The Laguna Moon Dead Sea Mud Mask is a natural facial mask made with Dead Sea mud, Dead Sea minerals, and essential oils. It is designed to draw out impurities, detoxify the skin, and leave it feeling soft, smooth, and refreshed.
The mask is made with 100% natural ingredients, including Dead Sea mud, Dead Sea minerals, and essential oils. Dead Sea mud is a rich source of minerals that are beneficial for the skin. These minerals include magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sodium. These minerals help to draw out impurities, detoxify the skin, and leave it feeling soft, smooth, and refreshed.
The mask is also fragranced with essential oils, which have a number of benefits for the skin. Essential oils can help to improve skin tone, reduce inflammation, and promote healing.
The Laguna Moon Dead Sea Mud Mask is easy to use. Simply apply a thin layer of the mask to clean, dry skin and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse the mask off with warm water and enjoy your refreshed skin!
Here are some of the benefits of using the Laguna Moon Dead Sea Mud Mask:
* Draws out impurities * Detoxifies the skin * Leaves the skin feeling soft, smooth, and refreshed * Improves skin tone * Reduces inflammation * Promotes healing
The Laguna Moon Dead Sea Mud Mask is a safe and effective way to improve the appearance of your skin. It is made with natural ingredients and is free of harsh chemicals and artificial fragrances. The mask is also vegan and cruelty-free.
If you are looking for a natural way to improve the appearance of your skin, the Laguna Moon Dead Sea Mud Mask is a great option. It is safe, effective, and affordable.
Here are some safety guidelines to keep in mind when using the Laguna Moon Dead Sea Mud Mask:
* Do not use the mask if you have any open wounds or cuts on your face. * If you experience any redness, irritation, or itching after using the mask, discontinue use. * Keep the mask out of reach of children.
In conclusion, the Laguna Moon Dead Sea Mud Mask is a natural and effective way to detoxify your skin and leave it feeling refreshed. With its use of Dead Sea mud and minerals, this mask is designed to draw out impurities and leave your skin feeling soft and smooth. The added essential oils give it a refreshing and calming scent, making it a wonderful addition to any self-care routine.
If you’re looking for a natural and high-quality facial mask, be sure to try out the Laguna Moon Dead Sea Mud Mask today!
Every New Year I have always checked for the top business growth tips and trends.
This year I have decided to present my own because we the business community are still living in unprecedented times of uncertainty, fear, transformation, deception, confusion, and outright disruption of the old ways of doing business.
I am Diane Shawe founder of Virtual Speedy Services Ltd (which I gave birth to during the first lockdown) and author of ‘Answer 77 Questions about your business to avoid business failure’ shares her top small business growth strategies for the year ahead.
2021 has been a year of rapid transformation across all industries as the business community has dealt with shifting customer buying activities and economic challenges, as well as mitigating hot-button issues such as the pandemic and people’s changing conception of work life balance. In a year filled with change, there are some trends which are going to be firmly fixed into 2022 that you and your business should seriously build into your growth plans.
To lead your business in the right direction as we head into 2022, here are my humble 10 small business growth strategies.[
1. Prioritise your business culture
Throughout the pandemic, businesses have been dealing with “The Great Resignation” as workers are quitting their jobs at record-high rates. One of the reasons for this is that people are changing their definitions of what they consider a healthy work-life balance and what they want in a company culture.
“The pandemic has shifted the way people incorporate work into their life, whether it’s moving to another county for cheaper housing or not going into the office every day and getting the opportunity to do remote or hybrid work,” Diane states.
Diane goes on further to state that “Not all solutions are made equal, and culture is now a part of that. “A big factor for employees, in addition to salary and benefits, is culture, so have a culture strategy in place.”
2. Consider hiring more freelance workers
The number of gig workers, freelancers and contractors has grown exponentially over the last few years and they make up a large portion of workers within the current market.
“Small business owners will now be able to bring in more specialised freelance workers to carry out tasks without having to deal with the hiring and training costs that are often associated with recruiting a full-time employee,” said Diane. “With the importance of being agile in today’s economic environment … as well as the rise of remote work, … skilled outsource
Peopleperhour.com and fiverr.com are great places to start.
3. Work with micro-influencers
While small businesses may be competing against larger businesses to work with online influencers, collaborating with micro-influencers is an option to consider.
“As influencer marketing is becoming more popular than ever… micro-influencers are going to be the best option for small businesses because they don’t cost as much and they are more open to collaborating with small businesses too,” explained Diane. “With a couple of these small influencers helping [your business] reach specific audiences, growth will not be an impossible feat in 2022.”
4. Leverage the way you supply your products and services.
Distributors and businesses across the country dealt with supply chain issues with the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent economic disruptions. In 2022, businesses must be aware of scarcities within the supply chain and get ahead of manufacturing and transportation challenges by working collaboratively with their suppliers.
Checkout companies like Amazon who can provide a fulfillment service for your orders. Consider moving to a drop shipping manufacturer or warehouse so as to reduce your cash investment in slow moving stock.
5. Educate client and partners your new paradigms
It’s important to inform your clients and partners about changes you’re making to better benefit your business across a shifting economic landscape. If the changes don’t land, it may be time to consider other options,
Many businesses are painfully aware how much the talent pool has changed. Working with potential employees, client partners to educate them on the new management styles needed, increased compensation packages and other aspects of recruitment and retention is very important.
6. Prepare for potential contracting opportunities
Almost 80 new businesses were created every hour across the UK in the first half of 2021, according to research by iwoca – one of Europe’s largest small business lenders.
Analysis of Companies House data reveals that 340,534 businesses were registered in the UK between January and June 2021, an increase of 32% from 257,243 over the same time period in 2019.
London dominates list of areas to start a business
iwoca’s Small Business HotSpots UK 2021 reveals that Camden saw the largest number of businesses registered out of all UK local authorities, with 19,755 new companies – a rate of more than four and a half new firms every hour.
