Category Archives: Health

Summer is almost here and on 29^th March, all the clocks went back an hour and we were all left with an extra hour of daylight on our hands. Yes, we may have lost out on some sleep but it isn’t all that bad considering that we have an extra hour of sunshine.

We have prepared a list of things that can be done with this extra hour and none of it involves hiding away inside your home while you could be enjoying the beautiful sunshine.

1. Enjoy the sunset with your partner or family

In our fast paced lives there are several things that we miss out on but with an extra hour you might just have time to stop and admire the beautiful sunset in your city. If you can’t really stop because of all the errands that you are trying to finish, you can still check out the beautiful sunset while you do so.

If you can do try to set aside half an hour to just….well, admiring the sunset.

     2. Explore a park

There are several parks all across Great Britain but we, with all the craziness in our lives, tend to forget to look at the beauty that surrounds us. With an extra hour on your hands, you can maybe round up all of your children and head to the nearest park to smell the roses if you will or watch your children hop around to catch a butterfly.

     3. Catch up on some gardening

Anyone with a garden or even just a couple of plants knows that you can never be done with gardening. It always requires a trim here or there and some maintenance to be done. For those of you who enjoy gardening know very well that it requires time but mostly requires sunlight. So this extra hour of sunlight will come as a lovely welcome to catch up with some gardening.

    4. Hit the playground

If you have kids and are also trying to hold down a full time job, it is quite possible that you do not get to watch your kids play that often. It is a joy of a different kind to watch your children play and now, as I have said several times before, with an extra hour of daylight you can accompany your children down to the playground and watch them play to their heart’s content and yours.

    5.Visit a farmer’s market

Summer brings forth farmer’s market all over the country and if there is one near you then you may want to check it out and grab some fresh produce and maybe even some flowers. With the fading light you can catch the tail end as the crowd dies down. The fact that there may be free samples is just an added advantage.

The above mentioned options are just some of the many things that you can do. You can make up your own list with the things that you love to do.

Image: Copyright: <a href=’http://www.123rf.com/profile_alexoakenman’> / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

Do you often feel bloated? Do you often find your feet completely swollen? Well, in either case, it is pretty evident that you are suffering from water retention or fluid retention, which is medically known as edema.

Water retention refers to the high accumulation of water and fluid in your body tissues or more specifically, your circulatory system. This generally occurs in your feet and legs, but it can also affect your capillaries, heart and kidneys. For ladies, water retention is also a part of the premenstrual syndrome which is caused due to a series of hormonal changes. The constant hormonal fluctuations cause the rise of fluids in their kidneys. Following are a list of causes and remedies of water retention. Read on, for a better take on this ailment.

What causes water retention?

Water retention is caused by a series of factors which include:

• High intake of sodium.
• Poor circulation.
• Lethargic lifestyle and lack of exercises.
• Deficiencies in the vitamin content.
• Stress, tension and fatigue.
• Exposure to extremely hot weather and high altitudes.
• Pregnancy and menstruation (Water retention is a premenstrual syndrome).
• High blood pressure.
• Heart and kidney ailments.
• Liver ailments and thyroid disorders.

Apart from the mentioned problems, water retention may also be caused due to allergies, liver ailments, chronic lung disease, oral contraceptives and venous insufficiency.  Venous insufficiency is a condition where an individual experiences serious problems in the blood flow from the veins to the legs and back again in the heart.

What happens when you are affected by water retention?

Water retention generally causes puffiness and swelling in the affected areas of your body. It might also cause your joints to be stiff which in turn would lead to difficulty in walking. Weight change is also a common effect of water retention. You might suddenly gain weight due to this ailment. Apart from that, a constant bloated feeling, high blood pressure and increased pulse rate are also some of the common effects of water retention.

How can you prevent water retention?

Water retention might be a serious ailment, but it also comes with a series of natural remedies. Take a look.

Take parsley tea regularly

Parsley is a common remedy for water retention as it comes with excellent diuretic properties. You can always take a cup of parsley tea to reduce the retention of fluids. Take two teaspoons of parsley leaves (dried) and prepare a cup of tea with it. Drink it thrice a day to reduce the water retention in your body. You can also make a drink of parsley and lemon juice, and drink it regularly for great results.

Lemon juice

Lemon juice works wonders in flushing out the excess fluids in your body. Blend two tablespoons of lemon juice and a dash of honey in a cup of warm water. Drink this solution daily for two weeks to reduce the water retention.

Apart from this, Dandelion, Fennel seeds and nettle also can work wonders in preventing and reducing water retention.

