Why drink water with cucumber? What’s so special about adding some sliced veggies to your water? It’s actually more beneficial than you might think! Here are just some of the benefits of cucumber water that I’ve discovered.
*It lowers your blood pressure.
*It supports healthy skin.
*It boosts bone health.
*It helps with weight loss.
*It keeps you hydrated.
*It delivers antioxidants.
Antioxidants are substances that help prevent and delay cell damage from oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Oxidative stress can lead to chronic conditions like:
-cancer
-diabetes
-heart disease
-Alzheimer’s
-eye degeneration
Research has shown that antioxidants may be able to reverse or stop this damage. This is why you should each fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants. Cucumbers fall into this category. They’re rich in:
All the nutrients required by a pregnant woman can entirely be found in eggs.
Eggs have been reported to contain endless benefits.
This special food plays varied important roles during pregnancy, notes REBECCA MALACHI, pregnancy nutrition and lifestyle expert.
Here are some of the many benefits of eggs to a pregnant woman;
1. Boosts infant’s brain and memory
Eggs have high amounts of choline which may help in boosting the memory of an infant and increase the ability to interpret information. One egg yolk contains about 115mg of choline that can promote the development of your foetus’ brain.
2. High protein content
Eggs are known as protein giving foods. Proteins are reported to be the building blocks of cell and they are, therefore, required for the development of the fetus. Eating eggs while pregnant will provide the baby with enough protein required for development purposes.
3. Helps to regulate cholesterol
Eggs contain good cholesterol that is required by the mom and her unborn child. Eggs help balance cholesterol deposits in the body. Pregnant ladies should avoid eating eggs yolks as they can pose more dangers to the fetus. They should always stick to egg whites and avoid egg yolks.
4. Rich in Vitamins A, D, E, K
For a healthy life throughout your pregnancy period, you will need some of these nutrients found in eggs. They are fat-soluble vitamins that play an integral role in sprucing up the development of lungs, heart, eyes, kidney and other organs of the fetus.
A team of eye doctors in California tested their skills on an unusual patient — a western lowland gorilla.
Working with veterinarians from the San Diego Zoo, an eye surgeon removed a cataract from the left eye of a three-year-old female named Leslie on December 10, zoo officials announced.
They said the surgery was performed at the zoo’s medical center and Leslie was recovering well.
The surgeon who performed the procedure, Chris Heichel, said that while he had carried out thousands of eye surgeries on human patients, this was his first on a gorilla.
“Fortunately, the similarities between the anatomy of human and gorilla eyes are great enough to allow us to safely navigate the procedure without complication,” he said in a statement issued by the zoo.
“The remainder of the eye appeared to be in excellent health, indicating exceptional vision potential for the rest of Leslie’s life.”
The procedure involved removing the cloudy lens from Leslie’s eye and inserting a new artificial lens that should provide the gorilla with clear vision for the rest of her life.
A cataract is a clouding of the clear lens behind the colored part of the eye, known as the iris. Cataracts typically develop over time, as part of the normal aging process, but they can also be caused by trauma to the eye. Once a cataract develops, the lens becomes progressively cloudier and vision deteriorates.
Zoo officials said they suspect Leslie’s cataract resulted from an injury, either from a fall or while playing with other young gorillas in her troop.
Cropped shot of an unrecognizable woman holding a negative pregnancy test
What is infertility? A couple is diagnosed as infertile if their efforts towards attaining a pregnancy have been unsuccessful over the course of one year. For a newlywed couple looking to start a family, infertility can be very devastating.
There are many factors that make both men and women infertile i.e for men low sperm count, STD, infections and many more.
For women, irregular period, PCOS, weight gain, blocked fallopian tubes due to serious infection, etc.
The natural solution I am talking about is no other than what we call SCENT LEAF. Some of us call it EFFIRIN, in my own tribe, it is called obiowadu and the Igbo call it NCHANWU.
MANY PEOPLE COOK FOOD WITH THIS LEAF WITHOUT KNOWING ITS HEALTH BENEFIT.
Well, if you cook with this leaf keep it up as I expose the truth about it.
Scent leaf is a wonderful leaf in Africa that many have less or no knowledge of the amazing health benefits, do you know you can use scent leaf to cure many diseases and infertility problems
SCENT LEAF AND FERTILITY.
All the questions people ask on scent leaf and fertility like scent leaf and conception, scent leaves and female fertility and so on. Scent has benefits for male and female sexual organs. The compounds in Scent can overcome the problem of premature ejaculation in men. The content epigenin fenkhona and eugenol in it can facilitate erection.
Additionally, arginine substances contained in the leave can strengthen sperm vitality and prevent infertility. For scent leaf and female fertility, Scent leaves are rich in anetol and boron compounds. It is capable of inducing the hormone estrogen.
It’s Eugenol compound is also able to kill the fungus that causes the vaginal discharge. In addition, stigmasterol substances in the Scent may stimulate the egg maturation. Tannin and zinc reduce the secretion of vaginal fluid. There is also a substance called tryptophan that can delay menopause making scent leaves one of the herbs for fertility over 40.
Furthermore, if you are looking for herbs to help get pregnant fast, herbs to get pregnant fast, fertility herbs for twins. scent leaf and fertility are not exaggerated. It is also part of herbal teas to increase fertility and natural fertility treatments at home.
It helps with infertility problems, scent leaf will not only improve your health but will help you become a proud person.
It boosts fertility in both male n female reproductive organs.
It strengthens sperm vitality and works well to prevent infertility.
Just make scent leaf often or use it in cooking (for tea, 3-4 times a week). To make as tea, buy or pluck scent leaf, wash thoroughly, add a pinch of salt, then squeeze all the juice out of it.
Then drink as tea, but its preferable to use in cooking as often as possible.
Please note!!! Stop drinking scent leaf juice as soon as you find out you are pregnant, it might cause miscarriage…
God bless you as you go through this journey.
If you find this article helpful, please comment and share…
Two teenage sisters, who claimed they had circumcised each other on Christmas Eve, have been freed by a court after the prosecution failed to prefer charges against them.
The two girls aged 16 and 14 said they had performed the ‘operation’ in their grandmother’s house.
A medical checkup at the Narok County Referral Hospital revealed that they had fresh cuts on their genitals.
While releasing the two sisters, Narok Chief Magistrate George Wakahiu directed the children’s office to counsel the minors because of the trauma associated with the event.
The girls are in class six and seven at a local primary school in Narok West.
The girls, who had been missing for several days, were arrested last week after the authorities received a tip-off from members of the public who suspected they had gone to be circumcised.
The sisters said they lived with their grandmother because life at home was unbearable due to regular quarrels between their parents.
Cases of female genital mutilation are rampant in Narok but the vice is carried out in great secrecy for fear of arrest and prosecution.
The prosecution’s case collapsed on this occasion after the State failed to secure any witnesses to testify against the girls.
Incidents of teenagers claiming to have ‘circumcised themselves’ have been on the rise as the government clamps down on the practitioners of the illegal act.
Last month, teenagers in West Pokot County reportedly resorted to ‘cutting’ themselves after female circumcisers downed their tools for fear of being arrested.
Anti-FGM Board chair Agnes Pareiyo, however, is confident that the vice will be eradicated by 2022.
People who walk to work are around 40 percent less likely to have diabetes as those who drive, according to a new study.
Researchers at Imperial College London and University College London examined how various health indicators related to people get to work, using data from a survey of 20,000 people across the UK.
