15 Health Benefits of Avocados

Avocado, or also called alligator pears, is a fruit that belongs to the Lauraceae, a flowering plants family which also includes camphor, cinnamon and bay laurel. Avocados are believed to be originated in Mexico, where the name of “avocado” is derived from Aztech or Nahuatl word ‘ahuacatl‘, meaning ‘testicle‘, a reference to the shape of the fruit.
The avocados are very popular in vegetarian cuisine, as a substitute for meats in sandwiches and salads due to its high fat content. It is used as the base for the Mexican dip known as guacamole, as well as a filling for several kinds of sushi, including California rolls. It is also popular in chicken dishes and as a spread on toast, served with salt and pepper.
In some countries such as Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Brazil, avocados are commonly used for milkshakes and occasionally added to ice cream and other desserts. The dessert drink is made with milk, sugar and crushed ice. Chocolate syrup is sometimes added.

Apart from that, avocados are also considered as one of the healthiest foods in the planet as they contain in excess of 25 essential nutrients, including vitamin A, B, C, E, & K, copper, iron, phosporus, magnesium, and potassium. Avocados also contain fiber, protein, and several beneficial phytochemicals such as beta-sitosterol, glutathione and lutein, which may protect against various disease and illness.
Moreover, the avocado is one of the high calorie fruit that you could be eating. This is due to its larger amounts of fat content, approximately 20 times the average of other fruits. Although Avocado is high in fat content, but it is mostly the monounsaturated fat which is a healthy fat variety.
Here are 15 health benefits of avocados:

1. Maintain a healthy heart
   Avocado contains vitamin B6 and folic acid, which help regulate homocysteine levels. High level of homocysteine is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Avocado also contains vitamin E, glutathione, and monounsaturated fat, which help in maintaining a healthy heart.
2. Lower cholesterol levels
   Avocados are rich in a compound called beta-sitosterol which has been shown to be effective in lowering blood cholesterol levels. According to a study, patients with mild hypercholesterolemia who included avocados in their diet for 7 days had 17 percent decrease in total blood cholesterol levels, a 22 percent decrease in both LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglyceride levels, and a 11 percent increase in HDL (good cholesterol) levels.
3. Control blood pressure
   Avocados are also a great source of potassium, which helps in controlling blood pressure levels.
4. Anti-Inflammatory properties
   Phytonutrient compound found in avocados, such as polyphenols and flavonoids have been found to have anti-inflammatory properties, thereby reducing the risk of inflammatory and degenerative disorders.
5. Promote eye health
   Avocado is an excellent source of carotenoid lutein, which known to help protect against age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.
6. Regulate the blood sugar levels
   The monounsaturated (good) fats in avocados can reverse insulin resistance which help to regulate blood sugar levels. Avocados also contain soluble fiber which keep a steady blood sugar levels.
7. Prevent birth defects
   Avocados are rich in folate, a B vitamin commonly known as folic acid. One cup of avocado provides about 23% of the recommended daily value of folate. The high amount of folate in avocado is essential in the prevention of birth defects, such as neural tube defect and spina bifida.
8. Reduce strokes risk
   The high levels of folate in avocados may also protect against stroke. A study has shown that individuals who ate a diet rich in folate had a lower risk of stroke than those who did not
9. Protect against cancer
   Many studies have shown that avocado can inhibit the growth of prostate cancer. The oleic acid in avocado is also effective in preventing breast cancer.
10. Fight free radicals
    Avocados contain glutathione, a powerful antioxidants that helps fight free radicals in the body.
11. Anti-aging properties
    Being rich in antioxidants, avocado is beneficial in preventing aging symptoms. The glutathione in avocado may boosts immune systems, slows aging process, and encourages a healthy nervous system.
12. Cure bad breath
    Avocados are one of the best natural mouth wash and bad breath remedies. It cleanses intestine which is the real cause of coated tongue and bad breath.
13. Increase nutrient absorption
    Avocado intake is linked with an increased nutrient absorption. A study suggests that, when participants ate salad included avocados, they absorbed five times the amount of carotenoids (a group of nutrients that includes beta carotene and lycopene) than those who did not include avocados.
14. Skin Care
    The avocado oil is added in many cosmetics because of its ability to nourish the skin and make your skin glow. It also aids in treating psoriasis, a skin disease that causes skin redness and irritation.
15. Weight gain
    The avocado has 200 calories for 100 grams. Typically, fruits has approximately 60-80 calories for 100 grams. Due to the high amounts of calories, avocado is a best diet for people who want to gain weight. Avocado is a healthy source of calories, unlike many other calorie-dense foods that may contain excess saturated fats and sugar. This may be at variance with all that is being preached on the need to shed weight viewed from the surface, but cases also abound where there is the need to gain weight. Avicados in such cases come handy.

Sugary Drinks Increase Cancer In Women

Published on November 25, 2013 by pmnews   ·

Women addicted to sugar-sweetened beverages and carbonated drinks do not only risk obesity, diabetes and heart disease, they also risk cancer, according to a new health study.
Sugary drinks increase the risk of endometrial cancer, the study published in the current edition of the journal of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention said.
According to Mayo Clinic, a popular international health institute, endometrial cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the uterus, the hollow, pear-shaped pelvic organ in women where fetal development occurs.
It adds that this type of cancer can be detected at an early stage because it frequently produces abnormal vaginal bleeding. Its treatment includes removing the uterus through surgical operation. To get the current study report, researchers reportedly analysed data collected from 23,039 women who have experienced menopause with the data including information on their dietary intake and medical history as well as consumption of sugary and carbonated drinks..
The outcome of the researchers showed that the women with the highest intake of sugary drinks had a 78 percent increased risk of developing ‘estrogen-dependent type 1 endometrial cancer’ which is the most common type of endometrial cancer in women.
The study author, Maki Inoue-Choi, a research associate at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in Minneapolis, was quoted by FoxNews.com as saying “we know that higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages may increase body fat, and higher body fat may increase estrogen levels.
“Obese and overweight (women) may have up to 3.5 times higher risk for endometrial cancer.”
Inoue-Choi said the difference between sugar found in beverages and those found in whole foods is that the latter comes with other nutrients, fat, and fibre which could slow sugar absorption, but in beverages the sugar is absorbed more quickly.
The study author, while urging for deeper research into the new discovery, urged people, especially women, to avoid sugar-sweetened beverage intake, because it may increase the risk of health conditions like obesity, diabetes heart disease and cancer.
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that by the end of this year, 49,560 women in the United States alone would have been diagnosed with endometrial cancer.
—Eromosele Ebhomele

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PEOPLE'S HEALTH AND FITNESS CHALLENGED.

