7 Interesting Facts about Your Health

Get crushed

Crush garlic before cooking it, suggests the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Heat damages the enzymes in the gloves that prevent blood clots. By crushing it, it minimizes the effect heat may have on it.

Take a scoop

Ice cream may help you get pregnant, thanks to a fat-soluble dairy compound, according to a Harvard School of Public Health Study.

Water log

Are you thirsty or dehydrated? Make use of the water calculator at www.bottledwater.org to check your hydration needs.

Fat attack

A high-fat meal makes it harder for your heart to cope with stress notes a study in in the Journal of Nutrition. Blood pressure can rise after a meal high in saturated fats. So if you have a hectic schedule, pack a healthy lunch.

Main Squeeze

Grapefruit has always been a diet classic; now a study in the Journal of medicinal Food shows how the sweet-and-sour citrus may help weight loss. Citrus keeps insulin levels low, which might help your body burn more fat.

Cancer kicker

Two cups of beans a week cut your risk for colon cancer by 65% says search of the South African Cancer association.

Bye-Bye belly

Another reason to eat breakfast – it may give you flatter abs. Researchers have found that breakfast skippers have bigger tummies than those who regularly have a morning meal.

Health24

10 Secrets to Look 10 Years Younger

Ah…to remain forever youthful…what we wouldn’t give! Aging is an irreversible fact of life. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t techniques to help us keep it at bay. In this article, I share with you 10 secrets to maintaining a youthful appearance.

• Age is just a number. The secret to defying your numerical age has everything to do with attitude. You are what you think and believe about yourself. Feel like an old lady? Well you probably dress, behave and speak like one too. Embrace a youthful and playful attitude about life. Do not sweat the small stuff. Live in the moment. These attitude adjustments will shave off years from your appearance.

• Laugh. Be silly. Play! What? You’re too old? Nonsense! Get some pep in your step and free your mind of all concerns for a couple hours each day. Engage in your hobbies. Get active. Play with children or pets. Do the things you enjoyed as a child. Hang around young people. Spend more time in nature and experience the wonder of creation. The impact of joy in your life is powerful.

• Are you still dressing like you’re back in the 80’s? If so it’s time for an image revamp! Nothing ages us more than being in a clothing time warp. Get an updated look and keep fashionably current with clothing that reflects your personal style.

• Are you getting enough sleep? Most of us need 7-9 hours every night. When we don’t give our bodies enough rest it shows on our face—our eyes look tired, red or puffy, aging us instantly.

• Avoid cakey, thick or heavy makeup on older skin. Makeup face-lift:

1) Plump your skin with a hydrating cream foundation instead of a powder one-creams soften lines and wrinkles rather than settling in them. Same for eye shadow.

2) Brighten your eyes using peach or yellow tone concealers under the eye to mask those puffy dark circles.

3) Radiate you skin using blush high on your cheekbones.

4) Lips: After lipstick apply a pale glossy lip gloss on top for a youthful finish.

• Unless you get botox or surgery no cream will get rid of the wrinkles you already have. But you can reduce their appearance and slow the creation of new ones by using the right moisturizers. I personally like Estee Lauder’s “Advanced Night Repair” eye cream. For all over moisture, look for products that contain retinol and alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs).

• Don’t be scared of trying the latest fashion trends. Instead, adapt them to suit your age and body type. I shop in any store regardless of the target market as long as the clothes are made well and fit well. Some of my best finds have been at teen-oriented stores especially for accessories and cute summer tops.

• Do you have the same hairstyle you’ve had for 20 years? Dated hairstyles add years to your look. Get a fresh, stylish haircut from a professional and experiment with new hair colors or highlights. Shoulder length hair or shorter is usually more flattering on older women.

• Don’t underestimate the power of shape wear! Spandex anyone? A bra that lifts and supports is essential and can make you look taller and slimmer in an instant.

• What we resist persists. Kicking and screaming every year we clock another number only makes matters worse. You will become so hyper-focused on every wrinkle or grey hair that the worry that will result will only exacerbate the problem. Accept and embrace aging it is part of our life’s journey. Look at your crow’s feet and laugh lines as a newer, different aspect of your innate beauty. Acceptance is key.

Source: saidaonline.com

Romantic Love Letters

Sometimes we find difficult to express our love, don't worry if you are very nervous, you feel that you can't talk and your hands are sweeting, well that's why romantic love letters exist.

What can be more romantic than sending a handwritten love letter to your loved one, full of romantic words and genuine feelings you have for him/her? Love letters are one of the best ways to show your special loved ones how you feel for them and how much you love them.

A heartfelt love letter also makes the perfect gift for Valentine's Day, but you don't have to just limit yourself to that specific day. Every day is a great opportunity to make your loved one happy by sharing your deepest feelings with him/her.

The great thing about love letters is that you don't have to be a poet or a skilled "writer" to be able to write them. Everyone - and I really mean "everyone" - can do it.

Because they are just about putting your romantic feelings into words genuinely - even in very simple words. 

This openness is what makes love letters special.

To write a more romantic and heart-warming letter, here are some questions that will give you good ideas to write about:

Idea #1:

What was the first time you felt you were in love with him/her? Did anything special happen that made you realize your love?

Idea #2:

What is the #1 thing he/she has that makes you feel so much in love with him/her whenever you think about it? It could be about looks or about personality.

Idea #3:

What positive changes have you made since he/she has entered your life? What valuable lessons have you learned from him/her?

Idea #4:

It's also a good idea to include a heartfelt romantic love poem at the end or the beginning of your letter. Sometimes nothing can show how we feel better and deeper than a good poem.

