"Health in the days of Recession"

mint.com

Everyone these days seems to be talking about the same thing: the recession. Cutting down. Saving. Trimming costs. Sensible spending. The top priority on every student, parent, employee, employer, homemaker, and businessman’s mind is the same: spending smart. So how can you be smart about your health in this unhealthy economy?


Here are a few smart ways to stay in good health when your bank account needs to be fattened up!


1. Visit your doc regularly – remember, if medical problems are detected earlier, they can often be resolved faster, with minimal pain, and minimal cost! So make sure that you are going for those regular dental visits, eye check-ups, yearly exams, and you will be likely to stay illness free while keeping those medical bills away!

2. Take your daily dose – just because its time to cut back and maybe spend less money splurging on shopping or vacations does not mean you should cut corners when it comes to your health. Words from the wise: prevention is better than cure. And not just is it better, it is almost always cheaper people! Keep up with your regular medications if you are taking any for chronic illnesses and most definitely keep taking those multivitamins – you need all the physical and mental strength it takes you get you through these tough times!

3. Get those shots - think yearly shots are just for kids? Think again. If you find yourself coming down with every bug that seems to be floating around town this season, you may want to consider getting yourself a flu shot. Instead of spending all those days feeling sick and miserable, while paying for countless doses of antibiotics, you can boost your immunity against the flu and stay strong and healthy enough to put those extra hours into the office.

4. Drop whats no good for you – this is the perfect time to get rid of some of those unhealthy (not to mention expensive) habits you have! If you’re a smoker, now is the time to bite the bullet and quit – think of the money you will be saving – and of course think of how much better off you will be health wise once you are smoke-free (how does preventing cancer sound to you??). If you have a weight problem, get rid of the junk food . You’d be amazed to see how much you can spend on coke, chips, chocolates, and cookies. And while you’re at It, why not go for a nice power walk in your neighborhood park? Not only will you lose those inches, you’ll also gain some extra spending power!

"Power on your Plate"

i.ehow.com

Want to jump start your mornings? Looking to add a little perk to your afternoons?

Wishing you could a little pick-me-up when you need that extra energy?

No , I am not talking about energy boosters, coffee, candy, or anything which claims it can give you any sort of wings. While these products might give you a boost after being consumed, the results are short-term and often come with some kind of side-effects (irritability, insomnia, an upset stomach, weight gain for starters). Why, you ask? The answer is simple: You are what you eat.


All the food we put into our body is converted and used as energy. Imagine that your body is a car with an engine. Just like any other engine, it needs fuel to keep it running. Now if you buy cheap, adulterated oil and fill that engine, your car may work for a little while, but theres a breakdown just waiting to happen. But, if you are careful about the kind of oil you put in that engine, your car will run for miles and miles and miles. And where do we get the best forms of energy? Through foods that contain proteins and carbohydrates. What I am talking about here are healthy, good-for-you, natural foods which have the power to unlock a whole lot of energy for your body.

Carbohydrates are sugars, starches and fiber. There are two groups of carbohydrates, simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates are found in many cereals, snack foods, soft drinks, crackers, breads and even pasta. These food items are processed by the body quickly which means you will have a boost of energy soon after eating, but this boost is only temporary, and often leaves you feeling tired and exhausted.

Proteins and complex carbohydrates take longer for the body to break down. Complex carbs are things such as bran, whole grain wheat, lentils, peas, and beans. These food items take longer to break down so the body doesn’t experience spikes in energy instead it has a gradual release of energy. This is the quality stuff I am talking about.


Proteins are found in meats, eggs and nuts. Like complex carbohydrates, proteins take longer for the body to break down. Because of this, you will have energy for a longer period of time and not become hungry as quickly.Physical energy is not the only thing that will benefit from eating complex carbs and proteins. Some foods can even work to improve the function of the brain!

And just to get your engines started, here are some foods which will make you go vroooomm all through the day!



Spinach

Beans

Fish

Chicken

Cereal

Poha

Upma

Wholewheat rotis/bread

Wholegrain Pasta

Bananas

Nuts

Eggs

Low-fat dairy products

Oatmeal

Orange Juice

"Kick that flab to the curb"

bangkokfitnesstraining.com

Wishing you could back into those super sexy skinny jeans? Sick and tired of the same old, boring workout routine week after week? Trying to figure out a way to lose those extra kilos without starving yourself silly? Let me tell you about a total body workout that literally kicks butt! Combining a way to build your stamina, flexibility, strength, and core power which listening to your favorite tracks: It’s intense, powerful, and leaves you exhausted and aching. But boy, does it work. And yes, it gets your mojo going again. Welcome to the world of kickboxing.


But, just like anything else, you need to know your facts about this form of exercise before you go into it guns blazing. Kickboxing, unlike aerobics, or your generic body workout, is an old martial art that finds its roots dating up to 2000 years ago. Which makes it a true blue form of fighting. It takes a lot of energy, strength, and ability to endure the sometimes severe aches and pains which go along with learning to master the basic forms in kickboxing. Besides keeping your body at a supremely fit level, kickboxing has other benefits. According to some studies, you can burn anywhere from 350 to 450 calories an hour with kickboxing! Now if that’s not motivation, then I don’t know what is 

In addition, kickboxing also reduces and relieves the effect of stress. Think about it, the power and skill needed to perform this demanding and rigorous workout — controlled punching and kicking movements carried out with the discipline and skills required for martial arts — is the perfect way to deal with a tough day at work. It’s the perfect remedy to release your frustration and anger so that it doesn’t stay inside your system and do some serious damage. Practicing kickboxing moves on a regular basis also help to improve balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance.

Another bonus especially for the ladies: Kickboxing , while being an awesome way to get a total body workout, also teaches you some fierce self defense tactics, helping you feel more confident. So get out there and jab, punch, and kick your way to your highest fitness level!

"Swine Flu Myths"

dionsdailydeal.com

                                         

                 Swine Flu: Now know the Facts from the Fiction

Its much worse than your average flu: In fact most doctors agree that swine flu has the same effect as a normal seasonal flu. It does happen to be slightly more contagious, and that’s because unlike other strains of the flu (to which many of us have been exposed to at some time or the other), we don’t have any immunity against the swine flu. However, the symptoms are very much the same as one has with a regular flu.


Masks protect you: Again, most experts agree that walking around with a mask on when you are not infected with the virus does not make you any less susceptible to it. In fact, many doctors will argue that safer than the mask is to ensure that you are regularly washing your hands with a good anti-bacterial soap. Only if you are infected with the swine flu might it make sense to wear a mask so that you can prevent spreading the virus to others through airborne transmission.

If you get swine flu, go straight to the emergency room: Patients would have a mild case of swine flu would be much better off staying at home and taking the regular medicine for flu they would otherwise take (or else taking those medications prescribed to them by a doctor). Chances are if you go to the hospital, you risk increasing your exposure to other infections, as well and exposing those around you to the swine flu virus. Of course however, if you are concerned about any risk factors you might have which can result in flu complications, its best to contact your doctor and get the right advice.

If you are young and healthy you can't get it: This virus actually tends to infect people under the age of 60 more than those above it. According to doctors its because older people tend to have been exposed to some strain of the H1N1 virus at some point in their lives, which increases their resistance to it. However, regardless of your age, the smartest thing to do would be to ensure you make a habit of washing your hands several times in a day, avoiding people who have the infection, and be aware of any symptoms (body ache, fever, throat ache, cough, cold, fatigue) you might develop. If you begin to feel fluish, do not ignore the messages your body is sending. Be smart: stay at home, talk to your doctor about the right medicines, eat well, drink lots of liquids, and rest until you are well again.

Head back to the office once you feel better: Despite what you might think, the flu virus can stay in your body (and therefore be able to spread to others) for upto 24 hours after your fever has gone and you are off any medications for fever.

"The Good News on Chocolate"

rivercitygiftco.com

I am a foodie. My mom is a foodie, my dads a foodie, even my dogs a foodie. One thing about us as a tribe (and indeed, foodies make connections in the most random parts of the world over things like a love for blueberry smoothies!) is that we are emotional eaters. And no, by that I don’t mean that we raid the fridge every time life gets tough or use snickers to fill our inner void (trust me, that habit can come with a big, big price – not to mention waistline!). What I mean by emotional eaters is simply this; that eating good, tasty food, makes us happy :)


So you can imagine the super warm and fuzzy feeling I got in my belly when I discovered the news about chocolate. Turns out, the stuff is not all trans fat, acne, and butt enhancing after all! Actually, researchers have discovered that eating chocolate can have the effect of relieving aches and pains in the human body. In fact, they go further to say that eating or even drinking anything for pleasure (read chocolate, caramel custard, honey nut crunch ice-cream) can literally act as a natural painkiller, and thus make us feel a little better when dealing with physical discomfort. Now you know why its called comfort food. Or why it just feels better to eat something a little decadent when you are dealing with those awful monthly cramps ladies.

