Simple Diet and Fitness Tips

Curb your sweet tooth

Got a late-night sugar craving that just won't quit? "To satisfy your sweet tooth without pushing yourself over the calorie edge, even in the late night hours, think 'fruit first,'" says Jackie Newgent, RD, author of The Big

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River of Ghagot (বাংলাদেশের নদী কতই না সুন্দর)

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Diet & Food Planning for Diabetes

Alongside exercise, a healthy diet is an important element of the lifestyle management of diabetes, as well as being preventive against the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Maintaining a good diet is also a vital part of keeping tight control of blood sugar levels, itself important for minimizing the risk of diabetes complications.1

The good news for people living with diabetes is that the condition does not preclude any particular type of food or require an unusual diet - the goal is much the same as it would be for anyone wishing to eat a healthy, balanced diet.2

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Super Simple All Natural Beauty Tips

1. Banana and Egg Hair Treatment
Looking for a little more shine in your hair? Simply mix one egg and a mashed up banana. Apply it as a thick paste to your hair and leave it on for 10 – 30 minutes. Wash it our doing your usual hair washing ritual (if you usually use a store-bought conditioner you’ll probably only need to condition the ends). And voila! Super simple, and all natural, beauty tip.

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Health Tips for Women

1. Pay attention to your well-being.

Sure, you have a lot of responsibilities—but it's important to take care of your health too! Do your best to eat right, exercise, and get enough sleep. Try to set aside some time for doing things you enjoy and staying in touch with those who mean the most to you.

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How to Control Diabetes Without Medication

 It can be shocking and overwhelming to be diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Aside from the physical issues that come with the disease, diabetics have to adjust to lifestyle changes as well. The good news is that diabetics can learn how to control diabetes without medication by making these lifestyle changes.

Diabetes treatment plans usually consist of four important components:

Most people would probably prefer to avoid medication where possible. And for many people, it is possible to control diabetes without resorting to medication. It takes commitment and consistency to the other three parts of the treatment plan: diet, exercise, and weight control.

Controlling Diabetes through Diet

Many tasty and delicious diabetic recipes are available to help ease one's way into managing diabetes. Because the carbohydrates in foods quickly raise blood sugar levels, diabetics have to be especially careful about what they eat, how much they eat, and even when they eat. Complex carbohydrates provide a slower, steadier release of sugar, while refined carbohydrates, sweets, and processed foods tend to provide a quick release of sugar, or a blood sugar "spike" -- something that diabetics want to avoid.

Ironically, a "diabetic-friendly diet" is basically a diet that's healthy for anyone: rich in vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and lean meats or proteins, while minimizing overly-processed or refined foods and sweets.

Eating on a regular schedule also helps to control blood glucose levels. Rather than eating when you feel like it, or eating when you get around to it, a regular meal and snack schedule helps to keep blood sugar steady throughout the day. Portion control is important too, as you don't want to eat huge meals that raise your blood sugar quickly. The foods you choose for your meal are also important to help balance things out -- don't eat all your protein in one meal and all your carbs in another. Try to get a mix of different nutrients in every meal. For example, eating an egg for breakfast won't raise your blood sugar much. But if you follow it up by a snack of a few pieces of white toast and a brownie, your blood sugar is likely to spike.

Your fasting blood glucose is checked every morning before you eat or drink anything other than water - usually 8 to 12 hours after your last snack or drink. If you find that your blood sugar levels are too high, you can try several things:

Modify your dinner. Most people have their biggest meal at dinner time, often with lots of carbohydrates such as bread or rolls, potatoes, rice, or pasta. Try some substitutions: instead of a roll, have a small piece of fruit or some extra veggies. Or simply cut down slightly on the portions. Portion control is important not just because of the calories, but also to help manage blood sugar levels due to the carbohydrates in foods. For example, if you normally     eat two cups of pasta, try reducing that by 1/2 cup.

Have a smaller snack before bed (if you're not currently eating anything at all before bed, and your fasting glucose is too high, do try a small snack - since a diabetic's body doesn't properly use or produce insulin, this often helps).

Eat something different for your bedtime snack. For example, if you've been having a piece of toast, try something with fewer carbohydrates - a half glass of milk, for example, or a half a piece of fruit.

A dietitian can be a tremendous help with diabetic meal planning. He or she can help you include the foods you like, answer your questions, and make adjustments as you continue learning to control diabetes.

