You are incredible. Enough said. But this is easier said than believed in, especially when you’re struggling to hide a mushy tushy and sagging skin that comes with getting older or having a baby. How you view yourself is an important aspect that determines your overall wellness. Before considering impossibly – priced and risky surgeries, making peace with your body should be your most important step.

Whether you have a metabolism that prevents you from gaining a pound or one that causes the weighing scale to go crazy every time you step on it, gaining weight is not an easy issue to tackle. But what’s more difficult is accepting how you’ve come to look after gaining a few pounds.

Weight gain, stretch marks, sagging skin, getting old, spider veins, premature wrinkles, cellulites, you name it. They’re common complaints, and there’s a product or treatment of some sort promising to erase them before you know it. But these are all marketing strategies, and you ought to know better. Any issue that you experience with your body isn’t something that can go away in a day. Understand now that if you want to shed some pounds, you will need to get into your running shoes and run regularly. If you want better skin, you will have to eat vegetables and drink plenty of water, even when you hate both.

Transforming into someone you’d like to see in the mirror is not easy. It is a challenge. And it all begins with the way you think about yourself.

You want to be a pear when you’re petite. You want to be busty when you’re petite. You want to be petite when you’re a pear. You want to be a pear when you’re an hourglass. It seems no one is satisfied these days, and what’s one person’s heaven may very well be another’s hell. Instead of flipping through magazines wishing you had Victoria Beckman’s waist, or J-lo’s ass, you simply need to rearrange your closet. Your body shape is not based on what you desire but rather your genetic makeup. If your mother was busty, then you may be, as well. If your family is big-boned, you will be too. Your bone structure and fatty deposits define your shape. If the fatty deposits are physiologic, such as in the hips among women, then there’s really nothing you can do but have a positive self-image.

It helps to learn how to flaunt your assets, and they all begin with diet and exercise, and then closet re-arranging.

They say emotional eating can drive you straight to uncontrolled weight gain. But we say, forget everything you heard because eating the right foods when your nerve’s a wreck can actually calm you down. And this is nothing but great news because too much stress can increase your risk of having obesity, heart disease and hypertension.

We are giving you a list of best foods that can help soothe or manage your stress and counteract the damage it does to your body. Stock up on these and eat them whenever you feel tensed. It is a good way of beating the pressure than freaking out.

Holy Guacamole! When we are depressed we usually crave for high-fat content foods such as ice-cream. One way to beat this craving is to eat avocado. The rich and thick texture of avocado can reduce your frantic feeling. It also contains potassium and monounsaturated fat that aids in lowering blood pressure. A half slice of avocado offers at least 487mgs of potassium. This is more potassium than what you can get from a medium-sized banana.

Are you nuts?! Almonds, pistachios and walnuts are oozing with Vitamin E, an antioxidant. This helps your body remain sane during unpleasant events. Antioxidants are also immune system boosters. These nuts can blunt the strain in your heart and lower blood pressure according to a study conducted by Dr. Sheila West. Mixing nuts with your morning cereal, salads and oatmeal is best.

The milky solution! Science proves that warm milk can ease tension and manage insomnia. This is because milk is rich with calcium, the most abundant mineral in our body. It is well-known in managing muscle spasms. In addition to this, milk can reduce PMS symptoms in women such as anxiety, moodiness and irritability. But of course, choosing the right kind of milk is vital. Go for skim or low fat milk over the usual.

Oatmeal or dry up. Stocking up on carbs is important in producing serotonin, a brain chemical that helps our body relax. So instead of loading up with sugary cakes or rice, you can try plain oatmeal. It is rich in fiber and satisfies your hunger for longer periods. Add on a little twist by topping your oatmeal with jam for a quicker release of serotonin.

Color me orange. Are you nervous over an upcoming exam or a job interview? Fear not. Drink a glass of fresh orange juice. Aside from being an immune system booster, Vitamin C can help lower our blood pressure and the level of cortisol or what we call the stress hormone.

