It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to find that everything we put into our bodies, either on purpose or accidentally (such as food, drink, pollutants in the air, and so on), will have some effect on it. This could be a good thing, such as eating the right foods and filling our bodies with nutrients and vitamins, or it could be a bad thing, such as filling our bodies with chemicals from cigarettes, for example. 

These harmful elements will build up over time, as our bodies are unable to handle them in the same way as it can deal with useful additives, and eventually, they will make us feel sick, lethargic, unproductive, even depressed. 

This is why detoxing once in a while is a good idea. When you detox, you remove all of these bad things from the body and therefore reduce the chances of feeling unwell or getting sick. There are several ways that detox can be done, but it is also a good idea to speak to your doctor first, as they will be able to guide you on how to do it safely. 

Supplements 

Adding supplements to your diet can start a good detox routine. Supplements can be taken in pill form such as those found at Shredz Supplements or could be used in the form of a tea, for example. Chamomile, peppermint, ginger, and many more herbal teas are great for detoxing. 

Using the right supplements means you will feel more energetic, and your metabolism will work more quickly to rid your body of the unwanted elements it contains. This is why you will need to research exactly which kind of supplement will work best for you, as they will all be different, and it will depend on what you are looking for as to which one you pick. 

Drink More Water 

If we never drank anything other than water, our bodies would be extremely healthy. Water contains everything we need to keep our organs working correctly, so drinking more of it will work wonders when it comes to detoxing. Drinking water will literally flush the toxins out of your body, boosting the work the kidneys are doing. 

It can be boring to just drink water, and this is understandable. However, making it your mission to drink more water than you do right now, and then adding more each day until you feel and look great (the more water you drink, the better your skin will look too), will give you a great new lease on life. Of course, you can still drink coffee, wine, and soda (or anything else) too, but when you drink more water than anything else, it really will make a difference. 

Quit Bad Habits 

Our bodies are truly amazing. If allowed to, they will generally be able to heal themselves, and any damage done through bad habits like smoking, drinking too much alcohol, or not exercising enough, can be undone, assuming these bad habits are stopped. 

This will be hard, but if you want to detox completely and you want to be as healthy as possible, quitting bad habits is something you definitely must consider. 

This is a collaborative post.

In Health,

Melinda

Every family needs a safe and secure place to call home – this is why housing is a significant global issue, as many families seek decent and affordable accommodations. According to the World Property Journal, the US real estate market is worth about $33.6 trillion. There are several residence options suitable for families. Are you keen to learn about the different types of homes best suited to your family? Here are six home types you should consider.

Single-family homes

Single-family homes are one of the most popular housing options among American families. These homes are designed for one family only. There are numerous benefits of single-family homes that make them worth considering. They offer more privacy than other housing options since you do not share any walls. Personalizing your landscape in a single-family home is even more effortless compared to other home types. Therefore, it would help if you consider single-family housing when looking for your family’s perfect accommodation.

Condominiums (Condos)

A condo living space is a single unit in a larger building or housing community. Condos are usually located in the heart of cities, unlike many single-family homes and apartments. The benefits of condominium living are worth considering for your family. Condo residents typically enjoy easier access to major roads and public transport systems. Convenience is another key benefit of condos because facilities like malls are easily accessible due to the dense area population. There is an excellent provision of security in condo buildings due to the presence of round-the-clock security personnel. Many families that chose condos agree that it is a great place to raise kids because of child-friendly amenities and vibrant community life.

Apartments

Apartments are living spaces within larger buildings and housing communities, differing from condos because you would have to pay rent. Apartments provide a cost-effective housing option for families, as the exorbitant home prices on the market are overwhelming for many. The perks of apartment living include access to amenities like pools and gyms, which single-family homes usually do not have. You can also have quality family time since you do not have to spend time on yard work, as apartment owners hire professionals to take care of the property.  The apartment home is also financially flexible, as the rent is usually yearly. Not owning the place also allows you to relocate should the need arise.

Multi-family homes

Statista data projects that US multifamily buildings will be worth almost $80 billion by 2022. Multi-family homes are single buildings with more than one dwelling unit that serves as homes to one or more families. Duplexes and triplexes are typical examples of multi-family homes. These units differ from condos because the various units cannot be purchased, as one person owns the building. It would be best to choose multi-family housing as a long-term investment to give you rental income. This rental income will increase your cash flow and help you to defray your housing cost. Also, multi-family homes allow for comfortable living with other family members together but separately. Securing a multi-family home mortgage is also easy because of your potential to generate income as a landlord. If you want to make and save money, these homes would be the perfect choice for you and the family. 

