Health Care

4 Reasons to Invest in an Air Purifier

August 3, 2020 By Paula 1 Comment

The air quality in your home or work environment has a serious impact on your quality of life. Though you may not realize it, the particles that hang around in your home can trigger allergy or asthma attacks, grow mold, and even cause premature aging. Whether you prefer a natural air purification through Sacred Kratom incense burning or you use a purifier, there are several benefits to cleansing the air in your home.

It Removes Asthma Triggers

Most asthma triggers are often found inside the home. Dust, dirt, dry skin cells, household cleaners, cooking smoke, paint products, hairsprays, and cosmetics are just a few of the things that lurk around your house. When these substances are inhaled, they can induce wheezing and other asthma symptoms.

It Eliminates Allergens

Some of the most common allergens are pet odors, pollen, or dust. When these are inhaled, your body produces the IgE allergy antibody, which causes reactions like watery eyes and sneezing. An air purification system that can remove these allergens without using ozone is one of the most effective.

It Can Prevent Lung Disease

For that smoke or use tobacco product in the home, there is an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and heart disease. Secondhand smoke is more dangerous in children, given that their lungs are still in development stages. Air purifiers that use activated carbon and a HEPA filter remove most of the smoke particles from the air, and the carbon traps the chemical pollutants.

It Absorbs Asbestos

Those who live in older homes may be exposed to asbestos through the materials of the home. This is known to increase the risk of mesothelioma. Since asbestos is odorless, you won’t know if you are breathing it in. Air purifiers can trap any airborne particles and keep you safe from cancer and disease.

These four health reasons should be convincing in your need for an air purifier. You will breathe better and enjoy a better quality of life with cleaner air.

The Best Tea for Digestion – Ease Your Stomach with These Teas

April 3, 2019 By Paula 41 Comments

Are you feeling bloated? Having stomach pains?
Some teas are particularly soothing and healing for the digestive system.

Sometimes black, green, and herbal teas can be a simple, natural solution that is gentle for your system and easy to incorporate in your daily routine. Plus a warm cup of tea not only soothes your stomach, it also gives you an overall feeling of wellbeing.

Tea: An Ancient Solution to Today’s Common Ailments

Ginger Tea

Offering a variety of health benefits and healing compounds to alleviate upset stomach, ginger tea has been used for thousands of years as a cure for nausea and digestive problems. While many people reach for the ginger ale when they have stomach pain or nausea, ginger tea contains higher concentrations of the compounds that alleviate these digestive issues. This makes it a better choice if you want to feel better faster.

Peppermint Tea

Peppermint has been shown to inhibit pain receptors originating in the colon that lead to severe pain in the stomach muscles. Tea made from peppermint leaves not only helps alleviate pain associated with menstrual cramps and nausea — it’s one of the best teas to settle your stomach. Peppermint tea is the tea to drink when you are nauseated and are suffering from stomach pains and cramps.

Holy Basil Tea

Holy Basil tea is not made with the same type of basil that you put in your spaghetti sauce. This tea is made from the plant commonly known as tulsi tea, Ocimum tenuflorum. It is used widely in Indian medicine and Ayurveda. Studies have shown holy basil tea has the ability to decrease stomach acid. And, to increase and extend the life of mucous cells, the surface cells that line the digestive tract and protect it from disease. Tulsi tea is often used to treat anxiety, adrenal fatigue, hypothyroidism, acne, blood sugar, and hair loss.

Anise Tea

Aside from the legendary aphrodisiac powers attributed to it in Ancient Rome, anise tea helps improve digestion, alleviate cramps, and reduce nausea. Anise can also help regulate menstruation, boost lactation, and can be used to relieve a toothache It has an expectorant effect on the respiratory system when congested.

Chamomile Tea

Made using the buds of chamomile flowers, chamomile tea is known worldwide as a soothing, relaxing brew. It is also one of the best home remedies for abdominal pain. This tea offers carminative properties, which help to reduce feelings of gas and bloating that can cause an upset stomach. By reducing abdominal gas, it helps alleviate pain caused by stomach cramps. This tea also contains anti-inflammatory properties which can help with irritable bowel syndrome.

