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Mid-Life Memory Problems? Try Exercising!

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A friend commented that when she turned 40-years-old, her kids lovingly told her that she was beginning to get a little forgetful at times. She joked and said it was raising kids, which in part may have been true.

On April 25, 2017, I shared six main reasons for memory loss. They were: chronic stress, alcohol abuse, depression, health conditions, medications and physical exhaustion.

There is no doubt that raising kids these days can be stressful and physically exhausting at times and possibly times of depression, all of which can lead to some memory loss.

By the time a mom reaches 50-years of age, she is marrying off her kids. It’s not nearly as hard on her if she has boys, but marrying off a daughter or daughters, can take quite a toll on mom. It’s definitely a stressful time to make sure all of the arrangements are made. Leading up to and the day of the wedding is often very physically exhausting. After a daughter and her new husband drive away, it’s not uncommon for mom to experience some periods of depression, as well. Again, all of these can lead to memory loss.

In the post mentioned above, it was reported that researchers found a protein in umbilical cord blood that appeared to improve and even restore memory. However, this is still in the experimental stage and may be some time before it’s approved for use. So, what can you do now to help you keep from losing more memory and even help restore some of the memory issues you may be facing at this stage in life?

Would you believe that exercise may help? Yes, the dreaded ‘E’ word – exercise. I can hear you now – I don’t have time or I can’t afford to go to a gym, but if it’s important enough, you can find the time and you don’t need to go to a gym.

It’s not just any exercise, but a combination of exercises and they have to be done on a routine basis. Check this out:

“Can a new exercise regimen boost your brain health if you’re over 50?”

“Possibly, suggests a new research review that found middle-age folks can improve their thinking and memory skills by adopting regular moderate-to-vigorous routines involving aerobic and resistance exercise.”

“‘When we combined the available data from [39 previous] studies, we were able to show that undertaking physical exercise was able to improve the brain function of people aged 50 and over,’ said study lead author Joseph Northey. He’s a doctoral candidate and teaching fellow at the University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise in Australia.”

In the studies, participants did their exercises under supervision. The type, duration of time and intensity of the exercises were noted and then compared. Afterwards, the participants took tests that measured brain function, also associated with memory.

Interestingly, tai chi and aerobic exercises seemed to enhance overall brain function. Resistance exercises seemed to improve memory. Northey commented:

“…being able to show that resistance training — such as lifting weights or using body weight — was similarly beneficial is a very novel and important finding.”

“Combining both aerobic and resistance training is ideal.”

“In addition to improving your brain function as our review shows, you should expect to see improvements in cardio-respiratory fitness and muscle strength, which are important for maintaining general health and being able to undertake day-to-day tasks.”

The researchers also said that the more physically active you are, the better the benefits for brain function. So, as you reach that 40-year mark and especially the 50-year mark, it’s important not only for your physical health to stay active or exercise regularly (aerobic and resistance), but it’s also important for maintaining brain function and reducing memory loss.

Getting Fat from ‘Diet’ Products

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Diet foods are a multi-billion-dollar business, especial in America with so many people becoming more heath conscious. One of the first things many people going on a diet do is cut or reduce fat from their diets. They begin reading labels to see just how much fat a product contains. After all, we’ve all heard that fatty foods make one fat, haven’t we?

But how carefully are people reading the labels? Do they just see the no fat or reduced fat label and toss the item into their shopping carts? How many dieters actually take time to read the entire label to see what all is in the no or reduced fat diet food they are purchasing?

Now let me ask how many people on diets, that are being careful and eating diet foods with no to little fat, are having problems losing weight or inches? Any of you find that the pounds are not melting away but in fact you may have found a few more?

Will you be shocked to learn that the reason you aren’t losing weight or inches or possible gaining a few more pounds is some of the diet foods you are consuming?

Would you be further shocked to learn that many companies pull fat out of diet products and then load the same diet product with hidden sugars? Your diet of diet foods may in fact be giving you a huge increase in the amount of sugar you are consuming and it’s the added sugar that is making it difficult for you to lose those unwanted pounds or even putting more pounds on.

