful environment that suits your needs can enable you to fall asleep much faster and sleep comfortably at night.

If you live in a loud house, you should consider using earplugs to keep away the noise. Also, ensure your bed is comfy enough to promote better sleep. Neat and clean sheets can do the trick!

The pandemic brought about significant changes in everyone’s life. If one of your life’s changes is lack of better sleep, the above tips can be practical.

Have you ever tried infused water? If not, it is high time to introduce this beverage to your daily routine. Fruit-infused water contains slices of fruits and herbs for better flavor, each of these offering specific health benefits.

This natural drink prevents free radical damage, controls bloating, aids digestion, boosts detoxification, improves energy, promotes weight loss, etc. The most convenient way of consuming infused water is by purchasing a special type of fruit infuser bottle. If planning to buy a water bottle infuser, look for one with neoprene insulation and a replacement warranty.

Have a look at the essential reasons for drinking such a beverage.

Promotes detoxification

One of the primary benefits of drinking fruit-infused water is the ability to induce detoxification. In order to prevent fluid retention, individuals are supposed to drink the necessary amount of liquids per day, which is about two liters. People who are not fond of drinking plain water might be more interested in trying the infused variant due to the pleasant flavor it has.

Moreover, consuming the required amount of fluids means assisting the kidneys in the process of metabolic waste removal. The more effective the waste removal, the better the digestive process. Consequently, you’ll no longer experience bloating, swelling, and constipation. The process of toxin elimination performed by the body is straightforward as long as it is provided with sufficient liquids for optimal function performance.

Promotes weight loss

Another fascinating benefit of drinking fruit-infused water is the promotion of weight loss in users. Of course, like any other weight loss method, say using supplements like 5-Amino-1MQ (learn more at https://lindyhealth.com/5-amino-1mq-guide/), fruit-based can also sometimes show results. The main way in which this beverage aids weight loss is by eliminating the feeling of hunger. For instance, a large number of individuals confuse the feeling of hunger with that of thirst, considering themselves hungry when in fact, they are just thirsty. By staying properly hydrated, you would stop feeling hungry when in need of liquids.

In addition, infused water assists people in losing weight due to the low number of calories. Both fruits and herbs contain an insignificant amount of calories, which prevents weight gain. Instead of consuming sugary beverages like soda, you’ll be able to enjoy a sweet taste without having any health concerns. Visit this website to have a look at the eleven best fruits for weight loss.

Furthermore, infused water is believed to improve the metabolic rate of users. For example, lemon-infused water is not only capable of improving metabolic rate but burning abdominal fat as well. If lemons are among your favorite fruits, you will undoubtedly experience a boost of metabolism while enjoying the fresh taste of your beverage.

If you are using this method to boost weight loss but you are not getting the results that you want as quickly as you want them then you may want to look into other methods. For example, you could try things like liposuction from a reputable plastic surgeon like Dr. David Shokrian in order to quicken your weight loss and help you to get onto the right path in an alternative way.

Boosts energy levels

Fruit-infused water does wonders for the energy of users, making them feel healthier and more energetic. In fact, hydration is responsible for making people feel vigorous instead of lethargic. When consuming fewer fluids than necessary, individuals tend to experience exhaustion and lower energy levels than usual.

Additionally, lethargy is not the only symptom individuals experience when dehydrated. They also cope with headaches, lack of concentration, a dry mouth, and dizziness. Fortunately, by consuming fruit-infused water, you’ll no longer feel dehydrated and lethargic. Make sure you have your infuser bottle everywhere you go in order to prevent dehydration.

Easy to make

Another crucial benefit of drinking fruit-infused water is the simple procedure of making it. For better convenience, you are advised to invest in an infuser water bottle in order to keep the fruits inside it. It’s important to put the fruit slices inside the bottle instead of the separate part where the filter is.

Moreover, using frozen fruits is considered a better option than adding fresh ones. The former keeps the temperature of the beverage cooler, which is of essential importance in summer. Make sure to leave them in the freezer for the entire night. In the morning, slice the fruits you have chosen into tiny pieces. The tinier the pieces are, the more flavored the liquid. The following link, https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/knife-skills-how-to-cut-complicated-fruits-and-veggies/, includes some useful tips for cutting fruits and vegetables.

In order for the taste to be more natural, try adding a little natural juice besides the fruit slices. The ultimate step requires adding a couple of ice cubes in the separate filter section. Given ice melts on its own, your beverage will be cool for a longer period of time.

A variety of ingredients to use

Fruit-infused drinks appeal to many individuals because of the ability to use a variety of ingredients in the making process. For instance, lemon is unquestionably one of the most popular ingredients, known as an abundant source of vitamin C and B, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. It prevents bloating and minimizes the risk of kidney stones. Lemon is also believed to benefit the skin and metabolism of people consuming lemon-infused beverages.

Another fruit you can use to make infused water is lime. Similar to lemon, lime is rich in Vitamin, magnesium, and potassium. It minimizes the risk of heart disease because of the ability of magnesium and potassium to reduce blood pressure. Also, lime works wonders for the process of digestion and the overall condition of the immune system.

