First of all, this goes out mostly to people who live in places with 4 seasons, but also to those who live in very a warm climate. The Russian summer, for example, is very different from the Australian summer. These may seem as no brainers (I have to admit, most of them seem so to me), but I decided to write this after I noticed that really many people don’t really know what’s good for them when “things get hot”. The fast food culture has spread its long dark wings and whether we want to admit a lot, not that many of us eat healthy.

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Summer is the favorite season of most; whether this love is caused by great weather, vacation or mini skirts, one thing’s for sure: nobody wants to have a summer spoiled. A lousy summer alimentation is a top candidate at ruining your summer and also your health. Here are just a few things you should look for and look out in this wonderful season.

The DOs

Natural liquids

The first thing which summer requires from you is drinking more liquids than you would do in the rest of the year. This is caused by the heat which causes dehydration. Having enough fluids means you can work at full capacity and find pleasure in almost everything you do. In general, you should drink at least 2-3 l of liquids, but not everything works so you should really be careful what you drink. Here’s where this liquid could come from:

Natural juices;
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summer is the natural time for many fruits (cherries, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, oranges, bananas, etc), and this juice not only is great for hydration, but it’s also very healthy, containing numerous vitamins your body needs to feel good. It’s the healthiest thing you can drink and the biggest step you can make towards a better summer and a better health.

Fruits;

if you can’t or won’t make juices, there’s still something you can do, just as good: eat fruits. They also contain the same liquids and vitamins and just as the juices are, they’re really tasty. What you should do is resist the temptation of eating them really cold. It may seem good, but what you’re really doing is applying big termic variations to your body, which is not helping you at all.

Tea;
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it’s a miracle maker since the dawn of manking. Every civilisation used it, and for good reason. Mint and green tea could be helpful as they have a soothing action, but any tea is good. Also, especially in extreme heat, people used to drink warm black tea, because it prevented sweating, thus the body remained hydrated for a longer period of time.

Light food

Now more than ever is the right time to think about what you eat; you have quite a lot of alternatives and it’s time to give up the barbeques and stakes, and instead go for salads and other lighter food, especially because your appetite is mostly lower in the summer. Here’s what you could eat:

Vegetable salads;
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if you’re thinking they’re not tasty, now more than ever is the time to change your mind. Tomatoes, salad, cucumbers, potatoes, everything is at its best now; and you don’t have to use just veggies, actually it’s great to add something else. Some olive oil (no pun intented), pepper, cheese (any kind), they all do wonders both for the taste and the nutritional qualities.

Cakes;
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especially fruit cakes are a must in this time of the year. We all want something sweet once in a while, and this is the best way to suit our needs. Also, learning how to do this will almost definitely be a skill that will help you further along

The DONT’s

Now that we took a look at the good things, let’s browse the “enemies”, which can really ruin what could be a fantastic summer, and could have a big impact on your health and mood too.

So after we draw the line, it’s obvious that what we’re supposed to be eating and what we are eating are definitely not the same thing; as a matter a fact in most cases they’re not even in the same league. What you need to understand is that you have to keep a balance, meaning that even if you can’t eat all healthy all the time you really should at least avoid succumbing to unhealthy foods, as it the one you are doing harm to is yourself. So without further ado, go and have the best summer you can possibly have, you’ve probably earned it.

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Now will you ever rest your head?
You end up feeling mostly dead,
Pretending you’re the last one,
Hiding with your eyes shut tightly,
all the way to the hospital.
~The used~

I’ve recently found myself in the very unpleasant situation of spending quite some time in a hospital bed. As most of you must know, this can prove to be one of the must difficult moments in your life as there are a lot of things that can literally drive you insane. So this is why after getting here you must make a choice; we’re going to picture it metaphorically. Let’s say you can do 1 in 2 things: either take the blue pill, relax (as much as possible) and try to handle things as well as you can, being positive about it or take the red pill and just make everyone’s life, including yours, harder. So learn to take the blue pill!

