Your body-temple guide
CLEAN LIVING
MAY 2017
Avoid the caffeine slump
Plant-based beauty
Your body, your space
May 2017 Clean Living Price £3.99
Tips to tackle your daily anxiety
IN THIS ISSUE
MAY CONTENTS 4 The Scientific Secrets 7 My body, my space 10 If I Wasn’t Anxious 16 Beauty Review
8 Spotting Toxic Relationships
18 Toxic relationships
10 If I Wasn’t Anxious
4 The Scientific Secrets
The scientific secrets W
e‟ve all experienced times of
complete and utter exhaustion in the face of ever-looming work, deadlines and commitments. Whether it‟s the typical afternoon slump, the bleary-eyed mornings or the late-night study session, most of us have lamented our fragile human condition, wishing for just another ounce more of energy in order to finish that last assignment and drag our weakened, sleep-deprived bodies over the finishing line for a welldeserved nap. In these desperate times, energy drinks have provided us with mental comfort at the expense of a much-needed rest. When the essay is due in 3 hours time and we‟ve only just started writing our introduction, the good „ole can of Rockstar or
Redbull stands trustingly besides us as we endeavour on the last leg of our adventure together in the metaphorical dragon‟s den that is essay writing. I‟m sure the majority of people know that energy drinks are bad for your health - nothing that tastes that synthetic and looks the colour of piss possibly could be. But the caveat of “How dangerous can it really be?” echoes strongly with the rising amount of brands stocking our shelves.
“How dangerous can it really be?”
Shedding some light
A recent study by The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota has demonstrated just how unhealthy fuelling our bodies with energy drinks can be. The researchers focused on Rockstar, an extremely popular brand especially amongst young people with a spectrum of fluorescent coloured cans and skimpily dressed girls as their promo material. The study involved drinking a can of Rockstar, and a can of a placebo – a similar tasting caffeinated drink, minus all of the extra stimulants which Rockstar boasts will help you “lead active lifestyles” on 2 different days, separated by 2 weeks. The 25 subjects, mainly young men between the ages of 2631 years of age, then participated in a range On a serious note, these results are frightening if we put them into the of stress tests whilst having their blood perspective of our average diets and the pressure and hormone levels measured. connections that are being made between Blood pressure also increased significantly fattening foods, sugary drinks, and lifeafter consuming Rockstar, compared with threatening illnesses. Rockstar is certainly not the placebo drink. Several types of blood the only unhealthy drink that we regularly pressure were measured, and each rocketed consume, with Coke also topping the lists. Mix in a littering of McDonalds, Ben & by 6.6 points on average. On top of this, the concentration of caffeine in our blood Jerry‟s, and our all-time favourite – alcohol, also increased significantly for Rockstar. It and we certainly have a few dietary lifestyle changes to be made. Incorporating fresh appears that this particular brand is a fruit, vegetables and lean cuts of meat are deadly cocktail of heightened stress sure-fire ways to boost energy levels and hormones, blood pressures and excess sustain a healthy way of living. Next time, caffeine – beautiful! instead of reaching for that brightly-coloured can of stress, perhaps try a banana – known for its energy-boosting effects and high amounts of potassium. Page 5
My Body, My Space The Trials & Tribulations of a Mixed Race Young Woman
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hanks to my Caribbean heritage, I
have masses of unruly, curly brown locks. My relationship with my hair had always been a bit perilous, as a child I remember distinctly hating my frizzy mane that never seemed to grow long, but only up. I always wanted to have straight hair, the type of hair that grew long (like all the Disney princesses), the kind which it didn‟t matter if it got wet, and combs wouldn‟t disintegrate into tiny pieces when tackling the forest of my head.
I‟ve never really been fascinated by my hair, in fact, I hated it for most of my life. So when I was confronted with people wanting to touch my hair, I was shocked. Being 15, shy, cute and adorable (if I do say so myself), I accepted it. It wasn‟t much of a big deal to me, as long as I knew when it would happen.
Manners First
However, it seems that general politeness, personal space, and respect seems to be lacking for some. I have had But by the age of 11, I had had enough. moments where I‟m suddenly accosted I made the transition to chemically from behind with a hand creepily straightening my hair, which I now caressing my hair in a shopping centre. reflect on with horror and trepidation. I‟ve had complete strangers come up to However, after all the burnt scalps, me asking to touch me, my hair. terrible regrowth and dead hair, I was These types of situations aren‟t only again not happy, and at the age of 14, involving Caucasian people, as you may decided to undertake “The Big Chop”. expect living in the UK but from all Embracing my newly found freedom walks of life. Recently, I had an African with the rejection of heat treatments, my man approach me at a bus stop to touch curls grew. my hair – he did ask, but didn‟t wait for By the age of 15, I was sporting a royal an answer. Naturally, I recoiled in horror. tumble of spirals. This came with a whole new realm of discovery – people loved my hair.
