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10 Healthy Benefits of Burning Sage in Your Home »

10 Healthy Benefits of Burning Sage in Your Home »


In the rich history of herbs and roots, sage remains the queen of the garden. When you think of sage, you probably think of the quintessential seasoning for Thanksgiving turkey and dressing. For centuries, various species of sage have been used for culinary, medicinal, and spiritual reasons.

What is Sage?

Culinary sage, Salvia officinalis, is the recognizable species that you’ll find in your spice rack. It is a perennial woody herb native to the Mediterranean region. Because sage has a historical reputation as a powerful medicinal herb, it was given the Latin name salvia, which means healing.

Origins of Burning Sage

White sage, Salvia apiana, is a species that is native to the western part of the United States. For many Native American cultures, white sage is considered a sacred herb used for cleansing and spiritual ceremonies. For generations, some indigenous Americans dried white sage, tied it into small bundles, and burned it a service called smudging.

Burning sage or other herbs has become a popular tradition in New Age and other spiritual practices. Many cultures around the world have observed some form of this cleansing ceremony. If you watch any television shows about physics or paranormal investigations, you’ll often see spiritual practitioners burning sage to clear the area of harmful or malevolent energies.

How to Burn Sage in Your Home

It isn’t challenging to perform a sage purification ceremony in or around your house. You can do the service alone or with your family. The critical thing to remember is to do it with respect and with positive intentions.

Supplies Needed for Smudging

• A bundle of white sage: Salvia apiana is available in New Age retail shops, which carry products like crystals and singing bowls.

Be sure that your purchase is from ethical and sustainable sources, such as native growers and gatherers. In the west, the white sage harvest is often depleted because of improper cutting techniques and over-picking. It’s important to know your source before buying.

It’s better if you grow white sage in your garden. This plant is exceptionally adaptable in most areas and doesn’t require a lot of care. You can plant it in an outdoor herb garden or grow it in attractive pots indoors.

• An original container for the ashes, such as an abalone shell, wooden bowl, or clay pottery. The ceremony becomes more personal if your vessel is something that you or a loved one handmade.

• A long feather for fanning the smoke: Only use feathers that are legally and ethically obtained. If you object to using feathers on moral grounds, you can use a decorative fan or your hand too.

• Wooden matches

How to Smudge:

• Strike the match and light one end of the sage bundle until it is barely smoldering. You don’t want it to catch fire, so blow out any flame quickly.

• As the leaves burn, it will produce a cloud of thick smoke. Now, use the feather to fan it around yourself and every corner of the space you’re cleansing. Visualize the smoke wiping your area clean of all negative energy.

• Let the sage ashes slowly collect in the shell or other vessel. After the smudge ceremony, release the ashes outside to the wind as symbolism for the negativity blowing away.

Possible Benefits of Practicing Sage Burning

Sage burning ceremonies can be as simple or elaborate as you wish. Not only can you reap spiritual benefits, but you can also gain practical advantages. For safety reasons, never get smoldering sage around flammable materials, and you must make sure the ashes are completely cold before discarding.

Are you ready to see how this mystical practice can help you? It may be something that you can incorporate into your spiritual rituals and journey. Here are ten benefits of burning sage for you to consider.

1. Purify Your Air

Underlying most ancient spiritual practices is usually a physical and scientific principal. Burning sage can purify the air around you, just as native practitioners have claimed. White sage is a natural insect repellent, antibacterial, and antifungal.

When you smudge, smoke from the burning herb creates negative ions that attack allergens in the air like pollen, animal dander, mold, and dust. Do you have asthma or other allergies? A sage cleansing ceremony may clean the air you breathe to minimize your symptoms.

2. Provide Aromatherapy to Calm Your Stress

Have the stresses of life built up in your space to where it’s unbearable? The mesmerizing fragrance of burning sage may be the stress reliever you need. Scientific reports about using sage as aromatherapy suggest that the scent reacts with parts of the brain to produce a calm and feeling of well-being.

3. Boost Your Mood

Everybody has a bad day occasionally that puts a damper on their mood. Did you know that a sage burning ceremony may help lift depression, ease anxiety, and give your mood a much-needed boost? As with stress, the smoke’s gentle fragrance works with your brain to put you in a peaceful, happy atmosphere.

4. Help You Get a Good Night’s Sleep

It makes sense that if your bedroom is charged with negative energy, it will disrupt your sleep. Many people find relief from occasional insomnia by using sage in their room before bedtime. After the sage embers have died into cool ash, the smoke lingers in a soothing perfume that can help you relax, fall asleep, and awaken refreshed.

5. Pump Up Your Energy Levels

When your living or working space is teeming with positive energy, your body reacts with the same vibrancy and positive power. As the positively charged smoke from a sage burning clears the area of negative charges, you may notice that you feel recharged, inspired, and able to do more things than you usually do.

