Thought for the day

Protect yourself from cancer causing makeup

A leading UK breast cancer charity has warned that levels of endocrine disrupting chemicals contained in popular beauty products may increase women's risk of developing the disease. And the chemicals being highlighted by Breast Cancer UK appear in the ingredients on everything from Nivea moisturisers and Maybelline mascaras to Essie nail polish.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals are mostly manmade and have been linked with increased rates of breast cancer, according to the World Health Organisation. Exposure can occur through the skin or be passed on by pregnant women to their unborn children. 

Be yourself

Trying to be anyone else is a waste of the person you are. Embrace that individual inside you that has ideas, strengths and beauty like no one else. Be the person you know yourself to be – the best version of you – on your terms. And above all, be true to YOU – if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.

Starting today…

Get your priorities straight. – Twenty years from now it won’t really matter what shoes you wore today, how your hair looked, or what brand of jeans you bought. What will matter is how you loved, what you learned and how you applied this knowledge.

Take full responsibility for your goals. – If you really want good things in your life to happen, you have to make them happen yourself. You can’t sit around and hope that somebody else will help you; you have to make your own future and not think that your destiny is tied to the actions and choices of others. Read Quitter.

Know your worth. – When someone treats you like you’re just one of many options, help them narrow their choice by removing yourself from the equation. Sometimes you have to try not to care, no matter how much you do. Because sometimes you can mean almost nothing to someone who means so much to you. It’s not pride – it’s self-respect. Don’t expect to see positive changes in your life if you surround yourself with negative people. Don’t give part-time people a full-time position in your life. Know your value and what you have to offer, and never settle for anything less than what you deserve.

Choose the right perspective. – Perspective is everything. When faced with long check-out lines, traffic jams, or waiting an hour past your appointment time, you have two choices: You can get frustrated and enraged, or you can view it as life’s way of giving you a guilt-free breather from rushing, and spend that time daydreaming, conversing, or watching the clouds. The first choice will raise your blood pressure. The second choice will raise your consciousness.

Don’t let your old problems punish your dreams. – Learn to let goof things you can’t control. The next time you’re tempted to rant about a situation that you think ended unfairly, remind yourself of this: You’ll never kill off your anger by beating the story to death. So close your mouth, unclench your fists, and redirect your thoughts. When left untended, the anger will slowly wither, and you’ll be left to live in peace as you grow toward a better future.

Choose the things that truly matter. – Some things just don’t matter much – like the kind of car you drive. How big of a deal is that in the grand scheme of life? Not a big at all. But lifting a person’s heart? Now, that matters. The whole problem with most people is, they KNOW what matters, but they don’t CHOOSE it. They get distracted. They don’t put first things first. The hardest and smartest way to live is choosing what truly matters, and pursuing it passionately. Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Love YOU. – Let someone love you just the way you are – as flawed as you might be, as unattractive as you sometimes feel, and as unaccomplished as you think you are. Yes, let someone love you despite all of this; and let that someone be YOU.

Accept your strengths and weaknesses. – Be confident being YOU. We often waste too much time comparing ourselves to others, and wishing to be something we’re not. Everybody has their own strengths and weaknesses, and it is only when we accept everything we are, and aren’t, that we are able to become who we are capable of being.

Stand up for YOU. – You were born to be real, not to be perfect. You’re here to be YOU, not to be what someone else wants you to be. Stand up for yourself, look them in the eye, and say, “Don’t judge me until you know me, don’t underestimate me until you challenge me, and don’t talk about me until you’ve talked to me.”

Learn from others, and move on when you must. – You can’t expect to change people. Either you accept who they are, or you start living your life without them. And just because something ends, doesn’t mean it never should have been. You lived, you learned, you grew, and you moved on. Some people come into your life as blessings; others come into your life as lessons.

Be honest in your relationships. – Don’t cheat! If you’re not happy, be honest, and move on if you must. When you’re truly in love, being faithful isn’t a sacrifice, it’s a joy.

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. – Life as we know it can change in a blink of an eye. Unlikely friendships can blossom, important careers can be tossed aside and a long lost hope can be rekindled. It might feel a little uncomfortable at times, but know that life begins at the end of your comfort zone. So if you’re feeling uncomfortable right now, know that the change taking place in your life is not an ending, but a new beginning. Read The Power of Full Engagement.

