SOME STRESS BUSTERS

• Take three deep breaths.With each deep breath,imagine that you are inhaling feelings of calm and peace.With each exhale,breathe out the feeling of pressure and stress.
• Get a massage.
• Go for a brisk walk,and enjoy the fresh air.
• If you are in office,close your eyes for a few minutes and let your mind go blank.Dont focus on any of your problems during that time.
• Take off your shoes,curl your toes and stretch your feet.

BREAK FREE

Tension doesn't only makes you want tear your hair out,it also makes you unhealthy and fat.

When someone tells you,"dont get tense yaar",dont you wanna slap him?May be thats an over-reaction,but given that you are trying different things in one minute,you can be forgiven atleast a sarcastic comment.But what after that?YOU SHOULD RELAX,because tension leads to several health problems.And learning to relax is not too hard.

Tension begins in the mind,but it gradually becomes a physical problem.Whenever you are tensed physically or mentally,it tightens your muscles.If the tension is not released,the time you are under stress.That means you add on another layer of tension.Your muscles tightens more and it goes on.
You may store tension in your neck or shoulders.Some people store it in their stomach or buttocks,or chest or face,others in their limbs.It can effect not only the outer but also the deeper skeletal layers.So over a period of time you may appear with stooped shoulders,a pulled down face or a slow walk or any other manifestation of you tension.

TENSION IS A SILENT KILLER.The body metabolism slows down in tension which leads to improper digestion of the food and resulting in fat accumulation.Which can lead to high B.P.,high cholestrol and heart problems.
And dont forget that if you dont learn to relax,you may also become unattractive over time.
Premature greying,wrinkling,dry-skin,acne......tension can lead to all this.
To reduce the tension use your mind and body.

MIND GAMES
1.let your mind wander.take your mind off the tension,which is not easy,so read a book or watch a film.The brain will feel relaxed.
2.Think logical.you may be able to find a solution if you think objectively.
3.learn to meditate,its a strong tool to fight against stress.
4.imagine and visualise yourself achieving goals or getting healthier.

GET PHYSICAL
1.When done with the mind games,get your body to move a bit.start deep breathing.it helps in oxygenating the blood and relaxing muscles.
2.stretch yourself.start with the face muscles,grimace for 10 seconds and relax.repeat with your neck and shoulders.

HEAD ACHES

So here was a lovely weekend with friends and family.I did a good amount of shopping for a celebration coming up in my family in march this year,its a wedding ceremony.I'm really looking forward for a grand function and lots n lots of fun with the whole family.Although the shopping list is yet not over,would be buying a few other things on the next weekend.
All this outing and shopping juz left me exhausted and stressed out with a head ache.
The various kinds are:

TENSION/STRESS:when you are phisically and emotionally stressed out.
MIGRANE:blinding pain in one side of your head.
REBOUND:caused by painkillers.
OTHERS:even high blood pressure and certain foods can cause headaches.

FOOD INDUCED
Sometimes you may get a headache for some other reason than the types mentioned.It could be something as simple as going on a drinking binge the night before or eating chocolates or cheese,bananas,ice-cream,or even chewing pan-masala or drinking coffee.
That's because some foods,like these contain TRYPTOPHAN (serotinin) which triggers headaches.
If you are susceptible to headaches,avoid these foods.Also if you have high B.P.it can cause a throbbing pain in the head sometimes.

THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN THAT PAIN STRIKES
1.Take a safe painkiller
2.Take a break from work
3.Do some yoga and meditation when you get the chance.

IT HELPS.

CHEERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

HELLO EVERYONE .............!!!!!!
For all my desi freinds and the vegetarian lot....here's a recipe to share.Today I tried the MALAI MUSHROOM MATAR VEG for the lunch.Its nothing unusual,juz made the very normal way....but really came out well....and my little one loved eating it.Its easy to make and goes well with naan or roti.

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup peas
250gms mushroom chopped
3 elaichi or cardamom
1 stick cinnamon or dalchini
2 onions
2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
3/4 cup cashew
3/4 tsp corriander powder
3/4 tsp jeera (cumin) powder
1/2tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp fresh black pepper powder
1 tbsp cream
oil for cooking
salt to taste

METHOD
1.take 2 tsp oil in kadai or pan.add chopped onions and fry till golden or translucent.
2.add all spices and the cashew paste.cook for some time.
3.now add chopped mushrooms and peas.cook till the gravy leaves oil
4.add milk if the gravy thickens.
5.finally,wen the peas are soft and the gravy is cooked, add cream and stir well.         

I hope people like this as its juz 20 min of preparation and cooking time.so freinds try it out for your next meal at home.

