Yogic Diet to stay fit and young

Today everyone is talking about Yoga. Yoga, as thought to be just another way of workouts, is much more than just a physical activity. It focuses on mental, emotional and physical well being of an individual. Yoga inspires individuals to embark upon a journey that will bring a healthy, disease free, long, contented and spiritual life ahead. No matter what is the age, size, sex, health condition, religion or the mental state of a person is, yoga is for everyone. There are variations which meet the needs of everyone. If you are already practicing yoga postures only, you have a further chance to improve your life by switching to 'Yogic Diet' which will enhance your physical comfort and mental peace. You will be feel younger and fit than ever before.

A yogic diet will undoubtedly make the body light, fit, and bring about better control over emotions and stress. The diet will certainly give you a better clarity of the thoughts & concepts. This diet is easy to digest and helps in detoxification of the body naturally. In addition you will be blessed with enhanced memory and concentration after a few weeks of continuing with this kind of diet.

The yogic diet strongly recommends the vegetarian diet, believing the fact that human body is not intended to eat meat because our digestive system is different from the meat eating animals. Consider the fact that it takes 3 days for red meat to pass through the digestive system whereas vegetarian food is eliminated only in 24-28 hours. In addition to health benefits, yoga propagates non-violence, thus killing an animal for food is not acceptable.

The yogic diet constitute mainly the fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grain cereals, legumes, pulses, seeds milk and its products, nuts and honey. The emphasis is laid that food should not be over cooked or undercooked as both the practices spoils nutrition present in it. Avoid having too cold and too hot food because it becomes difficult for the body to digest it in both extreme cases. The food which is too spicy, salty, sour, under ripe, over ripe and bitter should not be eaten. The use of tea, coffee, alcohol, chocolate, too much sugar, garlic and eggs is also omitted. The diet should have all essential nutrients in a balanced form.

You don't have to change your diet overnight but proceed gradually towards yogic diet. You will see the results soon. This diet will bring harmony in your life suppressing the stimulating factors that cause restlessness, diseases and other mental diversions.

Source:  Examiner.com

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Cut Down Extra Calories in this Holiday Season

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year are occasions when family and friends are gathered around, adds fun to our lives and brings moments of joy. These occasions may distract you from the everyday concerns and worries but, distraction from your diet-No way. On an average a person gains 7-10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New year! Here are few steps to keep up yourself throughout the holidays and add joy.

Count the calories

The Caloric Control Council reveals the fact that an average American consumes around 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving Day alone. The fat amount equals to the fat that we should take in three days and twice as many calories which should be consumed in one day. Most of these calories come from snacking all day. So you better watch what you are snacking on and control the portion size.

The turkey itself is a lean meat containing low fat and moderate number of calories. If you are eating a 3 oz serving of white meat, you get 140 calories and 3 grams of fat. In contrast to this, dark meat consists of 160 calories and 7 grams of fat and twice as much iron as present in same amount of white meat.

You can remove skin which is going to cut back 18-20 calories per serving and 2-3 grams of fat. Further cut down calories by basting the bird with white wine or low sodium broth instead of using butter. Add lot of vegetables in the stuffing. The vegetables like carrots, onion, water chestnuts and celery are low in calories and add to taste.

Replacing just one cup of sugar with a sugar substitute like Splenda brand will save over 750 calories. So why not to use it in your pies and other baked goods.

You can further save approximately 77 calories per servings by replacing bleached flour with whole wheat flour. If you think your recipe really requires bleached flour, add half wheat and other half bleached flour.

Make your own chip dip. Replace half of the mayonnaise with low fat sour cream. You will get same creamy flavor, texture and feel and only 1300 less calories in a cup.

Commercially prepared canned Cranberry sauce contains 110 calories in one fourth cup and is loaded with sugar , corn syrup and other sweeteners. Home made cranberry sauce has 20 calories per one fourth cup!

Use low-sodium or reduced-fat varieties of cream of mushroom (or cream of celery) soup for green bean casserole. Choose low-sodium, and you’ll cut nearly 1,000 milligrams of sodium (per can) from your recipe.

Use water, skim milk or low-sodium chicken broth instead milk to dilute the soup.

Now you are ready and you can look forward to spend time with friends, family, and good food!

Benefits of the Family Meal

Approximately half of the pre-school children do not have breakfast with their parents on most mornings. Parents set the food on the table in a hurry to finish off the household chores in busy morning time. Dozens of scientific studies have demonstrated an impressive list of benefits associated with eating together as a family.

The nutritional benefits alone are dramatic. Each meal at home is healthier than a meal on go. The meals on go also lessen the enjoyment and fun time that kids can actually spend with their parents. As kids eat more at home with parents, they naturally begin to eat whole food grains, dairy products, fruits and vegetables than their peers do. They are more likely to achieve the nutritional benefits derived from the food. They eat less deep fried foods and drink fewer sugared and carbonated drinks.
Increasing the number of family dinners results in higher intake of several specific nutrients such as high fiber, calcium, folate, iron, vitamins B6, B12, C and E. The educational benefits are even greater when kids are involved in cleaning and preparation. They come to know how to plan for the meals and they may learn a few simple age-appropriate baking techniques, boosting their self confidence even more. Kids can do anything from setting or clearing the table, arranging table, chopping, cutting, pouring milk, water or juice in glasses. You can always make teams or assign the work to each individual, inculcating the sense of responsibility

Students eating more meals at home perform better in school. They spend more time in doing their homework, obtain better grades and read for pleasure. The probability of their involvement in alcohol intake, tobacco or illegal drugs is reduced considerably. They are less likely to engage in early sexual activity or develop eating disorders. The kids have high self esteem and lower chances of these kids experiencing depression.

But it is very important to understand that bringing takeout food home and eating it at home in front of television is different from eating together with family around the table. The more often children sit in front of television, the more likely they are to get additional calories from fatty meats, pizza, salty snacks and sodas. Try new things. Bring variety by including the dishes from various parts of the world and allow kids to choose whatever they like most.

Each family meal offer routine and consistency in the midst of change. These meals are an opportunity to learn together about communication, manners, nutrition and good health.

At dinner the table, the conversation between parents and kids makes kids feel more closer and bonded with parents. The communication becomes fruitful when everyone shares experiences, discuss the holiday plan, feelings, information and small kids especially come to learn many more things. The get a feel of love, bonding and security with parents.

Its a great way to model behavior as the parents expect their kids to be like. Parents can teach table manners, meal etiquette, and social skills without giving lectures or spanking children just by demonstrating their own self.

Even without conscious efforts family meals provide better nutrition, better health, behavior and happier parents, children and grandparents.

Moderating Alcohol Consumption for Health

Alcohol is both a tonic and a poison. More than half of all adults drink, but, not everyone who drinks is an alcoholic. It is said that moderate alcohol consumption helps to protect against heart disease by raising HDL (good) cholesterol and reducing plaque accumulations in your arteries, and also has mild anti-coagulating effect, which helps keep platelets from clumping together to form clots.

