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Happy New Year to all the readers of HealthAndLife.in!!

And with the New Year come resolutions, but not all of them guarantee good health for 2010 and the years after. Here are some suggested  health-related resolutions that people should focus on. As we all know, small things add up to big difference-makers over time. Also, this advice will benefit anyone following it from the immune system to emotional well-being.

GET ENOUGH SLEEP

It is one of the most neglected aspects of our health. Few people get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep, and we know that lack of sleep has been linked to a deficient immune system, increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity and Read the rest of this entry »

Getting over your ex is a difficult job. You may have loved him with all your heart. But something went wrong and the ‘they lived-together-happily-ever after’ ending is now history. But alas, you find it difficult to put your past behind and get on with life. Well, that’s how life is. Here are some ways to help you to get over your ex and move on with life… First things first. Delete his number and SMSes from your mobile. It may hurt at first and you will miss all those sweet nothings you shared with him. Remember, he isn’t going to be with you anymore, so there’s no point hanging on to his messages.

His greeting cards, gifts, letters and cute teddy bears might have been a prized possession then. But now, they are nothing but a reminder of him. So, get rid of them. And yes, that includes the chocolate wrappers that are left from your last let’s celebrate-our-we-first went-out anniversary.

What’s the use of watching films if you can’t get inspired by them? Shred your ex’s photo to bits and flush it. Or write his name on a blank paper and strike it out repeatedly. This will definitely help you get over your ex, angst and pain. Or if the two of you have had a mutual break-up, then it’s only fair that you return all his belongings to him.

Read the rest of this entry »

It may not be the season for oranges, but this fruit is known to have several benefits and is among the most popular fruits around the world. Oranges can be had not only as a snack but also as a major recipe ingredient in various dishes. Nowadays, orange juice is an integral part of a healthy breakfast — thus promoting a healthy start to the day.

They’re mainly available in two categories — sweet and bitter, with the former being the type most commonly consumed. Generally, an orange should have smoothly textured skin and be firm and heavy for its size. These will have higher juice content than those that are either spongy or lighter in weight. Read the rest of this entry »

Most people who plan to lose weight and start a weight-loss regime (including diet), wonder whether they need to cut out all added sugar from their food intake in order to lose weight.

Sugar by itself does not contain fat in its chemical composition. And when it is consumed along with coffee or tea, and milk and curd, it does not register as fat in the body and thus is irrelevant to the ‘lose weight, quit sugar’ stuff . It comes in as carbohydrate food, which is immediately used as energy. Similarly, if you have a couple of teaspoons of jam, jelly or honey, the sugar is used up as energy. However, if you eat candies, with sugar content equivalent to about 3-4 teaspoons of sugar or take 300 ml of a soft drink (roughly 7 tsp of sugar) the excess sugar is converted to fat.

In short, as long as you are not diabetic you may safely consume 3-4 teaspoons of sugar every day, distributed through the entire day, and still lose weight. Moreover, giving up sugar completely and substituting it with a sweetener is not recommended, as they can have harmful side effects even though they say that such artificial sweeteners help to lose weight. What you could do, though, is give up sweet treats like cakes, ice cream, candies, pastries and other sweets instead. Read the rest of this entry »

“I only need to do strength training since I want to build muscle.”
“To get rid of this belly and get a defined mid-section you need to focus on doing an hour of ab crunches every day.”

The above and many more such declarations are routinely heard in any gym or a fitness studio amongst a group of fitness enthusiasts. However well-intentioned these statements may be, they are based on an individual’s perception of what he or she thinks will work for them. And of course, very often even those needs and goals are based more on preferences than actual needs.

Your fitness needs are not only about your current favorite activities, but also about functional strength and comprehensive exercise programs that can help you deal with lifestyle-related illnesses and many other health concerns.

By mixing it up and introducing variety into your fitness program you not only cross-train your body and keep the mind engaged but also maximize the effort and time you put into your workouts. The idea is to keep your workouts interesting, challenging, comprehensive and result-oriented while you engage in your favorite sport or activity. Follow these tips to assure a complete workout for yourself. Read the rest of this entry »