In order to live the best lives possible, we may sometimes end up developing some habits and falling prey to some of the worst patterns that are actively impacting our health. It may not seem like much, but a lot of the things we do, even unconsciously (like sitting down and losing sleep), have a direct effect on our bodies that goes against our craving for living a long, happy, healthy life!
As humans, we are wired to crave comfort and enjoyment, yet that also leads us to compulsively pick up bad habits that, in the long run, are horrible for our health.
And there’s no shame in admitting we have these impulses. After all, we are just humans, and it takes a lot of trial and error to get rid of patterns of behavior. The problem is when we know they are bad habits and we aren’t doing anything to correct them.
This is why we have gathered some of the worst habits a lot of people pick up that science and doctors have proven to be actively shaving off years off your life! Let us know if you know about these bad habits, or if you are actively trying to combat any of them!
If you have a busy lifestyle, you’re probably used to juggling lots of things at a time. This means that cooking often ends up at the bottom of a to-do list for many people. Not having enough time to prepare home-cooked meals regularly can be a setback for healthy eating.
Luckily, besides meats, there are many fruits and vegetables that can be stored in the freezer for quite a long while. But what about all the other grocery staples you love?
Whether the supermarket is having a big sale on grapes or you have a massive crop of parsley no one wants, you’ll be delighted to know that these everyday food items can be popped into the freezer for long-term storage, besides all your frozen meals!
When we’re talking about foods to freeze, not everything goes. Foods that have high moisture content, like watermelon, cucumbers, and oranges, don’t freeze very well.
But with the proper preparation, your freezer can prolong the lives of many foods. Read on to discover the 20 best foods to freeze in order to make your life easier!
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Bacon
For some practical serving portions, divide two to four slices between some pieces of wax paper and store them in a freezer bag. When you need them, just thaw them out overnight in the fridge, and you’ll be all set to cook them in the morning.
But if you need to defrost them in a couple of hours, place the freezer bag in some cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes until it fully thaws.
Applesauce
Believe us. It tastes just as fresh when you pull it out of the freezer. Applesauce can be stored in an airtight container for up to 12 months. Just remember to leave a bit of space in the container.
Avocados
Be sure to wash and halve this yummy fruit before peeling. You can freeze avocados as halves or puree them with some lime or lemon juice. Frozen avocados tend to become a bit mushy, so they’re perfect for sauces or dips but not as great for eating by the slice.
Burgers
Whether we’re talking about meat or veggie, burgers freeze very well. You can cook them ahead of time and then let them cool off a bit. Wrap them in some plastic wrap and put them in the freezer in ziplock bags.
You can just reheat them when you’re ready to eat. Or, for a better option, you can just form them into patties and freeze them raw, so all you have to do is thaw and cook them.
Bananas
Bananas are the perfect option to freeze with or without skin. Just bear in mind that, like avocados, bananas WILL be mushy. But that’s just fine if you want to save them for a yummy banana bread, pancakes or smoothies, just not for munching on whole.
Casseroles
Note: Not all casseroles are ok to freeze. But there are definitely lots of recipes out there that you can try and that are also freezer-friendly! A perfect example would be lasagna.
They’re great to make ahead of time, freeze them, and then just warm them up in the oven on a night when you don’t have time to cook!
…Casseroles are some of the most delicious and practical foods to freeze out there!
Cheese
Grate your preferred cheese and place it in an airtight bag. We would recommend portioning into 1 or 2 cup servings for your convenience. Try adding a tablespoon of cornstarch to prevent clumping and shake to combine.
Thaw in the fridge, and you can use them for casseroles, soups, quiche, or even on some homemade pizza. Note: Hard cheeses like cheddar, parmesan, and mozzarella freeze better than soft cheeses.
Waffles And Pancakes
These would be just perfect to have for when you have hectic mornings. Wrap 3 or 4 pancakes, or however many you want for an individual serving, in saran wrap and freeze them in some Ziploc bags.
And just unwrap and pop them in your toaster or microwave to heat them for breakfast.
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Sour Cream And Cream Cheese
If you plan on spreading it on a bagel, forget about freezing it because the texture will change. But if you’re using that cream cheese or sour cream for casseroles, cheesecake, or any other baked goods, it can definitely be frozen.
Just thaw it out in the fridge overnight, reheat slowly, and constantly stir, so it doesn’t separate or curdles. Whipping cream can also be frozen, but it’ll be broken and unable to be whipped. So you can only use it for sauces.
Soups
Most soups store amazingly well in your freezer! Whip up a double batch of your favorite, let it cool completely, and transfer half of it to a gallon-sized Ziploc bag. To save on space in the freezer, be sure to store it flat!
Eggs
Never freeze eggs in the shell! However, you CAN freeze them either gently whisked and stored in a freezer-friendly container or separated and poured into some ice cube trays. Remember that thawed egg whites may not whip up to foam, so avoid using them for things like cakes.
…When thinking about the best foods to freeze, have you ever considered eggs?
Sauces And Broths
Instead of throwing away your veggie scraps, you can use them to make a batch of some delicious veggie broth. Then freeze it up in 2 to 4 cup containers and just thaw when you need them! Got some extra tomatoes in the summer?
You can whip up some homemade tomato sauce and freeze it to use throughout the cold season.
Add some meat or lentils to make a bolognese or your favorite vegetables for added nutrients, and then all you have to do is cook up some pasta on a busy night, defrost your pre-made sauce, and dinner is served!
Grapes
Ever had a frozen grape? They’re delicious! Just wash and dry them thoroughly and spread them out on a baking sheet to freeze overnight.
Throw them into an airtight bag, and when you’re craving a snack, grab a handful and start munching!
Bread And Other Doughs
Homemade bread is easy because you can avoid store-bought bread’s long and unhealthy ingredient lists. Make a couple of extra loaves and stick them in the freezer to use in the next few weeks.
