See Something Say Something

Did you know that 1 in 5 Americans is affected by mental health conditions? Most people feel shame and are scared to reach out for help so instead they stay silent. There needs to be more compassion and empathy when it comes to mental illness. We need to be raising awareness and speaking up about these important conditions. Most people don't understand the warning signs of mental illness and it is something that needs to be taught more than ever in our society. 

Warning Signs

•  Being sad and withdrawn for a long period of time
• Attempting to harm oneself and making plans to 
• Doing things that are not normal, behaving in a way that can cause harm to oneself
• Weight gain or loss. Not wanting to eat, throwing up to lose weight
• Mood swings that affect relationships
• Excessive use of alcohol and drugs
• Behavior changes such as being angry or not sleeping 
• Not being able to concentrate at work or at school
• Having intense fears

Mental health is something that should not be taken lightly. If not taken seriously, it could end with someone taking their own life or someone else's. Speak up if you notice behavior changes in someone that you know or if you are struggling with some sort of mental illness. Talk with a doctor or family member to get the help that is needed. 

Source: www.nami.org

Sunscreen 101

With summer right around the corner, it's important to understand how to apply sunscreen. It seems simple but most people over look it. Sunscreen should be applied every time you go outside. This may seem excessive but it's one of the best ways to protect your skin. If you do not want to apply sunscreen make sure to be wearing protective clothing. This includes hats, sunglasses, or long sleeve shirts and pants. Now during summer, we don't want to be wearing clothing that will make us hot so instead we need to apply sunscreen to all the exposed skin. 

Choosing a sunscreen is very important. The first thing you should do is pick a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. This will block most of the sun's ultraviolet rays. You also want to look for the word broad spectrum on the sunscreen. This will protect your skin from premature skin aging and also getting a sunburn. If the sunscreen does not protect against UVA rays and UVB rays you will have a higher risk of getting skin cancer. You also want a sunscreen that is water resistant. This way it will still work when you go swimming or if you are sweating. It's best to apply sunscreen every 2 hours, or after you get wet. 

The type of sunscreen you use, spray or rub on, depends on your personal preference. Sprays are easy to apply but you may end up missing some areas. You can't measure how much mist is going on your body compared to cream sunscreens. Most people are more likely to use sprays though because it doesn't take too long to apply and doesn't leave your hands feeling all greasy. The best way to protect your face is to use a creamy rub on sunscreen. This way you are not breathing in fumes that spray sunscreen contains. If you are going to be out in the sun for a long period of time you could always start with a cream sunscreen and reapply with a spray! 

Regardless of what kind of sunscreen you choose, just make sure you are taking the proper steps to protect your skin! 

Source: https://www.aad.org

Supercharge Your Morning With Coffee & Turmeric

With busy schedules and always having to be on-the-go there is not a lot of time to make meals at home. Since most people need coffee and use that as their source of energy one thing you can start doing before you leave the house is adding some turmeric to your drink! This way you will be getting amazing health benefits everyday and are able to take it with you when you leave the house! 

Here is a recipe for adding turmeric to your coffee!

• 8 ounces coffee
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/8 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 tablespoon grass-fed unsalted butter
• raw honey to taste (optional)

Brew the coffee with cinnamon and turmeric. Pour the coffee into a blender along with butter and raw honey (if you like). Blend until smooth. 

You can be creative with this and come up with your own recipe. Don't miss out on the great benefits turmeric has to offer! 

Source: https://blog.paleohacks.com