Kamis, 30 Juni 2011

Avoiding Fireworks-related Injuries

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the majority of all fireworks-related injuries occur during the weeks prior to and after the Fourth of July holiday. In 2008, seven people died and an estimated 7,000 were treated in emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries in the United States. Children under the age of 15 accounted for the majority of these incidents. This is

Tips for staying healthy in hot temperatures

With the arrival of summer and hot weather upon us, Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health, is encouraging California residents to follow these top-10 helpful tips to stay safe this summer:

• Reduce exposure to the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when UV rays are strongest, and keep physical activities to a minimum during that time. When working outside, drink plenty of water or juice even if you are not thirsty, and take rest breaks in the shade.

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat to cover the face and neck, and wear loose-fitting clothing to keep cool and to protect your skin from the sun and mosquitoes.

• Wear sunglasses that provide 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. Chronic exposure to the sun can cause cataracts, which left untreated, can lead to blindness.

• Liberally apply sunscreen (at least SPF 15)

15 minutes before venturing outdoors and re-apply at least every two hours — sunscreen prevents skin cancer, the number one cancer affecting Californians and prevents premature aging.

• Never, EVER leave infants, children or frail elderly unattended in a parked car. It can take as little as 10 minutes for the temperature inside a car to rise to levels that can kill.

• To prevent overheating, use cool compresses, misting, showers and baths — if you or someone experiences a rapid, strong pulse, feels delirious, becomes unconscious or has a body temperature above 102, call 911 immediately.

• Prevent children from drowning by providing adult supervision at all times and having a safety barrier that surrounds a pool or spa. Drowning is the leading cause of injury deaths for children under five.

• Make sure that your doors and windows have tight-fitting screens to keep out mosquitoes. Some mosquitoes carry West Nile Virus, which can mimic influenza symptoms such as fever, body aches and eye pain.

The virus can cause serious health complications and in rare cases, death.

• Apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaradin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535 according to label instructions.

Mosquitoes usually bite in the early morning and evening so it is important to wear repellent during those times.

• Eliminate all sources of standing water on your property, including flower pots, old car tires, rain gutters and pet bowls — mosquitoes breed and lay eggs in standing water.

For more tips on staying cool in the summer sun, go online to www.cdph.ca.gov.

Kamis, 23 Juni 2011

Poison Ivy: FAQs and Interesting Facts

Poison ivy is a common plant found in most areas of the United States that contains highly allergenic oil called urushiol. Approximately 85 percent of the population will develop a skin reaction if exposed to poison ivy. The characteristic rash consists of lines of itchy, red bumps or blisters. Two related plants, poison oak and poison sumac, also contain urushiol, and will produce a similar

Selasa, 21 Juni 2011

Keep Your Kids Eating 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.

Minggu, 19 Juni 2011

Get Enough Sleep - Benefits of Sleep




Sleep, we all love it, especially when you wake up from a great night's sleep. In the past, sleep was often ignored by doctors and surrounded by myths, but now we are beginning to understand the importance of sleep to overall health and well-being. In fact, when people get less than 6 or 7 hours of sleep each night, their risk for developing diseases begins to increase.The Benefits are given below :-

You need plenty of sleep to stay healthy. Getting a good night’s sleep can have many benefits.
  • You will be less likely to get sick.
  • You will be more likely to stay at a healthy weight.
  • You can boost your brainpower and your mood.
  • You can think more clearly and do better in school and at work.
  • You can make better decisions and avoid injuries. For example, sleepy drivers cause thousands of car crashes every year.
  • You can lower your risk of high blood pressure and diabetes.

How many hours of sleep do you need? 

Most adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. If you are having trouble sleeping, make changes to your routine to get the sleep you need. For example, stay away from caffeine in the afternoon. Kids need even more sleep than adults.
  • Teens need at least 9 hours of sleep each night.
  • School-aged and preschool children need 10 to 12 hours of sleep.
  • Newborns sleep between 16 and 18 hours a day.
Does it matter when I sleep?
Yes. We have a natural cycle for when we feel tired and awake. Sunlight plays a big role in this cycle.
Our “biological clocks” are set to make us feel the most sleepy between midnight and 7 a.m. We’re most alert during the day, although many people have a sleepy period between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Our natural sleep cycle is very hard to break or change. When people have to work during the night, they can have trouble getting enough sleep during the day. People who travel to a different time zone can also have trouble sleeping.

Why can’t I fall asleep?
Many things can make it harder for you to sleep, including:
  • Stress
  • Pain
  • Caffeine
  • Some medicines
  • Sleep disorders, like insomnia
How can I tell if I have a sleep disorder?
Signs of a sleep disorder can include:
  • Difficulty falling asleep
  • Trouble staying asleep
  • Sleepiness that makes it difficult to do daily tasks like driving a car
If you have any of these signs, talk to a doctor or nurse. You may need to be tested or treated for a sleep disorder.
  
Take Action! 

Small changes to your daily routine can help you get the sleep you need.
Change what you do during the day
  • Exercise earlier in the day, not right before you go to bed.
  • Stay away from drinks and foods with caffeine (such as coffee, tea, soda, or chocolate) late in the day.
  • If you have trouble sleeping at night, limit daytime naps to less than 1 hour.
  • If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation. Alcohol can keep you from sleeping soundly.
  • Don’t eat a big meal close to bedtime.
Set a bedtime routine
  • Go to bed at the same time every night.
  • Get the same amount of sleep each night.
  • Make sure your bedroom is dark and quiet.
  • Avoid eating, talking on the phone, or watching TV in bed.
  • Try not to lie in bed worrying about things. Learn to manage stress.
If you are still awake after staying in bed for more than 20 minutes, get up. Do something relaxing until you feel sleepy.

If you are concerned about your sleep, see a doctor
Talk with a doctor or nurse if you have any of the following signs of a sleep disorder:
  • Frequent, loud snoring
  • Pauses in breathing during sleep
  • Trouble waking up in the morning
  • Pain or itchy feelings in your arms or legs that may happen more often at night
  • Trouble staying awake during the day
Even if you aren’t aware of problems like these, talk with a doctor if feel like you often have trouble sleeping

