12 Easy-to-do Healthy Habits

Being healthy does not only imply that your body is free from illness, or having a sound mind. There may be several more definitions of “being healthy”.
Whatever your description of good health is – the following tips can help you feel better.

Eat

Xlane Adiks Grand EB: The 2 ladies at the back are: Georyl and Ledz. Flo Renze is also part of the group.

Everybody loves eating! But do you know that eating 4-6 small meals a day can enhance your metabolism and maintain your body’s needed energy boost. Don’t stay away from having light snacks but be sure not to go on junk foods. Always pick foods that are good sources of nutrients, fiber and lean proteins.

Sleep

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Have a good night sleep. Studies showed that those who slept 8 hours ninghtly are unlikely to catch colds than those who slept 7 hours or less each night. So what are you waiting for – get done with your daily activities and take a well-deserved rest.

Talk

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There are times that our mind is engulf with problems that we kept only to ourselves. Kick-off that silly and annoying trait – find someone to talk to! Pouring out your emotions to a trusted friend or friends will help you rid of those negative energy out of your body. Having a positive aura is a sign of good health.

Laugh

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Laughter is the best medicine – an old adage that is proven correct. Make laughter a part of your daily exercises. It is a good form of body relaxation, aids in regulating blood circulation and an endorphin-releaser.

Move

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Is your work enslave you to sit on your working table all day long? Or, your just idle – sitting on your couch watching television? Ah.. Pity on you! Do you know that the human body was made to move, stretch, and engage. You don’t need to run the marathon – just take a walk, or simply stretch your arms toward the sky and you’ll see a positive health result.

Breathe

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Inhale…Exhale… a simple, yet helpful way to have a healthy body. Making ten long, mindful breaths, will rid your lungs of toxic air and lets clean oxygen comes flowing in your system. This is a nice early morning exercise.

Drink

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Water, that is. Since grade school, we are reminded to drink 8-12 glasses of clean water. Why? Drinking water helps your bodies functioning at its and rids the system of toxins.

Play

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Playing is not only for children! Though we can’t do anymore those classic children plays – still we can innovate new ones! You can play hide-and-seek with your children or play some new tricks with your dog while taking him on a stroll. Have some fun while playing – it will makes you feel healthy and alive.

Create

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Do you want to feel better? Let your creative-self be at work. Why not do some cross-stitching, make some quilts, weave scarf, or do some origami. Doing creative activities helps maintain brain alertness as well as promoting better heart health.

Sing

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Sing to the top of your voice! Whether you’re a bad singer – just sing. Singing requires deep breathing, and deep breathing lets fresh oxygen enters your lungs, and oxygenates your blood. So, set the Karaoke running, get hold of a mike, and sing your heart out.

Dance

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Don‘t let your spirit and the hips rust – do some dancing today! It is a nice form of exercise — all one has to do is listen to your favorite ballroom or disco tunes – dance and feel your body open up.

Cry

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Brave men do cry – so “Let it out,”. Shedding some tears is beneficial to our health because tears have antibacterial properties and lubricating effect that is helpful to our eyes.

The Bible’s Seven Wonder Foods

Are there wonder foods mentioned in the Bible? The answer is Yes! In Deuteronomy 8:8, God promised the Israelites as they reached the Promise Land that it was “a land of wheat and barley, and vines, and figs trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive trees and honey.”

At that time, the word “antioxidant” might have been a strange word for them, but they were about to add into their diet a list of biblical “super-foods.” Read on to know more details about these wonder foods.

Wheat

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Considered the World’s most important grain, wheat offers tremendous health benefits. Wheat is a major ingredient in making bread, cakes, crackers, pasta and muffins. This grain is rich in vitamins A, B, E, K, D, manganese, magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc, cobalt, sodium, among others. Adding whole-wheat products to your diet ensures a diet rich in proteins. Regular consumption of 100% whole-wheat food items offer 30% of the body’s daily fiber need. Also, these products have high amount of magnesium and manganese.

Below are some more health benefits from eating wheat-based food:

* Whole-wheat has fat essential acids helpful in lowering cholesterol level and blood coagulation, which decreases the risk of heart-related diseases.
* A whole-wheat rich diet regulates the body’s blood glucose, which decreases the risk of type-2 diabetes.
* Consuming whole-wheat products prevents visceral obesity.
* High in fiber contents, whole-wheat consumption decreases the risk of cancer.

