The National Sleep Foundation gives a recommended sleep time according the age. Rest is very important for our development and health, so it is necessary to know the recommended hours of sleep that experts advise. If you want to have enough energy during the day, mental clarity and good health, this is the amount of hours you should sleep.

Little sleep: A problem for everyone.

When we do not sleep well, we do not just feel physical tiredness. We also have difficulty concentrating, making decisions, think clearly and suffer from lack of appetite.

Experts have shown that sleep problems are directly related to multiple health problems. It has been seen that sleeping less than 5 hours a night affects our heart health. Less than 7 hours promotes weight gain, obesity and diabetes. One of the first issues to consider is the number of hours of sleep recommended. Knowing if our rest is “sufficient” is the first preventive action.

Recommended Sleep Hours: New Guidelines.

Charles Czeisler, a professor at Harvard University, conducted research along with other experts to determine the recommended hours of sleep. : To do this, different studies conducted between 2004 and 2014. The objective is analyzed to determine how much rest was not enough to affect the health of people.

The following conclusion was reached, according to the different stages of development:

• NEWBORN (0 to 3 months): 14 to 17 hours.

• BABIES (4 to 11 months): 12 to 15 hours.

• CHILDREN (1-2 years): 11 to 14 hours.

• PRESCHOOL (3-5 years): 10 to 13 hours.

• SCHOOL AGE (6-13 years): 9 to 11 hours.

• TEENS (14 to 17) : 8 to 10 hours.

• YOUTH (18-25 years): 7 to 9 hours.

• Adults (26-64 years): 7 to 9 hours.

• SENIORS (over 65 years): 7 to 8 hours.

These hourly rates are approximate. Each person can present a certain variation in the number of hours of rest. However, a considerable decrease in the number of recommended hours of sleep can pose a health risk.

Main causes of sleep problems.

There are two main factors that can trigger rest problems. The first is stress. The second, technology.

Stress: Stress helps to release as much cortisol, also known as the “stress hormone”. Elevated levels of cortisol prevent restful sleep and interfere with feelings of well-being.

TECHNOLOGY: In the light emitting excessive technological devices, the brain is unable to release the amount of melatonin needed. By staying in the dark, our body releases more melatonin, a process that is interrupted by the light of cell phones, laptop or televisions.

Source: SleepFoundation.Org

Staying hydrated is essential to promoting good digestion and overall health – ideally you should be drinking between 6 and 8 glasses of water a day.

If you’re on the go a lot, make sure you take a water bottle with you on your travels to remind you to keep properly hydrated.

To be extra healthy, make it a glass or metal water bottle – plastic water bottles often contain chemicals like dioxin and BPA, which can leech into your water over periods of extended use.

But if water on it’s own tastes a little plain to you, you can punch it up with some of these simple ingredients, all of which aid digestion and overall cleansing.

Try mixing some of these foods together for unique flavor combinations – lime juice and cucumber, for example, or cinnamon and lemon juice!

Mint is an herb that’s notoriously easy to grow; you can grow it outdoors or indoors, and it’s delightfully versatile as well as tasty. Mint promotes digestion by activating digestive enzymes – it’s also known for it’s calming effect, being an ingredient in many “sleepy time” teas. If you’re prone to indigestion, try adding fresh mint leaves to your water.

2. Lime or Lemon Juice

This natural source of Vitamin C is important – not only does Vitamin C help boost the immune system, it is a natural antioxidant as well. Try squeezing about half a lemon or lime into your water bottle; if the taste is too sour, you can add a little organic honey to it as well. Limes and lemons help to alkalize and cleanse the body, and are a great digestive aid.

3. Cloves

Cloves are generally believed to have anti-parasitic properties, but did you know they also stimulate and aid in digestion? Try adding 3 to 5 whole cloves to your bottled water and let it steep for a few minutes before drinking. You can eat the cloves when you’re done drinking, but watch out – they’re spicy!

4. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a natural anti-fungal, anti-viral herb with a long history of medicinal use, including the relieving of indigestion. It may also help regulate blood-glucose levels and overall circulation. Use cinnamon sticks – easily found in most grocery stores – to flavour your water, letting them steep for a few minutes before drinking.

