Cows Milk, Should we take or Avoid? My View

 

Introduction:

There are varying views and opinions about milk,  talking of cow's milk, either  the full cream, the milk powder, instant milk powder, or the non-dairy creamer.  A lot of us are not cleared about these  milk. Milk is a biblical food that we started our life with and I have come also to think that we most likely will do better towards the end of our life if we include  milk in moderation,  that is my personal view after experimenting for several years to be or not to be with milk.  Here is an important fact with that we must understand about milk,   that is cow's milk it is a rich source of nutrients,  however today we have all varieties of milk especially the non-dairy creamer that has flooded our market which is not really made with cow's milk and it's a cheaper milk to use with not much nutritional value or content as the cow's milk,  the cow milk is a food that a lot of people have abandoned because of the opinion of others, there are ugly side of the cow's milk but there are also  the good side, too. Every food has its good and ulgly side and milk is not left out.  Among the ugliest side is the fact that it helps to feed yeast when taken in large amount and consistently, it also feeds inflammations,  if you are  already going through inflammations and pains and then because of the sugar content then it is also a food that helps to build up insulin resistance, so continuous consumption of milk over a long period of time may  sponsor early onset of diabetes or make the management of diabetes more difficult if it's taking on a daily basis in large amount.    Over the years I've abandoned milk several times because of the ugly stories around it and have also return milk over again, and several times off and on.  but I'm beginning  also to come to the conclusion that as long as you take milk in moderation and take the real milk  and not non dairy creamer but  the full cream, years back I  was an advocate of the low fat milk and instant milk but I have come to realise that the low fat milk is  far more acidic especially those that has zero fat  more acidic than the full cream it is in view of these that each time I want to take milk now which is not daily,  I go for the full cream milk and here are a few of the reasons why the full cream milk is my latest addition to my diet:

1.  A Source of Vitamin K: 

 It seems that the older we get the less vitamin K we seem to have because of food choices including avoidance of milk  and other vitamin K rich foods. Vitamin K is actually a group of fat soluble vitamins that plays important role in the synthesis of protein and other aspects like supporting our bones, blood clotting, regulating blood sugar, preventing internal bleeding, preventing osteoporosis,  our immune system and several other roles that vitamin K plays but over time we tend to avoid or not include in our diet most of the vitamin K food sources like oregano,  cabbage, kale, eggs,  as we get older we tend to stay away from most of these foods for health reasons and for other advices and as a result of this there seem to be a shortage of vitamin K and so many of us complaining of symptoms or feelings of stomach ulcers especially older adults complain of such symptoms  like stomach ulcer, some may sometimes be due to absence of nutrients like vitamin K and other nutrients that can help to support wound healing as well and so realizing this aspect of nutrients in full cream milk has made me switch to full fat cow's milk each time I decide to take milk and it also manifests in a sustained energy that is derived  each time the full cream milk is consumed, no wonder the full cream milk is priced higher than other milk like the instant filled milk which is the other side of the milk whereby the natural fat in the milk is removed and replaced with vegetable fat as you can read on their labels so it's now the vegetable fat that is used in the instant milk powder whereas in the full cream it is just the pasteurized milk and so it is for this and its higher content of vitamin K which many of us are sometimes missing in our diet, that the switch became necessary. 

2.  Complete Amino acids:

 It is a source of complete amino acids which sometimes are needed for the full absorption of other nutrients we consume because some of them are use less until the complete amino acid is available and so we need this complete food.  It is great or our brain health too. If we continue to avoid it for too long we may suffer some mineral deficiencies because in this part of the world we  do not have too much varieties of food to eat to give us all the vitamins and minerals.

3.  Because of thyroid health thyroid

Our thyroid needs to be pampered and protected and a lot of people are ignorant of this fact that milk especially full cream milk contains important and protective nutrients that supports thyroid health including zinc.  I have met several people with thyroid issues who declared  that they have been off it for a long time and not likely to return to milk, Cases like this allow uncontrolled inflammation of the thyroid which need some of these nutrients to protect it and to pamper it because the thyroid needs pampering as a matter of fact and milk and other dairy products with zinc is an important food to include in moderation to help protect this sensitive organ.   

4.  Brain Support:

It is a brain food and we need to protect the brain as we get older because of the peculiar nutrients found in milk especially the full cream milk which is the real milk we need to support our brain health  by increasing foods with nutrients to back it up and full cream milk have all of that though the other milk is also part of it but full cream is the one with 💯 💯 hundred percent milk

5.  Smoother Skin

if you are observant and you are controlling, other carbohydrates in your diet you will notice that you will experience a smoother skin if you take milk moderately especially full cream, not all the time but moderately because of its balance of nutrients, It  is needed by the body.  This was my experience and findings when full milk was returned to my diet in moderation though not a daily bases.

6.  Reduces Depression 

Depression is real and a lot of people go through depression but including brain foods and food that helps to reduce depression like milk is a great way to manage such stress relating to the brain which if not controlled could lead to suicidal Tendencies as we hear of cases of suicide today it's not something that started off immediately but may  have lingered over a long time. Until it got to the point of suicide.

7.  Healthy Body weight

 Managing diabetes sometimes experience weight loss due to an imbalance of nutrients and it tends to bring on them more aging signs and symptoms when milk was taken out completely accompanied by other depression tendencies because of imbalance of this nutrients which some of them are found in milk and sometimes weight loss but full cream milk taking in little amount and occasionally will help to restore the body weight at a healthy level without unnecessary loss of weight and unexplainable weight loss or weight gain because when most carbohydrates are removed especially along with all the processed foods, it only makes sense to return milk in moderation.  Bearing in mind that exercising are  part of the requirments for managing diabetes, taking milk  out with a lot of exercising which is needed to manage diabetes, may trigger symptoms  like low blood sugar,  low energy and weakness which are common with diabetics.  and even the blood pressure will be difficult to manage because of the number of nutrients that are missing as a result of  leaving milk out completely.

8.  Anxiety attacks:

When milk is avoided for a long time without adequate replacement to it,  feelings like anxiety attack,  are also on a higher level especially with menopausal women but a little quantity of milk occasionally may help restore internal hormonal  balance and reduce feelings of anxiety attacks.

9.  Helps Manage Diabetes 

Managing diabetes requires a lot and not just about taking medication but balance of nutrients including complete amino acids which comes from adding a little milk because when you are trying to lower your sugar with a lot of herbs if you are going herbal or medications whichever,  the bones needs protection and milk full cream milk in small amount  helps give  the bones support and integrity.  Creating  a need for the body to require most of these nutrients and they are not there managing of the blood sugar become difficult and even research has shown that consuming full cream milk is better for blood sugar.   if you take it in small amount those who have managed diabetics can give this a try just a little and compare with milk powder, it  has  better ability because of the natural fat that is in it than our so-called milk powder which is overly acidic especially those with zero fat,, I've been on it for several  several years  back and finally discovered,  it is more acidic even with zero fat and full fat is closer to natural when compared with instant milk powder or zero fat.   but it took  a long time for me to realise that it's actually more acidic and farther from nature than the full cream milk.

