Add Calisthenics in your Daily Routine

December 1, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

There are a lot of ways to lose weight and stay fit and doing calisthenics is one of them. Calisthenics exercises can significantly help improve your overall fitness, strength and physique. In fact, calisthenics originated from the Greek words “kalos” meaning beauty and “thenos” meaning strength.

Calisthenics involve a number of simple movements that are performed without the use of weights or other equipments. In this exercise, your body weight is being used for resistance. Calisthenics provide you an efficient and balanced exercise program promoting resistance, flexibility, vigor, agility and coordination. Common examples of calisthenics are sit-ups or crunches, squats, jumping jacks, and arm and knee rotation.

Your calisthenics routine should be followed carefully. This is because calisthenics exercises increases the metabolic rate of your body and should therefore be done continuously in a smooth flow from one exercise to the other.

Take note that a three minute break should be done between each exercise. Basic repetitions are done five times and as you get used to the exercise pattern it is advised that you increase the number of repetitions.

Always start slowly and exercise according to what your stamina can take. It is best to exercise according to your energy level for the day. Always begin with the core exercises and do the advanced ones later.

Calisthenics must be practiced in a clean place where the flooring is level. A padded floor mat will definitely be helpful. Good ventilation and lightning will help raise your energy levels as well.

To make it more fun, you can do your calisthenics workout while playing music and follow the rhythm.

Take note that if you feel any form of discomfort such as dizziness or shortness of breath, you should stop exercising and take a rest for a while.

There are a lot of advantages when it comes to doing calisthenics. They can be done anywhere and they are effective workouts for any age group. There is no need for weights or equipments which means it is a cheaper alternative to going to the gym.

So if you want to condition your body in a natural way, then you should add calisthenics to your daily routine and get the benefits of staying fit and getting strong.

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Hair Care Tips

December 1, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

Everyone has a bad hair day. Did you know that your hair is actually the body’s barometer that indicates whether you are in good health or not? Here are two hair types that do not only look bad but indicates that you have bad hygiene or poor health:

Dry Hair

Dry hair makes you look dull and is very difficult to control after shampooing. Oftentimes, dry hair comes with split ends. This happens because the oil glands are inactive making your hair rough, thin and brittle. To avoid this, you will have to give more care and nourishment to your hair.

One thing you can do to get rid of dry hair is to use coconut milk. Get a cup of coconut milk and add two tablespoons of gram flour then apply the mixture to your scalp and massage gently. After five minutes, rinse your hair. Do this twice a week.

Another remedy is to add a teaspoon of lavender oil to coconut oil and heat the mixture for a few seconds. Massage the mixture to your scalp at night and then shampoo your hair the following morning. Do this twice a week and you will have soft and shiny hair.

Oily Hair

When you have oily hair it means that there is excess secretion done by the oil glands of your scalp. Oily hair becomes sticky even after you shampoo and this makes your hair more susceptible to dust and dirt. Basically all you need to do to get rid of oily hair is to do frequent washing with mild shampoo but there are other home remedies that you can use as well.

One way to deal with only hair is to mix one teaspoon of Aloe vera gel and one tablespoon of lemon juice with one fourth shampoo and use this mixture regularly.

You can also boil two tablespoons of mint in one and a half glass of water for 20 minutes. After that, you have to strain the mixture and mix it with the shampoo that you regularly use. Do this on alternative days. This mixture will help absorb the excess oil from the scalp.

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Lower your Temperature – How to get Rid of Fever

December 1, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

Fever is a very common ailment that everyone goes through. This is because fever is an underlying medical condition. But it does not mean that fever is always a bad thing – sometimes you have fever because it is an indication that your body is fighting off viruses and bacteria.

The number one symptom of fever is the rise in body temperature. Hallucination, irritation and confusion accompany high fever. Other symptoms include dehydration, sweating, headache, lack of appetite, muscle aches, burning eyes, general weakness, and shivering.

If you have fever here are some home remedies and tips that you can do in order to get relief and get rid of your fever instantly:

  • If you have mild fever, you should lie on a bed and completely cover yourself with a blanket for 20 minutes so that you can sweat it out. Stay in bed as much as possible.

  • Drink a lot of water so that you can replace the fluid loss. This will also help bring down your body temperature.

