Some news you might have missed

Check out these highly interesting, important, and thought-provoking stories.

I wanted to write about so many different blogs and new stories that I read this week, but just didn’t get to do it—so I thought I would make a quick list to share with you. Some of these are quite thought-provoking, and some might even make you mad—but they’re all definitely food for thought.

AIDS Cure

We might have a cure for AIDS soon! Scientists from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research may have a breakthrough on their hands that will help us cure the disease. I really have my fingers crossed on this one. Go, team science!

The Best and Worst Countries in Which to Be a Woman

The TrustLaw team came up with this list of G20 nations ranking which ones were best in which to be a woman—and which are worst. You might be surprised to learn that Canada is considered the best (followed by Germany, then the UK, then Australia, and France—the United States doesn’t make the list until #6). India was listed as the worst, with Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and South Africa close behind. Be sure to read the report to see the reasons why—we have much work to do together to improve these conditions.

Where have all the Black sitcoms gone?

Have you noticed the lack of Black sitcoms on television? We have a few token black characters here and there—even a black couple in a few TV shows—but what happened to A Different World, Living Single, The Cosby Show? Some of these were may favorites growing up, as was Family Matters. (Remember when Jaleel White played a cool dude instead of Urkel in that one episode? He made some kind of machine that made him un-nerdy. I wanted to take him to prom. Of course, I was like, nine, or something.) There used to be so many, and now I can’t think of one.

Profiling White Men

People are pointing this out, and I have to say, it’s true: if all of these mass shooters were women, or black men, or Asians or Muslim or any other similar background, we’d be crying foul over women, black men, Asians, Muslims, etc. But all of these shooters are white men and nobody is considering that there might be something to study here on that single basis…

Being Fat is Not a “Death Sentence”

In fact, research now proves that people who are slightly overweight—whatever that means, as it seems to be a relative concept—live longer than their underweight or “normal weight” counterparts. So when you look at someone who is fat, all you can tell is that they are fat—and nothing else. No more “concerned for your health” spiels necessary! Isn’t that freeing, no matter who you are?

Important news that could save your life!

Or that could make it easier, at least…

Don’t you just love to read the latest crazy headlines? Me too. I don’t read the tabloids, if that’s what you are thinking, but if it’s about a two-headed goat, well, I kind of want to read it. Here are some wacky (and not-so-wacky) news stories for your reading pleasure.

Your doctor is a fake!

Well, maybe he is and maybe he’s not, but there is apparently a multi-million dollar industry that’s selling fake diplomas to people who want to be doctors. You might want to check the credentials on Dr. McCoy the next time you see him, especially if he ordered not one but two strep tests in a single visit after forgetting he’d done the first one, like one of my doctors did once… And if he is a fake, I highly recommend doing this to him:

Family Guy - Big Fat Phony.

Your cigarette could kill you!

Well, you already knew that. But did you know that if you smoke over the kitchen sink, it could kill you even faster? If you live in a place where fracking occurs, you may have methane in your water, which most of us know is not a good idea near open flame. I know many people lean over the sink to smoke out kitchen windows; that may not be a good habit to have along with your current bad habit.

Your doctor is a lazy fatty hater!

Even if Dr. Quinn isn’t a liar about her credentials, she still may be up to no good. Did you hear about the woman who did not know she was pregnant because when she went to the doctor, her brilliant doc told her that her missed periods were not because of a pregnancy (or anything else), but because she was fat? I kid you not. I have heard even worse stories than this one, too, about people being refused treatment or being misdiagnosed because a doctor took a single look at them and said, “You’re overweight,” as if that was the end-all, be-all response. Personally I’d rather have the big fat phony doctor; at least he actually cares about being one.

Extinct animals will crush as all!

This one’s a little older, but it’s still a goodie, if you think good means playing god, pissing Mother Nature off and generally putting the population at large at risk with your crappy science projects instead of trying to, you know, cure cancer or something: Russia and South Korea have decided to join hands in creating the world’s latest monster, the resurrected Mammoth! That’s right, they’re going to try and bring the extinct animal back to life so they can, um… try LARPing Flintstones? Yeah, I’m not clear on that one, either.

Sometimes Doctors are Simply Not What Kids Need

In fact, it would seem that they can be quite the opposite.

Whether it’s saving our lives during a complicated pregnancy or answering a question about a swallowed penny, doctors and nurses have been quite helpful in my life. My daughter and I will both forever be grateful for the amazing team who saved us when I had preeclamsia and we both were dying during my first and only pregnancy.

