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Foods to have when stressed

July 31, 2008

Regardless of the cause, when we’re stressed we often counter-intuitively turn to dietbusting goodies for comfort. Instead of soothing our frayed nerves, many of them ultimately make us feel worse.

Take the classic, curling up with a pint of ice cream. It’s a total backfire. Why? Sweets are insidious: After the initial rush, the body’s insulin response kicks in, causing a sudden blood-sugar drop that triggers the release of stress hormones. Soon you’re feeling more jangled than you were before you ate that whole container of ice-cream. And alcohol, of course, is a wolfish stimulant in calm sheep’s clothing. But true comfort foods do exist. Check them out:

Berries, any berries. Eat them one by one instead of M&Ms when the pressure’s on. For those tough times when tension tightens your jaw, try rolling a frozen berry around in your mouth. And then another, and another. Since the carbs in berries turn to sugar very slowly, you won’t have a blood-sugar crash. The bonus: They’re a good source of vitamin C, which helps fight a jump in cortisol, a stress hormone.

Avocados. Avocados are loaded with B vitamins, which deplete stress quickly, which is of course needed by your body in order to maintain nerves and brain cells. Scoop up the stuff with wholegrain baked chips —crunching keeps you from gritting your teeth.

Mixed nuts. Just a few grams will do. Walnuts help replace those stress-depleted B vitamins, and almonds boost your E, which helps fight cellular damage linked to chronic stress. Buy nuts in the shell and think of it as multitasking: With every squeeze of the nutcracker, you’re releasing a little tension.

Oranges. People who take 1,000 milligrams of C before giving a speech have lower levels of cortisol and lower blood pressures than those who don’t. So lean back, take a deep breath, and concentrate on peeling a large orange. The 5-minute mindfulness break will ease your mind, and you’ll get a bunch of C as well.

Asparagus. Each tender stalk is a source of folic acid, a natural mood lightener. Dip the spears in fatfree yogurt or sour cream for a hit of calcium with each bite.

Tea. A warm drink is a supersoother, and curling up with a cup of aromatic tea can make the whole evil day go away. Dark chocolate. Okay, there’s nothing in it that relieves stress, but when only chocolate will do, reach for the dark, sultry kind that’s at least 70 per cent cocoa. You must realise that if the antioxidant flavonoids in it are potent enough to fight cancer and heart disease, then they’ve got to be able enough to temper tension’s effects.

Written by James · Filed Under Health 

How to get good sound sleep

July 31, 2008

“Aman dies daily, only to be reborn in the morning, bigger, better and wiser,” so said Emmett Fox. It’s great to wake up refreshed in the morning, rather than be jolted out of a sound snooze because you couldn’t get to sleep the night before. Sleep deprivation can bring serious consequences: irritability and fatigue, and susceptibility to a wide range of illnesses from headaches to psychosis. Like the average person, you can fall asleep within five to ten minutes.

Here’s how you can:

Keep a check on your diet to ensure that you’re not ingesting large amounts of caffeine within a few hours of retiring.

Try to cut back on the pace of your physical activity at least one hour before retiring.

It is better to refuse to participate in any disturbing or stimulating discussions in the last hour before retiring for the night. Don’t watch the news just before going to bed.

Take a calming, satisfying book to bed. Get under the covers and read lying on your back.

Try to play a relaxation tape at bedside. Some are recorded just for this purpose or choose your own from the easy-listening section of your music-store.

Select a pleasant, satisfying fantasy to run through in your mind once the lights go out. Keep searching for one that works consistently for you.

Don’t think about going to sleep; focus on getting as cozy and as comfortable as you can in bed.

After lying in bed for thirty minutes without falling asleep, get up and do something relaxing. Then return to bed for a fresh start.

But if your problem is serious, and all the above tips do not work, take an appointment at the sleep disorder clinic at the nearest medical centre as soon as possible.

Written by James · Filed Under Sleep 

Remedies for Peeling Skin

July 31, 2008

Here is a compilation of some known home remedies that one can use for curing peeling skin.


Grated cucumber applied over the affected areas for 15-20 minutes has been found to be effective especially for the skin on the face. Regular application prevents dryness of the skin.


Applying the juice of fresh mint every night on affected areas of the skin can help prevent dryness. It is also a suggested remedy for eczema and dermatitis.


Honey, olive oil and a mixture of turmeric and sandalwood paste are very effective in rejuvenating dry, parched skin

Written by James · Filed Under Skin Care 

Tips on brushing Teeth

July 1, 2008

 Brushing too long or too hard can damage both tooth enamel and gums — and it isn’t any better at removing plaque than gentler, shorter bouts. The best advice: Brush for 2-3 minutes with a soft-bristled toothbrush, using short, gentle strokes. Be sure to brush along the gum line, and give your tongue a quick once-over, too, for fresh breath.


 If you’re not sure of your toothbrushing technique, ask your dentist or dental hygienist for pointers at your next visit. The classic approach is to divide your mouth into four sections — upper left and right, lower left and right — and spend about 30 seconds on the teeth in each area, then lightly brush along the gum line and over the tongue.


No sense of time? Suspect you’re overdoing it? Try an electric toothbrush. Many now have built-in timers, and some also come with sensors that automatically turn the brush off when too much pressure is applied.

Written by James · Filed Under Teeth