Healthy Allergy-free Breakfast Recipe

Food allergy has increased dramatically over the past 30 years. I myself was diagnosed with food allergy in 2010 and it has been really hard adapting to a new diet. I know that there are a lot of people searching the web for an allergy-free recipe, so let me share with you my favorite healthy and allergy-free breakfast recipe.

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Recipe no. 1 – Allergy-free Pancakes

*Nut-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free

Ingredients:

55g (2 oz) buckwheat flour

55g (2 oz) gluten-free plain white flour

A pinch of salt

2 tsp baking powder

2 tbsp caster sugar

1 large egg, beaten

200 ml (7 fl oz) soya, rice milk or oat milk

Nut-free vegetable oil for frying

To serve:

Maple or golden syrup

Directions:

1.    Combine buckwheat flour and gluten-free plain white flour.

2.    Sift the flour, salt, baking powder and sugar... Read more from: Healthy Allergy-free Breakfast Recipe

Healthy Sandwich Recipes

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People nowadays turn to the healthy option in terms of food. A lot of restaurants offer different types of sandwiches for people on the go, but how can you be sure that the sandwich you bought is the healthy type or it’s something that will keep you stuffed but is also packed with a lot of calories? The best way is to prepare your own healthy sandwich.

Here are five healthy sandwich recipes that are nutritious and easy to prepare.

Recipe No. 1 – Cheese Panini Sandwich

*If you have a Panini maker, go ahead and skip step 3. Grill the Panini according to the manufacturer’s directions... Read more from: Healthy Sandwich Recipes

3 Easy Party Pizza Recipes

Thinking of a party theme? Why not try a pizza party anyway one’s too old for pizza. It’s always a crowd pleaser and you can even have your guests help prepare the meal. It’s also a great option for a laid-back dinner party, or if you were just thinking of an easy pizza recipe to include to your party menu then you might just want to try these.

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Have you ever tried a pizza without any pizza sauce or tomatoes? In this particular recipe we won’t be using those. You might be thinking how can a pizza be a pizza without any pizza sauce or tomatoes? I can guarantee you that even without the sauce or tomatoes, this pizza will turn out just as awesome as the ones with pizza sauce and tomatoes. You can also serve this delicious pizza as main dish by cutting it into Sicilian-style square pieces...Read more from: 3 Easy Party Pizza Recipes

Quick And Easy To Prepare Appetizers and Dips

A great party starts with great food but you want to serve something special yet easy to prepare for your guests, well, with these quick and easy to prepare appetizers and dips recipes you are sure to dazzle your crowd. So, are you ready to elevate your gathering into a special occasion?

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Any of these savory appetizers and creamy dips will surely make your party memorable. The secret to elevating their flavor is to use soup mixes. Since soup mixes are already packed with flavors of vegetables and spices, it will give your dips and appetizers that perfectly delicious taste your guests will enjoy.

In the following recipes you can use any brand of soup mix. What matters is that you have the right one.  When preparing dips, start off by using 1/4 of the packet/ sachet/ envelope of your band of soup mix and if you feel like you wanted to add more then make it ½ or until you are able to achieve that perfectly delicious taste... Read more from: Quick And Easy To Prepare Appetizers and Dips

Healthy Foods You’re Not Eating

Foods with high nutrition content and gives a lot of health benefits are considered to be “super foods.” Health experts sorted out the best foods to eat like dark green vegetables, berries, nuts, citrus fruits, fatty fish, legumes and whole grains. But there are six foods that are not thought of as nutritional powerhouses but can definitely improve your diet.

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Let’s get to know more about the nutritional goodness of these foods and hopefully they can help us make more informed choices that can be of great help to your budget, health and weight.

1.    Lentils and Beans

They’re rich in potassium, zinc, protein, fiber, iron, magnesium, and complex carbohydrates. Eating a diet rich in legumes can help promote weight loss and has been shown to lower "bad" cholesterol and raise "good" cholesterol. It is recommended to eat three cups of beans or lentils a week. Toss them into stews, soups, grain medleys, salads, or greens or create a veggie dip by pureeing beans and adding your favorite seasoning. You can also lower the sodium content in canned beans by approximately 40% by thoroughly rinsing them in water.

