How to live longer and feel better

February 3, 2013 | Newbloggycat

Pretty much everything we do affects our lifespan, and here are some simple things we can do every day to lead a longer and healthier lives.

Drink tea: Every cup of tea is packed with antioxidants, meaning a longer life. Studies on people who had heart attacks found their risk of having another one in the next three years was cut by 44 percent if they drank two of tea a day.

Eat chocolate: The reason is probably the chocolate’s high antioxidant count. It contains even more of these vital nutrients than fruit! Jean Calment, who at 122 was the world’s oldest living woman, attributed her longevity to eating chocolate every day.

Eat a banana a day: Bananas, raisins and potatoes are all high-potassium foods. Potassium lowers blood pressure and this dramatically increases life expectancy.

Practice ‘hara hachi bu’ :No, not a martial art, but a tip from the Japanese island Okinawa. It means stop eating when you are 80 percent full. Not only does this cut calories, it also reduces stress on the kidneys and liver.

Control your cholesterol:Studies of Japanese centenarians have found that these people tend to be those with the lowest cholesterol. Cutting fat down to under 40 percent of your daily calories helps reduce cholesterol.

Eat fewer calories: A diet of 900 to 1100 calories a day can extend life by up to 15 years, according to the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Animals on this diet developed fewer cataracts, had fewer cancers, and their fur didn’t turn grey.

Get up every hour: Sitting could kill you. According to studies, people who sit for 4 hours a day outside work have a 50% greater risk of dying than those who sit less than 2 hours a day. The average person should take roughly 10,000 steps a day. Taking fewer than that could have an impact on your risk of death.

Be positive: Think positive and happy thoughts. People with positive outlook are usually less stressed and better able to deal with challenges. Having a positive outlook has been link to decreased mortality risk. Optimistic people live about 12 years longer than pessimists.

Quote of the day – Michelle Obama

February 2, 2013 | Newbloggycat

“Clearly this is a tough economic time, and a lot of families are hurting. So when we talk to parents, we talk about small changes for kids and things that don’t cost extra money. Like adding water and eliminating sugary drinks and sodas. That’s going to save money right there. Or adding a few more vegetables.” – Michelle Obama

My rottweiler

February 1, 2013 | Newbloggycat

One spoiled rotten rottweiler lives here 🙂

If I like it, IT’S MINE
If it’s in my mouth, IT’S MINE
If I can take it from you, IT’S MINE
If I had it a little while ago, IT’S MINE
If it is mine it must never appear to be yours in any way
If I’m chewing something all the pieces ARE MINE
If it looks just like mine, IT’S MINE
If I saw it first, IT’S MINE
If you are playing with some thing and you put it down, it automatically becomes MINE
If it is broken, IT’S YOURS

Handy kitchen tips

January 31, 2013 | Newbloggycat

Some handy kitchen tips that will help save you time and energy when you are in a hurry.

1. To make uniform-sized muffins in a hurry, use an ice-cream scoop to fill the cups. Quick and neat.

2. If you want sweet potatoes that are easy to peel, rub the skin with vegetable oil before baking and the skins will come right off.

3. Does it take forever to clean your crock pot? To speed up the process, line your slow-cooker with foil before adding in ingredients so cleaning up later will be a snap.

4. When a recipe says to cover with aluminium foil while baking, just turn a cookie sheet upside down over the dish. This saves time and foil.

Keeping flowers fresh

January 31, 2013 | Newbloggycat

To get the most pleasure from your bouquets, follow these blossoming guidelines:

1. Fill your vase with lukewarm, not cold water. Warm water contains fewer air bubbles that can block water up in the stems. It also encourages buds to open. (Bulb flowers such as daffodils, however prefer cold water).

2. Cut stems at an angle with a sharp knife or scissors to provide a larger area of water intake. Re-cut every few days to remove air locks.

3. Remove all foliage below the waistline.

4. To avoid dehydration, place flowers away from heat sources, including direct sunlight, large appliances and cooling vents.

5. Dethorning roses may shorten their life. If you must do it, use a sharp knife and work from the top of the stem downwards.

Joke of the day – Delusion

January 30, 2013 | Newbloggycat

Wife: My husband thinks he is a refrigerator.

Psychiatrist: I wouldn’t worry as long as he is not violent.

Wife: Oh, the delusion doesn’t bother me. But when he sleeps with his mouth open, the little light keeps me awake.

‘Green’ ways to clean your home

January 30, 2013 | Newbloggycat

Go green with these non-toxic ways to clean your home:-

Surface:
Mix some baking soda with liquid soap to make a paste. Use this to scrub delicate surfaces clean. Only make what you need because this paste dries quickly.

Streak-free Glass:
Mix 1/4 cup of white vinegar with 1 tablespoon cornstarch to 1 quart of warm water. Place the mixture in a spray bottle to spritz onto glass or windows. Use newspaper to clean the glass to get streak-free results.

Oven:
Mix 1 part vinegar with 4 parts water. Put the mixture into a spray bottle and spritz onto a cool oven surface. Use a sponge to scrub the oven clean. For stubborn stain, use baking soda or citrus-based cleaners.

Toilet bowl:
Sprinkle borax around the toilet bowl then drizzle with white vinegar. Leave for several hours before scrubbing with a toilet brush to remove stains.

Quote of the day – Bruce Lee

January 30, 2013 | Newbloggycat

“Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.” – Bruce Lee

Joke of the day – Can’t get a lawyer

January 29, 2013 | Newbloggycat

Judge: How is it that you can’t get a lawyer to defend you?

Defendant: As soon as they found out I didn’t steal the million, they quit!

Food handling tips

January 29, 2013 | Newbloggycat

It is good to eat healthy but unless food is handled properly, you could be washing away those healthy nutrients. Here are some tips on how to keep healthy foods nutritious:-

1. A well-dressed salad is healthy

Studies have shown that a salad with fat-free or no dressing is not as rich in vitamins as a salad served with a little olive oil. The oil helps us absorb the disease-fighting qualities found in the salad leaves.

2. Avoid over-rinsing

Although it is common practice to wash rice before cooking, over-rinsing it could wash away its vitamin B1 content. One wash and then it is ready to cook.

3. Tear rather than chop

When preparing leafy vegetables such as spinach or lettuce, tear the leaves rather than chop them. This is because when we tear the leaves, it does not disrupt its cellular structure, which helps minimise the release of enzymes that destroy the vitamin C content.

4. Defrost right

Try not to thaw food by leaving it out on the kitchen bench. This is because once it reaches room temperature, bacteria starts to breed. It is best to defrost frozen food in the microwave or to let it thaw in the fridge to prevent this from happening.

5. Store well

Never overload a fruit bowl because it could cause dark patches on the fruit as well as reduce its vitamin C content. Food stored in the fridge should be put in a container or covered in cling wrap.