Archive for the ‘Health Nuggets’ Category
Benefits of stress
Did you know that short-term stress is actually good for you? What I mean by that is you get a benefit out of it. Short term stress triggers the production of protective chemicals and increases activity in immune cells that boost the body’s defenses. Just imagine that you have some much-needed tinkering to be done in your body. When you get stressed out, a “repair crew” comes to life tinkering with the parts of your body that needs some “repair”.
Small amounts of stress hormones can also sharpen your memory. That’s the good that we get from short term stress.
Of course, let us differentiate short term stress from chronic stress—the kind that never seems to let up—which can set off dangerous inflammation in the body, increasing your risk for heart disease, obesity, and breast cancer. Now, that’s the evil one!
Let’s balance our lives. Remember, too little stress and you’re bored and unmotivated; too much and you become not just cranky but sick.
Stressed out?
Do you crave food, even though you’re not hungry? Is your heart racing? Are you snapping at the people you care about most? These are just some of the signs that you are already stressed out!
Here are four strategies to release the pressure you are feeling:
1. Phone a friend. Strange as it may sound, stress can increase production of the hormone oxytocin, which helps you connect with others. One theory is that a blast of oxytocin provides a kind of coping mechanism, helping to convert stressful experiences into opportunities for social bonding, which research shows can lower cortisol levels.
2. Take a whiff of lavender. In 2008 Japanese researchers reported that the aroma reduces stress levels in people forced to do tough math problems. Keep a small bottle of lavender oil or lotion in your purse for when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
3. Sip black tea. University College London scientists found that black-tea drinkers had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol after a stressful event than those who consumed other hot beverages.
4. Get some distance. When you’re slammed with something really stressful—a huge work deadline, an unexpected visit from the in-laws—don’t panic. Instead, pretend you’ve been asked to advise a friend or family member in need, and think through the problem systematically. When women distance themselves slightly from stressors, they make excellent problem solvers, in part because of their unique mixture of creative, intuitive, and analytical thinking skills.
There you go. So when you feel stressed out, you already know what to do.
Tags: Four strategies to release the pressure brought on by stress
Correct timing in drinking water
I didn’t know this until I read from a friend’s buzz…
Correct timing in drinking water will maximize its effectiveness on the human body.
Two (2) glasses of water after waking up: Helps activate internal organs.
One (1) glass of water 30 minutes before any meal: Helps digestion.
One (1) glass of water before taking a bath: Helps lower blood pressure.
One (1) glass of water before going to sleep: Helps to avoid stroke or heart attack.
There’s nothing wrong with following the timing of drinking water as indicated above. Drinking water is good for the body. Timing might save us from harm.
Drink plenty of water to hydrate the body, okay?
Tags: Correct timing in drinking water will maximize its effectiveness on the human body.
Have a PERF-ect day!
A tip from the Reader’s Digest…
Have a PERF-ect day: Essentially, there are four things you should monitor every day to make sure you are living healthily: the amount of fruit and vegetables you ate that day (fresh Produce); whether you walked and were active (Exercise); whether you got at least 15 minutes of laughter and fun time for yourself (Relaxation); and whether you got enough beans, grains and other high-fiber foods (Fiber). If you can say you did well on all four, your day has been extremely healthy.
Now, of course, do not spend the rest of the day indulging in bad choices: smoking, drinking, or binging on unhealthy food!
Food to lengthen your life
I got this from Oprah.com and thought I’d share with you. The following are food to lengthen your life:
Nuts – Sprinkle two ounces on your cereal or salad each day to reduce your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by 14 percent.
Fruits and Vegetables – Eat five, 3/4 cup servings daily to lower your blood pressure, slash your risk of cancer, and lower your heart disease risk by 21 percent.
Fish – Have three servings every week (good choices include baked trout or broiled wild salmon). Women of childbearing age and young children should stick to two servings a week and avoid large predatory fish, such as swordfish, albacore tuna, and shark. You’ll cut your risk of heart disease and stroke by 14 percent.
Dark Chocolate – Savor two ounces with a minimum of 60 percent cocoa content each day, and your risk of cardiovascular disease dips 11 percent.
Garlic – Add just one clove (cooked or raw) daily to pasta, salad, or a stir-fry to drop your LDL cholesterol. This can lower your risk of heart disease and stroke by 38 percent.