Black Tea

Thanks to the presence of tannins and other chemicals that have a positive and relaxing effect on the digestive system of the body, black tea can help to relieve an upset stomach and diarrhea. Diarrhea occurs when the intestinal lining is inflamed and black tea helps reduce this inflammation. Since black tea reduces inflammation in the digestive tract, it is highly beneficial to anyone with acid reflux or ulcer issues. Depending on your caffeine tolerance, drink 1 or 2 cups per day.

Senna Tea

Senna tea is a powerful laxative tea that can help you deal with painful constipation. The leaves, flowers, and fruits of the senna plant have been used in tea as a laxative or stimulant for centuries. Be careful! It is recommended that you do not use senna for longer than 2 weeks at a time. It can also make birth control less effective, making it more likely for an accidental pregnancy to occur.

Papaya Leaf Tea

Papaya tea helps with your indigestion problems, especially excessive acid reflux. It also helps with weight control through the healthy effective elimination process. According to research, papaya leaf tea may also be a benefit for gastric ulcers. This tea is often described as very smooth, with a subtle bitterness that can be very stimulating. Additionally, papaya leaf tea is a natural energy drink, providing special protein-digesting enzymes papain and chymopapain that aid in healthy digestion.

Green Tea

Green tea has been widely researched for its health benefits. Research has shown that it can help stimulate the production of gastric juices including bile, which can help to break down food more efficiently leading to fewer incidences of bloating and gas. Since green tea contains catechins including EGCG, which help to reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms of pain it can help to alleviate colitis and chronic gastritis. These two ailments are caused by inflammation and irritation in the stomach; which can affect digestion. It is recommended that you consume 2 to 3 cups of green tea per day to help improve digestion. You should drink it after each meal and not on an empty stomach as this can actually increase stomach problems.

Lemongrass Tea

It has been shown that lemongrass tea works wonderfully as an alternative remedy for stomach cramping, upset stomach, and other digestive issues. In fact, several studies have shown that lemongrass tea can help relieve abdominal issues such as stomach cramps and pain. Studies have also shown that lemongrass can be effective in treating gastric ulcers. Lemongrass tea can also be used to help treat oral infections and cavities, thanks to its antimicrobial properties.

Fennel Tea

Fennel has long been associated with digestive and metabolic health. A cup of fennel tea, made from the seeds, fresh leaves, or the bulb, after a meal can treat digestive issues like heartburn, flatulence, bloating, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. Thanks to its estrogen-like chemicals, this tea can reduce menstrual cramps and symptoms of menopause. It may also increase lactation. Fennel tea tastes a little like licorice, with a relaxing scent and slightly bitter aftertaste. I must mention that some people are allergic to fennel. Make a cup (find directions here) and give it a smell, if it smells good then try it. If it doesn’t, Integrative Nutritionist Kimberly Lackey says to trust your nose and avoid it.

Many teas soothe symptoms of nausea, pain and excess gas while treating chronic diseases such as acid reflux and chronic gastritis. When you think of all the Chinese sages who’ve ingested probably thousands of cups of tea in their lifetimes, it’s no surprise that drinking tea can even help you live a long happy life. The protective role of tea consumption is not limited to a particular type of tea. Whether you want to cure nausea in a hurry or treat and prevent stomach ulcers, there’s a tea that’s right for you. So to boost your health from your brain down to your gut, drink high-quality tea every day.

If you know of a beneficial tea not included in this post, please share it with us! We are always excited to learn more about what our readers are using.

