Are you Overdosing on Caffeine?

For most, the thought of ingesting caffeine is a no brainer. It wakes you up, provides a jolt of energy when needed, and more often than not, acts as part of your daily routine. Coffee, tea, sodas – these are all beverages most consume as a rule rather than an exception. But considering all it can do – how awake we can get from a single beverage – it should come as no surprise that there are dangers when drinking too much of it. When overdosing the body on caffeine, all types of side effects can take place, including headaches, a feeling of dizziness, aches, chest pains, and more. Even fainting and feeling nauseated. 

Caffeine is a strong substance, and without enough time to let it metabolize, the body goes into overdrive mode, attempting to ward it off, or letting it affect you in ways other than just being ultra alert. On the flip side of the spectrum, those who are used to having caffeine every day can actually experience withdrawal symptoms, most notably, headaches. Once the body becomes accustomed to it, it learns to function alongside it. 

How Much is Too Much

There are several factors that play into how much becomes "too much" caffeine for each individual. Most notably, body size and genetics. Smaller adults (and especially kids) will be more greatly affected by small doses of caffeine. While caffeine allergies or reactions can also be passed down from parents. If you're not sure how caffeine affects you, talk to your doctor, parents, or simply keep track of how many beverages you've had, and take note as to how the body responds. 

Even those with the highest of tolerances can feel serious side effects when ingesting large amounts of caffeine. 

Talk to your doctor about caffeine intakes, or consider cutting back if you're experiencing ongoing side effects. 

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New Product! The LA Wedge Headrest Pillow

Picture this scenario: You're at the beach. You have a swim bag full of goodies, a towel to lay out on (or dry off with), and a cooler to keep drinks cold. It likely took you two or more trips just to get everything there, and now you have to dig through an entire bag to find your sunblock. 

Sounds stressful – even at the beach – right?

With the help of Contour Living's new product, the LA Wedge Headrest, all of the above just got a whole lot easier. 

What is it?

The LA Wedge Headrest is a two-in-one product. It serves as a comfortable pillow on which you can rest your head, and it holds your belongings safely in place. Hidden from plain sight. It's even insulated so you can use it as a cooler. Without losing out on pillow capabilities, of course. 

How it Works

The next time you're headed to the pool or beach, just pack up your goodies in your wedge compartment. Strap the convenient shoulder piece across your body, and head off for a good place to tan. Use the wedge as a pillow when laying out, and you're all set! Now you can reach in for a cold drink, your cell phone, or whatever else, whenever needed. 

And the rest of the time you have access to a comfortable pillow. All in one easy-to-use product.

Other perks:

• Choose from six bright colors – perfect for locating beach accessories.
• Consists of coated, sturdy foam to keep you upright and prevent water from reaching your belongings.
• It floats! No worries about losing this incredible device to a rogue wave!

Start reaping the benefits of this cool, comfortable product today. It's one product that'll have you saying "cowabunga" every time you reach the shore. 

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Is Insomnia a Warning Sign?

Anyone who has suffered from insomnia knows just how difficult it can be to live without rest. If you've experienced it for a night or two at a time, chances are you woke up tired and groggy. Perhaps the lack of sleep made you grumpy throughout the day. If you've experienced insomnia for weeks, you know that living without proper rest can seriously affect your ability to think and reason, even perform everyday tasks. And if you've been a victim of insomnia for even longer than that, you know all-too-well that it's incredibly hard-hitting. Because without proper rest, virtually nothing else in life can be done up to par – the body is tired constantly. The  brain simply can't function like it should. 

But is there more to insomnia than just how it affects our sleep? According to ongoing research, it could actually be an early warning sign of certain cognitive conditions, such as depression or stroke – and even venturing into dementia and Alzheimer's. While insomnia has been known to serve as a stand-alone symptom, more and more research suggests that it's actually caused by something more. Not just the body's inability to obtain rest. 

While medical professionals tend to disagree on the matter, there's no doubt that this new information is telling about the brain. Whether such conditions are caused by a lack of sleep, or because similar triggers to depression or Alzheimer's also prevent sleep from taking place.

If you're suffering from insomnia on a frequent basis, it's a good idea to talk with your medical professional about potential causes of your lack of sleep. They can also help you obtain rest – whether you collectively decide on narcotics or natural measures, in order to help regulate your body's sleep patterns. Getting help as soon as possible can also help reduce symptoms from worsening down the line. 

