Here's how to detoxify yourself from Diwali bingeing

A very happy Diwali to all, hope the festival of lights brings lots of cheer to everyone .


Feeling low spirited after all the fun, games and partying during festivities, which psychiatrists term as post-festival withdrawal syndrome, can now be tackled with a few handy tips. 

One can always bounce back by detoxifying the body and continuing to keep in touch with relatives and friends.

"Most people go through Post Festival Withdrawal Syndrome or PFWS after significant festivals like Diwali. PFWS is basically the boredom that comes after a long duration of festivities," explained a psychiatrist.

The Dr. advises people to remain "hopeful and to keep in touch with relatives or friends after Diwali."

"One can also take up any hobby or can spend time exercising as festivals are the time when people stuff themselves with unhealthy, oily and high-calorie food. Also, eating a healthy diet is one way to keep your brain robust," added the Dr.

During Diwali people knowingly or unknowingly consume copious quantities of sugar and fats. Post celebration, their bodies want to get back to normalcy and is probably screaming for a cleanse.

"Festive season is the time when people stuff down great food and drink like alcohol, sugar and fried foods. Though eating yummy delicacies are part of the celebration, but you can't deny the fact that they are unhealthy for the body," explained a dietician.

"To detoxify your body, people need to make minor changes in daily routine. Start the day by gulping a glass of hot water or lemon green tea. Keep yourself hydrated all day. Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily," she advised.

"For a few weeks eat lots of salad with carrots, radish, cucumber and tomatoes in it. Do not consume packaged food items like cakes or chips. Also, increase intake of dry fruits," added the Dr.

While we are discussing the body's wellness post-Diwali, taking care of respiratory organs from toxic pollutants is also a must.

Despite several warnings, people consciously choose to burst crackers Sadly this makes the situation worse for those suffering from respiratory ailments such as asthma and bronchitis.

Crackers burst during Diwali contain highly toxic heavy metals such as led, copper, zinc, manganese, sodium, potassium, etc. If the amount of these particles increases in the air, it can trigger an asthma attack in a patient, causing severe headaches and respiratory problems," said a Dr.

The toxins released from crackers are different than usual air pollution as they are higher and denser in concentration. These not only make the air quality bad but so heavy that it gets difficult to inhale for a normal person, let alone the damage it does to asthmatic patients.

Therefore avoiding places with possibility of heavy smoke, or bursting crackers is advised.

A Pulmonologist also advices that people to wear, "good quality masks and gulp liquids to maintain proper hydration."

Also, one should "use indoor plants which can purify the air inside the home. Other than this, vaccinations are advisable for vulnerable patients who have asthma, COPD, Cardiovascular disease, cancer and to patients who have transplants done."

"Whenever feeling uneasy or problem in breathing try inhaling steam with few drops of lavender essential oil, it will not only clear the mucus but also relieve you from stress caused due to loud music and crackers and if experiencing irregularity in breathing, keep hot water bag on chest and back to get relieved," added the Dr. 

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     
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Surprising Ways to Boost Your Immune System

Get outside
spending time in nature is one of the best ways to boost the immune system, according to researchers. There is so much in nature to enjoy, the colourful flowers, exotic birds, each having its own special calls, mountains, sea, beaches, it is good to go out and get some fresh air and enjoy God's gifts to us, HE has made it so colourful, that the beauty of nature can be appreciated every day, as there is so much variation in beauty around us.

Skip some meals
A 2014 study found that fasting can protect the immune system from damage while helping it regenerate crucial immune cells. It is good to fast one day of the week, as our stomach too needs rest, to  get ready for the grind next week, as at times, we're not conscious of what all we eat, as some people do tend to over-eat and suffer. It is best to stop eating when you feel like having a little more of something.

Be social
Another 2014 study found that social support- like hugs- can reduce the chance of infection by up tp 1/3rd ! Man, by nature is a social animal, living in isolation, makes one really sick, as I've seen it where we're staying, some seniors just don't get out of the house, are more sick than others who mix with others even if they've problems. It is not good to live on self-pity.