2.    Watermelon

It’s a favorite summertime fruit because it’s naturally sweet, low in calories, juicy, and chock full of vitamins C, A, potassium, and lycopene. It should be a staple in everyone’s diet although some people avoid it because they think it is high in sugar. Did you know that because it is so high in water, it helps meet fluid needs?... Read more from: Healthy Foods You're Not Eating

Solutions To Four Common Skin Problems

Aging is a natural process and its effects are felt when we hit our 30s, but knowing what triggers its effects and being aware of the right products that can actually help us slow down or give the illusion that we have halted the aging process is a good thing to staying young and beautiful.

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About 84 percent of 25 to 29-year-olds are concerned about the effects of aging on their skin, and the best strategy for age prevention in young skin is to begin with the least aggressive products and procedures. Remember that prevention is so much easier than reversal. 

The first signs of aging often show up around the eyes. The skin around the eyes is so thin that it's prone to early lines caused by the sun and squinting. Wear Big UV-protective sunglasses and a moisturizing nighttime eye cream with antioxidants and retinol. What’s more, your once-plump cheeks are starting to deflate, so you get rings under your eyes even after a full night's sleep. If it’s so pronounced to the point where you look tired all the time, a dermatologist or plastic surgeon can inject a hyaluronic acid filler (It’s like Restylane and Juvaderm which contain small particles ideally sized for smoothing out superficial issues) along the circles to create a smooth surface between your cheeks and eyes... Read more from: Solutions To Four Common Skin Problems 

Ways To Soothe Dry Itchy Skin

The house is the most comfortable place you’d ever want to be after a stressful day at work. Unfortunately this cozy place harbors a lot of skin irritants like cleaning products, floor polishes, air fresheners, and laundry detergent. Household products that strip the skin of its essential water and oils, leading to dryness and irritation. 

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Household cleaners and dish detergents are proven skin irritants. When it’s time to scrub, cover your hands with non-latex rubber gloves to keep your dry skin soft and supple. You may also wear a pair of rubber gloves overtop a layer of thin, soft cotton ones. You may have heard that if you want to keep your age a secret, you should take care of your hands. 

When an irritating substance touches your skin, you’ll often get a reaction that resembles a burn with red, dry and chapped skin. People vary widely in their sensitivity to irritants. Some, when often exposed to cleaning products, ranging from detergents to waxes, can develop irritant dermatitis... Read more from:Ways To Soothe Dry Itchy Skin 

Body Wraps And Weight Loss

Body wraps are treatment usually offered at some spas where seaweed, clay, algae, mud, cream, lotion, rosemary, honey, butter, chocolate, or eucalyptus is slathered to your body then wrapped for 30 minutes to moisturize, detoxify, or slim down as some spa owners would say.

When body wraps were first offered, linen sheets were used and it wasn’t called body wraps yet, it was called “herbal wraps”. Later on, these linen sheets were replaced by plastic and thermal blankets.

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During body wraps, the massage table is layered with a thermal blanket and on top of that was plastic that would be used to wrap the client, then towels, and on the very top, sheets to keep the client warm. It usually starts with a scrub – a mud scrub, apple and pear scrub, or other options. Then the client is taken to the shower and rinsed before being wrapped with the products that’s of the same varieties as the scrub. The client will then stay wrapped for 30 minutes to allow the body to sweat, then will be unwrapped and taken to the shower to rinse again and apply lotion.

It’s a relaxing way to moisturize, detox, slim down, or to deal with cellulites... 
Read more from:Body Wraps And Weight Loss

Fixes for Under Eye Dark Circles

People often don't make the distinction between puffiness, bags, pouches, and shadows. They just know they don't like what they see because dark circles doesn't only make you look like you had a tough night or you're always stressed out and feeling tired, it also make you look several years older.

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Fatigue isn’t the only reason for having under eye dark circles, sometimes even if you get plenty of sleep you still get dark circles under your eyes. At times these are just shadows cast by puffy eyelids or hollows under your eyes that develop as a normal part of aging.

Some of the most common causes of true under-eye circles are the following:

1. Thinning skin and loss of fat and collagen which is common as you age. This can make the reddish-blue blood vessels under your eyes more obvious.
2. Pigmentation irregularities. These are a particular concern for people of color, especially blacks and Asians... Read more from: Fixes for Under EyeDark Circles

Facts About Nocturnal Asthma

A chronic disease of the airways that makes breathing difficult is called asthma. With it, there is inflammation of the air passages that result in a temporary narrowing of the airways that carry oxygen to the lungs. This condition can be controlled with medicines and by staying away from things that that may trigger it.

