Healthism

Home remedies to curb cold and cough for kids

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 04 May 2021 17:42:00 +0000

With the change in weather, viral cough and cold are common ailments that kids suffer from. Try some of these remedies to treat the ailment and boost your kid’s immunity:

Steam: If your little one suffers from cold and has trouble breathing, get him/her to take steam. Make the kid stand in the bathroom with hot water running or simply heat water in a wide bowl and make the kid inhale the hot fumes for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Adding eucalyptus oil can also help soothe your child’s system.

Honey: Known for its soothing effect, dip your finger in honey and let your baby lick it two three times in a day. If your child is older than five years, mix a spoonful with cinnamon powder and ask him/her to have it.
Carom Seeds: Boiling water along with carom seeds (ajwain) and tulsi leaves can help to keep the cough in check. It also helps in relieving chest congestion.

Massage: Massages work best for children who are below two years of age. Mix mustard oil with garlic and massage your baby’s chest, back and neck area. Also cover the baby’s palm and feet with the oil for a quick relief.

Salt gargling: A glass of hot water with a teaspoon of salt can be useful to ease a sore throat. Ask your kid to gargle with salt water twice a day. The saline water helps soothe the pain.

Turmeric milk: Due to its antiseptic properties, turmeric is known to treat viral infections such as cough and cold. Add turmeric powder to a glass of warm milk and make your kid have it every night. It provides instant relief for an aching throat and runny nose. Since it is a rich source of calcium, milk also provides energy to your kid.

Healthism - A Way to Become Healthy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 04 May 2021 07:13:00 +0000

7 Types of food that burns fat

Benefits of Jogging

15 Minute Exercise for Attractive Body

Pimples - Causes, Myths and Cares

Get the Enough Sleep : Benefits Of Sleep

Healthy foods for your eyes

Exercises to reduce PMS pain

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 17:18:00 +0000

Women hate forward to that time of the month. Though referred to as chums, they hardly ‘friendly’, thanks to the stomachache, cramps, and a bloated body that it brings along. There are women who feel appalled at the idea of exercising during those days. Doctors say that exercising releases endorphins in your body which not only help to elevate your mood but also help to overcome stress. To tackle that try eating bananas as they are naturally sweet and high in potassium which will help curb your salt and sugar cravings. Some exercises that you can do during your periods

Pelvic tilts
Performing pelvic tilt exercise is important to maintain the mobility in the low back, hips and pelvis. It also helps to maintain and develop abdominal muscle strength and tone. It also provides a mild low back stretch, which can help alleviate the low back pain and discomfort that often accompanies periods. Lie on the floor in a supine position (on your back) with your knees bent. Activate your Abdominal muscles by drawing your belly button towards your spine. You should feel like the hollow of your back(lumbar) is pressing to the floor and your hips and pelvis are rolled upwards towards the ceiling. Hold the position for couple of seconds before returning to the original position. Repeat it about 10 times.

Seated Torso Stretch
Sit on the floor with both feet straight in front. Bend your right knee and place the right foot next to your left inner thigh. Now rotate from your lumbar area(lower back) and place your left elbow on the outside of your right knee and place your right hand on the floor behind your body. Hold the stretch for a good 15 seconds or more. Repeat the same on the other side.

Lying Butterfly Stretch
Lie supine (on your back) on the floor with your legs straight in front. Slowly bring both your feet by joining the soles of your feet together towards your pelvis region or closer to your body. Now slowly let gravity take over and let the thighs drop to the floor. Stay in the position for a good 20 to 30 seconds.

Supine High Plank
Sit on the floor with your feet extended in front and hands placed by your side. Make sure your fingers are pointing in front- towards your feet. Now slowly lift your hips off the floor and hold the position making sure that the feet, knee, hips, shoulder form a straight line. Make sure you keep your chin tucked in towards your chest. The mobility and fitness level will determine how correctly you can hold the high plank position and for how long.

Bridging
Lie Supine on a mat and bring your feet close to your butts. Slowly raise your hips up such that the shoulders hip and the knees form a straight line. Slowly come back to the starting position and raise yourself again without touching your hips down. Bridging helps to strengthen your lower back, hips, and your hamstrings. It is an excellent exercise to activate and tone the posterior chain of muscles.

Tips to keep in mind
One needs to carefully choose the exercises she does during her periods. It is advisable to take a break on the day you have a heavy flow.
On the rest of the days of one’s period, stick to light low impact aerobics
exercises that help increase your blood circulation.
Exercises that mobilise the pelvis such as pelvic tilts are beneficial to ease your back pain.
Light yoga stretches are also a good way to relax and release stress during periods. However, intense yoga inversions should be avoided.

Easy and tasty breakfasts which help to loose weight

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 10:10:00 +0000

BESAN CHEELA: Warm besan cheela on a winter morning is the best weight loss motivation you need.You can add delicious chutneys so that ou don’t get bored with the taste and gave up on my weight loss regime because you cant tired of eating the same kind of things quite easily

OATS: Oats are protein-loaded and low in calories, which make them a perfect post-workout breakfast. You can add veggies, peanuts and sometimes a scoop of cooked lentil to remove the boring taste of oats which can sometimes get to our tongue.

POHA: Poha is my favourite breakfast. This not only satiated my post-yoga hunger but also did not compromise on my taste buds.

IDLI SAMBHAR: No changes here because idli sambhar is a healthy and delicious option to have for breakfast or brunch.

MASALA OMELETTE: When on weight loss journey, proteins are a must and masala omelettes are the perfect way to fulfill that. I included colourful veggies in my omelettes and had one multigrain toast besides that if I was really hungry. Omelettes are my preferred choice of breakfast for most days. They are easy to make, yummy to eat and great for weight loss too!

Exercises to loose up your tight hips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 09:59:00 +0000

Tight hips is a common issue among many, especially working professionals who are desk bound. However, it is not only the inactive ones who suffer from it. Erratic lifestyle, lazy mornings and even too much gymming can lead to a stiff body. Some important exercises to loose up your tight hips.

How to do these exercises?

