Develop Weight Loss Habits Rather Than Short-Term Goals
Rather than looking upon losing weight as a short-term strategy, try to develop a mindset where you are automatically attuned towards losing a few pounds at most times. This means that even when you have achieved your ideal figure, you remain aware about your weekly calorie intake and make the adjustments over the next few days to maintain the balance. This ensures that you don’t peddle back towards an unhealthy weight gaining lifestyle. Think of losing weight as a part of your daily regimen where you are constantly aware about making smarter food choices. Every day that you stay away from an extra serving of French fries or don’t take the second refill on your beer, you are effectively losing weight!

Exercise Daily, Even if Lightly
To lose weight permanently, you need to burn more calories throughout the day, i.e. you need to fasten your metabolism. Ensure that you indulge in some bit of exercising on a daily basis. Ideally, this should include some sort of sweat-inducing cardio workout and a bit of stretching. If you could lift weights, it will fast-track your progress. It is not compulsory to be a gymming fanatic. Just get some basic equipment like barbells, dumbbells and resistance bands at home. Combine 30 minutes light weight-lifting workout with another 20 minutes of light jogging or skipping.

Strive For A Healthier, Not Thinner Body
Losing a mammoth amount of weight and being skinny usually leads to a follow-up phase where the dieter loses his patience or resolve to stay away from food. This is the most common cause of people going off-track from their weight loss journey and developing serious emotional problems related to food. As long as your weight doesn’t compromise your health and you feel energetic, a few extra pounds shouldn’t matter. Comparing yourself with movie-starts is only going to set you on a path of extreme, unhealthy weight loss and being stressed.

Gobble-up Leafy Veggies & Sweet Fruits
Anyone trying to lose weight permanently & effectively is bound to face hunger pangs and severe sweet cravings. This is when you need to be strong. Along with some self-resolve try substitutes that can take away the intensity of such withdrawal symptoms. For instance, green leafy vegetables, particularly in the salad form, are very low in calories but the need to chew them constantly induces a feeling of fullness. Similarly, naturally sweet fruits like peaches, apples and pineapples might not be calorie-free but they are loaded with vitamins and minerals apart from plant sugars that are much healthier than refined sugar—making them an excellent choice to overcome sugar cravings. Fruits and green vegetables provide fiber that helps to increase the absorption of water in our stools, ensuring that constipation and retention of toxins is neutralized. This helps to keep our metabolism fast.

Create Your Pool of Weight Watchers
Don’t try to keep your weight loss intentions a secret. Share your plans with your friends and family. This ensures people remind you when you are about to fall into a binging pattern or stray away from your path of choosing healthy foods. This can even include chat or SMS friends who might keep texting encouraging quotes and could suggest healthier food alternatives that you might not know about. This works towards people not pushing you into having a fried snack and understanding why you don’t want to be present around certain types of tempting foods.

Get Your Daily Dose of Antioxidants
A major reason for weight gain is our constant exposure to free radicals that tend to damage our immunity. This also affects our metabolism, making it sluggish, pushing us towards weight gain. Ensure that you get your daily dose of green tea and fruit juices as they are enriched with antioxidants that fight-off free radicals. Drink more water throughout the day to reduce your cravings for sugary beverages and fizzy drinks and flush-out the toxins.

Gradually Cut Down on Your Sugar Intake
Sugar remains the biggest challenge for all folks trying to lose weight effectively. Ensure you lower your daily sugar intake in a progressive, weekly manner. This means gradually reducing the number of sugar cubes you use or sugary drinks you are addicted to. The process needs to be slow since suddenly cutting down your sugar intake can induce a severe craving that can weaken your resolve. Don’t go too heavy on the sugar substitutes as many of these are chemically formulated and their effect on our body hasn’t been fully decoded yet.

Beat bladder infections with blueberries

Eating 1 cup of blueberries daily, whether you opt for them fresh, frozen or in juice form, can cut your risk of a urinary tract infection (UTIs) by 60 percent, according to researchers at New Jersey’s Rutgers University. That’s because blueberries are loaded with tannins, plant compounds that wrap around problem-causing bacteria in the bladder, so they can’t get a toehold and create an infection, explains Amy Howell, Ph.D. a scientist at Rutgers University.

