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The Power of Hugging

Posted on by Posted in Health and Wellness .

From the moment we were born, we’ve been feeling tactile sensations through others’ affections. These instances naturally connect us to others, hence making us feel better as people. As we grow old, hugging can be a great way for us to feel those sensations again and even bring us more benefits. So go out and get a hug! Remember though, in Singapore, “hugging without permission” has fines!

Lowers stress
Hugging helps reduce the tension in our muscles, helping us become calmer and more relaxed. It also reduces the amounts of the stress hormone, cortisol, that the body produces. If someone you know is in a stressful situation, give them a hug. Not only will they feel better, it will also reduce the stress that you have, even as the one who is doing the comforting.

Strengthens our immune system
Hugs have been found to enhance the immune system through the maintenance and control of our white blood cells. Enough increase of white blood cells in our system can give us better immunity, therefore keeping us healthy overall. Lower levels of cortisol also contribute to a strong immune system, all the while, serving as an aid to keep us generally healthy.

Strengthen relationships
Hugging can promote more trust and help solidify your bond with your family, partner, and even friends. Hugging induces oxytocin, sometimes considered the “love hormone”, which also governs our social interactions and our compassion towards others. Additionally, we come in contact with whoever we are hugging and make a physical connection strongly felt by both parties.

Pain reliever
Hugs have also been found to help ease pain through the emotional bonds we get through the sense of touch. This might also be because hugging increases the production of serotonin, which improves our mood and the circulation of blood around our body’s tissues. Of course, it can’t easily replace painkillers, but hugging can definitely help you feel a lot better.

Promotes happiness
Aside from serotonin and oxytocin, both of which improve our mood, hugging can also induce dopamine. Dopamine triggers our brain’s reward and pleasure centers. This means that we feel happier because of the pleasure we get emotionally and physically when hugging. Even with those three “happiness hormones”, the simple notion of touching and coming in contact with others can make us feel more positive.

Boosts self-esteem
Ever since we were young, we were already marked with the feeling of love, expressed through acts like cuddling, hugging, and kissing by our parents. So, as we grow older, we naturally desire a constant feeling of touch. When we hug, we can establish our self-image in connection to those sensations that we crave for. It also helps us recognize and mitigate the fear of death.

What’s in a Snack: 5 Tips and Tricks to Make the Ultimate Sandwich

Posted on by Posted in Uncategorized .

While the sandwich is arguably one of the simplest and most versatile foods you can make in your own time, there’s still a good chance that you can mess it up. Fortunately, there’s a fix to that.

Follow these five tips and tricks to make an amazing sandwich every time:  

1. Use the right bread.

The bread is arguably the backbone of the sandwich, and having a great bread for the sandwich is half the battle won. You can make even bad bread taste better by toasting it or griddling it with butter.

However, even the best of breads can be tricky to useif they’re not used properly. Keep this in mind the next time you want to makeyour own sandwich: moist filling calls for drier and denser bread with a thickcrust.

2. Make sure you get the right vegetables for the job – and treat them right.

Vegetables need to be washed to bring them back to life, even if they’re already clean. You also shouldn’t think twice about seasoning them –

Some go-to toppings you can use are lettuce and tomatobecause of their crunch and freshness, but in their place, you could also useother alternatives that aren’t made up of mostly water, such as shreddedcabbage, spinach, or even sliced fennel.

3. Get more and better condiments.

Condiments are extremely underrated in the world of sandwich-making, and not putting enough spreads can often ruin the experience of taste.

The next time you make a sandwich, be sure to generously spread the sauce evenly throughout each slice. Spreading it this way will not only waterproof it from other wetter ingredients, but also add a little more moisture in just the right places.

4. Remember the Do’s and Don’ts of protein.

You’ll be surprised by how much the sandwich will improve when you decide to heat up or cook the protein, as it brings out the natural sweetness and flavor locked inside the meat. Do this well and you’ll be sure to incorporate this protein into your sandwich every time.

When you’re planning on using deli meats for yoursandwich, remember to have the meat sliced thinly – but not too thin.

