What to Avoid During Pregnancy

While moms-to-be are peppered with advice of what to do and what not to do during pregnancy, there is some guidance.

The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests :
-Avoid smoking and drug use during pregnancy ; this will reduce the risk of serious complications.
-Avoid alcohol during pregnancy to protect the baby from foetal alcohol syndrome, and other birth defects.
-Have someone else clean out your cat's litter box to  avoid toxoplasmosis.
-Cook meat properly to prevent food related illnesses.
-Stay away from hot rubs, saunas and other sources of high heat.
-Avoid douching 

Red Meat [suya] Shortens Lifespan - Experts

We've heard many times before that too much red meat is bad for us, but this study if more than 100,000 people still got the nation's attention. For the first time, researchers estimated the effect of red meat on a person's life span - and the news wasn't Good. 

On average, each additional serving of  saturated fat-filled red meat was associated with a  13% higher risk of dying during 28-year study. Processed meat products such as hot dogs, bacon, and salami were especially hazardous. But is there is an antidote available? Yes! Eating more fish, poultry, whole grains, and low-fat dairy may lower your risk of dying prematurely, scientific research has found. 

5 Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally

Do you struggle with high blood pressure?

Millions of people do worldwide, and the

condition can dramatically raise your risk of

heart disease, stroke, and other potentially

life-threatening ailments. But while there’s

no substitute for medical treatment, there

are things you can do improve your

situation. Whether medication isn’t enough

or you’re just curious about alternative

methods, here are 5 natural ways to help you

lower your blood pressure.

Take the Stairs

We all know the huge benefits of regular

exercise, but for people who suffer from

high blood pressure, introducing a daily

exercise regimen can be especially

challenging.

The good news is that the benefits from even

a small amount of exercise can have

significant effects on lowering blood

pressure. Even 10 minutes of light physical

activity can help decrease excess pressure

and/or amplify the effect of blood pressure

medications. If you can push that activity to

30 minutes every day, then you can

potentially lower your pressure by 4 to 9

millimeters of mercury! So, when you’re

facing that elevator or debating pulling into

the closest parking spot, think again! Those

small minutes of exercise may add up to a

healthier you.

Pick Up a Banana

The importance of a healthy diet cannot be

underestimated. If there was ever a reason

to eat better, controlling your blood pressure

is it. In addition to eating many dark leafy

greens and foods low in saturated fat, adding

a hearty portion of potassium to your diet

can be your savory ticket to low blood

pressure.

Potassium works to lower the pressure by

balancing out the harmful effects of salt –

the excess of which is one of the leading

causes of this dangerous condition. Foods

high in potassium include potatoes, squash,

avocados, fish, yogurt, and – you guessed it –

bananas.

Add some potassium to your diet for a potent

hit against high blood pressure. Extra points

for lugging a bag of bananas or potatoes up

the stairs.

Swap out the Regular Joe for Half-Caff

If you think that last cup of coffee at 10 am

doesn’t hurt you, think again. Caffeine can

cause a 4 mmhg jump in your blood pressure

that lasts right up to bedtime.

The good news is that half-caff or decaf

options taste pretty good these days.

Everywhere from grocery brands, like

Folgers, to higher-end vendors, like

Starbucks, offer tasty, less-caffeinated

versions of their most popular drinks. Swap

out your regular cup of Joe for the half-caff

version and you still get all the great flavor

without aggravating your body.

Have that Nightcap

Studies have shown that a small amount of

alcohol, defined as 1 drink a day for women

and 1.5 for men, can actually decrease your

blood pressure. One study, at Brigham and

Women’s Hospital in Boston, even found that

the adding one drink to your day, even if

that’s more than you’re accustomed to, can

have the same health benefit.

Of course, moderation is the key. Drinking 5

drinks in one sitting isn’t going to make it 5

times more effective. Likewise, skipping the

drinks throughout the week and having

them all at once on Saturday night can be

extremely detrimental to your health. But, a

single drink, defined as one 12 ounce beer, a

5 ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of spirit,

can be an easy, natural way to lower your

blood pressure. Add to that that this same

regimen can help control the risk of heart

disease and it’s a no brainer. Have that

night-cap.

Relax

Your body under the effects of stress is a

tremendous thing: the central nervous

system floods the body with adrenaline and

other hormones; the heart rate spikes,

muscles clench, breathing quickens, and, of

course, blood pressure rises.

If you are going through this every day in

response to work, family, and other of life’s

common stressors, you are quickly wearing

out your body and exacerbating your blood

pressure condition. Taking time for yourself

to slow down, unwind, and relax might be

just the thing that tips your blood pressure in

the right direction.

So, after that half-caff drinking day at the

office and the adventure of lugging bananas

up the stairs, relax with that nightcap and

call yourself an au-naturel champ the Blood-

Pressure Lowering game.

