Posts Tagged ‘Improve’

Some quick and easy exercise routines….

A toned belly keeps the back healthy. Try pilates or yoga moves that work you ab and back muscles. Kickboxing, running or swimming are all great ab workouts. Always remember not to hold your breath while doing crunches as it can prove to be harmful and increase the blood pressure and heart rate especially during the moves that work on the side muscles.

To improve the coordination, balance and stability, do the following exercises without shoes:
- Spread toes apart like a fan.
- Flex your toes up towards you and then pointing them away.
- Move your foot in circles both clock-wise and anti clock-wise.
- Do toe curls as much as possible and then releasing them.
- With our foot flat on floor, lift the big toe without lifting the other toes and then try to lift little toes but not the big toe. Follow up by keeping your toes and heel on the floor and lifting up the arch of the foot.
- Use the toes on one foot to squeeze a towel on the floor.
- Keep heel in place and drag the towel from side to side.
- Use feet to pick up items and after having a grasp on the item, toss it away from you using your toes and leg.
- Stand with the outside edge of your foot against a wall and push your foot out into the wall. Switch the position so that the inside edge of the foot rests against the wall and push in against the wall.
- Roll a small rubber ball under the sole of your foot to massage it.

Staircases provide a good away to burn off calories in 15 minutes.
- For first 4 minutes, warm up by repeatedly walking up and down one flight of stairs maintaining a steady pace.
- For next two minutes, stand facing stairs. Step right foot to the right side of first stair. Do the same with left foot with left stair. Continue.
- For a minute, squat the jumps. Face the stairs, hop up with both feet and land in a squat. Hold for 2 counts and then jump up to next step.
- For next two minutes, stand with left side facing stairs, left foot on first step. Step right foot in front of left onto second step. Repeat. This is called left side cross steps.
- For next two minutes, stand with right side facing stairs, right foot on first step. Step left foot in front of right onto second step. Repeat. This is called right side cross steps.
- For next two minutes, do some step lunges. Step up two steps with right leg, bending knee 90 degrees into a lunge, bring hands down to touch step in front of you. Stand and repeat with left leg.
- For next two minutes, power walk up and down as fast as you can.

This is a 15 minute routine.

Some equipment to help you:

Quick Fix: Total Cardio Kick

The Best Pilates Core Workout Video

Pilates Workout Routine For Toning Butt ‘n Thighs

YOGA FOR WEIGHT LOSS

20 Minute Weight Loss & Fatburning Yoga Workout

10-Minute Cardio Kickboxing Workout

| More

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What is the importance of maintaining a good posture?

Most of us lack good posture. A good posture has a lot of importance as it improves your appearance, makes you look taller, enhances your self confidence and self assurance, prevents aches and pains. Bad posture is one of the main cause for back pain. The three spinal curves i.e. neck, upper back and lower back needs to be kept in balanced alignment.

Sitting affects the back more than standing. Standing demands five times more on the spine and muscles lying down. To keep the spinal curves aligned, the muscles are needed to be strong and flexible.

- Poor posture can narrow the space between vertebrae and hence increasing the risk of compressed nerves.
- Poor posture increases wear on joints and can contribute to osteoarthritis.
- Bad posture can cause your pectorals contract and shorten if you sit bent over a desk all day. The back muscles lengthens and gets weakened making it difficult to lift the chest which is important for good posture.
- Contracted chest muscles contribute to shoulder injury, sore neck, back pain and fatigue.

Poor posture includes rounded shoulders, protruding buttocks and abdomen, arched lower back, head pushed in forward position. To improve poor posture and maintain a good posture,one thing that is most important is to maintain a healthy weight. Keep in mind the following points:

- The footwear that you wear while standing or walking plays an important part for maintaining a good posture.
- You should imagine as if a wire is attached to the top of your head pulling it upwards.
- Avoid standing or walking with an extreme curve in lower back.
- Tighten the abdominal muscles and flattening your stomach and hold for few seconds.
- Stand evenly balanced on both feet.
- While sitting, sit firmly back with shoulders against chair, chest lifted and upper back straight.
- Equal weight should be put on both buttocks.
- Thighs should be horizontal while sitting.
- Feet should be flat on floor while sitting.
- While working at desk, do not loo directly down at your work.
- While driving, seat should be positioned so that the wheel could be reached easily as well as brake, accelerator and clutch.
- Take a break if you are sitting for a long time.
- The mattress should be comfortable, not too hard but it should not sag. Early morning back pain is a sign of a poor posture.
- Lifting or carrying too heavy objects can cause poor posture.

What are different health benefits of whole peppercorns?

Peppercorns, scientifically known as Piper nigrum, is a very popular seasoning used throughout the world. It is indispensable from our kitchen and the dinning table. Since ancient times, pepper has been used to add that extra bit of taste to food not just because of its taste but also because of it innumerable health benefits.

Peppercorn is rich in proteins and minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium and zinc. Pepper is also rich in Vitamin A, B, C, E and K. Pepper also contains some amount of fats and dietary fiber. All of these components of pepper make it invaluable for maintaining good health. Some of the important reasons why pepper is a must in our diets are discussed below.

Anti inflammatory
Peppercorns have been used since ages as anti inflammatory agent. One of the commonly known health benefit of whole peppercorns is that it helps in reducing pains and is a popular medication given to cure throat infection and cough. Due to its strong and spicy taste it helps immensely in treating colds and flu.

Digestion
The presence of pepper in the food allows easy digestion and absorption of nutrients. It has been observed that pepper increases the absorption of selenium and Vitamin B and Vitamin A from food, these are essential nutrients required by the body. Moreover, easy absorption of food allows easy motility in the gastro intestinal tract. Pepper is also know for its carminative property and helps in avoiding gas or flatulence.

Cardiovascular heath
Pepper is rich in potassium, one of the various minerals found in pepper. Potassium is an essential mineral required by the body to maintain the fluid levels. Potassium helps in maintaining blood pressure and also helps in controlling the heart rate.

Blood
Pepper is also a rich source of iron which is an important mineral required to maintain hemoglobin level in blood Deficiency of iron may lead to anemia causing breathlessness and weakness. Hemoglobin is that part of the blood which carries oxygen to different parts in the body.

Antioxidant
Pepper is a rich source of Manganese. Manganese is an essential cofactor required by the enzyme superoxide dimutase which helps in removing free radicals. Apart from manganese, peppercorns are also rich source of vitamin A and C which are again active antioxidants which in getting rid of the harmful free radicals from the body which may otherwise lead to the formation of cancer cells in the body.

Anti microbial
The pepper corns are popularly used for their antimicrobial properties. They are anti bacterial in nature which helps in getting rid of any bacterial infection in the body .Pepper also helps in removing intestinal parasites. Due to the anti inflammatory and antiseptic nature of pepper corns it is also used in dental treatment for tooth decay and gum swellings or ulcers.

Sinusitis
Pepper corns are also used in the relieving sinusitis. Peppercorns help by drying the mucus membranes and stopping the further build up of mucus thus reliving of blocked sinuses.

There are various other heath benefits of whole peppercorns which through the ages have helped in keeping health disorders at bay. Although research is being conducted to understand it further, many health claims are baser on clinical experiences rather than scientific data.