Those of us who are up on health knowledge understand how valuable omega-3s are. These nutrients, typically found in fish, can improve eye health, boost mood, improve risk factors for heart disease, increase brain health, and they can even potentially reduce symptoms of ADHD in children.

Now more positive omega-3 news comes our way. A study revealed that these fatty acids may also lower the risk of COVID related death. Read on to find out how they can be effective in reducing the fatalities linked to the virus.

More About the Pilot Study

The study was conducted at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and focused on blood samples drawn from 100 patients treated for COVID-19. Researchers used a test developed by omega-3 Index co-developer, Dr. William Harris PhD, of the Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota to analyze the samples.

The patients were divided into four groups according to the O3I levels with 5.7% being the cutoff for the largest quartile. One patient in the highest quartile died, while 13 deaths occurred in the bottom three quartiles. After considered factors like age and sex, it was determined that those with higher levels of EPA and DHA in their blood were 75% less likely to die than those in the lower three quartiles.

In other words, those in lower quartiles with lower levels of O3I were 75% less likely to die than those in the higher quartiles.

While more research is needed to prove the omega-3’s and COVID correlation, the findings of the study were promising.

Conductors of the study think that omega-3’s may be effective in reducing COVID related deaths due to their anti-inflammatory properties. They suspect this helps calm the cytokine storm, or the extreme immune system reaction that occurs when COVID strikes. In decreasing the reaction, the fatty acids make death less likely.

The study was compared to others that suggest that vitamin D and zinc may also be beneficial in helping people fight the virus.

Getting More Omega-3’s in your Diet

With COVID still spreading, I’m sure many of us will be stocking up on omega-3’s to arm ourselves and our loved ones against the virus. There are plenty of omega-3 rich foods, but if you’re not getting enough in your diet, you may want to add a supplement.

The supplement you choose should contain pure, potent ingredients you can count on. Thorne Research manufactures an omega 3 supplement you can trust.

Thorne Research is known for manufacturing supplements tested for purity. Their Super EPA High Omega-3 Supplement is designed with a Supercritical Fluid Technology that uses low temperature and standardized pressure to create a pure and potent product. In addition to offering protection against COVID, it is also beneficial to brain and heart health.

Omega-3’s have always been a recommended part of a healthy diet. Now that we know how they can reduce COVID related deaths, we have one more reason to take them. How will you be adding them to your routine?

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Photo by Diane Helentjaris on Unsplash

If you are on a keto diet, you know how hard it can be to find food items and recipes to eat. The low carb, high healthy fat, adequate protein diet means it’s especially difficult to find substitutes for high carb items like bread.

Well, never fear. In this article, we are going to provide a recipe for keto cloud bread, a light fluffy bread that does not require flour. Once you make this bread, sandwiches will take on a whole new meaning.

Keto Cloud Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

·                 3 large eggs, separated

·                 3 oz mascarpone (softened, cream cheese can be used as an alternate)

·                 1/8 tsp sea salt

·                 1/8 tsp cream of tartar (optional)

Directions:

1.              Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper and grease lightly.

2.              Combine egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl and use an electric mixer to combine until stiff peaks form.

3.              Combine mascarpone, egg yolks, and sea salt in a second bowl and use the mixer to blend until smooth.

4.              Use a spatula to gradually and carefully fold egg whites into mascarpone mixture. Use a folding movement to incorporate without breaking the air bubbles in the egg whites.

5.              Scoop mixture to form six circular discs on the parchment paper. Bake for 25-35 minutes until golden brown.

The lack of flour in this bread makes it extremely low carb, and it is also low calorie. The recipe yields six rolls at 98 calories per serving.

Other Tips

Here are some additional tips that will make your bread come out terrific.

·                 The tartar sauce is optional but it will help the egg whites form those stiff white peaks.

·                 Egg whites will also be easier to form into stiff peaks if you use them at room temperature. To hasten the process, run them under warm water.

·                 Mascarpone will also be hard to work with if it is not at room temperature. Cutting it into cubes will help it warm up faster.

Storing Keto Cloud Bread

If you are just making keto cloud bread for yourself, it’s not likely you’ll eat the entire recipe in one sitting. Here’s how to store it for optimal taste and texture.

