Don’t go looking further for remedies to get rid of your dark circles. Keep yourself further with these 5 ways.

1. Rose Water

Rose water rejuvenates your skin, reduces dark circles, and has a soothing effect on your tired eyes. It also works as a skin toner.

2. Tomatoes

The fruit which is used like a vegetable, tomato, has powerful bleaching properties that can lighten skin effectively.

3. Almond Oil

A completely natural ingredient which benefits your eyes, and helps in lightening your dark circles. A combination of almond oil with vitamin E oil can make those dark circles disappear.

4. Cucumber

Cucumber has some skin-lightening and mild astringent properties which can fix your puffy eyes and dark circles.

5. Raw Potatoes

Raw potatoes contain vital and natural bleaching agents when used raw. They lighten dark circles and puffiness around your eyes.

Yes it is,According to health experts, having sex during period is perfectly natural and safe for both partners. However, certain factors have to be taken into consideration.

Benefits of Sex during Menstruation

Sex while you are menstruating can help ease the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. Many women say that orgasms can ease their cramps and the orgasmic contractions of the uterus offer a soothing internal massage. Also, orgasms release endorphins, natural painkillers and mood enhancers, which can help soothe the cramps, headaches, mild depression, and irritability sometimes associated with periods. Many women enjoy sex more when they are menstruating because of increased feelings of fullness in the pelvic and genital areas.

However to minimize the mess, wearing a menstrual cup or a female condom can help reduce the amount of blood that might come out during intercourse. If you’re not comfortable using one of them, even a regular condom can make cleanup easier.

Risks of Sex During Period

Safe sex is even more crucial during your period. Your risks of sexually transmitted diseases and infections are higher than normal during this time because the cervix opens to allow blood to pass through. Unfortunately, this creates the perfect pathway for bacteria to travel deep inside the pelvic cavity. You are also more likely to pass on blood-borne diseases like HIV and hepatitis to your partner during your period and more likely to develop yeast or bacterial infections because the vagina’s pH during menstruation is less acidic. Finally, there is still a chance that you could get pregnant during your period (unless you’re on the pill), so don’t assume it’s safe to forgo contraception.

Sex is a great form of exercise as you burn 7500 calories if you have sex for 15 minutes thrice a week and it makes you look younger. During sex, the body produces endorphins which act as painkillers, it aids in prostate protection, helps prevent erectile dysfunction and is a very effective stress reliever. It can heal your body and mind and prevent many diseases, Lets see in these  6 ways.

1. Pain Relief

The “Honey, not today, I have a headache” cannot be an excuse any more. During sex, both male and female bodies produce endorphins, hormones that act as weak painkillers. A study conducted by Gina Ogden showed that during sexual stimulation and especially during orgasm, we don’t feel pain. If she finds another excuse, remind her that sex is good for her entire reproductive system, because it trains the PC muscle, which keeps the reproductive organs in shape. In women, sex can also increase fertility, postpone the menopause and relieve PMS symptoms.

2. Prostate Protection

Most of the fluid you ejaculate is secreted by the prostate gland. If you stop ejaculating, the fluid stays in the gland, which tends to swell, causing lots of problems. Regular ejaculation will wash those fluids out and ensure the well being of your prostate until old age. Problems may also occur when you suddenly change the frequency of ejaculations.

3. Prevents Erectile Dysfunction

Fifty per cent of men older than 40 suffer from erectile dysfunctions and all young men fear the moment when they won’t be able to get it up any more. The best medicine against impotence is…sex. An erection keeps the blood flowing through your penile arteries, so the tissue stays healthy. Plus, doctors compare an erection to an athletic reflex: the more you train the more capable you are to perform.

4. Stress Relief

It’s a scientific fact: sex can be a very effective way of reducing stress levels. During sex your body produces dopamine, a substance that fights stress hormones, endorphins, aka “happiness hormones” and oxytocin, a desire-enhancing hormone secreted by the pituitary gland.