Push up: Here you do not need to do push ups, but rather stay in that position. Come down on your toes and hands. Keep your back straight while your body is parallel to the floor. Stay in this position while you breathe in and out.
V pose: Lie down on your back, extend your hands at the back and come up with hands forward and legs up. Your body should form a V. Keep contracting your abdominal muscles to make the most of this exercise.
Child's pose: Sit on your butt. Extend your arms and go forward. Keep your forehead on the floor along with your elbow and forearms. Try and stretch your back completely. Breathe in and out.
Hip Bridge: Lie down on your back. Now, bend your knees, lift your upper body from the floor and let your hands remain on your sides while facing the ground. Look up and breathe in and out.
Spine leg stretch: Lie down on your back. Lift your right leg off the ground and bend your knees. Once bent, pull the knee closer with your hand and stretch. Your left leg should remain firm and straight on the ground. Next, straighten your right leg and stretch. Repeat the same with your other leg.
Knee to chest pose: Remain on your back. Now, lift both your legs off the ground and bend. Bring your knees closer to your chest with the help of your hands. Remain there.
Shoulder pose: With the help of your hands, support your back and lift your legs up. Try this against a wall first to know your limit. Do not try this pose straight away to avoid injury.
Mountain leg walk: Stand on your feet and hands and form a V with your body. Now, one by one, bend your knee simultaneously. While your left leg remains straight, your right knee should bend and vice versa. Remember to keep your back straight.
Mountain leg lift (alternate): Form a V with your body by coming on your hands and feet. Next, left your right leg up and let it remain straight. Stay there and repeat this with your other leg. Make sure to keep your back straight.
V alternate leg lift: Lie down and come up in V position by lifting only you right leg. Simultaneously, extend your arm forward and look ahead. Repeat this with your other leg.
Side Plank Pulse: Lie down on your side. Now with the help of your arms, come up. Let the side of your feet and elbows remain on the ground. Your other hand should remain on your hip. Now pulse down and up your abdominal area. Repeat with the other side.
Side leg lifts: Lie down on your side. Let your hand support your head and bend your elbows. Raise the leg of the side you're lying on. Keep your body straight on the ground. Repeat the same with the other side.

Working Out but Still Not Losing Weight

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 15:10:00 +0000

Most of the times it happens that we diet and work out regularly, but still don't lose weight. The problem may have more to do with our general health and daily practices rather than our food intake. There are a number of reasons that could be behind you not getting the desired results. Let's have a look at some of the most common reasons that restrict weight loss after working out regularly also.

Healthy foods, such as nuts, avocados, whole wheat bread, olive oil, etc. aren't void of calories. Eating them is a healthy practice, but you still need to watch how much you eat. For example, eating whole wheat bread is healthy, but 100 gm of whole wheat bread contains 247 calories.
Skipping breakfast will make your body hold on to fat as the body thinks it's being starved. Always remember that people who eat breakfast regularly lose more weight, so, make sure to eat breakfast each morning to jump-start your metabolism.
Portion control is one of most important keys to a balanced diet, which is why it is important to make it a habit to keep measuring spoons and cups on hand to make sure your serving sizes are appropriate.
Many people stand up and eat, which is a very unhealthy practice. It's best to take out specific time for your meals and always make it a point to sit down and eat.
It's extremely important to get at last seven hours of sleep daily, especially if you're trying to lose weight. Sleep restores energy in your body which you need to keep up with your exercise routine. Skipping sleep can affect your body's ability to control its appetite.
Lower calorie and low-fat foods can be deceiving, since they're filled with chemical additives like sugar, or extra sodium to make up for the ingredients removed. Not only are these light versions less nutritious, but they also end up leading you to eat more.
Five to seven servings daily of fruits and veggies is important for everybody in general, but dieters who eat veggies regularly are more likely to lose weight, the fibre present in them keeps the body full for a longer period of time.

Habits that can make your life healthier

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 15:06:00 +0000

Your daily habits could actually be detrimental for you in the long run. And by working on these small habits, you could make a big difference to your well-being.

While brushing twice a day is a must, don't think flossing is any less important. Flossing effectively removes bad bacteria from your mouth and also removes plaque build-up that is present in those areas of your teeth that a toothbrush can't reach. When plaque isn't removed, it gnaws away the bone that ensures that your tooth stays in place.
If you are one of those who believe in eating three big meals a day, you could be doing yourself more harm than good. Break your meals up into several small meals so that you're eating every 2-3 hours and won't go hungry. Eating three large meals means that you end up eating more at each meal — and pile on those dreaded pounds. Eating whenever you're hungry will reduce the chances of binge eating.
Are you aware of how many steps you take in a day? Experts reckon you need to take at least 10,000. While keeping a count is not possible, what you can do is to wear a pedometer, which will do the job for you. It will also make you aware of how much more you need to walk in a day.
Invest in a good pair of gym/ workout clothes. This will act as an incentive to exercise.
Don't be strict with yourself all the time; it's alright to cut yourself some slack at times. Accept your limitations and embrace your plus points. The happier you feel about yourself, the more it will reflect in your life. Focus on the good things and let go of things that aren't in your control. This acceptance will actually help you feel better overall.
Don't forget to include a blood test to check your vitamin D blood levels when you go for an annual checkup. Thousands suffer from a deficiency of this important vitamin, which can cause tiredness and lethargy among other things. So get yourself tested.
Switch off the television during mealtimes — being distracted when you're eating means you end up eating more than is required. Instead, put on some soft music in the background. Avoid fast music as experts say that listening to fast music while eating makes you eat more than usual.

Dos and Don'ts when we go on an intermittent diet

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 09 Aug 2014 12:56:00 +0000

Not everyone should take up fasting those who definitely shouldn't consider it include pregnant or lactating women, diabetics, kids under 18 and anyone with underlying medical problems or under medication. But for those who can (provided you have checked with your doc), there are a lists of dos and don'ts to follow. Some of which are:

DO:
BE SURE TO FIT YOUR FAST INTO YOUR LIFESTYLE

Think before you fast. Avoid fasting during high-stress times like exams or events that cause excess exertion.
It offers healthy meals for the 5:2 style fast, which calls for setting aside two days a week to restrict calories.
But if you must, it is good to plan which days to make your fast days. Some people do it at the weekend if they don't have much going on.
Others prefer Monday as it's the start of the working week. Also, before fasting, make sure you are well-rested and emotionally prepared to avoid huger-induced mood swings.

TAKE YOUR VITAMINS

Depending on the type of fast you're doing, it may be necessary to get most or all of the vitamins your body needs from supplements.
Choose vitamins in liquid form for easier digestion during fasting. Since you'll be missing your daily vitamins and minerals provided by food when fasting, it's important to replace them.
A basic multivitamin that provides 100 per cent of the daily intake would fit the bill. It's also crucial to be sure you are drinking enough water each day while fasting.

PREPARE YOUR MIND, BODY AND HOME

Before fasting, make sure you are well-rested and emotionally prepared. Think about your intention and how you plan to achieve it.
It is important to be clear about what you want. In addition to clearing your mind, it's a great time to literally get your house in order.
Keep your kitchen clean of any tempting foods or beverages that aren't aligned with your fasting goals.

DON'T:

OVERINDULGE THE PREVIOUS NIGHT

Avoid gorging yourself silly before a fast. The night before, eat a meal including a lean protein, healthy fat and plenty of vegetables.
You could include starch like sweet potato or legumes. Adding a fruit to your meal will also provide some natural sugar, which can be calming to your hormones. Try low-glycemic fruits like berries.
This type of complete meal will give your body slow-burning nutrition to carry you as much as possible through your fasting period. And while overindulging the previous night is not recommended, feasting post the fast is also considered detrimental.
Restart by eating a light diet with five to six mini meals a day. Avoid hard-to-digest foods like cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli). Gradually add back high fibre foods. If you drink alcohol, limit the intake.

