6 Awesome Uses of Coconut Oil

It may be surprising for you to realize that the naturally occurring saturated fat in coconut oil actually has some amazing health benefits. Try a drop of it to reap all offered myriad benefits. Plus, coconut oil is completely natural, affordable and readily available. Here are six uses of this oil.

Skin care

Do you want to look like you have just come back from an hour of yoga? Is your wish to keep your skin youthful and healthy looking for a long time?  Coconut oil does wonders as a moisturizer for all the types of skin, especially dry and aging ones, leaving you refreshed and looking widely awake without requiring headstand. The thing is that fat in the oil helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles without any irritation. Coconut oil can help with skin problems such as dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis and other skin issues. In fact, the coconut oil is frequently used in brandy skin care products.

Stress relief

Relieve mental fatigue by applying coconut oil to your head in a motion of circular massaging. The natural aroma of this oil is extremely soothing thus helping to lower your stress level and you will never feel exhausted even after long office day, nonstop screaming kids and your dog leaving a little present on the vintage bedspread. You will be provided with an immediate energy source.

Digestion

The medium chained triglycerides are saturated fats in coconut oil, which have anti inflectional properties that help control bacteria and fungi causing indigestion and other gastro intestinal system related problems even an irritable bowel syndrome. The fat in coconut oil also helps in the absorption of minerals, vitamins and amino acids, making you even healthier all around.

Fitness

Coconut oil has been proven to improve thyroid function, boost your metabolism and increase energy levels, all of that help decrease the unwanted fat and increase muscles. That is why coconut oil has gained popularity as being the world’s only natural low calorie fat.

Energy

Your body sends medium chained fatty acids also called medium chained triglycerides directly to your liver to use as energy. It makes coconut oil a powerful source of instant energy to the body, a function, which is usually served in the diet by simple carbohydrates.

Healing

 

When applied on cuts and scrapes, coconut oil creates a thin chemical layer that protects the wound from bacteria, outside dust and virus. Coconut oil speeds up the healing process of injuries by repairing damaged tissues. In addition, it smells a lot better than anything from the pharmacy.

Hair care

Why to spend $ 25 on hair conditioners if you can get even more benefit for even less price. Coconut oil is one of the most nutritious products you can use to treat your hair. Massage a little of the oil onto your scalp and presto no more dandruff. Since coconut oil provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair, it is used in a ton of hair products anyway. So cut to the chase and skip all those unnecessary chemicals.

15 Ways to Boost Your Stamina

Do you find yourself getting tired by the end of the day? Do simple tasks like climbing stairs exhaust you? You may think you’re fit and healthy, but your body is secretly telling you that you need more stamina! Here are some tips that will go a long way to make you stronger, healthier and quicker!

 Keep yourself hydrated

Drinking lots of water is an effective and natural way to keep your stamina level high. It also helps increase your metabolism. This is one easy way of staying fit.

Cardio exercises

Make it a point to do 30 minutes of cardio exercises every alternate day. Running, swimming, cycling, rowing and step aerobics are a great way to de-stress, keep fit and build up your stamina at the same time!

Do weight training every alternate day.

Weight training is a form of exercise where your body is stimulated by lifting weights and it can do wonders to increase your stamina. Start out with smaller weights like light dumbbells and try increasing your weights in the second week. However be cautious and don't increase them if you are not comfortable with it.

Keep a track of what you’re eating

It’s equally important to make sure that you’re eating the right food! Avoid any food that’s high in saturated fats and sugar. That means saying goodbye to those greasy burgers and French fries!

Take in good quality fats

You may think dieting can solve all your problems, but eliminating all fats from your diet is not the answer! Products such as flax seeds and fish oil capsules contain a lot of good quality fats (omega 3 fatty acids) that can help improve nerve and cell functioning and therefore keep your stamina high.

Take in first class proteins
Make sure you take in plenty of first class proteins. First class proteins consist of all essential amino acids that your body cannot produce and therefore needs to be provided in a diet. Egg whites, low fat milk and milk products, fish and chicken contain these necessary proteins and can therefore keep you strong.

Include fibrous salads twice a day

Eating plenty of greens can boost your metabolism, therefore keeping you healthy for a longer time. If you’re still not convinced, salads are heart healthy and have cell building ingredients! Other than increasing your stamina, this can really help you if you’re trying to lose weight.

Include core training 

Core training helps strengthen your mid section as well as your middle and lower back, therefore making you stronger and healthier. Include core training once a week and it’s sure to help increase your stamina. . Sprinting, dead lifts, squats and pushups are great ways to strengthen your back and core muscles.

Practice deep breathing exercises

Other than helping you reduce stress, strain and anxiety, breathing exercise like pranayam can make your lungs stronger and boost your stamina.  

Spend some time playing active sports

Don’t be cooped up in your house all day! Find a sport you’re interested in and take it up as a hobby! Activities like tennis, badminton, football do help you become stronger but their also great ways to relax and have fun.

 Include activities that improve your muscular endurance

Building your muscular endurance helps you to continue using your muscular strength. Activities like swimming, spinning or cycling give your muscles the ability to perform repeated movements for long periods of time without becoming tired. Doing this is a sure way to boost stamina.

Have fun with adventure sports

Some sports have a lot of health benefits and can really boost up your stamina. But other than that they are also loads of fun! Like trekking and rock climbing. Take care of your health and be an adventurous at the same time!

Practice yoga

Other than breathing exercises, yoga contains a lot of physical exercise that can benefit your health. Try doing the surya namaskar once a week to help improve muscle tone and flexibility.

Avoid using lifts

Have a busy schedule and little time for exercise? Try some easy steps like walking to work or to the nearest bus stop instead of taking a cab or an auto. Also try using the stairs instead of the lift in your office or to your apartment. These small steps increase your stamina and make you stronger.

Above all, enjoy your workout.

Do it with passion and you’re sure to get results. Remember that exercise, like success is addictive and these tips can change the course of your life!

Invigourating Sex Tips for Better Sex Life

Want the best sex of your life? Forget about the sex positions you follow and use the right contraceptive for the right carnal urge. Better your sex life and have a mind blowing experience with these invigourating sex tips.

Warm condoms:

Ditch the unflavoured-rubber latex, and heat up your partner with condoms that produce heat for the woman. These condoms are lubricated with a warming agent to ignite the romance.

Long lasting condoms:

Long lasting as the name suggests, is excellent for those with who ejaculate prematurely. The tip of these condoms contains benzocaine or a similar solution that numbs the tip or the head of the penis. This gives you longer duration to reach orgasm and gives you enough time to please the woman and reach orgasm.

Sex Position for Women: Anvil

In this sex position the woman lies on her back and her legs are at a 45 degree angle. This sex position works in favour for both men and women as it ensures deep penetration and creates a heightened sexual experience.

Sex Position for Women: Wheelbarrow

In this sex position, the female partner supports herself with her arms on the ground, while her partner holds her legs, making it seem like a wheelbarrow. The wheelbarrow sex position demands that one should have a strong upper body and the guy is more likely to hit the G-spot.

 Sex Position for Men: Passionate Piston
The passionate piston involves the man on his back, the woman’s feet on the bed and her hands on his shoulders. The act of going up and down will bring out carnal feelings. This sex position also offers visual stimulation for the man, as he gets to see the woman’s breasts going up and down vigorously.

 Sex Position for Men: Bend
In this position you are standing up while your partner’s back faces you. She bends forward, which allows you to penetrate deeper.

 Remove air at the tip of the condom:

Men fail to remove the air from the tip of the condom. While wearing a condom make sure to leave some gap at the tip of the condom so that your semen can get collected. Besides, air at the tip of the condom is supposed to be squeezed out before wearing a condom to avoid breakage during ejaculation.

