Posts Tagged ‘Health’

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Money and Health: A Conflit of Interests?

For those of you who live outside of the UK, let me introduce you to Carol Verderman. She is a TV presenter, mathematical whiz and has released a number of best-selling health books. Despite being in her 40s she has a figure that many people in their 20s would be envious of. My Mum even bought her book Carol Vorderman’s Detox Recipes.

So my question is: Why is she now appearing on adverts for Farmfoods after all the good work she has been doing to promote a healthy lifestyle?

Again, for those of you not familiar with Farmfoods, they basically just sell all the junk under the sun. Deep fried junk, tinned junk, frozen junk, chocolate-covered junk… You get the idea.

I have had a look through the detox recipe book and can honestly say that you couldn’t make a single meal by going to Farmfoods for your shopping.

Call me an idealist but I still like to think that people have morals and certain standards. Is she that strapped for cash that she has to promote a company diametrically opposed to what she writes about in her books?

In today’s celeb culture so many members of the public follow the advice that these people give out. If Victoria Beckham went on a cardboard soup diet you can bet your bottom dollar that people out there would follow suit. I just think people in the public eye should be more careful about what companies they promote.

OK, rant over. What do you think?  BTW, I think that saving money is very important but don’t let this affect your health.  Also look at this best way to save money info.  I also think celebrities are putting their names to way too many products, you see them advertising anything from debt consolodation to cheap Tonik health insurance.

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Medtronic Defibrillator Recall

Post brought to you by www.youhaverights.com

If you or a loved one has had a defibrillator fitted in America then you should urgently check to see if any of the following models were fitted:-

• Sprint Fidelis 6930
• Sprint Fidelis 6931
• Sprint Fidelis 6948
• Sprint Fidelis 6949

The problem is that within 30 months of these units being fitted, the lead can fracture causing serious problems and even death. Medtronic have estimated 4-5 thousand patients will be affected by these faulty defibrillators yet they refuse to pay for the cost of replacing them.

If you think you are affected by this Medtronic defibrillator recall, contact a lawyer such as Mark & Associates who will be able to advise you further.

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What are the Health Benefits of Christmas Spice?

Ever wondered why Christmas spices are called Christmas spices and not Easter spices or Independence Day spices? I’m not actually sure where the tradition of eating foods with cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg at Christmas came about but if you have a look at the health benefits all may become clear…

Cinnamon

Cinnamon has been used for centuries in India and helps warm you up and stimulate appetite (ah so that’s the reason I ate so much cake last year?!) It also has an affect on metabolism, controls blood glucose levels and can help with diabetes. In 2000 the nutrition lab at US Agricultural Research Service found that it can help increase your cells’ responsiveness to insulin. Nowadays, herbalists use the oil for helping with IBS, colds and flu.  You might want to attatch a few twigs onto your holiday garland.

Cloves

Clove oil was used in Ancient China where it was rubbed onto gums to freshen the breath. Even today dentists rub the main constituent of cloves (eugenol) onto patients’ gums as it has an anaesthetic and antibacterial effect. Recent research has found it to be effective against superbug staphylococcus when combined with eucalyptus, lemon, thyme, tea tree and alcohol. Due to its antiseptic properties it can also helps with flu, colds, and bronchial congestion.

Ginger

Ginger can be enjoyed in so many ways; you can use it in Indian and Chinese cooking, put it into cakes, make it into a preserve and eat it crystallized with sugar. Traditionally it’s been taken for morning sickness, travel sickness (and after-Office-party sickness??) If you are suffering from a cold then add 2 tablespoons of grated ginger to boiling water and drink 2-3 times a day. Alternatively, add a few slices of fresh ginger or a few drops of ginger oil to some hot water and inhale.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg may not look the most interesting of spices but it has been used for everything from embalming Ancient Egyptians; a treatment for piles in the Middle Ages to being a well-known alternative to marijuana. Natives of the Banda Islands, Indonesia rub nutmeg oil on the stomach as a treatment to flu and also rub it onto the forehead to treat headaches.