5. Great Form of Exercise

Making love is a form of physical activity. During intercourse, the physiological changes in your body are consistent with a workout. You must have noticed that the respiratory rate rises, which means you get tired. Hence, you burn calories. If you have sex three times a week for 15 minutes (but we know you can do better than that) you’ll burn about 7.500 calories in a year. That’s the equivalent of jogging 75 miles! Heavy breathing raises the amount of oxygen in your cells, and the testosterone produced during sex keeps your bones and muscles strong.

6. Makes You Look Younger

Making love three times a week can make you look 10 years younger, claims a Scottish researcher. “It’s good for you to have good sex,” says David Weeks, a clinical neuropsychologist at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, whose study on the effects of sex on aging appears in his book, Secrets of the Super young.

Anemia is a condition in which the red blood cells in your body are of abnormally low levels. Red blood cells contain a protein called hemoglobin that is rich in iron and which helps to carry oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body. Lack of sufficient oxygen can leave you weak and fatigued. You may also experience labored breathing, dizziness, and headaches. Severe anemia can damage your brain, heart, and other organs.

What Causes Anemia?

Anemia sets in when your body doesn’t produce enough red blood cells or destroys too many red blood cells. Poor diet, pregnancy, hormonal imbalances, and diseases like cancer can result in insufficient red blood cell production in the body, while a diseased or enlarged spleen and hereditary diseases like thalassemias and sickle cell anemia can destroy red blood cells in large numbers. Anemia is most commonly caused by blood loss, which may occur due to trauma, surgery, heavy menses, or bleeding in the urinary or digestive tract.2

Although anemia can occur across ages, genders, and ethnic groups, some people might be more vulnerable.

Blood loss during menstruation ups the risk of anemia in women. Moreover, when you’re pregnant, for the first six months, your body generates more plasma (the fluid part of blood) than red blood cells. This can dilute the blood and cause anemia. You can also get anemia when you’re pregnant if your iron and folic acid levels are low.
Babies can be vulnerable if they’re born prematurely. Also, the first year is crucial – babies who are given formula that hasn’t been enriched with iron or are only given breast milk may often be deficient in iron as early as six months. Children between the ages of one and two who don’t have iron-rich foods can also get anemia, especially if they have a lot of milk, which reduces the intake of iron-rich food.
Older people are also at a higher risk of developing anemia. This could be a result of age-related nutritional deficiencies or chronic diseases such as that of the heart or kidney.3

How Does Anemia Affect The Heart?

Anemia and the heart share an uneasy equation. Almost 50% of those who have congestive heart failure are anemic.4 In people with severe heart failure, anemia can up the risk of death, which increases in proportion to the severity of anemia.5

So how does anemia disrupt the health of your heart? The low oxygen levels in your blood, as a result of anemia, mean that your heart needs to work harder and pump more blood to give your tissues and organs sufficient oxygen. So the heart beats faster and a larger volume of oxygen-rich blood is pumped out by the left ventricle with each beat. This can cause abnormally fast (tachycardia) and irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia). The size of the heart (specifically the left ventricle) can also increase (cardiomegaly) to accommodate the volume of blood that needs to be pumped. The result is often heart failure. Several studies evaluating cardiac function in subjects with anemia have found a startling correlation.6 For instance, one study by Alvares et al. found that 27% of participants (comprising adults and adolescents) with very low hemoglobin levels (an average of 5 g/dL) had congestive heart failure. On the upside, ventricular function was found to improve when hemoglobin levels rose as a result of iron therapy.7

Anemia can also have a dangerous triangular relationship with heart and kidney disease through a phenomenon called cardio-renal anemia (CRA) syndrome. What happens is that either kidney disease or heart disease reduces the secretion of the hormone erythropoietin, which has a role in stimulating the production of red blood cells. The resultant anemia, in turn, worsens cardiac function. To complicate things further, both the anemia and the heart disease also cause damage to the kidneys.

What Can You Do About Anemia?

