Top Ten Self-improvement Objects in the way You Need to Cope With
Self-improvement may include anything, from providing up cigarette using tobacco to using the addiction of spending budget. However, the self-improvement objectives are not that easy to obtain. Your own thoughts may put a variety of obstructions in your direction. It is a well-known proven reality that an personal making initiatives for self-improvement is often frustrated by his or her own ideas and routines. The first thing should be to observe down these constraints and understand how to cope with them. Here is a conversation on the 10 typical self-improvement obstructions you need to cope with.
Habit of Postponing
The most usual obstacle is the habit to postpone the self-improvement efforts. The efforts for whatever change you wish to bring in your life should begin today itself. Delaying the things may put your interest off and you may never be able to start. For instance, if you wish to leave cigarette smoking, you must start practicing the right techniques like hypnosis from today onwards.
Habit of Acceptance
The efforts towards improvement often take the backseat if you accept that the things are not going to change. Don’t believe that the present circumstances can’t be improved at any cost. Remember that it is you who will evaluate your situation and take the decision to improve or not. Get out of the boundary of accepting the things easily and challenge yourself that you want to bring the change in order to improve your life.
To Do Lists Don’t Work
Many people fail to maintain schedule which is another common hindrance in the direction of self-improvement. This happens because of the general notion that to do lists don’t work at all. The fact is that scheduling and following the schedule religiously is one great step to achieve the improvement goals. In fact, planning a schedule will help you spare quality time for many more things that will make you happy and motivated.
Self-improvement Is Not for Me
People have the tendency to forget one of the most important facts of life that nobody in this world is perfect. You can keep on moving on the path of self-improvement to make your life better and better. Thinking that self-improvement is only for losers is actually depriving you from leading a life better than your present day living. For instance, if you don’t know swimming, just think how learning this exercise can improve your lifestyle.
Keeping It a Secret
It is a typical perception of individuals that it is better to keep the self-improvement initiatives a key from others. Some individuals never like others to know that they are going through weight-loss workouts. This form of considering can deny you from useful reviews that you must obtain from individuals around you. Keep in mind that getting your self-improvement activities evaluated by others will increase your assurance and encourage your further.
Self-improvement if Expensive
Many people never start with self-improvement initiatives, considering that it will include a lot of money. The truth is that you can always search for beneficial options that can help you in enhancing your life without strenuous big money. Even your buddies can help you by indicating some useful ways of self-improvement. You never have to shell out on many guides and programs for the objective of enhancing. Invest some time to discover one or two good guides or video clips that you discover value investing on.
Habit of Binding
People by characteristics are limited to develop within the relaxation areas of their specific societies. However, you can carry enhancement in lifestyle by studying new elements owed to various other societies. The best example would be to understand a new terminology that will add considerably to your understanding. Furthermore, you can increase further by studying a bit of different way of lifestyle.
Boring and Time Consuming
Upgrades in lifestyle may take several days or several weeks to display. This is a reality against what the so-called self-improvement professionals declare to carry up the changes in a couple several days. And, it is a frustrating believed for many individuals. You have to think this way that your lifestyle is going towards enhancement and you have to savor this modification. It is value knowing that this voyage for enhancement will be thoroughly pleasant.
Only Big Changes Lead to Improvement
Big changes do account for larger upgrades, but small changes are similarly significant. Many people immediate their initiatives to obtain big changes only, without acknowledging the value of the small steps. For example, if you start going for a day move daily, it will add to your time and effort of reaching health.
More Thoughts Fewer Efforts
Lastly, it is another element of people instinct that initiatives actually created towards self-improvement does not have behind the ideas of enhancement. In other terms, good considering alone cannot help you obtain the self-improvement advantages. You will have to create initiatives to recognize these ideas.
You will definitely link with many of these self-improvement obstructions. Give your best taken to get rid of these constraints and provides your 100% to increase for better.
Originally Posted by: Self Improvement Bible
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Top Ten New Year’s Promises
The close of the season is around the corner. It’s the season where we both look again on the last season’s events and most especially, look forward to what the New Year will bring about.
Oftentimes, as we look again, we usually rue elements we’ve done wrong or forget to do. And to prepare us better for the returning New Year, we make a listing of positive modify in our way of life. It may contain elements we wish to achieve or have, thinking we want to modify or routines and way of life we want to try.
To help you see what more can you do better and modify in your way of life, this is the top ten New Year’s Solution you can utilize in the future New Year.
1. Manage Yourself
Do you often get following time? You have too many actions but too short period.
Sometimes our lack of your energy and effort results from our listlessness to manage it. We usually forget the variety of projects we acknowledge that we get found off protect when elements submitted up.
Start to be structured and begin it with you. It may contain developing a to do listing, having a work schedule but most of all, know how to focus on your actions and obligations based on their significance.
Learning to prepare your actions does not only help you fix the debris of your way of life and operate, but also help you set your main concerns on elements that matter most to you.
2. Be Fit and Healthy
The world is getting much deadly and impure that a lot of not treatable ailments, such as cancer, have been getting away a lot of existence. And as such, the emergency of being healthy and fit is higher.
A lot of studies have stated and shown that there are a lot of methods to remain fit and healthy. As easy as walking, running or simply do some extending training at least thirty (30) mins per day can help you convenience away ailments to remain fit and healthy. Not only lethal ailments will be reduced or removed, but also such as worry, tiredness and all other psychological and actual illness we experience in our day to day actions.
3. Master, Master and Learn
Did you know that actual discovering comes from outside the school? And that actual discovering is beyond the amount and master’s degree we earn understanding.
Real discovering comes from our day to day actions and goes through. As they say, we learn best through action.
Also, realize that discovering can come in different types and many sites, like sessions we study our own actions, for visiting training/seminars, getting innovative sessions on art or music, discovering a new game and a lot more.
4. Invest More Time Developing Relationships
Prestige, energy and success are probably essential in your way of life, but ask yourself, why do you operate tirelessly to achieve those? Who are your inspirations to do so?
Most of us will probably answer our family or community, the individuals we serve and be influenced of. Although this reason is clear, frequently we forget it as we get blinded by the glow of reputation, energy and success that we get too fast paced and neglect the root base of our drive.
Take a chance to slow down and spend time building interactions with others. Keep in thoughts that at the end of it all, it’s not what you have that they will remember; it’s what you have done.
5. Have More Faith
Why do some individuals get fortunate while others don’t?
And why are there so many hard-working men, but yet they have gotten fortunate with their career or life?
People usually neglect the energy of trust and knowing. It may contain your religious techniques of desires or just simply knowing that elements can be carried out. That you are capable of have what you want.
So if you want to get fortunate, operate and believe.
6. Make Self-Meditation a Habit
Have you ever joined a Yoga training class?
If you have joined one or never heard of it, it’s a breathing training for your persona. Yoga training is one way of deep breathing that helps you rest and convenience worry. This is done by relaxing and managing both your persona. And after each time, you will feel tranquil to deal with the debris of way of life.
Self-meditation does the same to your way of life. Making a New Year’s resolution is another form of self-meditation for it makes you look over your previous to provide you experience tomorrows with a much better YOU.
7. Are living Within Your Means
Are you one of those who helplessly delay for their regular income only to be able to touch it for a few mins before they would income it to a cashier to pay a long superb debt?
A lot of individuals in our technology now cannot do without bills and card. It becomes a very essential part of their way of life, that if without it, they could not endure.
And while we possess this gorgeous card, we usually reside beyond our indicates. We usually think that we can have more and more of the material elements that we want with less and less sources to do so. Then period, we are filled with bills.
If you want to make a modify in your regular problems, here are some ideas,
Live within your indicates. If you can not, then, discover a more method for reside more.
8. Avoid Bad Habits
What are the elements you wish you examine do if you do not begin ever?
Is it smoking? Drinking? Girls? Flirting? Disloyalty? Cheating?
You know it’s not doing benefits in your way of life, so what do you have to do?
STOP IT! Simple as that! How? Point out to yourself of the repercussions of carrying on to do so.
9. Be a Advantage to Others
Love individuals and individuals will really like you.
When I say really like, it does not mean light really like, but genuine and truthful care and really like for others.
Remember that way of life alone is not only single and sad, but also, useless.
10. Are living Life To The Fullest
Balanced way of life moves in four aspects: psychological, religious, psychological and actual.
Live in all areas of your way of life, for too much of one thing is always bad.
Don’t delay at the end of the vacation to reside your way of life, instead, remain in the vacation of a successful way of life. That is a way of life resided to its maximum today.