The second largest number of new businesses were registered in Hackney (13,646) followed by 10,151 in Westminster. London’s local authorities make up half of the top 10, which also includes Birmingham in 5th with 7,442 new firms and Kent placing 7th with 6,504 businesses.
London saw over one third of the new registrations with 120,338, followed by the South East (37,573) and North West (33,640). The capital city also witnessed the largest increase in new business registration compared to 2019 of 59%, with the West Midlands registering a 49% rise followed by the North East (28%).
Christoph Rieche, iwoca CEO and co-founder, said: “It is fantastic to see the creation of so many businesses during the first half of this year, they are testament to the entrepreneurial spirit which characterises our vibrant economy.
“Many of these businesses will be unnecessarily constrained by cashflow. At iwoca we turn cashflow into a superpower enabling them to grow faster and worry less. We look forward to working with many of them.”-
Why is such a growth happening?
A survey I read stated that 39% of people in current jobs are going to quit within the next 12 months, which is not great for an employer, but suggests a start of a business revolution is happening.
What advice would I give to somebody looking to start a business?
There is never a good time to do it and you just must go for it. It’s all encompassing and it’s a phenomenon. I just decided to go for it in 2000 and have never looked back. However you can be clever about it though – can you cut down your hours in your current role or could you work part-time initially? Explore your options wisely.
7. Get creative on sales and marketing opportunities
The digital marketing landscape has become increasingly challenging due to congestion and evolving regulations, said Diane Shawe of Virtual Speedy Services Ltd
“This is forcing many traditionally digital companies to explore other sales channels and marketing strategies,” she said.
To mitigate these challenges, Shawe said her company is getting creative by helping other companies engage with A.I. Conversational Marketing Technologies with its engaging methods.
8. Widen your business’s online footprint
Small businesses must adapt and be “practical” when it comes to sales, as consumers continue to favor online and mobile shopping.
“Businesses need to widen their online footprint to gain a significant proportion of customers from the current market,” said Diane. “A simple way to sell products is to have a sellers account on your popular social media or estore platforms. To sell services, … list [your company] on freelance and contract websites.” Also create a blog and YouTube website for reviewing products, testimonials, advice and tips. Become the expert in your field. Entry competitions, exhibitions, network meetings.
9. Learn video SEO strategies to rank higher on search engines
Video marketing has become an integral part of a successful marketing strategy with the rise of live videos on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. It’s estimated that by 2022, videos will account for 82% of all consumer traffic. That’s why video SEO should be a top priority for businesses in 2022.
“Small businesses that incorporate short-form videos into their website posts will see more organic traffic coming from search engines,” explained Gilmour. “As TikTok continues to grow, search engine algorithms will shift to articles and posts that include short-form videos. Short-form videos from TikTok and YouTube may even become the main point of ‘how to’ searches.”
10. Utilise partnership marketing to reach a broader audience Partnership marketing is a strategic collaboration that gives you and your partner company a chance to reach a wider audience together, explained Diane Shawe, founder of Virtual Speedy Services Ltd.
“Collaboration with another company can aid in the development of better marketing initiatives that benefit both parties, If your target clients are similar, you may pool your resources to better your marketing techniques, build your brands and expand your audience reach.”
Start to use smart customer acquisition techniques such as collaborating with discount giants such as wowcher, groupon or discount voucher websites to help get your business name, brand or services directly into potential customers mobile.
“Another example, if a consumer purchases a product from you, you can provide a discount coupon that they can use to purchase discounted products from your business partner,” said Diane. “Co-branding of a product or project can also boost both companies’ marketing power.”
Virtual Speedy Services Ltd is set up to provide a suite of services for Small and Medium size businesses to help them efficiently and quickly Setup or expand their business. Our core service is A.I technology by designing conversational marketing chatbots to generate quality business leads or engage online visitors in real time. We populate and generate impressive business plan and 5 years projections for focus, raising finance along with smart eCommerce website, streamlined social media tools and an effective google verified website. We think of ourselves as your Virtual Personal Assistance who will help streamline your business development and growth without all the drama.
Come and join us fo a conversation about hairloss and thinning hair and what solutions are available.
Venue: Need a Hair Makeover Hair Extensions & Hair-loss Specialist Salon
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We can all agree tht social media plays an important part in sharing your message, services or products. But how do you start tracking what you have posted and how can it help your business, product or brand. I was researching this and have the following this to share with you.
It is important to set up a social media strategy to align with your business goals, and pulled together either paid or free social monitoring services, you’ve got one more habit to get into: tracking. From one fellow community manager to another, you know how important it is to know how one tweet performed versus another, or if one blog post rocked on one social network over another. This can only happen by having the right tracking in place.
Why Use Trackable Sharing Buttons
Not all sharing buttons are created equal, which is why you should pick sharing buttons that will give you a good signal of what’s going on in your site. You may see some insight in your analytics that tell you people visited your site, and some of them were from social. But to really know how and where your community is sharing your content, your sharing buttons should tell you.
2) Choose the social network you want people to share your content on.
3) Fill in the blanks.
4) Download a social button icon.
5) Make the icons clickable using your share link.
By using the right sharing buttons to help you see which social network is most popular among your audience, you’re going to understand your community better. Who knows? There may be a strong niche community reading your content in a social network you’re not actively engaging. These are a community manager’s dream gems to find!
Why Use Trackable Follow Buttons
Do you know, off the top of your head, how many social followers your site got for you this week? If your follow buttons were trackable, you’d be able to get this number without much digging in your analytics. And wouldn’t it rock to be able to tell your teammates you know that most of your Instagram followers came from your site? (This happened to us, actually!) As a community manager, this is the type of understanding that’ll open your eyes into exactly how your audience is engaging with your content. Discover which social networks your audience is most engaged with, and how your site is helping you drive engagement off your domain with trackable follow buttons.