Image: Copyright: <a href=’http://www.123rf.com/profile_just2shutter’> / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

One cup of coffee can keep you active for the rest of the morning. Well, millions across the globe would agree to this and they most definitely believe that their cup of coffee is the only way they can stay active for the rest of the morning. However, that is not completely true because there are many others that are not fond of coffee and they don’t drink coffee to stay away and to wake up every morning. So, how do you actually wake up without that daily dose of coffee? Well, here are some options that you can try and you will find that it works.

Cold Water Shower

Cold water showers are the best if you want to get rid of that weariness in your body soon after you wake up. It certainly seems like a terrible idea, but warm water bath can make you feel lethargic and more relaxed because it soothes the muscles in a way. On the other hand, cold water shower can get rid of all the fatigue instantly. If you are addicted to having a warm water bath you can start that way but gradually try cold water and see if that helps you.

Eat a Fruit

Fruits are good for health and it works better than a cup of coffee. Hence, you can chomp on an apple or a banana or oranges if you prefer. Fruits are filled with nutrients and enzymes that can keep your brain active and they do not dehydrate your body like coffee. Apples have natural sugars and nutrients that can stabilize your brain and blood sugar.

Morning Workout

Fresh morning air is another way to stimulate your brain and therefore you can certainly go out for some morning walk or just a gentle stroll. It has been proved that morning walks can help you to reduce stress and provide you with a better mood and lower BMI which helps you to stay fit as well. There are many people that are out there early morning so you can be with them or join a group and you’ll never need a cup of coffee again.

Listen to Music

Music is in our blood, so let it help you get the right energy you need. If you are feeling tired and lethargic you can put on some great music that you prefer and you will find yourself dancing and grooving to those numbers. Many people listen to morning radio or they make their own playlist that they listen to before they head to office. You can also listen to your favorite music in your car or on your smartphone while you are commuting.

Have a Fix Schedule

We all have a biological clock ticking inside us, so use that to your advantage. You can make sure that you wake up at the same time every day and you will see that after few days or weeks your body has adjusted to it and you will no longer feel tired when you wake up at that time.

Did you know that your favorite Spa also makes their own face masks that they use to their customers? So, what you are getting is actually a homemade face mask, which is something you can also do for yourself.

Face masks are easy to make and most often than not, most of them does not require a lot of ingredients. So why get the same thing and pay more, if you can do your own face mask for home and enjoy a fresh, rejuvenated and clear skin without the pricey spa treatment?

To give you some tips on how to make really nice face masks, here are some face mask recipes that you might want to try, depending on the needs of your skin.

For Oily Skin

Oily skin can lead to more serious skin problems. This is because oil on the skin can catch more dirt that can cause bacteria build up, which will eventually lead to acne. So to prevent this, here’s a simple facial mask for oily skin that you can prepare at home.

Ingredients:

–      2 tablespoons of Honey

–      2 tablespoons of oatmeal

–      2 tablespoons of lemon juice

Preparation:

Combine all three ingredients together, and achieve a paste like consistency. This amount is enough for one wash. Before washing your face with this mask, make sure that you wash your face with lukewarm water in order to open up the pores. Dry your face and gently apply the face mask on the entire face, but make sure to avoid the eye area.

For best results, let the facial mask sit on your skin for 10 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water again.

For Acne  

One of the main reasons why people go for Spas is to get rid of the most common skin problem, which is acne. If your skin is troubled with acne, here is a very effective facial mask that you can use.

Ingredients:

–      Oatmeal

–      Honey

Preparation:

Oatmeal is a well known ingredient in making beauty products for the skin because of its natural way of exfoliating the skin without leaving it dry and rough. Honey on the other hand is a natural antibacterial that can kill bacteria causing acne. Mix a small amount of oatmeal into several tablespoons of honey.

Wash your face before applying the facial mask, and let it sit for a few minutes. Dry your skin and make sure to use a soft towel to prevent tiny scratches on your skin’s surface.

These two facial masks are always in demand in most spas. One treatment of a facial mask can be very expensive, so knowing how to make them at home will really help you save more.

Apply the facial mask at least twice a week, and see the difference it can give to your skin. Pampering yourself this way is going to be more enjoyable, because you are actually getting more facial mask treatments without having to spend more.  

