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Showing posts from April, 2017

Cold Hands and Feet? What They Say About Your Mental Health

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siha yako Meet your mitochondria. With a laundry list of responsibilities ranging from creating energy to determining the time of a cell’s death, mitochondria have increasingly become the focus of chronic disease research. The keeper of our mitochondria is our thyroid hormone. This is why, when thyroid hormone is deficient or poorly functioning, patients experience an array of symptoms, including fatigue, constipation, hair loss, depression, foggy thinking, cold body temperature, low metabolism, and muscle aches. How much of what we call “mental illness” is actually thyroid-driven? In my experience, a vast majority, and certainly enough of a subset to warrant a more sophisticated appreciation for proper diagnosis and treatment in these patients. Thyroid health is so much more than pumping out a hormonal product. It is a sophisticated conversation between the brain, gland, hormones, and the receiving cells and tissues. This circuitry is at the mercy of yet another hormone, cortisol, pro

Stewed Peeled Maize and Bread Recipe

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Serve the stew with a starch of your choice; although it’s actually hardly necessary, but if you must then I suggest white bread and topped with the fresh herbs. Serves 2 to 3 people Preparation time 10 minutes  Cooking time 15–20 minutes Ingredients 1–2 Tbsp. olive oil. 200 grams sausages, sliced. 1 red or yellow pepper, de-seeded and roughly chopped. 2/3 cup peeled roughly sliced tomatoes. 3 tsp. tomato paste. 2–3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped. ~1 level tsp. dried chili flakes. 2 tsp. ( sugar, or unprocessed sweetener). 1 x 400 g boiled peeled maize, drained. salt and freshly ground black pepper. half a handful each of fresh basil and parsley, roughly chopped. How to Prepare Heat the olive oil in a large shallow frying pan over medium–high heat and fry the sausages for about 4 minutes until golden, stirring occasionally. Add the red or yellow pepper, tomatoes, garlic and chili flakes and cook for 2–3 minutes before adding the tomato paste and sugar. Stir and add half glass of water

Guacamole Recipe

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Great Guacamole! This was everything guacamole should be: smooth and creamy with just the right amount of flavor. Whether you're on team mash or team chop, it's not a game day without guacamole. Skip the restaurant trick of using a mortar and pestle to process the guacamole—a fork works just as well and keeps things nice and chunky. You can make this avocado salad smooth or chunky depending on your tastes. Ingredients ⊙ 3 large sized avocados. ⊙ 1 medium sized onion finely diced ⊙ ½ clove garlic minced ⊙ 2 tomatoes, finely chopped ⊙ 2 tsp. lemon juice ⊙ 2 ½ tablespoon chili sauce ⊙ (Optional) 100 ml plain yogurt/sour cream ⊙ ¼ tsp. black pepper ⊙ Salt to taste Method Halve and pit avocados and scoop the flesh into a bowl. Mash the avocados until smooth. Stir in pounded onion, garlic, tomatoes, lemon juice, chili, black pepper (Optional) plain yogurt/sour cream. Add salt to taste. Guacamole may be made 2 hours in advance, covered with plastic wrap, and chilled. Serve as a dip wi

How to treat a cold

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Some of the symptoms of colds and the flu are the same so it can be hard to tell what you have. Remember that with the flu you get a fever. The flu will also make you sicker and can be deadly for some people. The "common cold" is a group of viruses that make people sick. It's normal for people to get a few colds a year. Symptoms of colds: A sore throat or a "tickle" in the throat Coughing Runny or stuffy nose Sneezing Headache Low fever Loss of appetite Yellow or greenish mucus from nose or throat  How to treat a cold: You can take cold medicine, which will help with a stuffy nose and headache. Put Vaseline on your nose if it's red and sore. Spray salt water in your nose to clear up stuffiness in between taking cold medicine. Take cough drops or syrup to help a sore throat and cough. Drink a lot of clear fluids like water or sports drinks with electrolytes to flush your system. Get lots of rest. Call the doctor if you have: Greenish or gray mucus that lasts

How to treat a sore throat

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A sore throat can have many causes and most of them aren't very serious. If your nose or sinuses are blocked up, the mucus can run down the back of your throat, and that may cause a sore throat. Dry air can also make your throat sore and scratchy. Having the flu can give you a sore throat. Bacteria can also cause a sore throat, or what is called strep throat, which can be treated with medicine. How to treat a sore throat: Gargle with warm salt water. Suck on hard sweets or throat drops. Small children should not do this. They might swallow or choke on them. Ask your pharmacist for a spray that numbs your throat. If your throat is dry and scratchy, running hot water in a bathroom and breathing in the steam will help. Call the doctor if: Your lymph nodes are swollen (lymph nodes are on the sides of your neck right under your jaw.) You have white patches in the back of your throat. You suddenly get a sore throat with a fever. Your sore throat lasts more than a week. You can't mana

