Healthy Tips to Boost Your Immune System

A weak immune system leaves us susceptible to colds, flu viruses, and other more serious illnesses. Luckily, several natural substances exist to help strengthen and support immunity.

One caveat—balance is required. You may read or hear about a food or habit that boosts the immune system, but go overboard with your response.

Overdosing on anything, even if it is natural, throws the body-mind out of balance. Here are a couple of my favorite natural immune boosters, and how to get the right amount of them.
Exercise to Boost Your Immune System

Exercise has been shown to protect us from the cold and flu by boosting the immune system. Recent studies suggest that there are actual physiological changes in the immune system in response to exercise.

During moderate exercise, immune cells circulate through the body more quickly enabling them to better kill viruses and bacteria.

After exercise ends, the immune system response seems to return to normal after a few hours. However, consistent moderate exercise keeps the immune response working longer.

There is a caveat. Evidence suggests that too much intense exercise can have the opposite effect and reduce the immune response.

Research shows that more than 90 minutes of high intensity endurance exercise a day can leave individuals susceptible to illness for up to 72 hours. Because too much intense exercise can decrease in immune response, balance is required.

Zinc to Support Your Immune System

A student recently told me that when she feels a cold or flu coming on, she loads up on zinc. She's got the right idea.

Zinc is a mineral that strengthens and supports immunity, helps heal wounds, and supports normal growth.
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Health Benefits Of Dill

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Ayurvedic Solutions For Oily Skin

Are you troubled by oily skin and hair? Is summer already taking its toll on you? Summer is upon us, and along with the unforgiving sun, comes a wide array of dermatological issues. The most common amongst these are oily hair and skin problems. Here are some easy Ayurvedic remedies for oily skin, with ingredients you probably already have lying around at home. These are effective and don’t take time out of your busy schedule.
Ayurvedic Solutions For Oily Skin
1. Aloe Vera:
It would be prudent and useful to simply grow Aloe at home since this plant can cure nearly any dermatology-related issue. Otherwise, Aloe leaves are easily available at supermarkets. Aloe works as an anti-inflammatory agent. Cut the green layers off the leaf and you are left with a transparent, slimy, gel-like substance. In a bowl, mash this gel with your fingers as best as you can. Then apply this on your face and hair, and keep it on for about ten minutes or till it’s dry. Then, wash off. This can be the best ayurvedic face wash for oily skin.
2. Orange:
Orange concentrate has high levels of Vitamin C that is very good for the skin. Squeeze half an orange into a bowl and apply it on your face with the help of a cotton ball. Keep it on for about ten to fifteen minutes before washing off.
3. Sandalwood and Turmeric:
A paste made from sandalwood and turmeric can be used for both the head and the face. Mix sandalwood and turmeric powder, and add water (or lemon concentrate) to it. Then spread this paste on your face and head, and wait for about ten to fifteen minutes before washing off.
4. Milk:
The simple, healing properties of milk will take care of your oily skin problems. Simply soak a cotton ball in milk and wipe your face with it twice a day, at least once before going to sleep. If you feel you need a little extra cleansing, add a few drops of lemon concentrate to the cotton ball.
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Easy Tips for Planning a Healthy Eating

It is important to eat healthy when eating out, but it is even more essential to a healthy lifestyle to eat nutritiously at home.

Maintaining a healthy diet should not have to be a challenge. Your food and physical activity choices each day affect your health – how you are feeling today, tomorrow, and in the future. Everyone knows the secrets of losing weight: Eat less and exercise more. Sounds simple enough, however in the context of real life and its demands, it may be anything but simple.

You have the power to feel your best. It starts with that which you put on your plate. Eating healthy foods gives you energy, strengthens your immune system and helps you maintain a healthy weight for life.

