Healthy Living

Sunday, 26 February 2012

Plants indoor

I have always wanted some plants inside the house but I live a somewhat busy and laidback lifestyle that I don't like a lot of maintenance around the house. But for those who wants some, here are some tips for bodyandsoul.com.au.

For the home

Experts recommend the hardy, low-light tolerant peace lilly for your lounge room or hallway.

"If the peace lillies are dying in your home then you shouldn't be in there either!" says building biologist Nicole Bijlsma. "It's a hard plant to kill – it just needs a little bit of water regularly. It's a hardy plant that doesn't require much but gives so much in return."

Horticulturalist Rebecca Mugridge says its lush deep green leaves make the peace lilly soothing to look at and its beautiful white flowers project a tropical oasis feel. "They can take reasonably low light levels and the soft foliage is not likely to spike anyone."

For the kitchen

Bring your kitchen garden indoors to neutralise odours and purify the air. Mugridge recommends a small pot of mint on a well-lit windowsill.

"Mint has been used for many, many years to neutralise odours. There are so many delicious mints easily available now too, even chocolate. You need to trim the plant regularly and if the light isn't quite strong enough have another two plants outside that you can rotate weekly."

I do have some plants at our backdoor entry - good luck plants, just incase and I might be able to buy gold coins at Golden Eagle. I'd want some on the front door but I haven't gotten around to it.

*****

While many mums and dads are actively not allowing their kids to drink strong coffee, many Aussie adolescents, and children even younger, are getting a regular caffeine fix. And that's not a good thing.

With more and more links being drawn between caffeine and addiction, sleeping problems, obesity and poor bone health, many youth health professionals are reiterating the fact that there is no reason for caffeine being in a child's diet.
Caffeine sources

The main sources of caffeine are tea, coffee, cola drinks and, increasingly, energy drinks. Australian research from 10 years ago found that 27 per cent of boys aged eight to 12 had consumed an energy drink in the two weeks before the survey.

Back then, these sugary pick-me-ups were new to the market. Today, they are everywhere.

More recent research, albeit from the caffeine-loving US, found that 75 per cent of kids aged five to 12 consumed caffeine daily, from an average of three cans of fizzy drink a day.

What these fizzy and energy drinks are doing, say these studies, is creating an unhealthy lifelong caffeine habit.

An ongoing study from the University at Buffalo found kids who drank more than the recommended amount of caffeinated drinks had an increased likelihood of poor diets, which included lots of junk food.

It's really easy for kids to get hooked to caffiene. There are so many sources that kids have access. It's really up to the parents to control or guide their kids around drinks. I understand why some kids get addicted to this substance because they are available at home and you can't blame the parents for it because hey, one should not give up this little pleasure just because you have kids. It's all about discipline and balance. Plus, when the kids get a bit older they can get mcdonalds jobs and access to coffee anyway. But I reckon, education is the best way to help our children.

*****

That Yummy Sausages

We eat sausages at least every week. We know that it's not really good for our health because of all the preservatives but what can I say? For one, it is easy to cook. Then, they're family favourites - yummy and can be eaten with anything.

But how much is too much? According to this article:

How much is too much?How much is too much?

So is there a safe amount of processed meat we can eat?

"Eating 50 grams once a week is probably okay. Eat it daily and you're setting yourself up for trouble," says Dr Alan Barclay, a spokesman for the Dietitians Association of Australia.

"A similar study conducted last year found a link between red and processed meats and an 18 per cent increased risk of colorectal cancer, so there is some very strong evidence." Barclay says fruit and vegies have protective factors against cancer and suggests adding lots of salad to your ham sandwich, or eating good-quality sausages with lots of vegies.

However, the best option may be to avoid these foods altogether, Barclay says.

"Cook a roast and slice up the leftovers for sandwiches. You don't have to buy cured processed meats. You're just better off not risking it."

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal forms of cancer, with less than five per cent of patients living beyond five years.

What is 50 grams of processed meat?
•One sausage
•Two medium slices of ham
•One hotdog or frankfurter
•Two medium rashers of bacon
•A 1cm thick slice of salami
•Two slices of luncheon meat

At least we don't have it everyday - as scare as log furniture in this house. This week no sausages for us.

*****

Aging

Up til recently, I have not considered myself as old or aging yet. I still feel the same, emotionally and mentally but physically, I have felt something different in my body but I attribute it to the amount of work I do or should I say my responsibility compared to when I was single. I have not really thought that physically I am aging.