Heal mouth sores with honey

Dab painful canker and cold sores with unpasteurized honey four times daily until these skin woes disappear, and they’ll heal 43 percent faster than if you use a prescription cream, say researchers at the Dubai Specialized Medical Center in the United Arab Emirates. Raw honey’s natural enzymes zap inflammation, destroy invading viruses and speed the healing of damaged tissues, say the study authors.

Fight breast pain with flax

In one recent study, adding 3 tablespoons of ground flax to their daily diet eased breast soreness for one in three women within 12 weeks. Scientists credit flax’s phytoestrogens, natural plant compounds that prevent the estrogen spikes that can trigger breast pain. More good news: You don’t have to be a master baker to sneak this healthy seed into your diet. Just sprinkle ground flax on oatmeal, yogurt, applesauce or add it to smoothies and veggie dips.

Cure migraines with coffee

Prone to migraines? Try muscling-up your painkiller with a coffee chaser. Whatever over-the-counter pain med you prefer, researchers at the National Headache Foundation say washing it down with a strong 12- ounce cup of coffee will boost the effectiveness of your medication by 40 percent or more. Experts say caffeine stimulates the stomach lining to absorb painkillers more quickly and more effectively.

Tame leg cramps with tomato juice

Dietitians do not recommend eating a lot of high glycemic index foods such as white bread, pasta, white rice because this may result in obesity and diabetes. But high glycemic meal can promote healthy sleep, according to researchers of the University of Sydney in Australia.

In the trial, volunteers who ate high glycemic meal before bedtime fell asleep, on average, nine minutes earlier compared to those who ate low glycemic meal. These findings are interesting for those who have difficulties falling asleep but it would be unreasonable to have just pasta, potatoes and sweets for dinner because that could affect your waistline.

Researchers found that high glycemic index foods increased the concentration of tryptophan amino acid (a precursor of serotonin) in brain. Serotonin is a hormone that soothes anxiety and promotes healthy sleep. Tests showed that tryptophan levels increased three hours after eating lots of easily digestible carbohydrates.

So researchers say that one should eat three hours before bedtime to ensure healthy sleep.
You may have white rice or a couple of white bread toasts for dinner. This will boost tryptophan levels in brain, resulting in shorter sleep onset latency. Researchers also verified a long-standing habit of giving milk to children before bedtime. Milk contains a lot of tryptophan. Among tryptophan rich foods are turkey, cheese, nuts and spinach.

You’ve sworn off desserts and clocked in more hours at the gym, but still your bathroom scale refuses to budge. Why is it so darned difficult to shake off those extra pounds? That’s because you’re likely making at least one of these ten most common diet mistakes, say experts. Here, how you can makeover your diet, so you’ll lose weight the healthy way.

Skipping breakfast

If you’re trying to lose weight by missing breakfast, think again: Experts agree that skipping breakfast in the a.m. usually leads to overeating later in the day. You’re likely to make up for the missed meal by giving into a craving for unhealthy snacks. Jump-start your metabolism by eating first thing in the morning.

Substituting meals with protein bars and shakes

Unless you’re an athlete with special needs, sports medicine specialists and dieticians do not recommend having a protein bar or shake on a regular basis prior or after workouts. Most protein shakes and energy bars are processed foods, which lack many nutrients. Always eat a normal meal (i.e., real food), and at most, have a bar or shake occasionally.

Jumping on the latest fad diet

A fad diet sounds tempting because it makes weight loss sound easy. If you can get results fast, it’s worth a shot, right? Wrong. Fad diets not only promote eating programs that are unhealthy and unbalanced, there’s usually a long list of side effects. Plus, the results rarely last.

Not eating before training

Doing cardio on an empty stomach is self-defeating. Our body needs fuel to perform its best, and not eating will decrease our ability to sustain a given exercise intensity. Get your fill from complex carbs.