You can also make things like pizza dough ahead of time, then just transfer it to the fridge to thaw before having homemade pizza night!
Hummus
If you want to make hummus recipes ahead of time, have at it! Then add a thin layer of olive oil to the top of the hummus that’s been placed in an airtight container.
Then just seal and freeze it. When you’re ready to use it, thaw it out in the fridge for a day and mix thoroughly.
You can make a whole bag of dried beans or lentils, let them cool, divide them into ziplock bags, and store them in the freezer. When you’re ready to use them, beat the bag on the counter a few times to loosen it up and add directly to whatever you’re cooking.
For best results, undercook them slightly at first, and they’ll cook a little more in whatever dish you choose to add them to.
Citrus
Citrus fruits can be frozen in airtight containers. Then you break off a piece whenever you want to use them. Squeeze the juice into ice cube trays and freeze.
Pop cubes into a freezer bag and take them out as needed. Use the cubes to chill homemade lemonades on hot summer days without diluting the flavor.
Energy Balls
Have you heard about these? They make the perfect snack, and keeping them in the freezer is a breeze. They stay cold and tasty but don’t freeze all the way through, so you can actually eat them right when you take them out.
A fantastic combo is 2 cups of chopped and pitted dates, 1 1/2 cups of almonds, 1/2 cup of peanut butter…plus some chia and pumpkin seeds. There are infinite combinations out there for you to enjoy, depending on your preference.
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Milk
If your milk is getting a bit too close to its expiration date and it’s still half full, don’t worry! Just freeze away. It may become a bit grainy, so it’s best if you use it for cooking and baking rather than drinking.
Freeze it in a glass container or ice cube tray, and as always, leave room for expansion. Thaw it out in the fridge and shake it very well before using.
Burritos
When you have the time, customize some breakfast burritos or any type of traditional burritos for lunch or dinner. Wrap them individually, then defrost them in the microwave for a quick meal!
So what did you think about all these foods to freeze? We may have supplied you with some ideas, but the bottom line is that there are many options for you to cut down on your cooking times out there.
Sleeping well enough during the night is at times even more important than regular exercise and a healthy diet. Research actually sustains the idea that poor sleep might have immediate and negative effects on your hormones, exercise performance, and brain function.
It might also cause weight gain and increase disease risk, no matter the age or gender. In exchange, proper sleep will help you to consume less, exercise better, and keep better overall health. Over the past few decades, our sleep quality and quantity have continuously decreased.
Why? In fact, there are more people now that sleep poorly than those who get a good night’s sleep. If you want to be a part of the second category, you have to adapt to a certain kind of lifestyle. Here are 17 things that will definitely help you sleep better:
Increase your bright light exposure during the day
Your body has its own natural time-keeping clock that is also known as your circadian rhythm. It might affect your brain, body, and hormones, as it helps you stay awake and tells your body when it’s time for you to sleep.
Natural sunlight or bright light throughout the day will maintain your circadian rhythm healthy and stable. In other words? You will have lots of energy throughout the day, but also a better nighttime sleep quality and duration.
For those who suffer from insomnia, daytime bright light exposure helped improve sleep quality and duration. It also shortened the time it needed to fall asleep by 83%.
Reduce the blue light exposure in the evening
Exposure to light throughout the day is great, but nighttime light exposure…you guessed…has the EXACT opposite effect. This happens only because it messes with your circadian rhythm, which tricks your brain into thinking that it’s still daytime.
It will also reduce hormones in your body such as melatonin, which is responsible for making you feel more relaxed and get a deep sleep. Electronic devices, including smartphones and computers, emit blue light in big amounts, and in this matter, they’re the worst. There are various popular methods to reduce the nighttime blue light exposure, which include:
Wearing glasses that block the blue light
Downloading an app like f.lux to block blue light on your laptop or computer
Installing an app that blocks blue light on your smartphone
Don’t drink caffeine late in the day
Caffeine is a great product with many benefits. Not only is consumed by 90% of the US population, but it’s also extremely beloved. A single dose of caffeine can increase focus, energy, and sports performance. BUT, when you drink it later in the day, caffeine stimulates your nervous system and might stop your body from detaching from the daily stress at night.
There’s one study that shows how consuming caffeine up to 6 hours before bed will significantly worsen your sleep quality. Caffeine can remain in your blood for 6-8 hours. That’s why drinking big amounts of coffee after 4 p.m. isn’t really recommended, particularly if you know you’re a bit sensitive to caffeine or experience trouble sleeping.
Reduce irregular or long daytime naps
Even if short power naps are good, long or irregular napping during the day will have a negative impact on your sleep. Sleeping during the day might confuse your internal clock, which means that you will struggle to sleep at night.
Even more, there’s one study that showed how participants were more tired during the day after taking daytime naps. There’s another study that proved how napping for 30 min or even less might enhance daytime brain function, but longer naps might harm your health and sleep quality.
Even so, some studies are showing how those who are used to sleeping regularly during the daytime don’t suffer from poor sleep quality or disrupted sleep at night.
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Try sleeping and waking up at consistent times
Your circadian rhythms work on a set loop, as it aligns itself with the sunrise and sunset. Why does everyone recommend respecting a consistent schedule with your sleep and waking times? That’s why, because it will improve your long-term sleep quality.
There’s one study that shows how participants who suffered from irregular sleeping patterns went to bed late on the weekends and reported poor sleep. There are many other studies that show how irregular sleep patterns might affect your circadian rhythms, alongside your levels of melatonin, which lets your brain know that you have to sleep.
If you experience trouble sleeping, make sure you get in the habit of waking up and going to bed at the approximately same hour. Because after a couple of weeks, you won’t even need an alarm.