Ranch-style homes

A 2016 study showed that the ranch-style home is the favorite of American homeowners, being the popular pick in thirty-four states. These houses are known for their simple single-story design, with low-pitched roofing, plenty of windows, and attached garages.  Many homeowners mentioned the size, layout, and functionality as elements they like about this type of house. Ranch homes have open floor plans, meaning living spaces are not too compartmentalized. The typical ranch house design offers a seamless transition between the indoors and outdoors due to many windows and glass doors that lead into your backyard. Also, ranch homes are easy to maintain and energy-efficient. It would be best to consider ranch housing if these features and benefits appeal to you and your family. 

Image Credit

Townhomes

Townhomes allow you to experience both condo living and single-family housing in one building. They are usually described as a single-family home sandwiched between or next to similar single-family homes. Unlike the condominium residents, townhouse residents own both the interior and exterior space. But, like condos, there are little maintenance responsibilities. Townhome communities are also safe, peaceful, and quiet. These homes cost less than houses, and many real estate experts agree that they are better investments than apartments. Finally, consider townhouse living because of your access to many amenities and recreation opportunities.

This is a collaborative post.

In Health,

Melinda

In the modern world of divorce, we are seeing that fathers are being left behind. Child separation from their parents, no matter if it’s the father or the mother, is traumatic. They will find themselves without one half of their guiding light and they will have a lesser view of the world because of it. Parents are supposed to be teachers and when children and parents don’t have the opportunity to spend time together, valuable lessons are not learned. Fathers are the hardest hit, as mothers tend to get sole child custody, 80-90% of the time. Let’s look deeper into why this is a problem that we need to talk more about.

Separation as a weapon

Sometimes, parents who have custody of the children will use this as a way to ‘get back’ at their former spouse. This is as horrible and vindictive as it sounds. However, this kind of child alienation can have a bad effect on the parent that is being forced out, and the children. The children will sense they are being used as pawns in your personal vendetta and the parent that is being kept from seeing them will grow distant from them. If you are also making up lies about the former spouse, or think that they are, your children will likely believe them as they are their sole caregiver. This kind of turning against tactics can be devastating in the long term to the point that relationships may never heal again.

A need for guidance

Both parents will give their children a guiding light in life. And when one of them is not there to do this, it can lead to a skewed view of the world. It’s rare for one parent to assume both roles and it can never really work even when they try. A dad’s perspective on life is different from the mother’s and vice versa. Therefore making sure that both parents can fulfill their role as a torch of knowledge in their children’s lives is vital. When one of them can’t do this because of child alienation by the other parent, this can be so harmful that the child will lack a certain type of life experience or knowledge that will end up hurting them more. 

What can you do about it?

Can you sense not being able to see your children as you normally would at visiting times? Maybe you can’t even visit them anymore because of what the former spouse is doing to separate you from your children. You shouldn’t give up, even if the court has previously ruled something. You can use a good Family Law Firm to build a case that shows you are being unfairly treated and kept from your children. Fathers especially should look into this, as they will usually face a tougher stance from the family courts.

When it comes to divorce, the children must come first. 

This is a collaborative post.

In Health,

Melinda

What is the problem with this law?

The Reducing Unused Medications Act of 2016 ensures doctors and patients KNOW about the ability to partial fill a prescription. One, doctors already know how to write prescriptions for so many days, I’ve experienced this myself after my knee surgery. I was given one week of pain medication, not a full month. Two, this opens up the law for companies like CVS to interpret the law and create their own policies. Giving the pharmacist the ability to decide who or if to fill the prescription.

I’m all for most of this bill but let’s address the real issue! Fentanyl. People are NOT overdosing from prescription opioids, they are taking Fentanyl, a synthetic drug, the government has decided to call an opioid. If the overdoses are Fentanyl then why are doctors being targeted for writing prescriptions? Why are doctors refusing to write prescriptions? Why are pharmacies refusing to fill prescriptions?

THIS is why if you are reading this, you have to contact the State and U.S. Senate and House representatives for your state to show your disapproval of this law. How has this affected you? I read post every day about how someone was denied pain medication or the doctor doesn’t even write pain medication any longer for fear of being targeted.

Let your Legislatures know what this law has done to you, how have you been discriminated against because of someone’s interpretation of the law. This bill was passed into law. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) continues to push to build on the restrictions on opioid medication. I read an article this morning that stated she had 81 supporters already. That’s nowhere near the majority needed to pass the CARE ACT, but she continues to push for an additional $100 billion dollars and much stiffer restrictions. 

We have to make our voices heard. If you are reading this and live in the United States you can send four emails! Find out who your state representatives are and email their office. Let them know what you are ill with, how it affects your life, and how this discrimination against pain patients has affected you, or how further changes could. Let them know you want them to focus on Fentanyl, not prescription opioids.

