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May 4, 2018 Lifestyle

Beat the heat with these summer coolers

With the average temperature rising across the country and the sun beating down on us, we need to deal with summer bummers. Heat strokes and dehydration are common enough and reaching out for a quick roadside cooler or juice is tempting but can make us vulnerable to stomach bugs and diarrhoea.

However, summer isn’t all that bad. Especially when you think of the joys of the swimming pool and lazy summer afternoons with fresh pickings of seasonal delicacies. From mint to wood apple, stock your kitchen with healthy grocery items and browse through the season! Here are a few ideas for summer coolers that are delicious and healthy.

Wood apple or Bael Fruit

Summer cooler- Bael — aegle marmelos wood apple bael Bengal quince

Consume this fibrous fruit for its versatile goodness and great taste, Dr. Suja Issac, a nutritionist and co-founder of Soukya advises. Commonly known as bael in Hindi, it is rich in fibre, calcium and vitamins A and B.

Wood apple can be eaten fresh or sun-dried, or made into marmalade. Its pulp is used to make sherbet, which is excellent for digestion.

The ripe pulp is good for the heart and brain and is also used as a laxative. It is a quick-fix remedy for intestinal worms, so a couple of spoonsful of ripe fruit for kids is a good idea. The raw fruit is used to treat infectious diarrhoea because of its anti-viral activity against certain pathogens.

Tannin in wood apple helps heal gastric and intestinal ulcers. Abundant in antioxidants and flavonoids; its phenolic compounds lend it anti-inflammatory properties. For best results, dilute with water.

Mint

A powerhouse of phytonutrients and antibacterial properties, mint is more than a garnish. According to Dr Isaac Mathal, an alternative medicine expert and the founder of the holistic health centre Soukya, mint leaves can be chewed raw or steeped in tea, inhaling mint extract calms nerves as well as relieves headache-related nausea. Stream inhalation with mint helps decongest the sinuses and respiratory passages. Plus, smoke from dried mint leaves is an effective insecticide.

Often used in palm balms, its menthol content cools and numbs painful areas. Menthol also relieves abdominal cramps. It is good for digestion and acidity as it has a soothing effect on the mucosal linings.

Mint’s anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties make it effective in controlling bad breath- just chew a few mint leaves once or twice a day. When ground to a paste, mint is effective in treating acne and acts as a soothing balm for dry and itchy skin.

Psyllium husk

Commonly known as ispaghula, psyllium husk is a soluble fibre popular for its gentle laxative and bulk-forming properties. It is derived from the seeds of Plantago ovata, a herb that’s native to India.

It is beneficial for a range of digestive issues like constipation, diarrhoea and irritable bowel syndrome. Just add a spoonful to yoghurt or cereal for trouble-free digestion. Its ability to retain water helps soften stool and its bulk-forming property helps ease an upset stomach. It also binds to fat and helps eliminate bile acids from the body. Psyllium husk helps regulate high cholesterol, maintains healthy blood sugar levels and improves triglyceride levels in the body.

Triphala

Triphala, as the Sanskrit name indicates, is an Ayurvedic herbal formula with equal quantities of three fruits- amla (Indian gooseberry), haritaki (Terminalia chebula) and bibhitaki (Terminalia bellerica). Dr. Salia Tewari, a naturopath and yoga expert and founder- chairperson of the Nature Cure and Yog Foundation, Uttaranchal, elaborates.

Available in powder, tablet and juice form, Triphala purifies the system by promoting better bowel movement. It treats constipation- a condition that begets health issues like sluggish liver, skin diseases, depression and diminished energy. Triphala’ s laxative properties are not habit forming.

Gooseberry is vitamin C- rich and supports the natural functions of the liver. Bibhitaki supports the respiratory system, offer relief from asthma and is known to prevent premature greying and hair loss. The third herb, haritaki, is prized for its cleansing properties. It removes toxins and helps maintain a healthy weight. The combined effect of these potent fruit enables smooth functioning of the digestive system and fights colds and allergies by making the immunity system stronger.

Ginger

Ginger is the world’s most commonly consumed condiment. It has at least 14 bioactive compounds like gingerol and shogaol that gives a range of anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

Add it to tea or pulverize it into fresh fruit juice or a smoothie-ginger is a stimulating herb that relieves flatulence, strengthens the digestive system and stimulates glandular secretions. Dry ginger is said to be good for chronic bronchitis. It is widely used in Ayurveda to treat digestive complaints, morning sickness, jaundice, piles, colds and coughs, asthma, bronchitis and whooping-cough.

Ginger is well known for its anti-cancerous properties. The root is a potent source of antioxidants. It has calming effect on inflamed joints and muscles. Ginger is packed with B vitamins like B6 and riboflavin apart from magnesium, zinc and phosphorus.

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Image source– Pixabay

Source– Prevention India– June 2014, July 2014, September 2014 and September 2015 Living Media India Limited.