It would seem the reason so many of these spices appear in the foods we eat at Christmas is due to the fact they are all associated with treating colds and flu. We all tend to take these spices for granted but hundreds of years ago they were the third most expensive commodity in the world after gold and silver. In the 17th century a pound of nutmeg in the Banda Islands cost only 1p however in Europe the price jumped to a whopping £2.10. It’s for this reason that people wanted their homes to smell of nutmeg to show off their wealth – I suppose in the way that people have lots of fancy gifts sitting under their 12 foot Christmas trees.  It’s the perfect and healthy way to get festive.

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4 Tips for a Stress-Free Job Interview

This Post is Sponsored by Secretarial Careers who specialize in PA and secretarial jobs in the UK.

This is the time of year when many people take on extra jobs or start thinking about finding a better paid job in order to pay for the excesses of Christmas. Unfortunately job interviews and stress also tend to go hand-in-hand. It certainly is for me.

Here are a few tips based on my mistakes at interviews:-

1. Leave the House in Plenty of Time – There was a really cold snap once when I went for an interview. I had been sitting around for ages waiting for a train when someone came up to me and told me the trains had been cancelled. Oh great! I had no idea what bus to get so went home in hope that my Mum could drive me into town. Unfortunately the car still had to be de-iced which then took some time. We finally go the car started when en-route it (temporarily) broke down.

Luckily I had left so well in advance I was perfectly on time. Phew!

2. Take Note of Interviewer’s Name – Once I totally forgot to take note of the name of the person I was to be interviewed by. It’s a bit embarrassing to be asked by the receptionist who I’m there to talk to when I have no idea!

3. Be Prepared to Repeat Yourself – My boyfriend told be that a good interviewer has a conversational tone in their questions – ie they don’t totally rely on reading questions off a paper. Unfortunately most interviewers don’t have this skill. Whenever they asked me a question I’d try and answer as fully as possible, unwittingly answering the next couple of questions on the sheet. This meant I had to repeat myself which made me feel a bit of a prat.

4. It Could be Worse – My cousin has just been accepted into the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He told me a bit about the gruelling interviews he had to go through and I have to admit to felling a bit ashamed for getting stressed about the uneventful interviews I’ve been too. It’s somewhat ironic though that he wants to join the Army because our Granddad successfully got out of the Army be pretending to be insane! I assume my cousin didn’t mention that fact at any of his interviews. 😉

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What Are the Health Benefits of Garlic?

garlicSo you think garlic gives you nothing but bad breath? Well, OK, it does, but it’s also one of the healthiest foods you can eat. For centuries, garlic has been considered a “cure-all” and is said to be able to treat just about every ailment from the cold to the Plague! I don’t think there are too many Plagues about these days so here are a few other ways you can use garlic to improve your health:- » Read more: What Are the Health Benefits of Garlic?

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Health Tips for the Misguided

Yawn. Things are getting a bit boring round here don’t you think?! Eat your greens blah, blah, blah… Don’t worry, I try not to take myself too seriously so here are a few unconventional health quotes for you to enjoy:-

  1. Don’t eat me. I have a wife and kids. Eat them.

    2. – Homer Simpson

  2. My doctor told me to do something that made me slightly out of breath, so I started smoking again.

    3. – Jo Brand

  3. Never eat anything at one sitting that you can’t lift.

    4. – Miss Piggy

  4. The word aerobics comes from two Greek words: aero, meaning “ability to,” and bics, meaning “withstand tremendous boredom.”

    5. – Dave Barry

  5. I went on a diet, swore off drinking and heavy eating, and in fourteen days I lost two weeks.

    6. – Joe E. Lewis

  6. Muscles come and go; flab lasts.

    7. – Bill Vaughan

  7. All the things I really like to do are either illegal, immoral, or fattening.

    8. – Alexander Wolcott

  8. To be stupid, selfish, and have good health are three requirements for happiness, though if stupidity is lacking, all is lost.

    9. – Gustave Flaubert

  9. Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.

    10. – Redd Foxx

  10. I don’t like food that’s too carefully arranged; it makes me think that the chef is spending too much time arranging and not enough time cooking. If I wanted a picture I’d buy a painting.