1. Optimism

2. Interacting with people

3. The doctors and the nurses

Either way, you should relax, as relaxing helps the body fight the disease and try to not make a tragedy out of it, as it helps you more than everyone else; when you are finally back home remember to take the blue pill from time to time- a good state of mind, politeness and better social skills can do nothing but to help you!

I’m wide awake in my kitchen
It’s dark and I’m lonely
Oh, if I could only get some sleep
Creeky noises make my skin creep
I need to get some sleep
I can’t get no sleep….
~Faithless~

Tired of staring at the ceiling for endless hours night after night? Frustrated because others can sleep without any problem? You’re definitely not alone as more and more people suffer from sleep disorders. Insomnia is caused most of the times by unhealthy habits which affect people’s ability to sleep. So this is why a few changes in your schedule should be enough to sleep again and to be more healthy and productive.
- Create a sleep schedule in order to wake up at about the same hour everyday. Waking up one day at 6 AM and the second day at 12 AM will do nothing but to affect you in a negative way. If your work schedule is flexible choose an hour to wake up and this will also allow you to do other things around the house or just to spend more time doing something pleasant.
- Don’t stay in bed more than you used to before having insomnia! This way your body will not be tired and it will be more and more difficult to fall asleep. Choose an activity which is not too challenging instead such as walking, or going out with your friends. (more…)

Nightmares made of hash dreams, the devil in my shoes
What have I done wrong?
Yeah nothing can go right with me it must be that i’ve been smoking too
Long
~Placebo~

What makes you start smoking again? Anger? Stress? Boredom? Tiredness? The first two are universally known to make people return to this bad habit. Each of these make you want to kill for a smoke, but cigarettes do nothing but to increase stress and to affect your health and even social relations. Learn to handle these situations and not to turn to cigarettes!
1. Take care of yourself! By depriving your body of smoking, assure that it won’t suffer because of this. Try to have a balanced diet and choose healthy, nutritious food. Ask a specialist about what you should eat and about what you should avoid. Fresh fruits and vegetables should help you the most! Give good quality “fuel” to your body and drink more water to be hidrated. Avoid drinks which have too many chemicals as you need to purify your organism. Take vitamins as nicotine has emptied your body of nutrients, in order to recover faster. Still, ask your doctor for a recommendation!
2. Give up caffeine! Drinking coffee in a time like this might make you nervous even angry so try reducing the quantity of coffee you drink every day. Even a simple coke can have unsuspected effects so you may even give up on it totally for a while. These two habits are usually associated so you may gain a lot more by forgetting about both of them!
3. Take a warm bath! It’s an excellent way to relax and to get rid of stress. Add just a little salt and it will be perfect! Relax and think about something pleasant. A little time spent like this everyday may bring even more benefits to both your body and mind.
4. Have a massage! If you can’t go to a specialist or you don’t have the time for that ask a friend or your partner to help you with that. You will also have time for a little chat and you will forget about how much you need a cigarette. Keep this habit in the future too as it’s pleasant and useful. Remember: even 15 minutes can do miracles! (more…)

“Yellow is the colour of my true love’s hair
In the mornin’ when we rise,
In the mornin’ when we rise,
That’s the time, that’s the time,
I love the best.
Blue’s the colour of the sky
In the mornin’ when we rise,
In the mornin’ when we rise.
in the mornin’ when we rise”
~Donovan~

Even since the Middle Age sorcerers and healers would use colours to treat all kinds of
deseases. Nowadays, modern doctors admit the fact that colours have a strong impact on
human mind, and by this a strong impact on one’s health or mood.
Some colours stimulate the body’s biological activity while others slow it down. By knowing what each colour really does it is simple to change your life in a simple and also pleasant way.
So what colour should you choose?

