5 Secrets to Make Your Relationship Stronger!

Sometimes we get so busy that we forget to express the love to the most important person of our life.

Good relationship improves all aspects of our life, strengthening our health, our mind, and our connections with others.

Spend Quality Time:

Sometimes we may be in the same room for hours but not talk to each other simply because we are busy with our own work.  If we are alone with our partners make sure we spend time talking to each other.

Spending quality time is a must in making the bond together. Going out in holidays and making fun together helps in building a connection and camaraderie between partners. Even in today’s busy-buzzy world a couple should always take out time to be together and give the beautiful relationship enough time to bond well.

It’s the little things in a healthy relationship that keep it healthy but spending time together is a big one.

Get Intimate:

Intimacy is the key to Love. Intimacy in day to day life is very important. A gentle touch or a warm hug can easily dissolve stress from our life and help us to lead a healthy one.

Studies have shown that affectionate touch actually boosts the body’s level of oxytocin, a hormone that influences bonding and attachment.

The eyes are the doorways to a connected life. Although it may feel a little funny, making an eye contact always tells our partner that all our attention is on her/him. It builds trust, which ultimately leads to a stronger emotional bond.

Surprise Elements:

Monotony is the killer of relationship. An urge to give our spouse a pleasant surprise is always helpful in keeping fun and spontaneity alive. It helps break the dull routine of a married life and also makes a couple trust each other more. Think of something he/she enjoy and make it happen. Call him/her on work and ask if he/she would like to go on a date. Make the reservations.

Never Stop Communicating:

Good communication is fundamental part of a healthy relationship.

Though you may have not sent any love note or email, there is nothing like professing your love every now and then. Do let your partner know that you are very much in love with him/her.

So much of our communication is transmitted by what we don’t say. Nonverbal cues such as eye contact, leaning forward or away, or touching someone’s arm communicate much more than words. For a relationship to work well, each person has to be receptive to sending and receiving nonverbal cues. Learning to understand this “body language” can help us understand better what our partner is trying to say. Think about what we are transmitting as well, and if what we say matches what we feel. If we insist “I’m fine”, while clenching our teeth and looking away, our body is clearly signaling we are not.

Appreciate:


One of the secret to long, fulfilling relationship is to continue to actively appreciate the partner.

Even if it’s something simple, try and tell him/her how much you appreciate their help around the house. More than the praise and attention that you shower, it’s the appreciation that makes them fall in love with you all over again.

Relationship advices are all very good, but sometimes we don’t require any of these to have a better relationship. Love is all that we need, everything else will automatically fall in place. A better relationship can be just as easy as being kind, respectful and being the partners Best Friend.

Good relationships are not just about the good times we share; it is also about the obstacles we go through together, and the fact that we say “I Love You” in the end.

How to beat Summer Heat?

Summer is hot. Its hot outside- and inside, too.

Are you feeling the summer? The easiest solution of getting a respite from summer heats is staying indoors with air-conditioner maintaining comfortable temperature conditions for us.

But we cannot stick indoors for long, as the activity is quite unusual in nature for most of us. There is a need to figure out practical ideas to cope up with summer heat.

How to beat Summer Heat?

Water, water and more Water:

As body loses water content through perspiration during summers, hydration becomes significantly important. So we need to keep hydrated by drinking several liters of water. Consider healthy food options like fresh juices, stews and broths that pump water into the body with essential nutrients. If we are sweating a lot, consider sport drinks to replace the salts and minerals.

Avoid beverages that contain alcohol, caffeine or lots of sugar which are dehydrating.

Binge on Fruits:

In order to reload body for water content, one can have fruits like watermelon, grape fruit and pineapple. Fruit juices along with meal or fruit salad between meals is an excellent energizer.  Oyster, mange, apricot, and gooseberries are some other fruit recommendations for summer.

Dress:

Wear attire suitable for summer seasons. Wear airy cloths that help us keep cool. Avoid synthetic fabrics as these could cause prickly heat, skin irritations and rashes. Light color cloths, or white absorbing less sun recommended for summers. Cotton cloths are best for summer wear.

