Feel like you’re spinning out of control, stuck in a rut, or bogged down by the blahs? If so, one or more of your chakras could be out of balance. The shift in seasons, the cycle of the moon, the weather, personal and world events, and life transitions can all cause the body’s energy centers to become blocked or out of balance. Yogis believe strongly that an imbalanced energy body will negatively affect one’s mental wellbeing and physical body. The good news is you don’t have to be a Reiki master to realign the chakras—there are several quick and easy ways to get your “disks of light” whirling again.

1. Ignite a Stick of Incense

The first of the seven main chakras, the root chakra, is closely linked to our sense of smell. Earthy scents can help ground a restless, unstable body and clear out negative energy. Lower the lights, sit tall in a chair with your feet rooted firmly on the ground or sit in Sukhasana (easy pose), and burn a stick of cedar incense. The woodsy scent could be just the thing to connect your body to the earth and restore your sense of stability and groundedness. If not, consider burning a different scent—you can purchase incense for any of the 7 chakras.

2. Get Grounded with Gemstones

The properties of individual gemstones are as unique as their colors, shapes, and sizes. Gemstones can be held in the hand, worn as a pendant, used to make mala beads, or placed directly over the chakras. For example, To target the second or sacral chakra use gemstones with an orange tint like orange calcite.  If you are wanting to cultivate a strong spiritual connection at in seventh chakra use gemstones like crystal quartz and Lapis Lazuli. You can purchase a seven gemstone kit to have crystals on hand to balance any of the major chakras.

3. Light a Salt Lamp

Bring the experience of a soothing salt cave into the comfort of your home with Himalayan salt lamps. Salt lamps help purify the air, reduce the symptoms of allergies and asthma, improve blood flow, and act as a sleep aid. The glowing pink-orange-gold lamps also help balance the three lower chakras. Choose one with a golden glow to target the third chakra or solar plexus.

4. Take a Yoga Class

A skillful yoga teacher will design a class that works to gently stretch and open specific areas of the body in a natural succession. Focused classes can target areas where you feel shut down or closed off. For example, hip-opening postures like Bound Angle Pose, and Pigeon Pose to target the lower chakras. Upper back bends and shoulder opening yoga poses like Camel Pose, Wheel Pose, and Upward-Facing Dog can be good for the heart chakra. Core work and twisting poses help ease energy blocks in the solar plexus chakra.

5. Sip Some Tea

Tea time is traditionally a time to pause, slow down, and savor the moment in an otherwise busy day. You can create or choose specially blended herbs to enhance the benefits of each individual chakra. For example, the next time you curl up with a cup, brew a blend of fifth chakra tea to balance the throat chakra and you’ll not only communicate clearly, but you’ll rekindle your creativity as well.

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When you’re tired of cooking at home a night out sounds ideal. Whether you’re trying something new or going to sit down at one of your favorite restaurants, dining out can be needed once in a while. However, when you’re trying to lose weight, a night out sounds more like a glutinous activity than a treat.

If you’re watching your weight, that shouldn’t stop you from being able to go out and enjoy a meal at a restaurant with friends and family. It just means you have to be more careful about what you eat and how much you eat. We spoke with Lisa Young, PhD, RDN, author of Finally Full, Finally Slim, a nutritionist in private practice, and a member of our Medical Expert Board, to give us the scoop on how we can dine out and still lose weight. Read on to see how to go about it. Then, for more on dining out, check out The #1 Worst Thing to Order at The Cheesecake Factory, Says Dietitian.

It is possible to go to a restaurant and order a bowl of pasta when you’re trying to lose weight. However, although delicious, try not to eat it all in one sitting. Instead, try to separate it with some other filling yet healthier options.

“Restaurant portions are huge, so it pays to split an entree and order an extra salad and a side of vegetables to share,” says Young.

Plus, you get to have leftovers to eat the next day. That’s an extra perk!

RELATED: What the Perfect Food Portion Sizes Actually Look Like

When you go out to eat with friends and/or family, it may sometimes feel like a big reunion or celebration. Typically speaking, this will call for some alcoholic drinks, with a cheers to your time together.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

“If you’re trying to lose weight, it really helps to watch the alcohol intake,” says Young. “And, if you are drinking, drink with a meal.”

If you’re not drinking alcohol, you still want to make sure your drink option is on the healthier side.

“Limit drinks with sodas and sugary syrups,” suggests Young.

Did you ever purposefully eat less throughout the day knowing you were going to eat out and have a big meal? Well, it’s time to put that habit to rest.

“We are often famished when we arrive at the restaurant,” shares Young. “Eating a healthy snack an hour or two before heading out helps.”

Skipping meals has also been linked to weight gain, according to research posted in the Nutrients journal. Therefore, it’s important to eat every meal and to not starve yourself.

RELATED: 9 Best High-Protein Snacks for Rapid Weight Loss

One of the first things the waiters and waitresses put down on your table is a bread basket. And although it’s tempting, there are better options when you dine out to lose weight.

“Instead of eating the entire bread basket, which we often do when we sit down in the restaurant and wait for our main dish to arrive, order a healthy appetizer,” says Young.

Young suggests enjoying a salad with mixed vegetables or a vegetable-based soup. Vegetables can help keep you fuller longer, which is great when trying not to overeat and trying to lose weight.

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No one is perfect, and that includes our friends.

Friends are usually there for us when we need them, but sometimes they let us down.

It can be hard to deal with, especially if we rely on our friends to help us through tough times.

But there are plenty of solutions that can bring us closer to our loved ones in the long run.

Let’s discuss nine common ways a friend can let you down and what you can do about it.

Why Do Friends Let You Down?

When people let you down, it can be hard to understand why. 

We might think that we did something to deserve it or that we are not good enough.

However, the truth is that people let us down because they are human. Just as we make mistakes, our friends do too.

There are many reasons why friends might let us down. Here are some common ones:

• They are going through a tough time themselves and can’t be there for you.
• You don’t see each other as often as you used to and have grown apart.
• They are busy with work, school, or other commitments.
• They have different interests than you and don’t understand what you’re going through.
• They have been feeling let down and are taking it out on you.
• They have low self-esteem or anxiety, making it hard for them to show up to their commitments.

9 Common Ways a Friend Can Let You Down

The first step towards feeling better about being let down is to become aware of when it’s happening.

A one-sided friendship hurts, but it’s not always easy to spot when it’s happening to you.

Here is a list of ways a friend can let you down:

1. They Flake On Plans

One of the most common ways a friend can let you down is by flaking on plans.

It can be anything from canceling at the last minute to not showing up at all. When this happens, it can leave us feeling disappointed and abandoned.

2. They Gossip About You

Gossiping is a form of betrayal. It’s when our friends share private information or spread rumors about us behind our backs. Gossiping can damage our reputation and make us feel like we can’t trust our friends.

It can happen subtly, such as a friend sharing an intimate secret or judging you publicly for your actions.

It can also be overt, such as spreading rumors about you or revealing something you confidently told them.

Gossiping is hurtful because it shows that our friends don’t respect us or our privacy. It can also make us feel like we aren’t being respected, damaging our self-esteem.

3. They Ignore Your Feelings

Ignoring our feelings is another way friends can let us down. When we confide in them about something, they brush it off or change the subject. It can also happen when they dismiss our feelings as unimportant or invalid.

