30 Tips To Reduce Tension And Stress

1. Identify the real cause of stress.

2. Events causing stress should be noted down and analyze it once in a month.

3. Your reactions to each stressful events should be recollected and compared with one another.

4. Should not give immediate response to stressful event ,always take little time to think.

5. If any tension comes ask your inner man(Mind)for a solution,he is more intelligent than you.

6. Past is past always concentrate on future events and gather courage and willpower.

7. Need not bother about your loss,but find out the reason for it and try to solve it.

8. Face all situations with confidence.

9. Keep faith in god and worship him.

10. Always hope for the best.

11. Always keep a positive approach.

12. Before doing any thing plan a solution to face a negative situation.

13. Should not live only for money.

14. Help the poor people .

15. Visit the sick people and give them moral support.

16. Whenever you are tensed take a deep breath and relax.

17. If you are tensed countdown from 100 to 1.

18. If any stress comes look at the beautiful picture kept on the wall.

19. Keep some flowers in the room and have a look.

20. Practice breathing exercises regularly.

21. Keep little time for yoga and meditation.

22. Aromatherapy is good to relax the mind.

23. If you are tensed make a surprise call to your old friend.

24. When you are tensed think about others who suffer from more serious problems.

25. Keep close contact with your family and share the problems with them.

26. Go for pleasure trips with the family members.

27. Avoid sedentary life,always mingle with others.

28. Always approach others with a smile.

29. Laughing and sharing jokes with others will make you relaxed.

30. When you are tensed visit your close friend or relative.

Importance Of Fitness Training

People all over the world are becoming more and more health conscious, the priority has been shifting from everything else to the fact that the most important thing in life, is to keep oneself in shape and fit, to enjoy things in life. Keeping fit, means capturing the days of youth and all the fun of those days alive. 

Man can give up everything for the sake of keeping himself young. In spite of all the kinds of treatments that have been flourishing the market, the people have not been driven crazy, they still trust the basic natural way of keeping in shape, i.e., by exercising regularly and maintaining a working routine. 

It is very necessary to go for a complete fitness training, which takes care of all the aspects of making a fit body, beginning from making note about the right kind of diet and right kind of exercises which suits the physical conditions of the body.
 

    The several benefits that are derived from the regular physical fitness workouts. Workout chalked out in correspondence to the physical needs of the body, if observed regularly, may help the body get into the desired shape and develop resistance power in the body.

 The major benefits derived from fitness training programs are bringing down the weight of the bulky body to right proportion, increases the resistance power in the body which results in decreasing the risks of getting attacked by diseases, helps in cutting down the fat from the body and finally gives the body a toned shape.

 Not only these, but also helps in frequently getting caught in depressions, cures insomnia by helping enhance the sleeping routine, releases positive vibes in the body and thus increases self-esteem and apart from these also gives more energy and stamina to the body.

   Fitness training also helps in increasing the metabolism of the body, which means more muscles using more calories in body. The training helps increase fit muscles in body, by burning the calories. 

After the body grows senile, the body loses its muscles and the metabolism of the body slows down gradually, which means the calories of the body is not burnt and get concentrated which results in increasing the weight of the body. 

So to keep the metabolism from slowing down and not letting the fat concentrate in the body one can opt for some fitness training and take some aerobic activities. Taking exercises not only helps one maintain a strong and toned look from outside but also helps in keeping the mental peace and content.

 It also helps in reducing symptoms of menopause, cardiac diseases and keeps the level of cholesterol in control. And in all it gives the body a much toned shape, which not only looks strong but is stronger than what it looks like.

Exercise And Sleeping Better

The amount of physical exercise that you exert during the day is one of the key ingredients to helping you get a good sleep at night. The more active your body is during the day, the more likely you are to relax at night and fall asleep faster.

With regular exercise you'll notice that your quality of sleep is improved and the transition between the
cycles and phases of sleep will become smoother and more regular.  By keeping up your physical activity
during the day, you may find it easier to deal with the stress and worries of your life.

Research and studies indicate that there is a direct correlation between how much we exercise and how we feel afterwards.

You should try and increase your physical activity during the day.  The goal here is to give your body
enough stimulation during the day so that you aren't full of energy at night. 

Your body requires a certain amount of physical activity in order to keep functioning in a healthy manner.  It is also important to note that you should not be exercising three or four hours before you go to bed.

The ideal exercise time is in the late afternoon or early evening.  You want to make sure you expend
your physical energy long before it is time for your body to rest and ready itself for sleep.

You should attempt to exercise at least three or four times a week for a period of 30 minutes or so.
You can include walking or something simple.  If you prefer, you can include strenuous activities such as running as well.

The goal here is to increase your heart rate and strengthen the capacity of your lungs.  By adding a regular exercise activity to your daily schedule will help you to improve your overall health and help you emotionally as well. 

Along with running and walking there are several other physical activities that you can add to your daily life to increase your level of physical activity.  If you are battling not sleeping, you'll find aerobic exercise to be the best.

Your goal with exercise is to increase the amount of oxygen that reaches your blood stream.  Overall, there are many types of aerobic exercise for you to choose from.  The activities include running, biking, using a treadmill, dancing, and jumping rope.

There are some non aerobic exercises that you may find beneficial to help you solve your amnesia problem. 

Yoga
Yoga is an exercise that has a stimulatory effect on your nervous system, especially the brain.  Yoga utilizes breathing techniques and yoga postures to increase the blood circulation to the brain, promoting regular and restful sleeping patterns.  The regular practice of yoga will help you to relax as well as relieve tension and stress.