We have to do this together. We can’t sit back and think someone else is going to take care of pain patients. It’s only going to get worse for all of us. 

In Health,

Melinda

WARREN.SENATE.GOV

OCTOBER 04, 2018

Bipartisan Bill Including Several Warren Priorities is Set to Become Law

Washington, DC – United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) applauded the final Senate passage of bipartisan legislation combat the opioid crisis.  The legislation, which is set to be signed by President Trump, contains several of Senator Warren’s bipartisan efforts to address the epidemic, including:

• Disposal of Controlled Substances by Hospice Care Providers: This provision, which is based on Senator Warren’s bipartisan Hospice Safe Drug Disposal Act, will allow hospice care providers to safely and properly dispose of leftover prescription opioid medications in order to reduce diversion and misuse of prescription medications, and will require a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study of hospice safe drug disposal management.
• Recovery Housing Best Practices: This provision is based on Senator Warren’s Ensuring Access to Quality Living Act and will require HHS to develop guidelines for operating recovery housing, in order to ensure that individuals recovering from an opioid addiction receive quality care.
• Partial Filling of Opioid Prescriptions: This provision improves implementation of Senator Warren’s Reducing Unused Medications Act of 2016 by ensuring that more doctors and patients know about the option to partially fill opioid prescriptions.
• Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances: This provision is based on the Every Prescription Conveyed Securely (EPCS) Act, which Senator Warren introduced with her colleagues to gather better data on opioid prescriptions and help health care providers make the best decisions for their patients by requiring electronic prescriptions for controlled substances, including opioids, under Medicare.
• Assistance for States and Municipalities to Detect Fentanyl: This provision incorporates Senator Warren’s Surveillance and Testing of Opioids to Prevent (STOP) Fentanyl Deaths Act, which aids states and municipalities in identifying the dangerous synthetic opioid fentanyl in both fatal and nonfatal drug overdoses. 

“This is a deadly epidemic, and we need to do everything we can to respond to it accordingly,” said Senator Warren. “While Congress could have gone further in providing communities with the resources they need to address the epidemic, I supported this bill because it makes some common-sense changes that will help us in our fight against the opioid crisis.  I am also pleased that several bipartisan provisions I worked on with my colleagues were included in the final bill and look forward to seeing it signed into law.”In April, Senator Warren and Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) introduced the Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency (CARE) Act to provide states and communities with $100 billion in federal funding over ten years, including more than $800 million a year directly to tribal governments and organizations.###

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This is my Battle Cry!

I know first hand the challenge chronic illness patients face when searching for the right healthcare treatment and this is why I have volunteered with Chronic Illness Advocacy & Awareness Group as a State Leader.

I know lawmakers and influencers is how we change the systemic problems chronic illness patients face. Our voice can feel so small when we advocate for ourselves, we face so many roadblocks at every turn but we can pull our voices together to speak out loud enough to make a change.

If you are reading this post you can volunteer to advocate for change!

I know what I can contribute is limited but know that over time my voice will join others and one day we will enact change within the healthcare system for chronic illness patients. Volunteering is an important step in speaking up for change, we can’t leave it to the healthcare system or government to change. We have to let them know what we need.

To get more information on how you can volunteer to advocate for patients with chronic illnesses check out at www.ciaag.net and on Twitter at  ‎@ciaagofficial.

Please think about advocating for chronic illness patients. You can do as little or as much as you can, advocating for our rights and the rights of all chronic illness patients are necessary in order to get the healthcare we need.

Check out their mission below, if you can get on board, let’s do this!

CIAAG’s Mission

The Chronic Illness Advocacy & Awareness Group, Inc. (CIAAG) is a national non-profit organization that promotes both a common-sense, compassionate and research-based ap​proach to palliative care along with the responsible prescribing of opioid medication to those experiencing chronic pain and illnesses, including:  serious injuries, intractable pain, and those who suffer from painful chronic diseases.

CIAAG’s mission is to work collaboratively with legislators in crafting the policy changes and legislation enacted to combat opioid abuse (including heroin and illicit fentanyl) in a way that does not restrict patients’ access to their medication.  Restricting access is not just a problem for the individual; it negatively impacts the nation’s public and economic health, resulting in previously functioning members of society being forced into unemployment and disability in response to the relentless, inhumane and debilitating pain they experience.

Intractable pain and forced isolation often leads to depression and other mental health crises as well.  Unfortunately, some patients have turned to the street to find unsafe alternatives (including dangerous counterfeit pills) in a desperate effort to relieve their untreated pain, while others have succumbed to suicide as a final escape. 

CIAAG offers lawmakers and other decision-makers fact-based research on prescription opioid use from qualified physicians as well as policy white papers, testimonials and other resources to aid in crafting sensible policies around opiate use.              

In Health,

Melinda