But you know what? Doctors are not gods. You do know that they have a history of being wrong, right? From bleeding people to death to even sexually assaulting women to treat “hysteria,” there have been plenty of bad doctors using bad science (or superstition) to treat people. There still are plenty of these people around today.

They do not always know what is best for your child—and, in fact, they can give bad advice. I once had a pediatrician tell me to let me daughter “cry it out” every night even if she puked. She claimed the puke—of a seven month old, mind you, who couldn’t even sit up on her own yet—was a “tactic” to get me to come back, and that she would let her how sons lay in their vomit if it came to that.

Yes, I left her, but now I wish I had reported her, too.

There are also thousands of doctors prescribing meds to children for ADD or ADHD—children as young as four, mind you!—when many experts (and non-experts, like myself) believe the disease to not even be a real one, but a side effect of our unnatural education system that demands children to sit still when they—as the mammals they are—need to move and interact and play to learn.

I recently ran across this article in which a doctor asked his patient’s parents to lie to their own child about a procedure. Really? Has it come to this? If they’re so willing to lie to your child, how about lying to you, as well, for a buck or two? Those Ritalin pushers that come to your pediatrician’s office give him or her big rewards for selling their drugs to you; you might want to keep that in mind.

I will never lie to my child at the request of some doctor—and any doctor who asks me to will no longer be employed by us. Make no mistake; you are paying them for their services and if they are unsatisfactory—and lying to a client is unsatisfactory—you have the right to fire them like you do anyone else. Their job is to act in your best interest (or your child’s), not the drug company’s or their own; the minute they stop is the minute they’re not doing their job.

And the minute you stop listening to your own gut and start following the orders of someone else when it comes to your child, you’re not, either.

How to Relieve Hot Flashes for Menopausal Women

What are hot flashes? Basically, hot flashes are sudden feelings of intense warmth over the face, neck and chest. Hot flashes are caused by hormonal changes of menopause; however, it can also be affected by the lifestyle and medications. Hot flashes may occur a few times a week or several times a day depending on the person.

Steps in relieving hot flashes for menopausal women

First, you need to eat foods that contain soy such as tofu, miso, tempeh, soy milk, texturized vegetable protein, whole soybeans and soy powder. Soy has the benefit for reducing hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause.

Next, is black cohosh. This is the popular choice in reducing hot flashes. There are various claims that black cohosh provides effective relief against hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause such as headaches, anxiety and heart palpitations.

Then, exercise. Exercising at least 30 minutes every day through running, walking, riding a bicycle or doing another activity can be great in reducing hot flashes. Diet can also trigger hot flashes, when your hot flashes become worse after consuming alcohol, cayenne, caffeine and other spicy foods, then you must eliminate the mentioned foods in your daily consumption.

Finally, you can try the tradition hormone replacement therapy (HRT) which provides relief from hot flashes associated with menopause. However, there is a certain ingredient of hormone replacement therapy which is the estrogen replacement which has been associated with some medical risk and must be used sparingly. You must understand the risks and benefits in utilizing the therapy and how their relevance to the personal medical history.

 

 

 

 

 

How to Calm Your Stomach Pains

Most of us have suffered with stomachaches at some point of our lives. But know what the causes are behind your stomachache and find out what the culprits are behind your suffering. 

Reasons for Stomachaches

·         Gallstones- Gallstones cause swelling which can block the duct into the intestine and resulting into pain.

·         Pancreatitis- This refers to the inflammation of the pancreas which can cause burning pain in the middle or upper abdomen.

·         Gerd- GERD refers to the gastro esophageal reflux disease which can cause pain in the lower chest also known as heartburn and in the upper stomach.

·         Lactose Intolerance- Lactose intolerance causes bloating, diarrhea, mild abdominal pain, indigestion and burping.

·         Medication side effects- Since, all drugs have side effects; sometimes the side effects of the drugs include abdominal pain.

There are also foods that you must avoid when you are still recovering from a stomachache.

a.      Refined sugar- Foods containing refined sugar can lead to fluctuations in the blood sugar.

b.      Dairy- Milk and cheese are just two examples of dairy products and considered as the top of the list of a "NO" foods when you're suffering from a stomach upset.

c.       Soda- The ingredients of soda including carbonation, citric acid and its preservative sodium benzoate can be hard on the stomach.

d.      Chocolate and Caffeine- Chocolate and caffeine are considered irritating to an upset stomach because they relax the lower esophageal sphincter allowing acid reflux.

e.      Fatty Foods- Fatty foods including cream, soft cheese and meats activate chemical receptors which slow down the emptying of the stomach.

