Lead a Happy Life  - Anando Brahma

The second one is to slow down. Life has a lot of simple things you can enjoy. But if you move too fast you will overlook most of them. So don’t be in a hurry. Don’t move too quickly. Slow down and pay attention to the world around you. Most of the ways I’m about to share will work well only if you slow down.

1. Enjoy your meal. Don’t just eat. Taste it and appreciate its richness.


2. Learn to cook.


3. Feel music and not just listen to it.


4. Play music. More than just listening, playing music allows you to express yourself.


5. Sing.


6. Gather with old friends.


7. Take a walk in the park with spouse.


8. Go hiking.


9. Read a book and surf some news channels


10. Find and watch a movie you like.


11. Give yourself a lazy day.


12. Play board games with your friends.


13. Have a candle-light dinner with your spouse.


14. Play mini games.


15. Read comics.


16. See beautiful pictures.


17. Read inspiring quotes.


18. Learn to paint.


19. Read a classic book.


20. Exercise with friends.


21. Watch funny videos.


22. Play with kids.


23. Play a mind game.


24. Have a cup of coffee.


25. Get a massage and give a massage to spouse too.


26. Go to a museum.


27. Go to a theater.


28. Watch sunrise.


29. Take pictures you like


30. Browse your photo album for your treasured memories.


31. Do not quarrel with spouse for 4 days in a week.


32. Treat children as your friends

11 Tips to Cut Your Cholesterol

Your fasting total cholesterol level exceeds the desirable level of 200, or if your low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad”) cholesterol is above 100, getting it down to a safer level could be easier than you think. In fact, with simple lifestyle modifications -- and, if necessary, drug therapy -- people often see significant reductions in cholesterol within six weeks. Get going right now, and by the next New Year's Eve you could be toasting your cholesterol level rather than resolving to lower it.

1. Set a target

You know you've got to get your cholesterol number down, but how low do you need to go? That depends on several factors, including your personal and family history of heart disease, as well as whether you have cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking.

If your risk is deemed high, "most doctors will treat for a target LDL of less than 70. If your risk is moderate, a target LDL of under 130 is generally OK. If your risk is low, less than 160 is a reasonable target. "The trend now is to treat people earlier, especially if they have two or more risk factors.

2. Consider medication

Lifestyle modifications make sense for anyone with elevated cholesterol. But if your cardiovascular risk is high, you may also need to take a cholesterol-lowering drug. Lifestyle modifications are important, but we should also be emphasizing the benefits of medication when appropriate.

3. Get moving

In addition to lowering LDL "bad" cholesterol, regular physical activity can raise HDL "good" cholesterol by up to 10%. The benefits come even with moderate exercise, such as brisk walking.

Whatever form your exercise takes, the key is to do it with regularity. "Some experts recommend seven days a week, although five days is more realistic.

4. Avoid saturated fat

Doctors used to think that the key to lowering high cholesterol was to cut back on eggs and other cholesterol-rich foods. But now it's clear that dietary cholesterol isn't the main culprit. "Eggs don't do all that much to raise cholesterol. You don't want to be throwing down six eggs a day, but recent data suggest that it's really saturated fat" that causes increases in cholesterol. And if you cooked your eggs in a slab of butter, don't overlook the fat in the butter.

5. Eat more fiber

Fruits and vegetables, including whole grains, are good sources not only of heart-healthy antioxidants but also cholesterol-lowering dietary fiber. Soluble fiber, in particular, can help lower cholesterol. Beckerman says it "acts like a sponge to absorb cholesterol "in the digestive tract. Good sources of soluble fiber include dried beans, oats, and barley, as well as fiber products containing psyllium.

6. Go fish

Fish and fish oil are chockablock with cholesterol-lowering omega-3 fatty acids. "Fish oil supplements can have a profound effect on cholesterol and triglycerides. "There's a lot of scientific evidence to support their use." Fish oil is considered to be quite safe, but check with your doctor first if you are taking an anti-clotting medication.

Salmon is great, as it has lots of omega-3s. But even canned tuna has omega-3s, and it's more consumer-friendly. The biggest heart benefits have been linked to omega-3s found in fish.

7. Drink very limited

Moderate consumption of alcohol can raise levels of HDL "good" cholesterol by as much as 10%. Doctors say up to one drink a day makes sense for women, up to two a day for men. But given the risks of excessive drinking, the Heart Associations cautions against increasing your alcohol intake or starting to drink if you don't already.

8. Drink green

Green tea, as a healthier alternative to sodas and sugary beverages. Indeed, research in both animals and humans has shown that green tea contains compounds that can help lower LDL cholesterol. In a small-scale study conducted recently in Brazil, people who took capsules containing a green tea extract experienced a 4.5% reduction in LDL cholesterol.

9. Eat nuts

Extensive research has demonstrated that regular consumption of nuts can bring modest reductions in cholesterol. Walnuts and almonds seem particularly beneficial. But nuts are high in calories, so limit you to a handful a day, experts say.

10. Switch spreads

Recent years have seen the introduction of margarine-like spreads and other foods fortified with cholesterol-lowering plant compounds known as sterols.

11. Don't smoke

Smoking lowers levels of HDL "good" cholesterol and is a major risk factor for heart disease.