Tag Archives: Health

Don’t Forget to Drink Water

This shows how important it is to drink water at the right time.

Tagged , , ,

Filler Foods

Eating low-calorie foods that fill you up can help cut your calories and control your hunger at the same time. This combination can help you reach and keep a healthy body weight.

Water-rich vegetables are a great filler foods. Good examples include celery, cucumbers, lettuce, hearts of palm (palmito), radishes, carrots and alfalfa sprouts. Fruits are another good choice for the same reason. For example, grapefruit is almost 90 percent water. As an added bonus, fruits and vegetables provides you with necessary nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.

filler_foods

High-fiber soups also work well as low-calorie filler foods. Legumes, such as beans and lentils, are rich in fiber and protein; add legumes to your soups and stews to satisfy your hunger with fewer calories.
Other filler foods include whole grains that would fill you up for a long time because they contain fiber and complex carbohydrates. Boiled whole grains like oatmeal and brown rice can give you energy and lasting power. Low fat whole grain pretzels and crackers are good healthy snacks.

Choose from a variety of low-calorie filler foods to keep your diet interesting.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

My Latest Addiction – ZUMBA

I

The Zumba trend went viral in Kuwait a few years ago, but only now have I realized what the fuss is about. It’s FUN. I have joined gyms and took up walking in order to exercise, but nothing defines a good workout better than Zumba. I’m taking the classes at Rana Fitness Studio in Al Khaldiyah (MAP). The first time I went there, it was free because it was just a trial. The next time I went there I paid KD40 for 10 classes. It’s very convenient. There are night and morning classes with different certified trainers. The classes offered include the following: Zumba, Yoga, HipHop/Dubstep, Warrior Fitness, Masala Bhangra, Drums Alive, BOSU and Zumba Toning. Follow their account on Instagram (Ranafitness) to know the timings of the classes. Not all classes are offered all the time, but Zumba is always available.

Tagged , , , ,

Food that can Improve Your Eyesight

Various foods are important for good eye health..

  • Carrots are a critical source of vitamin A and beta carotene as are all orange-yellow vegetables. Beta carotene converts to Vitamin A in the body and is a potent antioxidant.
  • Spinach and other green vegetables are a great source of lutein and zeaxathin, both being vital for eye protection from the sun.
  • Garlic and onions are rich in sulfur and aid the eyes by producing glutathione; this is a really great antioxidant for the eyes.
  • Cod, tuna, sardines and mackerel are loaded with DHA which supports cell membranes and help to reduce the likelihood of macular degeneration. It is highly recommended for dry eyes.
  • All fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that are vital for eye health, with those being vitamin A, C, E and will help to improve daytime vision.
  • Blueberries and grapes improve night vision with an increase in anthocyanins. They are able to quickly create a noticeable improvement in critical night vision.
  • Eggs are rich in sulfur which helps to protect the lens of the eye and prevent cataract development.

Link

Tagged , , , , , , ,

7 Homemade Hair Treatments

Make a natural remedy designed for your hair type!

This article was written by Brynn Mannino from Woman’s Day blog.

For All Hair Types

“The [raw] egg is really the best of all worlds,” says Janice Cox, author of Natural Beauty at Home. The yolk, rich in fats and proteins, is naturally moisturizing, while the white, which contains bacteria-eating enzymes, removes unwanted oils, she explains.

To Use: For normal hair, use the entire egg to condition hair; use egg whites only to treat oily hair; use egg yolks only to moisturize dry, brittle hair, Cox says. Use 1/2 cup of whichever egg mixture is appropriate for you and apply to clean, damp hair. If there isn’t enough egg to coat scalp and hair, use more as needed. Leave on for 20 minutes, rinse with cool water (to prevent egg from “cooking”) and shampoo hair. Whole egg and yolks-only treatments can be applied once a month; whites-only treatment can be applied every two weeks.

For Dull Hair

Styling products (as well as air pollution) can leave a film that both saps moisture and dulls shine—but dairy products like sour cream and plain yogurt can help reverse this damage. “Lactic acid gently strips away dirt while the milk fat moisturizes,” says Lisa Belkin, author of The Cosmetics Cookbook.