April 25, 2018 Lifestyle

Planning a Staycation in NYC? Here’s How to Enjoy the City like a Tourist

Living in a place as large as New York City, sometimes it can be hard to remember all that the city has to offer. If you find yourself taking a staycation, you might be wondering where to go and what to see. Read the ideas below to find out how to enjoy the city like a tourist.

See the Statue of Liberty

New York, USA — Statue of Liberty New York USA lady liberty

Travel by ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands to see what is widely viewed as a symbol of democracy and freedom. Rather than just touring the grounds or the top of the pedestal, get tickets to access the crown.

Since reservations need to be made in advance, as New York City local, you have more opportunities than tourists to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Go on a Sightseeing Tour

Take a break from your transportation method of choice for a day and go on a sightseeing tour. TopView Sightseeing, one of the city’s sightseeing touring agencies, offers bus and cruise tours.

No matter which type you choose, you can see the attractions you take for granted as a local from the perspective of those visiting New York City for the first time.

Take in the Sounds of Broadway

While Times Square is an area that most locals view as a place for tourists, the lights and sounds of the Broadway theatre scene are enough to draw you to this busy intersection.

Musicals, plays, Off-Broadway shows and other performances, like comedy, acts, offer enthralling shows. Make a night of it and go to dinner and a show.

Indulge in New York Foods

Baked goods, New York, USA — Baked goods

From pizza and cheesecake to bagels and black-and-white cookies, everyone has a favourite New York food. Make it your goal to enjoy at least two of these staples for every day you play tourist.

Park yourself in Madison Square Park

Madison Square is a 6.2 acre of a public park located at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway at 23rd Street. Named after James Madison, the 4th president of the U.S., this park is also home to the original Shake Shack and relax in the urban oasis that is Madison Square Park. As you enjoy your burger and shake, people watch, observe the artwork and lay on the lawns.

Get Sporty

Play baseball at Yankee stadium, New York, USA — Play baseball at Yankee Stadium

Are you a baseball fan? Go to Yankee Stadium for a tour or game. If you are more into basketball or hockey, Madison Square Garden should be your destination. Witness the Rangers or the Knicks take on their biggest rivals in thrilling games.

Baseball fans, who are also fans of the hamburger, will appreciate Citi Field where the can get the renowned Bash Burger, a hamburger with a bacon jam and “secret” sauce of mayonnaise, garlic, ketchup, sherry vinegar and Sriracha.

Citi Field is home of the Mets. Located in Flushing Queens. The creation of chef Josh Capon, the Bash Burger can also be found at his restaurant on W Houston St, Barrel and Burger. The Bash Burger has apparently been around for quite a while, winning the People’s Choice Award for the tastiest burger at Rachael Ray’s Burger Bash at the NY Wine and Food Festival as far back as 2009.

Read a Book at the Library

Admission to the New York Public Library is free, but it is also one of the most beautiful in the world. Check out a book, settle down in a reading room or see the real Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends.

Visit The Met Cloisters

The Met Cloisters offer a taste of medieval Europe right in New York City. Sculptures, gardens, chapels and numerous photo opportunities await you. The Cloisters overlook the Hudson River, so you will get to see lovely views in addition to the museum.

View your city with new eyes as you explore it like a tourist. You might just learn or see something new.

Images courtesy-Pixabay

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February 5, 2018 Lifestyle

6 Best Ways to Send Birthday Gifts Online

If you are wondering how to make your special ones’ birthday special, we have just the right stuff for you. There are some awesome ways in which you can surprise your loved ones on their birthday. We have compiled a list of the best birthday gifts online. You can order these gifts at the comfort of your home and watch as they beam with happiness. These gifts are meant for everyone, irrespective of age and gender and relationship that you share with them.

Read below the different birthday gifts online that you send to your loved one to make their day truly special.

A Basket Of Love And Surprises

Send your heartfelt love and birthday wishes to your loved one in a basket of love! You can arrange a beautiful basket with loads of chocolates, flowers and a teddy bear! Your special one will absolutely adore this cute hamper by you. You can order such birthday gifts online also. There are many options available and you can customize them according to your preferences.

2. A Big Bouquet Of Chocolates

This works well if your loved ones are fond of sweets and are sweet-toothed! Who doesn’t like Ferrero Rocher? I am sure all of us do. How about a heart shaped bouquet made of Ferrero Rocher chocolates? Sounds yummy, right? Send your special one a huge bouquet of chocolates at the midnight of their birthday! Let them open their door to this huge surprise! This would be a really unique and creative birthday surprise for your loving ones.

3. Mixed Dry Fruits Gift Hamper

For the fitness freaks or the health enthusiasts, there is nothing better than a huge basket filled with the healthy dry nuts! You can send them good quality cashews, raisins, almonds and walnuts and of course, your love along! They will adore you for taking care of their health and this will boost your love for each other!