The bread can be stored in the fridge or in the freezer. Either way, you won’t want to stack the bread. This will cause the pieces to stick together.

If you freeze the bread, you will want to store it in the refrigerator to thaw it before you do anything.

After storing bread, you will want to heat it in the toaster. If you don’t toast it, the bread will be very soft and it may fall apart when you eat it.

The cloud bread’s light and fluffy texture means it burns faster than regular bread would, so you will want to keep your toaster on a very low setting and keep an eye on the bread as it warms up. 

So there you have it! A great recipe for a low carb bread that is soft, fluffy and delicious. How will you be incorporating it in your next meal? 

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Photo by Nadya Spetnitskaya on Unsplash  

Advances in technology, along with the coronavirus pandemic, has made working at home a popular option for many people. Both workers and employers find it beneficial due to how it cuts back on expenses and makes for a more flexible schedule that boosts employee satisfaction.

Those who work at home will want to create an office space for themselves that is as comfortable as possible. The right wellness products will provide an environment that’s relaxing and conducive to productivity. With that in mind, here are some items your home office should not be without.

4 Best Home Office Wellness Products 

A Massager

When you’re sitting in the same position for hours on end, those muscles can really tense up. A ten minute massage break will bring blood flow into affected areas, reduce stress, and get you ready to take on the rest of your workday.

Massagers come in a variety of forms including foot massagers, neck massagers, and handheld devices. Heck, you may even want to go all out and get a massaging chair. These items will be worthwhile investments considering how they can increase focus and reduce the risk of repetitive stress injuries.

Sit Stand Desks

Studies have shown that sitting for long hours can negatively affect health. It can make you prone to certain diseases like heart conditions and diabetes. The lack of blood circulation can also make dementia more likely.

A sit stand desk allows you to adjust positions during the day so you can get some blood to the muscles and organs in your body. When you need a rest simply adjust back to sitting position. This piece of furniture really can provide you with the best of both worlds.

Personal Water Tower

We all know how important it is to hydrate every day, but when the nearest water source is (gasp) all the way in the kitchen, it’s hard to access the fluids you need.

A personal water tower will sit on your desk so it’s never difficult to hydrate. Many of these are BPA free so they are an eco-friendlier and healthier alternative to water bottles. They can also be insulated to keep water (and other liquids) cold.

Exercise Gear

Exercising during the day is another great way to boost blood flow and increase productivity. A quick walk around the block may do the trick, but if it’s too nasty to go outside, having exercise gear in the office will be a helpful solution.

You may not be able to fit an entire bike or treadmill into your home office, but, fortunately, there are tons of compact alternatives. A mini exercise bike can easily be stashed under the desk or in a closet. A mini stepper is small enough to go directly below your sitting area. There are also balance boards you can step on while working that are great for toning the leg muscles.

Working at home is a convenient way for many people to do business. The wellness items in this article will help you create an office environment that is healthy and conducive to getting stuff done. Which of these can you not be without?

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Photo by Laura Davidson on Unsplash

Loud music, industrial noise, and natural aging. These are all things that contribute to hearing loss. If one of these factors is, or was, prevalent in your life, you may wonder if your hearing is starting to deteriorate.

Hearing loss cannot be reversed, but you can take steps to keep it from getting worse and improve what you hear. That’s why it’s best to catch it early on.

This article will review the warning signs that are telling you that you may be losing your hearing, so you can act sooner rather than later.

What is the Type of Hearing Loss?

There are three types of hearing loss. These are as follows:

·                 Conductive: This involves the outer or middle ear.

·                 Sensorineural: This involves the inner ear.

·                 Mixed: This involved a combination of the two.

What are the Symptoms of Hearing Loss?

The symptoms of hearing loss include:

·                 Muffled sounds

·                 Difficulty hearing words

·                 Difficulty hearing consonants

·                 Asking people to speak up

·                 Needing to turn up the sound on audio devices

·                 Avoiding conversations and social settings

What are the Causes of Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss can occur due to a variety of factors. Here are some risks to be aware of.