6. Can Boost Your Brain Power

Are you studying for a test or working on a project and need some more enthusiasm from your brain? Try performing a simple sage burning ceremony in the space where you are working or studying. Some scientific research on burning sage suggests positive correlations between the herb and a boost in cognition and creativity.

7. May Dispel Residual Negativity of the Past

Have you ever walked into a room that you’ve never visited before and felt a heaviness you couldn’t explain? Some spiritual practitioners believe that apartments, houses, and even land can harbor negative energy from past traumatic events. Maybe you’ve experienced trauma or other negative experiences, and it still lingers in your shadow.

Burning sage in this spiritually heavy room may dispel residual negativity and replace it with a positive glow. Along with the smudge, the ceremony must come to the positive intentions and affirmations that your cleansing ceremony will work to your good. It may be a tool to cleanse your heart and spirit from past hurts and open your eyes to the beauty of the present.

8. Can Cleanse Objects

We know from high school science classes and Einstein’s theory that matter has energy. Everything in the universe is vibrating at different levels and can produce positive or negative charges. So, it stands to reason that objects in your home or office are energized and can carry negative residual energy from the past.

Before you bring anything into your home, especially things that may have been used in a spiritual ceremony, consider cleansing them first with a smudging ritual. Use your feather to gently waft the smoke around the object and visualize any harmful or detrimental energy vanishing.

9. Might be a Tool for Spiritual Practices

For many indigenous cultures of America, sage has had cultural and spiritual significance. It has often been used to enhance spiritual awareness, open the mind’s sixth sense, or to encourage psychic dreams. A sage burning ceremony usually coincides with services for healing and dedication.

Along with the spiritual experience comes some scientific evidence. Many cultivars of sage, including white sage, contains a chemical called thujone that has trace psychoactive properties. While it certainly isn’t like a psychedelic herb, sage can bring mild feelings of well-being and improved intuition.

10. Enjoy a Natural Air Freshener

Your house is filled with things that can make it smell less than appealing. From the kitchen to the kids’ rooms to the bathrooms, you may have an arsenal of scented candles, potpourri, and sprays to kill the odors. However, most of these synthetic air fresheners only mask the smells and can have chemicals that are hazardous to your family and pets.

Instead, why not freshen the air in your home naturally with a sage burning ceremony. White sage and other varieties have a distinct verdant and woodsy smell that most people find pleasant and relaxing. Burn sage throughout each room that harbors odors, especially the kitchen and bathroom.

Final Thoughts on Taking Advantage of the Healthy Benefits of Burning Sage

There is no magic involved in smudging. While it’s important to use visualization and clear intentions, many attributes of this ancient ceremony have some basis in science. No matter how you plan to practice, do so with respect for the service and those who created it.

Lifestyle

Homemade Trail Mix: 5 Healthy Recipes You’ll Love Snacking on

Homemade Trail Mix: 5 Healthy Recipes You'll Love Snacking on


Homemade Trail Mix: 5 Healthy Recipes You’ll Love Snacking on

Whether you’re hiking up a mountain or lounging around the house, trail mix is a quick and guilt-free snack choice.

Depending on your type of mix, different homemade trail mix recipes have different benefits. From healthy fats to antioxidants, there’s a variety of blends that you can choose from to suit your tastes and needs.

We’ve compiled a list of trail mix recipes that will help fuel your next hike or serve as a healthy snack!

5 Healthy Homemade Trail Mix Recipes

Creating a trail mix recipe is a fun task that involves picking your favorite healthy snacks and putting them all together.

However, we recommend strategically pairing certain snacks together for the ultimate nutrient intake. Combining a type of nut, fruit, and seed is just the start. Have fun with it!

Here are some trail mix recipes with a healthy twist. For each of these recipes, mix the ingredients into a large bowl, then pack them away in a tightly sealed bag or container.

1. Granola Trail Mix

Granola is a fantastic addition to trail mix, as it adds low-fat fiber to your snack. This simple granola recipe will keep you full and satisfied. The peanuts and sunflower seeds offer a subtle salty flavor that pairs well with the rest of the ingredients.

Recipe

  • 1 cup of low-fat granola
  • 1/2 cup of peanuts
  • 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup of raisins
  • 1/3 cup of sunflower seeds

2. Salty and Sweet Trail Mix

Mixing sweet and salty ingredients will solve both cravings when they strike. Plus, the dark chocolate chips add a healthy sweet addition alongside the addition of tart cranberries.

