Natural Ways To Reduce Your Skin Cancer Risk

 Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer, and while it’s not 100% preventable, there are many ways to reduce your risk. The good news is it does not involve chemical sunscreen.

 May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and I just learned the shocking truth about skin cancer or melanoma. Did you know that there are over 5 million cases diagnosed in the United States each year? Did you know that Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer?

 Facts like these make me want to stay inside and never let the sun touch my skin again. Then I realize that I enjoy being outside, so I needed to brush up on my skincare cancer prevention tips. The warmer weather is here and more skin is showing, so many people start thinking about buying sunscreen. While sunscreen is the best option for protecting your skin from harmful sun rays, there are many more things that you can do to keep your skin protected from the sun. 

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The best tips to reduce your skin cancer risk

1. Wear sunscreen ~ Sunscreen will protect you from harmful ultraviolet rays. So never leave home without applying sunscreen. Reach for a reef-safe mineral sunscreen and apply it 15 minutes before you head outside. Use at least an SPF 30 sunscreen and be sure to reapply every hour. 

Tip ~ Check the expiration on your sunscreen. Sunscreen usually is only good for 12 - 18 months. So make sure that your sunscreen is current. 

Ultraviolet rays, both UVA and UVB, are also responsible for premature aging, dark spots, uneven skin tone, and sunburns. So put on that sunscreen! 

2. Limit sun exposure ~ The sun is most harmful between the hours of 11 a.m.- 4 p.m, so if you can schedule your outdoor time in the morning or late afternoon. This is a great reason why morning exercise is best.

3. Wear protective clothing ~ Grab a floppy sun hat, sunglasses, and UPF clothing. Then seek out shade. Umbrellas, trees, and awnings provide sun protection on sunny days. 

4. Make sunscreen part of your morning routine ~ Set your sunscreen bottle next to your toothbrush or by the front door. That way you will remember to apply sunscreen to your skin. Make sunscreen a habit! 

5. Set a good example for your children ~ Teach your children sunscreen habits by setting the example. Wrinkled sun-damaged skin is from the sunburns from years ago. Sunburn prevention now means healthier skin when you’re older.

6. Choose a reef-safe mineral sunscreen ~ No longer do you have to worry about applying chemicals to your skin when it comes to protection from the sun. Mineral sunscreens create an effective shield against harmful UVA/UVB rays. Mineral sunscreens are safe on your skin and safe for the planet. When you use a safe mineral sunscreen, you don't have to worry about toxic chemicals entering your bloodstream. Keep reading to discover a plant-based mineral sunscreen that is made with clean organic ingredients.

7. Examine your skin regularly ~ Have your doctor check your skin during all other health exams, or at least once a year. or visit one of Melanoma Know More’s free monthly skin cancer screening clinics.

Safe sunscreen for the whole family

 Olita makes sunscreen products that are safe for your skin and safe for the planet. All of Olita's suncare products are made with all-natural, organic ingredients. Olita has skincare products for sun protection for the whole family. From organic baby mineral sunscreen to tinted mineral sunscreen all the way to after sun care products, Olita has your skin covered from head to toe.

 My favorite Olita sun care products are Olita Tinted SPF 30 mineral sunscreen and Cool Coconut AfterSun Hydrating Body Serum. I love that Olita Tinted gives my skin a bronzing effect instead of a pasty white look. So I can head to the pool without looking like a ghost. This tinted sunscreen is also fragrance-free so it does not make my asthma flare up like the chemical sunscreens. 

 The other day the package delivery man had the chemical sunscreen on his hands which then transferred to my package. I had to quickly open up my package and toss the box into the outside recycle bin. So if you use traditional sunscreens made with chemical sunscreens, make a switch to a mineral-based sunscreen to protect your lungs.

 The Cool Coconut AfterSun has a great scent of coconuts. This serum soothes and relieves sunburned skin. I love the immediate cooling effect that it gives my skin and it is not sticky. I like using the AfterSun even on days that I don't go out in the sun. This serum leaves my skin soft and smooth.

 Olita also sells other natural sun protection for the lips and a wonderful smelling kid sand remover. From bundles to best sellers, Olita has you and your family covered for a day at the beach or a day in the backyard. I love their organic mineral sunscreen and I am sure you will too. 

7 Things To Do When Suffering From Back And Neck Pain

 Everyone has problems with back and neck pain at some point. It can be temporary, and it will last for several days or weeks. However, it may continue despite the treatment, and this is called chronic pain. The pain may come from bad posture, standing or sitting a lot, sleeping in a bad position, and not exercising. There are some tips on how to recover, so read on to find out. 