They found that cycling, walking, and using public transport were all associated with lower risk of being overweight than driving or taking a taxi.
People who walk to work were also 17 percent less likely than people who drive to have high blood pressure.
Cyclists were around half as likely to have diabetes as drivers.
High blood pressure, diabetes, and being overweight are all major risk factors for heart and circulatory disease, the UK’s biggest killer.
The researchers said people could reduce their risks of serious health problems such as heart attacks by avoiding using a car.
“This study highlights that building physical activity into the daily routine by walking, cycling or using public transport to get to work is good for personal health,” said Anthony Laverty, from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London.
Nineteen percent of working age adults who use private transport — such as cars, motorbikes or taxis — to get to work were obese, compared to 15 percent of those who walked and 13 percent of those who cycled to work, Medical Xpress reported.
“The variations between regions suggest that infrastructure and investment in public transport, walking and cycling can play a large role in encouraging healthy lives, and that encouraging people out of the car can be good for them as well as the environment,” said Laverty.
Tens of thousands of pigs have died from African swine fever in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province, officials said Thursday, the first time the virus has been detected in the country.
The disease has devastated swine herds in China and elsewhere in Asia, and initially Indonesia authorities put the death of 27,000 pigs down to hog cholera — a different virus with similar symptoms.
But Fadjar Sumping Tjatur Rasa, an official at Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture, told AFP that laboratory tests had recorded evidence of African swine fever in 16 regencies and cities in North Sumatra.
“It had never (before) occurred in Indonesia,” he added.
While the virus cannot be transmitted to humans, it is almost 100 percent fatal in pigs.
Although Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim nation — and eating pork is forbidden by the Koran — the country also boasts a small Christian majority in North Sumatra, and Bali is a Hindu island whose signature dish is roast pig.
The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Agency said it was working with the government on containment, but the outbreak in Indonesia poses unique challenges.
Unlike China, where huge herds are reared and processed in factory-like conditions and outbreaks can be contained, in Indonesia most pigs are raised in backyard sties or on small farms, and sold at markets where the virus can easily spread.
Outbreaks of African swine fever have also been recorded in Myanmar, Laos, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and East Timor.
A Paediatrician with the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Abeokuta, Dr. Joyce Akinseinde has advised Nigerians to embrace fasting and regular walks to stay healthy.
Besides, she counselled them on the intake of a minimum of eight sachets of water in the harmattan season and less in other seasons per day.
Dr. Akinseinde, who gave the advice at the maiden thanksgiving and get-together of the community development area of Ogo – Oluwa-Ori-Osoko Community, said the incidence of sudden death can be reduced if regular blood pressure checks are undertaken.
“Our eating habit should be reexamined. Our intake of swallow should be the size of fisted hands with generous vegetables”.
“This is important because experience has shown that we cannot discourage our people from eating eba and fufu, among other carbohydrates,” the Doctor stated”.
Speaking on tackling diarrhoea in children, the medical practitioner advised mothers to have ORS readily available at home to replace lost water through watery stooling and vomiting.
While she educated mothers on self- preparation and administration of ORS, the Doctor added that resorting to medical consultation is advised.
Earlier in his admonition, the Chairman of Oba Community Development Council (CDC), housing over two hundred community development areas (CDA), Imam Seidu Olabode, lauded the Mr. Obajimi Oni led – executives for inaugurating the Elders/Peace committee.
He, however, advised the executives not to “behave like one former President who said the advice of his Special Advisers may not be binding on him”.
Olabode admonished that the executives to disregard name-calling if they want to continue to be impactful.
In his welcome address, the Ogo Oluwa Ori-Osoko Community Chairman, Mr. Obajimi Oni, said the recent grading of the community road would not have been possible without the cooperation of members.
He appealed to other members of the community who have been sitting on the fence to partake in their activities, “since this executive will also give accounts of its stewardship quarterly.”
Oranges are one of the most popular fruits around the world, but the orange peel is a different deal altogether as it is the healthiest part of the fruit.
However, people tend to throw away the peel because they’re unaware of what it’s capable of. Orange peels contain nearly three to four times the fiber of the actual fruit and flavonoids. Isn’t that amazing?
Studies have proven that the orange flesh contains about 71 milligrams of vitamin C while the peel contains over 136 milligrams. Can you see why you need to rethink the act of disposing orange peels?
We’ll be highlighting how your health can be impacted when you consume orange peels. Here are the health benefits of orange peels.
1. Treats diabetes
Orange peels are rich in pectin, a fiber that is known to regulate blood sugar levels. This goes a long way to help people with diabetes. The glycemic load of the fruit is just 5, which means orange peel causes only a small rise in blood sugar.
2. Promotes healthy heart
According to research, a diet containing citrus fruits, such as oranges, offers protection against cardiovascular disease due to the folate present in it. Orange peels are rich in a flavonoid called hesperidin and possess anti-inflammatory properties. Since most heart diseases are caused by inflammation, orange peels will help protect your heart.
3. Enhance digestion
Orange peel is very helpful in reducing the chances of constipation. Studies have shown that it can be used to treat digestive disorders.
Orange peels reduces the chances of constipation [Pinterest] Pinterest
orange peels reduces the chances of constipation [Pinterest]
4. Aids weight loss
Orange peel also contains vitamin C that is known to help burn fat. It’s also a natural source of pectin, which is a natural fiber that decreases the post-meal rise in blood sugar. If you intend to lose weight this year, you should orange peel to your diet.
5. Improves the health of lungs
With it’s excellent vitamin C content, orange peels help break down congestion and cleanse the lungs. Vitamin C also boosts immunity, and this helps ward off and prevent lung infections.
The peels can help you expel phlegm (the thick viscous substance secreted by the mucous membranes of the respiratory passages, especially when produced in excessive quantities during a cold) by cleansing your lungs.
People infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) lose immunity to smallpox even after much of their immune system is restored with drug therapy, according to a study which may lead to new interventions against opportunistic infections in HIV patients.
According to the researchers, including those from Oregon Health & Science University in the US, this condition called HIV-associated immune amnesia may explain why patients with AIDS tend to have shorter lives on average than their HIV-negative counterparts despite being on drug therapy.
The study, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, compared the immune system’s T-cell, and antibody responses of a total of 100 HIV-positive and HIV-negative women who were vaccinated against smallpox in their youth.
Based on the findings, the researchers said the immune systems of HIV-positive women who were on antiretroviral drug therapy had a limited response when their blood was exposed to the ‘vaccina virus’ used in the smallpox vaccine.
They said those vaccinated against smallpox, normally have CD4 T cells that remember the virus and respond in large numbers when they’re exposed again. Earlier studies had revealed that the these immune cells specific to the smallpox virus are maintained for up to 75 years after vaccination.
But in the current study, despite antiretroviral therapy boosting CD4 T cell counts in HIV-positive patients, they were susceptible to smallpox infection.
According to the scientists, this indicates that while antiretroviral therapy may boost total T cell counts overall, it doesn’t recover virus-specific T cells generated from prior childhood vaccinations.
The research team plans to evaluate whether the same findings apply for HIV-infected men, and if people living with HIV also lose immune memory to other diseases.
Many people prefer cold weather to heat period. Cold they feel can be controlled but the heat period has a way it affects people terribly. However, there are also some ways the cold weather also affects your health and below are some according to HuffPost:
Runny nose
A permanently runny nose with no other symptoms of a cold might be due to the weather. The nose actually has a mechanism to warm the air you breathe during winter and it involves lots of mucus.