Greetings to you all. You may have been wandering while I have not posted on my blog for some time now. My apologies. The truth is that there is so much going on on my mind right now and confusion seams to be setting in. Much has been preached, much has been said, much has been written, much has been practiced on the topics - Health and Fitness, Exercise and related subjects. The arsenal appears to be running dry. I have realized that the hydra headed problems bedeviling the community of people is posing serious threat to human existence. Talking to a deaf and dumb without applying the right approach will always hit a brick wall. The reasons why people are showing less interest in the subject exercise and health and fitness may not be far fetched. You may be wandering why cases of sudden death and stroke is now becoming a common occurrence in the society. Let us take a closer look at the issues below and you tell me why sudden death and stroke should not be. Tell me also why the people should not be less concerned with the issue of exercise and fitness.

UNEMPLOYMENT.
This is a very serious problem and it is a big contributing factor to the unacceptable situation the populace has found itself. Hunger is biting the people hard. A hungry man, remember is an angry man; expecting a hungry man to engage in exercise in order to keep fit is a pipe dream. Make no mistake, those who are well fed amongst the people are in minority, but the preaching on health and fitness and exercise is directed to all. Not much is being done by those concerned to keep the people engaged. Even where jobs are available they are given either the highest bidders or to those whose ogas are at the top.

UNCERTAINTIES.
This is an offshoot of unemployment.The unemployed is not certain of what becomes of him in the nearest future, not with so many mouths to feed, so many children in schools asking for school fees, not with so many extended family members coming forward with myriad of problems requiring solution, etc. These issues run riot in the man's mind making it difficult for him to reason well.

UNFOCUSSED LEADERSHIP.
In most cases, the political leadership in place leaves much to be desired. Most of those in positions of leadership have no business being there as they are there to meet there selfish ends and not for the welfare of those who voted them into leadership positions. Tell me why they should resort to political thuggery, ballot box snatching and stuffing, results manipulation, killing of political opponents etc, if they were going there for genuine and God given reasons.

Other problems agitating the minds of the people includes but not limited to the following: Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Terrorism, Stress,etc. All these are posing serious challenges to the people's health and fitness. Telling such people to go out and exercise is like attempting to kill a dead horse.
An attempt to cut a fallen tree which has another fallen tree on its top can only be successful when the tree on its top is first cut. All these problems listed above require urgent attention in other to improve on the health and fitness of the people.    
    

Lime (Musumbi) -Online-Family-Doctor.com

Lime contains vitamins A, B, C, G and rare vitamin P. It also contains various other minerals and acids. The fruit juice is an efficacious remedy in scurvy, anaemia, intestinal disorders, cough and cold, gastric troubles, constipation, fevers, typhoid and high blood pressure. It is a tonic, rejuvenative and refresher.
Of all fruits, musumbi is called the miracle fruit. If one takes a musumbi a day, he will remain free from all sorts of diseases. It has got great powers to wash away waste products from inside the body.
Lime is a citrus fruit. The lime tree (Citrus aurantifolia) belongs to the Rue family (Rutaceae). Its fruits like other citrus fruits are very rich in vitamins A, B and C. They have a tangy flavour and are used in cooking, baking, pickling etc.
The lime tree has glossy, elliptical or oblong leaves usually 2 to 3 inches long. The tiny white flowers are usually borne in small clusters. The fruit is a type of berry known as a hesperidum. It has juicy pulp divided into several compartments and a thick rind containing oil glands.
This fruit originated in Malaysia and its neighbouring regions. But it was reported in Europe by the 13th century but limes were not popular there until the 17th century. In the 18th century, seamen on British sailing vessels ate limes to prevent scurvy and the sailors became popularly known as 'Limeys'.
The lime tree was grown in plenty in Haiti having been introduced there by Columbus in 1433. It then became naturalised throughout West Indies, along the coast of Mexico and on the Florida Keys. Today the world's chief areas of lime production are Egypt, India, Mexico and the West Indies.
The fruit is very rich in vitamins A, B and C. It also contains minerals. This fruit is very valuable in liver and stomach trouble, bronchitis, cough and cold, sore throat, pharyngitis, laryngitis, diarrhoea, dysentery and spleen troubles.
Dr. H. Harold Hume in his book 'Citrus Fruits' has said that musumbi juice is very effective in all sorts of stomach, liver and spleen troubles. It cures diarrhoea and dysentery very quickly. Jaundice can be easily cured if one drinks a cup of musumbi juice in the morning.
R. B. Duckworth in his book 'Fruits and Vegetables' has said that musumbi juice is an effective remedy for all sorts of stomach and liver troubles. It may be called a miracle fruit.
Fred. E. Deatherage in his book 'Food for Life' has described musumbi juice as a household remedy for stomach and liver troubles. F. Ramalay in his book 'Plants useful to man' has said that musumbi juice is a very effective remedy for all sorts of stomach and liver troubles. It may be called 'heal-all'.

Benefit and uses of Lime.

Cough and cold: It is an age-old remedy in cough and cold.
Anaemia and general debility: Musumbi juice is very effective in anaemia and general debility.
Forgetfulness: Its juice increases memory and gives vitality.
High blood pressure: The fruit juice is highly effective in keeping the blood pressure normal.
Intestinal disorders: Musumbi juice is often prescribed in all sorts of intestinal disorders.
Jaundice: Musumbi juice is an age-old remedy for jaundice.
Gastric or peptic ulcer: It is the only fruit juice which can cure gastric ulcer most effectively.
Menorrhagia: It is a very effective remedy for menorrhagia.
Kidney disorders: Narangi juice cures all sorts of kidney disorders. It is a miracle fruit.
Nausea, vomiting and travel sickness: Musumbi juice is very effective in curing all sorts of travel sickness.
Diarrhoea and dysentery: Musumbi juice is an effective remedy in diarrhoea and dysentery.
Flatulence and indigestion: Its juice is very effective in flatulence or indigestion.
Sun-stroke or heat-stroke: In hot summer months, narangi juice gives protection against any possible sun-stroke or heat-stroke.

