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9 Tips to Keep Calm & Ride/Drive On

Have you found yourself always fretting over traffic jams? You are not alone. One needs to have extremely high levels of tolerance to sail through the long standstills before once reaches home or work. Research shows that on an average a person spends nearly 2.5 hours on commuting. In metro cities, the annoying honking, choking pollution & tailgating are common plights that are sure to worsen day by day unless there is an amazing invention that can solve all of it.

The next time you see a long strip of red brake lights ahead of you, you will not whine coz we are giving you an exciting set of options that you can try out.

1. Load that Jazz: Be it a heavy rock band or a soothing melody, different people have different tastes when it comes to music genres. Take some time out and create a playlist that can instantly pep your mood or calm you as the case may be.

2. Find your favourite RJs: A lot of interesting stations have come up these days and each is constantly trying to come up the ladder by introducing various kinds of shows with witty RJs. If you haven’t tried tuning in to radio stations, we strongly recommend you try. You may just end up participating in a contest while waiting in traffic!

3. Do your shopping on the go: Try checking all the things on your shopping list by stopping at the provision or grocery store on your way back home. This might indirectly give you the much needed break and give a good amount of distraction that your mind needs.

4. Explore your routes: Instead of taking the same route again and again, consider taking a different route. Who knows- someday you might just end up finding a route that may save a couple of minutes and do you a huge favour. These days a lot of interesting apps like Google Maps, Waze, etc. help you get updated with traffic on a real-time basis.

5. Munch on: Ensure that you’re stocked with snacks that you love, so that you can spend some time munching and making your tummy happy. After all, a hungry tummy has an angry face right?

6. Tag a buddy: Having a travel partner is indeed a brilliant option but make sure that you choose a person with whom you can easily strike a chord.

7. Hands-free calling: How nice it’d be to catch up with buddies in this busy world! It will not only help you stay in touch with friends but also cheer you up while you drive. (Make sure you have a Bluetooth while you do this.)

8. Catch up on news updates: Load your smartphones with news apps that will let you be updated with all the latest happenings around the globe.

9. Work, a strict NO NO: The last thing you’d want to do is to pull things from work and start doing them. Trust us, it will annoy you even more and decrease your efficiency.

10. Listen to a movie: Yes, you heard us right. You can now buy media sources that have the audio of movies loaded. Some people enjoy listening to this by buying their favourite classics and spend time in remembering the scenes while the audio runs in the background.

References:

https://autoportal.com/articles/driving-guide-how-to-stay-cool-in-traffic-jam-2567.html

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-to-stay-cool-and-calm-in-traffic-130686

5 Natural Foods to Check Cholesterol

There are three lipoproteins that are important for a healthy blood constituency- Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL), High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) and triglycerides. LDL has high cholesterol and low protein levels and is often termed as the bad cholesterol. HDL on the other hand is considered healthy as it contains more of proteins and less of cholesterol. Cholesterol is not as bad thing as most of us think. It is a naturally occurring substance produced by the liver and is required by the body in optimum levels for the proper functioning of the cells. Cholesterol tends to be carried by the fat cells (lipid cells) of the blood. An increase in cholesterol level thereby results in its unwanted accumulation on the walls of the arteries.

The lipid profile blood test is usually done to check the cholesterol level. The desirable level is below 200mg/dL. Any number above 240mg/dL needs immediate attention.

To keep your cholesterol level in check, incorporate the following foods in your diet:

1. Garlic and onions: Being rich in sulphur, these foods help to prevent the cholesterol particles from sticking to the walls of the artery. It is good to consume 2-4 fresh cloves everyday.

2. Get cracking: Munch on those walnuts to pump your HDL levels up. Almonds and cashews are other good options too, but don’t over-eat. One shot glass of nuts a day is an ideal measure.

3. Go easy on that oil: Coconut oil is known to have a high amount of cholesterol. Replace this oil in your kitchen with olive oil and also use it minimally.