When cold, dry air enters your nostrils it stimulates the nerves in your nose, according to David King, a senior lecturer at the University of Queensland.
These nerves send a message to your brain letting it know that it’s really quite nippy outside and your brain then responds by increasing blood flow to your nose, which helps warm the passing air on its way to your lungs.
It also makes your nose more moist, or snotty to increase the humidity of the air entering your body. The phenomenon is also known as “cold-induced rhinitis” or “skier nose”, and some people are more sensitive than others.
Bad Back
Science suggests the cold weather can impact pain levels but it’s not entirely clear why. One Swedish study by Burström L, Järvholm B, Nilsson T, Wahlström J looked into whether working in a cold environment increased the risk of musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck and lower back. It revealed that neck and low back pain was higher among construction workers who worked outdoors in the cold than among foremen and office workers.
Dry Skin
According to Dr. Bav Shergill, of the British Association of Dermatologists, cold and windy weather can strip skin of moisture leading it to become dry, chapped and prone to flaking. “Dry skin is a common problem in the cold weather which can affect anybody. However, certain skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis can be worsened during the winter months as the changing temperatures and dry air causes flare-ups.”
Therefore, areas of the body which are often exposed to the elements are most vulnerable to the negative impacts of winter weather. This includes the face and hands, as well as the lips, where the skin is thinner than on other parts of the body.
To avoid this, moisturise your skin and lips regularly, reapplying throughout the day as necessary.
For many households and restaurants, using paracetamol is the fastest way to prepare meat. It saves gas, kerosene or firewood.
And costs much less, N50 for one sachet of 12 tablets, and each tablet can cause a pot-full of meat to cook soft within few minutes.
It’s an amazing discovery, or so it seems. But what they don’t know is that as much as they are quickening the amount of time it takes to cook, they are also quickening their days on mother earth.
“It’s a lot faster to boil meat with paracetamol,” a young mother, Adeola told this writer upon inquiry. “I have used it to cook cow leg on a number of occasions.
If you add one tablet, the meat will melt and become soft in just ten minutes.”
But Adeola is endangering her life and those of her young children. She was in shock to realise this.
Paracetamol, ordinarily, is a killer, when consumed regularly to cure a headache or take care of pains, but when cooked in a pot, it’s a certain expressway to kidney or liver failure.
Medical experts say when paracetamol is used in cooking, it loses the pain killer property and becomes highly acidic and dangerous for human consumption.
When the process occurs, paracetamol is hydrolyzed into what is called 4-aminophenol, which, experts say, is highly very toxic to the kidney and liver.
Last week, a facebook user raised alarm about the prevailing use paracetamol to cook goat meat ‘pepper soup’ in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and other surrounding areas.
Investigations by this writer revealed that restaurant owners opt for paracetamol because it helps them save cost and reduce the waiting time for customers.
Recently, there has been a hike in the number of young Nigerian men coming down with kidney failure, most of which result in death on account of poor medical care, part of the reason for that, apparently is consumption of paracetamol/panadol ‘pepper soup’ or meat it is used to prepare generally. Ignorance is proving costly in this regard.
In its 2016 report, the Nigeria Medical Journal noted that Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has so prevalent in the country….
Baby boys born small for their gestational age have a greater chance of infertility as adults than those born at an average weight, research suggests.
About one in seven heterosexual couples in the UK experience infertility, meaning a year or more of trying for a baby without conceiving, figures show.
But while the focus is often on women’s reproductive health, men’s fertility problems are a problem of equal proportion, with both accounting for about a third of known causes of difficulties conceiving. The remaining third are down to unclear causes.
Now experts say they have found men have a higher risk of infertility if they were born with a weight in the lowest 10% for their time spent in the womb.
“Our results show that sometimes we must look at the very early life to find explanations of health problems that occur later in life,” said Anne Thorsted, co-author of the research from Aarhus University in Denmark.
Writing in the Human Reproduction journal, Thorsted and colleagues reported how they analysed health data for almost 11,000 people born between 1984 and 1987 in two Danish cities.
Birth weight and gestational age were gleaned from birth records, while two national registries were used to explore whether individuals had been diagnosed with infertility or sought fertility treatment up until the end of 2017. Just over 10% of both men and women were born small for their gestational age.
In addition, questionnaires completed by participants’ mothers when pregnant were used to gain information on factors such as maternal smoking – a factor known to be linked to having a smaller baby.
The results revealed no link between birth weight for gestational age among baby girls and infertility in adulthood. But for men the picture was different. Taking into account factors including the mother’s pre-pregnancy body mass index, whether the parents lived together, age of the mother and maternal smoking, the odds of infertility as an adult were 55% worse for boys born below weight than for boys born at an average weight for their gestational age.
The analysis suggested 8.3% of boys born small for gestational age experienced infertility as adults compared with 5.7% of those born at an average weight.
However, the link was no longer apparent once the team excluded men who had certain genital problems: either their urethra (the tube through which urine passes) being on the underside of their penis, or undescended testicles.
Research by other teams has previously found low weight for gestational age is linked to such genital problems, while these issues have also been linked to fertility problems including lower sperm counts.
“The genital malformations may account for part of the observed association in the main analysis, but this must be explored further,” said Thorsted.
When the team looked at men without such genital problems – focusing only on those diagnosed with infertility, rather than fertility clinic data which might be less accurate – the link between smaller babies and infertility was found once more.
The study has limitations: by 2017 participants were only in their early 30s, meaning not all cases of infertility might have been spotted, while the team note it is difficult to measure gestational age precisely.
It is also not clear what mechanism is behind the link between low birth weight for gestational age in boys, genital problems and infertility.
Prof Christopher Barratt, head of the reproductive medicine group at the University of Dundee, who was not involved in the study, described the research as important but said it is necessary to explore whether the findings hold in other populations.
He said the study added another piece to the puzzle of why sperm counts appear to have dropped dramatically across western populations in the past 40 years.
“It all points to the idea that part of male infertility is a consequence of in utero development and birth,” he said. “What comes first and what causes what, we are probably less clear about.”
Prof Richard Sharpe, an expert in male reproductive disorders at the University of Edinburgh, said it is unlikely smaller than average babies are behind the large declines in sperm count across western populations. But he too stressed in utero factors are important to male fertility.
A baby girl in Harrogate, England, delighted her parents with her reaction when she could finally hear their voices thanks to a special hearing aid.
Georgina Addison’s father posted a video of his daughter squealing and smiling when the hearing devices began to work.
“So we just turned your hearing on. Can you say hello to everybody?” Addison’s wife, Louise, is heard saying.
In response, Georgina squeals at her mother and waves her tiny arms.
When their baby was born, she was diagnosed with Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL), which is the result of damage to the inner ear, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s website.
The site states:
Problems with the nerve pathways from your inner ear to your brain can also cause SNHL.
Soft sounds may be hard to hear. Even louder sounds may be unclear or may sound muffled.
This is the most common type of permanent hearing loss. Most of the time, medicine or surgery cannot fix SNHL. Hearing aids may help you hear.
Doctors found Georgina had the condition when they performed a newborn hearing screening, according to an interview with the mother on BBC Breakfast.
See video below
“So she failed that test, we went for more tests, and it obviously developed from there,” she said.”So we’ve had these hearing aids from when she was about six weeks old. So we’ve had a bit of time to get used to them now. And yeah, when you put them on, it’s just brilliant,” she added.
Paul said before his daughter was given hearing aids, she failed to react to sounds.
But once Georgina was able to hear, the difference was astounding.
