Apple Crepes (Healthy Diabetic Recipe)

Here is an exotic dish that is an ideal pick for special occasions. Apples are rich in fibre, making this dish acceptable for diabetics too. Crepes come out well when made with plain flour, as done in this recipe. I have also used low fat butter, which is easily available in the market today – it is good for use in such desserts where butter is required for texture and flavour.

Preparation Time: 10 mins

Cooking Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

For The Pancakes

1/4 cup plain flour

1/4 cup cornflour

3/4 cup low fat milk (99.7% fat-free) 

a pinch salt

1/4 tsp melted low fat butter

For The Apple Filling

2 tsp low fat butter

2apples,thickly sliced

1 tbsp sugar substitute

1/4 tsp cinnamon (dalchini) powder

1 tsp lemon juice

Other Ingredients

1/2 tsp low fat butter for greasing

Method For the pancakes

1. Combine the plain flour, cornflour, milk, salt and ¼ cup of water in a bowl, mix well till no lumps remain. Keep aside.
2. Grease a non-stick pan with the butter and pour 2 tbsp of the batter, tilt the pan around quickly so that the batter coats the pan evenly.
3. When the sides starts to peel off, turn the pancake around and cook the other side for a few seconds.
4. Repeat with the remaining batter to make 4 more pancakes. Keep aside.

For the apple filling

1. Heat the butter in a non-stick pan, add the apple slices, sugar substitute, cinnamon, lemon juice and 2 tbsp of water and mix well.
2. Cook on a medium flame till the apple slices are cooked, stirring once in between.
3. Divide the apple filling into 5 equal portions. Keep aside.

How to proceed

1. Place a pancake on a dry, flat surface and place a portion of the apple filling on one half of the pancake.
2. Fold the pancake over the filling to make a semi circle.
3. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make 4 more crepes.
4. Serve immediately.

Tips

1. Do not overcook the apples as the filling will become soggy, making it difficult to serve the crepes.

Diets for Women Over 60

Sixties are the time when you seriously start thinking about your health issues. Even those who never thought twice before eating anything in their life, suddenly start counting calories in their food as soon as they are on the wrong side of fifty. Women especially should be more careful about what they eat and how they lead their lifestyle after 60. They become susceptible to many disorders such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, which result from brittle bones and loss of muscle mass. Other lifestyle disorders such as hypertension and diabetes also raise their ugly head. In addition, women also have to fight certain other health issues which may originate from lack of female hormones after menopause. A healthy diet for women can help take care of most of the problems that may surface as a result of aging. 

What are the Effective Diets for Women Over 60

Elderly people usually require more proteins, calcium and other nutrients. The nutritional requirement of elderly and children is often the same. You need adequate amounts of starchy carbs, proteins, fats etc., for your body to function properly. Eating everything in moderation is the key to staying healthy in this age. Do not opt for any fad diets or low carb diets in order to lose weight. Remember, the weight loss at this age may come from muscles rather than fat. Hence, it is best to avoid any extreme weight loss program even though you might be on a heavier side. 

Nonetheless, you still need to keep a watch on your calorie intake. You may never had any trouble with weight until now. Hence, you might not have paid any particular attention to the calories in your diet. However, as you age, your body does not need the same number of calories that it needed when you led an active lifestyle. Hence, all these excess calories may now get converted into fat. Thus, you might wonder why you have suddenly started putting on weight even though you haven't made any significant changes to your diet. In short, you may need about 200 calories less than what you required during your active lifestyle. However, the same does not apply to women, who lead a very active lifestyle, even at 60. 

If you are already into eating healthy, you may not have to alter your diet significantly. However, there are some considerations regarding diet that you should take into account. You may want to increase your intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meat, whole cereals, pulses and dairy products. Opt for low fat dairy products, as they are a good source of protein and calcium. Increase your intake of foods rich in iron and calcium. Besides, eat fibrous foods as fibre can get rid of problems such as constipation. In addition, you can also refer to the following healthy diet over 60 to get some cues. 

