Category: wellness

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Infused Water: A Game Changer for Overall Health

Water is the foundation of good health, but let’s be honest – plain water can feel boring. That’s where infused water steps in. By adding fruits, herbs, and spices, you not only elevate the flavor but also unlock a range of health benefits that make hydration exciting and sustainable.


1. 💧 Hydration Made Easy


Why it matters: Most people don’t meet their daily water intake goals. Infused water makes drinking more enjoyable, encouraging you to sip more throughout the day.
Game changer: Staying hydrated supports energy levels, skin health, and overall body function.


2. 🍋 Nutrient Boost Without Extra Calories


What you get: Infused water carries trace vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants from fruits and herbs. For example, lemon adds vitamin C, while cucumber offers hydration and anti-inflammatory properties.
Game changer: You enjoy flavor and nutrients without added sugars or artificial ingredients.


3. 🌿 Supports Digestion & Detox


How it helps: Ingredients like mint, ginger, and lemon can aid digestion, reduce bloating, and support natural detoxification.
Game changer: A simple glass of infused water can soothe your stomach and promote gut health.


4. ✨ Skin & Beauty Benefits


Hydration + antioxidants: Infused water helps flush out toxins and keeps skin hydrated, reducing dryness and dullness.
Game changer: Radiant skin becomes a natural byproduct of consistent hydration.


5. 🥭 Variety Keeps You Consistent


Options galore: From strawberry-basil to orange-cinnamon, the combinations are endless.
Game changer: Variety prevents boredom, making infused water a long-term lifestyle habit rather than a short-lived trend.

🌿 7 Infused Water Recipes & Their Health Benefits


1. 🍋 Lemon + Mint


Flavor: Refreshing, citrusy, cooling
Benefit: Boosts digestion, supports detox, and adds a dose of vitamin C.


2. 🥒 Cucumber + Ginger


Flavor: Crisp, slightly spicy
Benefit: Reduces bloating, aids digestion, and hydrates deeply.


3. 🍓 Strawberry + Basil


Flavor: Sweet with herbal notes
Benefit: Rich in antioxidants, supports skin health, and adds a touch of natural sweetness.


4. 🍊 Orange + Cinnamon


Flavor: Warm, citrusy, slightly spiced
Benefit: Boosts immunity, balances blood sugar, and adds a cozy twist to hydration.


5. 🍍 Pineapple + Mint


Flavor: Tropical, refreshing
Benefit: Supports digestion with bromelain, reduces inflammation, and energizes naturally.


6. 🍎 Apple + Clove


Flavor: Sweet, aromatic, spiced
Benefit: Helps regulate blood sugar, supports gut health, and adds a festive vibe.


7. 🫐 Blueberry + Lavender


Flavor: Floral, subtly sweet
Benefit: Packed with antioxidants, promotes calmness, and supports brain health.


✨ How to Use These Recipes


Prep tip: Slice fruits thinly, lightly crush herbs/spices, and let infuse for 2–4 hours.
Serving idea: Use a glass jar or clear bottle for aesthetic appeal—perfect for Instagram shots.


Pro tip: Rotate recipes daily to keep hydration exciting and consistent.

Infused water is a simple yet powerful wellness hack. It transforms hydration into a flavorful, nutrient-rich ritual that supports digestion, skin health, and overall vitality. By experimenting with different combinations, you can make water your favorite drink, and that consistency is what truly changes the game for your health.


👉 Try starting with lemon + mint or cucumber + ginger today, and notice how much easier it becomes to stay hydrated and energized.

This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.

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Essential Lifestyle Changes for Women After 30: A Guide to Healthy Living

Turning 30 marks a significant phase in life where health and wellness take centre stage. Prioritizing sustainable habits can boost energy, enhance longevity, and build resilience against age-related concerns. As they say how you live in your 30s will decide how you will in your 60s¸it is vital we make changes beforehand to lead a peaceful healthy life thereafter. Here are some essential lifestyle changes that women should embrace for a healthier and more fulfilling life.


1. Nourish Your Body with Smart Nutrition


Gone are the days of reckless eating. Focus on nutrient-dense foods that support hormone balance and overall well-being. Consider incorporating:
Protein-rich meals for muscle maintenance and metabolic health
Healthy fats like avocado, nuts, and seeds to support brain function
Calcium & vitamin D for bone strength
Antioxidants from fruits and vegetables to fight aging
Avoid excessive sugar and processed foods, and drink plenty of water to maintain hydration and skin health. Including millets can be a game-changer.


