Mind and Body — Battling mood swings **

Mood swings are common often due to stress or because of hormonal changes that affect your levels of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain). Everyone responds differently to these changes. Some people experience heightened emotions, both good and bad; others feel more depressed or anxious.
There is a reason they are called mood swings — they can swing to exhilarating highs and down to depressing lows. I'm irritable all the time; I find myself flying off the handle at the slightest provocation. Talk it out. Pour out your feelings and thoughts and let them express their own — just putting your concerns into words often helps dissipate them.

Bond with those who matter. Spend quality time with people who matter and nurture your relationship. Strengthen your connection now so you can really be there for one another in times of lows and well as highs.
If you're single, nurture your relationship with your friends and family. It'll provide vital support. Is food a contributing factor in my mood swings? It can be — follow these basic guidelines to better control the extreme highs and lows.

Keep your blood sugar up. Low blood sugar — caused by long gaps between meals — can lead to mood crashes. Eat frequent, smaller meals comprising carbohydrates and proteins, six times a day (instead of three), for longer lasting blood sugar and sustained mood highs.
Avoid a sugar rush. Limit the consumption of simple sugar and caffeine. Chocolate, candy, soft drinks, tea and coffee will give your blood sugar a quick spike — but bring you down equally fast. Eat regularly. Remember, eating at regular intervals will make you feel better physically and emotionally. This could help in moderating your mood and providing the all-important nourishment for your body and mind.

How can I manage my mood swings?
Try to remind yourself that emotional upheaval during periods of stress is normal, and make a conscious effort to nurture yourself to help keep you on an even keel.

Is ‘It's time for I, Me, Myself!' selfish? It's not! This is probably the only time in your life when you can put yourself first without feeling guilty. Do the things that make you feel good. Curl up for a nap, soak in a warm bath, go for a walk, get a massage, or watch a movie with a friend. Taking time alone to do something just for you is sometimes the best pick-me-up.


-Savi

Life, Success, Hapiness Quotes

Eliminate the problem **

Here are some simple ways to help the body get rid of waste “I feel stuffed, gassy and clogged up. Why am I so constipated?” It's not much of a consolation, but constipation is a common problem. It can be a tough condition to deal with, but deal with it you must. Here are some tried and tested ways to combat constipation and alleviate your symptoms.

 1. Eat fibre Fibre adds bulk to the food and is an all-important source of roughage. The roughage component in fibre aids the digestive system, helping the body's elimination process, and is, therefore, referred to as “nature's broom”!

 2. Drink water Water regulates body temperature, assists the digestive system, transports nutrients and eliminates waste from the body. On an average one needs 8 to 12 glasses of water every day.

 3. Indulge wisely When you are in a mood to indulge — cut back on quantities and savour the food in small portions. This is far better than going on an all-out binge which can cause indigestion.

 4. Avoid large meals Big meals are hard to digest and can make you feel sleepy. When you consume six to eight small, healthy meals every day, your body needs more calories to break down the food, thereby helping to raise your body metabolism.

 5. Sit down and eat slowly; chew well It's easy to overeat when meals are grabbed on the run, or while standing in front of the refrigerator. Eat slowly and chew well to give your body time to release the enzymes that tell your brain you've had enough.

 6. Try reflexology Try a simple reflexology treatment at home. Ask your spouse or a friend to massage the arches of your feet (these are the parts which correspond to the foot reflexology zones for the digestive system) in a circular, clockwise motion, for about five minutes on each foot.

 7. Watch the clock! The later you eat, the harder it gets to digest the food. If you have to have a late dinner, eat a small snack in advance, that way you won't be ravenous at dinner time. Give yourself two or three hours to digest any meal before going to bed.

 8. Don't overeat if you are stressed out Avoid eating as an antidote to emotional pain. Whether it is alcohol or food, excess of any kind leads to digestion problems and weight gain.