The effect of alcohol depends upon the person’s size, weight, sex and age. Drinking more than three drinks a day has a direct toxic effect on the heart. The immediate effects of alcohol intake may cause talkativeness, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, if taken in larger quantity. Heavy drinking over the time can damage the heart and lead to high blood pressure, enlarged and weakened heart, congestive heart failure and stroke. Health experts recommend that women should not take more than one standard drink a day, and men take no more than two standard drinks; standard drink is 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor. Women should have no more than 12 ounces of beer a day and men no more than 24 ounces —whether the beer is regular or light. By nature, a woman’s body metabolizes alcohol differently so that 1 alcoholic beverage in a woman is equal to 2 in a man. Alcohol remains in a woman’s body longer than in a man’s.

Alcohol may combine with many drugs, both prescription and non-prescription. Mixing alcohol with your medicine can lead to serious untoward effects. Long-term heavy use of alcohol not only destroys the cerebellum of the brain, causing irreversible brain damage but also results in slowed thinking, an unsteady walk and slurred speech

If you are weight conscious you would like to know that a regular beer 12-ounce serving, has about 140 to 150 calories, whereas light beers contain from 95 to 110 calories. Dark beers and ales can have from 150 to 170 calories, while nonalcoholic beers contain about 45 to 75 calories. Beer’s impact on your overall health, however, relates largely to the alcohol content, which is barely influenced by a lower-calorie content. The alcohol content of light beer is only slightly less than regular beers.

If you are want to cut back your alcohol intake try the following things:

•Order an nonalcoholic drink when you go out to drink.
•Discover new places, sports clubs and other things to do rather sitting in a bar and having drinks.
•Start with water to quench your thirst, not alcohol.
•Find support from friends and family.
•Find some thing which you can get involved in creatively
•Have ginger ale or juice with some healthy munchies while watching TV.
Source:http://www.greendivamom.com/author/savneet/

Exercise Mistakes

You might be just a beginner or may be experienced in your exercise regimen, but there are many mistakes most of us make while workout. These mistakes become a part of our exercise routine like bad habits, and can lead to injury, joint pain and delayed or no results. In order to get maximum benefit out of the hard work you put in during exercise to remain fit, it is very important that you identify problem areas.

Avoiding the Warm Up

Warming up before beginning the strength training or other work out may sound so boring and like a waste of time, but the warm up is a very important part of the exercise regimen, with many benefits. It should be the base of any fitness plan. Warm ups prepare muscles and connective tissue to loosen up and bear with the stress during the exercise. Your muscles work better because of blood flow toward the muscles, giving better results. Joints are lubricated, which decreases the chances of joint pain. If you skip warming up consistently, you are at high risk of injury and delayed result gains.

Always warm up for 8-10 minutes and then jump into your workout. If your body is lightly sweated, you are good to go.

Skipping Cool Down and Stretches

Doing stretching exercises and cooling down is equally important. Stretching and cooling down helps the body change from one exercise to the other.

Cooling down specifically helps transition the body and mind to rest after you have worked. It gradually lowers your heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. The sudden transition of the body from exercising to rest may cause blood pressure to drop, which could cause dizziness or fainting. By properly cooling down you also prevent muscle stiffness or soreness. Cooling down should always be gradual and be done after any exercise or strength training for 10-15 minutes. Keep in mind that stretching is not same as cooling down.

Stretching helps decrease the tension in your body, improves posture and aids coordination. Stretching helps joints and body parts to move further, avoiding the risk of injury or any kind of discomfort. Furthermore, it establishes breathing patterns, delays the onset of muscle fatigue and increases energy levels. Stretching from head to toe when the body is warmed up and more flexible is desirable for maximum benefits. Stretches should be slow, controlled and gradual, avoiding any jerks or bouncy movements. You should have a feeling of a little discomfort while you stretch. If you feel pain, you have stretched too much. You can do stretching exercise 15-18 minutes everyday with each stretching 15-30 seconds

Source: http://www.greendivamom.com/author/savneet/

How Sunlight Affects Skin and Body

The role of sun and its ultra-violet rays is a little more complex than what we think, and it may also give us an insight how do we age. The sun acts sort of like one of the machines that shoots out tennis balls. But the sun’s tennis balls comes in form of ultra-violet rays that are torpedoed down to Earth. Now, one type of ultra-violet rays, UVC, is blocked by the atmosphere before it reaches us, so this type of UV has very little effect. The rays that constantly affect you are the UVB rays and the UVA rays. Blocking all kinds of rays is not possible. UVB rays are stopped at the topmost levels of the skin, but they still penetrate inside and cause burning and skin cancer. They cause tanning as well.


On the other hand, UVA rays penetrate deeply in the skin to cause burns, wrinkles and skin cancer. To top it off, sunlight also destroys the reserves of folic acid, also known as folate or vitamin B9. Folate is required by the body to replicate DNA properly. The rays can also damage the eyes.

The question here is how does sunlight cause damage? One way is through connective tissue breakdown. UV radiation cause the structural protein of our skin, collagen, to break down and disables our ability to repair damage. Another way sun age our skin is through the formation of free radicals, those aggressive charged compounds that damage cells and breakdown collagen as well. Free radicals can cause cancer by changing our DNA and preventing our body from repairing it. UV destroys the rungs of the DNA ladder so that the DNA ladder posts bind with one another. Still another way UV rays cause damage is by thinning the walls of surface blood vessels, leading to bruising, bleeding and appearance of blood vessels through the skin.

But, the flip side is that we also really need UV rays. Natural sunlight creates active vitamin D, which we need for bone health, since it helps to regulate calcium. It helps to ensure the proper function of the heart, nervous system, clotting process and immune system. That is significant because thousand of cancer deaths a year are linked to insufficient UVB exposure and subsequent deficiency of active vitamin D. UVB activates vitamin D from cholesterol. That is the reason why cholesterol levels go high in the winter. In winter there is not much sunlight, so you don’t have enough active vitamin D, therefore your body pumps up your cholesterol in the hope of converting as much as possible to active vitamin D. This serves as another example of an evolutionary trade off between procreation and higher levels of cholesterol. So how strong we look, can be felt by high LDL, cholesterol and consequent heart disease and stroke.

Also, have a look at this fact: if you have low level of UVB penetration, then you need more cholesterol, which can be more readily converted to vitamin D. In this setting of low sun exposure, a substance called Apo E4 rises to help create more cholesterol and subsequent vitamin D. Apo E4 elevations of cholesterol lead atherosclerosis and Alzheimer’s later in life. Those of us, whose ancestors lived in the areas with high UVB rays were not so plentiful evolved to have less melanin in our skin to allow all those UVB rays to get through, but if skin color is too light or too much sunlight enters the cells, then folate level plummet. Without protection from those nutrients, other neurological symptoms increase in people and their offspring are prone to neural tube defects.

