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

How To Look Great Even If You Haven’t Had Enough Sleep

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People who look tired are those with swallow skin, puffy eyes and dark circles. These are what we call “tiredness hot spots.” We can’t really avoid it if we are so preoccupied with a lot of things. Modern life could be so demanding.

So how do we keep ourselves looking fresh even if we’re tired? Follow these tips:

1.    Splash cold water on your face. This is the easiest way to refresh your complexion. Coolness constricts blood vessels which gives our skin a more toned and smoother look.

2.    After splashing your face with cold water, slather on a thick moisturizer to lock the water in your skin. This will take away the flakiness and dryness on your skin.

3.    If it still looks lifeless, you can dip a wash cloth in a mix of ice cubes and milk then place it o your face for 5 minutes and rinse. This makes the skin glow. You can also suck on an ice cube. The top of the mouth contains nerves and the coldness with constrict the blood vessels and makes the lips even toned.

4.    To remove puffiness of the eyes, use an eye treatment containing peptides and caffeine. Put it on the fridge before applying under the eyes... Read more from: How To Look Great Even If You Haven’t Had Enough Sleep

Health Benefits Of Spices and Herbs

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There are known herbs and spices that helps protect us from diabetes, heart disease and even cancer.

Herbs are from plants and plant part, while spices are from roots, berries, bark or seeds of plants. Studies show that herbs and spices offer health benefits. Seasonings like cinnamon is found to have antioxidants. It’s also the same for chili peppers, rosemary, thyme, turmeric, oregano, and basil.

Polyphenols is the one that provides health benefits in herbs and spices. It is also present in certain fruits and vegetables, red wine, and tea.

There are herbs and spices that reduce inflammation, and blood glucose concentrations for people with diabetes.

Instead of using salt, liberally season your foods with herbs and spices to boost its flavor. It’s better to limit your sodium intake to 1, 500 mg per day to reduce the risk or manage high blood pressure.

When using herbs and spices, use them at their peak to get the most out of it because the active compounds present can degrade with time... read more from: Health Benefits Of Spices and Herbs

How To Save Money On Food Shopping

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The rising prices of oil, weak dollar, global warming, and disappointing crop yields are just some of the factors that affects food prices. Shoppers nowadays are looking for ways to save money when they’re buying food without sacrificing nutrition.

Here are some tips on how to save money when food shopping and still eat healthy.

1.    Planning Can Help You Save Money on Food

 Plan ahead. Do an inventory of what you have on hand to avoid over buying. Make a detailed list based on you weekly menu plan and your needs.

 Stick to your grocery list and avoid impulse buying. Before you even plan to go to the grocery, check the ads for coupons or what’s on sale. There are many websites that offers coupons from your favorite grocers so take advantage of these money-saving coupons. 

2.    Healthy Food Is Cheaper Food

 Healthy foods can actually save you money. This savings comes from buying fewer of the high-calorie foods and reducing portion sizes. You’ll surely get more for your money if you think about the nutritional value you’ll get from nutritious foods. 

3.    Buy produce in season.

 On the food section of your news paper you’ll find based on fresh produce in season, the best buys for the week. You can also shop at your local farmer’s market for great deals... Read more from: How To Save Money On Food Shopping

How To Make Your Kids Food Smart

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One of the most important steps you can take to ensure the heath of your child is to create an environment where they can make healthy nutritional choices.

By developing a positive relationship with healthy foods, and fostering a supportive environment you can encourage them to do the same.

Here are tips to get your children to eat healthy foods:

1.    Avoid placing restrictions on food.

Once you restrict your child from eating something that they like, this will increase the risk that they may develop eating disorders later in life. It can also give a negative effect on their growth and development. Instead of banning foods, encourage your family to choose low-fat dairy, whole grains, lean meats, fruits and vegetables and avoid low-quality junk foods and heavily processed meats products.

2.    Keep healthy food at hand. 

If healthy foods are what’s available at home, your children will eat that. They can only choose foods that you stock in the house. Keeping a fruit bowl on the counter will encourage them to have an apple for snack.

3.    Don't label foods as "good" or "bad."

Instead of telling your child that this food is good for you or that food is bad for you, tie them to the things they care about. Let them know that turkey and milk gives them strength for sports. The antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables gives the skin a healthy glow, and a healthy break keep you focused in class... read more from: How To Make Your Kids Food Smart