GO FOR THE KILL

Fasting can have side effects, so it's important to listen to your body and stop if you feel you are pushing too hard or too far.
Heart palpitations, dizziness and weakness are among the symptoms that can be causes for concern.Light exercise is doable, but it's best to avoid high-intensity cardiovascular workouts, especially if you're not used to it.
Instead, go for a massage as it increases blood flow to the fatty areas of the body and may reduce cortisol, which is a hormone that stores fat and can break down muscle. The goal is not to burn muscle for fuel while fasting.

STRESS

Chill. Stress can raise your level of cortisol, a hormone that stores fat and breaks down muscle.
So if you want to make sure your fast yields the most efficient weight loss, try pairing it with de-stressing activities like yoga, deep breathing or meditation.
If you decide to keep calm by doing exercise, make sure that it is not too strenuous; after all, you are fasting and will need to reserve your energy to be able to function through the day, comfortably.

Advices which you should ignore while dating

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 18 May 2014 15:20:00 +0000

Please find below some of the advices which you should ignore while dating.

Wait for Mr. Right
If that's the advice you buy into, then be ready to keep waiting. By the time a woman hits her third decade, she has had enough time to get to know herself, what she is looking for and how to identify red flags. What's the difference between settling and compromising? When it comes to marriage, what can we live with, and what can we live without? How long does it make sense to hold out for someone better -who we may never find, and who may not exist -when we could be happy with the person right in front of us? It's okay if you don't find Mr Right (it's a myth, by the way), go for Mr Okay (if he loves and treats you with respect, that is).

Never accept last minute date's
It's Wednesday afternoon. You have no mid-week plans yet (except maybe a yoga class). And the guy you just started dating calls. He was given passes to a private show of a movie you really want to watch. But it starts in three hours. Do you really want him to know you had no plans?
Won't it seem desperate to accept a last-minute offer? The idea that a woman shouldn't accept a last minute date offer is outdated. While you shouldn't be always-available to get tossed into the `sure-thing standby' category, there's nothing wrong with accepting a same-day invitation from someone you are interested in seeing. You don't want to give the impression that you're not keen.

Wait until third date to have sex
Advice such as don't wax your legs so you don't let things get too far is another way of saying, don't have sex too soon. This is the same logic that generally goes together with `you shouldn't have sex until the third date'. But, now, hang on: What if you do let it go “too far“ sooner than that? Don't get too caught up in those calculations. Instead, wait until you trust him/her. And indulge in intercourse, only if it is mutual.
Don't give in to pressure. If he/she is good at heart, they'll respect your decision.

Eat less when you are with him
You don't want to look like a greedy glut by ordering every third dish on the menu, do you? While that would be weird to watch, you don't just want to settle for a bowl of leaves either to show him what a light eater you are. Get over your hang up. A woman should order whatever she wants. In case he is paying, you may want to stay within a price range to be polite.

No spark, no second date
Love at first sight usually fizzles after the initial fire cracker. You need to be patient and let it evolve if you want it to last. So it is always worth going on a second date. There are too many factors standing in the way of seeing clearly when we first meet someone, making it hard to be objective. Everyone has ghosts in their closet, so we tend to stereotype and have the tendency to stop a relationship with potential before it starts.

Maintain some mystery
Trying to be mysterious instead of true to yourself means your partner is getting to know someone you're not. While narrating your life story on the first date isn't a great idea, waiting to reveal some less than flattering details after the relationship is somewhat solidified isn't being dishonest either. Be natural and honest.

Get slim thigh with some simple excercise

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 17:21:00 +0000

Slimming Skaters

Put your feet together, toes pointing forward, arms by your sides, with your head and neck straight ahead. To begin, take a wide ‘skate’ step with your right foot to the right side, then drag your left foot toward it, reaching your left arm forward while bringing your right elbow back.
Then, within seconds change directions and repeat the movement on the opposite side. Change from left to right, for a total of one minute.
This exercise not only tones and sculpts your inner thigh muscles, but also helps cut off that extra flab.

Side to Side Plies

Your knees and toes should be pointing out at about 45 degrees and your hands should be resting on your hips. Bend your knees and lower your hips towards the ground.
Keep your back straight and knees pointing out over your toes. Dip down into the plie and hold it for 30 seconds.
Then, straighten your legs and slide your left heel into your right, squeezing your inner thighs together for 30 seconds.
Take a step back out to the left and repeat plie, then slide right heel in. Repeat this movement 10 times.

Inner Thigh Attitude Pulse

Stand on your left leg and lift your right leg a few inches off the ground, bending at the knee.
Now turn your knee out to the side. Raise the right heel towards the ceiling and bring leg across the front of your body so that your right knee is past your left leg.
Lower right leg towards the floor and lift it up as high as you can, keeping heel up. That’s one rep. Repeat this movement 15 times on your right side, then 15 times on your left.

Seated Bent-Knee

This movement sculpts and shapes your inner thighs, as well as, tones your abdominals and hips. Sit with your hands pressed on the floor besides your hips with your elbows slightly bent.
Bend your knees in towards your body. Keep your knees touching and your toes pointed while looking straight ahead.
Then, lean slightly forward. Trace open your knees out to the sides, then draw your knees together until they touch.

Frog

Lie on your back with your arms relaxed on the ground beside you. Slowly bend your knees in towards your chest. Stretch your feet and turn your knees out to the sides.
Now, press your legs out, widening them at a 45-degree angle.
With both legs turned outward, squeeze the backs of your knees together Bend your knees back in, maintaining the same 45-degree line on the way back.

Crescent Kicks

Step onto your left foot, brush your right leg forward off the floor and create a large circular sweep from left to right with your leg.
Then step onto right foot, and repeat on the left. Repeat this move 10 times.
This kick tones and slims your inner thighs as you help control your leg through a circular range of motion, while also stretching your inner thigh muscles as you open your leg to the side.

Towel Squeeze Bridge

Lie down on your back with your knees bent, feet flat on the floor, arms relaxed on the ground by your sides, looking straight ahead. Place a folded hand towel between your knees.
Squeeze your knees together into the towel to really activate your inner thighs, and lift hips off the floor, as high as you can, towards the ceiling.
Hold for two counts, then lower down. Repeat this 15 times.

Butterfly Stretch

To increase flexibility, finish this routine with a relaxing stretch (even prescribed by yoga).
Start seated, with the bottoms of your feet sandwiched together and your knees relaxed, out to the sides while holding onto your ankles.
Slowly lean forward, lowering your chest towards your feet until you feel a deep stretch in your inner thighs. Hold this position for 30 seconds.

What to cut and what to keep in daily food to stay fit

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 18:15:00 +0000

Simple tricks that can cut out as many as 250 calories from your daily intake, without taking out the fun from eating. Try following ways

SKIP SAMPLING MEALS

So you may not be having a whole plate of aloo tikkis or that full plate of cheese corn balls, but eating a bite or two from your friend’s plate doesn’t hurt the tummy, right? Wrong.
In fact, you consume fewer calories when you eat a healthy meal all by yourself, than eating a little bit of this and that.
Most people don’t tend to savour a chocolate pastry by themselves, but nibble from a friend’s and then scoop a few rounds of cheesecake from another, before sharing half a cup of ice cream with someone else.
By now, they’ve already consumed 500 calories. It is best to avoid such unfocused sampling.

