Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Toothbrushes

We have heard doctors ceaselessly telling us about the importance of brushing our teeth. And so we sincerely do that- twice a day (or more), we stick that little brush in and slather the toothpaste to every corner of the mouth.
Brushing our teeth has become second nature, but we might not have stopped to think about how essential a tool toothbrush has become in our lives in these modern times. It is one of the few things we can’t do without in our everyday life.
We rely upon the toothbrush heavily for our dental care. But, what do you really know about your toothbrush? Despite the fact that we use a toothbrush regularly, most of us probably don’t know a lot of things about our little tool that has helped us fight against various dental diseases ever since it was invented just over a couple of hundred years ago.
Below we have listed some interesting things about toothbrushes that you probably didn’t know.

1. Ancient people used to brush their teeth with twigs; the modern toothbrushes were made of boar hairs.

The history of brushing dates back to around 4000 BC, when the Hindus of India first used twigs frayed into fibers to brush their teeth. Around 3500 BC, the Babylonians and the Egyptians used tooth-sticks to brush their teeth, fraying the end of the sticks.
The Romans and the Greeks civilizations also cleaned their teeth with twigs and leaves. The Chinese, around 1600 BC, use to chew on aromatic tree twigs to clean their teeth and freshen their breath.
In the 15th century, the Chinese invented the first natural bristle toothbrush, with the boar hairs attached to a bone or a bamboo handle. Around 1780 in England, a man named William Addis invented the first toothbrush of a modern design in prison, with a bone and pigs hair for bristles. Addis made a fortune, after getting out of prison, mass producing his invention. Up until 1938, before the invention of nylon, toothbrushes were made out of animal hairs.

2. Toothbrushes were mass produced in the US a century after they were first mass produced in England.

England saw mass productions of toothbrush around the 1780s. It was only after a century that America started producing toothbrushes. Now Americans throw away an average of 25,000 tons of toothbrushes and spend over $850 million on toothbrushes per year.
These days only about 3.5 billion people use a toothbrush, but more than 4 billion people carry around a mobile device.

3. Electric brushes outperform manual brushes.

Toothbrushes have come a long way through the years–from swine bristle toothbrushes to the ultra-modern electric ones. The first electric toothbrush was produced by the Squibb Company in 1956 in Europe. And the first electric toothbrush in the US was Broxodent, appearing in 1960.
These days a wide range of electric brushes are available in the market, with the next level oral care offered in a broad range of prices. Dentists prefer electric toothbrushes to manual brushes since electric brushes provide more revolutions per minute, which effectively remove plaque and leftover food particles far better than the manual brushes.
Experiments have shown that the best electric toothbrushes available in the market remove 11% more plaque than manual brushes. Men simply can’t match machine as it seems.

4. Soft bristles are better than hard bristles.

While quick logic might say that hard bristles work better on your teeth, soft bristles work better for your delicate gums. Yeah, the gums need just as much protection as your teeth do. Well, what doesn’t need protection if you think about it?
Soft bristles perform just as well for the teeth while the hard bristles might cause damage to the gums. Receding gum lines are contributed to by hard brushes.

5. Toothbrushes need to be changed often.

It’s time to change the toothbrush once it shows signs of wear. The bristles wear out or get frayed and weak, which don’t clean the teeth and the gums as effectively as the new ones do. So, brushes need to be changed every 2-3 months or as soon as the bristles start to fall off or fray out, or after an illness.
The dentists suggest changing toothbrush every 3-4 weeks if you have gum diseases. Don’t be a cheapskate and hang on to your old toothbrush for years; that might cost you later with bad oral health.

6. Toothbrushes need to be stored away from the toilet; putting a cap on the toothbrush aids in bacteria growth.

It is suggested that toothbrushes should be kept at least 6 feet away from the toilet, just to make sure you aren’t spewing the germs from your toilet to your brush when you flush. So, flush with the lid down.
Wet bristles of the toothbrush are breeding grounds for billions of microbes. So putting a cap on a toothbrush is a bad idea since it favors the growth of microbes by providing a humid condition. Every so often, toothbrushes need to be disinfected by rinsing in antibacterial solutions. Also, brushes shouldn’t touch each other to avoid the spread of germs from one brush to another.

7. Bristles clean the tongue just as effectively as they do the teeth and the gum.

You probably don’t do it but bristles are just as effective at cleaning the tongue as they clean the teeth and the gums. So, you don’t really need any extra tools for your tongue.

8. The most popular toothbrush color is blue.

Chances are very high that the color of the toothbrush you use is blue since blue is the most popular color for toothbrushes, followed by red.

Seven ways to stop overeating

As humans, you will feel hungry and the need to satisfy that hunger will arise. In feeding yourself sometimes depending on how hungry you are, you may overeat.

But people do not overeat just because they are overly hungry a number of factors come to play. Pulse.com.gh has put together some tips that can help one stop overeating.

1.    Always eat breakfast

Make a conscious effort never to miss breakfast. Missing breakfast altogether can be likened to eating all the foods you should avoid in the morning. When you miss breakfast, you fail to energise your body for the day. This leads to overeating later in the day especially in the evening, which is not a good time for meals.

2.    Eat real food

It is encouraged that you eat proper, whole and unprocessed meals. That means substituting the processed meals for vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, olive oil, organic, range, or grass-fed animal products (poultry, lamb, beef, pork, eggs), and sea foods.

3.    Eat mindfully

Relax when you eat. This helps your gut’s nervous system to work properly. You will overeat when you eat quickly. Studies have shown that it takes your brain 20 minutes after you start eating to know it's full. This means that when you eat, you must eat at a slower pace to help your brain know when it is actually full.

4.    Control stress levels

You must learn to rest as a way of de-stressing. You can perform other activities to release stress when the need arises. A lot of issues get people stressed and most people have the tendency to overeat when they are stressed. You need to avoid being stressed in order to prevent overeating.

5.    Keep a Journal

Write down everything you eat. Don’t just write the name of the food, add how you feel after the meal. This helps you know which foods to eat often and which ones to reduce. This also helps in weight loss.

6.    Get sufficient sleep

Make sure you get enough sleep. Your sleep must be uninterrupted, quality and refreshing. This helps you reduce cravings and also normalises the fat-regulating hormones. One study found even a partial night’s sleep deprivation contributes to insulin resistance, paving the way for obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

7.    Exercise.

A lot of people know exercising helps one lose weight but few people know it also helps control your appetite so you don’t overeat. Exercising is in various forms. You can walk every day for 30 minutes, bike, dance, run, jump, play games or partake in any form of exercise that can help you

The Benefits and Usage of Aloe Vera

When people hear about aloe, they often will think immediately of the bottle of green gel that gets brought out every time someone has a sunburn.  While aloe is indeed a fantastic topical aid, treating red and peeling skin isn’t the only purpose this incredible plant serves.

