Soack Up the Sun!

There's so much speculation about the harmful effects of UV rays from every skincare brand. Like some life-threatening enemy, we try to shield ourselves from the sun using sunblock and sunglasses. But scientific evidence shows that optimum exposure to the sun can prove to be really beneficial for our health. Sunlight brings joy, happiness, warmth and brightens up our day. Early morning sunrays, especially those between 6am-10am, have many health benefits. Some of these are listed below:

Rich source of Vitamin D: Vitamin D is required by our body for calcium absorption and transfer. Efficient absorption ensures that bone problems like osteoporosis, rickets etc. are prevented. Sunlight is the richest natural source of Vitamin D. Sun exposure of the face, neck, arms, and legs for 10-20 mins daily can help our bodies absorb Vitamin D adequately.

Detoxification: Sunlight increases our core body temperature. This helps in easy removal of toxins from the body and also enhances the functioning of the liver.

Increased blood circulation: Sun rays widen the blood vessels which increase blood flow and transport of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. It also reduces the heart rate and blood pressure. Skin that is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays release a compound, nitric oxide that lowers blood pressure.

Mood elevation: Sunlight stimulates the production of serotonin - a neurotransmitter in the brain which helps to improve mood and reduce mood swings. It also acts as a natural anti-depressant by preventing depression by producing endorphins.

Immunity booster: Sunlight increases the production of white blood cells which help to prevent infections caused by bacteria, fungi and viruses. It also helps prevent cancers of the prostate gland, breast, colon etc.

Good sleep: Your amount of daylight exposure is vital in maintaining a normal circadian rhythm. These rhythms include physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle and respond to light and darkness in the body's environment. Exposure to sunlight increases the production of melatonin hormone which helps you sleep soundly. The sleep-wake cycle is contingent on morning sunlight to help you sleep at night. Natural daylight helps your body clock restart to its active daytime phase. To ensure that your body clock is in sync, be sure to go outside and get some sunlight when you wake up or turn on the lights in your room. This will give your body the signal that it is daytime and not nighttime. To avoid confusing your circadian rhythm, try not to sit in dim settings during the day because your body will associate the bright light with night. The less morning light you expose yourself to, the more difficult it will be for you to fall asleep and wake up at your set time.

Digestion: Sunlight increases metabolism and helps to improve digestion.

Skin problems: Early morning sunlight can help reduce skin issues like acne, eczema, psoriasis etc.

While bathing in the sunlight can prove to be beneficial for your overall health, do avoid over exposure to the burning sun rays, especially in the afternoon. So have you soaked up some sun, today?

How to Strengthen Weak Finger Nails?

Are your nails giving you trouble because of how weak they are? Read on for a few tips to get better looking, strong nails.

Growing nails out may seem like a tedious task, especially for those who have nails that are both brittle and weak. Strong and healthy nails help make one feel confident, adding to the look of the person. Here are some simple tips that can help you get healthy nails:

Your fingernails need to breathe: continuously keeping nail polish on your fingernails to hide the fact that they are brittle is actually perpetuating the brittleness. Remove your nail polish the night before a manicure and moisturize the fingernails to the max. It's best if you go a few days without nail polish to allow your fingernails to breathe, but even an overnight breather without nail polish will help diminish the brittleness and strengthen brittle fingernails.

File it just right: It is important that you clip your nails often and file them using the proper technique. Make sure you avoid filing nails in a back and forth motion. Also, file the nails in one direction.

Don’t Nibble: Yes, we know: old habits die hard. But biting your nails really does affect their strength over the long term. You’re not only chomping the nails off with your teeth, you’re also exposing the nails to the water in your saliva over and over again, which, as noted above, really dries out the nails. Find a way to break the habit, and while you’re weaning yourself, use a hand cream daily

A mini manicure: To get strong nails, you can take a cotton ball and wrap it around an orange stick, then dip it into some Vitamin E oil. Use this to gently push back the cuticles at about 45 degrees. After you've done this, apply a coat of nail strengthening polish. Also, rub moisturizer into the cuticles of your nails once daily.