Please take note that this listing is not a procedure, but a pure guide that you can utilize or pay no attention to in your way of life. Our only purpose is to give you an idea of what you can look upon in your way of life that you can think of applying in the returning New Year.
HAPPY & BLESSED NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
7 Steps to Instantly Calm
Serenity
Between his busy work schedule, child care, shopping, and, oh, a hundred other things you have to do in a day, is easy to forget how much stress you are really low.
But the body is well aware. All this tension could start a chain reaction of health problems. “When you get stressed several times, the nervous system remains tense, so that even small amounts of stress can make you feel overwhelmed,” says Henry Emmons, MD, author of Chemistry of calm.
That is why it is so important to build a relaxing routine for those times when life falls apart. Learning to cultivate peace with these simple suggestions.
Look for Signs
The best way to manage stress is to prevent the build first. But it can be difficult to know when you’re going to risk because the signals of your body can be subtle. “People are often not aware that stress affects sleep quality, you can get eight hours, but has still not very deep sleep, if you feel tired,” said Dr. Emmons.
To keep your stress levels in check, take a few minutes each day thinking about any unusual changes in your habits or physical health, which can be stimulated by fear.
Change Your Home
When you feel tense, you can get the (unproductive) you want to replay mentally what has happened several times in his mind.
Dr. Emmons recommends moving your attention to your body instead. Find a quiet place to sit and concentrate on feeling the seat under you. Then take a long, deep breaths from the diaphragm, try to breathe through your nose for four, with two, and exhaling through your mouth for seven years. Exhale more than breathe a deeper breath, which helps calm the nervous system. “You can even practice your breath when you are stressed, so you know exactly what that calm deep breathing,” said Dr. Emmons.
Get A Pass
Easy to use stress as an excuse to ignore the exercise has many other things in your mind, right? But working really helps balance stress hormones, said Dr. Emmons.
Then a break, and walk up and down some steps, or subscribe to the kickboxing class you’ve been dying to try. Then cool your routine with some sweet music: Make a special “calming” playlist on your iPod, recommended Beth Hamilton, MD, co-author ofSo Stressed: The Ultimate Stress-Relief Plan for Women. Studies show that brain waves are synchronized with the slow pace, puts you in a meditative state.
Right Snack
During periods of stress, it’s human nature to want to pamper yourself with a piece of cake. But it is more important than ever to stick to your eating habits, says Elizabeth Somer, RD, author of Eat your way to happiness.
Cravings for sweets highest level of glucose in the blood, making you feel more nervous. For a healthy drink, including anti-stress, fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate sauce, black, Somer. Vitamin C reduces the stress induced by free radicals fruit, while the black chocolate reduces stress hormones (like cortisol) in the body. Another option: carrot or celery sticks Snack. Crunchy Snacks chewing (but healthy!) Helps release pent-up frustration, says Somer.
Call a Friend
Being with friends helps our body to pump feel good hormone oxytocin. Then meet a friend at the end of a crazy-busy day, or call during your lunch break.
Even better: Take time to stroll on a regular basis, you will be paid a boost to your well-being continues. Just do not make calls to bitch fests, ranting will get you working again, Dr. Emmons said.
Get Out
Taking refuge in the office can make you get stuck in “I’m overwhelmed” Mode. Merely breathing the fresh air can improve their prospects, helping them deal with difficult situations more calmly. Get out and enjoy the moment in which the head of equilibrium rather than think about all the things you have to do. If there is a garden close by, stop and smell the flowers. Research shows that inhalation of certain aromas (like lavender) can help restore the immune system is stressed to normal levels.
Preparing For Bed
You know how it works: Just when you lie down for a good night, all the concerns of his career change. And lack of sleep makes you feel more anxious. To combat this vicious circle, the scope of a pad and pencil and write all the negative thoughts or lists of tasks pops into your head, says Sue Patton Thoele, author of Women Aware. Paradoxically, getting their thoughts down on paper really helps you set aside.
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How to Make 10 Natural Beauty Products
Homemade Beauty ProductsMake your own beauty products to keep harmful chemicals off of your skin. Homemade creams, soaps and other products can be just as luxurious and fragrant as their commercial counterparts but you can avoid artificial chemicals – and the headache of dealing with all that packaging waste.
Although beauty products don’t have to list their ingredients, they often contain pthalates, formaldehyde, parabens and other chemicals that have been shown to harm animals in lab tests, and which are being phased out in Europe in favor of less toxic alternatives. Prenatal exposure to pthalates, for example, has been linked to liver and kidney damage and effects on baby boys’ reproductive organs, and the chemical has been implicated in male obesity. The CDC found the potentially harmful sunscreen ingredient oxybenzone in 97% of Americans tested.
Plus, you don’t want any nasty stuff getting into our fragile waterways, do you? That’s what happens when cosmetics and personal care products are washed down the drain. Frogs and aquatic life are highly susceptible to damage from even minute contamination.
Why not get beautiful in less risky ways? Remember that many of these recipes can be put into reusable containers — which can also be decorated and given as unique, homemade gifts.
Makes 1 application
2 tablespoons real mayonnaise
1 teaspoon baby oil
> Combine both ingredients.
> Smooth onto face, neck, rough elbows and knees or anywhere else you feel might benefit from it.
> Leave for 20 minutes.
> Rinse off thoroughly with tepid water.
Honey-Avocado Invigorating and Revitalizing Hair Treatment
Makes 1 application
1 medium avocado — peeled and stoned
2 tablespoons honey
> Mash together the ingredients in a small bowl.
> Massage into hair.
> Leave for 20-30 minutes.
> Wash hair as usual.
Makes 1 application
Juice from 1/2 a lemon (strained)
1 egg white
> Beat together the egg white and lemon juice for 3 minutes.
> Apply directly to your face, avoiding the eyes.
> Leave on for 30 minutes.
> Rinse off with warm water.
Vegetable Oil Nail Strengthener
Makes 20-30 applications
2 tsp castor oil
2 tsp salt
1 tsp wheat germ oil
> Pour all ingredients into a sealable bottle.
> Before each use shake well.
> Rub a small amount of the mixture onto your nails.
> Leave on for 3-5 minutes.
> Wipe off with a cotton pad.
Honey-Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
Makes 100 applications
2 tbls. olive oil
1/2 tsp. honey
3/4 tsp. beeswax — grated
1/2 tsp. pure cocoa butter
Flavored oil of your choice (like peppermint or vanilla)
1 vitamin E capsule
> In a small saucepan, heat oil, honey, wax and butter over a low heat until just melted.
> Remove from heat and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes.
> Stir in flavoring and contents of vitamin E capsule.
> Pour into containers of your choice.
1/2 cup baby oil
> Stir the ingredients together in a bowl and put into a screw top jar.
> Leave for 24 hours.
> Stir the mixture and apply to any areas of the body you wish to exfoliate.
> Massage into the skin for a few minutes then shower off.
> Pat your skin dry.
1/2 cup chopped avocado
1 egg white
2 tsp. powdered milk
- Combine all of the ingredients in a blender until they form a smooth paste.
- Apply the mask to your face and neck using circular upward movements.
- Leave the mask on for 30 minutes, or until dry.
- Rinse your face and neck with warm water and finish with a cold water rinse.
- This mask will keep up to 30 minutes in the refrigerator if you need to prepare it slightly in advance.
Brown Sugar Hand SoftenerMakes 1 treatment
1/4 cup course brown sugar
Baby oil to make into a paste
> Mix together.
> Using a hand washing motion apply the mixture to the hands.
> Continue the washing motion for a minute then rinse off with warm water and pat dry.
Peach and Egg White Firming Spa MaskMakes 1 application
1 ripe peach — peeled and stoned
1 egg white
> Whip peach and egg white together in a blender till smooth.
> Gently pat mixture over face.
> Leave on for 30 minutes.
> Rinse off with cool water.
End-of-Day Foot SpaGood for one home pedicure.
1/2 cup Epsom salts
Essential oils of your choice
> Fill either a foot bath or your bath tub to ankle height with warm water.
> Dissolve 1/2 cup Epsom salts in the warm water and add the essential oil of your choice (lavender, rosewood, patchouli and sandalwood are relaxing oils, while lemongrass and eucalyptus are uplifting)
> Soak for 10-15 minutes. Pat dry and moisturize.
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20 Useful Things You Can Accomplish In 15 Minutes
“Don’t count every hour in the day, make every hour in the day count.”
Life is made up of nothing more than a series of moments. If you can find some way to pull 15 extra minutes out of a hat, you’d better at least use them wisely. Where will you find these moments, and when you find them, how will you use them?
