Conditioning for Strength Athletes

Fitness and stamina overlap, but they are not the same.

Depending on who you ask – this can be a controversial topic. But in reality it's easy. Before we get into exactly what you should and shouldn't be doing, let's take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

There is a common misconception about what conditioning is. Most people seem to think that it is as simple as conditioning = cardio.

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A Set Of Great Exercises To Attain Well-built Butt

Butt workouts are a very efficient series of exercises that move the entire buttock muscles. They mainly focus on the work of three hip muscles – the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus. If you do these exercises regularly, you can get a multitude of benefits. Building stronger glutes will allow you to build better athletic performance and avoid the risk of injury. In addition, they are essential for building better body stability and maintaining correct posture. They not only strengthen your glutes, but also stabilize your back muscles and enable better movement of your legs.

Below are some coordinated and helpful butt workouts that will result in better buttock shape and stronger glutes.

The perfect butt workouts to get stronger glutes:

Below are some very efficient and helpful exercises that will help you get properly formed and stronger buttocks muscles in no time!

1. Squats

Squats are considered the best butt exercise because of their multifunctional capabilities and benefits. Performing this exercise is fruitful as it strengthens your core, reduces body calories, increases your athletic performance, reduces the risk of injury, and much more.

Directions:

1. First, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your chest up as you look forward. Then stretch your arms forward to keep your balance. This is your starting position.

2. Then bend your knees and stick your butt out to appear as if you are sitting in an imaginary chair.

3. Then bend down as low as you can, keeping your back straight and your chest raised.

4. While keeping your body taut, return to the starting position by pushing your heels through.

2. Lunge steps

Lunge steps are an excellent butt exercise because their main purpose is to tone your buttocks, legs, and core. It also helps increase your muscle mass and improve your posture to a great extent. They also ensure proper body balance and better body stability. This exercise is also responsible for weight loss and better resting metabolism.

Directions:

1. First stand with your feet hip-width apart and your core activated. This is your starting position.

2. Then take a large step forward with one leg and start shifting your body weight forward. This is done to make sure your heel hits the ground first.

3. Now bend your body until the same leg is parallel to the floor.

4. Return to the starting position by pressing on your right heel.

Repeat the above steps with your other leg.

3. Hip extensions

Hip extensions are considered one of the best butt workouts because they promote strong glutes. This exercise primarily targets your hip extensor muscles – hamstrings and glutes. It is also responsible for promoting better back support and greatly improving your athletic performance. The exercise given below involves the use of stability balls.

Directions:

1. First, lie down with your feet on the floor, hands on your sides and knees bent on your back. This is your starting position.

2. Now push through your heels to lift your butt off the floor, aligning your middle back and knee.

3. Hold for a second to squeeze your glutes.

4. Return steadily to the starting position.

Frequently asked Questions:

1. What exercises do you lift your buttocks?

Some exercises that will lift your bum include clamshells, leg kickbacks, frog jumps, lateral belt running, gluteal bridges, hip kicks, and fire hydrants.

2. How many lunges should I do to get a better built butt?

To build and tone your buttocks, try doing three sets of 12-15 repetitions on a regular basis.

3. How many squats should I do in a day?

You should aim for three sets of 12-15 repetitions each day.

4. What exercises will help me get a bigger butt?

Some exercises that will allow you to get a bigger butt include walking lunges, squats, clamshell, one-legged deadlift, banded side stride, and weight training.

Nanoleaf Elements Review: Smart Lighting From the Forest

nanoleaf elements look like wooden light panels

"You will fall in love with the rustic appearance of the Nanoleaf Elements and at the same time appreciate its smart functions."

  • Unique lighting design like no other on the market

  • Easy to use, intuitive app

  • easy installation

  • Incredibly customizable

  • High price point

  • No support for 5 GHz networks

Smart lights from Nanoleaf earned a spot in the background of more Twitch streams than I can count, and for good reason: the Nanoleaf Aurora and Nanoleaf Canvas look amazing, with loads of customization options to suit just about any mood. With that in mind, I took the chance to review the Nanoleaf Elements, the newest addition to the company's lineup.

Nanoleaf Elements look like they are made of wood and are lit from within. Their purpose is ultimately decorative, but they will stand out when placed on a wall and make for a real talking point. This is no ordinary set of smart lights!

Design: Natural light that makes you feel like you are in a forest

The design of the Nanoleaf Elements is the main attraction. The hexagonal design leads to six specific points that are equipped with an LED. This allows the elements to generate light at each of the six points and shine from the outside in.