Use nail polish remover without acetone: Nail polish remover with acetone can be harmful for your nails and when used, they can contribute to brittle nails. This is because; this dries up the nails much more than nail polish remover without acetone. Instead of such nail polish removers, try getting the ones that are acetate based.

Drink more water: Drink about eight glasses of water daily; because the more hydrated you are the better nails you have. Also, have a glass of milk daily. Milk has high zinc content, and that helps with strong nails.

7 Modern-Day Health Woes

How to avoid twenty-first century health problems? From tablet neck to ear bud-related hearing loss.

There was a time, not too long ago, when a phone was just a phone, sky-high heels weren't sold in every mall, and you had to catch your favorite TV show when it actually aired. There's no going back—and who wants to?—but our contemporary world is bringing its share of health hazards that were once either rare or unheard-of. Check out where our text-happy, music-obsessed, stiletto-loving lives can lead—and what you can do to make these new risks a thing of the past.

Orthorexia Nervosa:

Orthorexia nervosa is a term to describe people who have developed a fixation with healthy eating. In rare cases, this focus may turn into a fixation so extreme that it can lead to severe malnutrition or even death. Even in less severe cases, the attempt to follow a diet that cannot provide adequate nourishment is said to lower self-esteem as the orthorexics blame themselves rather than their diets for their constant hunger and the resulting cravings for forbidden foods.

Among the signs of orthorexia nervosa are: spending more than 3 hours a day thinking about healthful food; planning meals days in advance; feeling virtuous from following a strict healthful diet, but not enjoying eating; feeling socially isolated (such strict diets make it hard to eat anywhere but at home); and feeling highly critical of those who do not follow a similar diet. Although the psychiatric community does not officially recognize orthorexia nervosa as a disorder, those with the condition benefit from psychological treatment and sessions with eating-disorder specialists.

Social Anxiety Disorder:

Social Anxiety Disorder or social phobia is a persistent and irrational fear of situations that may involve scrutiny or judgment by others, such as parties and other social events.

People with social anxiety disorder have an “intense, persistent, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others and of doing things that will embarrass them,” and that fear can be so intense that it interferes with work, school, and other ordinary activities and can make it hard to make and keep friends. But the condition has physical manifestations, too, including trembling, upset stomach, heart palpitations, confusion, and diarrhea. The cause hasn’t been nailed down, but social anxiety disorder is probably due to a combination of environmental and hereditary factors.

Tablet neck and BlackBerry thumb:

We've all been there: unable to stand in line or wait for a movie to start without checking our phone as impatiently as if we had a loved one in the ER. Click away, but know that all that hunching over and tapping on handheld devices, like tablets and smartphones, is leading to more—and younger—patients with arthritis and tendinitis in the elbows, neck and thumbs. In a study 84 percent of mobile-phone users reported having pain in at least one body part, most often the base of the right thumb. "Even light pressure can be magnified 5 or 10 times at the base of the thumb joint," causing strain. So-called BlackBerry thumb could eventually require surgery.

That doesn't mean you have to give up Instagramming, but do take some simple precautions while you type. First, hold up your phone to about chest-high when you're looking at the screen—another study shows that as many as 91 percent of us may be staring down at navel level, straining the backs of our necks. If you have a tablet, use a stand instead of placing it flat on a table or holding it up; both positions can curve your shoulders painfully. Get up and stretch periodically while using phones and tablets, and try not to slam your fingers down on the screen or keyboard. Finally, consider making calls (remember those?) instead of so many texts and e-mails.

Earbud-induced hearing loss:

Once limited mostly to construction workers and the elderly, noise-related hearing loss is now a concern for regular folks of all ages. “Moreover, this hearing loss and related problems—like tinnitus, or buzzing and ringing in the ears—are occurring earlier, and showing up more profoundly once they set in.

No wonder: Unlike the bulky Walkman headphones of decades past, earbuds pipe high-volume, high-fidelity sound right through your eardrum, and their tiny size—not to mention the ubiquity of portable listening and viewing devices, like your Kindle Fire or iPod—makes it convenient for you to listen to tunes and watch TV shows and movies anywhere, anytime. Long or repeated exposure to sound over 85 decibels can damage your hearing; an MP3 player at full volume is around 105 decibels—louder than a power drill or a passing motorcycle.