2. Prioritize Strength Training & Mobility


Cardio alone isn’t enough—strength training plays a crucial role in maintaining bone density and muscle mass, both of which decline with age. Incorporate:
Resistance exercises to prevent osteoporosis
Yoga & stretching for flexibility and stress relief
Walking & active movement throughout the day
Consistency is key—your future self will thank you! All these will lay a solid foundation for mobility and stamina post 50s and 60s.


3. Take Charge of Hormonal Health


Hormonal fluctuations become more noticeable in your 30s, affecting metabolism, mood, and skin. Support your thyroid, reproductive, and adrenal health by:
Managing stress through meditation or mindfulness
Eating hormone-balancing foods like flaxseeds, greens, and omega-3s
Avoiding excessive caffeine and alcohol
Tracking menstrual health and consulting a doctor if needed. Taking good care now will ease stress during menopause.


4. Upgrade Your Sleep Routine


Poor sleep accelerates aging and weakens immunity. Optimize your sleep hygiene by:
Maintaining a consistent bedtime
Reducing screen exposure before sleep
Investing in comfortable bedding
Practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing.


5. Invest in Mental & Emotional Wellness


A healthy body thrives when the mind is at peace. Prioritize emotional self-care by:
Practicing gratitude and journaling
Building strong social connections
Seeking therapy or counselling if needed. It is always good to let out rather than piling up emotional baggage.
Setting boundaries for personal well-being. This is indeed a very difficult step to take but definitely if peace over everything, this must be done.


6. Focus on Preventive Health Care


Regular check-ups are non-negotiable. Stay proactive with:
Annual health screenings for breast, thyroid, and heart health
Dental and vision care
Skin health assessments for early signs of aging or concerns
Taking charge of your health before issues arise is the smartest move.


7. Redefine Self-Care Beyond Trends


Self-care isn’t just about face masks—it’s about personal growth, inner peace, and holistic well-being. Prioritize activities that nourish your mind, body, and soul, whether it’s reading, traveling, or simply spending time in nature.


Also in the midst of all this, don’t forget to spend time with the people around you. It’s just one life so let’s live with no regrets.


Conclusion


Your 30s are a time to embrace change, evolve, and prioritize well-being. By making these sustainable lifestyle adjustments, you can build a strong foundation for lifelong health and happiness. The key is consistency, self-awareness, and balance—your journey toward wellness begins with small steps.

This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla
in collaboration with Mister Tikku.

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10 Essential Self-Care Practices for Women: Nurture Your Mind, Body, and Soul

We as women often find ourselves juggling multiple responsibilities ranging from careers to relationships to family and social obligations because we live in a fast-paced and demanding world. It becomes increasingly important to prioritize self-care, nurturing the mind, body, and soul amidst the chaos of our daily lives. We can better show up for others and lead a more fulfilling life only when we take time to care for ourselves.

Let us explore ten essential self-care practices that empower women to achieve holistic well-being.


MOVE YOUR BODY REGULARLY


Physical activity is essential not only for your body but also for your mental health. There are a lot of ways to enjoy moving your body which can be yoga, dance, jogging, or any form of exercise that brings joy to you. When you exercise it releases endorphins which help boost your mood and alleviate stress.


NOURISHING BODY WITH BALANCED NUTRITION


A well-balanced diet is crucial for overall health. Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats which are nutrient-dense food options. Make sure you stay hydrated, and limit the intake of processed food and excessive sugars.


PRIORITIZE SLEEP AND REST


Sleep is essential for our overall health and well-being. Make sleep a priority by setting a consistent bedtime routine by creating a calming bedtime environment and a proper duration of 7-9 hours of restful sleep each night. Throughout the day recharge yourself by incorporating short breaks and a few moments of relaxation.


CULTIVATE MINDFULNESS AND MOTIVATION


Amidst life challenges for us to be present and stay grounded practicing meditation and mindfulness is very much essential. We must try to make time each day for deep breathing exercises, meditation, or even simply a few moments of being mindfully aware of what is happening in the present around us. Following these practices will help promote a sense of inner peace, reduce stress, and enhance emotional resilience.


DAILY PRACTICE OF GRATITUDE


Practicing gratitude daily will help in shifting your focus towards positivity and give you a feeling of contentment and happiness. So, make sure to take your time each day to reflect on what you are grateful for.

UNPLUG FROM TECHNOLOGY


Constant exposure to screens and digital media can be overwhelming. So, make sure to take your time off, where the choice of duration is yours as it can be a few hours or a full digital detox over the weekend. Make use of this time to connect with nature, giving your mind a fresh perspective by doing some gardening, reading a book, or even engaging in face-to-face conversation.

ENGAGE IN CREATIVE EXPRESSION


Find yourself an outlet for creative expression in the form of writing, drawing, crafting, or even any art form. Engaging yourselves in any art form will help in giving you a sense of fulfillment because it feels therapeutic.