Breakfast

• 1 sliced tomato, cucumber
• 1 boiled egg
• 1 slice of brown bread
• 1 serving of cottage cheese
• 1 small pot of fat free yogurt
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 small piece of fruit

Lunch

• Steamed vegetables
• A slice of grilled salmon/ tuna/ swordfish
• Chicken breast
• 2 tbsp of steamed brown rice/ wholemeal pasta
• 1 piece of fruit

Snacks

• 1 apple
• Carrot sticks
• 2 pieces of dark chocolate
• Apricots

Dinner

• Sliced cucumber, tomato and lettuce
• Cubes of low fat cheese
• Boiled chicken
• Tinned tuna/ sardines
• 1 small pot of fat free yogurt
• 1 piece of fruit

As much as you want to be careful about your diet, you also need to let go of certain bad habits such as smoking, drinking etc. Besides, maintain a strict schedule of moderate exercises to stay fit.

How Does Diabetes and Hypertension Affect Your Brain Health

Diabetes occurs when the body is unable to regulate the amount of glucose released into the bloodstream after eating a meal. This can have a long term impact on the diabetic who will find that the condition will affect everything from their waterworks to their brain function.

Studies have repeatedly shown that diabetes slows down mental function and impairs the ability to complete cognitive tasks quickly and easily. Language is also affected as is the ability to recall information. It should be noted however, that the results of the studies found that although mental function was compromised, it did not interfere with daily life.

Although diabetics have general health concerns due to the nature of their condition, having diabetes also increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke. These factors increase the likelihood of memory problems.

Studies have also found that patients with severe diabetes have poor cognitive abilities because the nerves cells in the brain were damaged due to the disease. The chance of developing Alzheimer's or Dementia was found to be highest in those with poorly controlled diabetes. This should set alarm bells ringing for all diabetics, as it is just another problem to add to their list of current problems.

Hypertension is when a patient repeatedly suffers from high blood pressure, or where blood pressure is uncontrolled so as to cause concern for the sufferer. Some of the main problems associated with hypertension include a greater risk of heart attacks and strokes. The other main concern with hypertensive patients is that the high blood pressure can cause a brain haemorrhage.

A brain haemorrhage occurs when the blood vessels inside the brain burst due to increased pressure, causing bleeding in the brain. Hypertension can also cause aneurysms in the brain. These are weakened vessels in the brain where the blood pools together and bulges. Left untreated, an aneurysm can burst causing a haemorrhage and eventually severe brain damage or even death.

It is important to understand that the severity of a haemorrhage due to hypertension is made worse by the presence of diabetes, which can further weaken the blood vessels in the brain. In patients who have both hypertension and diabetes, managing both conditions is critical to preserving their brain health.

One of the worst aspects of aging is the effect it has on the brain and all mental abilities. Naturally as the body ages, so too does the mind. Having a condition such as diabetes and hypertension can easily age your brain quicker than it would a healthy person.

Preventing brain ageing requires looking after one's health coupled with training your brain. This will improve performance and delay the onset of age related memory problems. Taking simple measures such as eating less salt and sugar, decreasing the amount of fat in your diet and eating lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and oily fish all help to improve overall health as well as brain health. Measures should be taken to control diabetes and hypertension correctly, and it is advised to see your doctor who can decide on the best treatment for you.

Do not underestimate the power of exercise either, as this helps to reduce blood pressure and helps to bring high blood sugar levels on an even keel. A healthy diet and exercise is the minimum requirement to look after your body and your brain.

As a diabetic or hypertensive, you should also take brain training very seriously if you want to prevent long-term memory and mental problems. Research has found that those who train their brains with specific exercises and challenge their minds with daily puzzles have sharper minds than those who do not.

A proper brain training program should be an integral part of your lifestyle if you want to stay mentally active for years to come.