5. Cucumber

Cucumber is an excellent source of fibre and antioxidants, and can help with hydration and eliminating toxins from the body. They are also believed to possibly help your pancreas produce insulin. Try adding some thin slices of cucumber to your water – they float, so you can easily munch on them while you drink!

6. Ginger

Ginger is a commonly-used natural remedy for cramps, nausea and indigestion. A natural anti- inflammatory, this herb can help aid circulation and may even kill cancer cells. Traditional wisdom is that it also promotes long-term memory and helps you feel more awake and alert. It works by stimulating your digestive juices, promoting excellent digestion. Finely chop a thumb-sized amount of this root and add it to your water. It can be eaten after drinking, but like the cloves, it is very spicy – it will give you great breath, though!

Many people believe strongly in the health benefits of apple cider vinegar, and with good reason. In addition to helping with digestion, it is said to help with maintaining a health weight and killing off harmful bacteria in the body. It can also help balance your PH levels. Use organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar in your water for the best effects.

Here are some great combinations of the above ingredients, for a unique-tasting beverage that is also great for you:

Cucumber slices, lemon and mint – for a fresh, light but still flavorful taste, perfect for a summer day.

Lemon and ginger – when you want your water to have some kick to it, this is a great combination!

Cinnamon and cloves – for a deep, spicy mix that’s great for fall or winter; try adding a little organic honey to this to sooth your throat during the winter months.

Apple cider vinegar and ginger – this taste may take some getting used to, but it will definitely wake you up in the morning!

Source: Just Natural Life

Here’s what people need to know about the gross green ring around the yolk of hard boiled eggs: it’s not the egg’s fault — it’s yours. And, it doesn’t have to happen.

When a hard boiled egg is cut open to reveal a greenish, blackish ring surrounding the yolk of an egg, it’s a sign that the egg wasn’t cooked properly. So, essentially, it’s your fault. (Or whoever made the hard boiled egg for you.)

The discoloration is evidence that the egg was cooked for too long. Meat dries out, rice gets burned, and hard boiled eggs become discolored. Unlike the other aforementioned foods, the eggs are still perfectly edible — and taste good — they just look, well, kind of gross.

Now for the scientific part of this explanation: what does that coloring mean? The greenish-gray color is visual evidence of the formation of iron sulfide where the yolk and white parts of the egg meet. It happens because the iron from the yolk reacts with hydrogen sulfide from the white when it’s been overcooked. Totally harmless, but it doesn’t have to happen.

Here’s how to avoid it: learn to boil an egg for the right amount of time, because this reaction only happens when a boiled egg is overcooked. There’s more than one way to boil an egg perfectly, but the method and timing outlined below has never failed us.

1. First, cook your eggs in a saucepan that’s large enough to hold the eggs in a single layer.
2. Second, cover the eggs with water, bring to a boil, then turn off the heat. Put a lid on the saucepan.
3. Let the eggs sit in the boiled water for 15 minutes.
4. Run cold water on them to stop them from cooking any further.
5. That’s it.

Now go enjoy beautiful yellow yolks forever more.

Source: Huffington Post

Trimming belly fat can prove a difficult task. Many slimming tricks and routines end unsuccessfully, leaving those who attempt them vastly disappointed. However, with a better idea of how the metabolism functions, anyone stands a better chance of making those extra inches disappear.

Metabolism is described by the Webster dictionary as “the chemical and physical processes continuously going on in living organisms.” Unfortunately, these continual processes take place at a much slower rate in some than in others. Metabolic rate is affected by age, gender, and muscle mass. The metabolism works fastest during periods of spontaneous growth, such as during infancy or adolescence.

Additionally, because men generally have a naturally higher ratio of muscle to fat, their metabolisms are often faster than those of women. One simple way to speed up the metabolism and eliminate belly fat regardless of age or sex is to consume a drink crafted from the following revitalizing ingredients.

This beverage is created with a blend of one cucumber, parsley or cilantro, one lemon, a tablespoon of grated fresh ginger, a tablespoon of Aloe Vera juice, and half a glass of water. Cucumbers contain only forty-five calories each, along with a high water and fiber content. Parsley and cilantro are also low in calories, and high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to aid the body in counteracting the deterioration of stored food products. All of these components work together to retain water without causing bloating or feelings of discomfort within the stomach.