 Gels to last longer:

There are gels that help you prolong your sexual experience by delaying ejaculation. It is safe to apply these gels with a condom.

 Vibrating ring:

This battery-operated sex product promises to give you 20 minutes of pleasure. Like the name suggests, it enhances the experience with vibration, which can be used by both men and women.

 Lubrication:

Women experience dryness in the vagina and pelvic pain, especially during their first time and around menopause. But nervousness also can result in vaginal dryness, that’s where lubricants come into play.

Sex food: Banana
Bananas contain bromelain enzyme which is known to give a boost to your libido. It is also great for boosting testosterone in men and women. Another good source of bromelain is pineapple; this fruit is also excellent for gaining healthy weight.

Sex Food Watermelon:

Bite into slices of watermelon to increase stimulation, as watermelon helps relax the blood vessels. It also contains citrulline, which helps stimulate and enhance your mood, and so it is a great snack to have before sex.

 Sex Food: Ginger:

One of the best way to consume ginger is to mix it with lime juice. A ginger lemon mocktail improves the body's circulation and especially encourages blood flow to the genitals. Ginger also helps increase one's libido.

Sex Food: Wine:

Wine is associated with lowering the risk of heart disease and improving the condition of the skin. But wine is also good for stimulating arousal as it increases blood flow to the genitals, thereby heightening sexual arousal.

Red Meat:

Lean red meat helps reduce the probability of erectile dysfunction. Besides, consuming red meat in moderation is a great way to increase iron, protein and zinc levels in the body.

Foreplay for men:

For men, foreplay is a visual treat. It could be a sexy dress or the sight of your naked body, which could throw him into a tizzy.

Delay Orgasm in Men:

The scrotum rises as a man reaches orgasm and is on the verge of ejaculation. So, delay ejaculation by pulling the scrotum away from the body.

Foreplay for Women:
Take control of the foreplay but do not be rough. Women love to control men, but in bed it is the other way round. Women love it when men take control of their sex life.

9 Reasons You Should Start Eating Potato

Nutritionists tell us that potatoes are not only tasty additions to any diet but carry enormous health benefits as well. What does this mean to your dinner time? Check out these benefits of eating potatoes and you will find out why you should bring potato to your every day meal.

Potato is high in vitamin B6

This Vitamin helps reduce the chemical homocysteine in your body which has been linked with degenerative diseases, as well as the prevention of heart attacks.

Potato is a good source of vitamin C

While most of you know that vitamin C is important to help get rid of cold and flu viruses, few of you are aware that this crucial vitamin plays an important role in tooth and bone formation, digestion and blood cell formation. Vitamin C helps accelerate healing of wound, produces collagen which helps maintain youthful elasticity of your skin and is essential to helping you cope with stress. It even appears to help protect your body against toxins that might be linked to cancer.

Potato contains Vitamin D

This vitamin is critical for your immune system and overall health especially during cold seasons. Both a vitamin and a hormone, vitamin D is primarily made in your body as a result of getting adequate sunlight. You might have heard about seasonal affective disorder, or sad as it is also known, which is linked to inadequate sunlight and therefore a vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D plays an important role in your mood, energy level and helps to build healthy bones, heart, nerves, skin and teeth and as well supports your thyroid gland.

Potato contains iron

Most people are aware that a human needs the mineral iron to have adequate energy, but iron plays other important roles in your body, including white and red blood cell production, resistance to stress, proper immune functioning and the metabolizing of protein, among the others.

Potato is a good source of magnesium

Magnesium is the relaxation and anti stress mineral. It is essential for healthy artery, blood, bone; heart, muscle and nerve system, yet scientists estimate that approximately 75 percent of the population of North countries may be deficient in this important mineral.

Potato is a source of potassium

One of the important electrolytes that help regulate heartbeat and nerve signals is potassium. Like the other electrolytes, it performs several essential functions, some of that include relaxing muscle contractions, reducing swelling, protecting and controlling the activity of your kidneys.

