Talyala September 2014 Newsletter

Do you ever feel stressed? If you either laughed or sighed when you read that question, then you probably are under stress on a fairly regular basis, and that puts you on par with just about everyone else. It’s a stressful world. Most people have given up on the idea of being able to avoid stress all together. We are now just looking for better ways to manage stress. Let’s discuss a few possibilities.

Worldwide there’s been a rise within work-related psychological problems, impacting just about all sectors as well as occupations.

Within Sydney, the price of workers’ payment statements with regard to stress-related psychological problems is actually believed from $200 Billion each year. An identical pattern is actually apparent within European countries in which the most often documented, work-related health issues tend to be musculoskeletal, depressive disorders as well as burnout syndromes. The actual main causative system associated with work-related psychological problems documented within the Nationwide Information Arranged is actually psychological tension.

The first step in stress management, has to be in knowing your limits. Sometimes we stress ourselves out by simply taking on more than we can handle. By modestly saying “no” when your plate is already full, you can immediately reduce the stress in your life.

When it comes to how to manage stress, we have to discuss association. You no doubt realize that there are certain people who cause your stress level to rise even at the mention of their very name. While you may live with, work with, or otherwise need to be in association with some of those people, you need to limit contact with stressful associates as much as possible.

You also need to learn to control what is going on around you. Can you close your office door at work? Can you put on headphones and listen to calming music? Can you paint your bedroom, office, or other location that you frequent, a calming colour? What about hanging a painting that makes you feel calm? There are also many calming scents. You can use candles, oils, incense, etc. Controlling your environment to the degree possible will help.

Strong communication techniques will also help. For some, difficulty expressing themselves is major cause of stress. You may need to learn to assert yourself, and tell others what you want and need. This is a major factor in managing stress.

Stress management is also closely associated with time management. To-do lists are not a cure-all. You need to learn to prioritize your list. The way you do so will depend on what helps you to reduce stress the most. Do you need to tackle large tasks first? Do you feel less stressed if you see the list shrink quickly by performing the simplest tasks first? If you accomplish the most vital or time sensitive tasks first, that may help you to feel less stressed. Decide which is best for you, and set up your list accordingly.

Don’t forget to take time for recreation, but don’t give into escapes that sap the energy that you will need to get vital things done. That will only increase stress when you come back to real life.

It takes some time to learn how to manage stress, but it is well worth the physical fitness and motivation, mental, and emotional benefits of having a reduced amount of stress in your life

 

Top 5 Culinary Herbs

A meal no matter how ordinary, can be made extraordinary by adding fresh, green herbs. Herbs used for cooking and seasoning can be incorporated into your existing flower or vegetable beds, grown separately near the kitchen door or kept handy on the kitchen counter. Culinary herbs are probably the most useful to herb gardeners, having a wide range of uses in cooking. Below are some examples:

Thyme

Thyme releases its strong, pungent flavour very slowly and hence is mostly added to the recipe along with all the other ingredients. It is an ancient cooking herb that is used in recipes from many countries. Thymes are very useful culinary herbs. They can be used interchangeably with summer savory in many instances. Thyme pairs well with lamb, poultry and tomatoes, and is often used in soups, stews, stocks and sauces. When cooking with thyme be sure to add it early in the process so the oils and flavor have time to be released. And like so many herbs, thyme can be used as a fantastic addition to your landscaping — not just restricted to your garden area.

Sage

The soft, yet sweet savory flavor of sage along with its wonderful health-promoting properties is held in such high esteem. Popular in both Italian and British cookery, sage has long, grey-green leaves with a slightly furry surface. Italians love it with veal, while the French add it to stuffings, cured meats, sausages, and pork dishes. Dried sage is the form most modern cooks use, but fresh sage can lend a lemony, lighter note to recipes. Fresh sage is much less bitter than dried sage but both versions have a strong flavour and should be used sparingly. In addition to be delicious, thyme also has medicine value. Topically, sage may help alleviate laryngitis, gingivitis, minor oral injuries, and nasal, mouth and skin inflammations.

Parsley

Flat-leaf parsley is preferred for cooking, as it stands up better to heat and has more flavor, while the more decorative curly parsley is used mostly for garnishing. It can be used as a garnish and flavouring and as a vegetable. One of the greatest things about parsley is that it can be found almost anywhere, fresh or dried. No wonder it’s a common ingredient in so many sauces, marinades and seasonings around the globe. In addition, parsley also has many health benefits. It is an excellent breath freshener, eliminating strong mouth odours such as garlic or onion.

Black Pepper

Dried pepper, derived from the peppercorn, is one of the most commonly used spices in European cuisine—it’s always seen paired with its mate, salt. Black pepper is possibly the most commonly used spice in our kitchens. Like most spices, black pepper tastes best when freshly ground.. To ensure best flavor, buy whole peppercorns and grind them yourself in a mill just before adding to a recipe. Medicinally, black pepper has been known to help calm digestive issues – it helps signal the stomach to produce more hydrochloric acid, which aids in protein digestion.

