Health & Wellness

What is the healthiest coffee maker?

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healthiest coffee maker

Recently, more and more coffee drinkers have become conscious of the health benefits and side effects that a cup of joe can have on you. And while the filters you use and the blend you choose can affect the strength and healthfulness of your final brew, many are shocked to learn that their plastic coffee maker could be responsible for leaking chemicals into their drink. This has led to increased interest in finding the healthiest coffee maker for one’s coffee.

Many plastics are produced using an old technique that dates back to the early 60s, which relies on the use of an industrial chemical called Bisphenol A, or BPA for short. Multiple studies have shown links between BPA consumption and infertility or even cancer.

Fortunately, many of the companies that manufacture plastic coffee makers have begun removing BPA plastics from their products. These products usually carry the BPA-free label, which indicates they are assembled using non-BPA plastics. However, that doesn’t mean they’re not just switching out BPA with another harmful chemical. And if your current plastic coffee machine doesn’t have the BPA-free label, there’s just no way of knowing how much contaminated liquid you drink in with every cup!

The only way to keep these dangerous chemicals out of your coffee is by using a coffee maker that contains no plastic parts. The good news is that there are tons of options if you’re looking for a non-plastic coffee maker that’s free from BPA. Here are a few of the healthiest coffee makers for true coffee lovers, made from non-plastic materials and free of BPA.

The Chemex

Coffee maker Chemex
Source: SIX CUP CLASSIC CHEMEX®,  CHEMEX® Coffeemaker

There are several reasons why the Chemex has maintained a spot as one of the most popular manual pour-overs since its introduction in 1941. First, it features a timeless, award-winning hourglass design. In fact, a version of the Chemex is on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Second, the Chemex is made of glass, with a sophisticated wooden handle wrapped neatly around its body. If you prefer, there’s a newer redesign with a glass handle. Finally (and most importantly), in the hands of a skilled barista, it produces some of the cleanest coffee you’ll ever taste.

The Chemex takes a degree of skill and familiarity with your roasts to get the best brews. The Chemex produces a great cup of coffee with a range of coffees styles. It’s best for light-to-light-medium roasts.

You can purchase the company’s proprietary bonded paper filters, available in natural and bleached variations. However, there’s a wide selection of filter alternatives produced by third parties that are compatible with the Chemex. So, if you prefer a thicker coffee with more oils, you can always purchase a compatible metal filter online.

Hario V60

Coffe Maker Hario V60
Source: Hario V60 Glass Coffee Dripper Olive Wood – Hario UK

The Chemex is a beautiful product, but comes at a premium price tag. That makes it unaffordable for many people. The Hario V60 brews excellent coffee at a fraction of the cost of a Chemex.

There are several variants of the V60, giving you a great selection of looks and colors to pick from. The cheapest option is the clear plastic design, made from solid, BPA-free plastic. For just a bit more, you can get the classic white ceramic, stainless steel, or glass models — designed so plastics don’t contact the hot coffee.

Generally, coffee is best brewed at a stable 195 to 205 Fahrenheit. The heat retention capabilities of ceramic make it one of the best materials to keep your coffee at that ideal temperature range.

As with all pour-overs, the V60 isn’t the right product if you’re looking for something that you can turn on and leave to percolate. Making a great brew with the V60 will require attention and care. The effort is well worth it if you’re a fan of clean, flavorful coffee (who isn’t?).

Tons of research shows that drinking coffee regularly in the long term is beneficial for your health. But those benefits could be canceled out by the dangers of brewing coffee in a plastic coffee maker. If the Chemex or Hario V60 isn’t for you, don’t fret. There’s a huge variety of non-plastic coffee makers on the market. Research and you’ll find the perfect one.

6 Incredible Free Apps for a Good Night’s Sleep

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A woman who uses sleep apps

These days, it’s easy to get stressed out, and it can be difficult to get a good night’s sleep as a result. You may be tempted to pay for sleep apps that will help you wind down, but you don’t have to: You can get some excellent ones for free.

1. HEADSPACE 

This app is absolutely incredible. It offers “sleep casts” that help you visualize a relaxing experience as you’re about to doze off. You’ll have plenty of resources if you simply use the free version, but you could pay $95 per year to have access to over forty themed meditation courses.