 
  

Having been used medicinally for thousands of years, aloe can be traced back to ancient Egypt where pictures of the plant appear on pyramids and alongside the Pharaohs buried within.  Due to it’s ability to remedy so many maladies, aloe was once referred to as “the plant of immortality”.  To this day the plant is often grown, purchased, and used to treat a wide variety of issues.
Let’s take a look at seven scientifically based benefits that this gift from nature can provide.

1. Aloe Vera Provides Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties

Aloe contains a family of substances known as polyphenols which are converted into powerful antioxidants for the body.  For this reason, more and more people are adding aloe vera juice to their occasional diet.  Thought to help rid the digestive tract of toxins and impurities, the juice, which looks and tastes just like water, can be purchased at most health food stores.  Drinking just a cup of the juice can provide a powerful punch of antioxidants to the human body which can help fight off harmful bacteria.

2.  Aloe Vera Juice Reduces Plaque

Don’t enjoy swishing with the powerful and chemically laden mouthwashes on the market?  Opt for a mouthful of aloe vera juice instead.  It may taste like water, but according to dental studies, aloe vera juice has reaped the same benefits of some of the strongest brands of mouthwash on the market.
The antibacterial properties of aloe kill off Steptococcus mutans and Candida albicans that are found in the mouth and can lead to plaque and tartar if not treated. The alkalizing properties of the plant are beneficial toprevent hair loss. Aloe vera can help to bring the scalp and hair’s pH to a more desirable level and free the skin from extensive sebum, which can suffocate hair follicles, causing thinning and brittleness of hair.

3. Aloe Vera Can Relieve Canker Sores

The next time you have a painful canker sore in your mouth, instead of reaching for a tube of dental medicine that often doesn’t bring lasting relief, try an aloe patch instead.  In a study performed on 180 people with recurrent mouth ulcers, the aloe patch was proven to effectively reduce the size and symptoms of the sores.  If you don’t have a patch on hand, rubbing the plant’s gel directly on the sore will yield the same results.

4. Aloe Vera Provides Quick Relief to Burns

The FDA approved aloe vera as a powerful burn ointment back in 1959 and while many people use it for sunburns, they often forget about aloe when they obtain burns of another nature.  Compared to conventional medicine, studies have shown time and time again that aloe reduces the healing time of burns by up to 9 days.  Bypass the pharmaceuticals and reach for the aloe gel for fast relief when treating burns.

5. Aloe Vera Improves the Efficiency of The Cardiovascular System

This powerful plant has the ability to reduce blood pressure by oxygenating the blood and helps reduce cholesterol due to its rich choline content.  Aloe has properties that allow for more efficient dilation of the blood vessels.  Whether taken in liquid or capsule form, or even applied topically, using aloe on a regular basis gives an extra boost to your hard working cardiovascular system.

6. Aloe Vera Can Be Used as a Regular Part of Your Skin Routine

Whether treating acne or attempting to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, aloe can help restore your skin’s vitality and improve the look and luster of your body’s largest organ. Used often for it’s soothing properties, aloe can be applied on sensitive or inflamed patches of skin, and can be applied after shaving to treat bumps or ingrown hairs. Due to it’s high water content, aloe can also be used to rehydrate skin, which will result in a glowing and radiant complexion. Even if you do not apply it directly, you can purchase lotion with aloe added to it.

7. Aloe Vera Helps Increase Vitamin Absorption

In a study conducted by the University of California’s Davis Medical Center, aloe vera was proven to help the body absorb vitamin C and B12. In this day and age, with food genetically modified and altered, often times our bodies cannot fully absorb the nutrients we ingest.  This can lead to malnutrition, which in turn leads to a host of bodily ailments and diseases. Using Aloe to increase absorption of important vitamins such as vitamin C and B12 can help the body function more efficiently and prevent malabsorption.

Sometimes nature’s miracles aren’t in test tubes or fancy bottles lining the pharmacy, but growing in our yards or in pots on a window sill.  Aloe vera is such a versatile and powerful plant that it has withstood vigorous testing by the FDA and proven time and time again that it is in a league of its own when it comes to medicine.  Whether you choose to grow your own plant or simply purchase it in the bottled form, aloe vera should be a part of your garden, grocery list, and regular routine.

Stress: its surprising implications for health

 Whether it is down to work pressure, money worries or relationship troubles, most of us experience stress at some point in our lives. In fact, around 75% of us report experiencing moderate to high levels of stress over the past month. It is well known that stress can cause sleep problems, headache and raise the risk of depression. But in this Spotlight, we look at some of the more surprising ways in which stress may harm our health. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) define stress as the "brain's response to any demand." In other words, it is how the brain reacts to certain situations or events. It is important to note that not all stress is negative. Many of us who have been in a pressurized situation may have found that stress has pushed us to perform better. This is down to a "fight-or-flight" response, whereby the brain identifies a real threat and quickly releases hormones that encourage us to protect ourselves from perceived harm. It is when this fight-or-flight response overreacts that problems arise, and this usually happens when we find ourselves exposed to constant threats. "Stress is caused by the loss or threat of loss of the personal, social and material resources that are primary to us. So, threat to self, threat to self-esteem, threat to income, threat to employment and threat to our family or our health," Stevan Hobfoll, PhD, the Judd and Marjorie Weinberg presidential professor and chair at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL, and member of the American Psychological Association (APA), told Medical News Today. Stress levels 'too high' in Americans In February last year, the APA released their annual "Stress in America" Survey, which assesses the attitudes and perceptions of stress and identifies its primary causes among the general public. The survey, completed by 3,068 adults in the US during August 2014, revealed that the primary cause of stress among Americans is money, with 72% of respondents reporting feeling stressed about finances at some point over the past month. Of these, 22% said they had felt "extreme stress" in the past month as a result of money worries. The second most common cause of stress among Americans was found to be work, followed by the economy, family responsibilities and personal health concerns. On a positive note, average stress levels among Americans have decreased since 2007. On a 10-point scale, respondents rated their stress levels as 4.9, compared with 6.2 in 2007. However, the APA say such levels remain significantly higher than the 3.7 stress rating we consider to be healthy. "[Last] year's survey continues to reinforce the idea that we are living with a level of stress that we consider too high," says Norman B. Anderson, CEO and executive vice president of the APA, adding: The surprising health implications of stress "Stress is significantly associated with virtually all the major areas of disease," Prof. Hobfoll told MNT. "Stress is seldom the root cause of disease, but rather interacts with our genetics and our state of our bodies in ways that accelerate disease." Some of the more well-known implications of stress that many of you may have experienced include sleep deprivation, headache, anxiety and depression. But increasingly, researchers are uncovering more and more ways in which stress can harm our health.