According to another new study:

“High-fat foods are often the primary target when fighting obesity, but sugar-laden “diet” foods could be contributing to unwanted weight gain as well, according to a new study from the University of Georgia…”

“‘Most so-called diet products containing low or no fat have an increased amount of sugar and are camouflaged under fancy names, giving the impression that they are healthy, but the reality is that those foods may damage the liver and lead to obesity as well,’ said the study’s principal investigator, Krzysztof Czaja, an associate professor of veterinary biosciences and diagnostic imaging in UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine.”

“‘What’s really troubling in our findings is that the rats consuming high-sugar, low-fat diets didn’t consume significantly more calories than the rats fed a balanced diet,’ Czaja said. ‘Our research shows that in rats fed a low-fat, high-sugar diet, the efficiency of generating body fat is more than twice as high — in other words, rats consuming low-fat high-sugar diets need less than half the number of calories to generate the same amount of body fat’.”

In the tests, they also found that the unbalanced diets – low fat, high sugar – resulted in inflammation in the intestinal tract and brain. The inflammation in the brain changes the communication between the brain and the gut, by damaging the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve, among its many functions, helps signal the brain when the gut is full so if the nerve is damaged, the brain doesn’t always get the full signal, so it tells the body it’s still hungry, leading to eating more.

If you are on a diet and trying to reduce or cut out fat, be very careful of your selection of diet foods. To begin with, it’s best to avoid most processed foods as they usually contain a number of additives that aren’t healthy. Secondly, don’t just read the Nutritional Value label, but look at the actual list of ingredients. Watch for anything ending in -ose as that generally indicates a sugar or anything with syrup, like corn syrup. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients in the diet food, then perhaps you should hold off and do some research on that ingredient when you get home. Lastly, DON’T blindly trust labels that say ‘DIET’ or ‘no fat’ or reduced fat’ because chances are, they may have more sugar than you need.

New Key to Starving Cancer?

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We’ve all been hearing for years that eating red meat is bad for your health and may be linked to increased risks of developing cancer. The same reports say that we need to eat more vegetables and fruits to reduce our chances of developing cancer.

The American Institute for Cancer Research has a list of 10 Recommendations for Cancer Prevention. Number 4 on that list states:

“Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes such as beans.”

Number 5 on that list states:

“Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats.”

When you click on the link to red meats, you will find:

“To reduce your cancer risk, eat no more than 18 ounces (cooked weight) per week of red meats, like beef, pork and lamb, and avoid processed meat such as ham, bacon, salami, hot dogs and sausages.”

According to the World Health Organization, studies have shown that eating red meat increases the risk of colorectal, pancreatic and prostate cancers.

New research may suggest that the association of eating red meat and cancers may be due to some of the amino acids found in the proteins in red meat. Proteins are made up of amino acids, some of which, may have shown to feed cancer cells.

According to a recent report:

“Researchers at the Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute and the University of Glasgow found that removing two non-essential amino acids — serine and glycine — from the diet of mice slowed the development of lymphoma and intestinal cancer.”

“The researchers also found that the special diet made some cancer cells more susceptible to chemicals in cells called reactive oxygen species.”

“Chemotherapy and radiotherapy boost levels of these chemicals in the cells, so this research suggests a specially formulated diet could make conventional cancer treatments more effective.”

“The next stage would be to set up clinical trials with cancer patients to assess the feasibility and safety of such a treatment.”

Although many reports list serine as a non-essential amino acid, it does play an important part in helping to form the protective myelin sheaths that protect nerve cells. Too much serine has also been shown to be toxic to nerve cells, so there needs to be a balance.

In the report above, they also list glycine as a non-essential amino acid, yet WebMD.com, glycine has numerous purposes and is found in meat, fish, dairy and legumes. It has been shown to help in the treatment of schizophrenia and preliminary studies indicate that it may help regulate blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes.

While more research is needed to see if cutting out or reducing the intake of serine and glycine actually helps to starve cancer cells or increases the effectiveness of other cancer treatments, according to Dr. Oliver Maddocks, a Cancer Research UK scientist at the University of Glasgow:

“Our findings suggest that restricting specific amino acids through a controlled diet plan could be an additional part of treatment for some cancer patients in future, helping to make other treatments more effective.”

Early studies did indicate one drawback and that was using a serine and glycine free diet to help treat cancers with the Kras gene, such as many forms of pancreatic cancer. It seems that the Kras gene allows the cancer cells to make their own serine and glycine.