To Use: Massage 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt into damp hair and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, followed by cool water, then shampoo hair as you normally would. Treatment can be applied every other week.

For Itchy Scalp

To fight flakes—brought on by poor diet, stress and climate, among other factors—try a lemon juice and olive oil mixture in your hair. “The acidity in lemon juice helps rid your scalp of any loose, dry flakes of skin, while the olive oil moisturizes the [newly exposed] skin on your head,” says Cox.

To Use: Mix 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 Tbsp olive oil and 2 Tbsp water, and massage into damp scalp. Let mixture sit for 20 minutes, then rinse and shampoo hair. Treatment can be applied every other week.

For Dry or Sun-Damaged Hair

Whatever your hair-dehydrating demon—hard water, sun overexposure, your trusty flat iron—nature’s sweetener can help. “Honey is a natural humectant, which means it attracts and locks in moisture,” says Cox.

To Use: Massage approximately 1/2 cup honey into clean, damp hair, let sit for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. You can also add 1 to 2 Tbsp olive oil to loosen the honey for easier application. For extremely sun-damaged hair, trying mixing honey with 1 to 2 Tbsp of a protein-rich ingredient, like avocado or egg yolk, which will help replenish the keratin protein bonds that UV rays attack. Treatment can be applied once a month.

For Oily or Greasy Hair

“Used properly, [cornmeal or cornstarch] is an inexpensive way to remove oil and grease,” says Belkin.

To Use: Pour 1 Tbsp cornmeal or cornstarch into an empty salt or pepper shaker and sprinkle onto dry hair and scalp until you’ve used it all. After 10 minutes, use a paddle hairbrush to completely brush it out. Treatment can be applied every other day.

For Frizzy Hair

Home beauty experts swear by avocado—and not just to repair damaged hair. Its oils (which are light and moist like our own natural skin secretions) and proteins boast the best combination of nutrients for smoothing and weighing down unruly hair, explains Cox.

To Use: Mash up half an avocado and massage into clean, damp hair. Let sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with water. Amp up moisturizing power by combining mashed avocado with 1 to 2 Tbsp of a hydrating ingredient, like sour cream, egg yolks or mayonnaise. Treatment can be applied every two weeks.

For Residue-Ridden Hair

“Nothing eats through product buildup like baking soda,” Cox says. Sodium bicarbonate essentially breaks down anything acidic.

To Use: Mix 1 to 2 Tbsp baking soda with small amounts of water until a thick paste forms. Massage into damp hair and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse with water, then shampoo hair. Treatment can be applied every two weeks.

Tagged , , , , ,

Camping in Kuwait

The video gives some tips on how to eat the food you love without regretting it afterwards. It’s easy to get tempted into eating fatty and juicy foods because they “taste” good. That is not an excuse. There are much healthier alternatives. It’s all about making the right decisions, especially when it comes to portion sizes.

Tagged , , , , , ,

The Hazards of Reusing Cooking Oil

When people talk about bad restaurants, they usually say that they keep on reusing the same oil to deep fry their food. I always wondered why it’s a bad thing. It turns out that it is not necessarily bad all the time.

Here’s what I found on Livestrong’s website:

For safety and quality, it is better to use fresh cooking oil each time you fry. However, if you deep-fry large amounts of food frequently, it is not always practical from an economic standpoint. By preparing food for minimal contamination of the oil and straining the oil to get out any food particles left over, you can reuse most oils as long as they are properly stored.

Bacteria and Free Radicals

If used oil is not properly strained and stored after it cools, bacteria can feed on food particles left in the oil. Unrefrigerated oil can even lead to the growth of Clostridium botulinum, which causes botulism, a potentially fatal food poisoning. Refrigerating or freezing oil retards bacterial growth. Rancid — meaning old and stale — oil contains free radicals, molecules that can damage cells and lead to increased cancer risk, as well as affect the quality of your food. The good news is that your nose can easily identify rancid oil.