How Quartz Clinical’s Business Intelligence Delivers Better Health and Better Care at a Lower Cost

January 9, 2019 By Paula 19 Comments

How Quartz Clinical’s Business Intelligence Delivers Better Health and Better Care at a Lower Cost

QuartzClinical’s cloud-based healthcare data analytics platform uses artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data to provide hospitals with business intelligence. Thereby, allowing them to automate their performance improvement opportunities. This platform takes into account dozens of different variables to predict such things as which patient is likely to be readmitted to the hospital, the cost-effectiveness of the entire hospital system or a single procedure with an overall accuracy of 81%.

By knowing the likelihood that a particular patient is likely to be readmitted due to complications they can change in how care is administered. The results are customized to the type of procedure, the length of the operation, even the surgeon who performs the case. Thus, providing the patient with a better outcome and allowing them to provide better quality healthcare at a lower cost. The predictions are personalized to the patient, no matter their age, ethnicity, insurance status, income range, or residence. QuartzClinical is individualized to the hospital yet is affordable to even smallest since they use a reasonable sliding scale and do not have per-user charges. So be sure to ask if yours is using it next time you’re making financial arrangements to pay for your care.

Get Tips To Enjoy Your Vacation Without Blowing Your Diet

September 17, 2018 By Paula Leave a Comment

Weight Watchers Get Healthy Freestyle Journey

Enjoy Your Vacation Without Blowing Your Diet
When you take a trip your diet doesn’t have to go on vacation, too!

After my long absence, I knew that I had to stay on task this week to get my self-confidence back. Then, just before our trip Hurricane Florence shows up! What a week this has been. However, it did give me a chance to buy lots of water and we now have a large supply of paper and plastic products filling our closet. Thankfully, the days of preparation for the storm were a practice run for the next weather event. Which here on the coast will be sooner rather than later. But for now, we will focus on our upcoming vacation. Since this is the first one we’ve had in ten years this will be a new experience for me. Vacation and dieting? How will I manage that! Keep reading to learn more about how I plan to enjoy my vacation without blowing my diet.

Also, if you’ve missed any of the posts in the recent weeks be sure to check them out. In the last few weeks, we’ve talked about a new product called “KISS Your Cravings Goodbye,” how much food it takes to gain weight, how to overcome sugar cravings and gotten tips to fight obesity in children and teens. We’ve also learned how long it really takes to form a habit and how gut bacteria influences your weight and weight loss. As well as, the importance of hydration, where sugar is hiding in your food (aka sugar bombs), and looked at the benefits of shopping at farmer’s markets.

In addition, we’ve explored the importance of milestones, how to stay motivated, the smart use of free foods, some tactics for dining out, surviving the holidays while dieting, the benefits of a 5% weight loss, diabetes, the importance of exercise. We’ve started an exercise routine, learned some beginner exercises, and gotten safety tips for exercising in the summer heat. Since beginning my weight loss journey in January, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, the fourth of July, and Labor Day have come and gone.

Plan Ahead – Planning ahead is always the best idea if you want to stay on track. Research restaurants in the area and find out diet-friendly foods you can get at each one.

Be Realistic – Realize that vacations can be unpredictable and something unplanned will come up. Be ok with that. One meal, one day, even one week will not undo all of your progress. Try to eat good 80% of the time, but realize there is going to be 20% of the time where you may indulge a bit. Just don’t let it get out of hand and you’ll be just fine.

Once you arrive, find a local market and stock up on,

Fresh fruit. Having it in your hotel room and in your daypack for breakfast and snacks will stave off hunger and prevent trips to the vending machine.
Protein bars. You can put them in my pocket or daypack and take them with you. Plus, you don’t have to worry about having to mix with water like a powder.
Convenience Foods. Tuna, jerky, instant oatmeal, and healthy snacks, like nuts and dried fruit, not junk food.
Foods that can microwave and eat in the room. Get things like rotisserie chicken, heat and serve products like rice or veggies.
Milk. cheese, and eggs. Milk for cereal and drinking. I can only have noncow’s milk so having a carton of my milk in the refrigerator will allow me to have my morning cereal. If your hotel doesn’t offer healthy cereal choices pick up a box while you’re at the market. I’ve tried the preboiled eggs in the dairy case. They pack a lot of protein and they’re not bad tasting. Some low-fat cheese and a piece of fruit make a great snack.
Bottled water. Be sure to take a few bottles with you when you’re on the go so you’re not tempted by all those high-calorie drinks. It will also prevent dehydration which can be mistaken for hunger. For more on hydration while dieting read this post about the importance of hydration.