Take a melatonin supplement
Melatonin is a highly essential sleep hormone that will let your brain know when it’s the right time to relax and head to bed. Melatonin supplements are a wildly popular sleep aid. They are often used to treat insomnia because their properties are so good when it comes to falling asleep faster.
There’s one study that shows how taking 2 mg of melatonin before going to bed will improve sleep quality and energy the next day, and will help people to fall asleep easier. Even better, no one ever manifested any kind of withdrawal effects.
It can be extremely practical to carry melatonin with you, especially when you’re traveling and adjusting to new time zones because it might help your body’s circadian rhythms to get back on its track.
Consider using these supplements
And if we’re talking about supplements, here are a couple of things you could take to induce relaxation and help you sleep:
Ginkgo biloba – Here’s a natural herb with lots of benefits. It will enhance your sleep, relaxation, and stress reduction. You can take 250 mg 30-60 minutes before going to bed.
Glycine – There are a couple of studies that showed how taking 3 grams of the amino acid glycine will improve your sleep quality.
Valerian root – Valerian is well known for helping out with sleep problems, but also improving sleep quality. Take 500 mg before bed.
Magnesium – Magnesium is the one responsible for 600 reactions in your body, which also include relaxation and enhanced sleep quality.
L-theanine – An amino acid, L-theanine can help with your relaxation and sleep issues. Take 100-200 mg before bed.
Lavender – Lavender is a wonderful herb, especially when it comes to its many health benefits. Lavender can induce a calming and sedentary effect to improve your sleeping issues. You can take 80-160 mg containing 25-46% linalool.
Not only you should try these supplements one at a time, but you should also remind yourself that they’re not magic bullets for your sleeping problems.
Don’t drink alcohol
Did you know that having a couple of drinks every night might have a negative impact on your sleep and hormones? Alcohol can cause or even increase the symptoms of sleep apnea, snoring, and disrupted sleep patterns.
It can also have an impact on the amount of melatonin your body produces at night, which you well know plays an essential role in your body’s circadian rhythm. There’s another study that shows how alcohol consumption at night can decrease the natural nighttime elevations in HGH, which is known as the human growth hormone.
HGH plays an important role in your circadian rhythm and has lots of key functions.
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Optimize your bedroom environment
Do you know how many people put emphasis on the way their bedroom looks? You probably never thought about it, but its setup can impact how much you’re sleeping. Some of the things you need to take into consideration when it comes to your bedroom environment are the temperature, noise, external lights, and furniture arrangement.
Numerous studies are pointing out that the external noise, which oftentimes comes from traffic, can affect your sleep quality and increase the chances of long-term health issues. In one study that was conducted in the bedroom environment of women, 50% of participants have noticed an improved sleep quality when noises and lights were diminished.
Set your bedroom temperature
Body and bedroom temperature might have a great impact on your sleep quality. You probably noticed that during hot and steamy summer nights, in hot locations, you ALWAYS have a problem sleeping. All this is natural, given the fact that it’s way too warm!
In fact, there are various researches that prove how sleep quality is affected more by temperature than by noises. Other studies show that increased body and bedroom temperature can affect the quality of sleep and increase wakefulness. It seems that around 70°F (20°C) is the most comfortable temperature for most people.
Don’t eat late in the evening
Eating too late in the night might have a negative impact both on our sleep quality and the natural release of HGH and melatonin. That being said, the quality and type of your late-night snack might have a negative impact on your insomnia-prone habits, too.
In one of the studies that focused on this matter, a high-carb meal eaten 4 hours before going to bed actually helped people fall asleep faster. What’s even more interesting is that, apparently, a low-carb diet might have been found to improve sleep, which helps us draw the conclusion that carbs aren’t always needed, especially if you’re used to a low-carb diet.
Chill and clear your mind in the evening
Do you know how many people out there have a scheduled pre-sleep routine that helps them relax and detach from all the nonsense carried along the day? Relaxation techniques before bed will improve your sleeping quality, as the same techniques are used by professional therapists to treat insomnia.
There’s one study that showed how a relaxing massage had a positive impact on the sleep of people who were ill. Some of the strategies you could try are listening to relaxing music, reading a book, taking a hot bath, meditating, deep breathing, and even visualization.
Take a relaxing bath or shower
A relaxing bath or shower is another efficient way to sleep better. Studies show that taking a shower before bedtime can improve the overall sleep quality and help you fall asleep much faster. In fact, in one of the many studies, taking a hot bath for 90 straight minutes before bed did wonder when it came to sleeping quality, and the subjects were people who couldn’t sleep.
As an alternative, if you don’t want to take a full bath every night, you can simply bathe your feet in hot water, as it will help you relax and it will improve your sleep.
Make sure you don’t suffer from any sleep disorder
Although we offer all kinds of options for your sleeping problems, it’s worth considering an underlying health condition too. One of the most common problems can be sleep apnea, which is at fault for causing inconsistent and interrupted breathing.
People who suffer from this disorder oftentimes stop breathing in the middle of the night. However, the condition is more common than you might have thought. In one review, 24% of men and 9% of women currently suffer from sleep apnea.
Another common medically diagnosed illness can be related to sleep movement disorders and circadian rhythm sleep/wake disorders, which are most common in those who work in shifts.
Get yourself a comfortable bed, mattress, and pillow
Did you ever wonder why are you sleeping better in a hotel? Apart from having an extremely relaxing environment, the quality of your bed can have a negative impact on your sleep. One study has looked into the benefits of having a new mattress for 28 days, and it revealed that it reduced back pain by 57%, shoulder pain by 60%, and back stiffness by 59%.
Should I also add that it enhanced sleep quality by 60%? There’s also another study that points out how new bedding can have a lot to do with proper sleep. Plus, poor-quality bedding might lead to increased lower back pain.