See a chiropractor

 Visiting a chiropractor can offer numerous advantages that dramatically improve physical and emotional well-being. However, many choose not to see a chiropractor until something goes wrong or the symptoms of pain become intolerable. Chiropractors can help prevent things from going wrong.

When you have intensive back or neck pain, that is the obvious sign that you need to visit a chiropractor. The chiropractor can relieve pain without the need for surgery or anesthetics. A chiropractor should see each patient as a unique one and will treat your pain in the same way. In fact, that is what the professionals at WilsonHealth.ca recommend, and not only that but a patient participates in making decisions regarding the treatment. It relieves pain, but it has many other advantages, such as improving your posture, athletic performance, and overall health. 

Visit a Spine Surgeon

 If your back or neck pain lasts for more than several weeks, it is best to visit a spine specialist. The doctor will assess the condition and evaluate your medical history. He/she may advise an x-ray, MRI scan, or even a CT scan to see what's going on inside the body. Depending on the severity of the case, surgery might be the best option. There are several types of back surgery they may suggest. From spinal fusion, laminectomy, and discectomy, to artificial disc replacement and vertebroplasty. Before undergoing any surgical intervention, make sure to discuss all the risks involved.

Self-massage

 It is an easy way to enjoy the advantages of massage therapy. You can do it wherever you want, either in your lovely home or at your work. Neck and back pain may be caused by poor posture, this happens when you use a laptop or phone a lot, or read a book in your bed in a bad position without some neck support. This massage can be really helpful if you have a knot in your neck. 

 You should lower your shoulders and straighten your neck and back. Then locate the painful areas, and press firmly with your fingers. You should gently move them circularly, and repeat the motions in the opposite direction. Continue the massage for about 3 to 5 minutes. After that, you will feel much better and at ease. 

Ice and heat

This method can reduce swelling and pain. Applying heat will relax muscles and increase blood flow and heal the painful areas. This therapy is limited to 15 or 20 minutes, and the break should be at least 2 hours, in order to give time for the skin to recover.

Special pillow

 After a long and stressful day, you only need a rest. Your bed and pillow are the only things you crave at the end of the day. Pillow is the most important thing to support your neck in the right way. Most people only look for soft and cozy ones, not thinking of the essential job your pillow has. The right one will support your head, neck, and back. A neutral spine will decrease the neck pain, moreover, it relieves the pressure on your entire body. The tricky part is that each sleeping position requires a special pillow. Be careful when choosing.

Exercise

You may be lazy, however, exercises are essential for reducing back and neck pain. Back pain exercises can strengthen the muscles of the back, abdomen, and legs. They support your spine and help relieve back pain. 

Always consult your doctor before exercising for back pain. Depending on the cause and intensity of the pain, some exercise may not be recommended and may be harmful. For example, you should avoid exercise such as toe touches. It can put even greater stress on the area and spine ligaments. It also overstretches back muscles and hamstrings. 

Lying on your back, you should bend both knees, and be flat on the bed or the floor. Then, move your knees slowly from side to side, keep your shoulders in place, and do not lift them. The stretch should be held for 3 to 5 seconds in each direction and repeated 10 to 15 times.

Chair

You spend a lot of time at your work, and especially if you are sitting for a long period of time, you should be careful when choosing a chair. It is founded that 16 percent of people have extreme back and neck pain at the end of the day. This can be solved by choosing the right chair and buying an ergonomic office chair. It is very critical to understand the relationship between the right chair and health. Moreover, it will increase the productivity of your work.

All these things can help you decrease the neck and back pain you may have. However, it is better to do something before the pain comes. Take care of your posture, do exercises regularly, and buy the right pillow for you.

The Modern Woman: Contraception as a Lifestyle

Though popular, hormonal forms of contraception are not always the best option for an individual. Whether they have had adverse reactions to past treatments or simply choose to lead a holistic lifestyle, many women are beginning to realize the advantages to abandoning western medicine and returning to the traditional practices of contraception through leading one of several "natural" lifestyles.

The only lifestyles known to have 100% effectivity are abstinence or outercourse, meaning sexual activity that does not include vaginal intercourse. Outercourse can describe a plethora of different forms of sexual activity where semen never contacts the vagina. While abstinence is not as common a practice today as it once was, this method also guarantees a conception-free experience.

