If you are struggling to conceive, don’t worry. Becoming frustrated will only add to your stress levels and make getting pregnant even more difficult. The first step when trying to conceive is to relax and be patient. Taking proper care of yourself will help increase your chances of creating a healthy baby.

When all else fails, book an appointment with a fertility clinic. These specialists will be able to further assist you with your fertility issues. They can devise a pregnancy plan that works with your lifestyle.

Before beginning an IVF regimen, you can try a few natural techniques to help increase your fertility. These techniques may improve your chances of becoming pregnant. Here is a guide on how to naturally increase fertility:

1. Manage your weight

One of the most significant factors that contribute to fertility is weight. Women who are either significantly overweight or underweight have a much more difficult time trying to conceive.

Your body’s fat levels play a role in hormone production and your menstrual cycle. Your weight may prevent your body from ovulating or cause impaired egg development.

2. Watch your diet

Certain foods can impact your body’s ability to become pregnant. High fat, high sugar, and highly processed foods won’t give your body the nourishment to regulate hormone levels and boost your fertility.

Instead, choose whole foods filled with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to fuel your body—select lean meats, fruits and veggies, and foods high in fibre.

3. Stop smoking

Smoking can be hazardous to your reproductive health. Whether you smoke tobacco or marijuana, these products can decrease both the number and health of a woman’s eggs.

4. Cut out alcohol

Drinking too much alcohol can negatively affect your fertility levels. If you are trying to conceive, cut back on alcohol and drink as little as possible.

Enjoying a glass of wine now and then is fine, but frequent or binge drinking will complicate becoming pregnant.

5. Take your vitamins

It can be challenging to get all the vitamins and minerals your body needs from food alone. Taking a prenatal vitamin rich in iron, folic acid, and other essential micronutrients boost your health and fertility levels.

6. Get your exercise

Moderate physical exercise can help you manage your weight and balance your hormones. It also decreases stress and improves your overall health. Adding moderate physical activity to your routine a few times per week can help improve your chances of becoming pregnant.

7. Manage your stress

Life can be stressful. Dealing with fertility issues can add to that stress, making it even more difficult to become pregnant. When you become anxious and worried, your hormone levels can worsen. This impairs your ability to conceive.

Try taking time out of your day to relax. Stress reduction techniques like meditation and yoga can help make you feel more balanced and easier to deal with stressful situations.

8. Don’t use the microwave

Food that has been heated in the microwave may hurt your ability to conceive. Microwaves alter your food at a cellular level and decrease its nutritional value.

Studies have also shown microwaves may lead to certain types of cancer. Avoid using the microwave as much as possible when trying to get pregnant.

9. Limit caffeine

Numerous studies have been conducted on the correlation between fertility and caffeine intake. Many of these studies show that increased caffeine consumption can make it more difficult to get pregnant.

To improve your chances of conceiving, limit the amount of caffeine you drink. Substitute coffee with herbal teas and pop with flavoured water.

10. Get lots of rest

Your body needs lots of rest to function properly. This is especially true when you are trying to conceive. Getting sufficient levels of sleep can help balance your hormones and improve your reproductive health.

Having a good night’s rest also lets you manage your stress levels better and improves your mood. Aim to get at least eight hours of sleep each night, especially if you are trying to get pregnant.

11. Avoid lubricants

Vaginal lubricants may affect your ability to become pregnant. Some lubricants may decrease the quality of sperm or may inhibit its ability to move. This can make getting pregnant much more difficult.

12. Use holistic therapies

If you have difficulty conceiving, numerous holistic therapies can help. Yoga, meditation, hypnosis, and acupuncture can increase your fertility levels and help you manage your stress.

The post How to Naturally Increase Fertility first appeared on Divine Magazine.

Replacing that tooth as soon as possible is a good idea. But what can you replace it with? Your dentist should recommend you at least one of these five options for replacing a tooth.

Option #1: A dental implant

Dental implants are one of the best permanent tooth replacement options. If you never replace a missing tooth, you will eventually lose some jawbone since there will be no more chewing forces on that area to keep your bones strong.

When you replace a missing tooth with a dental implant, the titanium post of the implant inserted in your jawbone will replace the root of the tooth. This will help your jaw remain healthy. The implant’s post will be topped by a tooth that looks and feels like a natural one.

• Pros: Dental implants are durable, strong, and look just like natural teeth. With proper care, your implant could last a lifetime.
• Cons: Dental implants are expensive, so not everyone has the budget for them. Inserting the implant’s post in the jawbone requires an invasive surgical intervention which will take some time to heal.

