90 Quick Tips for Diabetics

90 Quick Tips for Diabetics

1.   Take one day at a time.

2.   Frequent blood glucose testing is the best way to keep tight control.

3.   To warm feet, rub with lotion and cover with warm socks.

4.   Protect insulin and test strips from extreme heat and cold.                          

5.   Check your feet before going to bed.

6.   Blood glucose test guidelines:

• Type 1: 3-4 times a day
• Type 2: 1-2 times a day                                                                                  

7.   Take a walk in the mall. 8.   Check blood glucose before each meal for a day.
9.   Are you testing as often as your should?
10. Have you had your eyes examined recently?
11. Treat yourself to something special today.
12. Eat a variety of foods at every meal.
13. Know the effect of sweets on
your blood glucose.
14. Still checking your feet before bedtime?
15. Inspect shoes for foreign objects and feet for pressure points.
16. Know you target HbA1c.
17. Stop smoking. It's okay to ask for help.
18. Check your glucose patterns for a day.
19. Keep an extra battery for your blood glucose monitor on hand.
20. Find a new diabetic recipe or two to try.
21. When you buy shoes, buy them in the afternoon.
22. Know how to manage your blood glucose levels on sick days.
23. From time to time, check your feet during the day, especially between toes.
24. Is diabetes overwhelming you? Talk to a diabetes team.
25. Never skip a meal.
26. Record your blood glucose levels every time you test.
27. Try chicken soup or broth when you're sick.
28. Cover open sores with antiseptic and gauze.
29. If blood glucose is too high or low, call your diabetes team or doctor.
30. How many times did you test your blood glucose today?
31. Have you had an HbA1c test recently?
32. Before you start an exercise program consult your doctor!
33. Keep your insulin and medication with you when you travel.
34. Time to get more test strips and lancets?
35. See your diabetes doctor or educator if you have any questions at all.
36. Keep your meter from extreme heat and cold.
37. Learn something new about diabetes today.
38. File toe nails, do not cut them.
39. Use a fresh lancet every time you test.
40. Record times when you have problems with blood glucose levels.
41. Tell your dentist you have diabetes and ask for dental care advice.
42. Call your doctor right away if your foot shows signs of infection.
43. See a diabetes eye doctor.
44. Take a thirty- minute walk at your own pace.
45. Avoid shoes that irritate your feet.
46. Visit a local farmer's market. It's good exercise.
47. How many times did you test your blood glucose today?
48. Check your blood glucose pattern over the next four days.
49. See a foot doctor for corns and calluses.
50. Have your blood glucose records ready to show your doctor at all times.
51. Every so often, pick a day to test your blood glucose level four times.
52. Do not go barefoot.
53. Drink eight glasses of water, especially on hot days.
54. Ask your doctor to teach you how to adjust your insulin.
55. Check your blood glucose before drinking alcohol and make sure you've eaten.
56. When sick, try popsicles or ginger ale.
57. Have you had your kidney function tested recently?
58. Clean wounds or sores twice a day with warm water and mild soap.
59. Check your test strips supplies regularly.
60. Call a doctor if a cut or sore is draining. Change bandage often.
61. Take a bike ride or a half-hour walk.
62. Keep extra regular insulin on hand when sick.
63. You should see your diabetes doctor four times a year.
64. Attend a diabetes management course.
65. Hug yourself!
66. Frequent blood testing is the best way to keep tight control.
67. Keep an eye on your diabetes medicine - do you need to get more?
68. Less activity may mean more insulin or pills.
69. Have you had your cholesterol checked lately?
70. Keep your blood monitor in your purse or backpack.
71. Wear comfortable shoes and take a hike.
72. Treat yourself to a massage or a warm bath.
73. Keep test strips dry.
74. Check your blood pressure.
75. Get flu shot if you can, every winter.
76. Avoid heating pads or hot compresses on feet.
77. Always take your diabetes medicine when sick.
78. Stick to scheduled meal times as closely as possible.
79. Keep a list of questions you want to ask your doctor.
80. Test often when you eat a heavy meal.
81. See a foot doctor for nail and foot care.
82. Wash your feet and use lotion to keep the skin soft.
83. Try a new low fat recipe once a week.
84. Find a new diabetic dessert recipe and try it.
85. Take a day off to relax from time to time.
86. Try a diet soda with lime.
87. If you are eating more than usual, test more often.
88. If you feel "different", test your blood glucose right away.
89. Make sure a family member knows how to help you in an emergency.
90. Make a diet plan and do your best to stick to it.
Resources:
Dedicated to the Diabetic Diet Ebook
Freebies