Summary

The first rule about milk is best to listen to your body, it has its good side and ugly sides just like every other food has its good sides and ugly sides but the good side of the full cream  milk is that when you take it in moderate amount and it is the real milk not non-dairy creamer it is a real milk that you are taken and you do not take it daily you will definitely notice a healthier and stronger  stronger body than when it is avoided altogether as is being talked about by another school of thought,  Maybe after several years I may do a review but as at now once or twice in a week or as often as  I feel  like taking milk I do take full cream about  2 tablespoons is okay for me.  I don't  have to finish a whole pack because once it is too much sugar will rise, sometime blood pressure too rises, acidity in the body increases, moderation is our rule and I prefer it in the morning because its energy lasts longer. if you want to get the best result and if you want to continue to retain it in your diet and not bringing out the inflammatory aspect of it and all the other ugly sides, then let it be real milk and not daily consumption.  Moderation is our rule.

Photo credit:  Getty images

Read More

My Renewed Interest in Onions Benefits

Onions is a popular low calorie vegetable with numerous health benefits.  Though I had always known it as a great natural taste enhancer in soups and stews, but never considered it beneficial even when applied topically.  Recently, I was woken up at night with unusual weakness and tiredness which was unexplainable, worsened by a pounding in my heart which I could hear myself.  Wondering what was exactly the matter, of course the dinner was a low carb. with vegetables.  however, considering that much contact had been made with cold water, I began to wonder, could this be cold?

As the weakness, continued, I noticed a small onions by my bedroom which I was experimenting for mosquito repellent.  I quickly tore the inner juicy portion open and used it as cream to massage my both hands as I also noticed my right palms were swollen, a sign of inflammation.  As soon as I applied the onions juice, massaging deeply on both hands, the heat travelled immediately to my pounding heart and it stopped, in a few minutes, the swollen palms returned to normal and off I slept in minutes till morning.

If you ask me, Without a laboratory test, it seems to me, that onions can prevent a heart attack when massaged on the palm topically.
Onions can also quickly remove symptoms of cold and inflammations that occurs occasionally at night.

I believe we need more research on purple onions.  It is not a bad idea to keep fresh purple onions in your bedroom at night if you are over 45yrs.

Read More

No Cold and Or Flu till December, Here are my Secrets

 

Introduction:

It may sound unbelievable but it's true from January till December 12 whole months and no cold and or flu, it's a true story, and the writer is the beneficiary. There are some secrets behind this story and healthy life. A  lot of people suffer cold  and flu almost quarterly, some go for treatments monthly,  They blame it  on the weather, the season and several other factors but if you understand, how our body works, you will actually blame it on yourself.  Some foods that can help you come out of it in case you are battling cold and flu frequently.  It is possible also for you to stay from January to December  without cold and or  flu.  Mother Nature has made available several foods  that can make this happen even in  your own life in case you are a regular patient when it comes to cold and  flu, then read this testimony to the end.  

It  all has to do with our immune system, a weak immune system is a good ground for frequent cold and flu.  The major things that contributes to a weak immunity includes but not limited to these:

1.  Low Iron leading to  insufficient oxygen circulating in the blood.

2.   When there is too much acids in the body.

3.  When there are no sufficient antioxidants in the body and what are the antioxidants, they include vitamins A, C, D, E and several others that works uniquely to help neutralize free radicals.

4.  Insufficent Protein in the diet.  Protein we know is the building block.  

5.  Too much sugar and processed foods are immune suppressors.

These and several other factors contributes to a weak immunity. 

Once the immunity is down, then the regular customers include cold and flu.  it's not a disease only for kids as kids are often the ones at risk of cold  and flu.  We have older adults also having cold and flu due to a suppressed or weak immunity.  

I have stayed from January till this December without Cold or Flu, and others such as malaria and Typhoid treatment, simply by living a lifestyle that does not give room for cold and flu.

Firstly the glory goes to God Almighty, the Giver of life and our Sustainer, for His  creations and the things he has made available in nature and then the knowledge of it,  it is one thing for a food to be available in nature or as God has made them available then it's another thing for you to have knowledge of it knowledge is so important, no wonder, that the Bible says seek knowledge and pursue it, it's so important in our life.  In this write up, Follow me as I share  some of the   secrets that has helped me enjoy such healthy  body up to this last month of the year without any conventional treatment of cold and flu or any visit to the hospital for malaria and or typhoid treatment, here are some of my secrets throughout  the year and  some of the things that I do regularly:

1.  Managing Stress:  

Managing stress has not always been easy especially with some of us who are not good stress managers, again especially if your own kind of stress is the type that you are not easy to control, some kind of stress  are actually within our  immediate control while some stress are not easy to control.  Pepending on the type, Mine is usually more of physical and mental stress and because we have physical stress, emotional stress, financial stress, marital  sress a lot of other stresses and then if this stresses are not managed well , they also bring us down and today in the country today there are so many stressors physically and emotionally and as as for me whenever it's getting to the point of affecting my health.  I focus on my health. I drop the work and the phone then I Focus specifically on regaining and restoring my health,  one of the ways is to go early to bed and because I do not sleep most of the time in the afternoon our body usually behaves in the way it was raised up or trained to behave so if you are not the afternoon sleeper, it  is not always easy although I find time to also rest during times of stress whether sleeping or not just closing the eyes and resting the body helps to restore the immunity at least for 45 minutes or maximum of 60 minutes during the day in order to cool the body and this makes night sleep easier and faster yo take off.  so I go out of it forcing myself to to lie down and ocassionally have some sleep  put down all work materials,  phone calls with the phone on silence  which is not usually common with me, but I do it when the stress level is high, a lot of people do not also know that we all  are  affected by stress too,  the stressing aspect is and remains   one of the most dangerous aspect,, resting too much is also another kind of stress especially when it is  too much, it  also contributes to  stress and so everything should be done moderately including daytime relaxation.  don't oversleep, don't overwork.   Do a little work and then rest to balance it,  In this  way my  immube system will be restored.

2.  Daily Water Therapy: 

Observing water therapy  that is starting my morning with lots of water, volumes of water on empty stomach and sometimes with a dash of lemon juice and at other times a tablespoon of apple cider.This  has been a long standing  culture that has been on for several years now and it's one of the secrets because water is one of the top healing drinks that a lot of people are yet to  discover.   Talking of clean water because most of the activities in the body needs water to be carried out, such as  transportation of nutrients,  metabolism,  cleansing, detoxing, balancing of electrolytes.  Almost everything including the brain needs water to function optimally. the Liver, the kidney and the skin all need  a lot of it so the practice of water therapy has been on for several years and still working so one of the secrets is starting the day with a lot of water in order to cleanse the internal organs, remove toxins, relieve constipation and toxins.   Only  ensure that the water you are taking is good one because there are so many acidic water all over the place ensure that the water is not acidic, less you get more acids by drinking water.

3.  Occasionally checking on blood sugar:

Checking  on the blood sugar is essential for all older adults,  it is not okay to assume that you are not diabetic and then neglect checking your blood sugar because a lot of older adults are already living with diabetes unknown to them and so I usually check my blood sugar knowing that there is a family history of it makes me even more mindful to check my sugar level at least once in a week.