 Attempting to quit smoking is not an easy ordeal. Many have failed, and many have stopped trying since then. It is so hard that when you really overcome smoking and quit for good, you automatically become somebody’s hero, even if it’s just your neighbor who is secretly jealous that you finally quit smoking quite successfully. Here are some of the tricks ex-smokers used to defy the habit and start a brand new, healthy life:

1. Kill the habit, or bury it alive. Pat Owens from New York decided it was time to quit, so he wrapped all his packs of cigarettes nice and snug in a bag and in little pot, buried them there. When you crave for a stick, it would be such a hassle to dig up the cigarette packs just to satisfy yourself, so you’d eventually just forget about it. It worked for Pat, who has been cigar-sober for 18 years now.
2. Go for the gold, and nothing else. When you want to quit, think of something you’d like to reward yourself with. It must be expensive, and absolutely difficult to attain (but possible). It shouldn’t be something you can have access to everyday. Then go cold turkey. Every time you fall into the smoking trap, you step farther away from your prize. If you’ve completely gotten rid of the urge, someone should be able to offer you a stick and you politely say “I don’t smoke, thank you though”, go ahead and reward yourself with something big.
3. Pay up. Try this with a non-smoking partner, or with a smoker who is also trying to quit. Every time you falter and end up smoking, you will have to pay a dollar (or whatever amount you decide on). Why a dollar? Because it doesn’t come cheap. With every stick you consume, you will slowly feel your wallet getting thinner and thinner, and your bank account getting lighter and lighter. You‘ll eventually come to your senses and avoid paying a fine – quit!
4. Get hypnotized…by yourself. Hypnosis is tricky and most people buy them. But it is slowly becoming a popular means to quit a bad habit such as smoking, gambling or drinking alcohol. That’s how Shiela Bender, a psychologist from New Jersey, did it. You will need to consult with a trained specialist for this one, though. And for the first few tries, you may have to be with someone who can guide you while you are in a trance.
5. Get filthy. Throw away all your sticks and packets, and leave just one for when you have an insatiable craving. Store it under your gas range or your stove. Everytime you need a puff, indulge, but remember, you only have one stick for the rest of your life. (Mental alert: You should be saving it for those times you really, really, need it) Therefore, you won’t be reaching out to it very often. The gas range, unfortunately, is prone to grime, dust, dirt and food particles, that after a while of not picking up your last-ever cigarette, it’s going to be so filthy, that putting it in your mouth would be too revolting for words. There – you wouldn’t think about smoking after that. 

In this digital age, you could spending more than half the day in front of your computer, tablets, television, not knowing how these, while seemingly making your life convenient, are also costing you your precious eyesight. You can’t prevent technology from happening, but can you preserve your vision? 

 The computer vision syndrome

Several eye experts have created the term computer vision syndrome to describe a new problem affecting approximately ninety percent of people who stare continuously at a screen of a smartphone, a computer or even an e-book reader for more than two hours everyday. If you notice how bloodshot your eyes are at the end of the day, you may be spending too much time with your digital devices.

What symptoms come with computer vision syndrome? Some short term signs include blurred vision, dry eyes and headaches. Over time, when not managed properly, the syndrome may develop into long-term myopia (or near-sightedness). It should not take frequent occurrences of these symptoms for one to take action. All health conditions are best controlled with prevention.

 Eyeing the future

According to optometrist Andrea Thau, O.D., from the American Optometric Association in New York, people’s eyes today have transcended into three-dimensional vision. It seems as if our vision has adjusted to this feature of high-definition flat-screen televisions, so much so that we end up squinting and straining over images on a 2-D screen. This is because our eyes have become so used to 3-D that our eyes look for them in all digital screens.

The eyes can naturally focus optimally on objects that lie up to 20 feet away from the face. But when people sit in front of their computers, they usually sit too close, less than 2 feet, so the muscles of the eyes contract continuously in an effort to focus better on something closer. Imagine that the eyes keep making this effort for hours as long as you sit staring at your digital device screen. The muscles become restless, even after you have looked away from the screen. The result is blurry vision that typically clears up in a few seconds, but occurs several times in one day. It can occur so frequently, that the person is most likely to be diagnosed with permanent nearsightedness.

Another symptom of CVS is dry eyes. The eyes become parched and itchy, but may be considered trivial compared to long-term vision blurriness. However, the dryness can cause a lot of eye rubbing, scratching and wiping, which can all eventually lead to an eye infection, or several.

It’s not a matter of what you do at the computer. The eyes cannot distinguish gaming, reading email or creating spreadsheet files. To the eyes, as long as you are staring into the screen, they need to keep working non-stop without remembering to blink. Blinking is a reflex with a purpose – it helps the eyes get rid of dirt, dust and keeps the eyeballs lubricated. People should blink at least 16 times per minute, but people who use digital media too often only blink 6 times or even lesser.