Option #2: A tooth-supported bridge

A tooth-supported bridge is another option that can permanently replace a missing tooth. The false tooth is placed between two crowns, and these crowns are cemented to the teeth on each side of the gap.

With a tooth-supported bridge, you can smile, chew, and speak normally since no one will be able to tell you to have a false tooth and two crowns.

• Pros: A tooth-supported bridge is more affordable than a dental implant, and the procedure is less invasive. The false tooth will look and feel just like a real tooth.
• Cons: Since the false tooth is supported by two crowns instead of having its false root, it doesn’t prevent bone loss. Plus, the teeth that will receive the crowns will need to be filed to reduce their size. This creates a risk of infection.

Option #3: A dental flipper

A dental flipper is a temporary tooth replacement. It’s a type of removable partial denture that you can easily take out and put back in place.

A dental flipper is a false tooth attached to an acrylic structure that matches the colour of your gums. The flipper will look just like a natural tooth when it’s in place. But keep in mind that this is a temporary solution that will eventually have to be replaced with a permanent option.

• Pros: Dental flippers are cheap, and they are a quick way to restore your smile after getting a tooth pulled out. They are easy to remove, so they can be cleaned.
• Cons: Dental flippers can create some pain and discomfort. They should never be considered a permanent option for replacing a tooth, as they can increase the risk of gum recession and other gum issues.

Option #4: An implant-supported bridge

If you have more than one tooth in a row missing, you could consider an implant-supported bridge. Instead of replacing these teeth with a dental implant, you can only get a bridge supported by two implants.

Implant-supported bridges look like natural teeth and allow you to smile, chew and speak normally. However, they are not a permanent option, as the bridges need to be replaced eventually.

• Pros: Implant-supported bridges are more affordable than dental implants to replace more than one missing tooth. They are, however, as effective as implants.
• Cons: Since only two implants hold the bridge in place, bone loss can still occur. Plus, implant-supported bridges don’t last as long as individual implants do.

Option #5: Removable partial dentures

Finally, removable partial dentures are another option that can replace more than one missing tooth. They consist of false teeth with a gum-coloured acrylic base and metal clasps attached to the natural teeth.

These partial dentures can look natural, and they are convenient since they can be removed so you can clean them properly.

• Pros: Removable partial dentures are an affordable, simple and convenient option. If more teeth are lost in the future, it will be possible to add some false teeth to the dentures.
• Cons: Partial dentures can slip out of place while eating or speaking. They are not the most durable or most natural-looking option, and they can be uncomfortable.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many things your dentist can do for you when it comes to replacing a tooth. Each option has its pros and cons, and your dentist will help you learn more about implants, bridges, and dentures, so you can make the best choice for your situation.

The post 5 Permanent Tooth Replacement Options After Extraction first appeared on Divine Magazine.

Some back pain presents as a constant, dull ache that goes away after a few stretches or a hot shower. But some could result from that slip and fall on the iced pavement, resulting in more severe damage.

Chronic back pain presents itself through these symptoms:

• It comes on gradually, and it’s long-lasting
• Usually, last more than six weeks
• Limits or prevent you from doing physical activity
• You compensate in other ways to avoid feeling the pain in your back

Chronic pain in the back could be a result of a fall, or it could also be the result of underlying conditions. Typically, you should consult with a chiropractor any time you experience chronic back pain symptoms. In addition, it would help if you understand what causes chronic back pain, helping you to make changes and take preventative measures.

Here are some common reasons you’re experiencing that pain:

Cause #1: Muscle deconditioning

Also known as muscle atrophy, it is the most common cause of chronic back pain. Muscle atrophy happens when your back muscles lack the stability and strength to support your entire body properly. Over time, this leads to wear and time.

Atrophy or deconditioning is a natural process that happens to our body as we age. Too much inactivity shrinks and weakens the bones. This, in turn, reduces the bones’ ability to support ligaments and vertebrae, leading to pain and causing more injury. Without proper exercise and the appropriate physical health, muscle atrophy can increase and worsen.

If your back is hurting due to a sports injury, then avoiding certain activities that cause it would be the best approach. Avoiding things like heavy lighting or giving your body a rest is recommended to help your back heal properly.

Cause #2: Bad body mechanics and body posture

Posture and body mechanics contribute to the movement you make, and if you don’t rectify this, it will cause more severe damage to your spine and movements. Lousy posture can stress your spine and strain the soft tissue around it. The more and more you continue with these bad posture habits, the more it will break down the structural components of the spine.