COOK WITH BROTH

Here’s smart cooking tip. Instead of sautéing your veggies in oil, do it in broth.
Although you may not be frying them, you are still adding enough oil to make sure that your vegetables are not sticking to the pan.
Vegetable or chicken broths are the healthiest and stacked with vitamins.
By this way, you are getting added nourishment, and cutting down unnecessary calorie intake.

MEASURE YOUR CEREALS

So, the packets may claim that they are fortified with a host of vitamins, are high in fibre, contain zero transfat, and no cholesterol, but there’s no denying that the dry fruits mixed with sugar-laden wheat/rolled oats are high in calories.
Mixed with whole milk, you have just compounded the calorie intake.
A smart move is to stick to a small bowl, if you don’t wish to avoid the combination that’ll add 250 calories to your waist.

STAND UP MORE

Don’t miss the opportunity to stand. Be it in the train, at work or at social meetings, always choose to stand than sit, unless you’re wearing dangerously high heels.
It’s learnt that standing for 90 minutes a day helps burn at least 250 calories.
When on the phone, try and walk around while speaking.
Walking three times a day for 15 minutes is also enough to burn 250 calories without breaking into a major sweat.

TWO STARTERS OVER ONE MAIN DISH

Planning to grab a bite at your favourite restaurant? Nutritionists say a smart move is to call for two appetisers and not one main.
If you’re going for the usual Mughlai fare, go for a plate of paneer or chicken tikka, and a plate of vegetable kebabs, instead of a gravy dish.
This will ensure you’re consuming a good amount of protein and staying away from the calories in the gravy.

BRING YOUR OWN POP CORN

Dieticians say the popcorn available at the movie halls is the worst culprit when it comes to adding unwarranted weight.
Doused in heaps of butter, the popped corn is the calorie craver’s worst friend.
Worst of the lot is the caramel and cheese variety. You’re better off buying the popcorn off the street.
Prepared on coal, it is the safest and healthiest.

SUPPLEMENT THE STARCHES

Are you ordering a plate full of mashed potatoes as your side order? The starchy food although rich in Vitamin C and potassium is very high in calories.
You are better off replacing potato sabzi with a bowl of cauliflower cooked with the same masalas. You’ll save yourself at least 300 calories.

DRINK WATER AFTER BREAKFAST

Apart from drinking three to four litres of water a day, make it a habit to use it as a substitute for every caffeine dose you crave.
Post your morning share of chai/coffee, eliminate sweet tea post lunch (approximately 70 calories), lemonade in the evenings (90 calories) and a glass of wine with dinner (140 calories), and replace all of these with water.

List of spices that can boost your health : Benefit of spice

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 16:53:00 +0000

Cardamom

Known for its unique sweet-spicy flavour, cardamom is often added to sweet as well as savoury dishes. One of the most interesting benefits of this spice is that it helps in burning calories.
Full of digestive properties that enhance one’s metabolic activity, it actually helps you burn fat more efficiently and and prevents it from adding to your weight.
Using a little goes a long way; sprinkle some on your coffee or even your subzi, to give your weight loss goal a boost.

Cumin

Also known as Jeera, cumin is a known for its pungent odour and flavour.
But the tiny jeera is much more than simply a spice. It helps improve concentration, beats constipation, fights cancer, regulates blood pressure and your heart rate, relieves asthma and cold, prevents anaemia, improves your sexual health, is great for pregnant mums since it helps them with the symptoms of morning sickness, beats insomnia and enhances memory.
All you need to do is either use it as a powder or whole in your daily diet. Optionally you could have a spoon of the powder on an empty stomach at the start of your day.

Cinnamon Or dalchini

It is a common addition to coffee, cakes and subzis. But apart from adding a lovely aroma and punch to the dish, cinnamon is known to have various health benefits.
It helps keeps one’s blood sugar in check — keeping diabetes at bay, is known to slowdown the onset of alzheimer’s, fights cancer and has shown that it has properties that can reduce the size of a tumour.
Cinnamon is also a great remedy to soothe aching joints, speed up digestion, treat a cold and cough, keep heart disease at bay by reducing the amount of plaque buildup in one’s arteries and fights tooth decay.
One of the most noticeable benefit of the spice is that it has strong antibacterial properties that help to fight acne. So, for acne free skin, strong heart, normal blood sugar levels and weight loss include a little bit of cinnamon into your diet.

Turmeric

Turmeric has been known as a spice that has several health benefits. Right from adding it to dishes to give them that characteristic yellow colour, haldi is an age old remedy for healing wounds.
According to the Journal of the American Chemical Society, turmeric is packed with nutrients like proteins, dietary fiber, niacin, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, sodium, potassium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and zinc.
All these essential components put together make turmeric a great antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Garam masala

A common addition to most north Indian dishes, garam masala is a combination of cloves, cinnamon, cumin and cardamom.
Packed with the combined health benefits of every spice garam masala is like one pill for many diseases.

List of way those will help you reduce calorie intake

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 16:43:00 +0000

If your lifestyle forces you to cheat on your exercise routine, here’s what you can do to keep your weight under control. We tell you five simple ways to reduce your calorie intake to keep yourself healthy.

Drink water before your meal

Half a glass of water before your meal will fill you up.
This way the chances of overeating reduce drastically. This way, you will also reduce the chances of feeling stuffed post the meal.

Switch to skimmed milk

Replace your regular packet milk to a low calorie skimmed milk.
Add the healthier milk to your morning cup.
Another option for you is goat milk as it is tastier and healthier than the regular high-on-cream milk.

Eat slowly

The elders tell you to chew your food for a specific number of times before you swallow it.
The trick is that, when you chew your food well, it aids the body in the digestion process.
Your body understands the food well and you land up eating almost half of what you would normally eat. Ideally, one should spend a minimum of 20 minutes over each meal.

Select smaller portions

When eating out eat only half the portion of what has been served to you. Share the meal with your partner.
Outside foods normally come in large portions and added ingredients like soda and Ajinomoto make the food difficult to digest. So, the next time you go to a deli split your serving with your partner.

Resist the calorific food

When you next visit a subway avoid adding mayonnaise, cheese to the sub. Initially, the flavour might be difficult to adjust but eventually you would get used to it. Replace the mayo with mustard.
Bread is an integral part of our diet these days, switch to a lighter bread that will cut down upto 100 calories at least.
It is always best to carry your own lunch and eat wholesome home cooked food.
Eat as many vegetables as you can and also make sure that you add a lot of colour to your platter.
When craving for sweets, avoid chocolates or other desserts, binge on fruits or yogurts to satisfy the craving.

Getting bore all the time?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 10:20:00 +0000

Lack of perspective, spontaneity are just some of the reasons why we feel bored, and that too, so frequently. And at the slightest provocation, we are ready with one-liners like "I am so bored" or "It's so boring". Experts say, it's best to realise that 'boredom' is a state of mind, and by giving in you are only making life more mundane.

