…the effort still merit a reward. Researchers at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in the US followed 6391 overweight obese people for 9 years.The conclusion – those who tried losing weight, even if unsuccessful, had a lower death rate of 24 percent. Despite the failure to lose weight, the process of eating healthier food and doing more exercise prove to lengthen our lifetime.
So, don’t ever give up on your quest to lose weight!
If you are aching from a workout, add a teaspoon of powdered ginger to your bath. This helps soothe sore muscles. You will smell great and get rosy glow.
An alternative method is to boil a pot of water with lots of sliced ginger for a about 15 minutes. Let it cool (until it’s just nice and warm) and then remove the ginger with a strainer. Dampen a small towel in the ginger water and rub all aver your body. Wait for a few minutes then rinse your body with warm water.
List of healthy snacks:
a. 1 – apple
b. 1- banana
c. 16 – 20 Almonds
d. 1/4 cup – grapes
e. 1 – Fruit juice popsicle
f. 1 tablespoon peanut butter
g. 1 cup – plain low fat or nonfat yogurt
h. 40 thin sticks – Pretzels
i. 1 handful sunflower or pumpkin seeds in shells
j. 3 tablespoons – raisins
1. Regular hand washing particularly,
a. after you use the restroom.
b. before and after food handling.
c. after playing with your pets.
Note: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the effortless act of just washing your hands has more potential to save lives than vaccination or medical intervention.
So, make it a habit to reach for the soap and water whenever necessary and you will be glad you did.
2. Always rinse your fruits and vegetables before eating.
3. When re-heating food, make sure it is served steaming hot.
4. Keep raw meat and seafood in the freezer unless you plan to cook it on the same day.
5. Store perishable foods in the fridge at 5°C or lower.
6. Check your pantry and fridge regularly and throw out food that has expired, stale or has fungus growing on it.
Goji berries also know as Wolfberry or Lycium barbarum from the Solanaceae plant family. Now grown in Southeast Asia and Europe, the Goji Berry is gaining popularity as a health food. The plant’s shoots and leaves are commercially available as a leaf vegetable.
The chewy berries which are said to have a sweet and sour taste are consumed mainly for their health benefits. Rip goji berries are commonly consumed in raw food form. Dried versions of the berries are cooked into Chinese dishes such as tonic soups made with pork or chicken. Various beverages are produced from the fruit including herbal tea, juice and wine (which is usually blend with grape wine.
Research shows goji berry is packed with antioxidants and anti-cancer properties. It helps boost the immune system and improve blood circulation. It is also widely suggested that consumption of the berries can improve vision.
However, those who are on blood thinning medication may want to consult a doctor before consuming goji berries as the fruit has its own anticoagulant properties and could cause adverse drug interactions. Consumption of the fruit is also not recommended for pregnant women.
According to studies, an average adult spends 10 hours every week doing house chores. Getting rid of clutter can help you cut down 40% of house work in an average household. Try these simple tips to start de-cluttering around your home:
1. Sort through the mess one room at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
2. For every item you buy, get rid of an old one you no longer need.
3. Pick up at least five things every time you pass a messy area.
4. If you haven’t used an item in over a year, chances are you won’t ever. So, get rid of it.
According to research led by the National Institutes of Health, zinc takers had twice the risk of prostate cancer. Researchers examined zinc intake and prostate cancer risk in nearly 47,000 men. Compared with men who did not take supplements, men who took more than 100 mg of zinc a day had more than twice the risk of advanced prostate cancer.
…when you eat legumes. So, if you are trying to lose weight, a serving of legumes will help you feel full more quickly. The rich fiber content fills your stomach and causes a slower rise in blood sugar, staving off hunger for longer and giving you a steady supply of energy.
Feeling run down? Yep, that’s exactly how I’m feeling right now. It has been a hectic week. My girls are down with cough and flu, house is in a mess, piles of clothes to be washed, etc. So, it’s time to spring clean before I go insane :(.
Here’s a list of things that you can do to cleanse and revitalise your body and mind:
1. Have a cold shower – A cold shower leaves you feeling invigorated and awake. So, turn the show to cold for at least 30 seconds every morning.
2. Yell your lungs out – Ever felt tense or stressed that you just want to yell or scream? So just do it. The best place to do it is at the beach or go out to the countryside.
3. Be in the present – Detox the long term worrying in your life. Deal with things as and when they occur.
4. Do a simple breathing exercise – Breathe in through your nose for the count of 4, take the air to your belly and hold for 4, breathe out through your mouth for the count of 8.
5. Snack smart – Snack on nuts and dried fruits rather than crisps and sweets. Nuts and fruits are packed with nutrients and goodness.
6. Clear your clutter – Look at the place that you spend most of your day – it could be your desk, home or workplace. Clear anything that you don’t use, need or have just let it hang around. A cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind.
7. Learn to say ‘No’ – If someone wants something that you cannot give – time or energy, just say ‘No’ politely. Wait until you are more ready to give freely. You cannot give if you have nothing left to give.
8. Get a hobby – Stop wasting time. Boredom is exhausting. Get a hobby and you will feel stimulated and challenged. It is more relaxing to be occupied than being bored and restless.
9. Do something different – It is easy to stop trying new things. Common reasons are we are too old, cannot be bothered, not ready for change. Try something new today like bake a cake, draw a picture or go to the cinema and see how it changes for the best.
10. Laughter – Laughter is one o the best stress relievers. So, read a joke book or see a comedy show.
11. Cut out red meat for a month – Give your digestive system a break. Feel the benefits and then cut it out altogether.
12.Eat more oil fish – Research has shown that a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can discourage heart disease, help to reduce risk of cancer, help with arthritis and give you a glowing skin. So, eat more salmon, sardines, mackerel & kippers.
Heat and humidity greatly increase the risk of food spoilage. Below are some tips on food storage:
1. To freeze berries, place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet, freeze then pack in airtight containers.
2. Store cottage cheese upside down in its original container. It will keep longer.
3. Eggs are porous and will absorb refrigerator odors. Store them in their cartons and not in the refrigerator door compartment.
4. Before returning an opened ice cream carton to the freezer, press plastic wrap on the surface of the ice cream to prevent ice crystals from forming.
5. To store fresh herbs, wash them and stand them upright in a a glass containing an inch or two of cold water. Cover with a plastic bag and refrigerate.
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