The panels made of imitation wood attract attention and give the lights a rustic look that makes them a great addition to a dining room. While the Nanoleaf Elements only produce white light, the temperature of the light can be adjusted to produce different levels of heat. The light ranges from 1,500K to 4,000K – from cold white to warm white.

However, the light is not that bright. At just 22 lumens, you could use it for reading if you were sitting right next to it, but it doesn't provide enough light for any kind of task-oriented work. It makes for great mood lighting and with a lifespan of 25,000 hours, these lamps will last a long time.

In my experience, the lights create a kind of peaceful atmosphere. They are perfect for a quiet dinner or just to chat with friends in the background.

easy installation

The Nanoleaf Elements are easy to install. It took less than 10 minutes to create the pattern I wanted on my wall, and that includes the 30 seconds of pressure required to attach each panel to the wall. The panels have a swivel pad on the back that allows you to easily adjust the angle, and each side has a fastener to snap the connectors into place.

Thanks to this design, you can create an almost infinite number of shapes and designs with tiles. A single power supply can support up to 22 panels, although the device I tested only came with 10. The maximum number of tiles per controller is 80, but you'd have to set up a really impressive system to deal with the maximum number of tiles. It would take up quite a bit of space – at 9 "x 7.75" per title, the elements are large enough to function as wall art all on their own.

A complete set of functions

The choice of pattern and design of the tiles is yours, and the Elements contain a whole host of features that give them many different capabilities.

For example, you can play music and sync the lights to pulse and move to the beat. The Connect + feature means the tiles will automatically sense where they are in relation to each other to ensure that the lights shift in an organic and natural way. In the Nanoleaf app, you can arrange tiles in specific patterns and assign roles to each one.

That leads to the next important feature that Nanoleaf offers: touch controls. You can set specific tiles to perform tasks based on touch. For example, one panel can scroll through different HomeKit scenes while another can change the pattern or turn on the lights in your home.

The Nanoleaf Elements also connect to all major smart home platforms and intelligent assistants. You can turn your lights on and off and change the pattern through Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. The Elements also connect to Samsung SmartThings and IFTTT.

The Elements kit also comes with a manual control panel. All you have to do is connect it to one of your tiles to turn the panels on or off, change the pattern, mix the patterns, and much more. However, I would recommend connecting it to the edge somewhere near the floor. It doesn't light up and sticks out like a sore thumb when the rest of the panels are lit.

An intuitive app

One of the standout features of the Nanoleaf Elements is the ease of use of the above app. If you've used a Nanoleaf product before, you know there are thousands of custom scenes for Nanoleaf Aurora and Canvas. You may think that you don't have access to these scenes – after all, they rely on color – but that's not entirely true.

The elements translate all the different colors into different heat levels. This means that every single scene is available. If you don't like the default scenes and patterns in the app, just look for one that better suits your tastes.

The layout wizard allows you to visualize the design before creating it. Just line it up and organize the tiles and then tap the eyeball icon in the bottom right and it will show you what the pattern would look like on your wall with augmented reality.

You can also invite users through the app so that more people can control your lights.

Finally, you can use the Explore tab in the app to check out related apps, scenes, integrations, and more. If you're new to Nanoleaf, the Explore tab makes it easy for you to familiarize yourself with all of the different options the Elements offer. You can also sign up for the beta program this way to explore new, not-yet-public features.

Our opinion

The Nanoleaf Elements are a beautiful, fresh interpretation of intelligent lighting that really stands out due to its rustic design. Other decorative smart lights appear to be aimed at a playroom or arcade, but the Elements will feel right at home in your mother's kitchen. The easy installation and intuitive app are just cherries on a great core system.

Is there a better alternative?

There is no other intelligent lighting system like the Nanoleaf Elements on the market. Sure, there are plenty of lights out there that offer a wide variety of colors, but if you want a natural look the Elements are the only real option.

How long it will take?

With a lifespan of 25,000 hours, the Nanoleaf Elements will continue to function for a long time. That's 1,041 days and 16 hours. So if you don't keep the lights on 24/7 (and even then they will last forever), your Elements will be working for the foreseeable future. A two-year warranty is also included with the purchase.

Should you buy it?

The Nanoleaf Elements are a fantastic lighting system, but the cost is a little prohibitive. At $ 300 for the Elements Smarter Kit and $ 99 for each expansion pack, the Elements will make a dent in your wallet. However, if you want to create a unique lighting system in your home, there is nothing quite like it.

Editor's recommendations



Strength Training for Ice Cold Athletes

Yunus Barisik emphasizes the need for more strength and outlines how he structures the training of his ice hockey athletes in order to optimize performance.

In this episode, our guest, Yunus Barisik, explains exactly what it takes to produce top athletes for ice hockey.