Here are some tips to effectively ward off boredom and stay more active

Change your attitude

Cribbers are the first ones to realise that they are bored. You need to change your outlook, the world is not a very sad place to live in.
There is always much to do and enjoy. The fact that you feel bored is because you have allowed it to creep into your life. Be ready to change gears.
Tell yourself that I am not going to allow this to happen to me. Just stop thinking how bored you are, instead ask yourself - let's do something."

Organize your life

Stop mulling, instead put things into perspective. Chart a routine for yourself, and squeeze in some time for a recreational activity, exercising or a hobby.
That'll keep you happily busy. When you are too caught up in a routine due to lack of organisation, you tend to feel suffocated.

Change - a constant

Someone has rightly said, variety is the spice of life. It is imperative to introduce small changes to our daily lives, from the way we think, the way we dress, to changing the set up of the living room once in a while or picking up some off-beat book and reading it up.
The idea is to not stick to a set order, and keep experimenting. Your mind needs change to feel excited and happy. Always look for change. You can turn your routine life into an interesting one by making tiny little changes.

Be a social bunny

Agreed, it may not be your forte, but at least give it a shot. We don't mean you barge into others' conversations or be over-friendly.
Take interest in people outside your friend circle. You are sure to find a whole section of interesting ones out there! Give up all inhibitions, simply explore, talk it out, listen and absorb. And, you will never again be bored.

Feel Better - Activities those make you feel better Instantly

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 10:15:00 +0000

If you've been feeling low lately, don't worry. We suggest some ways you can instantly perk yourself.

A great haircut
This is one of the best ways to instantly feel better. Go for a fantastic haircut that will boost your mood within seconds. Sometimes all you need to do to make yourself feel great is to shake your image and opt for a change. The compliments that you get from your friends and family will make you feel good and with this you will also start feeling better.

Invest in fabulous lingerie
This one should be on your priority list when you need to feel pretty and better. Just knowing that you look good from the inside out will boost your confidence and your mood instantly. Ditch the worn out ones and treat yourself to something new.

Smile
Smiling even when you are not feeling good is one of the ways to feel good about yourself. You don't have to bare your teeth at everyone; the only thing you need to do is smile and greet someone warmly.

Connect with nature
In your everyday busy life, you might lose touch with nature. There's nothing better than spending some time alone reading in your garden or practicing yoga.

Make time for friends
There's nothing better than spending time with friends. You can catch up on some gossip and have fun. When you spend time with your friends, you tend to forget about everyday work etc and this makes you enjoy your life to the fullest.

Some reasons why you need to work out - Benefits of regular exercise

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 05 Oct 2013 09:42:00 +0000

Some people will tell you that it makes absolutely no difference what time of day you work out at. They say that the result is the same whether you train at 7 am or 7 pm. Yet, fitness experts stress on the benefits of training first thing in the morning. Apart from building consistency and preventing you from waiting for your dumbbells, here are eight reasons why the early bird gets the worm.

Increase metabolism

Training in the AM hours also jump-starts your metabolism and helps keep it elevated for hours.
In this way, your increased metabolism will be working — and burning more calories — while you are, instead of when your body is at rest.
If you sit at a desk all day, you know that this is reason enough to get your engine running as soon as possible.

Fill you with energy

Exercising in the morning energies you for the day.
So, if the weather and accumulated fatigue have you feeling less than active lately, you might want to try hitting the gym first thing in the morning.
Doing so will release endorphins and other hormones to give you a much-appreciated boost that often lasts all day.

Clears your mind

Studies have also shown that exercise significantly increases mental acuity.
Training early helps clear your head and put you in a healthy frame of mind.
Working out before your day officially begins allows you to start each day with a fresh perspective as you destroy the stresses of the previous day with a bench-press or a run on the treadmill.
This will help you reduce the chances of getting upset during the course of your new day.

Regulates your appetite

Many people find that morning exercise has a tendency to regulate appetite for the rest of the day.
Not only do such people eat less (since activity causes the release of endorphins, which in turn diminishes appetite), they also choose healthier portions of healthier foods.
You will discover that your meal times will get regularised and you don't experience as many cravings and serious dips in energy levels, which will deter binge eating.

Increases mental awareness

You may have noticed that you feel more alert and ready to take on whatever challenge life throws your way after a good workout.
If you train before your day begins, you'll be better equipped to deal with the battles presented to you at work.
In fact, working out increases your mental acuity for four to 10 hours after exercise.
This is due, in part, to the increased flow of oxygen-rich blood to the brain.

Increases discipline

Exercising in the morning gives you that gratifying feeling of knowing you've done something disciplined and good for you.
It takes a great deal of motivation to get of bed, much more if you need to get to the gym. However, including that habit and finding the courage to get to the gym can drastically improve the quality of your life.
Before you know it, the discipline it takes to work out every morning will spill over into other areas of your life and you'll be as driven in your cabin as you are on the elliptical machine.

Sleep well

Working out regularly results in better sleeping patterns and snooze quality.
Your body will tell you that it's time for bed, but knowing that you have to get up to train the next morning will also help you hit the bed at a decent hour.
It is difficult to build mass and improve your cardio if you don't rest properly.

Make you eat better

Exercising before eating could shock your system and it will usually throw your body into a catabolic state (where your body burns muscle for energy).
Have a low calorie snack, such as an apple or some yogurt, about 30 minutes to an hour before you train.
The snack will give you the energy you need for your training and it will burn off quickly.
You'll crave better foods, and you won't want to waste the hard work that you put in by choosing cheeseburger over a healthy snack like a veg salad sandwich.

Good Gym and Workout Tips For Beginners

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 18:31:00 +0000

Hygiene

Hygiene is a first thing you should maintain, during your workout and before hitting the gym.
It is evident that you will sweat during your workout, still make sure, you enter the gym premises clean, by taking a shower in order to keep the bad odour away.

Ask for help

Your gym may be equipped with several new and advanced technologies.
So, remember to ask a trainer for a demonstration before you use that particular piece of equipment.

Warm up

Before getting onto any machines, make sure you include a warm up session as part of your training.
A warm up will prevent gym injuries and prepare your body for rigorous training.

Bring a towel and Water bottle

Make it a habit to bring a towel every time you are in the gym.
Use a towel to dab away the sweat, so it does not fall on the equipment.
While you workout, it is obvious that you will sweat a lot.
Excessive sweating can cause dehydration. To avoid dehydration, keep a bottle of water with you always.

Don't take too long

We know, running on a treadmill is fun and healthy, but you must remember that in the gym equipment has to be shared.
So, time yourself and step down from the machine when the time is up.

Gym attire

Clothing is one of the most important things, when it comes to gyming.
Make sure you choose proper comfortable clothes, not too tight or too loose.
Ladies, be cautious, you don't want men to star at you, while you workout, so, choose well-fitted bras.

Avoid eating too much

Don't fill your stomach with lots of calorie rich food before hitting the gym.
Working out with a full stomach will make you lethargic and give you stomach cramps.

Think about yourself and Avoid taking calls

In the gym, there might be men with amazing bodies and women with sexy bodies. But, don't try to copy their workouts.
Instead, just follow the workout that your trainer has created for you and you are bound to see results.
When working out, either switch off your phone or put it on silent.
Talking on the phone in the gym can be very distracting for other people and is considered bad gym etiquette.