How to Deal With Fever

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Having a fever usually means that you have an infection and your body is fighting it off. Fevers can also be caused by an allergic reaction, taking certain medicines, or staying in the sun too long. There are medicines that make a fever go down, but it's good to know how high your fever is in case you need to go to the doctor. You can buy a thermometer at your pharmacy. Digital thermometers are more expensive but easier to use, especially on children, so get one if you are able. Signs of a fever: Skin that is hot to the touch A flushed (red), hot face Body and headaches Chills or cold sweats Stomach ache (nausea) Feeling dizzy Not feeling hungry Diarrhea or constipation  How to treat a fever: Take your temperature with a thermometer a digital thermometer is easiest to use and read. Place the thermometer under your tongue. Don't talk or open your mouth until it beeps. Take a fever-reducing medicine - paracetamol (Panado or Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), or aspirin (Disprin - only

SWEET CINNAMON RAISIN BREAD

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This easy recipe for Sweet Cinnamon Raisin Bread requires yeast and has fantastic flavor and texture. Simple to make & you’ll love the wonderful scent as it bakes! This recipe is a hit! This was my first time baking raisin bread and it turned out beautiful and delicious. SWEET CINNAMON RAISIN BREAD RECIPE A yummy moist bread loaded with raisins and cinnamon. The best raisin cinnamon bread I've ever had! This recipe makes two loaves. INGREDIENTS. ⏭1 cup milk ⏭¹/₂ cup water ⏭2 eggs ⏭¹/₄ cup sugar ⏭¹/₄ cup butter/margarine ⏭¹/₂ teaspoon salt ⏭¹/₂ cup raisins ⏭5 cups flour ⏭3 tablespoons melted butter ⏭¹/₂ cup sugar ⏭2 tablespoons cinnamon ⏭4¹/₂ teaspoons yeast INSTRUCTIONS. I usually start by activating my yeast before starting up on anything else. In a bowl, I mixed in 1/2 cup warm water, two tablespoons sugar and my yeast.I set this aside and let the yeast activate, this takes about 8 minutes. The yeast will eat the sugars and a froth will form, this is what we are looking for.

AROMATIC CARROT MUFFINS

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For those who love them some carrot cake, these muffins are for you. Carrots are sweet and packed with nutrients.when cooked alongside cinnamon and nutmeg, they result into flavorful, sweet, moist, aromatic muffins to die for. I usually don’t fancy carrots in my dishes however this was exceptional and I loved them. This takes no time to bring together and is a way to disguise the carrots and have your kids eating them. Carrots are an excellent source of beta-carotene, which is a potent infection-fighting antioxidant and immune booster. CARROT MUFFINS RECIPE PREP TIME:  10 minutes COOK TIME:  15-20 minutes Makes 12 muffins INGREDIENTS ⇢1 ¹/₂ cup all-purpose flour ⇢1 cup grated carrots ⇢¹/₄ teaspoon salt ⇢1 cup sugar ⇢2 teaspoons cinnamon ⇢1 teaspoon nutmeg ⇢1 ¹/₄ teaspoon baking powder ⇢¹/₂ cup milk ⇢2 tablespoons vegetable oil ⇢1 egg DIRECTIONS Mix all your wet ingredients in a Bowl (Milk, vegetable oil, egg). In a separate bowl mix in your dry ingredients (Flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, sal

If you notice a breast lump

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Breast lumps are fairly common in women of reproductive age. The immediate worry is cancer if a breast lump is noted. But luckily, over 90 percent of breast lumps in women between the ages of 20 and 50 years are not cancerous (referred to as benign). However, any breast lump warrants further medical evaluation. Breasts have variable consistency, which varies with the menstrual cycle. And with advancing age, breasts become less dense and fattier. Women are encouraged to get used to how their breasts look and feel. This makes it easy to notice any change which appears unusual. You will easily differentiate tenderness and lumpiness that varies with the menstrual cycle from other changes that may be abnormal. You need to consult a doctor when you notice new or unusual lumpiness that does not change with the menstrual cycle. Skin changes on the breast that warrant consultation include redness, itchiness, and dimpling. And if the nipple has an unusual discharge, turns inwards or becomes flat

