Saturday, February 21, 2009

Past Health Tips Part 1

  • A 15-20 minute nap - and no longer than 30 minutes- will provide enough of an energy boost. A long nap may cause grogginess and you may have a hard time waking up. If you can't sleep, don't worry, resting can be as revitalizing as napping.

  • Do you need to lose weight? Find out what the Right Weight for you is. Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI).

    Where:
    "X"= your weight in lbs
    "Y"= height in inches

    "X" x 705= "Z" - Multiply your weight by 705
    "Z" / "Y"= "A" - Divide the previous result by your height
    "A" / "Y"= BMI - Divide the previous result by your height again

    A BMI of 18.5 to 24.5 may indicate the optimal weight. The wide range is due to the variety of body composition in bone and muscle among healthy people. Women in general have less muscle and bone than man do, so the optimal BMI for women will usually fall toward the bottom of the range.

    Underweight: less than 18.5

    Ideal: from 18.5 to 24.5

    Overweight: from 24.5 to 30

    Obese: from 30 or higher

  • Are We Aware of the Pesticides in our Foods?

    Highest concentration of pesticides are found in peanuts and raisins. Choose organically grown peanut butter.

    Fruits: The thicker the peel, the less concentration of pesticides. However, fruits such as cantaloupes have a very porous skin, which can absorb pesticides.

    Good choices: Bananas, oranges, tangerines, lemons, grapefruits, pineapples, watermelon and figs.

    If you eat a lot of the following fruits, organically grown varieties may be a better choice:

    Apples, pears, grapes, strawberries, peaches, kiwi, prunes, cherries, blackberries and blueberries.

    Vegetables: When using not organically grown vegetables, wash them well with water and soap.

    Vegetables with the highest levels of pesticides: lettuce, spinach and potatoes.

    Remove the outer two or three layers of lettuce and spinach. When eating not organically grown potatoes, don't eat the skin.

  • Got Hiccups?

    Drink a tablespoon of pickle juice or if you have a lemon, try sucking on a lemon wedge. Their strong flavor stimulates the taste receptors and shock your diaphragm's nerves out of the spams.

  • Can't sleep? Got a snoring partner?

    Ask your partner not to sleep on his or her back. Have your partner sleep on his/her side or stomach. You could try putting a pillow under his/her back to make it more difficult for him or her to roll over during his/her sleep. A humidifier may be helpful as it could end the snoring caused by dry air.

  • Dealing with a Hangover

    Drink plenty of water, as much as you can. Alcohol can easily dehydrate your body which is the cause for a throbbing headache.

    You could also try orange juice. The fructose which is a natural sugar in the juice, may help burning off alcohol faster and restore the blood sugar level. Also, orange juice contains a good dose of potassium which is a mineral that is lost during urination. Low potassium levels can make you feel week and shaky.

  • Sneezing is good

    It provides necessary protection against toxins or disease-causing microbes before they can do any damage.If you feel you are about to sneeze, is best not to suppress it.

    It may cause an infection by forcing the germs and viral particles into the Eustachian tubes, which connect to the middle ear.

  • Cherries for Arthritis Pain

    Drink plenty of cherry juice, at least one glass a day for four days in a row. Discontinue for the next four days and start drinking again for four more days. Keep repeating this cycle. If available, use organic cherries without added sugar. You could either use fresh, frozen or canned cherries.

    Some people have had good results from eating regular amounts of cherries and drinking one glass of cherry juice a day.

    Experiment to see how this remedy can work for you.

  • Lower Your Blood Pressure

  • Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
  • Replace salt with different seasonings.
  • Reduce your fat intake
  • Increase your calcium
  • Eat less meat and dairy products
  • Eat garlic
  • Increase your intake of potassium. Bananas are an excellent source.
  • Increase your intake of fiber and magnesium.
  • Excercise regularly
  • Quit smoking
  • If you are overweight, try to lose some weight. A small weight loss can make a big difference.

  • Are We Drinking Enough Fluids a Day? - Our body needs it for its maximum efficiency

    Our body depends on water for important vital tasks such as transporting nutrients and other substances around the body and regulating the temperature.