This section provides numerous tips for how to eat healthfully when dining out, a shopping list for keeping a well-stocked healthy kitchen, and choices for choosing low-calorie foods instead of higher calorie ones. Planning a healthy diet starts with the know-how of good nutrition and incorporation of the identical in everyday routine.
Drink More Water

If water were a food, it would be considered a superfood. It helps digestion, promotes clear skin, acts as an appetite suppressant, as well as prevents heart disease, among many other benefits. Some investigation has even shown that drinking water can accelerate metabolism and help you lose weight.
Eat seasonally

It’s more varied, cheaper and for you. Check out farmer’s markets where possible, or try Pick Your Own fruit and veg – it is good fun and really inexpensive.
Plan your meals for the week ahead

Write a shopping list and stay with it – and never shop when you are hungry, as this is a fatal error that inevitably leads you to definitely stuffing your shopping trolley full of junk!
Remember Pickles

Fermented foods are extremely often forgotten in the Standard American Diet, but they’re a great way to get all the nutritional benefits of vegetables along with a healthy dose of probiotics to boost your digestion and immune capacity.
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Tips to Eating Out Healthy

Dining at a restaurant can be daunting. Pictures of food are plastered all over the menu and other patrons are enjoying their meals as well. How do you know what to choose when you are eating out? Here are some things to look for when ordering a meal. However, keep in mind that options vary depending on the type of restaurant and cuisine you are eating.
First, do not be tempted by specials or the pictures in the menu. Most of these are entrees with large portions and more likely to have a high fat and/or caloric content. Always remember that the picture usually looks better than the actual food. If you are really interested in the special, see if you can have the server bring a to-go box so you can portion your meal prior to eating eat.
Second, always try to order just water. While fancy drink specials can be enticing, they usually have loads of calories and sugar, similar to sodas. Your other option is to opt for the single glass of red or white wine or unsweetened iced tea. Just remember to control the amount you take in- you want most of your calories from a meal to be from food instead of liquids.
As for choosing which meal is appropriate, definitely take your own cravings into account. A small portion of something you desire (even if it is unhealthy) can go a long way to avoid overeating at another time. Just remember that portion control is important and try to choose sides that include fresh grilled vegetables or whole grains.
Lean protein, such as chicken and fish, are probably the best choices for main dishes. Avoid fried foods, and choose entrees that include grilled, baked, or broiled in the description or name. Also, salads as a meal are a good choice, however, be careful about the dressing and the extras that are in the salad. For example, a chicken salad may have grilled chicken, but may also have full fat dressing, bacon, cheese, eggs, and croutons that add unnecessary extra protein and fat to the meal. Always ask for dressing on the side, even if it is a type of vinaigrette. A lot of vinaigrettes contain oils that can add up your daily calories as well.
If you go to a restaurant and find a sandwich as your main course, make sure to include sandwiches that have wheat or whole grain bread and lean meat (chicken, turkey, grilled fish). In addition, try to avoid the mayonnaise and use mustard instead. Check to see if you can have a salad or fresh fruit as a side instead of chips or French fries. Also, avoid sandwiches that indicate butter or oil was used to grill the bread; instead, see if they can lightly toast your sandwich, especially if you like it warm. Try to choose sandwiches that have more vegetables (lettuce, tomato, cucumber, avocado, peppers, etc) instead of those that are stuffed with only meat and cheese.
Perhaps the hardest menus to choose from are restaurants that offer free bread and butter or chips/salsa as an appetizer before you have even ordered. Try to choose foods that are lower in carbohydrates since you will be (most likely) meeting your carbohydrate by eating the free bread and chips. For example, choose pasta that has a tomato based sauce (rather than a creamy or milk based sauce), loaded with vegetables and protein (beans or lean meat). Another option is to choose a lean meat as a main course, and have pasta (with a tomato based sauce) and vegetables as a side dish. Also, foods with sauces and cheese add extra calories and fat; try to choose foods without sauces, or ask to have the sauce on the side.
A good rule of thumb is to follow the government recommended MyPlate where half your plate should be filled with fruit and vegetables (without any extra fat). Find entrees that have a balanced mix of carbohydrate, protein, and fruit/vegetables. Look for whole grains or whole wheat such as brown rice or whole wheat pasta.
In sum, remember that portion control is the most important. While we all enjoy a good deal, restaurant portions are usually too much for one person to eat. Share a meal with a family member or friend, or put half away in a to-go box to avoid overeating at mealtime. Choose entrees that primarily include vegetables and avoid foods with extra sauces or cheese. Also remember to enjoy yourself! You are eating out and it is supposed to be a fun treat; everything in moderation.
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Healthy Tips of using a laptop

Too often staring at a laptop screen can cause neck pain and damage your eyesight. The habit of using the laptop for long hours can also affect the overall health of the body. Well, here are some healthy ways to use the laptop, as reported by Lovepanky.