Just 15 extra minutes a day will convert into a powerful 91 hours a year. That’s a massive chunk of time that you can use to acquire new skills and get things done. The benefit is seen when we create a daily habit and commit those 15 minutes to something worthwhile. You can wake up 15 minutes earlier, steal 15 minutes from lunch, after work, or right before bed — the choice is yours.
Once you’ve figured out which sleeve those 15 minutes are hiding under, you’re ready to pick your target. You can mix-and-match from the list below, or choose a specific item to focus on over weeks, months, or even a year. The key is your commitment to cultivate a habit, from which your life will improve.
20 Useful Things You Can Accomplish In 15 Minutes
1. Stretch. If you stretch for 15 minutes every day you will become very flexible. It will be easier for you to move around, exercise, and it will facilitate the flow of blood throughout your body. This extra flow will improve your overall health and improve your mental focus.
2. Read. Pick a time when you can read, without interruptions, for a solid 15 minutes each day. You’ll find that you’re able to get through certain books in a week or two, and you’re increasing your knowledge and mental capacity with minimal effort. You may discover a new passion, or master a subject over the course of a year through this small time commitment.
3. Run. Do a series of short sprints with intervals between running and resting. This is the best way to build up speed and increase your body’s capacity to utilize oxygen. At the same time you will be powering up your body with higher energy levels throughout the rest of your day.
4. Calisthenics. This form of exercising involves sit-ups, push-ups, trunk twists, squats, chin-ups, etc., which basically means using your own body weight as resistance. It’s very effective to build muscle tone and get your exercise on, and it hardly requires any equipment (other than perhaps a chin-up bar).
5. Sleep. I just told you to find 15 minutes, and now I’m recommending that you sleep them away? This one is more useful during the middle of the day. If you have a set schedule, and you can conveniently fit a 15 minute nap, you can catch a second wind that will leave you feeling energized for the second half of your day.
6. Cook. This might not be enough time to make an extensive meal, but it is sufficient enough to put something together. Make yourself a sandwich, or get some leftovers together, so that you don’t have to eat out for lunch. You’ll save a lot of money using this method.
7. Write. Depending on your writing skill, you may be able to take a nice chunk out of writing a 50,000 word novel (it’s less than you think), over the span of a couple of years, if you use your 15 minutes a day wisely. If it takes you longer, so be it, but eventually you will have the finished product in your hand. This won’t happen unless you sit down and write.
8. Talk (aka Listen). You can use your newly found time to build solid relationships with several people, or an even closer one with one special person. You can both look forward to these 15 minutes, whether in person or over the phone, and share your goals, dreams, and accomplishments with each other. If 15 minutes is too little time for you to talk then just listen to them for 15 minutes and they’ll love you for it.
9. Draw. While 15 minutes a day, over the course of a year, may not be enough time to build a professional collection, it’s still mighty useful. You can use these 15 minutes to create several nice drawings, but more importantly it will sharpen your skill and give you a creative outlet.
10. Blog. I’ll admit that it takes me longer than 15 minutes to write a blog post, but you can take the short and sweet approach yourself. In 15 minutes you can craft and publish some witty commentary or useful information about a breaking topic that your readers would truly appreciate.
11. Journal. One of the best gifts you can give yourself is the ability to reflect upon your life. You can do this by keeping a journal of the biggest highlights within your life. Taking just 15 minutes a day to write down how you feel, what you learned, and what you want out of life will help you track where you’ve been and where you want to go.
12. Visit nature. Bask in the beauty and serenity that nature has selflessly provided us with. Go to a forest, park, or simply sit under a tree, and do nothing, read a book, or chat with a friend. While out walking I saw a kid sitting under a tree with his laptop; while not the most effective use of nature, it still beats doing the required homework inside the house on a beautiful day.
13. Meditate. The research is in, and there’s no doubt that stress is a killer. I’ve learned extensively in my Masters program about the physiological damage that stress causes within us. Meditation is one of the very best ways to relieve stress, and it has many other benefits as well. Do yourself a favor and try this on.
14. Organize. In 15 minute bursts there is a lot you can do to organize your life. You can clean a table top, the desktop on your computer, your bookshelf, organize your clothes, vacuum your house, bathroom, kitchen, etc. Just know that your 15 minutes are dedicated to some form of cleaning, and you’ll notice that your environment and eventually your mind will be that much more clutter free.
15. Plan. Spend 15 minutes planning out your day, or week. By spending time planning every single day you’ll end up saving hours by remembering the right supplies, making special arrangements, and cutting out unnecessary steps. Planning makes a difference.
16. Network. Whether it’s for your job, or some kind of recreational endeavor, you can use your 15 minutes to network and make friends. You can do this by using twitter, or creating a template e-mail and searching out new people to contact with it. Even if you contact 5 people a day, that’s 1825 potential contacts over the year. That’s just the point, it adds up.
17. Research. With Google at your fingertips you can find out some very useful information about your health, hobby, career, or some way to improve your life. You can even buy access into scientific journals and do some significant medical research in your spare time.
18. Play catch. You won’t find too many activities easier than tossing the ball around between two people. It’s great exercise, it’s relaxing yet invigorating, and a great opportunity to talk and bond.
19. Eat slowly. Do not treat eating as one of life’s little inconveniences. Instead, eat slowly and enjoy each bite as if it were your last, and if it were, know that you got the most out of it by using an extra 15 minutes to extract pleasure from each morsel of food.
20. Self-improvement. Take 15 minutes a day to read some articles by your favorite writers who compress massive amounts of information into practical, easy to read, and very informative articles.
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10 Yoga Poses to Fight Depression and Anxiety
The mind, body and spirit are all connected and when a person suffers from mild depression or anxiety, the body is out of balance. Yoga is a series of stretches that helps bring balance to the body; not just focusing on the body’s health, but also on the mind and spirit. Always consult a physician or counsellor if you are having ongoing feelings of depression or anxiety and before trying any new exercise program.
1. Begin with the Lotus position, sitting crossed legged with hands resting on the knees, palms up. The most important thing is to remember to breathe. To calm the rapid breathing often accompanying panic attacks, focus on your breathing at first, a five count in and a five count out, but let the breathing become natural. Let the breathing set the rhythm of the practice. Eyes should be closed, listening to the rhythm of the breathing. After five or ten minutes here, the body should feel calmer.
2. Viparita Karani is a great pose for either depression or anxiety as it has both a soothing and energizing effect. Often called the fountain of youth pose, it can be done by beginners or experts. Lay flat on the back with the arms laying at the side and palms down or open the arms with palms up to open the heart even more. Rest the legs against the wall to hold this pose longer comfortably or for more advanced practices, lift up the lower back and rest the bottom on the hands.
3. Fish pose is a terrific pose for opening the heart. Opening the heart with back-bending yoga positions is believed to not only expand the ribcage to give the lungs more room to breathe, but to open the spiritual heart center. Opening the heart, or stretching the chest, eases respiration, relieves stress by unclogging the tension in the tissue in the core. Laying on the back with the arms at the side, round the back and lean as far back on the crown of the head as is comfortable. Lay a bolster, yoga block or pillow under the back for support.
4. In the laying position Setu Bandha Sarvangasana or the Bridge pose is different from a bridge in gymnastics. With bent knees lift the core, arms should lay at the side, palms up or interlock the fingers behind the back. This pose calms the mind and energizes the body. Place a bolster or pillow under the back to hold this pose longer and more comfortably.
5. & 6. The calming poses, Cow and Cat, should be used together. Position the knees under the hips and the hands under the shoulders, kneeling on all fours with a neutral spine. With the inhale, let the belly sink towards the floor, looking up for Cow and letting the head fall down, with the exhale, round the back up to the ceiling for Cat. Keep the eyes closed as much as possible. Try and round the back one vertebra at a time. This pose is terrific for stress in the back; it establishes ideal spinal alignment, strengthens and stretches back muscles in the back and develops coordination of spinal movement.
7. Salabhasana or the Locust pose is a yoga posture. Lying on the belly with the arms along side the body, lift the legs and arms together and lift the chest as high as is comfortable. This pose opens the heart, helps poor posture, depression, low energy, digestion, gas, bladder and back pain. Move into Dhanurasana or Bow pose, relax, then bend the knees and take hold of the feet with the hands. Pull back with the legs to help open up the heart and chest.
8. Urdhva Mukha Svanasana or the Upward Facing Dog pose can be entered from Locust by coming to a neutral laying position, then planitng the toe nails and the palms, directly under the shoulders, into the mat. Lift the body slowly off the mat so that only the tops of the feet and the palms of the hands are the only parts of the body firmly planted to the mat.