Lemon
Lemons help to flush out toxins the body has collected over the course of the day. This process rids the body of its impurities, thus increasing the metabolism so that it may burn away fat at a much higher speed.

Ginger
Ginger possesses thermogenic qualities, working to slightly increase body temperature as it is digested. These traits, along with each of the compounds present in ginger, prevent overeating and constipation. Various studies have also recognized ginger’s ability to speed up the body’s metabolic rate.

Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera Juice is rich in natural antioxidants which greatly reduce inflammatory processes and free radicals within the body. In addition, it works to stimulate one’s metabolism, and steadies and decreases the body mass index. Because the metabolism slows down significantly during rest, it is best to consume this drink just before bed. Increasing metabolic rate during sleep aids in the calorie burning process. One of the keys to weight loss include replacing fat with lean muscle, which is more easily done when the metabolism is working swiftly.

Consuming this beverage on a regular basis will help to obtain an accelerated metabolism, provide the body with more energy, and ultimately cut down that undesired belly fat. What other tricks to reduce belly fat have worked for you?

Source: Healthy Living House

Earwax is a substance that is naturally found in the inner ear, which protects it from bacteria and other particles or organisms that can harm this delicate area. In addition, the wax acts as a natural lubricant for the ear and ear canal. But there comes a time when it accumulates in large quantities, which can cause discomfort for some as well as irritation, dizziness, loss of hearing, a feeling that there’s something stuck in the ear, and itching. That’s why you need to periodically clean your ears to remove excess earwax.

What causes earwax to build up?

Before we talk about the ways you can remove excess earwax at home, it’s important to know what’s causing the discomfort from your earwax buildup. Earwax can become annoying or irritating when it forms a blockage within the ear canal.

This blockage usually occurs when you use cotton swabs like Q-tips on a regular basis to clean your ears, forcing earwax to be pushed deeper into the ear canal and build up.

People who regularly wear earplugs or the popular earbud headphones are also at ahigher risk for the excessive accumulation of earwax.

When there’s too much wax built up in your ear, you’ll probably experience some of the following symptoms:

1. Itching inside the ear canal
2. Feeling like your ears are full or plugged up
3. Dizziness
4. Ringing in the ears
5. Drainage coming from the ear canal
6. Diminished hearing
7. Earaches

Home remedies to remove excess earwax

To keep from suffering the above consequences of excessive earwax buildup, it’s important that you clean them on a regular basis and remove the earwax so it doesn’t create a blockage. We recommend that you avoid using Q-tips or other swabs, and instead try the following home remedies to remove earwax.

Saline solution

Saline solution is a great option for removing earwax. All you have to do is dissolve one teaspoon of salt (7.5 g) in ½ cup of water (100 ml). Then just soak a cotton ball in the solution and let a few drops fall into your ear while you tilt your head to one side. Hold this position for a few minutes to let the liquid penetrate the ear canal and soften the wax. Then tilt your head in the opposite direction and use a tissue to capture the liquid as it drains out.

Paraffin oil

One of the safest and most effective home remedies for earwax removal is paraffin oil, which is sold in most pharmacies. All you need to do is heat two to three tablespoons of this oil over a candle flame. Drop a few drops in your ear and lie still for a few minutes. Then use warm water to rinse out any traces of wax. Do this for three days in a row to completely dissolve the buildup.

Hydrogen peroxide

Mix equal parts of hydrogen peroxide with water. Make sure the hydrogen peroxide is the commercially available 3{25f538ed8a140f4b7066e219e3b86303aad69aab428e517dd0a41f1f4eaa9383} strength variety. Place a few drops in your ear and shake your head gently to let it penetrate the ear canal. Leave the drops in for a few minutes before tilting your head to the opposite side as the liquid drains out.

Glycerin

Glycerin is a natural product that helps soften earwax for easy removal. You can find it in pharmacies and use four drops in each ear, three times a day for the best results.

Vinegar and alcohol solution

Mix equal parts white vinegar and rubbing alcohol in a small bowl. Dip a cotton ball into the mixture and apply a few drops to each ear.

Olive oil

Olive oil is another great ingredient that helps soften earwax and facilitate its removal. Put two or three drops of olive oil in the affected ear before going to bed, and try to sleep on the opposite side. Repeat this treatment for three or four nights in a row.

Source: Step to Health