www.womanthismonth.com April 2018 wellbeing 49 It stimulates the cells, giving them no nutrition whatsoever, and leads to digestive issues. Relax, we’re not asking you to swear off a comforting cuppa forever. Enjoy your brew, but after you’ve lined your stomach with something more benign (and beneficial). A glass of warm water followed by a banana, apple or even some soaked almonds or raisins is a good idea to stave off the effects of a sluggish metabolism. Reference: food.ndtv.com and www. thealternativedaily.com SAFE MATERIALS FOR PLASTIC It’s hard to avoid plastics, but would you make the extra effort if you were aware that plastics cause harm to more than the environment? They leach toxins into our food, water and air, causing cancer, genetic changes, birth defects, infertility and immune system impairments which are just a few of the hideous health hazards this man made material can cause, especially in teenagers and pre-adolescents. Store, carry, cook and heat food in glass or stainless-steel containers. Steer clear of aluminium foil and Styrofoam carriers, and melamine crockery, plastic teethers and toys too. Select bedding, clothing and furniture made of natural fibres. Reference: www.ecologycenter.org BOOKS FOR FACEBOOK When it comes to social media, we’re hooked. It’s now human nature to ‘catch up’ on the happenings on your Instagram, Facebook or Twitter accounts when you wind down for the night. The intended few minutes becomes hours of scrolling up and down (or swiping left or right). The damage shows the morning after, when you wake up with eyebags and brain fog, ready to kill the man who invented the alarm clock. The brain gets confused by the blue light your smartphone emits, leading it to stop producing melatonin, the sleep hormone. This makes it impossible to get adequate, restful sleep, in turn opening the doors to a host of health problems such as a weak metabolism, increased stress hormones, belly fat and overall lethargy. Read a gripping paperback instead. Not only will you improve and strengthen your power of comprehension and language, and make profound mental associations, you’ll be allowing your brain to tell you when it’s time to say goodnight for quality shuteye. Reference: www.greatist.com MINDFUL EATING FOR TV DINNERS Eating lunch or dinner while watching your favourite soap is not ideal – you’ll be consuming at least 31 per cent more than you need per meal, and you know what bigger portions do to your waistline. Eating while watching the television or your smartphone are not compatible activities. The problem lies in not paying attention to the taste, texture, sound of what we eat; we let external noise override our body’s ability to communicate satiety and overeat. It also distracts you from paying attention to your seated posture, causing long-term damage to the neck and spine. Sit in silence or have a pleasant conversation with family or friends, instead, for a mindful gastronomic experience. Reference: www.steptohealth.com NATURAL FOR ARTIFICIAL SUGARS Health experts have cried themselves hoarse, but we still find it difficult to kick the sweet habit. The processed variety of sugar that we eat has no nutritional benefits whatsoever; it only leaves us heavier on the scale. Do not even veer towards artificial sugar substitutes like aspartame, which have been linked to cancer and birth defects. Those 3pm sugar cravings can seem impossible to beat, but not if you have some handy alternatives at hand. Enjoy naturally sweetened foods like fresh fruit, dried dates and figs, or sweets made of jaggery (an unrefined product of pure sugarcane) for a healthy and nutritious treat. Berries and cinnamon make for tasty additions to sugar-free cereals like oats and wheat bran. Sweeten beverages or desserts with honey, liquid stevia, ripe bananas or applesauce for a sin-free indulgence. Reach for a square of dark chocolate, if you ever need to. And do remember that even natural sugars need to be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Reference www.naturallivingideas.com
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