9. Child’s pose or Balasana is a resting position which can help calm the body and the mind when under stress. Return to Child’s pose at any time during practice when feeling as though the body may have been pushed too far. On bended knees, lean forward with the forehead to the the mat. Lay arms at the sides of the body with palms up next to the feet or palms down stretched over the head. Breathe deeply, focusing on the breath with eyes closed.
10. Every yoga practice should be competed with Savasana or the Corpse pose. This is the most important pose in any yoga practice and should never be skipped. The body processes the information received through practicing yoga during this pose. Palms, middle of the back, and the back of the head should all be planted into the mat. The feet can fall loose and the eyes closed to help the body relax into the pose. With eyes closed and the focus on the breathing, hang out here for five or 10 minutes.
Slowly wake up the body, wiggling the toes and fingers. Then roll gently on the side, laying the head on the arm and bending the knees. Gently and slowly lift the body. The body should feel revived and the mind calmed.
Focusing on breathing and practicing yoga poses can calm momentary anxiety and depression by giving the mind a peaceful focus and re-energizing the body.
100 Snacks Under 100 Calories
Whilst I discourage extra snacking on carb high food and empty calories. I know this is easier said than done! Every now and then people give into temptation on diets and opt to have a cheeky snack, but finding the right ones that will satisfy your cravings without ruining your waistline can be tricky! However we’ve compiled a list of snacks under 100 calories that adheres to everyone tastes!
Remember to always double check the labels of your chosen foods for calories and to always keep to moderation.
20 olives
68 calories – If you like something to nibble with your treat glass of wine, why not steer away from the crisps and have some olives instead? At only 68 calories for 20 they’re a far healthier option. Olives are also good for the liver.
14 almonds
98 calories – A perfect snack for keeping at your desk when you need something to snack on, almonds is an ideal substitute for the savoury snacks people usually reach for and with heart protective monounsaturated fats (MUFA’s) and some vitamin b why wouldn’t you?
2 Jaffa Cakes
90 calories – Tasty treat that is calorifically low and with just one gram of fat per cake.
‘Be Good To Yourself’ Cool flavour tortilla snacks
93 calories – Having friends over and want low-calorie party food? These are perfect for sharing and won’t spoil your diet either.
Elizabeth Hurley’s Guilt Free Orange and Chocolate Oat Bars
100 calories – indulge in some chocolate orange (not a ‘chocolate orange’) without the hefty calories.
Two bags of Lightly Salted ‘Snack-a-jacks’ Popcorn
98 calories – Fancy a munch at the cinema? You can have two of these bags of ‘snack-a-jacks’ for under 100 calories (you may need to sneak them in however!)
100g of ‘Rod & Ben’s’ Pea & Mint soup
62 calories – Soups are satisfying, making them a great diet snack if you’re peckish.
Aero Bubbleball
99 calories – These ice-cream treats are based on screwball and with much less calories than most ice-cream snacks!
An apple
100 calories – “An apple a day can keep the doctor away.” Apples are rich in soluble fibre which helps protect against environmental pollutants and eliminates cholesterol. Go for one of the sweeter variety and you can skip a less healthy sugary snack.
1 ‘Skinny Cow’ Ice Cream
100 calories – You can still enjoy a frozen treat and keep your ‘beach body’ thanks to these low-fat iced deserts, and they come in a variety of tasty flavours, like berry and chocolate.
Miso soup
57 calories – You can buy miso soup in powder sachets so they make a quick and easy mid-afternoon snack for the office.
One ‘party size’ sausage roll
61 calories – pastry is no friend to a dieter, but luckily just one bite sized sausage roll won’t eat much into your calorie allowance.
Mini vegetable samosa
70 calories – Will count towards your 5 a day and the carbs in the pastry will help lift you from the 3 o’clock slump.
Quavers crisps
87 calories – a cheesy snack at a fraction of the calories of a chunk of cheddar.
10 salted peanuts
74 calories – Nuts are high in calories, but as a ‘Low GI’ food they release their energy slowly, so a small amount will keep hunger pangs at bay for a long time.
Three celery sticks stuffed with cottage cheese
75 calories – Celery may seem like boring diet food, but filled with soft cottage cheese it makes a great savoury treat.
Five ‘Werthers Originals’
100 calories – How long does it take to suck your way through five boiled sweets? It’ll be dinner time before you know it!
‘Be Good To Yourself’ Sweet Chili Cassava Snacks
76 calories – If you love crisps and can not think of anything better than a bag to snack on, opt for a low-calorie choice and avoid temptation.
Three chicken satay sticks with smooth peanut butter
98 calories – Yum.
Two stuffed vine leaves
100 calories – an alternative party snack.
Five squares of ‘Green and Blacks’ Butterscotch chocolate
85 calories – you can diet and eat chocolate (see our article on dieting and chocolate) Just make sure it’s high in cocoa and don’t graze too much.
Two lightly buttered oatcakes
100 calories – The energy given to us from oats gets used very slowly, so this should keep you going until dinner time.
‘Weight Watchers’ Frozen Chocolate Eclair
76 calories – Chocolate, pastry and cream at just 76 calories? It’s true!
Three potato wedges with ketchup
100 calories – It’s almost as good as being allowed chips. Just make sure you don’t put more than three in the oven and don’t overdo the ketchup…
30 grapes
100 calories – Last’s all morning and counts as one of your 5 a day. Grapes help in the treatment of anaemia, fatigue, arthiritis, gout, rheumatism and especially for recovery from illness.
Fun-size Milky Way
76 calories – “The red car and the blue car had a race… All red used to do was stuff it’s face; it ate everything it see’s from trucks to prickly tree’s… but good old blue he took the milky way!”
One melon
88 calories – Melons are the ultimate diet snack! They have such a low calorific value as they are made up mostly of water; go ahead and eat a whole one if you like!
Six dried apricots
100 calories – Convenient snack to have in your handbag, plus they’re full of fibre too.
Tomato soup
74 calories – a low calorie soup can be a filling snack and full of goodness.
Prawn cocktail Skips
89 calories – A light snack to calm your savoury craving.
Sugar-free jelly with two scoops Wall’s Vanilla Light Ice Cream
100 calories – re-visit your youth with this classic kids’ party pudding. Good for sore-throats too!
25 cherries
100 calories – Full of vitamins and low fat, cherries also take a while to eat as you have to avoid the stones, so your morning snack lasts.
‘Special K’ Chocolate Chip Cereal Bar
84 calories – Fewer calories than the standard chocolate bar; a great sweet fix and craving killer.
125ml red or dry white wine
85 calories – this one’s probably best saved for after work however!
2 crackers lightly spread with smooth peanut butter
93 calories – nuts release energy slowly (thanks to their low glycaemic index), plus crackers always take ages to chew, just don’t try to eat them in under a minute.
1 Birds Eye Potato Waffle
94 calories – a treat the whole family can enjoy (although probably best to multiply the quantity by the number of family members).
2 Tuna nigri sushi
98 calories – A very healthy snack for sushi fans!
Stewed apple with 1tbsp fromage frais
83 calories – Make in batches and keep in the freezer. It makes a healthy dessert for that kids will like!
Portobello mushroom stuffed with roast veg and feta cheese
100 calories – Packed with healthy veg and tasty cheese.
3 giant sea salt pretzels
93 calories – Filling treat to pick you up from your mid-afternoon slump.
2 satsumas
42 calories – low-calorie snack packed with vitamin C and awkward to eat which means your snack lasts longer!
Mini Babybel with two Nairn’s Mini Oatcakes
98 calories – sometimes it’s hard to resist cheese when you’re dieting, but you don’t need to as long as you stick with the ‘light’ option.
2 Poppadums with salsa
94 calories – spice up a poppadom with hot salsa!
Meringue nest with cream and strawberries
71 calories – This snack will certainly kill that sugar craving stone dead!
2 Grissini breadsticks with houmous
97 calories – Dipping snacks keep your hands busy!
Eight cashew nuts
100 calories – eaten in sensible quantities, nuts can be a dieter’s best friend, as they keep you fuller for longer.
‘Tunnocks’s’ Chocolate Teacake
91 calories – A chocolate marshmallow biscuit treat. What more can you ask for?
20 Chocolate coated raisins
80 calories – You can pick at this snack all afternoon, and not only is it chocolate but it contributes to your 5 a day. Bonus!
Four marshmallows
90 calories – Toasted until gooey or popped on top of your coffee, marshmallows are a fantastic low-fat sweet.
