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CAROL'S
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Views
& tips from your side of the counter........
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Are
you Invisibly Fat?
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All
fat is not created equal, and abdominal fat is more dangerous
than bottom or thigh fat. Even worse is the fat you cant
see- that surrounding your internal organs. Internal fat interferes
with the way your body handles carbohydrates, which causes
problems ranging from poor sexual performance to high blood
pressure. A study at Yale University found overweight post-menopausal
women who did regular moderate exercise, such as brisk walking,
lost internal fat. The more exercise they did, the more they
lost. This concurs with recent recommendations made by the
National Academy of Sciences. Exercise moderately every day
if you want to lose fat and keep it off. This neednt involve
gruelling sessions at the gym. During the day, try to incorporate
a brisk walk around the block, a run with the dog, a rapid
rise up a flight of stairs etc. Chasing your children around
the park or showing off your skipping skills to your niece
are just as valid as exercise in the gym.
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B
Calm |
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The
B vitamins support your nervous system which, when
fatigued, leaves you frazzled. B1 and B12 may help
you to feel calm and clear-headed. B2 and B3 help
release energy from food and B6 helps the body produce
anti-bodies, which helps the body fight the infections
youre susceptible to when stressed. Find them in
wholegrain breads and cereals, meat, fish & eggs.
Or take a vitamin B-complex supplement.
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A
Date with Your Diary
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We
all know that our emotional health is as important as our physical
health. But at times, it can be hard to pin down just what youre
feeling and why. Solution- keep a diary. A journal helps you sort
out your thoughts and gain a real insight into your emotions says
Suzannah Olivier, author of 101 Ways to Simplify Your Life.
Heres how to make it work for you;
• Sit down and write for 20 minutes each day.
• Dont worry about grammar, spelling or being interesting;
just write down whatever thoughts come into your head.
• Dont censor yourself- putting all your emotions on paper
will help you sort through what youre really experiencing and get
you back on the right track.
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Bathing
Beauty
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There
is nothing like a luxurious bath to revive your spirits. Susannah
Marriott, author of Spice Spa suggests making a Bath Bag. Take
freshly sliced peel from a mandarin and half a lemon, plus 1 tablespoon
of grated gingerroot and tie all this up in a square of muslin.
Infuse the bag into your bath and then scrub all over with the bag.
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Chew
Gum
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if
youre going out for a tipple. It helps increase saliva flow which
cancels out the acids which form in your mouth after drinking alcohol
(white wine is the worst culprit). Just make sure its sugar-free
gum.
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Too
much caffine?
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Too
much caffeine in coffee, tea and soft drinks can rob your body of
calcium because more is lost in your urine- almost double the amount
lost by drinking water. Other minerals such as magnesium and zinc,
which are important for your immune system, are also lost. Cutting
your caffeine intake to a maximum of three caffeine drinks a day
minimises the loss.
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Winter
sore throats
still seem to be lingering so try this soothing remedy
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Cayenne
will temporarily help a sore throat. Make a gargle from 125ml of
warm water, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of salt and
a dash of powdered cayenne (ask at a health food shop). Gargle several
times during the day and symptoms should improve. |
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