Most of us have this undisclosed love hate relationship with our gymnasiums for helping us get into that perfect shape and at the same time making we lose on sleep to be able to work out on time. With the pressures of everyday existence taking a toll on our being, the struggle to inculcate an exercise regime every day brings no relief. 

If you have been skipping the gym out of laziness or find yourself exhausted right at the beginning of the day post a hard-core workout, you may want to look at other simpler means of toning your frame and maintaining a healthy exercise routine. Less cumbersome exercises such as running can be a great boost to your health without you having to worry about gearing up for a gym visit every day. One can run anytime of the day and here are a few benefits that sure will encourage you to indulge in a brief run, with the next dawn

• Running involves a great deal of muscle movement and hence it prevents your joints from getting stiff or any kind of joint pain
• Regular runners have known to witness an improve in their blood circulation which also helps them keep heart ailments at bay
• Running helps release the feel good hormones and hence boosts our mental health.

• With a routine that involves a running practice for about 2-3 kms a day, an improvement in sleep patterns and decrease in symptoms like insomnia and stress have been noticed.
• Besides burning those extra calories and making your body svelte, running is also known to help keep you looking younger by slowing the ageing process.
• It also helps in keeping a tab on your blood pressure and keeps heart muscles in good shape, ensuring you remain full of vigour.
• Studies also prove that a running regime helps boost sex drive In both men and women

With so many benefits to reap in, running sure holds a lot of potential as a form of exercise, so don your running shoes and get, set and go.

Lifestyle diseases and health disorders seem to have become the order of the day, thanks to the increased sedentary living and lack of physical activity in our lives. People from different age groups are reportedly suffering from obesity, diabetes, hypertension and even cardiac arrest. What’s alarming is the fact that most of these disorders take place due to our lifestyles and not genetics or hormones.

Inorder to avoid getting near the danger zone, it is best to initiate precautionary measures as and when detected with any of such ailments or better improve the eating habits and workout regime even before a red flag is seen. Introducing any form of physical activity such as running, walking, jogging, swimming, playing an outdoor sport or indulging in other forms of cardio vascular exercises at a gym are some of the ways one can improve the metabolism and keep lifestyle disorders at bay.

Besides the workouts, one also needs to make significant changes in the eating habits to ensure a check on the cholesterol levels ad cholesterol is the biggest culprit linked to diabetes, heart problems and obesity. Reducing the intake of oil laden foods, fried goodies, sugar coated candies, flour based baked confectionary etc. Is a must to maintain equilibrium, and at the same time inclusion of health foods that can help curb the increasing cholesterol levels in the body. Some such food items are

Almonds

High in mono saturated fat, these help to reduce cholesterol levels by 4.4 per cent. A fistful of almonds can make for a great snack as compared to a pack of salted fried peanuts.

Oatmeal

A generous dose of oatmeal in your breakfast helps increase soluble fibre that further binds with bile acid to keep cholesterol off the track.

 Fish

Fish varieties such as salmon, tuna and halibut are rich in omega 3 fatty acids that prevent bad cholesterol from increasing and hence are a great health booster.

Red wine

Flavonals that are helpful in preventing inflammation and reducing risk of heart diseases at present in wine , hence a glass of red wine every day is a great way to bask in its flavour and steer clear of cholesterol too.

Soy

Protein from soy and its products like tofu and soy milk help in curbing the formation of new cholesterol.

Cholesterol levels can be tamed well with corrective action however , one needs to understand the importance of preventive measures that can go a long way in formation of cholesterol, Habits such as excessive caffeine, incessant tobacco smoking and of course over indulgence in alc0ohol need to be kicked off to for a healthier frame and a sound mind.

Surveys across the globe show that weight loss is one of the most sought after searches on the internet. Owing to the modern day sedentary lifestyles and lack of exercise, obesity and its related disorders are affecting the lives of many of us.

As clichéd as it may sound, exercise and a workout regime are the best ways to prevent excessive flab from collecting on the body and building muscle mass. However, nutrition experts are also of the view that there are several food items which if included in our diet can propel weight loss leading to a slimmer frame in a lesser duration.
So if weight loss is on your mind, you may resort to the following quick bites
• Blueberries
High on flavonoids and anti-oxidants, these can be consumed raw and fresh; besides aiding in weight loss they also improve immunity
• Yoghurt
Filled with protein, yoghurt contains some good bacteria that keep the digestive tract in order and increase loss of weight
• Raw nuts
Nuts are packed with phytochemicals and mono-saturated fats that reduce the cholesterol level in the body and work towards a healthier and fitter you
• Oats
A great source of nutrients such as minerals, fibre and vitamins, oats cut down the bad cholesterol and make up for the healthiest breakfast cereal
• Spinach
A vitamin present in spinach called folate can be a great way to reduce weight besides keeping colon cancer and birth defects at bay.

It’s no news that the humdrum of daily existence constantly hampers our being exerting physical and mental pressures each day. To combat the perils of a modern day lifestyle, surprisingly we often resort to quick fixes, such as doses of caffeine, energy tablets and vitamin supplements. Not to undermine that some of these are beneficial, yet no one with agree less that it is best to stick to natural ways to revive every time one feels the blues.

Green tea has been touted has one such drink that is packed with immense health benefits and manages to cheer up instant mood swings at a go. It is an age old drink that is been raved about by nutrition and diet experts all over the world for the following benefits it offers

• It builds immunity and helps one achieve a fit frame
• Packed with Anti-oxidants it manages to lower the cholesterol levels
• Green tea also boosts metabolism aiding in quicker weight loss
• Keeps diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s at bay
• It also reduces acne and pores and prevents wrinkling of the skin
• Consumption of green tea can help avoid allergies and seasonal infections
So next time you urge to rejuvenate with an instant dose of caffeine, resist the temptation and settle for this rather healthier ale.