Author: Sarah Ann

8 Natural Ways To Prevent Pimples and Acne Breakouts

Sarah Ann1 Comment

popping pimplesFor some reason my Twitter feed is always loaded with silly posts by women who have boldly announced they’ve accepted and “embraced” their problems with acne and pimples. I’ve read about women struggling with finding treatments that eliminate acne, and about women who’ve accepted that acne is “part of who they are.” This is BS, because there’s no reason anyone should ever have to live with acne problems.

Contrary to the popular belief that acne is hereditary and nothing can be done about it, acne can actually be prevented and eliminated through clean, healthy lifestyle habits. That means eating a diet comprised of healthy whole foods, exercising regularly, drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep, and practicing good hygiene, among other things.

You don’t necessarily need birth control pills to prevent acne breakouts (a healthy lifestyle can naturally help regulate your hormones), and you definitely don’t need to invest in acne products or treatments loaded with chemicals, which could only worsen your health.Read More »

5 Ways To Improve Your Running Form

Sarah AnnLeave a comment

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site!

running-shoesNow that the weather is cooler, I’m seeing a lot more runners visiting my favorite local park. This is super exciting for me, and while I’m stoked to finally be sharing the path with other runners, I can’t help but cringe inwardly when I check out other people’s running forms.

Some people angrily clench water bottles or smartphones in their fists while they run, while others look as if they took running lessons from the dancing kids in A Charlie Brown Christmas. While half of me can’t help but giggle and wonder what on earth these people are thinking, the other part of me feels bad that these people aren’t gaining much from their workouts. Poor running form not only hinders your performance, but increases your risk for muscle soreness and injury.Read More »

Use Yogurt To Help Soothe Skin Burns

Sarah Ann2 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site!

plain greek yogurtIt never ceases to amaze me how certain foods, plants, and common household items can resolve certain health problems in a pinch. Got heartburn? No worries, just drink one or two caps of apple cider vinegar and your heartburn will resolve itself in minutes. Have an eye infection? Just dabble a few drops of raw, organic honey into your eyes to naturally rinse away bacteria. Suffering from a sunburn or minor chemical burn? Apply plain yogurt to your face!

A neighbor of mine has been working with chemical solutions for an art project. He always wears proper protective gear (eye goggles, thick layers of clothing, apron, bandana), but yesterday, suffered a minor burn on the skin of his neck after leaning over a pot of steam generated by the chemical solution he was working with. The burns were relatively minor and didn’t affect him until this morning, when he described experiencing unrelenting itching on his neck. A bit of redness and inflammation was also present.Read More »

How To Wash Rice For a Better, Cleaner Taste

Sarah AnnLeave a comment

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site!

clean white riceAfter my workout today I went to my favorite local Korean restaurant for a seafood tofu soup bowl loaded with shrimp, clams, and mussels. This charming Asian eatery serves its tofu bowls with fresh kimchi and rice on the side. When the soup comes, you put a small amount of rice on your spoon, then dip it into the soup.

The food at this restaurant is always incredibly fresh, high in quality, and absolutely delicious! Another reason I continue eating here is the fact this restaurant serves clean rice. What is clean rice, you ask?

Clean rice is rice that has been rinsed thoroughly before cooking. If you eat a lot of rice, you can eventually tell when rice has been cleaned, and when it hasn’t. I won’t tattle and name-drop here, but I’ve eaten at plenty of restaurants that serve dirty rice, and I’m never eating at those places again!Read More »

What Are Ghrelin and Leptin, and Why Are These Hunger Hormones Important?

Sarah AnnLeave a comment

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site!

balancing leptin and ghrelinAsk most people what they know about hormones and they’ll instantly start chattering about sex hormones estrogen and testosterone. However, there are about 50 different hormones in the human body, and all of them play important roles in your health and in normal bodily function.

For instance, stress hormone cortisol helps your body function optimally in times of stress, while sleep hormone melatonin regulates your sleep patterns and wards off disease. But when it comes to hunger and your eating behavior, the hormones ghrelin and leptin are responsible for telling you when you feel hungry, and when it’s time to stop eating, respectively.Read More »

Is Your Metal Bed Frame Interfering With Sleep?

Sarah Ann2 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site!

sleeping on metal bed frameDid you know that 40% of all Americans get fewer than 7 hours of sleep per night? Sleep experts recommend getting between 7 and 9 hours of sleep every night to maintain optimal health, and to avoid common health problems such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and more.

As you sleep, your body literally heals and repairs itself on a cellular level. Ever hear people joke about beauty sleep? In reality, beauty sleep is very legit, and improves collagen production and circulation to leave your skin and complexion looking fresh, youthful, and flawless.

Individuals who lack sleep on a regular basis are often at higher risk for serious health conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, and high blood pressure. Plus, sleep helps your body produce ample amounts of melatonin — a sleep hormone and antioxidant that fights inflammation and reduces your risk for cancer.Read More »

4 Tips For Running Outdoors In Extreme Heat

Sarah Ann2 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting the work I put into this site!

running outdoorsIn my city, daily summer temperatures usually average between 100 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. While milder summer temperatures in other parts of the U.S. are pleasant enough to lure people outdoors, most runners who live in desert climates head to their gyms for treadmill runs, or change their routines altogether just to beat the heat.

While I enjoy having the running path all to myself throughout the summer, sometimes I miss the camaraderie I could be sharing with other runners brave enough to withstand the heat. This is when I think to myself: would runners be more willing to stay outside if they fully understood the benefits of exercising in temperatures over 100 degrees? Better yet, would more runners stay outdoors if they knew how to properly care for themselves in hot temperatures?Read More »