Small and medium companies, lengthy missed within the constructing of modern expertise, have recently change into a key focus on the planet of B2B software program. Now, a startup known as Factorial — one of many larger gamers within the space of constructing HR expertise for SMBs — is saying a giant fundraise at a “unicorn” valuation that underscores that development.
The Barcelona startup has raised $120 million, a Sequence C that’s not solely one of many greatest for Spain, however one of many greatest presently popping out of Europe. Led by Atomico, the spherical additionally included GIC in addition to previous buyers Tiger World, CRV, Ok-Fund and Creandum. This all-equity spherical is notable not only for its dimension, however for the worth tag it confers on the startup: Factorial is now valued at $1 billion, double its valuation a yr in the past when it was raised $80 million.
The corporate will use the funding to proceed constructing out extra expertise and product — expense playing cards is the following launch that’s presently in a quiet beta mode — in addition to for acquisitions and for deeper geographical enlargement.
Factorial thus far has picked up some 7,000 prospects throughout Europe in international locations just like the UK and Germany (comparable to a whole lot of hundreds of customers, with the typical dimension of its prospects between 50 and 250 staff), however its greatest section has been the Latino ( Spanish and Portuguese) world, which incorporates not solely Spain and Portugal however numerous growing markets (collectively numbering nearly 30 international locations, plus numerous others the place it is a frequent if not an official language).
This latter group additionally represents Factorial’s greatest engine for progress. Whereas developed markets just like the US, UK and Western Europe are stuffed with competitors for SMB-focused startups constructing productiveness and operational apps for SMBs, in growing international locations Factorial has been a trailblazer in connecting with the small enterprise section to promote them merchandise to deal with human assets like their bigger counterparts.
Pooling these Latino markets, “We are able to collectively doubtlessly promote to 10 million prospects,” Romero stated. “However however we solely have 7,000 prospects. Our market share is ridiculously small and it is largely greenfield.”
The corporate says that since 2019, it has been rising at over 200% yearly with no signal of that fee slowing down with the hit, or within the sluggish aftermath, of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clients embody divisions of Reserving.com, Freshly, Vicio and extra.
Factorial’s rise is coming at an inflection level within the macroeconomic sphere.
All eyes are on the job market lately, with rises and falls of unemployment not only a bellwether of the broader economic system, however for many people one of many extra direct hits — in comparison with extra summary indicators like curiosity and trade charges — on the subject of how we really feel the pinch. However mockingly, the world of employment has had one other focus — as an issue for tech startups to deal with.
Factorial’s elevate, and rise, thus appears to point that a minimum of for itself, that focus seems to be proof against these ups and downs and if something it is constructing instruments that companies are discovering are important to working their HR operations effectively, whatever the financial climates.
CEO Jordi Romero, together with CRO Bernat Farrero and CTO Pau Ramon, constructed out the enterprise with the bigger purpose of making, primarily, a “Workday” for the sorts of corporations that sometimes are too small to purchase, implement and use enterprise instruments. The important thing to doing that has to maintain boundaries to adoption and use very low, Romero stated in an interview.
“All the things we do is about consumer expertise and making issues easy for workers,” he stated. “You need to be capable to simply onboard a buyer or worker and run stories.”
The corporate’s product, henceforth, has been slowly increasing into an all-in-one productiveness platform for all employee-related issues. That features shift and vacation administration; on-boarding and off-boarding of employees; efficiency administration; payroll; bills; group charts; and even inner office communications — all bundled underneath very simple pricing (and no freemium tier).
Notably, a number of that thus far has been constructed in-house, a route Factorial plans to proceed touring because it grows. “Now we have our personal merchandise as a result of we need to use the identical playbook for all of them, targeted on what we consider has been the core of the issue for SMBs” — instruments have been not match for function primarily, being too costly or too exhausting to undertake, he stated. “That’s our DNA, and that’s the reason we have to maintain constructing the product from he floor up.”
(There are exceptions to this, Romero famous, as a consequence of localized wants: Payroll, for instance, is obtainable in 9 markets and in every of these Factorial integrates with native corporations that truly run the method.)
The tech funding market, and the tech market general, has undoubtedly been contracting this yr. That has meant that buyers positively have the higher hand on the subject of time period sheets, however it’s additionally spelled out other forms of dynamics: VCs are sometimes coalescing round safer bets fairly than moonshots. Put these two collectively and there stay examples of startups nonetheless seeing sturdy valuations and competitors on the subject of letting individuals into their rounds.