He particularly emphasizes the need for increased strength and outlines exactly how he structures his athletes' training throughout the year in order to optimize performance and keep them injury-free.

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The Pros and Cons of 6 Popular Weight Loss Diets

The diet and weight loss market is overcrowded. This is not surprising given the proportion of the UK population that is overweight or obese.

Everyone is unique, not only in terms of physical characteristics and metabolism, but also in terms of attitude, willpower and zest for action. Make sure to check your weight loss regularly with the weight loss calorie calculator.

With that in mind, we thought it would be good to examine 6 of the most popular diet plans available and analyze the pros and cons of each one.

Atkins Diet

Dr. Robert Atkins developed the Atkins diet in the 1960s and discussed it in his 1972 book Dr. Atkins’s Diet Revolution. It is one of the most famous and passionately contested low carbohydrate diets in history.

Initially, the Atkins diet was not very picky about the types of proteins and fats that were allowed to be consumed. Since then, the approach has been changed to emphasize the need to choose good fats and make nutritional choices.

advantages

The core principle of the Atkins diet plan is easy to understand.

No meetings are required for followers.

Those hoping for instant results and a boost in motivation may find this useful.

disadvantage

Increased protein consumption can lead to higher food costs.

If you don't get enough protein at the beginning of your diet, your body will burn muscle to get the energy it needs. This has the potential to reduce your metabolism and make weight loss more difficult.

Paleo diet

The Paleolithic diet, sometimes known as the caveman diet, is based on pre-agricultural "hunter-gatherer" foods. It only includes things that were "captured" or naturally collected by Paleolithic humans.

advantages

Eliminating processed foods leads to fewer high-calorie meals and healthier fruits and vegetables.

The basic principle is easy to follow and doesn't require any calorie planning.

Options like the 80/20 rule (where you stick to 80 percent of the rules) give you some leeway.

disadvantage

Vegetarians should avoid it as it relies heavily on animal food.

Food categories such as dairy products and cereals, which are important components of a varied and balanced diet, are eliminated.

Diet isn't backed by hard data (there isn't a good record of what people ate in the Paleolithic), and more studies are needed to evaluate its benefits.

5: 2 diet

The 5: 2 or fast diet, which is based on the concept of intermittent fasting, has become one of the most popular diets in recent years. It received a lot of attention when it was included in the BBC documentary Horizon in 2012.

advantages

Dieting two days a week instead of seven is an easier task.

The strategy is helpful in lowering calorie consumption and supporting fat loss.

The rules are simple.

disadvantage

Has been linked to trouble sleeping at night.

On non-fast days, this can lead to overeating.

Not every variant of this strategy is supported by scientific data.

WeightWatchers Diet

The ProPoints plan is one of the most popular and well established diet programs in the UK and is often viewed as one of the "Big Three" (along with Rosemary Conley and Slimming World). Food is assigned a point value based on its fiber, protein, carbohydrate, and fat content. The diet promotes consistent weight loss at a rate of 2 pounds per week.

advantages

Due to the point system, there is practically no limit to the amount of fruit and vegetables that you can consume.

Promotes a methodical and consistent approach to weight loss and helps develop long-term beneficial habits.

disadvantage

For newcomers, the scoring system can be complicated and time consuming, which can be discouraging.

Some people may see the weekly meetings as an obligation they cannot meet and become demotivated as a result.

Rosemary Conley Diet

Hip and Thigh Diet creator Rosemary Conley is a bestselling author whose namesake also includes an exercise routine. After being diagnosed with gallstones, Conley reportedly developed a low-fat diet to help manage her symptoms without undergoing surgery.

advantages

Promotes a regulated and progressive weight loss.

Improves the user's awareness of portion sizes (through the use of portion pots) and enables them to be used in daily settings.

Includes exercise to provide a fuller and healthier approach to weight loss.

disadvantage

Low fat foods are not always healthier. Some may contain more sugar than low-fat meals.

Portion control can be difficult when eating in a restaurant.

Cambridge Diet

This diet is also known as the Cambridge Weight Plan because it was developed by a Cambridge University doctor.

It is a (very) low calorie diet that focuses on weight loss through reduced calorie consumption through the use of meal replacement products such as bars, soups, shakes and porridges.

advantages

The meal replacement strategy brings immediate benefits and helps in rapid weight loss.

These diet items provide individuals with the vitamins and minerals they need.

Users don't have to start at the beginning of the plan. Depending on your objective, you can take it up at a later point in time.

disadvantage

Since this is an extremely low-calorie diet, dizziness and headaches can occur in the beginning.

This may make it harder for some people to keep up.

The selection of meal replacement products is not extensive, so if you do not like the range, your options are limited.

Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti Review: More of What Gamers Need

nvidia rtx 3070 ti rating 2

Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti in the test: More of what gamers need

"The Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti is a reasonable value for great 4K gaming performance."

  • Beautiful design

  • Decent value

  • Great 4K gaming

  • HDMI 2.1 included

  • Strong performance in content creation

  • Requires more power than the RTX 3070

  • Closer to RTX 3070 than 3080 in performance

The Nvidia RTX 3070 was already one of the most recommended graphics cards. It delivered powerful 4K performance but cost a reasonable $ 500. That's downright cheap in today's market where graphics cards are sold for twice their retail price.

After Nvidia released the overpriced RTX 3080 Ti last week, Nvidia is releasing their more modest RTX 3070 Ti. It costs just $ 100 more than the 3070, and it fills the market with lower-priced options that offer the performance PC gamers need.

Is the RTX 3070 Ti the best graphics card you can buy or is it just as unnecessary as the RTX 3080 Ti?

Specifications

RTX 3070 Ti RTX 3070 RTX 3080
GPU GA104-400 GA104-300 GA102-200
interface PCIe 4.0 PCIe 4.0 PCIe 4.0
CUDA cores 6,144 5,888 8,704
Tensor cores 192 184 272
RT cores 48 46 68
Base clock 1.575MHz 1,500MHz 1.440MHz
Boost clock 1.770MHz 1.725MHz 1.710MHz
memory 8GB GDDR6X 8GB DDR6 10 GB GDDR6X
Bandwidth 608 GB / s 448 GB / s 760 GB / s
Memory bus 256-bit 256-bit 320-bit
TDP 290W 220W 320W

The RTX 3070 Ti represents a small advance in specifications over the RTX 3070. It has only 4% more CUDA cores than the RTX 3070, while the RTX 3080 has 29% more cores. If that tells us anything, it is that the RTX 3070 Ti has a lot more in common with the 3070. That might sound obvious given the name, but the RTX 3080 Ti was actually a bigger step up from the 3080 in the raw CUDA number.

Of course, there is much more to these cards than just the core number. The RTX 3070 Ti has a faster GDDR6X memory with a greatly expanded bandwidth, now up to 608 GB / s (gigabytes per second). The bus size remains the same, however, so the wider 320 bits are left to the RTX 3080.

The RTX 3070 Ti's faster clock speeds should also help with gaming performance. This is noteworthy as the frequency tends to decrease as more cores are added to a card. For example, the RTX 3080 Ti has a lower clock rate than the standard RTX 3080.

Of course, the RTX 3070 Ti also has a bit more tensor and RT cores to help with both ray tracing and DLSS performance. It's only a marginal improvement, however, and leaves a larger gap between the 3070 Ti and the 3080.

design

I tested the reference device, the RTX 3070 Ti Founders Edition manufactured by Nvidia itself. Like other cards in the RTX 30 series, the 3070 Ti has a beautiful dark silver case accented by beveled edges and a black aluminum back plate. The intake fan is on one side and the exhaust is on the other, creating the same “push-pull” system found on the other cards in the RTX 30 series.

It looks identical to the RTX 3070, but is a little longer. Both are standard two-slot cards, but the 3070 Ti is an inch longer at 11.5 inches. That's just 0.3 inches shorter than the RTX 3080 and 3080 Ti. That means you may have a harder time fitting it into smaller form factor cases than the RTX 3070.

Unlike the RTX 3070, the Ti model requires the use of both 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The reason? Well, the RTX 3070 Ti sucks 290 watts of power compared to the 220 watts of the RTX 3070. This also means that Nvidia recommends a larger 750 watt power supply in your system – compared to a 650 watt device with the RTX 3070.

Like the other cards in the series, they must be routed to the card's 12-pin connector using the adapter supplied by Nvidia. It was mentioned up to the point of nausea, but the need for an adapter creates a messy look in your rig.

On the back there are three DisplayPort 1.4 ports and an HDMI 2.1.

performance

I tested the RTX 3070 Ti in the same system as the 3080, 3080 Ti and Radeon RX 6700 XT. It was in a 30-liter case with 32 GB of RAM and an Intel Core i9-10900K. Unfortunately, we did not have a test device of the RX 6800 XT, which is a closer price and performance comparison to the RTX 3070 Ti. All titles were tested in 4K, 1440p, and 1080p with maximum and medium graphics presets. However, the following results are in 4K at maximum settings.

Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti Nvidia RTX 3080 AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
3DMark time spy 13893 16108 11726
3DMark fire strike 26516 28460 26830
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 50 52 42
Battlefield V 80 100 69
Fourteen days 70 95 58
Civilization VI 139 158 115

If you want a general idea of ​​performance, the RTX 3070 Ti is about 8% faster than the 3070, while the RTX 3080 is 14% ahead of the 3070 Ti. Of course, these numbers can vary quite a bit from one game to the next. Take a look at Battlefield V, for example, where the RTX 3080 is 20% faster. Then there's Fortnite, which was 26% faster on the RTX 3080.

In a CPU-bound game like Assassin's Creed Valhalla, of course, the margin was tighter. We're only talking about a few frames per second (fps). And unfortunately, the RTX 3070 Ti can't quite play the game at maximum settings in 4K. The game's average 68 fps at 1440p was a smoother and more enjoyable experience. This also applied to Cyberpunk 2077. Even with medium settings in 4K, the RTX 3070 Ti only achieved an average of 48 fps. If you want to turn on the ray tracing effects (which you really should) that's another reason not to even bother playing in 4K.

We also tested the RTX 3070 in a different system, the Dell XPS 8940. It is a smaller desktop with more limited cooling and a non-standard GPU, so it was not included in the standardized test results above. Based on the numbers provided by Nvidia, it's around 3% slower than our XPS system, which I took into account in my evaluation and comparison.

This is an important consideration as the RTX 3070 Ti costs $ 100 more than the RTX 3070 and $ 100 less than the 3080. Hundreds of dollars for 10% better performance isn't bad, especially when compared to the RTX 3080 Ti's one-sided pricing of $ 1,200. This card cost $ 500 more than the RTX 3080 and offers roughly the same increase in performance. On the other hand, the performance is closer to the RTX 3070 than the RTX 3080, which means that both the 3070 and 3080 offer slightly better performance per dollar.

In all of my tests, the card never got too loud or rose above the maximum 83 degrees Celsius. In my Time Spy runs, the GPU temperature never exceeded 76 degrees.

I've also tested some creative accomplishments. First, I tested the RTX 3070 Ti in the Blender benchmark, which allows you to choose the component that will render the image. Many applications use a combination of CPU and GPU, which makes the Blender benchmark a great way to test the strength of the RTX 3070 Ti on its own. I ran the first three tests in the benchmark and found between 11% and 22% slower render times compared to the RTX 3080.

The difference in graphics performance in PugetBench Adobe Premiere fell into a similar void at 11%. This test measures how much the GPU speeds up important video editing tasks like playing and exporting 4K videos.

Our opinion

Any other year would be hard to argue for an RTX 3070 Ti. The 3070 and 3080 launched less than a year ago and were already great graphics cards that offer great 4K gaming at a decent price.

The global shortage of chips and the spread of crypto mining have made the existence of the RTX 3070 Ti a little more meaningful. It ranks between the 3070 and 3080 in terms of both performance and price. And unlike the RTX 3080 Ti, Nvidia didn't raise the price just because it could.

Are there alternatives?

The RTX 3070 and RTX 3080 are both good alternatives from Nvidia. The 3070 Ti is sandwiched right between the two and performs just as well for the price. On the AMD side, the closest competitor is the Radeon RX 6800 XT for $ 649.

How long it will take?

The RTX 3070 Ti should keep your rig up to date for over 10 years. It supports the latest technology and screen resolutions and is designed to ensure that PC games released in five years' time can still be played.

Should you buy it?

If you can find it at (or near) retail price, buy it.

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Lifting Big, Dylan, Jazz, and Skinny Jeans

More than anything, music has helped me learn a visceral connection to movement and lifting weights.

My roommate at college told me he thinks I am a guy who listens to atmospheric, poetic, and eclectic music alone in his room. He told me that after I shared my existential crisis with him when I was in my early twenties.

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Biotin: 5 healthy benefits of this B vitamin

Vitamins are micronutrients that are essential for the growth and well-being of the human body. Biotin is one of the B complex vitamins and is therefore an important part of the diet. It is also known as vitamin H. There are numerous sources of biotin such as egg yolks, liver, soybeans, mushrooms, whole grains, and bananas. For long and healthy lives, it is recommended that adults consume 30-100 micrograms of biotin daily.

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Biotin helps with many important functions in the body – some of which are listed below.

1. Stimulates your metabolism

Biotin plays a vital role in metabolizing carbohydrates and fats, which make up the largest part of our diet on a daily basis. When acting on carbohydrates, fats and proteins, it acts as a coenzyme and breaks these substances down into smaller components. The process of enzymatic degradation can be improved with chromium picolinate.

Some people also argue that biotin helps with weight loss. The argument for this arises from the fact that the metabolism is already increased at rest. Therefore, foods are broken down faster if biotin is consumed at the same time. Biotin alone does not work as a weight loss pill.