BENEFITS AND USES OF LEMON

1. Arthritis, rheumatic diseases: A few drinks of lemon juice is the surest remedy for rheumatic fever, painful joints, lumbago and sciatica. There will be no cardiac complications. Those with incipient arthritis were given ascorbic acid therapy and similar results were achieved.
2. Common cold: Lemon juice or vitamin C tablets taken three or four times daily along with garlic cures cough and cold.
3. Oedema: Oedema of the muscular region produced by vascular decompensation often responds more rapidly when 10 to 33 ounces of orange or grape-fruit juice is given in addition to 500 mg of vitamin C for three or four days.
4. Hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases: Many illnesses of the aged may be prevented with an adequate intake of vitamin C daily. Particularly cerebrovascular diseases and heart disorders may be largely reduced.
5. Prickly heat: Quick relief is obtained by taking a few drinks of lemon juice daily.
6. Shock: To prevent surgical shock surgeons apply ascorbic acid routinely before and after surgery. 500 mg by mouth one hour before surgery to patients of average weight helps to useful in preventing shock and post-operative weakness.
7. Menorrhagia and haemorrhage: A few drinks of lemon juice or narangi juice will certainly give some relief in acute menorrhagia.
8. Asthma: Many cases of asthma have been relieved by taking a half-spoonful of lemon-juice before each meal and upon retiring.
9. Cough and cold: Roasted lemon when properly prepared is one of the most effective remedies for cough and cold.
10. Corns: Lemon juice applied to corns a few times a day makes an effective remedy. Bind the corn and leave it overnight, you can expect wonderful results.
11. Headache: Lemon tea relieves headache.
12. Heartburn: If you take one glass of lemon juice, you will surely get relief from it.
13. Nausea, vomiting and travel sickness: If one takes a glass of lemon juice before leaving home, one can return from travelling without any trouble.
14. Sun-stroke or heat-stroke: Lemon or lime (musumbi) juice prevents sun-stroke or heat­stroke.
15. Whooping cough: Lemon or musumbi (lime) juice is a household remedy for whooping cough.
16. Weakness and general debility: Lemon or musumbi (lime) juice offers an excellent remedy in general debility and weakness.
17. Low vitality: Lemon or lime (musumbi) juice removes this condition very quickly.

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What Do Experts Recommend for Fitness?

The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans are designed so people can easily fit physical activity into their daily plan and incorporate activities they enjoy.
These guidelines recommend that each week you do one of the following:

• Two and a half hours of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity (Examples are walking briskly, water aerobics, ballroom dancing, and general gardening)
  
  OR

• One hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity (Includes racewalking, jogging or running, swimming laps, jumping rope, and hiking uphill or with a heavy backpack)

Make sure that you do at least 10 minutes of aerobic activity at a time. In fact, people who engage in short bursts of physical activity for 10 minutes at a time have been shown to be just as healthy as people who do a regular 30-minute workout every day. Check out ABE for Fitness to learn ways to incorporate bursts of physical activity naturally into your daily life.
In addition, include muscle strengthening activities, such as weight training, push-ups, sit-ups, carrying heavy loads, or heavy gardening, at least two days a week. Exercise specialists, such as the American College of Sports Medicine, also recommend incorporating stretching and other exercises to increase flexibility and avoid injury, as well as exercises to improve balance and reduce risk of falls.
Read about specific recommendations for special conditions, such as women who are pregnant, adults with disabilities, and older adults or those with a chronic condition.

Move your body naturally

In his Blue Zones research on people who live over 100 years, Dan Buettner set out to identify the habits and behaviors that centenarians share. One key characteristic he found was that these people set up their lives so that movement and physical activity became a regular part of their routine. Rather than joining gyms or lifting weights, they get exercise by gardening, walking, climbing stairs, and performing housework. Finding ways that make sense for you to move more often, such as taking your dog for a long morning walk or biking to work, can be an effective way of designing a routine that encourages you to exercise without thinking about it.

A word of caution

While exercise is undoubtedly beneficial, it is not true that the more exercise you do or the harder you work the body, the better the results. Too much or too arduous physical activity can lead to injury. It is essential to maintain a balance between working out the muscles without overdoing it.  Know that your body gets stronger during rest and recovery.

References

Expert Contributor: 

Mary Jo Kreitzer, RN, PhD; Archelle Georgiou, MD

Why is Physical Activity & Fitness Important?

Related Pages 

Heart Disease

Diabetes

Anxiety & Depression

Migraines

Would you like to:

• Decrease your risk of disease?
• Feel better physically and mentally?
• Look better?
• Help avoid injuries?
• Keep doing activities you enjoy throughout your life?

Regular physical activity will help you do these things. Physical activity is essential to prevent and reduce risks of many diseases and improve physical and mental health. It can even help you live longer—research from the American Journal of Preventative Medicine indicates that regular exercise can add up to five years to your life.
Physical activity also keeps you in shape so you can enjoy leisure activities and safely perform work and home chores. It offers great mental and social benefits as well. The Lancet released a series of studies that attribute positive outcomes to physical activity, including “a sense of purpose and value, a better quality of life, improved sleep, and reduced stress, as well as stronger relationships and social connectedness.”
On the other hand, lack of physical activity is associated with increased risks of:

• Anxiety, stress, and feelings of depression
• Developing many preventable conditions, such as high blood pressure, coronary heart diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis, colon cancer, and obesity
• Dying prematurely

The authors of the Lancet studies even suggest that the sedentary lifestyle so common in our culture is more deadly than smoking. They also believe that 6-10% of the world’s non-communicable diseases (such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain kinds of cancer) are caused by physical inactivity.

12 important reasons to be physically active

1. Be healthier
2. Increase your chances of living longer
3. Feel better about yourself
4. Reduce the chance of becoming depressed
5. Sleep better at night
6. Look good
7. Be in shape
8. Get around better
9. Have stronger muscles and bones
10. Achieve or maintain a healthy weight
11. Be with friends or meet new people
12. Have fun

Physical activity reduces risk for eight conditions

According to the Centers for Disease Control, exercise can reduce your risk of:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• High blood pressure
• Type 2 diabetes
• Obesity
• Depression
• Breast and colon cancer
• Osteoporosis

Fitness for kids

Regular physical exercise is important for younger generations too, especially with the rise of obesity in children. Heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, and social discrimination are just a few of the possible consequences of a childhood spent in front of the television or the internet. Check out Let's Move! for nutrition and fitness tips for children.

References

Expert Contributor: 

Mary Jo Kreitzer, RN, PhD; Archelle Georgiou, MD

African Americans at higher risk of kidney failure, study says - PUNCH

November 11, 2013 by sciencedaily.com 

 

Genetic factors in African Americans with chronic kidney disease  put them at a greater risk for end-stage renal disease compared to white Americans, according to a new study released in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland contributed data from two separate studies: the African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension and the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study .

Both studies identified high risk genetic variants in the APOL1 gene that speed up kidney disease progression and substantially increase the risk of developing kidney failure, compared to whites and blacks with low risk variants, with or without diabetes. Approximately 1 in 10 blacks possess the high risk variants, though it is very uncommon in whites.

“Even though our studies found that African Americans with two copies of the high-risk APOL1 variants were at higher risk for kidney disease progression, about 40  per cent of the African Americans from the AASK study who also carried the high-risk variants had not progressed at the time of the study,” said co-lead author W.H. Linda Kao, PhD, MHS, professor of epidemiology and medicine at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “This finding highlights the importance of identifying factors that may modify the effect of the APOL1 risk variants.”

Senior author Lawrence J. Appel, MD, MPH, professor of medicine, epidemiology, and international health at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, noted the importance of the APOL1 gene and its effect on kidney disease progression in blacks.