Waiting too long to eat after workout

Aim to eat a small meal made up of protein and complex carbs within an hour after exercise. It helps speed up metabolism and aids in muscle repair and growth.

Cutting back all fats

Fats are essential for our health. Although you should limit your intake of saturated animal fats and trans fat, which have adverse effects on the heart, you shouldn’t avoid all fats completely. Take your fat sources from monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats instead.

Not consuming sufficient calories

Be sure that you’re eating enough to fuel your activities. Otherwise, your body will start to lose lean body mass and slow its metabolism, making it even more difficult to lose weight.

Thinking exercise is a free pass to pig out

Whether you train occasionally or often, you should plan a healthy diet around your workout regimen. But always watch what you eat or you’ll be training for nothing.

Eating too much protein and avoiding carbs

High-protein diets may help you lose weight initially, but the long term effects of an unbalanced diet can be dangerous. It’s unhealthy to avoid carbs altogether. Load up on complex carbs, which are important for muscle growth.

Not drinking enough water

It’s important to stay well hydrated during exercise. Bring plenty of fluids with you to the gym, and be sure to drink before, during and after your workouts.

The more physical activity your body performs, the more calories it will burn. The more physical activity you do, the faster you can lose the weight.

1. Clean up your home. Cleaning up your home more often is a great way to increase your physical activity level. Organize your closets, do the laundry, donate old clothing or other stuff you no longer use, take out the garbage, or mow the lawn.
2. Use the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator. Maybe you can use the stairs at your work building, your school, your apartment building, multi-level shopping stores you frequent, or malls.
3. Sign up for some dance classes. Salsa is a favorite of mine. There is also tango, swing and hip-hop dancing classes. Anyone can take a dance class! Keep in mind you are taking the class to increase your physical activity, so there is no pressure on how well you perform during the class. 
4. Take a biking trip this weekend. Get your bike ready, and ride it for 10-15 miles. Make sure you pack enough water and small healthy snacks. Take your camera along and take a few photos to show off to your friends later.
5. Go camping. Camping requires some physical activity whether you are walking around the camp site, setting up your tent, or packing your stuff. It’s also relaxing.
6. Go swimming. While getting in a bathing suit might make you feel a bit insecure about your body shape, it is a great reality check and will make you want to lose the weight even more.
7. Try some home exercise videos. My favorite is Billy Blanks Tae Bo: Fat Blasting Cardio & Total Body Fat Blaster. If the weather is horrible outside or you just don’t feel like going to the gym, you can always do a home exercise video.
8. Shop for Clothing. Walking around different department stores is fun and is a great physical activity. Also trying on clothing is a great reality check. It might be be a bit uncomfortable to look in the mirror and see how clothing fit your body. However that discomfort will motivate you to lose the weight once and for all.
9. Listen to your favorite music. While exercising or doing other physical activity, listening to your favorite song will make the time fly.
10. Read the Nutrition Facts food labels. This will help you separate the high calorie foods from the healthier low calorie foods. Remember to not only check the total calories but to also check the serving size and number of servings per package. Sometimes food manufacturers have a very small serving size to trick the consumer into thinking that they are buying a low calorie food.