Additionally, becoming pregnant while breastfeeding is very rare as the hormones needed to produce a significant amount of breastmilk prevent ovulation, acting as a natural form of birth control. If the mother continues to breastfeed on a consistent basis, her body will not ovulate, and periods will not occur. Although this method is 98% effective, it requires a previous pregnancy and is, therefore, an available form of contraception to a small percentage of women.

 As hormonal birth control use is on the decline, more women are advocating for fertility awareness as a form of contraception. This involves tracking your symptoms daily including your discharge, body aches, energy levels, and mood to know when your ovulation window is occurring. Once you are aware of your window, you can simply avoid having penetrative sex during that time, keeping you pregnancy-free 76-88% of the time.

Finally, the method known as withdrawal, or the “pull-out method”, is commonly used to participate in intercourse while reducing the risk of pregnancy. This method is effective about 78% of the time when executed appropriately but can be a risky form of contraception. Even when performed correctly, there is a chance that sperm are present in the male’s precum and can impregnate the female.

If a mistake occurs, or perhaps your own fears get the better of you and you would like a backup to these natural lifestyles, there are two forms of emergency contraceptives (ECs) that have proven to be up to 87% effective when taken appropriately after intercourse. The most common form of EC is Plan B One-Step which is a single hormone pill that is taken by mouth within 3 days of sex to prevent ovulation. These pills can be found in your local grocery store or pharmacy and no prescription is needed. The second form of contraception is known as Ella. While this pill is less popular, it can be effective up to 5 days after intercourse, though its effectiveness increases the sooner it is taken after sex. Ella can be found in pharmacies with a prescription or in clinics that specialize in reproductive healthcare such as abortion clinic Houston, but cannot be found over the counter like Plan B.

With the rise of social media there has also been a rise in the popularity of holistic medicine and natural ways to treat your body. When it comes to lifestyle forms of birth control, remember that only two methods are guaranteed to prevent pregnancy 100%, but also keep in mind that you have other options if something happens, or if you would just like the extra peace of mind.

How To Make Iced Vietnamese Coffee With The Pour Over Method

 Vietnamese iced coffee is a traditional Vietnamese coffee recipe. Vietnamese coffee is an intensely strong and sweet coffee that can be served hot or over ice.

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 Vietnamese coffee is typically brewed with a Phin Filter, an aluminum filter that sits on top of a cup and drips the coffee directly into that cup. Brewing Vietnamese coffee is similar to the pour-over coffee method. I have never experienced the taste of Vietnamese coffee and after watching a how-to make Vietnamese coffee tutorial, I knew that I had to add this strong and sweet coffee to my coffee experience. 

 I love coffee and drink coffee on a daily basis. My day is not complete without several cups of coffee. While I do not start my day with coffee, I can not write my articles unless I have a cup of java nearby. I always start my day with morning exercise to wake the body up. Then make a protein smoothie for my breakfast. While my smoothie is blending, I make my coffee using the pour-over method. My protein smoothie helps my muscles recover and my coffee helps my brain wake up. For me, the act of drinking coffee is how I get my mind to work. Coffee is a healthy drink for the mind.

How To Make Iced Vietnamese Coffee With The Pour Over Method

 It was three bags of Vietnamese coffee that inspired me to make Vietnamese coffee. I received the Dark Roast Coffee Trio from Nguyen Coffee Supply. Once I opened up the package that contained the 3 bags of whole bean coffee, I knew that this was not your typical coffee. The intense smell of the coffee beans could be smelled through the coffee bag. As I was savoring the coffee aroma, I read the coffee notes of the Robusta coffee beans from Vietnam. These bold roast coffee beans had some strange coffee-tasting notes.

SAIGON ~ Salted Cacao, Blackberry, Hazelnut

HANOI ~ Tabacco, Prunes, Graham Cracker

DALAT ~ Jasmine, Ganache, Strawberry

 I was thinking how could these coffee beans from Nguyen smell so good with such strange tasting notes. I simply could not wait to taste the Robusta beans. These Vietnamese coffee beans needed to be made with the traditional Vietnamese coffee recipe. The only problem was, that I did not have a Phin Filter. So I decided to brew the coffee beans with my pour-over device as that coffee method is similar.

Did You Know?