It can look like someone ignoring your feelings or even manifest as gaslighting when someone tries to make you question your reality or sanity.

It’s incredibly hurtful and confusing, leaving us feeling invalidated and alone.

4. They Are Competitive With You

A healthy friendship is built on mutual respect and support. 

However, some friends can be competitive with us by constantly trying to one-up us or put us down. It can also look like they are trying to make us feel inferior to them somehow.

This behavior can be hurtful because it makes us feel like we are not good enough. It can also damage our self-esteem and make us question our worth as a friend.

5. They Take Advantage of You

Friends should make us feel good, not bad. However, some friends can take advantage of us. 

Perhaps they are always asking for favors but never returning the favor. They may also use you for your money or resources.

When we are being taken advantage of, it can leave us feeling used and manipulated, violating our boundaries. We may also feel like our friendship is one-sided and that we are not getting anything out of it.

6. They Lie to You

Trust is based on the assumption that our friends will be honest with us. 

However, some friends may lie to us instead – from small white lies to bigger lies that hurt us.

Lies can damage our trust in our friends and make us feel like we can’t rely on them. 

We may also feel betrayed, hurt, and confused by their actions. You may notice that your friend’s statements don’t align with their actions suggesting they may be lying to you.

7. They Are Inconsistent

Inconsistency is another way friends can let us down. This can look like them being hot and cold with their behavior or their emotions. It can also manifest as them constantly changing their plans or commitments.

This type of behavior can be confusing and frustrating, leaving us feeling like we can’t rely on our friends. We may also feel like we are walking on eggshells, not knowing what to expect from them.

8. They Are Neglectful

Neglect is another form of betrayal. It’s when our friends neglect our needs or fail to support us. They just aren’t there for us when we need them. 

They may not return our calls or texts or cancel plans with us at the last minute.

When we are neglected, it seems our friend doesn’t care about us. It hurts and makes us question our worth as a friend. We may also start to feel isolated and alone.

9. They Are Abusive

Abuse is the most extreme form of betrayal. It’s when our friends hurt us physically, emotionally, or mentally. This can look like them hitting us, calling us names, or making us feel scared. It can also manifest as them gaslighting us or manipulating us.

Abuse is extremely harmful and can leave us feeling scared, alone, and worthless. These relationships are not sustainable and are not worth our time or energy.

What to Do When Friends Let You Down: 7 Helpful Actions You Can Take

How do you respond to someone who has let you down? It depends on the situation and your relationship with the person.

Here are seven helpful actions you can take that may help the situation:

1. Talk to Your Friend About What Happened

If you feel comfortable, have a conversation with your friend about what happened. It can be a difficult conversation, but it can help to clear the air and resolve the issue.

Make sure to communicate calmly and respectfully.

You may want to say something like, “I felt hurt when you canceled our plans. I understand that things come up, but I need you to be more considerate of my feelings.”

Your friend may not have realized they were hurting you. You can help them understand your perspective and resolve the issue by talking to them.

2. Set Boundaries With Your Friend

Setting boundaries is essential if you feel like your friend is taking advantage of you. It will help to protect you from being used and manipulated.

You may want to say something like, “I’m happy to help you out, but I need you to return the favor sometimes.”

Or, “I’m not going to tolerate being treated like this. I deserve to be respected.”

Boundaries are essential in any relationship. They help to ensure that both parties are getting their needs met. So take some time to figure out what boundaries you need to set with your friend.

3. Take a Break From the Relationship

If you need some time to yourself, that’s OK. Sometimes it’s necessary to take a break from a friend, especially if they’ve hurt you deeply. This break will give you time to heal and assess the situation.

You may want to say, “I’m going to take some time for myself. I’ll talk to you later.” You can also consider saying nothing at all if your friend has been neglectful or you don’t talk to them regularly.

It’s OK to take some time apart from your friend. This break will allow you to figure out what you want and need from the relationship. Just decide on a time to come back together and revisit the relationship.

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4. Find a New Friend

It may be time to find a new friend if you don’t feel like you can trust your friend or don’t see the relationship going anywhere.

It doesn’t mean you must completely cut off ties with your old friend. But it does mean you won’t have as much time or energy for them.

There are plenty of people in the world who would love to be your friend. So don’t be afraid to reach out and find someone new. You’ll be surprised at how much better you’ll feel.

5. Don’t Let Your Friend Off the Hook

If your friend has done something to hurt you, don’t let them off the hook. 

They need to be held accountable for their actions. It doesn’t mean you should hold a grudge against them or try to get revenge. But it does mean that you should clarify that what they did was not OK.

You may want to say, “I’m not going to tolerate being treated like this. I deserve to be respected.”

By holding your friend accountable, you’re helping to ensure that they won’t repeat their mistakes in the future.

You may have difficulty holding your friends accountable if you’re a people pleaser. But it’s important to do what’s best for you, even if it makes them uncomfortable.

6. Forgive Your Friend

If your friend has apologized and you’re ready to move on, forgive them. You don’t have to forget what happened. But it does mean that you’re willing to let go of the anger and hurt you’re feeling.

Forgiving someone can be difficult, but it’s often necessary to move forward. So if you’re ready, let go of the grudge and give your friend another chance. You’ll be surprised by how much better you’ll feel.

7. Change Your Expectations

If you’re always disappointed by your friend, it may be time to change your expectations. It doesn’t mean that you should lower your standards.

But it does mean that you must be realistic about what your friend can and cannot do.

Don’t expect your friend to be perfect. Everyone makes mistakes and has flaws. So accept them for who they are and don’t try to change them.

By changing your expectations, you’ll be able to see your friend in a new light. And you may even find that you appreciate them more.

Final Thoughts

When you’re feeling disappointed in friends for not showing up during tough times, it’s important to remember that everyone copes with difficult situations differently. 

Just because they don’t show up the way you want them to doesn’t mean they don’t care about you.

If you’re struggling to deal with a friend who let you down, try one of the tips above. And remember, it’s OK to take some time for yourself. You deserve respect and kindness.

So don’t settle for anything less!

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Losing weight or maintaining it is never an easy task. It is an undertaking that involves consistency and diligence. However, with the sedentary nature of office life and the peer pressure to indulge in unhealthy binges at social gatherings, this consistency demands a whole lot of effort. However, a morning walk and a good evening workout can be a boon even in such a life. 

Doubling up on daily workout sessions can take weight loss endeavours to the next level. If done correctly and with a healthy diet, working out twice a day can help you lose weight faster. The idea is to burn more calories than you eat.

Benefits of Working Out Twice a Day

Increases Training Volume

Working out twice a day has more benefits than working out once a day, particularly when it allows you to boost your overall training volume.

In addition, the advantages of doing two workouts a day get a boost if you squeeze in a 45-minute morning workout and a 30-minute evening workout instead of a single 60-minute morning workout. The repetitions will provide you with 75 minutes of activity, which is 15 minutes more than if you did just one lengthier bout.

Improves Strength and Endurance

Due to increased muscle protein synthesis, fat oxidation, mitochondrial growth, and power output also increase. In addition, increasing training volume by exercising twice daily can improve muscular strength and size. 

Research shows that strength training two times a day results in more neuromuscular adaptations than training once a day. Muscle strength and power improve due to increased muscle fibre activation.