Healthy Eating:

Healthy eating during summers means eating light; therefore abstain from fried and heavy foods. Alternatively, protein- rich food options along with salad of tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, spinach and beans should be the meal for summer season. Eating light eases digestion and also renders benefits like weight management.

Save our Skin:

Shield our skin from summer heat with sunscreen. A sunscreen with SPF-15 or SPF-30 should be applied before we step out in the heat. The lotion should be reapplied after 4-5 hours.

Protect eyes with an appealing eye gear:

Summer is the perfect time to make style statement; attractive sun glasses can serve the purpose. Shop for a sunglass that gives us UV protection along with fashion value that keeps our eyes safe during summers.

So there we go, get ourselves a nice smoothie and relax while we are enjoying the summer heat.

How to get flat stomach, in 3 simple steps!

Our tummy is a constant threat, the extra bit that is. It tends to protrude, bulge out and create a very clumsy impression.

Reducing this unwanted guest is what we always dream about doing. It takes time and determination to do this.

There is no magic potion that can make us reduce belly fat in the blink of an eye. Besides, is there is ever a potion for this, better be safe.

How to get motivated?

How to get motivated to reduce belly fat? For people who are trying to get rid of their tummy the natural way, diet, exercise and healthy life style are always the things to do. Yoga can also be one of the best ways to reduce tummy.

Let us go the righteous way.

Exercises:

This has to be a priority. We cannot just eat less and starve ourselves thinking that to be enough. For all we know, we may fall sick or may even increase a few more kilos. Core muscle strength is the key to strengthening those abdominal muscles and losing excess tummy fat quickly. So, do work on our core muscles more diligently. Also, do not shy away from weights! We can use weight machines and other gym equipment’s to help reduce our tummy fat fast. Use the cycle, the twister and the treadmill. All these will help in gaining overall strength along with our tummy. We can also jog, skip, swim and walk that extra mile if we have the time and the energy. Some aerobic exercise can also reduce tummy size. All we need to do is to keep doing them regularly.

Food Habits:

Bring about some changes in diet. Things like, eating in a smaller plate which would mean eating small quantities. Also, do not even think about touching junk food, they contain huge amount of calories and our main aim is to take in less calories and burn more. Also, avoid pasta, rice, white bread, potatoes, yellow butter and cheese. Binge eating and binge drinking also needs to be stopped in order to reduce our tummy. We look what we eat. So, start eating complex carbohydrates. These are found in grains. They give us energy for long time and keep stomach full.

Life Style:

Eating at the right time is very important. Do not have a so called late lunch or a midnight snack. Sleep early and rise up early, basically be disciplined as we once were as a school boy/girl. Don not smoke or drink the night away. One must get 8 hours of sleep every day.

Some more tips:

Be very careful while making choice of food. Avoid eating fried foods or foods high on calories.

Drink lots of water.

Skip heavy meals at night.

Avoid eating small bites of chocolates, cookies etc. in between meals.

Avoid carbonated or fizzy drinks since they are high on calories.

Avoid sitting at one place for long duration of time and day-dreaming. Involve ourselves in some physical work and keep us busy.

Amalgamate all of the above and we will get very positive results.

5 Natural Ways to Reduce Hair Fall

All of us dream of having healthy, shiny and beautiful curls- hair that would be our crowning glory but unfortunately hair fall seems to have become a constant problem.

Though hair fall is painless, it can be distressing experience to lose hair on a daily basis considering that hair associated with beauty.

Is hair fall normal??

It is considered normal to lose 40-50 strands of hair every day, especially if we wash it every day. But, it the rate of hair fall is worrying, or our hair has started to come out in tufts, and we are not able to maintain the same volume of hair – there could be cause of concern.

What causes hair fall?

The common reasons behind hair fall can be perceived as lack of essential nutrients in the body, excessive use chemicals through hair coloring and hair styling treatments, improper and unhealthy dietary habits, hormonal imbalance, dandruff and other scalp disorders. Even stress and tension can lead to hair fall.

