Boost Your Energy Level

Your energy level has a dramatic impact on your day to day quality of life. It affects your ability to enjoy your work, exercise, and recreation all that life has to offer. Energy help you to keep going longer, perform better and exercise more strongly and stay fit a whole lot more in a day. There are ways to maximize your energy levels.

1. Always eat your breakfast. According to expert,  it is the considered most important meal of the day. It helps to establish steady blood sugar levels and attain maximum energy levels. Research showed that people who eat a healthy breakfast are less likely to become lethargic and more likely to consume a wider variety of important foods and nutrients. Try to eat carbohydrate foods with low glycemic index such as whole grain toast, fruit and high fiber cereals, eggs, skim milk or peanut butter.
2. Get enough sleep. Quality sleep rejuvenates and revitalizes your body and helps your immune system to function at its best. It also helps you to keep fresh both physically and mentally and improves your body’s ability to deal with stress.
3. Eat some healthy fats. Dietary fat supplies twice as many calories as carbohydrates or protein, so it provides plenty of energy for people who don’t need to worry about weight gain. Focus on plant fats which includes moderate portion of avocado, flaxseed oil, olive oil, nuts and seeds. Avoid animal or processed trans fats like butter, margarine, pastries and junk foods.
4. Be active. If you feel tired and sluggish, the last thing you probably feel like doing is exercising. Exercise makes your heart stronger and more efficient, elevates your mood and improves sleep quality which results to more energy and less fatigue.
5. Eat well and regularly. Eating smaller more frequent meals rather than fewer lager ones provides a relatively constant supply of fuel.
6. Hydrate and replenish. Always try to drink ample amounts of water throughout the day and add a little extra in hot weather if you exercise or if you drink caffeine or alcohol.
7. Avoid junk foods. Packaging, powdering, preserving and deep-frying food robs it of vitamins and minerals and reduces its ability to help you function at your best. Processed foods are often high in salt and refines sugar which will play havoc with your blood glucose and energy levels.

 If you have done all that have been listed above and still feel tired or low in energy, you should consult your doctor to further investigate the possible medical reasons for your poor energy level.

Correct Table Manners

Table manners are very important especially when you are in a formal gathering. If you think people don’t care about etiquette at the table as much as they used to, you have to think it again. One false move that you do is all it takes to turn some people off. So it’s better to know them so that you can be guided than to be embarrassed by doing the wrong one. Stay on and let’s take a look from the tips from Louise Fox of the Etiquette Ladies, Canada’s Etiquette Experts.

1. If you are the recipient of a toast, keep your glass at arm’s length—never drink from it. Instead, simply nod your head and graciously say, “Thank you.”
2. Never take your cocktail to the dinner table.
3. Allow your food to cool on its own—never blow on anything.
4. If you wear lipstick, keep it off your plate and napkin by blotting it as soon as you apply it.
5. our napkin is there for you to dab your mouth only. Do not use it to wipe off lipstick or (God forbid) blow your nose.
6. Keep your elbows off the table at all times.
7. Don’t put your purse, keys, sunglasses, or eyeglasses on the table.
8. Take food out of your mouth the way it went in. If a piece of steak fat went into your mouth with a fork, spit it out onto the fork.
9. Remove an olive pit with your thumb and index finger.
10. Taste everything on your plate before you add salt or pepper.
11. Leave your plate where it is when you are finished with your meal—don’t push it away from you.

Foods That Can Help You Sleep

Worried about falling asleep tonight? Take a look of the foods that you eat, it might be the cause of not getting enough sleep. Eating the right foods before going to bed may help fall asleep and even improve the quality of your sleep. Have a try of these foods before going to bed in order to get enough sleep. Just a reminder that it is important not to eat two hours before bedtime this is to give your body enough time to properly digest the food.
Almonds
Almonds contain magnesium which promotes both sleep and muscle relaxation. It has an added benefit of supplying proteins that can help in maintaining the stability of blood sugar level while sleeping. It also promotes sleep by switching you from your alert adrenaline cycle to your rest and digest cycle. Try this as your bedtime snack.
Tea
Drinking tea like chamomile tea and green tea is a safe sleep aid because it contains theanine which helps promote sleep. But be sure it is a decaf green tea.
Banana

It is considered as the most powerful fruit because of the benefits it offers to our body. It has an excellent source of magnesium and potassium which help relax the overstressed muscles. It also contains tryptophan which converts to serotonin and melatonin, the brain’s key calming hormones. Have a banana before going to bed and experience a good night sleep.

Dairy
Dairies like yogurt, milk and cheese do contain tryptophan, but aside from that it also have a surprising sleep inducing nutrient. It contains calcium which is effective in stress reduction and stabilization of nerve fibers and that includes those in the brain. Eating your favorite yogurt before bed also help you stop worrying about the weird thing that happened during the day.
Oatmeal

It is rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon and potassium which are known to support sleep. But go easy on the sweeteners because too much sugar before bed can have an anti-calming effect. Instead, try topping with fruit like banana.

