How to avoid "Unhappiness"

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass,
it’s about learning to dance in the rain.

A person does not have to be behind bars to be a prisoner. People can be prisoners of their own concepts, choices and ideas. So tell the negativity committee that meets inside your head to sit down and shut up.

When you dream, you better dream big; when you think, you better think big; and when you love, you better love truthfully. Happiness is a choice. There are no excuses for not trying to make the very best out of your life. There are no excuses for living in a way that consistently makes you unhappy.

Here are ten happiness mistakes to avoid:

1. Thinking that you have already missed your chance. – Your life, with all its ups and downs, has molded you for the greater good. Your life has been exactly what it needed to be. Don’t think you’ve lost time. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the current moment. And every moment of your life, including this one right now, is a fresh start. If you have the courage to admit when you’re scared, the ability to laugh even as you cry, the nerve to speak up even if your voice is shaking, the confidence to ask for help when you need it, and the wisdom to take it when it’s offered, then you have everything you need to get yourself to a better place. Read The Power of Habit.
2. Using failed relationships as an excuse. – Life doesn’t always introduce you to the people you WANT to meet. Sometimes life puts you in touch with the people you NEED to meet – to help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you, and to gradually strengthen you into the person you were meant to become.
3. Changing who you are to satisfy others. – No matter how loud their opinions are, others cannot choose who you are. The question should not be, “Why don’t they like me when I’m being me?” It should be, “Why am I wasting my time worrying what they think of me?” If you are not hurting anyone with your actions, keep moving forward with your life. Be happy. Be yourself. If others don’t like it, then let them be. Life isn’t about pleasing everybody.
4. Putting up with negative people and negative thinking. – It’s time to walk away from all the drama and the people who create it. Surround yourself with those who make you smile. Love the people who treat you right, and pray for the ones who don’t. Forget the negative and focus on the positive. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Making mistakes and falling down is a part of life, but getting back up and moving on is what LIVING is all about.
5. Focusing all of your attention on another time and place. – This day will never happen again. Enjoy it. Cherish your time. It’s often hard to tell the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory. Someday you may discover that the small things were really the big things. So learn to appreciate what you have before time forces you appreciate what you once had. Read The Power of Now.
6. Overlooking what you have to focus on what you haven’t. – Most people end up cheating on others and themselves because they pay more attention to what they’re missing, rather than what they have. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, think about what you have that everyone else is missing.
7. Dwelling on the things you can’t change. – If you hadn’t fallen down, you would never have learned how to get back on your feet. If you hadn’t been forced to let go and move on, you’d never have learned that you have the strength to stand on your own. If you hadn’t lost hope, you would never have found your faith. The best often comes after the worst happens. You can either move on, or you can dwell on the things you can’t change. Either way life does move on with or without you. So learn from the past and then get the heck out of there. You will always grow stronger from the pain if you don’t let it destroy you.
8. Constantly sacrificing your own happiness for everyone else. – Never let your own happiness wither away as you try to bring sunshine to others. Life is not about making others happy. Life is about being honest and sharing your happiness with them.
9. Losing track of your own goals and ideals. – Knowing who you are is one thing, but truly believing and living as yourself is another. With all the social conditioning in our society we sometimes forget to stay true to ourselves. Don’t lose yourself out there. In this crazy world that’s trying to make you like everyone else, stay true to your awesome self. Read The Art of Non-Conformity.
10. Dealing with the stress of deceiving others. – If you say you’re going to do something, DO IT! If you say you’re going to be somewhere, BE THERE! If you say you feel something, MEAN IT! If you can’t, won’t, and don’t, then DON’T LIE. It’s always better to tell people the truth up front. Live in such a way that if someone decided to attack your character, no one would believe it. Live so that when the people around you think of fairness, caring and integrity, they think of you.

And remember, life will never be perfect, no matter how hard you try. Even if you pour your heart and soul into it, you will never achieve a state of absolute perfection. There will always be moments of uncertainty; there will always be days where nothing goes right. But as time rolls on you will learn that even the most imperfect situations can be made better with a little love and laughter.

Photo by Heather

L - O - V - E defined

“Everyone says that love hurts, but that is not true. Loneliness hurts, rejection hurts, losing someone hurts. Everyone gets these things confused with love, but in reality love is the only thing in the world that covers up all the pain and makes someone feel wonderful again.”