The metrics Factorial’s been seeing, and that larger market alternative that it has discovered and is efficiently concentrating on, have put the startup into that presently uncommon spot.
“Now we have been following Factorial for a very long time,” Atomico accomplice Luca Eisenstecken informed me in an interview. He stated that the truth that Factorial’s managed to maintain sturdy progress via the rise and dip of the pandemic economic system, “and to maintain that progress up at scale,” had been two vital factors. Atomico spoke with prospects, too, and whereas he would not disclose retention numbers, he described them to me as “large.”
“These metrics, mixed with buyer satisfaction, we expect there’s something particular happening. It turned abundantly clear how large of an issue HR is for these small companies, and the way it has been missed by most,” he stated. “In the long run, they’re providing a completely horizontal suite that previously would have solely been accessible to enterprises. Nobody had digitized that decrease finish of the SMB market, particularly in a few of these international locations.” Eisenstecken is becoming a member of the board with this spherical.
A snack is at all times full with a crunchy and candy apple deal with! At this time I am showingcasing three easy apple recipes, that assist to regulate your candy tooth!
This put up was developed in partnership with Ontario Apple Growers and Produce Made Easy. Ontario apples could be loved all 12 months spherical and actually are the proper snack – no prep work required! Nonetheless, these three snacks that I’ve right here do not take any time in any respect to make. Which one would you strive?
Yogurt Apple Donuts
1 Apple (I used honey crisp)
1/2cup Vanilla Greek Yogurt
2tbspAlmond Butter
Seeds & Dried Fruit
Minimize your apples in slices, then use a corer or knife to make a circle lower within the centre.
Combine yogurt and almond butter collectively. Unfold a layer of the almond yogurt as your ‘frosting’.
Prime with seeds & dried fruit!
Apples Dipped in Chocolate Hummus
1.5cupchickpeas, cooked
3tbspmaple syrup
1/2 tspvanilla extract
4tbsp Unsweetened baking cocoa
2tbsp Water
2Apples (I used royal gala)sliced
In a blender or in a meals processor, mix all of the elements besides water and apples, utilizing simply 3 1/2 Tbsp of maple syrup.Puree till the combination is easy, about 30-60 seconds. Add water 1 Tbsp at a time to create the specified consistency.
Style the chocolate hummus and add remaining maple syrup if desired.
Dip your apples within the hummus and luxuriate in!
Air Fryer Apples
Prep Time 5minutes
Prepare dinner Time 13minutes
2ApplesI used Ambrosia
1.5TbspAvocado Oil
1TspCinnamon
1-2TbspMaple Syrup
2TbspAlmond Flour
1/4CupOats
2TbspHemp Hearts
Preheat the air fryer on 350F.
Minimize apples in half by way of the stem and use a knife or a spoon to take away the core, stem and seeds. Brush a tsp of avocado oil evenly over the lower sides of the apples, then sprinkle over tsp of cinnamon.
Combine the topping elements collectively in a small bowl, then spoon on high of the apple halves evenly.
Place the apple halves fastidiously into the air fryer basket, then cook dinner for quarter-hour or till softened.
Level of Sale techniques, or POS techniques, are an integral a part of any enterprise. They’re what permit clients to finish their transactions for the products or providers they bought out of your firm. However what are they and why are they so necessary?
The POS system can maybe be greatest described as a community of computer systems headed by a foremost pc. In lots of circumstances, there are a number of terminals at which the enterprise transactions can happen. These terminals, that are sometimes called try terminals, can have a wide range of totally different options. Most fashionable POS techniques embody a pc, a money drawer, a receipt printer, a buyer show, and a barcode scanner. Many additionally embody card cost terminals that permit clients to pay through credit score or debit.
Not all POS techniques are created equal, although, and the purpose of sale system that works for one sort of enterprise may not work for an additional. Retail firms ought to spend money on a system that’s particularly geared in direction of the retail sector.