Why Us Trackable Chatbots
Don’t lift a finger and still deal with your enquiries 24/7
The next big thing to hit SME’s is Chatbots Using Artificial Intelegence. The number 1 complaint about launching and running a online business or attracting responses to a posting is generating enough enquiries to make a sale or even responding to all the enquiries within 24 hours.!
Chatbots can assist you and there is “No Need To Lift a Finger Because some of the Proven System Will Do The Work And Get You More Leads!” The data coming out now is that more and more people are moving to online communications and shows that you need to start leveraging Chatbots to streamline customer communications, problem solving and sales. Individuals are using messaging Chatbots for many different reasons. However, the key things your customers want from any communication is quick response, help with there enquiry, ability to make appointments or make a purchase or have a problem attended to quickly.
You can automatically generate unique hashes appended to all of your site’s pages to help you generate unique links that you can then use to push to social. Address bar sharing adds a unique set of characters to the very end of your URL that will make that URL unique. (And don’t worry, this will not negatively affect your SEO.)
The reason you’ll want to do this is if you’re trying to monitor how the same content performs on different social networks, and which messaging performed best on the same topic.
There’s nothing more frustrating than spending so much time creating awesome content, and having tons of Tweets, tiktok and instagram out there to drive traffic to your pages, and then not being able to tell which phrasing or timing actually worked best.
Go beyond the pageviews and visits by making all your site’s URLs generate uniquely. You’ll then even be able to catch where a big segment of your traffic came from.
How to embed a tweet using the Twitter website
Open Twitter in a web browser, log in if necessary, and find the tweet you want to embed.
Click the three dots at the top right of the tweet.
In the dropdown menu, choose “Embed Tweet.”
The Twitter Publish page should appear. …
When you’re done, click “Update.”
How to embed a tweet on a website using Twitter’s embed tool
Why Use Analytics
Tying all of that data together into an easy-to-read dashboard is usually the hardest part of a community manager’s job, but lucky for you, AddThis’ dashboard pulls all of this information for you in one place.
The dashboard lays out in crisp and clear graphics how all of your audience members engaged with your site, which tools they used to engage, and which content they liked the most.
Know exactly which social network is growing the most from your site, and which is being shared to the most. Know all this by just scanning your dashboard (without drowning in search queries and exported spreadsheets).
What I did not know about Jamaican Bammy for instance it can help with weightloss and Migraines!
What is Jamaican Bammy?
I have found myself looking back at some of the specially prepared dishes my granma and mum use to prepare to find out if there was any nutritional benefits to them or just trandition.
One of the dishes I remember was fried fish served with Bammy, I found it hard to chew but my grandad and dad seemed to enjoy it immencely.
So what is Bammy?
I found out that it is made from Cassava flour which is made from a root vegitable.
Cassava also call Manihot esculenta
Cassava or scientifically called Manihot esculenta is a type of vegetable root or tubers. Cassava is a food source that is rich in nutrients. Although there are not many devotees.
The carbohydrate content in the tuber is so high that it is third, after rice and corn. Because it has health benefits, cassava is a staple food in various developing countries.
A warning about the process
However, the wrong processing of cassava can reduce its nutritional value because vitamins, minerals, fiber, and starch tend to disappear when cooking.
Cassava in it’s raw state must be cooked properly before consumption, otherwise cassava can cause acute poisoning because of the naturally occurring cyanide content in the raw state.
If not prepared properly, tubers that are rich in carbohydrates can even cause paralysis or death.
With that said, I recommend it is better to buy the flour or flat bread instead of trying to make your own!
Nutrient content in cassava
The most effective way to maintain the health benefits of cassava and the nutritional value of cassava is to boil it.
The nutritional value of cassava for a dose of 100 grams of tuber contains 160 calories of energy, 0.3 g of fat, thiamine 0.087 mg, riboflavin 0.048 ml, niacin 0.854 mg, vitamin B6 0.088 mg, iron 0.27 mg, and zinc 0 , 34 mg
Other nutrients in cassava are as follows: 38.1g carbohydrates, 1.7g sugar, 1.8g food fiber, 1.4g protein, 60g water 27mcg folate 20.6mg vitamin C 16mg calcium 21mg magnesium 27mg phosphorus 271 potassium 14mg sodium.
10 Health Benefits Obtained
The health benefits of cassava are rich in calories, carbohydrates and iron as a good source of energy.
Incorporating cassava into a controlled healthy diet menu has turned out to have many positive effects on health.
1. Cassava loses Your weight
Cassava which is rich in dietary fiber is the right choice if you can’t wait to lose weight.
Cassava can make you feel full for a longer period of time. Thus reducing the need to constantly snack on food so as to suppress weight gain.
2. Cassava cures migraines
The presence of vitamin B2 and riboflavin in tubers is useful for curing headaches and migraines. Eating cassava can help reduce constant migraine attacks.
The trick is to take 60 grams of roots or cassava leaves and soak them in water for 2 hours then make the juice. This will reduce the severity of your migraine.
3. Cassava improves digestive health
As mentioned above, cassava is rich in dietary fiber which is very beneficial for the body and its function.
Insoluble fiber helps in improving your digestive system by absorbing all the poisons stored in your intestine, and also by reducing inflammation in your digestive tract.
4. Cassava treats diarrhea
The antioxidant properties of the roots can help overcome flaccid stools.
If you suffer from diarrhea, boil the roots in water for one hour and consume them.
This will help to get rid of bacteria that cause stomach problems and reduce the symptoms of diarrhea as well.
5. Cassava improves vision
One of the other main benefits of cassava is that it is beneficial to your eye health.
Consumption of controlled cassava can help your body with the vitamins and minerals needed.