Eat Smart – You won’t want to eat all your meals in your room so try find local restaurants with low-calorie options. McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Applebee’s, Subway, Logan’s, Cracker Barrell, Outback, and Chick-fil-a are national chains that offer diet-friendly menu items. If you’re at a restaurant and don’t know what to get to help you stay on track, lean meat and veggies or a side salad is always a good choice and is something you can get pretty much anywhere you go. Order smart and stay away from the fat, sugar, and carb-laden items. Before ordering ask how it’s prepared. Request that extra butter and oils not be added. Get your sauces and dressing on the side. For more tips check out these smart tactics for dining out.

To stay on my diet and still enjoy my trip I plan to choose the foods I eat wisely, make moderation my vacation mantra, and with all the events I plan to stay as active as possible during our trip.

Stop focusing on the scale! Our weight is just a number and it doesn’t define who we are. Rather than just focusing on our weight, we should be focusing on the bigger picture — on our general health and wellbeing.

Weight Watchers Freestyle Progam – Learn more.

How my freestyle weight loss week went:

With Hurricane Florence behind us and our big trip just two days away, I stepped on the scale to confirm that I was back on track. I was excited to see that I am on my way down again with a small but important one pound loss this week. My next weigh-in will be the day we return from our trip. Wish me luck! Until next week… Remember to stay positive and keep looking forward.

OnlinePlus – Put the power of Weight Watchers in the palm of your hand. Learn more.

We love hearing from our readers. Please share your thoughts, tips, and insights with us by leaving a comment below or on my Facebook fan page. Facebook fan page.

Get Tips To Enjoy Your Vacation Without Blowing Your Diet In This Weight Watchers' Freestyle Post #WWFreestyle #WeightWatchers #WeightLoss #Freestyle #Tips #Review #Travel #Diet #Dieting #EatingHealthy

DID YOU MISS LAST WEEK’S POST?

Weight Watchers Freestyle Journey – GOT CRAVINGS? -Find Out How To KISS YOUR CRAVINGS GOODBYE

Check out the entire series of educational and inspirational Weight Watchers Posts.

I am not a medical professional. The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

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GOT CRAVINGS? Find out how to KISS YOUR CRAVINGS GOODBYE

September 10, 2018 By Paula 2 Comments

Weight Watchers Get Healthy Freestyle Journey
GOT CRAVINGS? You Can Banish Them!

It’s been a while since I posted. But I’m back on the wagon and it’s time to continue our journey into health and wellness. Thank you, for joining me as I reflect on the past weeks and explore the new! After my last post my laptop had to be repaired, then I went to my parents to visit, and before I knew it a month had slipped away from me. Last week we received Kiss Your Cravings Goodbye so this post is about how and why it works. Keep reading to learn more.

Also, if you’ve missed any of the posts in the recent weeks be sure to check them out. In the last few weeks, we’ve talked about how much food it takes to gain weight, how to overcome sugar cravings and got tips to fight obesity in children and teens. We’ve also learned how long it really takes to form a habit and how gut bacteria influences your weight and weight loss. As well as, the importance of hydration, where sugar is hiding in your food (aka sugar bombs), and looked at the benefits of shopping at farmer’s markets. In addition we’ve explored the importance of milestones, how to stay motivated, the smart use of free foods, some tactics for dining out, surviving the holidays while dieting, the benefits of a 5% weight loss, diabetes, the importance of exercise. We’ve started an exercise routine, learned some beginner exercises, and gotten safety tips for exercising in the summer heat. Since beginning my weight loss journey in January, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, the fourth of July, and Labor Day have come and gone.