    11. – Andy Rooney

  11. If you ever have to support a flagging conversation, introduce the topic of eating.

    12. – Leigh Hunt

  12. Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1992 because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances.

    13. – Department of Social Services, Greenville, South Carolina

  13. Canada has never been a melting pot; more like a tossed salad.

    14. – Arnold Edinborough

  14. Eating words has never given me indigestion.

    15. – Winston Churchill

  15. I do not like broccoli. And I haven’t liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I’m President of the United States and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli.

    16. – George Bush, US president, 1990

  16. Seafood brought in by customers will not be entertained.

    17. – Restaurant sign in Langkawi, Malaysia

  17. Eat whatever thou likest, but dress as others do.

    18. – Arab Proverb

  18. The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.

    19. – Lucille Ball

  19. Eat bread at pleasure, drink wine by measure.

    20. – Randle Cotgrave

  20. Avoid fruits and nuts. You are what you eat.

    21. – Jim Davis (Garfield the Cat)

  21. The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.

    22. – Mark Twain

  22. Never invest in anything that eats or needs repairing.

    23. – Billy Rose

  23. An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.

    24. – Winston Churchill

  24. Mattie’s Restaurant and Yogurt Palace, “An alternative to Good Eating”

    25. – Restaurant Business Card from Decatur, Texas

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How to Treat Fungal Nail Infections Naturally

Let’s face it, nail fungus probably isn’t one of the nicest health topics to talk about but it is certainly one which affects a lot of people. The condition is caused by micro-organisms called Dermatophytes. It lives on the nail bed and eats the keratin which is the protein in your nail. Normally it will start at the end of the nail and work its way down to the base if left untreated. The end result is a nail which is thick and deformed and in some cases can affect the surrounding skin. Typically the big toe is affect first, spreading to the other toes later.

What Causes Fungal Nail Infection?

  • Dermatophytes love warm and moist conditions such as sweaty socks and shoes. Buy cotton socks instead of nylon and used an anti-fugal powder if you suffer from sweaty feet.
  • Sometimes the fungus can infect the nail via the skin. This can happen due to an ingrown toe nail or damage to the nail.
  • If you have circulation problems, diabetes or HIV you have an increased chance of infection.
  • If you suffer from athlete’s foot make sure you treat it quickly to prevent it turning into a fungal nail infection.

Treatment of Fugal Nail Infection

First of all before deciding what treatment to go for, please understand that it can take at least 3 months for the problem to go away. It can take 18 months for a nail to replace itself so this is not going to be a quick fix.

  1. Tea Tree – Tea Tree is a wonderfully potent natural antibacterial essential oil. Simply apply a few drops to the affected area a few times per day.
  2. Hydrogen Peroxide – Either apply Hydrogen Peroxideto your nail with some cotton wool and allow to dry or soak in a mixture of 50% HP and 50% water.
  3. Vinegar – soak your feet daily in 50% vinegar, 50% water. Soak your feet for at least half an hour and it’s recommended you do this three times per day. There is a surprisingly large selection of vinegars available including wine vinegar and coconut vinegar. You can use any of them but generally it is Apple Cider or white vinegar which is used for nail infections. The reason vinegar works is because it is acidic and fungi don’t like acid conditions.
  4. Saprox – Saprox is a natural mud which is high in sulphur. Apply liberally to the toe and allow it to dry in. It is suggested that combining with another treatment will help speed up results.
  5. There are a number of other natural treatments to try including: Vitamin E Oil, Oregano Oil, Thyme Oil and Essential Oil Cinnamon Leaf.

If you are bothered by fungal nail infection it is definitely worth trying natural remedies first. Although there are a number of prescription drugs you can take they are not always effective and can be harsh on the liver. If you are at all unsure please always consult with a doctor or chiropractor.

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In the UK 8 older people will die every hour due to the cold

Sponsored Review Post for portable gas heater

Startling statistic isn’t it? Our governments are so concerned about the threat of terrorist attacks yet very little attention is given to the fact that the cold kills more people than Al Qaeda could ever dream of.