Reference:  http://www.wikihow.com/Cure-a-Stomach-Ache

 

10 Ways a Job could Hurt your Heart

Your job is the most important thing that you don’t want to lose in your life.  Without your job, of course, you cannot buy what you want.    You can’t even feed and support your family.    That is why millions of people are trying to make good with their jobs to achieve high positions or promotions and high salaries.    But, don’t you know that your job may cause your health, much more your heart to be at risk? Here are the 10 ways that your job may put your heart at risk:

            1.   Sitting long hours at a desk.  This causes a drop of insulin sensitivity and enzymes that normally breaks down fat.    People whose work is more on sitting like desk jockeys, office workers and managers are more prone to have higher risk of heart problem.    The best way to do is to stand up and walk once in a while, or work using a high desk is also advisable. 

            2.   Stressful work.    Jobs that involve too much stress activity such as emergency responders like nurses, doctors, firefighters, field police officers are in danger.   This is because their work requires immediate attention. 

            3.   Irregular work.  Works with shifting hours or graveyard duties like doctors, nurses, can cause heart disease.    This is because it disrupts the circadian rhythms or the “body clock” that plays a role in the regulation of blood sugar, blood pressure and insulin. 

            4.  Exposure to chemicals of pollution.  Carbon monoxide is a colorless, tasteless but dangerous gaseous element; if inhaled, this may lead to heart attack or stroke.   Tunnel workers are more prone in this exposure. 

            5.  Unhealthy eating at work.   Your   mind and body works, so make it sure that you are well fed so that your mind and body can function well. 

            6.  Working long hours.  Workers who work long hours or working overtime may possibly acquire coronary heart disease.  The ordinary working hours is only 7 to 8 hours.   More than that is already dangerous to health. 

            7.   Commuting.  Moving from home to work in just a short time, riding in public utility vehicle can be very tiring which will result to a heart disease. 

            8.   Jobs that are highly demanding.    Jobs that need immediate action and attention like the factory workers are in danger and pose a high risk in heart diseases. 

            9.  Jobs with no health insurance.    Because they are not insured when they are sick, this may cause them to develop heart ailment.  

            10.  Losing your job.  This is the worst of all because it does not only cause a heart problem but it also creates different illnesses.  This usually happens when workers are fired without any reason and the thought of having no money can cause another health problem. .


Reference:  http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20571051,00.html

How to Read Nutritional Labels

When trying to choose which foods are the best to buy, it is important to look for labels and read the nutritional contents so that you will not whether you are eating the right food or not.  The Nutrition Facts label is usually written in a box-shaped panel as required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  This label is usually found in packaged food and beverages products.  With this nutrition label, you can choose proper and healthy foods.  The required information like the vitamins and minerals and how much fat present is standard and the equivalent of these nutrients will depend on the food products. It is very important to read and understand this nutrition label for you to help you decide whether the food that you are buying fits your diet or your health condition.  Here are the guides to help you on how to read nutritional labels:

Serving Size.  Usually found at the top of the box.  They are listed in standard measurement such as cups or pieces.  This is important because here you will know how much serving that the pack contains like the calories per serving.          

Amount Per Serving. Lists how many calories are used per serving.         

Percent of Daily Value.  This is calculated and classified for the following:  moderately or highly active man or woman and growing teens.

Nutrients.  These are the amounts of total fat, saturated and trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, sugar, protein, vitamin A and C, calcium and iron.

Footnotes.  This information says about the nutritional value that will vary by a person’s needs of a particular calorie.



 

 

Reference:  http://www.realsimple.com/health/nutrition-diet/healthy-eating/read-nutrition-facts-labels-10000001110931/index.html

 

The Top 15 Foods To Avoid

Here are reasons for us why and the list of the top 15.

Let’s admit it, having a pre-made food is the quickest way possible without having to make effort is definitely convenient.  Of course, not that it is convenient, but we avoid hassle and working tirelessly in preparing for our meals.  Most of us don’t even think the costs that we may save up without these things that we call as “hassles.”  Here are reasons for us why we avoid these top 15 foods:

 

1.      Frozen vegetables.  Fresh vegetables without fertilizers are better and contain vitamins and minerals than frozen vegetables.

2.      Salad Kits and microwave sandwiches and popcorns.  Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize-and migrate into the food that may cause cancer. 

3.      Frozen Fruit Bars.  Instead of buying frozen fruit bars, why not buy fresh fruits and put it in a blender with ice.  This can give us many vitamins that our body needs.

