Health

How to Start Eating Healthy Without Noticing

Published

3 years ago

March 10, 2021

Have you tried fad diet after fad diet with no success? If you have been trying to lose weight or just eat healthier in general, a simple yet effective approach includes the following tips to sustain healthier eating habits.

Have Healthy Foods Nearby

Do you ever wander into the kitchen for a quick snack and immediately head to your snack cabinet? Well, you certainly aren’t the only one. First, you will want to ensure you are placing healthier snacks and foods in eyesight, on the counter top, or in the main places you always seem to go looking for a snack.

Eliminate the Junk Food

If you have limited amounts of junk food or no junk food at all in your home, it’ll be a little easier to not be tempted by it. Opt to eliminate or significantly reduce the amount of unhealthy options you have in your pantry and fridge and replace them with healthier options that you will feel less guilty about.

Drink More Water

Focusing on increasing your intake of water is not only good for your body’s hydration but it can also help reduce mindless eating. When you begin to crave a sweet treat or have the urge to snack even though you recently had a meal, try drinking a bottle of water first to make sure that urge is an actual hunger rather than your body just wanting to be properly hydrated.

Shop the Perimeter

Another way to begin to eat healthier is by shopping along the outskirts of your grocery store. The perimeter of the store is filled with fresh produce, meat, dairy, and the frozen section. All of these sections have plenty of healthy, whole foods available. The internal aisles of the grocery store are where a majority of the processed foods are sold; those limit nutrition.

Meal Prep

Rather than approaching your lunch hour with no meal prepared and opting for a quick slice of pizza or deli hoagie, prepare your meals at home. Preparing all of your food and meals at the beginning of the week will not only save you time, but it will also save you from making poor food decisions.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be difficult. Begin by focusing on eating whole foods and eliminating processed ones. Following a few of these tips can also lead you to a healthier lifestyle. But you shouldn’t stop there. Start to include moderate exercise into your weekly routine at least 3 to 5 times.

Introduce moderate activity such as brisk walking into your fitness regimen to begin seeing even better results at a faster pace. Not to mention, having a beautiful place to enjoy walking trails and breathtaking scenery also helps to keep you motivated. If your neighborhood doesn’t have these to offer, consider looking into Columbia houses for sale for a fresh start.

Health

9 Simple Steps to Dealing with a Broken Tooth

Published

2 months ago

February 14, 2024

Michelle Langton

Credit: freepik via Freepik

It’s movie night, and you have an obligatory bowlful of popcorn balancing on your lap. You toss a handful of popcorn and — crack — you unknowingly bite down on a kernel with the full power of your jaw.

Lightning strikes your mouth as you realize this humble kernel broke your tooth.

Now what?

Besides pausing the movie and spitting out your mouthful of popcorn and tooth, you might not know your next steps.

What should you do, and how can you pay for it? Find the answers to these questions and more below:

1. Save the Pieces

If possible, save any broken pieces of the tooth. Your dentist might need these pieces.

2. Rinse Your Mouth

Gently rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Avoid using hot or cold water, as it might aggravate any exposed nerves.

3. Control Bleeding

If you bleed, apply gentle pressure to the area with a clean cloth or gauze. You can also use a cold compress on your jaw or cheek to reduce swelling.

4. Contact Your Dentist

Reach out to your dentist immediately. Explain the situation and try to schedule an emergency appointment. Many dentists reserve slots for urgent cases. If they don’t have a spot available, look at specialty emergency clinics in your area.

5. Get Over-the-Counter Pain Relief

Broken and chipped teeth can hurt, so take some over-the-counter pain relievers to help manage this pain until you can see your dentist.

6. Check Insurance Coverage

Review your dental insurance policy to understand coverage details. Some policies may cover emergency procedures, while others may have limitations.

7. Discuss Payment Options

If cost is a concern, discuss financing options with your dentist. Some dental offices offer flexible arrangements that give you a break. If you qualify for these plans, you might be able to push out your due date to coincide with your payday. You may even be able to break up your total outstanding amount over several payments.

8. Take out a Personal Loan

If you’re just shy of what you need to cover your emergency dental expense, consider going online to scope out personal loans. A personal loan may fill in for savings in urgent situations. You can quickly visit a website like MoneyKey to see what you need to apply. If approved, a personal loan gives you the means to pay for your visit upfront and pay off what you owe over time.

9. Consider Urgent Care Clinics

If your financial situation is such that you can’t afford a personal loan’s payments, reconsider your choice of dentist. Some dental practices apply a sliding scale to their services so that they can provide immediate care at a lower cost for at-risk individuals.

Next Steps: Thinking About the Future

So, you’ve managed to repair your tooth and pay the bill, too. What’s next? Make sure you hit these three goals soon. They can help you prevent another broken tooth in the future!

Stay on Top of Dental Hygiene: Brush at least twice a day and floss once a day — these simple habits can protect your teeth over time.
Schedule Regular Checkups: Keeping up with regular cleanings can also help you prevent future dental emergencies.
Build an Emergency Fund: Sometimes, accidents happen. Consider building an emergency fund specifically for unexpected dental emergencies.