Check your vitals

Although you may deem this unnecessary, checking your physiological vitals is extremely important before taking up any form of exercise.
A quick check of your blood pressure, pulse rate and resting heart rate will ensure a smooth exercise regime.

What are the best ways to increase stamina

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 20:07:00 +0000

Stamina not only means having strength and energy to endure an activity for an extended period but also helps fight illness and stressful situations. Want to increase your stamina? Then, Try these stamina-boosting tips.

Get a physical test - If you are intent on increasing your stamina, like your favourite athlete, you should start with a baseline medical test. This will help you to find out, how fit you are, in order to overcome injuries, fatigue and other problems.
Start with a balanced diet - To build your stamina, don't just rely on physical activity, you also need to watch what you eat. Include a well-balanced diet by adding low-fat products, plenty of fruits and vegetables and lean meat. This will help your body stay healthy and increase both your physical and mental stamina.
Play your favorite sport - All types of outdoor sports are best to overcome fatigue and boost your stamina level; this is because it is a form of aerobic exercise. Sports like football, basketball and all other sprinting games will help strengthen your heart so that more oxygen reaches all parts of your body.
Start slowly - If you have just begun your stamina boosting routine then, Mike advice you to take baby steps rather than push yourself into a hectic and rigorous programme. If you wish to run a desired distance in a required amount of time, then start with walking or by running, shorter distances until your body builds up enough stamina.
Take up cardiovascular exercise - One of the best and simplest ways to build your stamina is by dedicating a certain time for cardiovascular exercise. Include cardiovascular exercises like running, swimming, jumping etc. For best effects, increase the intensity of these exercises slowly.
Reduce your 'rest' days - You need to avoid resting between sets. But if you feel the strain, then rest for a few seconds. Mike says, "at the end of every exercise, you should feel the burn and should be breathing heavily and sweating."
Eat several smaller meals - To maintain the continuous supply of energy to your body, eat small meals at regular intervals.
Increase your water content - Make sure you drink enough water to reduce dehydration and fatigue. If your body has less fluid, it will curdle your blood and thus slow down the blood flow and make your cells oxygen deficient.
Choose carbohydrates - Make sure you add carbohydrate rich foods to your diet, so that these foods provide your body with starches and sugars that your muscles can use as energy to boost endurance. Include carbohydrate rich foods like cereals, bread, fruits, vegetables, pasta and milk.
Know your limits - Never burden your body with the things it can't do, it will just lead to injuries and muscle cramps. If you are obese, make sure you come to a healthy weight before beginning your stamina boosting process. Besides, constantly stay in touch with your doctor and trainer to avoid major mishaps, and to know your limits.
Avoid bad habits - We all have good habits and bad habits, which all of us are aware of. Make a list of both and try to curb the bad ones like smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, junk food addiction etc. Killing these habits will help you stay fit and improve your efforts to increase your stamina.
Follow a cardinal rule - Before beginning any routine, remember to warm up, stretch and cool down. This will help avoid injuries.
Also, add weight training - Weight training is a very good exercise to increase your stamina. Start with smaller weights like light dumbbells and try increase your weights in the second week.
Maintain a healthy weight - You should try to maintain a healthy weight by taking into account our height and body structure. If you are underweight, consult a doctor or a nutrition expert to help you reach your ideal weight. This can help boost your stamina.
Eat a healthy breakfast - Start your day with a healthy breakfast by choosing a bowl full of oats or whole wheat toast. Indulging in this breakfast will help keep you full and provide your body with essential ingredients like magnesium, manganese, chromium and copper.
Protein is necessary - Make sure you eat good quality proteins, as they contain essential amino acids that our bodies need in order to function. Include protein rich foods like egg whites, low fat milk and milk products, fish and chicken in your diet.

Why tears fall when cutting onions : Myths and Facts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 09:09:00 +0000

We've all experienced this while cooking; we start chopping an onion, our eyes start stinging and the next thing we know we have tearsrolling down our cheeks.

When you slice into an onion you're breaking apart the cells inside. These release their contents which form sulfenic acids. These acids mix with enzymes to produce a gas called propanethiol S-oxide. As this gas reaches our eyes and mixes with the water in them, it forms sulfuric acid.

This acid makes our eyes sting, which results in more tears and this added water produces more acid, which in turn produces more irritation. Cooking the onion then deactivates the enzyme and our eyes return back to normal. There are a number of different suggestions about how we can avoid this.

Some of them are quite logical and useful; others are just downright impractical or even dangerous.

Cut the onion under, or near, running water

In theory this method ensures that the gas gets absorbed by the running water instead of your eyes. It's not very practical from a saving water point of view though, and cutting anything under water is quite likely to end in an injury. Other tips based on this theory include chopping onions with your tongue sticking out!

Chill your onions first

This is supposed to slow down the amount of acid that is released. The onion doesn't need to be frozen, just chilled in the freezer for 10-15 minutes and is one of the more sensible options.

Wearing goggles

It is possible to actually buy "onion goggles," although tight-fitting swimming goggles would likely do the same job. They just have to stop any gases from reaching your eyes. It may seem excessive, and you may be ridiculed by your family for standing in your kitchen in swimming goggles, but at least you'll know that you can chop as many onions as you like without crying!

Some dubious advice includes holding a burning match in your mouth. Ignore it. We've also heard about whistling and chewing gum or bread—although preferably not all at the same time!

Whichever method you use though, it is worth it because onions have lots of health benefits, from lowering cholesterol to being high in vitamin C. So maybe it's worth all the tears after all.

10 best things to say to your women

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 17:37:00 +0000

It takes very little to please a woman - a hug, a smile, a look even at the right time is all it takes to make things better! And then you say women are complicated!
Women can lie when they need to and do it rather well. But if you're clever enough you'll know the difference in the tone - they'll usually be unusually nice and sweet to cover up for the lie! But don't be silly and doubt her when she happens to just feel more expressive and affectionate! That's where your smartness will lie.. in knowing the difference!
All women don't like playing mother to their men, so sit up and take some responsibility. We too like being the child every now and then you know.. So don't over-rely on us for domestic needs, and once in a while do something special to pamper us too!
Don't blame all fights and bad moods on PMS! Some of us don't have it and for the ones that do, it's not the only thing that irritates women. YOU men too can be the cause sometimes. And even if it is PMS, saying it's because of that in the middle of a fight WILL NOT help! I would suggest stay mum, and we'll probably realise it later anyway!
Women never dress well for just their own man, they do it for all the eyes in the room (including the women!). So beware when your girl's all decked up, she might just be more happy getting someone else's attention! The only thing you can do is give her the most attention, so she doesn't have the scope to look elsewhere!
We can be really messy too so don't expect us to clean up after you. And anyways, lacey bras and thongs lying around the room are more pleasing to the eyes than dirty boxers and y-fronts!
We need some major alone and me-time too! So if you have your boy escapade-trips, we girls have our own too! And it's really not necessary for us to travel in a huge gang of girls. We can just take off alone! Makes the world seem more interesting that way and more chances of adventure! Haha!
We do seem to have some strange inexplicable attraction to men who are labelled 'bad', 'unavailable' or 'not meant for us'. Not our fault that it's only these men who seem to have more to offer in terms of personality and wicked charm!
If you wait a week or more to text us once you have our number, you better have an interesting story to back up for your laziness like skiing in Vermont or backpacking across the Pyrenees. Nothing else will qualify. Once you have our number, we expect a courtesy call or text message right away.
We've heard that guys like girls who aren't ashamed to eat and drink well in front of them. So unless we have mayo dribbling down our chin or have drunk way too much to do anything expect throw-up, why would you judge us by our weight? Be and let be.

