4 HEALTH BENEFITS OF JUICING

Juicing fresh fruits and vegetables from home is trending now in the lives of those who are living a healthy life. But what is Juicing? It simply means extracting the juice out of fruits and vegetables. This is achieved with the help of a juicer or juice extractor. Some people always ask, why not just eat the fruit and vegetable instead of wasting time to extract the juice before consuming it? Well here are some health benefits of juicing.

1 Your body receives nutrients almost instantly

Juicing helps in extracting the nutrients out of fruits and vegetables. When you juice, you skip the process of chewing.  Furthermore, the process of absorption and digestion will be faster compared to when you ate whole fruits or vegetables.

The process of juicing is also very beneficial for patients who have been hospitalized. This is because most of the time they have lost the appetite to eat and juicing their fruits and vegetables will make them take in a huge quantity of nutrients with just one sip. This will greatly enhance the healing process.

2 You spend little time to consume a large quantity of nutrients

Juicing makes you consume great quantities of fruits and vegetables. A glass of carrot juice may be equivalent to I kg of fresh carrots. Juicing also saves time from hundreds of bites and thousands of chewing. Furthermore, the work time table of the majority of people is very tight and time consuming such that they may miss breakfast and even lunch. But with juicing they will take few seconds to consume what would have cost them an hour 

3 You can easily consume healthy foods that have an unpleasant taste

Aloe vera has so many health benefits when consumed but are you able to eat a whole leave? Bitter leaf and ginger also have unpleasant taste. However they are packed with health benefits and juicing makes it easier to consume. These unpleasant foods can also be mixed with sweet fruits like pineapple, carrots or orange to mask the unpleasant taste

4 You will receive more nutrients

In order to get the best out of food, you have to chew it properly so that it becomes ready for absorption and digestion. However, some people do not take time to chew properly before swallowing and as a result of this not all the nutrients will be released for digestion and absorption in the stomach and small intestines.

Juicing breaks down the food to cellular level making it ready for absorption and digestion and almost all the nutrients will be absorbed.

Despite these health benefits of juicing, it is still important to consume whole fruits because juicing extracts the nutrients and leaves out the important fiber that helps in digestion and prevents constipation. Some fruits and vegetables have the greatest health benefits when consumed in whole too. So juicing shouldn't be a replace the process of eating whole foods. 

Purify your drinking water at home by installing a reverse osmosis water filter

Drinking water is good for our health. But the most important question we fail to ask is if we are drinking the right kind of water.  There are many different sources of water and not all of them are good for health.

The need for water purification is very essential in the 21^st century. We have evolved with time and the side effects of this evolution (pollution) has also had its toll on the safety of drinking water.

There exist safe sources of drinking water that have been filtered through reverse osmosis like “tangui” water being sold in Cameroon.

You may be tempted to ask why people are buying reverse osmosis filters or bottled water. It is because some health experts have raised have questioned the safety of tap water for drinking. They are:

1Tap water contains Aluminum

Aluminium is used to treat water.  This is because aluminium makes organic materials in water to coagulate and sediment. However after treatment, it is impossible to remove all traces of Aluminium in water. Aluminium when ingested is more dangerous that chlorine and fluoride. Aluminium has been found to cause cancers and Alzheimer’s disease.

 2 Tap water contains fluorides

Adding fluorides to water is a common public health measure to treat water in developed countries. This fluoride is in the form of Sodium silicofluoride which is toxic to man when ingested. Fluoride has been shown to have a link between cancer, arthritis and osteosarcoma. According to the World Health Organization, low levels of fluoride consumption can help in preventing dental caries. However they have also pointed out that excessive consumption of Fluorides can cause skeletal fluorosis which is characterized by painful and stiff joints.  

3 Our tap water contains chlorine

Some health experts such as Dr. Don Colbert have raised concerns, stating that tap water is not very safe for drinking is because it contains chlorine. Chlorine is popularly known in the health world as an anti-vitamin. This means that chlorine destroys vitamins.

Chlorine is added to water as a means of purifying it, to make it safe for home use. However, some studies have showed that chlorine may be responsible for causing some cancers.

4 Tap water may contain microorganisms

The water that flows from the taps especially from those living in towns like Douala (Cameroon) may sometimes be brown in colour. This may be because underground pipes may have cracks that allow impurities to get in.

The solution: Purifying Water by Reverse Osmosis

How does water filtration by Reverse Osmosis work?

Reverse Osmosis works by which salts, impurities and heavy metals are removed from water whereby tap water is made to flow through a semipermeable membrane under pressure. This semipermeable membrane allows only water to pass through. Reverse osmosis also stabilizes the pH, optimizes the mineral balance of water, removes any a pathogens/microbes and reduces heavy metals.