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an ancient art of breathing and movement that was developed by the Chinese monks.  The movements involved are slow and precise, which is ideal if you have joint pains or you are unable
to participate in high aerobic exercises.  Research has shown that Tai Chi can help with insomnia by
promoting relaxation.

If you discover that you don't have any time to exercise on a regular basis, you should try to sneak moments of activity into your schedule. Whenever possible, you should take the stairs instead of the elevator, as little things like that will do wonders for your body.

You should also park your car around the corner and walk that extra block or two to get to your destination.  As you may know, there are many small things you can add to increase the activity in your life.  Your overall goal here is to have a healthy and well balanced life - with plenty of sleep.

Exercising Properly

There are two main types of exercise that you can do - aerobic and anaerobic.  The first one, aerobic, means
with oxygen. Aerobic type exercise has an important distinction, it burns fat as the main fuel. 

Anaerobic on the other hand, burns sugar as the main source of fuel. Despite common myths, exercise doesn't have to be drastic in any way to provide massive benefits.  Even if you choose light exercise, you will still burn fat.

Light exercise will clear out lactic acid, which is a waste of the body, and stimulate your cells to regenerate.  To be sure that you are burning fat rather than sugar, it's very important to make sure that you are doing several things as you exercise.

The most important thing you can do as you exercise is breathe deep. You should always breathe in deep
into your stomach through your nose, hold it for a few seconds and then exhale hard through your mouth.

Second, you should make sure that you exercise at a comfortable level. You should exercise at a level of 7 out of 10, and still be able to carry on a normal conversation while you exercise. You should do this for 45 minutes or so each day, then you'll begin to notice just how much your energy will explode.

Even if you don't think you have the time to exercise, rest assured that there is always time. If you have to, use the time that you would normally spend sleeping.  With exercising, you'll actually need less sleep than before.

You can also use the time of your lunch break to exercise as well.  The increase in productivity will have you more on the ball, and you can save your time through the dramatic increase in your overall productivity. 

Cellularise, or rebounding, is one of the best forms of aerobic exercise there is.  If you have access to a rebounder, you shouldn't hesitate to use it.  Use any break you have at work to engage in some type of movement and deep breathing.

Any type of exercise you do will strongly benefit your heart.  It will make it a stronger and larger organ.  Deep breathing will help your lungs become stronger and larger as well.  There is research now that links exercise to helping benefit and almost prevent each and every type of disease or ailment.

Movement of the joints will promote proper blood flow and create energy, as sitting down all day will rob your body of much needed energy.

 If you sit down all day, it's very important that you promote blood flow, circulation, energy, brain flow, and the strength of your heart.  With just a little bit of your time devoted to exercise, you'll find yourself healthier than you have ever been in the past.

Water And Exercise

The human body is made up of over 75% of water, and as we all know, we cannot live without water.  The
fact is, we can only survive for a total of 3 days without water.

Water has however, been replaced in most diets by soft drinks and other sugar sweetened refreshments. Keep in mind that water is a healthier and necessary for leading yourself towards a better health and longevity.

Your own personal need for water can vary greatly due to exercise, weight, and temperature.  Research
has proven that over 2/3 of adults don't get the water they need on a daily basis. 

By drinking water on a regular basis you can replenish your body and keep it well hydrated and functioning as it should be.

A majority of us wait until we are thirsty before we drink water.  Keep in mind, this way isn't a reliable gauge of the water needs for the body. 

By the time you are thirsty you have already lost two of more cups of the body's water supply.  Therefore, drinking water regularly is much better than simply waiting until you are thirsty.

It is very important that you don't substitute beverages with alcohol and caffeine for water.  The reason behind this is that those types of beverages act as a diuretic and can cause you to lose more weight through increased urination.

You may think and feel as if you are getting more water through these beverages, although the fact is that you  are letting it go almost as fast as you consume it.

Anytime you exercise, you need more water. Due to perspiration, your body will lose quite a bit of water.  For each pound lost due to exercise, you need to drink 2 cups of water.  Even when you lay down

to sleep, your body loses water.  By drinking a glass or more of water before you go to sleep, you can wake up with your body functioning as it should be.

It should become more obvious that when you are sick you'll need more water than any other tine.  When
you get a cold or the flu, your body can become dehydrated quite quickly.  You can help to prevent this by drinking more water at times when you become sick.

There are several mixed opinions as to whether purified water will actually provide benefit.  This is a subject you should explore yourself as you determine the best type of water for yourself. 

Always make it a habit to drink water on a daily basis.  You should keep a bottle of water with you at all times and drink it throughout the day.  You should also teach yourself to drink water instead of other beverages that don't replenish the nutrients your body needs.

Exercise And Harm

Anytime you exercise, your brain releases chemicals known as endorphins that produce a feeling of euphoria,
which is known as "runners high", which is also very easy to become chemically addicted to.

Without this rush, you'll feel irritable and out of it until you exercise again.  Therefore, you'll go on exercising and not listen to what your body is actually telling you - which is to stop.

The main reason addicts will continue to push themselves lies in what will happen when they don't work out.
Normally when they are unable to exercise, they will display signs of depression, anxiety, confusion, and be less happy with themselves.

Aches and pains

Over exercising doesn't only affect the mind, but the body as well.  Exercise will initially do what it is intended to do, give you a fit body but once you cross the line however, it can drastic.