·                 Aging: The inner ear structure degenerates over time causing hearing loss.

·                 Loud noise: Exposure to loud noise can cause damage to the cells of the inner ear. Damage can occur due to long term exposure to noise or from a short blast of noise like an explosion.

·                 Medications: Medications like Viagra, the antibiotic gentamicin, and certain chemotherapy drugs can damage the inner ear. Pain relievers like aspirin, antimalarial drugs, and loop diuretics can cause a temporary ringing in the ear.

·                 Some illnesses: Certain diseases and illnesses that cause a high fever may damage the cochlea. 

How Does Hearing Loss Occur?

Inner Ear Damage: Aging and loud noise can cause damage to the nerve cells in the cochlea that are responsible for sending sound signals to the brain. When damage occurs, the signals aren’t transmitted as efficiently resulting in hearing loss.

Ear Wax Build Up: Ear wax protects and cleans the ear but excessive build up can block the ear canal causing hearing loss. Fortunately, this can be remedied with an ear cleaning.

Abnormal Growth, Ear Infection or Tumors: When these occur in the outer and middle ear, they can cause hearing loss. Luckily, they can usually be remedied.

Ruptured Eardrum: Also called tympanic membrane perforation, an ear drum can become ruptured due to loud blasts of noise, sudden pressure changes, poking the ear drum with an object, and infection.

How Can You Prevent Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss is a common problem for many, but it can be prevented. Be sure to wear earplugs or earmuffs when exposed to loud noise and, if possible, avoid loud noise completely.

You should also have your hearing tested regularly, especially if you are exposed to noise on an ongoing basis. A doctor will recommend steps you can take to avoid further damage.

These tips in this article will help you better understand hearing loss and the steps you can take to prevent it. Good luck keeping your hearing safe for years to come.

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Photo by kyle smith on Unsplash

The snow is slowly melting and spring is right around the corner. Many of us are heading outside to enjoy the nice weather and that means plenty of outdoor grilling.

Once grilling meant standing over a hot grill to figure out when food would be ready. Today, we have something called smart grills. These grills come with self monitoring tools that ensure your meat will be done to perfection, without the hassle.

Read on to find out more about smart grills and other must have items for the spring.

What is a Smart Grill?

A smart grill uses tech to ensure your meat will be done perfectly. The grills have sophisticated burners and systems that regulate heat within one degree of where it needs to be. They even work with your phone to alert you when it’s time to flip. You can also use your phone to tell your grill to start preheating if you’re running late.

Basically, a smart grill gives you a hot cooked meal that tastes delicious while taking the guesswork out of grilling. You will spend less time cooking and more time enjoying the day.

Other Must Have Items for the Spring

In addition to the smart grill, there are plenty of other items that will make your spring more springy. Here are some worth checking out.

Outdoor Wine Tumblers

Outdoor wine tumblers are made of a durable, food safe, stainless steel material. They won’t break and they will keep your drinks regulated to an ideal temperature. They are the perfect thing for serving beverages to accompany your smart grilled meals.

Portable LED Lamp

If you are entertaining at night, a portable LED lamp is just what you need to keep your outdoor areas illuminated. It is great for adding ambience to your patio or backyard. Many of these lights can be controlled through a smartphone and charged wirelessly.

Bluetooth Portable Stereo Speaker

If you want to bring the sounds of your indoor system outdoors, a Bluetooth portable stereo speaker will do the trick. Many of these speakers have a sturdy build to protect them from the elements as well as an attractive design that adds to the fun.

Solar Flashlight

A solar flashlight is another must have item for night time outdoor activities and entertaining. It will help you find things easily and many flashlights have additional functions working as a window breaker, a seatbelt cutter, and more. The fact that it’s solar charging means you never have to worry about it running out of batteries.

Earbuds

If you’re spending a lot of time outdoors, you’ll want to take music, podcasts, and other types of audio entertainment with you. Ear buds are small and convenient providing a great way to listen to tunes on the go. 

Spring is coming soon. Smart grills and other gadgets will make the warm weather seasons more fun than ever. What will you be adding to your list of spring must haves? 

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Photo by James Sutton on Unsplash