What to eat pre and post workout : Best foods

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 06:54:00 +0000

When it comes to fuelling your body before a workout, it’s all about timing. You don’t want to exercise on an empty stomach, but you don’t want to work out with a full belly either.

Muscles store excess energy in the form of glycogen and protein and, when you work out, the body burns fuel from your pre-workout meal, then it breaks down glycogen stored in muscles. Within a few hours of working out, muscle protein drops and muscles begin to break down. However, within a 45-minute window, your body is the most responsive with absorbing carbohydrates and protein. Here are the best foods to fuel and reload the depleted muscles. The key is to know how much to eat – and when.

Best pre-workout foods:

In the morning: A small fresh juice. “This is a good choice if you are exercising early in the morning,” .It gives you a little bit of readily available energy without being too heavy.
In the afternoon: A salad or sandwich. “If you’re exercising in the afternoon, have some low-GI carbs at lunch,”. Try a salmon and lentil salad or a wholegrain sandwich with lots of salad.
In the evening: Fruit yoghurt or a handful of nuts. If you’re exercising after work, have a light lunch and either a small yoghurt or some nuts at around 4pm to give you a little boost before your evening workout.
At night: A light soup. If you’re exercising late at night, eat a light soup early in the evening with chicken, vegies and some noodles. A Vietnamese-style soup is perfect.
At any time: A piece of fruit. Bananas and peaches are great because they digest easily and they’re in season right now.

Best post-workout foods:
Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt has double the amount of protein compared to regular yogurt and is a great source of carbohydrates. “Mix it with cereal or fruit,” recommends Dr. Louise Burke, head of Sports Nutrition at the Australian Institute of Sport and coauthor of The Complete Guide to Food for Sports Performance:
Peak Nutrition for Your Sport. Fresh berries pack micronutrients, which have been proven to help fight muscle soreness.

Sandwich wraps

“Wholegrain wraps are loaded with wholesome carbohydrates,” says Burke. Make yourself a turkey or chicken sandwich and add a bowl of soup on the side.
This is a particularly great meal if you work out during your lunch break. “Wraps are portable so you can eat them on the way back to your office!” she adds.
If you’d rather have a salad after the gym, make sure you add some grains. “You need at least 1/2 cup of whole grains, so add some quinoa, brown rice, beans or pasta,” says Manuel Villacorta, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and founder of Eating Free.

Fruit salad

Fruits are not only loaded with carbohydrates, they also contain enzymes to help your body break down nutrients so they can be delivered to your tired muscles.
Pineapple is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties to help your muscles recover. Kiwi aids with digestion and helps break down amino acids. “Plus, fruit offers a rainbow of anti-oxidants,” Burke adds.

Wholegrain breakfast cereal

Cereal is good any time of day: In the morning for breakfast or later in the day as a snack.
Select a high protein, high fiber cereal, like Kashi Golean, which offers 30 grams of carbohydrates, 13 gram of protein and 10 grams of fiber.
It’s perfect for reloading the muscle energy stores. Make it more of a substantial snack and add dairy—milk or yogurt—suggests Burke.

Rule of thumb

“It all comes down to the carbohydrates and protein,” sums up Villacorta. “They’re the two key things your body needs—and right after you work out is when your blood circulates best.”
If you’re main goal is to build muscle, eat at least 30 grams of protein and 30 to 35 grams of carbs within 15 minutes of your workout.
If you’re just trying to stay in shape or shed a few pounds, you can take your time and eat within 45 minutes or an hour after your workout.

Health Benefits of Banana - Why should eat this fruit

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 04:18:00 +0000

Bananas are one of the most famous common fruits amongst people of every age. Enjoyed in its various forms, bananas are eaten raw, accompanied with desserts, added in smoothies and consumed in many more ways too.

Health benefits of eating banana

Blood Pressure Regulation - Banana is a fruit that contains high amount of potassium and low levels of salt. This combination helps to regulate the blood pressure. It reduces the risk of heart related diseases.
Bone Strength - The potassium content in bananas is good for the health of your bones. Eating bananas on a regular basis can prevent your bones from deteriorating. Consuming bananas can also neutralize the amount of sodium in your body, which ultimately saves calcium to get washed out from your body.
Source of energy - Bananas are loaded with a lot of vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C and Vitamin B-6. Considering this fact, it is evident that eating the fruit can provide you with great energy. Pack yourself a couple of bananas to eat in the afternoon after your lunch has been digested and your stomach asks for some food.
Bowel Health - If you are suffering from constipation, banana is the fruit you need to pick. The fruit contains dietary fiber that aids the maintenance of the bowel system of your body.
Stress Reduction - When you are in stress, the metabolic rate of your body shoots up and potassium levels consequently decrease. Eating a banana can thereby flush your body with potassium, which will automatically ease you and regularize your heartbeat.
Iron rich fruit - People suffering from iron deficiency can resort to eating bananas. This fruit, which is rich in iron, can supply your body with the amount of iron it needs. This can also benefit you when you are suffering from an injury and require the blood to clot faster with the help of haemoglobin.
The potassium in bananas also does wonders by making you more mentally alert. Research shows that this yellow fruit aids concentration and hence is a marvelous fuel for the brain.

It is unimaginable how one tiny yellow colored fruit can give your body numerous health benefits. Include bananas in your breakfast, lunch, snack or dinner and enjoy the phenomenal benefits it imparts your body with.

Mood Boosting Foods You Should Eat with health benefits

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 31 May 2013 17:22:00 +0000

We often talk about food to lose or gain weight, ignoring the fact that food directly impacts our psychological health too. Nearly each one of us realizes that a bite of chocolate works amazingly to uplift our mood. There is a scientific explanation for foods that have this kind of a mood-boosting effect.

Some mood-boosting foods the next time you feel low:

Dense Carb Foods with Low GI

You should eat carbohydrate sources that are complex and have a low Glycemic Index (GI). This includes simple, homely food items like rotis made wholegrain wheat or multi-grain bread and basmati rice.
These foods help to maintain a constant level of sugar throughout the day. Foods that contain easily absorbable sugars, like sweetened beverages, tend to spike our sugar levels and mood instantly. However, after some time the spike declines, inducing a low or de-energized feeling.
In contrast, complex carb sources like potatoes and tofu ensure that our sugar levels are regulated and we don’t suffer from extreme mood swings.
You can take your pick between boiled corn and popcorn as both of these are highly recommended by nutritionists for boosting mental health.
These are two high-fiber and low GI foods that can be consumed throughout the day.

