Sunday, June 26, 2016

Nutrition: My Take on the 10 Pack - Food Storage Containers - By Home Store Pro


This product is great for promoting portion control and consumption of a balanced diet. Both are very important to maintain or achieve a healthy weight.


USE
These containers are very lightweight and can be used to take food to school, work, or even just to plan meals for eating at home. I personally like how these containers are safe to use in the Microwave, Freezer, and even the Dishwasher.

MATERIAL
My biggest concern was about the plastic material. I am aware of the many health problems Biphenol A (BPA) can cause. Thankfully, this product is said to be FDA certified and BPA free.

DURABILITY
To test the durability of this product, I took one container and lid and placed the lid on and then took the lid off. Unfortunately, after this, one of the containers had small cracks on it. I also noticed little marks on some of the containers.

Pictures:






*I received this item at a discounted or free price for evaluation purposes in return for my unbiased review, which I have provided here. I do not have a relationship with the seller or company, and have not been compensated for my review. The opinions stated here are my own and based on my personal use of the product.

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Decorative Pieces: My Take On Radicaln Handmade Marble Desk & Shelf Clock (Ship-Coral)


The clock design I have is the ship coral one and it is very lovely. It instantly adds an aesthetically pleasing touch to any desk or shelf. I will admit that I had some trouble thinking of synonyms for "beautiful" to describe it. Upon seeing this and the other clocks from this brand for the first time, I fell in love with their unique looks.  I have seen the bicycle-design clocks, which are quite unique as well, but these clocks are very uncommon and this really adds to their beauty.These clocks are also handmade, which really amazes me.

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Packaging:
The clock arrived inside a decorative case with soft material for added protection. The product had no damage and looks exactly as it is advertised in the picture.

Use:
Aside from its use as a decorative piece, it does have a way to adjust the time. To do so: You  take the dial out from the ship handle. After taking out the dial, you can find the small round adjuster on the right side of it. Pull it out and then twist it to your correct time. Push it down so the clock will be set.

Overall, I would recommend this clock to anyone who would like a beautiful and decorative addition to any desk or shelf.




My Take Score: 10/10

*I received this item at a free or discounted price for evaluation purposes in return for my unbiased review, which I have provided here. I do not have a relationship with the seller or company, and have not been compensated for my review. The opinions stated here are my own and based on my personal use of the product.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

30-Day Challenge: My Take On BeautifullyBamboo Hair, Skin, and Nails Supplement

I have been using BeautifullyBamboo Hair, Skin, and Nails supplements for the past 30 days (April 12,2016 to May 12, 2016) and here's my take on the product:  




HAIR:  After about a week of taking these supplements, my hair felt softer and the texture was different. When I noticed this, I did a Google search to see if other people had experienced this while taking supplements containing silica (from the Bamboo) and/or Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and sure enough, I wasn't alone on this one (http://forum.blackhairplanet.com/archive/index.php/t-6308.html). My hair can be described as somewhere between 4a-4c and it was definitely starting to feel softer than usual and the curl pattern was more defined. My hair was in a cornrow protective style while taking this supplement, so I cannot fully tell you about the growth aspect. However, I started taking these supplements about a week after getting the cornrows done, and I noticed that they became loose and I began to see only what I can now describe as "softer new growth." 

SKIN: I began to break out after over a week of taking these supplements. This was concerning to me because normally my skin is clear. The breakout I experienced was essentially red bumps, acne and zits on my cheeks and my nose. As the days went on, I noticed more breakouts in different areas on my face. At one point, I wanted to discontinue using these supplements because the breakouts were really bothering me. However, I decided to stick to it for the 30 days so that I could do this review and also: I am not a quitter. On April 28, I started drinking two cups of Organic Bamboo Tea which I purchased from the Uncle Lee's Tea brand and soon the zits and acne started clearing up. 

NAILS: Within the first week or so, I noticed my nails growing at an usually fast rate. I would cut them short and by the next week, they were ready for another trim. I can confidently say that this product is beneficial for this aspect.

Overall, the skin aspect is the one I did not enjoy. I loved how my nails were growing and my hair is now softer, but the breakout situation was very disappointing. From other reviews I read before purchasing this product, I found that a few other people had this issue as well. The product is lovely, but one suggestion I would give the seller is to maybe reduce the amount of Biotin in the product, and make it the same as the amount of Pantothenic  Acid in the product. The two capsules you are to take daily contains 4000 mcg of Biotin, which gives you 1333% percent of your Daily Value. I did some research and found that supplements that contain both Biotin and Pantothenic  Acid (a.k.a Vitamin B5), such as this one, can contribute to experiencing breakouts due to the fact that Biotin tends to absorb better than the Vitamin B5. A solution to this would be to consume more Vitamin B5-rich foods, such as chicken liver, salmon, broccoli, corn, mushrooms, avocados,etc., while taking supplements like this. 
 Here's a more in-depth explanation: 
'Both biotin and pantothenic acid–vitamin B5—are absorbed from the intestines via the same receptors,” she explained. “When taking biotin supplements, the amount of biotin in the gut far outweighs the quantity of vitamin B5, thereby leading to a relative vitamin B5 deficiency. Pantothenic acid is thought to regulate the barrier function of the surface layer on skin and can reduce acne lesions. Therefore, a deficiency of pantothenic acid—or excess of biotin—could lead to acne flares.” In simpler terms, you could be giving yourself a deficiency of B5 by taking an excess of biotin—and that’s what’s making your skin freak outhttps://intothegloss.com/2015/06/effects-of-biotin/ 

 I believe that the Bamboo extract in the product is what makes this product unique in comparison to other products in the hair supplement industry (although many hair supplement producers have started to add bamboo extract to their supplements over the years). If you are looking to greatly improve the softness of your hair and growth of your nails, I would highly recommend this product.