Recipe

  • 1 cup of salted peanuts or cashews
  • 1/2 cup of salted pretzels
  • 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup of dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds

3. Fruit and Nut Trail Mix

This recipe is for the dried fruit fans. With its variety of dried fruits and hints of chocolate, this snack provides a sugary tart flavor with every bite. The addition of almonds provides essential healthy fats and fiber into this snack. You can substitute banana chips for coconut chips for a tropical twist.

Recipe

  • 1/2 cup of dried banana chips or coconut chips
  • 1/2 cup of dried cranberries
  • 1/2 of dried strawberries
  • 1/3 cup of dark chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup of almonds

4. Tastes Like Candy Trail Mix

On days where you really want to reach for a cookie, this trail mix is the perfect substitute. The M&Ms, dark chocolate chips, raisins, and a sprinkle of antioxidant-packed goji berry powder provide a sugar rush without the guilt. 

Recipe

  • 1 cup of cashews
  • 1/2 cup of almonds
  • 1/2 cup of M&Ms
  • 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup of raisins
  • 2 tablespoons of goji berry powder

5. Sweet and Spicy Trail Mix

This nut-filled recipe is for the spicy food fans. With a mix of homemade spicy cashews and wasabi chips, your trail mix will pack a flavorful punch. For the tastiest results, roast the nuts in the oven at 350° for around 10 minutes. After roasting the nuts, combine the ingredients into a mix.

Recipe

  • 1/2 cup of spicy cashews
  • 1/2 cup of wasabi chips
  • 1/2 cup of honey-roasted peanuts
  • 1/2 cup of butter toffee peanuts
  • 1/2 cup of candied almonds

Pack the Perfect Snack

Each homemade trail mix variation has its health benefits. It doesn’t matter if your ideal trail mix recipe has cashews instead of almonds—your snack has all of the essential nutrients you need for your next adventure.

Check out our blog for more informative articles!

Health

3 Habits That You Must Completely Stop to Keep Your Teeth Healthy

3 Habits That You Must Completely Stop to Keep Your


3 Habits That You Must Completely Stop to Keep Your Teeth Healthy

Oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people throughout the world. While the prevalence of oral diseases continues to rise in low-income countries, bad teeth are also common across America.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to oral diseases. Without realizing it, you might even have an unhealthy habit that’s causing unhealthy teeth.

Kick the habit! Keep reading to discover the three habits you need to avoid to limit tooth damage. By limiting these bad habits, you can protect your teeth before it’s too late.

Make a positive change by avoiding these three habits that contribute to bad teeth. 

1. Your Diet

When trying to determine what causes bad teeth, first take a look at your diet.

Even the fruit you eat can lead to unhealthy teeth. Fruit has a high sugar content which could lead to bacteria development. Bacteria can lead to tooth decay and dental disease.

In addition to fruit, you could also minimize sodas and sports drinks. Both are highly acidic, which can cause your teeth to erode.

Make sure to visit your dentist every six months. Only 64% of adults have visited the dentist in the past year. Your dentist can help you determine which factors are contributing to your bad teeth. 

In the meantime, try to avoid foods with simple sugars, such as candy and desserts, to limit the amount of acid in your mouth.

2. Your Nails

An unhealthy habit that many people struggle with, nail-biting is bad for your nails and teeth.

Nail-biting will expose your teeth to the bacteria on your fingers. That bacteria can then lead to infection and tooth decay. It can also break down the enamel protecting your teeth.

When enamel breaks down, it makes your teeth weaker. As a result, the position of your teeth will start to shift. 

As your teeth shift, you might experience discomfort. You might want to discuss wisdom teeth removal with your dentist to relieve crowding.

In addition to biting your nails, biting other stuff can have a negative impact on your teeth, too. Avoid biting stubborn bottle caps or letters open. Try to stop biting pens and pencils, too. 

Using your teeth to open certain items can cause tooth damage and breaks.

You could expose your teeth to chips by exerting too much force on them. 

3. Your Toothbrush

The longer you keep your toothbrush, the less effective it will become at protecting your teeth. Make sure to replace your toothbrush at least every six months. If you get sick, replace your brush the moment you’re feeling better.

Otherwise, you could expose your mouth to germs that will make you sick again.

Keeping your toothbrush too long can lead to unhealthy teeth. Make sure to replace your brush as it deteriorates to keep your teeth clean and healthy.

Bite Down on Better Habits to Avoid Bad Teeth

It’s time to kick these bad habits that are causing bad teeth. By replacing these habits with positive ones, you can protect your teeth.

Improve your oral health by avoiding these bad oral habits today.

Searching for more healthy tips? Explore the Health and Fitness section of the blog today!

Health

7 Must-Know Healthy Eating Tips to Improve Blood Circulation in Men

7 Must-Know Healthy Eating Tips to Improve Blood Circulation in


7 Must-Know Healthy Eating Tips to Improve Blood Circulation in Men

Did you know that fatigue, digestive issues, joint pain, cold hands and feet, muscle cramps, and numbness in your extremities are all signs of poor blood circulation? 