Filled with vitamin A content, cassava can help improve your vision, it can also prevent blindness or poor vision.
6. Cassava heals wounds
The whole cassava plant, namely the stems, leaves and roots are all useful in treating wounds.
Roots can help prevent wounds from becoming infected and speed healing.
7. Cassava cures fever
Cassava can be used to treat mild fever.
When boiled together with cassava leaves, it increases the ability to relieve fever. You can make potions from both of them and drink them to reduce your body temperature.
8. Cassava cleanses worms
Eating cassava can help relieve nematode lice in your stomach and intestines. Cassava roots help remove worms in your intestines and provide assistance.
9. Cassava increases appetite
Carbohydrates and fiber in cassava play an important role in regaining your appetite.
If you feel weak and have no appetite, maybe for emotional or physical reasons, try putting a few pieces of cassava into your menu.
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10. Cassava increases energy
Because cassava is rich in carbohydrates, edible tubers are very useful in instantly increasing your energy.
This helps improve the functioning of your brain and supplies energy.
How to cook Jamaican Bammy
Visit cooklikeajamican.com for more info
Preparation time 15m
Cooking time 15m
1 or 2 Packs of Jamaican Bammy
Jamaican Bammy is best described as a flat bread. It is traditionally eaten with Ackee and Saltfish, Calaloo, steamed or fried fish.
There are two quick and easy ways to prepare bammy: Toasted in an oven or fried in hot oil. It’s a delicious gluten-free substitute for bread with your meal.
Instructions
1. Soaking: In a shallow dish soak 2 bammy in 1/2 cup of coconut milk or salted water. Pour half the liquid over bammy; flip bammy and pour the rest of the liquid; let stand for about 5 minutes. Note if you are using canned coconut milk dilute milk 50:50 with water
2. Toasting: Broil both sides of bammy until toasted. Cut open and spread inside with butter while still hot
3. Frying: Fry both sides of bammy in hot oil until golden brown. Cut in quarters
Great for Vegitarians
Vegetarian Recipe
• 1 packet(s) Grace Coconut Milk Powder
• 2 1/2 cup(s) water
• 2 stalk(s) escallion
• 3 clove(s) garlic
• 2 medium carrots
• 3 whole bammies
• 6 large okras
• 2 sprig(s) thyme
• 6 whole pimento berries
• 1 small green scotch bonnet pepper
• 1 packet(s) Grace Cock Soup Mix
Vegetarian Steamed Bammy Directions
• Rehydrate Grace Coconut Milk Powder with water and bring to a boil.
• Beat escallion, chop garlic, dice carrot, cut each bammy into 4 pieces and okras in halves.
• Add seasoning and carrots and steam for about 5 minutes then add bammies and okra.
• Sift in seasoning from the Grace Cock Soup Mix.
• Stir well, cover and steam for a further 10 minutes.
Where to buy online
This is what the pack looks like. There are 2 flatbreaded in each pack
Promoting a local business opportunity isn’t easy these days.
Whether it’s because of oversaturation or complicated search engine algorithms, it’s all too easy to feel like no one will find your business in the local or national search results.
Luckily, there’s an easy way to improve your local SEO. All you have to do is list your business in online business directories such as Yellow Pages, Manta, and more. This is called building citations, and it’s a critical piece of a local marketing strategy.
What is a business directory?
A business directory is an online list of businesses within a particular niche, location, or category. One way local businesses can get found by online searchers is through inclusion in business directories.
Why you need to get listed in multiple relevant business directory?
Today, Google is inserting itself between consumer and local business websites much more often. For proof, you need to look no further than Google My Business, Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), featured snippets, and most importantly, local packs.
By building citations, you can make sure that you appear in these local packs when people look for businesses like yours in their area. Business directories may seem like a thing of the past, but they’re a great way to grow your presence online.
You can improve visibility by listing your local business’ NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) on directories, online business listing sites, and citation sites. Aside from improving your local SEO, these can also improve your rankings on search engines because the listings usually link back to your site.
Make sure your company listing has the following information once you add it to a directory:
• Consistent NAP. If you add or update your business on multiple business listing sites, make sure you’re providing the same company information across each directory.
• A link to your website. Backlinks — also known as inbound links — are crucial to your company website’s Domain Rating. Consider adding a tracking link at the end of this URL as well, so you can see how much traffic your website specifically gets from the business directories that are linking to it.
• A company description. Make sure you have a detailed description of your business that reflects your organization’s mission, culture, and values.
• Multimedia. Give company searchers a visual taste of your business with a picture or video of your office, your employees, or your daily business operations.
There are plenty of location-specific and industry-specific business listing sites where you can submit your data. To start promoting your local business, however, you should start with the big sites and work your way toward the more niche directories.
First, let’s go over the top free business directories.
• Dun & Bradstreet Business Directory (Domain Rating = 80)
• Local.com (Domain Rating = 79)
• Hotfrog (Domain Rating = 79)
• ChamberofCommerce.com (Domain Rating = 79)
• 2FindLocal (Domain Rating = 46)
• EZlocal (Domain Rating = 78)
• Brownbook.net (Domain Rating = 77)
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Since the spread of Covid 19 around the world I like many others have been looking for natural herbs to help stay healthy. Of course there are lots of herbal remedies being touted on YouTube and some herbal distributors injecting hashtags relating to a virus to help push there product up the search engine.
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I usually buy my spices from the local Delhi Shop mainly because of the wide range and competitive prices. A few weeks ago I noticed that one of the boxes was empty, this is rare I thought, not just one box but five! The label read CARDAMOM. Is there a secret we don’t know about? Well I didn’t have time to do a search but I took a photo of the label to remind me to go investigate later.