Heart health

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), stress can influence behaviors that have negative implications for heart health. Have you ever arrived home after a stressful day at work and reached for that bottle of wine? Many of us have. In January 2015, MNT reported on a study that found working long hours was associated with risky alcohol use, which the study researchers say is partly down to the belief that "alcohol use alleviates stress that is caused by work pressure and working conditions." Some of us may smoke in response to stress, while others may "comfort eat," which can lead to obesity. All of these are factors that can contribute to poor heart health by raising blood pressure and causing damage to the walls of the arteries. According to a study reported by MNT in November 2014, stress may also reduce blood flow to the heart - particularly for women. The study researchers found that in patients with coronary heart disease, stressed women had a three times greater reduction in blood flow than stressed men. Stress has also been associated with increased risk of heart attack. In 2012, a study published in The Lancet found that work stress may raise the risk of heart attack by 23%. And in February last year, MNT reported on a study by researchers from the University of Sydney in Australia, which found periods of intense anger or anxiety may raise heart attack risk by more than nine times. Even after a heart attack, stress may continue to affect health. A study published in the journal Circulation in February 2015 found women were more likely to experience higher levels of mental stress following a heart attack, which results in poorer recovery.

Diabetes

You may be surprised to learn that stress has been associated with increased risk of diabetes. In January last year, a study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that women with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - a condition triggered by very distressing events - were more likely to develop the condition than those without PTSD. Periods of stress increase production of the hormone cortisol, which can increase the amount of glucose in the blood - a potential explanation for why stress has been linked to higher risk of diabetes. For people who already have diabetes, stress can lead to poorer management of the condition. As well as interfering with stress hormones and increasing blood glucose levels, the American Diabetes Association note that stressed patients with diabetes may be less likely to take care of themselves. "They may drink more alcohol or exercise less. They may forget, or not have time, to check their glucose levels or plan good meals," states the organization.



MNT

Drink Water, It Makes You Smarter

 We get it. Despite the never-ending health benefits, staying hydrated may not top your daily to-do list. If you can't get yourself to guzzle enough H2O, new findings might offer extra motivation: Drinking water can boost your brain power.

In a study presented Wednesday at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference in London, researchers found that students who brought water into exams performed better than those who didn't.

To make sure they hadn't simply concluded higher-scoring students are more likely to bring water into a test, they used the students' past coursework grades to set a general ability control. So even among generally poorer-scoring students, bringing water into the exams boosted their grades.

"The results imply that the simple act of bringing water into an exam was linked to an improvement in students' grades," says Chris Pawson, a professor at the University of East London and one of the study's co-authors, in a release from the British Psychological Society. For those of us who've graduated from the test-taking world, the same could apply for our cognitive performance and work productivity, in theory.

Smart Water, Naturally

The researchers don't know if the students actually drank the water they took into the exams, or how much they drank, but their presumption is that the test-takers consumed at least some of the water they brought with them.

And while Pawson and his colleagues didn't get to the bottom of why water had this effect on the undergraduates' grades, they have some theories. Maybe water enhances thinking power, leading to better scores.

Maybe agua alleviates anxiety and stress, both known to hinder exam performance.

Either way, add "it makes you smarter" to the long list of reasons you should be drinking water. It already has a reputation for regulating body temperature, flushing out toxins, aiding digestion, balancing blood sugar, and even helping you deal with seasonal allergies, to name a few. The easiest way to drink more water is to have it in front of you.

 At your desk, keep a big cup next to your keyboard. (Just don't spill it.) On the run, always take a refillable bottle.

If the taste (or lack of taste) turns you off, flavor your water with slices of lemon or fresh fruit.


EVERYDAY HEALTH

A Guide to Good Personal Hygiene

 Mom was right: Good personal hygiene is essential to promoting good health. Personal hygiene habits such as washing your hands and brushing and flossing your teeth will help keep bacteria, viruses, and illnesses at bay. And there are mental as well as physical benefits. “Practicing good body hygiene helps you feel good about yourself, which is important for your mental health,” notes Donald Novey, MD, an integrative medicine physician with the Advocate Medical Group in Park Ridge, Ill. People who have poor hygiene — disheveled hair and clothes, body odor, bad breath, missing teeth, and the like — often are seen as unhealthy and may face discrimination.

Personal Hygiene: Healthy Habits Include Good
Grooming If you want to minimize your risk of infection and also enhance your overall health, follow these basic personal hygiene habits:

Also read : Why Do Onions Make Us Cry?

Bathe regularly. Wash your body and your hair
often. “I’m not saying that you need to shower or bathe every day,” remarks Dr. Novey. “But you should clean your body and shampoo your hair at regular intervals that work for you.” Your body is constantly shedding skin. Novey explains, “That skin needs to come off. Otherwise, it will cake up and can cause illnesses.” Trim your nails. Keeping your finger and toenails trimmed and in good shape will prevent problems such as hang nails and infected nail beds. Feet that are clean and dry are less likely to contract athlete’s foot, Novey says.

Brush and floss. Ideally, you should brush your teeth after every meal. At the very least, brush
your teeth twice a day and floss daily. Brushing
minimizes the accumulation of bacteria in your mouth, which can cause tooth decay and gum
disease, Novey says. Flossing, too, helps maintain strong, healthy gums. “The bacteria that builds up and causes gum disease can go straight to the heart and cause very serious valve problems,” Novey explains. Unhealthy gums also can cause your teeth to loosen, which makes it difficult to chew and to eat properly, he adds. To maintain a healthy smile, visit the dentist at six-month intervals for checkups and cleanings.

Wash your hands. Washing your hands before
preparing or eating food, after going to the
bathroom, after coughing or sneezing, and after
handling garbage, goes a long way toward
preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses.
Keep a hygiene product, like an alcohol-based sanitizing gel, handy for when soap and water isn’t available.

Sleep tight. Get plenty of rest — 8 to 10 hours a night — so that you are refreshed and are ready to take on the day every morning. Lack of sleep can leave you feeling run down and can compromise your body's natural defenses, your
immune system, Novey says.