Easy steps to control Hair Fall:

Beat Stress:

Stress is a major fact that leads to hair fall. Relaxing our mind and leading stress-free life can help reduce hair fall. Meditation is one of the best ways to relax and rewind. Regular mediation can also help restore hormonal imbalance. Yoga and breathing exercise can help too.

Hot Oil Massage:

Massage the scalp with lukewarm oil. We can us any natural oil – Coconut, canola and olive. Apart from the goodness of oil, massaging improves blood circulation. Rub hot oil into the scalp for at least one or two hours to restore the moisture of our tresses as this will replenish the hair roots and provide them intense nourishment. This is also an easy way to cure hair growth deterrents like dandruff and fungal infections. Keep the oil on for at least six hours before washing it off with a mild shampoo and we can do it at least 3-4 times a week.

Natural Juices:

Garlic, Onion and ginger have properties that help in boosting hair growth. They are also anti-bacterial and keep fungus and bacteria ta bay. We can rub our scalp with garlic, ginger or onion juices a few hours before washing our hair. Leave it for a while and rinse thoroughly.

General hair Care:

Avoid taking hot water baths as hot water opens the pores, making our hair follicles brittle leading to hair fall. A wide- toothed comb should ideally be used and does not comb hair roughly if we are facing hair fall. It is best not to comb the hair while it is wet as this leads to greater chances of hair breakage and fall. Let it dry or semi- dry before combing. It is also suggested that if we have long hair, then avoid tying tresses in a bun all the time as this can also lead to hair fall as well. If we really love our hair then please avoid indulging in a lot of hair styling as it damages our tresses.

Life Style:

A healthy life style is the key way to keep us fit overall. Get ample amount of sleep as insufficient sleep may aggravate the problem. Also, say no to smoking and alcohol as they aggravate the problem of hair loss. Also switch to a healthy diet and exercise regime. Include protein rich food like wheat, oats, barley and maize and brow rice in palette. Eat more seeds and nuts along with green leafy vegetables like spinach and sprouts of a variety of legumes. Basically food rich in calcium, protein and iron are vital ensuring overall health of the scalp.

Our hair is an important aspect of our image. Control hair fall and save our hair.

The Moment

The sky is overcast. There is strong breeze. The trees are boogying. The road is long and snaking. River is flowing alongside of the road with meandering sparkly water. Green grass is everywhere like a silky scarf between them. There is nobody in sight. It is just me, and the perfectness of everything around me.  

When I look around I can see the nature’s aglow. I feel the cool and sweet smelling breeze. So pretty! It moves in wondrous ways, through the tree branches it blows and it sways. The magic of nature’s beauty is such that it will surely make us amazed.

Driving a bicycle with, beside, the river side is good. When it’s beautiful outside, we feel cheerful inside. As I ventured, I stopped to draw on the breezy air, let my hair dancing with fun.  The clouds break through the sky to dance upon the earth. Do I need to run for cover? I just pretended, but secretly wish for more rain flow through me. It rained, and rained and rained.  I stood there, rain streaming down my face. Over the echo of water I hear a voice, a rhythm. Rain moist and cool, cleans my wrath, filling my heart with an unsaid music. This beautiful site is a grace to incarnate. This symphony is penetrating my soul with the grace of life. I am here to live, laugh and love.

But, suddenly everything was gone. There is no greenery, no grass swaying in the breeze, no rain, no water running for a race. There is only darkness, and a small shade of light smiling from a night lamp. I just came back to reality.

I realize that, it was just a moment. A moment made me forget where I am. A precious moment. I ponder how nature gets it so right, when we have let natures lessons get so out of sight. We hold our anger, let our happiness slip away from us. Struggling to survive each and every day. We forgot the little things mean so much, the laughter, the freedom, someone’s loving touch.

For once I felt I don’t want a streaming cup of coffee, and hear the horns bursting our ear. For once in my life I want to be taken away back to that rain and river. I will belong to a place no one but silence speaks.

 

Simple ways to keep our Hands Beautiful!

It is said that even if we have no word to express it, our hands can tell innumerable stories about our life!

