Mattress Buyer’s Guide: What Shoppers Should Know

Buying a mattress probably isn’t going to be the most complex decision of your life. The fact is that mattresses are expensive though, and going home with one you don’t really like can be a costly mistake.

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Getting to touch every mattress and sleep on it at home isn’t a very good option though. After all, most sellers won’t let you take a mattress home, sleep on it for a few weeks and then say you don’t like it.

Whether you’re in the market for an ultra-expensive mattress that you’ll keep for 20 years, or you just need something to get you through the next six months, there are a ton of options out there. Keep reading to learn more about buying a mattress so you don’t end up with buyer’s remorse every time you go to bed.

Do Your Homework

Before you do anything when it comes to buying a mattress, you should take the time to check out the internet. From finding mattresses in your price range to picking stores that you can visit in the same day, doing a little online shopping, even if that’s not how you buy your mattress, is a wise move.

You’ll also be able to look for unique criteria. For example, many people want to find the best non-toxic mattresses they can to avoid sleeping on chemically-treated or potentially hazardous mattresses at night. Whatever your criteria is, doing some online shopping can help you narrow your options down.

Check Online Ratings

You can’t always judge a mattress or how much you’ll like it based on the ratings of other users. However, you can understand more about a mattress and whether or not it could be a good fit for you.

When you’re considering buying a new mattress, make sure you do some digging on ratings that real consumers have posted. Online rating sites are relatively easy to find, and in many cases, many good or negative reviews will tell you a lot about a mattress.

Try in Person

This may not always be possible if you’re buying a boutique mattress online, but if possible, trying to actually touch the mattress you’re thinking of buying is a wise decision. Most of the time stores will even order a specific mattress for you to try out if it’s part of their regularly carried line and just not in stock.

If you’re shopping for the perfect mattress, you very well may have to go to a few stores to try all of the common lines and products out there. Considering the fact that you’ll probably keep a mattress for five to 10 years, a day of checking out products shouldn’t be too much to ask.

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Caffeine and Health: What You Need to Know

Caffeine is considered as a part of our everyday lives since it is usually found in the most common beverage that people drink every day, which is coffee. Actually, a lot of people are drinking coffee because coffee is a perfect way to keep you going throughout the day.

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There are many benefits of caffeine and is even considered as a wonder drug. Caffeine primarily works as a powerful stimulant of the central nervous system. Because of this action, caffeine is classified as a psychoactive drug, since it stimulates the nervous system. Actually, caffeine is even considered as the world's widely used drug because of its effects in the body. Invest in a high-quality coffee maker if you want to start your day with a caffeinated drink.

In this article, I will inform you about the many benefits of caffeine and some of its negative effects.

Benefits of Caffeine

1. According to research, caffeine can help in reducing the risk for degenerative diseases of the brain such as Parkinson’s disease. Actually, a recent research has revealed it as a potential treatment for Parkinson’s disease. 

2. When you consume regular cups of coffee, which contains caffeine, you are less likely to develop gallstones. Caffeine will stimulate contraction of your gall bladder.

3. Caffeine can relieve headache pain by constricting blood vessels.

4. Caffeine aids in weight loss. This is good news to those battling with obesity. Caffeine reduced weight by helping you burn fat. 

5. Caffeine improves physical performance. Studies show that this wonder drug can improve your physical performance by 11-12%! This seems a joke but it’s actually true. Do you know how? Well, caffeine, as mentioned above, increases fat burning. When fat is burned, it’s readily available as fuel. Also, this substance is associated with increased levels of Adrenaline in your blood. This hormone makes you ready for any flight or fight.

6. Coffee which mostly contains caffeine can reduce the risk of developing diabetes type 2. To your surprise, the reduction can be as high as 67%. Diabetes is a chronic illness affecting millions of people worldwide.

7. Your liver is protected when you consume 4 or more cups of coffee. The liver is one of the main organs of the body which regulates metabolism among other many functions. Coffee can prevent liver diseases like hepatitis and cirrhosis. 

8. Caffeine has been associated with decreased risk of developing cancer. Cancer is another chronic illness which involves uncontrolled growth of body cells. When you take 4-5 cups of coffee, you will be at a lower risk of lung and liver cancer.