To my amazement later on that day I found this some info on the 10 Health Benefits of Cardamom, Backed by Science! So what is Cardamom? It is a spice with an intense, slightly sweet flavor that some people compare to mint. It originated in India but is available worldwide today and used in both sweet and savory recipes. The seeds, oils and extracts of cardamom are thought to have impressive medicinal properties and have been used in traditional medicine for centuries (1, 2).
Here are 10 health benefits of cardamom, backed by science.
1. Antioxidant and Diuretic Properties May Lower Blood Pressure Cardamom may be helpful for people with high blood pressure. In one study, researchers gave three grams of cardamom powder a day to 20 adults who were newly diagnosed with high blood pressure. After 12 weeks, blood pressure levels had significantly decreased to the normal range (3Trusted Source).
The promising results of this study may be related to the high levels of antioxidants in cardamom. In fact, the participants’ antioxidant status had increased by 90% by the end of the study. Antioxidants have been linked to lower blood pressure (3Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source). Researchers also suspect that the spice may lower blood pressure due to its diuretic effect, meaning it can promote urination to remove water that builds up in your body, for example around your heart.
Cardamom extract has been shown to increase urination and decrease blood pressure in rats (5Trusted Source).
SUMMARY
Cardamom may help lower blood pressure, most likely due to its antioxidant and diuretic properties.
2. May Contain Cancer-Fighting Compounds The compounds in cardamom may help fight cancer cells. Studies in mice have shown that cardamom powder can increase the activity of certain enzymes that help fight cancer (6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).
The spice may also enhance the ability of natural killer cells to attack tumors (8Trusted Source).
In one study, researchers exposed two groups of mice to a compound that causes skin cancer and fed one group 500 mg of ground cardamom per kg (227 mg per pound) of weight per day (7 Trusted Source).
After 12 weeks, only 29% of the group who ate the cardamom developed cancer, compared to over 90% of the control group (7Trusted Source).
Research on human cancer cells and cardamom indicate similar results. One study showed that a certain compound in the spice stopped oral cancer cells in test tubes from multiplying (9Trusted Source).
Even though the results are promising, these studies have only been conducted on mice or in test tubes. Human research is needed before stronger claims can be made.
SUMMARY
Certain compounds in cardamom may fight cancer and stop the growth of tumors in mice and test tubes. Human research is needed to validate if these results apply to humans as well.
3. May Protect from Chronic Diseases Thanks to Anti-Inflammatory Effects Cardamom is rich in compounds that may fight inflammation. Inflammation occurs when your body is exposed to foreign substances. Acute inflammation is necessary and beneficial, but long-term inflammation can lead to chronic diseases (10Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source, 12).
Antioxidants, found in abundance in cardamom, protect cells from damage and stop inflammation from occurring (13Trusted Source). One study found that cardamom extract in doses of 50–100 mg per kg (23–46 mg per pound) of body weight was effective in inhibiting at least four different inflammatory compounds in rats (14Trusted Source). Another study in rats showed that eating cardamom powder decreased liver inflammation induced by eating a diet high in carbs and fat (15Trusted Source).
Though there are not as many studies on the anti-inflammatory effects of cardamom in humans, research shows that supplements may increase antioxidant status by up to 90% (3Trusted Source).
SUMMARY
The antioxidant compounds in cardamom may help protect cells from damage and slow down and prevent inflammation in your body.
4. May Help with Digestive Problems, Including Ulcers Cardamom has been used for thousands of years to help with digestion.
It’s often mixed with other medicinal spices to relieve discomfort, nausea and vomiting (1). The most researched property of cardamom, as it pertains to relieving stomach issues, is its possible ability to heal ulcers.
In one study, rats were fed extracts of cardamom, turmeric and sembung leaf in hot water before being exposed to high doses of aspirin to induce stomach ulcers. These rats developed fewer ulcers compared to rats that only received aspirin (16Trusted Source). A similar study in rats found that cardamom extract alone could completely prevent or reduce the size of gastric ulcers by at least 50%.
In fact, at doses of 12.5 mg per kg (5.7 mg per pound) of body weight, cardamom extract was more effective than a common anti-ulcer medication (17Trusted Source). Test-tube research also suggests that cardamom may protect against Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria linked to the development of most stomach ulcer issues (18Trusted Source). More research is needed to know if the spice would have the same effect against ulcers in humans.
SUMMARY Cardamom may protect against digestive issues and has been shown to reduce the number and size of stomach ulcers in rats.
5. May Treat Bad Breath and Prevent Cavities The use of cardamom to treat bad breath and improve oral health is an ancient remedy. In some cultures, it’s common to freshen your breath by eating entire cardamom pods after a meal (1). Even the chewing gum manufacturer Wrigley uses the spice in one of its products.
The reason why cardamom can lead to minty fresh breath may have to do with its ability to fight common mouth bacteria (19Trusted Source). One study found that cardamom extracts were effective in fighting five bacteria that can cause dental cavities. In some test-tube cases, the extracts prevented the growth of the bacteria by up to 0.82 inches (2.08 cm) (20). Additional research shows that cardamom extract can reduce the number of bacteria in saliva samples by 54% (21). However, all of these studies have been conducted in test tubes, making it unclear how the results may apply to humans.
SUMMARY Cardamom is often used to treat bad breath and is a component of some chewing gums. This is because cardamom might be able to kill common mouth bacteria and prevent cavities.
6. May Have Antibacterial Effects and Treat Infections Cardamom also has antibacterial effects outside of the mouth and may treat infections. Research shows that cardamom extracts and essential oils have compounds that fight several common strains of bacteria (22Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source, 25Trusted Source).
One test-tube study examined the impact of these extracts on drug-resistant strains of Candida, a yeastthat can cause fungal infections. The extracts were able to inhibit the growth of some strains by 0.39–0.59 inches (0.99–1.49 cm) (26Trusted Source).