“Blacks with chronic kidney disease and the high-risk genetic variants were more likely to have kidney disease that progressed, compared to both blacks without the high-risk genotype and whites,” he said.

Appel also stated that African Americans with low-risk variants still had a higher risk of developing kidney failure than whites.

“What we found is pretty remarkable — that variations in a single gene account for much of the racial disparity in kidney disease progression and risk for end-stage kidney disease,” says co-lead author Afshin Parsa, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “If it were possible to reduce the effect of this gene, there could be a very meaningful decrease in progressive kidney and end-stage kidney disease within blacks.” Michael Choi, MD, a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, was also a co-author.

An estimated 20 million American adults have CKD, and over 400,000 depend on dialysis to treat kidney failure.

The CRIC study was established in 2001 by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to improve the understanding of CKD and related cardiovascular diseases. The CRIC study has enrolled nearly 4,000 people with CKD, with another 1,500 expected to join the study over the next five years.

The AASK is the largest and longest study of African Americans with CKD. Study participants were initially recruited in 1995 for the AASK Clinical Trial.

 It is unclear whether consuming more vegetable protein prolongs CKD patients’ lives, however.

To investigate, a team led by Xiaorui Chen (University of Utah) studied 1,104 CKD patients in the1988-1994 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III and asked them about their animal and vegetable protein intake.

After controlling for various factors such as age, smoking, and BMI, the researchers found that for each 10 gram increase in vegetable protein intake per day, participants had a 14% lower risk of dying by the end of 2006. “Interventional trials are needed to establish whether increasing vegetable protein will decrease mortality in the CKD population,” they wrote.

CLARION CALL: GET UP AND EXERCISE YOUR BODY (2).

This article was earlier posted on this  by my humble self. But I feel compelled to post it again for emphasis. There is no gainsaying the fact that the best medicine for a healthy body and mind is EXERCISE. The benefits are numerous and the beauty of it is that it comes so cheap as compared to what you may be needing to invest on synthetic drugs in case you suffer health challenges as a result of inactivity. Please take pains to go through it and endeavor to commit to heart the tips contained herein. God bless you.
**************
Is the society paying deaf ears to the frequent calls by health experts to get more involved in exercising ones body? Is it that we have failed to decipher at least some of the health benefits we stand to achieve by doing so, or could it be that enough is not being done to educate the citizenry on the need for frequent exercise? Viewed from whichever angle, one is left with no other option than to conclude that it is a disservice to oneself where it is established that a person has failed to come up with a deliberate action on physical exercise of the body to keep fit, except of course, on health ground.
Exercising yourself whenever you can, preferably on regular basis will do you a world of good as it tends to help you regain physical strength and stamina. Your joints will gain the much needed flexibility to aid your involvements in daily activities.
Experts have proved that bad cholesterol and fat lodged in the blood vessels which hinder free flow of blood to all parts of the body dissolves with the help of exercise, thus making blood supply in sufficient quantities to the body parts and aiding wellness in us possible. How much more, the increased work load on your heart in its attempt to pump enough blood round the body is brought to a manageable level. The health of your heart (engine) is thus enhanced.
Lets get something clear. You are not being asked to get prepared to participate in the Olympics, the Common Wealth Games or in any other competition. That is a different ball game. You are being asked to help yourself to keep fit and stay healthy. Therefore, there is need to get acquainted with various aerobic and anaerobic exercises you could engage in to keep fit. In one of my older blogs, I listed some health benefits in brisk walking. They are numerous. A brisk walk for about 30 minutes a day, three times a week will launch you into a pedestal that you will find out to be so good. Keep Walking and enjoy your day .

Halitosis

Quick Facts:
•    Halitosis is caused by sulphur producing bacteria present in the tongue and throat.
•    Major causes are poor oral hygiene, smoking and dryness of the mouth
•    The treatment depends on the underlying cause of the halitosis.

What is it?
Halitosis also known as chronic bad breath results from the excess presence of bacteria that produces sulphur in our oral cavity. These bacteria normally inhabit the surface of our tongue and throat. At times however, they break down proteins at a very high rate thereby releasing odorous volatile sulphur compounds that contribute to bad breath. It is not infectious and is not a constant issue. About 2.4% of the adult population suffers from bad breath.

Causes of Halitosis:
There are other factors apart from sulphur producing bacteria that contribute to halitosis which are:
•    Dental factors: poor oral hygiene and periodontitis (infection of the gums)
•    Dry Mouth: It can be caused by various factors such as stress, consumption of alcohol, side effects of a medical condition or drugs
•    Smoking: smoking starves the oral tissues of oxygen and hence leads to halitosis
•    Post nasal discharge: this can happen in chronic sinusitis and many other underlying medical conditions
•    Acid and bile reflux from the stomach
•    Consumption of food stuff such as onion, garlic etc which induce certain unpleasant odors. The effects of this is however are short-lived than the other factors
•    Various other medical conditions such as metabolic dysfunctions, biochemical disorders, carcinomas, kidney failure etc.

Symptoms:
The features that accompany halitosis are:
•    Dry mouth
•    Plaque build up around teeth
•    Post nasal drip or mucous
•    A white coating on the tongue
•    Burning sensation on the tongue
•    Morning bad breath
•    Constant sour or bitter metallic taste
•    Thick saliva

Chronic halitosis can have a major psychological impact on a person, as friends may tend to avoid coming up close for conversations. It can affect self esteem and confidence.

Treatment:
The treatment varies from case to case and addresses the underlying issue that is the cause of the bad breath.  Avoiding dehydration and maintenance of good oral hygiene is particularly important. Some mouthwashes, toothpastes and lozenges aid in preventing halitosis.

Regular gentle but effective cleaning of the tongue is also advised. A variety of tongue brushes and scrapers are available fro this purpose. The tongue needs to gently and thoroughly brushed starting from the back towards the front. One must remember that the hardest to reach back portion of the tongue smells the worst.

People who suffer from chronic sinusitis may be advised to use a saline nasal spray. A course of antibiotic that targets anaerobic bacteria may help in reducing the population of sulphur producing bacteria.

Visit your dentist or doctor to identify the cause of your halitosis to find the most effective treatment plan for you. The visit will be worthwhile as it will save you from a lot of embarrassment.
A healthcare initiative by AsiaMed Connect in partnership with Apollo Hospitals Group- For free online medical consultation, send your queries to consultationamc@gmail.com

Common sex-related injuries and their cures (I) - PUNCH

November 9, 2013 by Funmi Akingbade 

Funmi Akingbade
| credits: File copy

Due to the fact that married couples do some strange sexual stuffs, sex-related injuries are very common and they happen simply because somebody gets a little carried away.