What is Cancer

Defining Cancer (KAN-sir) The name for diseases in which the body's cells become abnormal and divide without control. Cancer cells may invade nearby tissues. And they may spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body. At its heart, cancer is the result of uncontrolled cell growth. Our bodies are composed of trillions of cells, all working together. In cancer, one of those cells stops paying attention to the normal signals that tell cells to grow, stop growing or even to die. Cancer cells still share many of the same needs and properties of normal cells but they become independent of the controls that make our body function smoothly. The process by which a normal cell changes into one that behaves so abnormally can take a long time and is often triggered by outside influences. The next few sections describe the differences between normal and cancer cells and outline the steps leading to the creation of a cancer cell from a normal cell.Cancer is actually a general term that describes a large group of related diseases. Every case of cancer is unique, with its own set of genetic changes and growth properties. Some cancers grow quickly while others can take years to become dangerous to the patient. The many differences between cases of cancer, even of the same organ (i.e. different cases of breast cancer), is one of the main reasons that treatment is so difficult. Despite the differences between different types of cancer, all cancers DO share some common features, and these shared properties are the basis for many cancer treatments and research efforts. It is important to understand the basic, shared, features of cancer.  This will allow for an understanding of detection, diagnosis and treatment options. Below is a list of the information found within this section. Click on one of the items or 'Next' to learn about the characteristics of cancer cells.

Blood Pressure

What is Blood Pressure The pressure of the circulating blood against the walls of the blood vessels; results from the systole of the left ventricle of the heart; sometimes measured for a quick evaluation of a person's health) "adult blood pressure is considered normal at 120/80 where the first number is the systolic pressure and the second is the diastolic pressure"

Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. During each heartbeat, BP varies between a maximum (systolic) and a minimum (diastolic) pressure. The mean BP, due to pumping by the heart and resistance to flow in blood vessels, decreases as the circulating blood moves away from the heart through arteries. Blood pressure drops most rapidly along the small arteries and arterioles, and continues to decrease as the blood moves through the capillaries and back to the heart through veins. Gravity, valves in veins, and pumping from contraction of skeletal muscles, are some other influences on BP at various places in the body. The term blood pressure usually refers to the pressure measured at a person's upper arm. It is measured on the inside of an elbow at the brachial artery, which is the upper arm's major blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. A person's BP is usually expressed in terms of the systolic pressure over diastolic pressure (mmHg), for example 120/80