11. Try to eat 5-6 smaller meals per day instead of the traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner. Try a Breakfast, a Lunch, an afternoon snack, a dinner, and an evening snack. Eating smaller meals keeps your metabolic rate high throughout the day because your body is constantly using up energy to digest the food you are eating. Eating smaller meals will also leave you feeling lighter and more energized throughout the day.
12. Do not skip meals or starve yourself. Skipping meals or starving yourself puts your body into survival mode. This is where your metabolism slows down to conserve energy. This is why your body can survive without any food for several days. Of course when your metabolism slows down your body burns a lot less calories. Try to eat a meal or a snack every 3-4 hours.
13. Eat more fruits and vegetables. They are generally low in calories and high in fiber which is why a small serving will satisfy your hunger. Fruits and vegetables are also full of vitamins and minerals.
14. Drink diet sodas instead of regular sodas. Try to only drink diet or low calorie drinks. Regular sodas have a lot of sugar and extra calories.
15. Drink lots of water. Drinking water while eating a meal, will help you get full faster and eat less. Consuming more water will also improve your skin, and cleanse your digesting system.
16. Eat slower. Savor each bite of food, and chew it slower. The slower you eat the faster you will get full. You can even try to eat half of your meal, pause from eating for 5-10 minutes and then resume eating.
17. Eat more nuts. Nuts contain healthy unsaturated fat, and are very satisfying. You should eat nuts in moderation because of their high caloric content.
18. Eat a variety of foods. This will ensure that your body is getting all the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fiber and amino acids it needs to function optimally. If you also eat the same couple of healthy foods/meals over and over you will get bored really quickly. Always buy and prepare a variety of healthy meals.
19. Have measurable weight loss goals. I just want to look thinner isn’t a specific measurable goal because “thin” means a different number of pounds to different people. Also “thin” isn’t specific so you can’t really achieve it because you can always be a little thinner. A good goal is “I want to weigh 175 pounds” or “I want to weigh 125 pounds”. This is measurable because you can always step on the scale and see your progress. Another good goal is “I want to achieve 15% body fat”. This is also measurable because you can always measure your body fat and see your progress.
20. Make a list of why you must lose weight. Make a list of all the different pains that you feel from being overweight. After that make a list of all the pleasures you will gain from losing the weight. Take your time creating both of these lists. Update and add to these lists often. Review these lists regularly. These lists will help you stay motivated to lose all the extra weight.
21. Start now. Start working toward your weight loss goals right away. Stop reading and implement at least 1 tip from this page right away. Taking immediate action will increase your chances of sticking with your weight loss efforts. If you are serious about losing weight and are sick of all those extra pounds, stop reading, and implement 1 tip, you can always come back later and finish reading this list.
22. Don’t let others distract you from your weight loss efforts. Never cave in to others requests to try this or that unhealthy food. You might think that by complying with their requests you will make them happy. You are not. While you might make your friend happy right then and there, you will feel disappointed on the inside. Overtime these disappointments will steal away your happiness. If you aren’t happy with yourself then you can never make anyone else around you, including that friend, happy. If you aren’t happy with who you are you will not even have that much value to provide to others. Lets face it, we all have our own share of problems to deal with and no one wants to be around an unhappy person who’s carrying a lot of disappointment on the inside.

