Mommy Nicz

Momhood & Beauty Diary

Fitness and Health

New Year: Keeping A Healthier You At 2019

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Aging is a process where everyone will have to go through, and it is inevitable. From day to day, many things added up to speed the process of aging. Free radicals, pollution, stress, weight mismanagement, sickness, and a lot more are contributing to making one age faster than the usual. Although aging is inevitable, there are ways where one can decrease the speed of it. In this article, we will tackle some things that you need to know to have healthier aging.

7 Must-Haves For A Healthier Aging

Sleep Management

Sleep deprivation makes one old as the body need enough sleep to have cell regeneration. But it is also important to sleep at the right time. Between 10 in the evening till four at dawn, the cells inside the body keep regenerating when we are sleeping. When the cells do not have an interruption, you will have healthy aging as your cells regenerate continuously.

Proper Nutrition

Weight management is a hard part of the daily lives of people, even in elders. There are many tendencies that a person gets overweight due to improper take of food with too many calories, cholesterol, and preservatives. To be young, one should be eating foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals and avoid processed foods as much as you can.

Hydration

The ideal drinking water per day is at least 3 liters. With this, the nutrients needed by the whole body will be delivered by water. When water is lacking in our body, the first thing is we get dehydrated, and then the other parts of the body will be deprived of water. Most people who suffered from a migraine is usually lack of water intake. It is also beneficial to the skin.

Additional Read: Top 10 Ways to Stay Hydrated.

Active Lifestyle

To have a healthier life this 2019, one should go with an active lifestyle. It doesn’t mean that you need to go extreme or go to the gym. All you need to do is to have a physical and consistent daily activity that will give you some muscles and lose some sweats.

Mental Exercise

The brain also needs exercising so you can maximize its use. When the brain stops with its daily activities, your function too will get affected. It is very common to elders so once you go old, make sure to exercise your brain. There are many brain exercises such as reading, playing chess, playing cards, and crossword puzzles will do too.

Regular Checkup

At least every quarter, make sure to visit a doctor for a regular checkup. It is a must especially when you reach your 50s. Beyond this age, you can also opt to take someone care for you in a home healthcare agency Houston. You can be sure that proper caring will be given to you. So, if you have time, check out their facility here to see what are the other things they offer.

Social Activity

Being active socially is also essential but make sure that you know your limit too. There are many ways to be active socially such as getting involved in a church ministry where you can be spiritually healthy and nourished, or in your community, or even in social media. It is essential that you have someone you can talk too and laugh with, so you can have a healthier heart.

Reasons Why You Have to Switch to Menstrual Cup

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Did you know that you could have fewer cramps and less odor when you switch to Menstrual Cup? In this blog, you’ll learn How To use a Menstrual Cup 🙂

What do you feel when you have your period? Are you a wifezilla? Or a behave, mom? If you are a wifezilla, welcome to the club.

Lately, I discovered this thing shape like a bell and they called it Menstrual Cup and I researched all about a menstrual cup of what is the best brand, how to use, how to clean, etc.,

So, I’ve tried it myself to feed my curiosity and I can say that it totally worked for me you will feel nothing when you wear it.

Why You Have to Switch to Menstrual Cup?

Well, Menstrual Cup will help you to save a lot of money, and did you know that virgin can also use it?

What is Menstrual Cup?

A Menstrual Cup is a feminine hygiene product is that inserted into the vagina during menstruation. Its purpose is to prevent the menstrual fluid (blood from the uterine lining) from leaking onto clothes. This is according to Wikipedia.

Menstrual Cup is made from silicon and it has different colors that you can choose. And it has different sizes.

You can also watch my latest vlog about MC.

Why Switch to Menstrual cup

How to know my size?

Two types of care menstrual cups fit best various physical features of the vagina regarding anatomy and age.

Type 1 with its 43mm diameter is recommended for women under age 25. 

Type 2 having 47mm diameter is recommended for women who already have given birth in a natural way and for women over the age of 25. 

I get Type 2 because I already have given birth twice.

How to insert?

So here we go… You don’t have to be worry because it will go in slowly easy peasy, believe me, I’ve been there too worrying if it will go through me inside.