The solution, naturally, is to turn down the volume, and limit the amount of time you have those wires sprouting from your ears. Try following the 60/60 rule: listening to music through your earbuds for no more than 60 minutes a day, using 60 percent of the maximum volume. Better yet, spring for noise-canceling or noise-isolating buds—or best of all, sport old-school headphones. They're generally safer, as long as you're not walking around in traffic with them on!

Screen-related sleep disorder:

Raise your hand if you sleep curled up with your iPhone, or stay up too late to watch your favorite television shows in real time . Beware: More and more research suggests that blue light from a light-emitting diode (LED) screen—the type of screen on most computers, phones, TVs and other devices these days—can inhibit the production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin and disrupt our circadian rhythms. Researchers think this is because LED-generated blue light emits wavelengths very similar to daylight, so it can make our bodies think it's daytime, all the time.

In a 2011 study, participants who viewed an LED screen at bedtime had melatonin levels that took longer to rise and remained lower during the night than when they looked at old-fashioned fluorescent monitors. This doesn't give fluorescent lighting a pass: Other research has found that energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs—which release blue light—suppress melatonin more than traditional incandescents (which emit a red-orange glow that's less similar to daylight) and can keep people awake longer.
No, you're not going back to a dumb phone or a computer from 1993, but you can turn down your screen brightness at night, or install the flux app, which automatically adjusts the light your computer emits depending on the time of day and where you are. Better yet, do some reading under an incandescent light when you're winding down at night.

Stiletto strain:

High heels have been fashionable for—what?—centuries; the stiletto debuted back in the 1950s.

Podiatrists have been watching this trend with some alarm. "The higher you go, the more changes in your gait pattern and the more stress on your feet, knees and back," "Potential problems are going to be greater." In fact, she prefers patients to wear shoes with heels under 2.5 inches. Researchers Found that very high heels (we're talking over 3.5 inches here) were significantly more likely to lead to foot pain, ankle stress and an increased risk of sprain than half-inch heels. Another study found that super high stiletto heels were more likely than medium heels to cause varicose veins, which can lead to fatigue and pain. And in 2011 a study found that the higher the heel, the greater the stress on the knees and the risk of osteoarthritis.

Don't kid yourself that wedges or platforms are a safer bet. They may place your foot at a less-severe angle, but your staccato walk is still putting an unnatural burden of weight on the small, delicate bones of the feet and toes. Her advice: If you must wear towering heels, give your feet a rest and go low the next day.

Offbeat biorhythms:

We live in a world where the gym never closes—and neither does the drive-through, for that matter. Our 24/7 lifestyle can have potential health consequences that researchers are only beginning to understand. For example, staying up late may predispose us to digest food differently, possibly contributing to obesity. In one study, mice exposed to dim light at night gained 50 percent more weight than mice kept in a natural-light-cycle environment—even though both consumed the same number of calories and had similar activity levels.

Studies also find that folks whose routines are not in sync with regular circadian rhythms—like people who work at night and sleep during the day—might be more vulnerable to heart disease, depression, diabetes and cancer. "We evolved under cycles of light and dark, Modern lighting has turned that on its head."

So if you're up late—or wake in the middle of the night—keep lights and activity as low as possible to stay in tune with your body clock. And remember: "It's not a time to snack."

7 Easy Tips to Increase Hair Volume Naturally

With the onset of monsoon, you are surely getting worried seeing all those additional strands of hair in your comb. Well, it is natural to lose up to 100 strands of hair in a day, but, excessive hair loss is definitely something that you need to worry about. Your lustrous locks need as much care as your face. So, here are some simple ways to increase your hair volume naturally. 

Oil massage: 

Massaging your scalp is very important as it improves the blood circulation and makes your roots healthy. Use warm oil to massage your hair and scalp. Always massage your scalp in circular motion. It is best to use either coconut or jojoba oil. Use rosemary oil to combat dandruff. After the massage, wrap your hair in a warm towel for a few minutes, to provide extra conditioning to your hair. It is important to keep scalp clean. Shampooing three or four times a week is plenty.

