Dec 03

Want healthier lungs? Avoid these 7 everyday foods that damage your respiratory health and make breathing tough

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Your diet significantly impacts lung health, influencing inflammation and breathing. Avoiding processed meats, salty foods, sugary drinks, fried items, dairy, sulfites, and salicylates can improve respiratory function. Prioritizing nutrient-rich, plant-based foods supports clearer airways and better lung capacity, reducing the risk of lung-related diseases. Maintaining lung health extends beyond avoiding smoking and pollution; it begins with what you eat. What you eat can directly impact your respiratory system, influencing inflammation, mucus production, and overall lung function. Certain foods, while common in everyday diets, can worsen breathing issues, trigger asthma symptoms, or increase the risk of lung-related diseases. By identifying and reducing these harmful foods and replacing them with nutrient-rich, plant-based options, you can support clearer airways, reduce inflammation, and improve lung capacity. From salty and fried foods to processed meats, dairy, and additives like sulfites and salicylates, understanding what to limit is essential. This article explores seven foods to avoid to protect and enhance your lung health naturally.   Avoid these 7 foods to improve your lung health Taking certain foods off your plate can significantly benefit your lung function and overall respiratory health. Replacing them with whole-grain, plant-based options can reduce inflammation, ease breathing, and promote better lung capacity. […]
Dec 02

The art of happiness: 8 simple habits of people who love their lives

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Happiness isn’t luck. It’s not something reserved for people with perfect families, perfect finances, or perfect circumstances. In fact, after writing about mindfulness and psychology for years—and watching my own life change dramatically as I grew up, moved countries, built businesses, and became a husband—I’ve come to believe something simple: Happiness is a habit, not a miracle. When you look closely at people who genuinely love their lives—not the ones pretending to on Instagram, but the grounded ones—you’ll notice that they aren’t necessarily richer, smarter, or more successful than anyone else. They just live differently. They make small choices that slowly build into a meaningful, peaceful, self-directed life. Here are eight habits these people practice every day—habits you can adopt yourself, starting now.   1. They practice gratitude as a daily ritual, not a rare moment People who genuinely love their lives aren’t necessarily luckier—they’re more aware of their luck. Gratitude, to them, isn’t about making a list once a year. It’s a daily recalibration of perspective. They notice little wins: a calm morning a good coffee a meaningful conversation a surprising moment of clarity a quiet night of rest   What I’ve noticed—especially living in Vietnam and Singapore, where […]
Dec 01

8 Satisfying Quad Stretches to Relieve Tight Muscles

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Your knees and hips will thank you, too. If your hips grumble after long periods of sitting, your knees talk to you (and not in a good way) after climbing stairs, or your walking stride feels a little constricted, these could be signs that the fronts of your thighs—also known as your quadriceps—are doing more than their fair share of work. Strengthening the quadriceps happens without trying. They’re crucial in everyday movements including sitting, standing, walking, and running. The quads are also majorly involved in most gym workouts and your yoga practices (think Squats and Chair Pose). Because of this, they’re prone to chronic tightness, which can throw the body out of whack and cause the knees or hips to feel “off.” This is why quad stretches are essential in helping your legs and entire lower body maintain balance, range of motion, and ease in movement.   Anatomy of the Quadriceps The quadriceps femoris is a group of four muscles on the front thighs that, when contracted, straighten the knees. Three of the quad muscles run from the thigh bone (femur) to the kneecap (patella). The fourth, called the rectus femoris, originates higher on the body on the front of […]
Nov 30

Nutritionist shares 12 everyday habits that slow down your metabolism: Don’t skip protein at breakfast and overexercise

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Learn about 12 everyday habits that can hurt your metabolism, such as not eating breakfast, getting too little protein, and exercising too much. People often work hard during workouts, pushing themselves to build our bodies, burn fat, and feel good. However, there’s a hidden truth: overdoing workouts can hurt your metabolism more than you realise. Many of us blame a slow metabolism on age, genetics, or hormones, but the real problems may often come from our daily habits. “Metabolism is not something you can simply turn on or off. It follows a rhythm that depends on how you eat, exercise, sleep, and recover,” nutritionist and metabolic health coach Madhavi Shilpi tells Health Shots. When this rhythm is disturbed, it can affect your energy levels and hunger signals.   Habits that may affect metabolism The following habits that might hurt your metabolism show the need for a balanced approach, especially with exercise, suggests the expert:   1. Skipping protein at breakfast Many people start their day with a light breakfast, such as toast or sugary cereal. These foods can spike blood sugar levels. Skipping protein in the morning can lead to cravings and tiredness later. “Protein helps keep blood sugar steady […]
Nov 29

7 daily habits that can help you live happier

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How to live happier in life? If you want to live happily, it is important to simplify life. And to simplify, it is inevitable to develop a discipline in life, where you cut out the habits and people who drain your energy and make you feel less worthy. It is also necessary to understand that true joy doesn’t always come from grand achievements or perfect circumstances—it grows quietly through the way we live each day. From how we start our mornings to the thoughts we nurture, small daily practices can shift our mindset and help us feel lighter, calmer, and more fulfilled. Here are 7 habits that can help you live a happier, more balanced life.   Avoid “NutraSweet” connection Social media is the “NutraSweet” version of connection. It tricks your brain into thinking you’re interacting, but doesn’t actually nourish you. Try this: Replace one texting or scrolling session with a real-time conversation-call, video chat, or meet in person.   The social prediction error Our brains often assume socializing will be awkward or tiring, but research shows we almost feel happier afterward. Try this: Next time you feel like skipping a social event, go for at least 30 minutes. Your […]
Nov 28