Nine Homemade Beauty Masks for Healthy Skin

Glowing and clear skin does naturally what makeup tries to simulate artificially. Natural homemade masks can help bring a permanent glow and clarity to your skin. For acquiring beautiful and healthy skin you can apply any of the following easy, homemade masks.

Note: Make sure that before you apply any of the following masks, your hands are clean and the dish in which you are going to prepare the mixture is washed and dried properly. Wash your face before and after you apply any of the homemade skin products. Wash your face gently with a little bit more water and pat dry.

Egg Whites

Egg white has shown miraculous effects on many people’s skin. Apply an egg white over your face. Then let it dry for 15-18 minutes and wash your face with warm water for an instant glow to your skin.

Powdered Orange Peels

Do not throw orange peels. Dry them in shade and then grind them in a mixer to make powder. Take two spoonfuls of this powder and make a smooth paste with rose water, honey and milk. Apply this and wash off with cold after 20 minutes.

Almond Paste

Almonds are high in vitamin E content, which is very good for your skin and can eliminate facial blemishes. Soak 4-6 almonds overnight so that peel comes off. Grind their white flesh and add few drops of lemon juice and honey to make a smooth paste. Apply this on your face and wash after 30 minutes.

Chickpea Mask

Make a smooth paste with a tablespoon of Chickpea flour, a pinch of turmeric, 2 tablespoons of milk and a few drops of rose water. Apply this paste to your face and massage in a circular motion. Wash your face with water after 2-3 minutes. This brings shine to your face and eliminates dead skin tissue.

Rose Lime Tonic

Make a mixture of equal amount of lime juice and rose water, apply on your neck and face, keep it for 10 minutes and wash off with fresh water.

Autumn Fruits Mask

Take a small piece of pumpkin and puree it. To this, add a grated apple and a little olive oil. Apply this paste for 15-20 minutes followed by rinsing the face. This mask is particularly good for dry skin.

Quick and Easy Milk and Sugar Mask

Mix 1/4 cup of milk and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Apply this mixture on your face using a cotton swab. Leave it for 5 minutes; then wash the face. This provides a glow to the face.

Turmeric Oat Mask

Prepare a paste by mixing a tablespoon of oatmeal with turmeric and sugar. Then slowly massage the paste on your face. Leave it for 2 to 3 minutes and rinse it off. The skin acquires a soft and refreshing appearance.

Cucumber Sour Cream Mask

Apply a mask made from I tablespoon of grated cucumber with some sour cream for 12-15 minutes followed by washing with cold water. Use this mask twice a week for best results.

The Finishing Touch

Use ice cubes. Yes! Ice cubes. Massage your cheeks with an ice cube for an instant glow without rouge

Source:http://www.greendivamom.com/author/savneet/

The Essentials of Vitamin D

Studies have shown that vitamin D intake reduces the chances of colon, breast and prostate cancer. In addition vitamin D helps maintain strong bones. Older adults can reduce their risks of falls by more than 20% by ensuring that they get enough vitamin D. A study recently reported in Journal of the American Medical Association noted that vitamin D may also improve muscle strength, thereby reducing fracture risk from falls.


Scientist are finding that when we avoid sunlight all the time by slathering ourselves with sunscreen to avoid the increased skin cancer risk from sun overexposure, or avoiding the outdoors altogether through an indoor sedentary lifestyle, we lose our most effective source of vitamin D. Our bodies make vitamin D when skin is exposed to sunlight. This does not mean that you have to be out in sun all the time, or lying out in the beach tanning. All you have to do is to expose your skin to sun for 10 minutes in summer and 15 minutes in winter.

Blood levels of vitamin D are low in one in five women living in America and North Europe. Post-menopausal women also get too little dietary calcium. But the former deficiency may be more important that the latter. In fact the recent studies suggest that higher than RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowances) of vitamin D may be more important than RDA intake of calcium to bone health.
There is actually a tightly intertwined connection between vitamin D, calcium and lesser known substance called parathyroid (PTH). PTH regulates the amount of calcium in the bloodstream. When the level of calcium is low in blood , the thyroid gland secrets more PTH, which raises the level of calcium by taking it from the bone. If the pattern continues, bones will eventually become brittle and prone to more breakage.
High level of Vitamin D in blood inhibits the secretion of PTH, thereby preventing the loss of calcium from the bones. Conversely, low vitamin D level prompts loss of calcium from the bones and raises the risks of osteoporosis and fractures. This is one reason why most experts say the RDA for Vitamin D, which is 400 international units per day, is too low and should be increased to 600 to 800 international units per day.
The Food and Nutrition Board of Institute of Medicine of US National Academy of Science has recommended the following adequate daily intakes (AI) for vitamin D.


Infants, children and adults up to 50 years of age (includes pregnant and nursing women): 5.0 micrograms (200IU)
Men and women 51-70 years: 10.0 micrograms (400 IU)
Men and women older than 70 years: 15.0 micrograms (600 IU)
Studies have also shown that consumption of more than 800 milligrams of calcium per day may be unnecessary for bone health if there is enough vitamin D. Sufficient vitamin D levels an can ensure an ideal level of PTH, even when calcium intake is lower.

A few sources Vitamin D are cod liver oil, cheese, egg yolks, cream, fortified milk, margarine, oysters, fish, and butter. Get it from sunlight. A good solution is to spend fifteen minutes in the sun and then apply your sunscreen.

The Right Kind of Exercise for You

All of us understand the importance of staying fit and the role played by the exercise in keeping us fit. We have many energy saver system like drive through fast food points, banks, cleaners, pharmacies, elevators, escalators, moving walkways, television and music systems with remote controls, automatic washers and dryers etc. Our inactivity has increased actually because of spending long hours in working on internet, watching television, playing video games etc.This kind of sedentary lifestyle puts our longevity and health at risk. If you have not included exercise in your daily routine then you are at a high risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart diseases, obesity etc. Obesity is further associated with other diseases like heart failure,diabetes, pulmonary hypertension, stroke, degenerative joints, many types of cancer, gall bladder diseases and many more. Many of these disease are life threatening and may lead to premature death

We all have excuses and explanation for not doing exercise like lack of time, odd working hours, home, kids etc. But we must convince ourselves that the worldly possessions like money, power, status, image all are of no use if we do not have good health. Thus, it is very important to keep yourself healthy. Good eating and drinking habits and exercise keeps you fit for whole life. Exercise and workout will not only keep you healthy, increase longevity but will also give you mental peace because “A healthy body has healthy mind”.