2. Strengthens nails and hair

Little information is available on how biotin strengthens nails and hair, but studies suggest that it is directly related to keratin. Keratin is a protein found in hair, skin, and nails. Biotin helps keratin maintain its structure, which makes your hair strong. There is ample evidence that a lack of biotin can lead to hair loss and flaky skin. Hair-related companies around the world are actively including biotin in their formulas, but it is better to consume biotin naturally than artificially.

For more promising results, combine the protein source and biotin. Protein is responsible for the production of keratin, which primarily strengthens hair and nails.

Fragile nails are every woman's worst nightmare. Fortunately, biotin can help thicken cuticles and prevent breakage. Research has shown that women who previously had brittle nails became less brittle after taking biotin.

3. Makes your skin fresh and healthy

B vitamins are directly related to regulating the nervous system and maintaining hormonal balance. If you have low levels of biotin in your body, it can certainly affect the health of your skin. Toxins throughout the nervous system can reach the skin and manifest in rashes, acne, dermatitis, and itching. Try to keep your biotin level within the range to give your skin a nice and soft glow!

The metabolism of fats by biotin also makes a decisive contribution to keeping the skin healthy and keeps it free of grease.

4. Lowers the cholesterol level

High levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) in your blood can lead to the formation of atheromatous plaque, which ultimately leads to cardiovascular disease and stroke. Biotin has been shown to lower the levels of bad cholesterol in your blood, reducing your risk of developing serious illness. Biotin also helps raise the good cholesterol, HDL.

5. Regulates blood sugar

Changes in the level of sugar in your blood can have serious consequences, such as: B. Diabetes mellitus. Fortunately, biotin has been shown to be helpful in preventing and fighting diabetes. Diabetes results from improper use of glucose or increased insulin resistance. Studies show that a deficiency in biotin can lead to decreased glucose utilization and impaired glucose tolerance. Including biotin in your diet can help your body maintain normal glucose levels and use them properly.

The role of biotin in pregnancy

Like many other nutrients, biotin is essential for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers. It is common for biotin levels to be decreased during pregnancy because vitamins are broken down more quickly in a pregnant woman. A slight deficiency does not pose a threat to mother or child, but a severe deficiency can affect the health of pregnant women. It is therefore important to consume a sufficient amount of biotin either through food or through dietary supplements.

Does biotin help against multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease, which means that our body cells attack the immune system. It typically affects the protective covering of the brain and spinal cord and results in lifelong disability. Biotin has been shown to be effective in the treatment of MS because patients respond easily to daily doses of 300 mg of biotin. Biotin also produces the protective covering called myelin.

Is Ingesting Too Much Biotin Good For Your Health?

As mentioned earlier, the recommended daily dose for biotin is 30 micrograms. Exceeding the normal biotin range from using too much biotin or using supplements can affect your health. Make sure you check with your health professional before starting any supplements. High biotin levels can also appear false positive in thyroid tests.

People with biotinidase deficiency

Biotinidase is an enzyme that recycles biotin. A deficiency in this enzyme makes it impossible for biotin to be released and used by the body, which leads to a biotin deficiency despite normal consumption. This can lead to several metabolic and neurological problems and immediate treatment is needed. Even small amounts of alcohol over a longer period of time can lead to a reduced absorption of biotin.

Amazon Echo Show 8 (2021) Review: A Camera That Tracks You

Amazon Echo Show 8 2021 home screen.

Amazon Echo Show 8 (2021)

"The Amazon Echo Show 8 (2021) gives you the freedom to move around during video calls thanks to a new pan and zoom camera."

  • The camera keeps the user in the picture during video calls

  • Lively adaptive display

  • Excellent room-filling sound

  • Recycle the same design as before

With the release of the 3rd generation Amazon Echo Show 10 earlier this spring, Amazon certainly brought out its big guns in the form of a swiveling touchscreen that we've never seen before in a smart display. While there was an undeniable buzz around the 10-inch display, it doesn't feel the same for its newest brother, the Amazon Echo Show 8 (2021). You could say that the announcement was a little lukewarm.

Still, it's the successor to the only smart display that sold me the power of Alexa in a smart display. Its predecessor managed to hit all the points, making it the most versatile smart display in Amazon's product range when I checked it in autumn 2019. The new 13-megapixel camera can be used to digitally pan and zoom during video calls, but seriously, there has to be more to it than that.

