British Vs. American English!

5 Weak Words to Avoid in English!

Source:www.grammarcheck.net

10 Ways to Reduce Eye Strain and Keep Your Eyes Healthy When Looking at a Monitor!

Nowadays anywhere you look there’s a screen begging to be looked at. Whether it’s your computer, TV, tablet or phone, screens are taking over the world, and the inevitable that can happen to all of us when we look at a monitor for too long – serious eyestrain.

But it’s not a lost cause staving off eyestrain when you look at a monitor. There are several easy things you can do right now to make your screen easier to look at. Our guide will outline the 10 best ways to keep your eyes healthy when looking at a monitor for long periods of time.

Tips For Avoiding Eye Strain

Monitor Settings

One of the easiest things you can do to avoid eyestrain is to adjust monitor settings on your computer. One of the settings adjustments require you to turn down your screen’s brightness, as well as turn up the contrast. Additionally, you can also adjust the size of your text size and the overall contrast.

The guys over at PhotoFriday have created a simple chart called Monitor Calibration Tool which allows you to adjust your monitor’s contrast and brightness at the best level.

Follow the instructions shown on the page. One goal of Monitor calibration is to make sure that tones immediately lighter than true black are clearly distinguishable from true black and tones immediately darker than true white are distinguishable from true white.

Don’t forget, you also can upgrade your monitor if you’re using a desktop to improve how quickly you receive information. If you’re using an old monitor (CRTs) that blinks often, it forces you to refocus every time. Instead, consider a flat-panel LCD TV. Anything LCD related is awesome for monitors.

Reposition Your Monitor

Other then adjusting the settings, adjusting where your monitor sits is also important. Your monitor should always be directly in front and about 18 to 30 inches away from you, and it should also sit 4 to 8 inches below eye level. The goal is making sure your monitor is perfectly placed for good neck positioning and of course eyestrain prevention.

Blink Often

With so many people using screens, the occurrence of blinking is not as good as it used to be, which is a bummer because blinking gives your eyes mini-breaks throughout the day. If you find yourself not blinking enough while you’re in front of the screen, force yourself to take a break and sit with your eyes closed for a few seconds to let your eyes hydrate.

It’s not easy to remember this when you are engrossed with your work. At such times an extension like eyeCare can come handy. It notifies you in multiple ways to take breaks and helps you with eye exercises based on 20-20-20 rule.

Get Rid of Glare

For anyone who’s used a computer for a long enough time knows that glare can be one of the worst things about looking at a monitor. Glare can make you squint and overuse your eyes quickly. To take care of the glare on a screen, you can purchase anti-reflective coating. What this does is limit glare by minimizing the amount of light that reflects onto the front and back of his eyeglasses.

Use Good Room Lighting

Wherever you may be using a screen, the lighting in your room comes into play big time. The ideal lighting setup would mean no fluorescent bulbs in the room wherever you may be working. Think of ambient lighting, kind of what you’d see in a fancy restaurant.

Outside lights should also be blocked with shades. If it’s possible, try to position your computer monitor or screen so windows are to the side, instead of in front or behind your computer.

Exercise your eyes

Remember that your eyes are muscles and need to exercise every once in awhile too. A popular method developed by eye doctors to get people to rest their eyes and pry themselves away from work is called the “20-20-20 rule.”

The first 20 stands for 20 minutes, the second 20 stands for gazing at a distant object 20 feet away, and the third 20 is doing all this for at least 20 seconds. Also, taking frequent breaks, around every 15-25 minutes, is a smart thing to do.

Color-settings Software

Another big thing you can do to prevent eyestrain is to purchase software like F.lux, which will automatically adjust your monitor’s color-settings depending on the time of the day. Many of us are aware that adjusting our monitors brightness, etc, are in our best interest for our eyes, but we forget. This is a good idea since it’s automatic. Day and night settings is included.

Stand-up While Using PCs

A big trend in computer-use now are standing stations or tables. The idea is that standing makes you tired and not wanting to be on the computer as long as you would be if you’re sitting. These “standing desks” also help promote better posture and help you take more breaks.

The folks over at Lifehacker have a nice write up about why standing desks are a good idea.

Computer Glasses

An easy fix to prevent eyestrain is computer glasses. These glasses generally have an anti-reflective coating, yellow tint and improved contrast with text. Minor magnification is included with most too. While some people don’t think these work very well and balk at the price at $70 for a solid pair, many swear by them. It’s best to try a pair before purchasing.

Clean Your Monitor

This may sound silly, but dust accumulating on a screen can cause eyestrain. What the dust does is decrease screen sharpness and make your eyes work harder to adjust. Wiping off your screen with an anti-static solution every other day is your best weapon in this fight.

Conclusion

Eyestrain is a serious business. You don’t want to ignore it for too long. Tired, itchy eyes, headaches; it’s an epidemic. If all else fails, remember to go to an eye doctor to get an official diagnosis and to see if you may need glasses, which for many people helps fix their recurring eyestrain problems.

EASY WEIGHT LOSS TIPS!

   Reference: www.top10homeremedies.com

10 Foods You Should Never Refrigerate!

The invention of the refrigerator was a game changer in our ability to conserve food. It prevents many foods from becoming laden with disease-causing bacteria, as well as helps us save money buying food that goes bad before we can eat it all.

Most of us use a refrigerator with little knowledge about the types of food that should be stored in it and what should not.

Too often, we refrigerate food that should actually be kept on the counter or in the pantry. Storing some foods in the refrigerator will ruin their texture as well as taste.

1. Whole Melons

Whole melons should not be stored in the refrigerator. In a 2006 study, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers found that when stored at room temperature, watermelons have more antioxidants (lycopene and beta carotene) than when stored in the refrigerator.

In fact, the study found that compared to freshly picked fruit, watermelons stored at room temperature had 40 percent more lycopene and 139 percent more beta carotene content.

So, instead of keeping the whole melons in the refrigerator, leave them on your counter at room temperature. However, if you hav cut or sliced melons, you can cover them and store in the refrigerator.

2. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are very delicate in nature, and they lose their flavor and texture when refrigerated. Cold temperature damages the membranes along the fruit’s walls, making them lose flavor and become mushy. Plus, cold air stops the ripening process.