How to get rid of stretch marks naturally

Stretch marks are caused due to two main

reasons – pregnancy and sudden dramatic

weight loss or gain. However you don’t have

to feel miserable now because we will be

introducing you to some of the most effective

home remedies to get rid of these stretch

marks naturally.

Let’s explore several ways to eliminate or

reduce stretch marks without seeking

medical intervention.

Cacao Butter

You should apply cacao butter on the stretch

mark area of your skin. Many people have

tried this application and have seen good

results. It is a well known household

technique practiced by many. stretches. You will

see the results quickly if you apply it on the

stretch marks at least thrice a day at regular

intervals.

Try Olive Oil

Olive oil seems to produce desired results as

it is rich in Vitamin A, D and K. Apply olive

oil on the stretch marks once in a day daily

to see its positive effects.

Lemon Juice

You need to rub the lemon juice very gently

onto the stretch marks. Let the juice remain

on the mark for at least ten minutes before

you rinse it with warm water. Lemon Juice is

known to be naturally acidic which heals

stretch marks comprehensively.

Stretch mark creams

There are many stretch mark creams

available in the market, but unfortunately

very few of them really stick to their claims.

Don’t lose hope; instead you can give a try to

dermology stretch mark cream. Buying a

stretch mark prevention cream and applying

it on the stretch marks should help you in

eliminating those marks.

Don’t believe in any claims that the

manufacturer of stretch mark cream makes;

instead try those creams and see for yourself

whether it works or not.

Sugar effect

It is unbelievable to see the results that

white sugar produces if mixed with almond

oil and lemon juice. Apply the mixture onto

the stretch marks. Rub the mixture for at

least ten minutes before heading for a

shower. Follow this practice for a month and

you will see a considerable change in your

stretch marks.

Exercise daily

Follow a regular exercise regime to erase

stretch marks completely. Exercising will

help you keep your muscles toned and firm,

thereby, erasing and preventing stretch

marks, respectively. Practice Yoga and do

more of cardio to see the effects.

Potatoes

An item present in every kitchen - potatoes

are extremely beneficial in treating stretch

marks by stimulating new skin cell

formation. Rub thick slices of the vegetable

to ensure that the juice penetrates skin

layers.

Besides using oils, sugar and lemon juice, try

applying a reliable stretch mark cream as

well. Do a good research on many stretch

mark creams that are available in the

market.

You should now have the knowledge of

several home remedies that would work

wonderfully well on your stretch marks.

These practices have been followed by many

others and it worked for them and it will

work for you too.

Awesome reasons why you should take Green Tea so often

What Green tea can do to your body.Green tea can: 

- Bring down your heart disease and cancer risk. Green tea's powerful antioxidants have been found to reduce lung cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, stroke and heart attack 

risks. To add an extra boost, squeeze in a lemon — the vitamin C helps your body absorb more of the antioxidants. 

- Lower your cholesterol and blood pressure.

Three cups a day gives you the antioxidants you need to bring down these numbers. 

- Help you lose weight faster. Drink a cup before your workout and you might boost your fat burn. Studies suggest that the caffeine frees fatty acids so you can burn fat more easily. The tea's antioxidants might also work together with the caffeine 

to help you burn more calories. 

- Prevent arthritis. Imbibing green tea daily might help keep your joints healthy, preliminary research suggests. 

- Keep allergies at bay. Japanese researchers found that the compound EGCG (the same one that might fight hepatitis C ) found in green tea may help stop your body from reacting to allergens like pollen, pet dander and dust. 

So, now put on your cooker, with your kettle and boil some green tea. *Wink

How to Get a Healthier Teeth Naturally

Your oral health affects 90 percent of your
overall health. The mouth is like a
barometer. It can pick up and show signs of
health issues before they reach any part of
your body. For holistic dentists, taking care
of your teeth is the same as taking care of
your entire body. There are health issues,
like cardiovascular, inflammation, and
immune system issues that can be prevented
if detected earlier through checking the
condition of your teeth.
Oral health is linked to the overall health of
the body, which means the fast rate of tooth
decay means deeper nutritional problems.
For example, gum disease goes beyond the
mouth because it is an active bacterial
infection that can go throughout your body
via the bloodstream. The plaque deposits in
the gum disease are the same plaques that
are found in the arterial walls of people
suffering from heart diseases. If you have
gum diseases, you are at higher risks to
stroke, heart diseases , fatal coronary heart
diseases, preterm birth, oral cancer,
diabetes, arthritis, pneumonia aspiration.
This is why it is very important to support
teeth health with nutrition. Support your
oral health from the inside with quality
nutrition. You should also keep your mouth
healthy on a superficial level using quality
health products.