Nuts like Walnuts

People are increasingly realizing the advantages of eating walnuts for its anti-aging and overall health-boosting properties.
Fortified with a high concentration of antioxidants, walnuts are enriched with omega 3 fatty acids and magnesium that are required for boosting serotonin levels.
This is why vitamin & mineral supplements recommended to those diagnosed with depression contain a higher amount of magnesium.
This micronutrient helps to alleviate negative moodiness, sleeping problems and generalized irritability.

Calcium-rich Yogurt

This food items is listed particularly for the ladies who are more prone to suffering from mood swings due to PMS or menstrual problems.
Yogurt provides a rich, easy to absorb source of calcium. During hormonal changes among women, the estrogen-progesterone balance is disturbed, resulting in impaired metabolism of calcium.
This mineral is needed for ensuring hormonal balance and proper functioning of the neurotransmitters, helping women being less vulnerable to mood swings and weepiness.

Best of Meat-based Mood Foods: Fish

Salmon is regarded as one of the healthiest non-vegetarian food choices you can make.
It is packed with vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids. Both these nutrients are required for stimulating the production and release of serotonin—our main, feel-good brain chemical or neurotransmitter.
Anti-depressants contain chemicals that have a similar effect, i.e. they raise the serotonin levels.
Spending a few minutes under the sun, particularly during winters, is the best way to enrich your body with some vitamin D and defeat seasonal depressive tendencies. Vitamin D is also found in egg yolk.

Peel ‘Dem Bananas Daily

Don’t just peel them but eat them too. Yes, there is a reason why doctors recommend having a banana in the morning, i.e. it helps to establish a better mood as you start your day.
Apart from being a complex carb source, bananas are a rich source of potassium, Vitamin B6 and magnesium.
All these nutrients are vital for synthesis and regulation of neurotransmitters.

Keeping It Lean & Green with Spinach

Spinach has always been recommended for its high iron content. However, besides its Popeye-centric features, it has a high concentration of folate, i.e. Folic Acid.
Among folks diagnosed with depression or anxiety, Folic Acid supplementation is a common practice.
Spinach also happens to be a low-cal food making it perfect for keeping your mood up and body girth down.

Get Beans for Your Daily Selenium Fix

Selenium is among the most widely acknowledged of micronutrients usually missing in contemporary diets. Selenium helps to neutralize oxidative stress induced by free radicals.
Besides legumes and beans, very few foods are selenium-rich. Other options include lean meats and fish.

Dark Chocolate is the Tastiest Mood Food

Whether your drink it in the winters, relishing its thick, sumptuous texture or gobble it in the form of big bars, dark chocolate has established mood-uplifting properties.
It raises serotonin levels and is perhaps one form of self-medication for bad mood to which no doctor would object.
Perhaps, this is why Dark Chocolate is referred to as “mood food” or “comfort food”. Remember to eat it in moderation to avoid having a calorie overload.

Fast weight loss - Some disadvantage and risks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 May 2013 18:26:00 +0000

It is tempting to fall prey to this promise of fast weight loss but what are you risking? Quick solutions can cause severe detrimental effects on your health. Even if you leave physical harm aside, fast weight loss may cause mental stress and depression as well. Therefore, before believing any fast weight loss advice, take a moment and have a look at the top 10 risks that fast weight loss brings with it.

Some Risks and Disadvantages of Fast Weight Loss

Fast weight loss is not a permanent solution - Before adopting fast weight loss methods, you have to be very cautious. Though it might help you lose some weight, the results are not sustainable for a long time. Since your body is not trained to the temporary changes, it will fail to adapt to the changes and more likely you will get back all the weight that you had lost.
Fast weight loss means dehydration - The most famous technique to lose some quick pounds is the dehydration technique. Since most of the body weight is water; people dehydrate themselves to lose weight. This technique is totally unreal and harmful. Depriving yourself of water is not healthy at all. It can lead to various serious health problems like fainting, dizziness, and heart palpitations. Sometimes, it can further lead to muscle damage and also death. Plus, you will get back to your old weight very quickly as your body is known to restore fluids naturally.
Poor sleep - Quick weight loss can make you tired very quickly and very often. When you get into a weight loss schedule, many individuals engage in lessening the amount of calories intake instead of burning fat. Due to low calorie intake, the metabolic rate goes down, which further means less energy and a more tired you.
Formation of gallstones - Gallbladder is present in your abdomen. It is a small sac present below the liver. This gallbladder helps in storage of fat until it is needed. Priya says - rapid weight loss can produce gallstones. Gallstones are hardening of cholesterols which looks like stones. These tiny stones can cause severe damage as it can cause infection due to obstruction in the normal flow of bile from the gallbladder to the small intestine.
Nutritional deficiency - When you adopt a quick weight loss plan, you restrict yourself only to certain food. Due to this restriction, you are cutting yourself from various nutrients that are necessary for the upkeep of your body and you.
You are increasing your stress level - Staying away from certain food or starving yourself to lose weight fast, can lower the metabolism rate in your body, which will further increase the stress hormone - cortisol. Due to the high presence of this hormone, you will feel mentally, physically and emotionally stressed and lost.
Hair loss - When you start the fast weight loss journey, you are depriving yourself from essential nutrients. Your hair needs protein to grown and to be healthy. But due to your diet plan, you are avoiding adequate protein intake. This makes your hair dry, brittle and this eventually causes hair fall.
Metabolism disruption - When you are on the fast weight loss diet mode, your body gets its signal and in order to survive, it slows down the metabolic rate. But when you come back to your normal eating routine, you experience weight gain due to a slower metabolic rate. To beat this, you may again go into a crash diet, and with this your body starts a cycle of losing and gaining weight. These frequent changes can cause severe disruption in your metabolic rate and on your body.

Health benefits of yoga and meditation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 May 2013 09:37:00 +0000

Most meditation techniques aim to train attention and awareness to help bring thoughts under control.
Studies show how helpful a regular meditation practice can be for relieving pain, anxiety and stress.
Although a series of University of Wisconsin studies have found meditation can benefit patients with chronic inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, more research is needed to understand its role in the treatment of chronic health conditions.
Researchers have found that mindfulness meditation can reduce high blood pressure, stroke risk, heart disease and chronic pain, ABC News reported.
As with meditation, studies find that regularly doing downward dogs and warrior poses can help manage stress and anxiety.
There's even some evidence that yoga can help fight cancer-related fatigue, manage high-blood pressure and ease chronic pain, especially joint pain.
For example, studies by the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle found that after several weeks of taking yoga classes, subjects reported fewer backaches and greater lower-back mobility.
Since meditation - and yoga for that matter - promote relaxation, it can definitely help manage the emotions that bubble up after hearing bad or disturbing news.
There's some evidence that a few moments of quiet reflection is especially helpful for people who suffer from anxiety and depression to begin with.
And the group dynamic of a yoga class can bring people together and not feel so alone after a tragedy.