Travel Destinations This 2018

Harar, Ethiopia
WHY GO NOW: Find the most surprising city in East Africa.

Tourists in northern Ethiopia rarely travel to the laid-back east, anchored by the enchantingly contradictory city of Harar. The “City of Saints” boasts 82 mosques, as well as Ethiopia’s best beer, strongest khat (an ubiquitous narcotic plant), and highest quality coffee.

FUN FACT: Hyenas are welcome night visitors in Harar, where they eat food waste and are fed by 'hyena men.'

Jujuy Province, Argentina
WHY GO NOW: Hang with nature-made rock stars.

Located in outermost northwest Argentina, Jujuy is home to the Quebrada de Humahuaca World Heritage site. The narrow valley is cloaked in colorful rock bands crafted over millennia. Elevate your Instagram with shots of Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of Seven Colors).

FUN FACT: Prehistoric hunter-gatherers (9000 BC to AD 400) lived in Quebrada de Humahuaca.

Tbilisi, Georgia
WHY GO NOW: Experience Old Tbilisi’s authentic charms.

Development is reshaping the cityscape of Georgia’s capital city at a dizzying pace. Traditional Georgian experiences—the 24-hour sulphur baths, the plump khinkali (spiced meat dumplings), and the legendary hospitality of the locals—persevere in disarmingly disorganized Old Tbilisi.

FUN FACT: Persian, Arab, Byzantine, Ottoman, Russian, and Soviet occupations influenced Tbilisi architecture.

Sydney, Australia
WHY GO NOW: See the new-look Opera House.

A $273-million upgrade launched in May 2016 is transforming the interior of Sydney’s iconic Opera House. Improvements include state-of-the-art acoustics, a hangout-friendly foyer, and the renovated Joan Sutherland Theatre, which reopened in December and welcomes back the Australian Ballet in April.

FUN FACT: The Opera House includes one thousand rooms and has over one million roof tiles.

Continue exploring at https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/features/best-trips-destinations-2018/

Morning Workout To Boost Your Metabolism

 

Check source at https://fitfluential.com/morning-workout-for-metabolism/

How to Protect Food and Water During Storms?

Extreme weather sometimes wreaks havoc when it strikes our communities—destroying homes and compromising safety. Floods and power outages from hurricanes, tornadoes, and snow storms can cut off water supplies and quickly contaminate food. Protect yourself, your family, and your pets from foodborne illnesses. Following are steps you can take to preserve your food and water during storms.

Before a storm

Prepare for unpredictable weather emergencies. Have these supplies on hand:

• Thermometers in the freezer and refrigerator
• Containers of ice to keep food cold or to melt if water supply is contaminated or unavailable
• Coolers, frozen gel packs, and dry ice to keep refrigerated food at or below 40 F and frozen food at or below zero F if power is out for more than 4 hours
• Bottled water
• Nonperishable food high on shelves, in case of flood
• Manual can opener
• Bleach for disinfecting

During a storm

Do not eat or drink anything that has touched flood water, including food packed in non-metal containers. Before using food in undamaged metal cans, remove any labels, which can harbor dirt and germs, and sanitize the cans. Thoroughly wash, rinse, and sanitize anything that may come in contact with food—for example, pans, dishes, utensils, and countertops. Keep food at recommended temperatures.

How to sanitize:

• Mix 1 tablespoon household bleach with 1 gallon of water.
• Soak item in the solution for 15 minutes and air dry.

How to make water safe to use and drink:

• Filter cloudy water through a clean cloth, or let it settle, drawing off the clear water
• Boil water for one minute, cool it, and store it in clean covered containers.

Or, if boiling is not possible…

• Add 1/8 teaspoon (or 8 drops) of regular, unscented, liquid household bleach to 1 gallon of water.
• Stir and let water stand 30 minutes before using.
• Store the disinfected water in clean, disinfected containers with tight covers.

Keep in mind that perishable food such as meat, poultry, seafood, milk, and eggs not kept at recommended temperatures can make you sick—even if thoroughly cooked.

Continue reading at https://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Emergencies/ucm2006925.htm

Places Where You Can See Solar Eclipse this August

Cape Kiwanda, Oregon

 

Stanley, Idaho

 

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

 

Jefferson City, Missouri

 

More places, check http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/summer/photos/where-to-watch-the-solar-eclipse-in-august

 

Another Reason To Eat Avocados, Study Says

If you needed another reason to dip your chip (or better yet, a crisp veggie) into a bowl of yummy guacamole, a new comprehensive research review has offered a good one.

The review, published in the journal Phytotherapy Research, evaluated the results of 129 studies to determine the effects of the avocados on various aspects of Metabolic syndrome, which is a group of risk factors that raises your risk for heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

The review concluded that the vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and certain phytochemicals (natural plant chemicals that help fight and prevent disease) in avocado may help combat blood pressure, diabetes and other components of Metabolic syndrome and provide a natural alternative to other forms of treatment.

“The pharmacologically active constituents” of avocado are not only “nutritionally valuable,” the authors write, but also “possess antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity in some studies.” They also help lower cholesterol and help prevent cardiovascular disease, and potentially even cancer. Everyday consumption is recommended.

“Avocados start with great taste, but they also serve up a bunch of vitamins, minerals, fiber and heart-healthy fats,” says Virginia-based registered dietitian nutritionist, certified diabetes educator, and certified health and wellness coach Jill Weisenberger (who was not involved with the study review). “For example, they contain the blood pressure friendly mineral potassium and the B vitamin folate, which is important for DNA repair. Avocados are terrific for my patients with diabetes because they add so much flavor with just a little carbohydrate.”