Barley

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Barley is another type of healthy whole grain, found in cereals and bakery items such as breads, pastry and cakes. Since ancient times, barley is used for medical purposes. Barley is rich in vitamins, proteins, amino acids minerals as well as fiber that is vital to our health.

Below are some health benefits of barley:

* A regular diet of barley aids in lowering cholesterol level, thus reducing the risk of type-2 diabetes and colon cancer.
* Regular consumption of barley prevents rheumatoid arthritis and obesity.
* Barley also helps in weight loss thus prevents obesity.
* Regular intake of barley, reduces high blood pressure and other heart diseases.
* Barley alleviate asthma, fever, stomach pains and ulcers.

Grapes

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Aside from the healthy red wine and grape juice, grapes have other health benefits. High in falconoid and antioxidants, grapes reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and blood clots. Grapes are rich in potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and other essential minerals as well as vitamins like A, C, B6; nutrient the body needs.

Here are other health benefits of grapes:

* Grapes ease asthma.
* Grape juice alleviate migraine, eases constipation and dyspepsia.
* Grape juice is also a good energy booster and boost immune system.
* Regular consumption of grapes reduces the risk of muscular degeneration and impairment of vision caused by aging.
* Grapes have anticancer properties since grapes contain resveratrol
Red wines have antiviral properties that prevent infections.

Figs

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These sweet but seasonal fruit, is a good source of vitamins including A, B1, and B2, as well as mincemeats like calcium, potassium, sodium, manganese, iron, chlorine and phosphorus, manganese, sodium, potassium and chlorine. Since figs are also rich in dietary fiber, adding figs to your diet aids in weight loss.

Below are other health benefits of figs:

* Figs boosts memory power.
* Figs prevents indigestion, constipation, cough, sore throats, asthma, anemia and diabetes.
* Figs contain Pectin that helps in reducing cholesterol level and prevents hypertension.
* Prevents heart diseases, breast cancer and colon cancer.
* Prevent vision loss and macular degeneration caused by aging.

Pomegranate

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These reddish-pink fruits are also pack with several health benefits. Among the health benefits are:

* Pomegranate is good in treating sun burns, sore throats, colds, cough, skin disorder and urinary infections.
* Pomegranate is rich in antioxidants that stop blood clots and lowers the risk of Alzheimer’s.
* Pomegranate juice lowers cholesterol levels and prevents heart attacks.
* Pomegranate is also good in the treatment of anemia, arthritis and diabetes.
* Studies showed that pomegranates prevent breast cancer.

Olive Oil

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When picking fats, olive oil may come first in the list of good oils. It has monounsaturated fat that lowers LDL levels in the blood helpful in reducing the danger of heart disease. Olive oil is also rich in vitamin E that reduces the risk of colon cancer.

Other health benefits of olive oil includes:

* Relieve gastritis and ulcer.
* Prevents gallstone formation.
* Lowers blood pressure.
* Lower blood sugar level.
* Ease asthma and arthritis pain.
Promote normal body weight.

Honey

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Since a good source of carbohydrates, raw honey provides the body the energy it needs as well as boosting the immune system.

Drinking or adding honey to your diet offers other health benefits such as:

* Honey is a common home remedy for treating sore throats, asthma, arthritis pain and even athlete’s foot.
* Honey also prevents swelling and inflammation from wounds, cuts, or burns
* Honey is a good cleansing tonic that helps maintain a healthy digestive system.
* Studies showed that honey can prevent hair loss.

Five Bad Foods That are Good for You

What do these five food have in common? Over the years, they are treated as bad foods. However, recent studies and researches suggest that their not really that bad — only if eaten or consumed in moderation. Read on to know them.

Here is a set of five foods that once were treated as bad or unhealthy foods. Thanks to modern studies, these foods have claimed their place in the healthy food list. So go take a bite!

Chocolates

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Everyone loves chocolate, but what makes chocolate so irresistible? One thing is sure, chocolate’s charisma lies in its tempting taste. But it is unfortunate that all you hear about chocolate is its bad reputation – from rotting teeth to acne. Good news! Chocolate isn’t as bad for you as once believed; studies have shown that it has some health benefits, too.