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How Scents Relax the Body

It can be difficult to wind down after a long day. When you're busy for so many hours on end and have an ongoing to-do list (sometimes ones that grow quicker than they get checked off), the body becomes stressed. And so does the mind. A normal reaction to such a "go go go" type of atmosphere. But when it's time to actually stop, to rest and relax rather than get in as much work as possible, the adjustment is then hard to achieve. 

By training the body to relax, however, this step can be much easier than it sounds. Especially when you have certain triggers to help get you there. In the same way that a work call can heighten your senses and put you into scheduling mode, the same can be done with relaxation. By drinking a hot cup of tea, or putting on comfortable pajamas, the mind can be alerted that it's time for winding down. Work is over, and now it's time for enjoyment – and the body picks up on those clues.

Perhaps nothing does this better than scents – in beverages (including teas), essential oils, candles, bath salts, and more. Not only are certain smells designed to calm the muscles and the brain – one of the biggest factors that keeps us up – over time, recognizing them will have an auto-effect on the body. Allowing it to instantly relax just as soon as familiar scents hit the nostrils.

Such relaxing triggers include lavender, lemon, peppermint, thyme, vanilla, and more. Use them before bed, or throughout the day to help ease the mind whenever you become stressed. Each can be put in foods, décor, in sniffing salts – or in whatever manner you prefer. So long as their natural aromas are allowed to flow freely, you can gain incredible bouts of relaxation with each passing smell. 

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Do You Sleep Better with Noise?

Sleeping is a very personal experience. It's something that everyone approaches differently, and likely has their own way about achieving it. For instance, showering, wearing specific PJs, or reading. Maybe fluffing the pillows a certain way tells your mind it's time for rest, or turning on the ceiling fan and cocooning yourself in. These little adjustments sound small, but they ready the brain for sleep. We often do them subconsciously.

Other times our choices are very conscious. Like getting into bed and turning off the lights. Turning on a noise machine, perhaps. There is a large portion of the population who prefer noise to help them sleep. Or rather, to choose the noise they listen to at night, rather than to be woken up to different noise. 

Constant Sounds and Obtaining Rest

There are unpredictable noises that cause us to wake, like storms, horns, and loud neighbors. Other predictable noises, like house creaks and air vents generally allow us to stay resting; our bodies know those sounds are supposed to be happening. But by blocking out the unwanted noises – the random loudness that cause us to wake – you can save yourself from losing sleep. 

This can be done with white noise machines, fans, or even gentle music. Air purifiers or humidifiers/dehumidifiers are also viable choices for static backgrounds. Add relaxing scents, or simply let the noise work in your favor. These options are especially helpful when sleeping outside of the home. When you're not used to the traffic frequencies or whether each bump in the night is something normal. 

So, do you sleep better with noise? Yes, so long as it's the right noise. Blaring sounds are obviously detrimental, while calm and constant hums can help keep you relaxed and rested the entire night. 

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4 Products to Help Keep Sleep Apnea in Check

When you don't sleep well, your entire day can suffer. Where you're tired, cranky, and irritable from not having earned good rest. Yet these moments causing such behavior can be quick and infrequent, in fact, we might not even remember them. But for anyone who has sleep apnea, quick wake ups can occur hundreds of times per night. 

With a combination of doctor-recommended advice, CPAP machines, and more, however, patients have worked to cure – or at least slow down – this ongoing problem.

To get the most out of your CPAP treatment, look to these popular Contour Living devices and accessories. 

CPAP Pillows

It can be hard to obtain rest when there's a mask covering your face. Especially for anyone sleeping on their side. To obtain better comfort, enlist the help of a CPAP pillow. Each has strategically placed cutouts so you can comfortably lay without mask pressure pushing back into your body (r your face!) and interrupting sleep.

Cleaning Wipes

Safe and effective, having these cleaning wipes nearby can help you ensure your mask is clean (and smell-free) at all times. Use on a regular basis, as well as daily when suffering from a cold, in order to keep your mask as clean as possible.

Face and Nasal Moisturizer

It's likely that, until you used a CPAP machine, never in your life did you think you'd need a nasal passage moisturizer. Yet with a constant stream of air running through it, the nose becomes suddenly very dry. Use this specialty-designed moisturizer, along with a face lotion, to help keep your skin as hydrated as possible.

Tube Holder

No one wants to roll over and hit their air tube – or even risk smashing it with their own body weight. With this holder, however, you can help keep your air supply readily in place, and in an ideal working position. 

To learn more or start shopping, head to the links above. 

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Foot Detox Remedies: Do They Work?