Of course, the proper mattress and bedding will always be subjective. So if you decide to upgrade your bedding, we strongly recommend you base your decision entirely on your personal preferences.
Our health should always come first, and many things you might not think of can deteriorate it in time. The brain especially, is one of the most important parts of our body since it’s responsible for most functions in our body, such as breathing, muscle control, and so on.
Many studies have shown that by making better choices, we can enhance our cognitive performance and minimize our risk of developing dementia and other age-related issues. And even though aging is something we can not avoid, there are some things we can do to make this process easier and keep ourselves healthy for as long as possible.
Did you know that our brain also needs exercise? Training is not only for your body, but mind as well. Mentally challenging activities, such as puzzles, crosswords and so on, can help keep your mind alert and healthy. Reading, singing or other hobbies you might have, also count as exercise, so make sure you do them more often.
And to keep your brain healthy for as long as possible, here are 8 things you should avoid.
1. Lack of sleep
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Sleep deprivation makes it difficult for the brain to function correctly. If you’ve ever misplaced your keys and can’t remember where you put them, you’ve most likely experienced momentary memory loss due to a lack of sleep. Of course, this may happen now and then without having anything to do with sleep, but memory loss is a frequent manifestation of sleep deprivation and can cause cognitive problems.
Certain cells will die when you don’t get enough sleep, making it difficult to recall stuff. Sleep problems or interruptions can also cause psychological problems. So make it a priority to get your 7 hours of beauty sleep every day.
2. Sugar excess
Sugar is included in almost all of our foods and beverages, whether we realize it or not. Processed sugar intake is known to impair the brain’s and body’s ability to absorb proteins and nutrients. Nutritional deficiencies and brain diseases such as poor memory, learning difficulties, restlessness, and anxiety can result from inadequate nutrition.
When going to the grocery store, make sure you check the label and avoid products with high amounts of sugar. And don’t forget that sodas and sweets are your biggest enemies! A bottle of coke can have more than 10 spoons of sugar, so you might want to rethink your decision when you add a large coke to your meals.
3. Smoking
We all know that smoking is not good for your health at all, and most times you might associate it with lung cancer, but to no surprise, that’s only one of the diseases you can develop from this unhealthy habit.
Cigarettes contain a variety of harmful compounds, many of which have negative effects on the brain. Many studies have shown that smoking tobacco causes harm to the neuronal function and cellular membranes in the midbrain. Fine and general motor capabilities, as well as coordination and balance, are all affected by these.
Breaking habits is not for the weak, so don’t be too harsh on yourself if this takes some time. The good thing is that the human body is extremely robust, and most of the harm produced by smoking may be fixed in a short period of time.
4. Lack of exercise
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Most of us neglect the importance of physical exercise, or just do it to achieve the desired looks, and forget about the health benefits it brings us. Well, now it’s the time to change that and here’s why.
Regular physical activity and staying healthy lowers blood pressure while also increasing blood flow and the formation of blood vessels that deliver oxygen to the brain. Living a healthy lifestyle via exercise can help preserve your nervous system by decreasing your diabetes risk. Not only that, but moving your body can also make you happier, due to the endorphins your body releases.
So what more do you need to start exercising?
5. Drinking alcohol
Alcohol affects judgment, as we all know. But few people understand, unfortunately, how much alcohol might influence your cognitive performance. The higher the alcohol percentage, the higher the amount of neuronal cells you will lose.
If you have trouble concentrating or memory problems, you should know that these are signs of a damaged brain. And it is strongly linked to alcohol consumption.
Information is stored during the REM sleep phase of the brain sleeping pattern. When we consume even a modest quantity of alcohol, our REM sleep is disrupted, making it difficult to recall new information. Even information gained just days before drinking alcohol might be lost, implying that drinking alcohol can lead people to forget information they previously understood.
Over time, alcohol can seriously have an impact on your memory and not only, so it’s better to skip it when you can.
6. Too much stress
I think we can all agree that life can get pretty stressful from time to time. And the more responsibilities we have, the more pressure we have on our shoulders.
But stress itself is not actually the problem, but the excess of cortisol in the brain and it can cause some serious damage over time. Even though cortisol is a healthy hormone in small proportions, too much of it can affect the neuronal performance. Many studies have demonstrated the harmful effects of chronic stress.
When stress exceeds your ability to manage, it disrupts brain function and causes you to feel gloomy, depressed, irritated, restless, and sleepless. If you experience some or all of these feelings frequently, it’s important to seek counseling or remove yourself from stressful situations.
It can cause synapse function to be disrupted, resulting in a lack of sociability and withdrawal from social contacts. Stress can damage brain cells and possibly shrink it’s size. The prefrontal cortex, which is important for cognitive performance, contracts as a result of chronic stress.
So remember this next time you put too much pressure on yourself!
7. Not eating breakfast
You may have heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and it’s true. But why? Well, this is because in order to perform at its optimum, our brain need the right nutrition at the right time. Because of our fast-paced lifestyles, many of us postpone or skip breakfast in order to save time in the morning.
This results in a lack of sugar and nutritional intake to the brain. To operate, the brain requires glucose. A poor diet can have negative impacts on the nervous system in the long run, such as brain cell loss. On the short run, skipping breakfast can make you feel extra tired. Making a habit out of starting the day on an empty stomach will have a negative impact on your metabolism and brain.
More than that, a study showed that people who skip breakfast on a daily basis are more likely to develop brain hemorrhage by 36%. So think twice before you make the decision to skip breakfast!
8. Working when sick
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Yes, you can bring this up to your boss next time you’re not feeling well. When experiencing intense stress, the immune system does not perform at it’s best, which makes it more likely to become ill. If we continue to work when unwell, the brain’s effectiveness is sure to suffer significantly. This will only make things worse.
