Author: HairWeavings Editorial Team

I am sure those words from The Sound of Music sound familiar to you. I am going to share with you a few of my favorite things since we are in the Holiday Season. These are products I use daily, and they offer solutions for many issues. Also, they are non-toxic, healthful and save money in some cases.

I love using anything natural as it is one more defense against health issues as we age. I also feel it is important to keep our homes clean and sanitized.

Truly, I am into researching the best way to support aging gracefully which gave me the inspiration to write my book, Feel Better Every Day. Sometimes, life just happens no matter what we do but we can try our best to stay healthy and feel good.

Baking Soda

I love baking soda and use it every day in one way or another. I remember my mother having a box of baking soda open in the fridge. Other than that, I never heard of anyone actually using it for anything else.

I have a cup of baking soda in the laundry room for washing clothes, next to the litter box, and one in each bathroom for quick cleaning.

When I am in a hurry, I often just pour a little in the toilet, sinks and tub and clean up in about 10 minutes. I also mix baking soda with white vinegar and a favorite essential oil such as lemon or lavender, and clean almost everything in my house.

I make my own toothpaste which is far superior to commercial brands that possess many additives. Also, my husband gets an occasional bout of heartburn and one teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water ends it.

Cacao Powder

Most of you are familiar with cocoa powder, and cacao powder is just the healthier version. There are no preservatives added and also no heat treatment. Cacao powder is reported to have four times the antioxidant power then regular cocoa powder.

Add some to your coffee or milk, or make delicious chocolate pudding. It can be a healthy substitute when you need cocoa for a recipe. The good news is that most of us love chocolate so why not use the best?

Hydrogen Peroxide

My first experience with hydrogen peroxide was as a teenager. I dipped some cotton in the solution and spread it on my hair. I got the results I wanted ­– red/orange hair, and a very angry mother, which was not in my plan.

Today, I add a few drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide in my toothpaste blend, and some to my cleaning solutions and produce wash. It is also excellent for scratches and bruises.

Tonic Water

I am not going to suggest Gin and Tonic here, though it is certainly okay. I keep a bottle of tonic in my house for that occasional leg cramp. As I hobble to the kitchen, I take a few sips and the cramp is gone.

Cider Vinegar

This vinegar has been around for years and was used to cure many illnesses. There is lots of hype today with reports of curing many illnesses and conditions.

I personally use it for making salad dressings and even adding to soups and stews. I was in the fabric store the other day and chatting with the sales lady about my book. Anyone who will listen gets an earful.

She told me about her experience with cider vinegar. She had a stroke several years ago and now has her cider vinegar every day. She is no longer on blood pressure medication. You may want to research for yourself. I have done a lot of reading about cider vinegar and feel it may be wise taking it every day.

Lavender Essential Oil

I love essential oils and make many lotions and potions. Lavender is my favorite and appears in many recipes that I create. I even keep a small bottle by my computer and give it a sniff when I feel stressed or tired.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you have some favorite natural things you use? I would love to know about them, so please share in the comments below.

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Originally posted at: Lisa Barlow’s Pink Satin Cargo Pants & Lace Top

I would like to take the time to acknowledge the 37 million people who live with diabetes in America today (and the additional 100 million living with pre-diabetes). They inspire us to help with the ongoing fight to develop better treatment options, ensure that life-saving medicines become more affordable, and ultimately, to find a cure for this debilitating disease.

Awareness takes on the added challenge that the Covid-19 virus brought to diabetes sufferers and the risk factors and complications that exacerbate the disease.

Studies show that nearly every family has at least one person who suffers from diabetes. This is alarming as these families must watch as a loved one progresses from dietary restrictions and exercise, to pills, to injections.

And it is my job as a hearing specialist to let you know that each of these 37 million people are at increased risk of developing hearing loss, and each of these individuals is at a 200-500% increased risk of developing cognitive decline and dementia.

Read more at THE HEARING LOSS AND DIABETES CONNECTION: LEARN MORE ABOUT SIGNS AND PREVENTION.

What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes?

Some of the most common signs and symptoms of diabetes include:

• ·         Increased Thirst, Hunger, and Frequent Urination
• Fatigue
• Blurred Vision
• Loss of Hearing Clarity
• Slow-Healing Sores or Frequent Infections

But there is some good news here. By making small, healthy lifestyle changes, you can help to prevent type 2 diabetes. Here are some things you can start doing today:

Commit to a Healthier Lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle includes getting enough sleep, increasing your physical activity, drinking more water, and eating healthier. I have created a cookbook that serves as a guide to help you through your journey of eating healthier, and would like to offer it for free to my 60 and Me friends.

Keep Track of Your Illness

Assemble a little kit for the days when your diabetes is getting you down. Include blood glucose monitoring supplies, a thermometer, tissues, ketone test strips, hand sanitizer, glucose tablets or gel, and a timer to stay on top of your glucose levels. Tailor your kit to suit your individual needs.

Lose Weight

Along with eating healthier, you will begin to lose weight. Track your progress and keep the weight off. Losing weight is an important step toward preventing diabetes.

Is It Normal or Common?

It is important to know that diabetes is not a normal part of aging. Dementia is not a normal part of aging. Neither is hearing loss. There is a difference between ‘common’ and ‘normal’ aspects of aging. The key is that we know the difference between these two terms and know when to speak with our physician, pharmacist, endocrinologist, and audiologist when dealing with a disease that may be ‘common’, but has a profound, negative impact on your life and health.

Get Support

For those who suffer from diabetes, it is crucial to have a support system in place. You don’t have to do it alone! Your healthcare team is there to provide education, support, specialization, treatment, and a shoulder to lean on. Tell them that you need support. Feel free to ask me questions at www.drkeithdarrow.com.