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Some people with asthma are not aware that even if their asthma is controlled during the day, it could still strike at night at any hour during sleep. This type of asthma is called nocturnal asthma or sleep related asthma. It can make sleep impossible and leaves you irritable during the day.

Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest tightness, cough and wheezing. Some possible reasons for this include temperature changes in the body, cooling of the airways; low adrenal gland hormones or gastroesophageal reflux disease. These are all biological changes that occur at night. It may also be because of medicines taken during the day that wear off, being in a reclining position; postnasal drip while sleeping, or other sleep conditions that may trigger symptoms... Read more from Facts About Nocturnal Asthma

Surprising Facts About Honey

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In ancient Egypt honey is used as an offering to their gods, a dressing for wounds, and an embalming fluid. It has a long medicinal history.

Today, holistic practitioners consider it one of the best all-around remedies because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Honey’s health benefits are proven in the area of wound care and cough suppression.

Let’s get to know the important facts and warnings from honey.

Never Give Honey To An Infant

Pediatricians strongly caution against feeding honey to children under 1 year old because of the risk of botulism. Babies do not have a developed immune system to defend themselves against infection.

Honey can give infants botulism. The spores of botulism bacteria are found in dust and soil that make their way into honey. Botulism is a paralytic disorder and the infant must be given anti-toxins and would be placed in a respirator. But with adults, eating honey is completely harmless because adults have fully developed gastrointestinal tract and developed immune system to defend against infection.

Antibacterial Honey?

Honey, in the laboratory has been shown to hamper the growth of food-borne pathogens such as salmonella and E. coli. It’s also known to fight certain bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, both of which are common in doctors’ offices and hospitals, but if it does the same in people, well it hasn’t been proven yet.

Honey comes in different varieties. It depends on the nectar gathered, and the floral source of pollen. When shopping for honey you’ll see that there is lighter and darker variety. The darker ones have better antibacterial and antioxidant power.

Manuka honey is from the nectar of Leptospermum scoparium in New Zealand. It’s the basis of Medihoney which is used in treating wounds and skin ulcers, but never use it for burns because it can cause pain.

Medihoney is purified with ultraviolet light that’s why its antibacterial action is better preserved than those honey purified with heat. It’s the pH content of Manuka honey that helps in the healing process... Read more from: SurprisingFacts About Honey

Worst Shoes For Your Feet

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An outfit is never complete without the right shoes. Sometimes people trend to give up comfort to go with the trend, but that is very wrong because you are putting your feet and even the whole body at risk to different types of foot related injuries and other illnesses.

Culprit: Ultra-High Heels

High heels these days are getting higher. These ultra high-heels can lead to ankle sprain and even chronic pain. Wearing them is more of a “shoe-icide” for you. Let’s get to know the problems and possible solution caused by today’s footwear.

Problem: Pump Bump

Pumps are very sexy, but this style causes a lot of painful knot on the back of the heel. When the leather presses on a bony deformity often called “pump bump”, the pressure often leads to swelling, blisters, pain in the Achilles tendon, and bursitis.

Solution: The bony protrusion is permanent and orthotics, ice and heel pads may provide relief along with the right shoes.

Problem: Unnatural Foot Position

High heels like the trendy ultra-high heels forces your feet in a position that puts stress on the ball of your foot. Too much pressure or chronic stress can inflame the bone and the nerves that surround it. It can even lead to having hairline fractures.

Solution: Go Low

Lower heels will avoid giving you these problems. Lower heels put your foot on a more natural position. What is recommended are shoes that are no more than 2” high... Read more from: Worst Shoes For Your Feet

Myths And Facts About Hangover

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The experience of unpleasant physiological effects such as thirst, diarrhea, nausea, headache, lethargy, dysphoria, noise, and sensitivity to light are the common characteristics of a hangover.

There are many myths and supposed cures for hangover. Let’s get to know what really works.

Myth: Hangovers Are No Big Deal

Fact: It’s the body’s natural reaction when poisoned with too much alcohol. Heavy drinking affects the central nervous system which triggers brain chemicals that sends you running to the bathroom because of nausea, dizziness and headache. In the morning, the after effects include a queasy stomach, cotton mouth, fatigue and pounding headache that weaken the immune system.

