A new use for BlindSides™ – maintaining privacy

When I first invented BlindSides™ it was for the purpose of blocking out the light that usually manages to creep in down the sides of roller blinds and curtains, even if they are blackout. But I am delighted that a recent customer bought BlindSides™ not because she needed a light blocker but for privacy. She was concerned that people could look into her bedroom because there was a small gap between the two blinds she has covering her windows.

Our new customer was also looking for a solution which would be much cheaper than buying new blinds or curtains. BlindSides™ was the only product she could find to do the job and I’m pleased to report that she has easily installed them and is thrilled with the results.

Katherine from Texas, USA, said:

“I wanted to let you know I got the light blocker and it’s perfect. Thank you! I live alone and my bedroom blinds had a gap that meant someone could see in from outside. I looked for a not too expensive way to block it. Your product works! Thank you. I feel much more secure now.”

Oh and did I mention she lives in the United States? So not only is this a new use for BlindSides™ but also our first international sale 🙂

It’s time to hibernate!

For the first time this winter, the temperature has dropped to zero and I for one am not cut out for these low temperatures. I’ve been thinking enviously about all the animals that hibernate. For most of us the closest we can get to hibernation is snuggling up at home in front of a roaring fire or with the central heating on full blast.

Interestingly though, there have been a few cases where the human body seems to have gone into some kind of hibernation. For example, a Swedish woman who crashed head first into a frozen stream while skiing and became trapped under the ice. When she was rescued 80 minutes later her heart and breathing had stopped and her body temperature was 13.7C. She appeared to have drowned but after 10 days in intensive care and careful warming she woke up and went on to recover almost fully. Somehow the cold had preserved her.

Most of the time, however, it is animals such as bears, squirrels and bats that hibernate and there are some facts about them which are just as fascinating as the story about the Swedish woman…

* Arctic ground squirrels normally maintain a body temperature similar to humans (37C). But during hibernation, they can survive a core temperature as low as –3C, carefully managing their super-cooled bodily fluids so that they won’t freeze solid.

* Some hibernating animals wake for short periods during hibernation to eat and relieve themselves. Others sleep through the entire winter.

* During hibernation, the heart rate for many animals slows to less than 10 beats per minute. Breathing also slows.

* A black bear can gain up to 30 pounds a week during its pre-hibernation eating binge.

* It’s not just for winter: In tropical Madagascar, the fat-tailed dwarf lemur crawls into tree-holes and shuts down for an average of seven months to deal with a dearth of food and water during the dry season.

* Even fish can hibernate. Notothenia coriiceps, informally known as Antarctic cod, cuts its metabolism by two-thirds and burrows under the seabed for days at a time during dark Antarctic winters.

* A pregnant American black bear can give birth without ever emerging from hibernation. She doesn’t even need rouse herself to care for her young, instead nursing her cubs for months by drawing on her reserves of stored fat.

* Although it’s unlikely that humans will start hibernating any time soon, research by Seth Donahue, a biomedical engineer at Colorado State University, could lead to new treatments for spinal fractures and osteoporosis.

Plenty of sleep is vital for an effective detox

With all the presents now opened, crackers pulled and decorations packed away, the only remnants of Christmas left for many of us are the extra pounds we’ve gained and the slightly guilty feelings of over indulgence. January is therefore a natural time for many of us to at least think about detoxing.

Detoxing usually means no alcohol and a strict diet with no processed foods and other ingredients such as refined sugar eliminated. What we don’t always appreciate is the value of sleep in the detox process.

Most experts agree that people detoxing need to get a minimum of seven to eight hours of sleep a night (actually ,this is the ideal all of the time), though frustratingly, some of us find it harder to sleep as the body releases toxins, meaning a regular bedtime routine is more important than ever.

Plenty of sleep is vital for an effective detox

Plenty of sleep is key, particularly during a detox, because this is the time when the body processes toxins and replenishes energy to our organs. Not to mention that the body needs rest to heal and rejuvenate itself naturally.

The benefits of getting enough sleep (and not just when detoxing) are two-fold. Not only does sufficient sleep aid the detox process, a lack of sleep can also bring its own challenges. When we’re tired we are more likely to crave the exact things we’re trying to eliminate during a detox – high sugar foods and carbohydrates. And we’re also less likely to have the willpower to resist the temptation when we’re lacking energy.

If detoxing does make you feel tired and grumpy this can be a sign that your body needs even more sleep. If you can, experts advise to take this extra rest so that your body can focus on eliminating toxins and replenishing itself and you can reap the maximum benefits of a detox.

Good luck!

p.s. you can read a little more here about the health benefits of getting a good night’s sleep from The Detox Bible.