The battle with tap water

Water is needed for the body to survive. We all know the health benefits of drinking water, but the important question we sometimes fail to ask is the right kind of water to drink. Not all water that looks clean is safe for drinking.

Of recent, health experts have been raising some concerns with respect to the water that is being supplied to us as tap water.

Here are some of the reasons why health scientist are raising concerns with respect to the safety of tap water being supplied to our homes.

1 Our tap water contains chlorine

The reason why some health experts are raising concerns 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.

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.

3 Tap 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

5 Pollution of water from the environment

Our environment contributes to water pollution. The sprays, pesticides, fertilizers, drugs, shampoos easily find their way into water that is being recycled for use. Rain also washes these chemicals into water supplies. 

Get Fit While at Work

These days, it seems as though more and more people are working longer hours and using the old "no-time-to-exercise" excuse.

Unfortunately, this lack of physical activity can be harmful to your health, as it increases the risk of obesity, back pain, poor posture, leg cramps and tense muscles, among other things.

Wouldn't it be great if you could find a way to fit in some type of workout during those 8+ work hours?

Well, the good news is…you can. It just requires a slight change in how you work or get to work, to make a meaningful improvement.

Cardio

Schedule walk-and-talk meetings. Who says a meeting needs to be held around a table? Take a brainstorming stroll with a colleague. If you need to take notes, schedule the meeting at a park where you can sit on a bench.

Avoid the elevator. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults get two hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise to stay fit. Stair climbing for just 10 minutes, three times a day, for example, will total 30 minutes of heart-strengthening exercise, putting you well on your way to reaching that mark.

Take a stand. Set a timer to remind yourself to get out of your chair every 30 minutes. Use this time to walk to the water cooler or check in on a project.

Flexibility

Reach for the sky. Sitting at a desk all day can lead to neck pain between the shoulder blades. You can reduce the pain by reaching both arms up to the ceiling and arching your back. Then bring your arms down and stretch forward, opening the upper back. Do this every 20 minutes.

Stretch out your shoulders. Sit straight in your chair and reach one hand behind your back with your palm out. Then reach your other hand up and bend it down, trying to touch both hands. Hold for 10 seconds.

Point your fingers. Typing for eight straight hours can be harmful to your hands, wrist and forearms. Stretch one hand in front of you, pointing your fingers toward the ground. Use your other hand to gently push your fingers down and toward your body. Repeat on the other side. Then, stretch your hands upward doing the same.

Strength

Tone your arms wherever you can. A great way to sneak fitness into your day is to do a few push-ups here and there. Remember, all you need is a flat surface – and it doesn’t need to be horizontal. Simply lean against a wall, desk or other sturdy surface and get a few reps in.

Rise up out of your chair. Even if you are stuck in your chair all day, you can still get some core work in. Throughout the day, simply lift yourself off your chair with your arms.  If your chair is on wheels, it'll be even harder to hold your body still.

Get your legs up. While sitting in your chair, extend one leg out straight in front of you and hold for a few seconds. Then raise it up as high as you can and hold it again for a few seconds. Repeat with each leg multiple times.

These simple actions can significantly increase your physical health. Squeezing in a little exercise also improves concentration and could actually improve your productivity.

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10 health effects of drinking alcohol in excess

It is very common for Nurses, Doctors Health Scientist and so many other professionals to tell you not to drink alcohol. But what exactly does the famous saying “alcohol is not good for your health “mean? Here is a breakdown of how alcohol damages our health.

Majority of people who suffer from the health effects are not necessarily alcoholics or drunkards. They are ordinary people who have been drinking alcohol a little above normal for so many years.

1 Cancers

Drinking excess alcohol is a risk factor for cancers like Mouth cancer, Breast cancer, liver cancer, throat cancer or cancer of the esophagus.  

Health experts believe cancer results from our body’s conversion of alcohol into aldehyde, which is considered a possible carcinogen.

2 Pancreatitis

Alcohol pancreatitis can occur as a consequence of long term addiction to alcohol. This can make the pancreas not to function properly.  

The pancreas helps our excretory system to break down substances so that it can be easily excreted. The pancreas also secrets digestive enzymes. Apart from this, the pancreases also help to regulate the amount of glucose in our body. If the pancreas is destroyed as a result of alcohol, problems like hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia will result.

3 Damage to the liver

The liver is an organ that cannot escape the effects of excessive alcohol intake. Cirrhosis and alcohol hepatitis are some health effects of alcohol that can be seen with the liver.

The liver breaks down and processes substances in our body, preparing them for excretion. When we drink too much alcohol, it can cause chronic liver inflammation which can lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis).  If the liver is destroyed, our body will not be able to break down toxic and poisonous substances in our body.