Advisable POS techniques for retail companies
These are a number of the most beneficial POS techniques out there for retail companies:
Why retail companies want a POS system
Retail POS techniques are of nice worth to any retail enterprise, it doesn’t matter what items and providers it gives. In previous many years when money registers have been extensively used, solely easy funds may very well be processed and managed. However with the invention of retail POS software program, companies gained the power to not solely handle transactions, but additionally monitor buyer data, gross sales, and stock. This allowed for considerably will increase in effectivity. Furthermore, this data allowed companies to find out what’s missing within the enterprise and what could be carried out to extend gross sales, ensuing within the potential for enormous revenue features.
Key options and advantages of a retail POS
Retail companies have a novel set of wants, and it is necessary that the POS system they select meets these wants. A few of the must-have options and advantages for retail POS techniques embody:
Gross sales historical past
A retail POS will assist your enterprise in sustaining an up-to-date gross sales report. Just by trying on the data, you’ll decide what motion the gross sales and advertising and marketing groups can take to additional (or higher) market the products or providers you are promoting. Furthermore, this characteristic offers a transparent image of the stock that is at the moment saved and whenever you’re working low. Conventional money registers do not permit for the sort of evaluation at a look.
Stock administration
Usually, a buyer decides whether or not or to not make a purchase order within the first few seconds. The remainder of the time is spent trying into the services or products extra deeply. Workers who’ve the retail POS software program with them can instantly inform the client whether or not their desired services or products is offered in the intervening time and if it isn’t after they count on it to develop into out there. This will increase worker effectivity and builds belief with the client. Whereas stock administration could be carried out different methods, having a retail level of sale system simplifies and streamlines issues, permitting companies to focus extra time on what issues most: the shoppers. Epicor is a superb POS system that helps retail enterprise house owners automate their stock administration.
Promotions and focused advertising and marketing
A retail POS can go an extended solution to selling your services or products. For instance, you’ll acquire knowledge like buyer birthdays and electronic mail addresses, which lets you ship particular provides or reductions on these particular days. Along with making your clients really feel valued, it could possibly assist enhance your gross sales. This knowledge could be built-in with loyalty instruments. These options be sure that your purchasers preserve returning time and time once more.
Much less {hardware}
Money registers require enormous quantities of cupboard space. Retail POS software program, however, could be simply put in on an everyday pc and even on a cellular gadget, making it compact and straightforward to entry from wherever.
Nice buyer interplay
Digital retail POS techniques enhance the power of companies to work together with clients. Companies are constructed on buyer interactions, and the connection between a enterprise and its clients performs an awesome position within the success (or not) of an organization. With retail POS, it’s potential to take care of interactions with clients lengthy after the acquisition is made, thereby growing branding as nicely.
{Hardware} for retail POS techniques
Retail POS system {hardware} is simply as necessary because the software program. The 2 work collectively to permit the system to run easily. In spite of everything, your software program may very well be on level, but when your pc or scanner is not functioning, the purpose of sale system software program is of little use. To get probably the most out of your retail POS system, here is the {hardware} you have to be searching for:
Register display screen
That is the visible entrance of your POS system. The display screen shows details about the transaction, buyer knowledge, databases, and many others. The register display screen is a vital part of the retail POS and is usually both a slim pc monitor or a cellular gadget, like an iPad. Earlier techniques used cumbersome screens.
barcode scanner
A barcode scanner scans the barcode printed on the product and provides its particulars and worth to the transaction. It additionally ensures that the stock is accurately maintained and managed after the transaction is accomplished.
Receipt printer
Receipts present clients precisely what was billed and the way a lot they paid for every services or products they bought. Additionally they comprise different data, just like the date and site of the acquisition. The receipt printer is what means that you can print out a paper receipt for the client. Whereas many companies now supply electronic mail or textual content receipts, some clients nonetheless desire one thing tangible, so a receipt printer is a crucial piece of {hardware} to have.
money drawer
The money drawer is, in fact, the place the money is saved. It is a safe drawer that usually opens solely as soon as a transaction is full.
card reader
Although not a compulsory part of a POS system, having a card reader permits companies to simply accept funds from credit score and debit playing cards. Some card readers additionally settle for cellular funds for the products or providers bought.
What to contemplate when shifting to a brand new POS system
Shifting to a brand new POS system generally is a nice possibility for growing gross sales and making a extra environment friendly transaction expertise for purchasers. Nevertheless, as you put together to make the leap to a brand new level of sale system, there are just a few necessary issues to contemplate.