-James Hussain


Love… I wonder what it really means. Love is a very subjective word, unlike any other word in the world. I think it’s something like our fingerprints. No one can understand what another person’s definition of love is, nor can anyone ever replicate another person’s love. Perhaps love is just a word we use when we have to define a feeling that just can’t be described, a feeling that no one else can understand but you.

Love is not an obscure pie-in-the-sky concept. Love is an action. It's very hands-on. And it's very do-or-die. The true meaning of love is not simply "I'm very fond of you" or "you make me feel really good". If your love is based solely on how good he/she makes you feel, what happens when  he/she makes you angry beyond belief?

Or what happens when he/she betrays your trust? Or when you're not talking to each other?

Or when you're only arguing with each other?

Will your love cause you to abandon ship when the storms arise in your relationship?

Or will it compel you to stand your ground and safely guide your relationship through the storms to calm waters?


The choice is yours to make. What's the deciding factor? Your view of love, and how seriously you believe in it.The true meaning of love does not depend on the weather conditions of your relationship. Fair weather vs. Stormy weather. Love always reaches out to touch the good in each other, regardless of what's going on. So let's break down the definition of love even further. You need to truly see how marvelous it really is.

Okay, analyze each word from the above definition of love, this is what you get: "an absolute, undivided, uncompromised or unmodified careful thought, regard and respect, along with an extreme kind of selfless affection and dedication, for another person".
WEW! Truly powerful. That's really deep.

That leaves no ambiguity regarding the true meaning of love.

There's no room for doubting what to do when you're facing a difficult situation in your relationship. When the seas become rough, you don't drop the lifeboat and abandon your relationship. By all means, get to safety and don't look back!


But of course, I'm talking to the rest of us, (including myself! lols).
Those who are bored in their relationship.
What are you doing? Love makes no concession for your boredom! Nor for you wanting to "hook up" with someone else!
Look at the true meaning of love again: "an absolute, uncompromised, careful regard and respect along WITH an extreme kind of SELFLESS affection and dedication for another person." 

You are responsible for your actions. Instead of turning your back on to relationship when you're toiling through bad times, your love drives you to reach out and bear each other’s pains.


Love causes you to comfort each other, even when you've just had the biggest argument. How many hurtful things have you said or done to your each other? How many times have you been forgiven for them? Why? LOVE.
Big words huh!? :D


Real love demands that all of your tender affection, care, dedication and respect is given selflessly.
That means it's not all about "me, me, me".
You're willing to sacrifice how you may really feel to make him/her happy.
You're willing to forgive when you've been wronged. You're able to look past and your sometimes volatile emotions to see and touch that beautiful person you loved.

Love allows each of you to be your best. That's what the true meaning of love is all about. If you see your each other hurting, you want to make them better. You want to take their pain away, even if you're the cause of it.
Sometimes, if the pain is deep, they may push you away initially. It may be best to give them time to process their hurt and anger so they can embrace you again. Just don't give up!


Sure, their actions may cause you hurt and pain. But do you walk out on your realtionship because of a temporary heartache? Do you retaliate, regardless of if you did wrong or not? Do you shut out, too, and put your realtionship on cruise control with no one to guide it?


NO! You push through those hard times. You dig your heels in deeper and hold on to each other. You even carry through if they're not able to walk the distance themselves. You never lose sight of each other. Never let go of each other.


The true meaning of love is simple. It's an all-out, selfless affection and dedication to each other. You immerse yourselves in each other so deeply that you easily see your own reflection when you look at each other...no, not literally. But you leave no room for anything else. No room for anyone else. That's what love is.



Did this feature help you better yourself or your relationship?
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What a REAL man should know

Here are some examples of what a man should do, (for those who are unable to be aware of their girlfriends) and to those girls who are longing for it.



This is how to keep your your relationship keep going. If you follow these directions well, you'll probably have a wonderful relationship. She'll be very happy! Being a good boyfriend is a lot of work, so make sure she's worth it.







1) Listen to her. If she has mentioned that something you do bothers her, change your behavior. We are not saying that you should change who you are, but relationships require compromise from both ends. She may have already changed something about herself for you!