4 Heart attack, stroke and cardiomyopathy

Drinking excess alcohol can cause problems like irregular heartbeat cardiomyopathy and stroke. Scientist have found out that drinking alcohol can make some of our blood cells (platelets) to stick together forming clots. This clots have a high chance of causing a heart attack or a stroke.

The muscles of our heart can also get weak and fail to work as a result of drinking alcohol in excess for a long period of time. This condition is called cardiomyopathy.

5 Depression

Depression has always been associated with drinking alcohol in excess.

6 Hypertension

Bingeing alcohol or drinking it heavily can cause our blood pressure to increase above normal. 

7 Erectile dysfunction and infertility

When men drink alcohol in excess for long, it can cause erectile dysfunction. Infertility can also be a consequence of abusing alcohol.

Women who abuse alcohol can suffer from irregular menstruation and infertility.

8 Birth defects in children

Drinking alcohol for a long period and during pregnancy can result in developmental abnormalities in children.  This developmental activities are generally known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The baby can grow up to have learning disabilities, physical abnormalities and a low IQ.

Alcohol can also increase a woman’s chances of having still births or miscarriages.

9 Weak immune system

Alcohol weakens our immune system, making us susceptible to diseases caused by many microorganisms.

10 Drunkenness

Drinking alcohol in quantities that our body cannot process can lead to drunkenness, dizziness, hallucinations and slurred speech. It also alters our mood and judgment. If a person drives in any of these states, it can cause road traffic accidents.

 Sources:

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) available at http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body

WebMd, Health Risks of Alcohol. http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/features/12-health-risks-of-chronic-heavy-drinking

Healthline. The effects of alcohol on the body. Available at: http://www.healthline.com/health/alcohol/effects-on-body

9 health effects of palm wine

Palm wine is a popular alcoholic beverage found in Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and so many other countries. It is important for people to understand what goes on in the palm wine business, in order to be able to make healthy choices. The best form of palm wine that will benefit your health is the one that is fresh from the source. Make sure nothing has been added to it. If you are to buy palm wine from a palm wine vendor, make sure you trust the source and also make sure that nothing has been added to it. Here are some things to watch out for when drinking palm wine and some

side effects

Alcohol content

If you are drinking palm wine that has lasted for more than 3 days, its alcohol content is high because it has undergone fermentation. The percentage of alcohol in palm wine when it is fresh is about 2.3% and it is about 5% when it has undergone fermentation for about 4 days. If you are taking medication that prohibits you from drinking alcohol, you shouldn't drink palm wine. Taking alcohol in excess is a foundation stone for diseases in the future and strong palm wine is not an exception. The alcohol content of palm wine can cause:

1 Light head aches

2 Dizziness

3 Drunkenness

4 Addiction to strong palm wine and other strong drinks

5 Damage to the liver, heart, pancreas, brain and other body organs if taken for many years

6 Drinking excess alcohol for long can cause problems like erectile dysfunction in men

7 If a pregnant woman drinks too much alcohol, it can cause miscarriages, still births and some abnormalities in babies. It is important for pregnant women to know that alcohol is capable of crossing the placenta into the fetus causing fetal alcohol syndrome. This can lead to mental retardation and make a child to have a low intelligence quotient (IQ) and hence will be dull in school or any other activity that requires some level of IQ.

If you didn't buy palm wine from the source, it is possible that it has been diluted and adulterated

In villages, it is very easy to get to the source of fresh palm wine. Understand that selling palm wine is a lucrative business and in order for sellers to increase their sales, some of them dilute fresh palm wine with water and add artificial sweeteners like saccharine to make it sweet. After diluting palm wine, it usually looks lighter than normal and anyone who grew up around palm wine will be able to notice this difference. In order to hide this act, some palm wine sellers add cassava starch to the diluted palm wine to make it whiter. Adulterated palm wine can cause the following:

8 Diarrhea, stomach upset and other water borne diseases if unclean water was used to dilute the palm wine.

9 The artificial sweetener and sugar that is used to sweeten diluted palm wine can increase our risk of having type 2 diabetes. It also increases the risk of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.

Read the health benefits of palm wine here

Sources:

M. eluwa, E. Ekere, T. Ekanem, A. akpantah, A Igiri "Teratogenic Effect Of Beer And Palm Wine On The Histology Of The Fetal Kidney Of Wistar Rats" available at http://ispub.com/IJTO/6/2/12203#

Centers for Disease Control and prevention. Alcohol and public health. available at http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol Use and Your Health. Available athttp://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016: HEALTHY CHOICES + HEALTHY LIFESTYLE=GOOD HEALTH

Our health is our greatest wealth. If you doubt this, try visiting the hospital and you will be convinced your health is a priceless treasure.