    It is recommended that we drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluids a day spread over the day to keep our body's water levels steady. Caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea and colas, as well as alcoholic beverages should be avoided because they increase urination, leading to water loss from our body, resulting in dehydration. When sweating a lot or taking medications, it may become necessary to take ten to twenty glasses a day.

    Our best bet is to observe our urine color and frequency. Pale yellow is a good sign. Frequent urination is a good sign too, though sometimes it could be caused by medication or a medical condition.

  • Blisters - Choosing the Right Shoes

    Heat, friction and moisture are the cause for blisters on your feet. A loose shoe creates friction when the foot moves around in it. When shopping for shoes, wear or bring with you the type of sock that you are actually going to wear with your new shoes. The ideal time to shop for your shoes is in the afternoon when your feet are most swollen, this will ensure that your shoes are not too tight for your afternoon feet.

    When you are trying your new shoes, stand up and make sure that there is a thumb-width between your big toe and the end of your shoe.

    If you excercise, make sure that you are wearing the right socks to prevent blisters. A mixture of synthetic material and wool is ideal. The synthetic material will keep your feet dry by drawing the moisture out, and the wool will protect your feet from the shoe. You could also wear two pairs of socks. A thin synthetic material to wick moisture away from the feet and the outer pair should be thick to absorb friction.

  • Shinier Hair with Vinegar

    Mix one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a pint of water and apply to hair. This makes and excellent hair rinse, especially if you have oily hair, that will remove shampoo buildup and will add shine to your hair. Rinse with plain water to remove the smell.


  • Why Do We Yawn?

    Experts say that yawning is caused by a decrease in the amount of oxygen reaching the brain. When we yawn, we open our mouth and bring more oxygen into our bodies.

    Yawn becomes contagious between the ages of 1 and 2. Seeing or even hearing a person yawn often triggers yawns. And as you may be yawning right now, you know that reading about yawning can also make you yawn.

  • Dry Hair and Split Ends

    Some experts say that mayonnaise makes an excellent hair conditioner. Put a small amount of mayonnaise in the palm of your hand and work it into your hair for at least five minutes before rinsing. Repeat once a week.

    You could also try the beer method to improve the looks of your hair. Pour some beer into a spraying bottle then spray it onto your hair after shampooing and towel drying it. Your hair will look healthy and shiny.

  • Prevent Cancer with Beta Carotene

    If we eat more fresh fruits and vegetables rich in beta carotene we would have less lung, stomach, colon cervical and prostate cancer. It will also help increase our resistance to infection, vision problems, lower our cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.

    Beta carotene is a type of pigment found in plants. Our skin stores beta carotene in our body metabolizes it into vitamin A as needed.

    Beta carotene sources: carrots, spinach, kale, sweet potatoes, mustard greens, red peppers and cataloupe.

  • Toothache Relief With an Ice Cube

    Massage the web between your thumb and index finger on the back of your hand with an ice cube, it seems to be effective on either hand regardless if the pain is on the left or right side. Apparently, this will short-circuit the pain, similar to the way it is done with acupuncture.

  • Determine Your Heart Rate

To get the most out of your aerobic performance from walking, it will be helpful if you know what your target heart rate is and mantain it for at least 20 minutes.

1. Start with the number 220: 220
2. Substract your age (45, for example): -45
3. The result is your maximum heart rate: 175

Low end of the target range; 60 percent

4. Multiply your max heart rate by 0.6: 175 x 0.6= 105

High end of target rante; 80 percent

5. Multiply your max heart rate by 0.8: 175 x 0.8= 140

Always work at the lower end of your range if you are a beginner. The high end range is only recommended to be achieved for those physically fit.


Eating yogurt for good health

Yogurt, which is the most popular form of fermented milk, is a good source of calcium, and a good choice if you can't drink milk because you have trouble digesting lactose. Yogurt can help prevent osteoporosis that afflicts some middle-aged and elderly women.

Yogurt is also a good source of protein, riboflavin (vitamin B2) and folic acid.

Some studies found that yogurt has eliminated some forms of digestive tract infections. It is also effective to ease traveler's diarrhea. Eat yogurt as a natural way to boost your overall immunity levels and fight some digestive problems.

  • Bananas - A Wonderful Healthy Choice

    Bananas are high in iron. They can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood, helping with cases of anemia.