Have a  hearty laugh
A study found that laughter can aid the production of antibodies and activate protective mechanisms like T-cells and " natural killer" cells. Laughter not only produces beneficial hormones, it also keeps us looking young ! surprised, yes, we use a lot more facial muscles to laugh than to cry, so our face looks young, without the lines that come with age.


Be Creative / Hobby
When one has a hobby, one tries to be creative. A person gets biggest satisfaction by creating their own design, even if it is simple, you may have got idea from somewhere, but have changed to suit to your needs ! To be honest, I get a lot of happiness when I do crochet, make amigurumi animals for my grandchildren, then when I put info in my blogs, happy to see that people from across the globe view it and comment too. Having a hobby not just keeps you busy, that you don't have time to think much about other things, no negative thoughts. Above all, you get to meet and make more friends, who appreciate your craft.

Get outside
spending time in nature is one of the best ways to boost the immune system, according to researchers. There is so much in nature to enjoy, the colourful flowers, exotic birds, each having its own special calls, mountains, sea, beaches, it is good to go out and get some fresh air and enjoy God's gifts to us, HE has made it so colourful, that the beauty of nature can be appreciated every day, as there is so much variation in beauty around us.

Skip some meals
A 2014 study found that fasting can protect the immune system from damage while helping it regenerate crucial immune cells. It is good to fast one day of the week, as our stomach too needs rest, to  get ready for the grind next week, as at times, we're not conscious of what all we eat, as some people do tend to over-eat and suffer. It is best to stop eating when you feel like having a little more of something.

Be social
Another 2014 study found that social support- like hugs- can reduce the chance of infection by up tp 1/3rd ! Man, by nature is a social animal, living in isolation, makes one really sick, as I've seen it where we're staying, some seniors just don't get out of the house, are more sick than others who mix with others even if they've problems. It is not good to live on self-pity.

Have a  hearty laugh
A study found that laughter can aid the production of antibodies and activate protective mechanisms like T-cells and " natural killer" cells. Laughter not only produces beneficial hormones, it also keeps us looking young ! surprised, yes, we use a lot more facial muscles to laugh than to cry, so our face looks young, without the lines that come with age.

Be Creative / Hobby
When one has a hobby, one tries to be creative. A person gets biggest satisfaction by creating their own design, even if it is simple, you may have got idea from somewhere, but have changed to suit to your needs ! To be honest, I get a lot of happiness when I do crochet, make amigurumi animals for my grandchildren, then when I put info in my blogs, happy to see that people from across the globe view it and comment too. Having a hobby not just keeps you busy, that you don't have time to think much about other things, no negative thoughts. Above all, you get to meet and make more friends, who appreciate your craft.

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/                                                                                                                                                         FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/           

                                                                           FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                  https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

                                                                        

How to Overcome Nicotine Addiction and Heal Your Body

Putting the cigarette down can be very hard, something I know firsthand. Smoking is a compulsive habit that’s reinforced by nicotine, an extremely addictive substance. Simply making up your mind to quit might not be enough, as you come under assault by physical and psychological cravings for your fix of nicotine and tobacco.

Even if you manage to suppress these voices, you will probably experience a host of withdrawal symptoms, including fatigue, depression, weight gain, and anxiety. Couple that with years’ worth of abuse you’ve inflicted on your body through inhalation of toxins, and you’ve got one heck of an uphill struggle ahead of you.

All of this being said, it’s worth it. Quitting, at any age, has been shown to have a positive effect on life expectancy and general health. If you’ve made the choice to stop smoking, we commend you and want to help you out on your journey to becoming nicotine-free. Here are our suggestions for detoxifying your body and overcoming nicotine craves.

 

1. Try Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Depending on how severe your withdrawal is, you might consider trying nicotine replacement therapy (or NRT) and other, more medically conventional ways of battling nicotine addiction. NRT is therapy wherein the patient takes controlled amounts of nicotine through various tobacco-free methods and has been demonstrated to have a 50-70% efficacy in helping people quit smoking.