Establishing a Regular Exercise Routine

It's hard to start exercising if you've been fairly sedentary so far. But exercise is one of the most important things you can do to manage diabetes. Not only does it help you get fit, it helps to control blood sugar levels, improves cholesterol, blood pressure, and circulation (all issues that can lead to additional nasty complications) -- and it's a natural mood enhancer. After exercising, people report feeling happier, more relaxed, and more confident.

Regular exercise is the most beneficial for everyday management of Type 2 Diabetes. Ideally, you would exercise most, if not every day of the week for at least 30 minutes at a time. Don't be a "weekend warrior" and try to do all of your exercise in those two days. Get into a regular routine and stick with it. If you need motivation, invite a friend (you'll be less likely to skip exercising if someone is expecting you), or join a class (many people enjoy the group setting, plus there's an opportunity to socialize too).

Wearing the right shoes is important too. Diabetics are more prone to poor circulation in the feet, so cuts and wounds heal slowly. Proper foot care and a good pair of shoes will help ensure that you can continue to exercise regularly.

If you still find that your blood sugar levels are too high (whether fasting levels, or after you eat), then try one of these tips:

Change when you exercise. Many people find it easier to establish a routine, a set time every day when they exercise. However, depending on how your body responds, you might need to change it up a bit. Try exercising before a meal... or within an hour or two after eating. If your fasting glucose is too high, try a brisk 15-minute walk before bed.

Change the intensity of your exercise routine. Exercise that gets the heart pumping is great for fitness, for maintaining or losing weight, and for helping to manage blood sugar. If your glucose levels are too high, boost the intensity of your workout a little - that doesn't mean you have to go all out for the entire routine... but try to do a few minutes at higher intensity to see if it helps. Always get the go-ahead from your doctor first, especially if you are new to exercising or have other health conditions that may impact your ability to exercise.

Change the duration of your exercise routine. Sometimes a few extra minutes can make all the difference when it comes to managing blood sugar levels. Start with an extra 5 or 10 minutes and see how your body responds.

Try a different type of exercise. If you normally walk, try a short jog or a swim instead. Try yoga or pilates, lifting weights, going for a bike ride, playing tennis, or put on your favorite music and dance!

Check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program. There are some exercises that shouldn't be done by diabetics with certain conditions or complications.

Make sure you know the signs of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and how to deal with it. Exercising more than you're used to, or skipping a meal, for instance, can cause your blood sugar to drop too low.

Weight Loss and Weight Control

Being overweight or obese is one of the big indicators for diabetes. Excess weight leads to insulin resistance, which occurs when a body stops responding to insulin properly. Losing weight -- even just 10 or 15 pounds -- can help your body become more sensitive to insulin.

Losing weight is never easy. Fortunately, eating a healthy, portion-controlled diet as well as engaging in regular exercise, will make it easier to lose weight. Everyone's body is different -- even if you are finding it difficult to drop pounds with diet and exercise, you can prevent additional weight gain. Do not go on any fad diets or take diet pills to drop the weight. These can be harmful, especially to a diabetic.

 Learning how to control diabetes without medication is great, but           the reality is that it doesn't work for everyone. Some people's bodies just don't sufficiently respond to lifestyle changes; other people find it difficult to make or maintain the necessary lifestyle changes. It's certainly worth a try: becoming healthier is always good, and if it can prevent you from having to take pills or insulin shots, then all the better! Some people have even found that with consistent attention to diet, exercise, and weight, their Type 2 Diabetes has even gone into remission.  

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10 Homemade Face Mask For All Skin Types

Homemade face mask can be made by using basic integrants found around in the house. Homemade face masks are cheaper and have no side effects. But still homemade face mask yield wonderful results. Following are some face masks that can be used for all skin types.

 Yogurt Face Mask for All Skin Types Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp natural yogurt, room temperature (not lowfat or non-fat)

• 1 tsp runny honey.

Preparation:

Combine the mixture and then apply to face.

Leave it for 15 minutes.

Wash face with cold water.

For dry skin, use an extra tsp of honey.

Oily skin? Add a few drops of fresh lime juice in the face mask.

Homemade Clay Mask for All Skin Types Ingredients:

• 1½ tsp clay (Multani mitti or white clay)

• 1½ tbsp aloevera gel

• 1 tbsp rosewater

Preparation:

Add the clay in the aloe vera gel and rosewater. this clay mask is best for oily skin, for dry skin add two drops of olive oil in the face mask.