Poor blood circulation is a common side-effect of an unhealthy lifestyle. For most people, poor blood circulation is a direct result of unhealthy eating habits.

Now, you’re probably wondering what you can do to improve your blood circulation.  

Keep reading to discover 7 must know healthy eating habits that can increase blood circulation and help you live a healthier life. 

What Causes Poor Blood Circulation? 

Your heart is responsible for pumping blood through your body. As your blood circulates, it delivers oxygen and nutrients to your cells and removes waste (deoxygenated blood) from your body. This process is called blood circulation. 

When blood is not properly circulated through your body, your cells are not getting the nutrients they need and can’t function properly. 

Common side effects of poor blood circulation are: 

  • tingling and numbness in extremes
  • pain in your limbs
  • muscle cramps
  • fatigue
  • cold hands and feet
  • digestive issue 

Poor blood circulation is not always a sign of underlying disease BUT if you often feel any of the above symptoms it’s important to work with your doctor to find the root cause of your discomfort. 

Some of the most common conditions that cause poor blood circulation are obesity, diabetes, heart conditions, and arterial issues.

If you want to increase your blood circulation there are many simple ways to do so. A healthy circulatory system is highly influenced by your eating and lifestyle habits. By implementing some of the following tips you are sure to live a fuller and healthier life.      

7 Healthy Eating Tips to Increase Blood Circulation 

1. Eat More Greens – Especially Spinach 

Spinach and other leafy greens like kale, chard, and collard greens are full of folate – a B vitamin – which is known to boost blood flow. Folic acid is extremely important in male and female reproductive health.

We stress eating spinach because it is not only high in folate, but also in iron and magnesium which boosts blood flow and testosterone levels.

2. Spice Up Your Meals With Warming Spices

Warming spices like cayenne, ginger, turmeric, garlic, and cinnamon have immense effects at increasing blood flow and even reducing inflammation in the body. These delicious spices can be easily added to any dish and are affordable and accessible at your local grocery store.

A delicious way to get your share of warming spices for the day is drinking golden milk – a traditional Indian drink combining turmeric, black pepper, ginger, cinnamon, and honey with warm milk for a great midday pick-me-up. 

3. Coffee and Tea Can Boost Blood Circulation 

Any excuse to drink coffee is a good excuse, right? 

Now you can stop feeling bad about your second (or third) coffee of the day – studies show that drinking 2-3 cups of coffee a day can help increase blood flow. How? The caffeine! 

The caffeine we all know and love in coffee helps boost blood circulation and relaxes the circulatory vessels – leading to better blood flow.  

If you don’t like coffee, caffeinated teas like matcha and chai can have similar benefits. 

4. Spicy Foods For Better Blood Flow  

If you eat spicy foods you’re already boosting your blood circulation. Studies show that men who eat more spicy food have higher testosterone levels and better blood flow to essential organs. 

Capsaicin, the chemical found in chili peppers, is known to boost your endorphin levels giving you more energy and resulting in more testosterone production. The effects of spicy foods on your body are similar to working out.

Exercising increases your endorphin levels and results in more energy and testosterone production. So if you don’t like spicy foods, you can exercise to achieve that endorphins high and boost your blood circulation. 

5. Vitamins and Supplements Can Be Game Changers  

If you want a quick fix to increase blood circulation you can use supplements like Alpha Male Plus. This supplement can support healthy blood flow as you work on incorporating these healthy diet changes into your life. 

If you don’t want to drink coffee twice a day, eat lots of spinach, or add warming spices into your diet you can get iron, caffeine, turmeric, and basically anything in a capsule at your local drug store. Although, it is always recommended to get your vitamins and nutrients from real foods as your body can better absorb them this way. 

6. Eat Omega-3 Rich Foods

Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids can help increase blood circulation, especially to muscles during exercise. 

You can eat foods high in omega-3 like avocados, salmon, nuts, and broccoli before a work out to increase blood circulation and maintain your energy as you exercise.

Like we said before – increasing endorphins (through exercise and spicy food) can increase testosterone production and help increase blood circulation.  

7. Drink Water – A Lot of Water 

Drinking enough water per day has an array of health benefits, including increased blood circulation.  

Staying well-hydrated is extremely important in avoiding poor blood circulation. When your body is well hydrated, your blood can easily circulate, improving blood flow. 

Drinking enough water (about 3.7 liters or 15 cups a day for men) is essential to your well-being and is the key to physical health. 

If you find yourself having a hard time drinking water throughout the day try buying a reusable water bottle and keeping it on your desk as you work. You can also set an alarm on your phone every hour to remind yourself to drink water throughout the day.  