Your work environment is a significant contributor to your body mechanics and posture. If your job requires a substantial amount of repetitive work such as regular lifting and carrying, you need to learn the correct way to do pick, move and lift without causing injury to your back. This is the best defence against chronic back pain.

Over time, long hours of sitting can cause your hip flexors to tighten. This will affect your hips and hamstrings, causing them to weaken and lead to lower back pain. If you do more deskwork and sit at your desk for long hours without any moving or stretching, this is also not good for your back and spine.

Hunching and looking down on your computer for extended hours will also result in kyphosis. Kyphosis is the excessive curving of the spine, which is also related to chronic back pain.

Cause #3: Genetics and aging

As we get older, our bodies change, and we experience pains and aches we never did before. These pains and aches become more common and happen even with a slight change in our routine.

Unfortunately, this is unavoidable unless someone has somehow found the elixir of life. As mentioned earlier, without proper physical exercise, we lose our muscle strength faster. The natural aging process also speeds up other pain-causing conditions to our spine.

Cause #4: Accidents and traumatic events

Trip-and-fall accidents, car accidents and other high-impact accidents can cause chronic back pain. Unfortunately, these events also speed up the aging process on the spine and flare up spine pain.

If no immediate physical therapy is done following a traumatic injury, this can lead to a person overcompensating their movements to lessen the pain. Over time, this overcompensating also causes disproportionate body mechanics and an imbalance in body posture.

Cause #5: Repetition of daily activities

The little things that we repeatedly do daily will significantly impact our bodies. Repetitive movements stress our muscles and structure, causing more wear and tear. These repetitive moments include sitting for long periods, driving, bending over and even sleeping in odd positions on an old mattress.

For chronic pain, surgery can be an effective and long-term relief. However, there are also non-surgical treatment options that can help before you take the surgery route, such as physical therapy. One of the best things you can do for your body before you experience chronic pain is to move.

You can start exercising, carrying weights appropriate to your body strength, doing yoga and Pilates, or even regular walking. Regular movement helps in strengthening your muscles and ligaments. Don’t forget to stretch at the end of your exercises to avoid injury.

The post 5 Common Chronic Back Pain Causes first appeared on Divine Magazine.

As a PSW, you will help your patients with a variety of essential daily activities such as driving them to appointments, cooking meals, and cleaning. You will also monitor their medical conditions, take notes, administer their medication, and anything else they may need.

There are many personal qualities of a care worker and we’ll outline them here. Check out these personal qualities of a care worker and decide if this career is the right choice for you:

1. Excellent Communication Skills

Since working as a care worker means taking care of someone else’s needs, communication is an essential personal quality of a care worker. You need to engage with patients through open communication and understand what they need. As a care worker, you will need to possess the ability to listen to what your patients are telling you as well as be able to respond in the appropriate manner.

However, communication skills are not just limited to listening and verbal communication. You also need to have excellent written communication skills. You will be required to write down information in your patient’s chart as well as fill out any other paperwork that may be required.

Working as a care worker will also require you to be able to adapt your communication to the needs of different patients. To develop this skill, you should take an online PSW course and improve your communication style.

2. Organizational Skills

Do you possess organizational skills? If so, it will serve you well working as a care worker because it is considered another personal quality of a care worker. You will need to manage a lot of different household tasks such as grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking, and paying bills.

On top of that, you will also need to manage any medical appointments your patient may have, as well as ensure they are taking their medication and a variety of other things.

Being organized will help you stay on top of everything, ensure your client gets the care they need and make sure their home is in good order. This is truly a valuable skill to have as a care worker.

3. Patience

Patience serves us well in all aspects of life but it’s not a quality that all people possess. As a care worker, this is one of the most important personal qualities you can have.

Since you will be dealing with patients that are older or have diminished capabilities and move slower or are not be able to communicate as well, you will need to demonstrate a lot of patience. This will help you get through your tasks and deliver excellent care without getting frustrated as easily.

Remaining calm and patient, no matter what’s going on around you, will serve you well and make you an excellent care worker.

4. Positive Attitude

If you have a positive attitude and a cheerful demeanour, this will go a long way in impacting the mood of patients. Chances are your patients are going through a lot, so having someone who is open and positive can help cheer them up and keep their spirits high.

Simply being friendly and personable can make a huge difference for not only your patient but you as well. You’ll be seen as someone who stays calm and collected, making you an excellent care worker.

5. Ability to Remain Calm Under Pressure

Another personal quality of a care worker is the ability to remain calm under pressure. During your time as a care worker, there will be a few occasions where your patient may act hostile and even aggressive. For example, there may be situations where a patient responds aggressively by screaming and yelling at you. The best way to diffuse this kind of situation is by remaining calm.

