Try hula hooping for cardio and muscle toning
Although hula hooping might sound like child’s play, this form of cardio boasts some impressive benefits (including that it’s family-friendly, and a totally transportable way to get your heart rate up!).
One study found that women burned seven calories per minute, or 210 calories every 30 minutes, when hula hooping. Hooping is comparable to step aerobics and boot camp-style classes and has been shown to significantly decrease LDL (also known as “bad” cholesterol) levels.
Another study found that hula hooping using a weighted hoop over a period of six weeks led to reduced waist and hip measurements while another found that exercising with a hula hoop helped decrease stomach fat and increase abdominal muscle mass.
Another reason to give this fitness trend a try? Uncommon fitness routines such as hooping are linked to a positive mood after exercising as well as more resolute intentions for completing cardio sessions in the future.
Make your own pumpkin seed milk
You already love almond, cashew, and oat milk, but have you ever considered pumpkin seed milk?! Creamy, rich, and mildly nutty, it’s equally at home in a matcha latte as it is in your favorite breakfast grain bowl.
Pumpkin seeds are desirable due to their impressive magnesium content. In fact, when roasted, they are one of the highest food sources of magnesium by weight, with a single ounce (28 grams) containing 156 mg (or roughly 37 percent) of the recommended daily intake for adults. Magnesium is essential for the heart and immune system as well as muscle, bone, and nerve health. And magnesium supplementation may support better sleep and lessen anxiety.
To make your own pumpkin seed milk, add the following ingredients to a high-powered blender:
1/3 cup hulled pumpkin seeds
3 cups of water
2 pitted Medjool dates
A pinch of sea salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
Blitz for 20 to 30 seconds until creamy and smooth before using immediately, or store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Consider making a mustard plaster to soothe congestion
Ground mustard seeds have been used medicinally for thousands of years. In ancient Greece, mustard plasters were recommended for various ailments including tooth aches, scorpion stings, and even the bubonic plague.
Perhaps better known today for their potential anticancer effects when consumed orally, mustard seeds are also sometimes used topically as a home remedy. When combined 1:1 with flour and water, spread on a tea towel or piece of cotton, and applied to the chest, mustard seeds are thought to aid with respiratory issues such as congestion (*be careful not to apply directly to the skin or leave on for too long in order to prevent irritating or burning the skin).
In theory, mustard plasters work by increasing circulation, warming the muscles, and making it easier to expel loose phlegm. Although the research is still lacking, perhaps now that it’s trending we’ll soon find out if we can trust mustard seeds for our respiratory health or not.
Use citrus scraps for garden health
If you find yourself with an abundance of citrus scraps, don’t throw them away—there’s a good chance those peels and white pith can be used to improve the health of your garden or lawn!
Citrus peels are a rich source of nitrogen, an essential component of healthy soil. Additionally, citrus peels (particularly lemon peels), are an incredible source of phosphorus and potassium, both nutrients that encourage robust plant growth.
When the weather is warm, try placing a handful of citrus peels in a shallow ditch to attract butterflies to your garden. Or soak your citrus peels in warm water, wait for it to cool, and spray onto your plants to hydrate them and repel pests at the same time! In fact, essential oils taken from citrus peels are so effective at repelling mosquitos, they’ve even been studied as a non-toxic approach to combating malaria with promising results. A win-win for you and your garden!