A to Z Of STRESS MANAGEMENT

A to Z Of STRESS MANAGEMENT
  1. Always take time for yourself, at least 30 minutes per day.
  2. Be aware of your own stress meter: Know when to step back and cool down.
  3. Concentrate on controlling your own situation, without controlling everybody else.
  4. D aily exercise will burn off the stress chemicals.
  5. Eat lots of fresh fruit, veggies, bread and water, give your body the best for it to perform at its best.
  6. Forgive others, don't hold grudges and be tolerant -- not everyone is as capable as you.
  7. Gain perspective on things, how important is the issue?
  8. Hugs, kisses and laughter: Have fun and don't be afraid to share your feelings with others.
  9. Identify stressors and plan to deal with them better next time.
  10. Judge your own performance realistically; don't set goals out of your own reach.
  11. Keep a positive attitude, your outlook will influence outcomes and the way others treat you.
  12. Limit alcohol, drugs and other stimulants, they affect your perception and behaviour.
  13. Manage money well, seek advice and save at least 10 per cent of what you earn.
  14. No is a word you need to learn to use without feeling guilty.
  15. Outdoor activities by yourself, or with friends and family, can be a great way to relax.
  16. Play your favourite music rather than watching television.
  17. Quit smoking: It is stressing your body daily, not to mention killing you too.
  18. Relationships: Nurture and enjoy them, learn to listen more and talk less.
  19. Sleep well, with a firm mattress and a supportive pillow; don't overheat yourself and allow plenty of ventilation.
  20. Treat yourself once a week with a massage, dinner out, the movies: Moderation is the key.
  21. Understand things from the other person's point of view..
  22. Verify information from the source before exploding.
  23. Worry less, it really does not get things completed better or quicker.
  24. Xpress: Make a regular retreat to your favourite space, make holidays part of your yearly plan and budget.
  25. Yearly goal setting: Plan what you want to achieve based on your priorities in your career, relationships, etc.
  26. Zest for life: Each day is a gift, smile and be thankful that you are a part of the bigger picture.

Top 10 Ways Of Stress Management

Top 10 Ways Of Stress Management
 
It is agreeable that stress has become part and parcel of the everyday life of the modern man and woman as a result of career issues, family, financial constraints, physical disabilities, divorce, sitting in traffic while getting to work, organizing a presentation, death and deadline issues amongst others. However, we do have an option to how we respond to stress. In as much as our lives is filled with one issues to another that never seems to come to a halt, how we act in response will greatly determine how we manage stress.

Recent research shows that when stress is prolonged, it can an overall effect on our body, for example, we may start having problems with some of our major organs, i.e. the heart, suffer high blood pressure, suppress the immune system thus leading to certain diseases. As such, the article aims at educating you on different ways you can relax your body so as to have more control in managing stress.
Discussed herein are top ten ways of stress management.
10. Take action
It is recommended that when under stress take steps that will ensure that it does not lead to depression. This might entail seeking professional help. There are qualified medical personnel you can consult in such instances to help you with managing stress. Technological development in internet technology has also made it possible to seek free help from numerous online motivational and stress management site. No matter how small the step might seem, it could be a mile stone in eliminating stress.

9. Dietary Recommendations
The following dietary recommendations are key in managing stress:
• Minimize intake of coffee.
• Minimize alcohol intake.
• Avoid taking refined sugar.
• Eat balanced diet.


8. Time management
One of the major triggers of stress in the present age is time. Most have a sense of having so much on their shoulders but less time to complete the tasks assigned to them. In such instances, the first thing you need to do is to prioritize tasks according to need, where possible delegate some of the tasks. Procrastination only makes thing work as the pile keeps on increasing.

7. Progressive relaxation
 This entails inner muscle relaxation methodologies which aid one to identify tension and places that it stays in your body. The basic steps are to contract the muscles by force for a couple of seconds and release them.

6. Take up Yoga
Yoga implements both meditation and physical exercise thus making certain that the body is functioning optimally. The benefit that yoga has is that it empowers you to manage triggers to stressors.
5. Talk to someone
When you talk to someone close to you, you are releasing some of those pent up emotions. Choose someone who can listen to you without passing his or her own judgment on the issue.

4. Control your breathing

One of the ways through which you can manage stress is breathing using the diaphragm. This type of breathing is known to trigger the relaxation points in the brain and you can sense the change in a matter of minutes. Exercise slow but deep breathing in a relaxed atmosphere. Breathe in while counting inwardly to four, hold the breath for a couple of seconds then breathe out slowly while inwardly counting to eight. This can be repeated several times until you are sure that you feel relaxed.

3. Meditation
Meditation is an ancient activity that has been passed on to the present generation. Unknown to a majority of people is that by meditating, they recharge themselves via inner positive energy. This helps relaxes your nerves. There are different meditation exercises such as Tai Chi and Yoga. These are practiced by several people worldwide and have been proven to enhance ones health.

2. Workout
Workout routines such as jogging, swimming and boxing are crucial aspects of intensive stress management. Not only will you be able to release some of those pent up steam, you will also be improving your health status. Engage in a workout routine on a daily basis. If you find exercising alone is difficult, ask a close friend or colleague or family member to join you.

1. Be happy
Be happy: Not so many people appreciate the power of happiness. Each time you smile, there are muscles of your body that relaxes. Engage in fun activities which you love that can make you smile despite your circumstances. 

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Mathew 6:25-34

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." - Abraham Lincoln

10 Tips for Good Digestion

10 Tips for Good Digestion
1. Eat in order of digestibility.
You should eat the easiest to digest foods first in each meal and slowly move towards the more complex.
Think of a highway, if the slowest cars are in front they'll hold up the faster cars behind them, causing a traffic
jam. The same goes for your food. Eat those fastest to digest first and save the tougher to digest foods for
the second half of your meal.
Here are the time sequences for different food groups:

* Water & Juices: 20-30 minutes

* Fruits, Smoothies, Soups: 30-45 minutes

* Vegetables: 30-45 minutes

* Beans, Grains, Starches: 2-3 hours

* Meat, Fish, Poultry: 3 or more hours

2. Drink warm or hot liquids with your meal.
Ice cold drinks can slow down the digestive process, think of it as putting ice on a muscle. The muscle
stiffens and does not function as well. Warm or room temperature water, juice, or decaf tea will encourage
proper digestion. (Just remember the traffic jam ? drink liquids prior to meals)

3. Eat at regular meals times.
It is important to be regular with what you eat and the times of day you eat. Eating similar food groups and at
similar times each day has a regulating effect on your digestive system. Regular in means regular out.

4. Be conscious of what you eat and your portion sizes.
Over consumption is the number one cause of indigestion. Our brain signals the feeling of fullness about ten
minutes after we're actually full. So stop eating before you are full. Odds are you'll feel full ten minutes later!

5. Chew your food completely and don't talk while eating.
Incomplete chewing and talking while eating can cause premature swallowing. Our digestive systems are not
designed to digest large pieces of food, when we put large pieces in our stomachs it can lead to incomplete
digestion (aka: digestive discomfort).

6. Relax while eating your meal.
Eating when you are rushed increases your stress and slows down the digestive process. Create a nice
calming atmosphere when eating and make sure you can devote time to eating.

7. Practice good posture.
When you slouch or hunch over extra pressure is put on the digestive organs in your abdomen. This extra
pressure can cause poor digestion. You should practice sitting with your shoulders back and your chin tucked in. This will allow more room for the digestive organs and will help improve digestion.