How common are sex injuries? From the number of various clients visiting my office, I do have comprehensive statistics of at least one-third of adults suffer some form of injury related to sex each year. While sexual activities are highly physical, like any physical activity, they come with risks of injury. Although many can be prevented with bit of preparations and improved communication between couples, but love-making sometimes can really be a battlefield and getting hurt in the heat of passion could be a subject seldom discussed.

The most common sex injuries are a pulled muscle,  back injuries and heart attack. Did you know that penis can ‘break’ when it is erect. While an erection contains no actual bones, the penis does contain tubes that fill with blood during an erection. It’s the lining of these tubes that can rupture in response to heavy trauma or bending.

One client describes this, “My wife climbed on top. While thrusting her hips back in forth against my thrust rhythm, she decided to lean back without communicating this to me and I was not prepared for her quick descent backwards. I knew it was broken. Oh, it’s so painful.”

A broken penis is often accompanied by a snapping sound and dark bruising and requires immediate attention. Penile fractures are not actually fractures but rather a hard tear in the tissue of the penis. They occur when the erect penis is bent forcefully; there may be a popping or cracking sound. It affects about 10 per cent of men. Penile fractures are relatively uncommon, so you can still have fun doing lots of thrusting and bending in the bedroom. Just be wary of any quick movements that might bend the shaft excessively; so pay close attention.

Muscle strains are common during any type of physical activity and sex is no exception. Considering the fact that you can burn around 200 calories in a 30-minute sex session, it’s no surprise that many spouses report sex as the cause of many injuries. And since sexual arousal can release endorphins that reduce the experience of pain, these couples don’t realise they’re hurt until after sex is over. To help prevent muscle strains, pick positions that are comfortable. If they are not, make small adjustments to the angle of your hips or use your partner’s hands for more support.

You can get ‘burnt’ down below, I  had one woman who came in because her husband had performed oral sex on her too quickly after eating a spicy meal and drinking spicy ‘pepper-soup’ and she sustained painful sore burns from the hot sauce.

Common bumps and bruises are what happen daily, in the heat of the moment, it’s easy to smack your head against the headboard or scrape your knees along the carpet. Many of these injuries can be prevented by purchasing lots of pillows and creating a soft nest in and around your bed. Not only do pillows provide padding for soft landings, but they can be used when trying new positions.

Be careful; objects can easily lodge into your vagina. When inserting objects or sex toys  into your vagina, smooth-edged toys with a flared base are recommended to ensure nothing gets lost in your uterus. Natural lubricants are also essential to sex play, as they help minimise friction and reduce the risk of small tears that can lead to infection. Sometimes these objects can lead to small tears or cuts in the vagina, which can occur when sex is more vigorous and there isn’t enough lubrication. Women will often not feel any pain until after sex, because sexual arousal usually raises pain tolerance. But if the cuts are sizeable and bleeding doesn’t stop on its own, a woman should seek medical attention to prevent infection. ….. To be continued next week.

Questions and answers

Sex and sports don’t mix

My wife is a sports lady; she plays table tennis for a big club in the state. Ever since she became popular in the game, my sexual need has become a thing of insignificance.  Each time I plead with her, all she says to me is ‘sex and sports don’t mix. I need my energy for my career and we need the money for a better life.’ My need is no longer her concern. What do I do?

Mr. David Ogundipe

Sports stars earn millions, they are celebrities. Male sports stars are generally in great shape, however, this great shape may trigger high level of sexual activity which can actually be detrimental to their careers because of the strain it piles on their joints and muscles on top of their already demanding training schedules. But it has been discovered that this may not be the case for a female sports star. Sex therapist recognises the fact that the situation for female athletes is often very different, that is, sexual intercourse increases their alertness and readiness to perform. So, take time to explain this to your wife with a loving attitude and be her friend also.

I am sick and tired of my wife making expensive jokes about my penis

I think my wife is a sex sadist or what should I say? Each time it is time for us to make love, she naturally derives pleasure in making jokes about my penis. If it is not about the size, it will be about the shape or about the performance or about the colour. She has a way of saying something nasty that will immediately deflate my libido and arousal. One day, I had to beat her up after her nasty joke but she always claims it is a way of getting her in the mood for sex. I am confused. What can I do?

Sunny Kingsley

One of the first-class counsel I give to couples about to wed is never to make jokes about their partners’ sex organs, because the most toxic thing you would want to do to really turn anyone off is to make a funny comment about his penis, her breast or vagina. Partners take these comments and jokes very personal and it can affect their total well-being for life. Let your wife know that your penis is like the centre of a man’s world, and tell her every man is so sensitive about it. So, if during sex or right before it, she passes funny comments to get herself in the mood for sex, she has not only destroyed your mood but also rejected your person. This is the worst thing she could do to turn you off completely.

I can’t explain what my wife wants?

Can you kindly explain the science of a female desire linked to her breast? I am clueless how to satisfy my wife’s fantasies, she only gets aroused when I only satisfy her breast. To her, I should treat her breast in a special way but all my efforts have amounted to a rigid stony ground on bed. How do I get through her? Do you have an idea how to give her breast a special treat? And she is really busty anyway.

 Nurudeen Oba

First and foremost, you have to mentally register her breast as one of your ‘turn-ons.’ Once in a while, deliberately let your eyes wander around her breasts and before you know it, you will begin to discover how absolutely gorgeous those breasts are. Make it a habit to be fascinated with her breasts each time she lifts her shirt over her head, and watch as her large breasts bounce whenever she moves around. You will realise that sometimes, you will notice a hard on by just looking at her breasts. It will really become a turn-on. During the time for love making, make sure your eyes roam on her breasts. Encourage her to laugh; this will make her breasts to jiggle. Learn how to undo the hook of a brassier in a very seductive manner, allowing her bra to hang loose over her large breasts; this will make the nipples hard, standing at attention and begging to be sucked. At such moment, take each one of them in your mouth and suck gently. What you will notice is that immediately your wife will throw her head back and groan softly, then let out a cry of pleasure and invariably collapse in pleasure. At this point, you have given her breasts a good treat which will make her satisfy you also. When it comes to the craving for sexual variety, researchers have discovered that women want sex just as much as men do, but men do not take out quality time to locate their hot spots.

My husband was an ex-hardcore sex worker

With my husband, sex irritates me big time. I don’t even enjoy it anymore all because my husband was an ex-hardcore sex worker. Each time we are making love, my husband must scream so hard and say some dirty languages. As a matter of fact, he is so obsessed with dirty talks and the worst of it all is that he mentions some strange names that make me think promiscuity just runs in his veins. If sex is not on agenda, my husband is a nice, kind-hearted person, but as soon as it’s time for sex, I feel like an ‘ileya’ ram going to be slaughtered’. This looks like a sex prison to me, please help.