One of the best places to store unripe tomatoes is on the counter at room temperature. To speed up ripening, put them in a paper bag. Also, keep them stem-side down.

Ripe tomatoes are meant to be eaten within a couple of days, so buy them in small amounts as needed. Keep them at room temperature stem side up, away from sunlight. Room temperature, here refers to a temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 degrees Celsius.

However, if you have overripe tomatoes, you can store them in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days before they go bad completely.

To “recondition” the refrigerated tomatoes, take them out and leave them at room temperature for a few hours. To get the best flavor, pick your tomatoes from a local farmer’s market.

3. Potatoes

Keeping potatoes in the refrigerator will make them sweet and gritty in nature. The cold temperature breaks down the starch in potatoes, thus increasing their sugar content.

This leads to higher levels of a chemical called acrylamide when you cook them at high temperatures. Acrylamide is harmful for your health and increase the risk of cancer.

When stored in warmer or more humid areas, potatoes will start sprouting or going bad. Mature potatoes remain good for months if kept in a cool, dark environment like a root cellar or pantry. If the potatoes are damp, allow them to dry out on the counter before storing them.

Avoid storing potatoes in plastic bags, as lack of air causes them to start deteriorating quickly. You can keep them in a paper bag or a perforated plastic bag, which allows more air circulation.

4. Onions

Do not store whole onions in the refrigerator. Due to moisture, whole onions will turn soft and moldy. However, you can store chopped or sliced onions in a sealed container in your refrigerator for a few days. Keep the temperature at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.

Whole onions should be kept in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area in the mesh bag they came in. Do not store them in plastic bags, as lack of air circulation can affect their shelf life.

Plus, never keep onions alongside potatoes, as the moisture and gas emitted from them can cause both onions and potatoes to spoil quickly.

5. Honey

There is no need to store honey in the refrigerator, but you don’t want to keep it near your stove or oven either. Extreme cold or hot temperatures can spoil its taste and texture. When exposed to cold temperature, honey may begin to crystallize.

Room temperature helps preserve your honey’s natural goodness. To keep honey fresh, store it in an airtight, glass container.

Avoid storing it in metal or non-food-grade plastic containers, as they can cause oxidization of the honey. Keep the container in a dry, cool place out of direct sunlight. A cupboard or pantry is best.

Do not use honey if it smells sour or has visible mold growth. Properly stored honey may naturally solidify and crystallize as it gets older.

6. Olive Oil

If you use olive oil for cooking or making salad dressings, do not keep the bottle in the refrigerator. Very low temperature causes the oil to condense and take on a harder consistency. Refrigeration can also cause olive oil to become cloudy, which affects the quality and flavor.

It is better to store olive oil in a sealed, dark-colored container and keep it in a cool, dark cupboard. It will remain in good condition for a year or two.

Never keep your olive oil container on a windowsill, near your stove or in a cabinet above the stove. When exposed to repeated heat and light, olive oil can turn rancid. Rancidity can set in long before you can taste it or smell it.

7. Garlic

If whole garlic bulbs or garlic cloves are refrigerated, the cold temperature is likely to cause them to soften and start deteriorating.

It will even change the consistency and flavor. However, chopped or minced fresh garlic can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container for a short period.

Always store your garlic bulbs in a cool place away from direct sunlight to extend their shelf life and prevent sprouting.

Your kitchen cupboard or a shady corner of your kitchen counter works fine. The bulbs need to breathe, so never store them in a plastic bag or sealed container. Keep them in a mesh or wire basket to allow ventilation.

Use all the garlic cloves quickly once broken from the bulb, which shortens their shelf life. Plus, avoid buying young, wet garlic as they tend to rot quickly.

8. Coffee Beans and Grounds

As coffee beans are hygroscopic in nature, they easily absorb moisture from the surrounding area. Moisture will affect the aroma and flavor of both coffee beans and grounds. Plus, coffee may take on the smell of other food in the refrigerator.

Store coffee in an airtight, ceramic canister or vacuum canister. Keep it in a cool, dark and dry place. Avoid exposing coffee beans and grounds to air, heat and light. This will help retain its freshness and full flavor that you love when drinking a cup of coffee.

Also, try to buy your coffee in small quantities as needed.

9. Bread

Bread also should not be stored in the refrigerator. Wheat flour, the primary ingredient in bread, is packed full of granules of starch.

When exposed to moisture, the starch breaks down and becomes increasingly amorphous. This causes the bread to dry out quickly. Plus, it actually gets stale faster.

Keep your bread in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, such as in your pantry or a bread box. This will help maintain the proper crumb and crust texture.

You can keep bread wrapped in plastic or aluminum foil at room temperature for no more than two days. Or, you could wrap an entire loaf in plastic or aluminum foil and store in the freezer to arrest starch retro-gradation and hold the bread in a stable state.

If there is high humidity, buy fresh bread as needed and avoid storing it for next day. Before using partially stale bread, heat it in the oven.

10. Stone Fruits

Stone fruits are those that have seeds or pits in them that are relatively large compared to the size of the fruit. Examples of stone fruits include peaches, apricots, cherries and plums.

There is no need to keep stone fruits in the refrigerator. Cold temperature and humidity can quickly affect their quality and flavor, and turn them into a moldy mess.

You can keep any stone fruits wrapped in a brown paper bag in a cool, dry place. Always arrange the fruits stem-end down and store at room temperature until ready to eat. To make them ripen quickly, put them on a sunny windowsill or table.

Once ripe, eat them as soon as possible. Plus, it’s best to buy these fruits in small amounts as needed.

Reference:http://www.top10homeremedies.com

6 Bad Postures That Are Ruining Your Health & How To Correct Them!

If you are like the majority of the population, chances are you are suffering from symptoms correlated with bad posture. Catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror, it’s easy to see that I have forward neck/head posture. This is normally caused by a variation of weak neck muscles, seated job positions, incorrect sleeping positions, and prolonged computer or TV use.  But other than the un-esthetic aspect of bad posture, there’s really not much to worry about right?  Wrong.

Over time, poor posture takes a serious toll on your spine, shoulders, hips, and knees. In fact, it can cause a cascade of structural flaws that lead to back and joint pain, reduced flexibility, and compromised muscles, all of which limit your ability to burn fat or build strength.

Worst of all, bad posture can cause nerve constriction. As the spine changes in shape, the resulting movements or subluxations can put pressure on the surrounding spinal nerves. Because the nerves that connect to the spine come from all over the body, these pinched nerves can not only cause neck and back pain but may also cause pain in other unrelated areas of the body.

The following article will explore 6 common bad posture positions that many of us are making and will provide solutions to help correct these postures.

Rounded Shoulders

The problem: The sternoclavicular joints are unstable, therefore the body recruits the pectoris minor muscles to stabilize the joint. This brings the shoulder forward. With the shoulder forward, the upper trap turns on helping to support the shoulder from the neck. There is also a relationship with the thoracic spine & the sternum. The exercise described recruits global muscles to do the work of the postural muscles what happens is that for a short period of time holding through these muscles works then the muscles fatigue and the person falls back into the poor posture.

The fix: Lie facedown on the floor, with each arm at a 90-degree angle in the high-five position. Without changing your elbow angle, raise both arms by pulling your shoulders back and squeezing your shoulder blades together. Hold for five seconds. That’s one rep; do two or three sets of 12 reps daily. Changing posture has to happen by working the postural muscles which are deep to the global muscles.

Forward Neck/Head

The problem: Stiff muscles in the back of your neck.

The fix: Moving only your head, drop your chin down and in toward your sternum while stretching the back of your neck. Hold for a count of five; do this 10 times a day. Be careful not to push too hard or you will risk shifting your vertebra, which can lead to constant headaches.

Anterior Pelvic Tilt

The problem: There is a lack of support through the transverse abs and usually the lower 2 lumbar vertebra are unstable which is why the body tightens up the psoas & iliacus. There is often unstable hip joints due to stretched joint capsules as well.

The fix: Kneel on your left knee, with your right foot on the floor in front of you, knee bent. Press forward until you feel the stretch in your left hip. Tighten your butt muscles on your left side until you feel the front of your hip stretching comfortably. Reach upward with your left arm and stretch to the right side. Hold for a count of 30 seconds. That’s one repetition; do three on each side.

Elevated Shoulder

The problem: The muscle under your chest (running from your ribs to your shoulder blades) is weak. This is often the Levator scapula muscle in spasm, supported by a tight upper trap.

The fix: Sit upright in a chair with your hands next to your hips, palms down on the seat, arms straight. Without moving your arms, push down on the chair until your hips lift up off the seat and your torso rises. Hold for five seconds. That’s one repetition; do two or three sets of 12 reps daily.

Pigeon Toes

The problem: This problem is a bit too complex to sum up in a sentence, however some contributing factors to pigeon toes may be weak muscle support from the glutes, bone deformities, arthritis, and more.

The fix: Lie on one side with your knees bent 90 degrees and your heels together. Keeping your hips still, raise your top knee upward, separating your knees like a clamshell. Pause for five seconds, then lower your knee to the starting position. That’s one rep. Perform two or three sets of 12 reps on each side daily.

Duck Feet

The problem: Again, this problem could be caused my many factors. One contributing factor may be that your oblique muscles and hip flexors are weak.

The fix: Get into a pushup position with your feet resting on a stability ball. Without rounding your lower back, tuck your knees under your torso, using your feet to roll the ball toward your body, then back to the starting position. That’s one rep. Do two or three sets of six to 12 reps daily.

Assess Your Posture Right Now!

Wear something form-fitting and take two full-body photos—one from the front, one from the side. Relax your muscles and stand as tall as you can, feet hip-width apart. Then refer to the fix-it plan (below left) to diagnose your posture problems.

1 / Look at your ear. If it’s in front of the midpoint of your shoulder, your head is too far forward.
2 / Can you see your shoulder blade? That means your back is too rounded.
3 / If your hips tilt forward and you have a belly pooch (even if you don’t have an ounce of fat on your body) and your lower spine is arched significantly, this means you have an anterior pelvic tilt.
4 / Look at your shoulders. One shouldn’t appear higher than the other.
5 / Check out your kneecaps. Do they point inward, causing your knees to touch when your legs are straightened?
6 / See if you’re duck-footed. Your toes will point outward more than 10 degrees.

There you have it! Correcting poor posture while you are young will help prevent further more severe complications in the future.

 

How to Get Rid of Ants Fast Naturally!

During warm weather or rainy seasons, many people discover ants entering their houses and garden areas.

According to the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Project, ants are social insects and live in colonies that may range in size from hundreds to millions of ants, depending on the species.

There are different types of ants, but the most common house-invading ants include pavement, carpenter, acrobat, pharaoh and odorous house ants.

House-invading ants can get into your food, damage property or cause stinging bites. These tiny creatures can also cause damage to your plants.

Dealing with ants can be very frustrating. Pesticides for ants contain chemicals that are harmful to humans and the environment, but there are some natural, non-toxic ways to control ants. These may take some time and patience, but will provide good results.

Here are the top 10 ways to get rid of ants naturally:

1. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is an effective household ant repellent. Its smell discourages ants from entering your house and scrounging in your kitchen.
According to a 2014 study published in the International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, cinnamon essential oil yields positive results in both repellency and insecticidal activity.

• Add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of cinnamon essential oil in a cup of water. Soak a cotton ball in this solution and wipe down the areas where ants may enter and dwell. Repeat once daily until all the ants are gone.
• You can also put ground cinnamon and whole cloves near entry points.

Note: Use the cinnamon oil spray strategically in places of ant infestation; do not put it all over the place.

2. White Vinegar

White vinegar will also send an eviction notice to ants on your premises. They cannot bear its strong smell. In addition, the smell masks their scent trails, making them lose their direction.

1. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water.
2. Pour the solution into a spray bottle.
3. Add a few drops of any essential oil and shake the bottle thoroughly.
4. Spray this solution around baseboards and other entry points.
5. After an hour, wipe up the ants using a damp paper towel and discard them.
6. Repeat once daily until the ants are completely gone.

You can also use this vinegar solution to clean floors, windowsills and countertops to prevent ants from crawling over these surfaces.

3. Borax

Borax is toxic to ants and helps rid them from your house and garden. Ants are attracted to it and, when ingested, it ultimately kills them.

• Mix equal amounts of borax and food jelly. Put it on a flat plate in the areas where you have ants.
• Alternatively, mix borax with granulated sugar in a 1:3 ratio. Add enough water to get a syrup-like consistency. Put this paste in the areas where you see ants.
• Another option is to make a paste with equal amounts of borax, cornmeal and a few drops of water. Spread the paste in areas where you tend to see ants.

Note: As borax is toxic, keep it away from pets and small children.

4. Lemon

To make your kitchen and other areas of your house ant-proof, try lemon. The smell deters ants and its acidic property masks their scent trails.

• Rub some lemon juice on door thresholds, windowsills and other possible areas where ants are getting in.
• Another option is to put a few drops of lemon essential oil on cotton balls and leave them in cabinets and other areas as needed.
• Scatter small slices of lemon peel around outdoor entrances.

Use these remedies every few days until the ants are completely gone.

5. Peppermint

Peppermint is a natural insect repellent that can effectively keep ants away. Ants hate its strong smell, which also disrupts their smelling capabilities so they cannot detect food sources.

• Add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil to 1 cup of water. Spray the solution on all areas where ants are present. Repeat twice daily, until the ants are gone completely.
• Sprinkle some dried peppermint around your doors, entryways and garbage areas to repel ants.
• You can even grow peppermint plants in your kitchen garden.

6. Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth

Food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) also works well as an ant repellent. This powder is the fossilized remains of marine phytoplankton.
The microscopic razor sharp edges of DE can cut through the ants’ exoskeletons, gradually causing their body to dry out.

1. Gently sprinkle a thin layer of DE on windowsills, beneath the fridge, under cabinets, in and around garbage cans and any other places where you see ants.
2. Repeat once daily until all the ants are gone.

7. Cucumber Peel

Another age-old trick to get rid of ants is cucumber peel. Ants have a natural aversion to cucumber, as they cannot stand its taste. Bitter cucumbers work best, but you can use normal cucumbers, too.

1. Peel a cucumber.
2. Place pieces of the peel in all areas where you have seen ant activity.
3. Replace them with fresh peels daily.
4. Repeat as needed until the ants are gone.

8. Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper also works as an effective ant repellent. The strong nature of cayenne pepper destroys the chemical signals that ants rely on to navigate toward food, their nest and other places. Without a proper signal, ants will not able to survive and will thus look for new places to go.

• Sprinkle cayenne pepper powder in areas where you notice ants.
• You can also mix equal amounts of cayenne pepper and turmeric powder and sprinkle it across the access points to make an unpleasant barrier for ants.

9. Liquid Dish Soap

Dish soap also works as an effective ant repellent. It can help suffocate the ants, causing them to die. You can try this tip on cockroaches, too.

• Mix 1 teaspoon each of liquid dish soap and baking soda in a cup of water. Spread this solution along areas where ants are coming in.
• Fill a spray bottle with one part dish soap and two parts water, then shake it thoroughly. Spray the mixture over the areas where ants are present. After a few hours, wipe up the dead ants with a wet cloth.

10. Keep Your House Clean

To deter ants from entering your house, you must take extra care to keep it clean.

• Do your best to keep your floors, counter-tops and cabinets clean and free of clutter.
• Keep food containers tightly sealed, especially those used for storing sugar, honey, syrup and other foods that can attract ants.
• Clean up food spills right away, especially fruit juice or sugary foods.
• Make sure to properly cover any food that you leave out on the kitchen counter. You can even place bowls of food on plates containing a little water to prevent ants from reaching the food.
• Clean furniture surfaces and windowsills regularly.
• Never leave dirty dishes in the sink.
• Do not allow moisture to accumulate on kitchen counters and other surfaces.
• Ensure that your garbage cans have tightly sealed lids.
• Look for little cracks and crevices around doors and windows and seal them with caulk, petroleum jelly or any over-the-counter sealants.

 

Home Remedies for Clogged Arteries!

 

Clogged arteries refers to a condition in which deposits of fatty plaque within an artery leading to the heart or brain restricts blood flow. Due to this, the blood carrying oxygen and nutrients cannot reach different body organs and tissues, potentially causing huge damage and preventing organs from functioning properly.
This is a serious condition that is not easily detectable. The exact cause behind clogged arteries is still unclear. However, experts believe it starts with damage or injury to the inner layer of an artery.
Factors that may contribute to or worsen this problem include excessive smoking, a high-fat diet, lack of physical exercise, being overweight, having either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. It can also occur due to inflammation from diseases like arthritis, lupus or infections.
Clogged arteries in different parts of the body can lead to health problems like coronary artery disease, carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease and even a heart attack or stroke.

Most often, clogged arteries do not cause any symptoms until the problem becomes severe. Symptoms may include chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, heart palpitations, weakness, dizziness, loss of appetite, anxiety, nausea and sweating.
Other symptoms related to clogged arteries in different types of artery disease are leg pain, cold feet, numbness on one side of your body, inability to move an arm or a leg, and loss of vision on one side only.
As clogged arteries develop slowly and progressively, timely diagnosis is very important. Modern drugs and treatments as well as home remedies can help prevent the condition from worsening and reduce the risk of a serious cardiovascular disease.
  
Here are the top 10 home remedies for clogged arteries:

1. Garlic

Garlic is one of the best remedies for clogged arteries. It helps widen blood vessels and improve blood circulation.
According to a 2007 study done at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, garlic can help relax blood vessels by up to 72 percent more than a placebo. Moreover, garlic lowers bad cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of heart attacks or strokes.

• Add 3 chopped garlic cloves to a cup of milk and boil it. Allow it to cool and drink it daily before going to bed.

• Also, include garlic in your cooking or take garlic supplements after consulting your doctor.   

2. Turmeric

Turmeric is another spice that can help treat clogged arteries and make your heart healthy and more functional. Curcumin, the main component of turmeric, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help prevent blood platelets from forming clots.
Moreover, turmeric extracts can lower the level of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or ‘bad’ cholesterol,to reduce buildup in the arteries. It can also relax blood vessels and reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

• Add 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder and a little honey to a glass of warm milk. Drink it 1 or 2 times daily.
• Take turmeric supplements. The usual recommended dosage is 400 to 600 mg 3 times daily. However, consult a doctor before taking any supplements.

• Also, include turmeric powder in your cooking.

3. Cayenne Pepper

The compound capsaicin present in cayenne pepper prevents bad cholesterol, or LDL, oxidation. This in turn reduces bad cholesterol levels in the blood, which is one of the main reasons behind clogged arteries. It also improves blood circulation and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.

• Add ½ to1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to a cup of hot water. Drink it 2 times daily for a few weeks.
• You can also take cayenne supplements, but only after consulting your doctor.

4. Lemon

Lemon is high in vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps improve blood pressure and reduce inflammation of the arteries. Plus, lemon helps lower blood cholesterol levels and keep arteries clear by preventing oxidative damage in the blood stream.

• Mix the juice of 1 lemon in a glass of warm water, along with a little honey and black pepper powder. Drink it 1 or 2 times daily for a few weeks.
• Alternatively, boil 1 tablespoon of lemon peels in 4 cups of water for 20 minutes. Strain and add honey. Drink 1 cup, 3 or 4 times daily for several weeks.

5. Ginger

Ginger is another effective remedy for clogged arteries. It contains compounds like gingerols and shogaols

that have cardiovascular benefits. Ginger prevents plaque buildup or lessens existing plaque by lowering total cholesterol and blocking oxidation of LDL.

• Drink 2 to 3 cups of ginger tea daily. Make the tea by adding 1 teaspoon of grated ginger to a cup of hot water. Let it steep for 5 minutes, strain and add a little honey.
• Alternatively, eat a small piece of raw ginger on an empty stomach daily or take ginger capsules after consulting your doctor.

Note: Do not use ginger remedies if ginger causes gastric upset or heartburn, or you have gallbladder problems or gallstones.

6. Fenugreek Seeds

You can also use fenugreek seeds to treat clogged arteries. These seeds have saponins that can help reduce the level of the artery-clogging LDL cholesterol. Moreover, the high amount of fiber in fenugreek seeds plays a key role in reducing bad cholesterol levels.

• Soak 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in water overnight. The next morning, eat the soaked seeds along with the water on an empty stomach.
• Another option is to add 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds to 1 cup of water. Boil it for 5 minutes, strain and add a little honey. Drink it 1 or 2 times daily.

Follow either of these remedies daily for several months.

7. Red Yeast Rice

Red yeast rice can also help unclog arteries as well as reduce the risk of having a heart attack. It has natural monacolins that can lower the level of LDL cholesterol.
Moreover, it has phytosterols, beta-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, isoflavones and many trace minerals that are good for overall cardiovascular health.

• You can cook and eat red yeast rice like any other white or brown rice.
• Another option is to take red yeast rice tablets in 1,200 mg doses 2 times per day with meals. Always consult your doctor for the proper dosage and appropriateness for your condition.

8. Flaxseed

Flaxseeds are one of the best sources of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) that can help reduce blood pressure and inflammation. This in turn helps keep arteries clear of obstructions and improves overall heart health. In addition, the fiber in flaxseeds binds with LDL cholesterol and helps clear clogged arteries.
Consume 2 to 4 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds daily to help clear clogged arteries. Add 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds in smoothies, soups and juices. You can also sprinkle ground flaxseeds in salads or baked goods.

9. Pomegranate

This fruit is rich in antioxidant phytochemicals that help protect the circulatory system from damaging oxidation, which causes plaque buildup and blood clots in the arteries. Moreover, pomegranate stimulates production of nitric oxide in the blood that helps open arteries and regulate blood pressure.

• Eat 1 to 2 fresh pomegranates daily.
• You can also drink a glass of freshly extracted pomegranate juice once daily.

10. Exercise

Regular physical exercise can also reduce stiff and clogged arteries. A proper exercise routine along with a healthy diet can strengthen your heart and help prevent and manage heart diseases. Exercise is also a good way to lose excess weight and maintain good health.

• Do aerobic exercises like walking, jogging, bicycling and jumping rope to strengthen your heart and improve your cardiovascular health.
• Also, include some cardiovascular exercises in your routine to improve heart health and keep arteries clear.
• Try some deep breathing as well as yoga to feel more relaxed and free from stress.

Consult your doctor about the type of exercises that you can do given your particular condition.

Additional Tips

• Avoid eating junk foods and processed foods. Do not eat fried red meat as it can clog your arteries.
• Stop smoking.
• Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages in high amounts.
• Use meditation to reduce stress.
• Include beans and whole-grain products in your diet.
• Eat more fruits with bright colors, such as oranges, butternut squash, mangos, tomatoes, watermelon and blueberries.
• Enjoy some early morning sunlight to get vitamin D, which helps reduce arterial stiffness.
• Consume 2 to 3 tablespoons of extra-virgin coconut oil daily to help reduce plaque buildup in the arteries.
• Drink 1 to 2 glasses of pure organic cranberry juice daily to protect your heart and improve your health.
• Cook food in extra-virgin olive oil for its positive effects on cholesterol levels and oxidative stress in the blood stream.
• Take 100 to 300 mcg of vitamin B12 per day after consulting a doctor.
• Eat at least 2 servings of cold-water fish like mackerel, tuna, trout, herring and salmon each week.
• Take omega-3 supplements after consulting your doctor.
• Limit your intake of sugar as well as any other food that will raise your blood sugar level.
• Drink 2 to 3 cups of green tea daily to keep the arteries free from bad cholesterol, or LDL.
• Eating a few walnuts daily also helps unclog arteries.

The Secret Reason So Many of Us Procrastinate!

There’s no way of telling just how common the procrastination phenomenon is. But given the well-validated theory of psychological reactance, it’s safe to say that at some point we've all probably been guilty of it—that is, you have probably delayed something which not only would be good for you to do but which you actually want to do.

In such instances, what best explains your (unconsciously) choosing to sabotage yourself?

Simply put, it’s all about free will—or at least what you believe is your inherent privilege to choose freely what feels right to you. Psychological reactance postulates that we all have an impulse to react negatively to any outside influence that threatens our deep-seated, highly coveted desire for personal autonomy. Whether it’s a matter of dignity or pride, or a strong sense of self-determination, when we know we have to do something because someone whose authority is greater than ours has told us to (or maybe ordered us to) there’s something deep inside us that impels us to resist.