Carrot batons with extra-light mayo dip
65 calories – low-fat and nutritious.
Small bag of Twiglets
97 calories – Filling and full of flavour, perhaps not if you don’t like Marmite!
Pink wafer biscuit
72 calories – the perfect partner to your cup of tea or coffee.
‘Go Ahead!’ Strawberry Yoghurt Break Bar
72 calories – Fruity sweet fix without the guilt.
Flute of champagne
90 calories – This may not be in your daily, or even weekly budget, but every now and then it’s nice to treat yourself to a glass of bubbly.
Double vodka and slimline tonic
100 calories – Never forget the calories in drinks (You can read our article about alcohol and dieting here). Vodka and slimline tonic is however relatively low, though, so you can enjoy one occasionally.
One slice Warburtons bread toasted and soft cheese
100 calories – Toast with a delicious cheesy topping doesn’t have to be calorific. If you use healthy bread and spread your soft cheese thinly.
Thin slice Soreen malt loaf
86 calories – Sticky and sweet.
Mini pitta with 1tsp tzatziki
97 calories – A savoury delight, cut into pieces to help it last.
One mini Toblerone
21 calories – I bet this one is a realy shocker! Yes, bite sized chocolate with crunchy nougat chunks can be a mere 21 calories each believe it or not. (note MINI toblerone).
A crumpet
100 calories – We usually advise staying away from baked goods, however you can toast yourself a crumpet (avoiding butter) and dust with a tiny amount of grated low-fat cheese for a filling snack.
A pear
100 calories – Next time you fancy a snack, why not reach for a refreshing pear? One of your 5-a-day and less than 100 calories too.
A small baked potato
100 calories – Jacket potatoes are filling and very low in calories if you choose the right toppings. Try with two teaspoons of fat-free sour cream and/or half cup of salsa for less than 100 calories.
A ‘Slim-Fast’ Heavenly Chocolate Delight bar
95 calories – A tasty chocolate bar without the guilt. They also come in Chocolate Nutty Nougat and Caramel Treat flavours, too.
150g of Fat Free Vanilla Onken Yogurt
74 calories – Pop one of these yogurts in the fridge and you’ll always have a tasty snack when you’re feeling any hunger pangs.
A ‘School’ Bar
67 calories – These bars are a convenient snack for an energy boost. They don’t melt either!
‘Weight Watchers’ Luxury Layer Chocolate Brownie Pot
90 calories – If you feel like a treat after dinner but don’t want to ruin your diet; one of these iced desserts is perfect (and it’s much less fattening than ice cream).
A medium corn on the cob with seasoning
100 calories – It’s good to know that you can have a corn on the cob with a little salt and pepper for less than 100 calories!
2tsp hummus with a carrot
100 calories – Enjoy hummus with some crunchy carrot at any time for just 100 calories.
Four slices of mango
90 calories – You can enjoy four slices of juicy mango. They’re also sweet so great as a treat if you’d usually reach for something with more calories!
A cup of blueberries
83 calories – Blueberries (as well as being a strong antioxidant) are tasty, refreshing and a great way of getting one of your ‘five a day’. Also considered a ‘superfood’ for it’s ability to slow the aging process and protect against heart and circulatory disease and many forms of cancer.
A ‘Weight Watchers’ Mini Chocolate Stick
95 calories – There’s nothing better (and usually horrifically calorific!) than a tasty ice cream in the summer months, but if you don’t want to ruin your diet why not try one of these?
70g ‘TOTAL’ 2% yogurt with 80g strawberries
69 calories – Enjoy them with some creamy yogurt for only 69 calories. Strawberries also have the amazing ability to increase the body’s elimination of uric acid (a substance which irritates inflamed joints).
A bag of Fruit Flakes
66 calories – ‘Fruit Flakes’ would be more than three times heavier if they were non-dried fruit, which just shows how much fruit they pack in! Great for a nutritional boost.
A Brooklea Fromage Frais
87 calories – These fromage frais are handy for your lunchbox when you fancy a treat.
Opies cocktail gherkins 30 calories per 227g jar (seriously!)
30 calories – At an amazing 30 calories per jar these gherkins are a good substitute for any snack (and filling I imagine).
A ‘Monster Puffs’ cereal bar
83 calories – Based on the cereal ‘Sugar Puffs’, these bars taste delicious and are a great morning snack.
A bag of Slim Fast Cheddar Flavour Bites
95 calories – Cheesy snacks are notorious for being high in calories, but these cheddar-flavoured bites are only 95 calories a bag.
One Strawberry ‘Weight Watchers’ Mini Swirl Pot
92 calories – If you fancy a tasty snack in the evening, why not reach for one of these? They’re under 100 calories per pot and less calorific than a bowl of ice cream.
One Starbucks Tall Cappuccino with skimmed milk
76 calories – Coffees can be surprisingly high in calories, but if you’re dependant on your caffeine fix then why not opt for Starbucks ‘skinny cappuccino’? You can finally enjoy your hot drink without too much guilt!
10 Pringles
100 calories – At a party you can tuck into 10 Pringles without the guilt. However don’t be pulled into the addictive ‘once you pop you can’t stop’ slogan (pretty sure it’s not true).
A ‘Dole’ Pineapple Pot
62 calories – Pineapple is a great sweet and these pots are handy any time. Being both anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial; Sore-throats, digestive problems, bruising and blood clots all respond to Pineapple’s natural ingredients!
2 Cadbury’s Roses
100 calories – There’s no need to be scared of the box of Roses, you can have two of your favourites for under 100 calories, just make sure it is just ‘two’.
A ‘Slim Fast’ Sour Cream and Chive Flavoured Pretzels snack bag
95 calories – Pretzels are a great substitute for fatty crisps and will still give you that savoury kick.
2 kiwis
58 calories – Kiwi fruit’s not only contain as much vitamin C as an orange, it’s a great fruit to take to work or have at home and make a nice change from the more common fruit. Also an aid to digestion and skin problems.
A glass of orange juice
100 calories – Orange juice is the best way of getting your vitamin C and they are also low in calories.
A ‘Müller’ Light yoghurt
96 calories – With flavours like cherry, blueberry and raspberry what’s not to love?
One bag of Ryvita Salt and Vinegar Mini Bites
100 calories – If you fancy a packet of crisps with your lunch you can avoid the guilt with these bites.
16 strawberries
58 calories – Strawberries are one of Britain’s favourite summer fruits and they’re low in calories too. You can dig into 16 for a mere 58 calories! Strawberries also have the amazing ability to increase the body’s elimination of uric acid (a substance which irritates inflamed joints).
Half a pint of lager and seven peanuts
99 calories – There’s no need to miss out on that Friday drink and peanuts or substantially increasing your beer belly when you visit the pub. Half a pint and a few peanuts shouldn’t hurt your diet.
A ‘Slim-Fast’ Chocolate Nutty Nougat bar
95 calories – Keep one of these in your desk won’t be tempted to reach for a calorific chocolate bar next time you have the ‘choco cravings’.
A Frozen banana
95 calories – frozen bananas: They taste great! Simply push a lolly stick into a banana then just freeze it, and you have a cheap, healthy and tasty iced snack for around 95 calories. Take that ice-cream!
1 Cadbury’s Highlights Mousse
60 calories – Satisfy those chocolate cravings with a chocolate mousse, and at only 60 calories you can go to sleep content.
Two medium peaches
76 calories – Lowers cholesterol and high blood pressure, regenerates skin tissue and containing many essential vitamins, peaches are great for you and yummy too.
1 McVitie’s chocolate digestive
83 calories – There’s nothing like a chocolate biscuit with your afternoon cup of tea, and you can have a chocolate digestive for only 83 calories.
1 bag of ‘Walkers’ Salt and Vinegar French Fries
82 calories – If you fancy some crisps, snack on a bag of these and you can enjoy your crisps and avoid any guilt.
1 slice of Marmite on brown toast
100 calories – If you love Marmite and fancy something quick and filling, a piece of toast and marmite is still only 100 calories. Marmite (love it or hate it) is also a fantastic food for vegetarians as it contains vitamin B which is mainly found in meat, eggs and fish.
1 ‘Fruit and Fibre’ bar
95 calories – Under 100 calories and convenient for on the go, pop one in your pocket for when you’re out and about.
A hard-boiled egg
78 calories – Not only are they high in protein and amino acids, but hard-boiled eggs are a filling snack. Second to none for that protein boost. Also a wonderful source of zinc and vitamins A, B, D and E!