Vaginal douching, don’t ever do it

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Douching is cleaning the inside of the vagina with water or other cleaning fluids. It is a fairly common practice, with some studies estimating that about one in every four women regularly douches. Douches are sold as prepackaged mixtures of water and vinegar, baking soda or iodine. The mixture is squirted upwards into the vagina, then washes outwards. Douching is not necessary and is unhealthy. Just washing the outside of the vagina is good enough, and is all that you require. Why do some women douche? Some just feel ‘unclean’ on the inside. Others erroneously think they need to wash their insides after sexual intercourse or to prevent infections or pregnancy. Yet others have reported the need to wash off vaginal odours. Well, all these and whatever other reasons are mistaken. The vagina is self-regulatory, with an acidic environment maintained by a natural balance of bacteria and mucous production. This fends off infections and reduces irritation. For starters, douching will not redu

HEALTH TIPS FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS

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Lots of activity takes place during this period of expectancy including traveling to various destinations using different modes of transport. Long distance traveling may predispose a pregnant woman to clot formation, which is a dangerous complication called deep venous thrombosis (DVT). DVT occurs due to stasis of blood in the lower limbs for a long time. Traveling long distances causes prolonged stasis of blood which can cause clot formation. Although long distance travel is not contraindicated for healthy pregnant women, it’s important to take certain precautions to reduce the risk of DVT. Pregnant women traveling long distances by road or train are advised to take 30 minutes breaks every 2 hours of traveling. During the breaks, they should walk around to improve blood flow from the legs. Air travel in pressurized airplanes is allowed usually up to 36 weeks. A doctor’s recommendation that you’re your fit to fly is normally required. The above apply to those flying for many hours. Ade

Dealing With Stomach Cramps

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The most common causes of stomach cramps are menstruation, viruses, and food poisoning. You can try to prevent stomach cramps and diarrhea by avoiding foods that smell rotten, washing your hands with antibacterial soap after bathroom visits, and cooking meat or fish until it is well done. If you do get stomach cramps, you can usually treat yourself: Menstruation If you are menstruating, use a heating pad to help relieve some of the pain. You can also take a paracetamol like Panado® or an anti-inflammatory like Voltarin®.  Stomach virus You may have vomiting, fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and joint aches. These symptoms usually last about 24 hours. If you have diarrhea with your cramps, try not to take any medicine to stop the diarrhea for the first 2 or 3 hours. The diarrhea may be getting rid of the virus. Get plenty of rest Eat very light foods like juices, bananas, rice, chicken broth, jelly, etc. You may also be prescribed nausea medication or you can get an anti-nausea pi

Soft, Moist and Scrumptious Spiced Pumpkin Bread

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This healthy pumpkin bread recipe is great for kids and adults alike. Pumpkins are a staple during Halloween and provide great health benefits. Pumpkins are packed with vitamin A, which is great for our eyes, vitamin C, which is great for the immune system, and beta-carotene, which is great for our skin and eyes. I have made muffins using pumpkin in the past but never attempted bread. This recipe could not be simpler. It’s sweet (pumpkin is so versatile!), soft, moist and scrumptious! And it will not fail you. The loaf just slides straight out of the pan and is ready for slicing (and eating) asap. Hope you enjoy making it as much as I enjoyed eating it!  Spiced Pumpkin Bread Recipe Ingredients ↬1 cup of almond meal ↬3 large eggs ↬½ cup peeled, boiled and pureed pumpkin ↬¼ cup raw honey ↬4 tbsp coconut oil ↬1 tsp baking soda ↬1 tsp cinnamon ↬½ tsp nutmeg ↬½ tsp ground ginger Method Preheat your oven to 180⁰C Using either a hand mixer or a food processor (I used the latter) – combine all

20-Minute Chocolate Cupcakes

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These chocolate cupcakes are so healthy that they can be eaten guilt free – even in the middle of the night if you’re that way inclined My latest paleo discovery is cassava flour. It's grain free and gluten free and so versatile in baking that you can substitute wheat flour gram for gram with cassava flour. So these are made with cassava flour and coconut flour and are also absolutely nut free which is great for people with nut allergies. 20-minute chocolate cupcakes recipe ingredients: ➠¹/₂ cup cassava flour ➠¹/₂ cup coconut flour (made by grinding unsweetened desiccated coconut) ➠¹/₂ cup cacao powder ➠¹/₂ teaspoon baking powder ➠¹/₄ teaspoon sea salt ➠¹/₄ teaspoon vanilla extract ➠4 tablespoons coconut sugar (or brown sugar, or dates soaked ➠¹/₂ cup coconut oil melted ➠4 eggs ➠2 tablespoons of cacao buttons (or a bar) melted Method In a food processor mix, all the dry ingredients then add in the wet ingredients and pulse until well combined. Preheat your oven to 170⁰C – and line