Honey and turmeric face mask

This face mask is best for removing any kind of scars and pimples from your face . It leaves your face glowing and also reduces your skin tone.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp of honey

• ½ tsp turmeric

Preparation

Mix both the ingredients and apply on your face can be applied under and around eyes also. For best results use this face mask daily for a week.

Milk powder homemade face mask

This face mask removes tan and also gives a shining glow to your skin.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp of Milk Powder

• 1 tbsp honey

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• ½ tbsp almond oil

Preparation

Mix all the ingredients and apply on your face and other body parts. Wait for 15 minutes and wash with water. For oily skin add Fuller’s earth(Multanni Mitti) instead of almond oil.

Sandalwood powder and Cucumber homemade face mask

This face mask Lightens the colour of your skin and also nourishes the skin.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp of Sandalwood powder

• 1 tbsp cucumber juice

• 1 tbsp tomato juice

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Preparation

Mix all the ingredients and apply on your face and other body parts. Wait for 15 minutes and wash with water. This face mask is very good for oily skin.

For dry skin ½ tbsp of honey can be added.

Gram flour homemade face mask

Gram flour is used from ancient times to make the skin fair and glowing. Following face mask is a complete skin care for your face.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp of Gramflour

• pinch of turmeric

• few drops of lemon juice

• milk to make a paste

Preparation

Mix all the ingredients and make a paste. Apply on your face and other body parts. Wait for 15 minutes and wash with lukewarm water.

Cucumber and lime juice homemade face mask

Cucumber helps in treating sunburn and also makes the skin fairer. Adding lemon juice and turmeric in it enhances its skin lightening properties. Turmeric is also cures acne and reduces acne and pimples marks.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp cucumber juice

• 1 tsp lime juice

• 1 tsp turmeric

Preparation

Mix all the ingredients and apply on your face. Thus face mask can be applied around eyes too. You can use cotton balls to apply the face mask. Wait for 15 minutes. Wash your face with water .this face mask can be used daily. Very effective face mask for oily skin. Add 1 tsp of glycerin for dry skin.

Papaya and Sandalwood powder homemade face mask

This face mask removes blemishes of acne and gives your face a permanent glow. Papaya nourishes the skin very deeply and it has also anti tanning effects.

Ingredients:

• 1 slice of papaya

• 1 tbsp sandalwood powder

Preparation

Mash the papaya and add sandalwood powder to make paste. Apply on face, neck, arms as you like. Wash with cold water after 20 minutes. For dry skin you can add 1 tbsp of honey in this face mask. Honey will moisturise your skin.

Apple Homemade face mask

Fruits are good for your stomach and skin too. Eat fruits for healthy skin and apply on skin for outer nourishment.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 Ripe Apple

• 1 tbsp oatmeal

• 1 tbsp honey

Preparation

Mash the apple and add oatmeal and honey to it. Make the paste. Apply on face, neck, arms as you like. Leave it till dry. Wash with cold water. This face pack id good for all skin types. It cleanses the skin, moisturizes it and makes your skin fair and glowing.

Homemade facial mask for skin tightening

Eggs are known to be the skin tightening agent and so multani mitti.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp Multani Mitti(Fuller’s earth)

• 1 tbsp Egg white

• 1 tbsp honey (for dry skin)

Preparation

Mix both the ingredients and apply on the face. Leave for 15 minutes. Wash with lukewarm water. For dry skin add 1 tbsp of honey.

This article editet By deepti_bindra

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10 tips to look after your teeth

Here are some tips to help you look after your teeth.

1.     Brush at least twice a day. The best time to brush teeth is after meals. Choose a toothbrush with a small head for better access to back teeth. Soft bristles are kinder on your gums.

2.     Use fluoridated toothpaste. Fluoride helps to harden tooth enamel and reduces your risk of decay.

3.     Brush thoroughly. Tooth brushing should take between two and three minutes.

4.     Floss your teeth daily. Use a slow and gentle sawing motion.

5.     Limit acidic drinks like soft drinks, cordials and fruit juices. Food acids soften tooth material and dissolve the minerals in tooth enamel, causing holes (cavities or caries). In severe cases, teeth may be ‘eaten’ right down to the gum.