Conditioning: 

Conditioning your hair with good a conditioner, after shampoo is a must. A conditioner makes your hair more manageable and easier to untangle. It also helps to return the moisture that your hair strands would have lost during shampooing. But always remember to apply the conditioner at least 1-2 inches away from your scalp.

Balanced diet: 

A healthy and balanced diet is very important to enhance the volume of your hair naturally. Include necessary vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B, C, zinc, iron and copper in your diet. They will promote hair growth by strengthening your hair follicles. Also, drink at least 8 glasses of water every day to keep your body and hair hydrated.

Use Aloe Vera:

It can work wonders if used sensibly. Aloe Vera is a natural remedy to bring hair fall under control. It provides essential moisture and nutrients to your scalp; thus, boosting hair growth. Apply aloe vera gel directly to scalp and let it stay for one hour. Then shampoo your hair to rinse it out. Regular use of this will definitely reduce hair fall.

No chemicals: 

It is best to avoid unnecessary hair procedures, like perming, straightening, and coloring. Such processes leave your hair dull and dry. Not only this, they also make your hair fragile and weaken your roots, thus leaving you more prone to hair loss.

Beneficial Amla: 

Alma is an important natural ingredient, which is used in many hair products as well. Amla helps to cure hair loss and luster to dull and dry hair. It is important to include Amla in your diet. For best results eat at least one amla every day, on an empty stomach. It is best to go for an amla hair oil massage. This will strengthen your hair roots and also enrich your natural hair color as well. 

De-stress: 

Stress is seen as a major culprit behind hair loss. Excess stress can lead to hair thinning and hair greying as well. Some of the good ways to distress is to include yoga or exercise in your daily routine. This would not only help you to de-stress but also boost the flow of oxygen and blood to your scalp.

Skin and Hair Care Tips for Monsoon

The onset of monsoon is a welcome relief after the sweltering summer heat. The thick grey clouds and the cool breeze makes you hum. But don’t be surprised if your skin doesn’t share your fervor.

It is crucial to take care of hair and skin during the monsoon to avoid dryness which could badly damage them. Here are some tips on how to keep your hair, skin and face in the best shape this monsoon.

Skin Care Tips for Monsoon

Coming to skin first, because of the humidity in air being increased the skin has a tendency to become dry very easily. Skin requires regular cleansing in order to keep it looking fresh and healthy. Taking the care of skin also depends on type of skin each one of us have. As per the skin type one needs to take necessary care.

Dry skin:

Keeping the skin hydrated all the time is very important. Cleansing is important during the monsoons. The high humidity causes sweat, build-up dirt, and dust along with other toxins on the surface of skin. Keeps skin nourished. Loss of moisture from skin makes it appear dry and lifeless. Use a good moisturizer at least 2 to 3 times a day.

Oily Skin:

Use a very mild cleanser to get the dead skin and dirt off from skin. Use pure oatmeal scrub to cleanse oily skin or use ripe papaya pulp as a mild exfoliator.

Apart from cleansing, toning is a necessity at night. During monsoon, a lot of airborne and waterborne germs are let free. So a good anti-bacterial toner will go a long way to prevent skin infections and breakouts. It is a good idea to get anti-bacterial face wash too.

Moisturizing in the rains is as important as it is in summer. Monsoons can mean a de-hydrating effect on dry skin and an excessive-hydrating effect on oily skin. The skin gets wet often and with the constant wetting and drying, a lot of dehydration takes place. That explains the itchy feeling one gets during monsoons. Use a non-water based moisturizer, if you happen to get wet often. Otherwise a water- based moisturizer will do just fine. Though its monsoon, still don’t avoid the usage of SPF, minimum is SPF 15 as UV A rays are all the time around us hence do follow the use of sunscreen on daily basis.

Since the temperature is humid make sure the skin is kept dry to avoid getting fungal infections.

Hair Care Tips for Monsoon:

Along with skin is equally important to take care of hair. It’s very important to keep hair dry to avoid getting infections or lice infestations. The monsoons also bring in humid air which makes the hair drier so it’s very important to keep hair simple with fewer styles and less usage of any cosmetic products.

Styling can only be done when it goes suddenly from damp to dry. Damp hair is very flexible. It stretches easily and breaks. It needs to be handled cautiously. Towel dry gently and don’t pull or comb wet hair. Use your fingers or a blow dryer to dry hair until it’s just slightly damp.

