Dancing Can Reverse Signs of Aging

Dance has long been a form of expression, celebration and has also been shown to literally shake the stress of the day away. Regardless of whether you took dance lessons growing up, or have two left feet, we can all admit that letting loose and dancing the night away feels good. Yet dance can do so much more for us, in fact, it has been found that the mental benefits may make it the number one activity for protecting and strengthening your brain. 

 

Dancing and Your Brain  

Research is constantly being done on the aging brain and how to combat, prevent and treat age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's, Dementia and Parkinson's disease. Exercise has long been shown to have an impact on brain health, but scientists have discovered that dance, with coordinated movement and required stamina, may be the best type of exercise for your brain for several reasons:

1. Constant Learning  

A study conducted by Dr. Kathrin Rehfeld at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases compared various groups of elderly people who were given specific exercise routines for 18 months. Some groups were assigned endurance and flexibility training such as walking or cycling, and one group was given weekly dance lessons. 

 

Every week they were challenged with something new, be it a new genre of dance, a new step, or a new routine. It was found that all the groups experienced an increase in the hippocampus center of the brain - an area that is particularly vulnerable to age-related decline and diseases - though the dance group experienced a noticeable difference. Dr. Rehfeld explained that the most challenging aspect for the group was to recall the routines under the pressure of time, and without any cues from the instructor. 

2. Coordination and Balance 

Balance and coordination can be difficult, becoming even more challenging as we age. The challenge with aging is that you become increasingly dizzy, lose your balance and fall. As a result, you are also more likely to experience a serious injury. But dancing trains and improves all of these areas: Spins, turns, quick side-to-side and up and down movements, train the areas of the brain and the inner ear to deal with those quick changes and sharp movements. This helps you become less dizzy from everyday movements, such as going up the stairs or getting up and out of a chair. 

 

In addition, dancing also helps strengthen a variety of muscles in your feet, legs, and hips as well as your core, so that if you do lose your balance, you are able to stop yourself from falling. Dancing teaches coordination and muscle memory, so if you dance and practice routines, you are nurturing and developing the brain-muscle connection and neurons. 

 

3. Improved Memory  

We all would like to have better memory, but this is especially pertinent for older adults. As we age our ability to remember and recall names, dates, places, and facts declines. But dancing helps us connect the mental (learning new steps and the order they come in) with the physical (actually executing the routine). This results in memory improvement and strengthened neuronal connections in the brain.

4. Music Stimulates Brain Activity  

Scientists and researchers who study neurodegenerative diseases have long discussed the profound impact that music has on the brain, especially for those suffering from cognitive decline. Dance, not only offers benefits of the physical practice itself but as it is accompanied by music, this helps stimulate the reward centers of the brain in combination with the sensory and the motor circuits that are activated when you start dancing. 

 

Furthermore, studies done on Parkinson's disease found that those who practiced and learned dance, had an improved sense of balance and fell less, they also experienced a slower rate of motor decline and an overall slower progression of the disease. 

 

 5. Dancing Makes You Happy Whatever the style, dancing gets you moving. This form of exercise is fantastic for your heart, lungs, muscles, and joints and is a fun way to burn calories. It also helps you shed stress. It also allows us to connect with others, when we are at parties, for instance.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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11 Foods To Get Rid Of Knee Pain Naturally

You probably never realized how much you rely on your knees until they started to hurt. Chronic knee pain is so difficult to manage precisely because your knees are engaged whether you are standing or sitting, walking or biking, climbing stairs or trying to find a comfortable position in bed. Yep, when your knees hurt, it can take over your entire day.

Whether caused by arthritis, bursitis, or injury, there are many remedies for pain and inflammation that can help get you moving again. Unfortunately, many OTC and prescription drugs come with hefty side effects that can eclipse the original complaint. Acetaminophen, for example, is the leading cause of liver failure worldwide.

You may be surprised to learn just how much your diet can affect pain levels, especially when it comes to inflammation. We have collected 11 foods that do wonders for knee pain. Incorporating more of them into your daily diet can reduce your dependence on pain medication and keep you healthier overall.

We think you’ll love #11 enough to eat it every day, but be careful with #7 – it’s only edible in certain forms!

1. Carrots
 
Eating carrots to relieve knee pain is actually an ancient Chinese remedy. It works because the orange veggie is packed with beta-carotene and vitamin A, both powerful anti-inflammatory compounds.
The secret to enjoying the max strength of carrots is to eat them cooked, but if you hate cooked carrots, eating them raw is still good. Try for two servings each day to reduce your knee pain.