5. Think layers.

The sequence of adding layers to a sandwich is crucial – there’s nothing worse to eat than something that burns the roof of your mouth and freezes your tongue at the same time.

Another thing you should keep in mind is to not stack two slick ingredients on top of one another. For instance, stacking two onions could end up with your sandwich shooting across the room or sliding off the bread slices, which is the last thing you want to happen.

Why You Should Be Reading Books Every Day (And What it Does to Your Brain)

Posted on by Posted in Self-Improvement .

Bored and looking for something to do? Don’t have enough free time? Or do you just feel like not going outside for a while?

Pick up a book! It’s easy, cheap, and a fun hobby that gives you so much more than what you put into it.
In fact, here’s why you should start reading a book every day:

1. Fiction makes you nicer.
One study made in 2013 found that participants who read even just the first chapter of a story were found to have a significant increase in empathy a week later, while those who didn’t did not.

Developing emotional intelligence leads to more human interaction, and this increase in emotional intelligence can be aided by taking in “secondhand experiences”, i.e. reading stories about people.

Doing this more lets you relate to people better, and the more you’ll want to keep reading – perhaps the best available “vicious cycle” out there.

2. It builds up cognitive reserve.
Reading pretty much anything that exposes you to new words, phrases, and facts can lead to a mind that’s more resilient and adaptive to damage.

This is what’s known as “cognitive reserve”, and a robust one developed throughout your lifetime can really delay the onset of mental decline. This is why it’s been told that the best preventive measure for Alzheimer’s is simply picking up a book.

3. You learn about more things.
While this is the most obvious reason why you should start doing it, it’s still worth mentioning that reading will give you valuable knowledge and insight you never knew possible, and widen your horizons.

Another joy of reading is learning that you’re not alone in your thoughts and you can literally read what other people all over the world have written down. In many cases, these thoughts have already been penned centuries before you were born.

4. Your conversations will get more interesting.
If you’re looking for a great way for a conversation to last until 2 in the morning, start stocking up on books (though there’s really no need to burn the midnight oil for this).

People who read tend to be better friends and better conversation starters for a few reasons: they’re more willing to listen to you speak, and that they tend to be better at expressing their thoughts.

Aside from not having to talk constantly over one another, you’ll also be clear of any confusion, which will let you keep the conversation flow much better and more smoothly from one topic to the next.

If you have the time to go through your nearest bookstore today, be sure to do it and pick up a book – any book. Sit through it and let yourself take in the words, and you’ll be glad you did.

(Disclaimer: this list is compiled in no particular order.)

5 Quick Repair Tips to Make Your Furniture Last Longer

Posted on by Posted in Lifestyle Techniques .

Furniture that’s older than six months will need fixing, but the good news is that there are basic ways of repairing that allow you to maintain the wooden furniture in your home and make them last a long time.

In fact, you can even save furniture that’s hanging on its last legs – and here are a few tips on how you can do just that:

1. Shimming Hinges
Doors that won’t close or align with the catch might be solved by simply cutting out one or more playing cards to fit the recess of the door hinge. This is called a “shim”, and will kick out the lower or upper part of the door depending on which hinge you reinforce.

You can punch screw holes in the cards by using a small Philips screwdriver, after which you can mount the door hinge and attach the screws.

2. Adding Support Braces
When left alone, sagging shelves will further droop and eventually cause stress to the nails and joints to crack and wear down. While you can simply flip the shelves over, they will still droop again after some time.
A more permanent (and aesthetically pleasing) solution is to add wooden stair treads that have a rounded front edge. You can cut and paint them according to your shelves’ color and size.

3. Fixing Wobbly Chair and Tables
Wobbly chairs and tables are easy to fix by adding support braces, which are usually more reliable than L-brackets.
Tables can also be wobbly because of uneven legs. If this is the case, jamming something underneath is only a temporary solution – your best option is drill holes for nail-on glides and slip as many washers as your table leg needs to feel more stable.

4. Repairing Drawers
Drawer fronts that come loose or fall off completely can be saved and reinforced by adding a backer to its front. Make sure the backer is about the size of the drawer so that it fits tightly and ¾-inch holes for the handle screws.

