a cooking pot and twisted tales
Thoughts and Tales…A Lifestyle Blog with a Zing.
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Jacqueline
‘Don’t die in silence. Domestic abuse should never be condoned. Get out alive.’
Staggering statistics show the rise in domestic violence. This could be your neighbour, your best friend, your coworker, your sibling, and so on. Don’t ignore it.
There’s a number of reasons why winter isn’t usually a person’s favorite time of year. It’s cold, it’s wet, it’s dark, the social gatherings are few and far between, and then…it’s cold some more. When the chill sets in, you have two options: let it consume you, and become a miserable wreck until spring has returned; or you can shape up, prepare yourself, and get ready to do battle with mother nature. Let’s pick the latter: here’s how it’s done.
Source: Pexels.com
You should have some winter clothing already in your wardrobe, but this year, in particular, it might be worth hitting the stores and buying some new items. Why? Because this year is “La Niña”, and that means it’s going to be even colder than usual. It’s essential that you have enough layers on to stay warm, both inside and outside the house. Also, remember that that super warm jacket you bought eight years ago might now have vulnerabilities that let in the chill.
There’s no getting around it: this winter, you’re going to fall ill. It happens to everyone at some point! But even when you’re not ill, you’ll still be up against all the niggling coughs and sore throats that are just an unwanted side effect of being in the cold for too long. As such, it’s important that prepare your medicine cabinet for any nasty bacteria that might come your way. Check out Med Consumers best cough drops, and you’ll be tackling those pesky coughs head on. You’ll also want to load up on warm lemon and honey drinks, which will be a lifesaver on those cold mornings when you just don’t want to face the day.
Your home is always your refuge from the world, but it takes on an even greater importance during winter. As such, you should be taking steps now to turn your home into a comfortable retreat from the nastiness of the outdoors. Buy a few new blanket throws, make sure your heating is in working order, and add the candles and other comforts that’ll allow you to have many a cozy evening over the next few months.
Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean you get a pass on exercise. If anything, it’s even more important that you work out during the winter than it is in the summer! Having a thorough regime will keep you warm, healthy, and help keep that seasonal depression at bay. It won’t always seem like fun getting out of the house to exercise, but it’ll be worth it – we promise!
Remember, you always have a saving grace during the winter: flying to somewhere with warm sunshine! No matter where you live, you’ll have blazing heat just a few hours via plane away from you. Even if you only go for a few days, it’ll break up winter and make it much more manageable. Plus, you might just come back with a glowing tan, too….
Are you rapidly losing interest in your healthy lifestyle changes? After the high of some initial success – perhaps you lost a few pounds or managed to take part in your first running event – it can be a common feeling to have a bit of a slump, where your motivation seems to have fizzed out. When this happens, how do you get a jump- start and refocus on your intentions to lead a healthier life? Here are some simple ways you can get back on track:
Too often, we embark on a lifestyle change from a negative place, telling ourselves we aren’t good enough as we are. But being too negative about your current state can actually be very demoralising. Give yourself permission to love you, just the way you are now. See your journey as a positive, a change you are making as a gift to yourself- not a punishment. Reading some self-help books can guide you to a more positive place – there are lots of recommendations at https://www.selfdevelopmentsecrets.com/best-self-help-books/.
Setting unrealistic expectations for yourself is a recipe for disaster, so make sure that whoever you are using for inspiration is not so far out of reach that you want to give up. It’s fine to aspire to be like a celebrity but understand that it’s literally their job to look good, and they have an army of professional support, from nutritionists and personal chefs to life coaches. If anything, it’s better to compare yourself to the best version of you. Keep it within reach. Select positive role models that are confident with their shape and are strong and healthy.
Life is fraught with danger points that challenge us and make it harder to stick to diet and fitness goals. But knowing in advance what is likely to prove difficult for you- and finding other ways to handle whatever it is- is crucial. Perhaps you use food as emotional comfort. Maybe you get lazy on busy weeknights after work and end up snacking. Understand your pressure points and know how to deal with them in advance. Stock up on healthy snacks that fill the same need but won’t compromise your hard work, and find out other ways of coping with stress and upset.
If you’re struggling to get going again, then implementing one small, easy change can five you the boost in momentum you need to get back on track. It could be cutting out sugar for a week, adding in an extra 10 minutes to the treadmill, or having a couple of extra portions of fruit and veg a day. That one simple change can be the catalyst to carry on with everything.
Lasting change takes time, so you need to have patience, forgive yourself for minor slip-ups and accept that your journey will all be worth it in the end. Getting frustrated and experiencing set backs doesn’t have to mean giving up- there will be ups and downs. If you can pick yourself up, you’ll soon find another milestone that makes you feel on top of the world again!
It’s been slow, but it’s been steady. I have whittled my excess kilos down by 5kg – 11pounds through mindfulness.