Treatment for anemia depends on what’s causing it. For instance, your doctor may prescribe synthetic erythropoietin to encourage the production of red blood cells or hormones to stop excessive menstrual bleeding. Blood and marrow stem cell transplants may be needed in the case of sickle cell anemia or thalassemias to replace defective stem cells. Surgery may stop blood loss in some cases – for example, if you’re bleeding due to a stomach ulcer.

Anemia caused by nutritional deficiencies is easier to treat. Your doctor may prescribe supplements to address this. Also, make sure that you eat a well-balanced diet to stay healthy. You might want to pay attention to these elements in particular:
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Iron is required to make hemoglobin. Red meat, chicken, pork, and fish are good sources of iron. Green leafy vegetables like spinach, beans, lentils, peas, and tofu also contain iron; however, it’s more difficult for the body to absorb the iron present in them.
Vitamin C plays a role in the absorption of iron. Fruits and vegetables can be great sources of vitamin C. Tangerines, oranges, strawberries, brussels sprouts, broccoli, and tomatoes can help you get your daily fix.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause anemia. Having dairy products, eggs, and meat can help you get enough of this vital vitamin.
Folic Acid, a form of vitamin B, helps create and maintain new cells. Eggs, bananas, green leafy vegetables, and beef liver contain folic acid

Are  you battling any kind of addiction, the strain of managing an addiction can seriously damage your work life and relationships. Fortunately, addiction is a treatable condition.Here are 10 tips to overcome your addictions on your own.

1. Make Your Recovery A Priority

Put yourself first and stay in touch with trained professionals who know you and can provide you with comprehensive treatment options and sound advice throughout your recovery.

2. Take It One Day At A Time

Recovery is a process, not a destination. Do not let thoughts of use or old habits get the best of you. Learn techniques to overcome any negative thoughts and feelings.

3. Communicate

Addiction can be very isolating so talk to your friends and family about your challenges. While it may be tough, the support system you create will give you an enormous boost. They will be there when you need them and will help you stay motivated and focused.

4. Change Your Environment

One of the best ways to maintain a healthy recovery is to replace your bad habits with healthy, new ones. Surround yourself with positive people, things and experiences. Search out cultural events and activities in your area that can stimulate your body and mind in a new, exciting – and healthy way.

5. Change Your Friends

Some of your friends may have been enabling your addiction instead of helping you control it. If you have friends that may jeopardize your recovery, it is time to find a new circle of friends. The right friends will help you to maintain a healthy recovery.

6. Get Out And Exercise

Spending 30-60 minutes walking or at the gym will just a few days a week will do wonders for you. Exercise will not only boost your physical strength, it will boost your mental health as well.
7. Improve Your Diet

In addition to exercise, eating right is another key ingredient to a successful recovery. Whether you get help or do it on your own, improvements in diet will make you healthier mentally and physically.

8. Join A Support Group

Whether you join a church based group, AA or other social support network, they can provide wonderful value, help and wisdom to your recovery efforts.

9. Work Or Donate Some Of Your time

Being productive at your job or giving back to a cause you believe it will do wonders for your self-esteem. Making a positive contribution at work or for others will give you a wonderful sense of accomplishment and pride.
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10. Never Give Up

Whatever you do, regardless of the challenges or obstacles you face, do not give up or give in to the disease. Rely on your family, friends and support tools to keep going in the face of temptations and difficult days.

Avocado, also known as alligator pear, is native to south central Mexico and comes in an assortment of shapes, from a round cannonball to a tear drop. While depending on the variety, the flesh of the avocado can range from bright yellow to pale yellow to yellow-green, all avocados have a smooth texture and nutty flavor.