But, before you think of making exercise an essential part of your life you should keep in mind following points :

1.Exercise should be enjoyable: Exercise must not be mind numbing and unnatural. If it is boring , nobody is going to do it for a long time. It has to be interesting so that you get motivate to do it regularly. So, choose the kind of exercise that you really find interesting and motivating. You should feel good physically as well as mentally after doing exercise.
2.Exercise should be easily accessible: It is easy to find reasons for not going or not doing exercise if it takes an inordinate amount of time and effort to get to that. If you have chosen exercise which is not readily available then the fever of exercise goes off after some days. Sustaining exercise under optimal conditions is difficult so better choose the exercise which is easily accessible.
3.Exercise should be injury free: Sometimes people get injured during exercise and hence give up exercise. Thus ,choose exercise which is natural and injury free.
4.Exercise should involve the muscle group from whole body: Exercise should be such that it involves the exercise of major muscle groups from our all body parts.
5.Exercise should give you an option to do it at high, moderate and low intensity: The exercise you take should give you an option to go at the level you need or can do. For example, for beginners, over-weight and old age it should not be very heavy or tough.

Read more: http://healthmad.com/fitness/the-right-kind-of-exercise-for-you/#ixzz0oUYH7j2n

Health Benefits of Fresh Juice

Fresh juices are a safe and inexpensive form of preventive medicine. A few glasses of juice each day increase nutrient density of our diet. There are very few people who can have a pound of raw carrots a day, but anyone can squeeze in an 8-ounce glass of carrot juice, which is rich in important vitamins A and C.

Juice’s main drawback is that it removes fiber, which is essential for healthy digestion and may even help in preventing certain type of cancer. An adult needs 20-35 grams of fiber everyday. A glass of eight ounce of carrot contains only 2 grams of fiber as compared to 14 grams in a pound of carrots. Thus, it is advisable to have raw and fresh vegetables and fruits in addition to juices. Most people do not have either juice or raw vegetables and fruits. Thus, adding a few glasses of fresh juices each day can do a lot to improve the average person’s diet.

It is very important to note that when experts recommend juice, they are not talking about the prepackaged juice which you get at supermarkets. These pre-processed juices have very little resemblance to fresh juice nutritionally as well as aesthetically. These processed juices undergo boiling at a very high temperature for the pasteurization, which is required to increase the shelf life of the juice. During this process of boiling many essential vitamins and enzymes are destroyed. Even these prepacked juices are much better than the carbonated sodas and energy drinks. If you really want to reap the health benefits of the juice, you need to put some extra effort and money. Bring home a juicer and spend a little extra time to prepare fresh juice for yourself and other family members.

It is very important to choose the right and best quality produce for making juice. The best choice is organic vegetables and fruits. Produce grown without pesticides and other chemicals gives more valuable nutrients for the money that you have spent, as will seasonal and local. Avoid imported produce as far as possible. If you use imported fruits or vegetables, peel it off before you take out juice. Locally grown produce is cheaper and fresher than those which are shipped from far off places. Explore local markets and road-side stands. There are pick-up-your own farms where you can select your own peas, apples, peaches, strawberries and other fruits.

To have maximum benefits, make juice only when you are ready to drink it. It is best to have juice within half an hour it is made. As soon as a fruit or vegetable juice is processed in your juicer, the natural enzymes in the juice begin to break down the nutrients it contains. Juice stored in refrigerators loses its nutritional value rather quickly. Once juice starts to thicken, it is only left with water, minerals and calories.

There are few important things to remember while you prepare juice:

Clear Skin From Within

Clear, glowing, gorgeous and blemish-free skin requires taking care of skin not only from the outside but also from inside. Skin glows if it is healthy, and if you are healthy. Lifestyle affects the appearance of our skin, particularly when it comes to acne.

Developing better skin habits like cleansing regularly, applying the right treatment products can prove to be helpful in maintaining your clear complexion clear to an extent, but it’s only when you target skin from both the outside and the inside that you’ll begin to see longer-lasting results. Healthy habits like eating the right foods, exercising consistently and taking out time for daily stress relief, are just a few measures to help your skin as well as your overall health.

Nutrient-Rich Diet

A healthy diet rich in fiber, minerals and vitamins - particularly vitamins A, C and E - is good for clear, smooth and softer skin. Vitamin A internally, helps to increase skin-cell turnover. Vitamin A is found in foods like broccoli, cantaloupe, cod, red peppers, spinach and watercress. The recommended dietary allowance is 700 micrograms. Limit intake of iodine-rich foods/medications like kelp and seafood like shrimp and other shellfish.

You can also help your skin by becoming a vegan or vegetarian. Fresh fruits and vegetables have a positive and long lasting effect on the skin, and are rich in vitamins that can have anti-aging properties.

Sleep well and have plenty of water. Water helps in detoxifying your body and eliminates all the toxins which brings natural glow to the skin.

Why Should You Include Fermented Food in Your Diet

We all know that there a large number of bacteria present in our gastrointestinal tract those are important to digestion. The beneficial bacteria present in our bowel try to protect us from the massive number of harmful bacteria those might have been ingested while consuming food and water. We need certain bacteria in our digestive system in order to have proper digestion. When bacteria are removed because of prolonged use of antibiotic , it creates breeding ground for illness. Our immune system weakens and we lose our ability to digest, absorb food and assimilate. The harmful bacteria get foothold in the colon because of our bad food habits. We consume less fiber and more refined carbohydrates. This slows down the bowel transit time and fuel harmful bacteria. Thus, we need to have fermented food and probiotic supplements to have good bacteria in our digestive tract.
In order to increase the useful bacteria in gastrointestinal tract, we can have fermented food like yoghurt and sauerkraut. Irritable bowel syndrome has become a great problem in the America because of our food habits. Countries where fermented food is still a staple diet, gastrointestinal tract problems and irritable bowel syndrome are about one-tenth of that in Western societies.
Let us find out why should you include fermented food and lactic acid in your diet:

1)Good for stomach: Intake of fermented food in the diet helps in increasing the acidity of the gastric juice and protects the stomach and intestinal lining when there is over production of the acid. As we age , the production of the hydrochloric acid and the enzymes required to digest food decrease. Food like pickled food, buttermilk and sauerkraut can prove to be effective in getting more of essential acids and enzymes. You should have two small portions of fermented food and lactic acid in diet daily.
2)Kills harmful bacteria: Fermented food inhibits and destroy pathogenic bacteria. Bacteria responsible for causing typhoid and cholera are sensitive to acid environment. It was found that during the European epidemic of typhoid in 1950, fresh sauerkraut was an effective agent for killing the bacteria. Fermented food and lactic acid are found to be more effective in killing microbes present in the gastrointestinal tract.
3)Beneficial for nerves: Fermented food produce acetycholine. This facilitates the transmission of nerve impulses . It is extremely good for bowel movement also.
4)Help in fighting against cancer: High level of anti -cancer activity has been noticed by compounds contained in cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts.
5)Beneficial for diabetics: The fermented food and lactic acid contains carbohydrates those are already broken down to a predigested state. Thus, they don't put an extra burden on the pancreas.
Source:http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/why-should-you-include-fermented-food-in-your-diet/

Meditation: Fruit for the Soul

Meditation simply means taking a break from your busy daily life, hectic job, worries and concerns. It means turning off your mobile phone, letting your computer and your e-mails wait for a minute and giving yourself some time. We are such an action-oriented society that it is extremely important to relax as we are becoming more aware of ourselves.