CHEERS!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   Common Cold
 Changes in seasons generally causes common cold.How much ever we try to control the exposure of kids from the viruses, may not save them.Sometimes a number of viruses may cause upper respiratory tract disorder in kids and also in adults.Kids are more prone to the environmental changes.As we all are experiencing too much changes almost everyday in the temperature,this makes kids susceptible to flu.As moms we cannot stop kids from playing outside or keep them away from the viruses in the air,but we can always take precautions by keeping and eating healthy.

Symptoms of common cold may include sneezing,sniffing and nasal congestion.But are you protected against the common cold?

Every winter or seasonal changes we catch the cold,and the best defense is right in your plate. Eating a well balanced diet can actually strengthen the immune system of course along with exercise and resting adequately.A good diet is also essential for recovering and reducing the duration of any illness.Diet also helps in decreasing the worst side effects like sore throat and stuffy nose.

1.Nutrient rich diet will build the immune system to fight against cold.
2.Increasing the intake of hot and cold liquids like water,green tea,fruit juices or soups.Liquids will help loosen the mucous and get it out of the body.
3. Avoiding caffein due to its diuretic effects in fluids like tea,coffee and soda makes them less effective than water.


There are some foods that can be eaten while the cold is on.These include oatmeal made with water,whole grain toast,tomato juice,orangejuice,decaffeinated hot tea,soups and fruits.

I hope these guidelines can help you with yourself and kids during the aggravated cold.

Cheers!!!!!!!!!!

• LACTOSE  INTOLERANCE                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   As we know that milk is good for our kids,but there are certain children who are unable to digest milk or may be LACTOSE INTOLERANT.For such kids, parents are continuously worried about their calcium and other nutrients that are derived from milk

 When  the body is unable to digest significant amounts of lactose,which is the main sugar found in milk and other dairy products,this state is called lactose intolerance.

 Symptoms commonly includes vomiting,stomach ache,bloating,gas and diarrhea.Any of these symptoms can be seen within half an hour to 2 hrs of eating foods containing lactose.Severity depends on tolerance of each child.

Diagnosis includes a simple stool-test on recommendation from the doctor.

 But just chill and do not panic.Lactose Intolerance can be managed well by keeping an eye on your child's diet.In case of mild intolerance the child can digest small amounts of dairy foods,but for severe cases,diet completely free of lactose may be necessary.

•   Read food labels carefully. In addition to milk, dahi, ice cream, cheese, butter, and other dairy products, lactose can also be found in bread, cookies and even your child’s favourite chocolate.

• Try substituting cow’s milk with other lactose-free milk formulas or soy milk available in the market.
•   As dairy foods are the main source of calcium and Vitamin D in children, other calcium-rich foods like broccoli, beans, fortified cereals, oats etc. are recommended for kids with lactose intolerance to make up for the calcium deficiency. Certain varieties of fish like salmon and sardines and pro-biotic yoghurt can also be included in the diet.
•     Apart from food sources like eggs and liver, sunlight helps the body naturally absorb vitamin D. So let your children play in the sun for a while everyday!
Relax! It is after all food sensitivity, not a serious illness. With some smart meal planning, lactose intolerance can be easily managed. 

cheers!!!!!!!!!!

MAKE RIGHT FOOD CHOICES TO FIGHT FATIGUE

 As the weather changes,it sends us into inactive mode.Before you know it, you need one more cup of coffee, a candy bar, or a can of soda for a little pick-me-up when your energy level slumps. Instead of finding fixes, consider some things you can do consistently in your daily life to get energized, and stay energized.There are a few dietary and lifestyle changes to help prevent fatigue.
Try following a few steps to keep you energised throughout the day.

1.Add fiber and protein to your diet.Fiber will help you to prevent constipation which can make you feel sluggish.Protein helps to keep muscles strong.It is a smart way to fuel up yourself.
2.Maintaining a steady blood sugar level by taking small frequent meals spread fairly throughout the day.Meals should consist of complex carbohydrates and protein.
3.Take in foods that are rich in the B vitamins and iron.Only the best ones.
4.Keep yourself hydrated the whole day with the right fluids like water and green tea.
5.Exercise a little bit.Start committing some time to exercise as you would to any other work.Just make out 30 min in a day or 15 min twice a day.

Follow these simple tips and stay energised throughout the day.

                                             I AM BACK


Hello All,
after a long gap with no news and no release,I'm back on full speed.Well,its been a crazy time.I wrote a few articles for the local newspaper and magzine,travelled with my kid and my husband for a couple of weeks.During this time, as you may have noticed, I pretty much stopped blogging. Sorry, I’ll do my best to get back in the saddle now that I’m home.

Back on track

And now friends… I am back on track.
Starting today I will resume the regular posting schedule whenever possible… Please understand that I do not let my writing interfere with my day job, so I may miss a posting day here and there… but not often.
Also, remember that I am always looking for solid guest articles, so if you would be interested… shoot me an email on shwetajain2305@gmail.com.



CHEERS!!!!!!!