1. Be Careful What You Put In Your Mouth
To keep your teeth healthy, you should avoid
sugary foods and drinks. This is common
sense since most people know that sugar can
lead to cavities and plaques. Most sugary
products you take are filled with corn syrup,
which coats the teeth and decays your teeth
faster by sticking in the crevices and cracks.
This is why sugary foods and drinks are
difficult to remove from your teeth. You
should also avoid foods that are rich in phytic
acids, like grains and beans. Finally, it would
be best to eat a lot of healthy fats. Some of the
best options for healthy fats are coconut oil
and fermented cod liver oil daily. You should
also drink plenty of water because it can
flush out the toxins in your body. Instead of
drinking those sugary drinks, it is better to
just replace them with water.
2. Brush Your Teeth up to Two to Three
Minutes
How long does it take you to brush your
teeth? Did you know that the time you spend
brushing your teeth can affect your oral
health? Yes, you may have avoided the foods
that are unhealthy to your teeth, but you only
brush for 30 seconds, and then you still won’t
have a great oral health. Plaque build-up, the
occurrence of gum diseases, and the pile up
of cavities can be significantly reduced with a
consistent oral regimen, which is brushing
your teeth twice a day for two to three
minutes. You don’t have to spend so much
time and money in going to the dentist or
buying expensive products just for healthier
teeth. You can simply brush your teeth
properly on a consistent basis.
3. Flossing Daily for Better Teeth
Flossing may not rid your mouth of bacteria,
but it can remove those little bits of food stuck
in the crevices of your teeth. But if you use
floss with an oral irrigator, you can clean
those hard to reach places and even remove
bacteria, food debris, and germs.
4. Your Mouth Should Have a Balanced PH
A low PH is an acidic environment, which is a
breeding ground for bacteria. If your mouth
has a low PH, it may be at risk for various
gum diseases. You can keep your mouth’s PH
at a balanced level by eating whole food for
your diet regimen. Maintaining a balanced PH
for your mouth is as easy as eating plenty of
fruits and vegetables.
5. Stay Away From Fluoride
Fluoride is in your mouth rinses, toothpaste,
and even water, but it doesn’t necessarily
mean it’s good for you. If you take in too
much fluoride, you are at higher risk for
nausea, diarrhea, headaches, muscular
weakness, arthritis & joint pain, cancer, and
more.
6. Supplements that Can Boost Oral Health
You can increase the mineral level with
supplements to boost your oral health. Some
of the major supplements that can efficiently
improve your oral health are fermented cod
liver oil, Vitamin D. Coconut oil, Magnesium,
Gelatin, and Vitamin C.

Other foods that boost eye health

This isn't repetition of topics ooh! The other post which said on foods that improves eye health is different from this, but both are essential, and moreover my eyes aren't so good this days. so, we orientating each other. * Wink.
Continue reading....
- Berries. Antioxidant-rich foods help to neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, and berries are some of the best sources of antioxidants, Dr. Maturi says. Berries are nutrient-rich with few excess calories and sugar. Red, blue, and purple berries (and other plants) are good sources of water-soluble antioxidants, which can help protect against eye damage .
- Kale. This leafy green is rich in both lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that are concentrated in the macula of your eye and help absorb harmful high-energy light waves. "These
antioxidants protect against eye damage from things like sunlight, cigarette smoke, and air pollution," Ficek says.
- Cooked spinach. "Spinach is chock-full of lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin E — all of which are good for eye health," says Neal G. Malik, RD, a dietitian with the University of California, Riverside.
- Foods rich in vitamin C . "Vitamin C is a top antioxidant and good for eye health," Ficek says. It helps protect blood vessels, including those found in the eye. Good sources of vitamin C include grapefruit, Brussels sprouts,
broccoli, strawberries, papaya, oranges, and green peppers.
- Foods rich in vitamin E. "Vitamins C and E work together to keep healthy tissue strong, but most of us don't get the vitamin E we should from food,"Ficek says. You can boost your vitamin E levels by eating more almonds, pecans, sweet potatoes, and vegetable oils. "Or have a small handful of sunflower seeds or use
a tablespoon of wheat germ oil in your salad dressing," she says.
Some foods from the sea. Wild salmon, as well as lobster and other pink shellfish, are rich in astaxanthin, a type of antioxidant called a carotenoid. Similar to lutein, astaxanthin can help protect central vision.
Fish oil may also help ease dry eyes and age- related macular degeneration, Maturi says.
- Yogurt and cheese. "Both of these dairy products contain zinc, which is also beneficial for the eyes," Malik says. Zinc is concentrated in the retina and helps vitamin A produce melanin, a pigment that helps protect the eyes.
- Green tea. "The catechins found in green tea are powerful antioxidants that protect the eyes from oxidative stress from free radicals," Ficek says.
Source: Everydayhealth