Meditation can show you where you are holding tension and teach you to find your center. This can dramatically improve your health and align your intentions, and l make you a creator of life instead of a recipient of whatever comes your way. If you cannot relax your body and mind, then you may have problems with health, finances, relationships or all three. Recent research has shown that meditating once a day for 10-15 minutes can reduce stress and bring calmness in life.
More and more doctors are prescribing meditation as a way to lower blood pressure, improve exercise performance in people with angina, help people with asthma breathe easier, relieve insomnia and generally relax the everyday stresses of life. Meditation is a safe and simple way to balance a person’s physical, emotional, and mental states. It is simple; but can benefit everybody.

Make meditation part of your daily life and nurture self-respect. With meditation, we give the attention a target that keeps us anchored in the present moment. The target can be a physical object, or more commonly, the breath. We give the mind something consistent to focus on and this becomes the object of the meditation, Here are three easy tips to get you started with meditation.
Choose a Place to Meditate
First of all, choose special place in your house. It can be a corner or a room or you can meditate outside in fresh air. If you like, you can furnish that area with special objects that have a spiritual meaning for you. But the important thing is that the place where you do meditation is quiet. There should not be any disturbance. Tell people around you that this is the place where you spend time with yourself, so that there is no one to interrupt your quietness.

To get better results, and enhance your meditation, you can consciously choose the pleasant fragrances that are relaxing, balancing and nourishing. You can use smells like lavender, juniper or geranium in your room. Oils like chamomile, vanilla, jasmine, mandarin and neroli have calming, grounding and cooling effects. You can choose to meditate in the lap of nature. For example you might have a place near a beach or in the woods where you can be quiet and undisturbed and really enjoy nature together with your meditation. Great experiences can be achieved when you meditate in nature.

Correct Position While You Meditate
The classic posture is to sit with legs folded and hands resting quietly in the lap or on your knees. But for an effective meditation, you need to find your own posture, the pose in which you feel comfortable and relaxing. If your pose is not comfortable enough the body will start aching and you won’t be able to concentrate and carry on with the meditation. On the other hand if the posture is too comfortable chances are that you will fall asleep. Thus, there is a strong need to look at the the balance between the two.
Work out which posture is best for you. You might choose to sit in a chair, with legs crossed or sit on the floor or walk around gently in a room. It is up to you, try a few different postures and see which one gives you best result.
Eyes - Open or Closed?
Whether to keep eyes open or close them is again a question of suitability. Some people say that one should close eyes while some others think that meditate with your eyes open. You do the way what gives you the best results. Generally people, who keep their eyes closed have great meditation. A few others fall asleep with eyes closed. 

So if you keep your eyes closed make sure that you sit in an alert position. The same goes for when you open your eyes to do your meditation, you may keep looking here and there. So it is all about concentrating, no matter whether your keep eyes open or closed.

I will discuss more tips in coming articles

Deal with Panic Attack attacks and Anxiety in natural ways

A panic attack is when your body experiences a rush of intense psychological (mental) and physical symptoms. At least one person in 10 experiences occasional panic attacks, which are usually triggered by a stressful event or situation. Panic attack or anxiety is a very personal problem, and the symptoms of anxiety vary from one person to the next. Some people say that anxiety or panic attacks that bring with them bouts of excessive sweating. Many people suffer ongoing states of anxiety or nervous tension and therefore excessive sweating becomes an everyday reality for them. There are several specific symptoms that you may experience if suffering from anxiety disorder such as restlessness or feeling keyed up or being easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, fearful thoughts, nervousness, irritability, muscle tension, chest pain, stomach aches, headaches, sleep problems (difficulty staying asleep or falling asleep, unsatisfying sleep). The mental or psychological symptoms of anxiety can be even more severe, including phobias of all types, social discomfort, poor memory or obsessive thoughts. However, there are a few physical symptoms that are much more common than others.
Physical symptoms of anxiety
The most common symptoms of anxiety have effect on the cardiovascular system – racing pulse, elevated blood pressure and shallow breathing.
An increased pulse rate is one of the most anxiety symptoms. Some sufferers may feel that they are having heart trouble, or even a heart attack.
Blushing, excessive sweating or yawning are also common symptoms of anxiety.
Dizziness is another feature in which one may feel simply light headed and find it difficult to concentrate while others can feel as they are spinning off the face of the earth, some can even find it difficult to stand up.
Stomach and digestive problems can be there as well. These can range from heartburn indigestion and constipation . When suffering a severe panic attack, some people can also feel nauseous.
Treatment for panic attacks or anxiety
A “real” anxiety cure must be sustainable. It should not make your life progressively worse over time, creating a type of addiction that keeps sufferers feeling like helpless victims. A “real” anxiety cure is all about empowerment–taking back control over your life.
People generally seek traditional prescribed medications which can be addictive and even physically harmful. Some natural things those can be taken in case of mild anxiety.
Natural medication

Fish oil- I think its the non medicated way that has helped me to recover from the anxiety and panic attacks I used to live with.
Note: if you’re considering taking larger doses of fish oil (such as those used in some research studies) it is especially important to clear this with your doctor first. Although it is a 100% natural substance, higher dosages are fish oil can have side effects, just like any other supplement.
For some people herbs and supplements can offer a safe way to treat panic attacks like Kava Kava, an herbal treatment taken from the Kava crop of the western pacific,passion fruit, passion flower, hops, chamomile, magnesium and B-complex. Valerian Root is a herbal supplement from the Valerian flower plant.
There are certain foods like sugar & caffeine which typically make most people jittery and edgy. You can eliminate or cut back on these.
Drink Water - Dizziness usually stems for one simple reason: You're dehydrated. drinking enough quantities of water daily will not only reduce dizziness, but it will allow your body to eliminate toxins easier


A few other options can also help you to alleviate panic attacks and to reclaim your natural calm and sense of well-being. You must understand that your subconscious thoughts are causing all panic attacks and you need to immediately stop yourself having them.

Support groups will be able to provide you with useful advice about how you can effectively manage your panic disorder, and they are also a good way of meeting other people who have similar experiences of the condition
The best way is regular physical activity which helps a patient to feel calm and relaxed. When we exercise our bodies tend to return to their natural state.
Controlled breathing techniques
Relaxation techniques : I know first-hand the almost miraculous benefits of using relaxation techniques to reduce your anxiety
Hypnosis
Listening to some good,relaxing and soothing music also proves to produce fruitful results.
Getting to know your habitual responses to the situations and re-evaluating them also prepares you to respond to a situation in which you generally feel anxiety.
Take plenty of ‘Vitamin L’ — love and laughter — by reaching out to others.
Affirmations are widely used in self development literature and they could work well as a panic attack treatment.
Many times people suffering from panic attacks find that meeting people with same experiences is the best treatment for panic attacks.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a very popular and widely used method for anxiety and panic attacks.
Since panic attacks are a mental illness, they can be treated with the use of mental exercises, or in this case mental relaxation. There is also the possible use of aromatherapy as part of a relaxation technique.
One of the common methods of relaxation is massage.

