Month: July 2020

You’ve probably seen an aloe vera plant somewhere high and dry in the desert before and wondered what it is about that specific succulent that people can’t seem to get over. It’s on the front label of so many lotions and gels at the drug store and you’ve even heard of some people drinking its juice?! What’s up with that?

There are many benefits of aloe vera from its moisturizing capabilities to its healing powers, and it’s high time you become aware of them. Why does it seem to be a key ingredient in so many lotions, conditioners and balms? Why does everyone reach for a bottle after a wicked sunburn? We’re going to explore the many benefits of aloe vera usage and the plentiful ways you can apply it to your daily routine whether it’s for your skin’s benefit, to soothe your digestion or to increase your wellness in other ways.

From the juice to the gels and the plant itself, there are many ways to enjoy and reap the benefits of the aloe vera plant. We’ll cover them all and point to a few products we love that’ll give you a chance to make aloe a key healing modality in your kitchen, bathroom cabinet and beyond.

What is Aloe Vera?

Aloe vera is a succulent plant with many medicinal and healing qualities that can aid your body internally and externally. Known for its thick, fleshy green leaves aloe vera stores water in its tissues that turns into the gel we’re all familiar with. This gel contains bioactive compounds that are packed with vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants and minerals. Each leaf can grow up to 12-19 inches in length, giving you plenty to work with.

You can buy your own aloe vera plant and harvest the gel directly from the plant or buy it in gel form or mixed in with lotions and conditioners to receive the benefit that way.

It’s also sold in capsule and liquid form for consumption to aid digestive troubles and other ailments, more on that later on.

How to Grow and Harvest an Aloe Vera Plant

Taking care of an aloe vera plant is very similar to other succulents. They prefer bright, indirect sunlight and do best when watered heavily every 3 weeks or so, and even less in the winter.

You’ll need to wait until your aloe vera plant is at least a few years old before harvesting to ensure a high enough concentration of the key active ingredients. Once your plant is ready for harvest, remove 3-4 leaves at the same time cutting from as close to the stem as possible, there are more beneficial nutrients at the base of the leaves than the tip.

Wash and dry your leaves before using a knife or your fingers to separate the gel inside from the harder exterior of the outer leaf. Cut the gel into slices, cubes or blend up in a blender for smoother gel.

Benefits of Aloe Use

Aloe is a powerful medicinal plant in that it can be used both topically directly from the plant and internally as a medicine taken orally. 

1. Aloe Soothes Burns

Aloe has naturally cooling and soothing qualities that make it a great topical treatment for sunburn, cooking burns and other skin ailments. It can be applied directly out of a leaf from your plant at home or bought at the drug store. Applying aloe a few times a day may help soothe burns and help the damaged skin heal faster, while also providing some relief from the pain and irritation.

2. Aloe Moisturizes Your Skin

The aloe vera plant is great at storing water in order to survive and thrive in the hot, dry and unstable climates it’s used to existing in. The water-dense leaves also contain complex carbohydrates in them that help skin absorb and retain the moisture as well. Aloe is great for applying to burnt and damaged skin but can also be used everyday by itself or in a lotion to keep skin supple and healthy.

Aloe vera is also an active ingredient in many shampoos designed to ease dandruff due to its moisturizing capabilities.

3. The Aloe Vera Plant Has Antibacterial Properties

Aloe vera contains antioxidants that are under the polyphenol umbrella of substances which may inhibit the growth of infection-causing bacteria in humans. We’re not saying it should replace your antibiotics, but it’s no friend of germs. That’s why humans have used aloe vera to treat wounds and burns for thousands of years, all thanks to its moisturizing capabilities as well as the antiviral, antibacterial and antiseptic properties it possesses.

4. Aloe Vera May Provide Heartburn Relief

Aloe vera has low toxicity and studies have shown that it’s a great natural remedy for GERD or Gastroesophageal reflux disease that often causes heartburn as a symptom. Consuming 1-3 ounces at mealtime may limit this acid reflux and limit heartburn as it eases digestive troubles in general. Consuming aloe gel can happen via a liquid or in capsule form for convenience.

5. Aloe Vera May Help Your Digestion System

Regularly consuming aloe vera, rather than applying it topically to your skin, may aid in a healthy digestive system and ease symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Studies have shown that aloe vera has significantly improved symptoms of IBS when compared with a placebo with little to no adverse effects. The natural remedy may diminish the growth of H. pylori a bacteria that can cause ulcers in the digestive tract.