2) Tell the truth about important issues, but know when little white lies are appropriate. Lies will drive a wedge of suspicion and mistrust between you and your girlfriend that you may never be able to fix. You may throw away a whole relationship with just one act of mistrust. Your actions should also prove to her that you are trustworthy. Conversations you have with other women should never border the line of being flirtatious or intimate. She needs to know that she can trust you in speech and conduct even in the little things. If you have a hard time with this one, maybe you aren't ready for a relationship and should instead question why you feel the need to flirt with other women in the first place. When you are in a relationship, and it comes to telling the truth about whether or not another woman is hotter than her, or has better eyes/breasts/ass/legs etc, then default answer should always be a resounding "NO!"


3) Be sensible about how you talk about female friends. If you have female friends that you would like your girlfriend to befriend mutually, or if you want her to trust you in your friendships with other women, NEVER comment on a female friend's physical appearance as if you find her attractive. If you have something positive to say about your friend, make it about her personality, as in, that she is warm, friendly, or creative. Whatever you do, don't lead in with, "My friend is coming to town and I really want you to meet her. You'll really like her. She's gorgeous! All of my friends can't keep their eyes off her - when she's around, conversation stops because all the guys just keep staring at her!" Don't expect your girlfriend to want to meet your friend after that with open arms. She's going to have a difficult and awkward time of it, and it won't be because she's just insecure. Language like this is hurtful to her, as it seems to her and to others that you see her as another rung on the line of beautiful women around you. Have some sensitivity when talking with her about your female friends, and don't talk to her about them like your girlfriend's just one of the guys. You will make her feel that you may not love her enough to keep your eyes off of other women, or to think about what you say before you say it when speaking to her. Always uplift your girlfriend so that knows that she is the only one in the world that you have eyes for. Your friendships with your female friends will be accepted much more smoothly if you follow this step.


4) Be spontaneous. Surprise her with chocolates or notes. Whisk her away to an unplanned romantic dinner, day, or weekend. (However, make sure you plan it on a night/day/weekend when you know she won't have things to do).

Take her somewhere new. Many girls will get bored if you take them to the same place time after time (unless it's a special place for the both of you) so mix it up a little. You should enjoy the variety of new places with her, too! It creates new conversation topics and memories!


5) Be considerate. Recognize when she needs you to be there for her and when she needs to be alone. Never ignore her when you don't have a good reason.

6) Give each other space. Don't smother your girlfriend—you want her to be excited each time she sees or hears from you. If you smother her, she may become overwhelmed. That could ruin a good relationship. Play it cool without ignoring her.

7) Return her calls and texts. Unless she specifies that you don't need to call her back, it's good to get back to her when your girlfriend calls you. It's also not hard to text her back or update her on what you are doing throughout the day. Let her know she's on your mind even though you are not with her in person. Girls can get insecure when ignored. You don't want your girlfriend insecure. A confident girl is a happy girl. A happy girl is good to her boyfriend.


8) Get her a gift. It doesn't have to be big—even a small gift, like her favorite candy bar, goes a long way. Be listening to things she's wanted and surprise her with them from time to time.

If it's a big holiday, listen to hints she may be dropping about what she wants. Thoughtful gifts will show her you care. Bring her to the mall and pay attention to what she points out.

Put some thought into it! What does she like? Music? Scarves? Delicate bracelets? Does she have any collections? Does she have a wish list somewhere you can buy from? Has she mentioned wanting anything lately? Perhaps you could ask your mom or her best friend for advice!


9) Confide in her. Open up to her in a way that you don't do for most people. Keep her secrets when she does the same for you. A healthy thing about having a girlfriend is that you can show her a side of you you wouldn't normally show any of your buddies.


10)Defend her. If someone is teasing her, take her side (or no side at least). Girls need to know that their man has their back at all times. How would you feel if she took her friends' or your friends' side over yours? Let her know she can depend on you. That is how a relationship works.


11) Respect her. Remember that your girlfriend is not your "property." Be mindful of her opinions and desires, even if they differ from your own. Don't make her feel stupid just because she doesn't think the way you do on everything. You're supposed to make her feel good; not bad.


12) Make her feel special. While it is completely permissible for you to be friends with other girls in the proper context, don't flirt or put yourself in situations that will make you or her uncomfortable. Women have a strong sense of intuition and often times may see a compromising situation when men only see something innocent. Males and females don't see things the same way, so listen to her. Don't talk about other girls' appearances in front of her either, even if it's a celebrity. Wait to say it when she's not around. Tell her occasionally: "You're my only girl" or "You're the only girl I have feelings for" or something similar. You want your girlfriend feeling confident at all times. Insecure girlfriends are the worst!