By now we know there's far more to a healthy lifestyle than just eating "healthy." Exercise, proper sleep routines, interaction with others, positivity, and more all contribute to taking care of your body, and allowing yourself to be a well-rounded, happy individual. With the help of natural remedies and old wives' tales, however, folks are able to boost those same efforts. Without the side effects of chemicals that are slated to slow us down … and essentially work toward the opposite effect we're striving for. 

Foot detoxification has been an ongoing trend growing in both use and skepticism. Where the feet are placed in various solutions in order to allow toxins to exit the body. Pads are also used, and work to pull those same toxins from foot pores. Results are said to not only remove unnatural substances from the body, but to increase relaxation, eliminate or decrease pain, boost wellness, etc. Those who are regulars even swear by it.

However, as the practice has become more popular (branching out from the "crunchy" or everything DIY community), more folks are getting in on the conversation. Especially skeptics and scientists, many of whom are working to prove these detox methods false.

But are they actually working? Or are the scientists right? 

There's no denying the rave customer reviews – those that are overjoyed with positivity. One could say that it's the placebo effect, of course. There's also evidence of actual toxins – funky colored water and footpads soaked in greens and blacks. Here, scientists proclaim that reactions within the soaks (some are electrically charged) change the color of the water. 

To find out who's right, it's a good idea to talk to a natural health guru. Or to try the method for yourself and see how it makes you feel. If nothing else, there are no side effects, other than cost, making it a minimal-risk quest. Or, schedule a talk with your medical doctor to find out more.

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How to Sleep Better on a Plane

Catching rest while traveling isn't exactly the easiest task. Sometimes it's even an impossible task – depending on your schedule and how many children are in close proximity. But when the timing is right, which is to say you have a long flight and courteous co-travelers – naps are a welcome occurrence. In order to gain rest even with distractions in place, we look to the help of industry pros. Flight attendants who offer their best advice at achieving sleep while traveling on a plane.

They suggest:

Boarding the plane without expectations of sleep. Sure it'd be great, but assuming it'll be a quiet, smooth ride is the easiest way for that to not occur. Instead, go in knowing that you'd like to sleep, but there's a good possibility it won't happen. Those who feel entitled to sleep, the flight attendants said, become the most irritable. Adding that reminding yourself how much you need rest is the best way to not be able to sleep – no matter where you're trying to doze. 

Window seats are also ideal for sleeping, as there's slightly more space to rest. (Rather than being wedged between two strangers.) They also point out seats that line up with interior lines so you can keep yourself alongside windows, rather than offset or near an uneven surface. 

Comfortable clothes are also key, such as pants with excess room and shoes that don't fasten too tight. Flying causes the human body to bloat and temporarily grow, meaning clothes can become even tighter in-air. 

Finally, plan for success. Pack a neck pillow, eye shades, back supports – whatever will help bring you comfort. You can also ask flight attendants for a blanket to help keep warm. Compiling all of the above, they say, can provide one of the most perfect recipes for in-air sleep. Keep them in mind the next time you travel. [Yahoo]

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Customer Reviews on the Cool Leg Pillow

You've heard about our leg pillows, how they align the spine and offer support to the parts of the body that need it most. But have you heard about the Cool Leg Pillow? A version of our long-time favorite that actually pulls heat from your body? Perfect for the dog days of summer, or for any hot sleeper year round! 

The pillow works by pulling and then absorbing heat made by your body, but without reducing comfort or cushion in the process. 

Check out to see what some of our repeat customer have had to say about it:

"I sleep on my side and my hip and knee would hurt when I got up. I haven't had any pain or problems with either since I started using the pillow. It stays in place all night, too." Marsha, June, 2015

"This is a great leg pillow to prevent your knees from rubbing together during sleep. I never liked these types of pillows in the past, but this one is perfect! It actually WORKS! Thanks, Contour Living for getting it to me so quickly!" Loveland, January, 2015

"I purchased this for my dad, who broke his back last year and has arthritis in his hip and knee. He hasn't been able to sleep from the pain. After just one night, he slept all night long. Now it has been four days and he was able to bowl this week! He's feeling the best he has in a long time! Thanks!" October, 2014

"It keeps my legs properly aligned – after hip replacement surgery, that is a must." September, 2014

"Better than the original. Love the breathable cover." Lynn, August, 2014
"I have had a leg pillow previously and it needed to be replaced. Finally, I tool the time to get a new one. I am already noticing a difference with my hips/back." Joseph, June, 2014

Head here to learn more!

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