Enterprise necessities
Earlier than you do the rest, it is important that you just establish your enterprise necessities. This units the idea for the whole lot else. To search out the very best retail POS system to your wants, begin by making a listing of the non-negotiable options that your enterprise cannot reside with out. When you discover that your necessities are minimal and could be managed with a easy money register, then maybe rethink your need to change to a POS system, because it might not be mandatory. Nevertheless, when you have many necessities and so they can’t be met by a money register, a POS system is probably going the most suitable choice.
Charges
Processing charges for credit score and debit playing cards could be excessive, and the associated fee for this normally falls on enterprise house owners. Search for retail POS software program that gives low processing charges.
Complexity
Once you’re deciding on a system, do not forget that your staff have to study to make use of it. One of the best retail POS software program is intuitive and fast for workers to select up on. Selecting a degree of sale system that is tough to function signifies that you will have to spend further time and sources educating everybody how one can use it. Keep in mind, too, that the system have to be up to date often to take care of its performance.
Integration
It is necessary that the POS software program you select can simply combine with the prevailing software program your organization makes use of. Failing to contemplate this whereas buying your new system can result in pointless expertise issues and complications for everybody concerned. A lot of right this moment’s POS software program choices combine with lots of in style enterprise instruments, reminiscent of Quickbooks, BigCommerce, Magneto, Apple Pay, and extra.
Safety
Lastly, you will wish to think about safety, each to your sake and for the sake of your clients. One of the best retail POS techniques defend your clients’ data and supply glorious technical assist to unravel any points which may happen.
There are so many great small business ideas out there that it can be tough to choose which one to pursue. And if you’re currently employed full-time, it can be even tougher to find the time to start a business on the side.
But it is possible. I know firsthand because I’ve done it myself. In fact, some of the best businesses are started by people who are already working full time.
If you’re feeling motivated to start a business in 2023 but don’t know where to start, here are 15 great business ideas you can pursue.
1. Start a blog
If you’re passionate about a certain topic, why not start a blog about it? You can share your knowledge and expertise with the world, and if you’re lucky, you might even be able to make some serious money from your blog through advertising or affiliate marketing.
On average, serious bloggers make around $45,000 a year. Keep in mind that the first six months is a building phase of creating content, driving traffic and building your following. The real income tends to kick in during the second six months, with the $45,000 a year figure for an established blog.
One of the best things about blogging is that it’s relatively inexpensive and can be done in your spare time.
2. Start an e-commerce business
If you’re good at finding products that people want to buy online, an e-commerce business could be for you. You can sell just about anything, from physical goods to digital products. And the best part is, you can get started without investing a lot of money.
The trick is to find products you can purchase for a low amount, sell for substantially more and that people want to buy from you.
T-shirts and other personalized items can work really well for this and entire 6 figure businesses have been built with a few super catchy and timely t-shirt slogans along with good graphics and marketing.
3. Start a service business
If you have a particular skill or talent that you can offer others, why not start a service business? You can offer your services to clients on a freelance basis, or you can even start your own service-based business.
If you are particularly good at any aspect of online marketing, for example, then this could be a good fit for you. Content creation, graphic design, reputation management and business coaching are all good possibilities.
4. Start a subscription box business
If you’re looking for a unique business idea, why not start a subscription box business? You can curate boxes of products based on a theme and people can subscribe to receive them on a monthly or quarterly basis. This is a great way to build a loyal customer base and generate some recurring revenue.
I’ve seen this work in crafting niches such as crochet and knitting, as well as pet niches, personal care items and even snack foods.
5. Start a drop shipping business
If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of shipping products yourself, you can always start a drop shipping business. This type of business allows you to sell products without having to worry about inventory or shipping. Instead, when a customer orders a product from your store or from Amazon, you simply order it from your supplier and have it shipped directly to the customer.
The key here is to identify savvy product opportunities. Finding products from overseas that will sell well while giving you a good profit margin will take some research, but it can be well worth it.
6. Start an affiliate marketing website
If you’re good at driving traffic to websites, you could start an affiliate marketing website. This type of site earns revenue by directing visitors to other websites via your affiliate link where they can make purchases. As an affiliate, you earn a commission on every sale that you refer.
Your first step is to choose a niche. Find products that you want to promote in that niche and then create content to bring in prospects. Build your list and market these affiliate products to your list as well as on your website.
