Cooking has long been a very large part of human society. Going far beyond a simple means of survival, this element can dominate a big part of your life, with loads of public holidays and special events being impossible without the stuff. Of course, though, it’s not always easy to know where to look for help in this rot of area. To give you an idea of the sort of places you can find cooking support, this post will be going into the past, focusing on books to give you an idea of what you have available.
Research and Science
Most people’s first thoughts when reading something like this will be that all of the cooking books out there are dedicated to recipes alone. In reality, though, the science of cooking and nutrition are very popular topics, too, and there are loads of books on the market which focus on these areas. By reading options you like this, you will make it much easier to control the food you eat. Examples like the Big Fat Surprise are great for this. Not only do they offer a lot of knowledge, but they do it in a very easily digestible way, which is something most publications will struggle to manage.
Recipes
Of course, while they aren’t the only option on the market, it would be hard to cover an area like this without thinking about the recipe books which you have available. Regardless of the type of food you want to cook, the ingredients you’d like to use, or the time you have to do it all, you will be able to find a quality recipe book with no trouble at all if you follow the right route. By reading a blog or two, you will discover loads of options like this. You may have to sift through some examples which you don’t like very much, but this will be worth it once you find a recipe which turns your life around. This can be used a tool to spark some family fun.
Technique and Safety
Finally, as the last area to consider, it’s time to think about the way you handle yourself in the kitchen. Learning how to cook in often just as much about the techniques which you use as the recipes you find to put together. Some people are naturally very good at this, while others will struggle, and might need some help along the way. Thankfully, there are loads of instruction manuals out there which are designed to be used by chefs to make sure that they are doing the right things with their cooking. It will take a long time to improve skills like this, but you will also need to know how to improve them.
Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start working harder on the time which you put into making your cooking better. A lot of people struggle with this sort of work, finding it hard to know where to go when they want to make a difference.
As relatives age, naturally, you want to look after them. After all, when you were a child they looked after you, and now that they are older and require more help, you want to do the same for them, you want to repay the love and kindness that they showed you. Whether it’s your grandparents, parents or another friend or relative, it’s important to understand how much work caring for someone can be.
The truth is that while caring for a loved one can be a wonderful thing to do, and a great way to make their later years as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, it can be extremely time-consuming and tiring to care for a loved one on 24/7. There’s a lot of pressure that comes with providing care for a family member, which is why you need to put yourself first and learn how to take the pressure off.
If you want to provide care to a family member, you need to understand what steps you can take to reduce the stress that is on you. Wondering what these steps are? Have a read of this and implement them in how you care for your loved ones.
Take time out
You can’t care for someone 24/7 on your own. If you have a job and a family or even one of these things, you can’t physically put all of your time into caring for someone or your life will begin to unravel. You need to take some time out for yourself and your needs; you can’t care for your loved one at the exclusion of everything else, as otherwise, your life will begin to fall apart. Spend at least half of your free time each week doing things that you love doing – don’t let your family life suffer as a result of caring for a loved one.
Get support
You don’t need to deal with this alone – there is plenty of support available, it’s just a case of choosing to take it. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, because if you don’t, you may end up sinking from the stress of dealing with everything on your own. If you don’t want to put your loved one into a specialist care facility, another option could be to use private duty home care services to help care for your loved one at home. You can’t do it alone, you need help and support, which is where this kind of service becomes invaluable.
Take self-care seriously
When life gets busy, it’s far too easy to put your own needs on the back-burner and fail to take care of yourself. This isn’t something that you want to do though, as stress can manifest itself in many ways and have a huge impact on your own health and happiness, which is why it’s so essential that you take self-care seriously and really look after yourself. You need to take time out to de-stress yourself and focus on self-care – do this, and you will find that your mental health is in a far better state than it would be otherwise.
Caring for a loved one is no easy task, it’s hard work looking after someone who you care about. There’s a lot of pressure to do things perfectly and a lot of stress to manage too, which is why you need to know how to take the pressure off.
If there is one area of the body that a large number of people make the mistake of failing to give enough TLC too, it’s the feet. For one reason or another, often our feet don’t get the care that they require to remain healthy, which can lead to a range of problems, from dry, sore feet to cracked heels and ingrowing toenails.
The issue is that a lot of women don’t know how to look after their feet properly, which can lead to a lack of proper foot care. The good news is that foot care isn’t something that it’s hard to do, it’s just a case of knowing what steps to take when it comes to giving your footsies the best care possible.
Bearing that in mind, below are some foot care tips that foot models swear by. To keep your feet in better condition have a read of this and implement the below tips in your daily beauty and healthcare regimes. (Your feet will look and feel better for it, and they will be healthier too!)
