Oesteoarthritis – The Number of Steps to Take to Prevent it

Osteoarthritis can cause debilitating pain, i.e. if you don’t seek medical treatment. While you’re still young, you can prevent this disease from haunting you.

How?

In a study published by the Arthritis Care and Research, it showed that those who made extra 1000 steps each day had decreased their risk of having osteoarthritis by 17%.

The researchers who conducted such study recommended a minimum of 6,000 steps a day, i.e. walking for about an hour, to provide you with utmost protection against osteoarthritis or any type of disability.

To assist you in making 6,000 steps a day to prevent osteoarthritis (which can be difficult for some), you may need the help of your favorite music.

It’s said that those who listen to music while walking or exercising tend to focus not on the physical activity but the fun associated with it.

With mere pleasure of listening to music, you’re less likely to get a snack right after walking. You’re not only preventing yourself to suffer from osteoarthritis but you’re also avoiding gaining weight.

Should you wear a fitness tracker to monitor your steps? Well, it’s really up to you. The most important thing here is to achieve the required steps.

Source:

http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/news/20140612/can-6000-steps-a-day-keep-knee-arthritis-at-bay

Calories in Sugar and How to Tame Sugar Cravings

How many calories are there in sugar? This will depend on the type of sugar you’re consuming.

For a granulated sugar, per serving of 0.1 ounce cube contains 9 calories.

But you’re not only consuming 1 cube of granulated sugar. If you’re eating cereals, you’re adding more calories to your sugar intake. This is especially true if the sugary food you’re munching on contain simple sugars. It’s a type of sugar that doesn’t contain essential vitamins and minerals and it’s digested quickly. As a result, you’ll reach out for more.

What’s the recommended number of calories in sugar you must take each day?

The American Heart Association provided a formal guideline on sugar intake. According to them, a woman must not consumer more than 100 calories of sugar per day. It’s about 6 teaspoons of sugar.

Men, on the other hand, must not exceed 150 calories of sugar each day.

Excessive intake can lead to some metabolic abnormalities and may cause life-threatening medical conditions, such as diabetes.

It doesn’t matter what type of sugar or syrup you’re eating. The recommendation is focused on overall sugar consumption.

Unfortunately, all of us do exceed to that limitation. This is because the calories in sugar described relate to all sugars, from processed foods to fruits and vegetables.

Effects of consuming more

Most of us don’t notice them. But eating more sugar than what is recommended can negatively affect our appetite. This means that we won’t be satisfied with our serving of sugary breakfast. Instead, we look for more. The problem is we crave for more unhealthy foods.

Why? This is because simple sugar consumption can cause a spike in our blood sugar and insulin. As a result, we feel hungrier than before. We continue to eat until we’re fully satisfied.

Whatever sugary food you’re eating, it’ll always leave you wanting for more.

So, how can you help your body to stop craving for sugary foods?

Taming your cravings for sugar

Eat a bit

Just give yourself a little bit of sugar just to satisfy your cravings. A small cookie will do. It can help you stay away from feeling denied and prevent you from eating too much. Be mindful of what you’re eating.

Practice cold turkey

It’s tough but it’s worth it. Cutting sugary foods from your diet can surely help tame your cravings. They’ll diminish after a few days.

But some people will find it difficult to do so. As long as you’re determined to tame your sugar cravings, you can easily train your taste buds to get full satisfaction by eating less.

Chew some gum

This, too, can help reduce your sugar and food cravings. But make sure that the gum isn’t rich in sugar as it can hurt the health of your teeth.

Eat fruits

Instead of reaching for cake or chocolate, you need to eat fruits. Hence, it’s advisable that you keep fruits handy. In this way, you can easily pick one when sugar cravings hit. With fruits, you’ll get fiber and essential nutrients.

Eat regularly

Dietitians do encourage individuals to eat every 3 hours. This will help stabilize blood sugar level. It’ll also cut your hunger and cravings for sugary and fatty foods.

New Diagnostic Testing for Ebola Virus Has Been Developed

Diagnostic testing is done for a variety of reasons. Its most important role is to diagnose a disorder. Other reasons will include evaluation of the disease’s severity and monitoring of the treatment’s response.

It can also be used for more than one purpose. A blood test, for instance, can be done to know your RBC count. It’ll be repeated after you’ve undergone treatment. This is done so your doctor will know as to whether or not the treatment is effective.

What fluids are analyzed?

The most commonly used fluids are the following:

- Blood

- Urine

- CSF

- Synovial fluid

Sometimes, your sweat, saliva and other fluids from your digestive tract are extracted to be analyzed. There are times when diagnostic testing must only be done when the disorder is present.

Ebola virus diagnostic testing

There’s a new diagnostic testing for Ebola virus. It’s been made by IES Diagnostic, Inc. This is surely a great turning point to help us fight against Ebola. Unlike the old method, this new screening can be used as early as 24 hours after the patient has made contact with someone suffering from this condition. This is a great improvement since the old method may take days to weeks before the virus is detected.

The new diagnostic testing is known as Rapid Ebola Pre-Symptom test. Within one day of exposure, the virus can be detected. Researchers are now anticipating that there will be more tests to follow that can detect the virus within a few hours of infection.

How it detects the virus?