4.  One Orange daily:

  It was popular, to hear people say, an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but due to too much adulteration of apples, I fare better with orange and use occasional apple cider in my water therapy to get the sour taste benefit of green apple, because each time I am going for fresh apple, I go for green apple, but more comfortable using occasional apple cider as it relieves constipation and does have negative impact on blood sugar like some apples do especially after they must have been sprayed with some preservatives, 

5.  Dietary Changes: 

Making dietary changes by listening to your body is one of the things I practice and based on the what the body says, changes are made so I have been making dietary changes changes from time to time to suit the messages I receive

6.  Regular Consumption of Garlic:

Garlic is my top spice for enhancing taste of all my meals.  Using fresh garlic and most times I chew it raw on empty stomach after water therapy to help thin the blood, reduce inflammations, kill off yeast and reduce viral load of bacteria in my body.  I believe regular garlic consumption is one of the top reasons why cold and flu are off me  👌 

7.  Occasional Bitters:  

Bitters in moderation helps tone the liver, bitterleaf occasionally in my soups, bitters like neem powder are always in my cupboard, making tea occasionally out of it helps keep malaria away too.  Waiting until malaria and typhoid attacks fully will not give me victory as I have tried it some years back on someone with full blown malaria and it could not clear it until hospitalization.

8.  Daily consumption of Green Vegetables: 

 To reduce too much acids in the my body and get most of the essential nutrients especially magnesium, green vegetables feature daily in my diet.  Greens are healing foods and I include variety of green vegetables as they are not all the same.  And cooking it lightly makes them better, 

9.  Regular eggs in my diet:

Chicken eggs are loaded with nutrients and its a top anti inflammatory food in my diet.  Egg features almost daily in my diet.  Occasionally these I consume 2 eggs, Eggs are low in calorie and complete in amino acids.  It supports my  eyes, reduce belly fat and heals ulcers too.

10.   Omega 3 Rich Foods:  

Omega food sources are rare and in order to meet up up, I take occasional fish oil supplements and sardines without the oil as this helps support brain Health and reduce inflammations in the body.

11.   More Sweet Potatoes and less bread:

In 2023. I made an important change I my diet to support my aging skin and eyes, I embrace more of sweet potatoes, it features almost 5 times in a week in my breakfast and its my major carbohydrates presently because of its rich content of vitamin A and other anti aging nutrients.  I boil it and spray cinnamon on it while it is still on fire and also sprinkle tumeric and ginger mix on it to make more anti inflammatory. 

12.  More Ginger and Tumeric tea:

 Fresh ginger and tumeric are powerful anti inflammatory and liver supporting tea.  I take this combination regularly as they help with wait loss too and reduce pains if any.  Consumption of this tea which I occasionally add small amount of milk is also the reason of no cold and flu.

13.  Avoiding Late Meals: 

This is almost difficult to get 💯 percent but as much as possible I avoid any heavy meal after 6 pm.

14.  Occasional gargle with sea salt: 

As a result of pervious toothaches experience leading to removal of one tooth, I occasionally gargle with sea salt and warm water to help strengthen my teeth with minerals and reduce bacteria activities in my mouth.

15.  Occasional Detox Drinks:  

Once in a while I take some herbal detox drinks if I suspect my system needs help.

16. Daily Exercise:

 Morning exercising is also part of my recent addition to my routine.  Exercising is important more to me compared to previous years, the older we get, the more serious we should take exercise.  It is as important as my nutrition presently. 

Summary: 

These are just some of the top habits that keeps more going, I will share additional things I do regularly because there are still more.

Photo credit:  Netdoctor.com

Read More

Avoid Peanuts 🥜 if You have these Health Issues

Introduction

 It is difficult to tell lovers of peanuts to stop consuming this delicious and healthy nuts.  that has so many reasons why peanut is a food that is almost indispensable beginning from the time of growth as children up to old age we continue to consume peanuts, apart from being tasty. It is added to many other snacks to enrich them.  It is a source of healthy fats,  it's handy too.  You can take it along as you go.   There are so many foods and snacks that you can make out of peanuts apart from the peanut which is also very healthy you can make a local snack  kuli kuli, and various other peanuts nuts or you can equally pair it with some other grains to make cereals for growing children. as it contributes to added protein.   So it is difficult to tell lovers of this nut to stop consuming it but that is not the purpose of this write-up the purpose of this write-up is to highlight a few things that nobody may have told us about peanut I am a lover of peanuts but recently I am slowing down seriously on it but not total abstaining from eating it but right now I have reduced its consumption by forcd yes by force because if you don't it's going to be causing a lot of inflammations in the body the reason why I have also taken this step and thiughtv to share it  are  stated below but if you are still doing well or going on well with peanut maybe you are enjoying peanut butter which is good also homemade peanut butter is better, it's okay you can make it at home adding  dried pepper or other spices to help it but apart from this it creates a lot of inflammations in the body which is sometimes difficult to manage unless you reduce its consumption or stay away temporary for a season for the body to offload the excess first.

Here are the category of people that should be more cautious with peanuts and its derivatives: 

Overweight Persons:  

Though  peanut may work in both ways in some cases if you take very little amount it can give you a sustainable energy which is needed for weight loss but this is not usually the case with peanuts consumption.   Most times we tend to consume more than the body needs leading to weight gain so if you are trying to lose weight it's important to be cautious with peanut and its derivatives because it's inflammatory and will likely add to your weight gain or spoil your weight gain goal unless you take it very cautiously, it will definitely increase your weight.

Pains and Arthritis and other inflammations:

Those going through pains, arthritis or any form of inflammation including toothaches should avoid peanuts and its derivatives until they are okay.

Those with High Blood Pressure:

 As a result of its  inflammatory nature, thoss with high blood pressure do not enjoy consuming peanuts because it usually result in elevated blood pressure after taking it in addition to the fact that it's a bit difficult to digest it's a food that does not open up arteries instead it tends to clog it,  rather than opening it up which is needed for high blood pressure but that is not to say that if you have a strong urge to takw a few peanuts, you should resist it.  Like after working out, a few peanut is not a bad idea,   but once you take extra blood pressure may be up and may not usually be  immediately that you consume it but later after a few hours you will notice  the elevation in the blood pressure caused most likely by the too much peanuts consumed earlier in the day because what some of  are not aware of is that most of the food that cause high blood pressure do not actually cause it immediately we consume it.  that is where some of us get it wrong,  it is several hours later when it may have settled  like an acid which is what happens in the case of peanuts and its derivatives.

Heart Problems:  

Those with heart problems should actually not consume much peanuts. Though  it is a source of vitamin E which is an antioxidant for the heart but once consumed in large amount,  the ugly side  surfaces.  I've actually had a few experiences with too much peanuts consumption with my heart and so I have also decided to make it known to some of us who are managing one ailment  or the other or diabetes to  be careful with peanuts, its okay to take very little like 4 or 5  as I do these days, but not daily and not in large amount in order to get the benefits of that vitamin E but once you take it in large amount later in the evening maybe when you are about to sleep,  it becomes too heavy for the heart to pick up because of the acids  it has created in the stomach.  This is actually my experience especially if I start my day with it.