8. Don't eat late at night.
Our bodies, including our digestive system, slow down in the evening hours as it gets ready to rest and
rejuvenate. When we put food into our stomachs at these late hours there are not enough digestive enzymes
to properly digest it. This undigested food sits in your stomach and will often disturb your sleep.

9. Take a brisk walk after eating.
Forget about not be active for 30 minutes after each meal. Increased physical activity actually helps jumpstart your digestive system and increases the production of digestive enzymes. This will lead to more complete digestion of your food and less digestive discomfort!

10. Try a spinal twist.
Spinal twists allow excess toxins in the digestive system to be released, which has a calming effect. While in a cross legged sitting position, slowly turn to the right and hold while taking 5 deep breathes then repeat this process on the left side

Top 10 Reasons To Exercise In The Morning

Top 10 Reasons To Exercise In The Morning

If I had to pick a single factor that I thought was most important in a successful exercise
program, it would be to exercise first thing in the morning - every morning! Some morn
able to fit in a 10 minute walk, but it's important to try to do something every morning.
So why exercice in the morning? Below are some reasons that would help you know why it is recommended
to exercise in the monring.
 

1. Over 90% of people who exercise consistently, exercisein the morning. If you want to exercise
consistently, odds are in your favor if you exercise first thing in the morning.
 

2. When you exercise early in the morning, it "jump starts" your metabolism and keeps it elevated for hours,
sometimes up to 24 hours! That means you're burning more calories all day long just because you exercised
in the morning!
 

3. When you exercise in the morning you'll be energized for the day! Personally, I feel dramatically different
on days when I have and haven't exercised in the morning.
 

4. Many people find that morning exercise regulates their appetite for the day - that they aren't as hungry and
that they make better food choices. Several people have told me that it puts them in a "healthy mindset."
 

5. If you exercise at about the same time every morning, and ideally wake-up at about the same time on a
regular basis, your body's endocrine system and circadian rhythms adjust to that. Physiologically, some


wonderful things begin to happen; A couple of hours before you awaken, your body begins to prepare for
waking and exercise because it knows it's about to happen. Why? Because it knows you do the same thing
just about everyday. You benefit from that in several ways.
  a.  It's much easier to wake-up. When you wake-up at different times everyday, it confuses your body and
thus it's never really prepared to awaken. 
b.  Your metabolism and all the hormones involved in activity and exercise begin to elevate while you're
sleeping. Thus, you feel more alert, energized, and ready to exercise when you do wake-up. 
c.  Hormones prepare your body for exercise by regulating blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow to
muscles, etc. 
 

6. For many people, that appointed time every morning becomes something they look forward to. It's time
they've set aside to do something good for themselves - to take care of their body, mind, and soul. Many find
that it's a great time to think clearly, pray, plan their day, or just relax mentally.
 

7. Research has demonstrated that exercise increases mental acuity. On average it lasts four to ten hours
after exercise! No sense in wasting that brain power while you're sleeping. :)
 

8. Exercise first thing in the morning is really the only way to assure that something else won't crowd exercise
out of your schedule. When your days get hectic, exercise usually takes a back seat!
 

9. If finding time to exercise is difficult, anyone can get up 30 to 60 minutes earlier to exercise (if it's a priority
in your life). If necessary, you can go to sleep a little earlier. Also, research has demonstrated that people
who exercise on a regular basis have a higher quality of sleep and thus require less sleep!

10. You'll feel Great! DO IT!

10 funky facts about beetroot

10 funky facts about beetroot


It's far sexier than it looks.

It's far sexier than it looks.
We all know that it stains everything it touches, tastes good and is almost disturbingly healthy.

What you might not know is that beetroot crops up in mythology and legend all over the place.

You probably also don’t realise that beetroots are all about sex and love.

Here then, in absolutely no particular order at all, are ten things that you may or may not have know about the red veg much beloved by Central and Eastern Europe.

   1.Eating a lot of beetroot turns your pee pink/red, eating more makes your poo pink as well.
   2.The Lupanare – official brothel of Pompeii (the brothel still stands, despite the best efforts of Vesuvius in 79AD), has its walls adorned with pictures of beetroots, amongst the frescoes of people busy at it.
   3.You can use beetroot juice to measure acidity. When added to an acidic solution it turns pink, but when it is added to an alkali it turns yellow.
   4.The Oracle at Delphi (Greek mythology, not software companies) claimed that beetroot was second only in mystical potency to horseradish, and that it was worth its weight in silver.
   5.Betanins – the natural red coularants in beetroot, are used in the food industry to colour a number of other things as well, they help to make the red redder in tomato pastes, various sauces, jams, and even ice cream.
   6.To “take favors in the beetroot fields” was a popular euphemism for visiting prostitutes in the early 20th century.
   7.Beetroot contains betaine, which in other forms is used to help treat depression, and trytophan, the feel good chemical in chocolate.
   8.In many cultures the belief persists that if a man and a woman eat from the same beetroot then they will fall in love.
   9.If you boil beetroots in water, and then massage the water into your scalp each night, it works as an effective cure for dandruff.
  10.In 1975, during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, cosmonauts from the USSR’s Soyuz 19 welcomed the Apollo 18 astronauts by preparing a banquet of borscht (beetroot soup) in zero gravity.

Sabtu, 18 Juni 2011

Cancer Treatment: EAT FRUIT on empty stomach

Cancer Treatment: EAT FRUIT on empty stomach
EATING FRUIT

* We all think eating fruit means just buying fruit, cutting it up and popping it into our mouths. It's not that easy. It's important to know how and when to eat fruit. *
What's the correct way to eat fruit?
 IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUIT AFTER A MEAL! FRUIT SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH. 
*Eating fruit like that plays a major role in detoxifying your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities..

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD.

*Let's say you eat two slices of bread, then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it's prevented from doing so.

In the meantime, the whole meal rots and ferments, and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach, and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.
Eat your fruit on an empty stomach, or before your meal! You've heard people complain: Every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc. This will not happen if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. Fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas. Hence, you bloat!

Graying hair , balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes - all of these will NOT happen if you eat fruit on an empty stomach.
*There's no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruit becomes alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruit, you have the Secret of Beauty, Longevity, Health, Energy, Happiness and normal weight.
When you need to drink fruit juice drink only freshfruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't drink juice that has been heated. Don't eat cooked fruit; you don't get the nutrients at all. You get  only the taste... Cooking destroys all of the vitamins.
Eating a whole fruit is etter than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit-fast to cleanse your body. Eat fruit and drink fruit juice for just 3 days, and you will be surprised when your friends say how radiant you look!
KIWI:
   Tiny but mighty, and a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange!