6.     Limit sugary foods. Bacteria in dental plaque change sugars into acids.

7.     Protect your teeth from injury. Wear a mouth guard or full-face helmet when playing sports.

8.     Try to save a knocked out tooth. If possible, hold the tooth back in place while you seek immediate dental advice. If this is not possible, wrap the tooth in plastic or place it in milk and seek dental advice immediately.

9.     Avoid using your teeth for anything other than chewing food. If you use them to crack nuts, remove bottle tops or rip open packaging, you risk chipping or even breaking your teeth.

10.   See your dentist for regular check-ups. You should also visit your dentist if you have a dental problem such as a toothache or bleeding gums.

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49 Amazing Ways To Boost Your Brain Power

 1)  Meditate: Meditation has been known to increase IQ, relieve stress, and promotes higher levels of brain functioning. Meditation also activates the “prefrontal cortex” of the brain, an area responsible for advanced thinking ability and performance.

2) Draw A Picture: Drawing stimulates the right-hemisphere of the brain and inspires creativity. Get out the colored pencils and begin drawing your way to a powerful brain.

3) Exercise: Long-term exercise has been proven to increase brain power and even create new neurons in the brain. Go out and get a natural high off of your own brain chemistry through exercise!

4) Brainwave Entrainment: Brainwave entrainment is a safe, innovative way to stimulate and shape the brain and it’s functioning. You can literally build up more control over your life and harness your brain’s potential!

5) Avoid Junk Food: Junk food has been proven to decrease energy in the body and promotes “brain fog.” Cut some junk food from your diet, and reap the benefits of calmer, focused brain chemistry.

6) Deep Breathing: Deep breathing actually increases oxygen levels and blood-flow to the brain. 10-15 minutes of daily deep breathing can make a huge difference in the quality of your life and brain’s functioning potential.

7) Learn A New Language: Learning adds more structure to the brain and improves the brain’s speech centers. Hablas espanol? It may be time for you to take a class or program to supplement your job-skills and brain power!

8) Take Fish Oil: Fish oil supplements are literally like membrane material for the brain. The 2 primary components of EPA and DHA each act to strengthen both the emotional center of the brain and boost focus. There is an increase in overall brain activity after taking fish oil for awhile.

9) Laugh It Up: Laughter causes a natural release of the brain’s endorphins — chemicals that drown out pain and increase overall well being. Laughter is a well known, natural stress reducer. Watch a comedy, crack a joke, and increase those endorphin levels!

10) Engage In Debate: A good, healthy debate strengthens the brain’s ability to think quickly and apply intelligence to verbal situations. Work to build up your brain power by engaging in plenty of healthy debate.

11) Take A Multivitamin: Vitamins are great for the brain, and if it does not get enough of a certain vitamin through daily diet, consider a multivitamin. Multivitamins help facilitate the functioning of a healthy body and enriched brain. Start popping a vitamin each morning for awhile and chances are good that you’ll notice a difference!

12) Drink Red Wine: Alcohol in moderation has been proven to be good for the brain. Why? It is rich in antioxidants — chemicals that actually protect the brain! One glass daily for women and two for men is generally considered a healthy amount.

13) Eat Healthy: You know what ‘healthy’ is, so why not eat healthy and improve your brain? The brain requires a certain amount of energy to reach it’s maximum level of functioning. Eating chocolate cake and chips instead of fish and legumes, well maybe that’s why you cannot think clearly.

14) Change Your Environment: To keep your brain properly stimulated, it is important to keep changing your environment. Drive a new route to work, eat at a new restaurant on Friday night. Changing the environment helps change the brain!

15) Set Goals: Setting goals activates areas of the brain associated with positive thinking and action. Setting goals is great for achieving success and prosperity in life and boosting your brain.

16) Listen To Music: Studies have proven that listening to music strengthens the right-hemisphere of the brain and literally changes the structure. Those same studies have found that people who listen to music are generally smarter and have more emotional intelligence than those who don’t.

17) Be Empathetic: Being empathetic and trying to understand the emotions of others is a skill that your brain can learn. Being empathetic is definitely a powerful trait to have and allows your brain to relate to the emotions of others.

18) Avoid Stress: A little bit of stress will never hurt anybody. Too much stress actually causes detrimental increases in the hormone “cortisol” which in high levels, kills brain cells and suppresses brain functioning.

19) Think Positive: If you are currently very good at thinking positively, chances are good that you already have a more powerful brain than those “Negative Nellies.” Take 10 minutes daily to think more positive and start noticing an improvement in thinking abilities and problem solving skills.