Mamiska Itanda

Have you ever sat your husband down and really had a heart to heart discussion about this? If no, you just have to summon courage and nicely share your fears with him. While discussing with him, let him know that mentioning names of ex-sex-partners is the height of low respect for you. Let him know that you deserve some respect as the legal wife. On the other hand, you should know that some spouses regard screaming as sexy. But many spouses do not realise that screaming can only be sexy if their partner is also a screamer. Most of the time, partners could get turned off when their ear drums are getting ready to explode. For hardcore sex workers,  who have formed the habit of screaming, they just have to deliberately work on it to change if it is offensive to their partners. Try to turn down the volume. Besides, the neighbours may hear you! Same precaution goes for obsessive dirty talk.

Stressed mothers ‘transmit stress patterns to offspring’- PUNCH

November 9, 2013 by Agency Reporter

 

New research suggests that infants born to mothers who have been through stressful life events may experience changes at birth that impact their emotional behavior well into adulthood. This is according to a study published in the journal Biological Psychiatry.

Researchers from the University of Haifa in Israel say that previous research conducted in both humans and animals has shown that females who are exposed to stress even before they conceive can have have an impact on offspring.

Late last year, Medical News Today reported on a study suggesting that children born to stressed mothers have a higher chance of being bullied.

A study suggests that infants born to mothers who have been through stressful life events show increased CRF1 expression at birth – a gene linked to anxiety and stress.

But the researchers wanted to determine the mechanisms as to why a parent’s stress appears to have such an impact on subsequent generations.

They focused their attention on a gene called CRF1 (corticotropin releasing factor type 1).

Recipe For Cancer Prevention - GUARDIAN

Category: Food & Drink

Published: Saturday, 02 November 2013 

Written by By Chinelo Nwagbo

CANCER is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells anywhere in a body. Despite centuries of research, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Cancer harms the body when damaged cells divide uncontrollably to form lumps or masses of tissue called tumors. To avoid premature death as a result of cancer it is essential to take a close look on the type of foods we eat.
  Diet is an important part of cancer prevention since what we eat has been linked to the disease. Physicians recommend diets that are low in fat and rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Today’s recipe is simply mixed vegetable jollof rice. This nutritious food is one among many foods that can be used for cancer prevention.    
  Jollof rice is prepared with varieties of vegetables. Vegetables as we all know contain a number of vitamins and minerals like potassium, vitamin C, folate, and vitamin A, which are beneficial to the human diet. These vitamins and minerals are needed by the body on a daily basis to promote healthy living.
  Studies have shown that eating vegetables can prevent leukemia (cancer of the blood), breast, and prostate and lung cancers. Consuming vegetables can also correct or heal diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes (high blood sugar levels), arthritis (pains in the joints), obesity (excess fat in the body), levels of cholesterol in the blood (hypercholesterolemia) stroke, diabetes (excess sugar in the blood), kidney disease and bone loss.
  Medical doctors and nutritionists always recommend intake of vegetables to anaemic patients. It promotes healthy cardiovascular system, bones, as well as boosts immune system. Pregnant women, women and girls that menstruate can benefit from consuming mixed vegetable jollof rice to help replenish blood lost as result of child delivery and menstruation.
Ingredients                     Quantities 
Basmati rice                      3 cups (750g)
fresh tomatoes                   4 large size  
Tomato puree                    1 tablespoon
Fresh thyme                       5 sprigs
Milled or ground
Nutmeg                              2 teaspoon
Chicken stock                    1 cup
Onion                                 1 medium size
Seasoning cubes                 4 
Scotch bonnet,
remove stalk and seeds       1
Sweet red peppers               2 medium
Butter                                   3 serving spoons 
Freshly chopped chives        optional
Ground crayfish (optional)1 tablespoon
 Fresh ginger                       10g
 or
Ground ginger                      1 teaspoon
Curry powder                       1 teaspoon
Vegetable oil                        1 serving spoon
Sea salt                                  To taste
Method of preparation
Blend the tomatoes, sweet pepper and onion together.
Pour blend in a large pot, then add the scotch bonnet, thyme, nutmeg, curry powder, ground crayfish and chicken stock. Also add 750ml of water and bring to the boil.
Pound or grate the ginger and add to the boiling mix.
Stir slowly, add tomato puree and allow to boil for about 5 minutes under high heat.
Turn heat down, slowly introduce rice and stir in.
Add some hot water enough to cook the rice, cover pot first with a sheet of foil paper and then with the pot lid.
 Allow to steam for about 10 minutes.
 Open pot and check if rice is cooked.
 Add more hot water if required.
When all water/moisture has evaporated, gently stir rice; avoid scraping the bottom of the pot, also avoid overcooking rice.
Crush and sprinkle seasoning cubes, stir well to distribute seasoning, then taste for salt, (use more or less seasoning cube depending on preference).
Add two serving spoons of butter and mix well. Also add a serving spoon of vegetable oil to give the desirable glister.
 Serve hot with sautéed carrots, asparagus and diced sweet pepper and grilled chicken breast.
Garnish with chives and enjoy.

Help for stomach ulcers - PUNCH

By Bukola Adebayo 

 

| credits: google photos

Have you been experiencing frequent pains in the stomach? Does it feel like you have wounds in your belly?

  Experts say if you have been using pain relief medicines for stomach pains for more than six months without relief, you may have developed an ulcer.

Professor of Gastroenterology at the Ege University School of Medicine, Turkey, Serhat  Bor,  describes stomach ulcers as open sores that form on the inner lining of the stomach, because of increased gastric acid in the digestive tract.

He notes that when this condition is not detected early, it could lead to severe damages to the stomach.

“An ulcer of the stomach occurs when there is excess acid in the stomach, which eats away the protective mucus lining, leading to a sore.”

In addition to eating away your stomach lining, stomach ulcers cause a lot of discomfort and pain which could reduce one’s quality of life .

To effectively treat ulcers, the professor says that one must know the factors that trigger the conditions in the first place.

Ege says unlike before when its causes were not really known,  new researches  now show that  20 per cent of all cases of ulcers are caused by bacteria , Helicobacter Pylori, which live s and grow s within the mucus layers that protect the tissues lining the stomach and the small intestines.

“ In most instances, these bacteria do not cause a problem, but sometimes they could disrupt the layer of the mucus leading to an inflammation. The inflammation in turn could cause the acids in the stomach to rise. It is only a specialist( gastroloenterlogist) that can diagnose these cases .It is important that you see a doctor first , then you can follow up on his/her advice,” he states.

If you’ve been swallowing  pain reilef medications frequently, you may want to watch it. Abuse of analgesics could increase one’s risk of  getting   ulcer. Ege states that these over-the-counter medicines are taken frequently. They could  inflame or irritate the lining of the small intestines and the stomach leading to sores.