 Muscle damage, osteoarthritis, and heart problems will all be waiting in the wings if you continue to overdo
it.  The body has limits and if you push beyond that limit, you'll do nothing but harm yourself.

Obsessive exercise tends to happen among those who are new to exercise.  Therefore, if you are keen
to reap the benefits of getting fit, you'll tend to overstep the limits.

The initial signs of over exercise are exhaustion, which can lead to a build up of fatigue.  Keep in mind, it isn't only the muscles that are at risk, but the bones as well.

Many people who exercise push themselves to the point of injuries such as shin splints or even stress fractures, then refuse to rest, which causes greater and sometimes even permanent damage.

Even a brisk walk in the morning doesn't come without risk, as walking too much can lead to osteoarthritis.  When you walk, you are working against gravity.  Even though you are exercising your muscles, you are also harming your knee joints as well.

Many people who walk up to an hour or more everyday end up with complaints of aches in the knees.  The
fact is, jogging also harms the knees, and too many sit ups can hurt as well.  As with any type of exercise, moderation is the key.

You should always start off gradually, and combine several different types of workouts, which is one thing that obsessive exercisers forget to do.  One of the biggest complication factors of people who get addicted to exercise is that they will tend to perform the same workout each and every day, which further increases the risk of permanent damage.

Think right

You should never work out to the point where you feel completely exhausted once you have finished. Your limit with exercise should be 45 minutes to an hour, four or five days a week. 

When you are finished, your workout should leave you feeling fresh and energetic. Every week should make it a point to take a day's break - as your body will need to relax and rejuvenate.

The key to achieving this completely lies in your attitude, as exercising is the way to a healthy life.  If you do it only to please yourself, you'll defeat the entire purpose when you stand there on the weighing machine. 

If you take things one day at a time and don't over do it, you'll be well on your way to a healthy
body.  Exercising can be a lot of fun and a way to relax, if you don't rush it.

 Start off slow and gradually work your way up.  Before you know it, you'll know how to prevent injuries before they happen and you'll know exactly what you need to do to remain healthy.

Prevention of Heart Attacks

Strict changes in diet and lifestyle can not only prevent heart attacks, but can reverse the clogging of the arteries, according to a small but pioneering study.

The study showed that a vegetarian diet, moderate exercise and an hour a day of yoga and meditation could produce a reversal of atherosclerosis, a blockage of the arteries that can lead to a heart attack, in men and women who were strict in following the daily regimen.

Experts say this is the first study to report that such blockage can be reversed without using cholesterol-lowering drugs or surgery.

The study, which was conducted by Dr. Dean Ornish, director of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, Calif., was presented at the meeting of the American Heart Association in New Orleans. 

This is a tremendously important study in the control of heart disease. It's the very first study indicating regression of coronary heart disease without pharmaceutical intervention.

The results also suggest that the current medical guidelines for changes in the habits of people with severe heart disease do not go far enough.

Previous studies have shown that exercise and diet changes can slow the progression of heart disease, but not reverse it.

While the study did not determine what percentage of improvement could be attributed to the lifestyle changes alone, the researchers noted that stress-control methods have been shown to ease recovery from a variety of disorders, including hypertension.

But some experts are skeptical of the need for stress-management methods, which are not currently among standard recommendations for those with severe heart disease.

Some experts on cardiac rehabilitation question whether most people with heart disease could follow such strict changes in their habits.

How Natural Medicine Can Help You, A 5000 Year-Old Medical Secret Unearthed!

When you get sick, you go to the doctor. And the doctor will, of course, prescribe medicines. You will go and buy medicines. You take them, and hopefully, you get well.

This is how the health profession goes on nowadays – a cycle of diagnosis and prescription.

If anyone were to give you herbs for medicine, you would probably say that that person was a quack.

But nowadays, studies are being conducted to see if there are really is any merit to what is called natural medicine.

Natural medicine is the use of natural methods, herbal medicines, and traditional practices to heal ailments.

Every culture has a form of natural medicine. In ancient cultures, village medicine men served as the doctors of the community, passing on medical knowledge to the apprentices that followed them.

Many categories of the healing methods fall under natural medicine. Among these are traditional medicine, complementary medicine, and alternative medicine.

Usually, natural medicine refers to medical practices that were in place before the advent of modern medicine.

This includes herbal medicine, or phytotherapy, which is prevalent in Chinese, Ayurvedic(or Indian), and Greek medicine.

Upon the advent of modern medicine, many professionals discarded the use of herbs in favor of man-made medicine. The fact that these treatments are based on the healing properties of some herbs was forgotten.

For example, opium, digitalis, quinine, and aspirin all have their roots in traditional medicine.

Natural medicine can be considered as a lost art. This does not mean that it has lost efficacy over time. In some cases, natural therapy is actually better than modern medicine. This leads some doctors to seriously consider and study the possible uses of natural medicine

Before we continue, it is important to stress that not all the natural remedies are legitimate. It would help to only try those remedies which have been thoroughly studied and are relatively risk free.

Take herbal medicine for example. There are many well-documented and studied herbal remedies available. However, only those that deal with minor ailments such as cough, colds, fever, skin rashes, and its ilk are likely to be recommended by health professionals.

These remedies are sometimes superior to synthetic medicine. This is because herbal medicines are less likely to cause negative side effects.