20) Brainstorm: A good brainstorming session to think of ne

w, stimulating ideas is a great way to boost your brains ability to think creatively. Brainstorming is actually a different way of thinking that will equip your brain with a quick creative boost.

21) Write An Article: Writing is linked to an improved memory and expression of thoughts. When you write, you are strengthening your brain’s natural ability to convey thoughts and feelings. Writing is a great way to exercise your ability to analyze and build a thought process with critical thinking. Journals, diaries, blog entries, and writing stories are phenomenal ways to fulfill your brain.

22) Visualize: Visualization has been associated with focus at a deeper level. Many successful athletes that are able to play “in the zone” actually visualize their game at a deeper level. Visualization has been linked to lowered stress, increased creativity, and peak mind-body performance.

23) Get Some Sleep: Be sure to always fulfill your brain’s need for sleep. Sleep clears out mental clutter and unimportant thoughts. Getting a good night’s sleep can also be the difference between a sharp memory and feeling forgetful. Everyone has different sleep requirements, be sure to fulfill yours! If you don’t get enough sleep — you may want to take a nap…

24) Do Self-Hypnosis: The power of hypnotic suggestion is definitely real. You can change aspects of your thought process and learn to shift your focus by taking the time to do some self-hypnosis. Hypnosis research shows that by practicing hypnosis, an individual experiences lowered stress, increased pain tolerance, and clear thinking. Try it out for yourself if you haven’t already!

25) Do Crossword Puzzles: Crossword puzzles bring out your brain’s ability to critically think and recall past memories. The challenge of completing crossword puzzles is definitely mentally invigorating and stimulating. If you enjoy reading the newspaper, be sure to check out the daily crossword puzzles section and build up that brain power!

26) Eat Nuts: Brazil and South American University students swear by eating nuts before taking exams. They notice that eating them is correlated with an increase in test scores. New studies are beginning to prove nuts effectiveness at increasing brain power. If you do not eat a lot of nuts, try it sometime and reap the brain related benefits!

27) Read Books: Reading books teaches your brain to adapt to absorb large amounts of information in shorter periods of time. Books challenge your thinking abilities and memorization skills, as well as boost vocabulary and critical thinking skills. Not only do you learn something from reading a book, but your brain power increases as you build up the book load.

28) Listen To Classical Tunes: Listening to classical music activates the left hemisphere of the brain, which is why classical music usually helps students do better in mathematics and writing. If you haven’t yet tried listening to some Mozart, consider it! Mozart has been linked to an 80 % increase in spatial intelligence scores!

29) Play “Brain Age”: New games like “Brain Age” for the nintendo DS and Big-Brain Academy help promote quick thinking and essential brain skills. These games work wonderful for improving thinking speed and natural problem solving skills. I’ve had a chance to play these games before and I can personally vouch for their effectiveness!

30) Take A Nap: Taking a nap has been proven through research to significantly improve task-performance and thinking abilities. If you are feeling tired throughout the day and has time to take a quick nap, it is recommended. Naps are a wonderful refresher and quick little mental booster.

31) Turn Off The T.V.: Watching T.V. may not be the only reason which rotting begins in the brain, but it is a key ingredient to the rotting process. A little T.V. will never hurt anybody, but it does definitely change brain functioning. The act of watching T.V. slows brainwaves and causes a decline in brain fitness.

32) Paint A Picture: Being able to visualize where you want paint to go on paper sparks pure creativity from within. Painting is an exercise that gets the right-brain fully functioning and improves your creative side. If you haven’t tried painting a picture, give it a shot and notice that you’re likely to feel and be more creative.

33) Start Crying: Don’t be afraid to cry when the time is right! Crying actually heals emotions and promotes healthy circulation within the brain. Those who are able to cry are actually cleansing the inside of their brain, which is another very healthy way to increase brain power.

34) Eat Less: Eating too much food has the effect of decreasing blood-flow to the brain and increasing blood-flow to the digestive system. Therefore, if you are able to cut-back on the total amount of food you consume, you will have enhanced brain functioning. In several lab studies, rats on a calorie-restricted diet had increased blood flow to their brains.

35) Eat Breakfast: When kids who hadn’t eating breakfast for awhile, began to eat breakfast, their math grades went up an entire letter grade (on average). Breakfast is probably the most important meal of the day — it provides your body with fuel for the rest of the day. If you don’t have time to eat an entire breakfast in the morning, at least have some sort of snack… It could give your brain a powerful edge!