It’s not just elderly people that should be aware of cold winters. When we moved into our house this time last year I’m surprised none of us suffered from pneumonia. The heating wouldn’t work properly, the house had very little insulation and the windows were very drafty. I’m not sure what the exact temperature was but put it this way, ice cubes didn’t melt at “room temperature.”

Even if you have a well-insulated home you never know when your heating system will break down. And if it does break down and you phone an engineer, chances are they’re going to be very busy or charge you a fortune.

By owning a portable heater you can bring them out for use in emergencies or to supplement your existing heating system. You can even take them places that don’t have heating such as your garage.

A couple of years ago my manager’s heating system broke down and she had trouble getting some one out to repair it. If she had a portable heater things would have been a lot more comfortable for her family.

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Occupational Therapy and the Great War

shell shock during the Great WarBecause it was Remembrance Day on Sunday there have been many documentaries on TV about the Great War. One of the documentaries was about the poet Wilfred Owen who served and died as a soldier.

During the war he suffered (along with 20,000 other men) from shell shock. Because of the horrific conditions in the trenches, being bombarded with bullets and having to bury dead bodies everyday, it’s no wonder that so many men suffered mentally as well as physically.

Ignorance – Unfortunately back then people didn’t understand what shell-shock was. When men displayed symptoms of uncontrollable shaking it was thought it was caused by injury of the nerves or cowardice.

Horrific Treatments – One way that doctors dealt with the men was electric shock treatment. It was thought that the pain from the shock would be so much worse than anything experienced at war that the men would be more than willing to go back.

Wilfred was one of the lucky ones and instead went to Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh where a new form of treatment was being practised. What was this treatment? Occupational Therapy.

Occupational Therapy allowed victims to re-adjust to normal life by carrying out simple activities such as arts and crafts along with nature watching. For 90% of patients this simple treatment was successful.

Luckily our attitudes to such illnesses have changed over the years. It’s heart breaking to think that some men were convicted for “desertion” and punished by being shot to death. They were simply suffering from severe stress.

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Natural Cures for Acid Reflux

For those suffering from the occasional heartburn to those suffering from GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease, you know that the burning sensation in your chest and throat is enough to send you over the edge.

There are different prescription drugs that help with the symptoms of GERD, along with many drug store varieties that are good for the burning felt after eating a large bowl of gumbo. There is also a surgery that will help to relieve that GERD.

What About Natural Cure, Remedies

By far the safest way to cure heartburn is by simply changing your diet. By eliminating certain foods and drinks, you will be able to drastically help diminish the symptoms.

Coffee and some teas are very acidic and should not be consumed in huge amounts. Also, juices such as cranberry, orange, grapefruit, and even apple have high acidic levels and may aggravate things.

Alcohol should also be avoided all together or consumed in small amounts infrequently.

Eat slowly instead of rushing though your meal. Most aliments concerning your digestive system can be avoided by taking smaller bites and chewing each bite slowly and thoroughly.

Avoid things like smoking and chewing gum before meals. This, too, may aggravate GERD.

Sit at a table during meal time. I know this sounds like common sense, but so many of us have very busy lives and are always in a rush. We are either eating in our cars, over the sink or on the couch instead around the dinner table. This is not only a huge benefit to your digestive system, it will also be a good way to hang out with the family.

Wear unrestricted clothing. Tight clothing that pushes everything inward may make us look slimmer but it also smashes all of our organs including our stomach. If there is no room for the food to digest, it may move upward to find some.

Don’t do any extreme exercising after meals. On the reverse side of that, don’t go lie down and sleep either. Lying down may cause those acids, and food, to travel up the esophagus.

There are a few things that may help. Ginger is a great root for digestion issues. It also is great for nausea so if you are experiencing acid reflux with nausea this would help both.

WATER, WATER, WATER! This cannot be said enough. Water is one of those simple things that everyone can do. It is often found people who drink a lot of water tend to have less health issues. When we drink water throughout the day we eat less and are less likely to eat the foods that give us the biggest problems like things high in fat, sugar, and grease.

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