Buy quality footwear
One of the most important things that you can do to keep your feet healthy is to buy quality footwear. The more you are on your feet each day, the more essential high-quality footwear becomes. What you want to do is research the best quality footwear and use resources like https://biopods.com/ to learn more about foot health and what it takes to make smart footwear choices. If you can’t afford to spend a large sum of money on footwear or you have footwear that isn’t comfortable, the best thing to do is buy quality insoles or gel pads for your shoes. This way your feet are still getting quality support but without you having to buy new shoes.
Wash your feet properly
Feet that aren’t washed properly are prone to all kinds of problems, including athlete’s foot and other forms of food fungus. To prevent your feet from developing these kinds of conditions, ensure that you wash your feet once a day with hot water and soap and follow by drying them entirely with a clean towel. Don’t wear your trainers when damp and ensure that you always air them out after use – this helps to prevent the risk of athlete’s foot. Never wear your trainers without socks, always put on a pair of clean, cotton socks before wearing them.
Exfoliate twice a week
If you want to avoid painful cracked heels and dry feet, it’s essential that you exfoliate your feet at least twice a week. There are various foot scrubs that you can choose from, but normally a pumice stone tends to work better as these provide a more coarse surface to exfoliate with, removing more dead and dry skin than a foot scrub could do. The electronic dry skin removal machines are also great, but these are far more expensive.
Moisturise every day
Your feet are no different to the rest of your body, they require just as much moisturisation as any other body part, if not more. That’s why it’s important that you moisturise your feet once a day with a rich foot cream – the best creams to use are shea butter or argan oil-based foot creams as these provide an exceedingly high level of hydration.
There you have it, a guide to giving your feet all of the TLC that they need to remain healthy.
I am a wellspring of possibilities. I am healthy and full of wonderful energy. I am radiant, vital and alive. My body is a friendly place to live. My mind and soul are revitalized. Jacqueline
I love This Quote From Yesterday:
Shivangi: If things happen according to your will, it’s good. But if things do not happen according to your will, then it’s even better. Because then things will happen according to God’s will and God will always want your good. Bachchan
P.S. If you wish to join this positive affirmation challenge running for 90 days, please add your quote to the comments and each day, I’ll share everyone’s quote with their links.
In an ideal world, you should be able to get all the nutrients and minerals that you need from the food that you consume on a daily basis. However, there may be times in your life that you need the boost which is provided by health supplements.
Of course, you need to know more about the different options available. Just a few of the most common include fish oils, multivitamins, magnesium, vitamin D and vitamin B12. It is worth consulting with your doctor about the benefits of these various substances to you. So, here are a few of the most common times in your life when it may be appropriate to take health supplements.
When You Have Vitamin or Mineral Deficiencies
If you have had a blood test which shows that you have deficiencies in certain vitamins or minerals, you may want to take supplements as a way of correcting this imbalance. Your doctor will be able to advise you as to which ones are appropriate for your particular deficiency or deficiencies.
When You Have Dietary Restrictions
Whether you have dietary restrictions which are caused by your health or a lifestyle choice such as veganism, you may not be getting some of the minerals and vitamins that you require. The supplements which you take may be able to fill in the gaps and help to give you the greater sense of balance that you are looking for.
When You Are Pregnant
There are plenty of nutrients out there which have shown to play a major part in preventing birth defects and promoting the health of your baby. Your obstetrician is best-placed to give you direct advice about pre-pregnancy and pregnancy supplements which can play a useful role in the healthy development of your baby.
When You Are Getting Older
As we age, our calorie requirements adjust and the amount that you eat can start to decrease. When this happens, you may end up getting fewer vitamins and minerals in your diet. Once again, this is where health supplements can play a role in picking up the slack.
When You Take Medications Which Lead to Deficiencies
There are all sorts of medications out there which can end up leading to mineral and vitamin deficiencies. You can even end up being unable to absorb a range of essential nutrients. The best course of action is to work with your health professionals who will help you to select the right supplements for you.
When you are deciding on which supplements to take, you also need to consider what other food you are eating which are a source of that particular vitamin or mineral. You don’t want to risk exceeding your maximum intake levels as this can end up having the opposite impact on the one that you were intending. As we have mentioned a couple of times in this article, you are always better off consulting with your doctor if you are at all unsure.
Old age, it’s one of those things that we consider to be so far ahead in time that we don’t need to worry about it. But old age creeps up on us sooner or later, whether it’s planning for retirement by starting up a pension in your 20s or 30s, or we have a moment in life that makes us realize how fallible we are. Preparing for old age is something we can all do, regardless of how are young we are, and what are the best ways to do this?