For ready-to-assemble furniture that uses particleboard, reinforcing with screws might be the better option. No need to use the original fasteners when they can’t. You can bypass them instead and fasten the screws from the outside.

5. Filling Screw Holes
Filling epoxy putty for screw holes in handles is a more permanent fix if they keep falling or unscrewing off of drawers. Instead of using a larger-sized screw (which can also come loose), just cut off the amount of putty you need and knead it together to plug the hole.

When doing this, be sure to scrape off the excess before it hardens, and then you will be able to drill a new hole into the drawer handle once it does.

(Disclaimer: this list is compiled in no particular order.)

3 Surprising Ways Shea Butter Can Be Good For You

Posted on by Posted in Lifestyle .

As long as people have been around, there have been many natural and synthetic products used to keep the skin in peak condition, and shea butter is among many of these products that has now stuck around.

Also known as the cream-colored fat derived from the nut of the African Shea tree, shea butter is used primarily as an ingredient in both food and cosmetics. Its structure as a fatty oil allows it to be melted down, which can be easily absorbed by the skin.

While shea butter for men and women is the same thing, it has a whole host of different health benefits that make it a necessary staple for both men and women alike aside from just skin and hair care. Some of these benefits include the following:

1. Shea butter can be used as an analgesic.
Traditionally, shea butter has been used to treat rheumatism, and many studies have even shown that it has certain medical properties that allow it to alleviate the symptoms of certain conditions such as arthritis, lower cholesterol, or even diarrhea.

Pure, unscented, and organically-made shea butter can even be applied on baby skin as it is both gentle and non-toxic enough that it can be used instead of olive oil. This is because of its higher stearic acid content, which puts it at a closer composition to the fat you can find in human skin.

2. Shea butter is great as a natural remedy for various skin maladies.
When mixed with essential oils such as lavender or roman chamomile, shea butter works as an anti-inflammatory balm (muscle soreness from exercise, aching joints, insect bites, etc.) and is often used to treat various conditions that affect the skin, such as the following:

• dryness/rashes/peeling/itchy skin
• sunburn
• minor cuts and wounds
• eczema
• dermatitis
• stretch marks

Shea butter also has a high moisturizing value, which is what makes it a crucial ingredient in many commercial shaving products (i.e. shaving butter, aftershave) that men use every day.

However, even though shea butter is naturally hypoallergenic, you should still test it on a small surface on your skin before proceeding to use it. If you have any allergies, consider seeing a dermatologist or a doctor to know if shea butter is really the cosmetic product for you.

3. Shea butter possesses certain anti-aging properties.
Unprocessed shea butter helps the skin to regenerate on a cellular level and allows the skin to retain its elasticity and softness, which in turn reduces the onset of wrinkles that can be brought about by various factors. With the pairing of a healthy lifestyle and diet, it can even help your body boost collagen production.

How to Find the Best Soap for Your Skin Type

Posted on by Posted in Beauty Tips .

Personal hygiene took a turn for the better throughout history with the invention of soap, which is a specific substance designed to remove dirt, sweat, sebum, and excess oils from the skin with the use of surfactants and chemical agents.

What Is Soap?
Soap is essentially a fatty acid’s salts, with each molecule consisting of a “water-loving” (hydrophilic) end and a “water-hating” (hydrophobic) end that arranges in spheres of about sixty or more when mixed with water.

“True” soaps are often made using a process that involves mixing animal or vegetable fats with a strong alkaline, and may or may not be suited to certain skin types depending on the chemicals listed in the ingredients.

The Different Types of Body Cleaning Products
Most body cleaning products you use are products of mixing surfactants that are derived from petroleum (e.g. sodium laurel sulfate). You can get different types of depending on the fat you use, such as:

• Hand/body wash – These soap types are often made with mild surfactants in mind to avoid drying out the skin too quickly. They are also much less foamy and more concentrated than shampoo.
• Shampoo – Shampoo consists of a surfactant and a co-surfactant mixed with water in order to form a thick liquid and is designed to be gentle on keratin (the proteins that make up hair).
• Bar soap – This is the “true” soap that’s mixed with animal and/or vegetable fats and a strong alkaline solution.

Considering Your Skin Type
There are at least four different skin types that exist: normal, dry, oily, and combination. While the first skin type is balanced in terms of moisture, dry skin loses moisture too quickly and appears flaky. Oily skin appears glossy on account of the excess oils and sebum being produced, and the last skin type is a combination of both dry and oily.

People with normal skin should best work with ordinary bar soap and avoid soaps formulated specifically for the other three skin types, as it can upset the balance of their skin and cause problems.

For people with dry skin, soap that contains moisturizing properties is the best bet when it comes to helping to lock in moisture. Soaps made with oils such as coconut oil, aloe vera, and jojoba can also work wonders.

Oily skin is oily because of overworked sebaceous glands, which leaves the skin more prone to acne breakouts. If you happen to have this skin type, it’s important that you wash your face frequently and go for soaps that have sea salt, oatmeal, or peach pits in the ingredients.

Combination skin is the trickiest, as there aren’t many soap types designed specifically for skin that’s both dry and oily at the same time. However, glycerine soaps could be a good start.

A Beginner’s Guide to the Different Kinds and Types of Kitchen Sinks

Posted on by Posted in Home Decor .

The phrase “everything but the kitchen sink” is often used to taking every conceivable item except the actual sink itself. But while the kitchen itself is the heart of the home, most of the daily chores (i.e. preparing and cooking food, washing the plates) is possible because of the sink.

Manufacturers offer sinks in different colors and styles, from ceramic to stainless steel, to sometimes even plastic. Here are the different types and kinds of sinks to consider before installing them in your kitchen:

Kinds of Kitchen Sinks
1. Stainless Steel
This is the most popular choice used in both household kitchens and professional restaurants alike, as most brands can be inexpensive and easily replaceable.

However, you should keep in mind that the gauge actually doesn’t matter and has little to do with its performance. Sinks with sound-absorbing pads are much quieter than those with a spray-coating.

2. Enamel
Enamel comes in two different types: enamel on cast iron, and enamel on steel. Both types come in different colors and are much easier to clean than steel sinks.

Their disadvantage comes with being more likely to chip from heavy and/or sharp objects, such as steel pots and knives. Damaged enamel can cause the metal beneath it to rust. Acrylic sinks look like enamel at first glance, they can scratch more easily and melt under high temperatures.

3. Solid Surfacing
A solid-surface kitchen sink can have integrated materials such to provide a seamless effect and a smooth finish, but that comes at the cost of melting under high heat.

4. Fireclay
Fireclay sinks can withstand high heat, stains, and even scouring, but may chip or break under heavy weights.

Types of Kitchen Sinks
• Double-bowl – These sinks have two sections, which is where they get their name from. They mostly come in rectangular shapes, but can come in D-shapes with a curved back. The good thing about double-bowls is that they let you multi-task.

• Farmhouse – Also called “apron front”, these sinks have a single, deep bowl with a faucet installed in either the countertop or on the kitchen wall. While stylish, they are expensive, and the dripping water can damage the cabinet underneath.

• Topmount – Topmounts are relatively simple to install and work well with almost any countertop material, making them a good go-to if you’re working on a tight budget.

• Undermount – Undermount sinks are called such because they are raised from beneath the counter instead of being lowered onto them. They provide a sleeker finish and tend to be easier to clean.

• Trough – Troughs are best used as bar sinks, as they tend to be narrow and long, and are often used for their aesthetic instead of functionality.

5 Simple Problems at Home that You Can Solve Yourself

Posted on by Posted in Self-Learning .

Living alone can sometimes have its own challenges, which is why you need to be prepared to solve them when they happen. Here are five to get you started:

1. Replacing a light bulb – Before going ahead and unscrewing the light bulb, however, you should turn off the main power switches to avoid electrocuting yourself.

Once the main switches are off, have another person to hold the platform you’re standing on (i.e. table, chair) to keep you steady. Unscrew the old bulb, screw in the new one. After that, turn on the main power switches and give the new bulb a test dive.