Currently there are numerous organizations that study the effects and advocacy of natural medicine – among which is herbal medicine. Some governments and health agencies openly advocate the use of natural methods since they are inexpensive and relatively risk-free.

As their studies compile, more herbs and treatments are added to the list of accepted medicines. However, many herbs and treatments have been proven to be bogus medicine.

This represents a challenge for both the user and the agencies because they have to ascertain that the treatments they either use or advocate are legitimate.

There exist today many alternative medical treatments that fall under natural medicine. However, not all of them have been proven to be effective. You could mention homeopathy, aromatherapy, acupuncture, and other alternative medical treatments. It would pay to consult the experts as to the legitimacy of these treatments.

Natural medicine should also be thought of as an accompanying medicine. Right now, the current collective medical thought suggests that natural medicine be used only to supplement accepted modern medical practices. In that case of minor ailments your expert we actually advise you to take natural therapies instead.

The practice of modern medicine revolves around diagnosing an illness and prescribing treatments for such.

 Natural medicine is helpful because it suggests that treatment be not necessarily given only when sick.

Natural medicine strives to make each patient practice good health habits. These habits include good diet, healthy living, and the regular natural treatment.

It is this same line of thought that leads our parents to tell us to eat our vegetables. Yes, a healthy lifestyle and will do no harm to our well-being. And this is the foundation of natural medicine – may it be massage, herbal medicine, aromatherapy or others.

It is funny but true that science, in its quest for excellence, is studying the knowledge of sages past. This, surprisingly, leads us back to the remedies nature offers. The possibilities of finding remedies to everyday illnesses in natural medicine are encouraging.

So staying tuned to studying these remedies is worthwhile until we can verify that these therapies are truly helpful to our health and our society.

7 Important Reasons To Exercise

Many us need to follow an exercise program, in order to remain healthy.  Below, you'll find several good reasons why you should start exercising now.

1.  Contributes to fat loss

It is well proven from scientific research all over the world that physical exercise contributes to weight loss.  If you burn more calories than you consume through nutrition, you'll lose weight. 

When you exercise, you burn more calories than when you don't.  It's really simple - the more you exercise, the more weight or fat you'll lose.

2.  Prevent disease

The chances of developing several various diseases has been proven to decrease when exercising. These diseases include heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and the stroke. 

Around 4 out of 5 deaths caused by heart disease and cancer, are linked to factors that include stress and lack of exercise. We all know that diabetes increases the chance for heart attacks and strokes.

What this shows, is that many of the risk factors and diseases caused by not exercising are working in conjunction to damage your health. To prevent this from happening, start exercising.

3.  Improving disease

Many severe and minor diseases can be improved or even healed through regular exercise. These even
include the diseases listed above. By following a regular plan, you can also decrease HDL cholesterol levels, decrease triglyceride levels, and decrease your blood pressure as well.

Exercising on a regular basis will also reduce the risk of prostate cancer for men, breast and uterine cancer for women, and much more. All of this is scientifically proven, which is why you should start exercising today.

4.  Enhance your state of mind

Everyone knows from the many scientific studies that regular exercising will lead to an increased release of endorphins in the body. These chemicals will fight depression and make you feel happy.  The body releases these endorphins only 12 minutes into the workout.

There is another chemical known as serotonin that is increased during and after a workout. The increased levels of serotonin in the central nervous system is associated with feelings of well being and decreased mental depression. The chemical  can also help you sleep better at night.

5.  Enhance your wellness

When you are in great shape and well fit, you'll have more energy and you'll notice that your overall mood is improved. You will have experienced that you can stretch beyond your own limits and you know that you can do more than you thought possible.

6.  Persistence

Exercising regularly will give you more energy, which can help you be more productive at home and at work.  Exercising can help give your new goals a sense of purpose and give you something to focus on and aim for.  This can help you increase your persistence and prevent you from going off track while you aim for your goal.

7.  Social capabilities

After a workout on a regular basis you can boost your self esteem.  This can help you look better and you'll be more comfortable as well.  Exercise will also help you to become more active and meet new people, which will prevent you from feeling isolated and unsupported. 

Exercise will also increase your interests in sex, and can help you to improve your marriage or your partner relationship.

After knowing all of these tips and reasons to exercise, you shouldn't hesitate to get out there and exercise.  You can exercise at home or go out there and join a gym.

There are several different ways that you can exercise, all you have to do is select a few that you like. Take a little bit of time out of your day and start exercising - you'll feel better than ever before and your body will thank you.

An All-Around Yoga Exercise: 12-Steps Salute To The Sun

One of the all-around yoga exercises is the 12-step salute to the sun. Do it once or twice when you get up in the morning to help relieve stiffness and invigorate the body.

Multiple repetitions at night will help you to relax; insomniacs often find that six to 12 rounds help them fall asleep.

1. Stand with your feet slightly apart, palms together, thumbs against your chest.

2. Inhale deeply while slowly raising your hands over your head, and bend back as far as possible, while tightening your buttocks. Hold for three seconds.

3. Slowly exhale and bend forward, keeping your knees straight, until your fingers touch the floor outside your feet. (If you can't touch the floor, go as close as you can.) Bring your head in toward your knees.

4. Slowly inhale, bend your knees, and if your fingertips aren't outside your feet on the floor, place them there. Slide your right foot back as far as you can go, with the right knee an inch or so off the floor, (a lunge position). Now look up as high as possible, arching your back.

5. Before exhaling again, slide your left foot back until it is beside the right one, and with your weight supported on your palms and toes, straighten both legs so that your body forms a flat plane. Make sure your stomach is pulled in.