Avocado, A Health Hero

The medical anthropologist John Heinerman, in his book, Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of Healing Juices, called avocado “nature’s own green butter” and found that one avocado, about 170 g, contains: 23 mg calcium, 95 mg phosphorous, 1.4 mg iron, 9 mg sodium, 1,386 mg potassium, 660 I.U. vitamin A, 8.6 mg niacin, and 82 mg vitamin C.2

No wonder that this nutritionally dense fruit, used for making dips, chips, smoothies, salads, and other delicacies, can help reduce cholesterol. In fact, including one fresh avocado a day as part of a moderate-fat diet has shown cholesterol-lowering effects,3 and despite its high calorie content—about 110 to 180 Kcal per half, depending on the variety and size of the fruit—it shows no abnormal spike in blood sugar levels in overweight adults.

Avocado, A Skin Savior

Coming back to the fruit’s benefit for your skin, there are multiple ways of using it to tackle skin woes. Regular consumption of avocado nourishes the skin internally, and topical application of its juicy pulp or oil (extracted from the pulp, not seed) moisturizes the skin and heals dryness and acne.

Heinerman mentions that when the fruit, rich in healthy oils and fat, is regularly consumed, the sebaceous glands secrete the oily semi-fluid natural sebum that keeps the skin hydrated and also helps the muscles and joints stay agile.⁵

Supposedly, the Mayans in Central and South America consumed the fruit extensively to keep the skin youthful and supple.

How Does Avocado Help Your Skin?

For topical use, nothing works better than avocado oil, especially cold-pressed oil, because the refining process takes away a lot of nutrients. This oil is loaded with essential fatty acids, with monounsaturated oleic acid being the key ingredient that gives it a superfood-for-skin status. It comprises 63 percent oleic acid, compared with coconut oil that has only 5 to 10 percent.

It Treats Inflammation, Eczema, And Psoriasis

Oleic acid speeds up cell regeneration and wound healing and aids the body in eliminating microbial infections. This means that this fatty acid present in avocado is perfectly capable of reducing inflammation inside out, making it a good case for healing chronic skin problems like eczema and psoriasis. A 2001 study published in the journal Dermatology states that subjects with psoriasis responded very well in a 12-week period to a combination of avocado oil and vitamin B1.

It Protects Against And Reduces UV Damage

Thanks To The PFA

A 2010 study found that polyhydroxylated fatty alcohols (PFA)—a type of lipid molecules—extracted from avocado can protect the skin from UV ray–induced skin damage, and inflammation, reduce the severity of damage, and even help cut down the risk of skin cancer. The topical application of this oil or even the pulp enhances DNA repair of the skin, protecting it from malignancy.⁷

Not To Forget The Vitamins

The vitamins C and E present in avocado have shown excellent effect in protecting the skin against UV damage, with vitamin C fighting UVA damage and vitamin E fighting the DNA-altering UVB rays.⁸ So if you see your sunscreen or sunblock boasting of avocados, you know why.

It Keeps Away The Signs Of Aging

We know that when our body undergoes too much oxidation, it generates atoms and molecules called free radicals, which start reacting with the cells and damaging them. This causes inflammation as well as premature aging. And if you are undergoing these internally, your skin is bound to show it. We already know avocados relieve inflammation. Here’s how it deals with the unwanted signs of premature aging.

Its Antioxidants Prevent Skin Damage

Its antioxidants, such as vitamins C, E, and carotenoids, prohibit and sometimes also prevent excessive oxidation, keeping the skin in good condition.⁹  It’s a great idea to choose beauty products like sunscreens, moisturizers, and serums loaded with antioxidants.

Its Vits And Fats Boost Collagen

Avocado oil also contains many vitamins: A, B, D, E, K, as well as folic acid, lecithin—a fatty substance with health benefits that occur naturally in a number of plants and animals—and phytonutrients, which are beneficial chemicals produced by plants. All these help you battle aging-related skin damage by strengthening your collagen, the protein found in the skin that keeps it supple and firm.

A Quick Avocado Trick For Your Dry Skin

If you cannot find the easy-to-use pure avocado oil, here’s what you do.

• Puree the avocado pulp after deseeding the fruit.
• Mix it with yogurt or sour cream and apply on your face and neck.
• Let it stay for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Gently rinse it off with water.