“You do notice a remarkable difference I have to say, and that is the essence of the video, really,” he said.
The father promised the family would keep everyone updated on Georgina’s progress.
“An amazing global reaction to baby Gigi – thank you all again. We promise to keep you posted as she grows,” the proud father wrote.
Dr Abdullah Kabir, a gynaecologist with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), has stressed the need for addressing growing cases of infertility in women of reproductive age in Bauchi State.
Kabiru stated this in Bauchi on Thursday.
He noted that cases of infertility were currently on the increase, especially among spinsters.
“These days, cases of infertility are increasing among women of reproductive age and such symptoms have been manifesting even in young ladies who are not married,” Kabiru said.
According to him, some of the causes are infection-related, including fibroid and blockage of fallopian tubes.
Although he said some might be curable, if detected early, he, however, said that preventive measures were the best option to guide against such cases.
The gynaecologist urged mature women of all ages to always contact their doctors for regular check-ups, especially anytime they noticed abnormal discharges and issues relating to their monthly menstrual cycle.
The $2.2 billion artificial sweeteners industry, which seeks to help people lose weight, may be contributing to type 2 diabetes, according to researchers from the University of South Australia.
A recently published review led by Professor Peter Clifton, of the University of South Australia, revealed that people who use low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) are more likely to gain weight, which is the exact opposite of what consumers expect, despite controlled clinical trials showing that artificial sweeteners do lead to weight loss.
According to Clifton, low calorie sweeteners are used in place of sucrose, glucose and fructose, which have an intense sweet flavour without the calories, but recent studies have highlighted potential adverse health effects.He noted that there has been a 200 percent increase in LCS usage among children and a 54 percent increase among adults in the past 20 years.
Clifton explained that a United States study of about 5158 adults over a seven-year period found that those who consumed large quantities of artificial sweeteners gained more weight than non-users.
“Consumers of artificial sweeteners do not reduce their overall intake of sugar. They use both sugar and low-calorie sweeteners and may psychologically feel they can indulge in their favourite foods.
“Artificial sweeteners also change the gut bacteria which may lead to weight gain and risk of type 2 diabetes,” he said.
According to other findings by the professor, artificially sweetened beverages (ASB) are also linked with increased risks of death and cardiovascular disease, strokes and dementia among older people, but its clarity is not ascertained.
Clifton cited 13 studies, which investigated the effects of ASB intake on the risk of type 2 diabetes, all of which found either no link or a positive one.
One of the studies found that substituting ASB for sugar-sweetened beverages or fruit juices was associated with a five to seven percent lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
“A better option than low-calorie sweeteners is to stick to a healthy diet, which includes plenty of whole grains, dairy, seafood, legumes, vegetables and fruits and plain water,” Clifton said.
The government of Kano State has sealed a ‘witchcraft centre’ in the state that claimed to heal all sicknesses.
The centre located at Makoli town in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area of the state, belongs to one Yahaya Ali (Ciroman Sarkin mayu).
The executive secretary, Private Health Institutions Management Agency, (PHIMA) Usman Aliyu, who spoke to newsmen, said Ali claimed to be a spiritual healer of all sicknesses.
Aliyu, who is a medical doctor said when the centre was raided that many patients, who required surgery or prompt medical attention were all found there.
He added that thorough investigation by the staff of the agency and that of the Public Complaints and Anti Corruption Commission, the patients at the centre were referred to the right health facilities where they would receive better diagnoses and medication.
Aliyu advised people to stop going to such traditional healers to sick for cure from their ailments.
Meanwhile, the suspect was handed over to security officials, after he was apprehended during the raid, for further investigation and legal action.
Are you a proud owner of a big manhood?. We have bad news for you.
Are you considered average or small down there?. Then you have nothing to worry about.
Researchers who studied the male reproductive organs for over 30-years in the University of Sussex in Brighton, England with help from the University of Kinshasa in the DRC have a disappointing conclusion for those who are well endured.
University of Sussex
Unfortunately, a larger than average penis is a disability and 9 out of 10 of the man-dingle holders are technically dumb as they cannot use their brains very well.
Moringa has been used for centuries due to its medicinal properties and health benefits. It also has antifungal, antiviral, antidepressant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Moringa is believed to have much importance, for health, beauty and much more. Below are some of the importance of Moringa:
Protecting Hair and Skin
Moringa seed oil is beneficial for keeping hair and skin clean and healthy. Moringa also contains protein, which means it is helpful in protecting skin cells from damage. It also contains hydrating and detoxifying elements, which also boost the skin and hair. It can be successful in curing skin infections and sores.
Preventing Cancer
Moringa extracts contain properties that might help prevent cancer developing. It also contains niazimicin, which is a compound that suppresses the development of cancer cells.
For Diabetes
Moringa helps to reduce the amount of glucose in the blood, as well as sugar and protein in the urine. This improved the hemoglobin levels and overall protein content in those tested.
One study in 30 women showed that taking 1.5 teaspoons (7 grams) of moringa leaf powder every day for three months reduced fasting blood sugar levels by 13.5%, on average.
Reducing Menopausal Symptoms
Some medical researches show that adding fresh moringa leaves to food for 3 months improves menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and sleeping problems in healthy, postmenopausal women.
Asthma
For a study published in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology in 2008, 20 patients with mild-to-moderate asthma were given finely powdered seed kernels of moringa for three weeks. By the study’s end, participants showed significant improvement in their symptoms and in the severity of asthma attacks.
The medical information provided in this article is provided as an information resource only. This information does not create any patient-physician relationship and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.
In recent times, the air conditioner (AC) has moved from being a luxury to becoming a necessity for many of us in our daily lives. From our offices to our cars and every room in our house, we are probably always in AC indoors.
However, with so much exposure to AC, there has been a prolonged debate as to whether the AC has an adverse effect on the body. The answer to this is YES! According to the International Journal of Epidemiology, workers in air-conditioned office buildings reported higher rates of illness than those in buildings with natural ventilation.
With this knowledge in mind, we have listed some health risks that constant and prolonged exposure to AC can have on your body.
Constant fatigue
Research shows that people who work in over-air-conditioned environments may experience chronic headaches and fatigue. Those who work in buildings which are constantly being pumped full of cool air may also experience constant mucous membrane irritation and breathing difficulties. This leaves you more vulnerable to contracting colds, the flu and other illnesses.
Respiratory problems
Your AC can come in handy on a really hot day but it is also the worst offender for circulating germs and micro-organisms that cause breathing problems. According to research conducted at Louisiana State Medical Center, eight types of mould live inside 22 out of 25 cars tested.
Not only that, staying in the AC for a prolonged period can cause respiratory problems in nose, throat and eyes. ACs are known to circulate air-borne diseases such as Legionairre’s Disease, a potentially fatal infectious disease that produces high fever and pneumonia. It also helps with the circulation of rhinitis, a condition which causes inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose.
Dehydration
You are more likely to get dehydrated in a room with AC as compared to other rooms. The AC sucks humidity from the room leaving you dehydrated and with the need to drink water.
Headaches
Dehydration from AC can cause headaches and migraines. Sudden exposure to heat or the sun after prolonged exposure to AC may cause a headache. Also in cases of AC rooms which are not maintained properly, you are more prone to headaches and migraines.
Dry skin and eyes
AC exposure causes dry and itchy skin and eyes. People with dry eyes symptoms are advised not to stay for too long in AC because it worsens things while excessive exposure to AC along with sun exposure can make the skin dry and itchy.