6. Slowly exhale, bend both knees to the floor, bend with your hips in the air, lower your chest and forehead to the floor.

7. Now inhale slowly and look up, bending your head back, then raising it, followed by your upper chest, then lower chest. Your lower body - from the navel down - should be on the floor, and your elbows should be slightly bent. Hold for three to five seconds.

8. Exhale slowly and raise your hips until your feet and palms are flat on the floor and your arms and legs are straight in an inverted V position.

9. Inhale slowly and bring your right foot forward as in position 4. The foot should be flat on the floor between your fingertips. The left leg should be almost straight behind you, with its knee slightly off the floor. Raise your head, look up, and arch your back.

10. Slowly exhale and bring your left foot forward next to your right one. Straighten your legs and stand, trying to keep your fingertips on the floor, and try to touch your head to your knees as in position 3.

11. Slowly inhale, raise your arms up and stretch back as in position 2. Don't forget to tighten your buttocks. Hold for three seconds.

12. Slowly exhale, lowering your arms to your sides. Relax. Repeat the series.

How To Choose The Right Type Of Exercise

The type of exercise you do all depends on you and what you like to do.

What you hate doing, paying membership fees, and whether or not to buy equipment are all things you need to consider as well as answer.

If you choose something that you don't like to do, you aren't going to keep doing it for a long period of time.  Give it some thought - if you don't like jogging, you aren't going to get up at 6 AM and go running.

If you can't find something you like to do, choose something you hate the least, which will normally be walking.

Walking is great exercise, as it suits all levels of fitness.  Anyone can start a walking program at any time, it's normally the intensity and duration that differs.

 Walking is also a social exercise, as it isn't difficult to find a training partner to chat with while you exercise.  Walking with a partner will also make time go by faster.

No matter what exercise you choose, you should  start at a low level of intensity and build it up over a period of weeks, which is essential to the longevity of your exercise program.

If you start off too hard, you could end up with an injury which will require time off to get over.

If you are really in bad shape, you should start off by walking for 10 minutes each day. Then, increase it by 5 minutes every 2 weeks.

To make things more interesting, you should try walking a different course every few days.

You can also roster a different friend to walk with you each day of the week.

If walking isn't your thing, then you may want to try a fitness center. They have loads of  variety and normally have trainers on hand to  answer any questions you may have.

When you  choose a fitness center, make sure that they give good service.

If they aren't willing to treat you well before you join, then they certainly won't after you  join. You should also make sure that the equipment they use is well taken care of.

It's easy to find out, as all you have to do is listen to the machines.  If they squeak a lot or make noise, then chances are they aren't being taken care of.

If you still aren't sure what you should do, then you should look into golf or tennis. Both are good social activities in most areas, and you can even meet new friends.

Tennis is great for fitness although it isn't for someone who is just starting out. If you haven't exercised in a long time, then golf may be the best activity for you.

Have a great day.

How To Eat Healthy While On Vacation

It can be very tempting to abandon your good sense of healthy eating on vacation.  Although you may strive for healthy eating, it's easy to drift off and grab an ice cream cone here and there.  There are however, ways to watch what you eat on vacation.

It's easier than ever these days to request a low fat or vegetarian meal on airplane flights.  If you choose to instead drive to your destination, the quest to find healthy food can get a bit more complicated.

Rather than simply relying on greasy foods for nutrition, pack some nutritious foods in a cooler full of ice packs.  Fruits and vegetables, crackers, yogurt, and sandwiches are all great to have with you on the road. 

Once you arrive at your hotel, you should do yourself a favor and turn the minibar key down - as this helps to avoid the temptation.  If your hotel offers a continental breakfast, stick to fruits, cereals, and proteins.  If your hotel has a stove or microwave, consider bringing your own healthy food with you.

If you simply must eat out, do so only when you are hungry.  Restaurants will usually serve large portions, so be careful.  If you do go a bit over on a meal, simply cut back on the next. 

If you find it hard to fit in three square meals a day, try to fit in six smaller meals or snacks, as your body needs fuel every four hours or so. When you eat out, avoid appetizers.  Whatever you do, do not miss any meals.

When it's possible, you should avoid eating large meals at night.  When your body gets ready for sleep and slows down, it also burns calories at a much slower pace.  Never eat bread before bed, and make sure to avoid the butter.  Choose fish or poultry for your meal instead, and include vegetables as a side dish. 

Even though it may sound hard, eating healthy on vacation isn't really that difficult.  All you have to do is use a little will power, and pass up foods that you know aren't good for you.  This way, you'll enjoy healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle wherever you go.

The next time you go on a vacation, always remember that eating healthy is a way of life.  You can afford to get something you crave, although you shouldn't make a habit of it. 

One ice cream cone or a pizza isn't going to matter - as long as you know when to stop

8 Ways To Eat Healthy On A Budget

If you have problems serving healthy foods because of the prices, you'll find these tips to be just what you need to eat healthy on a budget.

1.  Eliminate junk food

Doing your shopping on your own is the easiest way to shop, as children and sometimes spouses are usually the ones requesting junk food.  Shopping alone will prevent this, and ensure that you only buy the foods you need.

2.  Water or milk instead of soft drinks

You can still enjoy your favorite drinks at a sporting event or night out, although you should stick with the smallest size when shopping to save money and calories.  Children and even adults need milk or milk products on a daily basis.  Milk will also help you get strong and provides calcium for healthy bones and healthy teeth.