 Stomach ulcers:  

If you suffer stomach ulcer you will notice that each  time you consume peanuts or it's  derivatives.   The ulcer pain hurts obviously because it's inflammatory and not only that, if is harder to digest and those who are managing stomach ulcer needs easily digestible foods and not food that are too sticky and difficult to digest like peanut or peanut butter and other derivatives of peanuts.

Oily Skin 

Those with oily skin tend to complain of pimples,  blackheads and similar conditions if they take peanut but I still will may attribute it to consuming excess because if you experience pimples or  blackheads a lot, you should also be careful with the amount of peanuts you consume but most times I find it hard to tell people to abstain completely except you have noticed serious peanut allergy which is also not too common but it does occur with some people so if you notice it then you may have to stay away totally from peanut and all its derivatives and then look for alternative sources of the nutrients that you may be missing by avoiding peanuts and peanut butter.

Summary:  

Some people have actually asked when is the best time to consume peanuts I will say afternoon after a workout but there is nothing also wrong if you consume a few peanuts in the morning especially for diabetics who need fat some form of fat in their diet in order to control blood sugar spiking up, though some people take it at night maybe in the evening before going to bed it helps for a smoother sleep being a brain food  but I have noticed personally that as the year  went by, I no longer feel comfortable consuming it at night because it may contribute to weight gain which may not be good for older women or older adults and for those that are equally managing high blood pressure taken it before going to bed because it may contribute to high elevated blood pressure in the morning  but you  should not make make a better choice if you really need good fatts o support your brain for a good nights sleep then you can go for  some cashew nut. It  works also for diabetics or almond is the first choice for diabetics to help control  blood sugar, though it  is not all the time that you may  feel like soaking  almonds it happens to me that at times you just like to go for cashew nut or just a little peanut but as for taking the peanuts  at night I do not recommend it for older adults because of the effect it will have in the morning if you ever desire to take the peanut go for it in the afternoon or in the morning, but after a work out.  Moderation remains our rule.

Read More

See why Tumeric is the only spice I use in soups and teas

 Introduction:

Some 10 years ago not much was head or known about turmeric we know garlic we know Ginger and other spices but not much though it has been in existence but recently turmeric is becoming a familiar name in most homes because of its ability to fight diseases and numerous other health benefits.  I Began to use Tumeric for a few years now and since then it has been  the only spice I use to add to my  soups and also add in my tea with  ginger tea or lemongrass. it goes well with ginger and lemongrass and occasionally I add a little milk why I  occasionally feel like adding a little milk is  because  tumeric is quite sharp, lemongrass is quite sharp and ginger is quite sharp so whenever I'm consuming sharp foods together I consider it necessary to put a buffer by adding  a buffer like a little milk to avoid triggering feelings of stomach ulcer or hurting the intestinal walls which needs protection and need to be pampered and so recently I have developed much interest in this spice  because of the way it affects my health positively.   Here are some reasons why I use it almost daily in my cooking and use in teas as well.

Improves Blood Circulation 

Improving circulation of blood to all the body parts and cells is very important every day and here is one food that does it well with no calories or fat indeed that is tumeric  I usually pair it with ginger  several times in the week.  It is a great boost for those who are having pains and inflammation, menopausal women who have issues with circulation you need to start including the spice in soups and teas in order to reduce menopausal symptoms which comes with poor blood circulation and other unpleasant feelings  tumeric  belongs to the same family as ginger but I usually like to pair  it together because  research has shown that they work together and Ginger helps its full absorption some prepare to pair it with black pepper but I prefer to use ginger and I'm doing very well with it.

Fights Inflammations 

It helps manage and  fight inflammations at all level, it is one of the biggest challenge we have being able to reduce level of inflammation in the body  some arising from too much sugar consumption, some from fat accumulation and some are even caused by bacteria and so we need to include foods that not only fight bacteria but fights the inflammation and one of the top food spices is turmeric.  Turmeric is a great one when it comes to warding off inflammations and reducing accompanying pains some of the inflammation comes with pains so when  you experiencing pains, you can just make a tea with turmeric adding a little ginger or black pepper whatever you desire but you must be cautious when pairing two foods that are sharp together because of signs or feelings of stomach ulcers it may trigger such feelings like  ulcers pains or the one that has already been  healed may also be working for a come back.

Supports Liver Health

This is one of the best benefits of turmeric.  It is a great  support for  this important organ that is involved in fat metabolism and oils doing other jobs as well.   We need to support it with foods like tumeric that  will help to reduce fat in the liver it will also help to destroy some bacteria,  viruses and fungi is as well.

Reduce Blood Pressure

I also personally noticed a drop in blood sugar when we consume turmeric,  ginger and maybe lemongrass I also do  add turmeric,  ginger and cinnamon on some occasions as tea and it's normally also shows drop in  blood pressure because all the anti-inflammatory foods also has a way of toning down blood pressure and tumeric is one of such top anti-inflammatory spices and the effect of this  is to reduce high blood pressur,  high blood sugar and other inflammatory conditions.  We know that inflammation actually helps to fuel disease and makes condition worse or cause complications so any food that helps to fight inflammation is always a boost for the health of the individual and that is why I always include it in my soups and then take it as too as well

Taste Enhancer for Soups and Stews

It is also a powerful kitchen taste enhance for my soups and stews.  You do not have need to look for bullion cubes or other artificial taste enhancers.    if you have tumeric powder mixed with ginger powder and add cinnamon powder it's a great test enhancer and offers  a boost to our health as well and it helps to manage a lot of other conditions when you pair these three together and add to your soups and stews, you will surely notice an improvement in your  overall health your blood sugar and  in your blood pressure and your immune system generally.

Aids Digestion:

Aging and supporting digestion is another aspect of this spice that I love so much as we age and get older our digestive system is slowed down and most times may need assistance and support, so adding to your  in the  soups  or taking them as tea after the meal is also a great way to support digestion and that is one of the reasons I use it daily because our food must be digested for it to be absorbed and because this is an important part of our life I use it daily,  it helps digestion and then in the process is also help to support colon health by not allowing the food to stay long it helps to move the bowel as a matter of fact so that the waste  goes out i good time. In this  sense it supports  detox and helps the body to move out the toxins. and it all begins with digestion after the food is digested and is also carried around through circulation which tumeric is also involved in and then at the point of excretion also the ability to push your stomach to move and then push the colon as well is very important in maintaining a healthy body because without a clean colon. We cannot enjoy a healthy body.

Summary:  

Tumeric offers a lot of boost to our health in almost all areas, such as brain health, heart health, reducing aging, improving sleep, warding off cold symptoms and numerous other benefits but we must still consume moderately, too much is bad and may hurt the kidney.