It utilizes a drop of blood to detect, not the virus, but the interferons being produced right after infected with the virus. These interferons are known as signature. They’re produced only when the patient’s cells are infected. The test will find that signature before the virus itself can be identified.

As previously mentioned, other diagnostic tests are only effective when the virus has already replicated to a certain level that the person is already contagious.

Because of this development, we can now avoid lengthy procedures and unnecessary quarantine. The old method has limited sensitivity that may result in giving out false negative. This means that a person without the virus will still be quarantined, which may cause unintentional spread of this deadly disease while it decreases chances of survival.

The new diagnostic test for Ebola virus, on other hand, can detect the effects of the virus as early as possible, thereby, reducing chances of virus being spread.

Risks and results

Every diagnostic testing entails some risks. An injury may occur during the test. You may also need to undergo further testing, i.e. if the result turned out to be abnormal. This means that you need to pay more for it.

This is one of the reasons many doctors will only request tests if they deemed the examination to be necessary in helping them diagnose a disease.

As regards to the latest diagnostic testing for Ebola virus, it’s not yet available in the Philippines. It’s also too early to say if this test could indeed help in diagnosing the virus.

The Best Medical Schools – What to Look for

In Davao City, there’s only one medical school that you can attend to, i.e. Davao Medical School Foundation. It’s one of the bet medical schools in the Philippines but not in Asia. Still, it’s a chosen school of some Indians who come to the Philippines to study medicine as they don’t want to spend millions for their medical studies.

Choosing the best medical schools in the Philippines will require you to conduct a thorough research. Just because a school is popular doesn’t mean it can offer you the right knowledge and training that you need to become a successful medical doctor.

What does it focus?

Medical schools have their own specialties. Davao Medical School Foundation, for instance, specializes in primary care. Thus, it’s not the best medical school if you want to become a researcher. It might not be the right fit for your goal.

What’s the quality of their teaching?

The best way to answer this is to ask the past and current students. Or you may also check out the school’s faculty to student ratio.

Avoid consulting its admission’s office as you’ll only get biased information.

Asking the current students of that school can give you unbiased review. Pretty sure, they’ll give you an honest nod or a thumb down.

How competitive it is?

The best medical schools in Asia aren’t calm. Most of them are cut-throat. Students are competing against each other just to be on top of the class or just pass.

However, a medical school that’s calm and collaborative doesn’t mean it’s not the best one on list. In fact, one of the best medical schools has unique evaluation system that lets you enjoy your schooling.

Are the students happy?

The best medical schools won’t only give their students that best training but they’ll also give them an enjoyable life, despite the competition.

You won’t be studying all the time. So, you need a school that can also give you a break when you need to. It’s best to talk to the school’s current students and learn about how their medical school life is. Are they happy staying in that school or are they wishing they’ve enrolled somewhere else?

Where is it located?

The location of the school is important in helping you make the right decision. Make sure that it’s still near your family and friends.

Good thing is that most medical schools have their own clinical facilities where their students are trained. At Davao Medical School Foundation, students can apply for internship at DMSFH. The hospital is just adjacent to the school.

How much does it cost?

The best medical schools aren’t cheap. You’ll need to shell out thousands to millions of pesos just to go through the system. However, they do offer some scholarships that you can apply to in order to reduce the overall expenses of attending a medical school. Then again, applying for one is a cut-throat business. This is because the school will only grant scholarships to a limited number of students.

It’s difficult to find the best medical school where you can enroll in. But the most important thing is to go with a school that can make you happy while training to be a medical doctor.

Facts About Birth Control Everyone Should Know

Sadly, there are only 62% of people, who use contraception, know about the real facts about birth control. Many men and women are still not sure about the proper way to take, say birth control pill, even after their doctors have explained it to them.

Thus, I’ll highlight the list of things that you must know about birth control.

1. Obtain it for free

Yes, birth control pills or other methods can be obtained for free. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act. City government clinics are required to provide men and women the birth control methods that they need without paying anything.

What of your health insurance? Some providers do cover birth control without deductible. So, go ahead and ask your insurance company about it.

But, don’t expect that all brands are covered. You should assume that the birth control pills would be given are generics.

2. Use it consistently

This is one of the reasons you need to understand the explanation of your doctor on how to take your birth control pill. There are many facts about it that you must know to successfully prevent yourself from getting pregnant.

You won’t get pregnant if you take it every day or as prescribed by your physician. Don’t always assume that when you take it, you won’t get pregnant 100%.

You can avoid unintended pregnancy by taking it as directed.

3. Monitor side effects

Not all birth control pills are created equal. Some will suit you while others don’t. Most of the time, gynecologists will prescribe women with a pill that they know or they’ll give their patients pills that they currently have free samples stored in their closet.

But this doesn’t mean that they’re best for you.

So, track the side effects if you’re experiencing any. Then, talk to your doctor about them. The information you’ll give them will help your doctors find the right birth control pill for you.

4. Opt for IUD

Intrauterine devices are said to be more effective than birth control pills, patches or rings. This is because the t-shaped device inserted into your uterus can eliminate human error.

IUDs are safe. This is one of the facts about birth control that you should know. Currently, they’re considered the most effective. Plus, they offer long-acting results. And if you wish to get pregnant, you can reverse it by removing the device.

Can birth control pills cause weight gain?

This is one of the concerns of most teenagers who are taking them. They do cause weight gain, if you’re taking the early version of this type of pill.