SET BOUNDARIES AND LEARN TO SAY NO


Setting healthy boundaries is one of the first steps in self-care. Women need to be everything for everyone, that is how we mostly feel which leads to little time for ourselves. We need to focus on what truly matters and preserve our physical and emotional energy which can be achieved only when we learn to say no to excessive commitments. We should start to think that learning to say no is an act of self-respect and not being selfish.


EMBRACING THE POWER OF CONNECTION


It is always good to have yourself surrounded by people who give you positive vibes. Build a social network of friends or peers who help in uplifting and inspire you. Cultivating meaningful connections and not being afraid to seek help when needed. Connecting with others can help improve mental and emotional well-being and provide a sense of belonging.


SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP WHEN NEEDED


On a final note, when you are struggling with your mental and emotional well-being do not hesitate to seek help. Talking to a therapist or a counselor helps in support and guidance to help navigate through life’s challenges with resilience.


Nurturing the mind, body, and soul through self-care is a necessity for women and not a luxury. Incorporating these ten practices is essential and helps in making a strong foundation for our overall well-being. Imagine self-care as a journey so it is fine to start small and gradually build on the habits. When you prioritize yourself, you will find that you can better manage the demands of life and embrace yourself in a version that is filled with happiness and good health.

This post is a part of Wellness Hour Bloghop by Rakhi Jayashankar and Swarnali Nath.

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5 reasons to track your periods

The four-day bloody show for each women may stir in many emotions depending on their need. For some it might bring happiness, for some a feeling of dejection and a good-to-go for the rest. It not only helps you to plan natural conception but also also helps prevent unwanted pregnancy.

Tracking periods



Did you know that your period could also give you the hint that your body is working fine? Women who do not track their periods end up giving a blank stare when they aren’t sure of the day of the last period. It’s fascinating and at the same time empowering to track the cycle. Tracking periods makes it easier to identify gynecological problems at an earlier stage and also in understanding the sexuality and our body. Regularity in getting your periods is one of the key indicators of overall well-being.



Most women have a 28-day cycle ,whereas it’s generally considered to be normal if the cycle is anywhere between 21-35 days. Tracking the cycle also helps to identify the ovulation period that makes it easier to plan conception. Understanding your cycle and your ovulation dates makes it easier to plan. Women ovulate 14 days before each cycle, depending on the length of your cycle. So planning conception during ovulation increases your odds of becoming pregnant.


At the same time, it also helps prevent unwanted pregnancies when you avoid intercourse during your ovulation period. So the tracking of periods play a major role be it planning for a pregnancy or not to becoming pregnant as well.



But if your periods aren’t regular, which means your cycles do not fall between the normal duration it indicates an underlying health condition that needs to be checked. Vaginal infections, fibroids, pelvic inflammation, PCOD could be reasons that your period is irregular.



The best days to go for vacation or party can also be done since you might be well prepared with period supplies like the pads, menstrual cups. And save the nicest white pant from the bloody show.



Tracking periods also helps in understanding mood. Irritability, anxiety could not just be part of PMS but mood swings during the menstrual cycle helps understand the rhythm of the cycle. So the moods are much more than PMS, knowing and tracking them makes you well prepared to manage them.



We now live in a world that every human being owns a smart phone and has it loaded with apps starting with one for work, meets and even tracking drinking water. Why not have an app that lets you know about your bodily functions and help in your well-being.

What to look for in period tracking app?

  • Easy to understand tracking mechanism.
  • Clear instructions to input period start date and end date along with flow, discharge pattern and moods.
  • Indicate fertile period and ovulation date.
  • Reminder before couple of days to period start for keeping supplies handy.



I tried out a couple of apps to track my periods that really helped to understand my body better. It also helps in calculating your LMP when you miss your period and helps to calculate the due date.



Here are three apps that I tried and recommend for period tracking.

PERIOD CALENDAR:


Period calendar helps in tracking and predicting period dates. Major advantages are the prediction of fertile window and ovulation date. Tracking of temperature,mood,weight, birth control and intercourse are additional features.


Additional feature of pill reminder helps when you take supplements or birth control pills.



Available on android and iPhones.

Download

FLO PERIOD TRACKER



Flo uses machine learning to accurately access periods and ovulation dates. The calendar is simple and bold helps in tracking moods, symptoms and sex drive.



Sleep cycles, water consumption and physical activity can also be tracked. The dashboard that portrays the insights help in making us understand more about body and cycle.



Available on android and iphone.

Download

CLUE



Ranked as the top app for tracking periods and ovulation by the obstetrics and gynecology journal this app helps in identifying unique patterns in menstrual cycles. There is no pinks, butterflies and the app caters to all age groups. The app uses science to keep track of moods, periods, health log and exercises.