However, be warned before you go on a serine and glycine free diet on your own, that you may be risking your health needlessly. According to Professor Karen Vousden, Cancer Research UK’s Chief Scientist and study co-author:

“This kind of restricted diet would be a short-term measure and must be carefully controlled and monitored by doctors for safety. Our diet is complex and protein — the main source of all amino acids — is vital for our health and well-being. This means that patients cannot safely cut out these specific amino acids simply by following some form of home-made diet.”

New breakthroughs in the treatments of various forms of cancers are always being made and perhaps someday, researchers will find some of the secrets behind the formation of cancer cells and how to block their formation in the first place.

Make-Ahead Lunch Meals To Eat Healthy Without Even Trying

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Source: buzzfeed.com

 1. Box up these grilled chicken veggie bowls.

Here’s your line-up of ingredients.  We decided to add 5 different vegetables to mix it up a little. You could simplify it by using 3 different types.  We used these tupperware containers and they worked great for our portions.

Grill up my Taco and Lime Chicken to get started.  Here’s an idea of what I use for an indoor grill pan.

You’ll need 16 ounces of cooked quinoa and 16 ounces of cooked brown rice.  Cook them both according to package directions.  We cooked extra so we could freeze some and save for future meals.

Roast your veggies.  Note that the cauliflower takes longer to cook, so I recommend putting the cauliflower on it’s own baking sheet.

Here we have french haricot vert green beans, asparagus, and brussels sprouts.  Asparagus only takes 7 minutes to roast so those come out early.

Here is the post-cooked line up.  This is what makes up your “bowls.”  Again, you can ease up the process by choosing 3 or less different types of vegetables.  We cooked 5 different types for diversity and added 1.5 cups worth to each meal.

Brown rice.

Roasted cauliflower.  This is my favorite.  So flavorful!

My Grilled Taco Lime Chicken, cubed.

Roasted asparagus, ready to go.

A bit of charred corn.

Roasted haricot verts.

Ingredients (Makes 8 Meals)

  • 16 ounces cooked quinoa
  • 16 ounces cooked brown rice
  • 4 cups/32 ounces roasted asparagus, chopped
  • 4 cups/32 ounces roasted broccoli florets
  • 4 cups/32 ounces roasted cauliflower florets
  • 32 ounces prepared Grilled Taco Lime Chicken, cubed

Optional (would replace any of the vegetables above)

  • 4 cups haricot verts
  • 4 cups roasted brussel sprouts
  • 4 cups charred corn

Directions:

  1. To prepare your bowls, we used these tupperware containers for all 8 of our bowls. They are 3-cup To Go snack containers. Place 1/4 cup brown rice and 1/4 cup quinoa into each container. Top with a total of 1 1/2 cups of your cooked vegetables. Mix up the type of vegetables for each bowl so you have a variety each day.  Add 4 ounces or 1/2 cup of your cubed chicken. We added salsa or hot sauce to season to our liking after we reheated the bowl in the microwave.  A low fat dressing would work as well.  Store these in the refrigerator and when you are ready microwave until heated through.

Note: To roast vegetables, place them onto a large baking sheet, drizzle lightly with olive oil, and season with kosher salt and pepper. Cook in oven at 375 degrees until fork tender. Time will vary depending on vegetable.

Makes 8 Meals

Recipe Source: picky-palate.com

 

2. Try these five salads that’ll stay fresh all week.

The shopping list calls for 11 items.

This is just a general guide with lots of room for creativity. Even though you’re making all five salads at one time, you can still make them all a little different with the types of toppings and dressings you use for each one. It’s a great way to save time and money and ensure you’re getting a dose of daily veggies for health and weight loss.

Types of Containers

Where you work and how you get there will determine which container is best for you. BPA-free plastic containers with lids are probably the most popular since they’re lightweight and rugged, making them great if you’re carrying a lot on your commute or if you’re biking or walking to work. They also fit well in lunch boxes with ice packs, which is essential if your office doesn’t offer a fridge or you are on the go and eat lunch wherever you are.

You can also use glass mason jars, which are a must if you’re concerned about eating out of plastic containers. These are fragile, so they’re great if you’re commuting in a car, bus, or train or if you’re walking to work. You just want to make sure these stay upright.