Try to keep the hair as dry as possible so as to avoid any infections. Also hair could become brittle or lifeless if there is repetitive use of hair dryers to keep it dry hence allows it to dry naturally.

Important Tips for Clean and fresh hair:

·         If possible keep your hair tied in the monsoons. Go for a shorter hair cut if you want to avoid dirt build up on your scalp or get splits ends. A well-groomed look is essential in the monsoons.

·         Do not let your hair get wet in the rain. Pollution, floating toxins in the air come down with the rain and settle on your scalp. This makes your scalp feel itchy and may cause dandruff. Always cover your hair. Make umbrellas or raincoats your best friends, to avoid danger to your pretty locks.

·         Rinse your hair with a gentle shampoo and condition it after, if your hair happens to get drenched in the rain.

·         While traveling by public transport or perhaps on a two wheeler, keep the head covered with scarf/cap, etc. This protects hair from probable damage.

·         After all monsoons are there to be enjoyed, so take care of skin and hair with simple steps and enjoy the rains.

Krishna’s Best Friend Sudama (Kuchela)

Sudama also known as Kuchela was a childhood friend of Hindu deity Krishna. Socially Sudama was a poor Brahmin while Krishna was a royal prince. They attended the same gurukula (school) as boys and went their ways in life. Krishna became the king of Dwaraka while Sudama remained a poor Brahmin who married and had 27 children. They were in such great poverty with hardly any food to feed the children. One day Sudama’s wife suggested that he seek the help of Krishna, his true friend. At first he was reluctant because he feared that Krishna might not see him because he was poor and secondly, he did not have anything to offer as a gift.

Sudama was, of course, excited. But, he was excited not so much by the prospect of coming by a plenitude of fortune as by that of having a sight of the Lord to his heart's fill. He considers the unexpected opportunity to meet Krishna as a veritable windfall. Before he sets out for Dwaraka to meet Krishna, he takes care to carry with him, tucked in a corner of his upper cloth, a few handfuls of puffed rice procured by his wife by begging from her neighbors. Even as he wends his way towards Dwaraka, his mind was dominated by thoughts about Krishna.

When Sri Krishna heard that his childhood friend came to visit him, he jumped with joy. He ran to the gates to receive Sudama personally. Everybody there got surprised to see Sri Krishna’s joy had no bounds. He invited Sudama into his palace with love. He showed him the palace and its opulence.

He requested Sudama to sit on the throne. Sri Krishna washed Sudama’s feet and sprinkled the water on his head as well as on his wives’. Sri Krishna worshipped Sudama with flowers and then introduced him to his wife.

When this was going on, Sudama was feeling bad and did not utter a single word. When Sri Krishna was giving him that much importance, he could not handle. Then, he realized what he brought for Krishna, and decided not to give. But Sri Krishna was thinking that he must have brought something for him for old time’s sake. So, Krishna started searching him out of compassion, and found the packet. He opened the cloth packet and with great surprise, said, “Sudama! This is great. You brought cooked rice flakes for me? You still remember how much I liked to eat these. I asked my wives to prepare this many times, but they never made it for me. All these years, I am missing this. Sudama! You are great”. Then Sri Krishna took a handful of rice flakes and put it in his mouth. These rice flakes were stale and giving bad smell. Even then, Sri Krishna did not care. He also took another handful and ate it.

Sri Krishna is the supreme Lord who has the entire universe as his body. So, he does not feel any smells whether they are good or bad. Sri Krishna was ready to eat the third handful, and then Rukmini Devi caught his hand. She whispered in his ear, “Dear! You ate one handful. You gave Sudama so much wealth that is more than sufficient in this life. You ate another handful, and gave him the eternal bliss (moksha) after this life. So, there is nothing else to give. But if you eat the third handful, you and all your subjects would become permanent servants to him. Please stop.” Sri Krishna stopped eating. He took care of his friend that day. Next day, he gave a very warm send off to Sudama.