This filter doesn't require the use of electricity to function. 

Water filtration by reverse osmosis is available in Cameroon and is being supplied by MelHRcons & Safety Associates International at a very cheap and affordable price.

Contact: +237 6988 27 699

WHAT CAUSES US TO GAIN WEIGHT?

While weight gain is a cause to celebrate for some people. However, weight gain takes its toll on others by making them sad and depressed. Weight gain is not bad as long as your Body Mass Index (BMI)is normal. However, if gaining weight causes you to be overweight or obese, you have to find out why you have gained weight. Being overweight and obese is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and stroke. Here are some of the causes of weight gain.

1 Your energy IN is greater than energy OUT

Most of the time, we gain weight because we don’t use all the energy that we take in. this energy is gotten from  from the things we eat such as food and drinks. After we take in this energy, will spend it through processes like metabolism, breathing and physical exercise. When we do not use up this energy, the excess is stored in our body causing weight gain.

Weight gain is a gradual process and it takes weeks. In order to maintain a healthy weight, the energy IN and energy OUT need to be balanced.

2 Biological factors such as genes and family history

As you may have noticed, family history and genes play a little role in the weight of  a person. The genes of some people may make their body store more fat than others. Furthermore, those who have a family history of overweight and obesity may likely become obese.

3 Pregnancy

Apart from the baby's weight that adds up to weight gain, a woman's body naturally gains some weight to support herself and the growing baby. After having given birth, some women fail to workout in order to burn the extra weight that was gained during pregnancy. This therefore results in overweight and even obesity.

4 Age

Weight gain comes with age. Many people tend to have extra fat deposited around their abdomen as they grow older. As some people grow old, they tend to be caught up with the activities of life and become less active.

5 State of the mind

The state of one's mind can cause him to eat too much food. Some people eat more when they are stressed. Others eat more when they are angry or when they have nothing to do. If this continues for long, it will cause weight gain

6 Medication

Some medicines have weight gain as a side effect. It is important to discuss with your doctor on the side effects of using medicines such as corticosteroids and antidepressants. oral contraceptives have also been linked to weight gain in women who use them.

7 Addiction to junk food

Some people are addicted to junk food without knowing it. In order to keep track of yourself, have a food diary so that you will be able to compare if you eat more junk food and less fruits and vegetables. Junk food is so tasty and contains less nutrients and more calories which contribute greatly to weight gain.

8  little or no physical exercise

The lack of physical exercise can contribute to weight gain. It is recommended that we put in at least 150 mins of exercise every week in order to stay healthy.  Although some people may be busy with their activities of daily living, others are busy leading an inactive lifestyle such as watching TV for long hours.

9 You eat large portion sizes

Weight gain might result when we eat large portions of food, even when we are not really hungry. In order to avoid eating large portion sizes, try drinking a glass of water before you eat.

 

10 BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE

The importance of physical exercise in our life cannot be overlooked. It has so many immediate and long term health benefits. Not only does it help us in aging gracefully but it protects us from so many non communicable diseases like Hypertension. In this post we are going to see why you should make physical exercise a daily or weekly routine. However, in order to get the best out of physical exercise, sacrifice just 30 minutes per day for this activity and furthermore, you have to do physical exercise regularly.

1 Exercise clears the mind from stress and anxiety

Have you ever had a stressful day? Our activities of daily living can make one feel worn out. If you feel so stressed out, depressed and you are anxious for some reason, you should try doing physical exercise. There are many theories as to how exercise helps in stress but simply put it distracts the mind from focusing on thoughts  and worries.

2 Exercise can help in bringing down high blood pressure

High blood pressure that is caused by factors such as overweight and obesity can be reversed by losing weight. It is recommended that we put in at least 150 minutes of physical exercise every week.

3 Prevents stroke

According to NHS choices, people who do regular physical activity have up to a 35% reduced risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke. The most common cause of hemorrhagic stroke is hypertension. Exercising will not only lower your blood pressure but will prevent stroke from occurring as well.

4 Healthy and good looking body

Physical exercise is the best way to stay in great shape. This will help you to cut down on the expenses you spend on weight loss products. Furthermore, in order to get great abs it can only be achieved through physical exercise. All you have to do is calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) in order to know the weight that is healthy for you.

5 Slow down your rate of aging and age gracefully through regular physical exercise

Aging is something so many people don’t like. It doesn't matter how many plastic surgeries some people undertake, they will still get old.Beware of so may products such as pills and creams that claim to prevent aging. it is advisable to always consult with a doctor before using such products. Exercise however doesn't prevent you from getting old but it makes you grow old gracefully. If you compare the difference between someone who did exercise throughout his youth to someone who did not, the difference will be very clear. Ernesting Sheperd is an 80 year old woman who looks half her age because of regular physical exercise. 