Idea #5:

And as the last tip: Don't forget to say "I Love You" at the end of your letter. This simple yet effective sentence will really seal the deal in your loved one's mind.

Jenny Love

10 Great Ways to Feel Your Best - Every Day

Do you want to lead a happy, successful and balanced life, yet often find you lack the energy, time and motivation to do everything you'd like?

Sometimes the choices you make lead you even further away from goals. Following are ten practical and do-able suggestions for guiding your daily choices. Incorporating them into your life will bring a renewed sense of vitality and wellbeing; greater contentment with where you're at; more enthusiasm for where you're going; and a restored sense of balance in your life - less the stress!

1. Take Daily Actions toward Inspiring Goals

Having a goal that inspires you makes life much more fun and exciting. It doesn't matter how small your action is, but if you commit to doing one thing every day that moves you closer toward your goal, you'll feel a much greater sense of fulfilment and purpose.

2. Nourish Your Body Better

You can't do your best if you are low in energy or sick. If you take your health for granted and neglect your body it will eventually catch up on you. Nourishing your body with nutritious and fresh food washed down with plenty of water will give you increased vitality and stamina to accomplish your goals and better health and longevity in the longer term. As for your favorite 'not so healthy' treats, practice moderation.

3. Give up Complaining for Doing

Is there something you find yourself continually complaining about or annoyed by - a negative person, a situation, a dripping tap, or a noisy car? If so, ask yourself, "Is there something I can do so I won't need to tolerate this anymore?" If so, do it! Perhaps you need to have a conversation with someone to address an issue - do it now. Otherwise, if it can't be remedied, decide to accept it since complaining only perpetuates your suffering and drains those who have to listen to you.

4. Choose Uplifting Company

On that note, choose to spend as much time as possible with uplifting people who are positive about life and encourage you to live yours fully. Their energy is contagious and so too is that of 'energy drainers'. Minimize the time you spend with people who are forever whining about things, zapping you of your energy and enthusiasm.

5. Plan Ahead and Prioritize

There will never be enough time to do everything but there will always be enough time to do the most important things. However, using your time effectively requires that you clearly define your values and goals, and plan ahead. Consistently ask yourself "What is the highest value use of my time that will make the biggest difference in the longer term?" Don't fall into the trap of letting the urgent things continually distract you from the important.

6. Take "Time Out" for Just You

Nothing is more important than taking regular time out to catch your breath and 'regroup'. One simple yet effective de-stressing technique is to practice "conscious breathing", particularly when you're feeling overwhelmed, hurried or anxious. The simple act of just watching yourself breath slows and deepens your breathing. This extra oxygen in your lungs reduces your pulse and lowers your blood pressure so your heart doesn't have to work so hard.

Another habit to enrich your life is putting time aside daily, even just five minutes, to sit in silence. This will help clear your mind and rejuvenate your spirit. Finally, try journaling to provide greater clarity on where you are, where you want to go and the best way to get there.

7. Don't Over-Commit Yourself

By prioritizing the most important things in your life it is easier to say 'no' to things that are not aligned with what you value most. Before you say 'yes' to something, first consider what it will require you to say 'no' to. You are doing a disservice to everyone, yourself included, when you take on too much and get stressed out by trying to please everyone.

8. Nurture Your Relationships

Relationships are one of the richest sources of joy in our lives yet often the time we invest in them doesn't reflect their importance to us. Make a commitment to spend more time with those you value most in your life. This may require scheduling time in your diary rather than just waiting for a day when you (or they) have nothing else on. Practice listening more and speaking less, allowing yourself to be fully present and open to receiving the richness the time you share offers.

9. Exercise - Use the 1% Rule

You spend about 30% of your week sleeping so it seems reasonable that you could put aside just 1% of your week to exercise. That works out to be three ½ hour sessions (believe me, I've done the math). Exercise not only increases your energy but it reduces your blood pressure, keeps your heart in better shape and the 'feel good' endorphins it releases improve your mood. It's a no-brainer - so stop making excuses and get moving… today!

10. Let Go of Perfection

Focusing on what isn't 100% perfect in your life diminishes your ability to feel contentment and appreciation for all that is wonderful. Also if you need to have everything perfect before you move on to anything else you will get very little done. Give up doing what you believe others think you 'should' be doing or striving to achieve some arbitrary assessment of perfection. Instead, continually ask yourself, "What really and truly matters to me?"

By Margie Warrell

A guide to the exercise Pilates

Pilates is a form of exercise designed to tone, stretch, balance and strengthen the body. This is achieved through a series of body movements combined with a focus of breathing patterns. Although equipment can be used, the technique is similar to yoga in the sense that your body is the only tool you need.

The technique has been used for many years but only recently has it impacted the public consciousness. Nearly everybody knows someone who has tried it or indeed is still doing it.

What will it do for me?

There are many benefits of Pilates but you will only get out what you put in. Don't expect overnight miracles but a genuine level of commitment will produce results sooner than you may think. Pilates can have the following effects:

-Increased agility and flexibility

- Improved body strength without developing significant muscle mass

- Improved balance and co-ordination

- Noticeable toning of the body particularly in the thighs, buttocks and stomach

- An overall feeling of mind and body harmony

Isn't it just the same as yoga?

Pilates incorporates many of the techniques used by its much older sister Yoga. They are both low impact forms of exercise with a focus on posture, flexibility and concentration. However there are differences. Pilates uses a series of machines and tools where yoga only uses the occasional strap or weight. Also in Yoga you move from one static position to another, whereas in Pilates you maintain your posture and perform movements from there.

Saidaonline.com