Hard-Cooked Egg

We usually eat this during breakfast, but it can be also a good bedtime snack because of its high protein content so you can not only fall asleep but stay asleep.

Healthy Ways To Add Years To Your Life

If you think that you can have long life based on how long your grandparents and parents live, then you’re partly correct. Though genetics have an impact you still have more control of how long you should live that is based on your lifestyle choices says Dr. Michael Roizen, chief wellness officer at the Cleveland Clinic. He stated certain habits that will certainly add years to your life.

1. Go to Bed 15 minutes earlier: Add 3 years to your life

This habit will help you get an extra 7.5 hours of shut-eye in a month. Because sleep is very much important since it is when every organ and system in your body repairs, restores and resets itself. Not having enough sleep compromises on how well your entire body functions and the negative impact it brings.

 

2. Walk 30 minutes a day:  Add 2.2 years to your life

It is the simplest form of exercise that everybody can do. Just a 30 minute walk a day, it can already keep your weight steady and can lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

3. Get up and move: Add 5.6 years to your life

Just as giving yourself time to walk 30 minutes a day will make your overall daily life more active. Getting up of at least 100 minutes of movement a day can give you the biggest health benefits. Movements like sweeping the floor, dusting windows, washing the dishes, cooking, stretching or anything that you can do to make your body moves.

4. Floss daily:  Add 3.5 years to your life

According to research that people who do the most sitting have an increased risk of heart disease because sitting for a long period of time allows fat to continue circulating in your bloodstream longer, which in turn slows the ability of HDL(the good cholesterol) to clear plaque from your arteries. A healthy smile can also lead to a healthy heart. Many studies reveal that periodontal and cardiovascular diseases are linked. That is why you should floss in the morning and at night that will help improve your health.

5. Eat healthy: add 14 years

Food has a very big impact on the genes that accelerate or that slow down the aging process of the body. Therefore eating is not only eating anything that you want it is choosing the “good and healthy” ones. Eat at least five servings of variety of fruits and vegetables daily. Eating different fruits and vegetables can give a thousands of different disease fighting nutrients says Dr. Katz.

Eating fish which is rich in omega3 fatty acids twice a week can help fight heart disease, stroke, hypertension, depression and even Alzheimer’s disease and

Go for fiber-rich whole grains. Spooning up a high-fiber breakfast cereal instead of a more refined, sugary one cuts your risk of heart disease and diabetes by nearly 30%.

6. Have more sex with your partner: add 8 years to your life

I was a little bit amazed of this tip, anyway that’s according to their research then it must be true. Being in a satisfying relationship is good for your heart and soul. Women in a healthy monogamous relationship are significantly healthier compared with those who are either unhappy or sexually inactive says Dr. Roizen.

7. Don’t text and drive: add 2 years to your life

Studies shows that texting while driving and driving while drunk increases your risk of being in a serious accident, which means you will die at any age.

8. Mange stress: add 4 years

Of course you cant control when and overloaded work and family obligations might hit but how you handle stress has the biggest impact to your health. When you are constantly tense, your blood pressure, heart rate and levels of the stress hormone “cortisol” will also raised which increases your risk for heart disease, stroke and Alzheimers disease and many more. What you can do is to exercise, 15 minutes walking and breathing can be of great help. Being involved with friends or in a community can swept away your stress. A British study shows that people who chewed a gum had less work-related and overall and depression than those who didn’t get this oral fix. It is because chewing a gum can stimulate the vagus nerve which helps the body relax and increases levels of serotonin, a brain chemical that makes the person feel calmer and happier.

  

Bad Odor Remedies

Sometimes we cannot avoid that smell unpleasant especially when we undergo a hard days work, workout or when the weather is too hot that sweat us much or we can still smell bad because of the food that we eat, after taking off our heels and shoes. Of course it’s a normal thing after all, but we need to fix it before others will notice it. Surprisingly we can have a quick fix for the not so sweet smells in our life that can be found in the kitchen. Yes, so easy to reach bad odor remedies that will help us to achieve a full body freshness.

1.Tea

Aside from being a healthy drink, it’s also good at keeping stinky feet. It is because both green and black teas have the tannic acids hat will help keep your feet dry, thus preventing the root of your foot odor problem which is perspiration. As we all know that perspiration has a fowl odor especially when the naturally occurring bacteria on your skin interact with your feet’s perspiration, the result is the equivalent of an odorous perfect storm in your shoe. But if you can limit the moisture in your feet you can hamper the horrible smell. This is what you are going to do, make a pot of tea and pour it into a tub big enough to fit booth tootsies. Once it has cooled, soak your feet for 10 minutes. You can do this remedy once a day. Just a reminder, tea may stain your skin so wash it quickly with soap and water to remove discoloration.