Long, shiny and smooth hair tresses are what every woman dream of. We use a number of hair care and related products just in order to get that everlasting attractive look. Our hair is what defines our personality and looks; a healthy and glowing hair has been and will always be admired by one and all for its beauty and attractive posture. It is only the healthy hair that can be easily styled as desired and in order to get healthy, smooth and shiny tresses a hair care routine needs to be strictly followed. It is not expensive hair salon appointments and chemically processed hair products but daily care that will provide you smooth, shiny hair. There are many home remedies and natural ways to get smooth hair which if followed regularly will give out desired results. Surf through the article to get details on the natural ways in which you can improve the texture and appearance of your hair.

Ways To Get Shiny Smooth Hair

• The first step towards getting smooth and silky hair is to keep it clean. In order to keep your hair clean you will have to wash your hair properly with the right shampoo and then condition it using a quality conditioner. The conditioner you use is of great importance since it is the conditioner that will provide you the initial softness and fineness.
• Once you have washed and conditioned your hair thoroughly, it is time to get rid of excess of moisture. In order to get rid of excess of moisture, blot your hair with a towel. Make sure not to rub your hair with towel as it might tangle your hair. It is advisable to make use of a live-in conditioner on your damp hair to avoid it from entangling and to protect it from any damage or breakage. Also avoid the use of blow dryers or other heating devices like curling irons, hair curlers etc.
• It is better to nourish your hair using almond oil, olive oil or coconut oil. Massage the oil gently all over your hair. After massaging the oil, wear a shower cap to leave the oil over night. Wash your hair and rinse out the oil in the morning with the shampoo and conditioner.
• You can also use musk strawberry and a tablespoon of mayonnaise to massage your hair with in order to get attractive, shiny hair. After massaging the hair with the mixture, keep a warm towel over your hair and leave it for half an hour before rinsing it out. This will provide you with a rich glossy and shiny hair.
• Wash your hair only with cold water as warm water can prove damaging to your hair since it makes it hard. Make use of natural bristle brush to brush your hair which will bring shine to your hair by extracting natural oil from your hair. It is advisable to use a good conditioner to deep condition your hair at least once every week.
• Get your hair trimmed regularly to promote healthy hair growth. Getting your hair trimmed regularly will eliminate any split ends, thereby providing healthy growth to your hair. It is ideal to get your hair trimmed once in a month.
• Avoid using blow dryers and other heated hair styling products too often. These heat generating products can lead to great amount of damage, therefore you should try and limit the use of such appliances only a couple of times in a week.
• Invest in a high quality and reliable brand of shampoo. Buy a shampoo that suits your hair type since a shampoo which is not suitable for your hair type might ruin your hair quality leaving it dry and dull. If you have coloured hair, make use of a colour protect shampoo which ensures the vibrant colour of your tresses for a long time.
• Make use of a boar bristle hair brush in order to brush your hair gently. Using a boar bristle hair will spread the sebum throughout your hair which will make it appear more shiny and attractive. Do not brush your hair excessively since it might cause your hair to break down. Use the brush only on dry hair starting from the roots working your way from the ends towards the roots.

Tame chronic pain with turmeric
Studies show turmeric, a popular East Indian spice, is actually three times more effective at easing pain than aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen, plus it can help relieve chronic pain for 50 percent of people struggling with arthritis and even fibromyalgia, according to Cornell researchers. That’s because turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, naturally shuts down cyclooxygenase 2, an enzyme that churns out a stream of pain-producing hormones, explains nutrition researcher Julian Whitaker, M.D. and author of the book, Reversing Diabetes . The study-recommended dose: Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of this spice daily onto any rice, poultry, meat or vegetable dish.

End endometrial pain with oats
The ticket to soothing endometriosis pain could be a daily bowl of oatmeal. Endometriosis occurs when little bits of the uterine lining detach and grow outside of the uterus. Experts say these migrating cells can turn menstruation into a misery, causing so much inflammation that they trigger severe cramping during your period, plus a heavy ache that drags on all month long. Fortunately, scientists say opting for a diet rich in oats can help reduce endometrial pain for up to 60 percent of women within six months. That’s because oats don’t contain gluten, a trouble-making protein that triggers inflammation in many women, making endometriosis difficult to bear, explains Peter Green, M.D., professor of medicine at Colombia University.

Soothe foot pain with salt
Experts say at least six million Americans develop painful ingrown toenails each year. But regularly soaking ingrown nails in warm salt water baths can cure these painful infections within four days, say scientists at California’s Stanford University. The salt in the mix naturally nixes inflammation, plus it’s anti-bacterial, so it quickly destroys the germs that cause swelling and pain. Just mix 1 teaspoon of salt into each cup of water, heat to the warmest temperature that you can comfortably stand, and then soak the affected foot area for 20 minutes twice daily, until your infection subsides.

Prevent digestive upsets with pineapple
Got gas? One cup of fresh pineapple daily can cut painful bloating within 72 hours, say researchers at California’s Stanford University. That’s because pineapple is natually packed with proteolytic enzymes, digestive aids that help speed the breakdown of pain-causing proteins in the stomach and small intestine, say USDA researchers.

Relax painful muscles with peppermint
Suffering from tight, sore muscles? Stubborn knots can hang around for months if they aren’t properly treated, says naturopath Mark Stengler, N.D., author of the book, The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies . His advice: Three times each week, soak in a warm tub scented with 10 drops of peppermint oil. The warm water will relax your muscles, while the peppermint oil will naturally soothe your nerves — a combo that can ease muscle cramping 25 percent more effectively than over-the-counter painkillers, and cut the frequency of future flare-ups in half, says Stengler.