6 Helps in preventing heart diseases  and boosts good cholesterol

When you are overweight, the amount of bad cholesterol (Low density lipoprotein, LDL) will increase. Bad cholesterol has been linked to heart diseases but being active will boost our “good cholesterol” (high density lipoprotein, HDL) thus preventing us from suffering from heart diseases in the future.

7 Exercise makes you energetic

Those who are active are more flexible and energetic than those who are couch potatoes. Regular exercise improves the functioning of your cardiovascular system and it strengthens your muscles making you very active and flexible.

8 Exercise helps in weight loss

Exercise is one of the highly recommended and successful method of losing weight. This is because  exercise helps you to burn calories instead of storing them.  You can do simple exercises like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, taking a walk across a short distance instead of taking a taxi, swimming, biking etc.

9 Exercise helps you to sleep peacefully

Exercise helps in generating a peaceful mind. It takes your mind off stress and worries thereby providing a suitable environment for a sound sleep.

10 Exercise can be a form of recreation and make you socialize with your peers

Exercise is not only needed for health benefits. Exercise is a great way to have fun. Playing volleyball at the beach, swimming, playing soccer are all great ways to exercise, socialize and have fun at the same time.

CAUTION

Not everyone is fit for physical exercise. If you fall under any of  the following, consult your doctor before embarking on physical exercise:

• You are asthmatic
• You are 45 years old and above
• Any physical activity causes you to feel pain in your chest
• Taking the stairs or walking very fast leaves you breathless
• You suffer from joint pain especially at the knee and ankle
• You are pregnant

Sources:

Better Health Channel

Mayoclinic

Health Pleromana

NHS choices

Benefits of Our Mobile Health Sms Alerts in Cameroon

In the last post we were talking about our mobile health updates using our bulk sms system. We did mentioned three main categories namely:

1. Prevention and management of diseases of the heart and blood vessels

2 Management and prevention of other diseases like cancer, diabetes, arthritis, overweight including home remedies and health tips

3 sexual and reproductive health messages for women

We did not really get into the specific things you will benefit from these categories. We saw it necessary to make readers have an idea on what they will benefit from subscribing to our service.

Category1: Prevention and management of diseases of the heart and blood vessels e.g. hypertension

You will recieve M-Health alerts based on the following:

·        Reminders and alerts to go for checkups

·        Meaning of health parameters e.g. what does a BP of 160/120  mean 

·        Lifestyle and habits that make u susceptible to developing hypertension, stroke

·        Foods that fight hypertension 

·        Foods to avoid if you have hypertension

·        How to determine your risk of developing hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases such as the use of BMI, Waist-to-height ratios and waist-to-hip ratios etc.

·        Reminders on  the importance of exercise and the role it plays in preventing diseases of the cardiovascular system

·        Encouraging people to get medication from a trusted and verified health center and how to avoid scams from illegal drug stores ,illegal and unverified medications such as some panaceas

·        Consequences of not going for regular checkups.

Category 2: Management and prevention of other diseases like cancer, diabetes, arthritis, overweight including home remedies and general health tips

You will learn the following

• Causes of diseases
• Causes of overweight and obesity and its consequences
• How to lose weight naturally without taking any medication 
• Importance and health benefits of foods, fruits and vegetables for example health benefits of eating cabbage, tomato, garlic, ginger, onions, pear bitter leaf etc.
• Importance of all the classes of foods, and nutrients including where to find them for example you will know the importance of Vitamin C and the various foods, fruits and vegetables that contain vitamin C and how to get the maximum benefit from this fruits 
• How to make healthy choices when it concerns food, especially the difference and health benefits of living food (e.g. raw cabbage, raw tomatoes, raw onions) Versus dead food (e.g. over cooked and over reheated foods, junk foods)
• Some simple and cost effective home remedies for example how to combat itches gotten from exposure to grass during farming, how to manage cough, colds at home with things like ginger, home uses of honey, apple cider vinegar, how to treat pimples and razor burns with things like lemon etc
• subscribing to our mobile health packages will teach you how to avoid some simple mistakes that cost us our health over a long period of time such as eating too much junk food, smoking, not going regularly for screening/checkups, eating too much sugar and sweet things etc
• Knowledge on signs and symptoms of some conditions that require screening and medical checkups
• First aid measures for common accidents that happen at home e.g. small wounds, sprains, strains, burns from fire, hot oil, hot iron etc 

3 Sexual and reproductive health

You will learn the following:

• Birth control and family planning methods, their uses, their advantages, their disadvantages and where to have access to these methods
•  False rumours and false facts about some  forms of contraceptives and their true facts
• Prevention and management of STI’s
• Screenings that are available to prevent diseases of the female reproductive system like cervical and breast cancer screening.
•   Health education about some conditions peculiar to women’s sexual health such as vaginal infections, menopause, signs and symptoms of diseases  of the female reproductive system etc
• personal hygiene for women 

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Cameroon Health : Get updates and Health tips on your Mobile Phone anywhere in the world.