2. CALM

Calm is an excellent app with wonderful sleep stories. You can choose the free version, which provides you with plenty of guided meditations, or you can purchase the premium version for $70 per year and have access to more meditations and sleep stories. Honestly, the free version is just as good, although there is a bit less variety.

3. PZIZZ

The free version of this app allows you to set a timer for yourself before you go to bed. It will play beautiful “dreamscapes” for you as you’re dozing off.  You can choose from a wide variety of soothing sounds to listen to as you’re sleeping if you pay $60 per year.

4. SLUMBER

This is an excellent app because it provides you with plenty of bedtime stories, and sleep meditations, and, if you’re in the mood, it even gives you the option to listen to the sound of a Jacuzzi as you rest your head on your pillow and escape into dreamland. The caveat is that you can only listen to around ten episodes. This is more than enough for a good night’s rest, but you can hear more if you pay $40 per year.

5. THE SLEEP CYCLE

Thankfully, this app is completely free. You can use it to track your sleep patterns and get tips for improving the quality of your rest.

6. SLEEPIEST

This is a great app for parents. It offers plenty of soothing bedtime stories for your little ones. If you’re having some trouble winding down yourself, it also provides guided meditations and relaxing white noise to help you drift off to sleep. There is a free version available, which offers more than enough. However, you can purchase the premium version for $100 per year.

Sometimes, it can be tempting to dish out your hard-earned cash on sleep apps, but the truth is, you don’t have to. You can simply use the free versions, go to bed at the same time every night, and maybe even take a bath, pour yourself a bit of lavender tea, or do some relaxing yoga poses if you’re having trouble winding down.

It can be extremely difficult to get the rest you need but doing everything you can to ensure a good night’s sleep can improve so many areas of your life. Sleeping for a minimum of seven hours per night has so many benefits. These include boosting your immune system and improving your productivity.

6 Things to do During the COVID-19 Lockdown to Keep You Sane

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Girl during COVID-19 lockdown looking out of her apartment window

Being bored at home due to COVID-19 lockdowns has become a pretty common thing. Many people work with counselors online, do online therapy for depression, and have even found the answer to the question “what is TMS for depression?” and taken steps to treat theirs with this method. 

However, any therapist will tell you that staying busy is key to fighting the COVID-19 depression that has affected millions of lives since lockdowns began. If you’re struggling to find something to keep you sane, less depressed, and a whole lot less bored during this time, read on below for a few things to do during the pandemic lockdown. 

Start Working Out/Exercise

One productive way to stay busy during lockdown is by exercising or starting a new workout routine. Remember, you don’t have to be outdoors to exercise, though if you can get out on your back porch or into the yard to get some air, that is a good idea. Start small with working out because you don’t want to overdo it, pull a muscle, and end up at the doctor during a time when no one wants to be out and about if they don’t have to be. 

Finish Your Christmas Shopping

Christmas is right around the corner, so if you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping, during a lockdown is the perfect time to plant yourself in a chair, grab the computer and get it done. The best thing about online Christmas shopping is you never have to leave your house, you can do it all from the comfort of your armchair, no masks or social distancing needed. 

Learn a New Language 

If you’ve always wanted to learn a new language, now is the time to do it. From a wide selection of YouTube videos to being able to sign up for classes online, if you want to learn a new language, then this is the time to do it–when you’re locked in and have nothing else to do. 

Set Some Goals

Most people set out to set goals at the end of the current year, so they’ll be ready to hit the ground running when January 1st rolls around. Whether you’re setting business or personal goals, why not get a jump on goal setting while you’re in lockdown? 2020 has been rough on everyone, so why not make goals to help 2021 be a year of recovery and even better for yourself and your family? 

Take an Online Course

Whether you’re looking to further yourself at work once the lockdown is lifted, or if you’ve had a hobby that you want to learn more about, taking an online course is a productive use of your time during the lockdown. It can also be fun to learn something that you’ve been wanting to learn but never had the time for before the arrival of the COVID-19 virus. Whether it’s signing up for business courses or signing up for courses to improve your writing, you won’t be bored and you’ll get something out of it in the long run. 

Write a Novel

Speaking of writing classes, if you’ve always loved to write, and have had the idea in your head for a book for many years now, this is the perfect time to get those words down on paper. It’s much easier to get published in today’s modern world, so what have you got to lose? 

These are just a few of the best activities you can participate in when you’re bored during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Remember, this too will pass, so why not make the best of being home while you can?