This mask will do wonders for dry and sensitive skin. You can even use it on elbows, knees, and heels to rid them of the dryness.

Thanks to the many wonderful benefits of avocado on the skin listed here, getting camera-ready skin just got easier. Try it and let us know

Workouts  Done At Home For Flat Tummy.

If you are looking to achieve a flat tummy, as you already know there are several fitness regimes that you can take up or you are also perform yoga and diet plans. However, there are people who don’t have time to take themselves to a gym or a yoga center and nor they have the strong will power to follow a strong diet regime. But don’t worry. If you fall in the category of this kind of people, you must know that you can workout towards achieving a flat tummy even inside the comfort of your home.

Anyhow, first of all, you’ve to evaluate your tummy and to do that get a measuring tape, wrap it around your waist at your belly button, and check your girth. Do it while you’re standing up, and make sure the tape measure is level. For your health’s sake, you want your waist size to be less than 35 inches if you’re a woman and less than 40 inches if you’re a man.

First off, warm up your body and stretch your muscles so that you don’t injure yourself. After you do that you can go ahead with the following flat tummy workouts at home.

Flat Stomach Workout

Burpees / Squat Thrust – 3 sets 10 reps
Crunches – 3 sets 15 reps.
Hindu / Judo Push-up / Dive Bombers – 3 sets 12 reps
Mountain Climbers / Alternating Knee-ins – 3 sets 15 reps
Jump Squat – 3 sets 15 reps
Lying Leg Raise / Lift – 3 sets 15 reps
Windshield Wipers – 3 sets 15 reps
Superman / Extended Arms & Legs Lift – 3 sets 15 reps
Leg Pull-In Knee-up – 3 sets 15 reps
Side Plank – 3 sets 30 reps
Inchworm / Walk Out – 3 sets 15 reps
Plank – 3 sets 30 reps

Say mother and child and the first thing to pop into your mind is an image of a mother looking down tenderly at her baby as she feeds it. Breastfeeding has been ingeniously designed by nature to be hugely beneficial for the mother and the child. The positive outcomes are seen in health, development, and psychological factors. But can it also reduce the chances of diabetes for both baby and mommy?

Baby Benefits: Breast Beats Bottle

If a new mother is able to produce enough milk to feed her baby, that’s the ideal way to go. For a newborn, breastmilk is the most beneficial source of all nutrients, so much so that they don’t even need water when exclusively breastfed. The benefits are countless – it offers a time of bonding for the mother and child, and is easily accessible in natural and hygienic form, safe for the baby’s delicate digestive system, suited to the baby’s taste buds, and, of course, free!

Medically also breastmilk trumps any other form of nutrition. Several studies show that the baby’s body gains immensely, with decreased risks of infectious diseases, allergies, asthma, high blood pressure, respiratory ailments, and, yes, even diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes

A common development for pregnant women is gestational diabetes (hormonal changes that result in increased insulin resistance and hence pregnancy-induced diabetes).While it is caused by pregnancy and will usually subside after the mother delivers, it does linger on in some cases beyond the expected 2–3 months post-delivery. It also ups the chances of the mother developing diabetes later in life. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9% of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes and they have a 3–7 fold risk of the onset of type 2 diabetes later in life.² Breastfeeding for at least 6 months lowers the chances of the mother developing type 2 diabetes. Lactation impacts the hormonal regulation of pancreatic cells and increases glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity – both favorable outcomes.³

There’s an impact on the baby too. Gestational diabetes in the mother typically results in higher weight babies and increased chances of childhood obesity. It also means the baby has been exposed to diabetes in utero so the likelihood of type 2 diabetes later in life also increases. Breastfeeding for the first few months can neutralize this. Exclusive breastmilk for 3–6 months is associated with a lower incidence of childhood obesity and, consequently, a lower risk of type 2 diabetes in the child. This is true for children of mothers with existing type 2 diabetes or just gestational diabetes.⁴

What’s Else Is In It For Mommy?