These above stated straight-forward approaches virtually guaranteed to have a positive rather than detrimental impact on your general health and wellbeing and are the easiest way to deal with panic attacks. Things like lifestyle changes which will mean reviewing all the stress levels in your daily life and re-evaluating where your priorities life.

Source-http://citymasala.com/July2009/CityMasala.pdf

10 rules for Flat belly

Most of us are so much concerned about the belly fat hanging over our waistbands. The frustrating reality here is that the midsection is one of the trickiest and difficult areas to tone. Even people dedicated to regular exercise often can't iron out their abs. You need to have some kind of tummy flattening plan. The "inch you can pinch” around your belly may be harmful. A moderate amount of fat is essential for life. It keeps you warm in the winter. But too much of it can be bad, starting with the fact that fat functions as a visible sign of being overweight or obese. Worse, it makes us lose confidence in our body image.
Excess fat has been linked to a long list of adverse health conditions, including:
High blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease
High cholesterol
Diabetes
Breast cancer
Dementia
 
One of the main reasons fat is so deadly is because of its role in inflammation, a natural immune response that has lately been tied to almost every chronic disease there is. Fat also contributes to insulin resistance, an early precursor to diabetes.
In order to have a flat belly you can try out following:
Maintain calories level of your body: there is a calorie level which can be maintained in the way that you neither gain weight nor lose weight. Observe your body. You can find it out by trial and error method. You can also find it by multiplying your body weight (lbs) by 11. This gives you a rough estimate of your daily calorie requirements. Once you find out your maintenance calories level, start reducing your food consumption very gradually which must not be more than 10% of the calories.
You may be tempted to drastically cut down on food consumption but that will not prove to be effective in getting a flat stomach but then the body thinks that it is starving and it initiates the body’s starvation response.

Make an Exercise Regime focusing Weight Resistance Training Lifting weight to shed 'weight' is a good way out. Weight training tells you how fast you will burn fat. Strength training helps both building more muscles and increase the calories burning efficiency. For each pound of trained muscle on your body, you can burn 35 to 50 calories of energy per day. Each pound of fat requires only 7 to 10 calories to maintain it. When you lift weights, you need more calories to feed those hungry muscle cells. That's why it is key for trimming fat around the belly.
Add MUFA to your diet- Studies have shown that a core group of healthy fats--monounsaturated fat known as MUFAs can prove to be effective in shedding fat. Those good-for-you fats help to protect you from chronic disease and, according to new research, can help you to get a slim waistline.There are five major categories of MUFAs- oil, avacado, nuts and seeds, chocolates and olives. Eating one serving of any of these foods at every meal will help to reduce accumulation of dangerous belly fat.
Tighten up your abs- sit on the chair and pull your stomach inside as if you are trying to pull up a tight pair of jeans. Hold it for 10 seconds. Do atleast 25 times a day and you can see the results.
Include fat burning food in your diet: This includes bananas, apples, beans, citrus fruits, broccoli, grains and grain products, cabbage, melon, pasta, tomato, zucchini, pineapple, root vegetables and peppers.
Commit to your target- If you start a diet and exercise regime, make it for good. Eating healthy foods and exercising only until you hit your target weight. Getting healthy is a lifestyle choice that has to last.
Picture yourself- Stick a picture of yourself on your refrigerator door at both your original and current weight or you can have a picture of one who inspires you. This will help you to remind of why you should stick with healthy foods.

Meal Replacements for Weight Control: For losing weight, we need to reduce the intake of the calories below the daily activity needs. When we reduce the number of the calories, we draw from our fat stores to obtain energy. By replacing meals with specialized complete meal formula, we lose fat and weight.
Substituting meal replacement for regular snacks can increase your meal frequency and controls the weight, since the low-calorie meal replacements limit calorie intake. Meal replacements have become popular way for helping many people successfully start losing weight. Meal replacements can be a good therapeutic approach to weight loss but only if, they are used in combination with lifestyle and diet education and professional support.

Core strength training: It is very essential to have core strength training to eliminate fat around the belly. Become aware of your abdomen. This mental awareness helps you stay focused on your goal- to eliminate the excess inner abdominal fat and achieve your goal of a waist that is less than 35 inches for a women and less than 40 inches for men. Core training also builds a stronger calorie burning furnace when you build more muscles. Having a strong core is key to all kinds of daily activities like sitting down, picking things up, carrying groceries and even walking. The abs and the back work together as a team. The stronger the abs- the stronger is the back.
Have positive attitude: Instead of focusing on the failure of your past habits, consider focusing on 30 minutes to a flat stomach. Set attainable goals. This means goals that you have control over. If you set a goal to lose five pounds in a week, you have no control and set yourself up for failure. Instead, set a goal to exercise 30 minutes a day five days a week. Along with that set a goal to stay within your calorie count. As you achieve these goals each week, your motivation will increase. Other tips include:
Measure instead of weigh -- Measure your waist and stomach before you start and again each six weeks. Weight can fluctuate as fat is replaced by water or muscle. A tape measure shows the inches melting off your midsection.
Dont shop when hungry: Never go to shopping when you are hungry or you will end up buying more fattening food. Best thing is to eat before going for food shopping and always prepare a grocery list. Only buy food which relates to your each week diet program.

Source-http://citymasala.com/October2009/FlatBelly.pdf

Turmeric Wonders, Part II, Plus Potato-Cauliflower Curry Recipe

Turmeric is uniquely an Indian spice. India produces nearly all the world’s turmeric, and consumes 80% of that crop. Traditional healers use turmeric to treat and cure disease. Turmeric is a member of the ginger family. Its stalk has the healing properties. It has got a bright yellow color because of the presence polyphenols, curcuminoids, in it. In the past few years, researches have begun exploring myriad aspects of this compound:

•anti-tumor
•anti-oxidant
•anti-arthritic
•anti-amyloid
•anti-ischemic
•anti-inflammatory
Its anti-inflammatory properties come from curcuminoids’ ability to inhibit eicosanoid biosynthesis. Turmeric is effective in treating malaria and in the prevention of cervical cancer. Studies suggest that it can be useful in the treatment of the HIV virus.
If we are to look for the reason that India has such a low Alzheimers disease rates, usage of turmeric in Indian kitchen can be one of the major reasons. Curcumin has been found to be effective in the body to rid itself of aluminum, lead, mercury and other hazardous metals and cleanse the body. Our body is exposed to small amounts of these toxins in our daily life when we are exposed to various things. These chemicals may contribute to chronic health problems and age-related diseases.

Turmeric taken in your food gives far more benefits rather than taking supplements. If you go for a dosage like 600mg per day it may cause digestive problems because it is very spicy. Thus, having turmeric in curry is not only good for health but also gives a nice color and super aroma.