  • When it comes to eating, it is best that you go with liquid food over solid food or eat those that are easily digestible. Examples of these are boiled or steamed vegetables, soup and yogurt. Heavy foods such as fast food, chicken, fish, raw foods and fried foods should be avoided completely. It is best to avoid eating solid foods until the fever is gone.

  • Soak 25 raisins in half a cup of water and then crush them in the water. Strain and discard the skin. Add a teaspoon of lime juice to the water to enhance the taste. Take the mixture twice daily in order to get rid of the fever.

  • Take a teaspoon of honey and add two to three drops of ginger juice. This will help get rid of your fever as fast as possible.

  • Orange is an excellent fever relief food. Orange juice gives you energy, increases your urinary output ands promotes resistance against infections which helps hasten your recovery.

  • It would also help to keep hot water battles on the feet and against the sides of your body.

  • To help bring down your body temperature you can use potatoes and put them on your forehead, chest and stomach.
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How to Avoid Mosquito Bites

November 27, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

There is no doubt that mosquitoes are annoying insects that will bite you every chance they can get. Not only do they get to keep on pestering you and sucking your blood but their bites can be very itchy as well.

You may not know it but there are a lot of things that you can do in order to avoid being pestered by mosquitoes and even gnats. Here are some tips:

  • Mosquitoes are known to stay away from people who have a high amount of Thiamine or Vitamin B1 in their systems. You can get Thiamine form foods like fish, sunflower seeds, brewer’s yeast, and Brazil nuts. If you know that you will be going to an area that is infested by these annoying insect it has been advised that you eat or take a supplement of Vitamin B1 an hour before you reach your destination.

  • If you have an aloe vera plant you can break off the stems and use the juice to rub on the uncovered areas of your body as protection against not only mosquitoes but other insects as well. Rubbing fresh parsley on the exposed parts of your body also works as well. Eucalyptus oil will work as well.

  • Studies have shown that mosquitoes barely bite on people who do not consume white sugar and those who do not drink alcoholic beverages. So if you do not want to be pestered by mosquitoes and even gnats – you may consider going sugar and alcohol free on your diet.

  • It is also best to keep dry since mosquitoes are very attracted to wet and damp clothes. If you have wet clothing in the room make sure to dry it outside of the house. Some studies also reveal that mosquitoes are attracted to the color blue.

  • Garlic has been considered as one of the best ways to get rid of mosquitoes. In an experiment done wherein garlic extracts were tested on five different species of mosquitoes, none of them survived. You can rub garlic all over your exposed body parts but people refrain from doing so due to the stench it causes.
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Natural Prevention and Cure for Influenza

November 26, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

In our surroundings, there are thousands of viruses present in the air. Everyday, these viruses are threatening our health and well-being. The most common illness that every person may experience that is caused by these viruses is influenza or flu. The flu virus may be passed on from one person to another by sneezing or even handshaking.

Individuals who have weaker body resistance are often the usual sufferers of influenza. That is why it is important for everyone to strengthen its body resistance to prevent from experiencing the effects of flu virus. When a person gets influenza, the throat, nose, and lungs’ bronchial tubes are affected. Although there are flu vaccines available in the market today, we cannot always rely on these because of the constant mutation of the viruses. That is why we need to have natural defense against these viruses.

The most common home remedy and prevention for flu is to take Vitamin C because this helps boosts the body’s immune system. When you feel a little throat and chest pain or perhaps your lips and mouth are dry and you are feeling very thirsty, do not ignore this. This are symptoms that a person is about to have flu. If you feel this symptoms, then you should take bryonia.

If you are already having flu, a cup of tea made up of garlic and gingerroot are very useful to relieve you from the condition. Tea made up of gingerroot is very effective in fighting common colds. However, if you are feeling severe coldness due to flu, you can take one tablespoon of honey along with ¼ tablespoon of cinnamon powder daily for about 3 days. This can help in clearing your sinuses and curing chronic colds and cough.

Another great home remedy for influenza is to boil ginger powder and inhale its steam. You can also use eucalyptus leaves for this purpose. The good thing about eucalyptus leaves is that it has a soothing menthol effect when you inhale the steam.

In these times of financial crises, getting sick is very expensive. That is why it is important to utilize the natural herbs and ingredients that can be found in our kitchen and backyard for prevention and cure of common influenza.