4. Avocados: These are a blessing in disguise. Avocados are rich sources of MUFA (Mono Unsaturated Fatty Acid) and beta-isosterol, a beneficial plant-based fat, which has the property of reducing the absorption of cholesterol from the foods ingested. However avocados are high in calories and fat (300 calories and 30g of fat per avocado) – hence use them in moderation.

5. Drink your health: Research has shown that drinking red wine made from high fibre grapes has the tendency to lower the cholesterol levels by 9%. A good reason to drink right? (PS: This ticket is only for red wine)

While you focus on eating the above mentioned foods along with a lot of fruits and vegetables, also remember to avoid the following foods that tend to make cholesterol levels shoot up.

· Refined sugar

· Vegetable oil rich in hydrogenated fat

· Alcohol

· Caffeine

References:

https://draxe.com/lower-cholesterol-naturally-fast/

http://www.prevention.com/health/how-to-lower-cholesterol-naturally/slide/2

6 Smart Tips for Exercising Outdoors during Winter

Exercising outdoors can give you a completely different and enthralling experience but can affect your health if proper precautions are not taken. Cold weather mornings are not really the ones we wish for when it comes to workouts because getting out of the bed itself is a herculean task. Tackling winter is actually not that tough if you build your body’s immunity. Training in winter also has another benefit- you tend to burn more calories as the body tries to combat the cold weather by increasing the pulse rate which eventually increases energy consumption.
Say NO to gloomy workouts in the winter season by following these interesting tips:
1. Wear apparel that is light. You may think you need to dress in multiple layers during winter, but actually that’s not true. Your body temperature tends to spike up when you workout and hence you may start feeling hot. When you wear thick winter clothes you may find it uncomfortable to push yourself beyond a certain point. Avoid cotton and wear synthetics as the first layer to prevent the fabric from sticking to your skin when you sweat. You may want to wear a sweater if you feel really cold.

2. Always keep your skin hydrated as winter season tends to easily dry the skin. It is also advisable to apply moisturizer before you step out for your workout. Never rub your dry skin with hands.

3. Concentrate on your breathing pattern and ensure you take long deep breaths. It is always good to inhale through your nostrils and exhale through your mouth. The longer the air stays inside the body, the better the lungs make use of it.

4. If you don’t have the practice of taking a hot shower before your winter workouts you might as well start now as this helps to pre-condition your muscles and has a similar effect to stretching.

5. Avoid running strenuously when it is too cold. Instead shorten your stride and keep your feet low to the ground while running. This way you’ll reduce the risk of injury and run more efficiently.

6. Never go into a warm room immediately after your workout as this may induce shock reactions in the muscles which is not good. Instead, dry your body with a towel, walk a little and have a nice cup of coffee to slowly strike a balance between the body temperature and the ambient temperature.

Reference:
http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/winter-training-tips.aspx
https://www.freeletics.com/en/knowledge/7-tips-training-winter/

11 Effective Remedies for Heartburn

Almost all of us would have experienced a burning sensation in our food pipe at some point of the other. Heartburns are not a serious problem but can develop into a more serious condition called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease which is a chronic problem and has to be treated with medication. In most cases, the cause of heartburn can be very easily identified- it is mostly a reflex reaction to the kind of food you eat. So it is always advised to watch your diet and most importantly your posture after you eat since putting pressure on your abdomen after you eat can stimulate heartburns.

Following are some interesting tips that you can follow to get rid of heartburn.

1. If you have to start your day with tea, brew the tea leaves instead of boiling it in hot water as boiling it releases strong acids that can cause heartburn.

2. Don’t sleep as soon as you finish your meals. Give your body at least an hour’s time before you decide to lie down (also remember to sleep on your left side).

3. Avoid wearing clothes that are too tight, especially the ones that feel tight on your abdomen like belts.

4. While eating, make sure you chew your food slowly and drink very little water while you eat.

5. Say No to fried items for dinner. Choose nutritious foods like fruits, oats, nuts and eggs.

6. Avoid adding too much spice to your meals.

7. Some people may be allergic to one particular kind of food. If you’re able to identify the cause, it is better to stay away from it.