Benefits and Sources of Omega-3

Omega-3 is the fatty acids which are considered very essential for the human health, but our body cannot make them. Omega-3 fattyacids can only be obtained through diet. The three most important types of omega-3 are DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), EPA (eicosaoentaenoic acid), and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). The ALA omega fatty acid is found mainly in plants, while DHA and EPA are mainly found in seafood. Omega-3 fatty acids are very effective in preventing and treating heart diseases and also plays a vital role in the brain development and function. Omega-3 fatty acids are also known as polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Benefits of Omega-3

High cholesterol

Intake of omega-3 fatty acids promotes higher HDL (good cholesterol) levels and decreases fat in the blood. People living in the coastal areas tend to have higher HDL due to the consumption of fatty fish. Fatty fish like salmon and mackerel are an abundant source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Heart Disease

A diet full of polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats and low in saturated fats is very helpful in dealing with heart diseases. The DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosaoentaenoic acid) present in omega-3 fatty acids lowers the risk of developing a cardiovascular disease. The omega-3 fatty acids prevent the development of plaque and blood clots, which can block any artery or vein and restricts the normal blood flow to the heart. The antioxidants present in the omega-3 fatty acid aids in the healthy blood flow.

Diabetes

Diabetic patients have high levels of triglyceride and LDL (bad cholesterol) due to high blood sugarlevels. Omega-3 fatty acids lower down the high triglyceride and apoproteins which are the main cause behind the development of diabetes.

Depression and Anxiety

Depression is one of the most common mental problems in the world. Omega-3 fatty acids are loaded with antioxidants. These antioxidants provide the brain with a constant flow of fresh blood. Omega-3 is also essential in combating the signs of nervousness and anxiety.  Omega-3 fatty acids provide several benefits such as better communication skills, higher intelligence, and reduce the risk of cerebral palsy and autism.

Eyes health

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for sharp vision. The DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) found in the omega-3, is a constructional element of the brain nerve, which connects with the eyes. Intake of omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for the health of the retina in the eye and may prevent the macular de-generation, which can lead to vision impairment and blindness.

Sources of Omega-3

Here are some foods, which are very high per omega-3 fatty acids.

1.      Salmon

Omega-3 content: 2260 mg per 100 grams

2.      Mackerel

Omega-3 content: 5134 mg per 100 grams

3.      Cod liver oil

Omega-3 content: 2264 mg per one tablespoon

4.      Oysters

Omega-3 content: 672 mg per 100 grams

5.      Caviar ( fish eggs )

Omega-3 content: 6789 mg per 100 grams

6.      Walnut

Omega-3 content:  2542 mg in one ounce

7.      Soybeans

Omega-3 content: 1443 mg per 100 grams

8.      Flaxseed

Omega-3 content: 2338 mg in one tablespoon

9.      Tuna

Omega-3 content: 5767 mg per 100 grams

Symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency you should watch out

Just like several other vitamins that our body requires for better functioning, vitamin B12 plays a pivotal role in producing and maintaining healthy nerves and blood cells. It also plays an important role in carrying oxygen from the red blood cells. So, vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to health problems that could have been easily avoided if you have had a proper diet that can provide you all the necessary vitamins levels including vitamin B12 levels. Now that you know how valuable vitamin B12 is for you, the important question that arises is how much dosage of vitamin B12 does a normal healthy person require on a regular basis? You need at least 2.4 mcg of vitamin B12 to keep the nagging ailments at bay that might be connected to the deficiency of B12.

Below are some of the vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms you need to watch out for:

Numbness

Deficiency of B12 may cause your nerves to shrink making you feel numb. You may not be aware of an interesting fact that this vitamin helps create myelin, which is the protective covering for your nerves. Therefore, if you have been feeling sudden numbness lately, it could be one of the signs of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Exhaustion

Do you feel extremely tired or weak and run out of breath just after a few minutes of walking or sometimes without evening doing anything at all? Well, it could be because you are missing on vitamin B12. Lack of this nutrient makes it difficult for the red blood cells to supply enough oxygen which eventually makes you feel weak.

Makes you look pale

Another common sign that indicates that you don’t have enough vitamin B12 is having a pale looking skin. If you are vitamin B12 deficient, your skin may start losing its healthy glow. Some researchers have also found that severe deficiency of B12 could result in jaundice. So it's advisable to get yourself checked as soon as possible.

Diabetes

Not every diabetic is vitamin B12 deficient. But if you have type 1 or type 2 Diabetes, chances are that you may be deficient in Vitamin B12.