Also, working out twice daily can lead to beneficial metabolic adjustments that aid glycogen savings and increased aerobic endurance. It is encouraging news, especially for marathon runners.

Enhances Mental Health

Exercise has mental and emotional advantages that one should not disregard. For example, endorphins are hormones that improve your mood and give you a sense of well-being when you work out. In addition, low- and moderate-intensity workouts help the body and mind feel at ease and more relaxed by lowering cortisol levels. 

As per research, challenging workouts, on the other hand, cause cortisol levels to rise because the body sees intensive exercise as a stressor. Working out twice per day can offer you a double dose of feel-good neurotransmitters, relieve pent-up stress, and aid your brain feel fresh twice the same day.

It Assists You In Fitting It All In

Many people have rigid schedules and cannot exercise for prolonged periods. You may get in all the movements and training you want without waking up early in the morning to fit in a continuous workout by separating your exercise into two periods.

Likewise, many runners don’t have the time, enthusiasm, or stamina to perform multiple types of exercise in one session. So completing two workouts a day can help them have different types of exercise.

Improved Skill Development

Research says that working out can lead to skill development, and how well you can practice relies on how regularly you can do it. Effective workouts include multiple muscle groups and different energy supplies. So, working on complex movements or preparing for a field activity, a single workout day isn’t enough. Instead, you practise your technique twice by doing twice as many workouts. Also, this pays off in terms of movement proficiency, strength and muscular growth. In addition, more consistent practice equals more focus, and more focus equals more progress.

Advice for Beginners

• While accurate time tracking isn’t required, you should have at least six hours gap between the two workouts. If your workouts are considerably closer together than this, you’ll be too exhausted to perform well in round two. As a result, most people find it most convenient to go to the gym first thing in the morning before work and then again after work. Going during your lunch break and then again later in the evening works fine, as long as you wait at least six hours between visits.
• It would help if you also keep your workouts to a maximum of 40 minutes, omitting the warm-up. But, yes, a decent warm-up and cool-down are essential for speeding up recovery, especially since you’ll be back in the gym before the day is over.
• An adequate cool-down (like 5-10 minutes of light aerobic exercise) such as running helps the heart circulate the accumulated blood packed in the pumped-up muscles. It additionally boosts the removal of lactic acid and other metabolic waste. Finally, it lets the muscles relax and stretch to their full lengths after a contraction during a good lifting session. If you’re continually exhausted, you’ll become tired of two-a-days shortly. Therefore, a rapid and efficient recovery is critical to the program’s success.
• When you exercise twice, you’ll sweat twice as much. Therefore, keeping track of your water intake is integral to training twice in one day. Since fluid loss can have a significant impact on your output, it’s vital to stay hydrated during your sessions. Drinking water throughout the day is sufficient to get you through two sessions. Still, in a hurry, half a litre of water per pound dropped during a workout should suffice.
• The pre-workout diet should primarily consist of carbohydrates, with some protein added for muscle development. Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy that fuels your muscles. In addition, protein can aid in preparing your muscles for strenuous exercise. Consume food one to three hours before your workout.

The HealthifyMe Note

If you are a beginner, it is essential to know whether you need to work out twice or not. After that, knowing the correct exercises to balance your fitness regime and supporting it with your diet is also crucial. Hence, you must consult a trainer to help you go about your plans correctly to prevent injuries.

How to Plan Your Workouts Twice a Day?

Naturally, nobody wants to become injured or harmed. So even if you’ve been exercising for the last six months and want to work out twice daily, you’ll need to be strategic about implementing your plan.

• More challenging exercises should be the first thing you do in the morning, and you should do less strenuous exercises later in the day. It keeps you on track and allows you to recover quickly after your first, more strenuous workout.
• Perform lengthier workouts in the morning and shorter workouts in the evening. Sweating more in the morning can help you stay mentally fit and productive throughout the day.
• Prioritise diet and water in between exercises to help your body recover and prepare for the next session. Again, this aids repair in the time between and after each workout.
• Include naps in your day to boost rest and recovery. Sleep is essential for peak function. Naps can also help with productivity, stress reduction, and attentiveness. As per studies, they even help you enhance your motor skills and endurance. 
• On rest days, raise your calorie and nutrient consumption to assist recovery. 
• Manage stress levels as it could delay recovery and cause fatigue.
• Consider including massage or meditation in your recovering days.

Workout Twice a Day: Who Should Do it?

Athletes

The practice becomes more specialised for athletes as they move closer to a competition or event. However, this does not negate the importance of keeping a healthy lifestyle. Keeping the strength and conditioning exercises separate from regular sport-specific practice will help stay fresh and healthy. 

Trainees from different disciplines

Working for cardiovascular performance, strength, and muscle building can be difficult. Every training session has limited time and energy, and pushing both ends of the equation can be tricky. However, splitting one session into weightlifting and the other into cardiovascular training can help advance in both key areas.

The On-the-Go Lifter

Twice-a-day training offers a great deal of flexibility. Getting a hard workout while juggling job, school, or family obligations is tricky at its best. Dividing your routine into two equal-timed sessions, if done correctly, can allow you to achieve all workout goals without significantly compromising with significant tasks of the day.

Heavy Training Followed by Recovery

If you have trouble stretching post your regular workout, a second session focusing on recovery and mobility can be a good idea. 

Whether you weight train, engage with more rigorous cardio or perform high-intensity interval work, your first session can include your regular, hard workout.

A recovery activity can then be added afterwards in the day, such as low-intensity cardio, yoga, stretching, or body rolling. Remember that rehabilitation is just as vital as a strenuous activity to reduce the risk of injury.

Cardio and Strength Training

If you enjoy weight training and cardio on the same day but dislike the time commitment, consider splitting your workout into two different routines. Start your day with the most challenging workout.

If you like to lift heavy weights, do your strength training first in the morning, but if you’re practising for a race, go for a run or a bike ride first. Then, at night, reverse the process.

Cycling Twice a Day

Overtraining and burnout occur fast if you complete two random workouts in one day. The correct method to plan your programme is to match the higher energy demands and maximise the fat-burning and muscle-building system.

Such plans are best suited for breaking through plateaus or for days you are highly passionate about working out, and the prospect of heading to the gym seems tempting. For example, cycling twice a day should be done for two weeks and one week off—to prevent overtraining. Otherwise, you’ll burn out and strain your muscles too.

Designing A Two-A-Day Program

One of the most successful methods to build your programme is to lift hard in the first session and lighter in the second. It allows you to develop your high-threshold muscle fibres—those with the greatest strength and growth potential—with a short, intense workout in the morning while squeezing in a longer, simpler workout in the latter.

Drawbacks

Organising Your Time

One of the most prominent disadvantages is having to devote a significant portion of your day to exercising. While there are advantages to training twice a day, it also adds to the burden of managing commuting, social or family obligations, household tasks, mealtime, and various other schedule problems. Therefore, even if each session is only a few minutes long, you must incorporate it into your routine.

Consumption of Food

If you’re thinking of training twice daily, you may also need to make dietary changes. Meals, particularly specific macronutrients like carbohydrates and protein, are critical in recovery.

