Natural Ways to Tackle Stress and Anxiety

These are hard times. People are experiencing record stress levels. They are finding it hard to cope with a variety of anxiety-inducing issues.

 But many people are getting inclined towards natural remedies to overcome these problems. Instead of resorting to prescription drugs and popping pills, they have begun to seek natural alternatives for controlling stress and anxiety.

The popularity if relaxing therapies like yoga, massage and Reiki have seen an upsurge during the past few years as people struggle to cope with a range of stresses and mental (and physical as well) burdens. Not only have people benefitted from them for treating stress but they have also helped in the overall improvement of health.

Massage therapy, which was primarily used by women, has found a good number of male patrons. Regular massage can do wonders to your body. It can help improve blood circulation, lessen chronic anxiety, promote natural healing processes, relieve muscle tension and lower blood pressure. By regular massage we mean a massage session once or twice a month.

Originating in the ancient India, Yoga refers to a set of traditional physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines. It is an excellent stress-relieving practice that tones the body and bestows great fitness benefits. It is particularly helpful in managing stress and its good results can be observed even long after the sessions as it helps master deep breathing. If you are able to control you respiration during stressful times, the impact of anxiety on the heart and other body functions is eased. Yoga has also been found to be extremely beneficial in lowering of blood pressure, mood upliftment, boosting immunity and gastrointestinal health.

Exercise, in general, is an excellent antidote to anxiety. Multiple studies have pointed out that regular aerobic exercise can reduce levels of cortisol, the notorious stress hormone which is circulated in the blood stream. While exercises reduce the levels of bad hormones, they help in escalating the levels of feel-good hormones such as serotonin. During anxiety, the levels of serotonin drop down significantly. Exercises can come to our rescue in such cases. Increasing the circulation of such natural chemicals in the body greatly enhances our capacity to deal with situations of distress. The simple act of aerobic activity can be a good way to vent your frustration.

Reiki is another natural practice which has acquired popularity in the last few years. It originated in Japan and is a healing and relaxing therapy in which the practitioner transfers his healing power to the patient through light touch on affected body parts. Reiki is mainly used for treating physical ailments  but is often used a relaxation and meditation therapy.

Azhagiyapokkisham: Kaadhal

Azhagiyapokkisham: Kaadhal: "kaadhal endra thalaipil kavithaigal varaverka padukinradhu...idhu ungalukkaga.. KAADHAL... Kaadhalikka paduvathum kaadhalippathum podhuv..."

Here are the top tips to avoid snoring

he British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association has provided tips to cure snoring problems. It recommends working out whether snoring comes from the nose or throat, reports the Daily Express.

If you can make a snoring noise with your mouth open and closed, try this: stick your tongue out as far as it will go and grip it between your teeth.

Try to make a snoring noise. If it is reduced, you are probably a "tongue-base snorer", meaning your tongue is vibrating and causing the problem. If you are a "nose snorer" you snore with a closed mouth, it says.

The Association lists their solutions as follows:

1. Sleep on your side

The theory is that when we lie on our backs the tongue and muscles in the throat collapse, constricting the airway and causing snoring.

2. Higher pillows

This aims to keep the airways open by supporting the neck so the throat is less constricted. It works fairly well until you fall asleep and slump down in the bed.

3. Breathe Right Nasal Strips

These are supposed to open your nostrils from the outside and they certainly do seem to do this. They can also provide temporary relief from nasal congestion and stuffiness caused by colds and allergies.

Must-read on health: Side effects that are actually good for you

4. Snoreeze Oral Strips

These dissolving mint-flavoured strips target the main cause of snoring and are ideal if you tend to snore more when lying on your back. They contain a time-release formula, which coats the back of the throat throughout the night and reduces the vibrations of the soft tissues, helping to stop snoring.

5. Snoreeze Throat Spray

This lubricates and tones the soft tissues at the back of the throat that vibrate and make you snore.

7. Nozovent

This is a piece of flexible plastic which you push into your nostrils to make them wider and allow easier breathing. It looks like something from the Spanish Inquisition but users report good results.

8. SomnoGuard

This is a bit like the gumshield worn by a rugby player, but it is reported to produce good results. The idea is to bring your lower jaw and tongue forward, making more space for breathing. The drawback is that it takes sometime to get used to and is costly.

9. Rhynil Herbal Spray

The British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association says its herbal nasal spray shrinks the lining of the nostril, creating more space to breathe. It also tightens the tissue of the roof of the mouth, making it less likely to vibrate. It smells pleasant and a friend who tried it said it reduced snoring significantly.

10. Abstinence

You should cut down on cigarettes or, better still, give up completely. Also, try to have your last alcoholic drink at least four hours before you go to bed. 

Top 10 Foods to Reduce Belly Fat

Obese people find it the hardest to deal with the fat stored in and around the abdomen and the waist.

Not only does belly fat make your abdomen bulge out, it also poses grave risk to of diseases like hypertension, diabetes and stroke. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), men who have a waist more than 40 inches have heightened risk of heart diseases and diabetes.

The most common reasons for the accumulation of fat in the tummy are hormonal imbalance, excessive eating, intake of large quantities of alcohol, sweets and chocolates and lack of exercise. Stress is also one of the prominent reasons for the storage of fat in the belly. Stress triggers the secretion of a hormone called cortisol. Excess of cortisol stimulates the storage of fat around the waist. Then there's another factor of improper digestion. Due to malfunctioned digestion gastro problems arise and this leads to a persistently puffy belly. As we add years, our efficiency of burning calories goes down, so sluggish metabolism also sets off the buildup of fat around the midsection.

If belly fat is one of your problems and you still thrive on a typical diet full of oily, starchy foods and carbs, it's time for you to treat this article as a wake-up call. You would need to change your diet drastically. First of all, you should avoid eating two to three hours before bedtime to control the belly fat. At the same time, incorporate foods which can help you overcome the problem.

Here's some information on foods which you should consume if you have a bloated belly.

Eggs: They provide good quality protein which in turn helps overcome hunger pangs.

Beans: Beans like black gram (chana), green gram (chana), chick peas and green moong bustle with fibre and proteins. They help you shed pounds and improve muscle tone.

Oat Meal: Befriend the good ol' oats if you're battling belly fat. Start your day with oats cooked in water or consume them with milk. They're high in soluble fibre and low in fat.

Vegetables: Green vegetables are rich source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre. Consuming vegetables for dinner without chapatis and/or rice is helpful in shrinking the waist size. What's more, most green veggies have only 30-60 calories per 100 grams.

Barley: Barley has a considerably low glycemic index and contains lots of soluble fibre. This helps in diminishing the circumference of the waist. Regular consumption cuts down the risk of cardiac diseases and type II diabetes.

Green Tea: Polyphenols present in the tea help boost metabolism. Green tea is less processed and contains higher levels of anti-oxidants. It greatly suppresses the appetite.

Milk: When we say milk, we're not recommending full-cream milk. In fact, make sure you stay away from that. Go for non-fat milk which has the same amount of calcium and protein as full-cream milk but contains less sodium and helps prevent water retention. This reduces bloating.

Yogurt: It's oozing with calcium and protein and has very less calories (80 calories in a cup of low-fat yogurt).The beneficial bacteria present in yogurt boost immunity and aid bowel movement.

Tomatoes: The luscious red tomatoes contain only 20 caloriesper hundred gram. They are rich in fibres, lycopene and potassium. They avert water retention, thereby also preventing bloating of the belly.

Olive Oil: People realise that veggies are good for health but many find their taste boring. Add a small quantity of olive oil. This will improve the flavour of vegetables and make them tastier. But its real benefit is that it can help you lose the hateful flab around your belly.