Storing Oil for Reuse

As soon as oil cools enough to handle, strain through layers of cheesecloth, paper towels or coffee filters to remove food particles. Store in a clean glass jar. Never mix it with unused oil. Seal the jar tightly, label it with the date, and refrigerate or freeze for no longer than a month. It may become cloudy in the refrigerator or freezer, but will clear at room temperature. Never reuse oil if it foamed or changed color during heating, or if it has an odd odor or smells like the food you cooked.

Tagged , , , , ,

Dry and Cracked Nails!

I recently noticed that my nails were dry despite the fact that I constantly apply hand cream. They used to be in a better condition when I was taking a hair, skin and nail vitamin. I initially was taking it to strengthen my hair and it did just that. So, I stopped taking it. Little did I know that my nails needed those vitamins, too :/ As a result, they look unhealthy and really dry. I googled the causes and some solutions for this problem and found a dermatologist, Dr.Cynthia Bailey, that wrote about this issue. Here are some of the important parts of what she wrote:

Exposing your hands to harsh soaps, cleaning products, and solvents can affect the natural oils in ones nails. Those oils act as a glue that holds the nail layers together. At first your nails begin to ‘fray’ on the edges, and then they start becoming brittle. Eventually the layers split. Nail hardeners make this worse because the alcohols, formaldehyde and other chemicals in the nail hardeners really dry out your natural oils. Crazy fact: nail hardeners actually contain more of these chemicals than nail polishes! It’s these chemicals that make the nails feel harder at first, but- whammo- after a few weeks the splitting is worse than ever.

Vitamin supplements formulated specifically for nail growth may help improve their condition. It’s important to know that many of the ingredients in these supplements are lavishly present in whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, natural oils, beans and fish. Eating a rich, nutritious diet is key to supporting healthy nails and vitamin supplements should be used in addition to, not in place of a healthy diet.

Your fingernails grow slowly, about 1mm per month.  As you age, the growth slows down even more. This means it will take several months for the dry and split portion of your nails to grow out. Depending on the condition of the rest of your existing nails, it could take as long as a year for proper nail care, good diet and your vitamin supplements to stop the nail splitting, so hang in there and don’t give up.

Tricks to Treat Cracked and Splitting Fingernails:

  1. Hydrate and add oils. Use creams, oils and ointments on your nails everyday after they’ve been wet.The best hydrating ingredients for nails are shea butter, jojoba oil, or avocado oil. The thicker the cream the better, and oils or ointments are best. The trick is to use something that stays put for awhile and doesn’t just rub off right away. Don’t forget that applying moisturizers to dry nails is a waste of time. It’s better to moisturize your skin and nails immediately after water exposure.
  2. Clip and file your nails when they’re wet. Clipping and filing dry nails makes the splits worse so always do it after water exposure. Towel off the water and then use sharp nail clippers to trim your nails, followed by gently filing the edges. Also very gently buff the nail edges to keep the splitting layers from catching on things and progressing down the nail.
  3. Wear gloves when you do rough work or get your hands into harsh chemicals. Obviously you want to protect your brittle and splitting nails from the things that make them worse.
Tagged , , , ,

Drink Warm Water Rather Than Cold Water

I’ve been told by a friend that drinking warm water is better than drinking cold water when you’re thirsty. At first, I didn’t believe her, but after some research I was proven wrong. The brain tricks our body into thinking that we need cold water to cool us down. That’s why you feel that your thirst has been quenched when drinking cold water as apposed to warm water. It turned out that drinking warm water promotes perspiration, which helps cool down your body. It also flushes toxins from your body and purifies your bloodstream. That is why tea is consumed in many cultures during the summer because it actually helps cool your body down. I’m really going to try to stay off cold water!

PS. By warm water I mean room temperature water!

Tagged , , , ,

“Obesity, the Other Gulf War Syndrome”

I read an article that Mark posted that really had on impact on me. It revolves around the obesity issue in Kuwait and what caused it. I think that everything is related to business. People gain weight because of the numerous fast food chains around Kuwait. The food literally arrives to your doorstep. Restaurants=Business. People then want to loose weight. There are many ways to do that joining a gym, diet food catering or worst of all going under the knife. All of those things=Business!!

Anyways, read the article and tell me what you think!

Tagged , ,
%d bloggers like this: