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Best Home Workout Equipment

Posted on November 28, 2011 by admin| Comments Off

Hectic lifestyles leave little room to worry about health and fitness. Turn a part of your home into a gym with best home workout equipment. This will save your time and working out will become a lot easier.

Working professionals tangled in hectic routines, have little time to worry about their health issues. Going to the gym or following a workout routine seems tough when you have a tight schedule of travels and corporate meetings to comply with. In such cases, if you can turn a part of your house into a gym, then working out will become a lot simpler. This will save your time of commuting to the gym. Moreover, when the facilities are available in your home, they are accessible at all times, which is the biggest motivating factor to workout. However, while making a gym in your home, it is a little tricky to know which are the best home workout equipment. The biggest mistake that many make, is buying expensive equipment. However, the equipment which caters to your need will decide its effectiveness.

Best Workout Equipment for Home Use

Exercise Ball
An exercise ball is the cheapest and truly the best workout equipment that you can have at home. This big sized ball helps you perform some of the most effective strengthening exercises. Trunk extension, core crunches to build abs, basic crunches, elevated push ups and bent knee bridge can all be done at home without the help of any gym instructor. All you need is a gym ball and a little motivation to get yourself back in shape.

Treadmill
A treadmill is the most basic kind of gym equipment. It is especially useful if you are living in extremely cold weather conditions, wherein you cannot step out early in the morning for a jog. Cardiovascular exercises keep your heart healthy, help you build stamina and strengthen your leg muscles. This machine requires minimum maintenance and hence is the best workout equipment for those who spend little time at home. Just a 30 minute cardio workout for a month will help you shed a few extra pounds and get you back in shape.

Dumbbells
The size of the dumbbells makes them the best home workout equipment. A pair of dumbbells can be kept anywhere in the house, as they do not occupy much space. Simple strengthening exercises such as lateral raises, parallel raises, dumbbell lunges, half squats with dumbbells, shrugs and bench press can be performed with these dumbbells. Lifting weights helps in toning the flabby parts on your arms, improves your posture, athletic performance and reduces the fat around your abdomen. It also keeps conditions such as osteoporosis at bay.

Elliptical
Elliptical is a popular workout equipment, both at gyms and at homes. This machine does occupy a little bit of space, but it is worth the price you pay for it. It helps you to exercise your whole body by using your natural stride and strength. This is an excellent cardiovascular workout equipment, which prevents conditions such as arthritis, bad knees or weak ankles. As an elliptical uses your potential strength, it is easy for your back and other parts of the body. This comprehensive workout machine, is best suited for beginners and for those who do not want to spend much energy on working out.

Best home workout equipment is the one that occupies less space and produces the most effective results. Exercising just about 30 minutes in a day, is good enough to keep your body fit as a fiddle. Workouts are great stress busters and relieve your mind from routine conundrum for a while. If you are buying this equipment to lose weight and stay fit, it is important that you follow a diet too. Eating right is a very important part of living the right lifestyle, which ensures a healthy body and a healthy mind.

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Posted in EXERCISE, HEALTH & WELLNESS

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Foods that Make you Gain Weight

Posted on November 28, 2011 by admin| Comments Off

Foods that make you gain weight are those which supply sufficient amount of nutrients at the same time help you add some extra pounds. Read this article to enrich your knowledge about all such foods that make you gain weight quickly.

You may think that people like you, who are looking for foods that make you gain weight are very rare! However, it is not so. There are many people who are underweight and need to gain some weight. There could be many reasons for which one may have lost a lot of weight in recent times and need to increase it. Loss of weight can be triggered by a number of factors like some health disorder, eating disorder or simply lack of appetite. So what actually are the foods to eat to gain weight? Keep reading ahead.

Top 10 Foods That Make You Gain Weight

We all know calories need to be increased in order to gain weight. However, that does not mean that you are free to have some junk food which are rich in fats and sugar. Rather, such food should be avoided because of the unhealthy fatty and sugary components present in them. The foods that you select must give enough nutrition along with the calories. Here is a list of foods that make you gain weight fast in a healthy way:

Whole Grains: You must have plenty of grains and cereals in your diet. It is recommended that at least three servings of a day should consist of whole grains. It could be in the form of whole wheat breads, brown rice, sprouted grains or oatmeal. Besides the calories, they give us fiber, essential proteins and many other nutrients.

Fruits: Fruits are not just a great source of calories but also have many vitamins and phytochemicals that are important to keep yourself healthy. The most popular high calorie fruits are avocado and banana. Other fruits with rich calorie content are strawberries, pineapple, cherries, pears, apples and so on.

Vegetables: Vegetables that can give you a lot of good quality carbohydrates are broccoli, cabbage, carrots, beets, French beans and so on. Then there are starchy vegetable like potato, sweet potato and corn. Dark green vegetables may not have that much of calories but you can enrich them with salad dressings like mayonnaise or grated cheese.

Milk: Whole milk is rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals like calcium and of course, plenty of calories. So, you should drink milk daily to gain weight. Apart from its nutritional values, milk provides you with certain healthy bacteria that helps in improvement of the digestive health.

Fruit Juice: People who have the habit of having drinks often take sodas as they are high in calories. However, they are not suitable for your health as they contain sugar, sugar products and corn syrup but no nutritional values at all . Rather, have fruit juices which are rich in calories, nutrition and hydrate your body as well.

Nuts and Seeds: These are excellent source of polyunsaturated fats and contribute towards healthy calories for your diet. When it comes to nuts and seeds, you have so many choices. You can select them as per your preference of flavors. The nuts varieties include peanuts, Brazil nuts, almonds, cashew, walnuts, etc. You can also have a handful of sunflower seeds, flax seeds or pumpkin seeds.

Edible Oils: Olive oil is a healthy oil as it contains monounsaturated fat and is not going to have any adverse effect on the cardiovascular system. In order to gain some extra pounds use a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil in your vegetables and pasta. Similarly, canola oil can be used as a cooking oil to get additional supply of both mono- and polyunsaturated fats.

Dried Fruits: Many people prefer to have dried fruits instead of fresh fruits as they are less voluminous but gives sufficient nutrition. In fact, one cup of raisins will provide you with more calories that fresh grapes of same quantity. Other most popular dried fruits are berries, cranberries, apricots or any other tropical fruits.

Pasta: Pasta is a healthy food and has a great flavor. It is also high in carbohydrate which means a lot of calories in it. If you include it in your regular meals, then it would help you a lot in weight gain. To enrich it with some more calories, top it up with some shredded cheese!

Fish: Fish is also considered as a weight gaining food as it contains a good quality protein. Certain varieties of fishes that you should include in your diet are cod, mackerel, tuna, sardine, salmon, etc. However, you should avoid any kind of canned fish.

These are the healthy foods that make you gain weight. The best part of having these foods is that they will never make you overweight. To reach your goal, healthy eating should be accompanied by regular exercises and healthy overall lifestyle.

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Posted in HEALTH & WELLNESS, HEALTHY LIVING

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Fat Burning Exercises at Home

Posted on November 23, 2011 by admin| Comments Off


To remain healthy, there are two methods, which prove to be useful. One of them are the fat burning exercises and the other of course is healthy eating. In this article, we will see the exercises, which will help you in this endeavor.

It is one of the biggest misconception of all times, when people say you have to visit a gym,if you want to lose weight. There are a number of fat burning exercises at home, which will give you the same result, if not more. The only point to remember, is to do the exercises diligently, as you would do in a gym, so that you are able to reap the benefits of these exercises, without going to a gym and spending a lot of money for the gym. Many times people say, that they do not have the time at home to exercise, but my question remains, how will they make time if they have to join a gym? It is the same way, one will have to spare time to do the exercises at home as well.

Best Fat Burning Exercises at Home

When we talk about fat burning exercises at home, there are two types of fat burning exercises, which can be done at home. They are cardiovascular exercises and strength training exercises. We will see both of them in this article.

Cardiovascular Exercises

There are a number of cardiovascular exercises, which can easily be done at home as well. You will have to take up any activity, which will increase your heart rate.

Staircase: It is indeed one of the best fat burning home cardio exercise. You can climb up and down the staircase for a good cardiovascular exercise regime.
On Spot Cardio Exercises: In case you do not have a staircase, then you can do the aerobic exercises like jogging on the spot, doing jumping jacks, skipping, etc.
Cycling: If you have a cycle, then you can make use of it as well. It can be a stationary cycle or the regular cycle.
Swimming: If you have a swimming pool around, then you can also go swimming, as it is one of the best cardiovascular exercise.
Walking or Jogging: You may want to do walking exercise or running and jogging in the park.
Hill Climbing: Climbing a hill is also a wonderful cardiovascular exercise.

Strength Training Exercises to Burn Fat

The cardiovascular exercises help to increase the heart rate, but some exercises which will help in building muscles are also necessary to burn fat. You can also do the regular twists and bends along with these exercises as well. The best fat burning exercise at home for men and women are given below.

Easy Chair: It is one of the best known compound exercise, therefore is also a fat burning exercises at home for women as well as men. There are a number of variations of this exercise, which can be performed. The basic version is to stand at a distance of 6 inches away from the wall, but with your back resting on the wall. Place your feet shoulder width apart. Slowly bend your knees and go down till your thighs are parallel to the floor. Hold the position for a few seconds and slowly come back to the starting position to repeat the exercise 10 to 12 times. When you go down in a squat, you will have to ensure, your knees do not cross your toes.

Lunges: Like the easy chair, this is also a compound exercise. You either do this Fat Burning exercise with weights or without weights as well. If you use weights it will increase the intensity of the exercise. For weights you can make use of water bottles filled with water. Stand with a shoulder width distance between your feet. Place the right leg in front of you, such that it is in line with your hip joint. Slowly lower your torso, so that the right thigh is parallel to the floor and the left knee is about to touch the floor, but your left knee should be locked. Hold in the position for a few seconds, before you come back to the starting position. Repeat the exercise 10 to 15 times.

Plank: This is one of the belly fat burning exercises at home. It may seem very easy, if you see someone else doing this exercise, but when you do it yourself you will understand the intensity of the exercise. To do this core exercise come down on all your fours. You should be so positioned, that your shoulders are placed exactly above your wrist and your knees should not touch the floor. You will have to curl your toes under. When you get into the position, activate your core and continue to breathe regularly. Slowly rest your body on the floor and repeat the exercise.

Push Ups: Push ups are one of the best chest fat burning exercises. This exercise will work not only the chest, but also your triceps and deltoids. Lie down on the floor with your stomach on the floor. Place your arms such that they are positioned exactly under your shoulders. Now slowly push yourself up, so that your arms are straightened. When you push yourself up, your body should be in a straight line from your head to your heels. To lower yourself bend your elbows, but come so much down that your nose is about to touch the ground. Then push yourself back up. When you are doing this exercise do not arch your back.

When you do the fat burning exercises at home, you will have to make sure, your posture is correct. Bad posture will not only cause injury, but you may not be able to derive all the benefits of the exercise either. Do not forget to do some warm up exercises before you do the strength training exercises, as if the body is not sufficiently warmed up, it can lead to injury.

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Allergies Vs. Cold

Posted on November 22, 2011 by admin| Comments Off


Start of winter is the start of allergies and cold. Since the symptoms of allergies and symptoms of cold are alike, this starts an allergies vs cold debate. Let’s read more on allergies vs cold.

Do you have a running nose, cough and nasal congestion? In such a condition, it is very difficult to differentiate between allergies vs cold, as both of them involve the immune system. It is hard to believe, but many health care professionals also have a hard time to differentiate between the two. To understand allergies vs common cold better, let’s see what are colds and allergies.

What is a Cold?
Common cold is as a result of harmful bacteria or viruses. Since they are intruders in the body, the immune system attacks them. Cold, cough and congestion are actually effects of the immune system responding to these intruders. If a cold is caused by a virus, the cold is contagious and spreads, when a person with cold sneezes, coughs in the periphery or shakes hands. The common symptoms, which accompany colds caused by viruses are sore throat, sneezing, cough and running or stuffy nose. Some people may also experience body aches and pains. In rare cases, people may also have mild fever. Mild to moderate chest discomfort may also be seen in some people.

What are Allergies?
If a person contracts cold suddenly and it occurs at the same time of the year, every year, it is a symptom of allergy. It is actually seasonal allergy in particular. It is the response given to a particular allergen by the immune system. The allergens can be mold or pollens. The body actually mistakes them for germs and attacks them, causing allergies. The common symptoms of allergies are itchy eyes, running or stuffy nose. Fever is never a symptom of allergies, although some people may have sore throat or fatigue. These allergies are not contagious hence, are not passed from one person to another. Allergies take about a few weeks before they are completely eliminated from the body. You may want to read about allergy tests.

Allergies Vs. Cold

To differentiate between allergies vs cold symptoms, understand that the symptoms of cold take a few days to appear after the person has been infected with the virus. On the other hand, the symptoms of allergies appear immediately after the person is exposed to the allergen. The duration of cold can be anywhere between three to fourteen days, but allergies last till the person is exposed to the allergen causing the allergy. Cold is very common feature during the winter, but it can occur any time of the year. Allergies are commonly seen during the pollen season. Colds just cause inconvenience, but allergies can give rise to life-threatening conditions. More often than not, in case of allergies, there are no infections but they can give rise to infections.

Since the symptoms of both cold and allergies are different, the method to be implemented to treat them is also different. If you have allergies, make sure you make a note of what are you allergic to. So, next time you can stay clear of those allergens. The most common allergens are pollen, mold, dust mites and animal dander. To prevent cold, make sure you are not in close proximity of people who have cold. Make sure you wash your hands often, also when you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth and nose. To treat both allergy as well as cold, antihistamines and decongestants are prescribed. Nasal steroids may be given to treat allergy. Read about natural allergy treatment, here.

Allergies Vs Cold Vs Flu
There is a lot of confusion between allergies, cold and flu. Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza virus. The symptoms of flu are very similar to that of allergy and cold symptoms. There are flu vaccines, which are available against this virus.

I hope with this article, you are able to understand allergies vs cold. If you have confusion between allergies and cold, it is always recommended that you visit your health care professional. He will be in a better position to diagnose the exact problem.

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Posted in ALLERGIES, COMMON ILLNESS

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Hair Dye Allergy

Posted on November 22, 2011 by admin| Comments Off

Hair dye allergy can manifest in the form of skin irritation or dermatitis affecting the hairline. A severe allergic reaction may also affect the face and the eyes.

Hair dye allergy can manifest in the form of skin irritation or dermatitis affecting the hairline. A severe allergic reaction may also affect the face and the eyes.

Hair dye seems to be an easy remedy to hide those white locks of hair. Many youngsters use hair dye to give visually appealing color to the hair. Sounds interesting? Isn’t it? But did you know that some of these have to visit a doctor for a hair dye allergy cure. Yes, an allergic reaction resulting from hair dye usage can occur, especially in people who have a sensitive scalp.

Hair Dye Allergy Symptoms

The severity of symptoms will differ from person to person, but in most cases, signs of an allergic reaction are noticed within 24 hours after application of the hair dye. Scalp itching is one of the most common symptoms of allergic reaction from a hair dye. The scalp and the hairline may show signs of pimple or blister formation. Dermatitis on the hairline is a common complaint among hair dye users. In some cases, contact dermatitis does not remain restricted to hair line but also spreads to the forehead and the neck. Besides affecting the face, a severe form of hair dye allergy may manifest in the form of swollen eyes. Rashes and swelling is also seen in other parts of the body. The person who has applied hair dye may also experience fever and a nauseatic feeling and may find it difficult to swallow food.

Hair Dye Allergy Treatment

How to treat hair dye allergy? Hair dye allergic reactions must be treated immediately, so as to prevent further health complication. A hair dye allergy is usually treated in the following way:

Wash It Off
The best remedy for allergic reactions from hair care products is to get rid of it as early as possible. Rinsing hair with a mild shampoo, will remove all the applied hair dye. This will definitely help to reduce the discomfort associated with symptoms of hair dye allergy. Remember, occurrence of rash due to hair dye application is an indication that the hair products is not tolerated by the body, hence, removing it would be the best option.

Corticosteroids
Swelling around the face and on the eyelids, as a result of hair dye allergy can be treated with corticosteroid drugs. However, these medications have to be taken as instructed by the doctor, to keep its side effects at bay. Claritin helps to reduce scalp itching and provides hair dye allergy relief. One may either take the drug internally or use its topical form to apply it on the scalp.

Benadryl
This is yet another medication that has found to effective to counteract the effects of allergic reactions. Benadryl is basically an antihistamine and is available over the counter but one has to necessarily consult a doctor to know its exact dosage.

Diet
Intake of the right food can also contribute to reduce the effects of hair dye allergy. Foods that acts as skin healers should be included in the diet. One must eat plenty of green leafy vegetables and fruits. Most importantly, intake of carrot juice or externally applying it, is found to be useful to treat a variety of skin disorders. Carrot juice is loaded with vitamin A and hence is beneficial to eliminate skin problems. Allergic reactions that affect the skin can also be successfully treated with the usage of carrot juice.

Natural Moisturizers
Natural skin care moisturizers are also useful to treat adverse skin reactions, occurring due to hair dye allergy. These products can help to restore healthy skin.

Caution

The best way to prevent hair dye allergy is by first applying a small amount of the solution of this product on the wrist or behind the ears. Allow the solution to remain on the skin for a period of 25 – 30 minutes and then wash it off with water. These areas of the body have delicate skin, hence they are ideal to test for any allergic reaction. After washing the solution, keep a check on the appearance of the skin for a period of 24 hours. If the skin becomes red, irritated or shows development of blisters, then discarding this hair care product is recommended to be on the safer side.

On the whole, one needs to carefully select a hair dye product, after consulting a doctor. First of all, you need to introspect and decide whether it is necessary to go for hair dye. A natural look of your hair would be far better than spending money for hair dye allergy treatment.

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Posted in ALLERGIES

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