Trying to practice what I’m preaching about health and wellness is paying off bit by bit.
Remember that a lifestyle change need not be drastic. It can be baby steps heading in the right direction. Keep moving…
You’ve probably heard a few people say that food is medicine in your time, and you know what? They were absolutely right. If you want to live a long, happy and healthy life, you absolutely do need to eat the right foods in the right amounts.
Obviously, there is always going to be a place for proper medicine and the use of pharmaceuticals, and a lot of people wouldn’t be able to get by without wheelchairs, bandages, CPAP Machines and some of the other medical supplies you’ll find at http://medsupplynow.com/, but when it comes to preventing illness and helping to heal from simple ailments, food can be pretty powerful!
Here are some of the most medicinal foods you should consider stocking your kitchen with right now:
Basil
This delicious herb, which goes great with spaghetti bolognese, is known to aid individuals suffering from the discomfort of indigestion and stomach cramps and many people believe it can help with constipation too, which I’m sure you’ll agree are all good reasons to stock it in your herb rack!
Ginger
Ginger is a popular root, which you can find in many kitchens, in either its natural or powdered form due to it’s strong, exotic taste, but did you know that it can help relieve nausea? Many pregnant women drink ginger tea or chew on crystallized ginger when they have morning sickness that isn’t serious enough to require medical attention. You can use it to relieve nausea at any time, and there is a good chance that it will work.Of course, if your nausea is persistent, you should see a doctor because ginger might not cut it if you’re experiencing something more serious.
Cayenne Pepper
Have a lot of phlegm in your throat? Finding it hard to breathe with ease, if you haven’t got the time to wait for a delivery of decongestant from https://www.healthwarehouse.com/pharmacy or you can’t get out to the store to buy something that will bring you relief, you’ll be glad to have a jar of cayenne pepper to hand. Why? Because cayenne pepper, or more accurately the capsicum it contains, will clear everything out and make you feel like a whole new person.
Capsicum, when applied in a topical treatment to aches and pains, including backache, can also have a very relieving effect on the body.
Cinnamon
There are lots of promising research papers that seem to suggest that cinnamon could help to lower the blood pressure and cholesterol levels in individuals who have diabetes. All you need to do is sprinkle half a teaspoon of the spice on your food daily to get this benefit. Obviously, if you have diabetes, you need to talk to your doctor before you try anything different or start meddling with your diet, and the science is, as yet, far from conclusive, but cinnamon is safe and delicious, so it couldn’t hurt to sprinkle it on your oats or bake some into your apple pie, could it?
Garlic
This pungent allium has long been known to have medicinal properties. Even registered MDs will quite often mention to their patients the benefits of taking garlic daily id they have high blood pressure, because of its ability to lower it, and most people will know that eating garlic when you have a cold can help to sort you right out, which is why it’s imminently sensible to keep a stock of garlic in your kitchen at all times.
Fennel
It has long been known that chewing on fennel seeds, which taste a little like aniseed, is a good way to get rid of trapped gas. Not only that but drinking fennel tea will aid with digestion if you have an upset stomach and some women swear by it when they’re having trouble bringing on breast milk to feed their babies. It may also help babies who have colic too!
Turmeric
There is lots of interesting research into this yellow curry spice which claims it can do everything from preventing the onset of Alzheimer’s to ease arthritis and even protect the body from cancer, and although a lot more research needs to be done to confirm any of these claims, the fact that scientists think there is enough in them to be worth studying makes it a food worth adding into your daily diet.
Please Remember, you should always consult your doctor before making changes to your diet, especially if you’re sick in any way, and your doctor should always be your first port of call if you’re experiencing serious symptoms or symptoms that you can’t shake. That being said, using these foods as medicine, is sure to make your life easier and your body better!
Taking a brisk work yesterday morning, I came across a little drama on my path and paused to observe a colony of ant work briskly together to move the dead beetle which must have seemed mammoth-sized in their eyes.
Several lessons came to my mind from this display of unity:
a. Increased performance: You can’t move that mammoth in your life single-handedly. most times, you need to work in unison with others to achieve major goals.
b. Increased productivity: Working together has assured this colony of good food in their belly for many days to come – I suppose.
c. Knowing more about yourself: collaborating with others helps you to identify your strengths and weak areas and to build on them.
d. Skills development: I could imagine the head of the ant colony giving out instructions as the leader and the others cooperating to get their hustle done – wish I had ears to understand ant whispers 😉
d. Team building and mutual support: no member of the ant team is left hungry. Your journey need not be a solitary one.
As I ruminated on these few points, it buttressed in my mind the fact that every successful person out there enjoyed the support of others. In other for one or a team to excel, individual members must learn to work well together. They have to be able to put thoughts of their own personal accomplishments aside to work for the benefit of the team which invariably benefits all.
Are there other lessons you can decipher from this act of togetherness?