Additional test-tube research found that essential oils and extracts of cardamom were just as, and sometimes more effective than standard drugs against E. coli and Staphylococcus, bacteria that can cause food poisoning (23Trusted Source). Test-tube studies have also shown that cardamom essential oils fight the bacteria Salmonella that leads to food poisoning and Campylobacter that contributes to stomach inflammation (24Trusted Source, 25Trusted Source).
Existing studies on the antibacterial effects of cardamom have only looked at isolated strains of bacteria in labs. Therefore, the evidence is currently not strong enough to make claims that the spice would have the same effect in humans.
SUMMARY The essential oils and extracts of cardamom may be effective against a variety of bacterial strains that contribute to fungal infections, food poisoning and stomach issues. However, research has only been conducted in test tubes and not in humans.
7. May Improve Breathing and Oxygen Use Compounds in cardamom may help increase airflow to your lungs and improve breathing. When used in aromatherapy, cardamom can provide an invigorating odor that enhances your body’s ability to use oxygen during exercise (27).
One study asked a group of participants to inhale cardamom essential oil for one minute before walking on a treadmill for 15-minute intervals. This group had a significantly higher oxygen uptake compared to the control group (27). Another way that cardamom may improve breathing and oxygen use is by relaxing your airway. This may be particularly helpful for treating asthma. A study in rats and rabbits found that injections of cardamom extract could relax the throat air passage. If the extract has a similar effect in people with asthma, it may prevent their inflamed airways from restricting and improve their breathing (28).
SUMMARY Cardamom may improve breathing by stimulating better oxygen uptake and relaxing air passage to the lungs in humans and animals. . May Lower Blood Sugar Levels When taken in powder form, cardamom may lower blood sugar.
One study found that feeding rats a high-fat, high-carb (HFHC) diet caused their blood sugar levels to remain elevated longer than if they were fed a normal diet (15Trusted Source).
When rats on the HFHC diet were given cardamom powder, their blood sugar did not stay elevated for longer than the blood sugar of rats on a normal diet (15Trusted Source).
However, the powder may not have the same effect in humans with type 2 diabetes. In a study in over 200 adults with this condition, participants were divided into groups that took only black tea or black tea with three grams of either cinnamon, cardamom or ginger every day for eight weeks (29Trusted Source).
The results showed that cinnamon, but not cardamom or ginger, improved blood sugar control (29Trusted Source). In order to better understand the effect of cardamom on blood sugar in humans, more studies are needed.
SUMMARY A study on rats suggests that cardamom may help decrease high blood sugar levels, but more high-quality human studies are needed.
Now is agreat time to take a look at the quality of your food
9. Other Potential Health Benefits of Cardamom In addition to the aforementioned health benefits, cardamom may be good for your health in other ways as well. Studies in rats have found that the high antioxidant levels in the spice may prevent both liver enlargement, anxiety and even aid weight loss:
Liver protection: Cardamom extract may decrease elevated liver enzymes, triglyceride and cholesterol levels. They may also prevent liver enlargement and liver weight, which reduces the risk of fatty liver disease (30, 31Trusted Source, 32Trusted Source, 33Trusted Source).
Anxiety: One rat study suggests that cardamom extract may prevent anxious behaviors. This may be because low blood levels of antioxidants have been linked to the development of anxiety and other mood disorders (34Trusted Source, 35Trusted Source, 36Trusted Source).
Weight loss: A study in 80 overweight and obese prediabetic women found a link between cardamom and slightly reduced waist circumference. However, rat studies on weight loss and the spice have not found significant results (15Trusted Source, 37Trusted Source) The number of studies on the link between cardamom and these potential benefits is limited and mostly done on animals.
Furthermore, the reasons why the spice may help improve liver health, anxiety and weight are unclear.
SUMMARY: A limited number of studies suggests that cardamom supplements may decrease waist circumference and prevent anxious behaviors and fatty liver. The reasons behind these effects are unclear but may have to do with the spice’s high antioxidant content.
10. Safe for Most People and Widely Available Cardamom is generally safe for most people. The most common way to use cardamom is in cooking or baking. It’s very versatile and often added to Indian curries and stews, as well as gingerbread cookies, bread and other baked goods.
The use of cardamom supplements, extracts and essential oils is likely to become more common in light of the promising results of research on its medicinal uses. However, there is currently no recommended dose for the spice since most studies have been on animals. The use of supplements should be monitored by a health professional. Furthermore, cardamom supplements may not be suitable for children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Most supplements recommend 500 mg of cardamom powder or extract once or twice a day. The FDA does not regulate supplements, so be sure to choose brands that have been tested by a third party if you’re encouraged to try cardamom supplements by a healthcare provider. If you’re interested in trying cardamom, remember that adding the spice to your foods may be the safest way.
SUMMARY Using cardamom in cooking is safe for most people. Cardamom supplements and extracts have not been thoroughly researched and should only be taken under the guidance of a healthcare provider.
The Bottom Line Cardamom is an ancient remedy that may have many medicinal properties. It may lower blood pressure, improve breathing and aid weight loss.
What’s more, animal and test-tube studies show that cardamom may help fight tumors, improve anxiety, fight bacteria and protect your liver, though the evidence in these cases is less strong. However, little or no human research exists for a number of the health claims associated with the spice. More studies are needed to show if or how the results of preliminary research apply to humans.
Nevertheless, adding cardamom to your cooking may be a safe and effective way to improve your health. Cardamom extracts and supplements may also provide benefits but should be taken with caution and under the supervision of a doctor.
But, how different are they? And, which is better, discipline or motivation?
Discipline vs. Motivation
“One of the first things to realise is that self-discipline is different from self-motivation. You might be able to do the things you’re supposed to, but that’s not the same thing as being motivated to a higher purpose, or having the self-motivation to keep going when your willpower is depleted.