Also read :  Walking Helps Heart and Brain


Personal Hygiene: Poor Hygiene Hints at Other
Issues

If someone you know hasn’t bathed or appears unkempt, it could be a sign that he or she is depressed. “When people are sad or depressed, they neglect themselves,” Novey says. Talking about the importance of proper personal hygiene for preventing illnesses and providing personal hygiene items may help some people. Be candid but sensitive and understanding in your discussions, Novey says. Despite your best efforts, your friend or loved one may need professional help. You should encourage them to see a counselor or doctor if their personal hygiene doesn’t improve.

Personal Hygiene: Good Habits Help Keep You Healthy

For most people, good hygiene is so much a part of their daily routines that they think little about it. They bathe, they brush their teeth, visit the dentist and doctor for regular checkups, and wash their hands when preparing or eating food and handling unsanitary items. To keep those you care about healthy and safe, help them learn, and be sure that they are practicing, good personal hygiene.


Source : EVERYDAY HEALTH

The Health Benefits of Water

 Did you know that your body weight is approximately 60 percent water? Your body uses water in all its cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate its temperature and maintain other bodily functions. Because your body loses water through breathing, sweating, and digestion, it's important to rehydrate by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water. The amount of water you need depends on a variety of factors, including the climate you live in, how physically active you are, and whether you're experiencing an illness or have any other health problems.


Also read : Walking Helps Heart and Brain

Water Protects Your Tissues, Spinal Cord, and Joints

Water does more than just quench your thirst and regulate your body's temperature; it also keeps the tissues in your body moist. You know how it feels when your eyes, nose, or mouth gets dry? Keeping your body hydrated helps it retain optimum levels of moisture in these sensitive areas, as well as in the blood, bones, and the brain. In addition, water helps protect the spinal cord, and it acts as a lubricant and cushion for your joints.

Water Helps Your Body Remove Waste

Adequate water intake enables your body to excrete waste through perspiration, urination, and defecation. The kidneys and liver use it to help flush out waste, as do your intestines. Water can also keep you from getting constipated by softening your stools and helping move the food you've eaten through your intestinal tract. However, it should be noted that there is no evidence to prove that increasing your fluid intake will cure constipation.

Water Aids in Digestion

Digestion starts with saliva, the basis of which is water. Digestion relies on enzymes that are found in saliva to help break down food and liquid and to dissolve minerals and other nutrients. Proper digestion makes minerals and nutrients more accessible to the body. Water is also necessary to help you digest soluble fiber. With the help of water, this fiber dissolves easily and benefits your bowel health by making well-formed, soft stools that are easy to pass.


Also read : Why Do Onions Make Us Cry?

Water Prevents You From Becoming Dehydrated

Your body loses fluids when you engage in vigorous exercise, sweat in high heat, or come down with a fever or contract an illness that causes vomiting or diarrhea. If you're losing fluids for any of these reasons, it's important to increase your fluid intake so that you can restore your body's natural hydration levels. Your doctor may also recommend that you drink more fluids to help treat other health conditions, like bladder infections and urinary tract stones. If you're pregnant or nursing, you may want to consult with your physician about your fluid intake because your body will be using more fluids than usual, especially if you're breastfeeding.

How Much Water Do You Need?

There's no hard and fast rule, and many individuals meet their daily hydration needs by simply drinking water when they're thirsty, according to a report on nutrient recommendations from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. In fact, most people who are in good physical health get enough fluids by drinking water and other beverages when they're thirsty, and also by drinking a beverage with each of their meals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you're not sure about your hydration level, look at your urine. If it's clear, you're in good shape. If it's dark, you're probably dehydrated.

Walking Helps Heart and Brain

  Regular aerobic exercise such as walking may protect the memory center in the brain, while stretching exercise may cause the center — called the hippocampus — to shrink, researchers reported.

In a randomized study involving men and women in their mid-60s, walking three times a week for a year led to increases in the volume of the hippocampus, which plays an important role in memory, according to Dr. Arthur Kramer, of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Urbana, Ill., and colleagues.

On the other hand, control participants who took stretching classes saw drops in the volume of the hippocampus, Kramer and colleagues reported online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The findings suggest that it’s possible to overcome the age- related decline in hippocampal volume with only moderate exercise, Kramer told MedPage Today, leading to better fitness and perhaps to better spatial memory. “I don’t see a down side to it,” he said.

The volume of the hippocampus is known to fall with age by between 1 percent and 2 percent a year, the researchers noted, leading to impaired memory and increased risk for dementia.

But animal research suggests that exercise reduces the loss of volume and preserves memory, they added.

To test the effect on humans, they enrolled 120 men and women in their mid-sixties and randomly assigned 60 of them to a program of aerobic walking three times a week for a year. The remaining 60 were given stretch classes three times a week and served as a control group.

Their fitness and memory were tested before the intervention, again after six months, and for a last time after a year. Magnetic resonance images of their brains were taken at the same times in order to measure the effect on the hippocampal volume.

The study showed that overall the walkers had a 2 percent increase in the volume of the hippocampus, compared with an average loss of about 1.4% in the control participants.

The researchers also found, improvements in fitness, measured by exercise testing on a treadmill, were significantly associated with increases in the volume of the hippocampus.

On the other hand, the study fell short of demonstrating a group effect on memory - both groups showed significant improvements both in accuracy and speed on a standard test. The apparent lack of effect, Kramer told MedPage

Today, is probably a statistical artifact that results from large individual differences within the groups.

Analyses showed that that higher aerobic fitness levels at baseline and after the one-year intervention were associated with better spatial memory performance, the researchers reported. But change in aerobic fitness was not related to improvements in memory for either the entire sample or either group separately, they found.

On the other hand, larger hippocampi at baseline and after the intervention were associated with better memory performance, they reported.

The results “clearly indicate that aerobic exercise is neuroprotective and that starting an exercise regimen later in life is not futile for either enhancing cognition or augmenting brain volume,” the researchers argued.

The study was supported by the National Institute on Aging, the Pittsburgh Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, and the University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. The authors said they had no conflicts.


SOURCE : EVERYDAY HEALTH

Why Do Onions Make Us Cry?

 For some people, slicing a raw onion is no big deal, but for others, it causes a stinging reaction that results in tears and mild discomfort.

What’s to blame for this teary reaction?

Enzymes in the onion that release a pungent gas when you slice into it, and when the gas comes into contact with your eyes, it forms sulfuric acid, which is responsible for that telltale stinging sensation. "The more pungent the onion is, the more likely it will make you tear up," says Irwin Goldman, PhD, department chair and professor of horticulture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

That means that yellow onions popular in cooking are the biggest culprits, and sweet, mild Vidalia onions are the least likely to trigger tears. Luckily, onions are the only type of vegetable that cause this crying reaction, because of their unique sulfur compounds.