Read More

6 Food Categories to Avoid, as you Shop this End of Year

 Introduction 

The end of the year  is a period of Celebrations and a lot of shoppings go on and by the end of November a lot of shops and stores at home are  already filled up with goods bought for the family members, for visitors, for pets and for various other entertainment purposes.  It is also a period when most people fall sick, it  is a period when a lot of people also visit hospitals for various treatments and complaints, the reason is obvious you are what you eat.   During the period of your  shopping, there are important things to bear in mind, know things to buy and things to avoid and so in this short article, here are six items to avoid or buy less this season in order to avoid visiting the hospital and to improve your health and that of members of your family.

1.  Bouillon  Cubes:  

Bouillon cubes come in different shapes, sizes and brands and they are mostly used to enhance the taste of our meal and nothing more than this as claimed.  A lot of us have also  come  to the conclusion  that their meals are  never palatable unless sweetened with this artificial taste enhancers mostly especially Bouillon cubes.   There are very various ways to make your food palatable without using or including bullion cubes.   These artificial taste enhancers  are loaded with salt, preservatives and sometimes flavorings and other additives that trigger inflammation or suppress our immunity and that is why we should avoid bouillon cubes.   if you have already started shopping for your end-of-year celebration take out these cubes and other artificial taste enhancers and replace it with lots of garlic,  ginger, tumeric  fresh or dried, Sea salt and cinnamon.   Several other spices are great for you including onions.    These are healthy taste enhancers  that can naturally bring out the taste of your meal without any of these dangerous chemicals put together in form of taste enhancers.

2.  Carbonated Drinks:

These  drinks are filled  with lots of sugar,  chemical, and   carbon to preserve it.  The main ingredients is water and people usually rush for it to quench thirst.   They do not actually have nutritive value to enhance or better our health but a lot of people like them as a refreshment as a fast food or drink something over-the-counter you can easily or quickly use to quench your thirst but during this season also a lot of people stock  them  in their refrigerators,  in their kitchen stores and everywhere for all to drink freely including children.   These carbonated drinks are sponsors of inflammations, if you're already going through any kind of pains or inflammations you will observe that each time you take these drinks because they are usually quite high in simple sugars, your pain increases these are obvious signs that they are not healthy for you and so why stock them during the season.   Do not even give them to your children, some people say I won't take it but let the children take them no my dear if you cannot take it don't give to your children let their body start getting used to healthy foods you can make your own homemade drink using natural ingredients like hibiscus flower tea which is anti-inflammatory and you can also flavour it with your pineapple juice or pineapple barks or other natural sweeteners and stock them in your fridge and use it to refresh yourself and your family while also adding nutrition to your body instead of chemicals this and other natural juice can help you avoid the temptation of drinking the carbonated drinks.  You can also make your orange juice, you can make a lot of juice at home and enjoy with your loved ones  for the season and avoid these carbonated drinks they come in different forms, sizes, brand,  packaging and all kinds of beautiful Commercials to make it appealing to our eyes and so if you want to enjoy hospital free end-of-year then stay away or stop stocking these carbonated drinks, they are not your friends they are immune killers and  suppressors.

3.  Vegetables Oils with Transfats:

We all cook with oils on a daily basis and we need it,  it makes our food to taste nice and now that  the holiday is  approaching talking of the yuletide season the end-of-year holiday at the period of celebration a lot of people are also focused on buying vegetable oils and a lot of these oils are pushed out into the market with beautiful labels and packaging but you have to open your eyes and shine it this season.  Avoid vegetable oils with trans-fats they are stressors they are difficult to digest they also sponsor inflammations they are not your hearts friends as is often written. On some of them you syllabus like heart-friendly, cholesterol friendly it they are neither of these you need only healthy fats if you are in doubt of the oil to buy go for red palm oil you can get olive oil if you are managing any health condition because it has  better profile for  managing diseases you can also get organic peanut oil and cold pressed coconut oil around you in case you think you need oil and other oil you can also buy fish oil .  If you can't get fish oil you can get the supplement and when you must have taken your meal and you think you need some  fat, let it be only the healthy ones. Fish oil  is a good one and you can also stuck around you to support your cholesterol levels to  help your bones, your teeth, your heart too instead of these vegetable oils with trans fat

4.  Refined Table Salt

Yes, this fourth one may look like a surprise to many but it is possible for you to stay away from refined table salt for this season even if it's to give yourself a treat and look for a better salt that is not acidic like white refined salt.  You can go for  sea salt or Himalayan pink salt because salt is so important in our diet it is also something that a lot of people are already stocking and buying to stock  in their kitchens to use in cooking why not look for seasalt with over 82 micronutrients instead of just refine table salt  that looks more appealing to the eyes but has just  2 nutrients as against 82.  We believe in prevention you can go for a better salt.   if not all the time but for this season and then have a taste of it to see what it looks like, you use it to cook,  it brings out the natural taste in your meal without adding chemicals, it has several other benefits including supporting your body with the micro nutrients that  it needs for a strong immunity.   Due tonits numerous health benefits, you need to have sea salt always at home it's an electrolyte and sometimes you may need it also as a home remedy during this season.  It  is a home remedy for a lot of things including chronic constipation, weakness, oral problems, toothaches and oral problems you can use it to gargle with warm water so it's one of the foods that you also  need to keep around you this season as you shop around go for sea salt instead of refined table salt.

5.  Canned  Tomatoes 

Canned tomatoes is another canned food,  much more convenient to buy, to use and to stock but truly speaking they are not your friends too and so you need to buy less of them and if possible avoid stocking canned  tomatoes during the season go for only fresh tomatoes you can buy the fresh tomatoes blend or grind them and stuck them in your freezer if you have in plastics for as long as two weeks or there about instead of buying canned tomatoes because this canned tomatoes  have this chemicals from the cans as BPA and they are very dangerous for our health if you are  already managing any  disease you should stay away from canned tomatoes because they do  not deliver what we expect of this healthy food.  Our much loved  healthy low calorie vegetable.   but this time you should avoid  buying and stocking canned tomatoes.  Some are in  sachets.   Additionally, you will be having more of sodium,  more of these chemicals that leaches from the cans and from the plastics and whatever package they have used to stock it they are not our friends though,  they are convenient as much as possible go for fresh tomatoes, fresh peppers instead of buying this canned foods that are also other canned  foods also several of them that are in the  market are loaded  with salt and salads creams. Avoid them, avoid  canned vegetables and even canned soups and mayonnaise,  they are all inflammatory  as much as possible stay away from these can foods because they are not our friends, reduce their consumption as much as possible or  avoid  them to keep you and family free from  inflammations or reduce existing inflammation if any.

6.  Noodles and Pastas

Noodles, pastas, spaghetti, macaroni are  the other category of foods to avoid as you shop around because these are not natural foods. Children seem to love them because of easy preparation and sometimes because it is what their parents thought them to eat.  some of them may be fortified but they are all inflammatory and does not support our immube system.   Some of us buy cartons of these noodles which are the reason why most children have developed appetite for them but you can make a decision this season not to stock them in your stores at home and reduce their consumption by replacing them with natural healthy  foods like sweet potatoes, plantains, bananas and other healthy foods like yoghurt  for the children instead of noodles, pastas and  biscuits You will be making a good decision to avoid these foods for yourself and for your children because they are immune suppressors.

