It’s time to look after your tummy

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We cleanse our faces, brush our teeth and wax our legs, but when was the last time you looked after your tummy?

We might not be able to see them, but tummies are a massively important part of your body, take care of it and it’ll be your best friend, let things slip then you might find you feel sluggish, bloated and suffering with cramps and constipation.

None of us want to feel like this, so we have had a look at how to take care of your tummy, so you get on better than ever.

Take on water
If you do nothing else to help your tummy, it is important to drink plenty of water. As well as preventing constipation, water is needed because it helps to produce the clever digestive juices which break down your food and keep you gas-free. We know it isn’t always easy in the winter, but aim to drink at least two litres of water every day and remember that tea, coffee, fruit juice and water-based foods like cabbage, celery and tomato can top your water levels up, so add some of those to your daily diet too. If you find it hard to drink enough water, buy yourself a pretty stainless steel bottle, fill it with water before you leave home, and if you want a bit flavour, add lemon, mint or cucumber, rather than sugary squashes.

It’s on your plate
While a diet that is rich in fibre can help keep digestion on track and constipation, away, many of us don’t eat the recommended 30g of fibre a day. To keep things flowing, a diet that is packed with beans, brown rice, fruit and veg as well as oats and wholemeal bread, is a good idea. With supermarkets and farmers markets offering a huge range of fresh, seasonal food, it isn’t hard to hit the mark and this will help to keep your carbon footprint down too. Go easy on greasy chips, burgers and fried doughnuts, as these tend to be harder to digest, consider grilling lean meat and fish as well as drinking skimmed or semi-skimmed milk instead of full fat options.

Eat something sour
Enzymes help to breakdown and absorb food, and sour and bitter foods will naturally stimulate your digestive juices and get them really working. Rocket, kale or spinach served with a simple squeeze of lemon juice is one way to add this into your diet and is pretty tasty too. You can also drink a glass of mineral water with the juice of half a lemon, or half a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar half an hour before you eat a meal, and not only is this refreshing and hydrating, it will also give your digestion a boost.

Go ginger
We all know that ginger tea and ginger biscuits are good for pregnant women suffering with morning sickness, but this handy root could help you too. Make your own cup of goodness by peeling a thumb-sized piece of ginger, thinly slicing it, and then let it steep in hot water with a slice of lemon for around five minutes. This can help soothe an upset stomach, ease cramps and nausea and also work on bloating. If you really can’t bear ginger, fennel seeds are worth a try. Using the seeds to make tea, or chew them as they come, and both can help deal with cramping and bloating, and they also come in handy when your eyes are bigger than your belly at the dinner table.

Jump up
If you sit down all day, then the chances are, you and your digestive system will be slow and sluggish. By taking regular exercise, not only are you helping stay fit and healthy, but it can also stimulate your intestinal muscles, and this will helping move your food through your digestive system more smoothly and prevent any congestion! Whether you walk the dog, jump on your bike, go to a yoga class or do a little kick boxing, not only will your tunny thank you, but you will also benefit from a burst of feel good endorphins and a leaner body.

Team Pure Beauty

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The Amazing Elemis Product Which Sells Every Two Minutes!

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all skin types, antioxidants, blissful, cell matrix, dryness, Elemis, Elemis Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules, endorphins, formula, green, hydrate, lavender, Moringa, morning, night, oil, pink, potent, rejuvenate, Relax, rose, rose absolute, skin, soften, stimulating

Sometimes, a product becomes so popular because of the results that It gives that people go absolutely crazy for it and it flies off of the shelves at an incredible rate. One such product is Elemis Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules, which is estimated to be sold every two minutes across the UK, thanks to its potent formula and excellent reputation. So, what is the wondrous product, what makes it so special and should you be using it? Read on to find out more:

So, what is it?

Elemis Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules is a pot which contains two different types of capsules (which you break open and rub on your face, NOT for taking like a tablet!). The pink capsules are rose and should be applied in the morning after cleaning and the green

capsules are lavender, for applying at night.

What does it do?