So why do onions make you well up, but don't seem to make your partner weepy at all? Dr. Goldman says it's probably due to the individual chemistry of your eyes: Some people have little or no reaction to sulfuric acid, while others have a stronger sensitivity. And while some people find that wearing contact lenses reduces their onion-related tears, others may find it makes no difference.

Dry Up Those Onion Tears To minimize onion-triggered weepiness, Goldman recommends freezing or chilling onions before cutting them up.

The cold temperature causes a slower release of the enzymes, which helps reduce your reaction. "You can also start chopping an onion from the top end — where the skin comes together — instead of from the bottom end, where the stem is," he adds. Enzymes are more conentrated in the bottom of the onion.

If onions cause you to tear up excessively, consider wearing eye protection when you slice them. " Swimming goggles really do work," says Goldman. Or just delegate the chore to another cook in the kitchen.

Why Do We Talk in Our Sleep?

 Has your partner ever referred to a conversation that occurred the night before -and you can't remember a thing you said? Unless it's after a wild night out, the cause may be somniloquy, better known as sleep talking. Sleep talking falls under the category of parasomnias, which are disruptive sleep disorders. Other parasomnias include sleepwalking, bedwetting, and night terrors. Although it can be startling, sleepwalking is generally nothing to worry about.

"Sleep talking is benign for most people," says Russell Rosenberg, PhD, who is the chairman of the National Sleep Foundation in Atlanta. "No one knows exactly what causes it." A lot of nighttime chitchat can cause you to feel tired the next day, but it's generally not a cause for concern. It's also quite common: although statistics vary, about 60 percent of us will have at least one episode of sleep talking, according to William Kohler, MD, the medical director of the Florida Sleep Institute in Tampa.

The When and How of Sleep Talking Sleep talking tends to occur during two different stages of sleep: During stage two, when it's just a stream of thoughts not accompanied by a dream, and during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, when it's accompanied by active dreams.

During REM sleep it's easy to arouse a person out of sleep talking, but during stage two, it's very hard to wake someone up, and they likely won't remember what they were talking about. And even during REM sleep, what a sleep-talker is saying may not be related to what's happening in their dream. "With sleep talking, we may have active dreams — we may be speaking about what we're dreaming. On the other hand, we could be dreaming one thing and speaking something completely different," says Dr. Kohler.

Sleep talking can vary in frequency and intensity, and can be caused by a variety of factors, which may be as simple as drinking alcohol before going to sleep. "Having a high fever, being under emotional stress, taking certain medications, and having underlying sleep problems like sleep apnea can all cause a person to talk in their sleep," says Kohler. Sleep talking may also run in families, he says. There aren't any specific medications that have been singled out to cause sleep talking.

What Does All That Chitchat Mean?

Although you may be tempted to read a lot into what your partner utters in their sleep, experts don't recommend taking too much stock in those sweet nothings. "It's not a reflection of what's going on in your life," Rosenberg says. Kohler agrees: "There's a myth that secrets can be revealed with sleep talking, but that's not really accurate.

The things people are talking about can potentially have nothing to do with reality." And as many parents know, sleep talking is common in kids. "This is more of a brain development issue in children," says Rosenberg. "Most kids will grow out of it." If your partner or child is chattering away in their sleep, "let it play itself out — just observe and make sure they are safe," recommends Rosenberg.

So when would sleep talking actually be a cause for concern? Only if you feel overly tired during the day, if your nocturnal chatter is disturbing your partner, or if your sleep talking is accompanied by any other "acting out," such as sleepwalking. If you're feeling sleepy all the time, a sleep specialist can help determine the best course of action to ensure you get better sleep.


SOURCE : EVERYDAY HEALTH

Did You Know That Too Much TV May Take Years Off Your Life

  Spending your days in front of the television may contribute to a shortened lifespan, a new study suggests. Researchers in Australia found that people who averaged six hours a day of TV lived, on average, nearly five years less than people who watched no TV.

For every hour of television watched after age 25, lifespan fell by 22 minutes, according to the research led by Dr. J. Lennert Veerman of the University of Queensland. But other experts cautioned that the study did not show that TV watching caused people to die sooner, only that there was an association between watching lots of TV and a shorter lifespan. Though a direct link between watching TV and a shortened lifespan is highly provocative, the harms of TV are almost certainly indirect, said Dr. David L. Katz, director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine.

"As a rule, the more time we spend watching TV, the more time we spend eating mindlessly in front of the TV, and the less time we spend being physically active," Katz said. "More eating and less physical activity, in turn, mean greater risk for obesity, and the chronic diseases it tends to anticipate, notably diabetes, heart disease and cancer."

Another explanation for the possible link may be that people who watch excessive amounts of TV "are lonely, or isolated, or depressed, and these conditions, in turn, may be the real causes of premature mortality," he added. The report was published in the Aug 15 online edition of the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

In the study, researchers used data on 11,000 people aged 25 and older from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study, which included survey information about how much TV people watched in a week. Researchers also used national population and mortality figures.

In 2008, Australian adults watched a total of 9.8 billion hours of TV. People who watched more than six hours of TV were in the top 1 percent for TV viewing.

The statistics suggest that too much TV may be as dangerous as smoking and lack of exercise in reducing life expectancy, the researchers said. For example, smoking can shorten of life expectancy by more than four years after the age of 50. That represents 11 minutes of life lost for every cigarette and that's the same as half an hour of TV watching, the researchers said. Without TV, researchers estimated life expectancy for men would be 1.8 years longer and for women, 1.5 years longer.

 "While we used Australian data, the effects in other industrialized and developing countries are likely to be comparable, given the typically large amounts of time spent watching TV and similarities in disease patterns," the researchers noted. Dr. Gregg Fonarow, associate chief of cardiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, said that "there is increasing evidence that the amount of time spent in sedentary activity such at TV watching, distinct from the amount of time spent in purposeful exercise, may adversely impact health." And although participating in a regular exercise program can help, it may not be enough to offset the risks of spending too much of the rest of the day — while at work or at home — getting no exercise whatsoever.

"Staying active and reducing time spent sedentary may be of benefit in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and may be considered as part of a comprehensive approach to improve cardiovascular health," Fonarow added.

Dr. Robert J. Myerburg, a professor of medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, added that "a sedentary lifestyle can reduce life expectancy." Myerburg isn't sure why sitting around is not good for your health. "It's better to look at it from a positive prospective," he said. "That is: a physically active lifestyle is protective."