Be who you were born to be. – Don’t get to the end of your life and find that you lived only the length of it; live the width of it as well. When it comes to living as a passionate, inspired human being, the only challenge greater than learning to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, is learning to walk a lifetime comfortably in your own. Follow your heart, and take your brain with you. When you are truly comfortable in your own skin, not everyone will like you, but you won’t care about it one bit.

Never give up on YOU. – This is your life; shape it, or someone else will. Strength shows not only in the ability to hold on, but in the ability to start over when you must. It is never too late to become what you might have been. Keep learning, adapting, and growing. You may not be there yet, but you are closer than you were yesterday.

30 ingredients in your Sausage

Pork (72%), Water, Rusk, Seasoning, Parsley, Rusk contains: Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Salt, Raising Agent (Ammonium Bicarbonate), Seasoning contains: Salt, Dextrose, Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Emulsifiers (Disodium Diphosphate, Tetrasodium Diphosphate), Yeast Extract, Spices (White Pepper, Black Pepper), Preservative (SodiumMetabisulphite), Raising Agent (Ammonium Carbonate), Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid), Spice Extracts (Nutmeg Extract, Mace Extract), Filled into pork collagen casings

Supermarket own-brand mashed potato: 7 ingredients

Potato, Water, Concentrated Butter (Milk), Dried Whole Milk, Salt, White Pepper, Stabiliser (Disodium Diphosphate)

Supermarket own-brand gravy (granules): 16 ingredients

Potato Starch, Palm Oil, Salt, Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Onion Powder, Barley Malt Extract, Flavourings (Wheat, Soya), Dried Onion, Hydrolysed Maize Protein, Emulsifier (Soya Lecithins), Onion Oil

Supermarket own-brand ketchup: 12 ingredients

Tomato Purée, Sugar, Spirit Vinegar, Cornflour, Salt, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Tomato Powder, Rice Flour, Flavouring, Onion Powder, Dextrose, Spices,

Branded gluten-free bread: 26 ingredients

Maize Starch, Water, Potato Starch, Tapioca Starch, Rapeseed Oil, Humectant: Vegetable Glycerol, Psyllium Husk Powder, Stabilisers: Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose, Xanthan Gum, Yeast, Ground Golden Flaxseed, Free Range Dry Egg White, Rice Flour, Dextrose, Iodised Salt:, Salt, Potassium Iodate, Fermented Maize Starch, Partially Inverted Sugar Syrup, Calcium Carbonate, Niacin, Iron , Riboflavin, Thiamine, Folic Acid

Vegetable oil spread: 18 ingredients

Water, Vegetable Oils in varying proportions (45%) (Sunflower, Linseed, Palm#, Rapeseed), Buttermilk, Salt (1.4%), Emulsifiers (Mono- and Diglycerides of Fatty Acids, Sunflower Lecithin), Natural Flavouring (contains Milk), Preservative (Potassium Sorbate), Acid (Citric Acid), Vitamins A and D, Colour (Carotene) 

 Courtesy : Daily Mail

Vegetarian Omlet (Besan Crepe)

This recipe makes great breakfast for everyone and especially for those who want to avoid eggs.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup besan (chick pea flour)
• A pinch of asafetida
• ½ tsp red pepper powder/ Chili Powder
• ¼ tsp fine garlic paste
• A pinch of Salt
• Cooking Oil
• Grated Carrot (Optional)
• Grated Spinach (Optional)
• Grated Onion (Optional)
• Grated Beans (Optional)

Method: 

Place besan (chickpea flour), salt, red pepper powder, garlic paste and asafetida in a large mixing bowl. Add enough water to make a smooth batter (stirring continuously). You may use your hand or a whisk. Keep aside for at least 1 hour.

After an hour add salt to taste and mix well. Now spread ¼ tsp of oil on a non-stick skillet over medium heat.  Stir the batter and pour a ladle full of batter in the center of skillet. Spread the batter with the back of the ladle.

Cook uncovered for 2-3 minutes. Turn over and cook for one more minute until it is golden crispy.
Repeat with remaining batter, stirring before using.
Serve with Cilantro chutney or Tomato chutney or Mango chutney and plain yogurt or Raita.

A letter to Wife on Wedding Day

Fasting Can Help You Live Longer

Fat is a far cleaner burning fuel than carbohydrates and generates far less free radicals,

Glucose is an inherently “dirty” fuel as it generates far more reactive oxygen species (ROS) than fat. But to burn fat, your cells must be healthy and normal. 

Cancer cells, for example, cannot burn fat, and this why a healthy high fat diet appears to be such an effective anti-cancer strategy.

