With the increasing need to eat healthily, we fail to notice the health benefits of some common foods and drinks around us. There’s no reason to go running to an organic food store as long as you have these foods lying around.

Here are five ordinary foods and drinks that have excellent health benefits.

Chocolate

Most people who have a sweet tooth love chocolate and why shouldn’t they? Not only does it taste heavenly, it also has a plethora of benefits that can do your body good.

Here are some of those benefits.

•   Weight loss

•   Protects skin

•   Reduces stress

•   Sharpens vision

•   Boosts heart health

•   Perks up your mood

•   Improves blood flow

Oolong Tea

With a taste between black and green tea, Oolong tea is one of the most popular teas in Taiwan and China. With 0 gram of fat and 100% Vitamin C, Oolong tea comes with many benefits including;

• Weight loss

• Lowers cholesterol level

• Anti-aging tool

• Improves digestion

• Increases metabolism

• Prevents tooth decay

Potatoes

It’s hard to believe that there was a time when potatoes were actually thought to be poisonous. It’s lucky for us that they found out the truth, though potatoes are still misjudged in this era of healthy eating.

The high starch vegetable is cut out of most diets due to its starchy makeup, but there are significant health perks to this nutrient filled tuber.

•   Manages weight

•   Increases metabolism

•   Reduces inflammation

•   Improves bone health

•   Contributes to heart health

•   Maintains a healthy blood pressure

•   Smoothes wrinkles and skin texture

Bread

With an increase in the emphasis of a healthy diet, people have started looking for healthier and more natural options. It’s hard to keep track of all the different kinds of bread available in the market these days.

But it’s comparatively easier to list down all the benefits of including bread in your diet. Different types of bread offer various advantages and you should go for the one that best suits your daily nutritional needs.

•   Aids digestion

•   Prevents weight gain

•   Improves mental health

•   Rich in Iron and Calcium

•   Reduces risk of heart diseases

Honey

This centuries’ old food has been a favourite for many people. It not only adds nutrition to your life but provides you with a sweet taste unbeatable by processed sugar.

With all the efforts that bees make to produce it, it’s no wonder that honey comes out tasting so heavenly. This natural food comes with many benefits that’ll get you want to include honey in your daily diet.

Here are some of them.

•   Soothes coughs

•   Reduces allergies

•   Soothes Acid Reflux

•   Fights sleeplessness

•   Get rids of dandruff

•   Aids healing process

•   Improves immune system

•   Boosts energy and memory

There you have it. Five ordinary foods that have extraordinary power to create and sustain health. Why not try and include them in your diet on a regular basis and watch for any benefit they appear to bring.

Health and fitness are important at any age, but especially as we age. After 50, our bodies don’t remain agile, and with time, you will begin to notice some significant changes.

So, before any of the adverse changes occur, you better get your body ready to fight against them

Importance of a healthy diet

For people over 55, a well balanced and nutritious diet could make all the difference.

Healthy eating will improve the quality of life and ultimately helps you in avoiding diseases that can result due to ageing.

It’s important that you keep a balance of healthy fruits and vegetables in your diet. Give up fizzy drinks and replace them with water, much water.

You need to make some much-needed changes in your eating regime, but before you do so, make sure you consult your doctor.       

Here are five kinds of exercise that people over 55 should do to stay healthy.

Go for a walk

You can start off with about 30 minutes of walking, at least four days a week. Some people might find it hard to maintain this routine, but once you start, you’ll easily get accustomed to it.

If you live in a retirement village on the Central Coast, or anywhere on the north of Sydney, you will have plenty of good weather for walking

The purpose is not to get you all sweaty or burn of any fat; it’s only to keep you moving. The more active you are, the better for your health. You can take your dog for a walk and enjoy the company while staying active. Avoid elevators; let those stairs give you a hard time.   

Get Flexibility Training

Staying flexible will not only help improve your posture, but it will also prevent injuries. The flexibility regime must be followed twice a week and should focus on your legs, pelvis, hip, spine, neck, and shoulders.

Include Exercise in Your Daily Life

Why email when you can easily walk up to your neighbour's house? Waiting for your meal to heat up? It’s the perfect time to go some sit-ups. It’s the little things that will bring about change in your life.

Of course, the type and amount of exercise you do will depend on many factors. Some regimes that suit women, may not be suitable - or enjoyable - for men.

Even a small amount can have health benefits. Incorporating exercise into your daily routine will make you more flexible and will help you recover quickly when you fall ill.

Don’t Give Up On Your Hobbies

As you age, you might feel like giving up on your hobbies and taking on some senior-only activities. Though wise, this is not always the only option.

You can still work on your hobbies if they don’t pose any real threat to you. It’s true, you’ll have to take certain precautions but that doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself in any way.

Start a Weight Lifting Regime

Yes, though it has to be carefully monitored by a qualified weight instructor, gym fitness and weights for people over 55 is not only possible but can be very beneficial.

A weight lifting regime would is great to strengthen maintain muscle tissue. This way you can condition your cardio-respiratory system.

