According to some scientific research, lack of natural light and dark space can considerably influence your well-being and enhance depressive feelings. On the other hand, a well-lit space will make your home appear wider and spacier, have a positive influence on your mental health, mood, save you a considerable amount of money due to lower energy bills. Rooms with limited natural light tend to have a musty smell and it is not healthy to spend time in this space. Contrary to this, natural sunlight acts as a natural disinfectant and allowing the sun into your rooms will help you get rid of the musty atmosphere. Besides this, there are some more reasons why you should let a lot of natural light into your rooms and how it can influence your wellbeing.

Energy Conservation 

As previously mentioned, people who let loads of natural light into their houses tend to pay less due to energy conservation. Basically, your home is naturally heated with the influence of the sun’s rays, and you do not have to put your heating system on the maximum. When sunlight hits large windows, then the warmth is being spread equally, and the very process is fastened. Anyway, with proper shutters, you can choose how much light you want in your house, and as interior shutter specialists suggest, you do not have to compromise between too much light and no light at all when you can have both by just adjusting your shutter’s wings. If you are a fan of new technologies and believe in their efficiency, then the smartest move for you is to turn natural light into energy and decrease your electricity bills to the bare minimum.

Natural light is used as the natural heating system, but it can be used as natural lightning as well. Not only will this regulate light pollution but will save you a couple of dollars for lighting your place free. Normally, places with less natural light will need more artificial lighting resulting in higher power bills, even though they use cost-effective light bulbs. Loads of natural light is the first factor for building an energy-efficient home and installing windows, doors, and any glass-related option might be a higher sum than any energy bill, but will not make you additional costs whatsoever.

Natural Light Will Provide You With Nutrients 

Most people know that natural light is needed for obtaining a natural dose of vitamin D, but not many people know why we need this vitamin so much. Vitamin D is essential for natural bone growth and development, while low levels of vitamin D are closely associated with depression, obesity, and multiple sclerosis, even though we need more scientific studies that will confirm this link. There are different ways of obtaining critical amounts of vitamin D we need for normal functioning, and besides natural light that is required for the vitamin D synthesis, you should consider adding to your diet, naturally fatty fish like salmon, herring, and tuna.

Increases Focus 

Recent studies showed that workers exposed to a bigger amount of light tend to be more productive and have a higher level of working morale and do better while performing their regular tasks and some isolated actions like remembering numbers. Regardless of the fact you are working from home or office, you will need a sufficient amount of natural light in your space for increasing your productivity and focus. Although there should be more studies confirming this, employees being exposed to sunlight during their working hours had better productivity rates, had low levels of sick leave, and did not procrastinate.

Keeps You Safe From Mold 

It sounds traditional, but good ventilation, well-aired and lit spaces are fresher than compact houses and dinghy windows. Logic suggests that ventilated homes with loads of natural light are free of germs and mold. By letting natural light in and with proper ventilation, you will minimize humidity inside your home and therefore prevent mold growth inside your house. Having big windows allowing natural light into your home will not only disinfect your space but are amazing for ventilation because they can let more fresh air in than some other smaller options.

The benefits of natural light for your well-being are multiple and will make your life of better quality. It has some benefits that you are not even aware of, like better mental health, increased focus, synthesis of vitamin D. Besides this, it can benefit your physical wellbeing since sunlight promotes serotonin secretion and will inspire you to be more productive.

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When you’re on the hunt for new health and wellness products to try out, do you ever look out for ones that contain silver as an ingredient? OK, so I’ll be the first to confess, that I literally had no clue that silver was even an ingredient and I don’t think I’m alone in this. Which makes me think that in answer to my original question, that no, no you probably don’t look out for products containing silver.

Ameo Life specialize in natural products that contain silver as their primary ingredient and they have sent me a few different items from their range to open my eyes up to some of the benefits of including silver in our wellness regimes. So, let’s take a closer look…

Why Silver?

My only knowledge of silver being used in products is plasters. I remember being advised to use silver plasters when I burnt my hand on some boiling lemon curd a few years back. I looked into it briefly at the time, and discovered it had something to do with silver having incredible antibacterial properties, therefore helping wounds stay clean and clear of infection whilst also promoting rapid healing. But that’s it. That is literally as far as my knowledge and experience extended.

So, I wanted to find out a bit more about silver, to see what else it has to offer, before showing you all some of the Ameo Life natural silver products.