2. Cornstarch

Other way to stop bad odor on your feet is by using cornstarch. Have you noticed at the end of the day after slipping off your shoes you can smell something- like yucky? That’s because closed-toe shoes tend to corral odors. It’s normal for feet to perspire but tight, unbreathable shoes trap sweat that eventually causes them to stink. That is why cornstarch is a good fix for the problem because the powder absorbs excess moisture and neutralizes odor and aside from that its soft granules are more comfortable on feet than traditional baking soda. Just sprinkle some           cornstarch into your shoes as soon as you get home.

3. Parsley

Problem with bad breath? There’s no need for expensive mouth wash this time. Some fresh herbs such as parsley, peppermint and spearmint can be use as breath freshener. The strong oils contain within them help to overpower nose-offending scents. These herbs can act like a mouthwash to temporarily mask odors. It also leaves a pleasant aroma to the mouth. So go ahead much up your parsley garnish after dinner, even though the results will only last for a few minutes but it’s better than nothing at all.

4. Citrus

It’s more than just a refreshing snack, eating fresh citrus like lemons and oranges can help limit musky smells that lingers on your skin. The acids in citrus fruits help flush water through your body. It also contains fibers that move through your system and flush out toxins that contribute to body odors. So if your body starts to get a little embarrassing, try to eat grapefruit at breakfast or dig some juicy, sweet orange for dessert.

  

5. Milk

Every food that we eat is spice up with garlic, onions, pepper and other spices that may cause bad breath into our mouth. Try to drink a glass of milk with your meal. It was found out that drinking beverages with high water and some fat content like milk may help reduce garlic breath and mask the garlic odor during eating. 

Six Reasons Why We Need To Sleep

As a healthy rule, a person needs to sleep at least 8 hours a day. Unfortunately, the first thing that we do is trying to finish what we have started and we forgot that it’s already time to SLEEP. Sleep can sometimes feel like a luxury, but it is one “indulge” you can’t afford to skip. Why need to sleep? Below are some of the important reasons that we should take into consideration every time we lack of sleep.

1. Better Brainpower

Oftentimes, we only have six hours or less of sleep or in the same way staying awake for up to 48 hours straight. Keeping that schedule for a period of two weeks and you’ll impair your reaction time, thought processing and memory. In other words, our ability to drive a car, to think quickly on the job, the ability to remember names and events, the efficiency to our job will go down and drain if we lack sleep. So why risk ourselves? Get enough sleep and importantly go for the required hours and you will be a very effective person in everything that you think and do.

2. Stronger Immunity

If you practice the eight hours sleep per night your body will be stronger to catch up infection such as colds and fever.
3. Slimmer Figure

Women who sleep five or less hours a night are one third more likely to gain at least 33 pounds over the next 16 years compare to those who get seven to eight hours of sleep. It is because a person will produce more of the appetite promoting hormone ghrelin and less of the satiety producing hormone leptin when his low on sleep.

4. Less Disease

 
Of course when a person gets enough sleep he has a strong immune system that will fight against sickness as compare to people who sleeps for an average of five hours or fewer of sleep weakens the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels, which may double the risk for type 2 diabetes, according to Diabetes Care. And people who sleep five or fewer hours a night are 50 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure than are those who get more than six, possibly due to their elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which strain the heart, the journal Sleep reports.

5. Healthier Hair

You can probably notice that when sleep few hours over time, your strands become brittle and thin. That’s because sleep deprivation can cause your body to churn out cortisol (a stress hormone that interferes with cell functioning, wreaking havoc on your hair even to your health as it may lead to chronic pain, depression, cognitive issues and heart problems). But if you get enough sleep as required, you’ll reap the benefits of growth hormones at their peak because the neurochemicals build new cells and repair damages ones including those in hair follicles.

6. Younger-looking Skin

Having a good night sleep, your skin goes into repair mode. Blood flow increases and with it, skin’s oxygen supply; amino acids also kick into action, producing collagen, which helps fight lines. But you can obtain the benefits only if you’re sleeping enough—the seven to eight hours ideal. And you’ll look so gorgeous, and when somebody will ask, what have you done? Your easy answer: Nothing—but sleep in!

Easy Ways To Drop Pounds

Cutting out calories as a means of losing weight was then so easy then we’d all be at our ideal weight. Unfortunately, dieting comes with all sorts of obstacles that make us tough to stay on track. For dieting can leave you famished, rob you of energy and take up too much time. And if that is the case no wonder that they rarely work. But it can be done in some other way. Try these simple solutions for fighting huger and fatigue and at the same time save your valuable minutes every day. You can now drop your pounds in a very easy way.

To turn off hunger:

1. Chew gum before a meal.  This habit will stimulate your jaw nerves connected to the brain region which is responsible for satiety. As a result you will feel less hungry, put down your fork sooner, and effortlessly trim calories off your meal.
2. Get hip to Water. Water dense fruit and veggies fill you up for few calories and sipping plain water before or during meals may help curb your hunger. So drink up!
3. Move it. Exercise may lower hormone levels and raise levels of an appetite-suppressing protein.