Beautiful and well-kept hands are important. Hands tell us a number of things about ourselves. Hands tell us how we lead our life and how we take care of our body and skin. No matter how old we are, our hands tell an observer a lot about ourselves as a person. While speaking or communicating with others we use our hands to express ourselves, emphasize a point etc. Hands play an important role in communication. It is a part of our body we use the most, we cook with them, get dressed with them, write with them, empathize with them and shake others hands when we meet them.

Take good care of our hand and treat them well as they are essential for our existence.

Few Hand Care Tips:

Wash with Care:

Washing our hands is the best thing we can do to keep from spreading bacteria, viruses and other nasty things to us and from us to others.

Wash our hands frequently. If we make it practice to wash our hands the right way, their look and feel shouldn’t be a causality of our healthy habits.

Do not go for a harsh wash with our hands. We want to remove germs and grime, but we don’t want to strip all the natural oils from our hands. Wash our hands with warm water is the best way. We should also avoid harsh soaps. Liquid cleansers will also work well. Antibacterial soaps are not necessary and ay even dry skin more. This also can kill good bacteria on the hands and encourage bad bacteria that resist antibiotics.

Rinse hands well and dry by patting or blotting gently. Don’t rub.

Use Sunscreen:

Exposure to sun leads to damage skin. Hands can develop age spots and brownish areas that are actually sun damage. Apply sunscreen to our hands to keep it protected from sun.

Moisturize:

Moisturize our hands at least four times a day.  Because of all the things our hands get into- especially soap and water – they tend to dry quickly, particularly in winter.

Good moisturizers can help prevent or treat dry skin on our hands. They hold that needed water in the outer layer of the skin, making our hands smoother and softer. They also help our outer skin act as a temporary protective shield.

Many people like to use some sort of water-based lotion, but that may not be the best choice. Lotions may make our hands feel great at first, but the water will evaporate quickly, drying our skin anew. Creams are thicker and long lasting than lotion.

Use Gloves:

Our hands have a hard enough time as it is. Give them a break by protecting them from unnecessary exposure to anything that will make things worse.

All we have to do is make wearing gloves part of our daily routine. We might find wearing them uncomfortable at first, nut it is worth the time.

Wear gloves anytime when we plan to use harsh cleaning products. There is no use being careful about the soap we use to wash our hands if we are also exposing our hands to house hold cleaners. Wear gloves when gardening or doing yard work to protect hands and nails.

Give Ourselves a Mini-Cure:

A manicure may be mood elevating treat or preparation for a special occasion. Most of us won’t get a manicure every day, but we can give ourselves a mini-cure, or the little things that can help keep nails healthy and attractive.

·         Don’t bite our finger nails.

·         Use moisturizer on our nails as well as on our skin. For an extra treat at night, warm a favorite essential oil and give our nails a therapeutic sock.

·          Don’t cut cuticles, push them back too far or use chemicals on them.

·         When cuticles are soft and moist, push them back gently with a soft cloth.

·         Buff nails with a soft cloth.

·         If nails become discolored, stop using polish for a while.

·         Keep our nails clean.

·         Prepare our nails and cuticles from grooming by cutting a lemon in half, sticking our finger nails inside and twisting them around to clean them

·         Use a file with a fine texture to shape nails and remove snags.

·         File nails to rounded point to preserve their strength.

Palm Massage:

Simply rub one palm over the back of the opposite hand in circular motion. The massage motion increase circulation, which helps to warm up our hands.

Healthy Diet:

The skin and nails on our hands will benefit from a basic, everyday healthful routine. If we want to keep our hands and finger nails healthy, smooth and young looking, think about what we eat. Deficiencies in the B-Complex vitamins can cause ridged nail beds, and a lack of calcium can result in brittle, dry nails that chip and flake easily. Be sure to eat foods high in these vitamins to improve the look of our nails. Make sure that we stay well hydrated as well.

Adjust Our Computer:

The position of our computer monitor, keyboard, and mouse can have a profound effect on our hands. Repetitive motions such as typing and mouse clicking can result in tired, sore hands. To correct this, make sure that mouse is easily reachable and that the keyboard is positioned in a comfortable level.

