Women’s healthy Habits

Healthy habits are the best way to avoid disease, prolong your life, and live more happily. But in the chaos of a woman’s daily life, healthy living may take back seat to chores, work, busy schedules, and more. Take these simple steps toward a longer, healthier life.

Get moving

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for American women. In the United States, 1 in 4 women dies from heart disease. Exercise is one of the best ways to prevent heart disease and keep your ticker strong. It’s also beneficial for your mental and bone health.

Aim for 30 minutes of movement at least four days per week. Aerobic, or cardio, exercise is best. This includes:

• walking
• jogging
• dancing
• swimming

Mix routines up and keep your exercise plans exciting by trying different activities. Invite a friend to join you for accountability and encouragement.

Cardio alone isn’t enough for optimal health and fitness. You should combine it with some type of strength training. Strength training builds muscle, boosts metabolism, and helps you maintain stronger bones. This is especially important in postmenopausal women.

Start today with these toning workouts for women.

Eat a balanced diet

A nourishing diet is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. Beyond weight loss and maintenance, eating a balanced diet is crucial to a woman’s overall health. Good foods provide vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that are important for growth, well-being, and development.

Eating a balanced diet starts with avoiding unhealthy foods. Packaged and processed foods are often full of sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, and calories. Avoid the fake stuff, and opt for the good stuff, such as:

• fresh fruits and vegetables
• whole grains
• fiber-rich foods such as beans and leafy greens
• fresh fish
• lean cuts of meat and poultry
• healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, and olive oil
• low-fat dairy

Here’s a grocery shopping tip: Shop the perimeter of the store. This is where you’ll find fresh foods. Try to avoid the inside aisles, where most of the boxed and processed foods reside.

Also, be sure to make a list and stick to it, and don’t shop hungry. You’re more likely to make unhealthy choices and pick up foods you don’t need when your tummy is rumbling.

Additionally, a balanced diet is a cornerstone of weight loss. Carrying around extra weight can increase your risk of several conditions, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Four Beauty Techniques

Some beauty trends are here to stay and others are on their way out. Whatever makeup look you like, we found it interesting exploring the latest beauty techniques.

1. Spotlighting
We’ve had highlighting and strobing, and now we’re adding a beautiful glow to the face with a new beauty technique called spotlighting. This involves adding a dewy, glossy glow to certain areas of the face by dabbing something glossy such as a serum or Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream on your cheekbones and Cupid’s bow. This is more natural than a shimmery, pearly highlighter.

2. Sun stripping
You don’t have to venture out into the harsh sun to get a sun-kissed glow on your face. ‘Sun stripping’ involves generously dusting a bronzer across the apples of your cheeks, your temples and the bridge of your nose – areas on the face where the sun would normally hit.

3. Draping
While this might sound like décor at a wedding, this is a simple term to describe the act of layering two different-coloured blushes to emphasise your cheekbones in a fun yet natural way. This technique is used to give a subtle, sculpted glow instead of dark, heavy contouring. It’s definitely one of the latest beauty techniques we would like to test!

4. The cut crease
Instead of a blended transition colour in your crease, the cut crease is all about creating a stark line of eye shadow, forming a contrast with the colour you applied all over your lid. This look pays homage to the ’60s, specifically the icon Twiggy. This look takes a bit of time to master, but makes such an impact. Always use a small, pointed brush and a matt, neutral colour for a subtle daytime look. 

Ways to Go Green and Save Green

How can we live lightly on the Earth and save money at the same time? Staff members at the Worldwatch Institute, a global environmental organization, share ideas on how to GO GREEN and SAVE GREEN at home and at work. To learn more about Worldwatch's efforts to create am environmentally sustainable society that meets human needs, sign up here for weekly e-mail updates.

Climate change is in the news. It seems like everyone's "going green." We're glad you want to take action, too. Luckily, many of the steps we can take to stop climate change can make our lives better. Our grandchildren-and their children-will thank us for living more sustainably. Let's start now.

We've partnered with the Million Car Carbon Campaign to help you find ways to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint. This campaign is uniting conscious consumers around the world to prevent the emissions-equivalent of 1 million cars from entering the atmosphere each year.

Keep reading for 10 simple things you can do today to help reduce your environmental impact, save money, and live a happier, healthier life. For more advice, purchase State of the World 2010 - Transforming Cultures: From Consumerism to Sustainability, a report from 60 renowned researchers and practitioners on how to reorient cultures toward sustainability.