This is the case even when there’s really nothing about the task, project, or assignment that we dislike or find intimidating. In fact, the matter at hand might even be something that, if the circumstances were different, we’d much rather approach than avoid. Moreover, as the substantial literature on this subject has demonstrated, such a noncompliant or rebellious impulse exists largely independent of specific personality variables.

Here’s a simple example of this seemingly perverse dynamic: Say someone presents you with two ice cream cones—one chocolate, one vanilla. On your own, you’d choose chocolate over vanilla virtually every time. But if the individual holding out the two cones actually urges you to take the chocolate—maybe even coming uncomfortably close to shoving it in your face—it’s almost guaranteed that it will suddenly occur to you that you really haven’t had a vanilla cone in ages, and that maybe this would be the perfect time to reintroduce a little novelty in your life. After all, you’ve almost forgotten what vanilla ice cream tastes like since for so long you‘ve acted on your preference for chocolate.

Consider, further, that the more adamantly this person might push you to choose the chocolate cone, the more likely you are to dig in your heels and proclaim that—no—if you’re really being given a choice here, you’ve already decided to take the vanilla. And you’ll probably affirm this choice with a conviction that might surprise even yourself—and a certain amount of self-righteous indignation, too.

It should be fairly obvious that there’s something crucial at stake here—and it’s surely not the ice cream. This is likely a situation calling on you (maybe screaming at you!) to assert your free will over the felt pressure put on you by the domineering directive of the person who’s put himself in the (at least momentarily) “superior” position by making you this offer. If the “tone” of his action feels dogmatic or bullying, your sense of yourself—as a self-respecting, self-determining individual—can’t help but be endangered. So if you’re to avoid such an uneasy, uncomfortable feeling of being manipulated, condescended, or dictated to, you’ll likely conclude (whether consciously or not) that you really have no choice but to opt for the vanilla.

Make sense to you?

This is precisely what the whole social-psychological concept of reactance is about—the [universal] desire to think and behave freely with the corresponding tendency to react negatively to another person’s directives.

Compare this to being told that you must undertake something that, in fact, you want to undertake anyway. The fact that there are now “demand characteristics” added to the project or task may, to whatever degree, make it feel less desirable to you. Comparatively speaking, you’re more likely to find yourself procrastinating—maybe without quite understanding why. After all, you do want to do this thing. Still, your largely unconscious resistance may give you pause. And so, governed by such ambivalence, you may literally have to fight yourself to get started on the project, or to complete it.

In the substantial literature on reactance, there’s actually a term known as reactance procrastination. And there are numerous examples demonstrating the phenomenon: Take the case of an alcoholic who knows he (or she) needs to stop drinking. But one of the psychological (vs. physical) reasons they can’t stop is their feeling—despite its blatantly negative effects on their life, which they're well aware of—that they should still have the freedom to drink. This is a rarely acknowledged explanation of why they resist others’ trying to “pressure” them into abstinence. Particularly if, as children, they were abused by their parents, or over-controlled by them (i.e., not allowed sufficient choices), they may feel an urgent inner pressure to proclaim their freedom to drink, despite being vaguely aware that it’s slowly killing them or their protestations to others that they really do intend to stop.

Here’s how one article describes it: “If a person’s behavioural freedom is reduced, or threatened with reduction, the individual feels an increased amount of self-direction in regard to their own behaviour, where they feel that they can do as they like and do not have to do what others tell them. [This situation] also increases the overall attractiveness of that [threatened or] eliminated free behaviour.” And—additionally important in all this—“Psychological reactance may play a [greater] role in procrastination if individuals have rebelliousness, hostility and/or disagreeableness traits.”

Regarding your own possible challenges with procrastination, at least as they relate to reactance, how do you resolve this? It’s mostly a matter of:

1. Becoming more conscious of why you’re feeling a need to hesitate or delay.
2. Reminding yourself that undertaking the task in a timely fashion is really in your own best interests.

Essentially, you’re choosing to do it not because of any outward coercion but because it makes perfectly good sense to do it and it’s well within your capabilities and interests. You can pay adequate “homage” to your ambivalence simply by recognizing it—and perhaps even getting yourself to laugh at it.

You’re no longer a child seeking to establish a separate identity from your parents (your original authority figures) by emphatically saying "No!" Therefore, you don’t want such ancient self-confirmation impulses to get the better of you.

15 Things NOT to Do to Have a Better Life!

Everyone experiences setbacks. The most successful people freely admit they've failed many times. So what separates successful from unsuccessful individuals? The difference lies in how successful people respond to obstacles. Conversely, unsuccessful people allow failure to stunt their progress and growth.

There are many ways to respond when life throws you curveballs. Here are the top 15 things NOT to do in the face of failure:

1. Do look for someone to blame for every event in your life; never think about your own role in circumstances or how you could make things better.

2. Don't ever commit to anything wholeheartedly. Be cynical. Don’t believe in anything completely, yourself included.

3. Do go over and over events, how they should have been, how you should have behaved, how others should have responded. Remind yourself how you blew it. Especially dwell on events that are in the past and that you cannot change.

4. Do catastrophize or minimize anything and everything. Events are “nightmares” or “nothing." People are “ghastly or wonderful." Don’t be moderate or slow to judge about anything.

5. Don't tell anyone how you are feeling. Expect others to know. When your feelings boil over, shout a lot and use words such as “always” and “never” when describing your own and others’ behavior.

6. Do talk about other people behind their back. Spread gossip about others and don’t investigate the reality of events or worry about anyone’s feelings.

7. Do blurt out how you are feeling anywhere, any time, any place. After all, your feelings are your feelings.

8. Don’t set limits on how or when people can speak to you. Let them interrupt what you are doing, swear at you and complain to you publicly. Never confront them about how they are treating you.

9. Do everything as quickly as possible especially when dealing with tricky situations involving others. Don’t ask for extra time or think about how to approach things.

10. Do take everything personally. Hold grudges for as long as possible. Don’t tell the people involved what it is they have done. Build up your resentment as much as you can, stoking it up with reminders of past hurts and injustices.