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How to Get Allergy Relief

November 25, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

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Most people have something that they are allergic to. Allergies are abnormal reactions to substances that are normally harmless. These abnormal reactions happen when people come into contact with the substance that they are allergic to. Allergies are very common and it is said that there are no cures available for allergies. The only thing you can do is to prevent and treat them but there is nothing that you can do to make the abnormal reactions stop. Although there are cases wherein people grow out of their allergies – most of the time, this do not happen.

It is easy to spot symptoms of allergy the most common of which is runny noses and stuffy noses. Some people would experience having itchy nasal passages, throat and ears and some would have sneezing. Others would experience coughing, wheezing and tightening of the chest as well. Most of the time, people confuse cold and allergies due to the fact that they have similar symptoms. Once you notice these symptoms, you should have them diagnosed immediately. Normally over the counter medications are enough to knock these symptoms out. But still, having an allergy attack can be very uncomfortable.

But it is a fact that drugs can be very expensive. Fortunately there are home remedies that you can do in order to treat your allergies. Here are some examples:

  • If you need anti-histamine then chamomile tea can be a good alternative since it acts as natural anti-histamine. Having a few cups each day can give your body a natural protection to fight off allergens.

  • For those who suffer from skin rashes, asthma and digestive disorders during an allergy attack, eating one or two bananas each day can help.

  • Lime is found to be an effective remedy when it comes to allergies. You can squeeze half a lime in a glass of lukewarm water and add a teaspoon of honey to sweeten the mixture. This is not only an anti allergy agent but it also helps flush the toxins out of your system.

Allergies are one of the most uncomfortable things that we have to deal with. By following the treatments above, you can immediately have allergy relief whenever you need them from the comfort of your own home.

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Home Remedies for Asthma

November 20, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

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There are a lot of diseases that can affect your breathing but the most common is asthma. Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory system and is found to be common among children and adults. It is caused by an inflammation of the air passages in your body giving you difficulty in breathing. Symptoms of asthma include chest pain, wheezing, rapid breathing and tightening of the chest.

An asthma attack is triggered when you come in contact with something that you are allergic to. Things that can trigger asthma attacks are dust, bacteria, smoking, emotional stress, climatic changes and animals like cats and dogs. These attacks can start at any age. Sudden attacks are usually caused by an infection in the upper respiratory tract infection or by exposure to the above triggers.

If you have asthma, you do not have to despair since you can still lead a normal life. People who have asthma can lead active lives as long as they observe proper treatment. Here are some home remedies that you can do yourself in order to battle out the disease:

  • Mix ginger juice, pomegranate juice and honey and take a tablespoon of the mixture twice a day. Take note that the quantity of each ingredient should be the same when mixing.

  • Mix 200 grams of carrot juice and 100 grams of spinach juice together. Take the mixture three times a day for at least three months in order to have asthma relief. It would also help to have carrot and spinach as an addition to your regular meals.

  • Drink more coffee. The caffeine in a cup of coffee can help you prevent and control asthma attacks since it has bronchodilating effects. Make sure that you do not load up on it though. This home remedy is not advised for children with asthma.

  • Add onions in your food. They are loaded with anti-inflammatory properties that can help with the constriction of the airways. While raw onions may be irritating, eating cooked onions will help lessen the attacks.

These home remedies can help you fight off your asthma without having to take a lot of those expensive medications that your doctor prescribes. Home remedies are all natural and the more you take natural things in your body, the better and faster your body heals.

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How to Deal with an Upset Stomach

November 20, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

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A common infliction that we all go through no matter what age is an upset stomach. These stomach problems can be caused by a lot of things from stress, food allergies, food poisoning, indigestion and many more. As much as there are numerous causes, there are also numerous remedies. Here are some several tips that will help when it comes to handling an upset stomach:

Most of the time, an upset stomach happens due to the food that you eat. It would help to drink a cup of tea in order to settle your stomach and to help in digestion. You can use green tea, chamomile, mint, cinnamon and ginger for this and add a little sugar or honey in it.

Sometimes you get an upset stomach not because of the food that you eat but because of lack of food. Going on long periods without food would lead to the build up of stomach acid which causes discomfort. The best way to cure this is to eat a healthy snack in order to give your stomach acids something to work on. Stay away from soda in these cases since it can only make the situation worse.