Both containers are fairly inexpensive — less than $1 for the plastic and around $2 for the mason jars — and they’re dishwasher-safe and reusable, so you can feel good about putting less waste in the landfill.

The Art of Packing: Plastic Containers

Choose ones that are flat and rectangular in shape. These not only stack well in your fridge, but they also create more space for the veggies to spread out, preventing sogginess.

1. Start with the greens. To save time, pick up a package of prewashed salad greens. If you’re using greens from your garden or a farmers market, just make sure they’re completely dry before packing. Fill the container about three-quarters full of greens (about two to three cups).

2. Add the veggies, beans, and fruit. Go for carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes (use cherry and keep them whole), peppers, broccoli, chickpeas, kidney beans, corn, peas, or even fruit like grapes or blueberries — whatever your little salad-loving heart desires. Drying off each ingredient with a paper towel will keep them crisper longer.

3. Add protein. For protein sources like marinated tofu, grilled chicken, hard-boiled eggs, certain types of cheese like cubed cheddar, and cooked (and cooled) whole grains like quinoa or brown rice, add these on top of the first three salads only (Monday’s, Tuesday’s, and Wednesday’s). Then on Wednesday night, add protein to Thursday’s and Friday’s containers. Do the same with avocado, nuts and seeds, or very wet fruits like sliced strawberries.

4. Keep dressing separate until the moment you eat your salad. Purchase a couple dip-sized containers. Or if you have an office fridge, keep a bottle of dressing there.

The Art of Packing: Mason Jars

Go for the quart-size jars with wide-mouth lids since these are easier to fill and eat out of. Use this system only if you can keep the jars upright.

  • Start with salad dressing. Since you keep the jar upright, the salad dressing will stay separated from your veggies. This is great if you don’t want to pack a separate container for dressing.
  • Veggies are next. Start with harder veggies like carrots, radishes, onions, and chickpeas that will taste lovely mingling with the dressing. Then go for anything else like bell peppers, chopped cukes, and cherry tomatoes.
  • Layer up the greens. This should take up at least half the jar. As mentioned earlier, go for packaged greens to save time, or if you’re using your own, make sure they’re dry.
  • Protein last. Sprinkle sautéed tofu, marinated tempeh, grilled chicken, or cubed or shredded cheese on top. These will help push the lighter-weight greens down so you add even more to your jar. You can also add avocado, nuts or seeds, and dried fruit.
  • Shake or pour when you’re ready. At lunchtime, you can either shake up the container to distribute the dressing, or if you have the luxury, pour the entire contents into a bowl and mix it up with your fork.
    •  

    Shopping List

     Here’s an example of what to buy for five days of salads:
    • Large container of greens
    • 2 cucumbers
    • 2 to 3 bell peppers
    • 5 medium carrots
    • 1 package cherry tomatoes
    • 1 bag grapes
    • 2 packages tofu
    • 1 can chickpeas
    • Sunflower seeds
    • 2 avocados
    • Bottle of your favorite salad dressing

    Recipe Source: popsugar.com

    3. Re-create the classic Starbucks Protein Bistro Box.

     This one’s been remixed to have even more protein.

    The Skinny:
    Servings: 1 • Size: 1 ‘Box’ • Calories: 361 • Fat: 14.7 g • Carb: 37 g • Fiber: 5.3 g • Protein: 24.4 g • Sugar: 21.4 g • Sodium: 624.4 mg

    Ingredients:
    1/2 Light ‘100 Calorie’ Whole Wheat English Muffin, Toasted
    1/2 Oz. 2% Sharp Cheddar, Sliced
    1 Mini Babybel Light Original Cheese Wedge
    1 Tbsp. PB2 – Peanut Butter 2, Prepared
    1 Small Apple (I used Gala.)
    3/4 C. Grapes (Green or Red)
    1 Whole Large Egg, Hardboiled

    Directions:
    Toss everything in your lunch box and go!

    4. Make some tuna salad sandwiches, and stick ‘em in the freezer.

    Wrap each one in plastic wrap and stick them in the freezer until the night before you’re gonna eat them.