AN  APPLE 
An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C, thereby helping to lower the risk of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

STRAWBERRY: 
Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals. 

EATING 2 - 4 ORANGES
Oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones, and reduce the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: 
 Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. Also a key source of lycopene, the cancer-fighting oxidant. Also found in watermelon: Vitamin C & Potassium..
GUAVA & PAPAYA:
 Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, good for your eyes..


A serious note about heart attacks.
HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE
Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they're asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Be careful, and be aware. The more we know, the better our chance to survive.

Jumat, 17 Juni 2011

Veganism without Vegetarianism: On Guilt, Disability, and Ex-Vegans

THE QUESTION
While attending the Thinking About Animals conference in the spring 2011, I stumbled upon an odd and heretical questions: Could someone practice veganism without being vegetarian?

The question is intended to be provocative in order to challenge vegans’ complicity or even dogmatic adherence to a particular understanding of veganism. That veganism is becoming mainstream through its assimilation into the capitalist economy as a lifestyle choice or a fashionable diet leaves a stale taste in my mouth. Veganism should be revolutionary, not marketable. This question also enabled me to experiment with creating a more productive tension between veganism and vegetarianism.*

So could someone practice veganism without being vegetarian? My answer is
Read more »

Kamis, 16 Juni 2011

Bell's Palsy

Bell's palsy is the most common cause of facial paralysis, affecting up to 30,000 - 40,000 people each year in the United States. It develops when the nerve that controls facial muscles (7th cranial nerve) becomes inflamed and swollen in the area where it travels through the bones of the skull. What causes Bell's palsy? More often than not, the cause of

Stroke prevention and getting enough sleep

Health tips for Wednesday include a healthy diet to prevent stroke, and getting ample sleep for both adults and children!

Strokes are probably one of the more debilitating and disabling health downturns we could have, if we survive one at all.

Healthy weight and healthy eating lower our risk, but now, one thing we can have in our diet could protect us from stroke, that comes from an encouraging report to be published tomorrow in the Journal of Neurology.

The Mediterranean diet is a healthy way to eat and very beneficial for our hearts.

It comprises of fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains and includes olive oil. In this study of over 7 thousand people who reported they used lots of olive oil, the researchers also found a 41 percent lower risk of stroke when compared to the people who used no olive oil.

So olive oil might be the protector against that awful attack to our brain vessels that's called a stroke.

So what I tell people is that olive consumption is good but to keep in mind that we don't know how much you should take and that olive oil is a fat. However it is a good fat so we encourage people to substitute bad fats with good fats

In another story, we have more information on women's sleep out today from sleep experts.

Many of us, both men and women, use weekends to try to catch up the snooze we didn't get enough of during the week. And while we may feel more rested, sometimes it's not enough, because our brain functions don't recover totally.

But one study reported today finds that women don't suffer the effects of sleep deprivation as much as men do.

The researchers think that is because women, when they do sleep, get "deeper" sleep and that is what protects them more when they're deprived of sleep.

That's one for the women.

And another sleep study reported today looked at pre-schoolers and what happens when they don't get enough sleep. The study involves about 6,860 children with analyses controlled for gender, ethnicity and family income

While most moms can probably tell you what happens, this scientific research found this: Kids not getting enough sleep at home might make them more likely to be hyperactive and inattentive in Kindergarten.

"ADHD is usually diagnosed during the school age years, but the onset of hyperactivity and impulsivity starts much earlier", said the researcher.

Doctor's recommendation: toddlers to age 3 should get 12 to 14 hours of sleep , and preschoolers and kindergarteners need to get 11 to 13 hours. So doctor's orders: see that those little ones get their sleep.

Rabu, 15 Juni 2011

Will Power and Self-Discipline


Will Power and Self-Discipline


Sometimes, you wish to go for a walk, knowing how good it is for your health and how wonderful you feel afterwards, but you feel too lazy, and prefer to watch TV instead. You might be aware of the fact that you need to change your eating habits or stop smoking, but you don't have the inner power and persistence to change these habits.

Does this sound familiar? How many times have you said, "I wish I had will power and self discipline"? How many times have you started to do something, only to quit after a short while? We all have had experiences like these.

Everyone possesses some addictions or habits they wish they could overcome, such as smoking, excessive eating, laziness, procrastination or lack of assertiveness. To overcome these habits or addictions, one needs to have will power and self discipline. They make a great difference in everyone's life, and bring inner strength, self mastery and decisiveness.

Definitions of Will Power and Self Discipline

Will power is the ability to overcome laziness and procrastination. It is the ability to control or reject unnecessary or harmful impulses. It is the ability to arrive at a decision and follow it with perseverance until its successful accomplishment. It is the inner power that overcomes the desire to indulge in unnecessary and useless habits, and the inner strength that overcomes inner emotional and mental resistance for taking action. It is one of the corner stones of success, both spiritual and material.

Self-discipline is the companion of will power. It endows with the stamina to persevere in whatever one does. It bestows the ability to withstand hardships and difficulties, whether physical, emotional or mental. It grants the ability to reject immediate satisfaction, in order to gain something better, but, which requires effort and time.

Everyone has inner, unconscious, or partly conscious impulses, making them say or do things they later regret saying or doing. On many occasions people do not think before they talk or act. By developing these two powers, one becomes conscious of the inner, subconscious impulses, and gains the ability to reject them when they are not for his/her own good.

These two powers help us to choose our behavior and reactions, instead of being ruled by them. Their possession won't make life dull or boring. On the contrary, you will feel more powerful, in charge of yourself and your surroundings, happy and satisfied.

How many times have you felt too weak, lazy or shy to do something you wanted to do? You can gain inner strength, initiative and the ability to make decisions and follow them. Believe me, it is not difficult to develop these two powers. If you are earnest and are willing to become stronger, you will certainly succeed.

In this article, you will find some exercises and techniques for developing these abilities. These simple, but effective exercises, can be performed everywhere and at any time. Go slowly and gradually, and you will see how you get stronger and your life start improving.

There is a misconception in the public mind regarding will power. It is erroneously thought to be something strenuous and difficult, and that one has to exert and tense the body and mind when expressing it. It is a completely wrong concept. This is one of the reasons why people avoid using it, though they are conscious of its benefits. They acknowledge the fact that the employment of will power in their life and affairs will greatly help them, and that they need to strengthen it, yet they do nothing about it.

Will power gets stronger by holding back and not allowing the expression of unimportant, unnecessary and unhealthy thoughts, feelings, actions and reactions. If this saved energy is not allowed expression, it is stored inside you like a battery, and it becomes available at the time of need. By practicing appropriate exercises, you develop your powers the same way, as a person who trains his/her muscles in order to strengthen them.