Potato is naturally sweet

Their natural sugar is slowly released into the bloodstream, helping to ensure a balanced and regular source of energy, without the glucose spikes linked to fatigue and weight gain.

Potato is high in carotenoids

Potato’s rich orange color indicates that they are full of carotenoids such as ß carotene and other ones, which is the precursor to vitamin A in the body. Carotenoids help strengthen your eyesight and boost your immune system. They are useful antioxidants that help ward off cancer and protect against the effects of aging. Studies at one university of more than 125,000 people showed a 30 percent reduction in risk of lung cancer in people who consumed a variety of carotenoid rich foods as part of their regular diet. Another research of women who had done treatment for early stage breast cancer conducted by researchers found that women with the highest blood concentrations of carotenoids had the least likelihood of cancer recurrence.

Potato is versatile

Try roasted, puréed, steamed, baked, or grilled potatoes. You can add potatoes to stews and soups, or grill and put on top of leafy greens for a delicious salad. Enjoy grilling them with onions and red peppers for amazing sandwich or wrap ingredients. Puree potatoes and add to smoothies and baked goods.

12 Awesome Uses of Lemon

When life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade. But what to do with finishes? Besides adding lemons to drinks there are a lot of ways to use lemons in your home. So don’t toss all those lemon peels and put them to work. Here’s every single way you can use lemons:

Clean greasy messes

Have you got anything Greasy or splattered stove tops? If your kitchen has been the victim of some sloppy sautéing, try to use lemon halves before taking out possibly toxic chemical cleaners. Add some salt for abrasion on a juiced lemon half and rub on the greasy areas, wipe up with a towel. Be careful while using lemon on marble counter tops, or any kind of surface that may be sensitive to acid.

Clean coffee pot or tea kettle 

For cleaning mineral deposit that is build up in the tea kettle, fill it with water, add a handful of thin slices of lemon peel and bring to a boil. Turn off heat and leave it for one hour, drain and rinse well. For coffee pots, add salt, ice and lemon rinds to the empty pot; swish and swirl for one or two minutes, dump and rinse.

Clean the microwave

All it needs is one exploding bowl of food to render the gunk interior of the microwave, sometimes with cement like properties. Instead of using strong chemical cleaners, try to add lemon rinds to a microwave safe bowl filled halfway with cold water. Cook on high for five minutes, in order to boil the water and the steam to condense on the walls and tops of the oven. Remove the hot bowl carefully and clean away the dirt with a towel.

Deodorize the garbage disposal

Use lemon peels to deodorize the garbage disposal and make your kitchen smell freshly at the same time. It is a quick way to finally dispose of spent lemon peels after you have used them for any of these reasons.

Polish chrome and copper

A halved lemon dipped in salt or baking powder can be used to brighten copper ware, as well as brass, stainless or chrome steel. Put a juiced lemon half in salt, you can also use cream of tartar or baking soda instead of the salt and rub on the affected area. Let it stay on for ten minutes. Then rinse in warm water and polish dry.

Keep insects out

Many pests hate the acid of lemon. You can chop of the peels and place them along thresholds, windowsills, and near any holes or cracks where ants or pests can be entering.

Make a scented humidifier

If your house suffers from dry heat in the winter, you should put lemon peels in a pot of water and simmer on the lowest stove top setting to humidify and scent the air.

Refresh cutting boards
Because of lemon’s low pH, it has antibacterial properties that makes lemon a good choice for refreshing cutting boards. After proper disinfecting rub the surface with a halved lemon, let it sit for a few seconds and then rinse.

Lighten age spots

A lot of folk remedies suggest using lemon peel to help lighten age spots. You should apply a small piece to the affected area and leave on for one hour.

Soften dry elbows

Take a half lemon sprinkled with baking soda on elbows, just place the elbow in the lemon and twist the lemon as if you are juicing it for more than ten minutes. Rinse and dry.