Thankfully, modern birth control pills have been modified. Thus, you don’t have to worry about gaining weight while taking this pill.

Will they interact with other meds?

Your doctor will ask you of the other medications you’re using before giving you the right birth control pill. This is because some drugs don’t mix well with this type of pill. If you’re taking antibiotics, anti-depressants or natural supplements, you should consider telling your doctor about them. They might interact and reduce the effectiveness of a birth control pill.

Mental Health Counselor – Tips on Finding the Right Provider

It’s not easy to find mental health counselor that you can trust. This is especially true if you don’t know the counselor that fits your specific needs.

To help you get started, here are some tips as you search for the best provider.

Know the type of provider that you need

Mental health providers provide treatment right after diagnosing a patient with a mental health condition. Some of them have taken/completed master’s degree while others have undergone advanced training. Either you go for the former or the latter, you must choose the one who is licensed to provide you with mental health services.

A mental health counselor can be a psychiatrist. He/she is a licensed medical doctor who specializes in mental health. He/she can handle mental health cases of child, adolescent and geriatric. Even addiction psychiatry can be provided by this type of doctor.

Another person you can go to is a psychologist. He/she isn’t a medical doctor. But he/she is trained to handle thoughts and emotions, as well as behaviors of his/her patients. A psychologist holds a Ph.D, a Psy. D., or a Ed.D. But a psychologist can’t prescribe medicine, unless he/she is also a medical doctor.

A psychiatric-mental health nurse can also be considered a mental health counselor. He/she is a registered nurse. The only difference from that of a regular nurse is that he/she underwent rigorous training in mental health issues. He/she can diagnose, treat and assess mental illnesses. As regards to prescribing medicines, he/she must be an advanced practice nurse.

Try considering some factors

Although it’s okay to go to a provider who can treat a range of mental health conditions, it’s best to seek mental health counseling from a person who is trained to treat or diagnose your specific condition.

This means that if you have an eating disorder, the mental health counselor that you need is a psychologist. Marital problems can be consulted with a licensed marriage counselor. And so on and so forth.

If your condition is complicated, then you have to consider getting counseling from the person who is an expert in the field and who underwent training for your condition.

Find out if you need medication

As previously mentioned, some of those counselors cannot prescribe medicine. But just because you have mental health disorder doesn’t mean you need medicine. However, if you do need medicine, you should consider consulting with a mental health counselor who is licensed to prescribe the right medicine for you.

Get to know your insurance

Not all insurance providers will cover fees of mental health counselor. If your insurance can cover it, you should look into its list of specific providers that are covered.

As soon as you know that your condition can be covered by your insurance provider, it is a must that you get to know the policy, your benefits, as well as your limits.

Whether the consultation fees and medicines are covered by your insurance policy or not, you need to make sure that the mental health counselor you choose is trained and licensed to practice in this field. You must pick a counselor that you can establish a good relationship. In this way, you can easily maximize your treatment.

Is Medical Laboratory Tech an Ideal Career for You?

A medical laboratory tech is a new field. It’s a great profession that lets you work in the healthcare industry.

There are tons of schools out there that offer medical tech programs. Each course lets you monitor treatments, test samples, study blood cells, and input test results in patient’s records, among others.

To accomplish your task, you will need to use microscopes and other laboratory equipment.

But is this career the right one for you?

Work in a healthcare industry with little patient contact

This is the right career for you if you want to work in this industry but you don’t want to work be in contact with patients all the time.

Most of the time, you’ll be analyzing and testing fluids inside the laboratory. You’ll still face patients but you’ll spend most of your working hours in the lab determining the real reason of a patient’s illness.

Flexible

Medical laboratory tech requires a person to be flexible. Medical tech programs will teach you how to multi-task. By this it means that you will need to know how to run a pregnancy test while you conduct a urinalysis. You also have to check patient’s blood count.

Essentially, you will run all samples until the end of your shift. When you work in a smaller hospital, you will be the medical tech and the phlebotomist. Your employer may also require you to perform other things, such as x-rays.

With strong communication skills

Medical laboratory tech must have excellent communication skills. You may think that this profession will not allow you to work with a medical team.

But the truth is that you are part of a medical team, even though you spend most of your time in a lab.

You’ll need excellent communication skills because you need to explain some procedures to the patients.

You may also need to compare notes with your colleagues or report test results.

Keep in mind that miscommunication will result in misdiagnosis. And this may lead to a malpractice lawsuit, if worse comes to worst.

With proper communication skills, you can easily convey accurate results to the doctors of your patients.

Have strong interest in science

To work as a medical laboratory tech, you must have a strong background in physiology and chemistry. Medical tech programs in various schools will help you understand chemical compositions and interactions.

Learning these things can be very exciting for those who are interested in science. If you don’t have that interest, you might not find this career fulfilling.

But it does not mean that you have to be an expert in science. A medical laboratory tech profession will only require you to be knowledgeable about science. To learn more about it, you need to take medical tech programs.

If you can relate to all of these things, then you might be ready to have a career as a medical laboratory tech. but you must first consider taking medical tech programs. This career may also lead to taking up medicine and becoming a medical doctor.

In the Philippines, there are many schools that offer medical tech programs. One of them is San Pedro College in Davao City.