Summary:

Finally,  it is possible to go to market with your money and still  buy something that will hurt you with your money.  Fresh Foods are best for you.    Go for fresh meat if you are buying meat,,go for fresh fish if fish or  you can go for fresh chicken.  It is better as much as possible to always  go for fresh things or  Fresh Foods this season in order to suppress the chance of contacting disease or sponsoring or feeding existing diseases.   Remember to take more water and to continue to observe water therapy, more fluid and moderate exercise for a lovely and joyful yuletide season

Photo credit:   Sights.global spec.com

Read More

8 Top Caffeine Free Herbal Teas to help you loose weight

 

Introduction: 

Excess body weight is gradually becoming a global problem,  the men are  affected too.  Before now it was common to see  mostly women with excess body weight but today because of our lifestyle and food choices, you will see women, both old and young, youth and even children that are overweight and so it is important to include some fat burning foods daily especially teas since they mostly have  zero-calorie, such  teas  can help us loose weight in a healthy way.  starving ourselves or avoiding food is not really the best way to loose weight, the best way in my view is to eat healthy balanced diet,  reduce your carbohydrates,  engage in exercise and include low calorie teas that can help to boost your metabolism and they  also will help you to maintain a healthy body weight as they will also control your cholesterol levels. Most of us are familiar with black tea, green tea and some common teas that have caffeine like coffee,  these are all good even when you are trying to lose weight but all the adults who are conscious of their health and for those who are already managing health problems it is important to control the amount of caffeine in their ,diet because it has its  own side effect and it also contributes to anxiety attack that may not be good for those with ailing health already, especially the older adults.

Here are 8 common teas that you can easily consume to help you lose weight without adding caffeine to your blood.

1.  Fennel Tea: 

 Fennel seeds is a healthy  naturally caffeine-free seed that you can brew tea out of it.  It helps you to lose weight without side effect like adding caffeine into your body, it is also a source of iron,  calcium and some other important nutrients.  it can easily be brewed  using the dried seeds  or the ground dried seeds powder.   It is best to keep the seeds so that it will last longer for you if you are using the seed just take a handful like half teaspoon of the seeds and brew it in freshly boiled water, sieve and drink.  Take it  once or just be sipping it during the day like up to three times you can take  it in the morning because it helps to activate digestive juice it is also good at night I've tried it both times because if you had  and the tea before bed, it will help to digest your food so you will have no  digestive issues which may interfere with your sleep.

2. Oregano

 Oregano is a powerful  herbal tea with anti bacterial properties, antifungal and antimicrobial properties that  helps you to burn fat in a very healthy way.   it reduces viral and bacterial load and keeps you warm.  If you are warm inside,  it is rare for bacteria infections to overcome your immune system and most importantly also  oregano tea helps to reduce acne it helps reduce acne and even cholesterol. I  particularly like the Oregano tea  because of its antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties.  if you are someone that is always having bacterial infections, suffering typhoid and all the stuff it's good to include this tea in your diet as  it also helps to burn fat in a healthy way while  strengthening and boosting your  immunity. It is also a source of vitamin K which is very good especially for those suffering stkmach ulcer.  Most dried yeas  are quite sharp.  Oregano tea is also sharp  and hot but the presence of vitamin K helps it to reduce things like internal bleeding or prevent bleeding from stomach ulcers which are common with such teas.  The caution on caffeinated teas is becausd they can be too hot to even hurt the intestine.   I like to take the tea before going to bed because of its natural detox properties.  it also seems to have some muscle  relaxant at properties  and it has a calming effect generally on the body.

3.Thyme 

Thyme  is often used in cooking by many people, and others to season their food their solstice but many are not even aware of its other health benefits being a source of iron in your helping to burn fat aiding digestion several other benefits and additionally you can even make tea out of the dried leaves as most times Time comes in dried leaves and the dryness does not affect the security light the most dried foods time is very common you can still see time around can you still make tea out of it because only if you want Amy to lose weight and that is actually the best way to take it so that it won't come along with oils and other things I'm a correct bring in cal to your diet if you want to lose weight with time you can just make or bring your tea out of it as it is naturally caffeine-free to and it's also in Cannington

4. Rosemary 

Rosemary is another strong tea that is great for weight loss, so those who are aiming to loose weight can also make tea using this herb. It is a common Spice used in  sauces, it is also used in cookings like soups and stews but when you are trying to lose weight with this herb, it is best to make tea out of it so that you get the best result for your weight loss because when you try to mix or add it to other foods, it will add calorie,  though you can still use it in cooking and still achieve some result and other health benefits.   but still make tea out of it because it is the tea that will  help you burn fat without adding calories to you, It is great for those who are also having frequent infections as it  helps to ward off colds and boost your immunity generally. 

5. Cumin seeds

Cumin is another  great seed that works to lose weight while keeping you beautiful and youthful.   It is easy to make tea out of it, you can use the seed which usually look like the fennel seeds or you can  grind the dried seeds to powder,  and then make tea out of it and take it.  It  is particularly helpful if you are experiencing Insomnia you can also make this thing before bed to help you sleep as most times the unhealthy fats are actually burnt while we are sleeping. Cumin is also a source of iron and other minerals that boost immunity.  It is a calming tea, which  helps you to burn unhealthy fats without adding caffeine to your blood.

6.  Tumeric 

Tumeric is another great tea that helps to burn fat very fast. specially when combined with ginger and  combining ginger has been known to help its  full absorption I prefer to use the fresh tumeric, Although the dried tumerix powder is also potent but in the absence of the fresh  one you can use the dried ground powder to make your tea.  Remember that it is also a powerful anti inflammatory that particularly supports liver health and reduce inflammations generally in the body, it a great tea after a workout or hectic activity like shopping that may trigger inflammation.   Quickly make tea with fresh tumeric and ginger and you will be surprised at the result, definitely no need for analgesic. If you can have access to the fresh one  it is better  to use it .  If you want best results jujust crush one large root or 2 medium sized fresh tumeric root .  It  is almost available throughout the year and then put in a cup  your crush your  fresh ginger as well sometimes I like to add the pinch of cinnamon to  add to the fat burning effect because cinnamon powder also have fat burning properties and helps  to speed up metabolism and has other benefits so sometimes I like to add a pinch of cinnamon and then you cantake it with a little honey if you like honey but for diabetics is can go like that especially after an oily meal or at other times works better when good fats like coconut oil or olive oil is added or taken after or before the tea.  Sometimes I do add a little milk but only occasionally as it tastes quite nice and helps prevent injury to stomach ulcers.  because it's also a digestive aid it will help to digest your food fast and cleanse your body it works like a detox as well

7. Ginger 

We know Ginger with Its powerful anti-inflammatory properties and particularly for those women who are have stopped childbearing they can benefit by including this anti-inflammatory spice to avoid ovarian cysts and other inflammations and even for younger women they can take ginger eithef the fresh or dried to help reduce painful menstruation. make tea out of it and then use it frequently especially to burn  belly fat.  It  is great for overall inflammation reduction and then particularly targets belly fat which makes it a good tea for those who want to prevent or avoid onset of ovarian cyst which is common among menopausal women too.

