Wellbeing – Uncover the Secrets to Enhancing Your Zest for Life

Take timeout

You know you’re too busy when you:
* Tell the microwave or kettle to hurry up.
* Return phone calls from the bath tub.
* Skip over the vowels when you read.
* Feel decadent for talking time off to visit the dentist.
* Drink less to reduce your trips to the bathroom.

Quick Fix
Energy drinks sound so good with ingredients such as vitamins, amino acids and ginseng, but the jolt they give you is usually the result of the sugar or caffeine that they contain. Keep consumption to a minimum and take the energy you need from an improved diet.

Nature’s Remedy
Sage Advice; Sage, a herb linked to memory retention, is now being studied by researchers looking at new Alzheimers treatments. Teams at Britain’s Medicinal Plant Research Centre report that sage is positively associated with the chemical messenger, acetylcholine. (Alzheimers, a common form of dementia, is accompanied by a drop in acetylcholine). As if its brain-boosting properties are not enough, sage also contains significant antioxidant, estrogenic and anti inflammatory agents.

Soften up
The body can break down most pills but if you want to check your vitamin supplement’s digestibility, dunk one of them in vinegar. It should break apart within 30 minutes.

Green Power
Eating your greens is now more important than ever, with high consumption of cabbage being linked to low breast cancer rates. Epidemiologist Dorothy Rybaczyk Pathak wondered why Polish women were more likely to get breast cancer if they immigrated to the US. Her research found a specific link – cabbage. Polish women eat about 13kg of the stuff every year, raw or lightly cooked. But when they move overseas their consumption drops to about 4kg. Dorothy recommends eating three servings of raw or just-cooked cabbage a week. To receive the greatest benefit, you should start serious munching in your teens.

Q: I’ve been on a low-carb diet and now want to go back to eating normally. Will my body have forgotten how to metabolise carbohydrates? A: No, it’s physiologically impossible. But many people fear that they will quickly put weight back on once they revert to a diet that includes pasta, potatoes and bread. This may actually be true in some cases, especially if you don’t exercise, as losing weight without exercise is likely to result in a drop in lean muscle mass. The best way to stay healthy is to build up your muscles with half an hour or more of exercise five times a week and get your carbohydrates from whole grains, fresh produce, beans and lentils.

Becoming Single and Available

Being single isn't the same thing as being available

A guy said he had recently become single again. He described several dating experiences that had left him confused. All the women had seemed keen, but when he tried to pursue a relationship they blocked the way (claiming, for example, that they weren't ready to let go of their ex or were afraid of losing their freedom). It occurred that all of these women were what's called SBUs - Single But Unavailable.

SBUs are people who say they're single and express interest, but then put up barriers to prevent a relationship developing. Some of the excuses over the years include: not being over the ex, having too many work commitments, being overweight, still living with the parents, being too broke, wanting to travel in the future, having kids, being too picky, and not wanting to jeopardise the existing friendship.

This type of behaviour typically occurs subconsciously without the person being aware of the obstacles they're creating. It may be driven by fear (of commitment and intimacy, of being hurt again, of loss of control, or of failure), lack of trust, or simply the desire to play the field without being tied down.

Whatever the barrier, the outcome remains the same - they stay single. What they get is a potential partner showing attention and interest, without the chance of it ever going anywhere. if you're an SBU and want to stay that way - fine. But if this is a problem that youw ant to change, then it's time to remove the mental blocks and commit to doing things differently.

Here's how to break down the barriers

* Test the market: Be honest about whether you're ready to get involved with a new partner. Ask yourself: do I make excuses that take me out of the dating game? How long has it been since I was involved in a long-term relationship? How do I feel when I think about going out with someone? How do I feel about being single? What would I need to change in my life in order to go out with someone?

* Get some feedback: Often we can lie to ourselves about our true situation and it's hard to front up honestly. Go to a trusted friend and ask for some constrictive feedback. Do they think you're emotionally available to meet someone? Do they think you put up barriers to avoid getting involved in a relationship? What do they think you need to change to become available?

* Identify the ideal: Take some time to think about what type of person you would ideally like to be involved with. break it down into their personality traits, emotional make-up, looks, career, family attachments, ambitions, social skills, and parenting ability. Then ask yourself: am I ready to meet this person?

* Lose the barriers: Once you have acknowledged that you're ready to open up to a new relationship, start tearing down the barriers that have been stopping you. Divide your life into these areas: health and fitness, work, family, friends, past relationships, upbringing, finance, andliving arrangements. Then ask yourself: what do I need to change or do differently in these areas so I'm more available to meet someone? This might include buying a new wardrobe, breaking contact with your ex-boyfriend, reducing your alcohol intake, not working weekends, moving house, getting counselling, joining a gym or spending more time with single friends.

Source: Next mgz