Developing Will Power and Self Discipline

An effective method for developing and improving these abilities is to perform certain actions or activities, which you would rather avoid doing due to laziness, procrastination, weakness, shyness, etc. Doing things that you usually do not like to do. or feel too lazy to do, you overcome your subconscious resistance, train your mind to obey you, strengthen your inner powers and gain inner strength. Muscles get stronger by resisting the power of the barbells. Inner strength is attained by overcoming inner resistance.

Remember, strengthening one of these abilities, automatically strengthens the other one.

Here are a few exercises:
1) You are sitting in a bus or train and an old man or woman, or a pregnant lady walks in. Stand up and give up your seat, even if you prefer to stay seated. Act so, not just because it is polite, but because you are doing something that you are reluctant to do. This is an exercise in overcoming the resistance of your body, mind and feelings.

2) There are dishes in the sink that need washing, and you postpone washing them for later. Get up and wash them now. Do not let your laziness overcome you. When you know that in this way you are developing your will power, and if you are convinced of the importance of will power in your life, it will be easier for you to do whatever you have to do.

3) You come home tired from work and sit in front of the T.V., because you feel too lazy and too tired to take a shower first. Do not succumb to the desire to sit in front of the T.V, and go and take a shower.

4) You may know your body needs some physical exercise, but instead you keep on sitting doing nothing or watching a movie. Get up and walk, run or do some other physical exercise.

5) Do you like your coffee with sugar? If you do, then for one whole week drink it without sugar. Do you drink three cups of coffee each day? If you do, then drink only two cups a day for one whole week.

6) Sometimes, when you want to say something that is not important, decide not to say it.

7) Don't read some unimportant gossip in the newspaper, even if you want to.

8) You have a desire to eat something not too healthy. For the sake of the exercise refuse the desire.

9) If you find yourself thinking unimportant, unnecessary, negative thoughts, try to develop a lack of interest in them, by thinking about their futility and uselessness.

10) Overcome your laziness. Convince yourself of the importance of what is to be done. Convince your mind that you gain inner strength when you act and do things, in spite of laziness, reluctance or senseless inner resistance.

Never say that you cannot follow the above exercises, because you certainly can. Be persistent no matter what. Motivate yourself by thinking about of the importance of performing the exercises, and the inner power and strength you will gain.

Trying to attempt too many exercises when you are still a beginner, might end in disappointment. It is better to start with a few easy exercises at first, and then gradually increase their number and move to the more difficult exercises.

Most of these exercises can be practiced anywhere and at anytime, and you don't have to devote special times for them. They will train and develop your inner strength, enabling you to use it whenever you need it.

If you practice weight lifting, running or aerobics, you strengthen your muscles, so that when you need to move or carry something heavy, for example, you have the strength for it. By studying French each day, you will be able to speak French when you travel to France. It is the same with will power and self-discipline; by strengthening them, they become available for your use whenever you need them.

If for the sake of an exercise, you stop doing something that you usually do, and overcome the inner resistance concerning it, you may resume doing it, if it is not harmful. For example, if you love drinking orange juice, and for the sake of an exercise you switch to drinking apple juice, after doing so for some time, and after it makes no great difference to you, you may go back to drinking orange juice, if you still like it. The point here is to develop inner strength, not making life difficult for you or continue doing things you don't like to do.

Benefits of Possessing Strong Will Power and Self Discipline

You need these skills to control your thoughts, improve your concentration, and to become the boss of your mind. The stronger these skills are, the more inner strength you possess.

Being the master of your mind you enjoy inner peace and happiness. External events do not sway you, and circumstances have no power over your peace of mind. This might sound too unreal for you, but experience will prove to you that all the above is true.

These skills are vital for achieving success. They give you more control over your life, help you change and improve habits, and are essential for self improvement, spiritual growth and meditation.

Practice the exercises presented here earnestly and persistently, and your life will start changing

Natural Home Remedies for Jaundice

Natural Home Remedies for Jaundice

Following are some of the effective home remedies for jaundice:

1. The green leaves of radish should be pounded and their juice extracted through cloth. Half a liter of this juice should he taken daily by an adult patient. It induces a healthy appetite and proper evacuation of bowels, and this result in gradual decrease of the trouble. In most cases, complete cure can be ensured within 8 or 10 days.
2. Take a glass of fresh tomato juice, mixed with a pinch of salt and pepper early in the morning. It is an effective remedy for jaundice.
3. The juice extracted from the green leaves of pigeon pea should be taken in doses of 60 ml daily. It is an effective home remedy for jaundice.
4. Soak 8 kernels of almonds, 2 dried dates, and 5 small cardamoms overnight in water. The outer coating of the almond kernels and the inner seeds of dried dates should be removed the next morning and the whole material should be rubbed into a fine paste. Then, 50 grams of sugar and an equal amount of butter should be mixed in it and the patient should lick this mixture.
5. Take 1 glass of sugarcane juice, mixed with the juice of half a lime, and taken twice daily. It is very effective treatment for jaundice however it must be clean and preferably prepared at home.
6. You can also take 20 ml of lemon juice mixed with water several times a day. This will protect the damaged liver cells.
7. Boil 1 cup of barley in 3 liters of water and simmered for 3 hours. Drink it several times during the day. It is also an effective home remedy for jaundice.

Jaundice Treatment and Advice

1. Take moderate exercise, fresh air baths, and adequate rest
2. Take a simple light carbohydrate diet with exclusion of fats
3. Take juice fast for a week, and rest until the acute symptoms of the disease subside. After the juice fast, adopt an all-fruit diet for a further three to five days, taking three meals a day of fresh Juicy fruits at five-hourly intervals.

Herbal Remedies for Jaundice

1. The herb jaundice berry (Berberis vultaris) is very useful in jaundice. The pulverized bark should be given several times a day in doses of one-fourth of a teaspoon in the treatment of this disease, or the fluid extract should be given 2-4 ml doses.

The Power of Concentration - Part Two

The Power of Concentration - Part Two
Concentration Exercises


Sharpening the needle of concentration requires practice, as everything else in life. Do you go to the gym? If you do, how many times during the week and for how long? Do you study a foreign language? If you do, how much time do you devote to it? Developing concentration is not different; training is required. Even ten minutes a day of concentration exercises will do you good.

The mind does not like discipline and will resist your efforts to discipline it. It loves its freedom more than anything else, and will try to stand in your way to master it, in any way it can. It will cause you to forget to do the exercises, tempt you to postpone performing them or make you feel too lazy. It will find many tricks to stop and disturb you, but you can and must be stronger.

You will find below, some simple concentration exercises to perform. Always remember that the choice is yours, to be a slave to the mind and its whims, or to be its master. By practicing mental exercises, it is possible to train the mind and master it, and put it in its proper place, as your servant, and not as your boss and master.