8.  Soghurm tea 

Soghurm tea is made from Soghurm Bicolour and  may not be known to many people but it's a great one without caffeine you can take it is it helps enrich your blood  cleanse your blood and then because of its  zero calorie content helps you to lose weight as well most of these teas are naturally caffeine-free.  Most times people try to lose weight but they depend only on coffee, coffee is a great one also but because of its  caffeine, those who are managing some elements already should be careful with coffee because the caffeine has its own side effects  because of the caffeine such as anxiety attacks, poor sleep especially when consumed frequently.

Summary

If you are really working to lose weight,   you need to also engage in moderate exercise especially outdoor activities, reduce overall carbohydrate consumption, and then ensure you are always properly hydrated, Most times you feel as if you need food  may be it is  actually water that your body is asking for. Including these teas will also help to speed up your metabolic rate and then give you a healthy weight which will also boost your immunity because  excess body weight is an immune suppressor and it also triggers inflammations.

Photo credit:  SI Showcase.com

Read More

12 Health Benefits of Fresh Tomatoes

Introduction:  

You A low calorie seasonal fruit that older adults can enjoy freely but moderately because of its numerous health benefits.

An interesting aspect of tomato history is the classic debate: Is the Tomato a Fruit or Vegetable? . By definition, a fruit is the edible plant structure of a mature ovary of a flowering plant, usually eaten raw; some are sweet like apples, but the ones that are not sweet such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, etc. are commonly called vegetables. 

Botanists claim that a fruit is any fleshy material that covers a seed or seeds where as a horticulturists point of view would pose that the tomato is a vegetable plant. Until the late 1800’s the tomato was classified as a fruit to avoid taxation, but this was changed after a Supreme Court ruling that the tomato is a vegetable and should be taxed accordingly.
When it is all said and done, the history of the tomato has classified as a poisonous beautiful plant, a tax-avoiding fruit, and a taxable vegetable. Nonetheless, the tomato is one of the most popular vegetable in Nigeria  and enjoyed by millions all over the world.

Here are 12 reasons to include fresh tomatoes in your list:

1. Tomatoes are good for your skin. Tomatoes contain a high level of lycopene, which is a
substance that is used in some of the more pricy facial cleansers that are available for purchase over-the-counter.

2. Tomatoes help prevent several types of cancer. A number of studies have been conducted that indicate that the high levels of lycopene in tomatoes works to reduce your chances of developing prostate, colorectal and stomach
cancers.
Lycopene is a natural antioxidant that works effectively to slow the growth of cancerous cells. Cooked tomatoes produce even more lycopene,

3. Tomatoes help maintain strong bones. Tomatoes contain a considerable amount of calcium and
Vitamin K. Both of these nutrients are essential in strengthening and performing minor repairs on the bones as well as the bone tissue. 

4. Tomatoes help repair damage caused by smoking. However, tomatoes can reduce the amount of
damaged done to your body by smoking cigarettes especially the lungs.
Tomatoes contain coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid that work to protect the body from carcinogens that are produced from cigarette smoke.

5. Tomatoes provide essential antioxidants. Tomatoes contain a great deal of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. This is primarily because these vitamins and beta-carotene work as antioxidants helps  to neutralize harmful free radicals in the blood. Free radicals in the blood stream are dangerous because it may lead to cell damage.
It is important to note, the redder the tomato you eat, the more beta-carotene it contains. In addition, you also want to keep in mind that cooking destroys the Vitamin C, so for vitamin C benefits, the tomatoes are either taken raw or lightly stewed.


6. Tomatoes are good for your heart. Because of the Vitamin B and potassium in tomatoes, they are
effective in reducing cholesterol levels and lowering blood pressure. Therefore, by including tomatoes in your regular
balanced diet you can effectively prevent heart attacks, strokes as well as many other heart related problems that may threaten your life.

7. Tomatoes are good for your hair. The Vitamin A in tomatoes works perfectly to keep your hair
shiny and strong. In addition, it also does wonders for your
eyes, skin, bones and teeth. 

8. Tomatoes are good for your kidneys. Adding tomatoes without seeds to your diet has been proven
in some studies to reduce the risk of kidney stones. 

9. Tomatoes are good for your eyes. The Vitamin A found in tomatoes is fantastic for improving
your vision. In addition, eating tomatoes is one of the best
foods to eat to prevent the development of night blindness. 

10. Tomatoes are good for diabetics. Tomatoes are packed full of the valuable mineral known as chromium. It works effectively to help diabetics keep their
blood sugar levels under better control.

11. Lung Friendly: Research Shows Tomatoes and Tomatoe-Based Foods May Lower Risk of Lung Damage Caused by Environmental pollution.

12: Low Calorie – Fresh tomatoes is among calorie foods for individual on a cholesterol lowering diet.

NOTE:
A unique point about tomatoes worthy of note is that cooking does not destroy the lycopene content and strength of tomatoes, but rather strengthens it. Tomatoes could be eaten as a raw vegetable or cooked.
As for processed tomatoes, the problem is always with the can. ie container and other chemicals added to preserve it. I therefore suggested that health concious people stay away from canned tomatoes,as for me I have since removed it from my list, and the result is undeniable.  Moderation remains our rule.  I have noticed thar consuming too much tomatoes 🍅 affects my sleep and it is not best at night, it is more of a brain food.

Photo credit: ogbete Market

Read More

Select Your Clothing Materials Carefully After 50

 

Introduction:  

Our skin is the largest external organ and it also does so much for us,  the type of dress we put on for babies or adult also affects the wellness of the individual.   The younger people always may not really feel the discomfort that comes with wearing wrong fabrics or materials but children definitely do and another group of people are the older adults and so the purpose of this article is to highlight to the older adult of the need to choose their clothings materials wisely because it also has a lot to do with our wellness.   Thr older we get the less we should wear heavy clothings,  that are tight, materials that are heavy and does not allow oxygen to get into our body, materials that can expose us to cold, materials that can put will  not constitute extra load on us while moving around these are the things to have in  mind when buying materials because it also affects us and how well we feel.  In  this short article it is about what you put on for your clothings,  not really about the style you choose to make because we all know that it is how comfortable you feel that matters as you get older and not really how fitted that you should be  concern about.  You should be concerned about  the type of materials you are using to make your clothings.  Using different type of  materials  materials over time have brought broke about the subject.   In my view, the best clothing materials for older adults should consist mostly of pure cotton, linen, poly blends and other lighter materials especially if you live along the hot regions like Nigeria and most other African countries, you will notice that putting on heavy clothings are no longer comfortable whether it is for fashion of whatever reason but the comfort of the older adults is what matters most  so most of the clothing that you may have enjoyed 40 years ago may no longer be interesting to you after several years because your body may no longer be able to carry those weight, that is why the choice of materials you put on becomes so important so also are the styles that you choose in order to protect your health and to preserve your health as well.  