But reading this from bodyandsoul.com.au, makes me hmmmm. My body is getting old.

Joints and back: If you're 30 to 50

What's normal: Occasional neck or back ache on waking; back stiffness after driving for more than two hours; some aching in the legs after walking for 30 minutes to an hour; needing to move around after an hour of sitting on a hard chair.

What's not: Intense pain in one or more joints after carrying shopping; difficulty or discomfort getting into a low car or out of a seat.

"Having any one of these symptoms is a sign your joints or back are suffering early signs of degenerative change," says Tim Allardyce of the British Osteopathic Association. "This may be through injury or a sedentary lifestyle. Poor posture is a contributing factor."

Memory: If you're 30 to 50

What's normal: Forgetting people's names; mislaying keys, phone or wallet.

What's not: Problems negotiating familiar places (such as regularly not being able to find your car in the car park); difficulty recognising faces, colours, shapes and words; finding you've left objects in the wrong place.

Fitness: If you're 30 to 50

What's normal: You are slightly breathless after walking up three flights of stairs.

What's not: Struggling for breath after three flights of stairs or needing to stop to complete it; headaches or dizziness. From middle age, heart muscle shrinks by an average of 0.3 grams per year. This can lead to high blood pressure and increasing breathlessness.

So far, I only feel some back pain when I wake up in the morning and after work - something to do with sitting all day infront of the computer. Nothing yet when bending on undermount stainless sinks. So, I'd say I'm getting there slowly. :)

*****

IF you want to reduce your household costs and greenhouse gas emissions, the key is retrofitting.
But what does this mean and how does it help?

Derek Wrigley, the author of Making Your Home Sustainable, explains:

Q: WHAT IS RETROFITTING?

A: It is a way of modifying an existing house to take advantage of the abundant natural energy which is all around us but insufficiently recognised by homeowners and, unfortunately, most builders.

A retrofitted house can produce very significant and worthwhile savings in annual running costs.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/money/cost-of-living/cut-emissions-with-home-retrofitting/story-fnagkbpv-1226266804382#ixzz1m7L1apxP

I know that retrofitting a house costs money but in the long, the saving will offset the cost. While writing this, I am making an inventory of the energy/water saving equipment we have at home. We have dual flush cistern. Our water heating system is the modern energy saving one despite it not being solar powered. Also, we have low-flow shower heads or shall I say, adjustable shower heads.

There are many ways on how to fit the house to save energy. Personally, one can live green - one which is to buy things that last like aluminum briefcase, quality clothes, etc.

*****

Weird Tips

.. that I also believe to be true.

These tips are from the bodyandsoul.com.au.

Keep tablets with the linen

If medication is constantly exposed to light, heat or humidity – in other words, a steamy bathroom – it could degrade faster than it should, thus reducing its potency and efficacy. Neal Patel, from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, says, "A cool, dry, dark area such as the linen closet is ideal for storing medications.'

I am doing this now. Not because I knew this but because at home, we put things where they are accessible. Plus, we have small storage space in the bathroom and down the hallway, we have a second linen closet that is just right for bathroom supplies.

Retune the radio to lose weight

Doing something different every day – even just switching radio stations – shakes us out of our routine and can help us kick bad habits, according to Professor Ben Fletcher, a psychologist at Hertfordshire University.

"Deeply engrained habits of thinking and behaviour keep us doing things that are bad for us, like smoking, eating and drinking too much or becoming stuck in negative thought patterns – all of which impacts on our health," he says. "We can make our lives much better with very small changes."

I have not listened to radio station for a long time. I've been tuning in to my CD's. Some are my favourites that I bought. I would love to have a music recorder but it's just far down on my list of things to buy.

Wash your hands after getting cash

Cleanliness tests have revealed that cash machines are as dirty, and carry the same germs, as public toilets.

When scientists took swabs from urban ATMs around the UK, they found the machines were heavily contaminated with bacteria, including those known to cause sickness and diarrhoea.

Dr Mark Fielder, a medical microbiologist at Kingston University London, says, "If people don't wash their hands properly, all sorts of organisms will be transferred to the buttons on an ATM. Just as it's important to wash your hands after using the toilet, it would be sensible to clean them after getting money out."