Never ignore her. It hurts immensely, and if you ignore her enough, it may make her think about dumping you (although she won't let you know unless she decides to go through with it). Don't leave her waiting, either. Girls easily become offended, especially the sweet and sensitive ones.

Text her when you're thinking about her. But DO NOT text anything you might not want her friends or family to read. Because once you have sent it, it's on her phone forever for anyone to read. Also, try texting her good morning as often as possible. A girl loves to know she was the first thing on her boyfriend's mind when he started his day.


13) Make her laugh. This doesn't mean that you should tell corny jokes at every opportunity. Know what kind of humor she likes. If she's upset, try and cheer her up (without being crass).


14) Please her friends and family. If her friends and family don't like you, she may have second thoughts about you herself. Girls talk to other girls, and girls can be impressionable. Always act like a gentleman around her friends and family, and elicit confidence!


15) Treat her like a princess! Open doors for her, offer her your jacket, pull her chair out for her, and stand up when she enters the room! She'll love these little gestures. When you take her on dates, never let her pay. There is just something so sexy about a man when he takes care of the dinner bill like it's no big deal.


16) Compliment her. Tell her she is beautiful, especially when she least expects it. Girls can spend a lot of effort trying to look nice, and it will make her happy that you noticed. Make your compliments meaningful and truthful. Instead of "Your hair is pretty," try "I really like the way you did your hair tonight! It looks so soft and beautiful." Say what you like about what you like. If her hair smells good, say it smells amazing and hold her close!


17) Don't take her for granted. Keep in mind that she could leave you, so you'd better work hard at keeping her happy so that you can keep her as your girlfriend. Girls will only take so much hurt in a relationship. If you find that you are constantly hurting her, it won't be long before you lose her. Some girls can and will take some low blows from their boyfriends, but in time, she will realize she could find someone else to make her just as happy, or even happier! If you want to keep her, it's time to start treating her like a gentleman should.


18) Don't be ashamed to compliment her or show her affection in front of others. Real men aren't ashamed to show the world they've found a good woman, and your girl will love you for that. People talk publicly about the things they value, she will instantly feel like a priority if you are confident enough to show the world how you feel about her. Hold her hand in the mall or throw your arm around her at the movies.




                                                                         WARNING



- As said earlier, never lie to her! She'll know when you do.

When you hug her, make sure it's a genuine hug.

- DO NOT EVER say you are going to kill yourself, even if you are kidding. She will not take it well.

- Make sure you know her well before you follow ALL of these steps. Not all girls will want you to do everything on this list. But most girls will like you to do small things like opening doors and stuff like that and that will make you more admirable.




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Thank you, and God bless everyone.

Malunggay - "A Miracle Palnt"

Health is wealth, a very popular saying which has widely influenced people in many aspect. People aspire to have a healthy and strong body - being able to fight against all kinds of harmful diseases. And the good news is that there is one plant that is able to help you achieve this goal and is definitely worth keeping - that is Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera). Malunggay is a popular plant and considered as a "Miracle Plant". Aside from giving wonders in your health, Malunggay is also a multi-purpose plant where you can reap all its health benefits in various forms, as well as using its leaves, pods, fruits, flowers, roots and bark of the tree . Malunggay plant grows in the tropical climates such as Philippines, India, and Africa.It is also referred to as Drumstick Tree by the Britishers. 

Malunggay, Nutrition and Herbal Medicine

Malunggay leaves - are widely used as a vegetable ingredient in many cookings, can be also be used in making vegetable salads.

Malunggay pods - is the most widely used part of this plant. It can be fried and may produce “Ben Oil”, clear, odorless and sweet aromatic oil which contains essential amino acids. It can also be eaten raw or may be prepared or cooked.

Malunggayflowers - are cooked and eaten either mixed with other foods or fried in batter.

Malunggay Health Benefits

·        Antibacterial; Anti Fungal - Malunggay or Moringa Oleifera leaves contain a compound "pterygospermin" that is known in medical science as having antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti fungal properties.

·        Malunggay -used to combat malnutrition, especially among infants and nursing mothers vitamins A, B and C, calcium, iron and protein

·        Anti Cancer- Malunggay or Moringa has known to have an anti-tumor capacity. Malunggay contains benzyl isothiocyanate. There are many studies that have shown that this chemical and compounds to have anti-cancer and chemoprotective capabilities. This chemoprotective helps strengthen cells so that they can tolerate chemotherapy. Malunggay is also considered int he treatment of prostate cancer and skin cancer. 