When we are sick, our brain and bodies are already working overtime to combat the virus. Working while sick will simply add to the stress. So take a pause, unwind, and give your body the rest that it desperately needs.
So if you care about your health and want to maintain your body young for as long as possible, you should definitely avoid or at least reduce the unhealthy habits listed above, together with giving your brain some additional vitamins for increased performance.
Which of these thing do you do regularly? Don’t forget to share your thoughts and experiences in the comment section below!
And if you found this article helpful and want to find out more about your body and the signals it sends you on a daily basis, make sure to check out: 8 Signs of a Heart Attack Seniors May Feel.
Whether you want to have more money to buy something you had your eyes on for a while, invest it or travel, you might be thinking of all the ways on how you can save some extra cash.
You might’ve decided to go out less often, purchase only the things you need, or buy food from the grocery store. Speaking of food and groceries, there are actually some mistakes people make when it comes to the way they “manage” their kitchen.
You might think that you’re saving a lot of money since you’re always buying your products from the store, but there are still a few things you need to be aware of.
If you want to save some extra cash and make more sustainable and economic choices, here are 19 kitchen mistakes that are costing you money.
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1. You Don’t Plan Ahead
Alma Schneider, founder of the blog and consulting company Take Back the Kitchen says that one of the biggest kitchen mistakes people make is the fact that they don’t plan ahead.
Having a basic idea of what you want to eat for the week will help you use up the fresh ingredients you already bought before they go bad. And you can also reuse the leftovers from one dish and transform them into something else.
This will help you save money and prevent you from buying unnecessary things at the supermarkets. If you aren’t sure what you want to eat for dinner and you don’t have enough ingredients at home, you might be tempted to make last-minute decisions, such as ordering out.
2. You Go Out For Coffee
Treating yourself with a nice cup of hot and steamy coffee every once in a while isn’t going to break the bank, but going to a coffee shop every single day won’t make your wallet happy.
You will save a lot of money if you buy coffee from the grocery store and you brew it at home. You can add milk, sugar, cream, or syrups, and you will still save a lot of money in the long run.
3. You Order Out
As much as you might like to order food and forget about doing the dishes, too much of it adds up pretty quickly. In conformity to a 2018 study done by Forbes, ordering out could be worth five times as much as cooking the same dish at home (this doesn’t include the tips).
Even delivery kits that send you ingredients for you to put a meal together cost roughly three times as much as shopping and cooking yourself.
If you have no idea where to start, you can purchase a cookbook that has several delicious and nutritious recipes. It might take longer when you cook for yourself, but you will enjoy it more and you’ll also save a lot of money! Win-win!
Photo by Viacheslav Nikolaenko from shutterstock.com
4. You Don’t Properly Store Your Produce
One of the reasons why food goes bad in the fridge in such a short amount of time is because people don’t know the proper way to store it.
For instance, wrapping fragile veggies or greens, such as lettuce and herbs in a paper towel and putting them inside of a resealable bag or in a glass container will keep them fresh for longer.
5. You Don’t Use Your Freezer
A fully-stocked freezer is people’s right hand when it comes to eating healthy and on a budget. Not only is freezing great for storing bulk purchases, but it’s also a good way to preserve different types of products or foods that are about to go bad.
If you store them properly, you can freeze a lot of foods and then take them out when you need them. Bread, fruits, some vegetables, soups, leftover pasta sauce, and cookies, are just a few of the foods that can be put in a freezer without any problems.
I don’t know about you, but every time I go to the grocery store I try to stock up on vegetables, fruits, fish, or meats to add to the freezer and eat them when I feel like it.
It saves me a lot of money and time when I have nothing in the fridge and I want something simple, quick, healthy, and still affordable.
6. You Don’t Use Your Leftovers
Several studies have discovered that two out of five people hate consuming leftovers. We have no idea why they think so, but we think leftovers are absolutely great.
You can enjoy your last-night dinner pasta for lunch the next day, or you can use the ingredients that remained for a new meal.
For instance, if you cooked too much rice and you don’t know what to do with it, you can easily transform it into a nice bowl of rice salad with vegetables and tuna.
Get creative and think of new ways you can use your leftovers, instead of throwing them out! This kitchen mistake will cost you a lot of money, so you better avoid it!
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7. You Buy Ingredients For One Meal At a Time
Another way to avoid making a huge kitchen mistake is to buy in bulk when you go to the grocery store. Think of frozen vegetables, fruits, meats, fish, and even pie, if you like to eat it and store them in the freezer.
You can also purchase fresh produce and store them in proper containers in the freezer. Buying in bulk means less packaging, so you’ll save a few bucks from there as well. These foods will last you a longer period of time, so you can use them as needed.
8. You Buy Off-season Produce
Strawberries and blueberries in January might sound like a great treat, but you will pay a lot for them.
When you shop for products that are in season, you will save a lot of money and the food will have a better taste, since what you’re getting has been grown naturally, not in a greenhouse from somewhere else in the world.
If you find yourself reaching for fruits and vegetables that are no longer in season, you can buy them when it’s their time and store them in the freezer. You will have some spare money and you’ll enjoy your favorite produce every time you feel like it.
9. You Let Your Food Go Stale
Your pantry snacks, such as biscuits, boxes of cereal, and bags of chips will go stale pretty quickly if their packaging is left open. If you don’t want to restore them in airtight containers, you can simply add a bag clip to keep the food nice and fresh.
…Trust us, these small things will prevent you from throwing out food that can still be eaten!
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10. You Like To Buy Convenience Food
Another kitchen mistake people make and it cost them a lot of money isn’t just what they buy, but how they actually buy it. For instance, instead of buying sliced pineapple that comes in a sealed-off container, you’d better buy the whole fruit.
It might be more convenient and it will take you less time to prep the food, but the overall purchase will be cheaper and you’ll also have more quantity of the product to work it.