RED This colour is associated vith energy and power, thus having a stimulating effect. It
can cure your sadness and it can fight the negative emotions. Red can stimulate the internalorgans and the muscle activity especially the feet. This colour increases blood pressure andactivates your breathing, giving a sensation of heat.
So bring red to your life! Try to wear something red: a shirt, a scarf, anything. It is also useful to have a bright-coloured cup too. (more…)

Photo by carf

We all have our more sad days, when we’re feeling a bit weary and down. It can be something that got you upset recently, for some it’s a seasonal thing like winter blues or it just can spring out of nowhere. I think everybody can related to at least a few similar moments during their lives, and I’m not talking about depression here either, that’s the ultimate stage in what I call “feeling like crap.” Anyway, when it happens, we all need a lift up and a pat on the back, to help us get back to enjoying life. The following is a set of 7 suggestions you might want to consider when faced with such moments, that will undoubtedly, at least, make you feel better.

1. Listen to music. This always charges my batteries and gets me going on, no matter on. Personally I like to put a few favorite songs on queue and let them play, while I’m lying in the bed, perfectly calm (although I listen to some pretty hard stuff), trying to feel the music. I’m totally in the zone. It’s a whole Rainman experience, I know, but it does its job; you can try it too if you like, just play any kind of music that makes you feel good. I wouldn’t advise playing any depressing or mellow songs though, as they can end up causing more harm then good.
2. Party. A party is always a good idea to cure any kind of blues; round up your buds and hit the clubs for some action, dancing is always a good idea, while alcohol is clear not. It will only make you feel crappier. But hey even yet, why not plan your own party? You never need a good reason, other then having a good time, you don’t need to plan it too much either, don’t stress out, just go with the flow; call all your mates, tell them to bring some friends too and you’re on for a great night. Themed parties are the most fun, I’m a nut for luau parties, although I’ve never been at one. Damn it! (more…)

There are still many things we don’t know about our bodies, so in some cases it’s hard to say what makes us healthy or unhealthy. Still, it’s obvious that despite a good diet, and exercising and that kind of things, there are other factors which have to be taken into consideration. In fact, recent studies have made it clear that there has to be a balance between the body and the soul are at harmony. The five principles necesary to obtain this harmony are written below, and they are not as hard as you would expect.

1. Regenerate by sleeping

Photo by animefx
This is the first and most natural way of regenerating your energy and mantaining a mental balance, and it is the best way to help the body be prepared. Nowadays we sleep a whole lot less than ancient times; since the discovery of the light bulb, the time alocated to sleep has grown smaller and smaller. Among the effects of a long period of time with insufficient sleep are high amounts of sugar in the bloodstream, high arterial tension, higher colesterol level, neurosis and a general state of discomfort.

2. Use stress towards your advantage

Stress is one of the things that causes most damage to us, due to the constant go-go and insecurities, among others. Still, what if you could use this enemy towards your advantage? Sounds weird? Not really. Just think: if you could live your life in your bed, without doing anything, just sitting there, would it really fullfil your needs? You may be inclined to say it would, but if you thought about it really careful, you would realize that it won’t. Here’s what you have to do, in order to make stress your ally:

3. Set up a (very) loose routine

Routine is a two-way knife; it can either be helpful, in some cases, or it can make your life pretty unpleasant. As for myself, I’m the go with the flow and improvise kind of man; I’ve always been that way. But even so, I feel the need for some stability at some times.

4. Love 

Photo by Levana’s Cats =^..^=
Recent studies have shown that people who are in love don’t just feel better, they are better. The body works brilliantly and the brain has no problems. No need to talk about this… any kind of love will do!

5. Detach yourself from some things

Photo by Michael Mozzarella
After a long day, or just a stresful period, try to detach a bit from your problems; everybody has problems, but it’s up to you to deal with them in the best way you can. If you want to solve them, try to analyze the situation and be as objective as possible. If you just want to relax, then try to find a method to take your mind off them. Try to meditate, or jog, or do whatever you feel is good. Do what suits you best!

I hope you’ve realized by now that being healthy doesn’t reffer to just the body; the mind and soul have to be healthy too, even more than the body. Try to find a way to be happy with yourself, that’s the first step. Then, appreciate what you have!