11. Do be as hard as you can on yourself and others. Find yourself lacking. Tell yourself what an idiot you are. Remind yourself that you’ll never amount to anything and no-one likes you anyway.

12. Do delete this article. After all, who gets good advice from a website? Remind yourself that change is difficult; a leopard cannot change its spots.

13. Do be as grumpy as possible. Do not acknowledge other people if they say hello or thank you and definitely don’t smile or respond to any friendly overtures. Be suspicious.

14. Don't accept compliments. The person isn't sincere, they just want something or are passing the time of day. Just grunt or shrug. Don’t be gracious otherwise they might compliment you in the future.

15. Do eat junk food, smoke and drink when life gets hard. Certainly don’t relax or get any exercise—you simply haven’t got time!

Free Personal Development Resources You're Missing Out!

 

 

1. Mindbloom

Mindbloom.com is a nifty personal development web application. Think of it as a social network for your personal development.  You create a tree with branches representing the elements of your life you want to work on.  It encourages you to nurture your tree through inspiration (sun) and action (water).  There’s a lot built into this tool, so go check it out if you’re curious.

2. Udemy

Lately, it seems there have been hundreds of eLearning websites popping up across the web.  One of my favorites however is Udemy.  The structure is clean, the classes are well organized, and the instructors are top-notch.  Although they have plenty of academic courses available, there are a number of personal development ones worth checking out such as: How to Enjoy Work More, Discover The 1 Thing You Were Born to do in 5 Easy Steps, or Getting Things Done.

3. Gympact

There are plenty of ways to motivate you to work out, but the app Gympact does something quite clever and unique.  They hit you where it hurts…right in the wallet.  The concept behind Gympact is that you set a monetary consequence for when you miss your work outs, typically a $1 or so.  Then anytime you miss a work out you committed yourself to, you pay the fine.  But it doesn’t stop there.  What if you’re a good boy or girl and hit all of your workouts that week?  Well friend, you get a share of all the slacker’s fines that week.

4. TED

Okay, so plenty of you know Ted already, but do you remember the first day you discovered it?  It was amazing right? If you’ve heard about TED but never checked it out, now’s the time.  It’s inspiration on steroids.

5. Stumbleupon

Stumbleupon is another excellent resource for personal development.  I recommend stumbling interests such as: self improvement, personal development, career planning, spirituality, productivity, or motivation.

 

6. The Habit Factor

This is the world’s bestselling, #1 “Goals & Habits App” on iTunes.  It combines the book by the same name with a neat app that helps you track your goals and keep up with your progress.

7. Lumosity

Lumosity is your one stop shop for brain training.  If you want to have an easier time remembering names, learning new subjects, or maintaining focus – this is the place to hang out.

8. Remember The Milk

If you are a list person, this is a must have.  Remember the Milk let’s you manage your lists anywhere.  It will send reminders to your email or text, sync to your calendar and more.

9. Blogs

This one is a bit tricky since there are sooo many blogs out there dedicated to personal development.  Thankfully, others have already done the research for you by listing posts and blogs to checkout.

10. Lifetick

Lifetick is a web application for tracking your goals and keeping you focused.  Their status widgets, charts, and reports make this the dream app for any detail oriented goal-getters.

11. Evernote

Have you ever been out in public shopping, watching a movie, or eating a burger when you were suddenly struck with a brilliant idea?  You hope to hold onto it long enough to make it home where you can write it down, but by then you’ve moved on or forgotten it completely.  Evernote is a handy app for recording written or audio notes on your phone or pc that you can take anywhere.  All your ideas are stored in one place and it’s easy to use.

12. Pinterest

People are always surprised to learn Youtube is the world’s second largest search engine.  But Pinterest works in a similar way.  Just as you can search Google or Youtube for personal development content, you can do the same for Pinterest.  Put in productivity, self-help or personal growth, and you’ll find hundreds of pictures, articles, and posters related to the topic.

13.  Books

The great thing about books is that there are always new ones coming out to help you with your personal development needs.  Over the years, Lifehack has written a number of posts featuring their favorite book recommendations.
We Ask, You Answer: Productivity Books
Your Favorite Productivity Books
10 Inspirational Non-Fiction Books Worthy of Digital (or Actual) Bookshelves

14.  Podcasts

One of the things I look forward to every day is listening to podcasts on my way to work.  Thankfully, there is a wide selection of excellent podcasts in the personal development arena.  For starters you might check out Achieving Predictable Success, Great Work Interview

15. Youtube

It took some time for me to warm up to Youtube. At first it was difficult to find quality videos on the subjects you were interested in, but that’s not the case anymore.  Even in the personal development world, there are many amazing Youtube channels and videos you can follow.  Whether it’s classics like The Last Lecture or How to Have Your Best Year Ever or newer ongoing channels such as TedEd and ZeFrank there’s something for everyone.

16. Ignite

Ignite is a global event run by volunteers where speakers are given five minutes to talk about their ideas, passions, or interest on 20 slides for 15 seconds each.  The format may seem rigid, but the presentations go quickly and you hear only the good stuff as a result.  The best way to find videos put on by this organization is to either go to their website and search, or look up your local ignite organization on Youtube.

17.  Live Happy

Live Happy is more than an iPhone app, it’s a “happiness boosting positive psychology program.” Based on the book, The How of Happiness, the app helps you carry out the concepts taught in the book.  Things such as journaling, giving thanks, or savoring a beautiful moment.

18. Vision Board

Happytapper has created a virtual version of one of coaching’s favorite tools – The Vision Board.  It’s an easy way to give yourself some quick inspiration and motivation wherever you are.

High Alert: Smoking Hookah (Shisha) For An Hour Might Equal Smoking 100 Cigarettes!

Hookah lovers are known for spending hours on end puffing away on their beloved water pipes. But would these enthusiasts spend an hour smoking if they knew it was actually very dangerous? A new study suggests that young people believe that smoking hookah is safer than smoking cigarettes. Because of this, hookah smokers will smoke their pipes for longer. The gentle flavors encourage them to inhale more smoke than a cigarette smoker would.

But a one hour water pipe session could set a smoker back the equivalent of 100 cigarettes.