To fuel your slim down

1. Reach for Vitamin B. Our body uses vitamin B to convert food into energy. Choose meals and snacks top with B sources such as skim milk, peanuts, poultry and leafy greens.
2. Walk hard. A brisk 10 minute walk provides a quick energy flow that lasts up to two hours.

To save hours:

1. Double down. Make a few batches of your healthy meals and wrap up some leftovers for the next meal or you can freeze some servings for the next day which don’t need your time for preparation.
2. Map out your menu. You must plan your menu for a week so that it will be easy for you to decide on what to eat.
3. Smart Preparation. Right after you get home from the supermarket, clean and trim veggies and other ingredients for later meal making. Wash fruits and other snacks and put it in a resealable bags so that when you hits hunger you will have a healthy food on hand.

Foods That Fight Skin Aging

Getting older is fine because we all go through that stages of life but looking older is not much to be proud of. It is a fact that we all pass this stage of aging but we can delay the process of looking old by eating some of these foods like strawberries, pineapple and other delish foods. Aging is not a problem anymore if we continuously take care of our health and mange the foods that we intake. Below are some of the foods that we should eat to stay healthy and look younger.

1. Vitamin A

Our skin has several layers, the dermis which lies below the surface layer of the skin and the epidermis which contains all the collagen, a protein that gives the skin plumness and elasticity. Now vitamin A helps increase the collagen production and thickens the dermis which will make the skin looks fuller and bounces back more readily. Vitamin A is also an antioxidant which helps repair the free radical damage to skin cells that leads to wrinkling and sagging.

Good Sources: Sweet potatoes (28,000 IUs each); leafy greens such as spinach (23,000 IUs per chopped, cooked cup), kale (19,000 per cooked cup) and broccoli (2,400 IUs per cooked cup); bright red, yellow and orange produce such as carrots (27,000 IUs per cooked cup ), cantaloupe (5,400 IUs per cup), sweet red bell peppers (4,700 IUs per cup) and red chile peppers (428 IUs each); asparagus (600 IUs per four spears)

2. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is also an antioxidant and helps mop up free radicals before they do any damage to our body.

Good Sources: Red bell peppers (152 mg each), broccoli (101 mg per cooked cup), strawberries (98 mg per cup), papaya (87 mg per cup), pineapple (74 mg per cup), kiwifruit (70 mg each), cantaloupe (59 mg per cup), cauliflower (46 mg per cup)

Superfoods for Acne Problem

This seems to be a problem of anybody which appears even after high school age, but getting plenty of these three nutrients will help banish blemishes whatever your age now.

1.      Vitamin A.

According to Dr. Jody Levine, a dermatologist in New York City that this is an antioxidant that helps thins the epidermis or the outer layer of the skin that produces dead cells which can clog the pores. It also dries up sebum, the gross oily, waxy stuff your skin glands produce, that mixes with dead skin cells to create clogs and transport you to Zitville. The daily value of vitamin A is 5,000 international units (IUs). So it is better to get at least much of it and pair it with healthy fats such as oilive oil or avocado. Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin so the body will absorb it better.

Sources of Vitamin A.
Sweet potatoes (28,000 IUs each); leafy greens such as spinach (23,000 IUs per chopped, cooked cup), kale (19,000 IUs per cooked cup) and broccoli (2,400 IUs per cooked cup); bright red, yellow and orange produce such as carrots (27,000 IUs per cooked cup), cantaloupe (5,400 IUs per cup), red bell peppers (4,700 IUs per cup) and red chile peppers (428 IUs each); asparagus (600 IUs per four spears)

2. Zinc

It is a mineral that helps tame skin’s oil production, less oil means less sebum and fewer pimples. The required daily allowance (RDA) for zinc is 8 milligrams.

Sources of zinc
Raw oysters (76 mg per six oysters), fortified breakfast cereals such as Total (15 mg per ¾ cup), canned blue crab (5 mg per cup), turkey (4 mg per cup), beef sirloin (4 mg per 3 ounces), pork loin (4 mg per 3 oz), part-skim ricotta (3 mg per cup)

3. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

They are responsible for maintaining the body’s essential oils, the healthy, non-pore-clogging kind that keep skin cells from drying out, flaking and congesting pores. They also have anti-inflammatory properties that aid with healing. According to Kristin Kirkpatrick, R.D., a nutrition advisor that “Acne is a teeny little wound on your face,” There’s no RDA for omega-3s; Kirkpatrick suggests aiming for 600 mg daily.

Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Flaxseed (1,600 mg per 1 tablespoon), canola oil (1,300 mg per 1

Feel Richer With Android

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

Last week my office mate introduced to us the new phone plan and explained to us its advantages and benefits of the plan. For sure phone plan is a wise choice for every individual especially when you are a heavy user or if you are engage in business. You can call a friend or client at your convenient. Just like Straight Talk plan. It has everything you need in a phone plan. They have the “all you need plan” that suits the needs of every phone users. You can surely save extra money when you use straight talk plan because of the following coverage of their plan. It has unlimited calls, text, picture messaging and web for whole year for only $499 and unlimited monthly service fee for only $45. You can also call 411 at no extra charge.