This skill will also come in handy if any of your patients ever need emergency first-aid. It will serve you well to be able to stay calm and deal with the situation no matter how critical.

6. Ability to Use Empathy

When you’re taking care of others, empathy is a vital quality. If you possess this personal quality, once you become a care worker, you can try to empathize with your patients by asking yourself how you would feel in a similar situation.
By being able to put yourself in their shoes, it will help you to win patient’s trust and acceptance. It will be easier to give them the care that you would want to have if you were the patient.

Being able to use empathy also means opening up about your own feelings in an effort to have your patients open up and talk about how they’re feeling. Not keeping things bottled up will help them deal with the psychological impacts of their illness.

Do you possess some or all of these personal qualities? If so, a career as a personal support worker may be right for you!

The post 6 Essential Personal Qualities of a Care Worker first appeared on Divine Magazine.

Whether you are interested in classic lipstick colours or in unusual ones, keep in mind that not every colour might look great on you. A lipstick colour that looks amazing on a photo could look very strange on your face.

Why? It all depends on the colour of your skin, as some lipstick colours could, for example, match perfectly with a cool undertone, but look out of place on someone who has a warm undertone. There is an interesting science behind lipstick colours, which you can learn more about at beauty school, but the gist is that you should match the colour with your skin tone.

If you learn more about your skin undertone, choosing the right lipstick colour for you will be much easier. A great lipstick colour will define your lips and make them look fuller and plumper. It can make your beautiful eyes stand out and, of course, give you a quick boost of confidence. Depending on the type of lipstick you choose, it could also protect your lips from the elements, and even repair dry and cracked lips.

What are the best lipstick colors for the upcoming winter? Here are eleven best lipstick colours that are currently trending:

1. Nude lipstick colours

Wearing makeup in a way that makes it seem like you have no makeup on is a trend that appears to be here to stay. Nude lipstick will make your lips look naturally flushed, which means you can make it a part of your daily makeup routine.

If you want to wear nude lipstick, make sure you choose one that matches your skin undertone.

2. Taupe lipstick colours

Taupe is one of the best lipstick colours that’s taking the world by storm. Taupe is a neutral colour, but lips wearing this shade don’t appear as nude as lips wearing a nude shade. More simply put, taupe lipstick is for occasions where you want your lips to look very nice, but your goal is really to focus on your eye makeup.

3. Clay lipstick colours

No, clay coloured lipstick is not made from clay. It’s a mix of orange, red, and nude, and it can complement most skin tones. If you want something simple and earthy, but more dramatic than a nude or taupe lipstick, clay could be the perfect colour for your lips this winter.

4. Fuchsia lipstick colors

Fuchsia lipstick will make your lips look fabulous, even during the coldest day of the winter. This bold shade of pink is trendy, and like most colours on this list, it can look great with either a matte or a glossy finish.

If you don’t want an ordinary pink lipstick, try fuchsia and see if it compliments your look.

5. Magenta lipstick colours

Magenta lipstick is another bold choice which is sure to add some colour to your life this winter. A perfect blend of bright red and purple, magenta might look similar to fuchsia, but you will notice the difference between the two if you compare fuchsia lipstick with magenta lipstick.

Which one do you prefer?

6. Violet lipstick colours

If you are looking for something less bold and bright than fuchsia or magenta, you can try violet lipstick, if you haven’t already. This is a gorgeous colour that has been trending for some time, and it will still be on many lips this winter.

7. Lilac lipstick colours

Lilac is a pale shade of purple, and while this pastel-like colour can be perfect for spring, it also allows you to make a colourful statement during the coldest months of the year.

If you don’t want a rich and dark lipstick, a lilac lipstick should do the trick. It will make your lips look soft, and very pretty.

8. Deep berry lipstick colours

Winter trends always feature many cool lipstick colours, but if you would like to apply a cool, rich, and dark shade on your lips, look for a lipstick in deep berry.

Depending on the rest of your makeup, this dark red with hints of purple could give you a vampy or goth look.

9. Bordeaux lipstick colours

Bordeaux, or burgundy lipstick is another example of a rich, dark red that can make you look incredibly glamourous this winter. You can pair it with a more discreet eye makeup, especially if your bordeaux lipstick has a very glossy finish that will draw attention to your gorgeous smile.

10. Chocolate lipstick colours

Who can resist a lipstick colour that has the name of something delicious? If berries and Bordeaux wine don’t inspire you, maybe your lips are craving a chocolate coloured lipstick. Think about a dark, rich brown with hints of red or orange, which can look stunning on most skin tones.