Depression

You may probably know that serotonin is a neurotransmitter that keeps you happy and low levels of serotonin may lead to depression. But what you may not know is that vitamin B12 helps in the production of this neurotransmitter. Therefore, if you notice any signs ofdepression or frequent moods swings, you may want to check your vitamin B12 levels.

Being forgetful

Vitamin B12 plays a key role in your brain's functioning and its deficiency may affect cognitive functions resulting in memory loss and dementia, especially in senior citizens.

Basic knowledge on diabetes

Why should we care about Diabetes?

Diabetes is a very common disorder to an extent that up to 12% of population in Delhi is diabetic and another 15-20 % is pre-diabetic. Diabetes is a disorder with very serious consequences if not treated well. And it is very costly to treat diabetic complications than to prevent them. The problem with diabetes is that it affects quality of life much more than quantity of life.

What causes Diabetes?

Diabetes occurs when the pancreas, a gland behind the stomach, does not produce enough of the hormone insulin, or the body can’t use insulin properly due resistance to its action.

What is pre-diabetes?

In Pre-diabetes, person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Pre-diabetes is also known as Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) or Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG)

What are different types of Diabetes Mellitus?

Type 1

Diabetes occurs when the pancreas makes very little or no insulin. This form of the disease is most often seen in children. 

Type 2

Body is resistant to the action of insulin, meaning it cannot use insulin properly, so it cannot carry sugar into the cells.

Other types

Gestational Diabetes (occurring in pregnant females) and secondary forms of diabetes like pancreatic DM.

What are the Risk factors for developing Diabetes Mellitus?

Main risk factors for developing diabetes are:

• Being overweight
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Family history of diabetes
• History of gestational diabetes
• Age
• Ethnic/racial background
• African
• Hispanic/Latino
• Native American
• Asian

What are the symptoms that should alert you to see your doctor?

• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Constant hunger
• Weight loss
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue, or a feeling of being tired
• Frequent fungal infections
• Very slow healing of wounds or sores

What can be the serious long-term problems due to diabetes?

Diabetes can affect your entire organ systems including:

• Eyes: Decreased vision and even blindness.
• Kidney disease: Change in size and function of kidneys which can result in decrease in urine output and swelling of body.
• Nervous system: Diabetes can result in stroke (weakness of some part of body like left/right hand or leg), abnormal sensation in both feet which can extend to arms also and eventually lead to complete loss of sensations.
• Heart: Diabetes, if uncontrolled, can lead to heart attacks.
• Diabetic foot: Diabetes is leading cause of non-traumatic foot amputations. A combination of loss of sensation and decreased blood supply to your feet make it more prone to trauma and subsequent infection.

Why should I treat my Diabetes?

Keeping your glucose levels close to normal will greatly lower your chances of developing long-term complications.

If you already have complications, keeping your glucose levels close to normal will help keep these problems from getting worse.

What are goals of Diabetes Treatment?

Goals of treatment in Diabetes are two-fold

• Control of your blood sugar, so that you do not have symptoms like weight loss, increased urination etc.
• Early identification and treatment of diabetic complications like eye disease, heart disease and kidney disease

What is HbA1c?

HbA1c stands for Glycosalated haemoglobin or Glycated haemoglobin. HbA1c is also called as the blood test with a memory. It gives a person’s average blood glucose control for 2-3 month period before the test.

What are the tests that are required to monitor Diabetes progression?

Tests for Diabetes can be divided into three tiers according to frequency^*:

• On Daily basis: Blood sugar with glucometer
• Every Three Monthly: HbA1c, Blood glucose from lab, Lipid profile
• Every yearly: Haemogram, LFTs, KFTs, Urine evaluation, HbA1c, Lipid Profile, Eye checkups, foot examination

* Frequency can vary as per your doctor’s discretion.

How should I manage my Diabetes?

Management of diabetes involves three main components.

• Diet
• Exercise
• Medication (oral or insulin 

World Obesity Day: It’s time we start controlling obesity

Studies reveal that India will be at the helm of diabetes by 2050 if the abdominal and lower limb obesity and metabolic syndrome are not taken care of. Alarmed by the reports, the Health Ministry of India has reduced the cut-off for body mass index (BMI) to 23 kg/m2 to fight the battle against obesity. If your BMI is over 23 kg/m2, then you are considered overweight. The global standard for this is a BMI of 25 kg/m2. So, someone considered healthy by most international standards, might be overweight in India! BMI is the ratio of the body weight in kg versus height in m2. 