Adds to the effects of your chronic illness
Central air conditioning systems are known to enhance the effects the illness that you may already be suffering from. AC is notorious for increasing the symptoms of low blood pressure, arthritis, and neuritis, making pain management more difficult for those adamant on using their central air
While we cannot imagine our mornings without a cup of this delicious drink, coffee might soon become a thing of luxury!
Between 80 and 90 percent of the world’s 25 million coffee farmers are smallholders who are among those most exposed to climate change. They generally live and work in the ‘bean belt’ which comprises around 70 mostly developing countries, including Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. For several of these countries, the industry is central to their economy.
As a result of the global warming that threatens the crops, and the historically low prices that are driving farmers out of the business, experts warn that we might soon run out of coffee, if serious changes aren’t made.
A report by The Climate Institute warns that in case global warming continues on its current trajectory, coffee could become extinct. Researchers said that by 2050, the amount of suitable coffee farmland is expected to have halved due to rising temperatures, pests, and fungi.
What’s more, they expect wild coffee to be wiped from the face of the planet by the year 2080. The disappearance of this valuable plant will affect about 120 million people worldwide whose livelihoods depend on its beans.
The report added:
“More and more extreme weather events in major coffee-producing regions seem set to create supply shortages, and hotter conditions will impair flavor and aroma. Even instant coffee is likely to be hit hard in a world of 3°C or more.”
Realizing the gravity of the issue, experts are seeking businesses to invest more to help coffee growers to get new equipment and plant new crops. Coffee producers in Peru start looking for another source of income due to the temperature excesses, crippling market prices, and humidity.
Pests and diseases also contribute to the reduced harvests of lower-quality beans, and the farmers of the Arabica beans are abandoning their farms or turn to producing other crops, like sugar cane, which is more resilient.
After a period of unusually high temperatures and rains in 2012, Central American crops were infected with a wage of Coffee Leaf Rust, resulting in 350,000 laborers in the region being put out of work in the region.
As a result, farmers in these areas have turned to the catimor variety, which is resistant to the Rust. On the other hand, it is vulnerable to the brown eye fungus, which has also become more common due to rising temperatures.
Peru’s largest Fairtrade co-operative, Norandino, representing around 7,000 farmers, stated that extreme rainfall several years ago destroyed crops and caused buildings to crumple in the northwest region of Piura. As their headquarters was flooded with water, its members fear that the region might become uninhabitable.
Farmers are also forced to develop the delicate coffee plant on cooler, higher land since the increasing annual average temperatures make large paths of ground unfitting.
This could lead to severe environmental consequences. The increased deforestation could additionally clear out new areas, reducing the quality of the coffee. On the other hand, lower production volumes of coffee can, in turn, increase the prices.
Dr. Tim Schilling, director of the World Coffee Research Institute, explains that as the supply of high-quality coffee is severely threatened by climate change, diseases and pests, land pressure, and labor shortages, the demand for coffee is rising. In some coffee areas, temperatures have already risen enough to impact quality, so the logical result is that the prices will rise, especially for the highest quality coffees.
Moreover, a report by eighty scientists at Kew Gardens also indicates that coffee is at risk of running out by the end of the century, due to climate change and intensive farming.
Dr. Aaron Davis, a coffee researcher at Kew and one of the report’s authors, explained:
“In Ethiopia and all over the world really, if we do nothing there will be less coffee, it will probably taste worse and will cost more.”
Yet, Kew’s researchers pointed out that if action is taken, this situation can be avoided. The relocation of coffee-growing areas, as well as forest conservation and replanting, could lead to a substantial growth in the area suitable for growing coffee in Ethiopia.
Dr. Davis added that these measures could mitigate some of the negative effects and increase the coffee-growing area by four-and-a-half-times.
Catherine David, the Fairtrade Head of Commercial Partnerships, argues that the UK public ‘really expect businesses to be paying a fair price for their coffee – this isn’t a nice-to-have for them’. She adds that coffee sales have grown and it has become a well-known product, so it might be a thing of luxury unless we invest in it now.
David added that’ we could conceivably get to a point where coffee is no longer available for, say, £1.50 at Greggs, but becomes a premium product for only those who can afford to enjoy it.’
In case we don’t become more aware of this crisis we are facing, David believes we would be ‘ pretty scandalized’ that brands, retailers and coffee shops that we are buying their coffee from aren’t doing more.’
Also, Mario Cerutti, a spokesperson from the coffee producer Lavazza, acknowledged the ‘dramatically serious’ effects of climate change on the industry.
People who tried the Blue Java banana say that it tastes like vanilla ice cream.
They have a creamy taste and texture, hence they are called “ice cream bananas.”
YouTube vloggers tested the rare bananas to find out if the rumors are true.
Bananas are highly popular and quite easy to find.
It is sometimes hard to imagine that a fruit so delicious can be nutritious and taste amazing at the same time but bananas prove that you can have both – and in this case, especially the Blue Java.
The blue bananas are not photoshopped! They are very real and can be found in the wild.
Reportedly, the Blue Java banana originated from South East Asia. It then spread to Fiji, Hawaii, the Philippines, and Central America. Finding these in the Western world, however, is going to be a difficult task.
Even though the Blue Java is likely the most recognized name for this fruit, it is also known by other names such as ice cream banana (in Hawaii), Hawaiian banana (in Fiji), and Cenizo (Central America).
The Blue Java Banana has great health benefits.
It is high in potassium and has a multitude of minerals in it that makes it full of nutrients. Also, it is great for weight loss and would actually work perfectly with low-fat ice-cream.
Everything about the Blue Java seems like it’s made up, and this is why vegan vlogger Grant Campbell, a.k.a. Raw Aussie Athlete on YouTube, decided to test it himself. He filmed his own reaction when he first tried the “ice cream banana.”
He said:
“Party in my mouth. So good. Unbelievable. You’ve got to wait until these suckers are so soft that you’re ready to throw them away and then eat them – that’s the time to eat them.”
Another YouTuber called LadyFlower tasted the blue banana and said, that it has a “very creamy taste” and a “much milder flavor” than regular bananas.
Mouth odour is never a good thing, it can chase even your friends away from you and you won’t blame them, no one would love to continually perceive an odour that would leave them frustrated.
If you expect your spouse to still tolerate you even if you have a bad mouth odour, you are wrong. Bad breath is quite offensive and it can stop your man or your lady from kissing you. You really shouldn’t let your breath ruin your relationship.
It’s the responsibility of every mature person to take care of their body, and so many people take this for granted.
One interesting fact to note is that the bacteria in food causes bad breath and also there are some foods that can just help reduce that odour that just won’t go away.
I bring you 7 natural foods that can help you improve the way your mouth smells.
1. WATER
Interestingly, water can help make your mouth fresh. A dry mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria and this is where the power of water comes in. Clean water just helps keep the mouth fresh for a period of time; so one with bad breath ought to continuously drink water. Water helps flushes away bits of food that bacteria feed on, so drinking water regularly is just a plus for a fresher breath.
2. YOGHURT
Consumption of yoghurt can help reduce odour-causing bacteria hydrogen sulphide. Active cultures in yoghurt can help fight bacteria, and yoghurts with probiotics would also help fight bacteria. Do I see someone rushing to a shop to get one? Lol
3. APPLES
Apples and other fibre rich foods like carrots help fights halitosis (a condition of severe bad breath). Foods like this helps generate saliva and saliva is a natural mouth cleansing agent. You really need to get some apples and carrots handy.