11. Metallic lipstick colours

If you are a fan of unusual lip colours, you have probably already tried metallic lipstick. For a look that screams glamour and fun, cover your lips with a gold, rose gold, silver, or bronze lipstick that is sure to turn heads.

Of course, metallic lipstick also comes in various shades of popular colours, including red, pink, and violet.

The post 11 Trendy Lipstick Colours for This Upcoming Winter first appeared on Divine Magazine.

You have likely heard something about going vegan as of late. It seems that everywhere you turn, there are subway posters, books, Instagram posts, blogs, or cookbooks urging you to cut out meat and dairy out of your life forever. Going vegan is usually associated with dietary options, although a vegan lifestyle may extend to your clothing choices as well. You can even buy vegan brands or vegan shoes to further accentuate your lifestyle choices.

There is no “one size fits all” approach when it comes to adopting a vegan lifestyle. Even if you think the benefits outweigh the work involved, you need to initially determine whether this lifestyle is right for you.

Amongst all this noise, it is difficult to discern between what is fact and what is fiction and make an informed choice about going vegan. Don’t worry. We’ve done all of the research for you and pulled together the six benefits a vegan lifestyle:

Benefit #1: A vegan lifestyle leads to more nutrients and vitamins.

If you want a vegan lifestyle, you will be cutting out meats and dairy from your diet. As such, you will need to supplement the loss of those vitamins with foods that are either whole grains, vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts or seeds. These foods are disproportionately higher in certain key vitamins and nutrients.

For instance, numerous studies have shared that vegan diets are richer in fiber, potassium, as well as vitamins A, C and E. However, not all vegan diets carry the same health benefits. It is important to not rely on processed and pre-packaged foods as those are often very high in sodium and saturated fats. You may need to consider including supplements in your diet to ensure that all of the necessary nutrients and vitamins are covered.

Benefit #2: A vegan lifestyle helps you shed the pounds.

If you are turning to a vegan lifestyle as a weight loss strategy, then you’ll be glad about its healthy benefits! Indeed, it is true that vegan food options are typically low in fat and in carbs, which are ideal for weight loss.

However, before you embark on a vegan diet for weight loss, it is important to speak to a naturopath or dietitian that can help you make informed choices about the foods you eat. Even though many foods are marketed as being plant-based and healthy, it is important to be knowledgeable about your diet.

Benefit #3: A vegan lifestyle lowers your blood sugar levels.

Many folks turn to vegan lifestyles because they hope to lower their blood sugar levels. Indeed, a vegan diet can help you do exactly that. Research has shown that a vegan diet drastically decreases the risk of developing diabetes.

Even within diabetics, vegan diets have helped lower their blood pressure over the long-term. A secondary benefit of this is that it can help improve kidney function in diabetics as well.

Benefit #4: A vegan lifestyle reduces the risk of cancer.

According to the World Health Organization, regularly eating fruits and vegetables can reduce your risk of getting a cancer in your lifetime. Given that vegan diets are predominantly consistent of fruit and vegetable options, this is a great benefit. Indeed, research has shown that vegans eat consistently more fruits and vegetables than non-vegans.

Conversely, research has also shown that many meats, particularly processed meats, can promote certain cancer types. Even if you decide that a full vegan lifestyle is not for you, it is still very important to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Benefit #5: A vegan lifestyle reduces the risk of heart disease.

The benefits of a vegan lifestyle will help reduce your risk of heart disease. Eating fruits, vegetables and fiber has been linked to better heart health.

Furthermore, studies done with vegans and non-vegans have shown that a vegan diet can decrease the likelihood of developing heart disease and cholesterol. This is due to the fact that vegans tend to consume more nuts and whole grains, which boast numerous benefits for your heart.

Benefit #6: A vegan lifestyle reduces the discomfort from chronic conditions.

Many studies have revealed a link between vegan diets and an improvement in symptoms in arthritis-sufferers. Individuals in the studies who were vegan reported higher levels of energy, less pain, and overall improved functioning. This is due to the fact that vegan friendly foods are full of antioxidants and various nutrients that help reduce inflammation. If you suffer from a chronic joint condition such as arthritis, trying out a vegan diet may be a good option for you.

One gentle approach to help nudge you in the right direction is to slowly cut down on meat and dairy, while increasing your intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Indeed, this could be both a “test run” of a vegan diet, and it can help you feel the health benefits.

Do you sense that you have more energy? Are you sleeping better? Feeling less hungry? This is a great way to dip your toe, before you fully commit!

The post 6 Divine Benefits of a Vegan Lifestyle first appeared on Divine Magazine.