8. Chew tulsi leaves or have lemon water with 7-8 soaked raisins for immediate relief.

9. For some people cold milk works like magic and can provide instant relief.

10. After a meal, pop a chewing gum and chew for 30 minutes to ward off heartburn.

11. Avoid smoking and alcohol as they are very commonly associated to heartburn.

References:

http://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/heartburn-relief

http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/america-asks-9/nighttime-heartburn-sleep-tips

10 Great Ways to Start Your Day with Positivity

10 Great Ways to Start Your Day with Positivity

It is indeed a battle that we fight everyday to wake ourselves up and start the day with energy. During winter, this battle is even more painful. Most resort to caffeine every morning to activate their system. While caffeine does its job, you must understand that there are other easy and natural ways to rejuvenate your body and keep yourself positive throughout the day.

Here are 10 great ways to give you that instant morning boost:

Watch what you eat before you go to bed: In order to wake up fresh you need to have a calm tummy. Avoid eating more than 150 calories before hitting the bed. Remember that if you upset your gut, you will upset your entire day.
Sleep well: One needs around 7-8 hours of sound sleep to feel rejuvenated every morning. Sleep on a positive note. For this you can either read a nice book or listen to some soothing music before hitting the bed.
Pray/Meditate: As soon as you wake up, sit on the bed upright, fold your hands, close your eyes and pray. Keep track of your breath while you do so. Remember to tell yourself everyday that you always need to let go of the past and be in the present.
Look out of the window: Start your day by spending some time staring out of the window or standing on your balcony allowing the sun’s rays to fall on you. Research has shown that early morning sun light activates the happy hormones when they fall on the skin.
Drink warm water: Once you are up, hydrate your body with at least 3 glass of warm water. This is one of the natural ways to flush the toxins out of your system right in the morning.
Kill the snooze: Avoid hitting the snooze button. Your body tends to strain a lot when you tend to nap as soon as you wake up. You will feel more alert and less groggy throughout the day if you give up on the snooze button.
Greet your loved ones: Meet your family members or roommates and wish them a happy morning with a broad smile everyday- you will surely find the difference.
Exercise: We know it’s difficult to get yourself up to workout, but it is proven that when your body gets into active mode, there’s a lot of energy that gets transferred into the body and you automatically tend to feel recharged.
Have a nourishing breakfast: It is better to start your day with a lot of veggies, fruits and green juice. Go for foods that are a mix of complex carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats. Top it off with green tea instead of coffee.
Surround yourself with happy pictures: Have your wall covered with a lot of pictures that make you smile and kindle all the good memories associated with it. Waking up to it everyday can be the best treat you could give your mind.

References

http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/How-Feel-More-Energized-34935504

http://www.thedailymind.com/how-to/17-ways-to-wake-up-feeling-fresh-in-the-morning/

7 Everyday Foods to Avoid that Can Cause Cancer

Curing Cancer is not in your hands, but preventing it to a certain extent is! Will you believe it if we tell you that you tend to eat Cancer inducing foods on an everyday basis somehow or the other?

Research has estimated that more than half the cases of commonly occurring Cancer are preventable with proper lifestyle changes. The commonly occurring Cancers in males are prostate, colon, lung, stomach and liver. The commonly diagnosed Cancers in females are breast, lung, colorectal, cervix and stomach. Eating Cancer causing foods regularly can also lead to heart disease, chronic disease, and other such complications.

Here are 7 foods that tend to be a part of your day-to-day diet and have the ability to trigger Cancer:

1. Canned foods: The lining of most canned foods is made up of a chemical called Bisphenol-A (BPA). Some foods stored inside the cans are capable of ripping this lining off and it ultimately ends up getting mixed with the food that’s inside the can. So it’s always better to avoid tinned/canned foods.