Straight Talk has no contracts, no bills and no credit checks. It has great nationwide coverage and clear reception connectivity. They use trusted phone manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Kyocera, Nokia and Samsung which are free from activation, reactivation or termination fees. They also offer international long distance service in flexible prepaid calling services from your home, cell or office phone at a low rate. Amazing isn't it?

What about having an android phone? Oh! That is really my dream phone. Yes, you can have it at Straight Talk. You can have The power of Android phone at $45 per month with unlimited use. Feel Richer with Android phone as they have all the apps and games you need and as always no contract.

So why stay at your old phone plan? Switch to Straight Talk plan now and Feel Richer with Android. Just imagine of the savings that you get from straight talk plan. It’s almost half of your present phone bill. So it's a lot of savings from your budget, wherein you can buy other things. For me I can use my savings in buying shoes, dress or pay my other bills. That's how Straight Talk Plan is unique from the existing plan.  You can have The power of Android and Feel Richer with Android. Have a try and enjoy the benefits from Straight Talk Plan.

Below is one of the videos of people who have tried the Striaght Talk Plan.

The getting richer effect has expanded... by LittleBard95

People With Mole Age Slower

There was a study conducted by researchers at Kings College London and was first established in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention Journal which was presented to a group of doctors and scientists at the UK’s Royal Society of Medicine Conference.

 
Scientists found that an abundance of beauty marks is correlated with stronger bones, firmer muscles, a healthier heart and eyes, fewer wrinkles, and even a nearly 50 percent reduction in the risk of osteoporosis. Scientists say the link stems from the fact that people with moles have longer telomeres -- the region of DNA found at the end of every chromosome that serves as a plastic cap to keep chromosomes from unraveling and mutating.

As humans age, their telomeres naturally shrink. Shortened telomeres are responsible for causing all types of conditions associated with aging including wrinkles, hair thinning, arthritis, weight gain and loss, high blood pressure, diabetes, vision and hearing loss.

But in spite of these results, preserving your telomere length has to do with more than just possessing beauty marks. Other factors such as a poor diet, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity and psychological stress can also cause your telomeres to shorten faster than natural cell division alone. Meanwhile, exercising has been linked to longer telomeres.

Clothes To Wear To Hide Problem Areas Of Your Body

Nobody is perfect here on earth and that’s a reality. Nobody can say that she has a perfect body figure, perfect skin and everything. Even celebrities and famous actresses have problems with their body that is why they go for some enhancement of their body. But for those who cannot afford to pay for the doctor nothing to worry about because you can still look gorgeous and beautiful even with your extra sizes by doing some simple tricks. What each person considers a problem area may be different to the others. Some women may love to flaunt their sizable bust while others may be looking to cover up and focus on their shapely legs. So it depends on you on which to show up as long as it gives the best of your personality. Below are some of the problem areas of our body and the solution to the problem.

Problem 1. Large Bust

Solution:    Most women think that by wearing a turtleneck blouse or dress will hide the figure but they’re actually making their breasts appear larger. The solution to keep it slim, is a top with a scoop neck, which balances the proportion and directs the gaze to your collarbone area and face.

Problem 2. Untoned Arms

Solution:    Instead of covering up flabby arms, go for a top with a three-quarter length sleeve. By doing so, it ends at the thinnest point of your arm which is the elbow, the sleeve creates a slimming illusion.

Problem 3. Big Butt

Solution:     Stay away from pants that taper at the ankle and tops that are too short. Instead, wear a more flattering combo like a pair of flared jeans and  a patterned top that hits at hip length. 

Problem 4. Muffin Top

Solution:    Do not buy pants that are too tight or shirts that are made of thin or sheer material. Instead go for pants with a higher waist in order to keep the lower belly covered and add a loose top with a pattern that attracts the eye.

Problem 5. Thick Thighs

Solution:     Do not wear skinny pants because it can only emphasize the figure. You wear wide leg trousers which happen to be a big fall trend but give the illusion of a long thin leg. Also avoid tight skirts that hit at midcalf instead opt for A-line looks.

Problem 6. Sizable Tummy

Solution:    This problem experienced by most moms especially after giving birth. A great go to combo is a tunic and leggings. The tight leggings draw attention to slender stems and drapey loose top will cover the belly fat.

So no more worries about extra sizes of your body parts, it is how you carry yourselves and still look beautiful to everyone.

Habits That Are Giving You Belly Pudge

As much as we want, we don’t like to see ourselves bulging with too much fat. We do lot of exercises, diet, taking diet pills and many ways to cut off the fats. But don’t you know that certain behaviors and practices can actually add fat to your body? Yes, that’s true and that’s we need to know now. Below are some of the practices which we think can help to slim down our body which actually not. 