The guidelines were released jointly by the Health Ministry, the Diabetes Foundation of India, the All-India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Indian Council of Medical Research, the National Institute of Nutrition and 20 other health organisations - Those with BMI of 25 kg/m2 will be clinically termed obese (as opposed to 30 kg/m2 at the international level) and those with BMI of 32.5 kg/m2 will require bariatric surgery to eliminate excess flab.

Along with the BMI guidelines, they have also released guidelines cut-offs for waist measurement at 90 cm for Indian men (as opposed to 102 cm globally) and 80 cm for Indian women (as opposed to 88 cm at the international level).

The study says one in every three Indians has high triglyceride (bad cholesterol) levels and 30-70 per cent has low levels of HDL (good cholesterol). For every 10 extra kilograms above the stipulated body weight (measured according to height), life expectancy of a person reduces by three years – the report said.

By the new obesity guidelines, every second person in Delhi fulfils the criteria of obesity or has excess abdominal fat and nearly one-fourth of the adolescent population in the capital has metabolic syndrome that heralds the onset of heart diseases and diabetes. So, what are planning to do, to avoid obesity? Here are some ways.

How to control over-eating

Are you tired of your binge eating habit? Do you find yourself giving into temptation to gorge down delicious food and before you can control it’s too late and the damage of consuming excessive calories is already done? Why do we find ourselves making the same mistake over and over again and how can you salvage the situation and control overeating in future?

The need to obsessively over eat is mostly triggered by emotional factors. Either you are too sad, too happy, too tired or simply bored when you get this intense urge to eat. Some studies even blame our ancestors for our compulsive binging behaviour. According to them, our primal ancestors were hunters and gatherers and went without food for long periods, so once they found it they would eat everything they could get their hands on.  The latest research suggests that starving leads to overeating and is also responsible for slowing down of metabolism. This leads to storing of food in our bellies which is linked to heart diseases and acquiring diabetes type 2.

A binging outburst can set you back to a minimum of 1000 calories per meal and above your daily calorie intake. This means that you could be potentially adding up to 1 kg each time you have 2 bags of chips while just chilling in front of the TV!

Knowing your triggers can help you minimise the damage. The logic behind cravings for high carbohydrates or sugar foods is that as they spike insulin levels in the body and release endorphins, also known as the pleasure hormone. This is the actual trigger that causes us to binge over and over again. There is a healthier alternative to this addiction. There are studies that have proved that exercise can also trigger the same happy hormone. Besides the fact exercise is great for health and helps keeping the lifestyle related disorders at bay.

The biggest downside to seeking solace in high sugar/carbohydrate food for emotional need is that over a period of time your body develops a natural resistance towards them. So your body craves more quantities to get the same desired effect. For e.g. If one slice of cake was enough to make you feel good before with time you will need at least two slices to trigger the same feeling.  It’s a tricky situation to get dependent to relieve stress or solve any other emotional conditions. Eventually it’s a mind over matter game. If you can understand your action you can control your behaviour in time and prevent causing damage to your health.

Home remedies for Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is caused by the invasion of bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) into the urinary tract. From the opening of the urethra the bacteria enter and move into the urinary tract. If the infection is in the lower urinary tract, the condition is called cystitis, and if the infection is in the urethra, the condition is known as urethritis. UTI is a combination of both these conditions. Holding back urine for too long is one of the main causes as the bladder gets stretched beyond its capacity and the muscles also weaken. Hence, the weakened bladder will have more difficulty in emptying itself which further leads to infections. It is observed that women are more susceptible to UTI infection for two main reasons: they have a smaller urethra than men and their urethral opening is close to the vagina where the bacteria usually reside. Being pregnant also increases the risk of the infection as the bladder is under lot of pressure by the uterus. In men, a bladder stone, an enlarged prostate, or a sexually transmitted disease like gonorrhoea are some possible causes of UTI. Sexual intercourse, diabetes, and menopause are the other causes.