But when I do, it’s not hard as you think. I tried these two options and the second option work for me.

1. Folded in half. (C-shape)

Pinch the middle of the upper silicone ring with your index and thumb finger. Then fold it in half.

Ways to Insert a Menstrual Cup - Folded in half. (C-shape)

2. Pushed Inside

Hold the tampon between your thumb and third finger. Push inwards the silicon ring deeply at the point by your index finger.

Then keep the right and left sides pushed strongly together by your index and thumb finger.

Ways to Insert a Menstrual Cup - Pushed Inside

Why Switch to Menstrual cup

After you inserted, wait for the “pop”! If the “pop” thing not happened, change the way you insert it or try another way to insert it.

How to remove?

In a relaxed position, you have to pull the stem side by side, slowly but surely it will be out soon.

Sometimes, you will feel the suction but you don’t have to be worry just keep pulling the stem side by side until it out.

Why Switch to Menstrual cup

How to clean?

Every after use, wash it with warm water and unscented soap. Rinse it thoroughly and you can insert it again.

After your period, soak the menstrual cup in hot water in 5 mins, then you can restore it again for your next period.

How much it cost?

Anytime Menstrual cup is priced at P700 pesos. I bought it from BeautyMNL.

Why I switch to Menstrual Cup?

My first reason is, I want to be eco-friendly this year 2019, imagine I can use this cup for 1 year unlike using pads it’s another waste that will go to the landfill or ocean.

Whenever I have my period, I feel so lazy all day and feel sick, I don’t want to go to the restroom every 2 hours to change my pads.

And it’s irritating my skin as well. While using the menstrual cup, I can wear it for up to 8 hours based on my experience.

So, are you using a Menstrual Cup? What’s your thought about using it?

Xo, Nicole 😘 Mommy Nicz

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What Causes Skin Sagging And How To Treat It

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Your skin can be one of the indicators that you are getting old, by having a sagging skin. It can be seen on your arms, neck, or primarily on your face. Sure skin sagging is inevitable as we grow old. But different factors can also cause the skin to slump at a faster rate. But hold your horses, if there are factors that can cause our skin to sag more there are also things on how we can prevent or slow it down from happening.

Different Factors That Affect Skin Sagging

  • Aging- It is the primary and natural reason why our skins sag.  As we get old, the production of materials that keep our skin young and healthy are slowing down. First is elastin, which is the protein that keeps our skin from hanging loose, and collagen which makes up most of our skin and keeps it healthy and vibrant.
  • Exposure to sunlight- too much exposure to sunlight may cause the elastin and collagen in our skin to break down easily. Prolonged sunlight exposure can also cause us to have wrinkles, brown spots or even skin cancer.
  • Bad Habits- Vices such as smoking and drinking alcohol causes harmful chemicals to enter our skin and body which can also contribute to skin sagging. Lack of sleep and exercise, poor diet, and lack of water can also affect our skin negatively.

For additional reading, check this article out: Tips on How to Lose Weight Faster and Aged Gracefully.

How To Treat Skin Sagging

  • Stay moisturized- Keeping your skin’s moisture regularly is the first line of defense to keep your skin from sagging. Make sure to use a moisturizer that contains vitamins’ A and C, hydroxyl acid and other compounds that can keep your skin healthy. It also won’t hurt to take some antioxidants and vitamins that can also enhance your skin’s quality.
  • Exfoliate- Washing your skin with baking soda at least once a week can prevent your skin from skin sagging and having wrinkles. It removes dead skin cells, tightens your pores, and give your skin a smooth complexion. Or you can try to blend a slice of pineapple with a spoonful of powder milk and apply it to your skin for 15 minutes to get rid of your loose skin. Make sure to rinse it with warm water.
  • Apply a Mask- The skin close to your eyes is the fastest part to sag down because it’s thin and fragile. The solution to this is to have a cucumber mask around your eyes. You can just put a slice of cucumber on your eyes, or blend it and strain to remove excess water and then apply around your eyes for a more effective result. For your whole face, you can mix natural yogurt, oats and grated orange and use it to your face for 20 minutes.
  • Surgical- Lastly, if the skin sagging is too prominent you can go to a cosmetic surgery and dermatology clinic to be able to assess it and give you different treatments or operations such as radiofrequency treatments, laser treatments, or facelift surgeries.