Tips for a Healthy and Happy Mind

Tips for a Healthy and Happy Mind

Tip 1 : CALM YOUR MIND We live life at a hectic pace with many demands and responsibilities. Stress has become an important part of our lives. But for most of us the balance between deep relaxation and stress has been lost. Deep relaxation is a completely different state from just socializing with friends or being in front of the television. In a deeply relaxed state our minds are alert, yet calm and peaceful. Our metabolism, heart rate and breathing become even slower as we become more relaxed. Our body produces nitric oxide to neutralize the negative effect of excessive stress hormone Cortisol.   Excessive stress can make us feel older than we really are. Stress affects telomeres, strips of DNA at the end of chromosomes, which appear to protect and stabilize the chromosome ends. These key pieces (telomeres) of DNA are also involved with the cell divisions, until eventually there is nothing left, making cell divisions less reliable and increasing the risk of age-related disorders.   High stress people have lower levels of telomerase in their immune cells. It is suggested that changes in stress hormone levels could have an effect on telomeres activity. Learning and practicing serenity to elicit deep relaxation response is the most important step toward neutralizing stress response.   Here are some suggestions for serenity practices: Breathing:     Life is in the breath. He who half breathes, half lives. Your breath is the first line of defense in stress and can create almost instant calm and relaxation. Breathing is necessary for speaking, laughing and singing. Meditation:     Individuals practicing meditation for more than five years were proven to be twelve years younger than their chronological age, as measured by physical testing.  Any moment you attempt to clear the mind creates the intention of healing. Prayer is the most personal and intimate of all spiritual practices. Affirmations are positive statements we tell ourselves. A positive affirmation is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Journaling our thoughts and experiences are ancient serenity practices with its origins at the beginning of humankind. Journaling moves your emotions and thoughts from your mind/body to the paper. It also integrates the mind, body and soul. Gratitude is accepting what you have. Grateful individuals have more energy, less physical complaints and a higher level of enthusiasm and optimism. Laughter:  In laughter we are lifted above our feelings of fear, discouragement and despair. When you are engaged in a good heart laugh the energy system in our body gets a workout (inner jogging). Hearty laughter stimulates practically all the large organs and heightens resistance and vitality against disease but it should not be artificial that does not match with inner which is dangerous for heart.. Hugging helps the body's immune system; it cures depression and reduces stress. It is invigorating and rejuvenating. Hugging is all natural. It is organic, naturally sweet, no pesticides, no preservatives, no artificial ingredients, 100% wholesome and fully returnable. Tip 2 : KEEP YOUR BRAIN SMART There is a growing interest in preserving and enhancing the brain's capabilities into high age. Neuroscientists around the world with powerful tools have literally been looking into the mind as it thinks. They are discovering that many of the negative myths about the aging brain are, indeed, only myths. In much the same way that we can maintain our physical well-being, we can take charge of our mental health and fitness. A new form of brain exercise called neurobic is designed to keep the brain agile and healthy. These exercises enhance the overall health of your brain as you grow older. These new approaches can be incorporated into every day activities to develop and maintain brain connections by adopting these strategies. Scientists, in 1996, demonstrated for the first time that brain cells are generated in adult humans ( November 1998, Nature Medicine). Also old neurons can grow neuritis to compensate for losses. Neural circuits in adult brains have the capacity to undergo dramatic changes. The aging brain, however, continues to have a remarkable ability to grow, adapt and change patterns of connections. Neurobics as a new brain exercise can help you take charge of your overall mental fitness, strength and flexibility as you age. The exercise program calls for presenting the brain with non-routine or unexpected experiences using various combinations of your physical senses; visions, smell, touch, taste and hearing - as your emotional ?sense.? It stimulates patterns of neural activity that creates more connection between different brain areas and causes nerve cells to produce natural brain nutrients, called neurothrophin ? a protein-based brain gross factor. Neurotrophin can dramatically increase the size and complexity of nerve cell neurites. Neurotrophin also make surrounding cells stronger and more resistant to the effects of aging. Any other exercise, using five senses in a novel way can stimulate the brain, so that you can grow your own brain food. Examples of multi-sensory (mind-body) exercises: 1. Do your daily routine activities with your non-dominant hand (brushing your teeth, shaving, eating and using TV remote). 