Staying hydrated is also essential to make each session as fruitful as possible. Assuming you’ve reached a certain level of intensity, you might want to consider planning your food around your workouts to ensure you’re not overtraining your existing recovery capacity.

Overtraining Possibility

The danger of overtraining, injury, and emotional and physical fatigue is common in the workout programme of exercising twice daily, especially if you are upping the training load with your two workouts.

Since the body is performing more physical labour, it is natural that larger training volumes lead to an increased risk of musculoskeletal problems. Working out twice a day also reduces the time your body has to recover between sessions of physical activity and stress.

Psychological Impact

Exercising twice daily can raise cortisol levels, weaken your immune system, affect your appetite, and induce sleep disturbances. Cortisol levels will directly affect the intensity and frequency of your workouts. 

Exercising twice daily can be psychologically challenging and has the precise impact of consuming more time and energy throughout the day, whether from the extra minutes spent exercising or travelling to a training place, arranging your gear, bathing, and so on. Moreover, as per research, the intensity and frequency of workouts directly impact stress levels in the body. 

Summary

Pay attention to your actions and how your body reacts to them. Don’t attempt to push yourself any further than you can. Splitting the workout into two different sessions while preparing for a significant competition or occasion is an excellent strategy to boost miles or repetitions while allowing your body a break in between exercises. Combine the workout routine with a healthy diet for the best results. 

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Our world today is toxic and daily, the human body is exposed to over two million toxic substances. What is more, 25,000 new toxins are added to our environment each year. So, even with a balanced, healthy diet, we simply can’t avoid being bombarded with a myriad of toxic chemicals every single day through food and drinks, but also our lungs and skin. These accumulate over time and can cause harm to our metabolism and lead to allergies, mood changes, and various health issues.

Intermittent detoxing, or cleansing, is one of the best ways to reboot and recharge your body. Detoxing can be done as a mild one-day program, a week or even 28 days, depending on your objectives and circumstance. Find out more about the detoxification process below:

Why Detox?

About eight hours after your last meal, the processes of digestion and absorption are finished and the body begins detoxification. In a healthy person that commonly consumes natural, unprocessed foods, it takes about four hours to detoxify from the waste products of normal metabolism.

For this reason, it’s beneficial to fast every day for 12 hours after the last meal. If your last meal was at 8 pm, you shouldn’t eat anything before 8 am. This makes your breakfast exactly that – a meal that breaks the fast. This is a great scenario in a toxin-free world, since that is not the case, you need to make extra effort periodically to do deeper cleansing.

Drink More Water

Water is an essential ingredient that not only quenches our thirst, but it also regulates the body temperature, aids digestion and nutrient absorption, lubricates joints, and detoxifies the body by eliminating waste products. The latter is formed naturally after our cells break down the nutrients from food to use it as energy. All the carbon dioxide and urea that build up will be transported by water and efficiently removed through urination, sweating and breathing. This is why staying hydrated is crucial in detoxification.

Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough quality sleep each night supports your body’s health and natural detoxification process. Sleeping enables the brain to recharge itself and eliminate toxic waste by-products that had accumulated throughout the day. Sleep deprivation shortens this time so toxins build up and cause short- and long-term health consequences, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stress, anxiety, and obesity.

Aid Toxin Elimination

Research indicates that one in five adults over the age of 30 experience constipation at some point, and it’s the regular bowel movements that enable the process of detoxification. When the colon doesn’t move regularly, the body isn’t getting rid of toxins enabling them to leak back into the blood and cause the liver to overwork ultimately leading to leaky gut and other health issues. Doing one-day colon cleanse can aid your body’s toxin elimination from the digestive tract using its wide selection of enzymes produced from all-natural organic vegetables and fruits.

Reduce Your Intake Of Sugar And Processed Foods

Research has established a link between high consumption of sugary and processed foods and obesity and other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. All these conditions hinder the body’s natural detoxifying processes by harming the liver and kidneys that do much of the work. Avoiding junk food and making healthier food choices is the simplest way of boosting your body’s overall health.

Eat Food Rich In Antioxidants And Prebiotics

Antioxidants protect cells against damage caused by free radicals. These molecules are a natural by-product of cellular processes, but certain low-nutrient foods, alcohol and tobacco smoke can produce excessive free radicals. These molecules damage a range of cells which plays a role in heart disease, dementia, asthma, liver disease and some types of cancer. Adopting a diet rich in antioxidants can help your body fight oxidative stress caused by free radicals and other toxins.

Stay Active

Regardless of your body weight, regular exercise can prolong your life and reduce the risks of various diseases, including heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Inflammation weakens the body’s immune system, but regular exercise of moderate intensity for 1.5 to 3 hours a week, and an hour to hour and a half a week of vigorous-intensity physical activity can reduce it and help the body’s natural system of detoxification to function properly.

While detox diets are popular in promoting weight loss, they are not necessary. Our bodies have their own highly efficient detoxification system. With that in mind, you can boost your body’s natural detoxification process and enhance your overall health by staying hydrated, sleeping enough, using detox procedures as aid, consuming less salt and more antioxidant-rich foods, and staying active.

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Mothers carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, not to mention the heaping loads of guilt they feel for not being perfect. 

Adults who blame their parents have so many psychological aspects to focus on, from Attachment Theory to the unmet needs of an inner child.

Even basic acts of love, like fixing a daughter’s smudged lipstick, can elicit harsh responses. 

What is it going to take to stop blaming mom? 

Can we create a world where no mother ever wonders again, “Why does my daughter blame me for everything?”

Why Do Daughters Blame Their Mothers for Everything?

Adults who blame their parents are common, but it seems no parent takes more of the brunt than the mother of a daughter. 

Yes, there are really bad moms out there who probably deserve to take some, if not all, of the blame. 

However, that’s the exception, not the rule. Not only do daughters’ blame shift like crazy, they now have psychology and genetics to back them up. 

Attachment Theory

Psychoanalyst John Bowlby developed the Attachment Theory to explain the connection between adult behavior and the first few years of that person’s life. 

In the first two and half years of life, a child depends on a mother for affection, nourishment, and basic needs. How the daughter and mother “attach” will likely define how that child turns out as an adult. 

Inner Child Issues

“Healing the inner child” are buzzwords in today’s culture. Even though our behavior is directly related to the attention or neglect we received as children, we still work to heal that inner child allegedly inside all of us. 

While adults can adapt or overcome early childhood issues, the inner child is still sitting somewhere suffering deep in our souls. 

Easy Targets

Mothers, with their unconditional love, just make easy targets for daughters. Whether it’s the temper tantrum of a two-year-old who wants another snack or the hormones of an independence-seeking teenager, it’s easy to blame mom. 

Mothers are used to unrealistic expectations from society, social circles, and inside their own homes. Nothing makes a mother more upset than seeing their child hurting, and they’ll take all the punches to help the daughter through whatever challenge. 

Hereditary Patterns

Mothers might inadvertently be teaching their daughters that it’s never okay to stop blaming mom. How many people do you know who had really strict parents but then those parents became grandparents who spoiled their grandkids? 

Adults who blame their parents can carry on into old age. If a daughter sees her mom blaming grandma for everything, she might act accordingly. 