3.  Buy fruits in quantity

When they are in season, buy fruits in quantity and freeze any extras.  You can buy several pounds this way, and freeze extras to have them when the fruit goes out of season.  Wash the fruit well, remove any spoiled pieces, dry thoroughly, then freeze in plastic zipper bags.

4.  Meats and beans

Meats and beans are the best sources for protein. Lean meat is more expensive than meats with a lot of fat.  Canned beans are a great deal as well, as they give you protein at a great price.

5.  Beans as a substitute

You should use beans a substitute for meat on a frequent occasion.  There are several varieties, so you can prepare them in a crock pot, so when you return home they are ready to consume.

The USDA recommends eating beans at least 4 times per week.  If you experience gas after eating beans you should try washing them, covering them with water, bringing the water to a boil, then draining it off and refilling the pot. 

6.  If you live in a coastal area or an area

where fish are around, make that an integral part of your diet.  You can catch them from the lakes or rivers, saving money in the process.

7.  Peanut butter is great for those on a budget

as it's popular with almost everyone.  You can use it for sandwiches instead of eating hot dogs.  It does need to be refrigerated, although bigger jars can last you for weeks.

8.  You should fill up with foods that have a high content of water.

 Watermelon, salads, and even sugar free gelatin are all great examples. 

Eating healthy is always something you can't go wrong with.  You can eat healthy for just a few bucks, which makes it perfect for those on a budget.

Now, you don't need a lot of money to have the lifestyle and health you've always wanted.

4 Important Cooking Oils

Everyone knows the foods to eat that improve health, although how we cook the food can be just as important. With there being so many oils and butter products claiming to be the best, it can be quite difficult
to know which ones to use and which ones to avoid.

1.  Canola oil

Canola oil is a popular oil, with many physicians claiming that it has the ability to lower the risk of heart disease.  The oil is low in saturated fat, high in monounsaturated fat, and offers the best  fatty acid composition when compared to other oils.

You can use canola oil in sauting, as a marinade and even in low temperature stir frying.  It has a bland flavor, which makes it a great oil for foods that contain many spices.  Unlike other oils, this one won't interfere with the taste of your meal.

2.  Olive oil

olive oil offers a very distinct flavor with plenty of heart healthy ingedients.  The oil is rich in monounsaturated fat, helps to lower cholesterol levels and reduce risk of cancer.  It's also rich in antioxidants and has a very long storage life.

Even though it can be used in cooking, it's the healthiest when uncooked, such as with a salad or dipping sauce.  When you use it with cooking, you should heat it on low to medium temperatures, making sure to avoid high heat.

3.  Butter

Butter is one food that has been around for many, many years.  Butter tastes good, and offers sources of Vitamin A and other fat soluble vitamins such as E, K, and even D.  Butter is also made from natural ingredients and not chemically or artificially processed.

You can use butter with cooking, baking, or even as a spread.  You can also pair it with creamy sauces, marinades, baked dishes, or even bread.

4.  Margarine

Margarine was first introduced as an alternative to high fat butter.  When it was first created however, it was loaded with trans fat, a substance that we now know raises bad cholesterol.

As a cooking oil, margarine tastes good, it's lower in fat than most oils and butter, and it's quite easy to spread.  It's available in a variety of different products and a good source of vitamin E.

When it comes to cooking with oils, there are several at your disposal.  There are many more than what is mentioned here, although the ones above are the most popular.

 Eating healthy involves cooking healthy food - which is where your cooking oil really takes center stage.

Making Children Eat Healthy

Fast food is a big part of modern life these days, making it very hard to teach a child how he or she should eat healthy.  The cheapest and easiest foods are those that are normally the least healthy. If  you give your child the choice between healthy food and junk food, you normally won't like the results.

Even though it isn't possible to get a child to like all healthy foods, there are some ways to get your child to try and hopefully like at least a few of them.  You can be as creative as you like, as getting  kids to eat healthy foods can be a little harder than you may think.

-  Sneak the healthy food in.  Even though it would  be great if your kid understood the importance of  fruits and vegetables, this isn't always possible. If you can't get them to eat good food willingly,  there are ways to sneak them in, such as making  muffins out of bananas or apples, or pizza with spinach on it.

-  Call fruits and vegetables by funny names.  You can refer to broccoli as "trees", making them more fun to eat.  There are many different names you can call fruits and vegetables, even making up your own if you prefer.  Most kids prefer to eat foods that sound fun.

-  Make the foods taste better. Ranch dressing is great for broccoli, while peanut butter is a great topping for celery.  There are several combinations for vegetables that can make them taste much better.  You can let your child pick a topping for a vegetable, even if it's something you wouldn't normally like yourself.

-  Dress the vegetables up.  Just as much as calling them names help kids eat healthy foods, making them
look funny also helps.  You can do this by making  funny designs on the plate, or setting them up to look like people.  Although some parents don't like their kids playing with their food, sometimes it helps to get them to eat healthier.

There are several ways to make your kids eat healthier, but to make them enjoy it also has to be fun as well.  This isn't always an easy task, because kids normally don't like foods that are good for them.  It can however, be done with a bit of creativity.

Hopefully, doing this will help your child develop a love of healthy foods for the rest of their lives.

Eating Healthy For Vegetarians

The vegetarian way of eating can be a very healthy style of eating.  The rules still apply with healthy eating,
although you should add variety, balance, and moderation.