2. Walk without swinging your arms, holding arms away from your body as if you were carrying a sack of rice, while keeping your fingers open (Chi Gong walking).   Tip 3 : NUTRITION & WATER 1. Nutrition:  Eat a rainbow of colorful fruit and vegetables which provide powerful antioxidants. Animal fat and shellfish cause inflammation due to arachidonic acid. Sugary foods, or refined grain, (e.g. white flour and white rice) can trigger inflammation by raising blood sugar and insulin levels. Fine tune your fats. Avoid margarine and anything with hydrogenated oil in it and replace them with extra-virgin olive oil. Eat more plant- and fish based proteins. Cut down on meat, alcohol and caffeine and increase your intake of beans and dark green leaf vegetables for keeping your homocysteine level low enough to decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease. High-quality, nutrient-rich and anti-inflammatory food is the most fundamental step toward protecting your brain.   2. Water:  Water is Mother Nature's perfect cocktail. We are water, in order to maintain radiant health; we need to replenish the water that comprises two-thirds of our bodies. It is important to drink good quality water. The health benefits of water are numerous and Mother Nature knows best. The liver filters 200 liters of water each day, sending purified water to other organs in the body. Drinking purified, electrically-charged (enlivened) water, acts as a live antioxidant and stimulates the body's ability to cure a wide variety of health problems. Drinking good water should be a discipline that reduces the workload and stress on the liver, and has a positive impact on the body's energy field. When the kidneys are overworked, some of their functions are transferred to the liver which normally metabolizes stored fat into energy. If the liver is doing the kidney's work, it metabolizes less fat as a source of energy and the cholesterol level rises.   Tip 4 : PHYSICAL EXERCISE:   Mind-Body Practices 1. Walking is a man's best medicine (Hippocrates). A regular walking program has a host of positive health benefits; weight loss, muscle conditioning, improved cardiovascular health, offsetting osteoporosis and lowering the risk for diseases including depression, diabetes and heart disease. Fitness walking delivers a sense of euphoria by releasing endorphins. Mindful walking conveys its own rewards including the opportunity for contemplation and reflection. Mindful walking brings about deep relaxation. Walking provides the tremendous health benefit of preventing lifestyle disease. It is also a wonderfully calming and spiritually restorative activity. Walking in nature is an opportunity to support and nurture our spirit. Take a walk in nature, unaccompanied except for the presence of your real self as guide. You send forth an invitation for meaningful encounters with birds, trees and crystalline insights. 2. Chi Gong is an ancient Chinese art form for strengthening the body's vital energy. It is a mind/body practice for physical, mental and spiritual fitness. It combines gentle, circular, graceful movements and whole body breathing exercises. Chi Gong is a Chinese system of self-care which aims to balance the flow of ?Chi? (vital life energy). Chi is believed to regulate mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well being. Chi flows along the meridians, which are like rivers that irrigate the body and nourish the tissue. Chi Gong helps one to experience with the non-physical self when you connect with your Chi field (energy), you experience yourself as pure consciousness. Any obstruction along the meridians will block the vital energy flow, therefore creating dysfunction and disease. Tip 5 : WHOLESOME SLEEP   Our brain works poorly when deprived of sleep, when we loose sleep, or do not sleep at regular times. Our brain chemicals become imbalanced, leading to higher Cortisol (stress hormone) and lower growth hormone (a healing and repair hormone). The purpose of sleep is for the body to relax totally, recuperate and regenerate damaged cells caused by stress and strain. The sleep allows the brain to take out the trash to deprogram the miscellaneous events that are not to be stored for long term memory. Lack of sleep for a prolonged period of time results in mental derangement in humans, and sufficiently prolonged, in animals may even result in death. Sleeping is a great way to bypass the conscious mind with all its illness, role playing and nationalization. It is a high road to your higher self right to subconscious. Dreaming is an important part of sleep. Dreaming has to do with organizing information, it is a filtering process. It is connecting with the soul. We all need more and better sleep to protect our brain function. Here are some tips for improved sleep: ? Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day and try to get to sleep before midnight. ? Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night. If you have trouble falling asleep, try a little ritual. Stop your day at least one or two hours before bedtime to wind down. Don't watch TV or check your e-mail. Take a hot bath with Epsom salt and 10 drops of lavender oil and just soak and relax for 20 minutes. Tip 6 : COOL THE HEAT Avoid lifestyle diseases by keeping silent inflammation at bay. Invisible and symptom-free chronic micro-inflammation is a factor in Alzheimer's and all lifestyle diseases. Cooling the fires of hidden inflammation may be the most important thing you can do for your long term health and well being. Silent inflammation is the key cause in almost all chronic degenerative and lifestyle diseases. What ignites the fire in the first place? Repeated or prolonged ailment, such as sinus or bladder infections, gingivitis or stomach ulcers, can trigger chronic silent inflammation, as can food allergens, pesticide, even untreated surgical sutures. People often don't know they have it. You might not have any symptoms at all. To detect silent inflammation you measure blood level of C ? reactive protein (CRP), a substance found in the blood when systemic inflammation is present, reported level 1.0 to 10.0mg/L. A level below 1.0mg/L is ideal. When CRP is elevated, additional tests are done to determine whit's triggering the inflammation. You can cool the heat by very ordinary and simple strategies: 1. Calm your mind. Your emotions have as much to do with silent inflammation as your lifestyle. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found that people who are prone to anger, hostility and depressive symptoms, have higher CRP levels. You don't have to be a hothead to be at risk for inflammation, however, many of us feel overscheduled, overworked and overwhelmed ? in other words, stressed. In the case of stress, that invader is psychological, rather than physical. Unrelenting stress makes the body's normal immune function suffer, the net result is that inflammation works overtime. Serenity practices that calm the mind, such as mindfulness has been linked to lowered CRP levels. More mind/body practices like Chi Gong and Yoga may also help keep inflammation at bay. Try one of the serenity practices that appeal to you and see if it works. 2. Eat an Anti-Inflammatory Diet. Revising your diet is one of the easiest, most effective ways to affect inflammation. Food contains not only calories, but also specific messages that turn on or off messages of inflammation. Boost your berry intake: Blueberries, cherries and blackberries are rich in anti-inflammatory flavonoid compounds. Fill up on fiber: Incorporate beans, legumes and whole grains (such as brown rice or quinoa) into your diet. Also add nuts: Sprinkle almonds, hazelnuts, or walnuts on cereal; toss them into salads. Fine tune your fats: Rid your kitchen of saturated fats and trans fats (avoid margarine and anything with hydrogenated oil in it) and replace them with healthier options, such as extra-virgin olive oil and flaxseed oil. Eat more plant- and fish-based proteins. Wild salmon, sardines and herring are rich in omega-3 fats and relatively low in the toxin mercury. Spice up your Mealtime: Certain spices have strong anti-inflammatory effects ? in particular, ginger, garlic, onion, turmeric and rosemary. Make them an integral part of your diet. Try using ginger, garlic and onion in stir-fries, turmeric in soups and rosemary on roasted veggies.   3. Move More:  Regular, consistent physical activity is one of the best ways to keep inflammation at bay. This may explain why long-term regular exercise dramatically reduces heart disease, a condition we know to be a disease of inflammation. An active body revs up production of antioxidants, which ?vacuum? the free radicals that can otherwise lead to inflammation. Free radical damage is like rust on the inside of our bodies, in the cells themselves. Don't overdo: Working out too hard may boost inflammation levels rather than reduce them. While some muscle soreness is warranted, if you are feeling exhausted or overly achy, rest a day before hitting the gym again. Tip 7 : NATURE Nature is the most powerful tool to facilitate health and well being. Nature offers an easy and safe path to subordinate the ego and access our higher selves, which is the beginning of transformation. Nature ?meditates? us whether we are aware of it or not. Nature, one of the best medicines, can be harnessed to bring about transformation toward health and well being. Nature is a universal pattern of resonant energy which can influence other energies to move toward wholeness and healing. Take a walk in nature (forest or Oceanside), unaccompanied except for the vital presence of the soul guide. You send forth an invitation to your own psyche and to the world at large that you are available for meaningful encounters with birds, trees and water, or possibly your sudden crystalline insights. You enter the imaginable and fruitful realm that belongs not quite to the ordinary landscape you usually pass through but to a numinous fertile place in between.