Grandma was right. Breastfeeding for at least 6 months does help you lose that stubborn pregnancy fat.⁵ It also has been found to decrease the risk of breast and ovarian cancer and, later, in the postmenopausal stage, chances of bone fractures and osteoporosis are reduced.⁶ Incidentally, breastfeeding releases oxytocin in the body, a huge stress-buster. Given that stress can aggravate diabetes, this too helps reduce the risks.

Got Milk!

Breastfeeding exclusively for 6 months may not sound like a whole lot of fun, but it certainly brings a lot of benefits to the child and the mother. Bonding aside, the baby’s body gets its full dose of nutrients, the mother can burn away those calories, and diabetes is kept at bay! And look at it this way – you never have to stop the car hunting for a restaurant. Mamma’s got breakfast, lunch, and dinner covered!

Spices like cinnamon not only enhance sweet dishes but also work to bring down our blood sugar levels. Favored in TCM and Ayurveda for centuries, now medical practitioners are happy to let you sprinkle some cinnamon on all your foods if you are borderline or already diabetic.

Cinnamon Sticks

Rising sea levels or temperatures aren’t the only things keeping many of us awake at night. Over 80 million Americans – that’s every fourth person – are struggling with rising fasting blood-glucose levels. This is over and above the 25 million Americans already diagnosed with diabetes. While spices have traditionally played a role in healing, cinnamon has emerged as a simple but effective solution for controlling sugar levels and keeping diabetes at bay.

The bark of the cinnamon tree is the source of the cinnamon sticks and powder found in the market. Researchers have isolated a compound in the bark called methyl hydroxy chalcone polymers (MHCP). This element has been shown to increase insulin-dependent glucose metabolism by over 20 times in vitro.¹ MHCP has a two-fold action. It activates the enzyme that helps insulin to stick to the cells, while also suppressing the enzyme that blocks insulin from cell bonding. That’s a double dose of goodness, leading to greater insulin sensitivity in the body. As a result, the body responds well to insulin and is able to process glucose better, thus keeping blood sugar levels under control. And the lower the sugar level, the further you move away from diabetes.²

With or Without Sugar

It also turns out this heady spice has mildly curative properties when it comes to diabetes. That is to say, it works to keep those with elevated sugar levels (prediabetics) from crossing over and can even help control diabetes. A meta-analysis of various studies showed that the Cinnamomum spp. bark lowers the fasting blood glucose levels in both type 2 diabetics and prediabetics, with an average reduction of 3 to 5 percent.³ Another study, in which cinnamon was administered in varying amounts to participants for 40 days, found an 18–29% drop in mean fasting serum glucose.

Ancient Wisdom

Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda have always endorsed the goodness of cinnamon. TCM relies on several single-herb prescriptions for type 2 diabetes and cinnamon figures prominently in this list.⁵ Many Ayurvedic formulations also incorporate cinnamon for its bioactivity and positive effects on sugar and cholesterol levels.⁶

What To Sprinkle

Cinnamon is found in two types: Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) and Cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum Ness). These are dried, rolled into tubes known as quills, and made available either as whole quills or cinnamon sticks or as ground powder. The Portuguese were the first to discover the richness of Ceylon cinnamon and took it to many parts of the world. To this day, the best quality cinnamon, the Ceylon variety, comes from Sri Lanka. The Cassia cinnamon, though more widely available and cheaper, has one downside – higher coumarin content. This plant compound is an anticoagulant and can even damage the liver when used in large quantities.⁷ So, if you’re a big fan of cinnamon and use it a lot, get hold of the Ceylon variety.

About a teaspoon of cinnamon, sprinkled over your cereal, coffee, or salads, can keep you on the right side of the diabetes border. And it tastes great too, so what’s not to love.

To solve a difficult problem, give it to a lazy person. They will find the easiest way out – so goes the word on the street, with even people like Bill Gates echoing this wisdom! So are lazy people smarter or do they just do the bare minimum to scrape through situations? Let’s find out.