A vegetarian is someone who avoids all types of meat, whether it be hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken, or even fish.Vegetarians are also sometimes classified by the type of food they are or aren't willing to eat.  For example,Lacto-ovo vegetarians will avoid animal flesh yet they will eat eggs and most dairy products.  A Vegan on the other hand, will avoid all food that has any trace of animal origin.

Because they don't eat meet, vegetarians will often wonder how they'll get enough protein.  Although you may not realize it, the average American actually consumes more protein than he actually needs.  For the lacto-ovo vegetarian, dairy products are an excellent source of protein.  Vegans on the other hand, get their protein from nuts, seeds, and soy products.

Along the lines of beans, there are several to choose from, including green or red lentils, peanuts, split
peas, pinto, soy, kidney, and many more.  Some of them you are already familiar, such as kidney beans in
chili, fried beans in Mexican dishes, red beans and rice, and pinto beans.  Although some beans taste good
as they are, others are available with different flavors to help enhance their taste.

  Nuts are high in protein, although they deliver a lot more fat than beans, which means you should enjoy them in moderation.  By having  one cup of cooked beans, you'll get the same amount of protein as eating two ounces of meat!

The nutrients of concern for vegans, who avoid all types of animal food, are vitamin B12, calcium, and vitamin D. In the average North American diet, the primary source for B12 is animals.  To have an adequate intake of B12,  vegans should regularly consume vitamin B12 supplements or foods, which contain vitamin B12, such as soy products or milk. 

For calcium, vegans can rely on orange juice or soy milk, as they are fortified with calcium.  Beans and
leafy green vegetables will also contain some calcium as well.

Although all types of vegetarians rely on simple food groups, controlling your vitamins and calcium intake is
something you should always do.  This is very important for eating healthy, as well as staying healthy.  If you
control what you eat, you'll have many years of healthy eating ahead of you.

Watch Your Fat Intake

This information is aimed at helping you to reduce your fat intake.  The average individual eats too much fat, a factor that's linked to a variety of health problems, including cancer.

Diets that are high in fat are associated with breast and colon cancer, with some studies linking high fat to prostate cancer as well.

A majority of people can bring their fat intakes down to a healthy range by making a few adjustments in the way they shop, cook, and prepare the foods they eat.

Now days, it's getting easier and easier to control the amount of fat you consume.  The fat content of
foods are now available through the nutrition label and through brochures distributed by food companies
and even fast food restaurants.

You can use this information on nutrition to choose lower fat foods by comparing products and food
brands.  Once you have a rough idea of what a healthy intake of fat is, you'll know what you can and what
you can't have.

From day to day, the amount of fat you eat will vary.  Some meals and some days will be higher in
fat than others.  Even high fat meals can be kept  in line with healthy eating as long as you balance
those days accordingly. 

The average fat intake over the course of weeks and months is important, not the fat intake of every meal and food you consume.

Younger adults and high active adults who have higher calorie needs can probably eat a little more
fat.  Older adults and those that aren't very active should aim for a lower fat intake. This way, you can control your fat intake and avoid the many  problems that fat is associated with.

7 Great Tips To Changing How You Eat

As you may know, not fueling up with the right  nutrients can affect how well your body performs and your overall fitness benefits.  Even though  healthy eating is important, there are myths that hinder your performance if you listen to them.

Below, you'll find some myth busters on healthy eating.

1.  Working out on an empty stomach.

If you hear a rumbling noise in your stomach, the rumbling is trying to tell you something.  Without listening to them, you are forcing your body to run without any fuel.  Before you exercise or do any physical activity, always eat a light snack such as an apple.

2.  Relying on energy bars and drinks.

Although they are fine every once in a while, they don't deliver the antioxidants you need to prevent cancer.  Fruits and vegetables are your best bets, as they are loaded in vitamins, minerals, fluid, and fiber.

3.  Skipping breakfast.

Skipping breakfast is never a good idea, as  breakfast starts the day.  Your body needs fuel as soon as possible, and without it, you'll be  hungry throughout the day.

4.  Low carbon diets.

Your body needs carbohydrates for your muscles and the storing of energy. 

5.  Eating what you want.

Eating healthy and exercising doesn't give you an all access pass to eat anything you want.  Everyone needs the same nutrients whether they exercise or not, as well as fruits and vegetables.

6.  Not enough calories

Although losing weight involves calories, losing it too quickly is never safe.  What you should do, is aim for 1 - 2 pounds a week.  Always make sure  that you are getting enough calories to keep your body operating smoothly.  If you start dropping weight too fast, eat a bit more food.

7.  Skip soda and alcohol.

Water, milk, and juice is the best to drink for active people.  You should drink often, and not  require on thirst to be an indicator.  By the time you get thirsty, your body is already running a  bit too low.

Changing how you eat is always a great step  towards healthy eating and it will affect how your body performs.  The healthier you eat, you better you'll feel.  No matter how old you may be, healthy eating is something you should strive for.  Once you give it a chance, you'll see in no time at all just how much it can change your life - for the better.

Healthy Food Choices

Eating healthy is something we all would like to do,although it can be hard.  In order to eat healthy, you
must first make the right food choices.  Eating healthy is all about what you eat, which makes the choices very crucial to your results.

Grains

You should consume 6 ounces of grains per day.  To do this,you can eat 3 ounces of whole grain cereals, breads, rice, crackers, or pasta.  You can get an ounce of grains in a single slice of bread, or 1 cut of cereal.