Healthy Diet Tips

15-Best Diet Tips Ever

Experts share their top tips for weight loss success.

Best Diet Tip No. 1: Drink plenty of water and other calorie-free drinks/beverages.

Never confuse thirst with hunger. So stop eating extra calories when a glass of water is really what you need.
"If you don't like plain water, try and add citrus or a splash of juice, or brew infused teas like mango or peach, which have lots of flavor but no calories," says Cynthia Sass, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.

Best Diet Tip No. 2: Think about what you can add to your diet, not what you should take away.

Start with the recommended 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
"It sounds like a lot, but it is well worth it, because at the same time you are meeting your fiber goals and feeling more satisfied from the volume of food," says chef Laura Pansiero, RD.

You're also less likely to overeat because fruits and vegetables displace fat in the diet. And that's not to mention the health benefits of fruits and vegetables. More than 200 studies have documented the disease-preventing qualities of phytochemicals found in produce, says Pansiero. Her suggestion for getting more: Work vegetables into meals instead of just serving them as sides on a plate.
"I love to take seasonal vegetables and make stir-fries, frittatas, risotto, pilafs, soups, or layer on sandwiches," Pansiero says. "It is so easy to buy a variety of vegetables and incorporate them into dishes."

Best Diet Tip No.3:  Consider whether you're really hungry.

Whenever you feel like eating, look for physical signs of hunger, suggests Michelle May, MD, author of Am I Hungry?
"Hunger is your body's way of telling you that you need fuel, so when a craving doesn't come from hunger, eating will never satisfy it," she says.
When you're done eating, you should feel better -- not stuffed, bloated, or tired.

"Your stomach is only the size of your fist, so it takes just a handful of food to fill it comfortably," says May. Keeping your portions reasonable will help you get more in touch with your feelings of hunger and fullness.

Best Diet Tip No.4: Choose nighttime snacks.

"Sitting down with a bag of chips or cookies in front of the television is an example of eating amnesia, where you mindlessly eat without being hungry, but out of habit," says American Dietetic Association spokesperson Malena Perdomo, RD.
Either close down the kitchen after a certain hour, or allow yourself a low-calorie snack, like a 100-calorie pack of cookies or a half-cup scoop of low-fat ice cream. Once you find that you're usually satisfied with the low-calorie snack, try a cup green tea (zero-calorie tea).

Best Diet Tip No. 5: Enjoy your favorite foods.

"I think putting your favorite foods off limits leads to weight gain because it triggers 'rebound' overeating," says Sass.
Instead of cutting out your favorite foods altogether, be a slim shopper. Buy one fresh bakery cookie instead of a box, or a small portion of candy from the bulk bins instead of a whole bag.
"You can enjoy your favorite foods, but you must do so in moderation," says Sass.

Best Diet Tip No. 6: Enjoy your treats away from home.

When you need a treat, Ellie Krieger, RD, host of Food Network's Healthy Appetite, suggests taking a walk to your local ice cream parlor or planning a family outing.
"By making it into an adventure, you don't have to worry about the temptation of having treats in the house, and it is a fun and pleasurable way to make it work when you are trying to lose weight," says Krieger.
And for those times you just can't get out? Krieger stocks her kitchen with fresh fruit, which she thinks can be every bit as delicious as any other dessert.

Best Diet Tip No. 7: Eat several mini-meals during the day.

If you eat fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight. But when you're hungry all the time, eating fewer calories can be challenging.
"Studies show people who eat 4-5 meals or snacks per day are better able to control their appetite and weight," says obesity researcher Rebecca Reeves, DrPH, RD.
She recommends dividing your daily calories into smaller meals or snacks and enjoying as many of them as you can early in the day -- dinner should be the last time you eat.