       1. You skip Meals. This tactic is not good. You will end up hungry later on that you can’t help but eat  

           more. And when you do that, more fat will certainly find its way to your midsection. What you can do 

          is to eat small to medium size meals every three to four hours, this will fills you up without resulting a 

          layer of excess fat.

 2.      You Go Vegetarian. Most women often avoid foods from the meat, fish and dairy groups because they think they are packed with calories and fat but, remember these foods are protein superstars that help boost your metabolism to fend off tummy pudge. You can opt for low-calorie, low-fat choices to sustain your daily protein requirement.

3. You think bread is bad.White bread, yes, but whole-grain breads and cereals is a great help. These will allow insulin levels to rise more gradually, reducing the chance that you’ll add fat to your belly. Take wild rice, oatmeal, or whole-wheat tortillas once a day can make a difference.

4.      You’re Crunched-Crazed. Sit-ups tone muscle but they don’t have any effect on the layer of fat covering them. So instead of wasting all your time on crunches, spend an extra 10 minutes on the treadmill.

5.      You Booze a lot but infrequently. Alcohol has lots of calories yet doesn’t fill you up at all. So when you binge-drink, nutritionists say, you’re basically inviting fats to settle on your midsection. If you crave a drink, make it red wine, it can help fight pooch.

6. You eat “Lite” products. You think you are doing a good diet option by opting for sugar-free yogurt, diet soda, or any other snack labeled with low-fat or low calorie but in reality these foods are often loaded with artificial sweeteners, which believe to trigger your metabolism to increase fat storage.

7. You think fatty foods are the enemy. Foods high in monounsaturated fats help burn off belly fat and lead you to consume less. Nutritionists recommend slicing one quarter of an avocado onto a sandwich or drizzling olive oil and vinegar on your salad.

Get Up Early and Stay Thinner and Happier

A new study conducted and finds out that people who get out of bed by 7:00 am do better in the workplace and have a lower chance of being depressed, stressed and overweight. According to Dr. Joerg Huber of Roehampton University in London that morning people tend to be healthier and happier as well as having lower body mass indices.

Another study in the US found out that people who habitually stay up late and sleep in late, eat more fast food and overall calories and less fruits and vegetables. They tend to have a higher body weight and have difficulty with weight loss than people who have more normal sleep routines.

So change your sleeping routine and see the change in yourself.

Fruits Loaded With Vitamins and Nutrients

When it comes to nutrition fruits are the best source of it. They are the natural source of vitamins and nutrients that are needed by our body. Below are some of the fruits that we must eat everyday.
Apples. They are rich in vitamins and fibers which are good for digestion. Be sure to eat the skin  as most of the nutrients are found there.

 

Oranges. Aside from fiber, oranges are rich in vitamin C, a real cure-all to most diseases as some people contend. So eat as is or drink as juice.




Bananas. They are considered the most complete of fruits as they contain most of the vitamins and nutrients the body needs. This is also the reason why eating a banana is good if you are in a rush and why athletes are admonished to eat bananas when training, as it is a ready meal. It is also rich in phosphorus.



 
Strawberries. This fruit is rich in folate and other vitamins. Also some studies actually indicate that this fruit may protect the body from cancer.

7 Foods That Can Keep You Awake At NIght

If you have plan to work at night but feel sleepy you don’t need to take a pill to stay awake, there are foods that can keep you alive during night.

Processed or Smoked Meat

Processed meats contain high levels of tyramine and makes the brain release a chemical that makes us feel alert.

Ginseng Tea

Ginseng tea shown to act as a stimulant, and though some tea drinkers don't feel any effects from the tea, others experience insomnia and hypertension. If you might fall in this category, avoid drinking it several hours before bed.

Soy

Fermented soy products have some of the highest amount of tyramine — meaning soy sauce, tofu, miso, and even teriyaki sauce should be avoided hours before snoozing.

Tomato-Based Sauces

Have that plate of pasta at least few hours before tucking in at night. Tomato-based foods have a tendency to cause acid reflux and heartburn, which will prevent you from having a good night's sleep.

Spicy Foods

If you like spicy foods eat them during daytime because but they aren't going to feel so great to eat before bedtime — especially if you're prone to heartburn. It can also cause you sleepless night.

Milk Chocolate

The average of milk choclate bar contains tyrosine, which is converted into dopamine — a stimulant that causes alertness and restlessness which can keep you awake at night.

Aged Cheese

Parmesan, Romano, and other hard cheeses (basically, all the yummy smelly ones!) has high levels of the amino acid tyramine that can keep you awake.

Foods That Fight Fat

It is really a big problem for individual who are overweight. Being overweight has something to do with our health conditions. You can be prone to heart failure, high blood pressure, diabetes and many other diseases. For many women, being fat is really a big problem because it is really hard to fit clothes that they like. But worry no more because you don’t have to alter your diet in order to lose weight. Foods that we eat everyday can help battle against the bulges of the body. So lose your weight in a healthy and easy way. Good luck!

