The happy secret to better work

We believe we should work hard in order to be happy, but could we be thinking about things backwards? In this fast-moving and funny talk, psychologist Shawn Achor argues that, actually, happiness inspires us to be more productive:

How to Boost Your Energy Levels

No matter the time of day, sometimes you need a quick burst of energy. If so, you may try out a few of the following tips for a quick energy boost:

Take a coffee break

Instead of having just regular coffee, try adding some coconut oil. You will get a quick burst from the combination of caffeine and MCTs (Medium Chain Triglycerides, a kind of fat category).

Eat a healthy snack

An apple with a couple of tablespoons of peanut or nut butter or whole wheat crackers with cheese will give you an energy boost to tide you over.   

Drink some green tea

The antioxidants in green tea deliver multiple health benefits from healthy weight management to cardiovascular support.

Green tea also provides us with an energy boost due to its caffeine.

Eat some chocolate

Chocolate is a mild stimulant and can satisfy sugar cravings.

Take some herbal supplements - 

Ginseng

Ginseng is a well-known herbal energizer. It is an adaptogen, meaning that it helps you adapt to stressful situations without crashing. It is a stimulant free way to promote sustained energy and a feeling of balance. It supports physical and mental energy, fights stress and aids immune health.

Yohimbe

While the primary claim of this herb is  sexual support for men, it also has energy-boosting qualities. Many athletes find yohimbe useful before a workout.

Gotu Kola

A subtle energizer that also supports memory and mental performance, gotu kola is popular around the world. This Ayurvedic herb promotes vitality and healthy circulation.

Kola Nut

Also called cola nut, the active ingredient in this herb is caffeine. Kola nut is commonly used as a flavoring agent for food and beverages, but it supports energy and a metabolic boost as an herbal supplement.

Rhodiola Rosea

This Arctic herb is adaptogenic. It can help fight fatigue and stress simultaneously. Many people find that rhodiola rosea provides sustained energy and mood support for the day.

Suma Root

This Amazonian herb was traditionally used for overall vitality and energy support.

Guarana

This natural fatigue fighter has a high concentration of caffeine (about three times more than coffee), which makes it a popular ingredient in modern energy drinks. It helps promote mental alertness and aids weight loss efforts.

In addition, some essential oils like peppermint and citrus may help deliver a natural mental boost.

Do vegetarians live longer? - Results obtained from “45 and Up Study”

There are several existing studies on the impact of vegetarianism on health, but the results are mixed. In Australia, more than a quarter of a million people aged 45 and over had been recruited to the “45 and Up Study”, the largest ongoing study of healthy ageing. By following such a large group of people over six years, they can find answers to some important health and quality-of-life questions and help manage and prevent illness through improved knowledge of conditions such as cancer, heart disease, depression, obesity and diabetes.

In regard to the study of vegetarians, this “45 and Up Study” gives a total pool of 267,180 men and women to work with. And during the follow-up period, 16,836 participants died. When they compared the risk of early death for vegetarians and non-vegetarians, while controlling for a range of other factors, they did not find any statistical difference: the vegetarians did not have a lower risk of early death compared with their meat-eating counterparts.

As a matter of fact, vegetarians tend to be the “health-conscious” people, with overall healthier lifestyle patterns than the norm. For example, among the “45 and Up” participants, vegetarians were less likely than non-vegetarians to report smoking, drinking excessively, insufficient physical activity and being overweight/obese. They were also less likely to report having heart or metabolic disease or cancer at the start of the study.

And so after controlling for other lifestyle factors, such as the ones listed above, the risk reduction decreased significantly.

This suggests other characteristics beyond abstinence from meat may contribute to better health among vegetarians. More simply, it is the associated healthier behaviours that generally come with being a vegetarian – such as not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly – that explains why vegetarians tend to have better health outcomes than non-vegetarians.

In a separate study they conducted using data from the 45 and Up Study, they found people who ate more fruit and vegetables, particularly those who had seven or more serves per day, had a lower risk of death than those who consumed less, even when other factors were accounted for.

And although there is unclear evidence a vegetarian diet promotes longevity, studies have consistently shown other health benefits. For example, a vegetarian diet has been consistently associated with a reduced risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and obesity.

A meta-analysis (a statistical analysis that combines data from multiple studies) from 2012 concluded vegetarians had a 29% lower risk of early death from heart disease and an 18% lower risk for cancer.

In fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the cancer agency of the World Health Organisation, has classified the consumption of processed meat as carcinogenic and red meat as probably carcinogenic to humans.

And so while we cannot say for certain if being a vegetarian helps you live longer, we do know having a well-planned, balanced diet with sufficient fruit and vegetables is certainly good for you.

We also know sufficient physical activity, moderating alcohol consumption and avoiding tobacco smoking are key factors in living longer. And the growing body of evidence shows vegetarians are more likely to have these healthy habits.

The main findings were extracted from the article originally published on The Conversation

Uses for the incredible banana peel

The banana peel contains high amounts of vitamin B6 and B12, as well as magnesium and potassium. It also contains some fiber and protein. Thus eating the peel is not only good for your body but also better for the environment. 

Besides, the banana peel has a lot of other beneficial qualities:

1) Shoe Polish: Rub a banana peel (on the inside) around the shoe and then buff it with a white cloth.

2) Teeth Whitener: Rub the inside of a banana peel on your teeth to whiten them. Apparently, the manganese, magnesium and potassium help whiten the enamel of your teeth.

3) Wart Cure splinters: It only takes 1-2 weeks to remove a wart with a banana peel.

4) Itch Soother: A banana peel can help relieve bug bites and poison ivy. It will soothe the bite or rash altogether.

5) Silverware Polish: Blend a banana peel with water and use on the silver to take the polish off with a soft cloth.

6) Meat tenderizer: Add a banana peel to the roast and it will add enough moisture to ensure that roast does not get too dry.

7) Splinter Removal: Banana peels help ease splinters out of your skin. Place a banana peel on a splinter with athletic tape for a while and then try to ease the splinter out.

8) Aphid Control: Aphids do not like banana peels. If you bury some around the roses or other plants that aphids love (like cauliflower), you can deter them from coming around. Or, use garlic/banana peel spray for aphids.

9) Compost: Banana peels break down quickly and are rich in calcium and magnesium, as well as many other trace minerals that can add nutrients to the soil.

10) Bruise Patrol: Banana peels on the inside, if rubbed on a bruise, will aid in making it disappear.

11) Acne: Banana peels rubbed on your acne will help in the acne curing process.

12) Dry Skin Cure: If you have psoriasis, try rubbing the inside of a banana peel on your affected areas twice a day and the dry scaly skin will dissipate.

13) Hemorrhoid  Cure: As with acne, banana peels help cure hemorrhoids.

14) Anti Depressant: Researchers have found that drinking boiled banana peel water (or juicing the peel) can ease depression.