“ If you don’t want to have ulcer, you need to be very careful with over-the-counter pain medicines. Remember: No drug is risk-free. It is very important to discuss the use of over-the-counter drugs with your doctor.” he adds.

Stress has been linked to aggravating the stomach lining. The professor notes that stress,  which increases acidic levels in the stomach,  could result in stomach ulcers.

He explains,  “There are different health problems that occur because of stress, acidity being one of them. If steps are not taken to control the levels of stress in the body, the acidity could lead to stomach ulcers.  “

The loss of a good night’s sleep could do more than make you yawn – it may trigger stomach ulcers.

Research published by scientists at Newcastle University, UK shows that good sleeping habits result in better production of a protein called TFF2, which repairs tissue damage in the stomach and keeps ulcers at bay.

It also confirms that eating late is bad for you because it suppresses the same protein. The lead researcher, Dr. Felicity May,  said the study backs up the idea that stressful lifestyles are more likely to lead to ulcers.

 “These findings  show the implications  for ulcers for those whose daily routine does not allow them to get a good night’s sleep. If you don’t get any sleep it would mean lower levels of the protein. This would suggest that those who get too little sleep and often eat late are more at risk of stomach ulcers.”

You have probably heard ulcer patients reject spicy or peppery food, diet could heighten or lessen your chances of hurting your stomach,  says consultant gastroenterologist with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Dr. Funmi Lesi.

 To show the importance of diet, Lesi says a study carried out among 400 medical students who took coffee and kola nuts during their examinations showed that 26.3 per cent of them had symptoms that could lead to ulcers within one month while another study among 688 residents in Mushin, Lagos, revealed that 15.5 per cent of them had stomach pains after their meals at least once in a month.

 The experts note that since all foods consumed by a person have an effect on the body, one way or the other,  it is absolutely essential for all to ensure that they eat the right food  to avoid stomach ulcer, especially if they are prone to the problem, suffer from acidity on a regular basis, or have a family history of ulcers.

  They note that people who are undergoing treatment for this condition should follow diets which have a positive effect on the ir stomach lining by eating the right food forto  speed up th ier  recovery process.

Home made remedies for ulcer pain

If you have an ulcer, you need to avoid any foods or medicines that will make your condition worse. Following are some of the best natural remedies for healing and soothing stomach ulcers:

-One of the very best home remedies for ulcers is eating raw cabbage. Juicing the raw cabbage will make it easier to take and mixing it with carrots in the juicer will make it better tasting. Drink half a cup before each meal and at bed time and make sure that it is fresh. Your ulcer may be gone in only a few weeks.

-Eat at least three bananas a day. These fruits contain an antibacterial substance that inhibits the growth of ulcer-causing H. pylori. Studies show that animals fed bananas have a thicker stomach wall and greater mucus production in the stomach, which helps build a barrier between digestive acids and the lining of the stomach. Eating plantains is also helpful.

-Cayenne pepper is wonderful for healing ulcers as well as dulling the pain. It is a bit strong and may take some getting used to at the outset. Start with one-eighth teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a glass of water twice a day and work up to a quarter-teaspoon. You can also take cayenne capsules that you can get at the health food store. Take three a day immediately after meals.

-The bark of slippery elm soothes the mucous membranes that line the stomach and duodenum. It is often taken in powdered form. Some herbalists recommend taking a teaspoon of powdered slippery elm bark added to one cup of warm water three times a day.

-Colloidal silver helps kill the H. pylori bacteria and helps heal injured stomach tissues.

-Raw honey soothes and reduces inflammation of the lining of the stomach and is good for healing as well.

-Garlic’s antibacterial properties include fighting H. pylori. Take two small crushed cloves a day.

Foods to avoid if you are hypertensive - PUNCH

By Agency Reporter 

 

Canned fruits

In order to avoid  rise of blood pressure, try restricting the consumption of canned foods. Brine is used to preserve the vegetable. Make sure you rinse them thoroughly before consumption to get rid of extra salt. Also boiling of salted or brined vegetables for at least 10 mins before consumption would help to reduce the sodium intake considerably. Even fruits are canned along with acid regulators which are sodium salts of different compounds. These foods prove to be the hidden sources of sodium.

Bakery products

Packed with salted saturated fats, sodium rich leavening agents (baking powder, soda bicarb). This can lead to increase in blood pressure and also obesity which aggravates the problem further.

Sugar

Sugar and other sweets from sugar like mithais, candies, pastries, cakes, etc. should be avoided as they all in excess lead to obesity. Many researches have proven that obese individuals are more prone to develop hypertension.

Fats

Excess consumption of fats leads to obesity which in turn leads to high blood pressure. The consumption of saturated and trans fats in the diet should be avoided. All fried food stuffs, butter, margarine, coconut oil, etc. should be consumed in minimal amounts.

Caffeine

Reduce the intake of caffeine products like cocoa, coffee or some soft drinks as these being stimulants give rise to instant spike in blood pressure. Caffeine acts as a vasoconstrictor, i.e. it narrows the arteries increasing the pressure of blood flow. Limit the intake of coffee to two cups a day only.

•Source: Care2.com

Natural ways to lower blood pressure

November 7, 2013 by Bukola Adebayo 

 

| credits: google

Uncontrolled high blood pressure, commonly known as hypertension, has been said to kill in at least eight different ways.

They include stroke, diabetes, kidney failure, heart attack, aneurysms, end-stage liver failure, coronary heart diseases and  sudden death.

Emeritus Prof. of medicine, Oladipo Akinkugbe, describes high blood pressure as a condition that occurs when there is excessive pressure on the walls of the artery and adds that this causes damage to the blood vessels, as well as vital organs in the body when it is not controlled.

Hypertension is also a major health concern for Africans.

In Nigeria, about 57 million people are estimated to be hypertensive with many still undiagnosed.Akinkugbe says  this high incidence of hypertension is a major reason why many die suddenly from heart attack and stroke.

High blood pressure is preventable and it is also manageable, so you need not die from it if you make efforts to control it.

According to Akinkugbe, one can live over three decades with hypertension without developing complications associated with the condition, if detected early and managed properly.

 He adds, “I have patients I diagnosed with high blood pressure 30 years ago that are still alive today, because they managed it by taking prescribed drugs and making lifestyle changes.

“Research has proven that salt intake is a reason why most Africans have hypertension. Hypertension only kills when you ignore it.”

If you have already been told that you have high blood pressure, then your doctor must have prescribed some drugs to help you control it.

While medication can lower  the condition, it may cause side effects such as leg cramps, dizziness, and lack of sleep. Luckily, most people can bring down their blood pressure naturally .Your lifestyle plays an important role in treating your high blood pressure, according experts on mayoclinic.com.

They say if one can successfully control one’s blood pressure by living well, then one can delay or reduce the need for medication. Here are lifestyle changes to make if you are ready to lower your blood pressure and keep it down for life!