Vegetables

These should be varied, as you should eat 2 1/2 cups of them each day.  You should start eating more of the dark vegetables, such as broccili and spinach.  Carrots and sweet potatoes are good as well.  You should also eat more dry beans such as peas, pinto beans, and even kidney beans.

Fruits

Fruits are very important.  You should try to eat 2 cups of them each day.  Focus on eating a variety, such as
fresh, frozen, canned, or even dried fruit.  You can drink fruit juices as well, although you should use moderation when doing so.

Milk

Milk is your calcium rich friend.  For adults, 3 cups is the ideal goal.  For kids 2 - 8, 2 cups is where you
want to be.  When choosing milk products or yogurt, you should go for fat-free or low-fat.  Those of you who don't like milk or can't have it, should go for lactose free products or other sources of calcium such as fortified foods and beverages.

Meat and beans

Eating 5 ounces a day is the ideal goal, as you should go lean with your protein.  When eating meat, always bake it, grill it, or broil it, as this will prevent grease from adding to the equation.  You should vary your protein  as well, with more fish, beans, peas, and nuts.

When cooking your food, you should also limit solid fats such as butter, margarine, shortening, and lard.  These  foods may add flavor to your dishes, although they can  also help raise your cholesterol as well. 

Therefore, you should try to add these foods and any foods that happen to contain them.

To help keep your saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium low,  you can check the nutrition facts label.  This label can  be found on the food package and will tell you all the information you need to know about the food item.

By picking your foods wisely and watching what you eat,you'll help control your lifestyle.  Exercise is great as well, as it goes along perfect with a healthy eating lifestyle.  No matter what your age may be, eating healthy will help you keep your active lifestyle for years and years - even help you and your health in the long run as well.

How Alcohol Affect The Brain

I once had the unusual, though unhappy, opportunity of observing the same phenomenon in the brain structure of a man, who, in a paroxysm of alcoholic excitement, decapitated himself under the wheel of a railway carriage, and whose brain was instantaneously evolved from the skull by the crash. The brain itself, entire, was before me within three minutes after the death.

 It exhaled the odor of spirit most distinctly, and its membranes and minute structures were vascular in the extreme. It looked as if it had been recently injected with vermilion. The white matter of the cerebrum, studded with red points, could scarcely be distinguished, when it was incised, by its natural whiteness; and the pia-mater, or internal vascular membrane covering the brain, resembled a delicate web of coagulated red blood, so tensely were its fine vessels engorged.

I should add that this condition extended through both the larger and the smaller brain, the cerebrum and cerebellum, but was not so marked in the medulla or commencing portion of the spinal cord.

The spinal cord and nerves.
--------------------------

The action of alcohol continued beyond the first stage, the function of the spinal cord is influenced. Through this part of the nervous system we are accustomed, in health, to perform automatic acts of a mechanical kind, which proceed systematically even when we are thinking or speaking on other subjects.

Thus a skilled workman will continue his mechanical work perfectly, while his mind is bent on some other subject; and thus we all perform various acts in a purely automatic way, without calling in the aid of the higher centres, except something more than ordinary occurs to demand their service, upon which we think before we perform.

Under alcohol, as the spinal centres become influenced, these pure automatic acts cease to be correctly carried on. That the hand may reach any object, or the foot be correctly planted, the higher intellectual centre must be invoked to make the proceeding secure. There follows quickly upon this a deficient power of co-ordination of muscular movement.

The nervous control of certain of the muscles is lost, and the nervous stimulus is more or less enfeebled. The muscles of the lower lip in the human subject usually fail first of all, then the muscles of the lower limbs, and it is worthy of remark that the extensor muscles give way earlier than the flexors. The muscles themselves, by this time, are also failing in power; they respond more feebly than is natural to the nervous stimulus; they, too, are coming under the depressing influence of the paralyzing agent, their structure is temporarily deranged, and their contractile power reduced.

This modification of the animal functions under alcohol, marks the second degree of its action. In young subjects, there is now, usually, vomiting with faintness, followed by gradual relief from the burden of the poison.

Effect on the brain centres.
----------------------------

The alcoholic spirit carried yet a further degree, the cerebral or brain centres become influenced; they are reduced in power, and the controlling influences of will and of judgment are lost. As these centres are unbalanced and thrown into chaos, the rational part of the nature of the man gives way before the emotional, passional or organic part.

The reason is now off duty, or is fooling with duty, and all the mere animal instincts and sentiments are laid atrociously bare. The coward shows up more craven, the braggart more boastful, the cruel more merciless, the untruthful more false, the carnal more degraded. ' In vino veritas ' expresses, even, indeed, to physiological accuracy, the true condition. The reason, the emotions, the instincts, are all in a state of carnival, and in chaotic feebleness.

Finally, the action of the alcohol still extending, the superior brain centres are overpowered; the senses are beclouded, the voluntary muscular prostration is perfected, sensibility is lost, and the body lies a mere log, dead by all but one-fourth, on which alone its life hangs.

 The heart still remains true to its duty, and while it just lives it feeds the breathing power. And so the circulation and the respiration, in the otherwise inert mass, keeps the mass within the bare domain of life until the poison begins to pass away and the nervous centres to revive again. It is happy for the inebriate that, as a rule, the brain fails so long before the heart that he has neither the power nor the sense to continue his process of destruction up to the act of death of his circulation. Therefore he lives to die another day.