Healthy Homemade Almond Milk

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Almond milk is a great alternative to dairy milk and a great base component for any smoothie. I have been using store bought almond milk for a long time now and then the other day I read an article that claimed that most ready almond milk only have 5 almonds in them and the rest is water? Anyway, so I decided to have a go at making my own just to see how it would turn out. It's not something you would probably make all the time because it is a bit of a process and time consuming but it's worth trying at least once because it tastes oh so good! Benefits of Almond milk Almonds  are a great source of monounsaturated fats, which are healthy fats that promote heart health and may reduce the risk of stroke. Almonds are powerhouses when it comes to health benefits and is gluten-free and low in carbs. Homemade Almond Milk Recipe A healthy almond milk recipe. It is simple, fast and you control the ingredients.  Ingredients ↝1 cup raw almonds, soaked in water ↝4 cups of filtered water ↝2

LEMON AND GINGER TEA: Get rid of the sniffles

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It seems like almost everyone I know is suffering from some type of cold or the sniffles, including myself! I say it’s time to get rid of the sniffles and get back to feeling 100 with this cold-busting tea. All it takes is a few little ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. Ginger, lemon, Honey/Brown Sugar, Cayenne pepper & garlic..yes garlic just trust me on this one. But the best part is there’s no boiling involved all you need is a blender and hot water. I like to call it my lazy tea in a hurry. It’s so easy you’ll be making it all season. This lemon and ginger tea kicks things up a notch with the ginger and cayenne and works wonders in just a few minuets. For my version, I really go crazy with the ginger and ease up on the chili because I confess I am a chili lightweight but ginger is definitely my friend. It helps tame my allergies and is a great tonic for just about anything. Have it hot or cold! It’s perfect for warming you up this season and keeping those nas

CARROT, APPLE, LEMON, AND BEET JUICE

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Raw carrot & beet juice is loaded with Vitamin A, C, B₆ and other good stuff. This juice works wonders for your skin and is a great natural pre-workout drink. The combination of carrot, apple, lemon, and ginger emulates a sweet and sour flavor that’s absolutely amazing and super refreshing.  Add half a beetroot and you’ve just topped up your juice with more vitamins, nitrates and anti-inflammatory properties. So without further ado let’s juice! CARROT, APPLE, LEMON, AND BEET JUICE RECIPE Ingredients and their benefits ➲ 6 Medium Carrots:  Carrots are packed with vitamin A, which may be great for the hair. “Carrots have a high concentration of vitamin A, which helps promote hair and scalp health,” explains health coach Lori Shemek. ➲ 4 Gala Apples:  Apples are packed with antioxidants and vitamins for overall health. They also contain a compound called Procyanidin B-2, which is known to help new hair grow. ➲ ¹/₂ A medium lemon:  They are often used in detox diets because of their ab

Pilau Recipe: Delicious and super easy

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This classic Pilau rice recipe is a simple and delicious recipe that you’ll want to make time and time again. With plenty of flavors, this tasty side dish is perfect for serving the chicken tikka masala, spicy lamb or other classic Indian dishes. Naan bread on the side and fresh cinnamon sticks broken throughout this delicious rice dish is a flavorsome side that would complete any Indian banquet. This recipe serves 4-6 people and takes around 40 mins to prepare and cook. Store leftover rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Make sure you reheat thoroughly before serving. Use a long grain rice but not necessarily and expensive one. Here is a simple way to make pilau but to get it right you have to get the right ingredients and the most important one being the pilau masala. Nutrition: per serving kcal 488 fat 18g saturates 6g carbs 58g sugars 9g fibre 3g protein 19g salt 1.4g Pilau: Delicious and super easy. Good depth of flavor. Pilau Recipe Ingredients : ⏩1 Large

Natural and Herbal Remedies Guide

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The use of natural and herbal remedies is on the rise. People often use natural and herbal remedies for long-term (chronic) conditions that haven't been successfully treated with Western medicine. People also use these remedies to improve their quality of life. Many of these remedies deal with the whole person (holistic) rather than treating a specific disease or symptom. Sometimes, they heal aches and pains that over-the-counter and prescription drugs can't. Headaches, joint pain, and premenstrual syndrome are some examples. Be careful - mixing natural substances with over-the-counter and prescription medication may produce some powerful and unexpected results. Before you start taking anything new, talk to a doctor or health care professional. -Expert Advice & Tips To Keep You Healthy- The great thing about natural herbal remedies is that they are 100% natural and less likely to cause side effects compared with modern drugs. Plus, herbal remedies can help with all kinds of