4. VITAMIN C
Eating fruits rich in vitamin C would help make the mouth a danger place for bacteria. Vitamin C would help keep the mouth in check as well as fight gum diseases and gingivitis which is a major cause of halitosis.
5. LETTUCE
Lettuce is extremely useful when it comes to fighting bad breath. Methyl mercaptan is a gas that causes bad odour in the mouth just as the food is digested. Lettuce is useful here because it helps keeps this in check.
6. GREEN TEA
Green tea is very useful for health purposes and it’s also extremely useful in fighting bad breath. Green tea contains polyphenols which is a type of antioxidant that helps fight against the growth of bacteria. Green tea is useful so that bacteria don’t have a hiding place in the mouth.
7. MILK
Drinking milk can help combat bad odour in the mouth, however it would be less effective when it’s taken immediately after a meal. There is an interesting fact about milk; the fat in milk neutralizes sulphur while the water in milk can act as a rinsing agent. Milk really is one effective food.
Now you know these foods, do not give bad odour a chance in your mouth. Don’t chase that man or that lady that likes you because you have a bad breath.
Snoring is one of those habits that no one plans to have but it just comes when least expected. But the truth is no one feels comfortable with a snoring partner; even if your partner actually cares about you, your snoring ways might push him or her from the bedroom to the visitor’s room or probably the sitting room.
Some people are heavy snorers without knowing, while some don’t actually care as they think it comes naturally; it would surprise you to know that snoring comes as a result of some habits which you do.
No one plans to be the kind of person that snores but you can actually curb that habit by following some simple rules. Remember, there is no award for snoring; kicking that habit out would make you sleep better and make your partner more comfortable with you.
1. LOSE WEIGHT
Gaining weight by even some pounds can make you snore when you sleep. Fats around the neck squeezes the neck and prevents air from flowing freely thereby making one to snore; ever noticed why fat people snore a lot? Losing a bit of weight can just be the miracle to your snoring problems.
2. AVOID ALCOHOL
Alcohol and snoring go hand in hand; even someone who doesn’t snore stand a risk of snoring if he/she drinks heavily before going to bed. Alcohol reduces the resting tone of your muscles, making it more likely for you to snore. This is just another reason why you should be easy when going down on some bottles.
3. AVOID BAD SLEEPING HABITS
Bad sleeping habits can also make you snore just like alcohol. Eating late and heavy at night, watching TV till late night, working long hours without rest and all that would definitely make you a candidate for snoring. Avoid bad sleeping habits and your snoring habits might leave before you know it.
4. SLEEP SIDEWAYS
Yes, another one on sleeping; minus your sleeping habits, your sleeping position can also make you snore. When you lie on your back, your tongue and soft palate would collapse to the base and any excess fatty tissue under your chin would probably relax and block your airway. Sleeping sideways would be a better position.
5. KEEP YOUR NASAL PASSAGE CLEAR
When your nasal passage is clear, you would breathe through your nose and not through the mouth. Breathing with the aid of the mouth is the major cause of snoring.
Have you been chasing your partner with your snoring ways? It’s time to stop those snoring habits and make your partner sleep well too; like my old uncle would say “he who wouldn’t let one sleep because of snoring, doesn’t deserve to sleep too”.
Some habits are just too addictive that they even ruin our sleep and we still keep on doing them.
There is nothing like having a good sleep because when you sleep well, you wake up the next morning feeling energised, but when you wake up on the wrong side of bed, you would struggle to keep up all day.
Have you been having sleeping issues at night? It just might be that bad habit of yours; it’s time to take charge of your sleep and wake up every morning feeling great.
6 habits that would ruin your sleep
1. EATING TOO MUCH AT NIGHT
A full tummy would most definitely ruin your sleep; I know sometimes food can be enticing but you should also remember that your good sleep at night would be at stake. Too much food at night simply means your digestive system would be overworked at night, meaning your sleep would be disrupted.
2. A BAD MATTRESS
There is nothing like sleeping on a quality bed; good mattress means good sleep and a bad one can give you the worst of nightmares. With a bad mattress, you would wake up the next morning feeling pains all over.
3. ALCOHOL
Taking alcohol late at night is always not advisable, and taking excessive would mean you would spend almost most part of the next morning in bed. Only the nightmare of a hangover should be enough reason to avoid alcohol especially when you have work the next day.
4. STIMULANTS AREN’T ADVISABLE
Nicotine, caffeine, soda and the likes can make you have a bad night when consumed late at night. These stimulants would stay long in your body, accelerate your heart beat and prevent you from sleeping up to 3-4 hours after consumption.
5. YOUR MIND
It’s important to keep your mind off things that would worry it while you are about sleep. I know this is hard but you should know you can’t have a sound sleep when your mind is worried and thinking of all sorts of things. If your mind isn’t at peace, you definitely won’t sleep well.
6. STRESS AND EXERCISE
Stress from work as well as exercising late at night would most definitely ruin your sleep. Stress can give you anxiety which would put the neurotransmitters in your brain on alert; which means your brain would stay active and sleep would be far off. Exercising as well just before bedtime won’t give you a peaceful sleep either; exercise at least three hours before sleeping.
Have you been waking up unhappy? It just might be your routine or habits; stay away from some poor bed time habits like watching TV late at night, sleeping late at night and drinking too much water before you sleep; and you just might experience a very sound sleep.
We are going to do it different this time. A long and satisfactory life is what every man hopes for but how can we get that with the way the world is today, with all manner of sickness, diseases and various things killing humans? Long life is becoming a rarity; 70 years is the new 120 and 50 years is the new 80, most especially in man. Even men with great wealth don’t get to live up to 80 years most times; meaning money isn’t a necessity for long life.
Well, I’m not going with the normal eat healthy, exercise and all the health tips doctors give; like I said earlier, we are going to do this different. There are some simple things that can just help you live a longer life and money can’t buy those things. First and a highly important tip everyone should work for is having a peaceful life, in other words peace of mind. Sometimes all the mind needs to have is just peace and that peace can make every part of your body work perfectly to defy the recent trend of early deaths. Be at peace with your friends, be at peace with your family and more importantly be at peace with yourself. Jealousy, greed, malice and all manner of things would weaken the peace your mind needs. The same way your body needs food is the same way your mind needs peace; so just imagine the consequence of starving the mind off that much-needed peace; the result would be drastic.
The second thing is love. I’m sorry to say but love is now under-rated in this generation. Love would heal you down to your soul. Don’t be scared to feel loved; don’t be scared to show love either. Love and being loved can give your heart that spark to carry on. Showing love doesn’t mean you should show it only to your spouse and your family members, no; there should be no restrictions in showing love. The satisfaction you would receive when you show someone love cannot be explained, it’s not ordinary. When you help that beggar or that poor neighbour or that orphan or whosoever, the feeling that can be derived from that act of love cannot be quantified. Show love and you wouldn’t believe the outcome.
Another very important tip you need to know is that happiness takes off so many forms of depression from your heart. Depression, worries, anger, sadness and all manner of things that won’t help you live happily should be avoided. You may say that there is no reason to be happy, so why should you be happy? But you need to see the bigger picture; being unhappy won’t help you in any way but being happy would help you in more ways than one; so which is the better option, happiness or worries? People think a lot and there are so many things that can cause you to worry, finance and all manner of things but you should know that depression is like a death sentence, so those worries won’t be of any help. Just be happy even if there is no reason to be and the outcome would be unbelievable.
