Category: Health & Fitness

Spinach Soup with Mixed Veggies

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

So now as I am on a health roll, soups and salads make a very important part of my diet. I keep experimenting with different favours of soups and keep trying mixing and matching the ingredients.

Here is a recipe I tried over the weekend and turned out really good, simple, flavourful and full of goodness.

Spinach Soup with Mixed Vegetables

Ingredients that you will need:

  • Spinach- 250 gms
  • Garlic Cloves- 3-4
  • Olive Oil- 2 Table Spoons
  • Chopped Mix Veggetables- 150 gms( cabbage, carrots, beans, capsicum, corn, peas, cauliflower florets, mushrooms)
  • Vegetable Stalk- 1 litre
  • Corn Starch- 1 Table Spoon
  • Mixed Herbs- 1 Tea Spoon
  • Paprika- 1/2 Tea Spoon
  • Salt to Taste
  • Grated Cheese to Garnish

These ingredients are good enough for 2 large serves

Method

  • Heat 1 table spoon olive oil in a pan and add chopped garlic to it.
  • Saute the garlic for about 2 minutes.
  • Roughly chop the spinach, wash it and then add to the pan.
  • Saute, garlic and spinach, for about 8 minutes, the spinach would be more or less cooked by now. Turn off the gas, and empty the spinach in a bowl and let it cool down.
  • Put the gas again on heat and add 1 table spoon olive oil, take all chopped vegetables and cook them for about 10 minutes on low heat. Cover the pan, and cook for another five minutes.
  • Once the spinach cools down a bit, blend it to a smooth paste with the help of a blender/mixer.
  • Add this spinach paste to the cooked vegetables and stir it for about 2 minutes.
  • Add vegetable stalk, or incase you dont have a stalk ready, add normal water. Bring the soup to a boil.
  • Add spices, and then mix the cornstarch in 2 spoons of water and add to the soup. This will get the soup to a thicker consistency.
  • Let it simmer for another couple of minutes and serve hot garnished with grated cheese.

Do share your feedback in the comments 🙂

7 Reasons Camping Is Beneficial for Your Health

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

If you want to make the most of your time with friends or family, then you should look into camping. There are many activities to indulge in, ranging from fishing, campfires to hiking and biking. But there is a lot more to camping than meets the eye.

Camping interestingly has numerous health benefits. In fact, spending time outdoors camping can add years to your life. Not sure how? Here are 7 reasons for you to consider.

1. Exercise

When you are camping, you get a great deal of exercise. You get to partake in different activities, like the ones mentioned above, which in turn allow you to burn those extra calories in no time. Additionally, exercising outdoors and doing as many activities as you can also benefit your heart and lungs greatly.

2. Healthy Food

During your camping trip, your options are limited when it comes to the food you can actually consume. Basically, you have to make do with meals that can be grilled or cooked on a campfire.

If you choose foods that require preparation, your digestive system will get a break from all the fast food you have had previously. Also, rather than taking pies and candies, promote healthy eating by taking fruits, nuts and granola bars instead.

3. Sufficient Sleep

The best part about camping is that you can sleep in for as long as you like. The environment and quiet nature will do wonders for you when it comes to getting proper sleep. After a tiring day of activities, you will find it incredibly easy to doze off under the starry sky. Rest assured, with sufficient sleep, your body will function more effectively than ever before. Surprisingly your sleep cycle will improve by leaps and bounds.

4. Decreases Anxiety and Depression

Based on research carried out, green spaces are known for decreasing depression and anxiety. By camping, you will break away from your hectic lifestyle. It is here where you can develop clarity to better understand yourself.

5. Socialization

Tired of your everyday routine? Well, that is where camping comes into the picture to give you the much-needed break you need from your place of employment and otherwise. Since you will get time with your friends or family, you can socialize and learn more about them, without any distractions of course. Socialization, according to the American Journal of Public Health, can increase your lifespan and defeat memory problems.

6. Fresh Air

Once you have set up camp, you can finally take a deep breath of fresh air, which alone will make you feel refreshed. The feeling of excitement is not because of the long vacation, but because of all the surrounding greenery. Said greenery gives off high-quality oxygen, which improves brain functionality, all the while making you feeling happier and decreasing stress levels as well.

7. Sunshine

Whether you are camping in your RV or sleeping outdoors, it really does not matter. The bottom line is that spending time outside will have a positive impact on your health. Apart from that tan you always wanted, the sun gives your body the Vitamin D it needs to absorb phosphorus and calcium so that your teeth and bones stay strong.

Now that you know of the health benefits that lie in store for you on your next camping trip, pack your Canvas tentASAP. Remember, the more you stay outdoors, especially with your friends or family, the better you will benefit in more ways than you can imagine.

Author Bio:

Judy Robinson is a passionate health and lifestyle blogger. She loves to write on healthy lifestyle, travel, fitness 101 and DIY related topics. Follow @judyrobinsonfor more updates.

Everything You Want to Know About Meditation

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Meditation has different meaning for different people. For me, its a soothing effect on my mind, body and soul. I don’t practice it regularly but whenever I do, it surely helps me declutter. I will admit that it takes a lot to meditate. It doesn’t come easy and even now I am not a pro. It really takes months and years of practice, because merely closing your eyes and deep breathing is not meditation. Meditation is like a connect with your own soul, to hear your innermost voice and to feel each and every breath that you take. Its difficult, but once you are able to do so, the peace is unmatchable.

Here is everything you wanna know about Meditation

Do You Know Enough About Psychotherapy?

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

WHAT IS PSYCHOTHERAPY AND HOW EXACTLY DOES IT HELP?

Most people have heard the term “psychotherapy”, but don’t have an accurate concept of what it really is. Their ideas about it are formed by television shows instead of facts.

So what exactly is psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy aims to enable patients, or clients, to recognize both positive and negative feelings, and what triggers or situations can make them feel good, nervous, or depressed. This allows them to cope with difficulties in a more constructive way.

Most courses of therapy last less than a year, and clients who are excited to change and willing to work often report great outcomes.

Psychotherapy helps with a diverse set of problems, including depression and low self-esteem, addiction and family quarrels. Anyone overwhelmed by daily problems and an inability to cope can benefit from psychotherapy. Learn more about psychotherapy careers.

Types of Psychotherapy

At least 500 different types of psychotherapy exist, according to one estimate by University of Scranton psychologist John Norcross. Given the vast number, researchers can’t dedicate the time to investigate whether they are beneficial, so they focus on the most frequently used types.

As Scientific American noted:

These include behavior therapy (altering unhealthy behaviors), cognitive-behavior therapy (altering maladaptive ways of thinking), psychodynamic therapy (resolving unconscious conflicts and adverse childhood experiences), interpersonal therapy (remedying unhealthy ways of interacting with others), and person-centered therapy (helping clients to find their own solutions to life problems).

Let’s look at each of these in a bit more detail:

Instant Tomato Egg Drop Soup

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Well now that the holidays are over and my son has gone to Delhi, I am back to eating my healthy stuff. But today I was not in a mood to cook too many things so opted for this wholesome soup which has a perfect balance of proteins and carbohydrates and is super easy to make. Needless to say, it tastes awesome 😋

Here are the ingredients you would need:

Tomato Purée- 1 packet

Garlic Cloves-3-4

Olive Oil- 1 table spoon

Egg-1

Water- 1/2 glass

Oregano- 1/4th teaspoon

Dried Basil Leaves- 1/4th teaspoon

Paprika- 1/4th teaspoon

Brown Bread Slice- 1

Salt to taste

Tabasco- Optional

Fresh Cream- 1 spoon for garnishing

Method

Heat olive oil in a pan and add chopped garlic.

Sauté the garlic and pour the entire packet of tomato purée and then add water.

Let it cook for about 5 minutes on low heat.

Add the spices and simmer for another couple of minutes

Increase the flame and bring the soup to a boil.

While the soup is getting boiled, toast a slice of brown bread and cut it like croutons.

Beat the egg lightly in a bowl and once the soup starts to boil, hold the bowl over the top of the pan and slowly release the beaten egg, stirring the soup simulated.

You will get the egg drop threads in the soup and it’s texture will change a bit.

Bring it to another boil and remove from flame.

If you want you can add a bit of Tabasco to give your soup a spicy and tangy flavour.

Pour it in a bowl, and top it with croutons and add a dash of fresh cream to garnish.

Serve hot.

Note: This recipe is for one bowl of soup and you can multiply the ingredients as per the servings. Enjoy a complete meal.

Wellness Matters 101: Simple Solutions And Suggestions That Promote Health

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

People who have decided that they’re no longer comfortable with signs of poor health like mood instability and weight gain should know that they don’t have to tolerate a substandard physical or mental state of being any longer. If you’re ready to begin cultivating a lifestyle that is conducive to health, now is the perfect time to get started. Below you’ll find just three of many simple solutions and suggestions that you can implement to begin promoting health right now:

1. Eat Mindfully.

One of the most effective and important mindfulness strategies under the sun is mindful eating. This technique is powerful because it enables the individual to take conscious control over their eating habits so that they are continually consuming foods that promote clear thinking and physical vitality. Although defined broadly, eating mindfully basically involves thinking critically about the food you consume rather than simply consuming a product because it is available or to quell the rise of a negative emotion like anger or sadness. There are many ways that you can make mindful eating your new normal, and one is by recording what you eat in a food journal.

2. Meditate.

In addition to eating mindfully, make sure that you tap into the efficacy of other mindfulness strategies such as regular meditation. Meditating regularly is a wonderful way to promote health because it helps individuals think clearly, decrease their stress levels, and sleep more soundly. Because there are literally hundreds of meditation modalities under the sun, it shouldn’t be difficult for individuals to locate at least one that they will enjoy and attain excellent results from. Whether you recite words of affirmation within silently or concentrate on inhaling and exhaling rhythmically, you’ll likely start to feel that your mind and body begin operating at a higher level of efficacy so that you can maintain your mental and physical equilibrium!

3. Start Engaging In More Physical Activity.

One final technique that can take your level of wellness to an all-time high is working physical activity into your life. Doing so will empower you to gain strength, build muscle, enhance your metabolism, lose weight or maintain your ideal weight, and attain more mental clarity. There are many ways that you can get started with the process of exercising regularly, and one is by purchasing home gym equipment from a company such as Smart Squat.

Conclusion

Once a person realizes that they’re no longer willing to settle for less than the best in terms of health, it’s time to put the strategic planning process in full swing. You can use some or all of the wellness strategies outlined above to keep yourself on track to attaining the high level of health you deserve to have!

 

Top 5 Benefits of Yoga

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

On this World Yoga Day, lets talk about some top benefits that Yoga has to offer

 

Agility, Strength and Flexibility– Some form of exercises and sports give us agility, while others give us strength, but yoga is one of the only forms that not only helps in gaining agility and strength but also is the best form of activity for increasing overall body flexibility.

 

Reduces Pain Naturally– Yoga has proven to reduce pains naturally, if practiced properly. Ailments like migraine, arthritis and backaches can be treated effectively with yoga.

 

Normalizes Blood Pressure– Yoga has proven to be more effective in keeping the blood pressure under control as compared to dietary modifications and medications.

 

Weight Management– Unlike extensive workouts, yoga may not help you burn too many calories or bring your weight considerably down, but if practiced regularly, it benefits the overall weight management. It regulates the body hormones and nervous system, which in turn keep the body weight in check; panic modes and stress normally lead to weight gain, which yoga keeps in control.

 

Improves the Respiratory System– Given the current times, we all live in a polluted atmosphere and respiratory diseases are on a rise. Yoga helps regulating our respiratory system, which further helps in increasing lung capacity, and altering the pace of breathing, which naturally results in a longer life span.

In my fitness goals for this year, yoga is playing an important role, how about you?

 

Your Creative Life After An Accident

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

If you are naturally a creative spirit, the idea of being forced to stay at home to recover from an injury can be terrifying. For a lot of people, an accident can be traumatising and depressing. Many find themselves reliving the moment of the accident continuously in their minds, which can create a fertile ground for anxiety disorders and stress. Additionally, the fear of not being able to get back to full health can also affect your professional career and even your social future. An accident remains you of your vulnerability. It brings only negative emotions as you recover. But, if you exercise your creative mindset, you can find a way to turn the negative into positive.

Use creativity against pain

Take the stress out of your recovery at home

If you’ve left the hospital and have chosen to recover at home instead, it can be stressful to find yourself struggling with mobility issues in your own home. A lot of people hope to get back to normal as soon as they leave the hospital. So, brace yourself for a long recovery time and invest in creative mobility-friendly kits – you can read about them here. Using the right items and changing your furniture to match your needs can take a lot of stress of your mind. Don’t make it extra difficult for yourself to stay at home!

Be creative about developing healthy habits

Recovering is about helping your body to heal. It doesn’t happen overnight, unfortunately. But you can use the time to develop healthy habits by learning how to cook, for instance. Healthy and delicious recipes can help you to fuel your body with the vitamins and nutrients it needs to heal. Additionally, you’ll find that you’re less likely to indulge in junk food if you can be creative with your cooking. It’s fair to say that getting your 5 a day can seem dull if you are not an enthusiastic cook. But when you can whip a yummy meal in an instant, no vegetable will ever be boring again!

Use art to relieve your anxiety

You can use drawing or painting as a way to alleviate your anxiety. Emotionally, it is a rewarding journey. As Picasso once said ‘Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.’ Creatively expressing your worries and pains about healing can help you deal with the recovery time positively. You can put all your joy, sadness, tears and smiles into each piece. It doesn’t matter if nobody else sees it. What matters is that it’s a piece of darkness that doesn’t get to live inside your mind any longer.

When life gives you lemons, find a creative solution!

Use your experience to find new creative paths

An accident is ultimately a negative life experience. If you look back in the story of most successful entrepreneurs, their past was inhabited by failures. Nevertheless, the lesson successful business people learned from it was to keep looking for the light at the other end of the tunnel, the solution that will fix it all. Failure is part of the journey, but it doesn’t hold you back. It helps you to grow. Embrace your accident in the same way to make the most of it.

Creativity can help you recover faster after an accident. From using creative solutions to being creative yourself, healing is the final step of your inventive path.

Selecting the Best Medical Professionals for the Care You Want

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

When you have made the decision to undergo plastic surgery, your next step may involve finding the best medical team to take over your care. You do not want to entrust your operation to just anyone. You want to know that you will be in the best hands possible as you undergo the proverbial knife.

Instead of relying on the misinformed but well-intention recommendations of your friends and family members, you may want to do your own research first. As you consider your options for an anesthesiologist, nurse, and plastic surgeon Raleigh NC patients like you may find the medical team you are looking for on the organization’s website.

Getting the Back Story of the Medical Team

You want to be wholly confident in the team’s ability to operate on and take care of you from start to finish. You want the reassurance that you will be treated as an individual rather than just a nameless and faceless patient who comes through the clinic’s door.

When you read the back story of the practice, you may feel more confident about the doctors’ ability to operate on you. You will learn about their training and background in the profession. You can also read about the amount of experience they have with the type of operation you want done.

By reading the back story, you may appreciate that the surgeons are people with families just like you. They value their patients and take the time to do the best job they can on the people who come to them for help.

Candidacy for Surgery

While you are on the website, you can also make sure you are a good candidate for the operation. Plastic surgery is not for everyone especially people with certain health conditions. You can determine if your current health would pose a problem to your ability to undergo the surgery safely.

Your plastic surgeon has a back story that could make you more confident in him or her. You can do research about the medical team on the website.

What You Should Know About Work-Related Health Problems

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

When you go to work, you don’t normally expect to get hurt there or have your health damaged in some way. Unfortunately, these things really do happen and they’re often no fun at all to deal with. Whether you’ve experienced these kind of problems before or not, you need to be aware of them and how to get the help you need when you need it. Read on now to find out more about all of this.

Stress and Anxiety Caused by Work is More Common Than You Think

The problem of stress at work is growing massively, and more people are now feeling able to talk about it. That’s a good thing, but what’s not good are the practices that lead people to feeling under pressure and stressed every day of the working week. It’s a common problem, so if it’s something that you’ve been struggling with, there’s no shame in that at all.

The HR Department Might be Able to Help You

If you are having difficulties with things like stress or anxiety caused by your work life, you should head to your company’s HR department and see what they can do for you. They might be able to change your schedules or your workload so that you don’t feel quite so under pressure all the time. That’s got to be a good thing, so it’s worth looking into.

If You’ve Been Exposed to Something Harmful, You Should Seek Justice

There are many damaging and hazardous materials that people work with every day. However, just because you’re aware of the risks, that doesn’t mean your employers can expose you to unsafe materials without the right safety equipment. The risks of asbestos exposure resulting to mesothelioma are very real. And that’s just one example, so you should seek legal justice if you’ve ever been in a situation like that.

Your Employers Have a Duty to Protect You While You Work

No matter what anyone tells you, you should remember that you do have rights at work and your employer has a duty to protect you from threats and harm that might arise in your line of work. So if you feel like basic safety standards are not being met, you should take action and be vocal about it. If it becomes a problem, getting a union involved will be necessary.

Aches and Pains Could be Caused By Repetitive Work

All those little aches and pains you’ve been feeling might not simply be a sign that you’re getting older. They could also be down to the fact that so many of us do jobs that are physically repetitive. Repetitive strain injuries are technically workplace injuries, and they can impact anyone from builders to receptionists.

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There are so many ways in which your health can be damaged when you’re at work. That’s something that you should be aware of because then you can better combat the potential problems you experience in the workplace. That’s got to be a good thing, so don’t ignore this any longer.