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6 Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Everything

Children tend to learn from their parents. If you as a parent are not eating healthy food, then do not expect your child to eat nutritious meals! Healthy diet is important for the overall well-being of the child. It should be promoted from the day the child starts eating food. A well-balanced diet will keep diseases at bay and make the child grow into a healthy and strong person.

kids eating 2

It’s never too late to promote healthy diet for children; however, you will achieve best results when they are young. Nevertheless, you can still start encouraging your growing child by following some simple tips.  Read on to know more about some amazing ideas that you could follow to promote a healthy diet for your child:

1. Involve your child during cooking

If your children are old enough to stand in the kitchen, then make it a point to involve them at least once every day in the selection and preparation of food. When the children are involved in meal preparation, then the chances of them consuming it increases considerably.

2. Be creative

If you have a fussy child, then use your creativity in making the food ‘look’ good. You should make healthy sandwiches in fun shapes and use lots of colorful fruits and vegetables to make the plate attractive.

crocodile made from vegetables

3. Meal time

Make it a point to eat food together with your child as often as possible. By eating together, the child is learning to eat healthy food by making you as a good role model. Meal time is the time to bond with your child and it even teaches the child to eat wholesome food that has plenty of proteins and vitamins.

4. Shop together

Go for grocery shopping with your children and teach them to select healthy choices. Let them select their favorite vegetable or fruit for the day’s meal. Also, teach them how to read food labels so that they buy fresh and healthy food.

kids in grocery store

5. Healthy school environment

Try to inculcate the habit of giving them home-made meals for school. This will ensure that they are having nourishing meals every day. Moreover, if the school offers food to the children, then make sure that they offer healthy recipes.

6. Teach them to select well

It is important to teach kids to select the best food that is good for their health rather than selecting junk food. As a toddler teach them to drink plenty of water and plain milk rather than fizzy drinks, tinned juices, or chocolate milk. Fresh fruit juice is always a better choice than the tinned ones.

A healthy diet will make the child more willing to learn, and less likely to have chronic diseases. Promoting healthy diet in the child is a long process and cannot be achieved in a day. You need to be patient enough to make them learn the advantages of having nutritious meals. Start teaching them when they are toddlers and go slow with them. Within a few months, you will surely notice remarkable changes in their eating habits.

 

5 Ways to Get Rid of Neck Pain

Neck pain can be quite annoying as it can hinder your daily activities. You will have difficulty in moving the neck, which can even lead to shoulder pain and headache. The common reasons of neck pain are sleeping in an awkward position, stress, muscle strain, injury, sitting on your desk for long, bad posture, etc. Mostly people suffering from neck pain pop a pain killer and resume work. However, pain killers can only provide relief for some time. To get rid of neck pain completely, you can use the below-mentioned home remedies:

1. Massage

You can massage the affected area with olive or mustard oil. Massage it gently for several minutes until the oil gets in the skin. It will increase blood circulation and you will feel relieved and relaxed.

Massage

2. Hot water bath

A hot water bath will help in relaxing your muscles. Make sure that you keep your neck under the shower for some time. This will help in reducing the stiffness in the neck.

3. Exercise

You can perform several neck exercises as it can be extremely helpful in treating neck pain. The exercises will help in relieving tension that was caused by strained neck muscles. However, if the pain increases then stop doing the exercise immediately.

You can try out these:

4. Hot and Cold therapy

You can try using cold compresses for your neck by applying ice pack on the affected area. Ice will dull the pain as it will freeze the affected area. If the cold compresses are not showing any effect then you can try the hot therapy. Heat will increase the flow of blood and will thus reduce pain. You can continue with any of the therapy depending on the effect it had for your neck pain.

5.Acupuncture

Acupuncture is advisable for those who have chronic neck pain. It is a great way to relieve pressure inside the muscles and reduce pain.

 

Other than the aforesaid tips, it is important that you take good care of your neck. Follow these tips for preventing neck pains:

1. Posture

Your posture has a lot to do with the neck pain. So, make sure that you sit on the desk by keeping your back and neck straight.

2. Sleep

If you are sleeping in an awkward position then you will surely get up with a neck pain. Don’t use too many pillows. In fact, it is advisable to use a very thin and soft pillow under your head so that your body remains straight while sleeping.

Cat sleep

3. Meditate

Meditation will provide the much-wanted inner peace in our hectic lifestyle. It will reduce stress, which is a common cause of neck pains.