7. Start a social media marketing agency
If you’re good at marketing on social media, you can start your own social media marketing agency. You can help businesses grow their online following and get more leads and sales from their social media accounts.
8. Start writing ebooks
The beauty of ebooks is that while content matters, length does not. As long as you deliver on the promise of the title, your ebook can be of almost any length. This means that if you get busy and focus, you could possibly write a new ebook every month or two. Heck, I’ve known people who wrote their first ebook over a two-day weekend.
Use each ebook to recommend the other ebooks as well as any services you provide.
In fact, an ebook can be a great way to get customers for your service. For example, if you’re a web designer and you write the book on web design, clients are going to be much more eager to hire you for your services.
9. Start teaching online courses
If you’re an expert then there is likely an audience willing to pay to learn what you know. Teachable is perhaps the easiest and most affordable platform to host your course and they have plenty of free resources to help you get started.
10. Start an SEO agency
If you’re good at optimizing websites for search engines, you can start your own SEO agency. You can help businesses improve their ranking in search results and get more traffic to their website.
11. Start a web design agency
If you’re good at designing websites, you can start your own web design agency. You can help businesses create beautiful and functional websites and entire sales funnels that convert visitors into customers.
12. Start a content marketing agency
If you’re good at creating compelling content, you could start your own content marketing agency. You can help businesses attract more website visitors and convert them into customers with high-quality content.
13. Start Instagram marketing
Build a loyal following on Instagram and could get deals with major brands to promote their products and services related to your content. If you have enough followers, you can charge $500 to $5000 or more per post.
14. Start an online coaching business
This can be the perfect way to teach beginners in your field. One-on-one coaching is a dependable side business that can grow into a full time income. If you charge by the hour, then you’ll want to use a system like Teamwork to keep track of billable hours while managing client projects at the same time.
In addition to helping you give others, you can also build an online community using a private Facebook group or Slack for your clients to interact and learn from each other.
15. Start a podcast
If you enjoy telling stories, chatting and doing interviews then this is a great opportunity for you to build an audience around a specific topic. You can use your podcast to get sponsors, to promote affiliate products or your own products. Even a new podcast with a built-in audience or a podcast that is building a strong audience can secure advertisers at $200 to $500 per 90 second slot.
You can research and create your own content, or you can interview experts on your podcast. Be sure to do plenty of storytelling to get and keep your audience, as well as conveying your enthusiasm for your topic, using emotion and humor to keep listeners coming back for more.
Of course, these are just a few ideas to get you started. There are endless possibilities when it comes to starting your own business. So, if you’re feeling motivated, take the first step and see where it takes you!
I love gyros but store bought gyro meat contains gluten.
While I was on my keto retreat in Bali, the people who came on my retreat mentioned I should make gyro meat like my homemade deli meat recipe. So I got my meat press out and made delicious gyro meats and I used my protein sparing noodle recipe to make pita bread for the gyros! They were so delicious!
HOW TO MAKE PROTEIN SPARING GYROS
To make my recipe for protein sparing gyro meat and pita wraps, I used Further Food gelatin!
Further Food gelatin is sourced from the highest quality, grass-fed, pasture-raised, hormone-free, and antibiotic free bovine.
Adding Further Food Gelatin works perfectly for making my protein sparing gyro meat extra delicious and the chewy pita bread! Don’t skip adding the gelatin! It adds a perfect texture!
Use code MARIAMINDBODY for 20% off site-wide !
Protein Sparing GYROS
Prep Time 10min
Cook Time 1hr
Total Time 1hr10min
Course Beef and Lamb, Dairy Free, PSMF Recipes
Cuisine CARNIVORE
Servings 8servings
Calories 304.1
Place onions and garlic into a blender or a large food processor and pulse until finely chopped.
Add the rest of the ingredients and puree until you have a paste.
Spray the inside of the deli meat press with avocado oil spray and place the mixture into the press. Press down firmly.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Place the meat press into the water and boil on a low simmer for 1 hour or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
Place the unopened container in the fridge for 10 hours or overnight. Remove and slice. Enjoy as a sandwich with my protein sparing bread recipe or dehydrate in an oven or dehydrator for 6 hours on lowest temperature (155 degrees F) to make protein chips!
PSMF RIBBON BREAD
Place all the ingredients into a blender and purée until smooth.