A couple of spare bulbs sitting in a drawer somewhere will definitely come in handy later.

2. Replacing/fixing a broken doorknob – Replacing your typical cylinder door knob is actually really easy to do. If a door latch doesn’t work properly, for instance, it could be that the latch bolt may not line up with the strike plate, and in that case, you could adjust the strike plate to align with the face plate.

Start by removing the visible screws. If there are none, insert a paper clip into the latch hole and press to disengage the knob. Pull the knob away from the door, unscrew the face plate, and remove the knob on the outside.
Once both knobs are removed, unscrew the screws near the top and bottom of the latch and pull it out from the hole in the door. Do this in reverse when installing the new door knob.

3. Repairing a faucet – Dripping faucets are some of the most common plumbing problems that you will encounter, often caused by seepage from the water supply.
Try to find the main water valve for your home and switch it off. After unscrewing the faucet, wrap the tube with joiner tape to prevent it from getting scratched in the process. Replace the old faucet with a new one and switch the main water valve back on.

4. Install cabinet handles – Having a broken cabinet handle makes accidents more likely to happen. This might be because of a rusty screw in the handle, in which case you might need to remove it.
If you don’t have a power drill in handy, you can always use industrial glue to fasten the old handle back in.

5. Fixing a broken shower head – If you notice your shower head leaking or if you have a hard time switching it off, start by unscrewing the shower head using strap wrenches and wrap the pipe with joint tape in order to prevent scratching.

After cleaning the arm threads and coating them with joint tape, screw the head back on and re-tighten.
However, if the swivel is broken, unscrew the shower head first before unscrewing the head from the swivel ball ring. After that, look for an O-ring or something similar to it inside. Take it out and replace it before screwing the showerhead back into place.

Dealing With Your Child’s Asthma

Posted on by Posted in Health and Wellness .

No one wants to see their child suffer from asthma, especially on days when they’re at school and you can’t be around with them to monitor their activities. Helping your child manage asthma effectively, however, will greatly improve his/her quality life.

Know Your Child’s Asthma Triggers
Knowing what triggers your child’s asthma can make management a lot easier. Compiling a list of the possible triggers and the accompanying symptoms will also be helpful during regular check-ups and for teaching your child what to do in case he/she is having an attack.

Make Your Home Asthma-Proof
If you know what triggers the child’s asthma, it would be easier to create a home that is safe for the child, because you have more control over your home than if the child is in school or other public places. Limit his/her exposure to such triggers and ask for cooperation from family and friends.

Share the Information with Concerned People
Long-term asthma treatments can be stressful for both the child and the parents, that is why you will also need the help of other people who will be around your child as he/she is growing up. Inform relatives, teachers, coaches, and friends of the child so that they can assist whenever an attack occurs. This will also educate other people about the illness and they will be more than willing to help create a safer environment for the child in the classroom.

Keep Up Medication and Treatment
A detailed record of all your child’s medications, treatments, and information on what to do during an attack will greatly improve the child’s quality of life. You are responsible for making sure that your child is getting the best treatment possible and that his/her medications are up to date. It would also be helpful if you are familiar with the prescribed medications, the proper dosage, and possible side effects so you don’t panic when something goes wrong.

Encourage an Active Lifestyle
Even if your child has asthma, it does not mean you should keep him/her at home all the time. A growing child needs to live an active life just like every other child. Talk to the pediatrician about activities that can help improve the child’s condition such as outdoor and indoor sports. If you can, ask the help of a trainer or the school coach to monitor the child’s activities in case an attack happens.

Know What to Do During an Attack
You should always have an asthma action plan ready in case an attack happens. Make sure that your child and other people who will be monitoring him/her are also aware of what to do. First, memorize the symptoms of an asthma attack, then help the child to calm down and sit up straight. Next, help the child take a puff of the reliever inhaler (up to a maximum of 10 puffs) once every 30 to 60 seconds. Finally, take the child to a clinic or hospital if the symptoms do not improve.