Slowly, Sudama started walking back to his town. Until he came out of the palace,he could not think what was going on. After long time when they met, Sri Krishna showed his wealth and his status to Sudama. But Krishna never asked how Sudama was doing, whether he needed any help, or what the purpose of the visit was. Sudama came to ask for monetary help, but he did not have chance to ask. With this kind of thinking, he was walking back. Kuchela also thought that if he got wealthy, he might forget God. Krishna might know that better than him. That was the reason, Krishna did not offer anything. Probably, whatever that God decide is always good for us. Sudama was thinking that Krishna did him a favor by not making him rich. Whatever He gives, and whichever way He gives, is always good for me. With this kind of positive thinking, he continued to travel. This was the first realization.

After traveling for nearly three months, he reached his town. Nearly after six months, he returned to his home. He came to the street where he had his house. The street used to be very poor and his house was a hut. But now, the entire street is full of palaces and beautiful houses everywhere. He could not understand what was going on. He thought that he came to a wrong street. But he knew that this was the correct street and correct house. He thought that this place was occupied by some other king. He started worrying about his wife and children. When he was in this dilemma, the doors of that big building opened. One lady wearing beautiful clothes and ornaments came out with her maids. She came to Sudama and invited him into the building. “Can’t you recognize me? Why are you looking at me like that? I am your wife.” said the lady. Then, Sudama looked at her more closely and surprised. She took him inside, washed his feet and offered him food and drink. Sudama asked what happened. She did not know. But, one day they slept in the hut, but when they got up in the morning, they were in the palace with all the servants. She mentioned, “Two people came and offered all this as gift from God. When I looked at them, they looked like your friends. But I was not in a position to say a word.” Sudama thought for the little satisfaction that he gave to Him; in return Krishna personally carried all this wealth and gave to us.

He did not say that he would just give, but He would carry it for you and protect it also. The little friendship that Krishna and Sudama had, Sudama might have forgotten, but Krishna never forgot, though he was living in opulence. Krishna is an excellent example how not to forget friendship though living in great wealth.

A friend always desires the best for the other even at the expense of his own comfort. This is the beauty of friendship.

9 Healthy Foods that Reduce Stress Levels

Reach for these items next time you're feeling under pressure, under the weather, or just too close to that breaking point. Munching on these stress-free foods will help pull you back into the game. 

Oranges:

Oranges make the list for their wealth of vitamin C. Studies suggest this vitamin can curb levels of stress hormones while strengthening the immune system. In one study of people with high blood pressure, blood pressure and cortisol levels (a stress hormone) returned to normal more quickly when people took vitamin C before a stressful task.

Sweet Potatoes:

Sweet potatoes can be particularly stress-reducing because they can satisfy the urge you get for carbohydrates and sweets when you are under a great deal of stress. They are packed full of beta-carotene and other vitamins, and the fiber helps your body to process the carbohydrates in a slow and steady manner

.

Black Tea:

Drinking black tea may help you recover from stressful events more quickly. One study compared people who drank four cups of tea daily for six weeks with people who drank another beverage. The tea drinkers reported feeling calmer and had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol after stressful situations. When it comes to stress, the caffeine in coffee can boost stress hormones and raise blood pressure.

Almonds:

Almonds, Pistachios & Walnuts Almonds are packed with B and E vitamins, which help boost your immune system, and walnuts and pistachios help lower blood pressure.

Almonds are chock full of helpful vitamins: Vitamin E to bolster immune system, plus B vitamins, which may make you more resilient during bouts of stress such as depression. To get benefits, snack on a quarter a cup every day.

Oatmeal:

Talk about comfort food! A complex carbohydrate, oatmeal causes your brain to produce serotonin, a feel-good chemical. Not only does serotonin have antioxidant properties, it also creates a soothing feeling that helps overcome stress. Studies have shown that kids who eat oatmeal for breakfast stay sharper throughout the morning. And beta-glucan, the type of soluble fiber found in oatmeal, has been shown to promote greater satiety scores than other whole grains. Make a batch of the steel-cut variety on the weekend, store it in the fridge, and microwave it on busy mornings. It keeps beautifully, and in fact, that's how restaurants often prepare it.

Spinach:

A deficiency in magnesium can cause migraine headaches and a feeling of fatigue. One cup of spinach provides 40 percent of your daily needs for magnesium.