1.    Save energy to save money.

·         Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.

·         Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.

·         Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.

·         Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.

·         Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.

2.    Save water to save money.

·         Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.

·         Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.

·         Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.

·         Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.

3.    Less gas = more money (and better health!).

·         Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.

·         Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.

·         Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.

4.    Eat smart.

·         If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.

·         Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.

·         Watch videos about why local food and sustainable seafood are so great.

·         Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain [pdf]. This is especially true for seafood.

5.    Skip the bottled water.

 

·         Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.

·         Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.

·         Check out this short article for the latest on bottled water trends.

6.    Think before you buy.

 

·         Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Whether you've just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.

·         Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.

·         Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.

7.    Borrow instead of buying.

·         Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.

·         Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.

8.    Buy smart.

·         Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.

·         Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.

·         Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).

9.    Keep electronics out of the trash.

·         Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.

·         Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.

·         Recycle your cell phone.

·         Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.

10. Make your own cleaning supplies.

·         The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.

·         Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.

 (Credit: http://www.worldwatch.org/resources/go_green_save_green )

Top 10 Beauty Tips For Women Over 30

Top 15 Beauty Tips For Women Over 30

30’s is the new 20. It is one of your best phases in life. The 30’s is just more fun with mature. It is also the time when you really need to start taking care of your skin in a more care then earlier. Those of you who have been regular with your skin care earlier need not worry at all. You most likely already have skin that is properly nourished and will still hold off showing those ageing signs. As you are moving on in your years, it is time to change your skin care routine. Most women in their 30’s may have had their babies. This also means that your skin may show the post-delivery skin symptoms like pigmentation, uneven skin and dark circles. As difficult or drastic as it may sound, taking care of your skin in the 30s is more about following the basics and ensuring you keep your skin is well-nourished at all times.

Beauty Tips for Women Over 30:

Here are the top 15 skin care tips for women over 30. These will ensure that you have healthy skin in your 30′s.

1. Follow the CTM routine:

This is important! The cleansing, toning and moisturizing routine is something most of us end up ignoring all through our younger days. When you hit your 30s, it is even more important that you follow it to the T. The CTM routine will help to clear your skin of any accumulated dirt and grime. It will also keep your skin looking fresh and healthy.

2.Look For Key Ingredients That Benefit Skin:

Whether you prefer natural or commercial cosmetics for skin care, look for key ingredients that help your skin look youthful and radiant. Anti-oxidants, vitamin C, glycolic and hyaluronic acids help prevent premature ageing and severe dryness. As a result, it keeps your skin fresh and bright.

3. Eat Well:

Include lots of fruits and veggies in your diet. Fresh fruits and vegetable salads will help your body to get rid of toxins. This will help reveal healthy skin.

4. Supplements:

Take Vitamin C and Vitamin E supplements to ensure that your skin is strong and maintains its elasticity. These vitamins produce collagen which helps maintain the skin elasticity for a longer time.

5. Indulge in face masks:

You don’t need to buy expensive face masks off the shelves or head to the spa. A great way to indulge in some naturally beneficial skin treatment is to use ingredients from your kitchen.

·         Apply some yogurt on your face and neck

·         Let it sit for 15 minutes and then wash off with lukewarm water.

·         For some variation, add a bit of honey to it.

6. Facials:

Facials are a great way to keep your skin looking young and radiant. Even if your schedule is hectic, make the time to go to a spa for a facial at least once a month. It will do wonders for your skin and you will feel the dramatic change in your skin texture.

7. Exercise:

Walk for 30 minutes or just hit the gym. Indulging in regular exercise will not only cleanse your skin but will also nourish your blood cells. This further helps to flush out the waste products from your skin. Exercising regularly helps reduce stress, prevents acne and will keep you healthy overall. Being healthy and fit = beautiful skin naturally.

8. Exfoliate:

You will need to exfoliate your skin at least thrice a week to reveal brighter skin and get rid of dead skin cells. Make a simple scrub by mixing fine granules of sugar with lemon juice and honey.

9. Water:

To keep your skin hydrated from within, drink plenty of water every day. Experts recommend drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water every day. It is essential not just for a healthy body but beautiful skin as well. It also helps in eliminating the toxins from your body.

10. Be Healthy:

For those who cannot give it up, reduce your smoking and intake of alcohol. These are known to pump in toxins in your body causing your skin to look unhealthy. Cut down on the same and your skin will surely benefit.

(Credit: https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/top-10-beauty-tips-for-women-over-30/#gref )