“Willpower has been recognised as a limited resource — something that you can ‘use up.’ If you repeatedly resist temptation or force yourself into something, eventually you wear down and it becomes harder and harder.”
If you really want to keep going, you need that self-motivation that helps sustain you when the decision fatigue sets in and your willpower runs low.
In real life, when fear, fatigue, and doubt set in, no speech can provide the motivation you need to keep going. The only thing you and your team can rely on is discipline and faith.
Discipline is cherished in the army for instance. They cultivate it in everything they do, from how they fight to how they dress, cut there hair, and clean there rooms.
Discipline also provides a template for what businesses should identify and develop in their employees. More than any other quality, discipline is what drives a person to succeed when faced with adversity. And that’s what the real world is: adversity.”
Discipline, is what “drives you to do the work you don’t enjoy, but is required. Discipline conquers fear. Discipline keeps you going when your curiosity, motivation, and excitement evaporate.”
While motivation is a good quality to possess, it’s not as important as discipline.
The Anatomy of Discipline
1. It takes consistent self-discipline to master the art of setting goals, time management, leadership, parenting and relationships. If we don’t make consistent self-discipline part of our daily lives, the results we seek will be sporadic and elusive.
2. It takes a consistent effort to truly manage our valuable time. Without it, we’ll be consistently frustrated. Our time will be eaten up by others whose demands are stronger than our own,
3. It takes discipline to conquer the nagging voices in our minds:
the fear of failure,
the fear of success,
the fear of poverty,
the fear of a broken heart.
4. It takes discipline to keep trying when that nagging voice within us brings up the possibility of failure.
5. It takes discipline to admit our errors and recognise our limitations.
6. It takes discipline to seperate the voice of the human ego that speaks to all of us.
That voice tells us to magnify our value or accomplishments beyond our actual results.
It leads us to exaggerate, to not be totally honest.
7. It takes discipline to be totally honest, both with ourselves and with others.
8. It takes discipline to change a habit and to plan.
Being disciplined is one of the best ways to remain productive, this is because it increases self-confidence, patience, and teaches you how to overcome failure.
Most importantly, self-discipline ensures that you’re not driven by impulse.
You Still Need Both
However, when Gro Jordalen from the Norwegian School of Sports Sciencesstudiedthe correlation between motivation and self-discipline in athletes, she determined that these elite athletes rely on both.
Jordalen studied national level athletes between 16 and 20 years old and determined that in the short term, they need to be very disciplined to stay motivated. For the long term, being motivated makes it easier to remain disciplined.
“These are new and exciting findings. We used to regard self-discipline as a tool to become more motivated. Now, we see that strong self-discipline influences how motivated the athletes are,” Jordalen says.
Jordalen also found that the athletes were more prone to burn out if they were driven by extrinsic motivation.
“Showing restraint and being disciplined can be more draining if motivation is fueled by extrinsic factors. This would increase the risk of ending up feeling exhausted and being burned out. If the athletes are driven by intrinsic motivation, it is easier to resist things that would negatively affect their daily schedule. This way, the athletes keep their training in check,” says Jordalen.
In my experience, motivation is what’s needed to get up-and-running. But, discipline is needed to stay on the right course.
In short, you need both factors to be successful.
Tips of Developing Self-Discipline
Personally,learning how to become self-motivatedwasn’t as challenging as developing self-discipline. I’m not exactly sure why. But, it’s definitely been more challenging for me.
Of course, with a little extra effort, I’ve been able to successfully develop self-discipline. This, when used in conjunction with motivation, has made me even more successful. And, you too can harness the power of discipline by doing the following.
Take baby steps.
This was perfectly explained in an article over atWisdomination.
“Your brain resists abrupt changes. If you motivate yourself to a titanic “Starting tomorrow, I’m a new person” effort, you’ll only burn out and revert. Big and sudden just doesn’t work, slow and steady does it. It’s the yo-yo effect of discipline. You want to surf the edge of your comfort zone, which is the only sustainable attitude.
When you progress in baby steps, you will find yourself a new person a year hence, not knowing precisely when or how it happened.
The trick here is to make a small change and let your brain accept it as the new baseline.This will make the next step easier, because the baseline moved. Wash, rinse, repeat.
Because you’re surfing, which means the wave is moving forward beneath you. Cool stuff.
What I’m gonna say now may sound banal, but it really isn’t: Big things are composed of small things. Small changes that you stick to and follow every day add up to surprisingly massive results.”
For example, if you spend five minutes every day organising your office, you’ll quickly notice how more productive you’ll be because it’s clean and organised.
If you start taking the stairs instead of the elevator, those small calories burned will add-up to lost pounds – and a boost of energy as well.
Start prioritising.
Since you only have so many hours in a day, along with a limited amount of energy, you need to start prioritising. This means completing your most important tasks before moving on to something else.
Learn from past mistakes.
Do you know what separates those with strong self-discipline from those who don’t? Those with internal discipline have learned from their past mistakes. This not only ensures that they won’t repeat the same mistakes, it also improves your discipline.
For example, if you went through a bankruptcy with your previous business, you may be better suited to handle it again. I’m not saying you will, I’m merely pointing out that you survived it the first and now you know what to do to overcome this challenge based on your past experience.
Take frequent breaks.
It definitely takes discipline to create and stick to a routine. For instance, I have a strict morning routine where I wake-up around 5 a.m. This allows me to plan my day, exercise, and catch-up on things like my emails, the news, or book I’ve been reading.
At the same time, self-discipline is also means that that youschedule frequent breaksthroughout the day. You need this time to recharge and refocus so that you can focus on the rest of your day.
Practice good habits.
Those who are disciplined have good, daily habits.
They’ll skip that burger for a salad. They’ll leave a party early so that they can get a good night’s sleep. They’ll make the time to fit-in a workout.
Developing good habits is no easy task. But, it keeps you mentally, emotionally, and physically in shape.