Recent researches have revealed that chocolate is rich in flavonoids. What are flavonoids? These are natural compounds found in fruit and vegetables. They act as powerful antioxidants in your body, to fight off toxins and help your body’s cells to fight damage. Also, flavonoids also help check bad cholesterol – thus decreasing the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke. Recent studies indicate that eating moderate amount of dark chocolate is beneficial for people with diabetes. Furthermore, chocolate is a good source of potassium, magnesium, and several vitamins – including B1, B2, D, and E.

Knowing the above mentioned health benefits of chocolate, does it implies that you eat more chocolate products? Nope, overindulgence can lead to weight gain, which may result to heart problems and strokes. Moderation is always the key – consumed small portions of chocolates (about six grams of chocolate per day) and don’t forget to eat other flavonoid-rich foods like red wine, green tea, apples and cranberries.

Eggs

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Is eating eggs unhealthy? Pity the poor egg; for years now, the dietary naysayers put eggs the villain of the breakfast world. These people are dead-scared about the high cholesterol content (found in the egg yolk) that can put you at risk of heart attacks. Today, continuous researches and studies have rebutted this misguided belief and medical findings have shown that eating eggs is healthy. New study indicates that people who eat eggs every day lower their risk of heart disease, stroke and blood clots. According to this study, there is no noteworthy connection between egg consumption and heart disease.

Eggs are loaded with high-quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids. They are good source of lutein and zeaxanthin that are beneficial for the eyes. Furthermore, eggs contain choline that helps manage the brain, nervous system, and cardiovascular system. Yes, one egg a day is acceptable, but people with heart diseases and diabetes should go for a small or medium egg.

Avocados

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Avocado shakes this summer… I simply love that! However, some tend to cross-out this green fruit on their summer fruits list. Why, because of the misguided belief that it has high fat content. But avocado has made a dramatic comeback; thanks for the numerous studies and researches done proving that this delicious fruit has tremendous health benefits!

While it is a fact that avocado is indeed high in fat — nutritionists point out that avocados contain a monounsaturated fat (oleic acid) as well as a natural substance (beta-sitosterol), which help regulate blood cholesterol levels. Avocados’ high amount of folate are also protective against strokes. Thus, avocado is a highly recommended medicinal fruit for cholesterol-related heart diseases. Avocados are also rich in carotenoid lutein that help prevent cataracts and other age-related eye diseases.

Other studies reveal that avocados have anti-cancer benefits, helpful in preventing mouth cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer, and prostate cancer. If you believe avocado is a healthy fruit, then make it a point to have a few slices of avocado added to your meal. By the way, studies have revealed that an ounce of avocado has 60% more potassium than bananas.

Nuts

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To crack or not to crack? Many people are worried to eat nuts because of its high fat contents. Yes they are right! But restrain not yourself in consuming these delicious nuts — they can be healthy and delicious, if eaten in moderation.

Nuts like walnuts, almonds and Brazil nuts do contain fats — but ‘good fats’or monounsaturated fats. Scientific evidence suggests eating nuts regularly can lower risks of heart disease. These monounsaturated fats help lower your LDL cholesterol and raise your HD L cholesterol. Other studies suggest that a few nuts can even facilitate weight loss.

The best way to reap nuts health benefits is to eat them in replacement of unhealthy snacks or junk foods. Each type of nuts have dozens of other health benefits, so Go Nuts!

Maple Syrup

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Pancakes and maple syrup go to together as food lovers may say. Though these fave pancake sweetener contains lots of sugar and calories; it too are pack with plenty of healthy antioxidants. Recent studies have revealed that maple syrup contains more than 10 antioxidants!

Pure maple syrup contains healthy compounds (lignans and falconoid) that are also found in berries, whole wheat, tea, and flax seed. These compounds are known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. Maple syrup is also a good source of important nutrients like calcium, iron, potassium and zinc.

Despite the health benefits that makes it a very alluring as a sweetener, keep in mind that maple syrup is still just liquid sugar. Always consume maple syrup in moderation. Too much of it can result to weight gain and can increase the risk of diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.