Each capsule contains an oil with a distinct formula to perform several different functions. The pink formula contains rose absolute, which hydrates and softens and stimulates endorphins, giving you a blissful start to the day with moisture which lasts until the evening. The green capsules contain lavender which heals and repairs the skin, as well as stimulating endorphins. The pink capsules energise you while the green ones help you to relax and wind down at the end of the day. Both formulations have one thing in common – high levels of antioxidants which sweeps clean the skin cell matrix, ridding it of toxins.

Who is it for?

Well, basically everyone! The capsules are suitable for all skin types and can help with dryness, oiliness, ageing, firmness and a whole other slew of skin issues.

Don’t just take our word for it!

Everyone who uses Elemis Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules seems to fall in love with them. One user said “I purchased this a few weeks ago, my skin is totally transformed. Hydrated and with a glow. Amazing for such a small amount of oil. I use them every day”, while another commented “I used a course of these in the month leading up to my wedding… my skin never looked so good, and was in superb condition for the big day – I cannot recommend them highly enough!”

Adapt your exercise routine for the winter

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While you might feel like curling up on the sofa in your onesie and watching back to back Corrie, your mind, body and soul will thank you for keeping up with your exercise routine over the winter months.

The cold wind and early evening darkness might not be as inviting as balmy summer evenings for a run, but we have had a look at how to keep fit and strong, however chilly it gets.

Don’t stop moving
In the summer, we tend to exercise before it gets too hot, so in the winter you need to reverse this and try to workout before it gets dark and your motivation is lost. Either go to the gym before work, run during your lunch hour or plan morning bike ride that will get those endorphins pumping around your body for the rest of the day.

Get the kit
By the end of your jog you should be sweating, but before you step out of the door the goose bumps will be there if you are only in a vest and shorts. The key to winter success when it comes to exercise clothing is layering. Thermal running tights, bright trainers, warm t-shirts and soft socks won’t just look cool, they will feel good against your skin and help regulate your body temperature. If you are exercising in the dark, go for a hi-vis top and even a head torch so you can easily be seen.

Go digital
If you really can’t get to grips with exercising outside in December, tap into online options. Whether it is HIIT training, Pilates, interval cycling or Zumba, there’s a wide range of sporting options that you can do at home, but you still need to put in the effort if you want to see the results.

Get a buddy
One way to ensure you get out and get going is to have an accountability buddy. If you know you’ll let someone else down if you don’t hit the gym, it’ll be harder to skip your workout. Whether it’s a friend, sister, partner, work colleague or neighbour, find someone with similar interests and make a pact to do this together.

Have a goal
Just as it can help having someone to work with, it is also motivating to have a goal to aim for. Whether you are going to complete a 5k charity run, train for a marathon or take part in the London to Brighton bike ride, write down your goals, put them somewhere you can see them and go for it.

Drink
Ice cold water is refreshing in July, but it is actually essential all year round. When you exercise it is really important to drink plenty of water otherwise you can end up feel tired, lethargic and dehydrated which will take away your motivation to get moving. Keep a bottle of water with you at all times, sip little and often and aim for at least two litres of H2O a day.

Be safe
Whatever you do, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be home. If you are exercising outside after dark, choose a well-lit route, wear bright clothing and be wise when wearing ear phones in quiet areas.

Enjoy!

Free your mind

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Stressed?

Over worked and under paid?

Tired?

Anxious?

Far from being words that are banded around for the sake of it, for many of us this is the reality of 21st century living.

We are expected to be on the ball, on trend and down with the kids 24/7 and sometimes, things can get a bit too much.

We have put together some easy ideas of how to free your mind so you can relax and chill out once in a while rather than constantly having your brain in free fall mode.

Breath
Before you do anything else, sit back, count to ten and breath. Focus on your breathing, feel the air go into your body and out and just stop for a few minutes and regroup.

Talk
After breathing, comes talking. If you bottle everything up, then it is only going to get worse and seem harder and harder to deal with. Open up to your partner, mum or a close friend and they may have ideas about how you can make changes and find a positive way forwards.

Live in the moment
Whatever is making you anxious right now, isn’t going to last. Breakdown what is bothering you into manageable chunks and tackle it one step at a time. For example, if you are moving house you might feel overwhelmed, but step back, make a list, work out what needs to be done and if you can, delegate.

Not this again
If you are worried about an interview, think back and see if was the same the last time you went for a new job? If it was, and you got the job, what are you worried about? You aced it last time and we bet it will be the same the time round too.