If you plan on ordering on their website like I did, here's a 10% coupon code for your first order: Cartlove
My Take Score: 6/10

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Paleo Diet vs. Atkins Diet: Which Is Better?



The Paleo Diet
The concept behind the Paleo diet is to basically eat like cavemen in the Paleolithic time period when they had to hunt in order to obtain their food. This diet was initially promoted by Dr. Loren Cordain. Someone on the Paleo diet  is allowed to consume meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit, and avoid eating dairy or grain products and processed foods. 

Here's a simple info-graphic on what a person on the Paleo Diet is allowed to eat:



Source(s): http://thepaleodiet.com/what-to-eat-on-the-paleo-diet/
            https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2010/10/04/the-beginners-guide-to-the-paleo-diet/

The Atkins Diet
The Atkins Diet is a low-carb, high-protein and fat diet which has been proven to result in weight loss. The Atkins diet was initially promoted by a physician named Dr. Robert C. Atkins, who even wrote a book about the diet that became a best-seller.  The concept behind the diet is: when people reduce their carbohydrate intake and eat more protein and healthy fats, their appetite goes down and they end up automatically eating fewer calories without having to think about it (67). 
Unlike the Paleo diet, the Atkins diet might seem a bit more complex in terms of what to eat because it is a diet that consists of 4-phase plan.
  • Phase 1 (Induction): Under 20 grams of carbs per day for 2 weeks. Eat high-fat, high-protein, with low-carb vegetables like leafy greens. This kick-starts the weight loss.
  • Phase 2 (Balancing): Slowly add more nuts, low-carb vegetables and small amounts of fruit back to your diet.
  • Phase 3 (Fine-Tuning): When you are very close to your goal weight, add more carbs to your diet until weight loss slows down.
  • Phase 4 (Maintenance): Here you can eat as many healthy carbs as your body can tolerate without regaining weight
Here's a simple info-graphic on what a person on the Atkins Diet is allowed to eat:


Source(s): https://www.atkins.com/
                 https://authoritynutrition.com/atkins-diet-101/

CONCLUSION:
To answer the question of which of these two diets is "better", it depends on the goals of the individual and their ability to discipline themselves. Personally, I find that the Atkins diet is more lenient in terms of what one is allowed to eat. Both diets have been proven to achieve the goal of weight loss and if you still have trouble deciding which you want to do, you can talk to your doctor or a licensed nutritionist. 

The Best Study Apps & Websites for Students




Being a student is like having a full-time job: one must be dedicated in order to succeed. Thankfully, there are numerous resources online in addition to the wealth of resources available to students in their universities and schools. Below are some of the ones I use to help me with my studies:






Flashcards & MCQs(Multiple Choice Quizzes):
  • Quizlet- My personal favorite; Has Four "Study" modes and Two "Play" modes; You can upgrade to put images on your flashcards
  • Cram.com- Works by the concept of spaced and focused repetition; Helpful for last-minute studying (though I do not condone this practice)
  • Brainscape- Not only can you study subjects for school, but this site/app allows you to gain more knowledge on a broad range of topics from Science to Entertainment and more
  • Study Blue- Similar to Quizlet although most features you have to pay for
  • Memrise- Similar to Quizlet, but you can set reminders for yourself to go over your flashcards
  • Anki- Based on the idea of spaced repition
  • Synap- Allows you to create and share MCQs
  • Quia- Allows you to create and take quizzes for yourself and quizzes made by others
I personally believe this method of study is one of the best. One philosophy I live by for school is: Test yourself before the teacher tests you. Testing yourself allows you to focus your study on questions you don't know very well and motivates you to drill those questions until you fully comprehend. 

Mind Mapping:
  • GoConqr- Allows you to not only create mindmaps, but flashcards and MCQs as well
  • MindMeister- Beautiful interface; Allows you to create simple mindmaps
  • Coggle- Easy-to-work-with interface
Mindmapping is a great technique for putting concepts together and allows you to see the bigger picture of the topic you are studying. I personally use this technique for my Biology and other science classes. 

Online Notes:
  • Evernote- My personal favorite; Allows you to create notes on the go. It also allows you to organize your notes into different notebooks
  • OneNote- Useful Microsoft app
I hope that you find these websites/apps helpful to you in your studies!
For more study tips, Follow my Tumblr studyblr: http://miraclesstudies.tumblr.com/
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