KISS YOUR CRAVINGS GOODBYE™

KISS YOUR CRAVINGS GOODBYE is a revolutionary lip treatment that curbs cravings with its all-natural formula made from a blend of essential oils & rare plant extracts. Upon application, this formula induces thirst, redirecting your urge to snack to hydrating with water instead. Additionally, the physical activity of applying the lip gloss temporarily shifts focus away from snacking, helping to modify your behavior with consistent use. It is available on Amazon and directly on their website.

It is currently available in NO-SIN cinnamon™ (cinnamon flavor), they have introduced two new mint flavors, NO-DISCOURAGE mint™ (Peppermint), and NO-REGRET mint™ (Wintergreen). They sent us samples of all three to try!

Ready to break up with junk food?

Try lip sensation FOR TRICKING TEMPTATION.

This product works as a “Behave-Aid” to help you redirect your mind away from junk food, and focus instead on hydration.

HERE IS HOW KISS YOUR CRAVINGS GOODBYE WORKS SO WELL:

This lip moisturizer was formulated with a proprietary blend of essential oils, rare plant extracts and lip-conditioning agents that simultaneously curb your lust for junk food and leave your lips feeling smooth & hydrated.
Using KISS YOUR CRAVINGS GOODBYE changes the methodology of cravings by adding the physical activity of applying the lip moisturizer. This will temporarily shift focus away from snacking and help modify behavior by replacing the urge with a tangible action. Therefore, the more consistently you use it, the more effective it is.
Working the moment you apply it, the moisturizer hydrates your lips and makes you thirsty redirecting your impulse to drink water instead of reaching for junk food.

ORGANIC & NATURAL FLAVORS
INGREDIENTS: Natural Flavors, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Fruit Butter, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil. CONTAINS: Tree Nut Oil (Almonds).

KISS YOUR CRAVINGS GOODBYE is a Behave-Aid® or a behavior modification tool. Using it changes the methodology of cravings by adding the physical activity of applying the lip moisturizer. This will temporarily shift focus away from snacking and help modify behavior by replacing the urge with a tangible action. Once KYCG is applied, the essential oils freshen your breath and moisten your lips, while slightly drying your mouth. This triggers thirst and your cravings are redirected to water.

I’ve been using the NO-SIN cinnamon since it arrived last week and am loving it! This product really does deliver what it promises. I am huge carb craver and had been working on modifying my behavior. Six months ago I went from eating huge amounts of carbs to eating them in moderation. However, I was still craving certain ones. Like, pasta dishes, artisan breads, and most of all sour candy. Since I’ve been using this lip moisturizer not only do my lips feel and look so much better but doing so has helped me get rehydrated. Even after a visit to the doctor and a concentrated effort to drink more water, I’ve had a long, hard struggle with dehydration this summer. I love having this great tool in my arsenal to battle both my cravings and dehydration.

KISS YOUR CRAVINGS GOODBYE

Stop focusing on the scale! Our weight is just a number and it doesn’t define who we are. Rather than just focusing on our weight, we should be focusing on the bigger picture — on our general health and wellbeing.

Weight Watchers Freestyle Progam – Learn more.

How my freestyle weight loss week went:

With preparations for Hurricane Florence in full swing, and me back on track I stepped on the scale to face the reality of my detour. Yes, it was only a detour because I’m back on the road to success. I was excited to see that I hadn’t done to much damage and can keep moving forward. Since I had gained two pounds, my goal of reaching 50 pounds lost before our trip to Richmond in September may not be in the cards but I’ll be there before and after Halloween. Now, that’s a holiday that diet nightmares are made of. Until next week… Remember to stay positive and keep looking forward.

OnlinePlus – Put the power of Weight Watchers in the palm of your hand. Learn more.

We love hearing from our readers. Please share your thoughts, tips, and insights with us by leaving a comment below or on my Facebook fan page. Facebook fan page.