New Health Information About Ebola

What’s the new health information about the deadly Ebola?

The Philippines is still free of the deadly Ebola virus. US, on the other hand, has a few cases.

In Ohio, there are 116 people being monitored for any symptoms of this disease. This is done after a Dallas nurse tested positive for Ebola. She’s the same nurse who treated the first patient who died of the virus in the US.

In West Africa, the WHO has already proclaimed an international health emergency following the death of more than 3,859 people caused by Ebola virus in Nigeria.

This viral illness will cause initial symptoms of sudden fever, muscle pain, sore throat and intense weakness. If the symptoms aren’t treated immediately, they could lead to vomiting and diarrhea. And in some severe cases, they could cause internal and external bleeding, which may result in death.

The new health information about Ebola is that the WHO is now considering it as the deadliest, since it was discovered in 1976.

How Ebola infects human?

Infectious disease experts fear that this deadly virus could actually mutate causing an airborne disease, which could be transmitted through cough and sneeze.

But I’m hoping that it won’t come to that.

For now, the disease is transmitted through close contact with infected animals. When you have direct contact with those animals through their bodily fluids and contaminated environments, you’ll surely catch the disease. Funerals of Ebola victims can cause a risk of spreading the disease, especially if the mourners would come in direct contact with the victim’s body.

New health information - How it’s diagnosed?

It’s still difficult to diagnose the virus. This is because its symptoms are not specific to this infection. Sometimes, the symptoms can be mistaken for malaria and typhoid fever.

The diagnostic tests available in detecting the virus will include antigen-capture ELISA, IgM ELISA, PCR, and virus isolation.

How to avoid it?

You must avoid having direct contact with Ebola patients, especially their bodily fluids. Thus, you must steer clear of sharing towels.

To fight the virus, you need to wash your hands or improve your hygiene.

Don’t shake hands or even kiss someone with this virus. In fact, Liberia’s health minister recommended stopping having sex. Bear in mind that sexual intercourse may also cause infection to spread through semen, even the male partner has already recovered from Ebola.

New health information – Is Ebola the new AIDS?

As new cases of Ebola heightened, many experts are now comparing it with AIDS. Fortunately, Ebola won’t be on the same league as AIDS, when it comes to infections and deaths. Although the virus has already caused 4,500 deaths in West Africa alone, the number is nothing compared to more than a million of deaths per year from AIDS on the same continent.

The scariest thing about virus-causing Ebola is that it can quickly kill the sufferer. In HIV cases, an infected person won’t experience symptoms for several years. But this makes HIV a more dangerous disease as an infected person can spread the infection for years without him/her knowing it.

Ebola, on the other hand, may kill the sufferers dramatically. But because its symptoms show up within a few days, it’ll help experts in identifying and isolating cases so they’ll be monitored properly.

Holistic Treatment for Arthritis – 4 Natural Remedies

If you’re an arthritis sufferer, then you’ll be glad to know that holistic treatment for arthritis is now available. Well, it’s been obtainable for thousands of years. The only problem is that most sufferers use synthetic medicines to alleviate their signs and symptoms.

More and more people are now turning into the natural approach in relieving the pain and swelling associated with arthritis. On this post, you’ll find some of the best natural remedies for arthritis. They’re known to have anti-inflammatory properties. That said, they can be of great use in treating your RA or rheumatoid arthritis.

Aloe vera

It’s a useful holistic treatment for arthritis that offers several healing properties. Although it’s known for its skin benefits, aloe vera can be used in soothing or relieving the pain caused by this condition.

You may choose to obtain aloe vera in liquid form or in gel form, it doesn’t matter. Each form offers some great relief to your pain.

Cat’s claw

In the Philippines, you can easily find it anywhere. From farm to schools to a lawn, cat’s claw is easy to obtain.

This has anti-inflammatory properties that may be useful in reducing the swelling caused by arthritis. It comes from a tropical vine. The benefits of cat’s claw have been noted since Inca civilizations.

Before, its benefits were focused on boosting immune system. However, in recent years, researchers found its ability to reduce swelling in patients with arthritis. In fact, in a study conducted at the University of Maryland Medical Center, it showed that this herb could treat the pain and swelling of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t have scientific proof if it could prevent further damage to the joints affected.

Ginger

This, too, is easy to find. In fact, you may have one in your kitchen right now. In various alternative medicines, ginger becomes a staple. Thanks to its many healing properties.

The compounds that make this herb to have stronger flavor are the same compounds that make this herb a wonderful holistic treatment for arthritis. Studies about ginger in alleviating arthritis pain are still ongoing. However, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine says that the results of the studies are promising.

Green tea

This is another reason you should go for green tea, rather than soda if you have arthritis. It turns out. Green tea isn’t only effective in helping you lose weight but it’s also very useful in reducing inflammation caused by arthritis. Hence, it’s a great holistic treatment for arthritis that you can try.

Consult your physician

Even though these holistic treatments for arthritis can offer better results than conventional medicines, it’s still essential that you consult your case with your physician. These days, more and more doctors are willing to look into the benefits of alternative remedies, rather than forcing their patients to take synthetic medicines.

You also have to talk to your doctor about these herbs because some of them may interact with your current medicine. It’s important to remember that natural remedies can still cause serious negative effects.