Silver has had a bit of a bad rap over the years and this is for the most part to do with it not being manufactured and handled in the right way. Too much silver isn’t good for us, in fact it can be very harmful, so it is of the utmost importance that we know the products we choose are safe for use. Ameo Life have been leading the silver health industry for a number of years now and one of the main reasons for this is because of their reputable manufacturing processes.

OK, so here comes the science bit….

Silver is by its very nature insoluble in water, which makes it a fairly tricky substance to use, as I’m sure you can imagine. And this is the problem, because people and companies that don’t 100% know how to handle this element, end up trying to combine it with other substances in a way that it’s not particularly happy with. This results in the silver separating from the rest of the product, and in fact you can tell if you have a substandard silver product when you can see the silver in it, or if you have to shake the product before use. What Ameo Life do instead is to produce a silver that is able to structurally bond itself to water molecules, meaning it cannot separate. What this means is that the body doesn’t store the silver, as it absorbs and processes it along with the rest of the product, thus avoiding build up. Which over time could potentially be damaging. So, in layman’s terms, the body takes from it what it needs (i.e. the good, beneficial stuff) and then discards the stuff it doesn’t (via the usual exit path).

Our bodies don’t actually need silver as such; it doesn’t form part of our bodily make up, although it is likely we all contain trace elements of it through inhalation of the air we breathe and the water we drink, however that doesn’t mean we can’t benefit from the properties of this powerful metallic element. One of which is its ability to fight against bad bacteria and yeast.

Now that we know a little bit more about silver, let’s take a look at the natural silver products that Ameo Life have sent me:

Ameo Life Silver Lozenges

The Ameo Life silver infused honey and lemon lozenges are perfect for this transitional time of year. The end of Summer sees grass and harvested field dust floating around in the air, sending our hayfever symptoms into a frenzy. And the imminent arrival of Autumn, often brings an influx of colds and other illnesses. Our poor throats are suffering!

And whilst a pack of lozenges clearly won’t cure a cold, they will at least help to soothe and offer relief from sore throats and tickly coughs. These lozenges combine honey and lemon, I mean come on it’s a classic combo right. And yes of course you could argue that a hot mug of lemon and honey tea would surely work just as well, but popping a lozenge in every couple of hours is way more convenient, and these come with the added benefit of silver in its ingredients list.

The pack contains 20 individually wrapped lozenges, and each lozenge contains:

• Organic honey
• Natural lemon essential oil
• Organic cane sugar
• Organic brown rice syrup
• 1 teaspoon of pH balanced Alkaline Structured Silver

As you can see, there are no artificial sweeteners, colours or flavourings in these, unlike a lot of other throat lozenges. And the addition of the silver helps to support oral care.

Ameo Life Silver Soap

I love a good bar of natural soap and these two from Ameo Life are giving me all the feels. The Lemongrass Silver Soap instantly transports you to a tropical spa somewhere in Thailand, with its vibrant and luxurious lemongrass scent – honestly I could sit and sniff it all day it is that nice. And then there’s the Oatmeal Spice Silver Soap which is basically Christmas in soap form – it is lush!

Both soaps only contain natural and organic ingredients, there’s no fillers, toxins or other nasties in there, just lovely nourishing natural ingredients. We all know that when it comes to skincare, natural is always best, and these are just about as natural as you can get. Take a look for yourselves:

• Lemongrass Soap – Coconut oil, Lemongrass, Patchouli, Rosemary, Lime, Sage, Bergamot, Annatto seed, and 30 ppm Silver Hydrosol Silver.
• Oatmeal Spice Soap – Coconut oil, Oats, Clove bud, Cassia, Rosemary, and 30 ppm Silver Hydrosol Silver.

Because these bars of soap are paraben free it means they are suitable for use on all skin types. The Oatmeal Spice soap has more of an exfoliating feel to it, because of the addition of the oats, but it is very gentle and great at removing any dead skin, allowing the healthy skin underneath to shine through. The Lemongrass soap on the other hand has more of a creamy, smooth texture to it and leaves a gorgeous subtle scent on your skin that will keep you smelling good all day.

So, what’s the silver bringing to the table then? Well, silver not only has fantastic antibacterial properties, which is obviously fundamentally important in something that’s meant to keep you clean, but it is also alkaline based, which helps to balance out the skin and maintain healthy pH levels. And aside from all the beauty benefits, they look pretty gorgeous in the bathroom too.