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I believe this is a serious problem for many young women with Caribbean/ African descent living in the UK. This is not acceptable. We, as strong, young, enterprising women do not have to put up with this type of behaviour. From small children, we have to tolerate the opinions of others concerning our hair. I was fortunate, but there is an emerging trend of school and work uniforms disallowing afro hair. Natural, tidy, afro hair has been touted as “messy” and “unsightly”. I disagree.
It‟s taken some time, and my relationship with my hair will continue to transform and grow – but I now wear my afro spirals with pride. I‟m not trying to start a movement, nor break down “the establishment”, I just want to style my hair as I wish without anyone deeming it extreme or feeling the need to pet me. By doing so, I hope to inspire other women, and young girls to embrace their irreplaceable, luscious curls.
“I now wear my afro spirals with pride.” Do you have a similar experience? Or an awesome photo of your luscious locks? Let us know! @CleanLivingUK @CleanLivingUK Page 8
@CleanLivingUK
It Would Be Much Better If I Wasn’t Anxious This is usually the sentiment that follows any prolonged period of anxiety that I experience. It had almost become a self-loathing mantra where if I repeated it several times a day, my troubles would just disappear into thin air * poof * I learned that judgements such as these are bound to cause more harm than good; unfortunately, I only came to this wisdom after years of self-battering my own confidence. Two years ago, I decided to travel down the path of mindfulness in order to grasp some sort of control over my rampant thoughts and worries. I have always been fascinated by the Eastern cultures, and Buddhism in
particular. The idea that I could alter my own thought patterns in order to find a well-spring of inner peace was very enticing for someone who would usually tremble with fear at the slightest idea of eating in a restaurant or travelling long distances. My dabble into mindfulness, and other forms of self-care, has not been an easy one as this is no quick fix. But I have learnt some tricks of the trade that I think should be helpful for anybody considering this lifestyle change. Below are some of the tips that will change your life for the better if you suffer from anxiety.
1 in 4 people in Britain will suffer from a mental health problem in the next year Mild anxiety & depression are the most common mental health problems In 2013, there were 8.2 million cases on anxiety in the UK
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Tip #1 – Reduce Your Alcohol & Caffeine Intake This is a frightening prospect for many people, and as a 2nd year undergrad student this was a terrifying mountain to climb. I already knew that alcohol didn‟t really sit well with me and I did not consider myself a “drinker” by any standard. I had hoped to change this once reaching university at the tender age of 18, however I soon learnt that my body and mind were screaming “No!”. It is difficult to stick to this, and after a weekend binge with my boyfriend, I can say that I do not always do this one perfectly. And that is okay. The journey into self-help is not meant to be wrought with golden rules that you must punish yourself for when you
break them. The idea of this endeavour is to lessen the amount of worries you have, not increase them. Alcohol & caffeine have been touted as stimulants for years, and we all know the side-effects of having too much – horrific hangovers and the dreaded shakes. However, drinking both coffee & alcohol has become a staple across Western society. Both are portrayed as sophisticated within moderation. I suggest cutting down your intake gradually over the next 2 weeks and see if any improvements crop up. Try herbal teas or fruit-infused water for a tasty alternative.
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Tip #2 – Meditate Daily Many of us are in love with the idea of becoming a yogi, forever clad in comfortable yet sexy leggings, being able to hold your body up by your finger tips, and immense flexibility that is bound to come in handy in the bedroom. But there is more to the idea of meditation/yoga than the chic appearance it has been given in the West. The goal of meditation is to create a sense of mental training that will prevent anxious flare-ups in stressful situations. This can be achieved in many ways, but the most central tenet of meditation is “You are not your thoughts”. We become so wrapped up in what we think, that we take it as law. But this is not so. By challenging troublesome thoughts we are able to step back from the raging river and see that the current isn‟t running as fast as we thought, and that much of our worries come from decisions that we do not have to make.