2. Genetically Modified Foods (GMF): These days, due to the restricted supply and the increasing demand of certain foods, one find s a lot of genetically modified foods in supermarkets. It is always advisable to look for GMO-free labels when you shop.

3. Farmed Fish: You may think that fish is a very healthy alternative for meat but the fact holds true only if you use wild fish that grows in its natural habitat. Farmed fish have been found to be 16 times more carcinogenic since they are fed with contaminated fish meal and are bred in a restricted artificial environment filled with chemicals.

4. Fast food: Need we talk about this? They may be delicious but definitely harmful. AVOID!

5. Microwave Popcorn: As yummy as these popcorns could be they are also an evil snack. The microwave bags are lined with a chemical called Perflourooctanoic acid, a compound that is known to cause various types of Cancer including liver, testicular and pancreatic Cancer.

6. Refined sugar: Refined sugar is harmful in every way and is found to be the biggest Cancer inducing food. It acts as a stimulant for breast Cancer inducing cells. Remember that mutated Cancer cells love sugar!

7. White flour: Research has shown that people who get more than 57% of their energy intake from carbs like white flour are at a 220% higher risk of developing breast Cancer. This is because the body releases excess insulin to help process the meal which is detrimental to the body as it has the capacity to fertilize tumour cells.

References:

https://www.davidwolfe.com/8-Cancer-causing-foods-never-eat/

http://www.littlethings.com/Cancer-causing-foods/

4 Easy Exercises for Pregnant Women

If you’re pregnant and someone asks you to refrain from exercises you can be sure that they are just going by age-old myths. There is no evidence to prove that exercises harm the development of the foetus unless of course you stretch yourself to a limit where your body actually feels the strain. Moderate exercises don’t harm the baby but might make you tired and that’s the last thing you’d want when you’re already busy coping with your pregnancy mood swings. But to have a healthy and stress-free labour, it is imperative to keep yourself moving. Pregnancy doesn’t mean you can sit back and relax.

Did you know that the amount of blood inside the body increases by almost 50% when a foetus grows inside you? This means that your heart is functioning at a rate greater than it normally does and hence will be 50% more stressed for the same exercise you did before. The trick here is to limit the time of your workout.

Listed below are a few safe and easy workouts for all the pregnant women out there!

1. Walking: If you take a stroll in your neighbourhood park, you will be able to spot at least one pregnant woman with a baby bump. She might not be at her best pace, but she surely is stretching her muscles enough. As your tummy grows bigger you might lose balance- so always try to walk on smooth surfaces.

2. Yoga: There are specialized group yoga classes for pregnant women that you should consider joining. There are dedicated asanas that will help increase the blood circulation to the foetus and also help flex the pelvic muscles.

3. Swimming: Aqua training is always fun! It gets even better when you’re pregnant. Take someone along with you and start with simple workouts like marching on-the -spot. You can do simple strokes if you feel comfortable. Usually the water will make you feel very light and hence a lot of pregnant women find it relaxing when they workout in the pool.

4. Weight Training: This is the best way to train yourself and tell your body that you’ll soon be lifting a live weight (your baby) everyday. Lifting weights help strengthen your joints and allow your muscles to increase its mass in a healthy way. Make sure you don’t strain yourself too much while you do this.

Note that breathing incorrectly while doing exercises can decrease the blood flow to the baby. So take that extra care and watch your breathing pattern.
Also, stop exercising if you experience dizziness, pain in your chest/abdomen, blurred vision, headache, increase in body temperature, etc.