Yes, a must. Money has been in the hands of many and you just don't know where are those hands from.

Flush with the lid down

Microbiologist Dr Charles Gerba, from the University of Arizona, warns that you should always flush the toilet with the seat lid down. If you don't, polluted water particles float for a few hours around your bathroom before they all land, some on your toothbrush.

Dr Gerba says: "It doesn't happen all the time, but E.coli and other faecal-based bacteria really can make you ill, so unless you want to brush your teeth with what was in the toilet, close the lid."

Of course! Enough said.

*****

Happiness is...

from simple pleasures. Really, they just found this out? It should not be rocket science. It's always going back to the basic and the old age way of life.

According to the survey, these are the top 30 boosters - finding things that you value in your pockets (like dodger stadium cufflinks) that you didn't expect is always a big pleasure .

TOP 30 HAPPINESS BOOSTERS
1. Finding a $10 note in an old pair of jeans
2. Going on holiday
3. Getting into bed with freshly washed sheets
4. Swimming in the sea
5. Waking up on a sunny day
6. Sitting in the sun
7. Being surprised with a gift or flowers
8. Getting a nice message from a loved one
9. Cuddles
10. Receiving a thank-you card in the post
11. Seeing an elderly couple holding hands
12. Driving a car with the window down on a sunny day
13. Winning a $10 prize on the lottery
14. Booking a holiday
15. Hearing your favourite song
16. Finding a bargain
17. Seeing an old friend
18. A picnic in the park
19. Getting a promotion
20. A romantic night out
21. A song that reminds you of your past
22. Looking at old photos
23. Making a new friend
24. Having a quiet moment to yourself
25. Walks in the country
26. Hearing a baby laugh
27. A girls'/boys' night out
28. Waking up on a Saturday morning and realising it's the weekend
29. Chocolate
30. Eating cake

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/simple-ways-to-get-the-good-life-in-2012/story-e6frfkp9-1226233341745#ixzz1i7PcfVQr

I reckon, not centering ones life in material things can give one instant boost.

*****

Stress Free Christmas

It's not like everyone would be stressed. Like me, I can't be bothered with all the commercialism of this season. I buy gift when I see things that I'm sure people that I know will like or appreciate them, no need for the occasion as a reason.

Anyway, if you're stressed juggling work, shopping, party, family... take some time to meditate. Five minutes of it will do wonders. I'm not one to meditate, as a matter of fact, I remember doing it when I was in retreat. But it doesn't seem to be that hard. I might just to do it. Twice daily is attainable, just less time watching download from YouTube.

*****

Food Glorious Food

That's what most people love in Christmas. On top of being with family and friends of course. In the news today, some people consider it their most important meal of the year not to mention the most expensive, the Christmas lunch. It's also the time when people splurge and binge intentionally. Food is actually tastier when shared around, I reckon.

Oh, the pressies are in between here and there of course. Some would get zamberlan boots, jewellery, electronic gadgets, etc. We as a family get a lot. That I am thankful for. The whole year has been just full of blessings, I couldn't ask for anything.

*****

All I Want for Christmas...

..is none. I already have what my heart wished for. But then, those coupons for walmart are big help if you haven't done your Christmas shopping and if there's Walmart in your area. Sadly, there's none in Down Under. I'm familiar with coupons as I have used some and saved. So now is the right time to use these coupons to the max and enjoy the opportunities. Though from the b+s list of pressies, this caught my attention. I wouldn't mind some pampering products. Really.

b+s loves…

This set of beauty goodies is spiked with peppercorn oil, pink pepper extract and spicy cardamom and ginger, which is said to reenergise sluggish skin. Either way, it’s a gorgeous way to perk up our bathroom and our senses!

Molton Brown Refraction gift set, $99. Available from selected David Jones stores or phone (02) 9150 0590 for stockists.

*****

Healthy Living

Sunday, 26 February 2012

Plants indoor

Caffiene and Kids

Sunday, 12 February 2012

That Yummy Sausages

Aging

Clean Living

Friday, 27 January 2012

Weird Tips

Saturday, 31 December 2011

Happiness is...

Tuesday, 20 December 2011

Stress Free Christmas

Food Glorious Food

Wednesday, 7 December 2011

All I Want for Christmas...

Blurb

Categories

Search This Blog

More of Me

Labels

BTemplates.com

Popular Posts

Blog Archive

Total Pageviews