8 Exercises Trainers Add to Their Workouts to Get Fitter and You Should Too

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Trust the experts. These moves work every time. When you start strength training, it can be confusing about where to even begin. We spoke to certified personal trainers and coaches to find out the best way to start a workout program and the exercises they swear by. They narrowed down the best exercises for building strength and endurance. Every single exercise they chose can be modified to your current fitness level, so you can jump in no matter where you’re starting.   1. Deadlifts The deadlift is a compound exercise that has you lifting heavy weight off the floor by bending at the hips and standing back up. There are plenty of variations to choose from, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned weightlifter. Some variations include the kettlebell deadlift, Romanian deadlift, conventional deadlift, stiff-legged deadlift, sumo deadlift and trap bar (or hex bar) deadlift. “The deadlift is a great exercise because it helps strengthen the core, back, shoulders, arm muscles, as well as your glutes, quads, hamstrings and calves,” says John Gardner, a NASM-certified personal trainer. He explains that the deadlift is an essential exercise that stimulates the upper and lower body simultaneously, allowing more muscles to be engaged […]
Nov 27

8 Winter fruits that can naturally improve immunity

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As winter’s chill arrives, boosting your immunity is key to warding off seasonal ailments. Beyond warm drinks, incorporating specific fruits can significantly enhance your health. Discover how apples, berries, citrus, pomegranates, kiwi, bananas, grapes, and guava, rich in vitamins and antioxidants, can naturally strengthen your body and keep you vibrant throughout the colder months. Winters call for a strong immunity, as with the onset of winters it is also the time, when several seasonal ailments like cold, cough, fever and infections are on the rise! Most people switch to warm drinks, dairy products or increase their protein intake to stay warm, but are these foods enough to keep you healthy, hydrated and warm? Well, our body needs a lot more than these foods to sustain the weather conditions, and just by adding a few seasonal fruits you can revive your fitness game that too without putting in much efforts. So, follow us through some simple fruits that are nutritious as well as delightful.   Apples Apples are rich in dietary fiber such as pectin, which helps in improving digestive health and helps in better blood sugar regulation. Apples are also loaded with vitamin C, an antioxidant that supports immune function, […]
Nov 26

The science of sleep positions: Which one is actually best for the body

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Your sleeping posture significantly impacts your health, according to experts. While back sleeping aids spinal alignment, it can worsen snoring and sleep apnea. Stomach sleeping is least recommended due to neck and back strain. Side sleeping, particularly on the left, offers benefits for acid reflux and brain health, making it a strong contender for overall well-being. From lying on the back to curling up on the side, every sleep posture affects the body in subtle ways. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), sleep position can influence more than just comfort. While most people naturally choose the position that feels most comfortable, certain postures can have subtle physiological effects. Here we decode what science says about the most common sleeping positions.   Back sleeping Sleeping on the back is often considered the most neutral position for spinal alignment. Researchindicates that when supported with a pillow under the neck and knees, supine sleeping can reduce strain on the spine and help prevent low back pain. However, back sleeping has a downside. Studiessuggest, for individuals who snore or suffer from obstructive sleep apnea lying on the back can worsen symptoms because gravity causes the tongue and soft tissues to collapse toward the […]
Nov 25

7 Stretching Exercises For Frozen Shoulder, Recommended By Harvard

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If you’re suffering from frozen shoulders, you can perform some exercises that can help you get relief from the condition. Harvard Medical School recommends some stretching exercises that you can do if you’re suffering from a frozen shoulder. Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition wherein your shoulder movement gets limited. This happens when the connective tissue around the shoulder becomes stiff, thick and inflamed. A certain part of the population tends to suffer from frozen shoulder, however, the condition is more common in people with diabetes. Also, the condition tends to get aggravated during the winter months. If you’re suffering from frozen shoulders, you can perform some exercises that can help you get relief from the condition. These stretching exercises help to treat the condition. Your doctor might also recommend some physical therapy or pain relievers to treat the issue, depending on the stage and severity. While the condition can resolve by itself in 12 to 18 months, exercises and other treatments are recommended to speed up recovery and provide relief from the pain. Harvard Medical School recommends some stretching exercises that you can do if you’re suffering from a frozen shoulder.   Harvard-Recommended Stretching Exercises For […]
Nov 24

Dietician shares 3 low glycemic breakfast options to keep blood sugar levels stable

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Looking for healthy breakfast? Find out these options that ensure your first meal of the day keeps your blood sugar stable. Breakfast is often touted as the most important meal of the day. It is the first meal you eat after an overnight fast, as you sleep. The right breakfast will help to stabilise your blood sugar level, avoiding sudden blood sugar spikes. To understand what the correct breakfast choices should be, HT Lifestyle reached out to Prerana Solanki, a registered clinical dietitian and nutritionist, who consults at Practo. She revealed the key is to choose meals which are low on the glycemic index. “ Choosing foods with a low glycaemic index (GI) ensures slower glucose release, reducing sugar spikes and promoting sustained energy,” she said. For the uninformed glycemic index, as per Harvard Health, is a numeric score which indicates how rapidly a food increases blood sugar level. The foods are ranked on a scale of 0 to 100. A low glycemic score means the food raises blood sugar slowly, while a high glycemic score is for foods which rapidly increase blood sugar, which is harmful.   Why is it important to begin with low-glycemic breakfast? If you start […]
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