UTI is characterised by a strong and immediate need to urinate, followed by a slow and painful release of extremely less urine. It also shows signs of soreness in the lower abdomen, back, or sides. Blood inurine, nausea, vomiting, and fever are some common symptoms observed in both men and women.

Urinary tract infection home remedies

• One of the best natural ways to treat UTI is to drink lots of water. Drinking fluids will help you to urinate more often and flush out the bacteria. It is recommended to have 6 - 8 glasses of water per day.
• Daily intake of vitamin C will increase the acidity content of urine and prevent bacterial growth. Intake of 1000 mg of vitamin C everyday is quite effective in preventing the recurring infections.
• Cranberry juice is rich in vitamin C and quinolinic acid; both of them are helpful in curing UTI by preventing the bacteria from anchoring onto the bladder walls. Drinking 12 to 24 oz of cranberry juice for few days can be highly effective.
• Echinacea is a herb that helps in fighting the infection. Drinking Echinacea tea or consuming high-quality 300 mg Echinacea capsules or tablets once per day can be extremely beneficial.
• Apple cider vinegar contains high concentration of enzymes and potassium which help in preventing the bacterial growth. Most of the UTI patients are found to be deficient in nutritious enzymes and potassium, hence, apple cider vinegar can be used as a natural antibiotic to flush out the infection.
• For the cure and prevention, it is strongly recommended to have foods rich in fibre content along with water. This will help in naturally flushing the impurities along with bacteria, from the body.
• Drinking a glass of water with ½ a teaspoon of baking soda causes the infection to subside.
• Include blueberries in your breakfast as they have the ability to fight bacteria.
• Including pineapples is yet another way to fight this infection. Pineapples consist of an enzyme called bromelain that helps in alleviating the infection symptoms.

Urinary tract infection can be treated with oral antibiotics or antibacterial drugs. The type of drug and the treatment duration depends upon the patient's history and the urine tests that identify the bacteria. Oral antibiotics include trimethoprim, cephalosporins, tetracycline or amoxicillin, or nitrofurantoin can be given to the patient, but only if advised by a medical expert. Intake of pain-relieving medication also relieves the patient from the pain and discomfort. Urinary tract infection, if not treated in time, may spread to the kidneys. The remedial measures mentioned above do help reduce the symptoms of UTI but expert medical advice is a must.

Time For A Break: Five-Point Stress Busters

It is difficult to point out one way in which stress can affect you. Psychologists believe it can harm you in multiple ways; that it is, in fact, a ‘silent killer’. Unfortunately, in today’s highly competitive world, the number of people suffering from stress is rapidly increasing.

90% of the working class is stressed because of some reason. Once you are stressed, you lose concentration in addition to inviting diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, tension and migraine.

However, experts opine that beating stress isn’t that difficult if a person is aware of it. Here are 5 easy ways to bust it:

Vent It Out

One of the major reasons for stress, according to psychologists, is the bottling up of emotions. The best way to get rid of it is by venting out the frustration. Write down everything that is happening within you. Everything will be in black and white in front of you. That also helps in getting to know what causes stress and ultimately in resolving the issues.

Good Food, Good Life

Diet directly influences the brain’s neurotransmitter system, thus influencing one’s mood. Diet that is rich in carbohydrates relieves depression but increases chances of disorders such as carbohydrate craving and obesity. A well-balanced diet rich in protein and micronutrients, moderate in carbohydrates and low in fat generally improves the mood.

Indulge In Love Making

When the feeling of compassion is triggered, it is out to enhance your mood. Science suggests that good sex reduces pain and discomfort. The body also releases oxytocin-the love hormone-during sex which makes a person happy. Talk and share while making love. An engaging foreplay is also a certified way to reduce tension, say sexologists.

Meditate And Relax

At a time when work schedule are jam-packed, a few minutes in quiet can help reduce stress. Working professionals should spend a few minutes with themselves every day. Shut your eyes for a few minutes and release stress with positive affirmations like “I’m happy” or “I’m at peace”.

Take A Break

Networking can help as much as being alone. Be in the company of happy people in order to reduce negativity. Other ways to beat stress include going for a walk, watching a movie or talking to a friend.