Indian recipes are famous worldwide for their mouth-watering varieties and aroma that comes out due to the spices like turmeric, bay leaves and coriander powder..

Cauliflower-Potato Dry Curry
2 cups cauliflower, cut into florets

2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 large onion, chopped fine

1 cup pureed tomatoes

1 tsp ginger garlic paste

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1 Tbsp coriander powder

2 tsp cumin powder

1 Tbsp oil

Salt - to taste

Cook the potatoes in 1 cup water in a covered pan till semi-done. This should take about 5-6 minutes You can insert a fork and it should barely be able to come out.
Add the cauliflower florets to the potatoes and cover again. Add a little more water if needed. Add the turmeric powder. Cook till cauliflower is just tender and not too mushy.

Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed pan. Add the chopped onions and saute till the ends turn brown. Add the ginger-garlic paste and saute for another 30 seconds.

Once your kitchen starts smelling a bit nicer, add the chili, cumin and coriander to the above. Fry for another minute till the everything turns light brown.
Reduce heat and pour in the tomatoes, mixing well with the existing contents of the pan. Add salt. Cook this for a good 5 minutes until the oil separates. Your stove area is going to be a bit messy because tomato paste splutters a bit.

Add the cooked potato-cauliflower pieces and mix well. Cook till the curry becomes dry and the gravy just about covers the potato-cauliflower mixture.
Garnish with freshly chopped coriander and serve hot with broiled bread or tortillas.

Source-http://www.greendivamom.com/author/savneet/

Control Major Risks for Heart Disease

Men and women undergo heart surgery at different rates, with women undergoing fewer bypass surgeries than men. Some of the reasons for this are fairly obvious. First, compared to women, men are generally taller, weigh more and have a larger body surface area. This means that men generally have larger coronary arteries, which do not clog readily as the smaller arteries in women. And the smaller size of women’s coronary arteries presents a greater technical challenge for performing angioplasty or bypass surgery.

Secondly, because estrogen is thought to be protective against cardiovascular disease, women are rarely affected by cardiovascular disorders (CVD) before menopause. As such, most women are older and in worst overall physical condition when they do require treatment.
Finally women are also more likely to have the complications including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart failure, obesity and cerebral or peripheral vascular diseases.

In addition to gender related risks, there are number of other risk factors that can lead to cardiovascular diseases in both men and women. Risk factors are divided into two categories: major and contributing. The major risk factors are those that have been proved to increase the risk of heart diseases. Contributing factors are those that doctors think can lead to an increased risk, but exact role played by them is not defined.

One of the major risk factors which is not preventable is family history. If your parents or grandparents are plagued by CVD, you are at a greater risk of CVD. However, other factors for heart disease are largely preventable through diet exercise and lifestyle. A few major risks factors are discussed below:

Smoking
Cigarette smoking has been medically determined to be a major risk factor for coronary artery disease. Smokers have 200 greater risk of developing coronary heart disease as compared to the non smokers. Smoking cause clogging of coronary arteries which heightens the risk of blood clots resulting in heart attack. Smoking also increases LDL which is bad cholesterol and decreases the HDL – the good cholesterol. So it can be strongly stated that – Smoking will kill your heart; do not smoke.

High cholesterol
Cholesterol is one of the groups that make up the fatty or lipid compounds in the bloodstream. Cholesterol is produced by the liver. The amount of cholesterol circulating in the blood is also affected by weight, diet and exercise. Most cholesterol is transported to the body’s cell in small particles called low density lipoproteins (LDL). High level of LDL are associated with increased risk for heart diseases, earning it the designation of “bad cholesterol”. They deposit on the walls of the arteries as plaque. Over the period of the time, plaque can cause obstruction or occlusion of an artery, triggering a heart attack.

Diabetes
In the U.S., six percent of people have diabetes. Factors like the bad information about food and consumption people get on TV and personal behavior such as over eating and too much fat in the diet are primarily at fault in the soaring numbers of adult diabetic patients. Persons with diabetes also tend to have other traits that make them more at risk for developing heart problems. These include obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Hypertension
High blood pressure or hypertension is the leading cause of stroke and a major risk factor for heart attack and kidney failure. There are no typical symptoms for hypertension. Without regular and periodic blood pressure screening you may be unaware of its presence.

Obesity
Obesity is defined as a body mass index greater than 30. Obesity is directly related to heart diseases including hypertension, diabetes and vascular diseases. Weight reduction can help in lowering the risk of the heart diseases.

Family History
Some form of diseases are inherited from family members. If your parents had a history of heart diseases, you should see your doctor regularly to monitor your health condition.

Source-http://www.greendivamom.com/author/savneet/

ALZHEIMERS' EYE TEST

Count every ' F ' in the following text:

FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE
SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTI
FIC STUDY COMBINED WITH
THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS...
(SEE BELOW)










HOW MANY ?
WRONG, THERE ARE 6 -- no joke.
READ IT AGAIN !
Really, go Back and Try to find the 6 F's before you scroll down.

The reasoning behind is further down.
The brain cannot process 'OF'.


Incredible or what? Go back and look again!!
Anyone who counts all 6 'F's' on the first go is a genius.


Three is normal, four is quite rare.


More Brain Stuff . . From Cambridge University .

O lny srmat poelpe can raed tihs.
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht
I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid,
aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't
mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt
tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rgh it pclae. The
rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a
porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed
ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?
yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can

10 Golden Rules to Manage Weight and Stay Young Forever

Weight management is on everyone's mind. Whenever you turn on television, you can hear numerous stories about the growing obesity rate or the latest Hollywood diet. You have seen the commercials and you may own one or more of the widely marketed ab roll thinners, butt tuckers, tummy suckers and electronic fat removers. You might have also tried an Assortment of firming cream and burning pills. People are on a relentless search for the answers to weight loss, physical fitness and look younger and beautiful. People go to any extent to look younger on the outside. They buy the best clothes and cosmetics that money can buy but looking young is not only what you wear and how you put up make-up. What you put inside your body by maintaining a high quality natural food diet, has the best effect on how we look and feel.

There are some basic facts which can be helpful in achieving your goals faster than you have ever thought. Here is the list of some of the things that can help you own an enviable toned body and to stay in top shape for years to come.