Condition of our hands depends on the time we give to our hands.

10 Ideal Habits for a Better Life Style

The urban life we lead comes with a cost. And it takes much more than our spending power.

Most people caught in the urban trend of life lack a lot of things in their daily life, like time, freedom, peace and most importantly happiness. When our demanding life style starts taking a toll on our mental, physical or emotional state of being, we know it’s time for a change.

There has never been a time in human history where we can live longer and live better than we can today.

Some habits which will help us to lead a better life style

Choose Juice over Coffee:

We tend to rely on coffee during the schedule of the day. Doesn’t matter it’s a persistent migraine or lack of sleep or even a bad day at work, we most probably having habit for sipping a coffee. By doing so, we are actually inviting health hazards. It is best to change our habits and shift to a glass of fresh juice instead of a cup of coffee. Making it a habit will not only improve our health but also reverse the bad effects of our life style.

Juicing is a nutrient dense, cancer fighting way to give our body unconditional love, a jolt of healthy energy – instead of coffee, that takes from our body and has consequences with long- term health effects.

Writing Over Typing:

With most offices embracing the concept of going paperless and the convenience of typing, people have forgotten the essence of writing. The experience of writing can be fulfilled with a pen and paper. Writing is a good habit to cultivate. It will be a sort of rediscovery of us and will add freshness to our daily, boring routine.

Writing is also better for learning, to make us better writer and prevent us from distracted. It also helps us to keep our brain sharper as we get older.

Plant a Tree Every Birthday:

Long reversed as symbol of life, the significance of trees to life on earth becomes even stronger when considering climate change. Trees control the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, absorbing carbon and using it for growth. They are ten to twenty times more efficient at removing carbon from the air than the crops or grassland.

This habit will surely give us immense pleasure and satisfaction in the long run. Though, this habit will not bring any immediate changes to our lifestyle. Planting a tree once a year will help us support nature in a small yet effective way.

Ditch Our Car, Once a Week:

We have heard about the benefits of carpooling, taking the public transport etc. If we cannot bear to take trouble every day, do so just once a week. When we pool our car, we get the opportunity to mingle with our colleagues.  Using the public transport serves as an excuse to enjoy the journey as opposed to concentrating on reaching the destination when driving ourselves to work. This way we can appreciate the little things usually go unnoticed in the light of our busy schedule.

Have some Me Time Every Day:

This habit goes unnoticed by each of us. We are so busy spending time with our colleagues, wife/girlfriend, family and pets that we forget the most important part of us that is over selves. Start making this a habit by spending at least half an hour with our selves. We will be amazed to see how refreshed our mind gets and having this habit for lifetime will give enormous mental and emotional well- being.

Sunday=Holiday from Gadgets:

In this time of technology, we surely have become a slave to technology. We surely know that we are, indeed, depending on gadgets to get through our day. Though I agree that we are crucial in today’s fast paced world, spending one day without them is not exactly a mission impossible. Our Sundays should not only mean a holiday from work but from gadgets too.

Laugh more Often:

Whoever said laughter is the beast medicine, most definitely said it right. Laughter is an antidote to pain, stress and heart ache. Go back to the time when we are a little man in a world where we could laugh our heart out without any worries. Shed those burdens that come in the way of our happiness and give in to laughter whenever it comes calling.

Music is the Classical Tool:

This is a habit we will enjoy the most as music is the best tool for mental peace. Music is always considered as the soul of the body. Science has proved that music directly affect our nervous system. Listening to soothing music enhances and lowers the levels of stress hormone. So, make a habit of having our headphones on and ignore the world.

Walk:

Walking is, perhaps, the best exercise ever because it not only helps the body but also rejuvenates the mind. Walking is said to help more than any doctor or his medicine can. While we can choose to walk in our treadmill, I would suggest opting for outdoor walking. An early morning walk improves our mood, reduces anxiety, improves blood circulation and makes more sensitive to our surroundings.