·        Anti-inflamatory: Malunggay is traditionally used to prevent and treat inflammations associated with rheumatism, arthritis and joint pains.

·        Reproductive health:  Malunggay or Moringa Oleifera is widely believed to have an aphrodisiac action that enhances the sexual activity. Its leaves are also widely used to increase the flow of milk for lactating mothers.

Malunggay Preparation 

As food – cooking ingredients for different kinds of viands

Washing sores and wounds - Boil Malunggay roots and let it cool to tolerable warm temperature and use it to wash wounds and sores, it may also be used to wash mouth sores and sore throats.

As poultice - Grounded Malunggay seeds, leaves and bark may be applied topically as poultice onto swollen flesh to relieve inflammation.

As oil – May also be taken internally as mixed with foods, it is known to be a powerful antioxidant even used by the early people from Egypt. Malunggay oil also known as Ben oil is widely used as oil base for perfumes and cosmetics. The oil is extracted from Malunggay seeds by pressing.

Tips for a Fresh, Clear and Beautiful Skin

Want a fresh, clear and beautiful skin? There are lots of facial products that promise to clear up your skin that cost a fortune and have no guarantee that they will work. So, you have to be practical. You can achieve a fresh, clear and beautiful skin without even losing a single coin from your pocket by trying some of this home remedies.

Tips for a Fresh, Clear and Beautiful Skin 

>Wash your face at least twice a day with pure soap and clean water. Hot water tends to opens pores in your skin, so wash with hot water. Cold water closes pores, so splash your face with cold water after washing to ensure that your pores are protected from the environment. This blood flow and is really good for the skin. If you wear makeup, make sure that it is hypoallergenic.
>Always remove your wake up before you go to sleep. Clogged pores are one of the main causes for skin imperfections. In addition, during the night time the skin repairs itself, so it needs all the oxygen it can get to do so. Sleeping with your make-up on denies your skin from oxygen, preventing it from self-repairing, thus causing a dull and dry looking skin.
>Keep your hair and hands off your face. Hair and hands contains oil and microscopic bacteria that can cause irritations to your skin and acne breakouts. Oil can make your skin feel greasy. 
>Maintain a balanced diet. Fruits and vegetables contain Vitamin A and E which is essential for skin care.
>Always drink 8 glasses of water. Water keeps your skin hydrated. Hydrated skin is a healthy skin. Water helps to detoxify our skin by ridding elements that can cause acne and other skin problems.
>Limit your time in the sun and use a good sunscreen. Over exposure to sun, or ultraviolet rays, not just cause acne but can damage your skin cells quickly. It can also cause skin cancer. Make sure you wash the sunscreen off when you come in from the sun to avoid getting clogged pores.
>Never ever squeeze pimples or pick it at any sores. This can cause to spread the acne and can leave scars in your face as well. Just leave them alone.
>Avoid stress as much as possible. Stress is bad for the skin.
>Change your pillow case more often. Pillow case may contains dust mites and some microscopic bacteria that irritates the skin
>Make a routine. Exfoliate once a week with normal skin, and twice a week for oily. This keeps the skin fresh and helps to reduce black heads
>Take a look at your makeup products, if any foundation, concealer or any other facial product looks or smells off get rid of it. If the makeup is old and expired it could be causing acne.
>Exfoliate your skin, you can make your own by mixing one table spoon of sugar, and one table spoon of olive oil, and rubbing it on your face.

Health Benefits of a Cucumber

Want to beat the scorching summer heat? Why not try this wonderful, crunchy vegetable that is incredibly rich in water content, Cucumber. Cucumbers are 95 % water. Because of its high water content, many health benefits of cucumber are physical, such as clear skin, reduction in eye swelling and sunburn relief. The water content in cucumbers is also responsible for helping rid your body of toxins that causes several diseases. And aside from its high water content and electrolytes, cucumber is known as one of the very low calories vegetable. It provides just 15 calories per 100 grams.

Knowing the Cucumber

The cucmber is one of the oldest cultivated crops and believed to be originating in the northern plains of India. The plant is a creeper (vine) just like other same cucurbita family members, for example gourds, squashes, zucchini, etc. Botanically, it belongs to the cucurbitaceous family; and is known scientifically as Cucumis Sativus. Cucumber is very easy to grow. There are different varieties, varying in shape, size and color, are cultivated all around the world. In general, cucumbers feature a dark green skin, crispy in moisture, and small edible seeds concentrated at its center. Fresh Cucumbers are mostly used in vegetable salads.