If you still want something that is more convenient, you can meal prep on a Sunday and slice your fruits or your vegetables then. After that, store them in clear containers in the fridge, so they’re ready when you want to eat them.
11. You Purchase Single-use Supplies
Instead of constantly buying paper towels, you can use fabric or microfiber cloths to replace them. They are better for the environment and you can clean them in the washing machine when you do laundry.
Another tip you can try is to reuse the plastic bags you get after each grocery shopping trip. You can rinse them if they’re dirty and reuse them after. Trust us, your wallet will be very happy with your new attitude!
12. You Waste Water
Many people think that hand-washing the dishes will help them save water and money, but the reality is actually different. For instance, if you have a dishwashing machine at home, don’t be afraid to use, it because it might help you out with your savings.
You can increase the amount of money you’re saving by running a full load of dishes. Besides that, you can also turn off the heat-drying part of the cycle, to save energy and let your dishes air dry.
If you use an efficient detergent, you can forget about the pre-wash, so you’ll have more time to meal prep! Win-win situation!
Photo by Serge Ka from shutterstock.com
13. You Don’t Take Care Of Your Knives
Knives are one of the most important utensils that can be found in someone’s kitchen, but the majority of times, people don’t take care of them and they end up buying new ones sooner than necessary.
One thing you can do and protect the life of your knife is to frequently tune it up using a honing steel. You should do that every five to six times you use the knife, in order to maintain the sharpness longer.
The less you do this, the harder it will be to bring the edge back, so you might need to go to a professional to do it for you. As you can imagine, this isn’t very cheap, so people usually end up replacing the blades.
Another thing you can do is to hand wash your knife and properly dry it afterward (not air drying). After that, protect your knife by using a sheath.
There are some cutlery manufacturers who suggest that traditional knife blocks are not very suitable because the friction that occurs between the blade and the wood can actually make the knife edges dim slowly.
14. You Eat a Lot Of Meat
…Did you know that people who eat plant-based tend to spend less money on food (that applies only if they don’t buy packed plant-based foods and stick to natural ingredients)?
Several studies have discovered that people who incorporate more plant-based meals in their diets actually save more than $745 per year.
This doesn’t mean that you should completely cut meat out of your diet, but trying recipes that don’t require large quantities of meat will definitely help your budget.
15. You Don’t Store Your Grains Properly
Many people don’t know that their grains go bad because they don’t know the proper way to store them. If you like to eat flaxseed and want to keep them fresh for longer, you should store them in your fridge, because they contain oils that can easily go moldy.
Bread, on the other hand, doesn’t do well in the refrigerator, so you should keep it on your kitchen counter. Keep in mind that one food item that you should always keep in its original packaging is cheese.
16. You Neglect Your Cookware
Nonstick pans are great, but you can easily ruin them if you don’t use the proper utensils. You shouldn’t use steel tools or aerosol sprays on your nonstick skillet if you want to keep it for a longer period of time.
Another thing people usually do and ruin their pans is dunking them in hot water before letting them cool down first. If you want to use something that is more durable, you better choose cast iron skillets.
As long as you properly season the food, they will be nonstick and you can use them for baking as well.
17. You Don’t Take Care Of Your Appliances
Many people forget that all their kitchen devices should be taken care of, just like they would do with their cars. Taking care of them and repairing them when needed will add years to their life span and will save you a lot of money in the long run.
So make sure you keep your kitchen appliances in good shape and read the instructions written in the user’s manual in order to know how to properly clean them.
18. You Purchase Bottled Drinks
Several studies have discovered that Americans spend more money on bottled drinks compared to food at grocery stores. They might not seem very expensive at first, but consuming a fizzy drink every single day will definitely add up and you’ll spend a lot of money in the long run.
There are people who say that you can actually make your own carbonated drinks at home, with the help of a particular machine. This device produces bubbly drinks at the cost of less than $1 per liter.
If you want a machine like this, make sure to do your research before buying one!
If you need an extra reason why you shouldn’t spend your money on fizzy bottled drinks is the fact that they will affect your health and also your waistline. Your body will start craving more and more of it and we already know that too much sugar is not very good for us.
In addition to that, drinking too many fizzy sodas will affect your teeth, which means that you will end up spending a lot of money in the dentist’s cabinet.
Photo by HollyHarry from shutterstock.com
19. You Throw Things Out Because Of The Best By Date
No one wants to risk getting food poisoning, but according to several studies, the expiration dates on food labels don’t actually mean that they’re no longer safe to eat.
In conformity with the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, unless it’s baby formula, you can still eat the food after the expiration date, but only if it looks and smells good and if you properly store it.
On the other hand, make sure you do your research before trying this at home and if you have further questions about this topic, you can always contact the FSIS virtual representative or the USDA directly, via email, phone, or even live chat.
CONCLUSION
To sum up this article, we can say that if you want to save some extra money and also avoid these common kitchen mistakes that many people make, you should respect the tips we’ve previously talked about:
Plan your meals for the week, buy in bulk and store your products in the freezer, don’t purchase fruits and vegetables that aren’t in season. And try eating a few plant-based meals throughout the week, and avoid buying too many fizzy drinks.
As lots of patients don’t know exactly the basic stuff about thyroid, we’re here to unfold the very basic stuff you need to know. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that is located in the neck and controls your metabolism.
As a general rule, an overactive thyroid, a phenomenon that’s also known as hyperthyroidism, can make you feel anxious, shaky, sweaty, and hot, plus it can make you lose weight and have trouble sleeping.
On the other side, someone who suffers from an underactive gland, which is also known as hypothyroidism, might feel sluggish, fatigued, and cold. In addition, patients might experience weight gain and constipation.