Although the majority of people consider the cucumber to be a vegetable, it is actually a fruit. Cucumbers are an excellent source of vitamin K and antioxidants, thus aiding the health of individuals. Vitamin K is popular for its role in bone strengthening, whereas antioxidants are crucial in fighting severe diseases like cancer and heart disease. The combination of cucumber and lemon seems to be the favorite of many infused beverage drinkers.

Watermelon is yet another sought-after ingredient owing to the abundance of vitamins A and C. These vitamins are indispensable for ensuring proper hair and skin health in individuals. Also, being a great source of fiber makes the watermelon helpful in improving digestion.

Ultimately, mint leaves are a nice addition to fruit-infused water, as these make beverages fresher. Also, mint is touted to eliminate bad breath and alleviate stress.

The bottom line

This beverage provides even more benefits than plain water.

The choice of ingredients is crucial!

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As parents, the only thing we want for our children is for them to be happy and healthy. We think it is important to teach our children the importance of self-care and how to be healthy. We have listed below a few tips on what we think every child should learn as they grow.

Dental Hygiene

Your child’s dental hygiene needs to be kept on top of as soon as their teeth start coming through. Healthy strong teeth will help your child eat, speak and avoid infection and disease. To make your child excited about their dental hygiene there are a few things you can do, these include:

• Let them pick their own toothbrush
• Teach them the ‘brush your teeth’ song
• Get them to pick their own toothpaste
• Read child-friendly books and watch videos on dental hygiene
• Create rewards for when they brush their teeth each morning and night.

Many people have a fear of the dentist so making it an enjoyable process for your child is a must. Find the best local dentist that will help ease your child, then after your visit do a fun activity so they associate the day with being fun. Plus, bringing them along to polish your teeth with the dentist in Greeneville can help familiarise them with dental visits and ease their fears.

Eating Healthy

We all know that getting children to eat what you put in front of them can sometimes be a tough task. Make mealtimes fun by getting your children involved in the cooking process, this will make them excited to try the foods they have made. Having your children learn about the way food is made will not only teach them what’s in the foods they are eating but also teach them an essential life skill. Another great way is to get them to make their own plates, this will get them excited to use it when dinner time comes around.

Body Cleanliness

Sometimes one negative experience can impact bath times with your child, so if your having trouble getting your child excited for bath time then the first step would be to address the issue. Find the root cause and come up with ways to help your child feel relax and at ease. Incorporate toys and fill the bath with child-friendly bubbles to get them excited. Teaching your child how to clean themselves early on will help them become natural with their body hygiene. 

Being Active

Children have a lot of energy to burn so this one shouldn’t be so hard. Get the whole family involved and head out for a game in the park. Next time you head out on a woodland walk print off a game sheet of different leaves, trees, animals and insects for your children to seek and find, this will make the walks more enjoyable. When your children are at school age encourage them to participate in sports games and sign them up to a few teams to see which ones they like.

When it comes to teaching our children to be healthy you should always lead by example, so ensure that you are showing them a healthy lifestyle within yourself. Check out our tips on SUPER FOODS YOU SHOULD GET INTO YOUR FAMILY’S DIETS

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Racism is a tough topic. Fact. Many white parents avoid it altogether, which puts the onus on parents of color to take over and educate their kids, who are often victims of racism, about something their white friends don’t know much about. 

Like any difficult or tense conversation, as diligent parents it’s difficult to get through to kids about racism without freaking them out, or making them overthink the issue. Children can fixate on negative things if they are too harshly exposed to them. There are big issues that exist in America, including current affairs around DACA renewal and hate crimes, which don’t need to be discussed with kids. 

Nevertheless, racism is a crucial conversation to have in this day and age, even if you don’t explain everything that surrounds it. 

Here are 3 tips for talking to your kids about racism. Let’s get started!

• Use analogies to explain racism

No matter if you are white or a person of color, it is important to discuss racism with your kids. However, it can be difficult to explain racism to children, especially when the roots and ramifications of racism are often violent and inappropriate for younger kids to hear about.

One way of getting around the violence of the topic is by using analogies. Particularly for very young children, using animal analogies such as bunnies could help them understand the concept without being exposed to the full issue.

For example:

“Bunnies come in all colors, don’t they? You can have white bunnies, brown ones, black ones, orange ones and bunnies with multiple colors on them…” would be a starting point for a conversation about discrimination or categorization based on race. 

It sounds childish, because that’s what it is! It can help kids to think about things abstractly, rather than relating it directly to their own identity, at first.

• Get your kids into a diverse range of books, movies and games

One way to enter into the conversation of diversity and race is by exposing your kids to more than one “type” of literature and visual arts. For example, Disney princesses used to be primarily white (Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Cinderella… the list goes on). However, nowadays, Disney characters such as Moana are displaying a more diverse range of “heroes” for kids to look up to. 

Introducing your kids to more than one type of action hero, princess, or other fictional characters, is more impactful than you might think. Empathy can be learned through admiration, and it’s important for kids to learn this early.

• Don’t labor the point

Sometimes children take a long time to digest things, particularly if they are weighty or complicated. If you have talked about racism with your kids and they haven’t seemed to take it in, try not to labor the point. It may just be taking them a minute to process everything you talked about.

It’s best to drop in small conversations as they grow up, rather than one super-serious chat all at once.

Overall, racism is a difficult topic to tackle with children, but in a world that is still rife with inequality, it’s an essential conversation to have.