SOURCE : EVERYDAY HEALTH

KIDNEY STONES :PREVENTION FAR BETTER THAN CURE

 I recently stumbled upon an article of how a 25 year lady suffered from kidney stone for a long time without knowing she had kidney stone until it got really critical.
Only if she had information on the symptoms of this disease. So I went straight to my best friend which is the internet to check up for an article that will best explain this deadly disease.

This is courtesy "EVERYDAY HEALTH" :

What Are Kidney Stones?

There are several different types of kidney stones, but each of them can cause a lot of pain. Kidney stones are small chunks of solid material that can form in your kidneys, a pair of organs that filter your blood.

The "stones," which are usually yellow and brown, vary in size and shape.
For instance, some may be jagged and as small as a grain of sand, while others may be lumpy and the size of golf balls. A stone may stay in the kidney or travel down the urinary tract — the body's waste and excess-water drainage system — and get stuck, causing severe pain in the belly or side of the back. Other symptoms may include nausea, chills, and blood in the urine.

Prevalence and Demographics of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract, resulting in more than a million visits to health care providers and 300,000 emergency room visits each year in the United States, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

About one in 11 people in the United States, or 8.8 percent of the population, have had a kidney stone, according to a 2012 report in the journal European Urology.

Kidney stones affect both men and women, though struvite stones are more common in women and uric acid stones are more common in men. Overall, however, the prevalence of kidney stones is higher in men than women. Kidney stones are also more common in obese people than non-obese people, and less common in non- Hispanic African and Mexican-Americans than in non- Hispanic Caucasians, according to the European Urology study.

What Are the Kidneys?

Part of the urinary system, your two kidneys are fist- sized, bean-shaped organs, located just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine.

They have a number of important functions, mainly filtering the blood to remove waste and excess water, resulting in the formation of urine, which is stored in the bladder and emptied from the body through the urethra.

The kidneys also:
-Balance the body's levels of electrolytes,
including sodium, potassium, and phosphate,
to maintain the body's balance of acids and
bases
-Produce hormones involved in regulating
blood pressure, producing red blood cells,
and maintaining bone strength
-Prevent the buildup of waste and fluid in the body

Development of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones develop when the concentration of normal kidney substances (especially calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus) increases substantially. This process — sometimes known as nephrolithiasis — can be due to various factors, including low fluid intake, diet, or medications such as diuretics and calcium-based antacids.

A number of issues can increase a person's risk of developing kidney stones, including:
   -A family history of kidney stones
   -Medical conditions that affect the levels of urinary substances
   -Urinary tract blockage
  -Digestive problems Recurrent urinary tract. infections

Types of Kidney Stones

There are four main types of kidney stones: calcium, uric acid, struvite, and cystine stones. Calcium stones, of which there are two forms — calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate — are the most common type of kidney stone.

In most cases, calcium oxalate stones form from high levels of calcium and oxalate in urine. But if there are high levels of urine calcium and the urine is alkaline (has a high pH), calcium phosphate stones may form instead. Uric acid stones develop from overly acidic (low pH) urine.

This can result from a diet high in purines, substances that are broken down to form uric acid and are found in high concentrations in animal protein. Struvite stones, sometimes called infection stones, are made of magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate, and typically form in alkaline urine.

They develop from upper urinary tract infections, including kidney infections, when bacteria produce urease, an enzyme that helps convert urea (a compound in urine) into ammonia and other products. Cystine stones result from a genetic disorder that causes cystine, an amino acid, to leak into the urine from the kidneys.

The Big News Regarding Your Blood Pressure

Blood pressure — for many of us, it’s little more than some
strange fraction that a doctor or nurse mentions to us any
time we head to the doctor or hospital. Or, it’s merely the
hieroglyphics that show up on the blood pressure monitor
when you’re trying to kill some time at CVS. Either way, it’s
something that a lot of people don’t understand. Yet, it’s
one of the most vital and important ways to get some
insight into our health.
Well, it’s time to get clued-in because there is big news
regarding blood pressure from a large-scale study that has
produced some rather clear-cut findings. The National
Institutes of Health-sponsored Systolic Blood Pressure
Intervention Trial, or SPRINT, was kicked off in order to
address this question: “Will lower blood pressure reduce
the risk of heart and kidney diseases, stroke, or age-related
declines in memory and thinking?”
Now, we have an answer:

 “More intensive management of high blood pressure, below
a commonly recommended blood pressure target,
significantly reduces rates of cardiovascular disease, and
lowers risk of death in a group of adults 50 years and older
with high blood pressure,” reads a news release from the
National Institutes of Health. For millions of Americans, this
is big news. Considering that there is an obesity epidemic
and widespread ignorance or misinformation circulating
about cardiovascular health and blood pressure, these
findings, as simple as they are, can help more people make
smart decisions regarding their health.
“This study provides potentially lifesaving information that
will be useful to health care providers as they consider the
best treatment options for some of their patients,
particularly those over the age of 50,” said Gary H. Gibbons,
M.D., director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute.
“We are delighted to have achieved this important
milestone in the study in advance of the expected closure
date for the SPRINT trial and look forward to quickly
communicating the results to help inform patient care and
the future development of evidence-based clinical
guidelines.”
When you cut through all the noise, what, exactly, does this
mean for the average American? Basically, this study
confirms or reaffirms the importance of hitting targeted
blood pressure parameters. Essentially, since roughly one
out of three people making up the American population has
some sort of issue with hypertension or elevated blood
pressure, this study can help doctors and medical staff
develop better guidelines to help improve patient
outcomes.
For example, Marc Siegel, M.D., a professor of medicine and
medical director of Doctor Radio at New York University’s
Langone Medical Center, wrote an article for Slate about the
study’s findings and how it will actually impact his work day-
to-day.
“A single study will change the way I practice medicine, with
guidelines from the American Heart Association and the
National Institutes of Health soon to follow,” he writes.
“Targeted diet, exercise, and weight loss are good first-line
approaches, but many people require medication as
well. Now that I know there is a dramatic difference
between a systolic blood pressure of 140 and 120 in those I
treat, I will be much more proactive in trying to persuade
my patients to target the lower number.”
With the importance of keeping your blood pressure low
once again being extolled by medical science, taking
measures in your day-to-day life to ensure it stays low is
extremely important. Of course, the biggest hurdle, for
most people, is adjusting your level of physical activity and
diet to make healthy gains. That can be very difficult,
depending on a number of factors.
But you can start by digging around The Cheat Sheet’s own
trove of health and fitness articles — many rife with
exercises and workouts that will help you tackle issues
related to obesity and hypertension. Also, look for ways to
de-stress, which is also a big factor toward keeping blood
pressure in check.
So, the next time you get your blood pressure checked, set
some goals to get it lower. Ideally, you’re aiming for 120
over 80 — or thereabouts. And according to this most
recent study, the lower the better. (Just don’t pass out.)