Design: Still just the right size

I really enjoyed the original Echo Show 8 because it wasn't too small or too big. In fact, you could say the size was just right. When looking at the new Echo Show 8, you'll find it hard to tell the difference between it and its predecessor, as Amazon chose to recycle the design. From its dimensions of 7.9 "x 5.4" x 3.9 "to the same monitor plate design with fabric covering, the Echo Show 8 (2021) is an exact facsimile of its predecessor.

Amazon Echo Show 8 2021 front viewJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

However, by today's standards, the design is as generic and boring as it is with smart displays. Compared to its closest rival, the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation), it looks a bit bulky, although its size still makes it better for placing on tables, counters, and desks than its 10-inch sibling.

Amazon definitely took the easy way of recycling the design, which is a shame because I would have liked to see it trimmed a bit – while still having room for the 8-inch display.

Display: even more lively than before

I can immediately see that Amazon has improved the display. Although the resolution of the 8-inch HD touchscreen remains at 1,280 x 800 pixels, the new adaptive color function makes images look photorealistic in any lighting situation.

Amazon Echo Show 8 2021 oblique viewJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

The result is a display that automatically adjusts its color temperature so that the photos you scroll through appear lifelike regardless of the time of day or the ambient light conditions. Gone are the bleeding edges that I noticed on the display of the predecessor, replaced by an evenly lit screen that is fascinating to look at. In fact, I'll go as far as to say it's a more attractive display than the one on the one Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd generation).

Sound performance: room-filling sound

Don't be so quick to turn down this one based on looks as it takes a hit in terms of sound performance. That's not too big a surprise when you consider that the predecessor also impressed me with its booming bass and power. Equipped with the same 2.0-inch neodymium speakers with passive bass radiators, the new Echo Show 8 still proves that it is still a relevant speaker that fills rooms.

Amazon Echo Show 8 2021 side viewJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

You feel like audio is preferred in the lower range, which can be seen from the bass being so pronounced, but it's not too overwhelming – especially if you have adjusted the bass, mids and treble settings through the settings menu or the alexa Optimize the app.

Features: YouTube is still a process

If you watch videos heavily on YouTube, the Amazon Echo Show 8 (2021) is not for you as there is no dedicated feature for it. Instead, it still opens the web browser and redirects you to YouTube's website. While you can still watch clips, the experience isn't as intuitive as what you'd get with a Google Assistant smart display. But you really shouldn't be too surprised because we're dealing with an Alexa Smart Display.

The new adaptive color function makes images look photorealistic in every lighting situation.

Rather, the experience continues to focus on the Amazon ecosystem. If you are a Prime subscriber, enjoy all of the rewards and benefits that you have with the Echo Show 8 (2021). From asking Alexa to stream music or video content to receiving notifications when Amazon orders have been delivered, there's no denying that Amazon has it all.

Similar to its siblings, it functions as a home hub for quick and easy smart home control at the push of a button or by voice via Alexa. Speech recognition is still accurate and excellent even with slight background noise.

Camera: No standstill for video calls

Equipped with a 13-megapixel camera, its outstanding feature, you no longer have to stand still or stationary in front of the Echo Show 8 (2021) when making video calls. That's because it now automatically pans and zooms to keep you in the frame. This is a feature we've seen in other smart displays like Facebook Portal and Google Nest Hub Max, but it's obviously a different implementation than that of the Echo Show 10 (3rd generation).

It works pretty well. However, it's best not to be too jerky or fast when moving, as the tracking moves at a moderate speed – enough that it never feels unpredictable. It's a nice addition during the work-from-home era, but it's hardly a defining feature among smart displays. You can use this digital pan and zoom feature on Alexa calls, but I appreciate that it is supported on Zoom calls as well. It would be nice to see wider support for this on other video chat platforms, but time will tell.

Amazon Echo Show 8 2021 pan and zoom cameraJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

If you're concerned about potential snoops, there's a switch that mutes the microphone and disables the camera. In addition to video calls, the camera is vital when you are away from home. I've always enjoyed using the drop-in feature which gives me instant access to the camera from my smartphone, which is perfect for seeing if the kids have come home after school or if there are any pets sniff for snacks. Alexa Guard subscribers also receive notifications when unusual noises are detected – such as breaking glass or triggering smoke alarms.

Our opinion

Sometimes we have high expectations when it comes to subsequent devices. We often long for larger, more elaborate functions. The Amazon Echo Show 8 (2021) is an iterative gadget that only makes a significant improvement in camera functionality. In addition, it is no different from what its predecessor offered.

Thankfully, the cost of the Amazon Echo Show 8 (2021) won't change at $ 130. If you don't crave to be able to move around freely during video calls, save the extra cash and buy the $ 110 First generation Amazon Echo Show 8.

Is there a better alternative?