Wine – Sip a five-ounce glass each evening to cut your risk of heart disease by 32 percent.
Top 10 Cancer Symptoms Women Need to Know
I am sharing with you an article a friend of mine shared with me. It is about cancer, specifically the Top 10 Cancer Symptoms Women Need to Know.
1. Pelvic Pain
2. Abdominal Swelling and Bloating
3. Persistent Lower Back Pain
4. Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
5. Persistent Fever
6. Persistent Stomach Upset or Bowel Changes
7. Unintentional Weight Loss
8. Vulva or Vaginal Abnormalities
9. Changes in the Breast
10. Fatigue
You can read more about the article here.
I am really concerned about this sickness. As I’ve said in a previous post, I was once witness to this nasty sickness and it wasn’t pretty. I just feel like women are more susceptible to this sickness. We are more prone to stress be it at work and at home. There are more working moms now. So I know that’s really double the stress for them. And stress is one of the best friends of cancer!
Mommies and all the women out there, check yourselves. There is no one better who knows ourselves than us.
Cancer
Whenever there is a discussion about cancer and I am a part of that discussion, I get paranoid. Who likes cancer, anyway? I know you don’t. You can triple that in my case. I’ve seen people die from cancer. Young and old alike. It is scary and like what people say, a betrayer! You can’t be complacent when you are sick with it. You need to be constantly on alert. Because it attacks when you least expect it. It attacks when you think you are cured of it!
In my opinion, no cancer patient ever gets cured totally. There will always be that chance of a relapse. I have witnessed personally how a young boy thought he was already cured of cancer when he died all of a sudden. Stabbed him on the back, that cancer!
If you know someone who has cancer, make sure you shower that person with attention and love. Because you never know when that person will go. I assure you, it is that unpredictable.
Walk, walk, walk!
Do you know that walking is good for the body? From a health perspective, walking is the key to managing weight, controlling blood pressure, and reducing the risk of a stroke, breast cancer, diabetes and myriad other ailments. A daily brisk walk lengthens your life, decreases risk of depression and elevates your mood and sense of well-being.
I know some of you feels lazy when it comes to walking. Here are some tips to keep you going:
- Get a walking buddy and commit to meet each week at a set time.
- Get a dog and you’ll have a constant walking companion.
- Choose a location that is picturesque but accessible.
- Start with a moderate walk, then increase the pace and distance.
- Include some hills and stairs.
Remember, whether you stroll, saunter, amble or stride, walking is good for you.
Hair care for those with dandruff
Dandruff. Choose a dandruff shampoo that is strong enough to get rid of the source of these hair flakes but not too strong to damage your scalp. If you’re still in the process of treating dandruff, never wear black tops for obvious reasons.
Hair care. Coconut products are not only in demand but are proven to also have beautifying and health benefits. If you suffer from dandruff, flakes and falling hair, there is a shampoo and conditioner that will take care of these problems. When stressed, the scalp has a tendency to develop flakes. Some people experience a lot of hair fall after a shower or when they start brushing their hair. Try a shampoo and conditioner that has Minoxidil and Aloe Vera. It smoothens and makes your hair stronger, because coconut penetrates into the roots and the Monixidil helps in the treatment of the scalp, and stimulates hair follicle that induces hair growth.
Tips for everyday living
I love tips for everyday living. If you have noticed, I always give out tips that I get from magazines I read or web sites I frequently visit. I compile it and share it here in this blog of mine.
Let me give you some that I got from Patty Betita…
Sunscreen. Too much exposure to the sun can cause irreversible skin damage. Choose a sunscreen to protect you from the sun’s damaging rays. It’s also a good anti-aging device.
Pimples. Never prick a pimple for it might leave you scarred for life. Always consult a dermatologist before applying anything.
Whitening. Do not experiment. Try only tested breakthrough products in whitening technology like the New Olay White Radiance. It is an effective moisturizer, has Vitamin E, visibly reduces dark spots and pores, and evens out your skin tone.
Oral Hygiene! Brush your teeth at least twice a day, usually after meals. Always floss. For social smokers, make sure to take pastilles like Astring-o-sol, and carry a small bottle of mouth wash.
Want more tips? I will be dishing out some more in my next posts. Do subscribe so you won’t be left out.