The unique algorithm uses the data that is input to provide predictions, so the more the usage the smarter the app.

Download



Now that you know the benefits of tracking periods, start doing it and thank me later. When you have tonnes of apps for everything you need or sometime for things not needed, why not have one to track your health.

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.’ 

COPYRIGHT NOTICE –
@Sindhu Vinod Narayan. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Sindhu Vinod Narayan (Thatmadrasmom) with the right and specific direction to the original content.

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Reasons to switch to a menstrual cup

Embracing a pad-free, zero-waste menstrual cycle and switching to a menstrual cup takes a lot of patience and guts in my opinion. Inserting an alien object into the private part gives me jitters even as I thought about it. But, I’ve seen women making the change, feeling comfortable and most importantly helped spread the word to make other women cupvert.

Busting the Myths on why not to use the cup click here

Painful experience to get it inside and fit it properly.



Patience and being relaxed is the first step. There are a lot of YouTube videos that help understand the different types of folds. Choose the one that best suits you and you are sure to be a pro after a couple of cycles. Do not aim to get it right at the first time, this isn’t a race or a competition.

Fear of loosing the cup inside . Ouch!!



That is not going to happen for sure. You can relax, it’s not a tiny pill that is going to get lost or get dissolved. Moreover, the cup isn’t going to pass through cervix so no matter how much you fear it isn’t going anywhere but staying where you exactly put it.

Thinking it needs to be removed when you use the restroom every single time.



You might need to revisit your biology chapters to understand your private parts. You bleed menstrual blood through vagina so the cup stays there. You pee through the urethra and poop through the rectum, so they are all different holes and you needn’t remove the cup every time you visit the restroom.

Fear of the cup overflowing



That’s where the size comes into play. Did you know that you need to empty the cup only twice if you are a person with regular flow. But if you are a person with heavy bleeding, even then it is highly unlikely that the cup would overflow within an eight-hour period.

Thought of inserting plastic inside



Medical or health grade silicone is the material the cup is made of, so it is safer to use. It’s rash-free, itch-free and makes it comfortable.

Pad-free period

Tips for usage of menstrual cup

Menstrual cup

Sterilize the cup, since safety is first



Make sure you sterilize the cup by boiling it, before and after your period. Place the cup in a pot with water, turn on stove, bring to boil and turn it off. Remove the cup, wipe it dry and store it in a cloth bag.

Trying out different folds



Once you buy the cup, try out different folds available on the internet. Choose the one that suits you, the C fold doesn’t suit everyone, you might even find a better one.

Learn positions to insert it



Relaxing and finding a comfortable position to insert the cup is just like finding the fold that suits you. Sitting , squatting or lifting either one of the legs should make it work.

Learning and understanding the how tos before the period



Trying it out during period is going to be very difficult. Make sure you watch videos on insertion, position and sterilizing before your period so that it’s easier for you to do it. Learning how to relax the pelvic area also plays an important role when you use the cup. How the cup works when inserted definitely helps preparing yourself mentally and physically.

Checking the leaks



The fear of leak is the biggest for any women. So how do you check for leaks? There is a pop sound that you hear once the cup is in.

Not keeping it longer than 8-10 hours



Most cups can be kept till 12 hours, they are safer than pads. But make sure you empty it when it exceeds 8 hours just to be on the safer side.

Cleaning before re-inserting



When you empty the cup for re-inserting, make sure you wash it with hot water if it’s available. Else a couple of washes with regular water also works.

How pelvic muscles can help?



Relaxing pelvic muscles by taking deep breaths makes it easier for insertion. Using the muscles to push the cup out makes it easy to remove. Squatting helps relax to get the cup out.

Using cloth pads of low flow days



Depending on the cycle and your flow you can switch to cloth pad beyond three days or days when you have lighter flow.

What are the advantages to use the cup?

  • The menstrual cup is the most environmentally friendly and cheap option that is hygienic and also is zero-waste.
  • Much more hygienic than pads to use for longer duration.
  • Makes the period most comfortable because you forget that you have it inside.
  • Makes it easy to do physical activities when you wear a cup.
  • Using the cup, helps reduce menstrual cramps.

Sirona menstrual cup helps in giving you a peaceful period experience by making it odour-free, itch-free and rash-free. It offers 10-hour protection and is one of the cheapest options for a menstrual cup. click here

Reasons to switch to a menstrual cup

COPYRIGHT NOTICE –
@Sindhu Vinod Narayan. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Sindhu Vinod Narayan (Thatmadrasmom) with the right and specific direction to the original content.

This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.