6. Aloe Vera May Help Keep Produce Fresh

Aloe vera may help fruits and vegetables stay fresher, longer through providing a coating against certain harmful bacteria that would otherwise grow and harm the produce. The high concentration of vitamins and enzymes in the natural, gentle formula also can help boost your plant’s immune system and help it ward off pests and other harmful pathogens. Many plant experts recommend applying gel straight from the aloe vera plant to your watering routine in order to fortify your plant’s soil with all of the benefits of aloe vera.

7. Aloe Vera for Oral Health

Aloe vera natural toothpaste and mouthwash have become trendy alternative options for taking care of oral hygiene, getting rid of plaque and lowering levels of candida and gingivitis. Aloe vera has natural antimicrobial properties that may be contributing to this as well as the high levels of vitamin C which can block the growth of plaque. It can also speed up the healing of cuts in your mouth, bleeding or swollen gums.

8. Aloe Vera’s Effects on Blood Sugar

Aloe vera juice may benefit individuals with diabetes. According to a study published in the International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytomedicine, consuming two tablespoons of aloe vera juice per day can lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. The results of this study were also confirmed by another study with similar results. This could make aloe vera a pivotal part of alternative diabetes treatment in the future.

9. Aloe Vera Benefits for Acne

Acne is a tricky business, and aloe vera may be able to help. It’s all about finding what works for you and if you haven’t tried remedies with a key ingredient of aloe vera, it might be time to try. Aloe vera has moisturizing effects for skin as well as soothing effects in the form of toners, creams and cleansers. These products may be less irritating than products with harsher ingredients. In fact, a 2014 study found that using a cream with aloe vera in combination with conventional acne medication was more effective in treating mild to moderate acne and produced lower levels of inflammation and fewer lesions.

Article by Taylor Galla for SPY©

Recommendations for specific products may be found at this website:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/shopping-all/the-benefits-of-aloe-vera-everything-you-need-to-know-about-this-medicinal-succulent/ar-BB17nBui?ocid=msedgntp

Months ago, millions of us packed up whatever gear we could grab from the office, went home, and, overnight, began life as remote workers. From taking regular breaks to sticking to a schedule to establishing a dedicated workspace, there are plenty of strategies for making working from home work. But there’s a huge difference between choosing to go remote and being forced to do so during an emergency. As remote work becomes more of a long-term or even permanent situation for many during the COVID-19 pandemic, what can we do to prevent burnout? We got experts to give us their best tips, advice, and things to keep in mind.

1. Take the plunge and invest in a more comfortable set-up

If you’ve spent the last few months hunched over the kitchen table or curled up on the couch, avoiding investing in home office gear in hopes you’d get back to the real office soon, it might be time to reconsider. Even after just a short time, your body may be feeling the effects (stiff neck, back, and shoulders, anyone?). “The ergonomics of home offices are absolutely horrible,” according to Laurel Farrer, founder of the Remote Work Association. “There are hundreds of rules that go into keeping us healthy and safe at [on-site] work, from which watt of the lightbulb is used, to the length of carpet and how high desks are. When we go home, we don’t know what those are or that we should be implementing them,” potentially putting our health at risk. 

Farrer, who also runs Distribute Consulting from her home in Connecticut, said it can be liberating to realize that we don’t need a lot of office odds and ends we thought we did, from stodgy office furniture to giant file cabinets. But making sure your pared-down remote set-up supports your well-being is still critical (see how yours measures up with this checklist from the National Institutes of Health). And you don’t necessarily have to spend a lot to feel better. “Small, simple, and cheap changes,” she said, like putting your laptop on top of a box (to raise it closer to eye level) or simply standing up more, can make a real difference. If you are ready to invest, though, Farrer suggested a riser or standing desk of some sort for your laptop, plus a real keyboard and mouse. Some fun extras? Arranging a good video call backdrop, and buying a good microphone and ring light, “things we’ve never thought about before” that can make video meetings look way more professional.

2. Continue to reinforce boundaries, but remember to (virtually) socialize 

“You wouldn’t barge into someone’s office and expect them to drop everything they are doing for you,” a teammate once told Julie Chabin, who heads product design at Product Hunt and YourStack remotely from Paris. It’s the same with remote work. In the virtual workplace, with requests cascading in through email, instant messages, and calls, “it’s OK to say ‘thank you, I’ll take a look at this after I’m done with my current task,’ when you get a notification,” advised Chabin, who has worked remotely for five years. 