Are You Ready to Change Your Life? 

Constantly feeling tired and in pain is hard on your mental and physical health – don’t give up on feeling healthy and comfortable in your skin again. 

By implementing these natural ways to increase blood circulation throughout your body, and working with your doctor to uncover any underlying issues, you can experience the vibrant pain-free life you deserve.   

Health

Get Moving: How to Stay Healthy When Working a Sedentary Job

Get Moving: How to Stay Healthy When Working a Sedentary


Get Moving: How to Stay Healthy When Working a Sedentary Job

You’ve been feeling a bit sluggish and your body is always in pain. It could be because you have a sedentary job. These jobs pay better than your basic retail job but they can hurt your health. 

You need to be able to stretch and walk around regularly. Depending on how crazy your work schedule is, it may be hard for you to find the time. Rather you know it or not, it’s not too hard to work fitness around your daily life. 

To help you bring in the cash and stay healthy while you do it, here are a few ways to take care of yourself when you’re working a desk job.

Stretch at Your Desk 

Sometimes it’s hard to find time to leave your desk during the day and that’s fine. You can do stretches and exercises without ever leaving. 

If you’re not sure where to start with this you can find some great desk workout ideas online. 

Take the Stairs 

Most workplaces have both stairs and elevators. When you’re left up to choose, go with the stairs. It gives you more opportunity for walking. 

If stairs aren’t your friend then you can get the same kind of benefits from parking further away from your building. Basically, find as many opportunities to take steps throughout your day as you can. 

Have Weekly Fitness Sessions 

While you may not be able to fit in working out every day you can still get wellness benefits from scheduling a few. You don’t have to head to your local gym. You can go on a jog a couple of times a week. 

Some workplaces do have a gym on sight. If yours offers this service then make sure that you’re taking advantage of it. 

Get Up 

Even though you work at a desk you don’t have to keep yourself glued there. You can get up and walk around a little whenever you want. 

For example, say your boss asks you to take a conference call. You can take the call and then pace around as you listen and take notes on a pad. 

Schedule Your Meals 

Between staff meetings and projects you may not give yourself too much time for lunch and if you do take a lunch it’s quick unhealthy options. You need to give yourself time. 

Write down your lunchtime on your calendar every day. When you plan for it you’re less likely to rush to the nearest convenience store and grab a bag of chips and a soda. 

Staying Healthy When You’re Working a Sedentary Job 

Having a sedentary job isn’t a bad thing but there are some health concerns that come from them. You’ve got to schedule in time for fitness and a lunch that’s more substantial than the stuff you get from the work vending machine. Incorporate some of these steps into your day so you can stay in top form at your desk job. 

Did these wellness tips help you start feeling less fatigued and sore from your sedentary job? Check out our blog daily for more articles like this one. 

Lifestyle

How to Eat Healthy at a Mexican Restaurant: 9 Things to Order

How to Eat Healthy at a Mexican Restaurant: 9 Things


How to Eat Healthy at a Mexican Restaurant: 9 Things to Order

Average adults need 2,000 to 2,500 calories a day to maintain their current weight, depending on their gender.

With that said, it’s no wonder that Mexican food gets a bad rap when a single plate of nachos can exceed 2,000 calories. Dieters, in general, steer clear of Mexican restaurants because of the lard-laden foods that make it so tasty. 

Learn how to eat healthy at a Mexican restaurant by focusing on what you can eat and not what you should avoid. 

Eat This, Not That: How to Eat Healthy at a Mexican Restaurant

To eat healthy at Mexican restaurants, you need to begin thinking about the tasty options you do have instead of the thing you shouldn’t have. Focus on the good, the crunchy, and the flavorful. 

1. Pico de Gallo

When you get your basket of chips upon sitting down, ask for a side of fresh, pico de gallo instead of sad-looking salsa. This will perk up the chips and give you some solid vitamins from the start. 

2.Starter Salads

Consider bypassing the chips altogether and beginning with a filling, starter salad. Many Mexican restaurants have a fresh, lettuce salad on their menu. 

3. Ceviche

If you’re looking for protein from the start, consider beginning with some ceviche, marinated raw fish that will begin filling you from the start. 

4. Black Beans

Instead of using salsa with your chips, ask for a serving of black beans. These little nuggets are high in both protein and fiber and low in fat. 

5. Grainy Corn not Refined Flour

When you have the option, ask for corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas. Corn has fibrous grain instead of refined flour.  

6. Fresh Fajitas not Saucy Enchiladas

6. Selecting fajitas means you can choose how much product you put on each corn tortillas. If you opt for vegetable fajitas, you can pile the tortillas high and feel good about your choices. Keep the cheese and queso to a minimum and instead stick with fresh salsa or guacamole as your topper. 