2. Turmeric
 
 
Curry-lovers, rejoice! You are already doing wonders for your achy knees. Curry contains turmeric – that’s what makes it orange – and turmeric has a lot of something called curcumin.

Curcumin has actually been used for centuries in herbal medicine because of its anti-inflammatory ability. Eating a lot of it can reduce your risk of developing painful joint conditions in the first place, and also nearly matches ibuprofen in its capacity for pain relief.

3. Apple cider vinegar
 
Apple cider vinegar is good for way more than salad dressing. You can get relief from your knee pain by both drinking it and applying it topically. When you drink it (2 tablespoons per day), apple cider vinegar can dissolve toxins within the knee that tend to spark inflammation.

The same effect occurs when you mix ACV with olive oil and massage it into your painful knees once a day for a week.

4. Ginger
 
Ginger is another food that can be both eaten and rubbed on tender knees. Both are great, because it tastes and smells really good. The active ingredient in ginger is called gingerol and it is a strong anti-inflammatory substance.

In fact, in studies of arthritis sufferers, adding ginger to a medication regimen was found to reduce pain further than with medicine alone. Enjoy ginger grated into all sorts of sweet and savory meals, or make a tea. Premade ginger oil is fantastic to rub directly on those swollen knees.

5. Walnuts
 
Walnuts are king among nuts in terms of omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, which makes them ideal for soothing knee pain.
Some studies also suggest that despite their high calorie count, eating walnuts regularly can reduce junk food cravings and therefore help you lose weight. Shedding a few pounds is another good strategy to reduce stress on painful knees.

6.Whole grains
Eating a ton of whole grains can reduce the inflammation that causes pain in your knees, especially as a result of exercise. Eating refined grains, on the other hand, causes more inflammation.
Skip the white bread in favor of products that retain all 3 parts of the original grain – the bran, the germ, and the endosperm. Great choices include brown rice, oatmeal, quinoa, barley, and breads made with whole grain flour.

7. Mustard oil
Be careful when you buy mustard oil. It’s not safe to eat unless the label reads mustard essential oil. Straight mustard oil can be mixed with olive or coconut oil and massaged on painful knees, but don’t consume it.
Mustard essential oil is a spicy addition to meals that can promote a healthy blood flow to the affected area, while at the same time reducing inflammation. Get even more benefits when you sauté a little onion and garlic with your mustard oil. Both of these contain allicin, which also has anti-inflammatory abilities.

8. Avocado

 Avocados owe their creamy texture to the presence of lots of healthy unsaturated fat. Most of it is in the form of oleic acid, which studies show can lower particular biomarkers of inflammation. Whatever the cause of your knee pain, your pain will decrease as inflammation abates. Avocado is one of the only foods that can also minimize the ability of other foods to generate inflammation, which makes it very helpful to add to almost any meal.

9.Tart cherries

Tart cherries, or their juice, can be a real boon to people with chronic knee pain. Cherries get their vibrant red color from plant chemicals called anthocyanins, which can settle down that agonizing inflammation.
Tart cherries have also been found in studies to reduce flare-ups in people with gout, a type of arthritis that causes knee pain due to hard crystals that form in the joints.

10. Red peppers
 
Red peppers are especially good for knee pain because they contain a high amount of vitamin C. This crucial nutrient supports the production of collagen, which provides structure to joints and connects muscle to bone.
That reduces pain by supporting the tendons, cartilage, and ligaments that cushion the knee joints and keep them in proper alignment. Rather than a direct pain reliever, eating foods high in vitamin C actually improves the condition of your knees.

11. Pineapple, Cinnamon and Oat Smoothie
 
And finally, when you’re looking for a knee-friendly way to start your day, try this pineapple, cinnamon, and oat smoothie. You’ll get whole grains, vitamin C, and a powerful anti-inflammatory called bromelain, found in pineapple.
Cinnamon reduces joint swelling and pain, as well as adds a flavorful kick. To make it, gather together: 1 cup cooked oats, 1 cup orange juice, 3 cups chopped pineapple, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 cup water, and 1 teaspoon honey. Add all ingredients except the oats into your blender. Turn it on low and after 20 seconds or so, carefully add in the cooked oatmeal. Blend until smooth and enjoy!

Each of these foods can help to reduce inflammation, the primary source of pain when it comes to your joints. Your body uses inflammation as a defense mechanism to keep an injury or illness contained to one location, and that’s good. But often there is no risk of spread yet inflammation occurs anyway. In this case, there is no reason to suffer.