Heat a large 12 inch non-stick pan to medium heat. Lightly spray with avocado oil spray and dab it with a paper towel. Pour 1/4 cup of batter onto the pan and tilt the pan to spread the batter all over the pan in and so it is a very thin crepe. Once the batter has set and is almost cooked through, gently flip the crepe (I used my fingers but be careful not to burn yourself). Cook another 30-60 seconds. Make sure the crepes don’t brown at all.
Remove from pan and repeat with remaining batter.
Serve gyro meat in the PSMF pita bread (PSMF crepes). Add optional toppings if desired.
Doesn’t Vito look AMAZING???? In only 6 months he transformed his health
Vito is a chef in Canada and the first photo is from my keto retreat to Greece last fall. His after photo is from my keto Bali retreat!
He still makes delicious food, he’s still a “foodie” but he modifies his recipes to be keto! He was the one who showed me how to make protein noodles with gelatin, water and dried egg whites! He even made squid ink pasta with it!
Most people I consult are doing keto totally wrong. Get fast results with the my Mind-blowing Keto School!
Have you ever noticed after a night of poor sleep, are you extra hungry? Do you often fall off your diet after a poor night of sleep?
After a poor night of sleep, your blood sugars are automatically higher causing you to become hungrier, you crave carbohydrates and you often gain weight over consecutive nights of poor sleep.
Many people gain weight in the summer and one main reason is that they skimp on sleep. It’s easy to get 8-10 hours of sleep when it gets dark out at 4:30pm in January, but who wants to go to bed when it’s still light out?
I worked with a lot of gastric bypass patients and in the past, we used to think that they had sleep apnea after they gained weight BUT we now know that the lack of sleep = leptin resistance = don’t feel the sense of feeling full = overeating = weight gain! bad bad bad.
Often times I talk with clients on the phone and they tell me they are eating from my meal plans but their blood sugars are still high.
My first question is “How many hours did you sleep?” There is a huge connection to our health and sleep. Just getting 6 hours at night isn’t going to help heal you in the way you need!
Many studies connect a link between sleep and the hormones that manipulate our eating behavior; which are ghrelin and leptin. Have you ever experienced a sleepless night followed by a day when no matter what you say you never feel satisfied? I hate that! This is the outcome when leptin and ghrelin get out of balance. Leptin and ghrelin work like a “check and balance” that manages hunger and fullness. Ghrelin, produced in the stomach, increases appetite, while leptin, produced in fat cells, sends a message to our brain when we are full.
Lack of sleep causes ghrelin levels to increase and your leptin levels to decrease. This imbalance causes us to crave food intensely and never feel full. The worst part is that we don’t crave broccoli, we crave high calorie sweets and starchy foods. Over time, this imbalance can easily lead to long-term weight gain.
Getting at least 8 hours of restful sleep can be key to health, weight loss, mental clarity and so much more. One of the best ways to ensure a good restful night of sleep is to get your circadian clock in rhythm and get your body to naturally produce melatonin at the right times.
Our eye has a receptor that responds to the presence of light and signals the SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus) in our brain. We have known that blue light effects the production of melatonin but it is now shown that some wavelengths of green light also effect melatonin production. The activation of the SCN (presence of blue and green lights in the eye) prevents the pineal gland from producing melatonin, the hormone that signals sleep or drowsiness. The lack of blue light in the eye signals the pineal gland to produce melatonin which induces drowsiness and natural sleep cycles. This diagram shows this process.
Image Source: www.nature.com/articles/497S10a
So it is critical that we support our circadian rhythms to enable good sleep cycles. But today we are bombarded by these wavelengths of blue and green light all day long.
In the evening when the sun is down and we should naturally be setting our circadian clocks for sleep, we have interior lights, computer screens, TVs, phones and more that are bombarding our eyes with these critical blue and green wavelengths of light and interrupting us circadian clocks. If you have trouble falling asleep, adding glasses that block these wavelengths of blue and green light can be the key to naturally falling asleep better and getting better sleep.
We have written about this for a while. A few years ago in our “The 30 Day Ketogenic Cleanse” book and more recently in our book “Keto.”. But with further understanding of how blue AND green light at certain wavelengths can effect sleep, we searched for glasses that would block all the wavelengths to enable natural sleep cycles to improve.
