Why mindfulness is good for you  

Most of us, in the hustle of day-to-day life, miss the state of 'mindfulness' in our being. In the rush to fulfil our daily necessary tasks, we do many things at a time, which in turn has turned us into masters of multi-tasking.
While the ability to multi-task has been great and helpful in many ways, it does not always do us good when it comes to our health (both physically and mentally). It can even affect our relationships.
Mindfulness can be defined as a state of active, open attention on the present without distracting your mind to other things, and accepting it without judgement. Scientifically, mindfulness has been found to be a key element of happiness.
Most people practice mindfulness through meditation by choosing a defined period everyday where they sit comfortably and open their mind to awareness of the current moment. However, we can also incorporate mindfulness into our daily life through different basic techniques:
As you begin your day, walk yourself slowly down to the car and check within your body and loosen up if you observe any tension.
While walking to the office, try doing breath in and out with every three steps and notice the sensation of walking. If you sit at a desk, take a few breaths before checking your mails or updates.
To lead a blissful life, it is important to practice mindfulness no matter how busy we are. Research on mindfulness has identified several benefits, below are some of them:

Stress reduction: Many studies have shown that practicing mindfulness can be a great tool in reducing stress. Mindfulness can help cut your body’s cortisol levels, which quickly lowers stress on a neurochemical level. Practicing mindfulness can also help you get rid of internal resistance.

Improves physical health: Mindfulness has many health benefits. It is good in treating fatigue, sleep issues, cancer, headaches, heart disease, gastrointestinal problems, weight issues, asthma, low immune function, allergies, skin problems, arthritis, etc.

Improves mental and emotional health: Mindfulness can play an important role in the treatment of a number of problems including- anxiety, depression, unhappiness, discontent, worry, fear, rumination, low self-esteem, shyness, etc.

Improves relationships: Practicing mindfulness can help build a healthy relationship between partners. With the everyday tension interfering in the couple's life, using mindfulness can improve your relationship as it helps you both focus on each other. Mindfulness can help you recapture some of those feelings as you are solely concentrating on your partner and the moment. Hence, by avoiding other thoughts like office work, household chores, etc, but purely focusing on moments between you and your partner, it will help you both feel special about the time spend together.

Tips for taking care of skin during winters revealed

  

Washington: Winter time can be hard on the skin, making it dry, flaky and itchy, but with proper care you can effectively banish your skin woes.
Dermatologist Rita Pichardo-Geisinger, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, provides tips that are easy to incorporate into your daily routine to help keep your skin and hair in prime condition.
First of all use a fragrance free soap because perfumes and additives can dry the skin which can lead to flaking and itching or exacerbate conditions like eczema.
It is also important to use a moisturising lotion after the shower because when you apply a moisturizer to damp skin right after showering, this helps seal in water to prevent skin from drying out.
"A moisturizer helps to act as a barrier of protection for your skin so look for one that has ceramides, a new technology that helps restore and protect the skin barrier," she said.
Next, keep the temperature at home on the cool side, not too warm, to avoid skin dehydration because if your home or workplace temperature is warm enough to make it feel like a sauna, you might be drying your skin out.
Do not forget to use a fragrance free detergent and liquid fragrance free conditioner for the clothes because some people with skin sensitivities can experience skin irritation or rash after wearing clothes washed in a detergent with fragrance additives.
Also, do not forget your moisturizing lotion with sunscreen for your face, even if it is winter time.
If lips get chapped, avoid cracking by using a lip balm with sunscreen to get the double benefit of smooth and protected lips, Rita asserted.
And, your hair can get dry in the wintertime too, so you might need to use a hydrating shampoo or an anti-frizz leave-in conditioner.
Lastly, tend to your toes and feet and treat them with good lactic acid creams that can help keep feet soft and supple.

Useful safety tips for epilepsy patients

Suffering from epilepsy doesn't mean you can't enjoy your life and live happily. You may have epilepsy, but if have a good health and good mental powers, and with proper measures and necessary precautions, you have the ability to live independently well into adulthood.
However, it is important to note that all the suggested tips may not be equally right or helpful for every person. Some tips may not be applicable to you although it is relevant to others.
For example, people who have frequent seizures without warning may need to take extra precautions and care than those who get a useful warning sign of seizures. Here are some useful safety tips for epilepsy patients.

-Try to find a place or a house that does not have stairs. This will help avoid any accidental falls or injuries caused by a seizure.
-Buy electric and home appliance devices that have automatic shut-off switches.
-Place padding around table corners or any furniture that has sharp areas to prevent hitting them during seizure.
-Family members should never leave a person who has uncontrolled seizures alone in the room, especially when there is a fire in the fireplace.
-Always have a plan of action ready so that you can alert your family, friends or neighbours even when you are alone at home.
-Try to cook in a microwave rather than a stove for safety purpose.
-Use plastic utensils and containers.
-Try to use precut meat so that you not not require using a knife.
-In the bathroom, make sure that the doors are not locked from inside, someone from outside should always be able to get in, if you need help.
-All electrical appliances should be kept away from the sink or bathtub.
-Always keep the water heater temperature low to prevent burning if a seizure should occur.
-Plan your activities when seizures are less likely to occur, if seizures usually occur at a certain time.
-While exercising, avoid extreme heat and keep yourself hydrated by taking lots of water to reduce seizure risks.
-Before starting any new fitness program, make sure you talk to your doctor/neurologist.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects the nervous system. It is also known as a seizure disorder. A person is considered to have epilepsy when he/she has two or more unprovoked seizures.

5 superfoods for a healthy skin

  

New Delhi: Today's busy lifestyle schedules might leave you with a dull face that lacks lustre. In such a condition, diet plays a very important role as there are no short cuts to attain a healthy and glowing skin naturally.
Here are a few foods that you should eat for a clear, healthy and glowing skin
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Salmon: Salmon is a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids that protect the skin from sun exposure thereby providing radiance and glow to the skin.

Yoghurt: Yoghurt is a natural source of probiotic and excellent food for your face as it is effective in treating acne, eczema, dandruff and other problems to some extent.

Tomatoes: Tomatoes basically have an anti-ageing affect on our body as they contain antioxidant lycopene which is easily absorbed by our body thereby leaving you with a healthy skin and hair.

Green Tea: Green tea as we all know contains a good amount of antioxidants which when gets absorbed in the body, leaves you with that healthy glow.

Kiwis: Kiwis are a rich source of Vitamin C which help main a firm skin thereby keeping wrinkles at bay, This wonder fruit to contains antioxidants that keeps the skin healthy.

Simple tips to prevent lung cancer

  

Even if most lung cancers are caused by tobacco use accounting for 80-90% of all the lung cancer cases, preventing the disease goes beyond avoiding smoking.

While experts have identified various causes of lung cancer, half of the people who develop the disease are non-smokers currently. Below are a few tips to lower your risk of developing lung cancer:

Quit smoking: If you smoke, quit now immediately. If you do not smoke, never try it. Research suggest that quitting at any time, although you have been smoking for some years, still lowers your risk of developing the disease.
Also, try to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke from other people's cigarettes, as that too, puts you at risk.

Exercise: Regular exercise may aid in lung cancer prevention. Studies have linked physical activity with a lower risk of getting lung cancer. It suggests that even simple physical activity like gardening twice a week can reduce your risk of developing lung cancer.

Fruits and vegetables: Studies suggest that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help in lung cancer prevention. Try to include a variety of foods with different colours, including dark greens such as broccoli, spinach, onions, apples, tomatoes, oranges etc.

Radon exposure: Check your home for radon since it is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall. Radon is a colourless and odourless gas generated by the breakdown of radioactive radium, which in turn is the decay product of uranium, found in the Earth's crust.

Keep up with the changing trends in hair and make up

The trends keep changing but beauty stays in vogue, always. It's new year and like every time, we need to keep ourselves up to date with the changing trends in hair and beauty. So here’s a guide for you from Bharti Taneja, renowned beauty expert and aesthetician, also the Founder Director of Alps Cosmetic Clinic,to be the trendsetter and the centre of attraction wherever you are.  

Eye Effect
Dust the eyes with the halo of citron orange or coral. When you want to look alluring, there is nothing better than classic smoky eyes. You can also get edgy and unforgettable cat eyes with a real turquoise blue or electric navy eyeshadow, extending the inner and outer corner of the eye. For a trendy look, apply a white pencil on the waterline that will also make your eyes appear bigger. Pastel hues like lavenders, baby blues, buttery yellows can dress up your eye in the day. 

Perfect Kiss
The red pout seems to be classic and timeless. It is not going anywhere this season. Wear it shine-free keeping your eyes and cheeks completely neutral. A fluorescent pop of orange and hot pink will also make an intense statement. Be sure to adorn your lips in matte candy colours like bubblegum pink, cherry red or tangerine orange. 

Hair Story
An unfussy blow-dry, near perfect French braids or tousled romantic waves are going to steal the limelight. While the look is modern, the idea is to keep it really simple. Say bye to flouncy hair and embrace your straightening irons. Invest in simple to dramatic headbands for the different occasions and outfits. 

Golden Effect
Concealer is the most important tool from your vanity kit this season. Create a bare minimum makeup look by using your concealer. Play up your cheeks a little with the bronzer to get the tanned glow. Bronze the cheeks, bridge of nose and forehead to achieve glowing skin.

Simple tips to prevent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)  

A urinary tract infection (UTI) can be defined as an infection involving the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. While not all urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be prevented, experts suggest one can still reduce the risk by taking certain steps and precautions.

Fluids intake: Drink plenty of water and other liquids, but cut back on caffeine and alcohol, which can irritate the bladder. This will make you urinate frequently, which flushes bacteria from your urinary tract. If the urine appears darker than the usual very pale yellow colour, you should increase the fluid intake.
Cranberry juice has been shown to help prevent urinary tract infections.

Toilet hygiene: Do not hold your urine for a long time, urinate when you have the urge. When you're done, always wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from the anus entering the urethra.

Constipation: Try to avoid constipation as it has been linked to increase the chances of getting a UTI. Steps like increasing the amount of fibre in your diets, drinking plenty of water and other natural fluids can help relieve constipation.

Sexual intercourse: Take special precaution when you engage in sexual activity since it may also increase the risk as it can bring bacteria into the bladder area. Practice good hygiene by washing your genitals every day using a mild detergent and before having sex. Make sure that the bladder is emptied after intercourse by drinking plenty of water and other fluids.

Clothing: Avoid wearing tight-fitting undergarments, which is made of non-breathing materials. Instead opt for loose-fitting and cotton materials, which allows a woman's private part to remain dry preventing from bacteria growth.