Increasing the intensity of the regime will allow you to cut down on the amount of exercise required. As long as you take precautions and consult your doctor before starting, the regime will surely work for you.

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A healthy body and healthy mind are important in any career or industry. But some industries are more prone high-tension environments. Either there are greater risk factors, physical requirements or mental expectations that drive the body into the ground or the mind into overload.

If you're really finance and trading industry vulnerable to a special set of bodily and emotional stressors. Use it as an office all day snacking on what is probably junk food leading a sedentary sugar field lifestyle.

That may sound a little rough, but that is the reality for many who work in the finance field. Day traders are expected to endure an incredible amount of pressure and stress in their jobs.

They have clients to take care of, portfolios to deliver on they need to be fast on their feet and mentally sharp to make the judgement that the market demands of them.

Physical exercise and those exercises which relax the mind are essential if you're going to be successful in your trade.

Weight gain is also a common problem among your typical day trader.

This requires discipline. You need to set yourself healthy, regular meal times and stick to them. Otherwise, the fat is going to stick to you, and that belly bulge is going to be a bugger to budge.

Even if you can't take the kind of extended breaks than other people take, you can still do these simple mental and physical exercises to maintain your body at peak performance.

Learn to Stretch

It's something most of us do instinctively. But it's also something that is neglected in office work. Every hour you should take a moment to stand up and stretch your arms, back and legs.

Doing this will not only relieve muscle tension but will allow them muscle teach you to rid itself of the medical consequences of physical stress.

It doesn't matter what you do, just as long as you stretch and start moving your body.

If it's possible you might even consider getting a standing desk so that you can be more physical in the office.

So, rule number one is to get up every hour out of your chair and do some simple stretching.

If you're a day trader, who tends to work long hours into the evening, then it's imperative that you get out and do some walking whenever you can.

Even if it's only for 10 or 20 minutes, getting out of the office and into the fresh air is going to go a long way to reducing mental and physical fatigue.

Stress reduces the body's ability and the mind's ability to make smart decisions. That's not a situation you want to be in as a day trader.

If you're in an office building with stairs, you might try walking up and down then instead of using the elevator every day. This is going to put some blood in your bones and in your cheeks.

You'll be amazed at how rejuvenated your mind becomes simply by walking up and down stairs for 10 minutes.

Keep your Feet in Front

One of the things you may notice when you're sitting in a chair for long periods your feet 10 to go underneath the chair. This reduces the amount of circulation in the legs.

Even while sitting down you can be stretching and ankles and feet.

Many day traders find themselves in front of a computer or a phone for long periods of time. You need to be a raising your hands above your head stretching your shoulders and neck muscles In order to deal with the tension that goes along with your job.

If you can't escape the desk, then learn to Stretch your legs. Move your legs in Circular motion. Extend your legs and stretch the toes and ankles as far as you can.

Such simple exercises might seem pointless; they are not.Working in the trade and financial markets will benefit from the most straightforward of stretching exercises.

They can increase blood flow, reduce the likelihood of arthritis and improve the brain's ability to focus.

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While there are many reasons a long work day can be unpleasant, one of the most problematic issues that employees encounter is pain and discomfort born of poor posture.

Considering how long you may be sitting at a desk, pain from poor posture can occur very easily.

Pour digital age has brought with it digital problems - and that goes beyond blue screens and poor ADSL. It includes those many their desks in a range of professionals including bloggers, marketers and web designers.

Dan Steiner from Elite Legal Marketing believes that this paradigm for working online leaves us vulnerable to health problems. "If those I work with - including my client law firms, content creators and SEO or digital marketing agencies don't care for our bodies, we are going to have a very short lifespan in our respective professions."

Thankfully, there are things you can do to create an ergonomic work environment to  the problem of pain and injury in the office as well as help prevent more permanent damage poor posture can inflict.

Posture Injuries That Happen In Offices

Because most office work requires sitting for extended periods of time, problems related to poor posture are commonplace in this industry.

Injuries include lower back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, and other related ailments, all caused by sitting improperly at a desk.

Hunching your shoulders, leaning too far forward in your chair, letting your lower body slide forward in a chair, and similar postures can all cause lingering pains in the body.

Ergonomic Chairs and Armrests

Office chairs are notorious for creating or aggravating spinal problems. One of the reasons poor posture exists in offices so much is because the chairs tend to be uncomfortable or nonconforming to the human body.

While there are many reasons a long work day can be unpleasant, one of the most problematic issues that employees encounter is pain and discomfort born of poor posture.

Considering how long you may be sitting at a desk, pain from poor posture can occur very easily.

Pour digital age has brought with it digital problems - and that goes beyond blue screens and poor ADSL. It includes those many their desks in a range of professionals including bloggers, marketers and web designers.

Dan Steiner from Elite Legal Marketing believes that this paradigm for working online leaves us vulnerable to health problems. "If those I work with - including my client law firms, content creators and SEO or digital marketing agencies don't care for our bodies, we are going to have a very short lifespan in our respective professions."