Few people would claim to enjoy smoking 100 cigarettes, or five packs, in only one hour. Even fewer would claim that they do this regularly with a group of friends.

Most people understand that smoking cigarettes will increase their risk for plenty of long term and deadly diseases like heart disease, stroke and cancer. But few realize that hookah has these exact same long term side effects.

How could an hour of relaxed hookah smoking become the equivalent to five packs a day?

The World Health Organization released a report that found that those who indulge in hookah will take between 50 and 200 puffs during each hour of smoking. This is compared to a mere eight to 12 average puffs that a cigarette smoker will have smoking one cigarette.

Another dangerous fact that few enthusiasts know about hookah is that small water pipes produce higher levels of carbon monoxide than cigarettes. So a person who is smoking hookah from a small, personal water pipe is inhaling more dangerous fumes than someone smoking a regular cigarette.

Additionally, shisha tobacco has more appeal to young as it comes in a variety of flavors, such as apple and strawberry. For people from the Middle East, it is part of their culture, and for many, shisha bars represent another outlet for a cultural experience in the city, just like going to the theater a Chinese restaurant.

Indeed, even though tobacco came from the Americas, the practice of smoking hookah goes back hundreds of years. The pipe and the water pipe are old traditions stemming from the pan-Asian continent before making its way to North America in the mid-20^th century.

While the use of water pipes continues to decline in the area of its origin, new hookah businesses in the United States have targeted young adults and college students. These students have shown a demonstrable decrease in the number of cigarettes they consume. But more than 40%of students in a recent survey said that they had smoked tobacco from a water pipe. Between the pleasant aroma, the varied flavors and the chic cafes marketed directly at young people, young people remain uninformed about the dangers of hookah. Armed with more research, administrators and law makers could help inform young people of the risks of smoking hookah and help prevent the dangerous diseases that are often attributed only to cigarettes.

Differences Between Busy People And Productive People!

 

 

1. Busy people want to look like they have a mission. Productive people have a mission for their lives.

 

Busy people hide their doubt about the destination of their lives by acting confident in their little steps.

Productive people allow others to see the doubt in their little steps because they are clear on the destination.

2. Busy people have many priorities. Productive people have few priorities

 

Nobody is ever too busy, if they care they will make time. Life is a question of priorities. If you have 3 priorities, you have priorities. If you have 25 priorities, you have a mess.The Pareto Principe is that 80% of your desired results come from 20% of your activity. Henry Ford built a fortune not by building better cars, but by building a better system for making cars. Busy people try to make better cars, productive people develop better systems for making cars.

3. Busy people say yes quickly. Productive people say yes slowly

Warren Buffet’s definition of integrity is: “You say no to most things”.

If you don’t say “no” to most things, you are diving your life up into millions of little pieces spread out amongst other people’s priorities. Integrity is that your values are clear and that your time is going to serve those values.

4. Busy people focus on action. Productive people focus on clarity before action

 

To focus on the top 20% of activities, you must gain clarity about what those activities are for yourself. The greatest resource you will ever have to guide you to live a good life is your own personal experience – if well documented. Sadly, most people only document their life in Facebook status updates. Keep a diary and take 5 minutes every day to reflect on the past day, on what worked, on what didn’t work; and some time on what inspires you.

5. Busy people keep all doors open. Productive people close doors

 

As a young person it is good to open options. It is good to want to travel, to learn languages, to climb mountains, to go to university, to work in tech, to live in another country. However, there comes a point in life where one must let go of most options and focus. If my goal this year is to learn Spanish – I will speak Spanish at the end of the year. If my goal this year is to speak Spanish, earn 30% more, travel to 10 countries, get fit, go to all the concerts… I will not speak Spanish at the end of this year.

6. Busy people talk about how busy they are. Productive people let their results do the talking

 

It is a clear binary thing. Talking about writing is not writing. Published authors don’t talk about their next book – they are focused on producing it. I have grown to have less and less interest in what people tell me that they are going to do – I ask them what they have already done. Past performance is the only good indicator of future performance.

Feeling productive is not the same as being productive. This is important. I can feel productive while I’m playing mine-craft. I can feel unproductive while I’m producing an excellent blog post that will help others take better actions.

7. Busy people talk about how little time they have. Productive people make time for what is important

 

Any time we spend on excuses is time not spent on creation. If you allow yourself to practice excuses, you will get better and better at excuses. Productive people don’t use time as an excuse. An action either supports their highest values and mission, or it does not. If it does not, they don’t do it – even if they have a whole day off.

There is an Irish saying: “It is better to do something than nothing”.

This is a lie! It is better to do nothing than to do an action that doesn’t connect with your highest values. Sit still.

8. Busy people multitask. Productive people focus

 

Productive people know about focus.

Do you know about the Pomodoro technique? It is brutal, but it is effective. Identify a task to be done (for instance, write this blog post). Set a timer to 20 minutes. Work on the task until the time sounds. Any distraction (I must check email, I must get some water, I must go to the bathroom) and you reset the timer to 20. How many pomodoros can you complete in a day?

9. Busy people want other people to be busy. Productive people want others to be effective

 

Busy managers measure hours of activity, productive managers measure output. Busy managers are frustrated by others looking relaxed, looking like they have time, looking like they are enjoying their work. Productive managers love seeing others enjoy their work, love creating an environment in which others can excel.

Busy people are frustrated. They want to be valued for their effort, not for their results.

There is a Hindu saying: “We have a right to our labour, not to the fruits of our labour”.

We have a right to enjoy being excellent at our work, not a right to enjoy the car, the house, the money that comes from doing good work. Productivity is about valuing the journey towards excellence, not any moment of activity.

10. Busy people talk about how they will change. Productive people are making those changes.

 

Spend less time talking about what you will do and dedicate that time to creating the first step. What can you do now that requires the approval of nobody else? What can you do with the resources, knowledge and support that you have now? Do that. It is amazing how the universe rewards the person who stops talking and begins.

We are born with incredible potential. At the age of 20, the best compliment that can be paid is that you have a lot of potential. At the age of 30, it is still OK. At 40, you have a lot of potential is becoming an insult. At 60, telling someone that they have a lot of potential is probably the cruelest insult that can be made about their life.

Don’t let your potential go to waste. Create something amazing. This is its own reward.