7. Grilled Fish

If you opt for meat, go for gills. Select the grilled fish entree or grilled fish tacos, which will give you your dose of joint-loving omega 3’s for the day. 

8. Street Tacos

Street tacos usually have grilled meat and lots of fresh veggies on tiny corn tortillas. They pack a nice, fresh punch. 

9. Stay Skinny at the Bar

Opt for the skinny margarita or light Mexican beer when you’re bellying up to the bar at your favorite Mexican restaurant. 

Embrace Your Choices

When you focus on fresh, light ingredients and how to eat healthy at a Mexican restaurant, you can walk out the door of your favorite restaurant feeling light and happy instead of like someone should be rolling you back to your car.

Stay away from the gooey queso that may draw your co-workers. You always have choices, and you can still enjoy the company of friends along with the delicacies that you may have not chosen had you not focused on eating healthy in the first place. 

When you step into a Mexican restaurant, you don’t have to automatically call the day a cheat day. You can stick with your diet while staring down a basket of fried chips and rich queso because you have these options. 

Check out our blog for more interesting articles about the best choices for your life. 

Technology

A Healthy Website: Keyword Strategy Tips for Healthcare SEO

A Healthy Website: Keyword Strategy Tips for Healthcare SEO


A Healthy Website: Keyword Strategy Tips for Healthcare SEO

Are you a healthcare provider trying to keep up with SEO?

It can be difficult to understand the significance of optimization as a healthcare provider. Once you’ve made your way through the rigors of medical school, it seems unfair to have to educate yourself in the ways of digital marketing.

Unfortunately for you, SEO makes the internet world go ’round and if you aren’t privy to it, you can easily fall behind your better-prepared competition. But, it’s never too late to learn.

In this article, we’re going to take a look at SEO keyword strategy; tips and tricks to survive in the digital world. You don’t have to be a doctor to get your SEO in tip-top shape, but you do have to be diligent and stay on top of trends as they morph and change on a seemingly week-to-week basis.

Don’t be afraid, it’s only SEO. Let’s get started.

Why SEO Is Important to You

First, let’s talk about the importance of SEO for your practice’s website. It used to be that you would just go to the nearest healthcare provider when something felt wrong. You either have a family practitioner or you go to the walk-in. That’s all changed.

Now, when illness strikes, the first thing someone is going to do is hop on Google and search for what their symptoms mean. Once Web MD’s convinced them that they’ll die if they don’t see a doctor, they’ll google healthcare providers near them.

If you’ve posted up in a smaller town where you’re one of only a few healthcare providers, then maybe you can rely less on your web presence. If you’re in a larger place, your web presence means everything.

Think about what we talked about earlier. The potential patient is going to Google which healthcare providers are near them. This is where your website’s SEO comes in. Knowing which keywords to use to optimize your site is what will bring the patient to you instead of another provider.

SEO Keyword Strategy For Your Practice

The keywords that you use will act as the bait for the new patients. If you treat these potential patients as customers, then you’ll realize that SEO for your healthcare office is similar to SEO for any other kind of young company.

When someone uses a search engine to find out where they should seek help, they might type in what their symptoms are, their location, and what they’re looking to find. You, as the healthcare provider, need to appeal to these search terms by answering the questions before the searcher asks them. 

By using keywords that tell Google where you’re located and what your specialty is, you’ll rise up the search rankings. If you’re a chiropractor in Denver and someone types “back pain Denver” into Google, you want to be on the first page of results. Use appropriate keywords on all of your landing pages to satisfy the search terms.

Local SEO

Local SEO is a relatively new concept. In the last few years, especially with the rise and continued development of smartphones, we’ve seen more people use localized search terms on their phones to conduct map-based searches for things that are near them. 

Local SEO Keywords

To optimize your local SEO, you need to focus as much on the location part as you do on the keywords that bring in traditional users. Your keywords should include your location down to the intersection, your contact information, your hours, and what you do.

These keywords should always appear in your link title and the meta description of your link. The meta description is essentially a free advertisement that Google provides you to appeal directly to the user on the SERP.

Other Local SEO Help

Using Google My Business will help you appear on map-based searches. Fill out all of the required fields stating your information (business name, business type, location, etc.) and your business will always show up when someone’s looking for a healthcare provider with their map app.

Appearing in local search directories will help out your local SEO as well. If you rank highly on online review listings, then you’ll rise up the ranks on the SERP. Directories like Yelp go a long way with bringing in customers, so try to maintain a good rating and promote your positive reviews.

Content Creation

You can really grow your healthcare business by creating and linking to engaging content relating to the healthcare field. This is a great way to use relevant keywords to draw in future patients. Once they arrive at your blog, then you can direct them to book an appointment at your practice.