Ameo Life Silver Solution

Out of all the products, I’m gonna be honest, this one mystified me the most, because I just wasn’t overly sure what it was. The others were simple, oh right yeah that’s some soap, those are throat lozenges, that’s a gel, but this solution I was a bit like…. what’s its point? To help me out, I hopped onto their website to get more of an understanding, and basically the Ameo Life pH balanced Alkaline Silver Solution is a supplement. It should be taken twice daily, 2 teaspoons worth, and its point being that it is a great immune booster, a gut cleanser, and a healthy digestive system supporter.

The human body functions at its best when it is in an alkaline state. However, what with today’s modern diet and other environmental factors our bodies have become a lot more acidic. And a more acidic body is an absolute breeding ground for bacteria and yeast, which of course increases the likelihood of infection. When your body is in an alkaline state, your chances of getting ill decreases and so this silver solution can help with that.

Ameo Life pH balanced structured silver solution will not metabolize or build up in the body, like some other formulas do, and this is because of the innovative way in which Ameo manufacture their silver products. Plus, it is the first type of silver that is pH balanced to an Alkalinity level of 7.4 or higher, making it super strong and effective.

Ameo Life Silver Gel

Great for soothing burns, grazes, minor cuts, insect bites, and other skin problems, the Ameo Life Extra Strength Silver Gel should be a household staple in my opinion. Just like the soaps, it has been formulated to work in harmony with the pH balance of our skin, in fact it is the only silver gel that claims to do so. The gel is suitable for all skin types, as it is super gentle, scent free, and doesn’t have that horrible burny stinging sensation that some healing gels can have. In fact, this gel is so gentle that it can even be applied to the more *aherm* sensitive areas of the body, making it great to use for the relief from itchy, stingy yeast infections. You can also use this gel on acne, to relieve chafing, and is great for treating nappy rash.

So, how does it work? Well, as we now all know, silver is good at fighting bacteria, and when this gel is applied to the skin it works its way down into our pores beating up all the bad bacteria on its way. It gives you a good clean out if you like. Which while we’re talking about clean outs, this is also super effective at removing make up, and even as a make up primer. It is such a versatile product!

The gel itself is infused with 35 ppm of pH balanced silver and contains no formaldehydes, parfum, triethanolamine, coal tar dyes or siloxins – all the stuff that will dry out your skin. There’s no greasiness, its fast-absorbing, which I love because I am so over products that are sticky and take forever to rub in (yes, hand sanitizers I’m talking to you!), oh and it won’t stain your clothes either, another huge bonus.

As I said, a super household staple, with many uses to help with lots of different health and wellness concerns.

Hopefully this has educated you a little in what is for some reason historically a bit of a controversial topic. Silver products do have their place, but only when they come from reputable companies who know what they’re doing. Ameo Life focus very much on creating natural products that support the body, while steering away from the use of toxins and parabens that serve no value to us at all.

If you’ve found this article interesting and you’re intrigued to learn more you can discover the full range of silver products by heading to the Ameo Life website.

*products gifted for review

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Some people are just naturally good sleepers. They can crawl into bed, shut off the lights and drift off into dreamland within a few minutes. Unfortunately for the rest of us, sleep doesn’t come so easily. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most adults need seven to nine hours of shut-eye per night — but only one in three are getting it.

If you’re desperate for a good night’s rest, natural remedies for sleep are one way to try and get a better quality snooze. Read on to check out seven natural ways to improve both the quality and quantity of your sleep.

Relax With A Weighted Blanket

Having trouble turning off your brain at night? If your anxious thoughts are constantly getting in the way of a good night’s rest, try sleeping with a weighted throw blanket. These therapeutic blankets have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years thanks to their ability to melt away stress and support a better night’s rest. The weight of the blanket puts gentle pressure on the body, triggering nervous system responses that slow your breathing and heart rate. Weighted blankets can also help you stop tossing and turning at night, so you can lie still and fall into a deeper sleep.

Practice Yoga Before Bed

From improving balance and flexibility to relieving back pain, yoga is chock-full of health benefits. Another benefit you can add to the list? A better night’s rest. According to a 2020 review published in BMC Psychiatry, practicing yoga before bed can help you get to bed earlier and improve the quality of your sleep.

Yoga is a great exercise for insomniacs because it relaxes the body and brain, making it easier to fall and stay asleep. To reap the benefits, consider enrolling in a yoga class or experimenting with different styles of yoga on YouTube.

Minimize Evening Light Exposure

It may sound obvious, but keeping your bedroom nice and dark is key to getting a good night’s sleep. When you’re exposed to bright light, your brain activates hormones that make you feel more alert. Conversely, when you’re exposed to darkness, your brain activates hormones that make you feel sleepy.

To minimize light exposure in the evening, consider installing blackout curtains in your bedroom. (Bonus: They help reduce your energy costs in the summer.)