2015 is now in the past and here is another year for us to make the right choices when it concerns our health. Expect the best for 2016 and get it

 I will cut down on my sugar and replace artificial sweeteners with natural sweeteners like honey

  I will drink more water and less sweet drinks, alcohol or beverages

 I will replace halve of my biscuits and cookies with any available fruit

 I will give up 150 minutes of watching TV, browsing on Facebook or whatsapp for 150 minutes of exercise each week

 I will buy more apples, oranges and fruits for my children instead of candies, cakes and ice-cream 

I will try as much as possible to eat at least one fruit a day and i will try my best to eat more fruits and vegetables to prevent diseases in the future

I will learn to forgive those who have hurt me and move on because unforgiveness affects my health negatively

I will pray to God every day, thanking him for giving me the grace to wake up in my own home and not in the hospital. If i am sick, i will thank him for restoring my good health and i will praise him for many more years of good health, long life, happiness and good success.

There are choices we must make to be healthy………

There are choices we must refuse to make to be healthy……. 

9 natural alternatives for relieving yourself from constipation

Constipation is a term used to describe bowel movements that are less frequent than normal and is accompanied with hard/dry stools, abdominal pain, feelings of bloated abdomen, vomiting, small lumpy stools or strain while passing out stools. It is generally caused by little or no vegetable, fruits or fluids in diet, sudden change in eating habits and it is also caused by some medications

Here are some natural alternatives that you can use for constipation at home.

1 Lemon drink

Lemon drink is able to relieve you from constipation. It also cleanses your system and helps in detoxification.

•  Get fresh lemon and cut into two. Squeeze the juice from one of the halves into a glass of warm water and drink it three times a day. It is very effective when taken in the morning on an empty stomach.

2 Castor oil

Castor oil is a mild laxative. If you have Castor oil at home, then it can be used to relieve constipation.

• Some people do not like the taste of Castor oil therefore, one teaspoon can be mixed in a glass of juice or milk.

3 Oranges

Any fruit that is high in fiber can help in relieving constipation. Eat about 2 oranges twice a day.

4 water and fiber

The lack of water and fiber in diets can cause constipation therefore including water and fiber in your diet can help relieve the symptom of constipation.

• It is recommended that we drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Foods and fruits that contain fiber can also help in relieving constipation. Green leafy vegetables fruits and their juices should also be consumed when suffering from constipation

5 Honey

Honey has so many medicinal properties and it helps to soften our stool because it is a mild laxative.

• You can mix one teaspoon of honey in a glass of warm water and drink it twice a day. It is also effective when taken in the morning on an empty stomach.

6 Black strap molasses

Mix one teaspoon of black strap molasses in a glass of water and drink it once a day. It has laxative properties and is a very effective home remedy for constipation. It is preferable to take one teaspoon of black strap molasses before going to bed.

7 Exercise

Try doing some light exercises every day. Exercise helps relax the body and can help in improving bowel movements. Just 20 minutes or light walking everyday will help.

8 Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)

Sodium bicarbonate not only helps to relieve our skin from itches or sunburn but also helps in relieving us from constipation. Mix a teaspoon of baking powder in half a glass of water and drink it.

9 Aloe Vera

Get fresh aloe Vera leaves and extract the gel from it. Mix a table spoon of fresh aloe Vera gel in a glass of juice and drink every day.

Sources:

http://everydayroots.com/constipation-remedies

http://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/top-10-home-remedies-for-constipation/

http://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-constipation.html

Constipation, causes and symptoms

Not everybody has the same frequency of bowel movements. There are people who have bowel movements 3 times a week while there are others who have bowel movements thrice a week. If you suffer from constipation, your bowel movements will be less frequent than normal and as a result, your stool will very hard and difficult to pass out.

Symptoms of constipation

You may experience some or all of the following symptoms:

• Swollen abdomen
• Painful and stiff abdomen
• Very hard stools
• Unusually large or Small lumpy stools
• Straining when having a bowel movement
• Few bowel movements
• Nausea and vomiting

Some causes of constipation

If you are suffering from constipation, it may be caused by any of the following:

• A change in your normal diet pattern
• Eating disorders
• Some medications which contain calcium or aluminum e.g. antacids and other medications like narcotics, antidepressants etc.
• Eating dry foods with little or no water or fiber in your diet
• Ignoring the urge to stool

Management of constipation

Constipation can be managed at home unless it has lasted for many weeks or is making you very uncomfortable. If this is the case, contact your health care provider.The  widely used treatment consist of drinking more fluids and eating more fruits and vegetables. If this does not work, your nurse or doctor may prescribe a laxative which will empty your bowel.

Very few people develop hemorrhoids as a complication of constipation.