Here are three reasons why the choice of your clothing materials should consist mostly of pure cotton, linen, poly blends and other lighter materials as you get older:

1.   Light curtains linens and poly blends allows your body to breathe, allows your body to get oxygen sometimes you may notice that wearing  certain clothes makes you feel some discomfort and even sick. I have personally noticed this and that is why I thought to put it down that older adults should be careful on what they put on, what they wear during  special occasions, wear  things that makes you comfortable and most importantly choose the materials like curtains that allows your body to breathe because the body is breathing even as you  walk around, sometimes you wear certain things you feel suffocated on the road, you may be wondering why you're feeling that way, some tension around your head,  not knowing that the address you put on is the culprit because we need to allow our body to breathe we need to allow in oxygen, it is one important reason we should use cotton, linen and  other lighter materials for clothings as we age.

2. Our body may not have the strength to cope with materials that are heavy.   There are materials that are quite heavy for us, they may restrict our movement we may not be able to move freely so in order for us to move freely and not feel additional load placed on us it's important to choose a cotton, linen and lighter materials to enable us  not feel an extra burden or load on us while moving about.

3.  One of the reasons of wearing clothes generally is to cover and protect is also from the weather and other harsh conditions and so this clothing material and choice will also keep us from cold and then protect us from hash  wheather without necessarily exposing us to heat.  Specially those that are living in hot climate, the choice of this type of material actually has to do with those living in hot climates like ours because if we are wearing heavy clothes, Cottons and similar materials will not hurt us because some hard  materials may  even inflict injury on the skin.  Cotton, linen and poly blend materials are also cooling and this reduces stress in a way, while alsk protecting the skin from injuries.  It is important to choose soft lighter materials by older adult that not only provides warmth, but cooling .  Achieving this, will reduce overall stress on the body.

Summary:  

It is best also to consider the world and environment where you reside because that also affects in a great way the choice of materials because those living in very cool weather will always find it convenient to wear clothings that covers the body very well but yet they can still have tick clothings that are specifically targeted at the  older adult without suffocating them or preventing them from free movement.  So depending  also on the weather or the environment where you find yourself.  Choose clothing materials that suits that environment and that will also suit your age because the clothing material that is people will convenient may not be tolerated by the older adult and we must begin to adjust to these changes in terms of the choices we make concerning the clothing's we put on and this also affects what we put on as our shoes or foot coverings I will do another post on the foot aspect too.

Photo credit: Tana Lawn liberty

Read More

15 Tips To Deal With Weight Gain During Menopause

Introduction 

I have seen skinny ladies, slimmer than myself who are now far more obese at menopause and post menopause, why.  The reason obviously is because they neglected the issue of weight gain during menopause.  They were not conscious of weight gain during these years.

Here are habits and Foods that helps with weight gain.

1.  Rely on healthy fats for fuel and energy.

 If you do.your tendency to get fat will reduce.  Fats like those in coconut oil and olive oil actually helps you loose weight.  In terms of general weight loss, olive oil is best, while coconut oil specializes in burning belly fat.

2.  Exercise more.

If you love driving, reduce it and create time for physical exercise, or else you will gain more weight.

3.  Never neglect a little weight gain.

The body has a switch.  Once it is switched to fat storage. It will require strict disciple to switch to fat burning again.  This is how it works.

4.  Whenever possible, keep standing. 

 I particular love sitting down even in church, when we are asked to stand. I occasional go my way and sit.  Until I found out, the body does not want to use calorie but to store it.  Now I make effort to stand even when tired.  In so doing. The body is using calorie to keep you standing.

5.  Begin your day with water therapy: 

 It is also important t start with foods that will steer up stomach acid production, foods that will discourage fat storage such as lemons, ginger, garlic, guava tea, green tea, black seed, cinnamon and honey.  All these on empty stomac

6.   Avoid early breakfast

So many have advocated to the contrary based on their on perspective.  Obviously, your digestive tract function also reduces at menopause, allowing your system clear any leftover fat or calorie will reduce tendency to weight gain during menopause fat challenge

7.  As much as possible avoid fried foods.

  They are your worst enemy during these yrs especially in terms of avoiding weight gain.  They carry too much calorie and hardest to digest among all foods are fried food.

8.  Resist constipation.  

Main causes include, low water intake, insufficient exercise, low fibre and vegetables, poor sleep, lack of oils  to lubricate the intestine. Like avocadoes. Olive oil, coconut oil etc.   These are secrets nobody told me and I suffered the problem of constipation.  Some, days like 4 days then, but it is all over now. In chronic cases, you will have to drink a teaspoon of cold pressed olive oil on empty stomach to help loosen the stool, and lubricate the anus to help smooth passage.

9.  Avoid simple Sugars like those found in carbonated drinks: 

 Too much bread  is number 1 sponsor of weight gain.  This include biscuits, sweets.  It may surprise you to know that some mature women still take sweets until problem comes.  Never engage in unhealthy eating waiting for your doctor or somebody to ask you to stop.

10.  Mind the foods you start your day with, 

Also mind the last food you eat before bed.  They determine the total fat deposition for that day. Always start with fat burning foods, foods that helps the stomach produce  acid for digestion, I mentioned them earlier.  End your day with low calorie foods like eggs, cucumbers, cabbage, green veggies, peppers, garlic, etc. Avoid foods that trigger stomach acid production at night.  They will rob you of sleep and insufficient sleep, contributes to weight gain at menopause and post menopause.  Weight gain will invite diabetes. High blood pressure, heart attack and stroke.

11. Include Protein

I have always told us that protein is the building block.  It is your bodies building material.  Never, Never compromise it.  Healthy fats are your best friend during menopause/postmenopause. They are for fuel and energy and not building material, like protein  (Remember that healthy fats also have a  portion, depending on your height, weight and other factors including work, eat everything in moderation). It is one of our rules on our platform)
Consuming sufficient daily protein will help your bone and muscle mass.  They support fat loss too.

12. Use  spices to flavour your meals.

Switching to healthy cooking using spices also supports weight loss.  Their presence in your meals Supports, metabolism and food absorption.  ( Remember too much spices will increase menopause symptoms like hot flashes and anxiety attacks.  Spices like ginger, garlic, turmeric, cinnamon, black  peppers. Cayenne peppers etc.

13.  Whenever  possible eat fresh foods.

Avoid leftover, overcooked and dead foods.  They add noting to your wellness journey but weight gain.  Since, the menopause journey, I rarely repeat soups, I avoid leftovers.  Children and youth may eat them.  As much as possible, I avoid them.  Too much refrigeration of cooked meals must be avoided as well.  Though it is convenient, but it is not about convenience. but your health and happiness. You may call it mindful eating.

14.  Do not forget Water. 

 Proper hydration Supports Your colon and other organs responsible for metabolizing fat. Always start your day with plenty of water followed by exercise.  Exercise is best in the morning.  Too much exercise after 4pm will rob you of sleep and lack of sleep will contribute  to weight gain.

15.  Include bitters.  Never forget that bitter foods like bitter leaf, garden egg, bitter cola, bitter melon etc.  Supports weight loss also.  They actually cools the liver which is the main organ for fat metabolism and in so doing, it is able to do its work and avoid Weight gain.

In summary,

 It is better to monitor weight naturally, preventing fat storage is easier than trying to loose weight after fat accumulation.

Read More