1.Eat “Fit Food”- Your choice for a high quality natural diet plays a significant role in the way to look and feel. A diet containing balanced amount of of complex carbohydrates, protein and fats is the key. Complex carbohydrates intake through brown rice, whole wheat pasta, salads, potatoes, unprocessed cereals etc. have proved to be very effective in losing weight because of the reason that complex carbohydrates not only control hunger but also provide energy as our body burns them more efficiently as compared to unprocessed food.
Similarly, fibre contained in fruits, vegetables and other food sources like whole grains help in getting rid of unwanted and toxic substances present in your intestine and colon that accelerates weight loss and keeps skin glowing. High quality and easily digested amounts of protein can be derived through intake of chicken, turkey, egg whites, fish, low-fat dairy and certain lean cuts of red meat. Protein present in these food sources are easy to digest and help in increasing the muscle tissue rather than fat tissues. In addition to carbohydrates and proteins, vitamins and minerals are important for the proper functioning of the body and various organs.
2.Take three meals per day – Our body needs to have 3 balanced meals per day which includes a heavy breakfast in the morning containing fruits, cereals, grain bread, eggs, along with a healthy drink. Researches have shown the fact that people who skip breakfast, find it harder to lose weight because if you have a heavy breakfast your appetite will be satisfied longer and you will eat only when your calories are best burnt. Your body needs energy to get you through your day and that energy is supplied only through a proper breakfast, so if you are not a “breakfast person” start by eating a piece of fruit on your way to work.
3.Drink plenty of water- Water plays a key role in the prevention of diseases, reduction of weight, toxins and chances of cancer; absorption and digestion of food, regulation of body temperature, removal of waste and toxins from the body and maintaining glow of the skin. Water helps the body to metabolize stored fat and acts as appetite suppressant, and thus, leads to weight loss. Whenever you feel hungry, drink a pint of water, it will curb your appetite.
4.Eliminate soft drinks, fruit juices and processed foods - Avoid carbonated beverages and fruit juices even if they are naturally sweetened. Processed food, refined food and pre-packaged food are loaded with sugars and preservatives. You can replace soft drinks and juices with natural water, herbal tea and caffeine free coffee.
5.Fast once in a week- I strongly recommend fasting for everyone. It is something which everyone needs to do and please mind that this has nothing to do with your religious beliefs. If you abstain from the meal, you are giving your body a chance to rest. In USA, we incessantly eat endless calories with every meal. The body never gets a chance to get rest, repair and restore itself. Our digestive system works round the clock even when we are sleeping. When we eat, it takes that meal three to four hours to travel through the stomach, another five hours for the food to be processed in the small intestine and an additional 12 to 36 hours for the food to go through the large intestine. If you take decision to fast one day in a week, you are giving your body a chance to rid itself abnormal cells, toxins, heavy metals and chemicals that you have ingested. This means fasting cleans your body system out.
6.Don't eat 2 hours before you go for sleep: People generally make a mistake by not eating much for whole day and then having a heavy dinner before they go to bed. It becomes difficult for the body to burn the extra calories while you are sleeping because your energy levels plummet while sleeping. Therefore, try to eat earlier in the day and keep dinner as simple as possible.
7.Exercise to stay fit and young- We all have excuses and explanation for not doing exercise like lack of time, odd working hours, home, kids etc. Good eating and drinking habits and exercise keeps you fit for whole life. Exercise and workout will not only keep you healthy, increase longevity but will also give you mental peace because “A healthy body has healthy mind”. Any anaerobic exercise like stationary cycling, walking, jogging, swimming, yoga etc. four times a day in the morning yields good results. If possible, take a brisk walk of 10 to 15 minute at lunch or in the evening to boost your metabolism even more. Don't forget to tone your muscles with weight training three days per week.
8.Do mediation and deep breathing- Meditation helps in developing a stronger body and mind connection. This connection is vital for feeling younger and healthier. Breathing is one of the important and old weapon to fight toxicity in the body. Breathing is an effective way to remove toxins, cleanse and purify body. When we exhale, we take out carbon dioxide and the toxins which are deadly poisonous for the body. The body has great tendency and capacity for the oxygen. If our body lacks oxygen , we feel tired and have headaches. A few deep breath not only relives us from the anxiety, ease digestion but also help in waking up and going to sleep.
9.Stop smoking and drinking alcohol- Smoking and alcohol consumption have negative effects on your body. Alcohol depresses your metabolism and stimulates your appetite and thus your eating habits change.
10.Live with a positive attitude- The way to a healthy life begins with a healthy mind. How we think determines everything in our life. We should choose the habits which make us to feel younger and live longer with a healthy body and mind.

Source-http://citymasala.com/May2009/HealthTips.pdf/

Bottled Water: Bad for You, Bad for the Earth

If you are using bottled water, you are spending up to 10,000 times more per gallon than tap water, thinking it safe and pure, even though this bottled water can be even worse. In addition to the health risks bottled water may pose, it harmsl the environment. Bottled water, thought to be an healthy alternative, now is criticized as an environmental menace, and for health risks bottled water may pose from the presence of harmful chemicals.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found chemical contaminants present in every bottled water brand they have analyzed. The bottled water industry is not required to disclose the results of any contaminant testing that it conducts on bottled water products. On the other hand, tap water consumers are provided with water quality test results carried out every year. The attractive and expensive advertisement campaigns by the bottled water industry tempts us to believe that we are buying water that has been purified to a level beyond the municipal tap. Thus, we end up piling up water bottles, thinking the bottled water cleaner than the water that comes out of the garden hose. The truth is that tap water has to go through more stringent quality standards than bottled water. Studies have proven that some brands of bottled water are just tap water in disguise.
Environmental Costs of Bottled Water
The environment cost that we are paying for these bottles is even higher. The bottled water industry causes a severe strain on the environment, as rightly said by Eric Olsen of Natural Resources Defense Council ”It causes 60 million plastic bottles A DAY to be manufactured, transported and then disposed of in U.S. landfills. It’s killing our planet, and for no good reason…” An estimated 1.5 million gallons of oil is used to make plastic water bottles, and much more is consumed transporting these bottles. This oil is enough to run more than 100,000 cars for a whole year. Burning of this oil releases a lot of air pollutants, which are responsible greenhouse effect and global warming.

Bottled Water Wastes Water

Bottling plants extract a lot of water in the areas near bottling plants, which in turn has led to water shortages in those areas. This is affecting people living nearby. Much water gets wasted in the process of purification of the water itself. It is said that two gallons of water is wasted in the purification process for every gallon. This is in addition to the millions of gallons of water used in the plastic-making process.

Bottled Water Creates Solid Waste

Only 10% of water bottles used in a day are recycled. This leaves a lot of wastes in the landfills, and these plastic bottles takes thousands of years to decompose. Waste management has become a large problem in the world, with the number and size of landfills growing. Some bottles are washed and reused to lessen their negative impact on the environment, which again questions the purity of the water contained in the bottles. Reusing plastic bottles lowers the quality of the water, since more and more phthalates leaches from a bottle as it gets older.

The solution
•Buy a filter pitcher. Refill it whenever you need. You can have two or three pitchers, so that you never run out of filtered water at home. These pitchers are available in different sizes and can be kept in car while you are travelling.
•Get an inexpensive faucet filter to remove traces of chemicals and bacteria.
•Use a reusable bottle and refill it along the way. Travel bottles with built-in filters are also available in stores.
•Use activated carbon water filters, like Brita pitchers or faucet attachments. They are affordable option for filtering tap water.
•If you can afford you can have a reverse osmosis filter, which will eliminate all impurities.
The above suggested ways are good both for your health and wallet, above all for the planet.

Source-http://www.greendivamom.com/author/savneet/