25 ‘Jelly Belly’ jelly beans
100 calories – Have a sweet tooth? Why not dig into some jelly beans next time you fancy a snack? You can have 25 of these and still not go over 100 calories.
10 Cosmetic Uses for Everyday Foods
Getting egg on your face can be a good thing
The folds in a chef’s hat are supposed to symbolize the number of ways that chef knows how to prepare an egg, but we’re sure there’s at least one missing: as a facial mask. Many common foods can be used as cosmetics with surprisingly good results. So no matter your motivation (you want to save a few dollars, up your green quotient, or just find a novel way to pass the time), here are 10 cosmetic uses for food that are just as good, if not better, than their store-bought counterparts. (A word to the wise: If you have sensitive skin or processed hair, try these remedies on a small patch of skin or hair first.)
1. Egg White Mask. You can either save your leftover egg whites for an omelet
or angel food cake, or use them for your next facial. Just one white, beaten until smooth, is enough to cover your face. As with other masks, let it dry completely, then rinse off. It will leave you feeling refreshed, and your skin will be noticeably more taut.
2. Oatmeal Face Wash. Oatmeal has calming properties that soothe the skin
and help reduce redness. It can be used in a variety of ways, from a body wash to a mask, but the most basic is this simple face wash: Mix together equal parts warm honey and lemon juice, then stir in three parts instant oatmeal until it turns into a paste. Apply to your face, then wash off with warm water.
3. Vinegar Hair Cleaner. Swap your conditioner for vinegar twice a month
and you’ll get rid of any nasty buildup, as well as improve your hair’s silkiness and shine. Seriously. Don’t use dark or expensive vinegars; stick to cider or white wine vinegar for less strain on the wallet and better results. But don’t do this more than a few times a month or you’ll risk drying out your hair.
4. Honey and Brown Sugar Scrub. Fill a jar about two-thirds full with honey, add a scoop of brown sugar and one halved vanilla bean, and mix. Keep this in the shower and use it as a body scrub that will leave you smelling nice and feeling smooth.
5. Lemon Juice Lightener. Beach-goers have been doing this for years to lighten their locks. Just combine the juice of half a lemon with a handful of leave-in conditioner (which is less goopy than regular conditioner), spread on your hair, and comb through, then wash out. (Note: Highlighted or color-treated hair should be spared this homemade remedy, which could make your hair look brassy.) Many people also apply lemon juice directly to age spots to bleach them out, though this should be avoided on sensitive skin because lemon juice is highly acidic.
6. Coffee: Scrub and Shine-Maker. Your leftover coffee grounds can clog your drain or, if you’re feeling adventurous, be used as an invigorating scrub. For more details, check out this CHOW Tip. Needless to say, avoid doing this if you have sensitive skin. Leftover brewed coffee can also be mixed with some coffee grounds and conditioner to help increase shine in dark hair.
7. Tea Bag Eye Rejuvenator. The quintessential home cosmetic remedy is using cucumber slices on the eyes to reduce puffiness. While that certainly works, brewed black tea bags are even more effective. Place them on your eyes (which should be closed, of course) and let the tannins work their magic—about five minutes should do the trick.
8. Baking Soda Teeth Cleaner. Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with a quarter teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide for one of the most basic forms of tooth care that exists. It’ll clean your teeth (some would argue better than store-bought toothpaste), but you’ll be missing out on the minty freshness. Of course, you could just go totally au naturel and gnaw a bit of spearmint for that.
9. Oil Moisturizer. Take a page from many a Mediterranean grandmother: Olive oil works fabulously as a lotion. Use too much and you’ll smell like pasta, but in small doses it works wonders as a daily lotion or massage oil. If olive oil isn’t your thing, sesame oil (regular not toasted), peanut oil, almond oil, and argan oil work too.
10. Cornstarch Bath Powder. Superabsorbent and extremely fine, cornstarch is the kitchen equivalent of baby powder and can be used in the same way. Combine it with a few leaves of a nice-smelling dried herb (rosemary, lavender, or sage, for instance) and pulse it in the food processor until evenly mixed. Sift out any large stray leaf bits, transfer to a container with a shake top (like an old baby powder bottle), and use to freshen up anything from your body to your sneakers.
32 Life Lessons for our Teenage Daughters
There’s something like a line of gold thread running through a man’s words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself. ~John Gregory Brown
- Listen to the sound of your own voice
- You won’t always get what you want but never settle for less than you deserve
- Two telephone numbers you should keep in your cell phone your fathers cell number and his work number
- Make up your own mind no one should tell you what to be.
- Don’t just be different dream BIG and give it 100%.
- A man who respects your mind and body is a guy worth dating
- Find your life’s passion now find a charity and donate to it
- Use a condom. Enough said!
- Make positive choices
- Turn off the lights and shut off the water when you’re not using either
- Be a good listener and pay attention to the details
- Ask yourself from time to time what’s your Life plan?
- Take the easy way out. Never!
- Lend money to no one if they need it give it as a gift. If you don’t have it to give then you don’t have it.
- “Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes”
- Being smart and pretty is not enough. Develop your character
- Say thank you when someone pays you a compliment.
- Less is more
- If a guy asks you out on a date he should pick up the bill, if it’s your idea return the favor, if you’re with a gentleman rules not apply
- Fall down, cry, make mistakes and when its all over get back up
- It’s not your job to change anyone so don’t make it your profession
- Believe that all things are possible even when the odds are against you
- Peer pressure is adopting values you don’t believe in
- You don’t have to be a chef but learn to cook a couple of good meals
- Be careful not to fall in love with the idea of love
- The grass is not always greener on the other side so focus on making grass greener from where you stand
- Friends come and go those who stay remember them
- Most people don’t discover what they want until its too late
- Let go of trying to be perfect because it’s impossible
- Make a decision and follow through
- Be honest! You’re travelling a dangerous road when you start to lie to yourself
- If you can’t think go for a walk.
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10 Surprising Health Benefits of Making Love
Getting sex on is about more than just about pleasure. Good sexual health can perk up your bodily health. It certainly puts you in a optimistic frame of wits. Conserve power, turn off lights and light a candle. Save water, share a shower and soap each other. Go green between the sheets. This is more than a lifehack for mating, more than a justification to have sex.
10. A Lower Blood Pressure Level
A big health benefit of sex is lower blood pressure and overall stress reduction, according to researchers from Scotland who reported their findings in the journal Biological Psychology. They studied 24 women and 22 men who kept records of their sexual activity. Then the researchers subjected them to stressful situations — such as speaking in public and doing verbal arithmetic — and noted their blood pressure response to stress. Those who had intercourse had better responses to stress than those who engaged in other sexual behaviors or abstained. Another study published in the same journal found that frequent intercourse was associated with lower diastolic blood pressure in cohabiting participants. Yet other research found a link between partner hugs and lower blood pressure in women.
9. An Analgesic
Sex releases the fun-time hormone, oxytocin. And as WebMD reports, “as the hormone oxytocin surges, endorphins increase, and pain declines. So if your headache, arthritis pain, or PMS symptoms seem to improve after sex, you can thank those higher oxytocin levels.” Beats taking a double dose of pain relieving analgesic any time.
8. A good Work Out
Thirty minutes of sex burns 85 calories or more. It may not sound like much, but it adds up: 42 half-hour sessions will burn 3,570 calories, more than enough to lose a pound. Doubling up, you could drop that pound in 21 hour-long sessions. “Sex is a great mode of exercise,” says Patti Britton, PhD, a Los Angeles sexologist and president of the American Association of Sexuality Educators and Therapists. It takes work, from both a physical and psychological perspective, to do it well, she says.
7. A Cleansed System
It goes without saying that when we get aroused our blood starts to pump at a quicker rate and, thus, blood flow to our brain increases. Both an increased heart rate and more blood pumping through the brain result in better performance (in and out of the bedroom). What this ultimately means is that the fresh supply of blood pumping through your body provides the organs with a healthy dose of oxygen and rids the body of old and wasteful products. So, another health benefitof sex is a cleansed system. Treat your temple right with the help of a little excitement.
6. Fountain of Youth
Although the orgasm is sometimes referred to as the “little death,” having at least two orgasms a week can increase your life span. Every time you reach orgasm, the hormone DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) increases in response to sexual excitement and ejaculation. DHEA can boost your immune system, repair tissue, improve cognition, keep skin healthy, and even work as an antidepressant. Therefore, a health benefit of sex if you keep the orgasms coming, is potentially a longer life.