Best Diet Tip No. 8: Eat protein at every meal.

Protein is more satisfying than carbohydrates or fats, and thus may be the new secret weapon in weight control.
"Diets higher in protein [and] moderate in carbs, along with a lifestyle of regular exercise, have an excellent potential to help weight loss," says University of Illinois protein researcher Donald Layman, PhD.
Getting enough protein helps preserve muscle mass and encourages fat burning while keeping you feeling full. So be sure to include healthy protein sources, like yogurt, cheese, nuts, or beans, at meals and snacks.

Best Diet Tip No. 9: Spice it up.

Add spices or chilies to your food for a flavor boost that can help you feel satisfied.
"Food that is loaded with flavor will stimulate your taste buds and be more satisfying so you won't eat as much," says Perdomo.
When you need something sweet, suck on a red-hot fireball candy for a long-lasting burst of sweetness with just a few calories.

Best Diet Tip No. 10: Stock your kitchen with healthy convenience foods.

Having ready-to-eat snacks and meals-in-minutes staples on hand sets you up for success. You'll be less likely to hit the drive-through or call in a pizza order if you can make a healthy meal in 5 or 10 minutes.
Sass stocks her kitchen with:

• 94% fat-free popcorn (20-25 cal / cup, it takes only two minutes or less)
• Frozen vegetables
• Pre-washed greens
• Fresh or canned diced tomatoes
• Canned beans
• Whole-grain wraps or pitas
• Pre-cooked grilled chicken pieces
• Few containers of pre-cooked brown rice

Within minutes, she can toss together a healthy medley.

Best Diet Tip No. 11: Order children's portions at restaurants.

"When you are eating out, order a child's pizza or a small sandwich as an easy way to trim calories and get your portions under control," suggest Perdomo.
Another trick is to use smaller plates. This helps the portions look like more, and if your mind is satisfied, your stomach likely will be, too.

Best Diet Tip No. 12: Eat foods in season.

"If you don't love certain fruits or vegetables, it could be because you ate them out of season when they have little taste or flavor," says Pensiero. "When you eat seasonally, fruits and vegetables are more flavorful, at their best, and I promise you won't be disappointed."
At GiGi's Trattoria, her restaurant in Rhinebeck, N.Y., she serves simple fruit desserts, like naturally sweet strawberries topped with aged balsamic vinegar, or low-fat yogurt or fresh berries in a compote.

Best Diet Tip No. 13: Swap a cup of pasta for a cup of vegetables.

Simply by eating less pasta or bread and more veggies, you could lose a dress or pants size in a year.
"You can save from 100-200 calories if you reduce the portion of starch on your plate and increase the amount of vegetables," says Sass.

Best Diet Tip No. 14: Use non-food alternatives to cope with stress.

Sooner or later, you're going to be faced with a stressful situation. Instead of turning to food for comfort, be prepared with some non-food tactics that work for you.
Sass suggests reading a few chapters in a novel, listening to music, writing in a journal, practicing meditative deep breathing, or looking at a photo album of loved ones.

Best Diet Tip No. 15: Be physically active.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, don't use exercise either to punish yourself for eating or to "earn" the right to eat more.
"When you do, it sets up a negative thought pattern, which is why so many people say they hate to exercise," says May.
Instead, focus on how great you feel, how much better you sleep and how much more energy you have when you exercise. Physical activity is good for you whether you are trying to lose weight or not, so keep it positive and build a lifelong habit.

Dental Care

Tooth Pain
Tooth pain is a nasty thing to go through. Read this article to find out what might be causing your toothache, some great home remedies and the treatment you will require.  Benefits of Miswak
Asking yourself whats a Miswak? Ask that to the average middle east guy. Its his toothbrush cum toothpaste made of a tree twig. Studies have shown its better than the modern day toothbrush at fighting plaque and gum disease. Read on!