Popeye never lets stress get the best of him—maybe it’s all the magnesium in his spinach. Too little magnesium may trigger headache and fatigue, compounding the effects of stress. One cup of spinach goes a long way towards replenishing magnesium stores.

Fatty Fish:

To keep stress in check, make friends with fatty fish. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish such as salmon and tuna, can prevent surges in stress hormones and may help protect against heart disease, mood disorders like depression, and PMS. For a steady supply of feel-good omega-3s, aim to eat 3 ounces of fatty fish at least twice a week.

Avocados:

The monounsaturated fats and potassium in avocados help lower blood pressure. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute say that one of the best ways to lower blood pressure is to consume enough potassium (avocados have more than bananas).

These creamy fruits stress proof your body. Rich in glutathione, a substance that specifically blocks intestinal absorption of certain fats that cause oxidative damage, avocados also contain lutein, beta-carotene, vitamin E, and more folate than any other fruit. A Single serving has plenty of vitamin B too. Remember this is technically be a fruit, but I count it as a fat, so use portion control. Thin slides, it adds a whole new flavor.

Green Vegetables:

Green Vegetables Broccoli, kale, and other dark green vegetables are powerhouses of vitamins that help replenish our bodies in times of stress.

Green Tea:

While it does contain caffeine, green tea also has an amino acid called theanine. Researchers at the University of Illinois say that in addition to protecting against some types of cancer, this slimming food is a brain booster as well, enhancing mental performance. Drink two cups each day.

More stress-busting tips: - Exercise regularly - Drink an energy shake for breakfast
- Eat small meals throughout the day, which will keep your blood sugar stable (when blood sugar is low, mental, physical, and emotional energy decreases, and stress increases).

 

How to Stop Allergies?

It's like a scene from a low-budget horror flick: the trees are blooming, the grass is growing...and runny-nosed zombies are invading the planet! Seasonal allergies are here, but if you're one of the sniffy multitudes, you may have noticed that the "allergy season" can span most of the year.

Here's your best defense--from least to most invasive, medically speaking. Try the first few and you may not need to hit the pharmacy at all.

Ditch the Carpeting:

It may feel cushy underfoot, but carpet—especially in the bedroom where we spend eight-plus hours a night—can be a haven for dust mites. Worse, if it's been installed over concrete, carpeting can interfere with the evaporation of moisture, which also contributes to dust mites and mold, "Both thrive in high levels of humidity," And both are common allergens. To discourage them, opt for bare floors or area rugs.

Don't Let Pets Sleep with You:

As much as you (or your kids) want to sleep with the family cat or dog, the experts say skip it. Snuggling up with all that fur (and dander—dried skin, hair, and saliva—which is the real allergen) can cause sniffles even in folks who aren't highly allergic. What's the difference between an allergy and a cold? It's a good bet your child is allergic to your pet if he or she sneezes and has a runny nose for three weeks or more.

Rethink Your Houseplants:

As much as your indoor plants cheered you up during the dreary winter, spring is a good time to put them outside. That's because houseplants can be surprisingly irritating. The culprit is mold spores that live in the warm and wet dirt. If you just can't part with that collection of Peace Lily plants, make sure to avoid overwatering them to keep mold away. And keep an eye out for rotten leaves that can be a sign of overwatering or disease.

Run Your Air Conditioner:

It may sound counterintuitive, but running your air conditioner (so long as your filter is clean) is a great way to prevent pollen from entering your house, which is what happens when you throw open your windows. "Air conditioners also benefit allergy sufferers by reducing the humidity in the house.” If you can't use your air conditioner, at least close the windows until the afternoon. Morning is when pollen counts are often highest”. And avoid using a fan. It just ends up blowing pollen around the room.

Scout Your Bathroom:

You probably know "that green stuff that forms in your bathtub gives off spores that get sent into the air". The result: sneezing, wheezing, and other allergic reactions. Scrubbing the tub with a combo of one cup of bleach to a gallon of water (or a purchased cleaner) will remove the mildew. But don't forget to look elsewhere, too. For example: the bottom of the bathmat you step on every day when exiting the shower can be a culprit. Being constantly damp can encourage mildew. After using, hang the bathmat over the shower rod to let it dry, and wash it weekly.