Financial Security
Not just the aforementioned pension, but if you live in places where you need to pay for your medical treatment, it is essential for you to start a pension pot as well as a medical fund pot as soon as possible. While there are many organizations that can help with regards to medical payment, such as GoMedigap, – that helps pensioners with Medicare costs – you can find out more from GoMedigap.com, but it’s your prerogative to start preparing for your twilight years in the financial sense. It’s heartbreaking to see so many people in their old age struggling to pay bills, or living without the essentials in life, and this appears to be the way of the world currently. So it’s in your best interests to start preparing for a more enjoyable later period in life.
Looking After Our Mind
It looks like there are more cases of Alzheimer’s and age-related cognitive decline than ever before. And you might have seen relatives succumb to Dementia, and how upsetting it is for the caregivers.
Looking after our brain isn’t a difficult task. The trick is, much like physical exercise, we need to be doing enough to stimulate our brain muscle so it can grow. Essentially, this is all about doing stuff that you find challenging. And while it may sound like you’re going back to school, do things that are stimulating, but stuff you enjoy.
This could be playing more computer games, as they have been shown to have a positive impact on brain development, or it could be something as simple as having a strong coffee while playing Sudoku. Caffeine has been shown to have a positive impact on the brain, and Sudoku is one of those complicated puzzles that you can do anywhere. If you’ve always wanted to learn a language or an instrument, these are options too. But we all seem to think that our brains get worse as we get older, this is not the case!
Learning About What Makes Us Happy
In old age, we can all start to feel somewhat isolated, especially as people our own age starting to pass away, and you might not feel that people aren’t listening to you anymore. It’s important for us to know what makes us happy. It’s not just beneficial to us in old age, but it’s beneficial to us in life. We can spend our whole lives not knowing what really makes us happy because we focus more on other people. Your happiness is paramount to ageing, but it’s also important to how you live your life.
And of course, making sure that you appreciate life, by getting out regularly into nature, is something simple that we can all benefit from. There’s an article on TheGuardian.com explaining more on why we need to get out into nature. Not only is it beneficial for our minds and bodies, it helps us gain a perspective on what really matters in life. This, ultimately, is what will help us keep a sense of perspective as we get older.
When it comes to nutrition, most of us think in terms of our bodies. We think about the food we can eat to relieve digestive discomfort or the meals we can plan that can help to manage our weight.
However, it’s worth spending a little time thinking about just how much the foods we eat can influence. As well as our weight and our physical health, the foods we choose to enjoy have a direct correlation with the health of our brains. When it comes to managing your mental health and overall wellbeing, adding foods that have been proven to be beneficial to brain health could be extremely beneficial.
Want to give it a try? Below, you’ll find a list of foods that have long been associated with improved brain health, as well as some helpful tips on how to incorporate these grey-matter-friendly foods into your existing diet…
#1 – Avocado
Avocados have been riding high on the list of common food trends for a few years now, but there’s a good reason for that: avocados are incredibly good for you. They are rich in essential fats and fatty acids so anyone interested in boosting their brain health will want to incorporate avocados into their diet.
If you’re new to avocados, why not give the recipe below a try? It’s a classic avocado dish — avocado on toast — but with a special twist.
#2 – Kale
As with avocados, kale has become the go-to “superfood” for the past few years. And, as with avocados, the reason for the popularity of kale is genuine. Kale is rich in a number of vitamins and minerals vital for brain health, but there’s just one downside… it’s not the most appetizing of foods, is it?
If you’ve previously shied away from kale due to dislike for its rather strong taste, perhaps these crispy kale chips could be just what you need to change your mind.
#3 – Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate is chocolate that is comprised of at least 70% cocoa and, ideally, that number will be closer to 100%. Dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which can be hugely beneficial to brain health.
If you’re looking for a brain health boost that actually tastes good too, then the dark chocolate recipe below is sure to delight you…
It’s worth noting that for those who have previously primarily eaten milk chocolate, eating dark chocolate can be something of a shock at first. However, when you’ve adjusted, you’ll come to love the crisp, bitter taste and enhanced health that eating dark chocolate affords you.
#4 – Eggs
Eggs may just be the original superfood. They’re inexpensive to buy; rich in a wide variety of essential nutrients, and there are a thousand different ways they can be used in cooking. If you’re looking to cultivate a health-friendly diet, then eggs will certainly have their role to play. As one might expect, eggs — and particularly their high protein content — have been linked with improved brain health, so they definitely qualify for a place on this list.
Given the plethora of different ways that eggs can be cooked, finding an interesting recipe idea to include was tough… but we think this classic Spanish omelet recipe is a choice that will delight everyone. Omelets are a fantastic choice when you’re in need of a quick and healthy meal, and the extra vegetables used in this recipe help to provide an extra health and taste boost.
