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.

Nervous to Travel? Tips to Steady Your Nerves and Stomach when traveling

Do you feel nauseous or dizzy when traveling? This occurs when motion causes the eyes, sensory nerves and part of the ears to send conflicting signals to the brain. Luckily, the physical effects of motion sickness may be prevented or minimized if you take supplements beforehand. Here are some of these to help calm your stomach and steady your nerves:

Charcoal Tablets

Take two to three capsules an hour before departure to soak up acids that may cause stomach upset. Be sure to take them separately from other medications and supplements.

Ginger

One gram of ginger is very effective at soothing the stomach.

Magnesium

Your body uses more magnesium during times of stress. Take 500 mg to steady the nerves.

Peppermint

Peppermint calms a nervous stomach. Putting a drop of peppermint oil on the tongue or eating a peppermint candy may also have a similar effect.

Vitamin B-6

Vitamin B-6 can help calm and soothe your stomach and nerves.

Homeopathic Formula

Dissolve 2-3 tablets by mouth every four hours as needed for a homeopathic solution for nausea, dizziness and other symptoms associated with motion sickness.

However, if you do not have any supplements on hand and you start to feel nauseous when traveling, you may try the following:

• Get fresh air as quickly as possible. Roll down the window in the car or open the overhead air vent on a plane.


• Sit still and breathe deeply for one minute. Lie down and close your eyes if possible.


• Massage the underside of the ring finger from the tip of the finger to the second knuckle.


• Suck on a lemon or lime whenever queasiness strikes.


• Snack on whole grain crackers to soak up stomach acid, and drink sugar free, carbonated sodas. Avoid dairy and sugary, salty and fried foods during the trip, since they may cause digestive disturbances.

Cranberries: Tiny nutrient-packed berries with Tons of benefits

The cranberries belong to the same genus, Vaccinium, as the blueberries. Like blueberries, cranberries can still be found growing as wild shrubs in northern Europe, northern Asia, and North America.

Cranberries can help prevent and treat urinary tract infections, promote gastrointestinal and oral health, lower LDL and raise HDL (good) cholesterol, aid in recovery from stroke and even help prevent cancer.

The ability of cranberries to help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs) is due to the unusual nature of their proanthocyanidins (PACs) that is related to prevention of UTIs. The special structure of these PACs acts as a barrier to bacteria that might otherwise latch on to the urinary tract lining. By making it more difficult for unwanted bacteria like E. coli to cling onto the urinary tract linings, cranberry's PACs help prevent the expansion of bacterial populations that can result in outright infection.

In much the same way, they also help prevent attachment of bacteria to the stomach lining (decreased adherence of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori to the stomach lining) and protect us from stomach ulcer. For the cardiovascular system and for many parts of the digestive tract (including the mouth and gums, stomach, and colon), cranberries can provide anti-inflammatory benefits. It is the phytonutrients in cranberries that are especially effective in lowering the risk of inflammation. 

Meanwhile, as chronic excessive oxidative stress (from lack of sufficient antioxidant support) and chronic excessive inflammation (from lack of sufficient anti-inflammatory compounds) are two key risk factors promoting increased likelihood of cancer, since cranberries are loaded with unique array of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients, they have cancer-preventive benefits. These are especially likely in the case of breast, colon, lung and prostate cancer. 

In addition, intake of cranberries also improves multiple aspects of immune function and to lower the frequency of cold and flu symptoms.

Recent research has also shown that cranberries may help optimize the balance of bacteria in our digestive tract: increasing the numbers of Bifidobacteria (considered to be a desirable and "friendly" type of bacteria) in the digestive tract. As a result, the bacterial environment of the digestive tract becomes more favorable. 

However, the phytonutrients in cranberries provide maximal antioxidant benefits only when consumed in combination with each other and also only when consumed alongside of conventional antioxidant nutrients present in cranberries like manganese and vitamin C. When cranberry processing disrupts this antioxidant combination, health benefits from cranberry decrease. It is the overall blend of cranberry antioxidants that provides synergy with the strongest health benefits. Thus we need to eat cranberries in whole and in food form. 

Many cranberries are water-harvested. The anthocyanin content of cranberries (the phytonutrients that give the berries their amazing red color) increases in direct proportion to the amount of natural sunlight striking the berries. If berries floating on top of water get exposed to increased amounts of natural sunlight, they are likely to develop greater concentrations of anthocyanins. These greater concentrations of anthocyanins are likely to provide us with stronger health benefits.  

 

   

 

 

3 Superfoods for Weight Loss

Chia seeds are rich in dietary fiber, omega 3, protein, antioxidants, vitamins as well as minerals. For the vegetarians, the intake of them can achieve a balanced diet while for the obese patients, this is a super food for weight loss.

Because of high fiber content and swelling property after absorbing water, chia seeds reduce our desire for eating sweets. As they can increase our satiety thereby reducing the intake of starch and sugar, our calorie intake would be less. This has a significant slimming effect. Besides, they promote intestinal peristalsis and remove toxins from our body. 

Quinoa is rich in carbohydrates, protein and dietary fiber. When we eat the same amount of quinoa as that of rice, we would feel more satiated. Hence, calorie intake is also less. This would help reduce excessive eating or eating snacks after meals.

Quinoa also contains a variety of minerals (such as manganese, magnesium, iron, zinc and calcium) and vitamin B. At the same time, the protein it contains can provide our body’s essential amino acids. In this regard, quinoa not only helps digestion and absorption, but also helps us avoid insufficient nutrients when on diet. It is the best source of plant protein.

Okra is an all-around nutritious vegetable because of its rich in protein, antioxidants, vitamins A, B, C, K, folic acid, as well as minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese and iron. In addition, it is high in fiber. It helps digestion, prolongs our feeling of  satiety. And so it is suitable as a snack food.

Moreover, the mucus content of okra contains a lot of water-soluble fiber and pectin. This not only forms a protective layer in the stomach, but also slows down the absorption of sugar and inhibit the decomposition of sugar enzymes. It helps promote intestinal peristalsis and relieve constipation.

Because it contains potassium, it helps relieve swelling caused by edema (the buildup of fluid outside the circulatory system). This is because being overweight can cause edema.