4. A Bouquet Of Exotic Blooms

Everyone loves flowers, isn’t it? Then, why not gift your loved ones an amazing bouquet of flowers on their birthday. You can get such flowers delivered through some midnight gifts delivery portal that will deliver it right at their doorstep in the midnight! They will be taken by surprise and awe when they open the door to these beautiful flowers! You can create a combo of all the exotic flowers like lilies, carnations and orchids and make the bouquet look rich and gorgeous! What more? You can also select a glass vase for the flowers! The vase will come handy and they can keep more flowers even after their birthday! So, go on! Surprise your loved one!

5. Good Luck Plants

If your loved one is a believer of Feng-Shui and good luck charms, then this can be a great gifting idea! You can gift your special people a multi-layered good luck plant. Such plants bring overall prosperity and well-being in your family. They are available for online birthday gifting. They come in quite efficient packing and will be delivered with a nice glass container where you can keep the plant. This will remind your loved ones of you, every time they water it. Good luck plants are unique gift ideas and you must gift them to your special people to make her feel even more special!

6. A Cute And Tasty Cake

You can send an amazing and delicious cake for your loved ones on their birthday. You can get a customized photo printed on the cake as well. You wouldn’t have to worry about the freshness or taste of the cake as there are excellent portals that delivery fresh and mouth watering cakes. You can go for flavours like chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, mango, red velvet, white forest, black forest etc.

These are some of the ways you can send [tweetshareinline tweet=”birthday gifts online” username=”wizmagic1″] and truly surprise your loved ones. These gifts are available easily online and they can be delivered right to the doorstep of your special people.

January 25, 2018 Lifestyle

A Traveller’s guide to vacation rentals

Anyone that’s beginning to plan a trip knows that the key element that will determine if you have a great time or not begins with where you’re going to stay once you arrive at your destination. There are a few factors that play into the decision to be made, such as how many are in your group and how long your stay will be wherever you’re going. Planning along these lines can get a tad pricey if you’re looking at hotels, especially if it’s a situation where you’re planning a trip on the spur of the moment. With that in mind, many are now joining the ranks of those who are looking at and booking their stays in vacation rentals across the globe. But how does one get started with picking the right vacation rental for their own trip? Read on for an overall look at the process to get things underway.

Man sitting on wooden panel-Vacation rentals — Image credit-pexels

The idea of vacation rentals took off first as a way to minimize the detracting elements one can sometimes find in hotels. What would those be? Well, with hotels you and your group are essentially surrounded by others in their own rooms. Sometimes that can be challenging if they get too loud, or have members of their own group cause a ruckus. You’re paying extra for little amenities like a mini-bar or in some cases, wireless internet access. Some hotel rooms are also built-in terms of layout where it’s essentially one large room with a minute amount of closet space and a bathroom, which can pose a logistics issue for those traveling in large groups. And if you’re trying to avoid that, paying for a suite can really increase your vacation costs. Another hang-up that can occur involves the availability of rooms in hotels in certain rural areas or places that it will take some time to travel to from the airport.

Alley architecture Barcelona-vacation rentals — Image credit-pexels

With vacation rentals, you are essentially looking at sites like Airbnb, RentalVilla and HomeAway for rooms, apartments and even houses to rent for your vacation. Each website differs however with what they offer – Airbnb actually has “experiences” available for booking in addition to or separate from any lodging being booked for a majority of the cities and countries they manage property listings in. A vacation rental allows for travelers to feel more immersed in the city or region they’re staying in, to make their trip that much more enjoyable. It also gives guests a chance to minimize other costs they’d incur during their trip, such as getting groceries for a week from local markets and specialty shops instead of eating out for almost every meal.

brown wooden chair near short stem clear wine-glass-vacation rentals — Image credit-pexels

How the process works is, you go to one of these vacation rental sites with the dates you have in mind for your stay. From there you can get an approximate final total of how much it would be, factoring in local taxes and processing fees that the site has. Each site has varying fee amounts; for example, Airbnb charges 6 – 12% whenever a reservation is made along with a cleaning fee. These are incorporated into the final tally. The thing to keep in mind is, with renting a vacation property it is up to you to keep up communication with your host and to abide by their rules regarding the place. Each site has a dedicated customer service staff on hand that can be reached by phone or email. Many hosts look to make the entire process a smooth one, and will even go out of their way to arrange tours in their area or provide breakfast and snacks once guests arrive. In some cases, you just arrive at the appointed check-in time and pick up the keys and begin your stay. If you are looking for quality listings, you can check out sites like Trip101 that helps curate apartments from sites like Airbnb.

Vacation rentals are a surefire way to enhance your trip to truly enjoyable levels without the extra hassle.

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Christopher is a writer with Trip101. Trip101 is a one-stop guide for travel enthusiasts around the world. Supported by an ever-growing community of travel writers, we provide inspiration and useful information to help facilitate travel in a fun and meaningful manner!