References:
http://www.parents.com/pregnan cy/my-body/fitness/best- workouts-for-moms-to-be/
http://www.parents.com/pregnan cy/my-body/fitness/exercise- during-pregnancy/

13 Things that Just Can’t Sit in Your Fridge

How many of you’ll feel that your fridge is a dump yard? You buy groceries, you dump it in; you order food, you dump the leftovers in it; you bake, you dump it in; you feel like throwing away some food, you still dump it back in (Yes, such people exist!). Refrigerators are definitely blessings in disguise but you must also understand that they are a curse for a few. Perishable foods like meat, eggs, poultry, seafood and all dairy products are definitely the ones that have the ticket to go in. Again, it is not advisable to stock things inside the fridge for days or even months (years sometimes?). Refrigerating certain foods can actually reduce their flavour, nutritional quality and may sometimes also accelerate the spoiling process.

Here is a list of things that should never be refrigerated:

1. Sauce: Sauces are naturally packed with preservatives and mostly have a shelf-life of 3 years or more. It is always better to check the label for expiry date and store it outside in a cool, dry place.

2. Bread: The breads available in the market usually come with a shelf-life of about a week. And they stay in a consumable condition even if not stored inside a refrigerator.

3. Nail Polishes: Almost 70% of women are known to refrigerate their nail polishes while some also keep other beauty essentials (like creams & serums) inside. In most of the cases, the fridge tends to decrease the life of such cosmetics and you may end up with hard, dry products that cannot be used.

4. Batteries: We don’t know why, but there is a common misconception that batteries tend to drain their stored-up energy when they are kept outside at room temperature. While this is true to a certain extent, there’s definitely no way one could preserve this stored power by keeping them inside the fridge.

5. Coffee Beans: Both the fridge and the freezer are known to induce the condensation process. This can highly affect the flavour of both coffee beans and ground coffee. Store it in an airtight container outside the fridge to lock its aroma and flavour.

6. Whole Tomatoes: Tomatoes are generally kept inside the fridge in almost every house. They tend to become mushy when done so. Instead it is better to keep them outside in a paper bag. The ripening process will happen naturally and they will stay for 3-4 days. (Note that if you’d like to store tomatoes after cutting them, there’s no better place than a refrigerator)

7. Nuts: Ziplocs are what they should be in!

8. Potato: Potatoes hate moisture. When you store them inside the fridge, there tends to be too much moisture affecting its texture and flavour. Like tomatoes, store them in paper bags in your kitchen and they’ll be fine.

9. Onion/ Garlic: Find a cool, dark spot (mostly a corner in your kitchen) away from potatoes. The gases released by potatoes tend to rot the onions. When kept inside the fridge, the moisture tends to make it mouldy.

10. Oil: Keeping the oil inside the fridge will give a butter-like consistency to it. You certainly wouldn’t want that!

11. Pickles & Jam: These are generally loaded with a lot of preservatives. The last thing you’d want to do is to let these glass jars occupy space in your ‘cool’ box unnecessarily.

12. Honey: Natural honey never dies! Never!

13. Spices: Air tight containers are where they should live. Moisture and spice never get along well.

Reference:

http://www.lifehack.org/ articles/lifestyle/12-foods- you-should-not-put-the-fridge. html

http://www.realsimple.com/ home-organizing/organizing/ organizing-kitchen/not- refrigerate/coffee

7 Quick Tips to Stay Calm during a Natural Disaster

Life is filled with surprises. Sometimes it may make you happy while most of the times, it can disrupt your peace of mind. It’s especially true in the case of natural disasters where the basic necessities of life – food, clothing, shelter & water take a big hit- which are probably the issues faced by the people of Chennai because of Cyclone Vardah on Monday. Being calm can solve many of the problems. Having a clear understanding as well as control over your mind, can help you deal with unexpected circumstances with ease. It’s not only good for you but also for the loved ones around you.

Here are some quick tips to stay calm and composed, no matter what:

1. Stay positive: The first thing that you should do is to spread the aura of positivity. We know it’s tough but the point here is to trick your mind into thinking that in the end everything will be alright.

2. Understand the emergency situation: It’s ok if there is an emergency. You need to always anticipate things and learn to manage emergency situations. Don’t let anxiety or nervousness hit you. Keep your mind and heart free of panic attacks. Once you do this, you’ll be able to come up with creative ideas to help yourself in that situation.

