Top tips for keeping calm

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Keeping calm can be a challenge when time is tight and someone then cuts you up in traffic, closes a door on you or doesn’t deliver their report by an already extended deadline. Anger is a normal, even healthy emotion, but only if you deal with it in a positive way. We have some simple tips that could help you, help yourself.

Think before you speak
In the heat of the moment, it’s really easy to say something you will regret later, so take a moment or two to collect your thoughts before saying anything. Hopefully others will do the same, and the situation won’t escalate into a disaster.

Talk when you are calm
Once you have time to think about things, and your anger has subsided, it is easier to be assertive, and not confrontational. Talk over your concerns without hurting others or controlling them, and life will be easier and calmer and you will stay calm.

Take some timeout
We often think that timeout is just for children, but it is helpful for grown-ups too. Having short breaks during the day offers you a little bit of quiet and can stop you getting angry and irritated. Have a cuppa, walk in the garden, sit and meditate, or just listen to some music and you can catch up with yourself – prevention is better than cure when it comes to heightened emotions.

Exercise = calm
Taking time out to exercise is a brilliant way to look after yourself, and to keep calm. A brisk walk or run, a swim, game of netball or even an afternoon spent gardening, can get your heart rate going and those feel good endorphins will make you feel happy and calm rather than cross and bothered.

Look for solutions
It might seem easier to focus on what depletes your calm reserves, but a better use of your time would be looking to resolving the issues bothering you. Does your son’s mess drive you crazy? Then walk away and close the door, he can clean it up. Is your bestie always late when you meet up? Then take a book and catch up with some reading and make the most of the quiet. Anger doesn’t fix anything, but it can make you feel worse, so curb it and will be calmer and happier.

Don’t bear a grudge
You might not want to forgive and forget, but bitterness can make you feel even worse. Why not be the better person and reach out an olive branch and that way you might learn from the situation and grow calmer and stronger, rather than being angrier than ever.

Have a laugh
If you can to see the lighter side of what is going on, if you search harder enough even that mouldy sandwich on a plate left by your partner under the sofa, might seem funny…….might!

Try to relax
As well as taking some exercise, you can work on your anger by relaxing a little bit more than usual. Meditation, long baths, listening to calming music, writing a journal, doing some yoga or watching a funny movie could help take your mind of your worries and help you to relax.

Seek help if you need to
While anger is a normal emotion, if you are finding it hard to keep things in check and your calm has disappeared, speak to your GP and look at what help is out there so that you and others are safe and well.

Team Pure Beauty

Make your smile sparkle

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The dress, the crowds, the sunshine and the location were all amazing at the recent Royal wedding, but it was Meghan Markle’s stunning smile that shone for us.

While we don’t all have access to celebrity dentists and expensive treatments, with a little time, care and know how, you can keep your teeth looking great.

Yes, we all know that we need to brush our teeth twice a day and floss (not the dance) at least once a day, but there are various other things you can do to ensure excellent dental health.

Choose your paste well
From extra minty and total whitening, to breath freshening and all day protection, there is more choice than ever when it comes to toothpaste. Opt for a good quality toothpaste with fluoride that helps protect against bacteria, plaque, tartar and decay. If you want one that prevents gum disease, deals with sensitivity, protects enamel or keeps teeth white, have a chat with your dentist to see what they suggest.

Look after your toothbrush
If you want to keep your teeth clean, you need to keep your toothbrush in good condition. This means rinsing it well after brushing and keeping it in a pot in an upright position when you aren’t using it to prevent bacteria growing. It is also good practise to get a new brush every three months, and if the bristles are looking tired and frayed, it is definitely time for a change.

Brush your tongue
Yes, we know it sounds a bit gross, but tongue brushing not only keeps your teeth healthy, it can also help stop bad breath because it removes bacteria from your mouth when you brush.

Go to the dentist
Sounds obvious, but going for a check-up every six months and having regular cleans with the hygienist, are vital for good dental health. This also gives you the chance to ask any questions you have or voice concerns that have been bothering you, like bleeding gums. They can help you with a daily brushing and flossing plan suits your needs. No one really like going to the dentist, but prevention is a lot less painful than cure.

Cut down on sugar
Limiting the amount of sugar in your diet is key to preventing tooth decay. Remember sugar is hidden in many products so do be mindful of what you are eating and drinking because while a smoothie might sound healthy, it could contain a lot of tooth unfriendly sugar. Water and milk are teeth healthy and while you can drink tea, coffee and red wine, they can stain your pearly whites and leave them less than pretty.

Don’t smoke
Smoking can stain your teeth yellow, cause really bad breath and can lead to gum disease as well as other serious health problems and diseases. The best thing you can do for your teeth, and general health is to stop!

If you have any questions, speak to your dentist and they will be only too happy to help ensure your teeth are happy and healthy.

Team Pure-Beauty

Spring Produce – What Should You Be Eating?

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Alzheimer’s, bones, brain, cancer, diet, fibre, food, fruit, hair, health, minerals, nails, nutrition, prevention, produce, seasonal, skin, spring, vegetables, Vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamins

Spring is a fabulous time for year for new fruit and veg as there are a whole bunch of new things in season which are great for your health. Here’s a guide to what’s in season, how they can be eaten and, most importantly, how they benefit your health and beauty regime.

Sorrel

Sorrel is a leafy veg which doesn’t make it into many day-to-day dishes, but it’s actually packed with vitamins and minerals while being very low in calories. It has a unique flavour which is a little bit ‘love it or hate it’, but if it’s your cup of tea it’s great when added to a leafy salad, or can even be chopped finely and used more like a herb to flavour other dishes. It’s full of vitamin C, with half a cup fulfilling your daily needs and also contains many cancer-fighting compounds.

Spring Greens

Probably the most obvious ‘spring’ veg, spring greens (also known as Collard greens in other parts of the world) are similar to kale and are best when cooked down and eaten hot, especially with some lardons and a little red chilli. These are an essential part of your diet if you have any sort of dairy intolerance as they contain high levels of calcium without the need for milk. They are also a great source of dietary fibre, which will reduce the risk of bloating, as well as containing a whole host of other vitamins and minerals.

Radishes

Radishes are largely under-appreciated here in the UK, consigned to being the bit of the salad that no-one eats, but they’re actually a tasty, nutritious and fairly versatile veg. They’re actually used in a lot of ancient medicines for their ability to cool the body and and hydrate the skin and they’re also full of cancer-fighting phytonutrients.

Rhubarb

Rhubarb is a fruit which is best known for being used in crumbles and pies, which is largely because the fibrous fruit (which is technically a veg!) needs to be cooked down a lot to be made palatable, but once you’ve prepared it, it’s both delicious and good for you. Every serving of rhubarb provides 45% of the daily value in vitamin K, which supports healthy bone growth and can limit neuronal damage in the brain, even to the point of Alzheimer’s prevention.

Jersey Royal New Potatoes

Popular opinion of potatoes is largely negative – many people think that potatoes are just a ‘filler’ which contain very little nutrients but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Jersey Royals contain complex carbohydrates which are essential for energy and just 100g of them contain 25% of your daily RDA of vitamin C, which is essential in the diet for maintaining healthy skin, hair, bones, teeth and gums.