Tip of the day for the rest of your days...

This one comes out of the vault. A banana a day will keep the therapist away.

When one is feeling depressed, stressed and experiencing restless nights, levels of serotonin may be deficient. Serotonin is what regulates and promotes stabilization in the activities of the brain often leaving us relaxed. A banana is packed with minerals and vitamins and more specifically something called tryptophan. Tryptophan is converted by the body into serotonin and thus alleviating symptoms of depression. Bananas also contain vitamin B6 which helps calm the nerves when you're stressed out.

Due to the relaxation effect of bananas, insomniacs can rest easy! ALSO, bananas leave you feeling full and therefore, yes, aids in weight loss. 

So today, have a banana with your breakfast and take a banana or two to work or school. Enjoy!

Tip of the day for the rest of your days...

I hope nobody took it the wrong way when Professor Mark Haub lost 27 pounds on the Twinkie diet. The whole point of his experiment was to prove that cutting portion sizes were what mattered. You can still eat healthy and not lose a single pound if you're eating a single serving fit for King Kong. But don't get me wrong, I'm not asking you to eat unhealthy and cut calories at the same time. All that junk WILL get to you in the long run. It's important to eat a balanced diet in proportional servings accompanied by exercise and sleep. The recommended healthy caloric intake for men is 2500 and 2000 for women. However, this is just a recommendation based on the average man and woman. Depending on your lifestyle, work or school life and the commitment you put into exercising, the numbers can vary. It is best to calculate your personal calorie intake and abide by it.

Now here's an interesting tip of the day: According to a recent study at Cornell University, researchers discovered that people who ate meals using real dinnerware opposed to paper/Styrofoam plates and plastic utensils were more satisfied with their servings. People eating from paper and plastic considered their meals more of a snack and were likely to eat another serving. So cut down your servings and calories by eating from real dinnerware!

Now you may be thinking how ridiculous this sounds but the study does prove how influential the environment is to humans. Every little change and effort counts towards a healthier lifestyle. So give it a try!

Tip of the day for the rest of your days...

Okay, so since we've been on the topic of detox for a few days now, I feel I need to cover an important area of detox. As a student of Chinese medicine, it is important for me to recognize that the kidneys are the centre of a person's hereditary energy and plays an important role in vitality and longevity of life. The kidneys cleanse, filter, reabsorb nutrients, excrete toxic waste, control blood pressure and so much more. For the older folks, as you age, the first organ to usually weaken are the kidneys and one of the clear signs of a weakening kidney is hearing loss. So let's take care of our kidneys with, you got it, parsley!

Parsley aids kidney function by eliminating waste and toxins in the kidney and prevents the re-absorption of those toxins. Thus, effective against many kidney and urinary complaints.

There are so many other health benefits of parsley that one could probably write a book on it. But here is the gist of it:

- Acts an anti-oxidant in the blood stream

- Kills bacteria

- Reduces bad breath

- Purifies the blood and helps to repair vessels

- Aids in digestion of proteins and fats (Good for those guys who wanna bulk up!)

- Lowers cholesterols

- Boosts the immune system

- Aids in irregular menstruation and pain

- Acts as a diuretic and reduces edema and water retention

- Fights fatigue

And so much more...

But wait, how can I forget? Aids in weight loss by removing dreaded water retention.

Now you're probably wondering how you can use parsley. Easy! Just boil a handful of parsley in hot water, let it steep and drink. Do this once a month to keep the pipes clean!

Tip of the day for the rest of your days...

How often have you asked for a detoxing plan and have been given a list full of ingredients and procedures? Well, here's a simple detox plan for you! It requires one full day at home and one magical ingredient: Sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes contain a ton of fiber and magnesium, both excellent for digestion and soothing of the stomach and intestines. Plus, they also taste great as well! When you've got a full day at home, eat sweet potatoes for breakfast, lunch and dinner and your body will be sparkling from within. (It's okay to do this once a month)

Detoxing is very important for your body. Not only will you shed those extra pounds but will also bring balance and harmony within your body. With much of our foods processed these days, these foods contain a lot of chemicals and preservatives that don't digest well in the stomach. Our bodies have a hard time excreting these toxins and therefore remain in our system. These toxins eventually lead to more serious health conditions down the road. 

The benefits of sweet potatoes goes on:

- Strengthens immunity 

- Reduces inflammation

- Relieves asthma and bronchitis

- Eases arthritis

- Reduces stomach ulcers

- Reduces risk of cancers mainly in the intestine and colon

- Regulating blood and water

- And of course, weight loss

Tip of the day for the rest of your days...

Next time you're studying for an exam or writing a paper, instead of reaching for a bag of chips or candy, grab a handful of almonds instead. Almonds will give you that extra boost of energy to study strong, improve brainpower and cognitive function and OF COURSE slim down your waistline. A perfect snack to fight off the "freshman fifteen" while making the grades!

The health benefits of almonds are nearly endless. On top of boosting energy, improving cognitive function and slimming you down, almonds also:

- Prevents cancer

- Protects you against diabetes

- Eases constipation

- Reduces risk of heart disease

- Lowers cholesterol

- Regulates blood pressure

- Prevents birth defects

- Protects your skin against premature aging

Tip of the day for the rest of your days...

According to new research, cleaner homes produced leaner people.  

Half an hour of house cleaning (vacuuming, sweeping, laundry etc.) is approximately equivalent to a 15-minute jog. That's about 40-125 calories.

Not only will you burn calories but your parents, roommates and/or friends will thank you as well!

(If you absolutely cannot find time to exercise on that day, otherwise, you need to exercise to see results)