Key takeaways from studies on the eye light receptor:
446–477nm was identified as having the strongest effect on melatonin suppression. You need to make sure 100% from 446-477nm is blocked after dark
Polychromatic action spectra were reasonably consistent in indicating that the spectral region between 450 and 550nm provides the strongest stimulation of circadian and neuroendocrine responses. What this means is the wavelengths of light between 400-550nm should be completely blocked for optimal melatonin secretion after dark.
Past studies have shown that the peak wavelength sensitivity was 555nm (Rodieck, 1998) (5). Previous data (Brainard et al, 2001) (6) and those presented in the 2001 study (4) do not support this hypothesis. The results clearly demonstrate that 555nm is significantly weaker in suppressing melatonin. This is a great study for determining the optimal range of artificial light to block after dark and the study results and graphs clearly indicate that the major disruption zone for melatonin is between 400-550nm with a peak between 446-477nm. It is clear we must block 100% blue and green light from 400-550nm to have optimal melatonin secretion after dark. Almost every blue light blocking pair of glasses on the market does not do this. A cross section of test results from a spectrometer has been released that shows just this (7).
We searched for a company that made glasses that blocked 100% of these blue and green wavelengths. We founded the company called Bon Charge. They make glasses that block 100% of the blue and green wavelengths needed to naturally allow your body to produce melatonin.
When you get a good night’s rest your body has adequate time to repair and rejuvenate.
Avoid sugar and foods high in carbohydrates, such as popcorn, chips and ice cream, especially in the evening hours. It causes low quality sleep and it stalls our metabolism. When blood sugar rises too much, it falls too low, causing you to wake up because of low blood sugar and hunger.
Add in salt before bedtime. When people start the keto diet, or start to do longer fasting, sleep often suffers. One reason is because the lack of sodium levels in the evening really interferes with quality sleep!
Follow a regular sleep schedule by going to bed and rising at the same time. I know I sound like a loser, but I’m usually in bed by 8:30pm and rise at 6am.
Before bed do something to relax your muscles and your mind (meditation, gentle stretching, yoga or deep breathing exercises).
Reduce or eliminate caffeine (chocolate has caffeine, so beware). Despite working at coffee shops since I was 15 years old, I cut out all coffee and caffeine and never felt better!
Darken your bedroom with heavy drapes. We have black-out blinds.
Turn the heat down. We often sleep with the windows cracked open even in the winter; I sleep the best at about 57-60 degrees.
Try cold therapy before bed. I do cold therapy at night to cool my body down to help with mitochondria health and increasing sleep.
Women: Get your progesterone level tested. I often see women who can fall asleep, but wake up in the middle of the night. I have helped copious amounts of women get good sleep with natural supplements to help with hormone health.
WEAR BON CHARGE blue blocking glasses! I usually put my BON CHARGE blue blocking glasses on around 5pm. Yep, 5pm! It is best to stop blocking all the blue light about 2-3 hours before bedtime to allow the body to naturally produce melatonin. With stylish blue blocking glasses you can start wearing them in the evening while still hanging out with friends. They even make a good conversation starter! You are biohacking your sleep. 🙂
My easy recipe for Carnivore Bagels will blow your mind!
HOW TO MAKE CARNIVORE BAGELS
To make my Carnivore Bagels, I used Further Food Gelatin!
Further Food gelatin and collagen peptides are both excellent sources of collagen. Both their Collagen & Gelatin are sourced from the highest quality, grass-fed, pasture-raised, hormone-free, and antibiotic free bovine collagen.
The benefits of collagen and gelatin are amazing! Just eating my delicious Carnivore Bagels helps support skin elasticity & hydration, longer hair & nails, stronger bones & joints, faster recovery between workouts, increased flexibility, improved digestion, and it even keeps you feeling full and satisfied for longer!
Further Food Collagen Peptides dissolve instantly in any recipe, and Gelatin Powder naturally thickens recipes. It’s perfect for making my carnivore bagels have a chewy bread texture! It also makes dairy free ice cream, jello, sugar free gummies, no bake cheesecake, or panna cotta!
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Carnivore Bagels
Prep Time 5min
Cook Time 20min
Total Time 25min
Course Beef and Lamb, Carnivore, Dairy Free, Nut Free, Poultry
Cuisine American, CARNIVORE
Servings 8servings
Calories 187.4
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 (4-hole) bagel pans and set aside.
Place the beef and the cubes of chicken into a large skillet. Sauté over medium high heat while stirring often until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink.