Acid Reflux – 4 Natural Remedies for Heartburn and Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is one of the symptoms of gall bladder stone. But, just because you have it, doesn’t mean you have cholelithiasis.

This condition feels like there’s burning inside your chest all the way to your neck. I experience this, too, after having a heavy meal, like roasted pig.

There are medications available to help in calming the burning. To save you from going to a pharmacy, you can just try natural remedies for acid reflux. Let’s take a look at some of them and find out whether or not they truly work.

Melatonin supplement

It’s a natural supplement that’s mainly used as a sleeping aid. However, there have been some studies showing that it can help in relieving acid reflux. Unfortunately, these studies are non-conclusive. But there are people who could swear its effectiveness.

Hence, before you take it, make sure that you check with your doctor.

Milk

Drinking a glass of milk, whether hot or cold, may help relieve the condition. However, doctors believe that it may produce more acid, thereby, worsening your heartburn. Although it can temporarily provide a buffer, it’s not advisable.

Despite that, you should not get rid of milk from your diet as it’s rich in calcium. But don’t overdo it. Doctors recommend drinking not more than 8 ounces of it at a time.

Gum

This one does wonder to your acid reflux. By chewing gum, production of more saliva is stimulated, thereby, providing acid buffer.

And as you chew gum, you’re swallowing more, pushing the acids back to the esophagus and to your stomach.

When you use this home remedy, however, make sure that you’re chewing sugar-free. It’s not because it can trigger heartburn but this option protects your teeth while alleviating your condition.

Baking soda

I’ve tried this home remedy once. It worked because baking soda is a sodium bicarbonate that neutralizes acid.

To use, simply add a teaspoon of baking soda to a glass of water. (I used warm water.) Stir. Make sure that it’s well-mixed before you drink the concoction.

Here are some strategies to soothe the burn

>Don’t eat foods that can trigger this condition. These foods will include caffeine, citrus fruits, chocolate, and high-fat foods. Instead, focus on eating more fiber to help digest what you’re eating and move it to your stomach a lot easier.

>Don’t eat heavy meals or 3 big ones. Instead, you should trying eating 6 meals a day. Eating one big meal can trigger heartburn.

>Eat at least 3 hours before bedtime. In this way, your stomach will have enough time to empty the content before lying down.

>Lose weight by following a healthy diet. It’s also recommended that you exercise so you’ll lose weight fast.

>Quit smoking. The act of smoking affects the muscle that makes sure the acids will stay in the stomach.

>Avoid wearing tight clothes. They’re cool but they can put a lot of pressure to your abdomen, which may lead to acid reflux.

On the other hand, if your acid reflux persists, you need to consult your physician. As I previously mentioned, it could be a symptom of gall stones.

4 Things You Didn’t Know About Eggs

Eggs. They’re my favorite food for breakfast as they’re easy to prepare. Packed with vitamins and minerals, they’re also rich in protein. Although most eggs can be eaten, the most commonly consumed ones are of the hen. I also like quail and goose eggs. And of course, balut!

In choosing the best

Eggs come in different sizes: small, medium, large, and extra large. Size doesn’t matter but most recipes require large to extra-large eggs.

When choosing an egg while in a grocery store, make sure that you opt for eggs with at least a week or two before its “best before” date. And you must eat them before their expiry date. I tried eating expired eggs but nothing happened to me. However, according to my microbiologist sister, I must avoid doing it again as I might develop a disease later on. Thankfully, I didn’t.

I want to find organic eggs but they’re difficult to obtain. Plus, they’re also expensive. What we can normally find are caged hens as they’re the cheapest. They’re hens farmed using the cheapest method, i.e. with limited room and high densities. They also don’t have access to direct sunlight.

Many experts recommend getting eggs marked with Lion Quality Stamp. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find one with such label. Why it’s important? This stamp would mean that the eggs were obtained from hens that have been vaccinated against the Salmonella.

How to know that an egg is fresh?

It can be frustrating to crack open an egg and add it to a bowl with some ingredients in your recipe. But only to realize that it’s stale.

To know how fresh an egg is before cracking it open, you can drop it in a glass of water. When it drops to the bottom of the glass and it stays there, then it’s a fresh catch. If it’s slightly older, it hovers in the middle. A stale egg will just float. If it does, throw it away.

Proper way to store eggs

After you’ve purchased a tray of eggs from a grocery store, you need to maintain their freshness by storing them in your fridge. In this way, they can last longer. Whole eggs can still be consumed 3 weeks after laying. That is, if you stored them immediately in the fridge. You can freeze whites and yolks up to 3 months.

However, whites will only last 3 weeks as long as they are placed in a container and covered with clingfilm. Yolks must be consumed within 3 days and they must also be covered with clingfilm.

Recipes about eggs

There are many ways to cook and prepare eggs. The most popular one is scrambled. When preparing scrambled eggs, you need to add a full cream milk and butter. Use large eggs to obtain better results.

I use non-stick pan for best results. It’s also easier for me to clean the pan. Over-stirring is a no-no when making scrambled eggs. Make sure that the eggs have the same texture as soft curds. Don’t overcrowd the pan as they won’t cook well.

3 Straightforward Natural Brain Boosters You’ve Never Heard Of

You don’t need those worthless brain boosting supplements that you can purchase online. There are easy ways to boost your brain functions without buying anything.