You are the one responsible for taking care of your skin, what you do will tell how your skin will be in a matter of years.

Tips on How To Lose Weight Faster and Aged Gracefully

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Lose weight is one of the problems that many are facing. As a mom, it is tough for us to maintain our weight and get back to our pre-pregnancy shape. Some are struggling to lose weight, and some are struggling in gaining weight. Before, I have no idea how our weight contributes to aging until my sister told me that if you are not on your ideal weight and ideal body fats, your body aged older as your usual age. I am also struggling with my weight now, but I am trying my best to have a healthier lifestyle. Lucky I am to have a wellness sister, she sends me these tips on how to lose weight faster so that my body will also match my real age. Hope you will also find below tips helpful:

Drink at Least 3 Liters of Water

Yes, water is essential to keep our body hydrated. My sister told me that 3 liters are the minimum water volume that our body needed to deliver all the nutrients that our organs need. Most of the times, I am experiencing migraine attacks, especially during hot times. My sister told me to keep drinking at least 3 liters of water a day as it helps her battle her migraines too. If you want to lose weight faster, then add up a liter or two to the usual 3 liters of water. There is just one exception, do not drink cold water after you eat something fats like fried food.

Eat 6 Servings of Fruits and Vegetables a Day

If you eat six servings of fruits and vegetables a day, your digestion will thank you a lot for it. But, you have to watch out for sweet fruits, choose fruits that are high in fiber and low in sugar. Also, she said that avoid fruits during the night as it contributes to making our tummy grow bigger than the usual.

Cut Calories Not Food

When we are on a diet, we often cut food. One of the things that I commonly hear is that they don’t eat after 6 in the evening. But my sister told me to eat every 3 hours to make my metabolism works normal but make sure to cut the calories.

You can also check: 7 Minute Workouts App.

Avoid Single Packaging Food

Single packaging foods are usually high in sugar and fats and sometimes, expensive too. To avoid these types of food and anything instant. If you want to check out, see the nutrition facts label at the back of the packaging and check out if your diet is high in sugar, calories, fats, and sodium.

No Sugary Drinks

Soft drinks, artificial juices, iced tea, energy drinks, iced coffee, and instant coffee- who doesn’t love those? Yes, it can be very addictive especially with coffee, but make sure always to check the label. You can still drink these kinds of beverages, occasionally. For coffee lovers like me, brewed coffee and muscovado is a healthier option.

Eating the right types of food is rewarding, your body will thank you for it. I don’t want to age faster, as much as I want to maintain my figure, I also want to be healthier so I can take care of my family and do more. We all know that when our weight is not on the right track, our body will sacrifice and even creates more mood swings. For now, I am starting to change my lifestyle and aim to target a healthier body.

Feed Your Skin With The Right Food

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Our skin is one of the most important parts of our body, we make every effort to keep it beautiful, glowing and flawless. However, due to the everyday negative factors such as the sun UV ray damages, dirt and air pollutants, bad habit of not washing before bedtime, unsuitable beauty products, current weather condition, and unhealthy food intake. These factors make our skin dull, unhealthy and annoying. Yes, it annoys me when my skin is flaky, dry or oily! I hate it when the temperature is humid or rainy! However, I recently discovered that the foods we ate had a huge part in what our skin have become. That is why I came up with taking notes of the foods that I should eat so I will have healthier skin.

I also learned about the skin types, it is important to know about your skin type so you can address it properly. If you still wonder what your skin type is, here is a brief description of each.

Skin Type:

  • Normal skin- you are so lucky to have this, I envy you! You have barely visible pores, glowing skin complexion (please take note that having light skin does not mean that you are glowing, people who have a darker shade of skin can also glow), and of course, very less or zero imperfections.
  • Oily skin- this is very common in puberty age, I had this when I was younger! You have this type when you have a shiny complexion and very prone to pimples.
  • Dry skin- usually people who lived in humid or tropical countries have this type. You will notice that you have flaky skin, rough and dull complexion.
  • Combination- I have this skin type, a combination of oily and dry skin. This is the most common type of skin in our country! Check your T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) if it is oily and check the other parts of your face if they are dry then you have this skin type.
  • Sensitive skin- aw, I don’t want this skin type, sounds complicated to me. If you are very sensitive from the heat and cold temperature, have flaky skin, and easily get rashes or redness of the skin, your skin type is sensitive.
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Image From Google

Now, after you have identified your skin type, you can easily determine which products you should buy and what kind of diet you are going to have. I listed the foods that I need to eat, regardless the skin type, these foods are essential to have healthier and glowing skin!

