3 Great Mood Enhancers

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Depression and bipolar disorders are some of what we call “mood problems”. Over 40 million America adults have anxiety disorder and more than 20 million have other mood disorders. It’s no wonder that many people are searching for mood-enhancing alternative to drugs or mood supplements.

Some herbs, supplements and vitamins reportedly boost mood, but if you suffer from severe mood problems see a doctor before taking any supplements or mood enhancers.

St. John’s wort is one of the most touted herbs used to enhance mood. It’s a yello-flowered plant which contains many chemical compounds with medicinal effects. It is commonly used for mild to moderate depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. To those with severe forms of depression, it may have minimal to no benefit at all. It’s available in teas, liquid extracts, tablets, and capsules. Consult a doctor or pharmacist about interactions with other medicines before using it.

Side effects may include:

1. Dizziness
2. Headache
3. Fatigue
4. Anxiety
5. Dry mouth
6. Skin reactions, especially when exposed to sun
7. Gastrointestinal upset
8. Sexual dysfunction

S-Adenosyl-L-Methione (SAMe) is derived from amino acid and is also present from protein food sources is also widely studied mood enhancer that’s commonly used in Europe. It has been studied for depression and statistic showed significant improvement in the symptoms. Some studies even showed that improvements were comparable to known antidepressant drugs. You should use caution when taking this supplement if you have low blood sugar, diabetes, or other type of psychiatric disorder. Ask your doctor’s opinion before using it.

.Side effects may include:

1.    Fatigue

2.    Headaches

3.    Skin rashes

4.    Gastrointestinal problems

Other potential mood enhancers include:... Read more from: 3 Great Mood Enhancers

How To Look Great Even If You Haven’t Had Enough Sleep

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People who look tired are those with swallow skin, puffy eyes and dark circles. These are what we call “tiredness hot spots.” We can’t really avoid it if we are so preoccupied with a lot of things. Modern life could be so demanding.

So how do we keep ourselves looking fresh even if we’re tired? Follow these tips:

1.    Splash cold water on your face. This is the easiest way to refresh your complexion. Coolness constricts blood vessels which gives our skin a more toned and smoother look.

2.    After splashing your face with cold water, slather on a thick moisturizer to lock the water in your skin. This will take away the flakiness and dryness on your skin.

3.    If it still looks lifeless, you can dip a wash cloth in a mix of ice cubes and milk then place it o your face for 5 minutes and rinse. This makes the skin glow. You can also suck on an ice cube. The top of the mouth contains nerves and the coldness with constrict the blood vessels and makes the lips even toned.

4.    To remove puffiness of the eyes, use an eye treatment containing peptides and caffeine. Put it on the fridge before applying under the eyes... Read more from: How To Look Great Even If You Haven’t Had Enough Sleep

Health Benefits Of Spices and Herbs

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There are known herbs and spices that helps protect us from diabetes, heart disease and even cancer.

Herbs are from plants and plant part, while spices are from roots, berries, bark or seeds of plants. Studies show that herbs and spices offer health benefits. Seasonings like cinnamon is found to have antioxidants. It’s also the same for chili peppers, rosemary, thyme, turmeric, oregano, and basil.

Polyphenols is the one that provides health benefits in herbs and spices. It is also present in certain fruits and vegetables, red wine, and tea.

There are herbs and spices that reduce inflammation, and blood glucose concentrations for people with diabetes.

Instead of using salt, liberally season your foods with herbs and spices to boost its flavor. It’s better to limit your sodium intake to 1, 500 mg per day to reduce the risk or manage high blood pressure.

When using herbs and spices, use them at their peak to get the most out of it because the active compounds present can degrade with time... read more from: Health Benefits Of Spices and Herbs

How To Save Money On Food Shopping

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The rising prices of oil, weak dollar, global warming, and disappointing crop yields are just some of the factors that affects food prices. Shoppers nowadays are looking for ways to save money when they’re buying food without sacrificing nutrition.

Here are some tips on how to save money when food shopping and still eat healthy.

1.    Planning Can Help You Save Money on Food

 Plan ahead. Do an inventory of what you have on hand to avoid over buying. Make a detailed list based on you weekly menu plan and your needs.

 Stick to your grocery list and avoid impulse buying. Before you even plan to go to the grocery, check the ads for coupons or what’s on sale. There are many websites that offers coupons from your favorite grocers so take advantage of these money-saving coupons. 

2.    Healthy Food Is Cheaper Food

 Healthy foods can actually save you money. This savings comes from buying fewer of the high-calorie foods and reducing portion sizes. You’ll surely get more for your money if you think about the nutritional value you’ll get from nutritious foods. 

3.    Buy produce in season.

 On the food section of your news paper you’ll find based on fresh produce in season, the best buys for the week. You can also shop at your local farmer’s market for great deals... Read more from: How To Save Money On Food Shopping

How To Make Your Kids Food Smart

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One of the most important steps you can take to ensure the heath of your child is to create an environment where they can make healthy nutritional choices.

By developing a positive relationship with healthy foods, and fostering a supportive environment you can encourage them to do the same.

Here are tips to get your children to eat healthy foods:

1.    Avoid placing restrictions on food.

Once you restrict your child from eating something that they like, this will increase the risk that they may develop eating disorders later in life. It can also give a negative effect on their growth and development. Instead of banning foods, encourage your family to choose low-fat dairy, whole grains, lean meats, fruits and vegetables and avoid low-quality junk foods and heavily processed meats products.

2.    Keep healthy food at hand. 

If healthy foods are what’s available at home, your children will eat that. They can only choose foods that you stock in the house. Keeping a fruit bowl on the counter will encourage them to have an apple for snack.

3.    Don't label foods as "good" or "bad."

Instead of telling your child that this food is good for you or that food is bad for you, tie them to the things they care about. Let them know that turkey and milk gives them strength for sports. The antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables gives the skin a healthy glow, and a healthy break keep you focused in class... read more from: How To Make Your Kids Food Smart

How To Curb Food Cravings

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Our environment is filled with sensory cues such as seeing enticing foods, the wonderful smell and color that tempts our taste buds, and gives us that strong desire to have it.

Eating our favorite food gives us a satisfying feeling throughout the day and we start to crave for it a few days after. It’s okay to give in to our craving once in a while, but if craving for it day after day, this craving isn’t normal anymore.

Cravings can prompt us to overeat that’s why we need to control it. It’s not likely due to nutritional deficiency, rather it’s because of culture and gender. Women crave for sweets while men crave for soup, pizza, and pasta. They find these foods tasty and filling that reminds them of the attention their wives or mothers give to them... Read more from: How To Curb Food Cravings

Healthy Anti-aging Nutrition

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A lot of people are concerned with losing weight, but what’s more important is to focus on having a healthy body without dieting. Let’s focus instead on a healthy anti-aging nutrition because this the true fountain of youth.

Eating foods rich in antioxidants helps fight free radicals that contribute to the aging process. These can be found in vegetables like tomatoes, berries and beets. They also reduce your risk of developing cancer and even heart disease. During your meal, add at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

Olive oil improves memory. It is under the category of monounsaturated fat. It’s also anti-inflammatory and gives similar effects as to NSAIDs and clears fat from blood vessel walls that prevent atherosclerosis.

Berries are rich source of antioxidants, combats cancer and other degenerative diseases of the brain. Check your grocery store’s freezer for some strawberries, acai berries, and blue berries. These frozen berries contain polyphenols which are powerful compounds which fights cancer... Read more from: Healthy Anti-aging Nutrition