These tips listed are life savers; the same way food is needed for the body is same way these tips are needed for the mind. These are things we need to know (myself included); and long life might no longer be a fantasy but something within reach.
Essential oils are natural aromatic products extracted from plants. They are typically associated with aromatherapy and their ability to stimulate areas of your limbic system, such as emotions, behavior and long-term memory.
However, aromatherapy suggests that the only benefits of essential oils comes from inhaling them. They are far more versatile than you might think.
Essential oils can be used to enhance your regular laundry routine. Whether it is to improve your laundry’s scent or to clean your washing machine, essential oils could be a great addition to your laundry room. Read on to find out how!
Essential Oils for Fresher Clothes
Essential oils can be used to make your laundry smell fresh and clean. Unlike the synthetic fragrances from commercial detergents and dryer sheets, which can cause some skin issues, like eczema, essential oils are much more natural. Moreover, essential oils can help break down the more stubborn scents from smelly clothes.
There are a few ways to freshen up your clothes in the washing machine. First, you can simply add 4-6 drops of your chosen essential oil straight into the washer or into the detergent compartment of the washing machine. The second option is to DIY your own essential oil laundry detergent powder or essential oil laundry detergent liquid.
Here are some essential oils that will freshen up your clothes in no time:
Rose
Lavender
Cedarwood
Bergamot
Rosemary
Peppermint
Sweet orange
Ylang Ylang
Lemon
Essential Oils as A Natural Fabric Softener
Another way to freshen up your clothes is to use your essential oils as a natural fabric softener. There are a number of ways you can do this in the dryer. However, washing machine softeners are a more effective way to go.
You see, homemade fabric softeners for washing machines balance out the pH balance in your washing machine better than commercial liquid fabric softeners. Not to mention, they can make your clothes a lot softer.
To use essential oils as a fabric softener, you can simply mix a few drops of an essential oil into the water and pour it into the fabric softener compartment in your washer.
Another option is to create your own fabric softener crystals, using epsom salt and essential oils. A simple mix of vinegar, baking soda, and an essential oil can do the trick as well.
Any of these recipes will ensure your clothes have a more natural, long-lasting scent and softness without the artificial chemicals of dryer sheets.
Essential Oils for Disinfecting Laundry
Despite popular belief, washing machines are not 100% clean. Unless you are constantly disinfecting and cleaning your washing machine, you are actually recycling microbes and germs back into your clothes, even if they are clean.
Moreover, commercial detergents can only penetrate so much into clothes. Usually they only deal with dirt on the top layer of clothes, but pathogens and germs can still linger deep into the fibers of your clothing.
Fortunately, essential oils present a solution. Essential oils contain many antibacterial agents, making them a great laundry disinfectant option. Using essential oils is a great way to combat illnesses long before they happen, and they can even speed up recovery.
To disinfect your laundry with essential oils, try adding a drop of lavender or tea tree oil with an unscented detergent. Both lavender and tea tree oil have antibacterial and antifungal properties that will freshen and disinfect your clothes.
You can also add a mix of vinegar and baking soda with 10-15 drops of lemon essential oil to your load during its rinse stage.
Essential Oils to Remove Mold and Mildew
Similarly, essential oils can be used to deep clean your washing machine. Like we said, washing machines can easily harbor pathogens and germs. Moreover, washing machines can be breeding ground for mold and mildew.
According to many washing machine repairmen, this can be on account of leaving your wet laundry in the washer for too long, using cold water too often to wash your clothes, or washing heavily soiled clothes with regular loads.
Any of these things can easily result in a growth of bacteria and mold inside your washer and a musty smell that can cling to your clothes.
To clean your washing machine with essential oils, try to mix:
Vinegar
Borax
Hot water
An antifungal essential oil
Add this mix in with an empty hot load in your washing machine. Run it several times until the mold and mildew goes away.
Here are some antifungal essential oils to use:
Citronella
Orange
Eucalyptus
Patchouli
Geranium
Lavender
Peppermint
Lemongrass
Tea tree
Tips When Using Essential Oils in Washing Machine
Before you add essential oils in your washing machine, use these tips to ensure you are getting the best out of them.
Make sure you use cold water with essential oils. Hot water breaks essential oils down quickly which prevents them from being effective.
Try to add essential oils later on in the washing cycle. This will ensure they can last longer in the wash and are not washed away during rinse cycles.
Air Dry your clothes afterward. Again, heat can break down the essential oils. Moreover, they can run the risk of catching fire.
Conclusion
Essential oils have a multitude of benefits that only starts with aromatherapy. They can be diffused around your home to encourage a relaxing environment, but most importantly they can greatly enhance your laundry routine.
Not only do they provide fresher and softer clothing, they also support your health in many ways. Moreover, they wean you off of the artificial chemicals and scents of commercial detergents and fabric softener with something far more natural and gentler with your skin.
We hope this article was helpful to you. Do you know any other ways to incorporate essential oils into your laundry? What are your favorite essential oils to use at home? Please share your responses and questions with us!
If you’re feeling all sad, dejected, and hopeless because you’ve been single for the longest time now, you don’t have to despair. Why? Because science has already proven that couples who really love each other tend to gain weight. Yes, you’re single and you desperately want to find love in your life. You really want to be able to be in a relationship with someone. You want the safety and security that comes with being wrapped in the sweet embrace of someone you love. But then, you’re single. You haven’t exactly been so lucky in love. But that’s alright – being single is good if you want to be able to stave off those pounds.
There has been a recent study conducted by a leading university in Australia that analyzed over 10 years’ worth of data that has covered more than 15,000 people. What these studies have shown is that people who were involved in happy relationships exhibited an average weight gain of more than 6kg more than those who stayed single. What these studies have also revealed is that people in relationships had shown an average weight gain of around 2kg every year they were happy in love.
Know that the whole theory of gaining weight in a relationship is completely true, and you should be taking this seriously if you’re conscious about your waistline.
So, if you happen to have been dating someone for a long time now, you probably know that you are less incentivized to hit the gym and burn those fats because you know that you already have someone who is going to love you regardless of how you look. On top of the lack of incentive to actually hit the gym, you are also more likely to be consuming more calories and spending more time doing nothing because you are in a relationship. You’re going to have to be eating a lot more because you will be going on a lot of dates. You are going to be lounging around a lot just sitting down and hanging out with one another. You’re going to be taking in a lot of calories and you aren’t going to be burning a lot of it as well. And before you even realize it, boom! You’ve gained an extra ten pounds without even putting too much effort into it. It’s always so easy to fall into that trap of living a very sedentary lifestyle when you’re too caught up in your love and relationship.
However, you shouldn’t really be ashamed that much. Yes, you have let yourself go. Yes, you might be a little disappointed in yourself especially if you used to be the type of person who really focused on your fitness and wellness. However, you shouldn’t be ashamed of yourself. You have found love in your life. And even though you have somewhat lost your motivation to keep fit, you have something that a lot of other people in the world wish they could find for themselves.
You can take some consolation in the fact that you might even be healthier than most single people BECAUSE you are in a relationship in spite of your weight gain. Those very same studies have shown that people in relationships tend to consume less fast food, alcohol, and cigarettes when compared to single people. And even though couples in relationships eat more; they are also improving the quality of their eating without even realizing it. However, the truth remains that couples can really gain weight in a relationship and are more prone to becoming overweight when compared to single people. And if you really want to pin the blame of your extra inches around your waistline on your partner, then you could always point to this study for some evidence to back you up. In fact, there was another study conducted by a popular university in Dallas that reached the same conclusions. This study spanned for years and it covered more than 200 newlyweds. It’s not a phenomenon that is only targeting one aspect of society. It’s happening all over the world.