    Ingredients:

    4 SERVINGS
    • 10 ounces drain Chunk Light Tuna in Water
    • ¼ cups Homemade Freezable Yogurt in the Slow Cooker
    • ½ teaspoons juice Lemon
    • ¼ cups grate Carrot
    • ¼ teaspoons Dill, Fresh
    • ½ teaspoons chop Parsley, Fresh
    • ¼ teaspoons Salt
    • ¼ teaspoons Dijon Mustard
    • ¼ cups dice Onion, Red
    • ¼ teaspoons Garlic Powder
    • ½ teaspoons Honey
    • 4 individual Provolone Cheese, Sliced
    • 4 individual Sandwich Thin, Whole Wheat

    Freezer Containers

    • 1 Gallon Freezer Bag – 

    Supplies

    • Plastic Wraps

    Directions

    In a large bowl combine tuna, yogurt, lemon juice, carrots, dill, parsley, salt, dijon mustard, red onion, garlic powder and honey. Divide tuna mixture over the bottom portion of indicated number of sandwich thins. Top each with one slice of provolone cheese, followed by top bun.

    In a large bowl combine tuna, yogurt, lemon juice, carrots, dill, parsley, salt, dijon mustard, red onion, garlic powder and honey. Divide tuna mixture over the bottom portion of indicated number of sandwich thins. Top each with one slice of provolone cheese, followed by top bun. Wrap each sandwich in plastic wrap, then divide between indicated number of gallon freezer bags. Label and freeze.

    Serving Day Directions

    Unwrap from plastic wrap and enjoy.

    16 Tricks To Help You Eat Healthy Without Even Trying

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    Source: buzzfeed.com

    One hour of food prep on Sunday = healthy eating so easy you don’t even think about it.

    The secret is to take some time on Sundays to prep a LOT of healthy food for the week. Then when you’re done, you’ll have so much good stuff stocked in your fridge and freezer that you’ll eat well all week without even trying, really.

    BuzzFeed Life reached out to Abby Langer, RD, a registered dietitian and owner ofAbby Langer Nutrition. She heartily endorses this style of plan-ahead-to-be-lazy kind of healthy eating, and gave some suggestions that you might want to try out.

    1. Chop celery and carrots into sticks, and create little hummus and veggie snack jars.

    “Snacks! They’re so important!” Langer says via email. Each weekend, “get everything for snacks together and make sure you replenish what you don’t have.”

    For these cool little veggie snack jars, stash them in your fridge and grab one each morning on your way out. Hits the spot.

    2. Or package a few baggies of nuts + berries.

    Like 1/2 cup blackberries with 2 tablespoons of raw, unsalted pistachios, for instance. Another great snack option that takes like 0.4 seconds to pull together, and even less time to grab on your way out the door in the morning.

    3. Prepare a big batch of black beans for protein.

    “Always make one or two proteins — I love black beans,” Langer says. “I pretty much always keep them in the fridge and use them on salads, in wraps, and in bowls with rice or quinoa and veggies.”

    Get the recipe for those healthy sweet potato, black bean, and egg white breakfast burritos here, via Ambitious Kitchen. And here are 27 of the most delicious things you can do with beans, if you need some more inspiration.

    4. Or roast a chicken or a tray of chicken breasts.

    Great for salads, sandwiches, or just general veggie- and grain- dishes. And so easy to just grab and re-heat anytime throughout the week. “Protein seems to be the big barrier for a lot of people — they get home late and they don’t want to cook chicken or whatever, so having the protein part of the meal already done I think increases the likelihood that they won’t give up and order in instead of making something for themselves,” Langer says.

    Here’s how to make the most delicious roast chicken of all time, if you’re looking for some guidance.

    5. Or boil half a dozen eggs (or more).

    Slice them up and toss them in salads, on sandwiches, and more. Each egg is under 100 calories and has over 7 grams of protein to help you feel more satisfied.

    Read How to Make the Perfect Boiled Egg, Every Time, Every Way, on Greatist, for more info.

    6. Wash, chop, and prepare a bunch of different veggies for the week, and store them in tupperware containers.

    Get some pointers on what to do with them from Jess at Girl Walks Into A Barbell.

    7. Or ignore the whole chopping and washing veggies thing and just buy a veggie tray for the week.

    “If you know that you’re not going to have the time, energy, or motivation to prep vegetables for snacks during the week, buy a veggie tray at the supermarket and get over it,” Langer says. “Some of us need to buy prepared vegetables and there’s no shame in that.” No shame in the veggie tray game indeed.