Feed Your Skin With The Right Food:

  • Dark chocolate- I am not a huge fan of this type of chocolate, but I started my switch. I am a big fan of milk chocolate, but I find out that dark chocolates are very rich in flavanols, an antioxidant that helps keep the skin hydrated. I am loving it now!
  • Oatmeal- I love this in the morning, mixed with some fresh fruits and honey! Oatmeal is great for skin healing, I also have an oatmeal soap! Great as an anti-wrinkle agent too!
  • Tomatoes- I love tomatoes, whether raw or cooked but I found out that lycopene in tomatoes will only be potent if cooked. So I always include tomatoes when I am cooking our food. Tomatoes help us improve our protection from the sun’s UV rays.
  • Apple- Oh, lucky me, I love apples! This fruit is very rich in Vitamin C which is essential in making our skin healthy.
  • Soy- Good thing, I love soy drink and soybean curd. This food will help reduce hyperpigmentation and also helps in getting a glowing complexion.
  • Carrots- If you want to have healthier and fair complexion, eat more carrots which have a higher content of carotenoids.
  • Yogurt- This yummy treat helps prevent wrinkles, making the skin firm. I will add this to my daily diet!
  • Walnuts- This nut is my favorite, although a little bit expensive. It is so rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids that make skin even elastic.
  • Sunflower seeds- I love this seed, so yummy! This food is so rich in vitamin E which is an essential to making the skin glow and keep protected from the sun.
  • Green Tea- I love milk tea, but I never knew that green tea is very beneficial for the skin. It helps fight inflammation and redness.

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Foods You Should Avoid:

  • Junk foods- This is a total no, no! You will not get any nutrients that your skin needs with junk foods, it will also make your skin dehydrated.
  • Coffee- The caffeine in coffee can trigger acne and pimple breakouts. Stay away from caffeinated coffee and choose decaf organic coffee. I am trying to stay away from coffee, this is hard for me!
  • Soft drinks- This type of drink is very rich in caffeine and sugar. Just like coffee, caffeine is bad for the skin. You can still have soft drinks, chose for caffeine-less soft drinks, but still watch out for the sugar! The refined sugar found in soft drinks can cause inflammation and make damage to the skin.
  • Fatty foods- This type of food is not good for our skin, it will result in a dull complexion.
  • Sweet goodies- Just like soft drinks, sweet goodies are very rich in refined sugar, which is not good for the skin.
  • Alcohol- This type of drink intoxicates the body. It will leave your body dehydrated and that has a great effect on the skin.
  • Grilled meats- These foods make your skin look and feel old. Yikes, I love BBQ!
  • Salty foods- These foods will cause acne breakouts and dehydrated the skin, making it deprived of the right amount of fluids it needs.
  • Fried foods- I love fried foods, I am good at cooking them! Ha-ha, but I have to avoid it as it will make damages on my skin. Aside from it, it will make the skin look puffy and dry.
  • Dairy- This is really bad for people with oily skin. Avoid dairy products as much as possible, look for dairy-free milk like almond milk to be safe.

As much as I want to eat these avoid foods, but I shouldn’t! I want to take care of my skin while I am still in my mid 20’s, I don’t want to regret when I reach my 50’s. Women, disregard the age, should always take care of our skin. I regret some of my scars when I was a kid, I know how careless I am when I am young! But when I learned about this stuff, I am so careful with what I am eating. I don’t just turn my diet upside down in an instant, but it is still in the process. As much as possible, I avoid eating outside. I also have a list of these foods in our kitchen so it will keep me reminded of the foods that I need to eat to have a healthier, glowing skin!

Nicole Escat