Daughters Who Blame Their Mothers for Everything: 13 Reasons It’s Bad for Both of You

Mom blaming isn’t a new thing for Generation Z or the Millenials. Even the Washington Post tackled this topic back in 1987. While there isn’t a perfect way to stop blaming mom, there are perspectives every daughter needs to consider before making a maternal mess. 

1. It Feeds the Beast of Blame

What starts out as outrageous accusations of blame eventually becomes so common neither mother nor daughter thinks twice about it. 

The daughter shifts blame, and the mother absorbs it to keep the peace. This sets the stage for another blame showdown throughout both of their lives. 

Valuable opportunities for mother-daughter connections are lost in a chess match of “Who’s to Blame?” 

2. It Supports Everything Women Have Fought Against

Moms already get a raw end of the deal. Either they work too much and don’t give their kids enough attention, or they “sit at home all day” doing “nothing” but raising their children.

Even the number of snacks or screen time a child gets is blamed on the mother by her condescending counterparts.

Ours is a society that demands a work-life balance but still expects mothers to be perfect. Women of all ages should support each other and fight for precious civil, professional, and medical rights. They should not wage wars with blame ammunition. 

3. It Builds Resentment

Adults who blame their parents will generally get away with it, even if a verbal fight precedes it. Deep down, in places the mother doesn’t like to talk about, she becomes more resentful. 

This can lead to the mother carrying resentment and risk hurting her relationship with the daughter and all her other children.

The daughter can become resentful when “blaming mom” is second nature, and she can’t let go of what the parent did that impacted the daughter’s life. 

4. It Causes Words We Can’t Take Back

Words like “I didn’t ask to be born!”, “I wish you had never been born!”, “I can’t believe I endured so much pain to have an ungrateful child like you!” and “You are the worst mom ever!” can be so hurtful for years to come. 

When mothers and daughters are caught in the blame game, hurtful words come out. While we can forgive the people we love, we can never forget verbal scars that cut deep. 

5. It Creates a Toxic Attachment

We see it in nature and our daily lives. No bond is stronger than that of a mother and daughter. Even the most inexperienced nature lover knows never to get between a momma bear and her cubs. 

When a relationship is strong and healthy, a lifetime of memories is created. When the blame stays the same, two women are now co-dependent on each other.

The mother is always trying to avoid getting blamed by helping the child, and the child doesn’t know about life without being able to blame the mom. The daughter might not chase dreams because they are living a blame nightmare. 

6. It Creates Avoidance of Real Issues

Let’s say a daughter has ongoing issues with finding a trusted and respectful partner. If the daughter blames the mother for not setting an example of a healthy relationship, the daughter isn’t addressing her own issues directly. 

The same can be said of eating disorders: “Why did you always make me clean my plate? Now I’m so afraid of being fat I can’t eat anything!”

7. It Creates a Transactional Relationship

When a daughter feels wronged, she’s not going to stop blaming mom if it has worked in the past. The cycle can be something like this: 

• I blame mom.
• Mom feels bad.
• Mom buys me something or does a task I don’t want to do to make me stop being mad at her. 

This transaction is nowhere near the grace expected in a loving mother-daughter relationship. Blaming someone for something generally requires a resolution of the issue. 

A daughter being nice to her mother shouldn’t come with terms and conditions like a website. 

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8. It Can Breed Narcissism from an Early Age

“Daddy, I want an Oompa Looma NOOOOOW!…. You never give me anything I want.” Those words from Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory show the worst side of giving a child too much of what they want with no consequences or accountability.

Narcissism can develop just as much from excessive praise and adoration as it can from gross neglect. 

Children who blame their parents can become adults who blame their parents. Without learning accountability, the child is never accepted or treated as they are. They are treated how they want to be seen as perfect and blameless.

Parents can inadvertently feed the narcissistic beast that was once their adorable child. This can create children who turn into adults with a personality disorder among the hardest to treat. 

9. It Can Create a Lack of Boundaries

A daughter’s relationship with her parents forms the very foundation of boundaries in the child’s life. We learn early not to touch a hot stove. Either fear of the hot stove or the act of touching it reinforces that boundary. 

When a daughter doesn’t stop blaming mom for the stove being hot, that daughter isn’t learning boundaries and will struggle with this in every single relationship for the rest of her life. 

A well-blamed mom will continue to adapt to the lack of boundaries to keep their precious child “happy,” not realizing they are setting the child up for a life of relationship challenges. 

10. It Can Very Well Be True

Topping the charts of “Very Unhealthy Mother-Daughter Relationships” is when a mom truly is to blame but might be dealing with her own personality disorder or genetic traits that make it impossible to see her faults. 

It creates a childhood and lifetime of conflict as a daughter can’t stop blaming mom because mom really is to blame for certain things. 

While any relationship between a mother and daughter will have conflict, every gathering shouldn’t be akin to a verbal UFC match. Own your errors as a parent. Set a good example of accountability. 

11. It Can Cause Mental Illness

Verbal abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse, and it can go on longer because there aren’t injuries in plain sight.  

A mother might ask a friend, “Why does my daughter blame me for everything?” but inside, she could be dealing with crippling anxiety, depression, and self-loathing. 

Many expect mothers to be perfect, always have the right answer, and never make a misstep. On top of that, few mothers think, “I am doing a great job at this mothering thing. I should have two more kids!” 

Add in sleepless nights, emotionally draining fights, and balancing out other relationships, and it’s no wonder that one in 10 moms is depressed. When a mom is prone to depression, that trait can be passed on to daughters, creating a family tree of mental issues. 

12. It Can Impact Every Other Relationship 

The mother-daughter bond is one of nature’s strongest and most resilient. When the two parties involved don’t have a healthy relationship, there can be a sense of “If I can’t get along with her, I can’t get along with anyone.” 

A daughter who doesn’t stop blaming her mom will assign blame in other relationships, causing tension in her personal and professional life.

A mother who always gets blamed by her daughter could begin to accept all responsibility in her circle. 

13. It’s Most Likely You Will Live to Regret It

The odds are a daughter will outlive a child, but research from the Institute of Medicine shows that 18% of parents lose a child by age 70. 

As Buddha said, “The trouble is, you think you have time.” When maternal blame becomes common, it might be the last conversation a mother and daughter have.

That leaves the surviving woman with guilt on top of grief and a lifetime of regrets. Guilt is rarely rational or logical. Even in the “bargaining” phase of grief, the survivor tries to unweave years of blame for just one more chance to do it right. 

What Do You Do When Your Child Blames You For Everything?

Even in the earliest Bible chapter, Adam blames his heavenly father for “giving him a woman,” who then shared and ate the forbidden fruit. It’s essential to start by knowing you are not alone.

You are not a failure because your child has these blame game issues. You do, however, have to own your role in it. 

There are simple ways to avoid “fault lines” in your home. 

• Don’t Fight Back: When a child is in the heat of the moment and shooting blame darts at you, keep quiet.  At most, say, “I’m sorry you feel that way.”  Circle back to the topic when the child has calmed down. 
• Don’t Allow Blame at Home: That goes for everyone in the household. If something goes wrong, don’t assign blame. Figure out the path to fix it. 
• Own Your Mistakes: If you are to blame, set a good example by accepting responsibility for it. Don’t get into a tit-for-tat of “Remember the time you did XX, and I forgave you?”
• Use the Socratic Method: Mothers often want to solve all their children’s problems. It can set the stage for blame. For example, “You told me it sounded like fun to go to Europe instead of getting an internship before graduation. Now I can’t get a job because of it!”  When you use the Socratic Method to solve a problem, you aren’t giving advice but guiding your children through critical thinking. 
  • “What are the benefits of going to Europe? What are the potential risks? How will this benefit your future career?”
  • End the conversation with something like, “You have a lot to think about. I trust you’ll make the best decision for you, and I support whatever decision you make.” 