Keeping your eyes healthy

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Do you need glasses to see up close or far away? Maybe you need them for both reasons. Whether you need glasses or not, you should have your eyes checked every one to two years. People at high risk for eye diseases should be examined more often. For example, adults with diabetes should have yearly exams. People with a family history of eye disease and those with a history of eye injury should also get checked often. Here are some signs you might need glasses: You squint to see things. Objects look blurry. You need to hold things far away or very close to your face to read them. If you need glasses, this is what you should do: Go to the doctor and get fitted for eyeglasses. Have your eyes checked for Glaucoma, Cataracts, and any other diseases? Find out if Medicare or other insurance programs offer discounts for buying eyeglasses. Check with your doctor for other tips on saving money.

MANGO VEGGIES STIR-FRY

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Nothing beats a well-done stir-fry when it comes to preparing simple quick meals that require little cleanup afterward. Cooking vegetables quick over high heat really goes a long way in bringing out the colors and flavors in them without compromising on the freshness and texture you get from raw veggies. My mango veggies stir-fry has colorful vegetables and thin mango slices, flavors the mangoes really go well in this dish balancing off the flavors from the bell peppers, the sweet of the mango coats the veggies with a delicious mango flavor making every bite an explosion of flavor and crunchiness in your mouth. I went modest on the stir-fry sauce for this meal by using a blend of soy sauce and chili flakes as I didn’t want to overpower the veggies by drowning them in an aromatic sauce, I really wanted the mango flavor to shine through my stir-fry. For my veggies, I used a mixture of red onions, carrots, colorful bell peppers, broccoli, snow peas then finished off with the mangoes.I thr

VEGETABLE FISH FRIED RICE

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Fried rice is my go-to meal whenever I want to freshen up my leftover rice and turn it into something delicious and healthy. Fried rice is versatile and to me, it has no recipe, uses the veggies and meats you have on hand and come up with something delicious and unique to you. I had some leftover fish in my freezer it wasn’t sizable enough to cook up a solid meal from it, another reason why I love fried rice is that the little protein you have goes a long way in feeding a crowd. I used leftover white rice that I had in my refrigerator, flavors go for brown rice for a healthier version. Always use cold rice for anything fried rice,  leftover rice works best, if preparing rice for frying, always set it in the refrigerator to cool before frying. This is a simple recipe and the hardest bit was in chopping up my vegetables and fillets. I used Tilapia fillets however any white fish will work. Tilapia has a neutral delicate flavor and you can marinate it however you please for use in this rec

A Guide On How To Choose a Safer Sunscreen

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There are thousands of sunscreens on the market and it may seem daunting to find a safe one. The majority of chemical sunscreens contain endocrine disruptors, which are particularly risky for pregnant women, infants, and small children. These can disrupt growth and development, cause early puberty and result in small testicle size and low sperm count in boys. They also have carcinogenic potential. Among the worst are those containing oxybenzone, synthetic fragrances, and retinyl palmitate. When choosing a sunscreen, your safest choice is a lotion or cream with zinc oxide. It’s stable in sunlight and provides the best protection from UVA rays. Your next best option is titanium dioxide. Just make sure the product: Does not contain nano-sized particles. Protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Keep in mind that SPF protects only from UVB rays, which are the rays within the ultraviolet spectrum that allow your skin to produce vitamin D. The most dangerous rays, in terms of causing skin dama

Cucumber and Pineapple Salad

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This perfectly refreshing Pineapple Cucumber Salad is wonderfully easy to make and simply delicious! The sweetness of the pineapple is balanced by the acidity of the lime and the crunchiness of the cucumber. This recipe is perfectly simply and can easily be scaled for a small dinner or to feed a crowd. Cucumber are an excellent source of caffeic acid and vitamin C, two antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties that help fight oxidative stress and reduce signs of aging. Cucumbers are also packed with water, which means better skin, better hydration, They help flush out toxins, and are high in dietary fiber, which aids in weight loss. Trust me. If you’re serving this salad up anytime, make A LOT. This salad is an eye-catcher and your guests will be coming back for seconds, guaranteed. Serve with vegetable flans and vegetable roasts for a main course or with crusty bread for a light meal. Cucumber and Pineapple Salad Recipe Ingredients 1 tea spoon raisins 1 table spoon pineapple ju