Do you sweat too much? You should see this

Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
What Is Hyperhidrosis?
Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, is a common
disorder which produces a lot of unhappiness. An
estimated 2-3% of Americans suffer from excessive
sweating of the underarms (axillary hyperhidrosis) or of
the palms and soles of the feet (palmoplantar
hyperhidrosis). Underarm problems tend to start in late
adolescence, while palm and sole sweating often begins
earlier, around the age 13 (on the average). Untreated,
these problems may continue throughout life.

Sweating is embarrassing, it stains clothes, ruins
romance, and complicates business and social
interactions. Severe cases can have serious practical
consequences as well, making it hard for people who
suffer from it to hold a pen, grip a car steering wheel, or
shake hands.
What Causes Hyperhidrosis?
Although neurologic, endocrine, infectious, and other
systemic diseases can sometimes cause hyperhidrosis,
most cases occur in people who are otherwise healthy.
Heat and emotions may trigger hyperhidrosis in some,
but many who suffer from hyperhidrosis sweat nearly
all their waking hours, regardless of their mood or the
weather.
What is the Treatment for Hyperhidrosis?
Through a systematic evaluation of causes and triggers
of hyperhidrosis, followed by a judicious, stepwise
approach to treatment, many people with this annoying
disorder can sometimes achieve good results and
improved quality of life.
The approach to treating excessive sweating generally
proceeds as follows:
Over-the-counter antiperspirants containing a low dose
of metal salt (usually aluminum) are usually tried first
because they are readily available. Antiperspirants
containing aluminum chloride (for example Certain Dri)
may be more effective when other antiperspirants have
failed.
Prescription strength antiperspirants, which
contain aluminum chloride hexahydrate.
Iontophoresis, a device which passes ionized tap
water through the skin using direct electricity.
Oral medications, Anticholinergics reduce
sweating.
Botox (botulinum toxin)-A, has been approved in
the U.S. by the FDA for treating excessive axillary
(underarm) sweating.
Surgery. A procedure called thoracic
sympathectomy may be considered as a last
resort.
Aluminum Chloride Hexahydrate and Excessive
Sweating
When regular antiperspirants fail to treat excessive
sweating, most doctors start by recommending
aluminum chloride hexahydrate (Drysol), a
prescription-strength version of aluminum
chloride. It is applied just before bedtime 2 to 3
nights in a row, then roughly once a week
thereafter to maintain improvement. Use as
directed by your doctor.This treatment works
reasonably well for many patients whose problem
is excessive underarm sweating, but it is not
satisfactory for most of those with palm and sole
sweating.
The main side effect of Drysol is irritation, which can
sometimes, but not always, be overcome by making sure
the skin is dry before application and letting the
medicine dry completely afterwards. Also, reducing the
frequency of use or applying anti-inflammatory drugs,
such as lotions containing a corticosteroid may help.

Dangerous Acts After A Meal

Below are seven dangerous act to avoid after a meal.

1. Don’t smoke.
Experiments from experts shows that smoking a
ciggarette after meal is equivalent to smoking ten
ciggrettes. (chances of cancer is higher).
2. Don’t eat fruits immediately.
Immediately eating fruits after meals will cause
stomach to be bloated with air. Therefore, take fruits
1-2 hours after meal or 1 hour before meal.
3. Don’t drink tea.
Because tea leaves contains a high content of acid.
The substance will cause the protein contents in the
food we consume to be hardened thus difficult to
digest.
4. Don’t loosen your belt.
Loosening the belt after a meal will easily cause the
intestine to be twisted and blocked. It’s better to do
that before eating or don’t do it at all.
5. Don’t bathe.
Bathing after meal will cause the increase of blood
flow to the hand, legs and body, thus the amount of
blood around the stomach will therefore decrease.
This could weaken the digestive system in our
stomach.
6. Don’t walk about.
People always say that after meal, walk a hundred
steps and you will live till you become 99 years of age.
In actual fact, this is not true. Walking will cause the
digestive system to be unable to absorb the nutrition
from the food we intake.
7. Don’t sleep immediately.
The food we intake will not b able to digest properly.
Thus will to gastric and infection in our intestine.

YOU WILL NEVER THROW AWAYTHE BANANA PEEL AFTERREADING THIS

Bananas are the most popular tropical fruit worldwide.
This amazing yellow fruit contains three natural sugars:
sucrose, fructose and glucose, along with fiber.
Nutritionists explain that they give instant nourishing
amount of energy. One research has shown that only 2
bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90 -
minute operation. Well, after this fact, it is
understandable why the world’s leading athletes consider
banana as fruit nuber 1.

It is interesting fact that banana peel is no less important
than the fruit!
Below we present you a list of top 7 ways to use provided
and never throw a banana peel after eaten!
Analgesic: the banana peel is excellent analgesic. So, in
case if you feel pain in some place on the body, gently rub
a banana peel on the affected area and leave it to sit for
15 minutes. You can expect relief very soon.
Cleaning: Banana peel has amazing greasy, nutritious
moisturizing properties and because of that it is ideal for
cleaning the skin footwear, furniture, and silver jewelry.
Treatment of acne and wrinkles: You can use banana peel
for general skin care. Namely, it is amazingly efficient for
the reduction of wrinkles and blemishes from the face.
The peel contains antioxidants and anti – aging
properties, moisturizes and nourishes the skin and finally
promotes elasticity and suppleness.Simply rub the skin in
the facial skin, especially in the inflamed problem areas
and let sit for half an hour.
Treatment of psoriasis: Although the banana peel can not
cure this skin disease completely, it can reassure its
symptoms, such as itching and redness and speed up its
recovery. Just rub on the affected area and leave on for
10 minutes.
Removing warts from the skin: Those people who have
problem with constant appearance of warts on the skin,
can solve the problem with the help of a banana peel.
Namely, you can remove them and prevent their
recurrence. Just apply piece of banana peel over the
warts, attach bandages and leave it over night. You need
to repeat the process until the warts disappear.
Sedation insect bites: If you are bitten by some insect and
the itching is unbearable, instead to scratch the area, we
recommend you to try to calm it with rubbing it with
banana peel.
Teeth whitening: For amazingly white teeth use banana
peel. Every day in a period of 2 weeks you need to rub
your teeth with banana peel. The results will surprise you.

Dangers Of Drinking Cold Water

) Avoid cramming – some dudes these days fail to
convince a girl beyond reasonable doubt because of
cramming. Why cram for God sake. You have to be
bold and confident enough to articulate your words
for her………..remember that she won’t kill you.the
worse thing she can do is to turn you down.

