Healthy Options
Hummus
is a female weapon
In
Deep
breathing is a life saver
When was the last time you took a proper deep breath, I mean right down to your abdomen? Shallow breathing not only deprives your body of oxygen and keeps you stressed and tensed, it also has worrying side effects on your digestion, such as bloating, constipation and heartburn. Poor digestion can mean you’re not absorbing vitamins and minerals properly, exposing you to
the risk of cancers and other deadly diseases - no matter how healthy you think your diet may be. So start deeply inhaling - now!
Having
self-confidence helps you live longer
Actors who win awards such as Oscars have been proven to live approximately three years longer than those who are merely nominated! Scientists attribute this to the fact that confidence boosts your immune system, protecting you from disease. For the rest of us nine to five day working people, even the feeling of being appreciated at work is thought to add a few years to our lives. If your job isn’t doing a lot for your self-esteem, try changing to something you think will help you feel better, or simply surround yourself with the people who cheer you up, whether it’s your best friends or your children.
Sex
can be the best medicine
If you want to get to that stage of being in tip top shape, have regular bouts of lovemaking - experts say it fights illness, boosts your immune system and can even help you look ten years younger! One expert goes as far as to say women who have sex three times a week trigger the production of a hormone that helps them to keep their youthful looks.
Bananas
beat high blood pressure
High blood pressure can make one in three women who suffer from it more vulnerable to heart attacks and strokes. This occurs because the arteries narrow, which forces the heart to pump harder to get the blood around the body. However, eating just two bananas a day has been proven to ease this dangerous condition. Bananas are rich in mineral potassium, which helps to regulate blood pressure levels. Ditching cigarettes, limiting yourself to two tipples a day and exercising will also help.
Your
home can be a health hazard
What’s the first place you think of when you get food poisoning? I bet your own kitchen wasn’t your answer. It is estimated that eighty per cent of all food-borne illnesses originate in the home. So it mightn’t have been that restaurant food after all eh? Well, the solution is to keep your kitchen sparkling. Wipe down sinks and drains everyday and be careful not to cross contaminate the areas by wiping chopping boards with the same cloth. Yes it might seem like a pain at the time, but its not half as painful as the symptoms of food poisoning. Also, everyone knows the bathroom can be just as dangerous. Try to keep the lid of the toilet down to prevent a spray of faecal matter when flushing as it can spread right around the room and onto your toothbrush.
Your weight predicts your future
Experts can assess how much heart straining surplus body fat you’re carrying by measuring your body mass index (BMI). But an even better signpost of your chances of a ripe old age is your waist management. Apparently, the body fat around your tum poses a far greater health risk than that stored on your hips and thighs, and a bulging tape measurement could mean an increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. The good news is that you can start burning fat straight away with just 30 minutes of low impact activity, such as walking, fives times a week.
Get
moving to avoid depression
Doctors dole out millions in prescriptions for antidepressants worldwide every year. However, popping pills can lower your libido and flatten your mood, so if you find yourself feeling down, hit the gym instead. Thirty minutes of aerobic activity three times a week has been shown to ease depression. Step classes, jogging and dancing are all good blues busters.
Lifestyle
Bad lifestyle habits such as smoking and eating fast food can lead to a build up of cholesterol and other deposits in your arteries, inevitably putting pressure on your heart. Having a simple bowl of porridge every day could slash your risk of disease. The oats contain chemicals called avenanthramides, which literally scour your arteries. Just go easy on the sugar and cream!
Avoid
fatal mistakes
Commonly prescribed drugs, such as aspirin and antidepressants, have been known to cause thousands of deaths worldwide every year. And it’s often misuse, which is to blame. Before you take medicine from your pharmacist check to find out what you shouldn’t mix with it, what side effects you may experience and any other potential risks involved.