If you need something smaller, the Amazon Echo Show 5 (2021) is the obvious choice. Conversely, if you want all the bells and whistles in an Alexa-powered smart display, the Echo Show 10 (3rd If you're a fan of the Google Assistant, the Google Nest Hub (2nd generation) is the direct rival of the Echo Show 8 as it is similar in size but has a unique sleep tracking mode that you won't find anywhere else with a smart display.

How long it will take?

Although it's made of plastic, it's the sturdy variant that makes me confident that it can withstand minor accidents and bumps. Since it remains stationary in any location, it will likely remain operational for a long time. In the event of an internal defect, there is a one-year limited warranty that covers the defect.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you really need that pan and zoom feature on video calls. If not, stick with the original model as there is no functional difference between it.

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Best Skin Care For A Humid Climate

Are you struggling with oily or oily skin because of the moisture? Hot temperatures are often associated with high humidity, which can cause skin problems. Breakouts, clogged pores, heat rashes, or bumps are common problems resulting from living in a humid environment. If you're wondering what products to use for your skin, we've rounded up some of the best products and ingredients to help protect your skin from the harsh effects of moisture.

What a humid climate does to your skin

In humid climates or during the summer months, people typically have oilier skin. If you have genetically dry skin, you can find relief by living in a more tropical climate as the air contains more moisture. However, the moisture in the air combined with the high temperatures will open your pores and make your skin more prone to dirt and blemishes.

According to dermatologists, moisture can trigger the following skin symptoms:

  • acne
  • outbreaks
  • Heat rashes
  • eczema
  • Allergic reaction

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar to you? Hot, humid weather also leads to fluid loss through sweating. Loss of moisture disrupts the water and oil balance in your skin, which can lead to undesirable skin problems such as increased sebum production, oily skin or pimples. For more information on the signs and symptoms of this skin type, check out our guide to oily skin.

If you live in a dry environment instead, you can read up on which skin care products work best in a dry climate. Otherwise, read on to learn more about skin care products for a hot, humid climate.

Best skin care products for oily skin

When you have oily skin, most people can't help but touch their face all the time, but this action spreads dirt and bacteria. A cleansing step in your routine will help keep your skin clear and refreshed. We recommend our Charcoal Exfoliating Gel Cleanser, which transforms from a gel into an exfoliating foam to wash away impurities and reveal a balanced complexion.

Don't be afraid to use oils if you have oily skin. Adding moisture to the skin helps reduce the oiliness as it slows down the production of sebum. The Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum gives your skin a youthful glow with hyaluronic acid, rhubarb and vitamin-rich strawberries. Strawberries have salicylic acid, which gently exfoliates the skin. In addition, botanical hyaluronic acid is a moisturizing ingredient that refreshes the appearance of the skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

To balance your skin, Eminence Organics Senior skin care trainer Natalie Pergar recommends using the strawberry-rhubarb mask once or twice a week. Again, it contains strawberries, rhubarb and shea butter as well as kaolin clay to create a mild exfoliation, remove impurities and reduce the appearance of pores.

Applying sunscreen is one of the most important steps in your daily skin care routine, but have you ever thought about using a powder product? If your skin is already feeling sticky and greasy to the touch, you may not want to use traditional sun care products that tend to have heavier textures. Try Eminence Organics' Sun Defense Minerals powder instead. This is a non-pore-clogging, hypoallergenic powder that serves as a light make-up powder with a sunscreen effect. Weightless and easy to use, our Sun Defense Minerals are a great option for hot, humid weather.

For an in-depth discussion on choosing the best skin care products for a humid climate, watch this In The Mix video. .

(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJckj1IyT24 (/ embed)

3 tips for dealing with oily skin in a humid climate

Now that you have a list of oily skin care products in mind, here are some helpful tips from dermatologists to help reduce excess oil.

Use blotting paper

Wipe off that shine with blotting paper! If you are worried about oily skin at work or with friends, you can quickly get one out of your pocket and blot off the excess oil in seconds. Your skin will look a lot duller. Just avoid rubbing the paper over your face as this will spread the oil to other areas.

Don't wash your face too much

It seems logical that cleansing would help with oily skin, but excessive cleansing (three or more times a day) can cause your skin to produce more sebum and excess oil. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Loretta Ciraldo tells Allure that you only need to wash your face more than twice a day to remove contaminants like salt water after a swim in the ocean or sweat after a workout.

Look at your foundation

We recommended a mineral sun care powder above, and for good reason! It doesn't clog pores and feels light on the skin. It doesn't last as long as a foundation, but it's a better option for letting your skin breathe.

Are you ready to update your skincare routine? Visit an Eminence Organics Spa Partner to learn more about products for humid climates.