36) Go For A Walk: Exercise definitely benefits the brain, and walking is a great form of exercise that is easy and very effective for boosting brainpower. Walking puts your mind in a relaxed state of clear thought and brain function. Walking gives your brain a chance to wander and free itself from any troubling thoughts.

37) Mimic Others: Being able to mimic other’s actions and talk activates several areas of the brain that are usually inactive. Mimicking others, if done in a fun, playful manner, can improve your brain power and the brain’s natural ability to adapt quickly when faced with new situations.

38) Solve Puzzles: Solving puzzles is a great way to stimulate your brains ability to critically think and process information. Puzzles are thought provoking, challenging, and a fun activity. The great thing about puzzles is that they require activity in the left-hemisphere of the brain to work with, and transfer information to, the right hemisphere’s visual center of the brain. Want a more integrated brain? Solve a puzzle!

39) Do Neurofeedback: Neurofeedback is a great way to learn to consciously control your brain wave patterns. Neurofeedback builds brain structure and helps promote flexibility within a brain’s neural network. Though neurofeedback is somewhat costly, if you’ve got enough money — it may very well be the best investment you can make for your brain!

40) Reduce Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol in moderation isn’t terrible for the brain, too much alcohol is damaging to brain health and function. If you want to boost brain power, cutting alcohol is a great way to do it. Alcohol can cause memory problems and encourage “foggy,” disorganized thinking.

41) Live A Drug-Free Lifestyle: Everyone knows that drugs are bad for them. Drugs do not foster creativity; they kill creativity and deplete brain cells. Depending on the drug, effects can range from brain bleeding, to cell loss, to impairments in neural growth. Live drug free and keep your brain more powerful!

42) Drink Freshly Squeezed Juice: Drinking fresh pressed vegetable juice revitalizes the brain and provides cells with a refreshing jolt of nutrients. Most juices provide your brain with vital nutrients which in turn, provide you with more mental energy and focus.

43) Be Self-Aware: When you learn to let go of ego-driven and emotional aspects of life, rational thinking kicks in. Rational thinking will allow you to become self-aware, which in turn allows you to make better future decisions to achieve optimal brain health. Activities like meditation, self-hypnosis, and introspection allow us to increase our self-awareness.

44) Take Gingko Biloba: Gingko Biloba has been scientifically researched and documented to significantly increase blood-flow to the brain. Gingko Biloba is a fairly inexpensive way to pump up your brain’s blood-flow. Increased blood flow to the brain is correlated with an increase in focus and problem solving. Try some Gingko Biloba and allow your brain to reap the benefits!

45) Have Sex: Having sex is a great way to naturally release vital hormones in the brain. When involved in a loving relationship, having sex improves social connection as well as emotional intelligence. Sex is connecting, stress-relieving, and a great way to give your brain a boost. Chances are that sex will also improve your confidence and ability to think positively!

46) Sniff Some Basil: I personally haven’t tried this method, but there seem to be many claims testifying for Basil’s effectiveness at improving overall brain function. Either way, certain fragrances actually change brain functioning. Taking a whiff of peppermint speeds up brain functioning, while other fragrances actually slow things down! Since scent is the strongest thing tied to memory, some good fragrances can definitely help out brain functioning.

47) Stay In School: If you are in school, chances are good that you will boost your brain power more than the average dropout! Keeping up with school work, means giving your brain a good workout in areas of self-discipline, learning, and mental processing. Stay in school, or do something to always be learning something new!

48) Ask Questions: Asking questions is a phenomenal way to keep your brain in shape. Get in the habit of questioning others and their thoughts. Questions can provoke new thoughts and ideas and asking them is a great way to build up brain power!

49) Re-Read This List: Want to boost your brain power? Start by re-reading this list and highlighting several methods that you can apply to your life. As a matter of fact, print this list out and staple it up someplace that you will view every day. That way, when walking past the list, you can take a glance and randomly choose an activity to boost your brain power!

Source: http://wakeup-world.com/2011/06/02/50-ways-to-boost-your-brain-power/

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10 FOOD TIPS TO HELP YOUR BRAIN

Simple Food Habits to Help You Preserve Your Precious Brain

Although the brain is such a complex organ, determining who we are and how we navigate our way through this world, its maintenance and care doesn’t have to be complicated. Just keep these basic facts in mind:

1. Your Brain Loves Fat

60 percent of your brain is made up of fat, so the kind of fat that you need to consume has to be of a very high quality. Your brain is especially fond of omega-3 fats, but it also needs omega-6 fats. These essential fats are very delicate and prone to damage, so you need to consume an undamaged blend.