+ Vietnam is the 2nd largest coffee producer in the world

+ Robusta beans have nearly 2x more caffeine than arabica beans

+ Robusta beans have 60% less sugar & fats than arabica beans

+ Nguyen Coffee Supply was founded by a 1st generation Vietnamese woman

So I gathered my coffee supplies and the ingredients that I needed to make Iced Vietnamese coffee. Unlike your typical coffee drink, Iced Vietnamese coffee uses not-so-common coffee ingredients. This sweet bold coffee drink uses sweetened condensed milk in place of milk and sugar. 

 Since I have a dairy allergy, I could not grab a can of condensed milk from the store shelf. So I set out to make homemade Sweetened Condensed Almond Milk. Sure, I could have bought a can of condensed coconut milk from the store but I wanted to use my new Nutr Nut Milk Maker to make fresh almond milk. 

Ingredients Needed For Iced Vietnamese Coffee

+ Vietnamese Coffee

+ Hot Water

+ Almond Milk or Oat Milk ~ grab a recipe for simple oat milk Here

+ Sugar

+ Vanilla extract

+ Salt

+ Ice

Discover a recipe for almond milk made from almond flour

How to brew Vietnamese With The Pour Over Method

 Since I did not have the traditional Vietnamese Phin Filter, I placed my stainless steel pour-over coffee filter over a borosilicate glass carafe. Then I used my coffee grinder to grind the coffee beans. Once the coffee beans were a grind for the pour-over coffee brew method, I measured them with my coffee scale. Traditional Vietnamese coffee is a strong brew and the ratio is 1 to 2. So 6 tablespoons of coffee to 12 ounces of water. 

 I then used my gooseneck coffee kettle to make hot water. Once the water was at the perfect temperature for brewing coffee, I slowly poured a small amount of hot water onto the ground coffee, just enough to get the coffee grounds wet  ~ Wait 30 seconds before adding the rest of the hot water. This will allow the coffee grounds to best absorb the water and swell up. It is the swelling-up par or soaking of the coffee grounds,  that gets the coffee grounds to release more coffee flavor. I described the pour-over coffee method in my Dairy-Free Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Coffee Latte recipe post. 

 Once I finished brewing the coffee, I then filled my glass halfway with the hot coffee concentrate. I then stirred in 2 tablespoons of the Sweetened Condensed Almond Milk ~get the recipe here. Once the plant-based condensed milk was thoroughly mixed into the coffee, I added enough ice cubes to fill the glass. If you like your coffee stronger use more of the coffee concentrate.

Make this Iced Vietnamese Coffee a healthy breakfast by stirring in a scoop or two of vegan protein powder into the hot coffee. 

Save 15% on Nuzest with code MOMKNOWSBEST15

Follow me and pin this recipe on Pinterest

Check out some other delicious coffee recipes

Dairy-Free Salted Caramel Cold Brew Coffee Latte  

Dairy-Free Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Coffee Latte 

Whipped Dalgona Coffee Made With Instant Coffee

How To Make Perfect Iced Coffee

Homemade Plant-Based Sweetened Condensed Almond Milk

This Homemade Plant-Based Sweetened Condensed Almond Milk is the perfect substitute for condensed milk. Creamy and sweet, it can be used in your plant-based recipes, coffee, Vietnamese coffee, and so much more.

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 So many delicious recipes call for sweet condensed milk and finding a dairy-free substitute can be hard. I have used canned coconut milk in my Dairy-Free Chocolate Pretzel Pie in place of the condensed milk but it does not do a good job of thickening the pie. Plus my husband complains about the coconut taste that coconut milk gives to the recipe.

 So I decided to learn how to make a vegan sweetened condensed milk using almond milk. Now that I have a Nutr Nut Milk Maker, I always have a quick way to make fresh almond milk in minutes. The reason that I decided to make almond milk condensed milk was for a coffee recipe that I was creating. I was gifted some dark Vietnamese coffee beans and I was excited to make Iced Vietnamese coffee.

Discover a recipe for almond milk made from almond flour

 This plant-based recipe for sweetened condensed milk is perfect for those who follow a dairy-free diet. For vegan recipes, this recipe is going to be a game-changer. No longer do you have to pay for those expensive cans of coconut condensed milk that are hard to find in most grocery stores. Nor do you have to have the taste of coconut in your vegan dessert recipes.

Ingredients Needed for Sweetened Condensed Almond Milk

+ Almond Milk  ~ Grab a homemade almond milk recipe here

+ Sugar

+ Vanilla Extract

+ Salt

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Homemade Condensed Almond Milk is Simple to Make

 Making sweetened condensed milk from scratch is so simple. While it does take time to make, it is simple as tossing a couple plant-based ingredients into a pot and cooking on the stovetop. Don't worry though, you don't have to stir the almond milk constantly for the whole hour. This is a heat-and-simmer recipe.