Get enough sleep

Not having enough sleep can cause your brain to age quickly. Same goes with sleeping more than 9 hours. According to studies, sleeping more than or less than 2 hours of the recommended 7 hours each night can reduce your brain’s age to 2 years.

That said, you must aim for 7 hours of sleep every night to boost your brain function.

Avoid fake butter

Butter substitutes have diacetyl-based chemicals that are known to damage the brain cells. In fact, diacetyl triggers clumping of protein in the brain, which are signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

Instead of using butter substitute, try snacking on fresh fruits. If you want to snack on popcorn, make your own fresh popcorn and add salt.

Use mouthwash with lemonade

Sweet mouthwash can boost brain. In a study conducted at University of Georgia, students who used and rinsed their mouth with sweetened lemonade mouthwash performed better on willpower test. It could be the sugar’s ability to enter the body in order to provide you the energy to control cravings.

Handling Chronic Lyme Disease – Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection often transmitted by ticks. Its onset is marked by flu-like symptoms including fever, fatigue and headaches. A rash near the bite is also a common symptom. If caught early, lyme disease can be easily treated with antibiotics. If missed, however, the disease can worsen and become much more complicated to treat as it spreads to the heart and nervous system.

Because the early symptoms of Lyme Disease are quite mild, many people don't think to seek treatment until the infection has had a chance to take hold. This can lead to complications down the line. Moreover, antibiotics may not kill all of the infection, and people with immune systems weakened by other diseases or constant EMF exposure may develop chronic symptoms even after a round of antibiotics.

When Lyme Disease Symptoms Won't Go Away

Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS), sometimes called Chronic Lyme Disease, is a disorder affecting as many as 20% of people formerly treated for Lyme Disease. The symptoms include severe fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, neuropathy and vision troubles. These symptoms persist for months after treatment and can worsen over time.

Although most cases of PTLDS do resolve themselves, it can take months and doctors are still unclear on exactly what's causing the symptoms or how to properly treat them. Some doctors will prescribe long-term antibiotics, but studies have shown that this treatment is no more effective than a placebo: Although the symptoms are in line with Lyme Disease, they don't seem to be caused by the presence of live bacteria, which makes antibiotics useless in these cases. Moreover, long-term antibiotic use can cause other problems, like antibiotic resistance.

A more likely explanation for PTLDS is that it's an autoimmune disorder triggered by the initial infection. Today, many people suffer from worn down immune systems as a result of their contact with electromagnetic fields. EMFs are responsible for creating stress hormones and weakening cell structure, both of which prevent the body from fully healing itself. In that environment, it's hardly surprising that a serious infection like Lyme Disease could cause lingering symptoms in patients.

Treatments for Lyme Disease Symptoms

Although medical science is still looking for solutions for Chronic Lyme Disease, there are a few things you can do to help ease your symptoms:

- Give your immune system a rest by using an EMF protection system. This will shield you from the electromagnetic fields generated by cell phones, wifi hot spots and other electrical devices and give your body a chance to repair itself naturally.

- Talk with your doctor about symptom management. Some doctors have found that treating PTLDS like fibromyalgia or other similar pain disorders can be very effective.

- Rule out other disorders. Other autoimmune disorders and even EMF sensitivity can display similar symptoms. Try treatments for similar disorders to determine whether you can rule them out.

- Focus on your own health by eating well and getting enough sleep. This will help keep your immune system healthy and offset the severity of most symptoms.

The good news is that Chronic Lyme Disease doesn't last forever, and you can learn to manage your symptoms until they clear up entirely. By focusing on the health of your immune system as a whole, you can get yourself on the road to recovery.

Guest post by: Aleta

5 Better Alternatives To Lasik

Lasik is considered as the gold standard in removing cataract. However, this procedure isn't right for every sufferer of this eye disease. Here's a list of procedures that you can take advantage. They might be more appropriate to your case.

1. PRK or Photorefractive Keratectomy
This procedure is almost the same as Lasik but without the flap. A very thin surface layer of your cornea is taken out before the laser procedure is conducted.

PRK is designed for near and far farsightedness. It can also be used for patients with astigmatisms. This is an ideal option for individuals with thin corneas

Its main advantage is that it has been used longer than Lasik. however, compared with Lasik, this procedure takes longer time to recover.

2. Lasek
It's fancier than Lasik. Unlike Lasik, this procedure causes less haze from collagen buildup. Unfortunately, this claim has not scientific basis yet.

Lasek is ideal for patients with thin corneas and for indivduals who are near or farsighted. People with astimagtism may also take advantage of this eye procedure.

It has similar benefits as PRK but its recovery time is a bit trickier than Lasik.

3. Wavefront Laser Surgery
This is an advanced procedure that lets surgeons to correct a person's unique corneal flaws. You can be a good candidate for this procedure if you are nearsighted or you have astigmatism. Some patients who cannot undergo Lasik can take advantage of this eye procedure.

The result of this procedure offers a super vision that is better than 20/20. However, it is costlier than the regular Lasik.

4. Conductive Keratoplasty
This is a more improved procedure of LTK, which is an old eye procedure that corrects and eliminates cataract. CK utilizes radio waves, instead of lasers.

This procedure is intended for people with mild to moderate farsightedness. It is also recommended for patients who do not want to wear reading glasses.