You are not the mind nor the thoughts that pass through it. Though it might be hard to accept this idea, the mind is not you, the real you, but only a tool that you use. It is an instrument, which has great value, but it has to be taught to obey you.

Most people believe that they are the mind, and erroneously believe that controlling the mind means holding themselves back and denying their freedom. They feel that controlling their mind is not natural, and that it is some sort of repression. These beliefs are not correct.

The proof that we are not the mind comes with training. Accept the idea in theory, and in time, as your control over your thoughts grows, you will know it as a fact. In reality, you, the real you, is the one mastering the mind. It is not the mind mastering itself.

Advice for Practicing The Concentration Exercises

Find a place where you can be alone and undisturbed. You can sit crossed legged on the floor if you can, or on a chair. Sit with your spine erect. Take a few calm deep breaths and then relax your body. Direct the attention to your body, and relax each muscle and part of it.

I will now give you some exercises to practice. Sit down to practice for about 10 minutes, and after a few weeks of training, lengthen the time to 15 minutes.

Start with the first exercise, practicing it daily, until you are able to do it without any distractions or forgetfulness, and without thinking about anything else, for at least three continuous minutes. Every time you get distracted, start again, until the 10 or 15 minutes pass away. You have to be honest with yourself, and proceed to the next one, only after you are convinced that you have practiced it correctly and with full concentration.

No timetable can be given, as this may be frustrating. If for example, I tell you that a certain exercise has to completed in a week, two things may happen. You may get disappointed, if you cannot get the desired concentration within a week, or you may move on without practicing the exercise correctly. Mastering the exercises successfully might take days, weeks, months and sometimes even more.

Put your whole attention into the exercises, and do not think about anything else. Be careful not to fall asleep, daydream or think about other matters. The moment you find yourself thinking about something else, stop the exercise and start again. After you become proficient, lengthen the time, and if possible, include another session in the afternoon.

Do not attempt too much at the beginning, and don't try to perform them all at once. Go slowly, without overdoing them or tensing your brain.

If you find it too difficult, or thoughts distract you and make you think about other matters, don't despair. Everyone encounters difficulties along the way. If you persevere and never give up, in spite of difficulties and disturbances, success will crown your efforts. Remember, even those with powerful concentration had to exercise their minds.

It does not matter if your concentration is weak now, it can be developed and strengthened like any other ability, through training and investing the necessary time, energy and earnestness.

In time, you will find out that you can concentrate anywhere, anytime, no matter where you are. You will be able to focus your mind, think and function under the most trying circumstances, while remaining calm, relaxed and collected. The reward is worth the effort a thousand fold.

Now to the exercises. Some of them may be familiar to you, and some may seem too easy to perform. Some were taken from various sources, and others were created by me.

For full benefit, it is advisable that you practice each exercise for one additional week, after you are convinced that you are practicing it correctly and with full attention.

Concentration exercises

Exercise 1
Take a book and count the words in any one paragraph. Count them again to be sure that you have counted them correctly. Start with one paragraph and when it becomes easier, count the words in a whole page. Perform the counting mentally and only with your eyes, without pointing you finger at each word.

Exercise 2
Count backwards in your mind, from one hundred to one.

Exercise 3
Count in your mind from one hundred to one, skipping each three numbers, that is 100, 97, 94, etc.

Exercise 4
Choose an inspiring word, or just a simple sound, and repeat it silently in your mind for five minutes. When your mind can concentrate more easily, try to reach ten minutes of uninterrupted concentration.

Exercise 5
Take a fruit, an apple, orange, banana or any other fruit, and hold it in your hands. Examine the fruit from all its sides, while keeping your whole attention focused on it. Do not let yourself be carried away by irrelevant thoughts or associated thoughts that might arise, such as about the shop were you bought it, about how and where it was grown, its nutritive value, etc. Stay calm, while trying to ignore these thoughts and not be interested in them. Just look at the fruit, focus your attention on it without thinking about anything else, and examine its shape, smell, taste and the sensation it gives when touching and holding it.

Exercise 6
This is the same as exercise number 5, only that this time you visualize the fruit instead of looking at it. Start by looking at the fruit and examining it for about 2 minutes, just as in exercise number 5, and then do this one. Close your eyes, and try to see, smell, taste and touch the fruit in your imagination. Try to see a clear and well defined image. If the image becomes blurred, open your eyes, look at the fruit for a short while, and then close your eyes and continue the exercise. It might help if you imagine the fruit held in your hands, as in the previous exercise, or imagine it standing on a table.

Exercise 7
Take a small simple object such as a spoon, a fork, or a glass. Concentrate on one of these objects. Watch the object from all sides without any verbalization, that is, with no words in your mind. Just watch the object without thinking with words about it.

Exercise 8
After becoming proficient in the above exercises, you can come to this exercise. Draw a small geometrical figure, about three inches in size, such as a triangle, a rectangular or a circle, paint it with any color you wish, and concentrate on it. You should see only the figure, nothing else. Only the figure exists for you now, with no unrelated thoughts or any distractions. Try not to think with words during the exercise. Watch the figure in front of you and that's it. Try not to strain your eyes.

Exercise 9
The same as number 8, only this time visualize the figure with the eyes closed. As before, if you forget how the figure looks like, open your eyes for a few seconds and watch the figure and then close your eyes and continue with the exercise.

Exercise 10
The same as above in number 9 but the eyes open.

Exercise 11
Try for at least five minutes, to stay without thoughts. This exercise is to be attempted only after all the previous ones have been performed successfully. The previous exercises, if practiced correctly, will endow you with the ability to impose silence on your thoughts. In time it will become easier and easier.
______________________________________


The secret of success is constant practice. The more time you devote to the exercises the faster your success arrives. Go on gradually; ten minutes at the start and in time as you gain the ability to concentrate, give it more time. When you see that you are successful, you will begin to love the exercises, and in time they will become a habit. You will be able to concentrate your attention easily and effortlessly upon anything you want to concentrate on.

Are you jogging, exercising at the gym or studying a foreign language? How difficult it was in the start? How many times you wanted to quit? Yet, after a while you started to like what you were doing. It became a habit, needing no effort to perform. So it is with developing the power of concentration.

After some of time you will start to feel differently. It will be easier to concentrate. Your mind will be calm and relaxed, and you will radiate peace into your surroundings. Things, circumstances and events that used to agitate and anger you, will not influence your inner calmness. You will experience happiness, content and satisfaction, self-confidence and inner strength. You will be able to cope more easily and efficiently with the outer world.

You will feel a new form of consciousness growing in you, bringing you peace of mind. It may come every now and then for a brief moment, but in time it will grow and fill you completely. You will be able to make the mind work for you when you need its services, in a most efficient way. You will be able to silence it when its services are not needed.