#5 – Coconut oil
Coconut oil has long been associated with mental and cognitive health; it has even been suggested as a potential remedy for those who have been diagnosed with dementia. Given the prevalence of dementia in society, the need for specialist nursing, and the impact the condition can have on lives, this is a tantalizing thought, but sadly, one that is without scientific proof at this point in time.
However, while the jury is out on the benefits of coconut oil for dementia specifically, coconut oil does have all the markers of being beneficial for brain health in general. Coconut oil is high in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which have been linked to enhanced brain health and memory function.
If you want to give coconut oil a try, then introducing it into your diet is relatively simple. Coconut oil can be used as a substitute for butter, olive oil, and even eggs in some recipes. So we’re not going to suggest a specific recipe because most recipes can easily be adapted to accommodate coconut oil— instead, we thought it might be fun to look at the possibility of making your own coconut oil:
Do you think you might be tempted to give it a try?
#6 – Beetroot
Yes, humble beetroot has a huge role to play in human health. The nutritional profile of beetroot is full of vital nutrients, with manganese, B vitamins, fibre, and potassium all found in abundance. As a result of such a stellar showing in the nutrient stakes, it should come as no surprise that beetroot has also been linked with increased brain health.
Incorporating beetroot into your diet is incredibly simple. Beetroot can be added to sandwiches, pasta dishes, omelettes, and any other dish in need of a bit of a kick. However, health-wise, arguably the best way to get its benefits is to opt for beetroot juice. You can buy this surprisingly-tasty juice in stores, but it tends to be expensive; if you have a juicer, then you should have no problem making your own.
In conclusion
The food that we eat doesn’t just impact our physical health; it has a huge role to play in our mental and cognitive health also. By incorporating the foods above into your diet, you can be sure that your eating habits are providing health benefits and support where it’s needed most.
Humans, as a whole, tend to be a rather skeptical species. In some ways, that’s beneficial; our ancestors who were sceptical about being able to survive a fall off a rock, for example, did humanity a huge favour.
In other ways, our skepticism can cause real and genuine harm to the way we live our lives in the modern age. We demand proof of everything, which is definitely beneficial to our survival, but also rather limits us.
One only needs to mention anything that sounds remotely “New Age-y” to a certain section of society, and they will recoil in horror, and immediately insist they would never try that. Of course, this helps to protect against true quack therapies, but it also means they cut themselves off from practices and treatments that offer a genuine benefit to their physical and mental well-being.
Below are three such options that are dismissed, even scorned, as nonsense – but that, in actuality, could greatly improve your experience of life.
Meditation is often derided; “it’s just sitting doing nothing!” the critics will cry, insisting that any improvements are circumstantial, insisting that meditation is a waste of time and energy.
The reality is very different. We know, because it’s been tested, that meditation has a seriously positive impact on the human brain. This isn’t quackery; these conclusions have been reached via fMRI brain imaging, showing the literal physical benefits of meditation.
If you suffer from stress, anxiety, or just want a little more time to relax, then meditation is a wonderful option to pursue.
Counselling
You don’t have to look too hard for counselling to be dismissed by critics. These critics argue that emotions just have to be pushed to one side, rather than wallowing in our feelings with counselling– this is the despite the fact that “pushing feelings to one side” is not considered to be effective emotional control.
Counselling has been shown, time after time, to be hugely beneficial for human mental health. It helps to ease problems, come to conclusions about your behaviour, and focus yourself on the direction you ultimately want to travel. The likes of Sunset Community Counseling can help to ensure you live the best life possible by providing the emotional outlet we all need.
Counselling is beneficial for your mental health and your emotional well-being, and the positive effects can last for years.
Acupuncture sounds like a stereotypical quack remedy, but it’s not. There is scientific support for the efficacy of acupuncture, especially when handling long-term chronic pain conditions.
If you say this to a skeptic, they will say that it’s “just a placebo”. However, isn’t an improvement — even one due to the placebo effect — still a benefit? Anything that lessens pain or eases anxiety is beneficial, surely?
Acupuncture is a useful tool that is worth considering for physical, mental, and emotional health.
In conclusion
Hopefully, the above will allow you to embrace the possibilities and give you the tools you need to enjoy your life to the fullest.
Take a look. What comes to your mind? Poignant photo. Like is said, an image can relay a thousand words or thoughts and Deborah’s words simply tugs at some strings.
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.
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.
Load up the Medicine Cabinet
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.
Home Comforts
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.
Up the Exercise
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!
To the Sunshine
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….
a cooking pot and twisted tales 