What You Should Know About Diabetes and Covid-19

If you have diabetes, you should be very cautious as the resulting complications could be worse than for others. This is especially true if your diabetes isn’t well controlled. However, sometimes getting sick is beyond our control. You should have a plan in place if you do contract the virus.

1. You will want to make sure you stay inside, get all the rest you need, and don’t overdo it.
2. Stock up for at least two weeks. You will need enough healthy food to get by – soups, vegetables, crackers, etc.
3. Be sure to have honey, juice and sugar-sweetened sodas on hand in case your blood sugar dips.
4. Insulin and other medications should be filled.
5. Have extra ketone strips and glucagon handy.
6. Keep phone numbers for doctors visible.

Be sure to check in with your doctor to determine how often you should be checking your ketones and blood sugar levels (it will be more often than usual). Also, ask if you should be adjusting your diabetes medications and what cold remedies are safe to take. Drink more fluids and call your doctor immediately if you have moderate or large ketones, are experiencing shortness of breath or extreme weakness, vomiting, or severe stomach pain.

And always keep in mind that 37 million people living with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing dementia and hearing loss.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What do you think is a normal part of aging? Have you been told that any one health condition is specific to the aging demographic? How common is diabetes among your friends and relatives?

Do you look forward to taking a walk every day? If so, you may well be thinking about making your next vacation one that involves walking. The fact is that once you incorporate walking into your daily routine, it’s hard to imagine going too long without stretching those legs!

Of course, there are plenty of holiday destinations where you know you’ll be able to take a walk each day. But if you’re thinking about elevating walking to the central stage on your vacation, then it’s wise to plan carefully to get the best possible experience.

How Booking Ahead Can Be a Great Motivator

Not
surprisingly, there’s plenty to think about before you book anything if you
want to be sure of having a really successful vacation. Besides, there’s
nothing like the anticipation of an exciting trip to get you through the dark
winter months!

Actually,
knowing you have a walking holiday organised can be a wonderfully motivating
factor in the months ahead. So, read on for a few tips on what to look out for
when planning your walking vacation.

Deciding on a Self-Guided or Group Tour

Firstly,
you need to decide whether you’re sufficiently confident in your map-reading skills
to go-it-alone. If you prefer to hand over the homework to someone else, then a
guided group tour may be more suitable.

Enjoy
the luxury of leaving the organising to an expert, while you make new friends
with like-minded fellow walkers.

How Much of the Day Is Spent Walking?

A
walking holiday also presents an excellent opportunity to pursue other
interests. If you’re a foodie, you may enjoy learning about an area’s food and
wine selections by chatting to local producers. Or perhaps you like visiting hideaway
villages or ancient ruins?

On
our walking tours in
Italy, you get the chance to do a little bit of everything, from
wine-tasting and cookery classes, to visiting some of Italy’s most beautiful villages
and gardens.

Choosing the Right Level Tour

How
high can you climb? And how far can you walk? Actually, it’s more a matter of
how far you want to walk. A walking holiday doesn’t need to be overly
strenuous, and picking the right level for you is very important.

This
should be one which keeps you in your comfort zone but also provides the odd
buzz of adrenaline. So, check the grading of your tour carefully, not just the
distance, but also the daily ascents and descents, to make sure that you’re
going to enjoy, rather than endure, the daily hikes.

Finding the Perfect Travel Companion

A
walking vacation is one you can feel as comfortable doing on your own as with a
partner or a friend. If you have a partner who’s less enthusiastic about hiking
than you, perhaps a friend (or group of friends) might be a better companion.

At
Hedonistic Hiking, the tours are fairly evenly split between solo travellers,
couples and small groups of friends and are extremely sociable, so there are no
worries about fitting in.

Where’s the Best Place for a Walking Holiday?

When
it comes to location, there’s clearly no easy answer. However, it’s worth
bearing in mind that, when it comes to European walking holidays, a
mountain-based tour will probably involve steeper gradients than one in say,
Tuscany.

If
you prefer to cover a greater distance, without any big highs or lows, or
aren’t overly keen on heights, then steer clear of mountainous regions. Also,
do some research into how accessible the starting and drop off points for each
tour are, and whether you can catch a direct flight there.

What About Extending Your Trip?

Once
you’ve booked your flights, extending your trip by a few more days, or even a week
or two, often makes financial sense. Add on a city break or some beachside relaxation
to really get the most out of your trip.

Or,
if you’re a real hiking fanatic, why not book two separate tours, with a week
or so of relaxation in between the two?

Prepare Before You Leave

Once
you’ve booked your trip, you’re ready for the next stage of planning!

Get Fit Before You Go

If you’re not already a keen walker, it’s a good idea to gradually get used to doing walks of a similar length to those you’ll be doing on the tour. Cycling, swimming and other aerobic exercise is also beneficial, and Pilates-based exercises are great for stretching.

Haven’t walked far in a while? Read HOW TO RESTART YOUR WALKING HABIT.

Get the Right Kit

Top
of the list is making sure that you have comfortable walking boots that you’ve
worn in before your trip.

Don’t Overpack

If
your tour includes two or more hotel stays, the less luggage you have, the
easier your packing and re-packing will be!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What do you think would make a walking holiday exciting for you? Have
you ever been on a walking holiday? Which location would you like to visit? Please
share your thoughts and comments with our wonderful community.

Click Here for Additional stock in Her Top / Here for More Stock / Here for Even More Stock / Here for Her Top in Black

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Originally posted at: Lisa Barlow’s Pink Satin Cargo Pants & Lace Top