Learn How to CORRECTLY Brush Your Teeth
Its sad that a majority of us do not know how to Correctly brush our teeth. Read this article to find out how to brush the right way.
How Toothpaste Works
You use toothpaste every day to brush your teeth daily. But do you know how it works?
 Top 10 Cosmetic Dental Procedures
Cosmetic dentistry is a craze these days. More people end up at their dentist due to cosmetic reasons rather than health.
Read this article to find out the top cosmetic procedures people ask their dentist.

Healthy Body Tips

Ten Tips Help You Maintain A Healthy Body

1. Obviously, a better you on the outside starts with a better you from the inside. Good choices in food are critical. Try to avoid foods, sauces, dressings, etc. that are high in saturated fat, high calories, empty calories, sugar or any derivative, fried, etc. High fiber foods, fruits, vegetables, water, poultry, fish, lean meats. Eating red meat isn't a sin, just eat it in moderation.
2. Drink as much water as you can, as this is a natural diuretic and flushes the body of toxins and keeps the plumbing working great. If you absolutely hate the taste (yes some think that water has taste) of water, then mix with a flavored low calorie powder mix (careful of the sugars, real or man made)
3. Vitamins; once a day, every day. Vitamin E has been known to help ease hot flashes in menopausal women. Vitamin E, however is also a blood thinner so double check with your doctor first, especially if you are on Coumadin or Plavix. Overdosing on Vitamin E is also not good, so watch your dosage.
4. The Marlboro man doesn't really love you. Please if nothing else, quit smoking or do not start. Smoking chokes off the arteries and veins in your body thereby stopping the flow of oxygen and blood to your legs. Smoking leads to many types of cancer; breast, pancreatic, lung, etc. Not to mention other types of vascular diseases.

5. Exercise a day keeps your body in good shape. No matter how you do it, just do it. Walk before work or after work, walk in the park with the dog. Play outside with your kids. Exercise doesn't have to be grueling, boring or a chore. Play catch with the kids. Garden, run the vacuum. Pilates, Yoga, dancing are all great ways to get exercise.
6. Easier said than done, keeping stress out of your life is pivotal. Stress causes ulcers, eczema, psoriasis, etc. Try to find one thing to laugh about during the day. Reach out to friends for a quick phone call. Smell flowers. Take a girl's day/night and go to the spa for a mini-massage or manicure/pedicure. Check out the newest chick flick or comedy movie playing. Relax in a nice bubble bath or read a book. Even better, you could go to a comedy club. Billy Connolly is on tour at the moment.
7. Much more is known these days about skin cancer and sun stroke and the use of SPF products. While the sun provides us with vital Vitamin D, it also creates free radicals in our body, causing skin cancer or melanoma. It also makes the skin wrinkle. Make sure you apply UV protective products frequently throughout the day if you are sun worshiping, swimming, exercising or just about anything outdoors.

8. Show me your pearly whites! As important as it is to eat healthy and exercise, maintaining our mouth is also vital. First of all, who wants to look at anyone with all sorts of gunk peeking out from between their teeth or with missing teeth? Dental appointments, at least every six months but definitely once a year, should be as mandatory as your cup of morning coffee.
9. Say ?ah? please. A yearly visit to your physician or gynecologist for a physical and general work-up is critical in keeping healthy. Woman, starting at age 20, should have yearly Pap tests to screen for cancers and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). Of course, self examination of the total body is a good indicator of healthiness.
10. No glove, no love. Any age, any sex, anytime, anywhere. Once a woman becomes sexually active whether in a monogamous relationship or the riskier multiple partner sex, condoms are strongly encouraged. Condoms are a great way to keep pregnancy and STDs at a safe distance. There are many different types of condoms available to suit anyone's taste and there is no excuse in the world for not using them, unless you are married to your partner.