Compared with laser procedure, this one is faster and it is designed for those who are afraid of laser. However, the result may fade with time. Another disadvantage of this procedure is that surgeons will insert a tiny material into the cornea, which can be a little irritating.

5. Intraocular Lenses
This procedure will remove your old lens and replace them with an artificial one called Phakic. It is a disc that will sit between the cornea and the natural lens.

It is designed for patients with extreme near and farsightedness, which cannot be treated by Lasik.

The accuracy of this procedure is way better than Lasik. It retains the protective layer of the cornea. Unfortunately, this is prone to infection. Plus, it is more expensive than Lasik.

Gluten Problems Are Linked To Caesareans

More and more babies are being delivered through a caesarean section. In Asian countries alone, more than one baby in four births are delivered via C section.

Bacteria In Vagina

It’s true that a baby born naturally is exposed to several bacteria, from the womb to the birth canal. C-section babies, on the other hand, are handled by the surgeon’s sterile gloves.

However, the bacterial exposure is actually crucial during baby’s development as it can improve his/her immune system and protect him/her against sensitivity to gluten products later on.

Celiac Disease And C-Section

In a German study of 2000 children delivered by caesarean, it was found out that these children were more likely to develop Celiac disease. It’s a disorder that’s triggered by eating gluten foods. Babies brought to this world through C-section are five times more likely to suffer from certain allergies if they’re exposed to allergens during their first years of life.

According to these findings, the lack of exposure to bacteria during early childhood years is the reason of the baby’s susceptibility to allergies. When you’re not exposed to germs and infections, your immune system will easily react to substances, such as dust mites and certain foods.

Breastfeeding

If you can’t avoid C-sections, all is not lost. Studies showed that breastfeeding alone can protect your baby against celiac disease and allergies helping him/her avoid issues regarding gluten as he/she grows old.

Infants that have been introduced to solid foods as early as 4 months had lower incidence of problems with gluten and other food allergies. Unfortunately, doctors don’t advise kids to eat solid food before they’re four months old.

Living A Life With Allergies To Gluten Products

If you do have allergies to these products, then you might want to start embracing eating fresh produce. Keep in mind that this substance appears in various foods. Unfortunately, some of them aren’t too obvious.

To avoid them, you should avoid unprocessed foods altogether. Fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry and fish don’t have this substance.

If you need seasoning, you should go with fresh herbs, salt and pepper. The trick here is to read the food labels.

And you must be aware that some foods that are labeled as gluten-free actually contain this substance. Thus, if you’re still getting symptoms even after you’ve embraced gluten-free products, then you should try eliminating grain products from your diet.

By sticking to fresh meats, nuts, eggs and fresh dairy, you’ll be able to minimize your exposure to gluten, thereby, getting rid of your symptoms.

Vegetarian Recipe – Stuffed Peppers

I’m not a vegetarian but I really want to try a vegetarian recipe, so my father can eat it as well. Perhaps, this weekend I’ll find time preparing this Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers by Sortedfood.com.

What I’ll need for it are the following:

Red peppers
Basmati rice (I’ll just use any type of rice I find)
Cajun spice
Turmeric
Red onion
Fresh parsley
Olives
Tomatoes
Mozzarella
Salad leaves

I’m kind of intrigued with this recipe because it uses red peppers. Any recipe that involves red peppers is, I’d say, delicious.

So here are the details on how to prepare this recipe:

First, preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. While waiting, pour salted water to the pan and bring it to boil. Get the peppers and slice them in half. Make sure that you cut them from stalk to base. Remove the seeds but remember not to break the bottom of the pepper.

Now, get the baking tray. Pour some olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake it for 10 minutes.

Go back to the pan where you’re boiling the salted water. Place the rice into it along with the spice and turmeric. Let it simmer for 10 minutes while waiting for the peppers to cook inside the oven.

Then, peel and slice the red onion into dice shapes. Chop the fresh parsley. Slice the olives and tomatoes. Prepare the mozzarella. Put these ingredients into a mixing bowl.

Get the cooked rice and place it into the mixing bowl. Spoon out rice mixture and place it into the soften pepper. Each stuffed pepper must be topped with mozzarella.

Place the rice mixture into the oven and bake it for another 5 minutes.

Serve this vegetarian recipe while it’s still hot. I’m planning to have it along with an aloe concentrate drink, which is really great for the stomach.

Learn How To Defeat Warning Signs Of A Heart Attack – Forgiveness Is Part Of It

You can defeat the symptoms of heart attack by leading a path to achieve a healthy cardiovascular system. By knowing the most effective steps in preventing yourself from the warning signs of this disease, you can protect your heart so it can work the way it was intended.

Do you smoke?

You can make instant savings by ceasing from smoking. Keep in mind that smoking is one of the leading causes of heart attack and other vascular diseases. It can damage your arteries which can lead to heart attacks and stroke. It can be tough to quit smoking but if you love your heart, then you must start learning how to stop this nasty habit.

Healthy-heart alternatives for heart attack prevention

Why not try to laugh if you are in a difficult situation, rather than getting angry and starting to puff a cigar.

You can also go for a stroll after a heavy meal, instead of sitting straight to your couch and watch television.

Do you like apple crumble? Why not replace it with apple for pudding.

Do you like munching on a bowl of chips while watching your favorite game? Why not sip a cup of homemade cocoa rather than eating those unhealthy chips?