It’s not all about you!
Harsh we know, but not everything that happens in this world is about you. Yes we can all feel put upon or have our sensitive days, but thinking every situation revolves around you in some way can be really destructive and you could be missing out on a lot of fun.

Look at the bigger picture
Ask yourself whether the issue that is on your mind right now will still be there tomorrow, in a week or in a month. It is unlikely it will be, so regroup, relax and look at what is going on in the world and see there is more to life than a difficult boss or messy flatmate.

Preparing for the worst
I will lose my job. He is going to dump me. She doesn’t want to be my best friend anymore. We tend to jump to conclusions and dwell on the worst-case scenarios and this can lead to stress and depression. It is far better to talk to the person involved face to face and find out what is really going on before you make yourself ill believing the world is about to end.

Take some exercise
Social media, long hours and desk based jobs mean many of us get less exercise than ever. Try to get some fresh air every day and even if you have a brisk walk or a quick swim, your heart beat will go up and the endorphins will pump good vibes around your body.

Laugh
If nothing else, remember to laugh. Life is short so make the most of it and enjoy every single day you have.

Team Pure Beauty

Walk or run?

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Are you a runner or walker?

Do you ever wonder which one is better for your health?

Whether you like to walk or run, getting out of your chair and doing some exercise is good for you.

It is when you have specific goals, such as running a marathon or shedding pounds, that one might be better for you then another.

There is no doubt at all that running is becoming increasingly popular and seen as the fail-safe way to get fit. Go outside on your lunch break or stroll through the park at the weekend and neon clad runners will go whizzing past at a rate of knots.

As well as being free, running comes with a multitude of benefits including weight loss, freedom, time to think, stress release, and sleeping better. However, it certainly isn’t for everyone.

Despite all of the excellent benefits, running is a high-impact exercise and one that can be tough on our joints, which can make it a no-no for some people.

Runners’ legs and knees receive greater impact force than walkers and injuries can, and do occur. When you walk you keep one foot on the ground which means walking is gentler and slower paced.

Experts recommend people run no more than five times a week if they are working at a moderate-intense level, and that you stretch before and after any session.

If you’re worried about injuries, or already have one, then the best plan is to keep clear of running and walk instead. If you suffer an injury or are in ongoing pain check in with your GP but don’t suffer in silence as it can cause more harm.

Running also burns more calories than walking, even fast walking, making it a good way to losing weight and tone up. If this is your goal then consider running with a friend and having a plan. You can find these on running and fitness websites and can also get apps to help keep you on track.

Whether you are running in January or July, in Australia or Austria, make sure you wear the right gear. Go for layers made of breathable fabrics and always wear a pair of trainers that fit well and support your feet and ankles. It might seem like a big investment but you are working to improve your health not damage it, so buy the best you can.

Along similar lines, if you are running on a regular basis, it is vital to refuel your body with protein-rich foods and don’t over eat as a result of exercising and thinking you deserve lots of treats!

Keeping hydrated is vital, especially when during the summer when you sweat more. Water is the best thing to drink and lots of it. You might think energy drinks will give you a boost but many are packed with sugar and chemicals that you can do without.

If you simply want to keep healthy and don’t have any burning ambitions to break records or win medals then the good news is that walking could be just as good as running.

It can help reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Both can help keep your BMI at a healthy level with is really important. Of course being outside ups your levels or Vitamin D and increases those natural happy endorphins leaving you feeling more sparky.

Making small changes to everyday routines means it is pretty easy to increase how active you are and you will soon start to see results.

• Walk to work.
• Get off the bus one stop early and walk the rest of the way.
• If you don’t have a dog, offer to walk your friend’s, as this is a brilliant way to get fresh air and exercise.
• Run around in the park with your kids and burn off some energy as you connect and have fun.
• Take the stairs rather than a lift or escalators.
• Include a walk in your family’s weekend activities.
• Tell people about what you are doing, as this will make you accountable and give you a sense of achievement.
• Track your steps each day. There are loads of apps and gadgets, and try to increase the total week by week.
• Join a rambling or walking group if you are keen to make new friends at the same time as exercising.

Whether you run or walk, simply being more active will benefit you in many ways. So start today and see a fitter, happier you in no time.