Weisenberger, author of The Overworked Person’s Guide to Better Nutrition, recommends replacing some of the saturated fats in your diet with heart-healthy unsaturated fats in order to improve cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of heart disease and potentially make the body more sensitive to insulin.

“Avocados can help with this,” she says, advising that people dice it onto salads for additional creaminess instead of sprinkling on cheese or mix it into mashed potatoes instead of butter. (Smashed avocado can be used to replace butter in a 1-to-1 ratio.)

“For most people, it’s a good idea to add a little bit to other foods or to swap a less nutrient-dense food out for the delicious, nutrient-dense avocado,” Weisenberger says.

So how much avocado should you eat? Because avocados, like nuts, are flavorful and satisfying, but rich in fat and calorie dense, moderation and mindful eating are key.

“A little bit can go a long way,” Weisenberger says. “A few slices to a third of an avocado is a reasonable amount for most people.”

Sound good. Now, who’s up for avocado toast?

Read more at: http://blog.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/2017/05/04/a-new-study-offers-yet-another-reason-to-eat-avocados/

How many hours of sleep do I need?

We’ve all been told that we should get eight hours of sleep per night, but this information is an average and might not be a perfect fit for everyone. Some may need more sleep and others less, and our needs may actually change through the years. Thus, the oft-recited advice that every person needs eight hours of sleep a night is a myth.

Short Sleepers vs. Long Sleepers

Everyone has a sleep need that is likely determined by genes, or genetic information.

This need is the amount of sleep our body requires for us to wake up feeling refreshed. This difference likely occurs across a spectrum, with "short sleepers" needing less than average and "long sleepers" needing more.

Changing Needs Across a Lifetime

The average amount of sleep needed changes over our lifetime, especially during childhood and adolescence. Although there are averages, there will be individuals who fall both above and below these needs, including the following groups of people:

• Infants (3-11 months) need 14-15 hours
• Toddlers (12-35 months) need 12-14 hours
• Preschoolers (3-6 years) need 11-13 hours
• School age (6-10 years) need 10-11 hours
• Adolescents (11-18 years) need 9.25 hours
• Adults need an average of 8 hours
• Elderly adults may need less sleep

Sleep Debt

What happens if we don’t meet our sleep needs? By not getting enough sleep, we accumulate a sleep debt that we usually have to "pay off." This pay-off might involve extra sleep by napping, going to bed early, or sleeping in to catch up.

If we sleep less than our body needs to feel refreshed and don’t catch up we might experience:

• daytime sleepiness
• fatigue
• difficulty concentrating
• poor thinking
• increased risk of accidents
• other health complications (i.e., weight gain)

How Can I Determine My Sleep Needs?

There is an easy way to determine how much sleep you need.

Follow these steps:

1. Set aside a week or two that you can focus on your sleep and not allow disruptions or changes to your sleep schedule.
2. Select a typical bedtime and stick with it, night after night.
3. Allow yourself to sleep in as long as you want, awakening without an alarm clockin the morning.
4. After a few days, you will have paid off your sleep debt, and you will begin to approach the average amount of sleep that you need.
5. Once you determine your need, try to set your bedtime at an hour that will allow you the sleep you need, while still waking up in time to start your day.

Effects of Sleep Deprivation

It's extremely important that your body gets the sleep it needs. Chronic, or long-term, sleep deprivation is linked to a variety of problems that impair your health, safety, productivity, mood, and more.
Here are some possible repercussions secondary to sleep deprivation:

• decreased alertness
• decreased performance
• memory impairment
• cognitive impairment
• injury on the job
• injuries due to automobile crash or other heavy machinery

Oftentimes, people who experience chronic sleep deprivation write off their condition as a "normal" experience, and chalk their fatigue up to the stress of life, work, and kids.

These people don't realize that not getting enough sleep is very unhealthy, and they can go on for years without correcting the problem or seeking help.

 View source at https://www.verywell.com/short-duration-sleep-and-sleep-restriction-3015136

Cool ways to decorate Easter Eggs

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Prep your eggs

You want your beautiful egg creations to last forever (and not smell stinky), so it’s best if you blow out all the eggy insides (aka the yolk and the white). Step 1 is to clean your eggs—wash them in a solution of 1 cup vinegar and 2 tbsp baking soda. Once they’re clean and dry, you’re ready to blow them out. Watch here to see the easiest way to blow out eggs. 

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Colour block

Dye your egg a base colour (you can use the dye you get from the boxed Easter egg kits or food colouring) and let dry. Then dip your egg in a second colour. For a more saturated colour, allow it to fully dry between dips.

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Mini galaxy

Paint your egg black. Then sponge paint layers of blue, purple and pink. Allow layers to dry in between and go easy on the paint (less is more). Finish by splattering white paint on the surface—a stiff paint brush or toothbrush will do the job. Make sure to cover all your surfaces or you’ll be in for a big mess.

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Food colouring

In a small bowl of water, add 1 tsp of white vinegar and a few drops of food colouring. Use a spoon to completely submerge your egg until it reaches the desired shade. Pat it dry with paper towel.

 

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Tinfoil tie-dye

Place a coffee filter on a sheet of tinfoil. Add drops of food colouring or a splatter of paint to the coffee filter. Place your egg on top and wrap it all up in the tinfoil. Leave it for 10-30 minutes, unwrap and allow to dry. Ta-da, you have an awesome Easter egg with NO MESS involved! #winning

Continue learning at  https://www.todaysparent.com/family/crafts/12-easter-egg-decorating-ideas/#gallery/25-fun-easy-easter-eggs/0