You can also perform strength-training exercises while waiting for your tea to brew.

These alternatives are very simple but they are powerful ways to overcome the warning signs of heart problems.

How to achieve a healthy heart and avoid suffering from a vascular disease?

1. Start with small changes

A simple lifestyle modification can make a difference to your cardiovascular problems. By changing your diet, you can cut your cholesterol levels by up to 30%.

Perform a 5-minute weight-training exercise to replace the lost muscle tissue which is more than 10 years’ worth.

2. Consume fresh foods

Fresh foods do not cost more than the processed ones. Plus, they do not take too much of your time preparing them.

What delicious foods you can add to your plate? You can have fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, grains, and dairy products, among others. These healthy options will not only protect your heart but they can also lower your blood sugar levels, reduce your blood fats, calm inflammation and protect your body against the harmful effects of free radicals.

3. Overcome the sitting disease

You must conquer this disease if you want to prevent yourself from the warning signs of heart attack. Living a sedentary life is a no-no when it comes to heart attack prevention. Keep in mind that your body is built to perform plenty of activities each day. So go out and get 30 minutes of exercise per week. Your heart will thank you for it.

4. Track your progress

If you follow those tips above and you want to see results, then you must track your progress by keeping notes of your essential numbers, like your waist measurement and your weight.

5. Avoid toxins

These toxins that come from tobacco, trans fat and sugar can cause heart problems. So clear up those toxins to have a healthy heart.

And the most difficult way to prevent heart attack is forgiveness. Holding grudges can lead to various cardiovascular problems. If you learn how to forgive, make friends and become optimistic, you can have a healthier life with a healthy heart.

So, starting from now, you must learn how to live a happy life to have a happy heart. It does not only help in fighting against one or two warning signs of heart attack but all of them.

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Natural Remedies For Headache - Can Coffee Help In Treating Your Throbbing Head?

Simple Yet Effective Natural Home Remedies And OTC Products For Acne

There are no cures for acne but there are natural home remedies that you can try to alleviate it. Because there is no sign yet of a cure, it is up to you to find a solution that can help you deal with the outbreaks. Although you can easily purchase over-the-counter products, there are simple natural home remedies that can be as effective as OTC treatments.

But before discussing the popular home remedies available, here is a list of OTC products available on the market.

Keratolytic acids

When applied topically to the affected areas, they can break down the oils that have been blocking the hair follicles. They can also slough off dead skin cells on the surface. Examples of OTC products that contain keratolytic acids will include:

· Clearasil Medicated Wipes

· DermaVeen Acne Cleansing Bar

· Clearasil Acne Treatment Cream

Retinoids

This is one of the most effective remedies for this skin condition. Unfortunately, it can cause irritation. You can apply it topically or take it by mouth. You can also find prescription drugs that contain this ingredient.

Benzoyl peroxide

Panoxyl is one of the most popular acne treatments that contains benzoyl peroxide. What it does is that it encourages removal of dead cells on the skin’s surface while it suppresses bacteria-causing acne.

Topical antibiotic

This can also be used to control breakouts. But antibiotics are only available with prescription.

Since these OTC products can cause irritation, you might want to consider these natural home remedies that are as effective as those OTC treatments.

Ice cube

This can ease the inflammation as long as you apply it at the first sign of a pimple. You must apply it twice a day, 5 minutes at a time.

Tea tree oil

A drop of this oil can remove blemishes as it discourages and infection and speeds up the healing process. Five percent of this oil is considered to be as effective as five percent benzoyl peroxide solution.

Aloe vera

This is one of the most popular natural home remedies for acne. In one study conducted, participants who used aloe vera gel for their acne problems have reported that their skin has been completely healed after applying such within five days. You may purchase a product that contains aloe vera, like Herbalife Herbal Aloe. Or, if you have aloe vera in your home, you can squeeze its gel and apply it to your skin.

Vinegar or lemon juice

With the use of a cotton wool ball, apply this natural remedy to the affected areas. The acids found in these products can flush out the elements that block the hair follicle.

Spice and honey

A mixture of spice and honey can also heal pimples. Simply mix one teaspoon of powdered nutmeg and one teaspoon of honey. Then, apply the mixture to the skin.

Natural yogurt

If you can find natural, live yogurt, then that would be great as it can also be an effective natural home remedy for acne. It can soothe and heal the skin. To maximize its benefits, you must use it after taking a chamomile steam bath.

How often should you clean your face?

When dealing with acne, you must keep your skin as clean as possible, but not overly clean. Keep in mind that overcleansing can exacerbate the condition as it stimulates sebaceous glands to produce more oil thereby causing your skin to be oiler.

When cleaning your face, you must avoid granulated cleansers or a face washer. These two may harbor bacteria-causing acne.

Can you make a natural skin cleanser?

By mixing one teaspoon of Epsom salts and three drops of iodine to 125 mL, you can create a natural skin cleanser, which is effective in treating acne.

Should you visit a dermatologist?

Acne is not a life-threatening condition. It is not a major issue if you have pimples every now and then. However, if you do not respond to OTC products or natural home remedies within three months of using them, then you must consider consulting a dermatologist.

You should also consider talking to a skin doctor if your face is always red even without the presence of acne as you may have a condition known as rosacea.