Health Benefits you can get from Cucumber

>Skin care - The high water content, vitamins A, B & C and the presence of certain minerals like magnesium, potassium, and silica make cucumbers an essential part of skin care. Facial masks containing cucumber juice can be used for skin tightening. Cucumber skin also can bring relief to the skin caused by sunburn or windburn.
>Fight cancers - Cucumber are known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol – three lignans that have a strong history of research in connection with reduced risk of several cancer types, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, uterine cancer, and ovarian cancer.
>Control Blood Pressure - Cucumber juice contains a lot of potassium, magnesium and fiber that work effectively for regulating blood pressure.
>Beneficial for teeth and gums - Cucumber is a good source of dietary fiber and this fiber massage in the teeth and gums.
>Aid digestion - The high water content and dietary fiber in cucumber are very effective in driving away the toxins from the digestive system and hence aid digestion. Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as a remedy for chronic constipation.
>Promotes Joint health - Cucumber is an excellent source of silica, which known to help promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissues.

>Nail care - The high silica content of cucumber also helps to prevent splitting and spoiling of nails of the fingers and toes.
>Relieve gout and arthritis pain - Cucumber is rich in vitamins A, B1, B6, C & D, Folate, Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium, when mixed with carrot juice, they can relieve gout and arthritis pain by lowering the uric acid levels.
>Stimulate hair growth - Cucumber contains silicon and sulphur and thus a regular intake of cucumber can help promote healthy hair growth. For best results, mix cucumber juice with the juices of carrot, lettuce or spinach.
>Acts as a diuretic - The water content of Cucumber acts as a diuretic. It encourages the elimination of waste products from the body through urination.

Spice Up your Cucumber

When possible, slice or chop cucumbers with the peel on to maximize health benefits.

Follow these helpful tips to soak up all cucumber nutrition facts:
  ^Slice tomatoes, cucumbers and shallots. Mix with red wine vinegar and 1 tbsp. olive oil. Toss and enjoy!
  ^Dice cucumbers and watermelon for a refreshing summer salad.
  ^Chop 1 cup cucumbers and add to low fat Greek yogurt and the juice of 1 lemon for raita sandwich topper.
  ^Add 1 cup cucumber to blender or juicer for cucumber juice. Add a splash of lime juice for additional flavor.
  ^Use cucumber sticks or rounds instead of potato chips for your favorite dip!

Adding a little cucumber to your diet can boost fat burning and give you plenty of health benefits. Knowing cucumber nutrition facts can help increase fat burning efforts.

"Get Some Sleep!" - Issues in Insomnia

 Finding it hard to sleep no matter how tired you are? Waking up in the middle of the night and lie awake for hours and anxiously watching the clock? Having trouble in getting back to sleep when awakened? Oh, you are probably experiencing Insomnia. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder where people have a difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep, or both. As a result, they may get too little sleep or have poor quality of sleep. You may not feel refreshed when you wake up. Though insomnia is a most common sleep complaint, insomnia is not just a single sleep disorder. It’s more accurate to think of it as a symptom to another health problem. The problem in insomnia differs from person to person. Others are caused by extreme intake of caffeine. Others are caused by emotional issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, etc. Anyway, there are two types of Insomnia.
Transient Insomnia or Short-term Insomnia – It is very common and often brought by situations such as stress at work, school, family pressure or traumatic experience that lasts for days or weeks
Chronic Insomnia or Long-term Insomnia – This one lasts for a month or longer. Most cases of chronic insomnia are secondary, in which it is a symptom or side effect of some other problem. In contrast, primary insomnia isn’t due to medical problems, medicines, or other substances. It is its own distinct disorder and its caused isn’t well understood. , any life changes can trigger primary insomnia, including long-lasting stress and emotional upset. Some people experiencing this kind of insomnia for years, passing it off, as their normal “sleep pattern”.