Thankfully, there are things you can do to create an ergonomic work environment to  the problem of pain and injury in the office as well as help prevent more permanent damage poor posture can inflict.

Posture Injuries That Happen In Offices

Because most office work requires sitting for extended periods of time, problems related to poor posture are commonplace in this industry.

Injuries include lower back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, and other related ailments, all caused by sitting improperly at a desk.

Hunching your shoulders, leaning too far forward in your chair, letting your lower body slide forward in a chair, and similar postures can all cause lingering pains in the body.

Ergonomic Chairs and Armrests

Office chairs are notorious for creating or aggravating spinal problems. One of the reasons poor posture exists in offices so much is because the chairs tend to be uncomfortable or nonconforming to the human body.

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Employees find themselves sitting in positions that, while comfortable for them at the moment, will lead to body pain later.

The best way to remedy this situation is to have chairs that are ergonomic or equipped with armrests. With these, employees can sit in more natural positions.

The chair pictured above from Office National is one of many that exist to help combat back pain and injury from long hours at the desk.

Office Exercise

Consider getting up from your chair for a little light exercise every once in awhile.

Stretching every few hours is a good way to prevent aches and pains from occurring. No universal office activity trumps all, but it is usually enough to stretch whatever muscles have been under the most stress.

Even rolling your shoulders and stretching your neck from side to side is enough to prevent upper body aches and pains.

Desk Height or Stand-up Desks

Like the issue with uncomfortable chairs, desks that are too short, too tall, or just poorly designed can also contribute to poor posture and, by extension, posture pain.

That being the case, having employees work at desks that are fitting for them is key to good posture.

It doesn't matter whether you achieve this through adjustable desks or more easily adjustable chairs or stand up desks, but don't work in pain any longer.

Desk Equipment, Mouse Pads, etc.

Equipment is also a major part of good office posture.

Equipment that must be used on a desk, including mouse pads, can usually be more ergonomic than they are. This is particularly the case with keyboards and mouse pads that are often the instigators of poor posture.

Many are difficult to interact with, so an ergonomic option can prevent problems in the hands and wrists.

Posture may not seem like an incredibly important aspect of the office, but for the health of your employees, it's essential.

Safe Work Australia has published a guide entitled, “Ergonomic Principles and Checklists for the Selection of Office Furniture and Equipment”, and which can be used to help you plan and optimise your office environment in ways conducive to good posture and physical health.

Ensuring that your office is as ergonomic and user-friendly as possible is vital to making sure your employees avoid unnecessary pain.

Image Source Credit:https://www.officenational.com.au, 2017

Have you ever tried getting a massage after a long week of work? Believe it or not, getting a long and relaxing massage can bring many benefits.

Indulging yourself in a massage treatment at least once a month can lessen your back pain, improve your range of motion, ease your dependence on medication, and help stretch out and exercise tight, atrophied muscles.

Massages are not only helpful for busy people like you, but expectant mothers and athletes are known to have better-prepared bodies while keep in good shape.

Other benefits of getting a massage can relieve migraines, relax overused muscles, improve the circulation of oxygen and nutrients in the body, and so much more.

However, there are some things you should consider after a remedial style massage to enjoy its full benefit.

Here are five tips on what you should do and the type of foods you should eat after massage to avoid problems:

Tip #1. Drink some water.

Healthcare practitioners and therapists recommend that you drink plenty of water after every massage.

Although drinking water has many benefits for the body, it's most helpful in providing your body with proper hydration.

It will help your organs, especially the kidneys, which produce much-needed daily substances.

It is recommended to drink water before the massage to help the massage therapists complete a deep work and manipulate muscles with ease.

Tip #2. Eat light foods.

Eating a snack or something light before and after a massage is advised by healthcare practitioners.

Avoid eating heavy meals after a massage. You can eat a handful of almonds and a banana one or two hours before the massage then have some vegetarian food afterward.

You can stir-fry vegetables or steam them with rice or pasta together with some herbal tea.

Tip #3. Take a warm bath.

Nothing beats a soothing bath after a massage. You can add some Epsom salts to increase the benefits as they will help relax your muscles.

Besides, Epsom salts are excellent in eliminating body toxins. If you don’t have any Epsom salts, a soothing, warm bath will still manage to relax your muscles.

Tip #4. Take a rest.

Getting a massage might make you feel tired, which is natural, so you should take a rest and lie down for a while and take a nap. Listen to your body and allow time so that you can take a rest after your massage session.

This is the best time for your body to recover and rebalance everything inside.

Tip #5. Never have a massage treatment if you are sick or experiencing a contagious condition.

No one wants to catch what you have, and your symptoms might worsen if you receive a massage treatment without telling the staff that you are ill.

Massage is indeed very relaxing and can often result in an increase in thirst.

Remember to drink water only and avoid soft drinks, coffee, and tea. You should also steer clear of anything with alcohol in it. The effects of alcohol are multiplied when blood flow increases and can impair vision and balance, even if taken in moderation.

Sources: Graeme De Goldi, Melbourne Institute of Massage Therapy

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