Truth to be told, lifestyle habits don’t have much to say when it comes to your gland, but there are still some things you can do that would improve the overall health of your thyroid. Let’s talk about some of the most important things:
Find out your family history
If one of your family members, such as your mom, dad, or siblings, suffers from thyroid disease, the chances for you to experience a gland dysfunction are higher, according to Leonard Wartofsky, MD, MACP, professor of medicine at Georgetown University and past president of the Endocrine Society.
For anyone that has a family history, it’s extremely important to have your thyroid monitored. For example, if it is to talk about an annual physical, your physician will start examining your thyroid by touching the neck to feel if there’s a goiter, enlarged thyroid, or even nodules.
Get checked regularly
Apart from the physical exam, if you suspect you might have a gland problem, either because of family history or due to some symptoms, you should consider asking your doctor about a specific blood test that checks your levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
Even if it might sound backward, a high TSH result will indicate thyroid levels that are too low, and a low TSH result will indicate thyroid levels that are too high, as Dr. Wartofsky said. If your thyroid levels are too low, your doctor will talk to you about possible treatment options.
For hypothyroidism the right approach is to increase thyroid by taking oral synthetic thyroid hormones; as for hyperthyroidism, the right approach is to block thyroid overproduction with a drug, known as radioactive iodine treatment, or even surgery.
If you’re pregnant, try supplementing your iodine intake
The butterfly-shaped gland requires adequate iodine to stay healthy, and in the United States, we usually get that iodine from our salt, bread, and other foods. “However, the one group that require more iodine are the pregnant women, as they need extra to make sure their thyroid and the baby’s gland are normal” to Michael Tuttle, MD, clinical director of the Endocrinology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, confirmed.
Therefore, it’s very important for pregnant women to get multivitamins that have iodine. Prenatal vitamins have iodine and that is the source where pregnant women can get the right amount of iodine.
Photo by Burdun Iliya from Shutterstock
But try not to OD on iodine
Unless you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t do what we just explained before. Whether your body tends toward the low or high end of thyroid function, getting too much iodine isn’t necessary, as Dr. Wartofsky confirmed.
Also, it’s extremely common to read self-help books and diet books that iodine is very good for the butterfly-shaped gland, and many people would go out and buy rich iodine sources such as kelp tablets, and that can be dangerous. It’s crucial not to exceed a normal intake of iodine.
Don’t be scared of cruciferous veggies
Dr. Tuttle remembers that one piece of misinformation she oftentimes hears is that patients are scared to eat too many cruciferous vegetables, like kale and cabbage, as they’ve heard that these greens might develop a goiter.
It might be true, but only if you eat a truckload of the stuff. You definitely don’t want people to start avoiding vegetables, as you want people to have a normal diet and not worry about these sorts of things that bother the gland. Plus, let’s be serious: such an irony to be afraid of one of the healthiest foods out there!
If you take thyroid medications, stay vigilant
As Dr. Turtle confirms, once you got diagnosed with a thyroid condition and put on pills, don’t rush into thinking that you’re done. A thyroid problem will be a lifelong thing that you need to keep on your radar screen.
You won’t need only to take pills on a daily basis, based on your doctor’s instructions(like not mixing them with vitamins, as iron and calcium might interfere with absorption), but in time your thyroid levels could be regularly tested to know if the dosages must be adjusted.
It can be pretty easy to get sloppy and miss a pill, or even a set of blood tests and not see the doctor once a year, so try to make sure you keep up with it.
The best food for your thyroid health:
Blueberries
Blueberries are known as the world’s favorite superfood, and that’s only because they’re absolutely delicious, they’re easy to snack on, and they’re rich in antioxidants known as polyphenols. Those people who try to lose weight because of hypothyroidism, they’re also very high in fiber but low on the glycemic index, which means they have lower amounts of fructose.
They will give you energy and a metabolic boost. There are studies that show how people with thyroid conditions have higher levels of free radicals, which are unstable atoms that only wreak havoc on the body, which the high amounts of antioxidants in blueberries might reduce.
Photo by New Africa from Shutterstock
Brazil Nuts
Brazil nuts ended up on the list because they are super high in selenium. This is highly important as the thyroid gland has the highest amount of selenium of any organ in our bodies. Depending on the climate the Brazil nuts come from, they pack high concentrations of zinc, copper, and magnesium. You should aim for a few per day.
Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are also amazing for the butterfly-shaped gland. Eating an ounce of dried pumpkin seed every day is extremely healthy for you. It will give you the right amount of zinc, which is a mineral you need for gland hormone production. You can also eat them as a puree or roast them for a tasty snack.
Apples
Even if they’re pretty basic, apples are amazing. That’s because they are rich in pectins, which is a fiber that supports toxin removal in the body. These toxins, especially metals, are able to interfere with thyroid function. To be more specific, mercury can impact your gland hormone levels. If you want a gland-friendly snack, eat an apple with its skin, as it’s loaded with pectin.
Eggs
Whether you believe it or not, eggs are a superfood too, as they can be excellent for the health of this gland. Make sure you add them or keep them in your breakfast rotation. Eggs have tryptophan and tyrosine, both of which support heart health. They’re rich in essential amino acids, and they contain omega-3 fatty acids, iodine, selenium, and antioxidants.
If you notice any symptom of a heart attack, immediate medical attention is crucial to save one’s life. The most common disorder among the elderly is a heart attack, especially in the U.S. Because a this usually occurs unexpectedly, there is little that can be done to prepare.
Heart attack symptoms vary between individuals; no two are similar. They are especially different between men and women. Some people may not have all of the symptoms at the same time.
And if you’ve had a heart attack previously, you may have different symptoms. With a fragile group like the elderly, it’s up to people around them to pay attention to any warning indications.
You can save a senior’s life or even yours if you pay attention to the frequent signs and symptoms.
Don’t wait for symptoms of a heart attack to appear in order to get informed on this matter, since this common issue among Americans is quite deadly. So keep reading to find out more about the risk factors, symptoms and what to do in case of a heart attack.
There are so many things your fast food worker won’t tell you because their job forbids them to. One of these annoying things includes the ‘polite’ habits customers sometimes do. I know what you’re thinking: “polite habits”?
What about all those things like throwing trash on the floor, or letting your kids run through the restaurant? I guess they dislike that, too. But today we’re going to talk about those things that you believed to be helpful, but in fact, they are exactly the opposite of that.
And don’t blame yourself for doing any of these things, because it’s safe to say that we all did it at some point!
Stop doing these things when you eat at a fast-food restaurant:
Not correcting a mistake in the order
When you decide to order, make sure you say everything you want as clearly as possible, so nothing gets lost in translation. The employee is obliged to repeat your order back to you, or you will easily watch it on screen, so make sure you have everything you need up there.
If you don’t, be quick to notice and say. Otherwise, it will be way more difficult to fix it once you get up to the window.
It’s better to be extra focused for a couple of minutes at first than to wait more and make everyone wait too much for your order to be fixed. It’s easier for you, for the employee, and for the ones waiting in line altogether!
Handing over extra money
So you ordered food that’s worth a total of $17, and you give the cashier a $20…and then two $1 bills, so you can get the rest of the $5 bill in return. Unless you both agree on this, the only person who finds this useful is you.
We get that it makes things easier when it comes to your wallet, as you don’t carry around extra cash, but it’s not always just as easy for fast-food employees to add in that they have taken in extra cash, and this applies even more if they’re in a hurry because others are waiting in line as well.
Waiting at the drive-through window
There are some drive-throughs in certain fast-food places that will ask you to pull to the side or into designated parking spots to keep the flow of orders coming. While you might think that it makes things a lot easier on employees to park and wait at the window instead, what they really want is for you to follow the directions.
While it’s somehow understandable for you to seek the best and most rapid option for you to get out of there, it’s highly important to respect the rules as much as possible. I bet some people really thought everything through, and those directions actually make sense.
“Cleaning up” trays or baskets
Unless the trash can is completely loaded, there’s no point whatsoever for you to leave bags and wrappers at your table when you decide on eating out at a fast-food restaurant. Separate the wrappers from the baskets and throw away the actual trash.
Ordering for the whole office
I know what you’re thinking: you’re about to bring in serious money. I personally thought that myself a couple of times! However, when you order lunch for ten at a fast-food drive-through, it might slow the whole line down.
As an alternative, you can order inside the restaurant or even better, call in an order in advance. This way, you’ll give employees plenty of time to prepare your order.
Photo by Kauka Jarvi from Shutterstock
Waiting at the register for condiments
If you’re going to a fast-food spot that has packets of ketchup and hot sauce, it’s best if you ask for them upfront. The last thing you should do is stand near the register after receiving your order, as you might risk blocking the line and getting everyone annoyed by it.
Instead, if you ask for the condiments right away, it will keep the line moving for everybody and the employee behind the register won’t have to leave her station to come and get you your condiments.
Paying with TONS of change
While you might believe you are doing the cashier a solid favor, you probably aren’t. Paying only in change might leave the register worker fumbling to count or hurrying to give your change back, which only holds up the line even more.
If you definitely must pay with change, at least try to make things as easier as possible, and use only quarters, not an assortment of change. John Frigo, for example, worked in the industry, as a fast-food drive-through employee for many years, and finds this habit extremely vexing.
He even said that he’s “not so sure if [paying with exact change] is even a polite thing for my sake, or customers want to get rid of change, but it’s extremely annoying [to have to be] hanging out the window in the cold, waiting two minutes to wait for someone to get rid of all their pennies”.
Checking your drive-through order
Try as much as possible not to check your order at the window. Instead, pull into a nearby parking spot to make sure that you have everything you need and order. However, if you notice that something is missing or there’s something wrong with your food, you should definitely speak up.
Photo by CandyBox Images from Shutterstock
Letting others pass you while you decide your order
According to Gianetta Palmer, who worked in the industry of fast food service for eight years, you should definitely have an idea of what you want to eat or read the menu before deciding to get in the line. “As someone who worked in a pizza joint, I was getting so annoyed with someone who couldn’t make up their mind.
They would do nothing but stand there reading the menu board, up until the point a line would form, and then let people move in from of them, apologizing the whole time. “These people might think they’re being polite, and even that they practice good etiquette if they let people go in front of you.
However, truth is that the really polite thing to do is to decide beforehand. The employee can be put in a very difficult situation when having a customer who’s constantly hovering by the counter, trying to make up their mind.”
What if the employee wants to do something in the back, such as remove food from the oven or check on something, but can’t leave because there’s a ‘potential’ customer that might go away? It’s unfair!
Using their first names
This is a situation that highly depends on the employee, as some of them might really see it as a sign of politeness. However, former Carl’s Jr. and Pizza Hut employee, James Cobb, RN, MSN, believes that using first names only makes things uncomfortable.
“You’re forcing me to be familiar. We haven’t been introduced.” Some fast-food employees might wear name tags, but there are times when it can be quite unnerving to hear someone you don’t really know addressing you by your first name.
The way Cobb sees it, first names are only reserved for friends and acquaintances, not so much for strangers.” However, note that it’s completely different when the server tells you their name, as opposed to someone who has a name tag on.
Did you know that eating certain foods can increase the level of blood sugar? Most people who are diabetics have a very strict diet that helps to keep their blood sugar under control. Do you know what foods you must avoid if you have diabetes? Trans fats and processed foods, especially ultra-processed foods, are very bad for people with diabetes. Try to avoid them as much as possible.
Most doctors recommend a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and healthy proteins because it can have plenty of benefits for your health. There are some top 10 foods that are full of nutrients that can help you stay healthy.