There isn’t just one type of tummy ache – there’s the mild groaning you get when you’ve missed lunch, and then there’s the excruciatingly sharp stabs that wake you up in the middle of the night, and there are those other kinds you just can’t put a finger on. Stomach pains are generally not enough to warrant a run for the emergency room, but the kind of pain you encounter will be able to tell you if you should definitely see a doctor right away. Decoding your stomach signals should also set your expectations on the treatment your doctor is most likely to recommend. Here are common tummy conditions and how to distinguish one from the other: 

1.    If you have appendicitis…

The appendix is a fingerlike pouch attached to the large intestine, and may become prone to infection or inflammation, a condition known as appendicitis. The pain is initially dull and starts around the belly button, radiating to the right side of the lower abdomen. As the appendix becomes more inflamed, it will cause more pain in this area, sometimes too much that you won’t be able to walk. When you experience right lower quadrant pain, rush to the ER right away. You will want to prevent the appendix from rupturing. When it does, it will contaminate your other gastrointestinal organs and make the condition even more complication. When a diagnosis of appendicitis is confirmed, the best thing to do is have it surgically removed.

 2.    If you acid reflux…

You are most likely to feel a burning sensation between at the center of your chest, just below your breastbone. It is sudden and worsens when you eat and lie down after doing so. The pain is actually brought about by acids from your stomach shooting back up your throat. Normally, the stomach sphincter closes tightly after food bolus has entered the stomach. In this case, the sphincter is relaxed, so acids flow upwards. Over-the-counter antacids are the best relief, but if they become too frequent, a doctor may prescribe an acid-reducing medication.

 3.    If you have stomach ulcers…

This means the lining of your stomach may have corroded and has become sore. The pain is sharp and burning. It is worse when you are hungry, and is relieved by eating food. Nonsteroidal medications such as ibuprofen or aspirin worsen the ulcers, so they should be avoided for whatever pain. The doctor may prescribe medications that will coat the ulcer, kill bacteria that causes the ulcer, or may recommend surgery, depending on the size and depth of the sore.

 4.    If you have gallstones…

The gallbladder is located between the liver and small intestine. Gallstones can be as little as peas, or as large as golf balls. They are formed when cholesterol and bile hardens due to improper gallbladder emptying, or a high-cholesterol diet. If you have stones, you would feel a sharp and sudden pain on your upper abdomen, around the middle part. The pain would creep to the right, somewhere below your rib cage, and can become worse after you have eaten. You may also develop a fever or may vomit due to the pain, so it is best to see a doctor who will be able to confirm a diagnosis of gallstones through an ultrasound or a CT scan. Surgery is the best way to clear the stones, however if they are too large, the gallbladder may have to be removed.

 5.    If you have irritable bowel syndrome…

IBS is characterized by bouts of nausea and vomiting, abdominal bloating, alternating diarrhea and constipation, and lower abdomen cramps. It is brought about by a nerve malfunction in the intestines. The discomforts generally lessen when you are able to move bowels. IBS is usually treated with an anti-spasmodic drug to help your intestines regulate movement, and to relieve cramping.

In order to be healthy and to function well, all of us need uninterrupted sleep for at least eight hours daily. Sleep is very important to help the body rejuvenate and heal itself from all the activities that it went through the day. It is also thru sleep that the body gets to rest and to regain strength for the following day’s activity.

Although sleep is very essential for all of us to have, sad to say, at times because of several reasons we cannot complete the required amount of time for sleeping. Factors like stress, too much caffeine, alcohol intake, too much activity, using of illicit drugs, and some diseases can all lead to poor sleeping habits in a person. Without sleep, we tend to be cranky, week and irritable.

If ever you suffer from insomnia or lack of sleep, do not worry much. There are things that you can do which will help cope with less sleep. The following are some of the tips on how to effectively cope with less sleep:

• Have a cold shower! Do not believe on old wives tale saying that taking a bath when you have less sleep will make you sick. A cold shower helps wake up the senses and will instantly give you the energy to start the day.
• Drink coffee. Coffee is one of the major reasons why most people are not sleeping well at night. But it is also good for people who lack sleep because it keeps the body active and awake. Just make sure that you won’t drink hours before bedtime so that you would not be repeating your bouts of difficulty in sleeping.
• Find the sun. When we think about daytime we always have the sun in mind. When you had poor sleep quality the night before, expose yourself in the sun because it is like an energy booster and an indicator that it is a brand new you day and whether you like it or not you need to get up.
• Try to be active. It may be hard but in order for you to have energy; you need to wake up your senses. In going to the office, try using the stairs rather than the elevator. Doing simple exercises before officially starting your day will serve as energy booster even if you have less hour of sleep during the previous night.
• Pamper yourself. It is given that your body is tired because it was not able to get the hours of sleep needed, so make ways to do extra effort to pamper yourself. Have a massage or treat yourself for a sumptuous meal. These things will help your body regain energy.