Give your back some TLC with grapes
Got an achy back? Grapes could be the ticket to a speedy recovery. Recent studies at Ohio State University suggest eating a heaping cup of grapes daily can relax tight blood vessels, significantly improving blood flow to damaged back tissues (and often within three hours of enjoying the first bowl). That’s great news because your back’s vertebrae and shock-absorbing discs are completely dependent on nearby blood vessels to bring them healing nutrients and oxygen, so improving blood flow is essential for healing damaged back tissue, says Stengler.

Wash away pain injuries with water
Whether it’s your feet, your knees or your shoulders that are throbbing, experts at New York’s Manhattan College, say you could kick-start your recovery in one week just by drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. Why? Experts say water dilutes, and then helps flush out, histamine, a pain-triggering compound produced by injured tissues. “Plus water is a key building block of the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones, your joints’ lubricating fluid, and the soft discs in your spine,” adds Susan M. Kleiner, Ph.D., author of the book, The Good Mood Diet . “And when these tissues are well-hydrated, they can move and glide over each other without causing pain.” One caveat: Be sure to measure your drinking glasses to find out how large they really are before you start sipping, she says. Today’s juice glasses often hold more than 12 ounces, which means five servings could be enough to meet your daily goal.

Heal sinus problems with horseradish
Latest studies show sinusitis is the nation’s number one chronic health problem. And this condition doesn’t just spur congestion and facial pain, it also makes sufferers six times more likely to feel achy all-over. Horseradish to the rescue! According to German researchers, this eye-watering condiment naturally revs up blood flow to the sinus cavities, helping to open and drain clogged sinuses and heal sinus infections more quickly than decongestant sprays do. The study-recommended dose: One teaspoon twice daily (either on its own, or used as a sandwich or meat topping) until symptoms clear.