5. Healing Wounds & Hearts
Healing can be thought of in many ways. Sometimes a relationship needs to heal. Other times, a person needs to heal. It can be a wound or one suffering from something like diabetes. There have been studies in which evidence suggests that sex heals. Lovemaking can help rejuvenate to the point of cells regenerating and wounds healing faster. Set the stage right for the romp and anything is possible. Oxytocin from the big O, it does a body good.
4. An Anti-depressant
Sex produces phenylethylamine, a love chemical that ups your mood. Also, a study from the StateUniversity of New York shows that women who were directly exposed to semen were less depressed. Though as study lead Gordon Gallup points out, “I want to make it clear that we are not advocating that people abstain from using condoms.” After all, getting an STD or experiencing an unwanted pregnancy is not going to lift up anyone’s mood.
3. Prevents Cancer
Sex can help reduce the risk of breast cancer for women who have never given birth. A study showed that if a female increases the frequency of sex, she decreases the risks of breast cancer. Sex strengthens the pelvic floor muscles that control the flow of urine. Kegel exercises occur naturally during sex, giving women better bladder control. Frequent ejaculations, especially in 20-something men, may reduce the risk of prostate cancer later in life, Australian researchers reported in the British Journal of Urology International. When they followed men diagnosed with prostate cancer and those without, they found no association of prostate cancer with the number of sexual partners as the men reached their 30s, 40s, and 50s. But they found men who had five or more ejaculations weekly while in their 20s reduced their risk of getting prostate cancer later by a third.
2. A Hypnotic
After an orgasm, an intense wave of calm and relaxation overcomes humans (that’s why men usually fall asleep) and it’s a time when people can truly liberate themselves and let go. Plenty of people who enjoy a regular dose of sex convey that they sleep much better during the night and feel alive and refreshed throughout the day. So, one of the health benefits of sex is a better nights sleep, which allows you to handle day-to-day stress much more efficiently and helps fight insomnia.
1. Beneficial to Her
Getting down and dirty with her could help her reproductive health. The more sex she has, the more hormones she will produce that are responsible for increased sexual desire. That’s right, the more sex she has, the more sex she will want to have. More lovemaking can increase her levels of estrogen, which protects against osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s. Sex can also help prevent endometriosis in women. Ladies who have sex at least once a week have more regular menstrual cycles than those who frolic under the sheets less frequently. All this sex helps promote fertility in women by regulating menstrual patterns. Post romp, a female gets a jolt of natural oxytocin which in turn releases endorphins. This natural painkiller can help alleviate arthritis pain or lessen cramps. Plus all the practice is perfect if you want to hear the pitter-patter of little carbon footprints. After you’ve made a baby, horizontal dancing can trigger the onset of labor when she’s at term. Semen in her system may help with a speedy delivery. Yes, sex can maybe even help her to tolerate a natural, drug-free birth.
Related articles
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Eat Healthy:- 52 SuperfOOds
Step into any supermarket and you’ll see thousands of labels shouting good-health claims: Whole grains! No trans fats! Essential vitamins and minerals! But figuring out what really is part of a healthy diet is getting harder and harder in these days of information overload. And it shows in the sobering statistics: 66% of Americans are overweight or obese—which is a big reason more of us are developing diseases such as diabetes, and at younger ages.
Start here: Clean out your kitchen, tossing as many unhealthy items as you can. Single-ingredient foods— apples, chicken, cooking oil, etc.—are keepers. Packaged foods with long lists of hard-to-pronounce ingredients go out, especially if they contain more than 7% of calories from saturated fat or more than 10% of calories from sugar. Now, turn the page and find out what you’ve made room for!
52 Superfoods
Fill up on these nutrient packed foods, which can help you fight disease. Feel more energetic and even lose weight.
1. Eggs Each egg has 6 grams of protein but just 72 calories. No wonder researchers at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, found that eating eggs for breakfast (as part of a low-cal diet) helps you slim down.
2. Tomato sauce It’s loaded with lycopene, which makes your skin look younger and keeps your heart healthy. In fact, a Harvard study found that women with the most lycopene in their blood reduced their risk of a heart attack by 34%.
3. Dried plums(prunes) They’re packed with polyphenols, plant chemicals that have been shown to boost bone density by stimulating your bone-building cells.
4. Walnuts Just 14 walnut halves provide more than twice your daily dose of alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fat that’s been shown to improve memory and coordination.
5. Brussels sprouts They have more glucosinolates (compounds that combat cancer and detoxify our bodies) than any other vegetable. For a side dish that will make you wonder why you’ve been avoiding them, slice each one into quarters, then sauté in olive oil with chopped sweet Vidalia onions.
6. Acai juice A glass or two of this anthocyanin-rich berry juice can dramatically boost the amount of antioxidants in your blood, say Texas A&M University researchers.
7. Apples They contain quercetin, an antioxidant that may reduce your risk of lung cancer.
8. Bok choy This calcium-rich veggie can protect your bones and may even ward off PMS symptoms.
9. Steel-cut oats Because they’re less processed than traditional oats, they’re digested more slowly—keeping you full all morning long.
10. Salmon You’ll get all the heart-smart omega-3s you need in a day from just 3 oz.
11. Avocados Their healthy fat keeps you satisfied and helps you absorb other nutrients. For a new u twist, brush a halved avocado (pit removed) with olive oil and grill 1 minute. Serve with red onion, sliced grapefruit and balsamic vinegar.
12. Spinach A half-cup provides more than five times your daily dose of vitamin K, which helps blood clot and builds strong bones.
13. Canned pumpkin It’s filled with natural cancer fighters alpha- and beta-carotene.
14. Cauliflower White foods can be good for you! This one is packed with cancer-fighting glucosinolates.
15. Scallops A 3-oz serving has 14 grams of protein but just 75 calories.
16. Collard greens They’re exploding with nutrients like vitamin A, zeaxanthin and lutein, which keep your eyes healthy.
17. Olives They deliver the same heart-healthy monounsaturated fat you get in olive oil, but for just 7 calories per jumbo olive!
18. Brown rice It’s a top source of magnesium, a mineral your body uses for more than 300 chemical reactions (such as building bones and converting food to energy).
19. Oysters These keep your immune system strong. A 3-oz serving (about 6 oysters) dishes up a quarter of your daily iron, plus nearly twice the zinc and all the selenium you need in a day.
20. Edamame One cup has a whopping 22 grams of plant protein, as well as lots of fiber, folate and cholesterol-lowering phytosterols.
21. Strawberries They’re loaded with ellagitannins, phytochemicals that may halt the growth of cervical and colon cancers.
22. Lentils A great source of meat-free protein, a half-cup of cooked lentils also gives you nearly half your daily folate, a B vitamin that protects a woman’s unborn baby from neural tube defects.
23. Bran flakes Their whole grains keep your heart in tip-top shape by reducing inflammation and melting away belly fat.
24. Kiwi Italian researchers found that it reduces asthma-related wheezing, thanks to its high vitamin C content (one kiwi has 110% of your daily requirement).
25. Black beans They’re loaded with protein, fiber, and flavonoids—antioxidants that help your arteries stay relaxed and pliable.
26. Sunflower seeds A quarter-cup delivers half your day’s vitamin E, which keeps your heart healthy and fights infection.
27. Sardines 3 oz provide more than 100% of your daily vitamin D. Sardines are also a top source of omega-3 fats. Try adding mashed canned sardines to marinara sauce and serving over whole-wheat pasta.
28. Asparagus A half-cup supplies 50% of your daily bone-building vitamin K and a third of your day’s folate, it’s a natural diuretic so it banishes bloating, too.
29. Bananas They’re loaded with several kinds of good-for-you fiber, including resistant starch (which helps you slim down).
30. Broccoli sprouts They have 10 times more of the cancer-preventing compound glucoraphanin than regular broccoli.
31. Fat-free milk With a third of the calcium and half the vitamin D you need in a day, plus 8 grams u of muscle-building protein, it’s the ultimate energy drink.
32. Baked potatoes Each one packs a megadose of blood-pressure–lowering potassium—even more than a banana.
33. Sweet potatoes Half of a large baked sweet potato delivers more than 450% of your daily dose of vitamin A, which protects your vision and your immune system.
34. Flaxseed Not only is flaxseed loaded with plant omega-3s, it also has more lignans (compounds that may prevent endometrial and ovarian cancer) than any other food. Store ground flaxseed in your refrigerator and sprinkle on yogurt, cold cereal or oatmeal.
35. Greek yogurt It has twice the protein of regular yogurt.
36. Dried tart cherries Researchers at Michigan State University found their potent anthocyanins help control blood sugar, reduce insulin and lower cholesterol.