    Bananas are extremely high in potassium and low in salt, making it ideal to beat blood pressure.

    Bananas are high in fiber. They can help restore normal bowel movement, working as a natural laxative.

    Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body. If you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana as a natural heartburn remedy.

    Because of its soft texture bananas are used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders. It neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach, helping with those who are suffering from ulcers.

    Bananas are high in B vitamins that can help to calm the nervous system.

    Eating bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up, avoiding morning sickness.

  • Easy Yogurt Recipe - How I Make It

    5 cups whole milk
    1 Tbsp yogurt
    (as starter) - I use organic whole milk plain yogurt

    In a stainless steel pan, bring milk to a boil.

    Let the milk cool down until you can put your finger in and count to 10 without burning yourself! (around 110°F). If you have a thermometer, it will help you track the temperature and save your finger from burning so much! Don't let the milk cool down too much or it won't work, on the other hand, it cannot be too hot either.

    In the meantime, have a glass container big enough to store the yogurt, and add the starter yogurt. Once the milk has reached the desired temperature, remove the thin layer that is formed at the top of the milk, and add a little bit of the hot milk at a time, and incorporate to the yogurt while mixing very well with a whisk. Add the rest of the milk and cover. Wrap the container with a warm dish towel and place it in a warm place for at least 8 hours. A good warm place is the oven. Turn the oven to 350°F for a few minutes, turn it off and turn the oven light on. Keep the light on for the whole 8 hours.

    Yogurt is now ready. Keep it refrigerated. Save a little bit of your homemade yogurt as the starter for your next batch.

    Tip: To ease the cleaning of the stainless steel pan, before putting the milk in it, fill it up with very cold water. Pour the water out and don't dry the pan before adding the milk.

  • Yogurt

    Yogurt has been used as a natural remedy to treat a variety of conditions, from diarrhea to yeast infections for ages. Yogurt is a good source of protein, B vitamins, calcium and potassium.

    If you are suffering from intestinal problems, yogurt may help you settle these problems by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria.

    See the recipe I use for homemade yogurt by going to my Past Health Tips page.

  • Deodorant - Simple Rrecipe

    Mix equal parts of talcum powder, baking soda and petroleum jelly. Heat this mix in a double boiler until it turns into a smooth cream.

  • Sleep better

    Try to eat dinner a little earlier, finish by 6:30pm. This way your digestive system will not be busy by the time you go to bed. It may also help you prevent acid reflux which causes heartburn, a problem that can interrupt your sleep.

  • Drink More Tea - Health Benefits

    It supports the immune system, reduces the risk of cancer and helps prevent tooth decay. Tea contains catechins, that help prevent cell damage by harmful molecules called free radicals. Compared to oolong tea and black tea, green tea contains the highest percentage of catechins, approx. 40%. Oolong has about 8-20% and black tea 4%.

    Your Best Time to Visit a Sick Friend

    After 9:00 pm is the best time to visit a sick friend. Your number of white blood cells is at its highest level, providing you with your best protection against any germs you may come across.

  • How to Clean your Thermos

    Here is an easy way to clean those tall and narrow containers and remove stains and odors. Fill your thermos with hot water, drop in a denture cleaning tablet and let it stand overnight.

  • Ingrown Toenails

    Ingrown toenails are usually caused when an improperly trimmed toenail cuts into the skin or by wearing shoes that are too tight.
    Cut your toenails straight across and leave them a little longer at the corners to prevent sharp ends from cutting into the skin.
    Make sure you don't wear shoes that are too tight.

  • Flaxseeds

    Flaxseeds contain the fiber and the essential fatty acids you need on a daily basis. Ground 5 teaspoons of flaxseeds in a small food processor or coffee grinder with 8 ounces of water. Take one glass in the morning and again another glass in the evening.

  • Green Tea and Tooth Decay

    Green tea is packed with polyphenols that fight off the bacteria that cause tooth decay. On top of that, the fluoride in tea supplies a beneficial boost to tooth enamel. The Japanese conducted a study by providing a special mouth rinse of tea polyphenols to volunteers after each meal and before bedtime, and found that they have significantly reduced the development of plaque, even though none of the volunteers was brushing or flossing

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