Myth: Hangovers Are Gender-Blind

Fact: Women are more likely to experience the effects of alcohol than men. If women would consume the same amount of alcohol as that with men, it will build up in their bloodstream. But with men, they have a higher percentage of water in their bodies, and this helps dilute the alcohol they consume that’s why women experience hangovers more often than men.

Myth: Only Bingers Get Hangovers

Fact: Binge drinking would surely leave you with a hangover so, drink any non-alcoholic drink or water between each beer or hard drink to dilute the amount of alcohol in your system and to keep it hydrated... Read more from: Myths And Facts About Hangover

How To Deal With Excessive Sweating

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An abnormal increased perspiration in excess of what is normal is called excessive sweating. It is commonly an inherited condition, but there are also other factors that may lead to too much sweating.

Let us get to know how to prevent excessive sweating.

1.  Limit Spicy Foods and Caffeine

Spicy foods such as hot peppers and curries can cause sweating. It’s the same with caffeinated drinks such as colas and coffee. Alcohol too is a culprit to excessive sweating. Use milder herbs to add flavor to your food instead of strong spices, and keep a food and drink journal to help you identify which drinks or foods is making you sweat more.

2.  Bathe With Care

When bathing use a mild cleanser and bathe or shower daily, but if odor bothers you, use an antibacterial soap to remove the bacteria causing bad odor. You may need to shower twice a day. Dry off completely because bacteria and germs grow in dampness.

3.  Manage Hot Flashes and Night Sweats

Women in their menopause stage experience night sweats and hot flashes. When this happen, drink ice water for relief and apply a cool, wet washcloth on the skin... Read more from: How To Deal With Excessive Sweating

Surprising Facts About Headache Triggers

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Anything that boosts your stress level like your boss can make you vulnerable to migraines, tension and headache. Changes within the brain cause migraine headaches. A heightened sensitivity of nerve pathways relay pain.

Here are some of the things that trigger headache:

1.    Warm Weather

Research found that 7.5% increase in the risk of experiencing headache for every 9 degrees Fahrenheit. When temperature climbs, it increases the likelihood of developing severe headache or migraine; but when temperature drops when it rains, you are likely to develop non-migraine headaches.

2.    Strong Scents

In many people, strong scents trigger their migraines. The strong odors may stimulate the nervous system. It may come from certain types of flowers, perfume and paint.

3.    Hair Accessories

A tight ponytail may strain the connective tissue in the scalp the leads to headache. Other accessories that create the same effect are tight-fitting hats, braids, and headbands. It’s better to let your hair down especially when you’re experiencing headache... Read more from: Surprising Facts About Headache Triggers

Things You Should Never Do To Lose Weight

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Losing weight is one of the toughest things to do. You can start with dieting but some people would go to extremes just to lose weight. There are some methods that are unlikely to cause harm because they cannot be sustained long enough to cause harm, but there are other tactics that can be very risky and can cause serious health consequences.

Other people who wanted to lose weight that they want it so bad, are willing to try methods that promises to help them lose those pound even if it’s still unproven, and can be potentially dangerous.

Extreme dieting can lead to serious eating disorders. Relying on supplements, eliminating food groups, and skipping meals can cause significant health consequences.

Here are 7 of the most dangerous efforts you should not use to lose weight:

1.    Starvation, fasting, or very low-calorie diets.

Rapid weight loss caused by severely slashing calories decreases metabolism causing water, fat and muscle loss. This poses health risks. You don’t have to cut calories because you need it to fuel your body to accomplish daily activities. It’s okay to lose a little, but not below 1,200 per day. 

2.    Supplements and over-the-counter diet pills that make grand promises.

Promises from weight loss supplements and diet pills sounds too good to be true. They may not appear dangerous but they can still cause harm. These over the counter drugs are loaded with caffeine and diuretics that can lead to electrolyte imbalance and dehydration. It’s better not to use them and just rely on healthy foods to help you lose weight... Read more from: Things You Should Never Do To Lose Weight

Facts About Sugar Addiction

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One of the hottest trend today is sugar detox. It’s a three-week diet that promises to rid you of your dependence on sweets to lose weight, but do you think eating broccoli for 7 days will tame your sugar addiction?