1. Big screen

Choosing a laptop that has a wider screen helps you avoid the stress of having to look at text or images on the screen that are too small. In addition, the laptop also has a wider keyboard that makes your fingers do not get tired or stiff. To avoid fatigue in the eye, when typing, you should enlarge the font size on the screen.

2. Laptop position

Position of the laptop should be aligned with your point of view to avoid muscle fatigue in the neck and eyes. Thus, you also do not need to bend or twist the head while staring at the screen.

3. Use the mouse

By using a separate mouse, you can move the wrist more easily. You can put the mouse on the right side of the keyboard. It can keep you from a wrist injury.

4. Take a short break

Take a break every two hours for a moment. To prevent the eyes from fatigue, avoid staring at the screen every half hour for one or two minutes. With rest, you can reduce the strain on the muscles and joints.

5. Lying straight

Lie down straight to relieve tension in the neck and back muscles. Your eyes also need a short break. So, do not force yourself. Let your body lay for a moment and relax your tense muscles.

Do these five things in order to avoid the complaints and Dangers of Using a Laptop Too Long.

What fruits to try first for babies / infants?

Right type of nutrients will be important for every child. Vitamin C is really essential for your baby at certain stage of life. It is true that an infant within 2 months of age would feed on only breast milk. But, when he is between the age range of 4 to 6 months, you can easily make him consume pureed fruits. Those fruits would be rich in vitamins as well as minerals which is really essential for the infants or your babies. But, not all fruits are suitable for the babies while they consume the same for the first time. It is important to find out the first fruit with which fruit diet is begun.

First fruits for babies

Apple

You must keep in mind about the digestion point of view of the child before thinking about the first fruit. You must find out the fruits which can be easily digested in the digestive system of the baby. You can try out apple in pureed form. Don’t ever try to feed the baby with the typical slice of apple.

Parents responsible in this procedure must make a puree and then feed the same to the baby. You can make a healthy apple sauce for your baby which has a good source of vitamin C. Thus fruits will be really effective for the baby where they can absorb the iron content of the fruit. Also the fiber content in the fruit is really effective in reducing the constipation problem in a baby.

Mashed bananas

Banana also contains good amount of mineral and iron. It must be provided to the babies for developing normal muscle as well as appropriate heart function in a child.

Peach in pureed form

You can also consider peach as the one among the first fruits which must be given to the child after 4 months of age. Since peach has vitamin A as well as vitamin C, your child will get healthy eyesight. Also the formation of white blood cell will be effective. You can make a paste out of peach and apricot and allow your child to consume the same. Since your child is a new consumer of fruit, you must feed him with the item which is easily digestible. Combination of pureed peach as well as apricot is very well digestible fruit for your baby.

Fruits to be avoided

Not all fruits are favorable for all kids. There are some varieties of fruits which must be avoided at once. Strawberries, oranges as well as grape fruits are some of the fruits which should not be provided to kids as the first fruit. Since these are highly acidic fruits, babies can get the diaper rashes which are quite painful. You may also find the fruits which has high pesticide level. These fruits must be avoided for kids. According to one of the environmental working group, the fruits such as plums, pears and peaches have high pesticide level. Some babies having strong immunity can consume it. But, not all babies have same level of immunity. Thus, it will be wiser to avoid such fruits. The organic variety of fruits will be more preferable as babies gets less exposure to dangerous chemicals.

How to feed your baby with fruits?

You need to change the fruit with time as your baby might not like same type of taste all the time. You can continue providing a single fruit for 2 to 3 days. But after completing the period, you should definitely change it. But, keep a note of such fruits which will be easily digestible by your kids.

Fruit purees

Since the teeth of your baby are not very well developed, the solid fruits will not be favorable to them at all. Feeding your baby with the pureed fruit will be advisable. The fruit purees that are made at home are ideally filled with all types of nutrients. You can also take the fruits such as banana, apricot and peach, combine them together and get a wonderful puree out of it. You can easily feed this to your child in order to provide him with all types of minerals, vitamins and other nutrients.
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