1.      Spuds or sprouting root crops have a bad reputation for its high carbs, but because they are thrice as filling as a slice of white bread, it tops all food when it the satiety index. In addition, the starch in potatoes helps burn body fat.

2.      Oranges rank the highest in the list of satisfying fruits. The fiber fights fat, ergo -- if you eat more fiber, you'll have less fat. So go grab an orange now.

3.      Milk, particularly skim milk, contain proteins that can make you feel more satisfied than sugary drinks and tells your brain you've had enough to eat.

4.       Pine nuts contain fatty acids that boost hormones that make you feel full and keep belly fat away.

5.      Chocolate has a compound that help slows down digestion, so you'll eat less at your next meal. A small piece of chocolate can also help curb your cravings for salty, sweet and fatty food.

6.      Eggs are loaded with protein and the amino acids in egg whites help build lean muscle that may help your metabolism. Have them for breakfast, and it can curb your appetite.

7.       Cheese from grass-fed animals like goat and feta cheese contain conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) that helps you feel full and burn fat. Cottage cheese on the other hand contains whey protein that tells your brain you've had enough to eat as well.

 

Skin Care Tips

We spend so much money in order to maintain a healthy and radiant skin. It is because we want to be beautiful inside and out and presentable to everyone. To be beautiful doesn’t mean spending so much; rather knowing how to care for our skin. Below are some of the basic skin care tips which we could try to achieve young looking skin.

1. Use the right cleanser. Wash your face not more than twice daily. Use body washes with vitamin E to keep skin soft.

2. Exfoliate 2-3 times weekly. Gently scrubbing off dead skin helps fresh cells shine through (making skin more radiant). You can use Spa salt available in stores.

3. Moisturize regularly. After showering, lather on moisturizer with hydrating ingredients like shea butter, milk or jojoba oil. Also look for the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, which help protect skin from environmental pollutants

4. Get sea worthy. Packed with vitamins, minerals and proteins, seaweed, sea mud and sea salt can do everything to help clear up acne and add luster to the hair. Products containing sea ingredients have the ability to exfoliate and smooth the skin. It also contains vitamins and antioxidants that may help quell skin-damaging free radicals.
For dry skin, rub the salts in gentle circular strokes, avoiding the face and any open sores or cuts (salt stings wounds). And since sea salts can be abrasive, also avoid them if you have sensitive skin.
To fight breakouts caused by clogged pores use a cleanser and toner a.m. and p.m. that contains sea ingredients, followed by a light moisturizer with marine-sourced collagen and elastin.  Sea-mud mask can also help; use it two to three times weekly.

5. Never use the same product year-round. Skin is a living organ that's constantly affected by everything from hormones to humidity. Opt for a moisturizing cleanser in the winter when skin is drier and normal-to-oily formulations in the summer.

6. Always wash your face before calling it a day. To avoid blemishes, remove makeup before you go to bed.  Use cleansers formulated with pore-purging benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

7. Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can result in bulging eyes, pale skin and breakouts.

8. Hydrate your skin. If you don't drink enough water, it's not possible to achieve good skin. When you're dehydrated, your skin is one of the first organs to show it. That is why it is very important to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

9. Be sun protected. Always apply a sunscreen with SPF 15 every day.

10. Exercise. It boosts blood circulation and keeps oxygen and nutrients flowing to the skin, giving it a fresh, radiant look.

11. Don't smoke. Don't just not smoke but also avoid smoky areas. Smoking constricts the capillaries, depriving the skin of much-needed oxygen.  

12. Apply moisturizer after washing hands. Dry, indoor air, cold weather and frequent washing can suck the moisture out of the skin on your hands. 

If your attempts aren’t working, try to visit a dermatologist to make sure of the condition of your skin and to prevent adverse reactions.

Why Itchy Scalp Happens?

Do you have itchy scalp? Why it happens? It usually occurs when the skin is dry, it has lice or it has a yeast buildup called Pityrosporum which always on the skin and loves to feed on dead scalp cells commonly called as dandruff. Dandruff can be cured by using anti-dandruff shampoo. It is suggested that when shampooing, leave the suds on your scalp for 5 minutes. It’s better to lather up once in order to remove any build up of dead skin, then rinse and repeat so that the shampoo can kill the excess yeast. If you are using gel try not to use for a few days, it might be the cause of the problem. If it is, then use the goop less often, dilute it with water or look for an allergen-free brand. If you have lice especially for children, use OTC remedies which are available at the chemists to get rid of them. It takes several applications may be needed before you can achieve a complete wipe out as the eggs are difficult to remove. Have a clean and healthy scalp everyday.