The goal of meditation is to create a sense of mental training... Page 12
Tip #3 – Write It Down This tip actually stems from advice from CBT. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a very popular and effective way of dealing with our thoughts – which is why it is so helpful to use this along with the daily meditation. It packs twice the punch! CBT teaches us to look at ourselves as a whole, with the mind & body deeply connected. The physical symptoms of anxiety are uncomfortable and sometimes even scary – with chest pain, palpitations and stomach cramps among the frequent offenders. CBT enables us to look at these symptoms, along with our thoughts, and see the perpetuating cycle.
I know that worrying isn‟t good, but I did not think that my mind was strong enough to create the feeling of nausea and dizziness which I had become used to suffering with during stressful times. Writing these symptoms and thoughts down at the moment they occur can be an incredibly therapeutic method of noticing our individual patterns. I now carry around a cute little notebook pad and pen set which I received as a gift – I think my family just thought it was pretty, but it has become a life-line for me in challenging the perpetual worries which seem so real and authentic in the moment. By writing these down, you can start to see through them and eventually logically reason whether they are fact or just an evil, inflated opinion.
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Tip #4 – Get Those Z’s Sleep is your friend. We all know this deep down, and yet the Netflix binges easily carry onto 3am in the morning. Stop it. Turn it off. Get some rest. Sleep is vital for our bodies in a number of physiological ways – but it also helps us to mentally prepare for the trials and tribulations of the day ahead. When we lack rest, our brains become easily frazzled by the humdrum of everyday life and it can quickly turn into the plague of stress and anxiety. It is harder to bounce back from the exhausting moments that we have to deal with, and it can also put our hormone-regulation out of wack. The best way to cater to a better nights sleep is to create a bed-time routine. Some of my favourite things to do before sleep are to have a candle-lit bath, filled with luscious scents such as lavender and rosemary, perfect for preparing the mind & body for relaxation. Reading, having a face mask, and listening to soothing music (raid YouTube for all the best playlists) are also top of my list when I need an extra bit of care in my life. If you struggle once your head has hit the pillow, try keeping a piece of tissue with a light sprinkling of lavender oil. The soothing scent is known to relax the mind for slumber.
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Beauty Review: The Body Shop’s Almond Milk & Honey Scrub
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he Body Shop Goddesses have
bestowed upon us the newest line of tantalisingly named beauty products! The Almond Milk & Honey scent has been released in the wake of the winter blues to revitalise sore and beaten skin to its pristine beauty ahead of the spring and summer months. Targeted specifically for “Sensitive, Dry Skin”, this recent addition boasts 7 body care products to help you feel like the temple you are – even if you spend most of the time red and spotty like me. It
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appears time, love and care has gone into the design of this new range. With the cooling white and luscious yellow packaging, it already enthuses me with a strong sense of well-being and self-care. I have always been impressed with the scrubs that The Body Shop has to offer, and the now-discontinued Cocoa Butter Scrub was a staple on my shelf for my weekly bit of “me-time”. I was definitely in need of some TLC (student life does take its toll), so I decided to give the newest range a chance.
Beauty is as Beauty does Cleopatra has been touted as being one of the most beautiful women to ever live, and she used to swear blind to bathing in unpasteurised milk (not something I endorse). So with that said, when I saw the label promising ingredients such as “organic almond milk from Spain” and “hand-harvested honey from Ethiopia” I thought if it‟s good enough for Cleopatra, it‟s good enough for me – taking into account the new trend of cruelty free products of course.
rinsing, where the scrub effortlessly washes away, my skin is left feeling thoroughly moisturised and smelling delicious. The scent itself does end up masked by my more heavily scented moisturiser, but the feeling of smoothness is long-lasting. My stint with the exfoliator alone has been a promising one, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the other products within this delightful addition to The Body Shop family. It may even get me over my cocoa butter-less woes!
Get Set, Ready, Pamper The scent has a mix of subtle sweetness and extravagant creaminess to it that immediately transports you to your own personal spa. I always use scrubs in conjunction with exfoliating gloves to add in an extra layer of goodness and to bring out the full potential of the exfoliator. Upon application, this scrub is not too abrasive but instead instantly softens the skin. After
Interested? Here‟s the link to the web shop: https:// www.thebodyshop.com/engb/body/scrubs/almondmilk-honey-gentlyexfoliating-cream-scrub/p/ p002346 Happy Scrubbing!