Researchers think that when you force yourself to stop eating something that you enjoy eating often, it may lead to addictive –like behavior and even brain changes. Sugar influences those “feel-good” chemicals in the brain that in turn influences our moods and behavior.

There are of course signs of unhealthy use of sugary foods such as losing control and eating more than you planned; experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you skip your favorite pastime sweets; get low blood sugar symptoms like a bit of anxiety, jitteriness, shakiness and cold sweat.

Sugar is what fuels every cell in the brain and influences brain chemicals. When you have too much of it, it may alter the brain receptors that regulates how much you eat. The more you indulge on sugary foods, the more your pancreas releases insulin to move glucose out of the bloodstream and into your cells for energy. This is good, but the downside of it is that your blood sugar level may drop dramatically. As a result you tend to get hungry again, and with low blood sugar levels you may feel dizzy, shaky and would search for more sweets to feel better.

Is sugar detox the answer to control your constant habit of eating sugary foods? Some sugar detoxes will urge you to eliminate everything sweet including refined grains, dairy and fruit to train your system to stop craving for anything sweet. This may be too drastic to be realistic because if you’ll only do this short-term, you’ll surely go back to your old habits sooner or later... read more from: Facts About Sugar Addiction

Habits That Makes You Sick

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Home is where we feel safe and secured but it is also where food-borne illnesses and 65% of colds are contracted. What we do around the house have a big impact on our health whether short-term or long-term.

Here are six common household activities that can make you sick.

1.    Using a Sponge

 The sponge can carry salmonella, E. coli and other bacteria. We use it to clean our countertops and table after a meal, but ironically, the more we clean our countertops with it, the more germs we are spreading around and it’s the same with using a dishrag.

 We deal with raw meat on our countertops and sink. Raw meat carries salmonella, E. coli and other bacteria. We clean our countertops after a meal with a sponge and leave it growing with millions of bacteria that can make us sick. Cross-contamination may occur if we use that sponge to clean refrigerator and other kitchen appliances.

 Solution: Dip the sponge into a solution of water and bleach before wiping down surfaces. After using it let it air-dry. Another way is to microwave it for 1-2 minutes each week. Put a little water in a dish and put the sponge in it.

2.    Vacuuming

Vacuum cleaners can pick up big pieces of dirt but not the tiny dust particles that pass right through the porous vacuum bags that go back up into the air. Hazardous materials like pesticides, lead, heavy metals and other chemicals, are found in high concentrations and in the smallest particles of dust. Conventional vacuums cannot retain them.

Solution: Use a vacuum cleaner with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters are able to retain the small particles that conventional vacuums cannot, and prevent them from passing through and contaminating the air you breathe... Read more from: Habits That Makes You Sick

3 Great Mood Enhancers

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Depression and bipolar disorders are some of what we call “mood problems”. Over 40 million America adults have anxiety disorder and more than 20 million have other mood disorders. It’s no wonder that many people are searching for mood-enhancing alternative to drugs or mood supplements.

Some herbs, supplements and vitamins reportedly boost mood, but if you suffer from severe mood problems see a doctor before taking any supplements or mood enhancers.

St. John’s wort is one of the most touted herbs used to enhance mood. It’s a yello-flowered plant which contains many chemical compounds with medicinal effects. It is commonly used for mild to moderate depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. To those with severe forms of depression, it may have minimal to no benefit at all. It’s available in teas, liquid extracts, tablets, and capsules. Consult a doctor or pharmacist about interactions with other medicines before using it.

Side effects may include:

1. Dizziness
2. Headache
3. Fatigue
4. Anxiety
5. Dry mouth
6. Skin reactions, especially when exposed to sun
7. Gastrointestinal upset
8. Sexual dysfunction

S-Adenosyl-L-Methione (SAMe) is derived from amino acid and is also present from protein food sources is also widely studied mood enhancer that’s commonly used in Europe. It has been studied for depression and statistic showed significant improvement in the symptoms. Some studies even showed that improvements were comparable to known antidepressant drugs. You should use caution when taking this supplement if you have low blood sugar, diabetes, or other type of psychiatric disorder. Ask your doctor’s opinion before using it.

.Side effects may include:

1.    Fatigue

2.    Headaches

3.    Skin rashes

4.    Gastrointestinal problems

Other potential mood enhancers include:... Read more from: 3 Great Mood Enhancers