What if you are already caught in the Blame Game hamster wheel and can’t get out? Remember this mantra, “It’s never the wrong time to do the right thing.” 

Enlist a family counselor if you think that’s the best path, or have an honest conversation about boundaries and accountability with your daughter. 

Final Thoughts

There is going to be tension in a parental relationship.

Whether it’s a child who isn’t emotionally developed enough to understand accountability, a teenager dealing with hormones (or a mother going through the hormone-drive cycle of menopause), or an adult child who struggles with past sins, you can’t avoid conflict. 

You can set a healthy stage to address and resolve the conflict. Mothering doesn’t stop when the child is 18. It’s a lifelong commitment, and you always have time to turn the relationship around. 

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All parents want to see their child thrive in life. But for them to succeed, they need the right environment to learn and grow. Simultaneously, they need space that encourages them to accomplish this in various aspects of their lives.

The right environment starts at home since this is where they spend most of their time, which will have the greatest impact. Fostering a rich environment doesn’t need to be difficult. Once you have the basics in order – such as health care, hygiene, food, etc. – you can organize a space that optimizes your child’s learning. However, the environment should contribute to all the child’s aspects, including their psychological, emotional and physical well-being.

Here, you will find the best ways to help your child thrive if you want to create a place of environmental safety and learning.

1. Provide Emotional Stability

One important factor that helps a child thrive is fulfilling their emotional needs. Children need to feel loved and heard to have a sense of belonging. Otherwise, they tend to have a more challenging time growing as a person.

Ensure you create a loving environment by listening and offering support when needed. Offer them plenty of praise when they show positive behavior. Show them you care by being affectionate.

Creating a positive and safe space is the path that leads to children’s happiness. Therefore, they will learn to be self-sufficient when they’re older and can grow.

2. Offer Sensory-Rich Experiences

Children learn by exploring their senses – from birth to age five. For your child to learn and thrive, they need an environment that provides various sensory experiences. That way, they can absorb most of the information that surrounds them.

For example, children need several individual sensory activities that focus on developing their fine motor skills such as agility, strength and control. Some of these activities may include:

• Gardening
• Playing with puzzles or blocks.
• Coloring with crayons.

However, plenty of other activities focus on the other senses. For example, you can use music and dancing to develop their understanding of hearing and movement. Reading also helps them to build language skills as they point to pictures and engage with you.

3. Take Playtime Seriously

Younger children are like sponges. They’re soaking up the information and learning from everything that surrounds them. Therefore, playing is crucial as it helps them build important life skills. For example, imaginative play allows them to build empathy for others as they learn to compromise and take turns.

Consider letting them play make-believe by pretending with them, such as dressing up like pirates to find the hidden treasure. Activities like these spark their creativity and help them learn to express new ideas verbally. Yet, what seems like fun is truly important work that you’re doing. Therefore, taking playtime seriously also means you’re taking their learning seriously. So, you should avoid using your devices in front of the child since this can make them feel less important.

4. Stimulate Conversation And Engage

You might not always be able to understand what your baby is saying. However, you should take your baby’s babble seriously. In early childhood development, experts recommend that you stimulate your child to talk and treat it like a real conversation. Anytime your baby makes sounds or cues, ensure you respond throughout the day or engage with them to help them talk.

Avoid being afraid to use big words, too. Children learn language mostly through their parents. Therefore, the more words you use, the more this enables them to improve their vocabulary and communication skills. While studies show baby talk can have significant benefits, ensure you use adult speech rather than baby babble. Doing so can have a negative impact in the long run.

Consider having long discussions during activities. Stimulating conversations early on enables your child to talk about various topics more eloquently.

5. Establish A Structured Routine Daily

A structured routine allows your child to thrive because they learn what you expect from them. Accomplishing this each day also helps them to predict what will happen and feel more at ease. In turn, you enable your child to focus on different experiences and activities, so they learn. Additionally, a solid structured routine helps your child to feel like they’re in control – reducing their feelings of confusion and anxiety.

A daily routine could include a timetable such as when your child has to get up and go to bed and what time they’ll have their meals. Other ways can consist of daily chores or winding down time before bed.

Implement These Strategies To See Your Child Succeed

Implementing these top five strategies is crucial to your child’s learning and development. Ensure you use them each day from the time they are born to lay the foundation for their stability. Doing so will create a supportive environment, enabling your child to thrive throughout their livelihood.

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• There are many different names for sugar, which can make it difficult to cut added sugar from your diet.
• Reducing your added-sugar intake can be beneficial for your health, and may even help with weight loss.
• Here are 71 names for sugar that you should look for on nutrition labels.

We eat a lot of sugar — more than most of us realize. And while we know to limit sweet treats like candy and ice cream, sugar is also hidden in some surprising foods — like bread, almond milk, and even salad dressing.

That’s because there are so many names for sugar — some you might not even recognize as sugar.

“Yes, sugar hides in plain view,” says Dr. Whitney Bowe, in Sugar Free 3.

“And it may be called something other than ‘sugar,’” she says. “Cane sugar, sucrose, fructose, agave nectar, high fructose corn syrup — but sugar is sugar, no matter how you spell it. There are more than sixty different names for sugar!”

How can you cut back on sugar if you don’t even recognize it on a nutrition label? Here’s what you need to know about these other names for sugar so you can make more informed eating choices.

Think you already know your sugar handles? Before you read on, test your knowledge and see how many sneaky sugars you can identify!

Take the quiz!

What Is Added Sugar?

Before we get into the other names for sugar, we first have to differentiate between the two major ways we get it in our diet — a.k.a. natural sugar and added sugar.

“Fruits and grains have a naturally occurring sugar which comes with fiber, vitamins, and minerals,” says Emily Tills, MS, RDN, CDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Syracuse, New York. “Added sugar is sugar that is not naturally occurring in the food — it is usually added to increase the sweetness or taste of foods.”

Added sugars are empty calories, Till explains.

They don’t provide the fiber, vitamins, and minerals — from eating a piece of fresh fruit, for example — that help your body process sugar more healthily.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend we consume no more than 10 percent of our daily calories from added sugar.

And the American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugar intake to less than 6 teaspoons (25 grams) per day for women, and less than 9 teaspoons (36 grams) per day for men.

71 Other Names for Sugar

By some accounts, there are more than 250 other names for sugar. “It can be hard to avoid sugar if you don’t make a conscious effort and know what to look for,” Dr. Bowe says.

These are some of the names of sugar you’re most likely to find on ingredient lists. When you’re trying to cut back on your sugar consumption, watch out for sugar hiding under these aliases.