Other treatments include bupropion (an antidepressant that reduces cravings and the symptoms of withdrawal) as well as varenicline (a prescription medication that reduces the pleasure sensation derived from smoking).

2. Give Your Lungs a Workout

After all of the abuse they’ve gone through, your lungs need rehab, pronto. The best way to steadily restore them to proper shape is exercise. The best workout program for this purpose focuses primarily on cardio. Running, jogging, swimming and kickboxing are all great ways of building up lung endurance.

As a bonus, perspiration is a great way to expel toxic elements from the body.
Another advantage of exercise it that it releases endorphins, which give us the same “feel-good” sensation that smoking used to deliver.

3. Trick Yourself

I remember quite vividly the month I quit cigarettes. I decided I was done buying packs, opting for single cigarettes instead. I would smoke two cigarettes a day- one in the morning, and another on my way back home. Then came a particularly rainy week, and I figured that it wasn’t so fun smoking in the cold and damp outside, so I stopped buying cigarettes. The rain subsided eventually, but I didn’t look back.

I also remember this conversation with my grandma: I asked her how she quit smoking, and she told me “I never did, I just keep postponing the next cigarette.” 

Quitting is a lot about self-manipulation, as harsh as that may sound. Find excuses that further your goal of getting rid of nicotine, and latch onto them.

4. Strengthen Your Resolve

Our minds are extremely pliable and respond to many things that aren’t strictly “rational”, as mentioned in the previous point. But there are other, less manipulative ways of making our minds do what we want them to. One such way is to track your progress, write about it and possibly share it with your peers and friends. By committing your journey to paper, you are reinforcing your choice and giving it profound thought. By sharing it, you are making a sort of ceremonial pact with your environment to stick to your guns.

5. Change Up Your Diet

There are several foods and drinks that act as detoxifying agents for nicotine. If you pair your cigarettes with a drink as many do (typically beer or coffee), try to abstain from that particular beverage, as the ingrained association may cause a strong craving.

Another near-magical spice that is highly recommended for consumption by former smokers is turmeric, which, beyond its many other health benefits, is an anticarcinogen (helps preempt the development of cancer).

6. Rest Up

Our bodies are incredibly sensitive things, and take some time to adjust to the dramatic changes in lifestyle we put them through. As the body begins to recover, it expends a lot of energy, leaving us feeling drained and tired. Listen to your body and give it what it desires- rest often and go to sleep earlier than you’re used to. Give it the opportunity to- quite literally- take a breather.

7. Keep Busy

One of the reasons people seem to like smoking is that it provides an easy distraction and satisfaction for when they’re bored. Scratch that itch with something a bit more productive: pick up a hobby or invest more time and attention in your current hobbies. There are many hobbies that require very little time and effort to learn and engage in that you can easily practice during a lunch-break, such as knitting, origami and Rubik’s Cube.

8. Practice Your Breathing

Another great way to build up lung-strength that is less physically exerting is to practice deep breathing. Diaphragmatic breathing maximizes oxygen intake and is known to relieve stress, and is thus highly effective in combatting withdrawal symptoms.

9. Meditate

It may sound cliché, but it really helps. Mindfulness meditation teaches you how to stop playing hostage to your own whims and cravings by observing them as they come dispassionately and letting them dissipate of their own. It is incredibly effective in giving you back control over your life and your mind.

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/                                                                                                                                                         FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                  https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/           

                                                                           FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                  https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

 

Tips and tricks to train your brain

October 13th was "National Train Your Brain Day."This is shared by an expert, in some ways to train your brain with our seniors. Keeping your brain in good shape is important for everyone, so I am sharing some ways you can keep your brain healthy. Have you ever heard someone say, "use it or lose it"? When someone says that, they usually are talking about your muscles, but the saying could also refer to your brain.