Use on the skin

Lemon peels can be very lightly rubbed on your face for a nice skin tonic, then rinse. Always be careful around your eyes.

Make a sugar scrub

Mix a half cup of sugar with finely chopped lemon peel and enough olive oil to get a paste. Wet your body in the shower, turn off the water and massage sugar mix all over your skin, rinse, but be soft.

5 Myths About Getting Flat Stomach

We all want to have that sexy flat stomach, especially when the summer is near, and we are willing to work for it. The problem is that lots of people are wasting their efforts simply because they have a wrong information about getting flat stomach. Here’s 5 myths you should not believe about it:

Extra Crunches for A Flat Stomach

Extra crunches don’t lead to tight abs. The truth is that everyone has ab muscles. They just stay hidden underneath a thick layer of fat on the stomach. If you want a toned look, you need to focus on burning the layer of fat that may be covering your belly. The key is to not obsess about crunches, but focus on burning fat.

Starve Yourself to get A Flat Stomach

At times, you may think that starving yourself is the only way to lose weight and get a flat stomach. Starving yourself is not only ineffective, but also dangerous for your overall well-being. You may think that severe calorie reduction may lead to better and quick results. It is important to understand that the human body is complex. As a result, starving yourself may disrupt your body’s metabolism. This will only slow down results. It is important not to starve yourself, but eat wholesome meals after short intervals of time. Eating less may be the key to weight loss, but starving yourself is not.

Diet Pills and Supplements

Well, diet pills and supplements can be quite tempting. There are many pills and supplements which claim to give you a flat stomach. However, you should not fall for it as there is no ‘magic pill’ available in the market. In fact, diet pills and supplements are more likely to hurt your pocket than showing any results on your belly. Instead of popping a pill, it will be better to burn calories with intense exercise.

Packaged Diet Products for Better Results

There are many packaged foods which are considered to be a solution for weight loss. Usually, such packaged products are packed with refined sugar. There are also some artificial ingredients which your body does not really need. Some ingredients in packaged foods don’t lead to weight loss. In fact, they may have a high-calorie content. You should try to avoid packaged foods and stick to a nutritious diet. Whole grains can be a good choice.

Avoid Carbohydrates for Tight Abs

Many notions and misconceptions make you think that carbohydrates are bad for your health. However, if you are one of the people who believe this, it is quite unfortunate. You can eat carbohydrates while slimming down. As mentioned earlier, it is important to avoid packaged foods and stick with oatmeal, whole grains and brown rice. In other words, you should stick with wholesome carbs rather than giving up all carbohydrates.

Slim Down Your Face With Yoga

Have the adjectives 'cute, baby-face' stuck to you for too long? Well, there are many who are unhappy with their chubby face and tend to appear overweight because of this, despite their body being thin.


There are treatments for this, including using botox to paralyse facial muscles in order to make it look slimmer and shapely. However, both surgical and non-surgical procedures are painful and expensive. A natural and inexpensive way out is yoga. It may not be as quick as the former procedures when it comes to immediate visible results, but is painless and lasts.

"Yoga is safe and can be done within the confines of your home," says Dr Amrapali Patil, yoga and weight management consultant. Yogacharya Shelly Khera states, "Every yoga pose that ups the circulation and makes blood go to your head and stretches the neck, chin and facial muscles, helps to slim down and sculpt the face."

However, she cautions, "Do not expect overnight results. Every single day for at least three months if you do yogasanas you will find that your face has lost unwanted fat." She suggests poses like simha mudra, kakaki mudra, forward bending postures, certain neck and chin stretches, mastyasana etc work well. Here are some yoga poses that you must add to your daily exercise regime:

Simha mudra or the lion pose
This pose stimulates and tones the entire facial musculature and is considered the best facial asana.
How to do it:
Kneel on a mat. Straighten and place your hands on your knees. Take a deep breath, steadily, without gulping air in. Now drop your jaw and open your mouth wide. Simultaneously, stick your tongue out forcefully and downwards towards your chin. As you breath out through the mouth make a sound from your throat which simulates the roar of a lion. Repeat this exercise at least four to five times.