Want to direct followers to your website, appointment form or online store?
With a few simple tactics, you can generate quality website traffic from Instagram.
In this article you’ll discover how to use Instagram to drive traffic to your website
1: #Add a Website Link to Your Bio
The most common way to lead Instagram followers to your website is to use the “link in bio” tactic. Instagram lets you include one clickable link in your bio, so make sure you use it effectively. To add a link, go to Edit Profile and type it in the Website text box.
In Birchbox’s Instagram bio below, their link directs followers to a customer appreciation day promotion on the company’s website.
Make sure you include a website link in your bio.
With the tool Have2Have.it, you can use your bio link to direct followers to a page with the same look and feel as your Instagram feed, where they can click images to purchase your products or read your content.
The New York Times has a Have2Have.it link in their Instagram bio. When followers click the link, they’re taken to a curated page with the top stories of the day. Users can click on an image to see the story behind it.
The New York Times uses a Have2Have.it link to drive traffic from Instagram to their online content.
With an analytics dashboard, you can gain key insights to see what content performs best. Focus on high-performing posts to form a content strategy.
By tracking clicks on Instagram, you can increase revenue and subscribers to online content (such as blog posts), newsletters or email campaigns. Of course, you’ll want to track your click-through rate, so use a shortened Bitly link or vanity URL to know where your clicks are coming from.
Overall, you can use this tactic for any links including an ecommerce website, YouTube channel or company blog. To take it a step further, create an Instagram landing page that captures email addresses through downloadable content like an ebook. The landing page design should mirror the look of your Instagram feed so there’s a visual connection for the user.
2: #Place a Call to Action on Images
Design Instagram photos that convert. You can layer a call to action and your website URL directly onto an aesthetically pleasing photo.
In Canva’s post below, the image has a call to action asking followers to enter a contest for a year of free access. The photo caption then directs users to click the link in Canva’s bio.
Add a call to action to your images.
This technique is beneficial for Instagram contests where you ask your followers to enter their email information on your website. Now, you have a strong piece of shareable branded content that drives followers to your contest.
3: #Include a URL in Videos
Instagram video brings digital storytelling to life. In fact, videos on Instagram generate three times more inbound links than image posts, so it’s definitely worthwhile to invest in a 15-second narrative.
Brands like Dollar Shave Club use video in innovative ways to spice up their Instagram feed. Their videos work similarly to a television commercial.
Include a URL in your videos to direct Instagram users to your website.
Dollar Shave Club’s videos include the URL in a text overlay and a voiceover (“Shave with a fresh blade anytime; try Dollar Shave Club.com”) that further drives Instagram followers to their website. The videos are quick, fun and engaging, making viewers want to learn more.
4: #Invest in Instagram Ads
Instagram recently announced it was opening its API to all companies and brands. By investing in the platform, you can target the right audience demographic through people’s interests. With an ad spend alongside your Instagram strategy, you’re likely to see an increase in website visits and ecommerce conversions.
Clickable links in Instagram ads give you an opportunity not only to be creative, but also let your followers learn more about your digital campaigns or attribute direct revenue from Instagram.
There are three types of sponsored Instagram ads: image, video and carousel.
Image ads are single photos that tell a story with their imagery.
An Instagram ad with a single photo.
Video ads differ from organic Instagram videos. They can be up to 30 seconds long, and you can shoot in portrait or landscape format.
An Instagram video ad.
Carousel ads enhance your Instagram storytelling because they can include up to four photos. Retailers, car companies and non-profits have been at the forefront of this new ad product. All three types of ads include a clickable Learn More button that takes followers to your website.
An Instagram carousel ad.
To create ads in Instagram, follow these steps in Facebook’s Power Editor.
With Instagram ads, you can create awareness in a broader audience and promote campaigns that prioritise conversions by tracking sales and views.
5: #Leverage the Reach of Influencers
Sometimes you need an extra push to build brand awareness and extend your reach. By working with influencers, you can amplify your message.
Connect with influencers in your niche or industry (whether that’s fashion, beauty, sports or other verticals) to create effective Instagram content. Influencers capture followers’ attention because they’re recognizable and trusted for their product advice and reviews.
Instagram influencers are digital celebrities with loyal followers.
When working with influencers,make sure they use effective calls to action to send their followers to your website. This can be done through Instagram videos or with powerful copy that links to your website also check for any costings.
Final Thoughts
As Instagram becomes a revenue-based social channel predicted to outperform Twitter and Google in ad sales by 2017, make sure your Instagram strategy is focused on driving leads to your website. You can learn about follower data to form content strategies, drive revenue and brand awareness from clickable links and promote blog posts right on the platform.
What do you think? Have you converted Instagram followers to your website? What are your goals for Instagram conversions? What Instagram marketing tools do you use to optimise leads and engagement? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Fear of failure and not standing out from the crowd will not get you far up the ladder of success
article by Diane Shawe M.Ed. Ed
Four monkeys were placed in a room that had a tall pole in the center. Suspended from the top of that pole was a bunch of bananas. One of the hungry monkeys started climbing the pole to get something to eat, but just as he reached out to grab a banana, he was doused with a torrent of cold water.
Squealing, he scampered down the pole and abandoned his attempt to feed himself.
Each monkey made a similar attempt, and each one was drenched with cold water. After making several attempts, they finally gave up.
Then researchers removed one of the monkeys from the room and replaced him with a new monkey. As the newcomer began to climb the pole, the other three grabbed him and pulled him down to the ground.
After trying to climb the pole several times and being dragged down by the others, he finally gave up and never attempted to climb the pole again.
The researchers replaced the original monkeys, one by one, and each time a new monkey was brought in, he would be dragged down by the others before he could reach the bananas.
In time, the room was filled with monkeys who had never received a cold shower. None of them knew why.
Are you using Instagram to market your business?
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