Place the cooked beef mixture into a blender. Add the rest of the ingredients and puree until smooth.
Divide the mixture into the prepared bagel pans and bake in the oven for 16-22 minutes or until the bagels are cooked through. Remove from the oven and allow the bagels to cool in the pan before removing. NOTE: if you underbake them, they will shrink.
Store extras in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Can be frozen for up to a month.
“Emmrich Keto has changed my life forever. The list of my previous medical concerns ranged from cancer to gall bladder, to celiac, osteopenia, GERD, and on and on and on.
I came across Maria Wojcik Emmerich (or my pixie angel as I refer to her), three years ago this month. With her books, website blog and personal health assessment, I was able to lose 86 pounds (and counting) and healed all of my ailments.
My energy has skyrocketed, I learned how to cook as well as eat, and my health is better now at 53 than it was 20 years ago!!!!
There are lots of ‘keto’ groups out there, but the truly magical one, is the one hosted by Maria and Craig.” Leisa
Most people I consult are doing keto totally wrong. Get fast results with the my Mind-blowing Keto School!
What’s not to love about a crispy sticky Asian wing?
Before allulose came along, I was never able to create a sticky sauce for chicken wings.
I used Wholesome Yum Allulose Simple Syrup to make these delicious Crispy Sticky Asian Wings! You must try this recipe!
WHERE TO GET INGREDIENTS FOR CRISPY STICKY ASIAN WINGS
If you haven’t noticed, I do not allow advertising on my site.
I just didn’t agree with some of the products that were advertised. They were keto products, but they were unhealthy and I would never personally eat most of the products. It was hard to say no to blog advertisements; they pay thousands of dollars a month, but I just feel uncomfortable about having the products I didn’t recommend on my website.
Instead, I have created a shopping list where you can find all the healthy ingredients that are difficult to find in grocery stores (and if you do find them, they are often very expensive).
I have done a lot of detective work and found the lowest prices on for all of the products I use and love. Everything from food, pantry items, kitchen tools, supplements, and skin products are on my list.
I rarely waste time in the grocery store because I find everything online for a way better price!
All you have to do is click on the words in my recipe and it will take you right to the correct item. If you add them to your cart I get a tiny commission that helps me afford to keep practicing recipes (Recipe experimenting can cost me a fortune!…but I love helping!).
I also have GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS on the list!
Happy Shopping and THANK YOU for all your support!!!
Crispy Sticky Asian Chicken Wings
Maria Emmerich
Prep Time 10min
Cook Time 30min
Total Time 40min
Course Egg Free, Main Course, Nut Free, Poultry
Cuisine Asian
Servings 4servings
Calories 422
Place a piece of parchment on a rimmed baking sheet.
Dry the chicken wings well with paper towels.
Place the wings in a large bowl and add the baking powder, salt and pepper. Toss to combine so there is a light coating all over each wing. Discard any remaining coating.
Place the wings in a single layer on the baking sheet with skin side up. Set in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Bake for 30 minutes until the wings are golden and crispy. Take out of the oven to cool slightly.
While the chicken wings bake, prepare the sticky Asian sauce. Place all of the sauce ingredients into a saucepan, stir and bring to a boil. Allow to bubble for 5-10 minutes until the sauce reduces and thickens slightly (it will thicken as it cools). Remove from the heat.
Place the wings in a large bowl and very carefully pour over the sticky sauce. Toss to combine. Garnish with green onions sliced on the diagonal.
“My husband and I recently did the health assessment. For different health and life reasons. We are now on the supplement plan from both our health assessments. We are so impressed! Both of us have been Keto since February of 2017. No cheats, but we became very lazy.
We have been following The Emmerich way for about 6 months. What a difference!
The hubby had plateaued and since taking the supplements and following what Maria and Craig suggested, he has lost 14 pounds!
I have more clarity, sleep better, headaches are gone, I could go on and on about the benefits and I have also lost about 5 pounds (weight loss was not my number one goal). We both feel so much better! We highly recommend the health assessment by getting your macros right and following the suggestions.
Thank you Maria Wojcik Emmerich and Craig Emmerich! xo” – Cathy
Most people I consult are doing keto totally wrong. Get fast results with the my Mind-blowing Keto School!
WHERE TO GET INGREDIENTS FOR CRISPY STICKY ASIAN WINGS