Yo- could I get a cold beverage
I need some leverage
It’s sunny outside
Some lemonade would be nice
~G. Love & Special Sauce~

To drink or not to drink? That is the question on everybody’s lips today. Well, not really, but it’s still very important. Whether ’tis nobler in the thirst to suffer until you get the chance to drink something that’s good for you, or just to go to the nearest shop and get a soda? We’re gonna take a look at 3 things which are definetly good for you, and other 3 which are not so good, to say the least. If an angel and a devil would appear on your left and right shoulder, what would they each tell you to drink? That’s what this is about. Also, there’s a bonus!

You may find the taste better or worse, that’s relative. The thing is they’re really healthy, and (as so many healthy things are today) cheap.

1. Tea

Photo by dragonflysky
Tea has been around for thousands of years, and there’s a reason for that; it’s very good, it gives you a certain state of relaxation or freshness, depending on the tea. It’s very good with cookies, and other bakery products. Also, it’s very good in treating useful for treating tumors, abscesses, bladder ailments, lethargy, and so many other conditions. It comes in very numerous varieties, each with its own curative properties and with its own special flavour. You can drink it hot in the winter, or make ice tea in the summer. You can add lemon or many other things, it’s just up to you; and it’s very easy to make, and gives you an overall state of well-being. Some teas containe caffeine, but no reason to worry here.

2. Natural juice

Photo by VROG in Bristol
By natural juice I don’t mean wrapped juice which claims to be natural and that kind of stuff! No way! I’m talking about the juice made from fruit or vegetables by squeezing or using a machine yourself. Juice is probably the best source of vitamins and antioxidants and it gives you an abundance of good substances. You can make juice of so many fruits and veggies that it’s impossible not to find one you think is great; it can be apple, orange, prune, lemon, grapefruit, pineapple, tomato, carrot, grape, strawberry, cherry, cranberry, celery, and the list could go on for a lot more. You can also combine two or more fruits, and again use your imagination to make something really tasty!

3. Milk
Now you can’t drink milk all the time; but you don’t have to! You can use it for cereals and that kind of things, and it’s very good to drink at night, some time before you go to bed. It will help you sleep better. Also, it contains Iodine which is very important for thyroid function, Potassium, all sorts of vitamins, and a great deal of calcium. It’s also good for preventing diabetes and a number of conditions.

1. Soda
Most of us drink soda, some more, some less. There has been a lot of fuss about whether it’s bad for you or not and to cut a long story short, it’s bad. Of all the beverages in the world, it probably has the worst reputation; and the bad thing is that it lives up to its reputation. The basic ingredients are carbonated water, caramel color, natural flavors, caffeine, phosphoric acid and high fructose corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup is one of the single most horrific ingredients in the food supply, but it’s cheap, so they use it. Even the sodas which claim to be natural use the same things! If you’re still not convinced, take a look at what happens to your body when you drink a coke!

2. Coffee
Coffee provides one of the most important and biggest business in the world. Recent studies have shown that in fact, coffee has a sum of beneficial effects, but in the long term, it does more harm then good. Also, the studies have had some contradictory results so it’s pretty hard to say for sure whether the benefits are that big. The thing is that coffee contains caffeine; and caffeine is a stimulent drug. It creates addictiveness, and the results could be magnesium deficiency or hypomagnesaemia, damage to the arterial walls, and increases the risk factor for heart diseases. But with some beneficial aspects, and with 1-2 cups per day bringing no serious threat, it’s definetly the least of evils.

3. Energy drinks

Photo by Lit’l C
Energy drinks are wicked! In a not so great kinda way. They’re specifically designed to give you energy and calories, and boost your short term physical abilities. An energy drink contains amino acids, a large dose of sugar and about as much caffeine as a cup of coffee. Also, they increase the risk factor of several diseases and when you combine them with alcohol… no matter how fun it is, it’s not gonna do you any good!