2)Never downgrade yourself– know that you are
intelligent to convince her. It is this your self worth dat
will give you inspiration to braiinwash her. I want u to
know dat majority of those beautiful girls on d street
has nothin in the head. Be inferor in ur dealings. Never
down grade ur self…….your intelligence is celestial.
3)Never turn to teacher- where do you live,are u d
last born,where does your father work! Haba are u a
village teacher. First comport your self and go straight
to d issue. Dont bore her with almighty formular
question. Know dat your first discussion wit her will
determine her her aproach to u………your first
discussion must be diplomatic nonk cold water, shocks the
body, leading to chronic diseases in those who drink it
over time.
“The body is made up of 70 per cent of warm water.
Water is the most important fluid in the body because
it is the medium blood uses. It is the medium which
circulates nutrients around the body. If the 30 per
cent we drink is against the normal temperature of the
body, we see how hard it is for the body to make use
of it. Cold water causes distress in the tissues and
blood vessels.
“The body has to warm up the cold water you drink
every time to an acceptable temperature before it can
take it up for digestion, nutrient and blood circulation.
That is why we advise people not, take drugs with cold
water. The drugs will not digest on time; it means you
won’t get the best of the drugs because the water did
not dissolve on time.”
Family health physician and author of Ten Habits To
Drop Right Now, Dr. Vasant Lad, adds that drinking
cold water after a meal has adverse effects on the
digestive system. Lad also warns against drinking cold
water immediately before a meal.
For Dr. Lucia John, a major reason why we should
ditch cold water for tepid or warm one is its effect on
the heart. According to the healthy living expert, the
heart labours more to restore blood circulation when
we drink cold water that is not compatible with the
body’s temperature.
She says, “When we drink cold water, juice, or any cold
fluids, we create the basis for chronic heart diseases.
Cold water has a clotting effect on the blood and other
fluids in the body making it difficult for it to circulate.
“A body that cannot circulate its blood is like an
uninviting swimming pool in which moss and bacteria
grow. The blood may be thick, unable to flow properly
to the extremities of the body, the hands and feet
begin to feel numb and hurt, the toes begin to hurt,
and the toenails lose their shine and may begin to
decay. The heart labours to pump the blood
throughout the body, and the lungs fight to keep up.
The legs may swell and become dark, when blood
cannot efficiently pump back up to the heart.
“When the blood is free from toxins and flowing freely
and properly, we can then liken the blood to an inviting
swimming pool, clear and clean. It generates
happiness and perfect health, energy and creativity.
This individual contributes maximum to the health and
wellbeing of others in an innocent, natural way.”
Scientists have also solved the mystery behind the
instantaneous headache brought on by a sip of an ice-
cold drink.
According to the neurologists who analysed the result
of a study, which involved 5,000 participants over a
period of five years, cold water is not friendly to some
sections of the brain.
The researchers found that sipping it causes an abrupt
increase in blood flow to a major artery in the brain
that is then followed by the familiar headache-like. The
experts warn that over time this effect may shrink
some receptors in the brain.
Knowing all this, we have a responsibility to put into
our bodies, only drinks and foods that will enhance its
proper functioning.
Akinsanya gives a final advice on the need to take
regularly water at a normal temperature.
“The brain is fairly sensitive to temperature change,
that is why it freezes when you drink cold water at
first. This continuous seizure is not good for it. The
brain is one of the relatively important organs in the
body, and it needs to be working all the time. We
should avoid anything that will make it freeze,” he
adds.
To know the right temperature of water to drink,
Akinsanya says, “Put one finger in your mouth and
close it. The temperature of what you feel is the
temperature of water or food that you eat most times.
That is what the body is used to and that is what you
should give it.”


http://www.punchng.com/health

Incredible Benefits of Bananas for Your Health and Beauty

  You might snack on bananas for breakfast or on your way to a meeting because you know that they’re good for you. But bananas have loads more to offer you than just lowering your blood pressure and keeping your energy intact. Here are surprising things bananas can do for you.

1. They tenderize your meat dish. Some tropical countries use banana leaves to wrap meat when it’s cooking so that it turns out nice and soft. But you can also use the actual banana during this process. Is your banana not ripe yet? No worries! You can still cook it with your meat. Not only is this a great way to make use of those green bananas in your fruit rack,but they’re also a great source of vitamins and fiber.

Benefits of using aloe vera

 When people hear about aloe, they often will think
immediately of the bottle of green gel that gets
brought out every time someone has a sunburn.
 While aloe is indeed a fantastic topical aid, treating
red and peeling skin isn’t the only purpose this
incredible plant serves.
Having been used
medicinally for thousands
of years, aloe can be
traced back to ancient
Egypt where pictures of
the plant appear on
pyramids and alongside
the Pharaohs buried
within. Due to it’s ability to
remedy so many maladies,
aloe was once referred to
as “the plant of
immortality”. To this day
the plant is often grown,
purchased, and used to
treat a wide variety of
issues.
Let’s take a look at seven scientifically based benefits
that this gift from nature can provide.
1. Aloe Vera Provides Antioxidant and
Antibacterial Properties
Aloe contains a family of substances known as
polyphenols which are converted into powerful
antioxidants for the body. For this reason, more and
more people are adding aloe vera juice to their
occasional diet. Thought to help rid the digestive tract
of toxins and impurities, the juice, which looks and
tastes just like water, can be purchased at most health
food stores. Drinking just a cup of the juice can
provide a powerful punch of antioxidants to the
human body which can help fight off harmful bacteria.

Signs that you are suffering from stress

 In modern society, stress is becoming a part of life for many
of us. Long working hours, commitments to others and
paying the bills are hardly new factors, but in an age of
austerity they are more keenly felt. This means that it is vital
to empower yourself to combat stress and ensure you don’t
become overwhelmed by the daily bump and grind. The
first step is to recognise how to spot if you’re stressed and
the following 6 symptoms of stress will help you do just
that.
1. Skin Problems
Many of us may consider stress a mental issue that we can
hide away from others, but this is just not the case. The
impact that stress has will manifest itself in a very physical
way in terms of your skin. This is because stress will leave
your skin more prone to irritants such as eczema, acne and
psoriasis.
2. Poor Concentration
We focus best in quiet, calm spaces and this goes for our
mind as well as environment. Stress causes your brain to be
filled with worries which will detract from your problem
solving abilities. Studies have shown that students before
an exam are much worse at mental tasks than after it, this
is because the impending stress causing event has passed.