You can also wear a weighted sleep mask to bed. On top of blocking out artificial light, these luxurious sleep masks deliver soothing pressure to help you fall asleep.

Take Melatonin Supplements

Whether you had a string of late nights or you’re dealing with jet lag, there are a lot of things that can throw our circadian rhythm out of whack. Melatonin supplements are an easy way to help your body “reset” and get back on track.

A hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain, melatonin is best known for regulating your body’s sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin levels rise naturally in the evening as light decreases, signaling your body to wind down for sleep.

As with any supplement, you’ll want to consult your doctor before you take this natural sleep aid.

Try Aromatherapy

Essential oils are often looked at with skepticism, but these concentrated plant extracts are backed by science. In fact, numerous studies have shown that certain fragrances can affect people’s moods and help them sleep.

Out of all the essential oils, lavender essential oil is perhaps best known for its sleep-inducing benefits. In a 2020 study published in Sleep, Science and Practice, researchers found that the scent of lavender and peppermint could improve sleep in cardiac patients. Results of another study showed that a blend of lavender, chamomile and neroli essential oils could be helpful for lowering anxiety and improving sleep quality for intensive care patients.

Essential oils for sleep can be used in a number of ways. For example, you can apply an essential roller bottle to your wrists and neck before bedtime. You can also add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a diffuser, which is a device that releases the scent into your bedroom.

Break A Sweat

If you’ve been dropping the ball on your fitness routine lately, consider this your friendly reminder to get back into it. Countless studies have shown that exercise — and moderate-to-vigorous exercise in particular — can improve sleep quality.

Interestingly, researchers have found that sleep and exercise have a bidirectional relationship (i.e., one affects the other). When you get a good night’s rest, you’re more likely to get moving and be physically active the next day. So lace up your sneakers and get out there.

Make A Few Tweaks To Your Diet

We all know that caffeine can make it difficult, if not impossible, to get a good night’s sleep. It’s why most of us drink coffee or tea in the morning rather than the evening. But caffeine isn’t the only part of your diet that could be wrecking your chances of a good night’s sleep.

If you want to improve your sleep, stay away from these sleep-disrupting foods:

• Sugar – High amounts of sugar have a negative impact on magnesium, a key nutrient that plays a vital role in sleep regulation.
• Alcohol – Alcohol is a sedative, but study after study shows that it can hinder sleep quality and increase nighttime awakenings.
• Spicy foods – Eating a spicy meal before bedtime can raise your body’s internal temperature, making it that much harder to fall and stay asleep.

To set yourself up for a better night’s sleep, reach for foods such as milk, eggs and turkey. These foods contain high amounts of tryptophan, which helps us fall asleep by revving up our melatonin production.

*collaborative post

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Whether your stress results from financial, health, work, or anxiety disorders, its effects on the body can be fatal if not well managed. Stress symptoms can either be mental, physical or in the form of behavior changes. In this article, we’ll discuss ways to naturally reduce stress and anxiety levels.

1. Supplements

Supplements such as Adrenal Rebuilder and St John’s wort have shown stress reduction and mood enhancement effects. Before taking these supplements, it is advisable to consult a physician and always read the instructions before use.

2. Natural Herbs

The following natural herbs are known to reduce stress and anxiety symptoms.

• Rhodiola – This Russian and Asian native herb is a practical, short-term antidepressant.
• Magnesium – This energy-producing mineral present in green vegetables, whole grains, seeds, and nuts reduces stress by interacting with GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) realtors.
• CBD – Cannabinol is a compound from the marijuana plant, and it helps to trigger a relaxation feeling. It’s also used to reduce anxiety for insomnia patients.
• Valerian Root – This is a pink and white coloring plant with a strong odor and has sleep and relaxation properties that calm the mind.

3. Outdoor Therapy

Regular outdoor activities in the beach, forest, or desert trails act as a natural therapy to people suffering from trauma and mental issues:

• Enjoyable Exercises – Regular exercising burns off anxious energy and releases natural hormones that boost your mood and improve sleep. Activities such as hiking, cycling, kayaking, rock climbing, cross-country skiing, swimming, and trail running are great ways to reduce stress and anxiety.
• Social bonding and peer support – Group-organized outdoor therapies for people with similar or relatable stress and anxiety disorders help them interact freely without the fear of being judged. It helps lower stress levels and other mental health conditions and may result in new friendships and bonds.
• Natural therapy – The outdoors are a natural therapy, and people tend to be happier and less anxious when close to nature

4. Working Out

Setting fitness goals and working towards achieving them will keep you busy and free from stress and anxiety. You can develop a home schedule, join a gym, or hire a fitness coach to help you achieve your goals. Sticking to a workout schedule isn’t easy, but keeping yourself accountable will help you keep stress and anxiety at bay.