Eating a balanced diet full of the foods on our list can go a long way toward quelling inflammation and pain. A better diet will alleviate your pain, but also keep you feeling great overall and reduce your dependence on pain medication.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement        

Elderberry Syrup and Calendula Tea for Sore Throat, Cough, Flu and Cold

Cough, sinusitis, fever, sore throat… all common winter ailments that can exhaust our body and mind. Although sleep is the best remedy to fight a cold or flu, coughing can be very uncomfortable and exhausting as it prevents us to sleep well. In this article shows two excellent remedies for flu and cold: calendula tea and elderberry syrup.

Calendula for Flu and Cold

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is one of my favourite plants. Not only it has cheerful golden flowers, but it is one of the most versatile among medicinal herbs. Plant pharmacological  studies have suggested that calendula extracts may have anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties, and therefore the flowers are used in topical applications to treat skin problems, such as healing wounds, cuts, ulcers, sun burn and to replenish damaged or irritated skin.

But calendula is also used not only for topical application, but as gargle to treat gum disease or to sooth sore throat due to its excellent antiseptic properties.

The antimicrobial effects of calendula may be effective to remove mucus and combating infection along the respiratory tract. Therefore gargling or drinking tea made from fresh or dried calendula flowers may help to reduce inflammation and relieve sore throat. If you are using dried petals they can be stored in screw top glass jars for later use.

The tea also contains cayenne pepper. The role of cayenne pepper is to help relieve the pain in the sore throat.

The main active compound found in cayenne is a substance known as capsaicin. Capsaicin has shown to contain pain-relieving properties by hindering the transmission of a neurotransmitter responsible for transmitted pain signals to your brain.

Calendula Tea Recipe To Relieve Sore Throat

1/4 cup fresh calendula petals (or half the amount dried petals)
A piece of fresh orange peel
2 tbsp orange juice
A sprinkle of cayenne pepper
Honey or stevia to taste
Preparation
Infuse the calendula petals in 1 cup of boiling water with the fresh orange peel for 5 minutes. Add the honey or stevia and the orange juice. Stir well, strain and add a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. Drink slowly twice or three times a day to sooth your throat.

How to Make Elderberry Syrup (Elderberry Syrup Recipe)

This recipe was written by a yogi, health coach, and dedicated blogger who loves living a natural, eco-friendly, and healthy lifestyle.

Cough, sinusitis, fever, sore throat… all common winter ailments that can exhaust our body and mind. Although sleep is the best remedy to fight a cold or flu, coughing can be very uncomfortable and exhausting as it prevents us to sleep well.

So whenever you feel a sore throat or a cough coming on, try her recipe instead of those over-the-counter chemical-laden cold and flu syrups.

What’s In The Elderberry Syrup?

Elderberries and Echinacea are well-known for their flu and cold fighting properties. They are very effective in fighting influenza and other respiratory viruses and strengthen the immune system.

Ginger root has been used for ages as remedy for nausea, it works as an expectorant and reduces inflammation. 

Clove is wonderful to soothe a sore throat and helps to cough up phlegm.

Cinnamon is not only added for its great taste, but helps you to boost your immune system as well.
And then last but not least, she adds honey for its antiviral and antibacterial properties. Honey has been used for ages to soothe a sore throat and works as a natural preservative. So you don’t need to add alcohol to preserve the syrup and therefore it is safe to use for kids above 1 year old.

Elderberry Syrup Recipe

It doesn’t taste that bad, it’s cheap, chemical-free, and made in no time. So why would you ever opt for store-bought alternatives again?

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fresh black elderberries (or ½ cup dried elderberries)
• 3 ½ cups filtered water
• 2 tablespoons dried Echinacea
• 2 tablespoons fresh ginger root (or 1tbsp dried)
• 1 teaspoon grounded cinnamon (or more to flavor, I love cinnamon so I always add a bit more)
• ½ teaspoon cloves or clove powder
• 1 cup raw honey

Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan, but leave out the honey.

Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. When boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for about 45 minutes. Stir occasionally. While stirring smash the elderberries with the back of your spoon to make sure all the good stuff ends up in your syrup.

The liquid should be halved, before you remove the pan from the stove. Strain the mixture, but be careful not to burn yourself. If the mixture is too hot for you to handle, allow it to cool down for a few minutes.

Add the honey when the mixture is still warm and stir until all honey is dissolved. Pour the syrup in a Mason jar or glass bottle (for better preservation, sterilize your jar for 10 to 15 minutes in boiling water).
You can use the syrup for up to 2 months when stored in the fridge. We use 1 tablespoon every 2-3 hours. For children use half the amount.

And that’s how easy it is to make your own elderberry syrup.

This article if from healthy and natural world site.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/       

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