And getting back to the matter at hand, chocolate (specifically dark chocolate) also contains antioxidants which protect the body from the damage done by free radicals (which cause aging and cancer among other things). Studies have found that consuming a bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals who suffer from high blood pressure. They also say that eating moderate amounts of the dark stuff is good for the cardiovascular functioning of the heart and that consuming it regularly has been shown to reduce LDL (the bad cholesterol) by up to ten per cent! Chocolate also contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant, and stimulates the production of endorphins in the body, which give you that “feel good” sensation. And now for the best part : it tastes grrrrreat :)

"Just Dance"

tech2.com

Ballroom. Ballet. Jazz.Hip-Hop. Salsa. Classical. Modern. And perhaps best of all and my personal favourite, Freestyle.


Dance. Its more than just movement to music. Its freedom. Its an expression of the spirit. It’s a release. Its an escape. And yes, it does the body good.

Dancing gets your body moving,your blood pumping, your heart beating, and your pulse racing. Not only does it burn calories (a half hour can burn between 200 and 400), as an exercise it can be as effective as walking, swimming and even cycling. It also works as a great way to increase your flexibility and agility. Think about a typical belly dancing class, which focuses on the isometric movement of the hips, improving not only the muscles in the hip joints, but also working on the strength of the core. Similarly, Salsa teaches one how to move with speed and grace, keeping the back firm and body in perfect alignment while twirling, twisting, dipping, and side-stepping! Most forms of dance require dancers to perform moves that require bending and stretching, so dancers naturally become more flexible by simply dancing. Yet another benefit from dancing is the fact that it builds stamina. The more you dance, the greater your endurance. The greater your endurance, the longer and stronger your body can go without feeling fatigue. The less fatigue you feel, the healthier and fitter you feel. And finally, what I believe to be the most important benefit to dancing. ITS FUN.

So go out there, find your flavor, and get moving :)



And just to get you started, here is a list of my current Top ten dance tracks!



I gotta feeling –Black Eyed Peas

Love in Gone –David Guetta

Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough - Micheal Jackson

Sexy Chick –Akon feat. David Guetta

Dhan tha nan – Kaminey Soundtrack

Fire Burning the Dancefloor –Sean Kingston

I know You want Me –Pitbull

Just Dance – Lady Gaga feat. Akon

Love Today – Mika

American Boy – Estelle feat. Kayne West

"Lime Zinger"

photographyblogger.net

It makes you smack your lips with its zing. Its got that burst of something something which adds just what you cant put your finger on to your chat, your mixed vegetable sabzi, those chicken kebabs, and even plain water! Calorie-free, inexpensive, easily available and filled with goodness, it’s the perfect condiment. Introducing the one and only Lime.


Here are some of the fantastic benefits from that little green guy!

Skin Saver: loaded with vitamin C, lime acts as a natural anti-aging remedy for your skin, preventing wrinkles and other signs of aging. Drinking a glass of lemon water daily also serves to refresh and rejuvenate dull and tired skin!

Tummy Trimmer: acting as a safe aid for those who are looking for weight loss, lime (again mixed with lukewarm water and honey) also works to improve the digestive process, helping to shed those extra pounds. For the best results, drink a glass first thing every morning.


Flu Fighter: Have a throat ache? Just dilute one half-lime juice with half a glass of water and gargle. The natural antiseptic power of the lemon can help to fight and improve throat infections. Drinking lime water also helps to reduce a fever, flu or cold by increasing the amount of perspiration in the body, thus ridding it of the toxins of infection.

Stomach Soother: Due to the strength of its curative powers, lime also helps to relieve many digestive ailments including constipation, heartburn, indigestion, and bloating. So go ahead and add a little to all your meals!