Bonus
Is alcohol good or bad?
First of all, when it’s in very large quantities, it’s bad; now I’m not quite the man to give you that kind of advice, but that’s just how it is. The more alcohol consumed, the greater the effect - speech becomes slurred, vision blurred, balance is lost and movements are clumsy; and that’s not the problem! But it does damage to you inside. Alcohol has been linked to a wide range of illnesses, such as the increased risk of mouth, pharyngeal and oesophageal cancers. That’s bad. But what about the French paradox? This reffers to the fact the alcohol moderated (!) intake combined with high intakes of fruit and vegetables leads to a very low incidence of coronary heart disease, even when the diet has a lot of fats. Then again, what would a party be without alcohol? Still, it’s up to you! Be careful with what you put in your body!

Photo by Back in the Pack

So Sgt. Pepper took you by surprise
You better see right through that mother’s eyes
Those freaks was right when they said you was dead
The one mistake you made was in your head
Ah, how do you sleep?
Ah, how do you sleep at night?

~John Lennon~

The benefits of napping have been argued for years, by the world’s finest sleep statisticians and researchers, with mixed opinions. Some argue napping is bad for you, as it causes instability to your internal clock and sleep disorders, while other believe naps to be very healthy and quite recommend it. General thought is that for every two hours you are awake you accumulate one hour of “sleep debt”. (16 awake and 8 asleep fits nicely into a 24 hour day, eh what?) If you don’t pay off your debt during your nightly sleep, it carries over until you do get it paid off. Your nap probably serves to push back how early you can fall asleep at night.

Lately a new term has been coined by specialists, called “power napping,” that consists in napping a full hour, during which your energy levels should be at a maximum. So in layman’s terms, grabbing an hour’s sleep during the day may be as beneficial as a whole night in bed, according to scientists. Of course some sleep during the night is needed, don’t think  it’s possible for a man, who hasn’t slept for over 24 hours, to recuperate a night time of sleep in the course of one hour. Even the brains agree, as experts say that a full night’s sleep is still necessary for many vital body functions, even though a short sleep may boost learning and memory.

(more…)

One of Murphy’s laws says that anything good in life is either illegal, immoral, or fattening. Doing what you enjoy most is often not so good for your health, physically or spiritually, so here are some simple rules to improve your life. I think that you have already realized that it’s not so simple to change your habits. After each disappointment you keep saying - I gonna change and that won’t happen again, but after a while your determination isn’t so strong.
Maybe it will sound like a cliché, but you have to change your life by doing very small steps. I’ll talk now about eating habits and I promise to continue this series about healthy habits.
Be very careful at what you’re eating. Sure that fast food is cheap and tasty, but you have to take into consideration its effects on your health. To continue with this idea, pay attention to sweets too. Drinking alcohol is fun, but be sure you know your limits and don’t make any abuses.
When thinking at meals, keep in mind that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You need energy for all your plans so have some cereals, milk and maybe some fruit. If you’re hungry between meals, you can have another fruit or some biscuits. Try not to eat so much in the evening - you’ll sleep better.
Then, it’s very important to have your meals at certain hours and to make a rule out of this. By doing that, you can organize your time better and follow a schedule that keeps you healthy.
In order to reduce drastically your visits to the hospital, consume every day 5-10 fruits or vegetables. Also don’t forget the milk and cereals, potatoes or bread for fibers and the meat for proteins. Once or twice a week have fish to keep your brain active.

Now you know the basic rules for a good nutrition, but how can you start applying them? At first, try to arrange proper hours for meals - take into consideration what tasks you have to do during the day and of course, the hours when you’re hungry. Than think - what you like to eat and what you don’t. Could you replace some dishes with other ones which are healthier? Sure you can! If you want something sweet, you can have a peach or a banana. That doesn’t mean that you have to forget about chocolate, just consume it less often.
Don’t over react. The most important thing is to find your balance. Don’t impose it to yourself, just find it. You know you have it, it’s there, inside you.

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