Blogging continues to be one of the best ways to improve traffic on all sites, healthcare-focused ones included. They allow you to display your personality and establish yourself as an authority on the subjects that you have expertise in.

Researching appropriate keywords with an online keyword tool will help you out, especially in the beginning when you’re still figuring things out. Keyword tools let you know the average number of times that keywords are searched and how many other sites are using them on their blogs. 

It’s good to mix in a healthy amount of buzzworthy keywords in with some more unique phrases. Bring people in with your keyword usage and keep them there with the useful info in your engaging articles.

You don’t want to get in the habit of “overstuffing” your articles with keywords. These are still humans that are reading them, so you should focus on writing creative and helpful content.

Get More Patients Today

Getting your website in good standing should be a high priority for your healthcare practice. If you’d rather stay out of the digital marketing side of things, then you should hire a professional to take care of it for you.

Always consider the fact that many patients are searching online for medical help before they contact a healthcare provider. Having a good keyword strategy for your SEO is super important, as is mastering location-based searches and having a content-driven blog. 

Once you’re seeing more and more patients coming in your doors, you’ll be happy that you sorted all of this out.

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Health

Breathe Easy Busy Bodies: How to Stay Healthy and Happy When You’re Super Busy

Breathe Easy Busy Bodies: How to Stay Healthy and Happy


Breathe Easy Busy Bodies: How to Stay Healthy and Happy When You’re Super Busy

In a 2017 poll, only 33% of Americans said they felt “happy.” Now, happiness is a difficult thing to define, much less quantify. But the poll results do tell us something about the state of our psyches.

We are overworked, underpaid, and stressed to the max. If you’re looking for ways to stay healthy and happy in these super busy times, look no further. 

Make the Time for Sleep

We all know that sleep is important in determining our quality of life, yet it’s the thing we decide to skimp on first. Maybe it’s because we don’t know just how important sleep is. 

Sleep is a major determinant in your moods on a day-to-day basis. Sleep deprivation can lead to greater feelings of anger, sadness, and anxiousness. So try to make time to sleep, even if that means sacrificing in other areas. 

Meditation

The scientific jury is still out somewhat, in what exactly the physiological benefits of mediation are, but so far, we know that they’re good. Frequent meditators report feeling less stressed and happier. 

These days, you don’t even have to join a Buddhist monastery to find the time to meditate. With the help of smartphone apps like Headspace or Calm, you can find the time to meditate in short, 10-20 minute bursts.

It’s Okay to Say No

The common refrain “You have the same amount of hours in the day as Beyonce” is true, but Beyonce actually knows how to manage her commitments. Many of us don’t.

Even with way too much on our plate, many of us can’t seem to stop saying yes to new responsibilities. If people are constantly coming to you for favors and tasks, you have to know that it’s okay to say no to things. 

This will lead to less stress and more happiness. After all, it’s better to do a few things very well than it is to do a lot of things poorly.

Find and Maintain Intimacy

Life is hard, and you shouldn’t have to go it alone. Finding and maintaining intimacy, platonically or romantically, is a huge key to happiness in life. When sharing a kiss, a hug, or having sex with someone, our brains release oxytocin, otherwise known as the “feel good” chemical. 

It can be difficult to find time for friends or lovers with a busy work schedule, but time well-spent with these people in your life makes for a much happier one. If you need help finding ways to stay intimate with your partner, make sure to follow this advice. 

Need More Advice for Staying Happy While Super Busy?

Hopefully, this article has given you some coping mechanisms for managing your super busy lifestyle. You just have to remember to take a breath, smell the roses, and partake in some self-care. 

However, if you’d like more advice on how to stay healthy and happy in these trying times, be sure to check out the rest of our articles, like this one on how to reduce workplace headaches. 

Lifestyle

The Dining Out Dilemma: Top 5 Tips for Eating Healthy When Dining Out

The Dining Out Dilemma: Top 5 Tips for Eating Healthy


The Dining Out Dilemma: Top 5 Tips for Eating Healthy When Dining Out

Restaurants know the key to your heart is through your stomach.

While the food and drinks can be absolutely lip-smackingly delicious, eating at a restaurant can cause you to consume way more than your recommended calorie intake for the day.

According to research, an average meal when dining out is a whopping 134 calories more than the same meal prepared at home.

But the good news is that there are ways to eat out without throwing your diet plan out of the window. Read on to find out how to eat right even when dining out.

1. Start with a Game Plan

When choosing a restaurant, always plan ahead. If you choose a place without checking first, you might be setting yourself up for disaster before you even sit down.

Choose a restaurant that has a wide range of low-calorie menu items. Check the menu online beforehand, so that you have an idea of what they offer.

Try to make a reservation at a specific time. This will cut down on the amount of time waiting for a table and becoming hungrier and more inclined to indulge!