One Good Deed a day:

Instead of thinking about benefitting ourselves, think for the benefits of others for a change. A good deed can something as small as offering someone a lift, helping the elderly cross the road or taking an injured animal to the vet. Anything that makes us feel humane is a good deed and will tremendously help our growth as a real man.

“We first make our habits, and then our habits make us” – John Dryden

The Art of Cooking, in your Home

Every culture has a unique food philosophy. The way we cook our food tells a lot about who we are.

Plates may be formed by socio-cultural influences, but the act of cooking itself is a spiritual pursuit.

Whether one is cooking daily for loved ones or preparing for thousands in a temple or donning the chef’s apron occasionally over weekends, cooking can elevate the soul to great heights. It is precisely for this reason that the experience inside a kitchen could be heavenly bliss.

Although the art of cooking seems mysterious at first, its elements are easy to define. We can prepare food using different methods, with a variety of equipment’s, ingredients and seasoning.

The great world cuisines came into being when people in diverse ecosystems and climates experimented with limited regional food resources and technologies over long periods of time.

There is a strong sense of pride and accomplishment that cooking from our own meals, from taking ingredients and combining those to create eye-catching and mouth-watering dishes that can please us and our family and friends.  

The only problem for many of us, cooking looks so complex and frustrating that it doesn’t seem worth our time.

The truth is cooking can be simple, fast and cheap. It may take up a little bit more time than say, the drive through, but not much more. And the satisfaction that comes out of routinely preparing our own meals is authentic.

Even amateur cooks dream of creating gourmet meals in their own kitchens. With just a little practice we can learn how to plan meals around basic, healthy ingredients. In most part of the world there is no so much emphasis on variety. We don’t have to tear our hair out to think of creative meals for a week.

Some Rules For cooking at home:

Buy the right quick- meal ingredients:

Choose right healthy meal ingredients always. Tomatoes are an easy way to add flavor to the meal. Quick cooking whole grains are nutritional power house that are ideal for home cooking. For quick and healthy protein beans and lentils are must-have to keep on hand. Adding vegetables to every meal will bring us a healthy life.

Buy Healthy Add-ins:

Heart- healthy nuts are simple way to dress up simple dishes. Rich in Vitamin E , cholesterol- lowering plant sterols, fiber and omega-3’s , nuts are nutrition packed and delicious as salad toppers, stirred into rice or blended into nut butter.

Be Aware of hidden Calories:

Always use heart healthy oils, such as extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and high oleic sunflower oil.

Pots, pans and other tools can be just as important as the ingredients. A food processor allows you to make healthy dips and purees, and a good blender is essential for fruit-packed smoothies. A nonstick pan or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet allows searing and sautéing with little to no oil. 

Be Fearless:

Courage is crucial to cooking well. As in many areas of life, fear of doing things incorrectly includes paralysis; this is devastating in the kitchen, because we wind up being too hungry to deal and just go out, order in.

Think, what’s the absolute worst thing that could happen by taking risk with our cooking? That’s ruins the dish? Well, yes, but we have learned something valuable in the process.

Cooking should Dissolve, not create Tension:

If we approach cooking as a practice, we can make exceedingly simple food and still have it turn out delicious if we put love and care in it. Guest can feel that too.

We spend so many hours of our lives shopping for food, preparing it, consuming it, and cleaning up after we have done. And most of us do it regularly. If we can rise to this daily event, without fear, dread or anxiety, it can be an anchoring presence for the other parts of the day. The kitchen can become a stress free zone, once we decide that’s what it should be.

Be Mindful:

So much of cooking is simple paying attention. Paying attention to ones, own likes and dislikes, paying attention to what looks on any given shopping day, paying attention to the actual contents of one’s fridge.  

When we are mindful of what we are eating, all kinds of pleasant sensations occur. The bite of a ripe pink apple, when chewed with attention, wakes up the mouth.

Preparing food by ourselves encourages a greater awareness of what we are eating. Becoming as aware as we can to the experience of eating is something worth pursuing. It is a rewarding and profound corridor to pleasure.

Cooking is not a duty. It’s an art. If you think well, you cook well.