Common Mental and Physical Causes of Insomnia

Psychological problems that can cause insomnia: anxiety, depression, chronic stress, bipolar disorder, depression, traumatic disorder.
Medications that can cause insomnia: anti-depressants, cold and flu medications that contains alcohol, pain relievers that contain caffeine, high blood pressure medications
Medical problems than can cause insomnia: asthma, allergies, Parkinson’s disease, hyperthyroidism, acid reflux, or chronic pain
Sleep disorders that can cause insomnia: sleep, apnea, restless legs syndrome

Insomnia Cures and Treatments
Changing habits that disrupt sleep - Like for example, you drink excessive amounts of coffee during the day, or maybe you’re using sleeping pills or alcohol to fall asleep. Oftentimes, changing the habits that are reinforcing sleeplessness is enough to overcome insomnia altogether. It may take few days for your body to get used to the change, but once you do, you will sleep better.
Take a Warm Bath - It’s a great way to relax your body but don’t overdo it. Too long in hot water will drain your vitality. Use bath salts or throw Epsom salt and baking soda – one cup of each. This will relax you and also help remove toxins from your body.
Stick to a regular sleep schedule - Support your biological clock by going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, including weekends. Get up at your usual time in the morning even if you’re tired. This will help you get back in a regular sleep rhythm.
Avoid naps - Napping during the day can make it more difficult to sleep at night. If you feel like you have to take a nap, limit it to 30 minutes before 3 p.m.
Avoid stimulating activity and stressful situations before bedtime - This includes vigorous exercise; big discussions or arguments; and TV, computer, or video game use.
Limit caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine - Stop drinking caffeinated beverages at least 8 hours before bed. Avoid drinking in the evening. While alcohol can make you feel sleepy, it interferes with the quality of your sleep. Quit smoking or avoid it at night, as nicotine is a stimulant.
Dietary Supplements for Insomnia
Melatonin - A naturally occurring hormone that your body produces at night. Melatonin is also available as an over-the-counter supplement.
Valerian - A herb with mild sedative effects that may help you sleep better. However, the quality of valerian supplements varies widely.
When to consider seeking for a Professional Insomnia Treatment

If you’ve tried the insomnia cures and treatments listed above, and are still having trouble getting the sleep you need, a doctor or sleep disorder specialist may be able to help.

>If your insomnia doesn’t respond to self-help strategies
>If your insomnia is causing major problems at home, work, or school
>If you’re experiencing scary symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath
If your insomnia occurs almost every night and is getting worse

Quitting Junk Foods

Don’t Eat that Junk!

That tempting appeal of a bag of salty, crispy, and greasy snack chips whenever watching your favorite movie, doing your home works, surfing the net or simply brought by emotional stress is what you call craving for junk foods. But craving is simply not just “craving” for it. It is the same response of our brain which is similar as to what we call “addiction”. Well, junk foods are definitely bad for our health. Junk foods are loaded with flavor enhancing chemical like monosodium glutamate, high fructose corn syrup, and aspartame, all of which are known as highly addictive. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) over excites the brain to the extent that it causes neurological brain damage but of course because it taste good, people become addicted to it. Natural foods and spices do not trigger the same addictive effects in the brain as junk food chemicals do, because they have not been chemically processes to over stimulate our taste buds and brain. Other than that, it contains high levels of saturated fats which may cause obesity. I know quitting junk foods habit is really difficult but when the health effects of eating junk foods are fully understood, those hoping to acquire a healthy living are likely to get the motivation they need to succeed.

Harmful effects of eating Junk Foods

· It contains much of sugar which can make you prone to diabetes
· High levels of salt and saturated fats found in junk foods can cause
heart disease and blood pressure
· It can cause obesity or excessive gain weight for those who prefer junk foods and skipping important meals
· It contains preservatives and food coloring which contain carcinogenic substances that are harmful for your body system, specifically in your cardio-vascular system
· High level of oil and cholesterol resulting strains on the liver
· High levels of salt may increase the risks of kidney stone
· Poor concentration and lower the memory
· It can also depress our mind, resulting in the poor mental health and concentration which generally creates an unhappy outlook in our life.

To make it short, Junk foods do not contain any Vitamins or Minerals and does not have any health benefits. But the biggest irony regarding junk foods is the fact that it is mostly prepared out of healthy food. Nevertheless junk foods are popular because of their appeal to manufacturing industry and of course their taste. People prefer to eat them without even thinking the possible effects of junk foods in their body. Other may say eating junk foods occasionally is not a major threat to a healthy living, eating such food immoderately can quickly become a serious problem. We should always remember that it is important to have a healthy and balanced diet in order for us to keep going and be able to fight against harmful diseases. But how can you guard yourself from those diseases if you are constantly eating unhealthy foods such as Junk foods? Well, think again. Making a wiser eating choice is a lot easier.