4. Exercise

Exercise every single day so that your muscles get stretched and your weight remains constant. You can perform any exercise that you enjoy doing like swimming, running, cycling, yoga, etc.

For severe neck pains, you can use a neck brace that will provide support to your neck. However, if the neck pain persists for long then you should consult your doctor immediately.

 

7 Tips to Keep Your Weight Under Control

There are thousands of weight loss programs available online, but are they really effective? Do these programs ensure that you won’t gain back the lost weight? Sadly, there isn’t any assurance for gaining weight again. So, the next question that arises is how do you keep your weight in control? Read on, to know the 7 most effective lifestyle tips that you should follow for keeping your weight in control:

1. Exercise daily

Make it a routine to exercise every single day. This is very important to keep your body healthy and in shape. You don’t have to join a gym for exercising. Just a 20 minutes exercise at home in the morning will work wonders for your body.

Check these out – only 8 minutes a day:


2. Maintain a diary

Write down your food intake, the amount of time you exercised, the amount of calories you have put in, and everything else that is related to your weight loss plan. Maintain this diary every day as it will keep you motivated to stay on your goal.

3. Do not eat too much

Controlling your cravings is extremely important. Think of the various factors that make you overeat and try to overcome them. Eat wholesome food as it will help you to feel full for a longer duration. Drink plenty of water to deal with your cravings.

4. Eat healthy food

Avoid having processed and ready-to-eat food as it is filled with calories and fats. Instead, eat home-made food that is healthy and fresh. Add a lot of fresh fruits and veggies in your daily diet. Keep some healthy snacks ready to have it in-between meals.

Healthy meal

5. Don’t skip meals

You should have at least 3 meals a day, without fail! Skipping breakfast is quite common among individuals as they do not find time to cook in the mornings. However, this will lead to a bad lifestyle as breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Moreover, it is vital to have a healthy breakfast every morning rather than having some quick snack. Make preparations for your breakfast a night earlier so that you can cook it quickly in the morning.

6. Sleep well

Lack of sleep will stimulate your appetite. If you stay awake for long, then you will be attracted to eat more food. Also, you will not feel satisfied with the food and would crave for more. So, it is important to sleep well to give your body the right amount of relaxation.

sleeping

7. Reduce sugar and refined carbs

Sugar is hidden in foods like bread, tinned soups, pasta sauce, and much more. So, even if we reduce the actual intake of sugar, we are indirectly having a lot of hidden sugar. It is better to opt for low sugar products and avoid having carbonated drinks completely. Also, stay away from food that contains refined carbohydrates like white bread and white rice. Instead, you can have whole grain meals.

These simple yet effective tips will help you in keeping your weight in control. So, try them out and live a healthy lifestyle.

 

 

5 Ways to Stop Hair Loss Naturally

Hair loss in men and women can be caused due to a variety of factors depending on their age, lifestyle, and more. There are numerous medications available for hair loss; however, most of them have several side effects. So, a better alternative is to use natural remedies that do not have any side effects. The natural remedies are absolutely safe to apply and can be used by any age group. If you prefer using safe techniques for treating hair loss then read on the top 5 treatments that will grow your hair quickly:

1. Oil massage

The most important treatment for your hair is to massage the scalp with hair oil. This will increase blood flow to the hair follicles and strengthen the roots. Any hair oil can be used for a massage; however, ensure that you warm it before applying on the scalp. Warm oil will penetrate better and make your hair healthy.

Moreover, you can even mix various oils like coconut, almond, olive, castor oil, etc. and massage your scalp with it. Do this at least twice in a week and let it stay overnight. Shampoo your hair the next morning without fail as keeping oil for a longer time will make your hair attract lot of dirt.

2. Gooseberry

The Indian Gooseberry or Amla is rich in Vitamin C and can help in the growth of your hair. A single teaspoon of amla pulp with lemon juice can create wonders for your hair. You need to massage the mixture on your scalp and cover it with a shower cap. Leave it overnight and wash it off with a shampoo in the morning.

Gooseberry

3. Fuller’s Earth

Multani Mitti or Fuller’s Earth is an amazing remedy for most of the skin and hair problems. Regarding hair fall, you just need to make a think batter of Fuller’s Earth powder and water. Mix it well and apply it on oily hair. Ensure that you apply oil on hair before using this remedy as it will make your hair dry. However, by applying on oily hair it works wonders. You need to keep it on hair for 20 minutes and then shampoo it off. Use it twice in a week and within a month you will notice commendable results.