Jivha bandha or the locked tongue pose
"This is one of the classic yoga poses which not only helps to get a chiselled face but shapes the jaw line," says Patil. Like Simha Mudra this pose too helps in toning the facial muscles. Jivha Bandha also help in regulating blood pressure.


How to do it:
Sit in the Lotus pose or Padmasana. Alternatively, even Sukhasana or sitting cross-legged on the floor will do. If uncomfortable, you can sit on a chair. Place your hands on your lap or knees in a relaxed way. Now press the tip of the tongue against the upper plate — it is like trying to swallow your tongue. With the tongue thus placed open the mouth completely till you feel adequate stretch in the region of face and throat. Unlike Simha Mudra, in this asana breathe through the nose. Repeat three to four times.

Jalandhar Bandha or chin lock
This is yet another classic Hatha yoga pose. Though used for the purpose of meditation in traditional yoga, this pose also facilitates the shaping of the face and tones the facial and jaw line muscles and corrects a double chin. This asana also helps people with thyroid disorders.

How to do it:
Sit on the mat in the Lotus pose or in Sukhasana. Breathe in deeply. Place your hands on the knees and lift the shoulders up and tilt the body slightly forwards. Now press the chin firmly against the chest or between the two collar bones such that the oesophagus is firmly closed. Hold the breath as long as comfortable. To release the asana lift the head, breath normally and return to the starting position. Repeat.

Keep in mind
- Breathe normally when you are doing yoga poses.
- Relax for a minute between each pose by breathing in and out slowly.

Bodybuilding Tips to Build Muscles & Lose Weight

Tips to Build Muscles & Lose Weight

Weight loss is not only about fat loss, it also implies building muscles to give you a lean built. Or else you would be a stick with baggy clothes.

Genetics and Bodybuilding
Genetics play a major role in physical build. Building muscle is not an overnight effort; one has to rigourously work towards achieving it. Eating proper food, right form of exercise, dedication and consistency will contribute in building muscle. One should take professional help when trying to build muscle.

Diet is the most essential thing that will supplement your exercise regime to a build muscular body. The more protein your body stores, larger your muscles will grow, hence more intake of protein enriched food is suggested. Increase your calorie intake but ensure you are eating clean and not too much.

High-calorie, high-protein foods and beverages, such as a protein shake with two scoops of whey protein. Eating enough protein is also important to help you maintain your muscle mass.

In order to build muscle, you need complete proteins; these are found in eggs, meat, fish, cheese, milk and most other animal products. One should spread out these foods throughout the day and should have them accordingly.

Get protein into your breakfast. Omelets, protein shakes (or smoothies) and cottage cheese are great sources of protein. If you wish to gain muscle, your diet should include the following food products in various combinations. 

These foods should be consumed in various combinations:

Red meat: Beef, pork, lamb, venison, bison, etc
Fish: Tuna, salmon, swordfish, bass, trout, mackerel, etc
Poultry breast: Chicken, turkey, duck, etc
Eggs: The yolk is high in cholesterol, but one or two a day isn't unhealthy.
Dairy: Milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, etc
Whey: Protein shakes rely on whey protein regularly.

It is important to have carbohydrates so that your body can tap into glycogen (energy) stores within your muscles while you are working out. If you do not eat enough carbohydrates your body will not have energy reserves and will break down your muscles instead.

Try to select carbohydrates low on the Glycemic Index, which are healthier and release their energy more slowly below are good example:

Brown Basmati Rice
Rolled Oats
Sweet Potato

Eating a carbohydrates and protein rich meal immediately after the workout, helps in gaining muscle. Post workout, carbohydrates help deliver the amino acids into muscles by boosting insulin levels. Insulin is an anabolic hormone, which drives nutrients into the muscle cells, leading to muscle growth.