1. Agave juice
2. Agave nectar
3. Agave syrup, all varieties
4. Beet sugar
5. Blackstrap molasses
6. Brown rice syrup
7. Brown sugar
8. Buttered syrup
9. Cane juice
10. Cane juice crystals
11. Cane sugar
12. Cane syrup
13. Caramel
14. Carob syrup
15. Castor sugar
16. Coconut sugar
17. Confectioners’ sugar
18. Corn glucose syrup
19. Corn syrup
20. Corn syrup solids
21. Date sugar/syrup
22. Demerara sugar
23. Dextrose
24. Drimol
25. Ethyl maltol
26. Evaporated cane juice
27. Flo malt
28. Florida crystals
29. Fructose
30. Fructose sweetener
31. Fruit juice
32. Fruit juice concentrate
33. Glucose
34. Glucose solids
35. Golden sugar
36. Golden syrup
37. Granular sweetener
38. Granulated sugar
39. Grape sugar
40. High fructose corn syrup (an added sugar derived from corn starch and commonly found in processed foods)
41. Honey
42. Honibake
43. Icing sugar
44. Inverted sugar (a.k.a. invert sugar)
45. Isoglucose
46. Isomaltulose
47. Kona-ame
48. Malt syrup
49. Maltodextrin
50. Maltose
51. Maple
52. Maple sugar
53. Maple syrup
54. Mizu-ame
55. Molasses
56. Muscovado sugar
57. Nulomoline
58. Panela sugar
59. Powdered sugar
60. Raw sugar
61. Refiner’s syrup
62. Rice syrup
63. Sorghum syrup
64. Starch sweetener
65. Sucanat
66. Sucrovert
67. Sugar beet
68. Treacle or treacle sugar
69. Turbinado sugar
70. Unrefined sugar
71. Yellow sugar

Is There A Difference Between Glucose and Fructose?

Glucose and fructose are two different types of sugar. Both can be found naturally in food, and they contain the same amount of calories.

But glucose and fructose have different chemical structures, and they’re digested and metabolized differently once consumed.

Glucose

Glucose is a monosaccharide, meaning it’s a simple unit of sugar that is one molecule.

“Glucose is what our bodies use for energy and is stored as glycogen in our muscles and liver,” says Tills.

Fructose

Fructose, also a monosaccharide, is a naturally occurring sugar in fruit. When converted to glucose in the liver, our bodies use it for energy, Tills explains.

Fructose from fruit is allowed in moderation on certain sugar free plans, but added fructose — such as from high-fructose corn syrup or agave syrup — in excess has been linked to negative health effects.

Which Sweeteners are Allowed on a Sugar-Free Diet?

It depends on the diet, but generally speaking, naturally occurring sugars (like the sugar in fruit and milk) can be part of a healthy diet. Here are a few types of sweeteners you may be allowed to consume on a sugar free diet.

1. Foods with naturally occurring sugars

On some sugar-free plans, Tills says, “Naturally occurring sugar can still be included, so you can still have your fruits, vegetables, and grains.”

This includes the fructose in fresh fruits and the lactose in milk.

2. Sugar alcohols

Some sugar free diets also allow foods infused with sugar alcohols, while others don’t.

These compounds — which may be naturally occurring or chemically produced — taste sweet, but they aren’t absorbed like sugar and don’t have the same impact on blood sugar but still have calories.

Some sugar alcohols you might find on an ingredient label include:

• Erythritol
• Hydrogenated starch hydrolysates
• Isomalt
• Lactitol
• Maltitol
• Mannitol
• Sorbitol
• Xylitol

Pro tip: If you see an “itol” at the end of it, that means it’s a sugar alcohol, says Michele Promaulayko, author of Sugar Free 3.

“This isn’t a great name for them since they’re neither sugar nor alcohol,” she says. “They are, however, chemically processed artificial sweeteners, so they’re a no-go on our program.”

Because they’re absorbed through the digestive tract slowly and incompletely, sugar alcohols may cause stomach discomfort, bloating, and gas in people.

3. Monkfruit

Monk fruit sweetener — an extract that’s 25 to 100 times sweeter than sugar — is a non-nutritive sweetener that doesn’t add calories.

4. Stevia

This natural sweetener is 50 to 350 times sweeter than table sugar. Because stevia is a plant extract and doesn’t add calories, 100 percent stevia extract may be allowed on some sugar-free diets.

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It’s predicted that 2022 will see the most number of weddings since 1984 with some 2.5 million couples tying the knot. That’s a lot of people potentially trying to shed weight before their big day.

The good news is that even with a limited timeline until you walk down the aisle, it’s still possible to lose weight fast and safely. “Typically weight loss is losing one-to-two pounds a week. Working on weight loss efforts for a month and a half you could lose up to 12 pounds,” says Jeanette Kimszal, RDN, NLC, Root Nutrition & Education. “Weight loss does not have to be hard when you focus on your goals.”

Nicole Swingle, RD, echoes this sentiment, saying, “While you may be stressed out about your wedding coming up and losing weight in time, it is possible to lose weight even when you’re a month out from your big day.”

For more, check out these five simple tips to drop 10 pounds or more before you say “I do.”

Time to eat the rainbow, friends. One strategy “to lose weight when you have a time crunch is to increase your vegetable consumption to help you have more dietary fiber, which will help keep you fuller for longer and positively impact your gut health,” says Swingle. “When you feel fuller, you are less likely to eat.”

Kimszal agrees. “Adding at least one serving of vegetables to each meal will help to increase your fiber and nutrient intake,” she says, highlighting that this can help with weight loss.

Swingle shares that one simple way to lose weight before your wedding day is to stop eating out at restaurants those last 30 days leading up to your nuptials. “This is extremely effective for weight loss, as eating out adds a tremendous amount of calories and sodium without you realizing it,” she says. “By reducing how often you eat out, you are reducing the amount of salt retention and calories to help remain in a calorie deficit and help the scale tip back down.”6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

“One way to lose weight is by looking at your diet and seeing how much protein you are taking in,” says Kimszal, noting that you should aim to have lean protein at each meal.

As we’ve previously reported, to stay fit or lose weight, men who work out for 45 minutes three to five days a week need about 0.45 gram per pound, and women with the same activity level need 0.35 gram per pound. Read more on how much protein you need in your weight loss diet plan here.

Not only is it incredibly bad for your health, but it wreaks havoc on your waistline, too. “Cutting out soda and other sweetened beverages can help you lose weight,” says Kimszal.

Along with regular soda, ditch diet soda, too. “Many people turn to diet sodas for weight loss, but they can have the opposite effect,” says board-certified obesity expert Sylvia Gonsahn-Bollie, MD, the lead physician at Embrace You Weight & Wellness in a 2021 story for Eat This, Not That!

“Lastly, assessing your hunger on a scale of 1-10 before you eat can help you to lose weight because it forces you to stop and ponder if your body is truly hungry or if you are bored and want food,” advises Swingle. “This facilitates weight loss by reducing the amount and how often you eat.” While you nosh, chew slowly, observe your inner experience, and follow more of these smart habits to promote mind-body connection.

Remember, perspective is key. “Don’t let weight loss be your end goal. Focus on how you feel. Do you feel you are more energetic when you get up? That is what is most important,” says Kimszal. And on your wedding day, feeling energized and excited is far more important than if you squeeze into a smaller suit size or were able to get another inch tailored off the waist of your wedding dress.

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Let’s chat about sex and spirituality — aka “conscious sexuality.” 