2. Order a Guilt-Free Meal

Before you even order your meal you might be tempted with a bread basket or tortilla chip bowl. Don’t give into temptation – save the calories for the main meal.

Many restaurants fluff up their menus with fancy sounding words, so you need to learn to crack the code before you order.

Anything that’s described as “creamy,” “breaded,” “buttery,” “smothered,” or “stuffed” is most likely full of calories. Words such as “grilled,” “broiled,” and “baked” indicate that the food is being cooked in a healthier way.

If going into a normal restaurant is too tempting, there are restaurants that only sell salads. Check out one of these eateries, like the amazing salad restaurant Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen. They have a huge selection of creative salads and more – it really will blow your mind!

3. Skip the Empty Calories

Drink water throughout your meal. This forces you to slow down while you eat and will allow you to judge your hunger pangs which can stop you from overeating.

If you’re celebrating something and you do need to have a drink, some options are better than others. Avoid sugary cocktails and get a glass of red wine instead. Or try vodka with club soda and a squeeze of lime.

4. The Proof Is in the Tasting

Before you even begin eating, ask for a “to go” box for the leftovers. To avoid the risk of temptation, you can even ask the server to put half of the meal into the box instead of onto your plate.

The “fork dip” method is a sneaky way to get a little taste of creamy dressings, without dolloping a huge amount onto your meal. Just ask for the dressing as a side, dip in your fork and away you go!

Another way to use your fork is to put it down between bites. This “rest time” will stop you from overeating, as you’ll be able to gauge your hunger level before you take another bite.

5. Finish Strong

When eating well, whatever you do, don’t order dessert! Even a tiny piece of cake could add 400 or more calories to your meal.

When you’re done, pop a mint in your mouth. This will help you to clear your palette and stop you from taking another bite of your meal.

Dining out Healthily

As you can see, dining out healthily can be done. All you need is a game plan and a sprinkle of determination.

If you’re trying to lose weight and your fad diet isn’t working, read this article on how to start eating healthy and lose weight, without the dreaded diet.

Health

5 Unique and Healthy Ways to Break a Smoking Addiction

5 Unique and Healthy Ways to Break a Smoking Addiction


5 Unique and Healthy Ways to Break a Smoking Addiction

You may smoke, but that doesn’t mean that you’re happy to be a smoker. Smoking addiction affects a lot of people and many wish that they could drop the habit altogether.

According to a survey from the American Cancer Society, 70% of the participants want to stop smoking. Giving up smoking can be one of the most challenging things you do, but that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible.

Ending Smoking Addiction

If you want to stop smoking, there are a variety of things you can do to help get rid of your habit. People have used mental tricks, products, and even medical help to stop their habit.

Are you ready to stop smoking? Any of these five methods could help you finally quit for good.

Delay

Are you close to giving in to your tobacco craving? Instead of taking a smoke break right now, just wait a few minutes. It may sound crazy, but those few minutes can help do a lot to stop a craving in its tracks.

Spend 5-10 minutes doing something else. Check your e-mail, look at social media, or basically do anything to get your mind off of your craving. After awhile it should pass and you won’t feel the need to smoke anymore.

Deal With Stress Constructively

Smoking and stress almost work together hand-in-hand. A study from the Pew Research Center shows that a lot of smokers struggle with stress, and those stressful feelings cause them to light up more cigarettes.

If you’re a stress smoker you need to find a different way to handle feelings of stress. Some people find that using a stress ball helps them. Others have used yoga or meditation to center themselves and fight off cravings.

Find New Routines

Some people like to end their lunch breaks with a cigarette or two, and others need a smoke before they go to sleep. Smokers that fall into routines can have trouble quitting because it became a part of their daily schedule.

Finding a new routine can help you break your smoking habit. Replace your scheduled smoke breaks with new routines that are satisfying.

Instead of having that post-lunch smoke, take a quick walk to energize yourself for the next half of the day. Consider having a snack instead of a smoke before bed.

Think About Natural Remedies

If you want to quit smoking, mother nature may be able to help.There are a variety of herbs and other natural things that can help break your smoking addiction.

Cream of tartar health benefits have been touted by naturalists for years, and it can also help you quit smoking. Ginseng has also been known to help combat cravings.

Reward Yourself

Quitting smoking is tough, and even just slowing down your habit is a cause for celebration. Quitting comes with a variety of health benefits, but small rewards along the way can make it easier to end your smoking addiction.

If you just went your first day without smoking, treat yourself to a fancy coffee in the morning. If you’ve gone weeks or months without a cigarette, it may be time to buy the new pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing.

Your Turn

What helped you end your smoking addiction? Did we miss your favorite method to break habits? Tell our readers about it in the comments!