Most of us don't think of our brain as an organ that needs care and attention, like we do our heart, lungs and skin. We may think our brain is beyond our control or influence. In fact, we probably don't think about it at all until something goes wrong, like an injury or disease such as dementia. But in reality, your brain needs just as much, if not more, exercise and attention than the rest of your body to keep it sharp, healthy, and functioning at its very best. Brain exercises can even delay the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's. When you keep your mind active, your thinking skills are less likely to decline. Your brain is definitely the most vital organ in your body, controlling every bodily function.

Many people don't understand why your brain needs exercise. And even fewer understand how to do it. If you are over the age of 18, some of your cognitive skills have already headed south, according to a study. The following are some of the cognitive abilities that change as you age:

Processing Speed. This is how fast you take in new information and respond to it. It's basically thinking on your feet. This ability peaks in your late teens according to experts.

Working Memory. This is your ability to hold multiple pieces of information in your brain. This is also called short-term memory. This peaks in your late 20's and 30's.

Social Cognition. This is your ability to perceive and interpret social information, like body language or facial expressions and respond accordingly. This peaks in your 40's.

Vocabulary. Learning the meaning of new words peaks in the 60's. Broader vocabulary helps you communicate more effectively and better understand the world around you.

Now that you know what happens to your brain as you age, we will learn what to do about it. There are numerous brain exercises that will help. The following will give you some suggestions of what you can do to stimulate your brain:

Work your memory. The simplest way to remember things is by repetition. When you meet someone new, repeat their name back to them. When you hear a song you like, try to memorize the lyrics. Memorize hymns, your grocery list, or a poem.

Learn something new. Learn to play an instrument, game, language or sport.

Work your body. Physical exercise is great for your brain.

Eat the right foods. Foods like fish, fruits, and vegetables help your brain perform optimally. Even dark chocolate gives your brain a boost.

Do maths in your head. Figure out simple math problems in your head.

Take a cooking class or cook at home. Cooking uses a number of senses: smell, touch, sight and taste. These all can improve certain areas in your brain.

Draw a map from memory. When you visit a certain place, when you go home, try to draw a map of where you were at. Repeat this every time you visit a new location.

Challenge your taste buds. When eating, try to identify individual ingredients in your meal. Try to pick out certain herbs and spices. Eat new foods.

Take up a hobby that involves hand/eye coordination. Do an activity that involves fine motor skills such as knitting, drawing, painting, working puzzles, and playing Bingo.

Get enough sleep. Sleep is critical to rejuvenate your brain.

Take a different route on your way to work or home. This forces your brain to pay attention to details rather than what it has been programmed to do.

Take a good look at things. One of the most dominate jobs of your brain is your visual sense. Being able to visually analyze your environment gives you cognitive clues about how to behave in it. 

Developing this part of your brain can be done by picking out three items and their location. When you leave the setting, close your eyes and see if you can accurately remember each item and its location. If you do this when you park somewhere you will remember where you park. Just this weekend at Walmart, when I came out of the store I could not remember where I parked or even which door I went in. Doing this exercise will help with that. You can also notice things in your surroundings and then write it all down from recall.

Do simple tasks with your non-dominant hand. Try eating, brushing your teeth and writing with the other hand.

Start the morning off with your newspaper. You will find word puzzles such as crosswords and Sudoku. Some have comics where you have to find the mistakes.

If you always sit in a certain chair at your table, switch seats. Even change the place where you usually reach for the salt and pepper.

Have more social interaction. Pay a real person for your gas. Buy a drink from a person other than a machine.

Read. Almost anything you read helps your brain. For an even better effect, change up the way your read. Read out loud for a change. Read to someone else.

Pick out an object and think of 10 different ways to use it. For instance, a fly swatter could be used as a tennis racket, golf club, fan, baton, drumstick, violin, shovel, microphone baseball bat, or a canoe paddle.

Holding off the aging process of your brain is kind of like buying a gym membership and never using it. To have a sharp functioning brain means incorporating these activities into your everyday routine. Doing brain exercises will give you a good head start to good brain health.

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-                      

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FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                          

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