Sweetened condensed Almond Milk is

+ Plant-Based

+ Vegan

+ Sweet

+ Creamy

+ Delicious

+ Dairy-Free

+ Gluten-Free

Check out the nutritional information

Many uses for Sweetened Condensed Almond Milk

+ Stir into coffee

+ Make Iced Vietnamese Coffee 

+ Use in place of canned condensed milk

+ Add to chia seed pudding

+ Add to overnight oats

+ Use as a vegan coffee creamer

+ Stir into oatmeal or yogurt

 Those are just some of the many ways to enjoy this delicious dairy-free Sweetened Condensed Almond Milk. Once you make it and see how delicious it tastes, you may just add it to many food items or just eat it by the spoonful. The Sweetened Condensed Almond Milk will last in the fridge for about a week. I like to store the dairy-free condensed milk in a mason jar with a lid. These colorful mason jar lids are so useful for storing items in the fridge.

See how easy and delicious this recipe is. Then make sure to follow me on Pinterest and Pin the recipe for later.

FAMILY CAMP Is Finally Here and You Have To See It

Camping with the family is a great way to make memories. Family Camp A laugh-out-loud comedy that the whole family can enjoy.

 Do you remember camping as a child? I bet you have some good and bad memories of summer camp. Camping can be an enjoyable time but it can also have some not so enjoyable moments. Now take those childhood camping memories and picture adults at a summer camp. 

 FAMILY CAMP is a faith-based family comedy from The Skit Guys, that will have you laughing out loud. This family movie is opening in theaters on May 13 and you need to make plans to see it with your family.  FAMILY CAMP is a fun (and funny!) movie for the whole family. Everyone from 8 to 80 will enjoy this family-friendly movie.

Tickets are now on sale!

 You need to make plans to see FAMILY CAMP with your family and friends. A family movie night at the theaters is always a great way to spend time together as a family. Tickets for FAMILY CAMP are on sale now at https://familycampmovie.com/tickets/  So make plans now, before your calendar fills up.

Many thanks to K-LOVE Films for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own

 About FAMILY CAMP

When their pastor encourages the congregation to sign-up for a week away at family camp, Grace (Leigh-Allyn Baker) believes she’s found the perfect cure for her imperfect clan, even if they’d all rather be anywhere but at rustic Camp Katokwah. Then the fun starts when the family arrives at the church camp and they meet their cabin mates.

These two polar-opposite families find themselves sharing a cabin for a week away at camp. With the highly coveted camp trophy at stake, dads Tommy and Eddie end up lost in the woods after a comedy of errors and mishaps. What happens next will have you laughing out loud. This laugh-out-loud comedy is sure to touch the hearts and tickle the funny bones of every family member.

The cast includes The Skit Guys, Tommy Woodard, and Eddie James along with Leigh-Allyn Baker (“Good Luck Charlie”), Gigi Orsillo, Robert Amaya (“Courageous”), Cece Kelly, Mark Christopher Lawrence, and social media sensation/comedian Heather Land. The Skit Guys have been creating mini-movies for churches and youth groups for years, as well as performing live at events and now they have created their first film!

Watch the trailer for FAMILY CAMP HERE

 If you love family-friendly faith-based movies and want more to be available at movie theaters, then it is important to see FAMILY CAMP opening weekend (May 13-15). This lets Hollywood know that you and your family want more movies like this! Better yet, help fill the theater and invite people from your church, the kid's school, and folks from your neighborhood. What better way to spend time with friends!

FAMILY CAMP is releasing in theaters on May 13th! Buy your tickets now! 

 Tickets: https://familycampmovie.com/tickets/

 Website: https://familycampmovie.com/

 Trailer: https://youtu.be/VQ6qHA3dbLM

 Heart Of: https://youtu.be/QoYgOtKdzpg

 Official Movie Hashtags: #FamilyCampMovie #FamilyCampMovieMIN #MomentumInfluencerNet

 So make plans now to see this funny family movie. A movie night at the movie theater is always a great time. Maybe after you watch FAMILY CAMP, you may just sign up for camping with the family or maybe you might rethink that camping trip. I know that after I saw the preview of FAMILY CAMP, I was ready to join my husband on an adventure with a camping trip. Of course, it had to be glamping.

Do you like camping with the family?