5. Enough Sleep

Sleep allows the brain to recharge and the body to relax. When you don’t sleep enough, you deprive the body of the benefits of memory consolidation and muscle repair. Poor sleep patterns affect your mood, memory, and judgment. Getting enough sleep leaves you happier, relaxed, and anxiety-free.

6. Healthy Eating Habits

Eating nutritious foods reduces stress symptoms. To help reduce stress and anxiety levels:

• Avoid or limit caffeine intake.
• If you take alcohol, do so in moderation and avoid taking it as a stress reliever.
• Don’t eat to relieve stress, as you might overdo it.

Stress can affect your work life, relationships, and health, and you should strive to remain stress-free all the time. Embracing the above tips will help you reduce stress and anxiety, leading you to a happy, healthier life.

*collaborative post

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Weight-loss supplements that promise fast results are far from new—the first diet pills were sold in the late 1800s—but just as those over-the-counter medications proved worthless, today’s batch doesn’t seem much better, according to a new study in the journal Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism.

Researchers reviewed 54 randomized, placebo-controlled trials of herbal and dietary supplements, with over 4,000 participants represented. These included:

• Green tea
• White kidney bean
• Ephedra
• Yerba mate
• Licorice root
• Garcinia Cambogia
• Mangosteen
• East Indian globe thistle

Only white kidney bean supplements showed a statistically significant amount of weight loss compared to a placebo, but even with this one, the difference was so modes (about three pounds) that it’s not worth recommending as an option, says lead researcher Erica Bessell, PhD, of the Boden Collaboration for Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise and Eating Disorders at the University of Sydney in Australia.

That’s particularly true given that people fluctuate in weight throughout the day, especially on weekends, one 2014 study found. The average is about five pounds of fluctuation, so “losing” three pounds with a supplement is not very notable, Bessell says.

“Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, which require rigorous testing and clinical evidence that demonstrates their safety and effectiveness, over-the-counter herbal and dietary supplements are not required to prove they work,” she notes. “In our research, it appeared that most supplements seem safe based on short-term usage, but they don’t provide any meaningful weight loss.”

In another analysis, the researchers looked at 67 other randomized trials representing about 5,000 participants that involved non-herbal options such as conjugated linoleic acid, chitosan, and glucomannan—these are complex sugars and soluble fiber that manufacturers claim will promote feelings of fullness and even block the absorption of fat or carbohydrates.

Like the white kidney bean supplement, these all showed some weight loss in comparison to the placebo, but not enough to be recommended to those trying to lose extra pounds.

“These supplements might seem like a quick-fix solution to weight problems,” says Bessell, and that can be especially true with bold promises and plenty of marketing, including supposed “before and after” photos of satisfied customers. But, she adds, there’s little data about long-term effectiveness.

That means you might lose a bit of weight—if you’re lucky—but in terms of significant weight loss that stays gone? There’s simply not enough evidence to back up those claims.

For more, be sure to check out Surprising Side Effects of Taking Vitamin D Supplements, Says Science.

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This post is deliciously sponsored by Whole Earth Sweetener, but all opinions are my own.

Non caloric (or non-nutritive) sweeteners have been around for a while now, but there’s some new names in this game that you don’t want to miss out on. These products are all natural and contain few to no calories, but still provide the sweet taste you love from sugar.

Why use an alternative sweetener?

The AHA recommends that women limit their added sugar consumption to no more than 100 calories per day, which is about 6 teaspoons of sugar. For men, it’s 150 calories per day, or about 9 teaspoons. For reference, (1) 20 oz soda contains ~12 teaspoons sugar. So it’s VERY easy to exceed this AHA recommendation.

Why should you care? 

Excess consumption of added sugars is associated with poor health outcomes such as type 2 diabetes, weight gain and fatty liver.  Specifically, sugar sweetened beverage consumption has been shown to increase risk for Type 2 Diabetes. Additionally, consuming added sugar easily adds calories without offering other nutritional benefits which may lead to weight gain. Too much simple sugar in the body also speeds up the process of your liver turning food to stored fat.

So, with these potential health risks, it may make sense to switch to other forms of alternative sweeteners.

Here are 3 of my favorite new, low-to-no calorie sweeteners to add into your diet: 

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