As we get older, we often complain about our knees cracking, being stiff or just feeling rundown. Aches and pains should not be a common occurrence. These grievances are usually the result of our sedentary lifestyle that includes lack of exercise, poor eating habits and being overweight. Do remember that there’s no one-size-fits-all standard, so if the pain is not going away and you dread it is something chronic, then seek medical treatment.
So, when your body speaks, listen up! Being healthy is more than simply being pain or disease-free. It is about becoming attuned to your body, changing your lifestyle in order to develop and incorporate the highest level of wellness within. So, how do you achieve this? Sometimes, knowing where to start is half the battle. Below are some tips to help you on your way to healthier you!
In 2015, the World Health Organization suggested limiting sugar intake to less 10% a day and to cut to 5% for added health benefits. Cutting down on sugary foods and beverages is not the only way to go. You don’t have to drastically overhaul your diet, a modest change will go a long way toward improving your health. So start by eating more whole grains, nuts, vegetables, fruits, and fish and avoiding foods with a high glycemic index, which cause water retention, swelling of the joints, and discomfort. Cutting back on processed foods and the consumption of red meat may also reduce the risk of premature death.
So, swap sugary foods and beverages with a piece of fruit and a tablespoon of peanut butter. You will satisfy your sweet tooth and fill that hunger pang at the same time. Swap out a single daily serving of red or processed meat for a serving of nuts or legumes, and you will add years to your life. Adding dietary supplements is also an easy way to add nutrients and vitamins to your body. For our recommendations, click Research Verified reviews here. Stick to small changes that you will be able to commit to for a long time.
Start your day by stretching and exercising. You will be glad you did since by doing so, you will ease your muscle pain and stiffness. You will also be able to maintain your body mass index within normal limits and avoid becoming overweight or obese, and avoid putting stress on your back, legs, and other body parts from those extra pounds.
Getting yourself to the gym is a good way to start and a great way to form a habit. Exercise should be a part of your day, like brushing your hair. If it is routine, you will be more unlikely to skip out on it. You don’t have to be a gym rat and live there, you can do high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts that are based on this “less is more” philosophy. Just remember to do at least 30 minutes of exercises, at least 5 days per week for a total of 150 minutes.
Staying hydrated throughout the day is crucial to staying healthy and maintaining the function of every system in your body, including your heart, brain, and muscles. A healthy person needs about 30 to 50 ounces of fluid per day, which can be derived from drinking liquids or by eating water-rich foods, like cucumbers, cauliflower, eggplant, red cabbage, peppers, and spinach.
However, drinking fluids is very important in order to eliminate toxic substances, produce digestive enzymes, maintain healthy skin, hair and organs, and to help your body absorb essential vitamins, minerals, and natural sugars.
Essential Oils are not just nice for producing pleasant aromas. They are organic compounds extracted from natural plants (barks, flowers, fruit, leaves, seeds or roots) with tremendous healing properties and health benefits.
Just adding some of the most common essential oils like lavender, lemon, peppermint, and tea tree oil can you fight colds and flu symptoms, improve digestion, alleviate pain, balance hormones and relax your body and soothe sore muscles, just to name a few things.
Whatever you do, you will greatly benefit and you will be closer to achieving health and wellness. Be good to yourself by taking care of your body and soul.
Once you get past a certain age, it’s very likely that you think you’re going on the scrapheap of life. You may feel yourself waning, your energy levels dipping, and you may think that it’s time to calm down and give in. In short, don’t! Instead, why don’t you try a few simple techniques to help you address the key things that may be missing in your life, so you can enjoy it more, and quite possibly feel a bit younger?
in other words get checkups on every single faculty. Go to a doctor, go to an ophthalmologist, spend time getting those regular checkups, and make sure that you are fighting fit. Also, you need to keep yourself healthy by moving! Your body is a machine, don’t forget this. It was built to be active, so use it as best as you can. On the topic of health, your body is like a car, and you wouldn’t put the wrong fuel in your car, so why should you put the wrong fuel in your body? Start to eat well, think about getting more omega-3 in your diet, more fish, and a general smorgasbord of fruit and vegetables.
Look at the French fashion icons in their 70s, take some inspiration from these. Then dress with some style and finesse yourself, they don’t go to recapture their youth by dressing young, so take their lead and go for some style. Look at French and Italians; they seem to get better as they get older. Do some research, and get inspired!
No doubt you may have been doing things that please everybody in your early years because you had to get on with it. It’s now your time, so do what makes you happy. Yes, we look after others, and it’s not to say that it’s time for you to be selfish, but start to prioritize more time to get to know yourself. Enjoy that quiet time with a glass of wine, sit outside with a crossword and a coffee. It’s these little pleasures in life that you will remember more than anything. And who’s to say that you need to not go out on dates with your partner? There are so many great ways to stimulate the mind and body.