3. Fake a smile: The best way to trick your mind is to smile. Research has shown that by simply expanding your facial muscles by smiling, it makes you feel better. Whistle, hum or do whatever that can make you feel less stressful.

4. Take deep breaths: This is a sure shot way to balance your emotions during times of distress. Close your eyes and take in a few deep breaths. Inhale through your nose for 4 counts, hold your breath until 7 and exhale through your mouth slowly and steadily while counting 8. This is called 4-7-8 method and can do wonders.

5. Chat with your family: It is not only important for you to stay calm but you should also help the people in your house to breathe easy. Especially when there are children at home, resort to some interesting board games that may divert your kids. If there are old people at home start a debate or shoot interesting situations and brainstorm.

6. Sleep it off: This is by far the best thing to do. We know it’s insane to even think about sleep when you’re put in a grave situation like that but some people just have the knack to soothe their mind and put themselves off to sleep. What better way can one think of other than this?

7. Turn a deaf ear to rumours: Rumours spread like forest fire. We wonder who derives such a sadistic pleasure by spreading these. Never pay heed to such false news. Tune in to a radio station or watch news on TV if you need credible updates. Stay calm if nothing is accessible.

References:

http://urbansurvivalsite.com/ tips-for-staying-calm-during- a-disaster/

https://www.entrepreneur.com/ article/237694

8 Tips for a Happy Pregnancy

Giving birth to a tiny, little being can be one of the best memories a woman can have in her life. The kind of labour a woman would have is almost always unpredictable until the D day arrives. Doctors say that maintaining good health right from when you think about conceiving is very important. A healthy mother means a healthy child; one would not want to take chances when it comes to the fine development of the baby’s features and its overall health. Apart from giving up smoking, drinking and other junk food, here are a few other tips that might ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy for you.

1. Get all the Folic acid: Most of the doctors these days prescribe folic acid to all the mothers-to-be since folic acid, a synthetic form of Vitamin B9 plays a major role in the proper development of the spinal cord and the nervous system of the baby. There should be no compromise on folic acid.

2. Read and Learn: Even if you think you know everything about pregnancy, it is imperative to read articles and books that will prep you up for the days ahead. This is especially true in the cases of women bearing their first child. It helps clarify a lot of doubts about pregnancy and helps decrease any kind of fear that one might have.

3. Practice Kegels: This helps strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and thereby paves the way for an easier delivery of the baby. All you have to do is practise squeezing your pelvis as though you’re controlling the flow of urine when you’re peeing. Hold this position for 3 seconds and relax. Repeat for 10 times. You can do this anywhere, anytime.

4. Watch what you do: It is imperative to refrain from doing strenuous actions like lifting weights, climbing ladders, jumping, etc. The first trimester is for you to relax and let the foetus grow at its own pace. Also avoid standing near the cooking stove or washing your clothes for long hours.

5. Pets can be risky: Exposure to your pet’s litter might be harmful for foetus development because of the bacteria that can harm you and your baby.

6. Weight gain is a must: For anyone with a normal BMI, an increase in weight of anywhere between 10 and 15 kgs is ideal and healthy. Limited weight gain is normal and a must during this period.

7. Time to buy shoes: A woman’s feet grow bigger due to fluid accumulation during pregnancy. It is better to avoid squeezing your feet into those old shoes and instead do some shopping for your feet to be happy.

8. Avoid travelling: There a specific months when one should avoid travelling, especially long distance travel. When you’re planning to fly, consult your physician and carry the essentials without fail. While going by car, always remember to wear your seat belt.

While you follow these tips, also remember to get good sleep and keep your mind always calm. Follow a nutritious diet and enjoy bonding with your baby.

References:

http://www.parents.com/pregnan cy/my-body/nutrition/healthy-p regnancy-tips/

https://www.verywell.com/tips- for-a-healthy-pregnancy-275310 2

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