1. Laugh more
   Research states that laughter may be beneficial to health. Laughing appears to boost the blood flow (by more than 20 per cent) and researchers say it may reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Laughing has previously been found to help fight infections, relieve hay fever, ease pain and help control diabetes. The positive effect of laughing is thought to last around 30 to 45 minutes.
2. Adjust sleeping time
   Life expectancy may be reduced by sleeping more than eight hours a night. A study found that people who get only six to seven hours sleep a night live longer than those who sleep eight hours or more, or less than four hours.
3. Eat more garlic
   Garlic has been referred to as ‘nature’s antibiotic’. It is a powerful cleanser of the body and regular ingestion promotes a healthy heart and circulation by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. It also helps fight infection and can boost immunity. There is strong evidence to suggest that garlic helps with the prevention of cancers of the digestive system, including the esophagus, stomach, colon and rectum. Those who don’t like the taste of garlic should try the odourless supplements that are available.
4. Boost your sex life
   Having sex between three to four times a week is thought to reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke in half. During sex, the average person maintains their heart rate above 70 per cent of the maximum, making sex a wonderful CV workout! Sex reduces stress, leads to greater contentment and better sleep.
5. Drink tea
   Many research studies support the view that tea is good for your health. Scientists tend to agree that tea, both black and green, may contribute positively to the promotion of health and the prevention of chronic disease. Recent research studies reveal the antioxidants in tea may inhibit the growth of cancer cells, support dental health, increase bone density and strengthen cardiovascular health. According to a study published in Circulation: The Journal of the American Heart Association, heart attack patients who were tea drinkers decreased their risk of death by up to 44 per cent, as compared to non-tea drinkers.
6. Drink red wine
   Any excuse to drink more has got to be good! Recent studies show that drinking around one glass of red wine a day may have certain health benefits by protecting against certain cancers and heart disease, and can have a positive effect on cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Excessive or binge drinking, however, unfortunately doesn’t produce the same benefits.
7. Regular self examination
   For women this means regularly examining their breasts, and while breast cancer is not unknown among men, males should regularly check their testicles for lumps. It is important to get to know how your body parts normally feel and look, and report any changes, such as a lump, to your doctor. More often than not, lumps prove to be benign, and these types of cancer are usually curable if they’re caught early enough.
8. Have regular smears/prostate tests
   Women will usually be called once every three years for a smear test, and should make sure they attend when requested. Cervical screening probably prevents thousands of deaths each year. Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in men and is second only to lung cancer as the biggest cancer killer. There are varying viewpoints about how often men should have a test and at what age. Testing should start at the age of 50, or at the age of 40 if in high-risk groups, such as black men or those with a father, brother or son with the disease. However, if you have any concerns go and visit your doctor.
9. Monitor your bowel behavior
   Any dramatic change in bowel habits such as an increase in constipation, or passing blood should be referred to a doctor immediately. It could prove be something as simple as piles (haemorrhoids), or worse case scenario could be bowel cancer, which is important to discover as early as possible.
10. Drink more water
    Most people are unaware that the recommendation is that the average person should drink around eight glasses of water a day. The human body is made up of between 55 and 75 per cent water, and is in need of constant water replenishment. An increased intake of water will greatly enhance digestion‚ nutrient absorption‚ skin hydration‚ detoxification and virtually every aspect of better health.
11. Get more friends
    Research suggests that friends help people live longer. Research in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health says that socializing with friends is beneficial. Good friends will promise to be there for you, and their presence can actually help you live longer, researchers say. Australian scientists said having friends around in old age can do more for life expectancy than having family members around, and that friends may encourage people to look after their health, and help reduce feelings of depression and anxiety at difficult times.
12. No smoking
    Everyone is aware of the potential catastrophic effect of smoking. It is better not to start at all, but the sooner a smoker quits, the better. Because the damage caused by smoking is cumulative, the longer a person smokes the greater the risk of developing a smoking-related disease, such as lung cancer or heart disease. Quitting not only saves money, but also has added health benefits. Within one year after quitting, the risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker, and within 10 years, the risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker.
13. Relax
    Relaxation reduces blood pressure and helps reduce stress-related conditions such as depression. A relaxation technique such as yoga or meditation can help reduce stress levels.
14. Get a pet
    Owning a pet has a surprising amount of health benefits for the owner, according to a series of studies. Ownership of a pet, particularly a dog, means people are more active. Animals are known to reduce anxiety both from the actual physical comfort from stroking them, but also because they are a distraction and something pleasant to focus on. They are also good friends to many and provide a source of amusement, making us laugh.
15. Exercise more
    Exercise is known to reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes and obesity. It keeps joints, tendons and ligaments flexible, and contributes to mental well-being by helping treat depression, relive stress and anxiety. Exercise also aids better sleep. Even if you are pushed for time, exercise could be gained simply by walking up stairs rather than taking the elevator, or even try walking or cycling on shorter journeys rather than taking the car.
16. Eat more fruit and vegetables
    Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can help ward off heart disease and stroke, control blood pressure and cholesterol, and prevent some types of cancer. It is recommended to eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day.
17. Change job
    Research suggests a strong relationship between how long people live and the nature of their jobs. According to UK Government statistics, for the period 1997-99, life expectancy at birth in England and Wales for males in the professional group was 7.4 years more than that for those in the unskilled manual groups. The gap between the social classes was smaller for women than for men, at 5.7 years.
18. Have a happy marriage
    Married people tend to have better health than unmarried people. For instance, married individuals tend to be able to have lower rates of alcoholism than their unmarried counterparts because they tend to offer encouragement, support, and protection from daily problems. They are also more able to handle stress better as a result. However, studies suggest that divorcing then remarrying actually increases the risk of dying prematurely.
19. Be optimistic
    People with a positive outlook on life can actually live longer. Researchers found that optimistic people decreased their risk of early death by 50 per cent compared with those who leaned more towards pessimism.
20. Eat chocolate
    Chocolate contains flavanoids and antioxidants which have positive health benefits. Flavanoids aid cardiovascular health, while antioxidants are believed to prevent or delay certain damage to the body’s cells and tissues. Dark chocolate is considered best as it contains more than twice as many antioxidants as a bar of milk chocolate, and has fewer calories.