Why Mobile health messages? What's the problem?

The World Health Organization has revealed that Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) kill 38 million people each year. Furthermore, almost three quarters of NCD deaths( 28 million) occur in low and middle-income countries.

“Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, are not passed from person to person. They are of long duration and generally slow progression. The 4 main types of noncommunicable diseases are cardiovascular diseases (like hypertension, heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructed pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.

Children, adults and the elderly are all vulnerable to the risk factors that contribute to noncommunicable diseases whether from unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, exposure to tobacco smoke or the effects of the harmful use of alcohol.

These diseases are driven by forces that include ageing, rapid unplanned urbanization and the globalization of unhealthy  lifestyles For example, unhealthy diets may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, increased blood glucose, elevated blood lipids and obesity. These are called ‘intermediate risk factors’ which can lead to cardiovascular diseases, a NCD.

A  positive change in diet, lifestyle and an increase in physical activity can reverse  and prevent cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, heart attack and stroke.”

                                                                             -WHO fact sheets on NCDs, 2015

Our solution-M health messages

The use of mobile phones in Cameroon and the world is on the rise and it is an opportunity to take advantage of technology to improve on the health of our country and society. It is not easy to gather people together in a group to give carry out health promotion. This is because people are very busy with their activities of daily living and so there is the need for another strategy to pass across health messages without disrupting the activities of daily living of individuals. Furthermore, urban dwellers can use the Internet to have access to health education messages while those in rural communities may not have access to the Internet and may have very limited sources of information, but they do have mobile phones to receive messages. 

If health messages are sent directly to mobile phones, it is guaranteed that the users of mobile phones will read the message and the goal of health education will be achieved. 

What are the packages?

 

Mobile SMS plan for healthplero

Category	6 month subscription	12 months subscription
1.Prevention and management of diseases of the heart and blood vessels e.g. hypertension	600FCFA	1000 FCFA
2 Management and prevention of other diseases like cancer, diabetes, arthritis, overweight  including home remedies and health tips	600 FCFA	1000 FCFA
3 sexual and reproductive health for women	600 FCFA	1000 FCFA

The following are the packages we have per Category;

1. HPL 6 months subscription which cost   600 FCFA
2. HPL 1 year subscription package which cost  1000 FCFA
3.  HPL Group subscription package : This package is good for companies,  njangi  groups, church groups , families and other groups If you want this package, you will have to Provide us with the number of people in your organization or family so that we can fix the  cost.  We understand the team spirit in Cameroon and we are ready to provide your team with updates and health care services at your request.
4. Mobile-health + Check Up subscription package

With this package, you will get updates on your health and check up by our team.

This is done through an agreement. 

       5.  Remind Me to Visit the Doctor

 We understand how busy people are given the current economic conditions. With this package you provide us with information about your appointment with a doctor and we remind you to take the appointment.  Even if you are healthy, we will remind you to go for important screenings such as those for breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, glaucoma etc This cost 1000 FCFA.

       6  I need Attention Package

Sometimes you might need basic check up such as Blood pressure, BMI, or you may need to speek one on one with a health professional. we understand everybody doesn't have time to go waiting for hours just to ask general questions and do check up. 

With this package you have the option to get to our team whenever you need health care. One member or two from our team will be there to take care of the situation. This package cost 3000 FCFA basic.  

This service is available for those in Buea  and Douala for now.  You are responsible for the transportation  cost too and from.

  

Even though our target is to reach Cameroonians, People from other parts of the world can still benefit.

A mobile application would have been a good idea but it will only be useful to those who can afford a smart phone and Internet connection.   It will equally cost us some money to get it done before reaching out to interested persons. This is why we decided to use the mobile health SMS service. All you need is a phone that can receive messages. You can also subscribe for your parents as a gift. 

 However, we are looking forward to working with developers who can also provide us with a mobile application for those who wish to use applications to get updates.

Health is wealth, we  have made the prices very affordable. You can sacrifice a bottle juice or beer to get  our health tips for one year. Remember prevention is better than cure. Do not spend your old age in pain and misery when you could have prevented it.

 Read : Things you will Benefit From Mobile SMS  health Alerts

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