The main concern about the descent into old age is that you could possibly feel isolated or a bit hemmed in at home. And regardless of your age, there is always someone who is going through the same thing as you, nobody is ever alone in these things, no matter if you feel you are on your own. Start to make more time for your friends, go out for meals, and enjoy a healthy and stimulating conversation. Negativity is something that can begin to creep in, and much like a midlife crisis, we can feel that we don’t have a use anymore in life. So, start to enjoy your time, do something that makes you stimulated. Read a book, learn a language, learn an instrument. Just because you are older in years doesn’t mean that you are past your sell-by date! So enjoy yourself.
Age is viewed as a negative thing, so let’s try and reverse this trend. Age is not a negative thing; it is about experience and vitality!
Heart problems are the biggest causes of preventable deaths in the western world, a frightening statistic. Heart attacks, heart disease and other cardiovascular issues are often a direct result of poor lifestyle choices. Eating the wrong foods, not exercising, smoking, drinking too much and taking drugs all take their toll.
Thanks to great medical advancements, fast transport such as air ambulance services and the fact that heart attack can quickly be recognised these days, more people are surviving them. However once you have had one you’re at risk of another unless you change your ways, so if you’re wondering what comes next after a heart attack, here are a few things to bear in mind.
Your medications will depend on what the cause for your heart attack was. You should learn what each of these medicines does, and know exactly when you should take them and how. For example, will you need to take them with or without food, at certain times of the day or in combination with other medicines? If for example your heart attack was caused by hypertension you may need to take additional pills for your high blood pressure. You should also ensure you’re not caught short without them in an emergency, so if you’re travelling, for example, you will need to bring extra in case of delays.
Heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues are sometimes a genetic problem which is out of your control. However, if yours was due to lifestyle decisions, it’s paramount you make a change. Clean up your diet, and find out from your doctor what exercise you can do once you’re recovered. Swimming, walking and other low impact activities are usually good choices. Stop your drink, drug and smoking habits, get enough sleep and generally look after yourself. While a heart attack can be scary, but for some people, it’s what’s needed to shock them into action to make a change. Maybe you didn’t realise how bad your lifestyle was, or just thought ‘it will never happen to me’. Now that you know the consequences, you know what you need to do to live a healthier life in future.
Having people you can speak to about what happened, your fears and concerns are important. If you feel as though you can’t speak to loved ones, try a helpline or go on a forum for people in the same position. Those who have already had heart attacks will understand the situation you’re in and may be able to give objective advice as well as support.
Thankfully, many people go on to live a normal and healthy life after a heart attack. If you’re one of the lucky ones who survived, see it as a second chance at life. Use it as an opportunity to make a positive change. Eat better, make better decisions, spend time with loved one and don’t take life for granted.
We all lead busy lives. And even on from that, we can all make excuses not to take care of ourselves as much as we should. We justify that we’re busy or that we’re not able to go to the gym or we just had to grab a takeout. But then, should we be surprised if we find ourselves feeling sluggish, tired, and generally low? At this time of year, a lower immune system can be rather obvious. So here are some things that you can do to make sure that you keep your energy levels up to feel happy, healthy, and strong.
We all know that we need to eat a balanced diet to stay at a healthy weight or even to lose weight. For energy, a healthy diet is of paramount importance too. But what does that really mean? One of the nutrients that we need to make sure that we are getting plenty of is magnesium. It can really play a part in giving our energy levels a boost. It has been found that if you’re deficient in magnesium, your body has to work harder to function normally, which in turn, will use up a lot of energy. So make sure that foods like almonds cashews, fish, and whole grains feature regularly in your diet.
It might sound ridiculous, but moving more can actually help you to feel like you have more energy. It isn’t necessarily anything like a five-mile run or a weights session. But a walk around the block or to the park and back could be just what you need. It will lift your mood and make you feel invigorated and refreshed, rather than feeling low and lethargic.
If you are feeling stressed, then it can naturally drain you of energy. It can be often as a result of anxiety, which can really zap the energy out of you. It can leave you feeling physically exhausted as well as mentally exhausted. And if left to spiral out of control, then it could trigger other things like depression or bipolar, as mentioned by the site Bipolar Lives. So you need to be monitoring things closely to see how you react to it all. Timeout, exercise, therapy, and dealing with the stressors head on can all help. So, find out what works for you and then go from there.
When you feel tired, then it can be tempting to reach for a bag of candy or some chocolate. These things will give you a short burst of energy (well, a boost in your blood sugar). But after that, it will leave you feeling more tired than you ever were before. So refined sugar, and processed foods, in general, should just be avoided. Keeping your blood sugar level steady will be what helps you to feel energetic and have a steady burst of energy.
Is there anything that you find helps you to stay on top of our energy levels or gives them a boost?
a cooking pot and twisted tales 