4. Onion juice

This is the best treatment for hair loss as it improves blood circulation to the follicles, and reduces inflammation. Onion has a lot of antibacterial properties that can help in treating scalp related infections. Grate an onion and remove its juice. Use this juice directly on the scalp. Shampoo it off after 30 minutes. You can use this remedy as often as you shampoo your hair.

onion

5. Aloe Vera

Regular use of Aloe Vera can relieve scalp itching, reduce inflammation and dandruff. It is a great remedy to add lustre to your hair. You can apply the aloe vera gel directly to the scalp. Leave it for an hour and then shampoo your hair. The enzymes available in aloe vera promote hair growth and makes hair clean and shiny.

All these natural remedies will treat the problem of hair loss and make your hair shinny and lustrous.

The 8 Worst Jobs for Back Pain

Back pains are becoming quite common nowadays and one of its causes is the person’s occupation. Most of the employees are at a high risk for back injuries. It is not necessary that back pain is caused only by lifting heavy objects; a person sitting on the desk and in front of the computer for several hours can also suffer from back pain. So, rigorous jobs are not the only ones causing back pain. In addition to this, there are several employees who are not aware of the effects of their job on their back. They tend to ignore their minor back pain, which becomes severe within no time.

Listed below are the top 8 risky careers that lead to back pain:

1. Construction workers

Those who work at construction sites have to lift, bend, carry, and pull heavy objects. Most of their movements are repetitive that leads to injuries and back pains. Moreover, those employees who work on scaffolds are at a high risk to get serious spine injuries from falls.

2. Farmers and Gardenersfarmer

Their job mostly consists of bending and stooping, which leads to severe back pains. Their repeated movement can even lead to overuse back injuries.

3. Store Checkout Employees

More than 50% of checkout employees suffer from back pain. Their work requires them to stand for longer duration at the retail store checkout counters. They even have to lift heavy cartons that cause severe back and neck pain.

4. Dentists and Nurses

Over 80% of nurses suffer from acute or chronic back pain as they have to lift, carry, turn, and hold patients repeatedly. On the other hand, dentists need to work in awkward positions and keep bending every time to see a patient, which leads to back pain.

5. Housekeepershouse

These employees have to spend several hours in cleaning the house by bending, scrubbing, picking things up, and carrying objects from one place to another. All this adds up to serious spinal injuries and sprains.

6. Waiters and Cooks

The waiters and cooks working in hotels and restaurants have to spend a lot of time standing and working. Their work involves cleaning dishes, serving food, chopping and cooking for a considerable amount of time. Their hectic work schedules increases strain on their body and causes back pains.

7. Childcare Professionals

Their most important job is to take care of toddlers and for that they need to carry them. Picking up toys and babies for the entire day can cause severe back ailments. Also, they need to sit on small-sized chairs in the classrooms, which can be quite uncomfortable.

8. Auto Mechanicsmechanics

Their job involves lying on their backs or standing under the cars to work with their arms raised for most of the time. This leads to severe strains on the muscles located in their back. Also, they need to carry heavy tools by bending and twisting their body.

If you are working in any of these risky careers, then it’s time for you to take steps to prevent neck and back injuries.

7 Ways to Relieve Knee Pain

If you are suffering from any of the ailments mentioned in the previous article, you need to visit the doctor immediately and start with the medications to relieve pain.

Also, ensure that you take good care of your knee so that it recovers soon. Here are 7 tips that you should follow when you have knee pain:

1. Take complete rest so that you do not put strain on the knee.
2. An injury can cause bleeding and swelling, so if you have a knee injury then get it treated soon.
3. While doing low-impact exercises, ensure that you warm up and cool down well.

4. Don’t stretch the muscles improperly.
5. Avoid bad posture while sitting and sleeping.
6. Lose weight as the entire body weight falls on the knee and feet.
7. Wear comfortable shoes with proper cushioning and support. Also, select shoes that have flat soles.shoe

Taking good care of your knee is very important. So, even if you are suffering from mild knee pain, get it treated before it gets worse. Knee pain can be a hindrance to active lifestyle so consult your doctor immediately when you suffer from any knee pain related symptoms.