Image: Copyright: <a href=’http://www.123rf.com/profile_victor69′> / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

Our body needs some essential foods and nutrients to remain healthy and full of energy as well as keep up those immunity levels. The truth is that the fast paced lives that we are all leading today, we do not pay much attention to what goes in our mouth or enters our body system. We take a bite into whatever we can lay hands on. The result is that those years of neglect and poor eating habits take a toll on our body.
Well, healthy eating need not be such a difficult task and all you need to do is focus on those essential foods that you must include in your daily diet. Here are some of those essential foods.

Oatmeal
An oatmeal breakfast is the right way to start your day. That delicious and mushy grain can give you a healthy lifestyle change and is easy to have too. You get a burst of energy that keeps you going till the end of the day. Oatmeal is loaded with soluble kind fiber and can lower down your cholesterol and triglyceride levels too. Have it hot, or cold, with milk, fruit, yoghurt, etc.

Milk
We always scoffed when told to gulp down that glass of milk by our mothers. Little do we know that this is one of the top quality sources of whole food protein as well as prevents our bones from developing osteoporosis and becoming weak. This is a good source to get your calcium from. You can also include yogurt in your daily diet.

Fresh fruits and green vegetables
There is plenty of research done on vegetables and fruits and how they are good for our body and supply those essential vitamins and minerals. Healthy diets that are rich in vegetables fruits and vegetables minimize the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases and keep our immunity strong. Moreover, fruits and vegetables are very low in fat and calories. So, have loads of seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Tomatoes
Don’t take those little red fruits for granted or ignore them, as they offer us a lot more power and are much more beneficial than we could ever imagine. The red pigments in Tomatoes contain a carotenoid, called lycopene that boosts up your immunity levels and also reduces the risk of cancers and heart attacks.

Fish
That smelly product of sea is one of the most beneficial foods around. It is looked upon as the brain food as it comes loaded with omega 3 fatty acids that are extremely good for our heart health. Omega 3 is known to lower triglyceride levels, cholesterol and treat conditions like illnesses, bipolar disorder, depression, etc.

No one can deny the benefit of deriving nutrients from eating fresh food. Therefore, apart from including the essential fords in our daily diet, make sure to get them fresh too. This way, you not only get abundance of nutrients and in the variety necessary, your body also benefits from their optimal function. So, take good care of your health and body.

Image: 123rf.com
image id: Image ID: 12777042

Most school children eat more than half of their daily meal during school time. A great number of these children depend on the food they are served in schools as not just the main meal of the day but it is the only food they get on a regular basis. Many countries across the world from USA to Japan are focusing on renewed school breakfast and lunch programs by incorporating healthy eating habits with a view of addressing the widespread problem of obesity among school kids.  These programs now have new caps on the number of calories per student food tray. This is accomplished in different ways like to include more vegetables, fruits and making the portions smaller. In Wisconsin, USA the attempt to cut down on the portions made the kids so unhappy they decided to boycott the school lunches altogether.

School meals addressing many health concerns

Despite the scorn from kids every effort made on a national level to improve child nutrition through healthy school meals are making their benefits felt. In the USA this is very evident in some of the states with high obesity rates among children including Mississippi, California, Los Angeles and San Francisco. All states effectively arrange for school children to be served with low calorie, high nutrient food and totally eliminated serving sugar sweetened beverages, especially in high schools.

If your child is suffering from obesity signs then it is high time to consider the food choices he or she has been making. Whether you are preparing a meal for school or the child is taking meals at the school cafeteria, it is imperative that you ensure they eat a balanced meal.  Most parents are concerned about the food choices their kids make at home. In most cases they feel that what their children eat in school are beyond their control. However, as parents it is your duty to influence the food choices of your children and to guide them towards healthy eating habits both in and out of home.

What goes in to healthy school meals?

Most schools provide a healthy meal during lunch time for school children. Unfortunately these same schools have cafeterias providing calorie packed snack bars. A la carte menus are stuffed with tempting offers of french fries, chips, pizza, donuts and there are vending machines with sugar coated snacks, sodas and ices. If your child is among the National School Lunch Program which offers a ‘low cost free lunch’ with balanced nutrition it is your right to investigate the contents of these meals. According to a Physicians Committee of the medicine and a healthy school lunch campaign, some schools are still providing meals packed with loads of saturated fat and cholesterol.

As a rule of thumb a healthy school meal includes items rich in fiber and nutrients like vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains. However, bearing in mind that these meals are intended for age groups that make very picky food choices the final presentation should be appetizing enough to nudge the kids in eating healthy and balanced meals during their school hours. A great number of schools that are successful in walking this tightrope situation have accomplished the goal of making school days healthier and happier for their children.

Image: 123rf.com