Watch your waistline

Blood pressure often increases as weight increases. Losing just 10 pounds (4.5 kilogrammes) can help reduce your blood pressure. In general, the more weight you lose, the lower your blood pressure.

Losing weight also makes any blood pressure medications you’re taking more effective. You and your doctor can determine your target weight and the best way to achieve it.

Besides shedding pounds, you should also keep an eye on your waistline. Carrying too much weight around your waist can put you at greater risk of high blood pressure. In general, men are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 40 inches (102 centimetres).

Women are at risk if their waist measurement is greater than 35 inches (89 cm).

Exercise regularly

Regular physical activity  — at least 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week  — can lower your blood pressure by 4 to 9 millimetres of mercury (mm Hg).

And it doesn’t take long to see a difference. If you haven’t been active, increasing your exercise level can lower your blood pressure within just a few weeks. If you have pre-hypertension — systolic pressure between 120 and 139 or diastolic pressure between 80 and 89  — exercise can help you avoid developing full-blown hypertension.

If you already have hypertension, regular physical activity can bring your blood pressure down to safer levels. Talk to your doctor about developing an exercise programme.

Your doctor can help determine whether you need any exercise restrictions. Even moderate activity for 10 minutes at a time, such as walking and light strength training, can help. But avoid being a “weekend warrior.” Trying to squeeze all your exercise in on the weekends to make up for weekday inactivity isn’t a good strategy. Those sudden bursts of activity could actually be risky.

Eat a healthy diet

Eating a diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products and skimps on saturated fat and cholesterol can lower your blood pressure by up to 14 mm Hg. This eating plan is known as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet.

It isn’t easy to change eating habits, but with these tips, you can adopt a healthy diet:  Reduce salt in your diet. If you are an African, you need to reduce your salt intake. Even a small reduction in the salt in your diet can reduce blood pressure by 2 to 8 mm Hg.

To decrease salt intake, track how much salt is in your diet. Keep a food diary to estimate how much salt is in what you eat and drink each day and avoid eating processed foods as much as you can, because they are preserved with salt.

 Also do not add raw salt to your food. Potato chips, frozen dinners, bacon and processed lunch meats are high in sodium. You can ease into this change by cutting back gradually till your taste buds have adjusted to it.

Cut down on alcohol

Alcohol can be both good and bad for your health. In small amounts, it can potentially lower your blood pressure by 2 to 4 mm Hg. But that protective effect is lost if you drink too much of it — generally more than one drink a day for women and men older than age 65, or more than two a day for men age 65 and younger.

Also, if you don’t normally drink alcohol, you shouldn’t start drinking it as a way to lower your blood pressure. There’s more potential harm than benefit to drinking alcohol. If you drink more than moderate amounts of it, alcohol can actually raise blood pressure by several points. It can also reduce the effectiveness of high blood pressure medications.

N.B, if you do not know your blood pressure level, please get tested today.

Are your kids overfed? - PUNCH

November 5, 2013 by Bukola Adebayo 

 

It is true that children need food to grow well. Some people even believe  that a chubby baby or toddler is a healthy one. But child care experts say that feeding kids to get fat may not be too good for their health.

Nutritionists have raised the alarm that many parents are giving their kids too much food, thereby exposing them to health and social challenges.

They say by stuffing your kids lunch box with junk, such as yoghurt drinks, chocolates, biscuits and foods that are not suitable for their health, parents may be increasing their kids’ risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure early in life.

It is time for a shift in attitude, says head nutritionist at Queensland University of Technology, United States of America, Dr. Rebecca Byrne, who is in the middle of a five-year study into children’s eating habits.

Byrne states that overfeeding of children is one reason why the childhood overweight and obesity rates are climbing at an alarming rate and more young children are developing hypertension, Type 2 diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases – health conditions normally associated with the elderly.

She says, “Being a chubby baby is often seen as healthy and something children will grow out of. But chubby toddlers are more likely to be chubby kids, who grow into overweight adults prone to health problems associated with being overweight. One in four children will start school being overweight or obese.”

How do you know your child is overweight? Consultant paediatrician, Dr. Gbenga Ogundele, says it is when your child’s body mass index, which is a measure of body fat is high.

Ogundele adds that the quantity, quality and nature of food children eat contribute significantly to an elevated BMI.

He says, “If your child regularly eats high-calorie foods, such as fried foods, fast food, potato chips, cookies, cake and soda, he or she is likely to be consuming more calories than he or she needs.

“Too much calories lead to weight gain. Your child’s risk of Type 2 diabetes is elevated if she weighs too much. The childhood rate of Type 2 diabetes has increased more than 10 fold since the 1980s.”

An Oxford University study has also found that obese and overweight children – as young as five – are showing signs they could be at risk of heart attacks and strokes later in life.

In the research, children who were overweight showed clinical signs of cardiovascular disease such as higher blood pressure, cholesterol and insulin levels than their normal-weight peers, as well as a thickening of the heart muscle.

The study’s authors concluded that if these risk factors continued into adulthood, obese children could be at 30 to 40 per cent higher risk of stroke and heart disease than their normal-weight counterparts.

Director of international research at Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute,  Dr . Paul Zimmet,  suggests that parents, especially mums, have a major role to play in ensuring that their kids maintain a healthy weight by eating proper portions of nutritious  meals.

Ogundele agrees that mothers need to be educated on the risks associated with overstuffing their children despite the cultural love for chubby children.

“Mums are more worried that their child is not eating enough and not gaining enough weight, so they pressure their kids to eat more, using bribes such as dessert and treats.

“Instead of making kids eat everything on their plate we need to praise them when they try new foods and listen to them when they say they’ve had enough. They should also make sure that it is nutritious meals they prepare for the family.”

Apart from the health risks, children that are obese also have problems with their self esteem and worth.

Most children tend to compare themselves with their peers and if your child is overweight or obese, he or she can experience self-esteem and depression issues that stem from body image.

A 2009 study published in “Pediatrics” reports that obese children can be at an increased risk of poor self-esteem.

It states, “Low self-esteem can lead to higher rates of sadness, loneliness and nervousness. Long-term self-esteem issues can increase your child’s risk of dangerous behaviors such as smoking and drinking alcohol.

“Self-esteem issues are more likely to affect your child during adolescence when body image becomes an important part of peer interactions and feelings of self-worth.”

To ensure that children have healthy weights, Ogundele recommends that mothers should feed them  a variety of nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat milk and cheese and lean beef, pork, chicken and fish.

“Serving children these foods makes it more difficult to overfeed them because they are more nutrient dense, which means they fill them up and keep them full longer. Foods with fibre and protein fuel your child’s body and help keep him/her from getting hungry, which can encourage the habit of eating less food overall,” he adds.

Dear parents, emphasis should be on the quality of food given and not quantity.