Make muscle pain a memory with ginger
When Danish researchers asked achy people to jazz up their diets with ginger, it eased muscle and joint pain, swelling and stiffness for up to 63 percent of them within two months. Experts credit ginger’s potent compounds called gingerols, which prevent the production of pain-triggering hormones. The study-recommended dose: Add at least 1 teaspoon of dried ginger or 2 teaspoons of chopped ginger to meals daily.

Cure a toothache with cloves
Got a toothache and can’t get to the dentist? Gently chewing on a clove can ease tooth pain and gum inflammation for two hours straight, say UCLA researchers. Experts point to a natural compound in cloves called eugenol, a powerful, natural anesthetic. Bonus: Sprinkling a ? teaspoon of ground cloves on meals daily may also protect your ticker. Scientists say this simple action helps stabilize blood sugar, plus dampen production of artery-clogging cholesterol in as little as three weeks.

Heal heartburn with cider vinegar
Sip 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with 8 ounces of water before every meal, and experts say you could shut down painful bouts of heartburn in as little as 24 hours. “Cider vinegar is rich in malic and tartaric acids, powerful digestive aids that speed the breakdown of fats and proteins so your stomach can empty quickly, before food washes up into the esophagus, triggering heartburn pain,” explains Joseph Brasco, M.D., a gastroenterologist at the Center for Colon and Digestive Diseases in Huntsville, AL.

Erase earaches with garlic
Painful ear infections drive millions of Americans to doctors’ offices every year. To cure one fast, just place two drops of warm garlic oil into your aching ear twice daily for five days. This simple treatment can clear up ear infections faster than prescription meds, say experts at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Scientists say garlic’s active ingredients (germanium, selenium, and sulfur compounds) are naturally toxic to dozens of different pain-causing bacteria. To whip up your own garlic oil gently simmer three cloves of crushed garlic in a half a cup of extra virgin olive oil for two minutes, strain, then refrigerate for up to two weeks, suggests Teresa Graedon, Ph.D., co-author of the book,
Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy . For an optimal experience, warm this mix slightly before using so the liquid will feel soothing in your ear canal.

Chase away joint and headache pain with cherries
Latest studies show that at least one in four women is struggling with arthritis, gout or chronic headaches. If you’re one of them, a daily bowl of cherries could ease your ache, without the stomach upset so often triggered by today’s painkillers, say researchers at East Lansing’s Michigan State University. Their research reveals that anthocyanins, the compounds that give cherries their brilliant red color, are anti-inflammatories 10 times stronger than ibuprofen and aspirin. “Anthocyanins help shut down the powerful enzymes that kick-start tissue inflammation, so they can prevent, as well as treat, many different kinds of pain,” explains Muraleedharan Nair, Ph.D., professor of food science at Michigan State University. His advice: Enjoy 20 cherries (fresh, frozen or dried) daily, then continue until your pain disappears.

Fight tummy troubles with fish
Indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases…if your belly always seems to be in an uproar, try munching 18 ounces of fish weekly to ease your misery. Repeated studies show that the fatty acids in fish, called EPA and DHA, can significantly reduce intestinal inflammation, cramping and belly pain and, in some cases, provide as much relief as corticosteroids and other prescription meds. “EPA and DHA are powerful, natural, side effect-free anti-inflammatories, that can dramatically improve the function of the entire gastrointestinal tract,” explains biological chemist Barry Sears, Ph.D., president of the Inflammation Research Foundation in Marblehead, MA. For best results, look for oily fish like salmon, sardines, tuna, mackerel, trout and herring.

Prevent PMS with yogurt
Up to 80 percent of women will struggle with premenstrual syndrome and its uncomfortable symptoms, report Yale researchers. The reason: Their nervous systems are sensitive to the ups and downs in estrogen and progesterone that occur naturally every month. But snacking on 2 cups of yogurt a day can slash these symptoms by 48 percent, say researchers at New York’s Columbia University. “Yogurt is rich in calcium, a mineral that naturally calms the nervous system, preventing painful symptoms even when hormones are in flux,” explains Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a professor of gynecology at Yale University.