Leave Your Shoes at the Door:

Your favorite spring wedges might be what's tracking pollutants, allergens, and toxins into your home. To keep those spores out of your living space, wipe your shoes briskly on a mat and then park them in the foyer, garage, or laundry room. If your family members are highly allergic, consider leaving outerwear in the garage, too, not hung up in the closet where pollen can spread to other coats.

Boil your bedding:

Not literally, but you should wash your sheets and pillowcases weekly in water that’s at least 140 degrees; that this temperature wiped out all dust mites.

Top 10 Beauty Foods

Cosmetics merely enhance your body base. Experts say that there are certain food types that must be consumed to look beautiful, naturally. A diet rich in 'phyto-compounds' can stimulate DNA repair, increased collagen production, reduce inflammation, and improve blood flow. This keeps you healthy and youthful for longer.

Chow down on antioxidant- and zinc-rich oysters, dark chocolate, and blueberries for a clear complexion.

Wild salmon: 

A primo source for omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce skin inflammation, preventing redness, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. It's also potent in antioxidants and vitamins B and D. Salmon is a beauty food because its nutrients play a key role in keeping the skin’s outer layer soft and smooth.

Low-fat yogurt:

In one word, calcium. Good for strong bones, nails, and teeth. One cup of plain, low-fat yogurt has more calcium than a glass of skim milk. Yogurt has antifungal and antibacterial qualities, so it is useful for cleansing the skin and unblocking clogged pores. Plain low-fat or whole-milk yogurt contains lactic acid, which softens the skin, reduces wrinkles and hydrates dry areas.

Oysters:

The best source of zinc, period. Zinc helps build collagen, which support the structure of skin and speeds up repair and renewal. People often think of oysters as an aphrodisiac, but the high zinc content of oysters is a great beauty benefit as this mineral is a major player in skin renewal and repair. It helps create collagen, which provides the structural support in skin.

Blueberries:

Full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories that prevent long-term cell damage. Blueberries keep us looking young, provide us with dietary fiber, and help protect us from cancer, eye problems, and age-related diseases. At eighty calories a cup, this slimming fruit has so many health benefits you'll want to be sure to add it to your diet.

Kiwifruit:

Another good source of antioxidants, kiwis are also a great source of vitamin C and potassium, all which help prevent wrinkles. Kiwifruit offers beauty benefits from stimulating collagen synthesis (vital to lovely skin) to maintaining healthy bones and teeth to protecting against wrinkles and premature aging.

Sweet potatoes:

Chock full of beta-carotene, something the body converts to vitamin A, which keeps skin smooth and is thought to prevent against sun damage. One cup of cubed sweet potato contains a stunning 14,260 micrograms of beta-carotene.

Spinach: 

This nutrient-dense leafy green is a great source of beta-carotene and lutein, which protects the eyes. Spinach also contains a significant amount of beta-carotene, as well as vitamin C, several B vitamins, magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium, zinc, dietary fiber, and even omega-3 fatty acids, making it a wonderfully nutrient-dense vegetable.

Tomatoes: 

Perhaps the only vegetable best eaten processed. Tomatoes are a major source of lycopene, a potent antioxidant also thought to protect against sunburn. Eating red may help save your skin from turning red! Volunteers who consumed 5 tablespoons of high-in-lycopene tomato paste daily for 3 months had nearly 25% more protection against sunburn in one study.

Walnuts:

A key source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. The omega-3s found in walnuts also help fight against skin ailments like psoriasis and eczema. Smooth skin tone, healthy hair, vibrant eyes, and strong bones can all be attributed to the dominant nutrients found in walnuts. They are the only type of nut that contains a significant amount of beauty-enhancing omega-3 fatty acids, plus they also provide vitamin E, a fat-soluble antioxidant that helps protect cells from free-radical damage and is associated with beautiful skin.

Dark chocolate: 

Full of antioxidants and nutrients, cocoa (choose chocolate with at least 60 percent cocoa) increases blood flow to the skin, which in turn boosts hydration, smoothness, and protection against sun exposure.