Oregano

Oregano grows wild in the mountains of Italy and Greece; its Greek name means “joy of the mountain.” Oregano is often referred to as the “pizza spice” or a Greek herb. Oregano can match well with many dishes, such as: beans, chicken etc. Oregano has been gaining popularity as a natural remedy, though its use as a health-boosting herb is centuries old. Oil of oregano, which is distilled from the flowers and leaves of the oregano plant, could be one of nature’s most powerful antibiotics. Oregano is high in iron, manganese, and other important minerals for health.

Culinary herbs are very popular in daily life. Also, these herbs can grow well outdoors in beds or containers. You can grow your own fresh herbs easily.

 

 

The Elixir Diet: Anti-Aging Foods
More often than not, we find ourselves pondering the impossible; wondering if we could perhaps stop the clocks on our aging, and get rid of those wrinkles that have started to make their dreadful presence known. While technology has a long way to go in regards to freezing time, there are some foods that can counteract the aging process and make you look and feel younger.

Here they are:

1. Broccoli
While the greens may not be your favourite meal choice, broccoli has the ability to make your feel fresh and provide you with energy of a young soul! Furthermore, it is loaded with about two-third of your required Vitamin C intake and is rich with phytonutrients and sulphoraphane that decreases inflammation and reduces chances of cancer.

2. Berries
Which particular kind, you ask? All the kinds of berries, which include cranberry, blueberry, strawberry, black berry and raspberry are high of Vitamin C that will do wonders to brighten your skin. They are also very effective antioxidants, specifically the darker ones.

3. Hard Cheese
Calcium deficiency when we’re younger translates into bone issues like arthritis and osteoporosis. This is why it is essential to provide your body with the right calcium requirement. Hard cheese is ideal in this instant. With its probiotic properties, it improves all digestive issues as well. Try it out with salads, or better yet, with your broccoli!

4. White Beans
Iron is a crucial element that our body needs to regulate our temperature and enhance our cognitive function. A lack of it could cause fatigue and low energy levels. It’s time to increase the level of iron by including white beans in your diet. Rich with iron, it will bind the oxygen chain in your blood cells.

 

Hay fever or allergic rhinitis – a perennial problem

About Hay fever and allergic rhinitis

Hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis, generally results from airborne substances such as pollen that tend to easily enter the human body through the nose, sinus, throat and eyes, into the upper respiratory system where it forces the body to produce antibodies. These antibodies release histamine, the main culprit, which irritates the nasal passages, producing typical hay fever symptoms.

The name ‘hay fever’ is highly misleading, because symptoms occur all year round and not particularly in the autumn months when hay is gathered; moreover, it never includes fever. Most common of all allergic diseases, almost 15% of the world population suffers from this condition. Symptoms mostly appear in childhood first and then lessen as they age but this may not always be the case. It occurs all year round and may be caused by things such as house dust mites and pets. However, the predominant allergens keep changing from time to time.

Causes and symptoms of hay fever

Any substance can cause an allergy but hay fever is primarily caused by proteins. Commonly, hay fever is the direct result of an allergic person coming in repeated contact with plant protein. Flowering plants rarely cause allergies, however, the common trees, grasses, and weeds produce extremely small, light, dry protein particles which are called pollen. Spread by wind, these pollen particles are the male sex cells of the plant that are exceptionally minute in nature.

Although, usually invisible when airborne, pollen is a potent allergy stimulator. It has a tendency to lodge itself in the nasal lining tissues (also called the mucus membranes) as well as in other parts of the respiratory tract where it instigates allergic responses that can sometimes be serious. Since, a tendency to suffer allergies is often hereditary; an individual’s genetic makeup programmes him to be allergic, mostly from birth. The most common causes of hay fever are:

• Tree pollen such as elder, elm, hazel and birch(spring)
• Grass pollen (summer)
• Mugwort and hybrids such as chrysanthemum (autumn)
• House dust mites and mould fungus

Symptoms of hay fever generally include:

• Nasal congestion
• Clear runny nose
• Sneezing
• Itching of the nose and eyes
• Excessive tear production
• Postnasal drip that may result in cough
• Loss of the sense of smell
• Occasional loss of sense of taste
• Nose bleeds in severe conditions
• Allergic conjunctivitis (inflammation of the white portion of the eyes)

These allergic symptoms may sometimes become severe to an extent where they start to interfere with a person’s quality of life as well as overall health.

Hay fever bands

Hay fever bands are eco-friendly and are particularly liked by people who are health conscious and prefer to stay away from prescription medications as far as possible. This is a 100% safe and a viable alternative method that helps treat the condition without consuming drugs or chemicals.

A hay fever band uses the popular acupressure technique, embracing traditional Chinese healing methods to provide complete natural relief from the symptoms of hay fever. This band can be conveniently used by both adults and children over 3 years of age. Since, it is completely natural, the hay fever band does not cause drowsiness or have any kind of side-effects. Hay fever bands are completely drug free.

Pollen allergy

Plants produce pollen in order to reproduce. Plain-looking plants produce pollen that is generally responsible for causing allergic reactions. Unfortunately, too much pollen in the air can cause problems if you are sensitive to it.

Pollen allergy is most commonly caused by germinating plants like juniper and birch trees, as well as flowers, grass, grains, and common weeds like ragweed. If you shake a plant in germination, the cloud of powder that appears is the pollen that is capable of causing allergies.