Traditionally, North American culture frames sexual intimacy as a dirty, shameful, politicized act — which is too bad.

Because sex between consenting adults is one of life’s more pleasurable things, not to mention elemental to our species’ existence.

Besides, sometimes, the best spiritual sex is with yourself.  

So pull up a chair if you’re interested in exploring sacred sexuality more.

No need to blush; you’re in safe, non-judgmental company. 

What Is Spiritual Sex? 

Spiritual sex goes beyond the physical — beyond the orgasmic release. Some folks refer to it as a “communion with the soul.”

Please don’t read us wrong; release is a significant component of spiritual sex. But instead of just a physical explosion, you’re also treated to an energetic one. 

Definitionally, spiritual sex forges a tighter bond between your soul, your partner’s, and cosmic connections. Or, to put it another way, it merges life forces. 

Furthermore, since we’re all created from a divine mold, sacred sex allows us to celebrate ourselves and our partners as wanted, valuable beings. 

Spiritual intimacy also has the power to expand our consciousness. 

Fun Fact: The average physical, sexual encounter lasts 22 seconds after penetration. A session of spiritual sex could last over an hour.

Why Sex Should Be Treated As A Spiritual Practice 

Not every instance of intimacy needs to be a deep, soulful connection. But many folks discover they enjoy spiritual sexuality immensely.

What are the benefits of treating sex as a sacred activity? There are many, including:

• An Explosion of Emotion: Spiritual sex is linked to hormonal release and, therefore, good for you. That’s right: according to WebMD.com, intense, passionate sex boosts the immune system, improves sleep, and reduces one’s chances of getting prostate cancer.  
• Restorative Release: As we said, spiritual sex releases various feel-good hormones — even more than “normal” sex. The more stimulating chemicals you have churning through the body, the better you’ll feel.
• Makes You Smarter: Sacred intercourse may actually improve your memory. How? The body interprets spiritual sex as an aerobic workout, which has been proven to boost cognitive functionality. 
• Increased Self-Actualization: A big part of spiritual sex is being open to your partner and yourself, which leads to better self-actualization.
• Blood Pressure: According to one study, spiritual sex may reduce blood pressure.

If you’ve been raised in an environment where sex is shrouded in shame, approaching it from a spiritual angle may help you develop a better relationship with intimacy.

11 Ways to Practice Spiritual Sexuality 

We’ve discussed the definitions and benefits of spiritual sexuality. Now, let’s dive into the technicalities. How do you practice spiritual sexuality, exactly?  

1. Shoot for an Energy Orgasm

There’s more than one type of orgasm. We traditionally think of the physical kind, but you can also experience energy orgasms.

What are they?

Essential, energy orgasms involve the whole body and feel like you’re ensconced in a bubble of love or passion. 

Bonus Tip: Deep breathing helps this process along.

2. Use Oils

Many people love to use oils during sex. It makes the experience “slicker” — which many folks find erotic — and can serve as a topical lubricant to make things fit easier.

Add a ritualistic element to it by anointing each other with rose and sandalwood on the crown, third eye, heart, and sacral chakras.

It may feel a little silly if you’re not used to enhancing your sexual encounters, but it can be an amazing experience for committed couples. 

Bonus Tip: If you heat your oil, make sure it’s not too hot.

3. Prep the Room

Engage the room’s senses. Put on music that gives the room a softer, sexier vibe. Make the bed with either satin or super-soft blankets and sheets; then light candles to add a visual romantic flare.

And don’t forget to have some dark chocolate on hand for afterward. It contains elements that enhance the feel-good hormones coursing through your blood. A glass of wine also works. 

Bonus Tip: Want to watch your budget? Most dollar stores have lovely scented candles.

4. Prep Yourself

We enjoy things more when we feel our best, so prep your body and mind. Engage your own senses. 

Beforehand, shower. Use smell-good soaps and lotions. Don’t overdo it, though. Shoot for a soft waft. Some people like to make it a ritualistic event to get in the mood.

If you’re comfortable with lingerie, don some! Feel free to wear certain jewelry if it won’t get in the way of intercourse. And if makeup makes you feel beautiful, go for it.

Bonus Tip: If you use scented lotions and scents, ensure they match your body chemistry. 

5. Be Completely Open

For spiritual sex to be successful, both parties must shed their embarrassment about their bodies. It’s about opening yourself up to your partner to connect on another level.

Full transparency can be difficult at first — especially for those who are inadvertently taught to view sexual encounters as shameful. But when you break down those barriers, the emotional sky’s the limit.

Bonus Tip: Make a pact to keep everything that transpires between yourselves. Doing so will help alleviate any worries.

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6. Don’t Go in With Expectations

It’s vital not to go in with grand expectations. Getting the hang of spiritual sex can take a while. And as we’ve mentioned, it can feel a little embarrassing initially because sacred sex glorifies spiritual intimacy. 

Be exploratory and follow your instincts. Be free and have fun with it. 

Moreover, don’t forget that you want your partner to also feel at ease. So watch what you say, and under no circumstances should either party poke fun at the other during the event — or after.

Bonus Tip: Doing a quick meditation before can help clear you of any expectations.

7. Go Solo

Do you want to wait to have sex until you’re married but want to experience spiritual sex? Don’t worry; it’s 100% possible to have spiritual sex by and with yourself.  

You can use intimate toys on yourself — or even just your fingers. And don’t skimp on the atmosphere. Light candles for yourself and break out the special linens. You deserve it! 

Bonus Tip: There is lots of information out there regarding masturbation. If you share a computer, feel free to put the browser used to look it up in privacy mode.

8. Talk About it Afterward

Aftercare is a beautiful part of the intimate experience, often lacking when you’re just doing it for physical pleasure. It involves cuddling, talking about what just happened, and soothing each other.

And don’t be afraid to laugh at this point. It may bond you more and make the next time feel less “weird.”

Bonus Tip: It’s practically impossible to have spiritual sex with a casual booty call. So before trying it, ensure you’re with someone who doesn’t hop up three minutes after sex.

9. Incorporate Breathing Exercises

Breathing goes hand-in-hand with spiritual sex. Try doing tandem breaths in sacred units of 6, 7, or 8. Touching your third eyes while simultaneously deep breathing can lead to an enhanced connection. 

Also, try to guide your energy toward the heart and genitals.

Bonus Tip: Deliberate breathing exercises are provenly great for your health. Read up on it.

10. Worship Your Partner as a Sacred Representation

A big part of spiritual sex is honoring your partner as a unique and sacred being. Instead of approaching it with purely physical goals, think of it as a divine act. 

So long as you’re committed to each other and aim to glorify your partner’s energy and body, it is a sacred union.  

Bonus Tip: The time is now to stop fretting over minor “faults.” Appreciate yourself and your partner for who you are in the moment.

11. Journal About It

Journaling is an excellent way to incorporate self-reflection into your life. Thinking and writing about the emotions you experienced during the event can help you sort out what you like and don’t like.  

Journaling also extends the experience.

Bonus Tip: Get a few paper journals you love instead of typing your journal on a computer. Writing by hand helps you better process your thoughts.

We’ve explored how to have spiritual sex, so why not give it a shot? Many couples credit it with adding the spark back into their relationships. Plus, it’s great for the body and mind.

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