 

 

5 main causes of knee pain when walking

Knee pain is a common ailment, and knee related problems can occur in people of all ages. The knee is a vulnerable joint as it takes a lot of stress when you walk, run, jog, climb, and jump. Knee pain can be caused due to various reasons. So, if you get knee pain when walking then it is important to find the exact cause of the pain. The common symptoms of knee pain include constant ache, burning sensation, discomfort, shooting pain when the knee is in use, and much more.

knee pain

Here are the most common causes of knee pain when walking:

1. Meniscus Tear

Meniscus tear occurs when there is a tear or rupture in one or more of the cartilage in the knee joint. You will suffer from severe pain especially when walking. Also, there will be swelling and you won’t be able to straighten your knee.

2. Tendonitis

Tendonitis happens when there is an inflammation of the tendons. If you are suffering from Tendonitis, then you will have swelling in front of the knees. There will be severe pain while walking, climbing stairs, jogging, and running.

3. Bursitis

Bursitis occurs when there is irritation or inflammation of the cushioning fluid sacs in the knee. It usually happens when there is repeated injury in the knee. The main symptoms of Bursitis are stiff and swollen knee. Also, even when you are not walking, you will still feel the pain.

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4. Arthritis

The symptoms of knee arthritis are pain while walking, swelling, and stiffness. You need to visit the doctor to know the kind of arthritis you have; viz. osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis.

5. Torn Ligament

When there is a tear in one of the four ligaments in the knee, you will suffer from a lot of pain. The pain will be chronic and you won’t be able to walk.

In the next post we will show you some useful tips for treating knee pain. Stay tuned!

 

 

The 9 Best Remedies For Migraines

When a person suffers from migraines, the symptoms that he gets are throbbing headache, which is often on one side of the head, vomiting, nausea, extreme sensitivity to sound and light. A migraine often happens when the blood flow to the brain is low.

By changing your diet, you can reduce the chances of having migraines. Some food products that you should completely avoid are meat, citrus fruits, dairy products, peanut butter, pickles, and fermented food. It is better to maintain a diary and note down the factors that might have caused migraines. The diary will help you to decide which diet is best for your health.

Some other reasons that can trigger migraines are smoking, alcohol, stress, low blood sugar, allergies, loud noises, irregular sleep, bright lights, etc. There is no known cure for migraines; however, you can use home remedies for reducing the frequency of attacks as well as getting relief from pains.

Listed below are 9 effective natural remedies to treat migraines:

1. Cold therapy

You can use ice packs to relieve migraine pains. Heat therapy is not much effective for this ailment.

2. Massage

Massaging the neck and shoulder area with lavender oil will provide lot of comfort and relaxation. Also, the area in the back of the head should be massaged as it will alleviate migraine pain.

3. Acupunctureacupuncture 1

Instead of having drugs that lead to several side-effects, it is better to go for acupuncture. The acupuncture treatment has shown long-term results for treating migraines. It does not have any side effects and can provide tremendous relief from pain.

4. Butterbur herb

Butterbur is an effective herb that can prevent migraines as it supports healthy blood flow to the brain.

5. Yoga

Performing yoga and meditation on a daily basis will relieve stress and help in reducing headaches.

6. Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil helps to open and close the vessels that promote the flow of blood. It is a soothing remedy that relieves pain.

7. Basil Oil

Basil oil is extremely helpful in relaxing the muscles. It is the best remedy for treating headaches that have been caused due to tension and tight muscles.lavender

8. Lavender Oil

Lavender oil can even be inhaled to provide fast relief from migraine pain. Just add 2-4 drops of lavender oil in 2-3 cups of boiling water and inhale its vapors.

9. Omega-3 fatty acids

The headaches that are caused due to inflammation can be treated by consuming omega-3 fatty acids. Flaxseed is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and should be added to your daily diet. You can have in any of its forms – as oil, whole seeds or grounded seeds.

Finding the right cure for treating migraines will take time as there are several causes and types of migraine headache. So, you will have to try various options and select the one that provides relief to you. Moreover, coping with stress will help you a lot as you will then get lesser attacks of migraines. Ensure that you exercise and meditate every morning to relax your body and soul. It will reduce your stress; thereby, reducing the frequency of migraines.

 

The most Common Causes of Stomach Pain

Do you suffer from stomach pain right after having your meals? Are you avoiding meals just because your stomach pains? Or, have you learnt to accept the pain as a normal part of life? Whatever is your answer, one thing is for sure that stomach pain after eating meals is not normal at all. It is a symptom of certain health related issue, which needs to be rectified quickly. Mentioned below are 7 common causes of having stomach pain after eating meals:

1. Eating spicy and oily food fast food

Our lifestyle is so hectic that we end up ordering food from the nearby restaurant every second day. The food we get in restaurants may be delicious but they are extremely spicy and oily, which can lead to stomach aches. Having homemade food is the best option as it is healthier and freshly cooked.