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How to Recognise a Toxic Relationship 1. Energy drain
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A common symptom of a venomous connection is the continual lack of life where you realise that you‟re not energy you feel after an encounter. If getting what you want from a going for a coffee with an old school relationship – be it a work colleague, friend leaves you feeling sluggish and friend or even a parent. From the lasting irritable, it may be that they are asking fatigue, or the ensuing dread – being able more of you than you are willing to give. to recognise and eventually counteract a Critically noted as “vampires” such toxic relationship is an important life people in your life will constantly lesson that all of us will have to learn. demand more of you. There are certain Here are my five top tips in techniques that you can use in order to understanding exactly where you are dampen the full force of this leech-like standing when you are in the eye of the relationship – these include methods storm. such as separation meditation. Mental imagery using bubble “shelters” are a fantastic way to keep the brunt of the energy drain at bay. here comes a point in everyone‟s
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2. Dread Another typical indication that a relationship is taking more of your resources than replenishing them is a constant form of dread. Baulking when seeing the caller ID or stressing over spending time with someone are never good signs, and should be ones that you take heed of. These are indicative of a good moment to reassess the circumstances that you are putting yourself into. The mindbody connection is much stronger than general medical health gives it credit for, I believe that the body will tell you what you need, both in terms of nutrition and happiness. If your stomach is left in knots, or your jaw is clenched with tension in apprehension – listen to yourself and create some distance between you and the other.
3. Walking on egg shells There are definitely different identities that we showcase among various crowds – there‟s the you at work, the you at the gym, and the you dancing the night away. However, if you find that the person you are portraying is frequently being stifled by someone you are with, you may want to think twice about how pervasive they are in your life. Walking on egg shells can be a painful, but necessary part of life in some realms. However there is a limit to the amount of front stage performing you should do, as mentioned by Erving Goffman. Taking off the costume, and retreating to your own personal safe haven are not signs of weakness, but in fact a deep spiritual connection with your own body. As the Ancient Greeks said, “Know thyself ”.
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4. General dissatisfaction Friendships and relationships are meant to bring us joy through the sharing of care and compassion for another human. As social creatures, that have banded and evolved together over centuries, it is a fundamental requirement that we give and take with one another. However, we have slowly become much more isolated and enclosed with only a few people over the course of time. Society has changed to focus on households of a few, rather than the large, tumbling families we speak of in the pre-war ages. So, if there is someone you don‟t get along with, a sibling or parent, you‟re essentially stuck with them between four walls for the first years of your life at least. This type of relationship can cause a sense of expectation when it comes to your role, “Oh, I must do this to be a good daughter”, or “I can‟t do that because my brother won‟t approve”. These are mantras that become ingrained in our heads from childhood, and we carry them on throughout our adult lives. This can lead to the same downfall occurring again and again in new relationships. Statistics show that girls who witness domestic abuse are more likely to accept this type of behaviour in their own relationships. If a sense of general dissatisfaction is looming over you whenever you take some time to reflect, it may be a sign to make some changes to the dynamic of your relationships with others. Only by healing ourselves are we able to present a better self to others – start at home. Page 20
5. Endless cycle This is related to the last point but can also be applied more generally within a specific person. If your mother berates you for making your own life decisions that she doesn‟t agree with, expect that she will always berate you. The same goes for that friend who always cancels at the last minute – people are habitual creatures. Now, it is possible to change these automatic pilot moments, and apparently it only takes 21 days to build a new habit into your life. However, there must be a certain degree of awareness before this happens. A person cannot change if they do not understand that they have to. Similarly, you cannot force anyone to take the plunge. It is extremely painful to see a loved one repeat the same venomous behaviour day in and day out, but you don‟t have to save them. You don‟t have to save anyone but yourself. Besides, what can you really do if you stay in such a negative environment with constant energy drain, social anxiety and discomfort? Happiness starts from within, as the Dalai Lama teaches. You have a responsibility to your own wellbeing to take control of your life and foster the most positive environments for selfdevelopment and growth.
It is difficult to recognise that you are in a tornado when you are in the eye of it, but it is vital for your own development as a compassionate and fully functional adult. You owe it to yourself and to the others around you that you take control of your own life. We are constantly bombarded with messages that “me time” is a selfish concept, but in order to contribute to society with loving kindness it is important to foster this within ourselves, and cultivate healthy relationships with others. Even if that means distancing ourselves from negative loved ones.
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@CleanLivingUK @CleanLivingUK @CleanLivingUK
Disclaimer This magazine was produced by a student at The University of Kent for the module ‘Writing in the Media’ for purely educational reasons. The content does not have any commercial or functional usage outside of its educational purposes.