Hair Care Tips

Hair is made up of layers. It has the outer layer or the cuticle. It is consists of dead cells lying on top of one another like tiles on a roof. It is responsible for the protection of the middle layer or the cortex. The middle layer or cortex is composed of long, coiled proteins that make up the bulk of the hair. Most common problem of women is the occurrence of split ends. It happens when the protective cuticle is worn away on the tip of a strand allowing the fibers of the cortex to untangle and the hair to split lengthwise. Split ends are easy to spot but there is also other hair problem that needs of additional care. A healthy hair lies flat, but when hair is damaged the individual scales of the cuticles stand up and separate, making some of the strands flying away and look coarse. Another hair problem is, when you regularly heat-style your hair. If you regularly use blow-dryer, a curling iron or a flat iron for hair drying and hair styling, it can make the hair strands dry and brittle especially if you have fine hair.
How to improve and solve the condition of your hair? Beauty experts suggested the following tips:

1.      Avoid vent brushes with plastic bristles. These can cause further damage by ripping through the hair. On dry hair, use a wide brush with foam pad. For wet hair, try to use a wide-tooth comb, since it is more susceptible to tearing.

2.      Try not to shampoo everyday if you have dry hair. You can do this during off days, simply scrub your scalp with your fingers in the shower and condition the ends.

3.      Protect hair when heat-styling. Keep the blow dryer at least 4 inches from your hair and apply also a leave-on conditioner to make it smooth.

4.      Trim your hair every 6 to 8 weeks to remove damaged ends. Important reminder, never allow the stylist to use a razor in trimming because it could damage the ends of the hair.

Remember, be kind with your hair – use a deep conditioner every twice a week. This is to prevent hair damage, but if you do have split ends, the only solution to that is to cut it off. If you want to pull back your hair use a fabrkc or 3tretchable elastic instead o)plact)c or metal clip which can break the strands of the hair. If you caf folmow these simple techniques, you will begin to notice a change in your hair. So start caring your hair now.

Body Massage

Touch is a very important part of human contact. It gives comfort and relaxation of the body. That is why massage uses touch through rubbing or kneading the parts of the body.  This is to aid circulation, relax the muscles and provide sensual stimulation. Just a week ago I had a full body massage sponsored by my aunt in one of the massage spa in our city. It was a right timing then wherein I already felt numbness and aches on my back. I had a full body massage and it was a relaxing experienced. After the one hour session I felt that my body was so light and relaxed.

Massage is one of the simplest forms of therapy. Its goal is to help the body heal itself and to increase health and well-being.

There are many health benefits to receiving massage therapy on a regular basis:

Relieves stress
Encourages relaxation
Improves circulation
Improves posture
Lowers blood pressure
Helps manage pain
Relaxes muscles
Improves flexibility
Improves breathing
Relieves tension headaches
Strengthens immune system
Decreases depression

Where is Aga going?? #nasaansiaga

Where is Aga going?? #nasaansiaga

Papaya Leaves Cure for Dengue

I already posted this in my other blog but I want to share it again because it might help to the people infected with dengue.

I would like to share this interesting discovery from a classmate's son who has just recovered from dengue fever. Apparently, his son was in the critical stage at the SJMC ICU when his pallet counts drops to 15 after 15 liters of blood transfusion.
His father was so worried that he seeks another friend's recommendation and his son was saved. He confessed to me that he give his son raw juice of the papaya leaves. From a pallet count of 45 after 20 liters of blood transfusion, and after drinking the raw papaya leaf juice, his pallet count jumps instantly to 135. Even the doctors and nurses were surprised. After the second day he was discharged. So he asks me to pass this good news around.
Accordingly it is raw papaya leaves, 2pcs just cleaned and pound and squeeze with filter cloth. You will only get one tablespoon per leaf. So two tablespoon per serving once a day. Do not boil or cook or rinse with hot water, it will loose its strength. Only the leafy part and no stem or sap. It is very bitter and you have to swallow it like Won Low Kat. But it works.
Papaya Juice - Cure for Dengue
You may have heard this elsewhere but if not I am glad to inform you that papaya juice is a natural cure for dengue fever. As dengue fever is rampant now, I think it's good to share this with all.
A friend of mine had dengue last year. It was a very serious situation for her as her platelet count had dropped to 28,000 after 3 days in hospital and water has started to fill up her lung. She had difficulty in breathing. She was only 32-year old. Doctor says there's no cure for dengue. We just have to wait for her body immune system to build up resistance against dengue and fight its own battle. She already had 2 blood transfusion and all of us were praying very hard as her platelet continued to drop since the first day she was admitted.
Fortunately her mother-in-law heard that papaya juice would help to reduce the fever and got some papaya leaves, pounded them and squeeze the juice out for her. The next day, her platelet count started to increase, her fever subside. We continued to feed her with papaya juice and she recovered after 3 days!!! Amazing but it's true. It's believed one's body would be overheated when one is down with dengue and that also caused the patient to have fever papaya juice has cooling effect. Thus, it helps to reduce the level of heat in one's body, thus the fever will go away. I found that it’s also good when one is having sore throat or suffering from heat.
Please spread the news about this as lately there are many dengue cases. It's great if such natural cure could help to ease the sufferings of dengue patients. Furthermore it's so easily available. Blend them and squeeze the juice! It's simple and miraculously effective!!