Multiple Uses of Turmeric

Multiple Uses of Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice widely used in India in cooking various curries. It has also been used since ancient times as a traditional medicine and also for beauty care. In the Ayurveda system of Indian medicine, it is an important herbal medicine prescribed for various ailments. It is very commonly used throughout India as an ingredient for traditional beauty care treatments. In fact, it is even used in modern times to plug radiator leaks in water-cooled radiators.


The Ayurveda is an ancient Sanskrit text of Indian medicine which describes the use of various herbs and also other remedies of traditional medicine like incantations and amulets for a whole range of ailments and also beauty care. Turmeric is considered as an important part of the range of herbal medicines described in this text. Turmeric is used in Ayurveda in two ways- freshly extracted turmeric juice, which is taken orally, and turmeric paste used for skin application.


Raw turmeric is actually a rhizome of curcuma longa similar to ginger in appearance. This raw vegetable is crushed and the strained extracted juice forms a translucent reddish- yellow liquid which is more or less tasteless. These juice is then to be taken either raw or if the person wishes, mixed with honey preferably early in the morning on empty stomach. A wide range of benefit is described for this treatment in the Ayurveda.


The main use of turmeric juice taken regularly is as a blood purifier. In this context, it is believed to enhance health of the whole body. It is also said to be most beneficial in chronic illnesses with generalized weakness and in diseases like renal failure where toxins are released into the body. The other use of turmeric juice is in stomach ailments. It is said to have a soothing effect on the stomach and thus helps in diseases like hyper acidity and indigestion. Taken regularly, it gives a healthy glow to the skin also.


The other use of turmeric as a herbal medicine is in beauty care, where its juice is applied to the skin as a raw paste, kept for around thirty minutes and then washed off. It has been used as an herbal cosmetic in India since ancient times and is still in use even today throughout the country. It is an essential ingredient of the traditional bathing ritual of Indian marriages where it is applied along with sandal wood paste before the bath.


Regular turmeric use is said to make the skin soft and smooth. It also gives a glow to the skin and produces a fairer complexion. Turmeric is also prescribed in Indian medicine for various skin ailments where application of the paste regularly is advocated. It is used for spots of pigmentation or blotches that may appear on the skin, and also for diseases like eczema. Turmeric is also used in traditional medicine for cuts and burns as it is believed to have an antiseptic effect and also promote healing.


Besides these uses as an herbal medicine, the Ayurveda also gives some other uses of turmeric. It is said to be poisonous for crocodiles, and anyone swimming in crocodile infested waters should apply turmeric paste to protect himself! It is also believed to ward off snakes and the presence of turmeric plants around the house act as a barrier for them. The paste is also used in Indian medicine for snakebites. Its use is also advocated in various rites and spells to ward off ghosts and evil spirits.


Turmeric has also received a lot of attention in modern times from science, and its active ingredient, curcumin, has been isolated. Curcumin has been shown to have an anti-oxidant property, and is used in alternative medicine for this. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect by reducing histamine levels.


It has also been shown to have a protective effect on the liver and also in atherosclerosis. These effects are still under examination through various trials, but turmeric has already become an important remedy in alternative medicine.



Turmeric today continues to be used very widely throughout India as an alternative medicine, and also in herbal beauty care. A modern use discovered more recently is in plugging radiator leaks! In the water cooled type of radiators, a spoonful of turmeric added to the water plugs the leak almost magically.


This is just one more use of this Indian spice that continues to be reinvented and rediscovered throughout the world.

Selasa, 14 Juni 2011

60 Uses Of Salt!!!

60 Uses Of Salt!!!
Simple table salt has a great number of uses other than simply seasoning your food. The following list will give you sixty uses of salt, many of which you probably didn't realize:

1. Soak stained hankies in salt water before washing.
2. Sprinkle salt on your shelves to keep ants away.
3. Soak fish in salt water before descaling; the scales will come off easier.
4. Put a few grains of rice in your salt shaker for easier pouring.
5. Add salt to green salads to prevent wilting.
6. Test the freshness of eggs in a cup of salt water; fresh eggs sink; bad ones float.
7. Add a little salt to your boiling water when cooking eggs; a cracked egg will stay in its shell this way.
8. A tiny pinch of salt with egg whites makes them beat up fluffier. 9. Soak wrinkled apples in a mildly salted water solution to perk them up.
10. Rub salt on your pancake griddle and your flapjacks won't stick.
11. Soak toothbrushes in salt water before you first use them; they will last longer.
12. Use salt to clean your discolored coffee pot.
13. Mix salt with turpentine to whiten you bathtub and toilet bowl.
14. Soak your nuts in salt brine overnight and they will crack out of their shells whole. Just tap the end of the shell with a hammer to break it open easily.
15. Boil clothespins in salt water before using them and they will last longer.
16. Clean brass, copper and pewter with paste made of salt and vinegar, thickened with flour
17. Add a little salt to the water your cut flowers will stand in for a longer life.
18. Pour a mound of salt on an ink spot on your carpet; let the salt soak up the stain.
19. Clean your iron by rubbing some salt on the damp cloth on the ironing surface.
20. Adding a little salt to the water when cooking foods in a double boiler will make the food cook faster.
21. Use a mixture of salt and lemon juice to clean piano keys.
22. To fill plaster holes in your walls, use equal parts of salt and starch, with just enough water to make a stiff putty.
23. Rinse a sore eye with a little salt water.
24. Mildly salted water makes an effective mouthwash. Use it hot for a sore throat gargle.
25. Dry salt sprinkled on your toothbrush makes a good tooth polisher.
26. Use salt for killing weeds in your lawn.
27. Eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt.
28. A dash of salt in warm milk makes a more relaxing beverage.
29. Before using new glasses, soak them in warm salty water for awhile.
30. A dash of salt enhances the taste of tea.
31. Salt improves the taste of cooking apples.
32. Soak your clothes line in salt water to prevent your clothes from freezing to the line; likewise, use salt in your final rinse to prevent the clothes from freezing.
33. Rub any wicker furniture you may have with salt water to prevent yellowing.
34. Freshen sponges by soaking them in salt water.
35. Add raw potatoes to stews and soups that are too salty.
36. Soak enamel pans in salt water overnight and boil salt water in them next day to remove burned-on stains.
37. Clean your greens in salt water for easier removal of dirt.
38. Gelatin sets more quickly when a dash of salt is added.
39. Fruits put in mildly salted water after peeling will not discolor.
40. Fabric colors hold fast in salty water wash.
41. Milk stays fresh longer when a little salt is added.
42. Use equal parts of salt and soda for brushing your teeth.
43. Sprinkle salt in your oven before scrubbing clean.
44. Soaked discolored glass in a salt and vinegar solution to remove stains.
45. Clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt.
46. Salty water boils faster when cooking eggs.
47. Add a pinch of salt to whipping cream to make it whip more quickly.
48. Sprinkle salt in milk-scorched pans to remove odor.
49. A dash of salt improves the taste of coffee.
50. Boil mismatched hose in salty water and they will come out matched.
51. Salt and soda will sweeten the odor of your refrigerator.
52. Cover wine-stained fabric with salt; rinse in cool water later.
53. Remove offensive odors from stove with salt and cinnamon.
54. A pinch of salt improves the flavor of cocoa.
55. To remove grease stains in clothing, mix one part salt to four parts alcohol.
56. Salt and lemon juice removes mildew.
57. Sprinkle salt between sidewalk bricks where you don't want grass growing.
58. Polish your old kerosene lamp with salt for a better look.
59. Remove odors from sink drainpipes with a strong, hot solution of salt water.
60. If a pie bubbles over in your oven, put a handful of salt on top of the spilled juice. The mess won't smell and will bake into a dry, light crust which will wipe off easily when the oven has cooled.