2. Overeating

Overeating means putting too much food in the stomach. This leads to indigestion as large amount of food cannot be digested well by the stomach. It is important to limit the food we intake and maintain a nutritious and healthy diet so that we prevent stomach pain.

4. Food poisoning

Food poisoning usually happens when the food we intake is infected or contaminated. As soon as we intake the food, the stomach starts paining and we may have symptoms like diarrhoea and vomiting. Food poisoning can be treated by removing the contaminated food completely out of your system.

5. Stomach Ulcers

If you are facing severe pain right after eating meals then it may be symptoms of stomach ulcer. The causes of ulcer is a bacteria present in the stomach that is creating holes in the lining of the abdomen. Stomach or peptic ulcers can be treated with medications. So, it is better to consult a doctor when you have severe pains.

6. Allergies

Some people have certain food allergies, which leads to pain in the stomach. You can be allergic to a wide range of foods. It can be grains, dairy products, spices, or anything else. To know the exact food that is causing allergy is to maintain a diary. Just note your food patterns and hopefully you will be able to know the exact food that is allergic. You can even try eliminating different foods from your diet; one at a time, so that you know which food is allergic. Avoid having the allergic food completely.

7. Gallstones

The symptoms of gallstones are intense pain, which usually occurs in the right side of your back. The pain is due to a blockage of the gallbladder. Oily food can make the problem worse and you may get severe pain especially after having a meal. Gallstones can be treated by doctors, so consult them immediately.

There are several other causes of getting stomach pain after eating like appendicitis, blockage in intestine, irritable bowel syndrome, etc. It is advisable to consult a doctor so that the problem gets resolved quickly.

 

5 Tips to Reduce and Relieve Ankle Pain

There are several causes of ankle pain, which can lead to severe pain and discomfort. The pain in the ankle could be due to a fracture, sprain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, injury, and much more. Some of the causes of ankle pain such as arthritis will require medical attention.ankle-x-ray-1430507

Also, if the pain in your ankle is unbearable then you need to consult your doctor immediately. However, if you want to reduce the pain and discomfort that you feel, then here are top 5 home remedies that you could use:

1. Hot and Cold Therapy

The alternating hot and cold therapy may be helpful for reducing pain. You need to apply the heat pack for 20 minutes and follow it will a cold pack for another 20 minutes. Another icing therapy is to apply ice packs on the swollen ankle to reduce discomfort. You need to make sure that the ice rests directly on the swollen ankle.

2. Exercise

Exercise is an important treatment for curing any kind of pains. Moreover, if you exercise on a daily basis then the chances of you getting body pain will reduce considerably. Various exercises can increase the flexibility of ligaments and tendons, strengthens the body; thus, making it strong. There are several exercises and stretches that you can do for reducing pain. However, if the pain in the ankle is unbearable then stop exercising immediately.

3. Oil Massage

A mixture of coconut oil and garlic will help in reducing the ankle pain considerably. Apply warm oil generously on the affected area and massage it for a few minutes so that the oil penetrates well into the skin. The massage will even provide the right amount of heat that the ankle requires for recovering.

4. Turmeric and Clarified Butter

Mix half teaspoon of turmeric in 1 tablespoon of clarified butter. Warm it and apply on the swollen area with the help of cotton. Ensure that you keep the cotton directly on the affected area and put a medical plaster on it. You can do this once in a day before going to bed. Then, in the morning, you can remove the medical plaster from the ankle.

Curcuma longa

5. Have a Balanced Diet

A common cause of ankle pain is being overweight. When your feet is unable to carry your body weight, the ankles pain. In such situations, you will have to reduce your weight by exercising, dieting, and eating a balanced diet. Stop eating fried, oily, and sugary stuff. Instead you should eat fresh fruits and vegetables that will provide nutrition to your body.

Other than these, you will have to skip wearing stilettos and wear shoes that have a wide and flared heel or running sneakers. You can even use shoe inserts or insoles to keep the ankle safe as they provide shock absorption and save your ankle from rolling. Ensure that the shoe you wear is extremely comfortable and keeps your ankle at ease. So, use these home remedies to relieve and reduce ankle pain and if the pain aggravates then visit a doctor immediately.