37. Wheat germ A quarter-cup gives you more than 40% of your daily vitamin E and immune-boosting selenium.
38. Whole-wheat english muffins You get 4 ½ grams of fiber for only 134 calories.
39. Tea Both green and black tea prevent hardening of the arteries, according to researchers at the University of Scranton.
40. Peanut butter This smart spread has arginine, an amino acid that helps keep blood vessels healthy.
41. Blackberries The king of the berry family boasts more antioxidants than strawberries, cranberries or blueberries.
42. Mustard greens These “greens” (actually a cruciferous veggie) are a top source of vitamin K. For a tasty pesto, chop them in a food processor with garlic, walnuts, Parmesan and olive oil.
43. Grapes They’re a leading source of resveratrol, the plant chemical responsible for the heart-healthy benefits of red wine.
44. Soy milk A good source of vegetable protein, calcium-enriched soy milk has as much calcium and vitamin D as cow’s milk.
45. Brazil nuts They have more selenium than any other food. One nut delivers your entire day’s worth!
46. Canola oil A Tbsp of this heart-healthy oil has all the alpha-linolenic acid you need in a day, plus two different forms of vitamin E.
47. Blueberries They improve memory by protecting your brain from inflammation and boosting communication between brain cells.
48. Oranges One orange supplies more than 100% of the vitamin C you need in a day. It’s also a good source of calcium and folate.
49. Watercress With just 4 calories per cup, this cruciferous veggie delivers a hefty dose of vitamin K, zeaxanthin, lutein, beta-carotene and cancer-fighting phytochemicals.
50. Turkey breast It has 20 grams of satisfying protein but just 90 calories per 3-oz serving.
51. Barley A top source of beta-glucan, a fiber that lowers cholesterol and helps control blood sugar.
52. Shiitake mushrooms One serving (about ¼ lb) provides as much vitamin D as you’d get from a glass of milk.
Related articles
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- Flax Seeds Essential For Health (positivechangeshypnosisnw.wordpress.com)
- Clear Skin nutrition (nutrition-sheet.com)
- The Flax Of Life. (veggiefitness.wordpress.com)
8 Secrets of Sexually Satisfied Couples
Your sister, your best friend, your cubicle-mate—you keep hearing about these women who enjoy fabulous sex lives with their partners. But how do they manage to keep it hot, especially when they have a couple of kids and more than a few years together? So you don’t have to broach the subject yourself, we asked a few lucky women for their secrets to a satisfying sex life. Here’s what they had to say—and how you can apply their advice in your own bedroom.
1. They schedule sex.
What? Put “Have sex” on your calendar? “Absolutely!” say couples happy with their sex lives. Rather than killing the mood with a lack of spontaneity, scheduling sex tends to “take away all the very real excuses I could otherwise use, like that I’m exhausted after working and getting the kids to bed,” says Holly Jenkins,* who has been married for two years and has three boys under the age of 10. “For couples in long-term relationships, planning a romantic interlude leads to a higher-quality, more enjoyable sexual experience,” says Victoria Zdrok Wilson, JD, PhD, who cowrote The 30-Day Sex Solution with her husband, John Wilson. Instead of thinking of calendar sex as unromantic, view it instead as a delicious form of foreplay. Send each other anticipatory texts, plan what you’ll wear (or not), and so on.
2. They lock the bedroom door.
This little bit of hardware is essential in a home with children, says Jennifer Flanders, who’s been married 24 years and has 12 children, ranging in age from 11 months to 23 years. She jokes that whenever the family moves to a new home, a new lock on the master bedroom tops the to-do list. Even if you don’t have a physical lock, creating a sense of boundaries is key, says Sacha Mohammed—married 14 years, with 7 children. “I always made sure the children were put to bed on time when they were little so my husband and I could have our time together; the kids were also taught to always knock to announce their presence.” According to Dr. Zdrok Wilson, “each couple needs to evaluate their environment and determine the optimal conditions for great sex.” For some, a lock may be enough to create an adults-only barrier. Others may need to go further to create a sensual, relaxing haven in their bedroom by banning electronic gadgets, computers and TVs, not to mention kids and their toys!
3. They have perfected the quickie.
During certain critical periods in a marriage––particularly when you’re new parents––time and energy are both at a premium. Couples who maintain a good sex life during these challenging times have learned to make the quickie something that’s good for both of them. If you’ve avoided speedy sex sessions in the past because it takes time for you to physically get in the mood, don’t underestimate the power of the mind-body connection. Try thinking of a place or time when the sex was amazing, and use it like a meditation, taking yourself back there in your mind, says Sharon Gilchrest O’Neill, marriage and family therapist and author of A Short Guide to a Happy Marriage. And “don’t be afraid of fantasizing,” she adds, because if you can figure out how to use 20 minutes to your advantage, you can avoid dry spells in your sex life.
4. They experiment.
“Be open to different ways of expressing yourself sexually,” says Jenkins. “As with music, people tend to like a mix of the predictable and unexpected.” You have to find the right balance between being adventurous and being conventional: Don’t be so conventional that it’s boring. But don’t be so adventurous that you lose your intimacy–or level of comfort. This could mean everything from positions to the overall attitude you bring to the intimate encounter. Sexual ruts––always doing it on a certain day, at a certain time, in a certain room––can breed boredom. Something as simple as mixing it up on the living room floor or in the shower can add some much-needed spice. Or get out of the house entirely. “Many couples report that they have the best sex when they’re not at home,” says Dr. Zdrok Wilson. “I call it ‘the dirty little motel’ syndrome.” And it doesn’t have to be limited to when you’re on vacation—hire a babysitter or drop the kids off at their grandparents’ house every once in a while so the two of you can book a room even if it’s only for a couple of hours.
5. They keep communicating.
Mohammed says that “excellent communication skills” is the top reason she and her husband continue to enjoy a satisfying sex life. “Before we got married, my husband told me we would talk about everything, and he meant it,” she says. There’s no other way to understand what your partner wants, needs or enjoys other than talking. And don’t make assumptions: You may be surprised to learn that what you thought was foolproof doesn’t really float his boat anymore, says Gilchrest O’Neill. “Save those conversations for when you’re not having sex, though in the actual moment, speak up about small adjustments your partner can make to increase enjoyment.
6. They avoid or reject excuses.
“Many of the excuses other couples use to avoid sex––like headaches, stress, tiredness or arguments––are some of the exact same reasons we choose to make sex a priority,” says Flanders. “Sex relieves pain, reduces stress, promotes better sleep and motivates us to settle our disagreements quickly.” Beware of letting excuses take on a life of their own, because, to use one example, the kids aren’t needy babies forever, and before you know it sex is so far on the back burner it’s fallen completely off the stove. “Brainstorm solutions to the things that get in the way of having sex,” suggests Gilchrest O’Neill. Tired? Go to bed earlier. Not enough time? Get creative with the hours or minutes you do have. However, if the root of your excuses isn’t fixable with practical changes (for example, if there are underlying problems or resentments), consider seeing a therapist.
7. They trust each other.
Jenkins cites her and her husband’s adventurous sex life, but is quick to add that for adventurousness to exist, it has to be preceded by trust. “Great sex is a reflection of the overall rapport and communication you have in other rooms of the house. To have trust with your spouse, you have to always try to build each other up outside the bedroom. If you say or do something critical or disrespectful to your partner during the day, why would he want to be naked and try something new with you later that evening?” she asks. Trust, comfort and ease with each other happens when you engage in active listening, says Dr. Zdrok Wilson. “You have to work on listening to your partner in an active, empathetic way and reciprocate by confiding in him, and baring your own feelings,” she says. Once you two feel like allies—not adversaries—your sex life will feel more honest and, hopefully, a lot hotter!
8. They care about their appearance and health.
“We still take pride in how we look for each other,” says Mohammed. Certainly staying in shape and paying attention to appearance helps you and your partner maintain the mood. But it’s not just about pleasing your partner’s eye; taking care of yourself makes you feel good about yourself. Not only that, but your libido is dependent on your overall health. “When you feel unhealthy, tired, ill or lacking in energy, you’re not likely to be motivated to engage in regular sexual activity,” says Dr. Zdrok Wilson. So, hit the gym, put on some makeup or dress up even if you’re not going anywhere. Do whatever makes you feel sexy and he’s guaranteed to notice.
Also Read This Great Related Articles
- 10 Reasons Why Having Sex Is Good For Your Health
- Hit the Snooze Button To Live Longer
- Use Common-Sense Lifestyle Tips for Longevity
- 5 Keys to Enhanced Sleep
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