Lazy Or In Deep Thought?

One group of researchers in Florida were intrigued by what laziness really meant. Why do some people prefer a more inactive lifestyle, seemingly “deep in thought”? They administered a classic questionnaire-based test to two sets of candidates – thinkers and non-thinkers, on the basis of the trait of “need for cognition.” (The “need for cognition” is a psychology term to indicate a personality type that is more inclined toward effortful cognitive activities.) The participants were given activity trackers to wear for the following week. Results showed that the thinkers were far less active than the non-thinkers. The thinkers preferred to spend time on their own thoughts while the other group probably got bored more easily and needed physical activity to stay alert and engaged. The study did have some gaps (like weekend data not showing any difference between the groups and the impact of candidates’ occupation on activity levels not being factored in), but it gets us thinking alright. Is having the trait of “need for cognition” a direct reflection of intelligence or a decoy for laziness?¹ Although the study may have given lazy people a reason to celebrate, it appears to be early days to take it too seriously. And, in the meantime, arguments stack up on the other side!

Output Failure

In his seminal book The Myth of Laziness, Dr Mel Levine writes about how laziness is really a myth. He starts with the theory that mankind was not originally wired to be lazy. We are programmed to act, achieve, grow, and progress. We constantly seek actions that will move us forward and give us recognition and self-satisfaction. We have a basic drive to be productive. In some of us, when the actions don’t produce results, an output failure leads to low achievement, and, subsequently, lower effort – which is viewed as laziness. This is the way lazy people are wired, he explains. They need help to remove the obstacles and achieve their objective. But being branded lazy – and thus getting some validation for their laziness – doesn’t help. It just gives the mind an excuse to rationalize underachievement and be ok with it!²

Extreme Laziness?

What if laziness was not just about bunking a class or sleeping in to skip a long to-do list? What if it was much bigger than failing to try harder? A British Medical Journal report pointed out that certain people may actually have a medical condition involving extreme laziness called motivational deficiency disorder (MDD). Citing an Australian study, it suggested that the “overwhelming and debilitating apathy” can even be fatal – because a person with MDD may even lose the motivation to breathe.³ Turned out the report was an April Fool’s Day hoax! Yes, a prank, but one which sought to raise awareness against “disease mongering,” that is, over-sensationalizing common conditions such as laziness and giving them undue importance.

What Laziness May Actually Mean

Even with researchers who are at loggerheads, one consensus emerges – laziness, if overlooked, can impact your life detrimentally. Hiding under the garb of laziness can only lead you to a hugely unfulfilling life, spiraling into other health issues like obesity, low motivation levels, and depression.⁴ If your laziness also translates to a general lack of energy and fatigue that bogs you down, a vitamin or mineral deficiency (such as magnesium, B12, or iron) may be to blame and will need immediate attention. In fact, in her book The Vitamin Complex, Catherine Price points out how “scurvy [as a result of vitamin C deficiency] starts with lethargy so intense that people once believed laziness was a cause, rather than a symptom, of the disease.”⁵ Inactivity may also be the subconscious choice of a weak heart that tires quickly, while depression may compel you to be lazy, anti-social, and reclusive.

Ancient sciences like Ayurveda too refuse to condone laziness, suggesting simple and natural routines to keep the various doshas in balance and avoid the sloth bug. Ideally, we should be able to enjoy the creativeness of vata, the intelligence from pitta, and the steadiness from kapha. Excess kapha dosha can manifest in laziness and lethargy, and you can undo this by spending more time outdoors and through exercise and movement.⁶

Don’t Glorify Laziness

Researchers have tried but, for now, there isn’t any conclusive proof to suggest that lazy folks are actually much more intelligent and just prefer a thoughtful and inactive life. On the other hand, laziness can point to physical, mental, and motivational issues that may require immediate intervention. Remember, humans are wired to be active and productive. So do watch out for excessive laziness and sort out the root cause