To summarize, mitochondrial health is promoted by eating real food; avoiding food at least 3 hours before bedtime; and intermittently fasting.

Keep in mind that monitoring your protein intake is just as important as cutting non-vegetable carbs. If you eat more protein than what your body needs, you will prevent the activation of pathways associated with stem cell and immune system regeneration. 

Research demonstrates this diet will help your body fight cancer, lower your risk of diabetes, fight some brain disorders, and can reduce seizure activity in 50 percent of children on the diet by at least 50 percent.

Blackheads: Natural Remedies

Blackheads affect people of all ages. They develop when there’s a build-up of things like dirt, dead skin cells, and sebum in the openings of hair follicles. Blackheads, which can also look yellow, appear mostly on the nose. If you don’t treat them properly, blackheads can lead to more visible breakouts. In addition to the remedies below, here are six blackhead treatments you’ll want to check out.

Cinnamon: Mix one teaspoon each of cinnamon powder and lemon juice. Apply the mixture to your face for about fifteen minutes, and then rinse it off.

Oatmeal: Prepare a bowl before you mix in a teaspoon of honey and juice from four tomatoes. Once you’ve mixed these ingredients into the oatmeal, scrub the paste into your face and then rinse it off after fifteen minutes. Repeat daily for healthy-looking skin.

Magic Mixture for smooth skin

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tablespoon of powdered cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon of ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon of organic honey

PREPARATION:

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until you obtain a thick pasta. If you have sensitive skin, add more honey. Honey can relieve the inflammation on your skin, although it is not recommended for people who suffer from rosacea, because it can widen the blood vessels. Some people like to add white or green clay in the mask. If it becomes too thick, add a little water.

Before applying the mask, wash your face well using water and soap. After that, add your favorite moisturizer. Rub this on any scar, wrinkle or spot and whatever affected area and do not be afraid if you start feeling prickling or itching! This means that the mask is already working. Repeat the process every day and your skin will be softer and shinier in a very short time! Just rub this on any scar, wrinkle or spot and after some time the results will be inevitable!

Vegan Mayonnaise Recipe

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup soy milk
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. white vinegar
• 1/2 tsp. of prepared mustard
• 1/2 tsp. salt or to taste
• dash of pepper (optional)                                                           

Combine all ingredients in food processor or blender. Whip on high for 10-15 seconds or until a fluffy, creamy texture is achieved.

Makes about 1 1/4 cup vegan mayo.
Keeps for about 5-7 days in the fridge, in an airtight container.

And another recipe below,

Manage Stress with simple steps

20 Most Common Regrets

Clean eating saves money and health and time.

1. Do eat four to six small meals a day. Smaller, more frequent meals will keep your blood sugar levels stable and will increase your metabolism. And, because the meals keep the tummy satisfied throughout the day, you’re less likely to turn into a pantry-raiding snack monster.
2. Don’t skip breakfast. Never. Ever. Your morning meal establishes healthy metabolism throughout day. What’s more, if you skip it, you’ll likely find yourself consuming larger quantities of food at later meals
3. Do drink. Water, that is. Drink at least four to six glasses of H2O every day to keep the body hydrated. Water also helps the stomach feel full, making you less likely to give in to unhealthy snack attacks. 
4. Don’t drink too much alcohol. Whether it’s wine or beer, alcohol offers only empty calories and no nutritional value.
5. Do keep clean eating snacks on hand. Whether the day is filled with the kids’ sports events or running errands for an elderly parent, it’s easy to give in to the bad snack temptation. 
6. Don’t sabotage yourself with sugar. Excess sugar is linked to a higher risk of obesity, high blood pressure, and inflammation. Packaged and processed foods often flood the body with unneeded sugar. 
7. Do get very veggie. Vegetables deliver nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber.
8. Don’t serve super-sized portions. Even if you’re eating a clean diet, it will be hard to lose weight eating portions fit for a sumo champ. 
9. Do combine lean protein and complex carbs at each meal. This clean eating one-two punch decreases insulin spikes and maintains energy levels. The combo also acts as a natural appetite suppressant, helping you feel fuller longer.
10. Don’t go into the week without a meal plan. Can’t answer the question, “what’s for dinner tonight?” Be a planner (list below). Decide on a week’s worth of clean eating recipes ahead of time so that you don’t get stuck feeding the family a boxed meal containing processed or powdered who-knows-what.

Tips courtesy: Skinny Mums 

Top ten Spices to Boost Brainpower and prevent dementia

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