9. Caffeine lowers the risk of developing heart diseases like stroke. Are you surprised? Actually many people believe that caffeine increases blood pressure. This is actually true but the effect is minimal. When you drink coffee regularly, you will have a 20% lower risk of developing stroke.

However, if your blood pressure rises and remains elevated for some time, you may need to stop drinking coffee and consult your doctor.

10. Lastly, caffeine improves energy levels and can make you smart. Well, I know many people know this effect but, do you know how it works? Actually, caffeine is a stimulant and is considered a psychoactive substance. It blocks Adenosine which is a eurotransmitter and this in turn, increases other hormones like dopamine and norepinephrine. These hormones improve mood, memory, energy levels, and cognitive function.

 

Negative effects of Caffeine

With so many benefits, this psychoactive substance has its negative effects. They include;

1. It has been associated with osteoporosis which is a condition causing reduction of bone density.

2. Caffeine can lead to diabetes. When you take daily caffeinated drinks, you are at risk of hyperglycaemia which can lead to diabetes.

3. Caffeine interferes with sleep patterns and can lead to insomnia. This leads to fatigue during the day.

4. It can lead to addiction. When you take caffeine daily, its tolerance in your body is reduced. You will be required to increase the amount to achieve the same effect. 

5. Caffeine can cause dehydration. It’s a diuretic substance which increases urination. Dehydration can land you in the hospital, so beware!

Related article: 25 Negative Effects of Caffeine

As you have read, caffeine really qualifies for the name “wonder drug”. It has many benefits and also negative effects. You can control or prevent the negative effects by taking small amounts of drinks containing the substance.

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Important precautions you must aware of when choosing baby names

If you live in India it goes without saying that naming a newborn child is an auspicious occasion in the family where it is not just the parents of the child but the whole community comes together to decide the name of the newborn. But it should be kept in mind by these people that naming a child is a daunting but responsible job because while naming the baby they just do it but the child has to live with the name throughout his life. Just imagine a boy named ‘babloo’ by his relatives and being called by the same name even after he is 45 years old. The name of the child is going to be his identity so the best thing you can do for him/her is not to rush yourself when looking for suitable names or instantly deciding upon the first name that you feel is good.

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In India it is a custom that the decided name of the child is bestowed upon him on an auspicious day by an elderly relative or depending upon the custom of the caste the newborn belongs to. A small ceremony is performed known as Namkaran where friends and family gather to celebrate the occasion. Usually when the family is deciding the name for the baby there are some things that are taken into consideration which the sun or the moon signs under which the baby has been born. It is believed that if the name of the child is given according to his sign it is beneficial for his good future.

Nevertheless, if you are a new parent here are a few tips or precautions you would like to keep in mind before you name your child:

1.   Meaning:

Make the use of search engines like Google to know the meaning of the name you like so much. Just because you like the sound of the name, it is not necessary the meaning of the name is also good. Be doubly sure for your baby’s sake of the meaning of the name you have chosen as it could be a source of distress for him or her in the future.

2.   Religion:

People living in India are very fixated with naming their children according to their religion. Having inter-caste baby names like Hindu names for Muslim babies and Muslim baby names for Hindu babies is considered as taboo. So take precautions while researching names for your babies as the name and its meaning should match your religion.

3.   Pronunciation and spelling:

You don’t want a tongue twister for your baby’s name. The ultimate state of the name which the pronunciation is too long or which is hard to call out ends up having the name cut to a smaller size. ‘Abhyuthan’ becomes ‘Abhi’, ‘Sonalikalini’ becomes ‘Sona’ or ‘Sonu’ and what not. Also the spelling should be easy to write and remembered which makes it easier for the child in his/her learning years to remember it.

4.   Matching the gender of the baby:

This is the worst type of joke a parent can play with their child, not naming the child according to their gender. I had a male acquaintance who was named Jasmine because he was the youngest brother after four sisters. Isn’t it absolutely humiliating for the individual while growing up as he must have to face so much of teasing and endure sleazy remarks because of his name?

5.   Naming twins:

Looking for a single name for your child is daunting enough, but when parents have to name their twins it can be downright confusing. Usually parents go for rhyming names like Seeta and Geeta if it is girl and Ram and Shyam if it is a boy. It is advised to bestow unique names to the twins so that it resembles their spirit and identity.

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