Avoid drinking milk. A lot of people make the presumption that milk can helps soothe an upset stomach but the truth is that milk only hinders the problem instead of helping it. Coffee will not help as well since it irritates the stomach lining. Instead, drink a lot of water so that your stomach and intestines will function properly.

If you have started taking new medications recently then this may be the cause of your stomach upset. There are a lot of medications that can trigger discomforts in the digestive tract especially in the early stage of treatment.

Take note that when you are looking for a way to relieve you of having an upset stomach make sure that you are able to determine what your body needs before trying out these cures. Remember that being more conscious of what you eat, how you eat, when you eat and what you do after you eat can greatly reduce the chances of you getting an upset stomach.

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The Health Benefits of Cinnamon

November 20, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

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Cinnamon is more known for its sweet smell and delicious taste but Cinnamon is much more than something that can add flavor to your food.

Cinnamon has been considered to be a valued spice for thousands of years now. The plant is like an average sized evergreen that has a soft reddish brown bark with purple fruits. The inner bark of the tree is the one being harvested and dried under the sun. The bark curls and folds into itself as it is being dried resulting into cinnamon sticks which are cut into smaller lengths or ground into powder for consumption.

Before, Cinnamon was highly valued and was considered to be a gift that is fit only for members of the royal family. It was then used as a perfume and also burnt as incense. It then became more famous as a spice that adds flavor to sweet dishes and chocolate. Cinnamon is also packed with medicinal quantities as well.

Here are some ailments that you can fix with the help of Cinnamon as a home remedy:

  • Cough and colds – boil 250 mg of cinnamon in milk. Take this mixture every four hours. This will help expel mucus from the lungs.

  • Indigestion – add one gram of cinnamon in hot water and drink. This will help improve your suggestion. The mixture is also noted to help thicken semen.

  • Headaches – to ward off headaches you have to rub cinnamon oil on your temples.

  • Nausea and vomiting – for instant relief, add a few drops of cinnamon oil to your milk.

  • Heavy periods – heavy menstrual bleeding can be controlled by taking a glass of the decoction of cinnamon bark twice a day.

  • Cavities – for toothaches, get a piece of cotton ad soak it in cinnamon oil. Hold it to the teeth. This will help keep the infection away.

  • Bad breath – for bad breath you have to chew cinnamon bark after meals or hold a decoction of cinnamon in your mouth for about five minutes after eating.

Cinnamon can help improve your health by promoting a healthy circulation, sugar metabolism that is healthy, supporting the metabolism of fat, starches and other nutrients

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Home Remedies for Hair Loss

November 18, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

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Did you know that over a hundred hair strands falls off your head every single day? But you do not go bald because new hair grows in their place. However, this is not the case for some people.

Baldness happens when hair falls out and new hair does not grow after. The partial or complete loss of hair is called alopecia. Contrary to what other people think, baldness is not caused by disease or sickness but it is caused by aging, heredity and testosterone. Other causes would be hormonal changes such as childbirth or the use of birth control pills, physical and emotional stress, excessive shampooing and blow drying.

Most people do not recognize hair loss until it is in the worse case scenario. It could start with your hair thinning out. A woman can notice this by the size of her ponytail. Some would only start panicking when they find many hairs in their pillow when they wake up in the morning and in their hairbrush.

Luckily there are numerous remedies which you can do to get rid of hair loss. Here are some of them:

  • Get two eggs and some milk and beat them lightly. Once the mixture is done, run it through your hair and leave it on for about five minutes before rinsing. This formula does not only help prevent hair loss but dandruff as well.

  • Dissolve two aspirins in your dandruff shampoo. Lather the mixture to your hair. Make sure to use a good moisturizing conditioner afterwards.

  • Rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar and sage tea will help encourage hair growth. Chamomile infusions and catmint used as a final rinse will help deal with itchiness which is said to help hair loss.

  • You can also apply a small amount of honey while washing your hair which is said to also be effective in hair loss treatments.

  • Rubbing the scalp well with your fingers after washing your hair with cold water can help prevent and treat hair loss. This will help release the sebaceous gland and will improve blood circulation making the hair grow healthy. Rub your scalp well until you feel it heat up.

With the help of these remedies, you will be able to keep your crowning glory thick and healthy.

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