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t connect with colleagues. It just has to be more intentional, said Daisy Chang, professor of organizational psychology at Michigan State University. Though she misses walking down the hall to chat with colleagues and checking in with her graduate students in person, her department, like all newly remote teams, have to carve out time to “talk to each other, exchange ideas, maintain social connection” and get support virtually. From scheduling chats to more formal ways of getting on the same page, like syncing digital calendars to focus on a project at the same time, Chang said it’s important, especially for people who particularly crave in-person connection, “to find ways to inject that back into their work life.”

3. Over-communicate and be proactive 

A lot can get lost virtually, especially when the shift happens abruptly, so it’s important to be super clear when discussing a project, idea, or request with coworkers. “In remote work, over-communication is just communication,” said Farrer. Even if it feels like you’re talking a ton and over-explaining, keep at it. “That’s how you stay connected.”

Chang, who recently conducted a study on the hasty transition from in-person to working at home and some of the unique challenges that workers face in the COVID-19 context, agreed it’s harder to communicate effectively. But the self-described optimist said she actually sees this as an opportunity to be clearer. Being apart could force us to be more thoughtful and challenge us to consider a problem more deeply before crafting an email or speaking up on a call, rather than throwing out a half-baked idea in passing.

Something both Chang and Farrer agree on is the need to be proactive, especially if a new colleague joins virtually or you’re the newbie yourself. Managers and companies should ideally be providing training and channels to get to know people, but some are still playing catch-up with the remote situation, too. In the meantime, “we really have to rely on ourselves,” said Farrer, whether that’s mustering the courage to hit “send” on an email to a potential mentor or simply scheduling a virtual coffee chat with someone you don’t know well. 

4. Mix things up 

Hated your hours or dress code? More productive in the early mornings? One benefit to remote work is that, on your own turf, there are opportunities to make your job work better for you. “We all sort of fall into a routine, something that’s comfortable, but it doesn’t hurt to learn new habits or change it up,” said Chang, who also suggested sharing what worked or didn’t with coworkers, from blocking out mornings for focused work to changing up your online hours. 

After all, Farrer said, “you don’t have your employer sitting next to you telling you what to do,” so it’s important to work on being more self-reliant when it comes to getting things done and how you do them. Employees (even those with amazing supervisors) have to “take initiative to be their own boss for a little while,” making calls about what works for them.  

5. Embrace kindness and vulnerability 

It’s time for us to get real at work—at least a little bit. While keeping things professional is paramount, it’s important to recognize that everyone has their own struggles and personal demands, especially now. “The reality of working from home is it’s not all sunshine and rainbows all the time,” Farrer said, even in normal times. Being yourself and being open “is how you create a sense of culture in a remote team.” (In fact, Chang said, a number of studies show that being allowed to be your authentic self at work may lead to higher performance and engagement while feeling inauthentic at work can lead to burnout). 

In other words, your coworkers are your coworkers, but we’re all human. “It’s essential to care about people, genuinely. Ask them how they are doing, let them be people, not just colleagues or clients,” Chabin said. “As we’ve seen with this global pandemic, we all have families, pets, children… it’s okay to have candid conversations.” And if you’re a freelancer or solo business owner, it may be helpful to find people in your field to reach out to for that same sort of support. 

If you’re not ready to open up or your company’s culture doesn’t allow for it, acts of kindness can go a long way virtually. Whether that’s shouting out someone’s success with a client, or recognizing a birthday or work milestone, Chabin suggested, these simple acts still go a long way toward building trust. Extend those kindnesses to yourself—this is an incredibly difficult time for everyone (even remote work experts, Farrer said, were struggling at the beginning of the pandemic). If self-care has slipped as the months have gone on, recommit to claiming those extra hours you spent commuting as personal time, Chabin emphasized, whether that’s reading a book, working out, going for a walk, chatting with family or trying out a 15-step skincare routine. 

If you’re struggling with remote life or feeling burnout creep in, above all, it’s important to remember: “This is not working remotely,” Farrer said, “this is trying to maintain economic and business continuity during a global crisis.”

Source: https://theeverygirl.com/working-remotely/

Article by insider@insider.com (Julia Naftulin) 

© Crystal Cox/Business Insider Crystal Cox/Business Insider

• Since June 19, the FDA has been warning consumers of dangerous hand sanitizers that contain the fatal chemical methanol. Methanol is a type of alcohol that can be deadly if ingested or absorbed through the skin.
• The FDA found some hand sanitizer producers putting it into their products. In some cases, methanol wasn’t a listed ingredient.
• Here are all of the hand sanitizers the FDA has warned consumers of so far due to their methanol or potential methanol content.