You have to realize that a lot of people gain weight whenever they start to become satisfied with themselves. The happier that people are in life, the more likely that they’re going to gain weight because the less motivated they will actually be to stay active. To put it simply, the happier you are in life, the fatter you are more likely to become. So don’t get too discouraged at having a few extra inches around your waist now. It’s a lot better than you’re just a little bit fatter so as long as you’re much happier now. You don’t want to be slim and unhappy anyway.
Being overweight is never a good thing in life. There are many downsides to carrying way too much excess fat in your body. For one, when you are overweight, you are at substantial risk for developing some serious health conditions such as heart problems, type 2 diabetes, cancers, and high blood pressure. These threats to your life are never to be taken lightly. There are also some other non-life-threatening physical conditions that could arise as a result of your being overweight. You could get osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and other respiratory problems. Being overweight may also cause some very serious mental illnesses as a result of feeling outcasted and ostracized by society. There are so many morbidly obese people out there who suffer from depression and anxiety as a result of the way that they look.
If you are overweight and you are looking to cut out some of that excess fat, then you’ve come to the right article. Essentially, losing weight is just a matter of expending more calories every single day than you’re actually taking in. You are burning more and more calories throughout the day if you exercise and stay active. This is because your body is recruiting more energy to activate your muscles as you perform everyday tasks that you have for yourself throughout the day. And it is important when losing weight to make sure that you are burning off more calories than you’re consuming through food. Even something as simple as cutting out food items like soda, chocolate, and chips can do wonders to help you lose weight over the course of an extended period of time. To go along with a healthy diet, you also have to make sure that you are getting in enough exercise. Ideally, you will want to be doing some serious and rigorous physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.
And most importantly, understand that the weight loss is a grind. It’s something that you have to consistently work on every single day. It’s the cumulative efforts that you put in every day that makes you successful in whatever endeavor you have – and that carries over into weight loss as well. It’s all about being able to appreciate the grind and being able to pay attention to the details as well. You’re going to hit a few snags along the way and that’s okay. No worries. It happens to everyone. It’s all just a matter of what you’re going to do to bounce back.
However, it also pays to know the tips and tricks in the trade so that you don’t encounter any unwanted speed bumps. And in case you’re in the mood for a little extra knowledge that can help you with your weight loss journey, then continue to read on until the end of this article. You have to know that diet is just about EVERYTHING in weight loss. And there are certain obvious foods that you need to avoid such as junk food, sodas, empty carbohydrates and the like. However, there are some foods that are often deemed to be “healthy” but can be detrimental to a person’s calorie-cutting. Here are 5 examples of food that you need to avoid if you’re trying to lose weight.
1. Apricots
Apricots are just WAY too heavy. They are overly sweet because of the amount of sugar that you can find in them. And sugar is never good when it comes to weight loss.
2. Pears
Pears are just overall rich in sugar and they really mess up your digestive system. Pears are even proven to cause constipation in a lot of people. And you don’t want that when you’re trying to lose weight.
3. Avocados
Yes, avocados have been getting a lot of popularity lately especially among millennials. It may be due to the very unique texture, taste, and overall presentation that it adds to various meals and dishes. And it’s true when they say that avocados have a lot of healthy fats and antioxidants in them. However, avocados are also very dance when it comes to calories. A single serving of avocado can have up to 250 calories. There are many better alternatives when you’re trying to cut weight.
4. Grapes
Yes, grapes are known to be quite healthy and delicious. However, they have very high sugar levels. There are also certain acids in grapes that can add to the deterioration of peoples’ teeth. Along with that, grapes aren’t really good for most peoples’ digestive systems.
5. Bananas
Bananas can be good or bad for you depending on your fitness goals. If you’re already in a relatively fit shape, then bananas can be a great fruit to help give you vitality and energy to fuel your fit lifestyle. But if you’re trying to cut fat, bananas might make it difficult because of the high levels of sugar and calories.
You always want a slimmer and trimmer figure, right? There are many benefits that come with having a slimmer body. For one, you know that you just look better and so you feel more confident. Confidence is always attractive and people are going to see your best traits when you are more self-assured. When you are overweight, it can really deteriorate your sense of self-esteem. Having extra belly fat can really feed into your insecurities and make you feel worse about who you are.
On top of the emotional and mental anguish that comes with being overweight, it’s also very bad or your health. The higher the body fat you have, the more prone you are to heart disease. That’s why you always want to be doing whatever you can to stave away those unnecessary pounds. And a bulk of that lies in your daily habits.
Sometimes, you can make really good dietary choices throughout the day and then you start to slip late at night. You don’t want to undo all of the disciplines that you have during the day by engaging in these bad habits during nighttime. You might think that a lot of things that you do at night are just harmless and that they don’t really do anything to affect your weight gain. You couldn’t be more wrong. Here are a few nighttime habits that could be causing you to gain more weight.
1. You have some late-night snacks.
This is it. You have been so good with your diet all throughout the day. You said no to that extra serving of bacon this morning. You said no to that piece of cake that was staring you right in the face while you had your coffee. You refused a second helping of mashed potatoes during dinner. You’ve done a great job so far. But then as night time rolls around, you find yourself sifting through your fridge for a snack. Don’t make that mistake. Don’t reward yourself. You would only be undoing all of your progress by doing so.
2. You take in caffeine very late at night.
Studies have shown that people who sleep later at night tend to be people who have a slower metabolism. And this is mostly attributed to the fact that your body metabolizes your nutrients more efficiently while you sleep. That is why you should stay away from caffeine late at night so that you can have better quality sleep. However, you should take caffeine late in the morning for that extra energy boost. Caffeine is also known to be a natural stimulant that can help boost your body’s metabolism.
3. You don’t get enough sleep.
When you don’t get enough sleep at night, it can really cause severe damage to your weight loss journey. When you don’t get enough sleep, you tend to feel more stress – and stress increases the cortisol levels in the body. When you have increased levels of cortisol, your body tends to burn less fat. In facts, it keeps all the fat and stores it. Eliminate stress in your life as much as possible. Get some quality sleep every single night.
4. You go to sleep without exercising during the day.
Exercise is always a very important aspect of losing unnecessary body fat. You will want to engage in vigorous physical activity at least once a day to really maximize the weight loss process. If you engage in regular aerobic and anaerobic activity for at least 30 minutes every day, then it puts your body’s metabolism on overdrive. Your muscles will look for fuel and it will burn your stored fats to convert them into calories for energy.
5. You use a lot of your computer gadgets at night.
Studies have already shown that making use of cell phones, laptops, or tablets late at night can make it difficult for a person to fall asleep. The blue light that is emitted from computer screens is absorbed by the eyes and it sends signals to the brain. This blue light can act as a form of stimulant which can keep you awake even when you should already be sleeping.
6. You set your alarm clock way too late.
Science has also revealed that 20-30 minutes exposure to early morning sun can actually boost a body’s ability to burn fat. So if you can, try to go for a run early in the morning and don’t want too long to get a workout in for the day. Your body is going to thank you for it afterward.
7. You drink alcohol because you think it helps you sleep better.
Alcohol might help you sleep better but it’s not going to help your weight loss goals at all. For one, drinks like beer, whiskey, and wine have calories – and calories aren’t good for weight loss. On top of that, alcohol can impair the metabolization of your nutrients and it slows down the fat-burning process.