4.      Protein Bars.  Yogurt is an alternative instead of buying protein bars everywhere.

5.      Spices or Seasonings.  Many would prefer buying this, not only it is convenient, but it has more blended herbs and spices, but it has more salt that is recommended for our daily intake of salt.  Use natural herbs as an alternative.

6.      Powdered Iced Tea and Powdered Fruit juices.  It is better to use fresh fruits, which are high in vitamin C and don’t have the artificial preservatives that are dangerous for our bodies.

7.      Bottled Water.  Bottled water does not only put the environment at stake because of the plastic bottle, but it is also dangerous for your health.

8.      Snack and Lunch packs.  It is not wise to buy foods inside a Styrofoam or plastic container since it is not good for your health due to the chemicals in the container where the food is placed.

9.      Gourmet Ice Cream. You can make your home-made ice cream by using bits of chocolate of cookies found in your refrigerator.

10.  Processed meat patties. There are already many additives that are added in preformed meat patties that can cause diseases like cancer.

 

 

Reference:  http://www.rd.com/slideshows/15-foods-you-should-never-buy-again/

Lowering Your Stress Levels

Some tips for less stress.

Stress can cause visible fine lines and wrinkles in our face, particularly for women in their early 20’s. The recent research study conducted by the Study of Psychology found that stress leads to depression which is one of the main causes of mental illness. Your health may also be at risk when you are stressed. You may gain unwanted weight and can also bring about heart attacks when you are stressed out. So as a responsible person, we should take good care of ourselves. We need to reduce our stress level and live a healthy lifestyle.

But how can we reduce the levels of our stress? First discipline yourself by choosing the right foods to eat instead of eating junk food and unhealthy snack. A healthy snack to eat is trying to snack on a handful of nuts which are good to eat while monitoring your weight. Nuts contain magnesium which lowers the cortisol levels. Choose to eat foods that are rich in folic acid such as broccoli and dark leafy green vegetables.

Eating small amounts of sugar are known for reducing overall levels of stress such as a small amount of sorbet with a vanilla sugar wafer. Try complex carbohydrate-rich foods as it will boost your mood and help you to relax. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in tuna and salmon is good for the brain.  Drink milk every day as it will lower your blood pressure. Instead of drinking coffee switch to black tea as black tea lowers stress hormones.  You can also try the green tea with theanine as it reduces the tension. Don’t forget to drink a glass of cold water and exercise regularly.

Reference:  http://www.rd.com/slideshows/11-healthy-ways-to-destress-with-food/?trkid=NL-HD-120112

Delicious Papaya-Berry Yogurt Parfait

There are a plethora of healthy snacks to eat from fruits to vegetables and more. It comes down to figuring out the best combinations to put together to create that perfect snack.  It’s tempting to eat salty snacks such as chips, or even beef jerky.

Delicious Papaya-Berry Yogurt Parfait

I learned about this delicious recipe not too long ago and I must say it was very tasty.  This parfait has a mixture of blackberries, raspberries, mint, granola, papaya and yogurt.  I would recommend using Greek yogurt to add more protein to your snack.  If you don’t have any blackberries or raspberries then you can use any other berries such as blueberries or strawberries. 

The ingredients for the fruit parfait makes 6 servings:

1 papaya (at least 1 pound) peeled, half it lengthwise, cut into ½ inch cubes and discard the seeds

3 (5.3 ounces) of plain nonfat Greek yogurt

5 tablespoons of natural honey

1 and ½ teaspoons of grated lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon of lemon juice

1 piece of about 2 inches of fresh ginger

6 ounces of fresh blackberries

6 ounces of fresh raspberries, if you don’t have either of those then fresh blueberries or strawberries will be fine to use for the parfait.

¼ cup of freshly chopped mint

Use several sprigs of chopped fresh mint for garnish (optional)

½ cup of granola

 

Directions:

1.       Combine yogurt, 3 tbsps of honey and lemon zest in a small bowl to set aside.

2.      Grate the ginger into a small bowl and squeeze the ginger through strainer placed over a small or medium sized bowl to get 1 tablespoon of ginger juice.  Throw away the pulp.

3.      Add the remaining 2 tbsps of honey and lemon juice by whisking it. 

4.      Add the remaining ingredients – papaya, blackberries, and raspberries.

5.      To serve – spoon at least half of the juices and fruit into six 8-ounce tall glasses.  Sprinkle on the chopped mint over the mixture then top it with half of the granola and yogurt mix. Layer in the remaining yogurt, granola, and yogurt.  Add the sprig mint garnish (optional). 

 

Reference:  http://www.wholeliving.com/133385/papaya-berry-yogurt-parfaits?center=0&gallery=136353&slide=45096

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