Since June 19, the FDA has been building a list of hand sanitizers that they say could contain the deadly chemical methanol.

As hand sanitizer production increased during the pandemic, more companies pivoted to producing the high-demand product. Ethanol and isopropyl alcohol, the two types of alcohol commonly found in sanitizers and the ingredients that make them effective at killing germs, were in short supply.

That’s why the FDA believes some producers starting swapping in methanol, another type of alcohol, and an ingredient used to produce antifreeze and fuel.

Unlike ethanol and isopropyl alcohol, methanol can be deadly when inhaled or absorbed into the bloodstream through your skin. In the United States, any product that contains more than 4% methanol must be labeled as “poison.”

That’s why health officials flagged nine methanol-containing hand sanitizers that all came from one producer in Mexico. In many cases, these products listed ethanol as the effective ingredient, but once the FDA tested them, they were found to contain methanol. 

But since then, more dangerous hand sanitizers have emerged, and the FDA said it will continue to flag these products to consumers.

Here are all of the hand sanitizers the FDA has warned against so far:

Click the above link to see all dangerous hand sanitizers.

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/every-hand-sanitizer-the-fda-has-flagged-as-dangerous-and-potentially-deadly/ar-BB16xJia?ocid=msedgntp

Yes, there really is a Dr. Pimple Popper. She has a tv show and YouTube channel that features a segment on removing a cyst. And here she is:

Article by insider@insider.com (Julia Naftulin)  

© Hollis Johnson/Insider Hollis Johnson/Insider

• Dr. Sandra Lee, a California-based dermatologist who is also known as Dr. Pimple Popper, has tailored her skincare routine for summertime concerns, like extra sun and oily skin.
• She uses a powder sunscreen, face wash, and dark spot treatment daily.
• She also abstains from putting makeup on the lower half of her face to prevent bacteria buildup and breakouts while wearing a face mask.
• Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Dr. Pimple Popper has dedicated her career to treating the blackheads, cysts, and lipomas of people across the country, so it only makes sense she’s perfected her own skincare routine.

In the summer, the dermatologist, whose real name is Dr. Sandra Lee, told Insider that she adds a few extra products to account for the extra sun and heat that can lead to sunburns, wrinkles, and acne.

She alternates between two face washes, including one from the drugstore

Lee washes her face daily. If she feels like her skin is in need of exfoliation, she uses her own skincare line’s salicylic acid cleanser, and if her skin feels dry, she uses a drugstore favorite: Cerave’s Hydrating Facial Cleanser.

Dr. Pimple Popper prefers a mineral-powder sunscreen

Dr. Pimple Popper always uses an SPF-containing product to protect her skin from the sun.

She told Insider that even those who spend lots of time indoors should use a sunscreen, since the wrinkle-causing rays can get through windows and affect your skin.

Lee prefers a mineral sunscreen in powder form because it “keeps my skin protected from sunburn and more severe skin damage like signs of aging and skin cancer.” The powder formula also reduces shine if you have an oily complexion.

She uses her skincare line’s SLMD UV Bounce powder sunscreen because it comes in an-easy-to-use brush that she can take anywhere and reapply.

She treats existing dark spots

But Lee’s skin isn’t spot-free, so she incorporates a dark-spot corrector to treat discolored areas on her face.

“I have been incorporating a skin color correction cream I created, Dark Spot Fix, which helps improve the appearance of any discoloration resulting from acne, sun damage, and melasma,” she said.

Minimal makeup prevents face-mask acne

Recently, Lee has considered how the coronavirus pandemic could affect her skin and adjusted her routine accordingly.

“During the day, because of having to wear a mask, I try to wear minimal face makeup,” Lee said, because it prevents bacterial buildup in the pores that can lead to acne.

She only puts makeup on the top half of her face and keeps acne wipes with exfoliating ingredients on hand so she can remove any dirt or other debris that may have settled into her skin while wearing her mask.

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/beauty/dr-pimple-popper-s-summertime-skincare-routine-includes-a-popular-drugstore-face-wash/ar-BB17igzw?ocid=msedgntp

Kids gotta try, right? So here’s the real thing below. All the benefits of using simple baking soda. Who knew?

Source: The Old Farmer’s Almanac