2. Your Brain Loves Water

The largest component in your body is water, so you need to consume enough clean, uncontaminated water to keep your body and brain well hydrated.

3. You’re Brain Loves Protein

Protein is important not just for building muscle, but also for keeping your neurons talking effectively. If you don’t eat enough good quality protein, your neurons battle to chat to each other, and you could find it difficult to concentrate, leading to memory challenges. Protein should be organic if it comes from an animal, and you need to combine grains with legumes to make complete protein if you are a vegetarian.

4. Your Brain Is The Greediest Organ In Your Body

Your brain is the most energy hungry organ in your body. It needs a constant, stable supply of good quality carbohydrates. Vegetables and low-sugar fruit provide good, fresh sources of carbohydrates for sustained energy production, while processed and refined carbohydrates provide short-term energy fixes.

Choose whole grains and legumes for sustained energy release too, and your brain will enjoy optimal energy supply. A wide variety of fresh produce will also supply vitamins and minerals that your brain needs to function optimally.

5. Your Brain on Coffee

Caffeine supplies a quick rush of energy to your brain, because it stimulates the release of adrenaline. This makes you feel energetic to start with, but this soon tapers off, leaving you in need of another “fix”. Try one of the great herbal teas available, or opt for plain old-fashioned water, with a dash of lime. Most people don’t need another stress kick, and this is exactly what coffee provides.

6. Your Brain Needs the Right Carbohydrates

Think of what you crave. If it is chocolate and lollies, you are probably experiencing unstable glucose levels because of processed carbohydrate consumption, so you have to wean yourself from these insidious addictions. When people are tired from lack of sleep, ongoing stress and feeling overwhelmed, they usually reach for a quick sugar-fix to give them a spurt of energy.

A great green drink, full of nutrient-rich compounds, can help to get your blood glucose more stable, and lead to less cravings. Eating the right fats helps immensely too, because when they are supplied with the right fats, your cells produce energy more efficiently. This keeps your energy levels high, which leads to less energy slumps and chocolate-fixes.

7. What Goes On In Your Gut Will Affect What Goes On Between Your Ears
Contrary to popular belief, you aren’t what you eat – you are what you absorb. This means that you need to sort out any digestive difficulties you may be experiencing. Your food needs to be digested, absorbed and waste eliminated effectively, before you can be optimally healthy. Your brain can only receive the nutrients that are absorbed, so it makes perfect sense to ensure your gut is working well.

8. If Your BodyDoesn’t like a Food, Your Brain Will Object Too

If you are intolerant to any food, such as wheat or dairy, your brain will battle to stay alert and focused. This will of course affect your memory negatively. Researchers are still working on exactly why food intolerance affects the brain so negatively, but if you suspect you may be intolerant to a specific food, leave it out of your diet for a couple of weeks, and see how you feel. Interestingly, the foods that you crave are often the ones that don’t agree with you, as they produce an addictive-like response in your body. So, if you think you can’t live without it, the chances are your body – and brain – can do without it.

9. Food Additives Don’t Add Up To Better Brain Function

Check the labels on the foods that you are eating. If you eat lots of fresh produce there are no labels, but there are additives in tinned and processed foods that may be causing harm to your body and brain. Many additives are simply present in the product to make the product shelf-stable, thus avoiding any loss of income for the manufacturer. Furthermore, some additives are actively dangerous, like MSG, which is an excitotoxin, causing neuron damage, and eventually loss, when consumed in excess.

10. Eat Breakfast Like A King To Keep Your Brain Happy Throughout The Day
Whether you have breakfast doesn’t just determine your weight, it also determines how your brain will work during the day. When people miss breakfast they are setting themselves up for weight gain, because they tend to eat more during the day. Furthermore, focus, memory and mood are all influenced negatively by a lack of breakfast. If you are not hungry when you wake up, consider taking your breakfast with you.

As it’s best to eat only after you’ve been awake for about an hour, it may pay you to prepare your breakfast, and eat it when you arrive at your destination. It sure beats a cup of coffee and a muffin at your desk. Otherwise, you can go to bed earlier, wake up in time to exercise, and then eat your breakfast.

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