Few Healthy Tips

Few Healthy Tips


1. Cleaning the face : One should wash face 5-6 times a day. This helps in cleaning of the dirt accumulated on the face and gives freshness.


2. Protecting eyesight :Close the eyes and sprinkle water on them about 10-15 times. Gently rub the eyelids and give a tender massage to the eye balls. Staying up late in the night and sleeping after sunrise is harmful for the eyes.


3. Drinking a glass of water : After this one should take a glass of water. This helps in the smooth passing of stool and urine. Make it a regular habit to drink 10-12 glass of water everyday. Warm water is especially good for regulating elimination and cleansing toxins from the physiology.


4. Cleaning teeth : The twig of neem or babool should be used for cleaning the teeth.


5 Scraping the tongue : Tongue should be scraped regularly otherwise it gives rise to foul smells. Scrapets made of copper, steel or plastic can be used.


6. Gargling : Til oil gargling is good for jaws, depth of voice and good taste for food. By doing this type of gargling one never gets cracked lips, bad odor, sore throat and toothache.


7. Bathing : Bath removes dirt, sweating and fatigue and brings freshness to the body. Before bath Til oil massage is very beneficial for skin and body.


8. Application of oil : One who applies Til oil on his head regularly does not suffer from headache, baldness or graying of hair. It is also beneficial for applications in nose and ears and makes the skin soft and smooth.


9. Exercise : Physical exercise and Yoga Asans bring lightness to the body, ability to work, stability and stimulate the power of digestion.


10. Hair and nails : The dressing and cutting of hair, mustaches, beard and nails of hand and feet, add cleanliness and beauty to one's personality.


11. Food : Ayurveda recommends vegetarian foods which gives more nourishment to the body than the non-vegetarian foods. Simple food makes the body strong and discords diseases. Overeating may cause obesity and may invite diseases.

12. Night meals : Food should be taken 2-3 hours before going to bed. This will help in proper digestion of food.

Inspirational Words of Wisdom about Life !!

Inspirational Words of Wisdom about Life !!


The Road to Success is not straight:
There is a curve called failure, a loop called confusion, speed bumps called friends, caution lights called family, and you will have flats called jobs.

But, if you have a spare called determination, an engine called perseverance, insurance called faith, and a driver called God, you will make it to a place called success!

Live for something:

Do good, and leave behind you a monument of virtue that the storms of time can never destroy.

Write your name in kindness, love, and mercy on the hearts of thousands you come in contact with year by year, and you will never be forgotten. Your name and your good deeds will shine as the stars of heaven.

Pearls of Wisdom:

Don't love the Heart that hurts you and don't hurt the Heart that loves you.

Don't cry over anyone who won't cry over you.

Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget.

Most people walk in and out of your life, but only friend's leave footprints in your heart.

True friendship "never" ends. Friends are forever.

People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.

If we are incapable of finding peace in ourselves, it is pointless to search elsewhere.

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.

A change of heart changes everything.

Our greatest glory is not in ever falling, but in rising every time we fall.

You only live once - but if you work it right, once is enough.

One generation plants trees, and the next enjoys the shade.

It is difficult to live in the present, ridiculous to live in the future, and impossible to live in the past. Nothing is as far away as one minute ago.

You are what you think!

Your inner thoughts can cause you to be rich or poor, loved or unloved, happy or unhappy, attractive or unattractive, powerful or weak.

What you impress upon your mind, you'll inevitably become. It's a psychological law that whatever you desire to accomplish you must first impress upon your subconscious mind.

Relentless, repetitive self talk will change your self image. You'll affect your subconscious mind with verbal repetition. Constant repetition carries conviction.

When you change your values you'll change your behavior. Start thinking of yourself as becoming the person you want to be. Self suggestion will make you the master of yourself.

If you believe you can, you can.

You can become whatever you want to be.

Slow down:

Life is not a race. It is a journey.

Getting someplace first, before anyone else, has very little real and lasting meaning. Seek instead to encourage others to come along, and you'll find the journey much more fulfilling.

When you hurry through each moment, you miss out on the richness that could be yours. Take the time to live, to experience where you are, rather than being so obsessed with getting to the next checkpoint.

When you stop demanding to have it all now, you'll discover that you have plenty already. Learn to experience joy where you are, and you'll experience it in abundance.

Yes, it can be wonderfully exhilarating when life is moving quickly. But do not move so quickly that speed becomes your only experience, for there is so much more to enjoy.

The terrain of life is filled with wonderful and astounding detail. Slow down and take in its richness.


One step away:

If you were just one step away from reaching your goal, would you take that step? How do you know, right now, that you're not?

What a shame it would be to stop making the effort, when just a little bit more would make it all worthwhile. What a shame it would be to have taken all those steps, only to miss the very last one.

The next step you take may very well be the one that makes all the others count. You owe it to yourself, and the efforts you've made, to keep going.

No, the next step may not get you there. Yet what about the one after that? If you keep moving ahead, a little at a time, you will indeed arrive. When you take that final, triumphant step, you'll be so very thankful you persevered.

At some point success is just one step away. Keep going and you'll be there.


Must do:

In each task that must be done, there is opportunity. See the task not as a burden, but as an encouragement to be fully alive and effective.

The real burden would be the inability to do anything. No task is a burden, but is instead the chance to express your own aliveness.

Does the work seem dreary, unimaginative, tedious or boring? That's mainly because your attitude makes it so.

See what happens when you start by being thankful for the opportunity to do it. Your genuine gratitude will help you to see the positive value.

When the things you must do become things you want to do, it can transform your life. Each moment takes on more meaning; each effort brings greater and greater reward.

Rather than fighting and forcing yourself to do what must be done, let go of your resistance and allow yourself to accomplish. Let what you must, become what you want, and watch yourself begin to soar.