Nothing beats the confidence of smiling with pearly white teeth. Having the perfect set of white teeth makes the person stand out and have an instant edge over the others. But sad to say not all of us are blessed to have that appealing white teeth.

The teeth are naturally white, but due to a lot of factors the teeth become less appealing and turn into the color yellow. The most common reasons for teeth discoloration are:

• Poor dental hygiene practices
• Alcohol intake
• Cigarette Smoking
• Using of Dangerous Drugs
• Food intake

Due to advancement of technology, there are now a lot of ways to make yellow teeth turn into pearly white. Dentists perform dental bleaching that offers great results to change the color of the teeth. But this procedure is expensive and is often not of easily accessible to everyone. Dental bleaching can be harmful to some persons because some are allergic with the chemicals used to whiten the teeth.

If you are on a budget, then there is no need to worry. There are a lot of things found in nature that helps make the teeth look in pearly white glory. They are just not friendly to the pocket, it offers results that equals the effects that dental bleaching gives. Here are the ways to have pearly white teeth without using chemicals:

• Practice good dental hygiene. This is the first step to have healthy teeth. If possible, it is best to brush teeth every after meal to get rid of bacteria build up that does not only cause teeth discoloration but also cause tooth decay.
• Strawberries work wonders in helping the teeth to look white. Rubbing a strawberry directly to the teeth or using it like toothpaste. It can enhance the teeth’s color from yellow to white.
• Baking soda is widely accepted as an alternative to teeth whitening. Even dentists believe in the power of baking soda when it comes to teeth whitening. It is just very easy to use; baking soda can be rubbed directly to teeth or used like toothpaste. Baking soda offers instant results in teeth whitening.
• Wood ash can also whiten the teeth. It has a component called potassium hydroxide that is effective in teeth whitening.  Woods ash can be applied directly to the teeth or you can use it as toothpaste. But do not use wood ash for so long as it can cause damage to the tooth enamel.
• Gargling of hydrogen peroxide is one of the oldest methods used to whiten the teeth. It is very effective, safe to use, and instantly gives the teeth the white color.
• Eat the right kinds of foods. If you want to stay away from teeth discoloration then you should refrain from foods that stain the teeth like berries, colas, and tea.
• Do not smoke. Cigarettes have nicotine that stains the teeth.

There are of ways to keep the teeth looking pearly white. But, it is best to try natural methods as they do not have harmful side effects.

Not many people are aware of the power of meditation and what it can do to promote relaxation not only of the mind but of the body and spirit as well. Is it just a simply action of closing the eyes and shutting all noises behind? Or does it entail a deeper connection with oneself to really reap the benefits of an old ancient medical intervention. People who have discovered meditation have testified of the calmness it brings beyond mental and physical state, some defined meditation as a spiritual connection that brings them closer either with God, their own selves or their loved ones.

For those who are new to meditation let us try to know the basics by reading this following guide.

Place of Comfort – to start an effective spiritual connection one must take into consideration the peacefulness and serenity of the place where you intend to perform meditation. Find a place that is quiet and free from distractions preferably a cool room where you can sit down. Sit with your legs crossed and rest your hands on your lap.

Breathing – Once you are comfortable in your position, work on your breathing. Slowly close the eyes and breathe with slow deep breaths. Breathing techniques in meditation is not just slow breathing but inhaling through the nose to slowly exhaling through your mouth, do this for the first part. Do not force breathing, let it come naturally. As you progress, you will notice breathing will become deeper and you’ll feel that air slowly fills your lungs.

Concentrate – meditation is not as easy as it sounds. Most beginners think that just by closing the eyes and breathing slowly that they can achieve the relaxed state that meditation promises. But to fully understand one must concentrate hard in eliminating worries and thoughts that preoccupy our mind which the hard part. Once you feel your mind slowly wanders off to somewhere control it and bring it back to your goal of thinking nothing and concentrating on the simplicity of just breathing.

Try to exercise meditating once or twice everyday and see the distinct change, a more relaxed feeling, comfortable outlook and a positive aura. Meditation can help clear the mind of everyday stress and will prevent the need for antidepressant medications that most people immediately turn to nowadays when they feel burdened with all of life’s complexities. The breathing techniques learned in meditation will also be helpful in improving physical health. It improves blood circulation and is a form of de-stressing.

Meditation is also known to enhance spirituality which increases our self awareness and gives us tranquility and a sense of contentment. It helps to remove tension and worry and is said to bring reflection to each one who practices it. Meditation is the greatest stress buster as it diverts your efforts of worrying and thinking on things stressing you into a much higher plane that touches your spirituality leaving you only with positive thoughts that can refresh you to go through another day in life.