    8. Make a tray of egg muffins for quick and easy breakfasts all week long.

    “Scrambled eggs with vegetables, poured into muffin tins and baked,” Langer says. “Freeze them, then pop into the microwave for breakfast on the go.”

    Get the recipe for those vegetable and egg muffins here.

    9. Or pull together some slow-cooker oats.

    “A big batch of oatmeal done in the slow cooker with apples and cinnamon, for example, and made with milk (for protein, or protein powder if the person is vegan) is something that’s good for breakfast for days,” Langer says. You just need to heat it up when you’re ready to eat it. “Overnight oats work as well — soaking the oats in yogurt and milk or milk alternative, and adding fruit and nuts, hemp hearts, chia; it’s all good.”

    Get the recipe for that chia seed breakfast bowl here, via Oh She Glows.

    10. Roast some veggies to use in all of your meals throughout the week.

    Langer recommends veggies that roast well, like asparagus, zucchini, and peppers, which you can make in batch and then use them all week in pretty much every one of your meals. Get the recipe for those gorgeous roasted veggies here.

    You can also just roast or barbecue cauliflower or broccoli whole, and then just heat them up when you’re ready to eat them.

    11. And roast some potatoes while you’re at it.

    Get the recipe for these garlic ranch potatoes here.

    12. You could also prepare a few cups of quinoa or rice, and then set it aside to use throughout the week.

    Quinoa is another fantastic source of protein, and you can basically put it in anything, from salads to granola to pudding and more. Get the recipe for this quinoa, fennel, and pomegranate salad here, and then check out 32 Ways To Eat Quinoa And Succeed In Life for some more ideas.

    Rice and quinoa can be used in like a million dishes, Langer says: “For sides. For bowls. For fried rice (yes, dietitians eat fried rice).” Good options to have, without having to worry about it.

    13. And if you have the time or inkling, batch-prep a few actual meals while you’re at it. Like these quinoa breakfast bars.

    14. Or these burrito bowl Mason jar salads.

    15. Or these grilled chicken veggie bowls.

    16. Or this mac and cheese with squash.

    Happy healthy eating!

    Daily Diet Soda Triples Risk of Strokes & Alzheimer’s

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    Image result for diet soda

    Soft drinks – soda – pop; whatever you call it, is multi-billion-dollar business in the United States. Burger, fries and soft drink are the foundation of the fast food industry. Sporting events rely heavily on the sale of soft drinks to help pay their costs. Go to a city park in the summertime, or a local lake and you’ll undoubtedly find ice chests full of soft drinks, and possible more.

    However, look at the American people and you’ll see the direct effects of abundant soft drink sales and consumption. We are the most overweight people in the world. America also has a higher degree of childhood obesity and diabetes, part of which has been linked to drinking too many soft drinks. Diabetes has also become an epidemic in our nation.

    I humbly admit that I am guilty of what I write. I am overweight and have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. For many years, I enjoyed a Dr. Pepper with my lunch and dinner and am now paying for it. However, I know that my weight and diabetes is directly linked to my diet and lack of exercise. How do I know that? Last July (2016) my A1C (the measure used to diagnose diabetes) was 11.5. Since 6.0 and below is considered normal, my 11.5 was dangerously high. I went on a strict sugar and BAD carbohydrate free diet plus I began exercising. In December, barely 5 months later, my A1C was only 5.2, much to the surprise of my doctor. I also lost 82 pounds during the same time period. If I can keep my A1C this low, it’s possible that I will no longer be a diabetic.

    When I met with my doctor, I was told that if I really wanted to continue to drink Dr. Pepper to switch to diet Dr. Pepper, but no soft drink was what was really recommended. Many other Americans have been told by their doctors to switch to diet soft drinks to help them with their weight and blood sugar. Dentists also believe that soft drinks are a leading cause of tooth decay due to the sugar and acid in the carbonation that eats away at the protective enamel of your teeth.

    If you are among the millions of Americans who have switched from regular soft drinks to diet soft drinks for whatever reason, you may be shocked to find out that diet soft drinks have its own evil consequences. 

    You may have heard about aspartame an artificial sweetener used in many diet soft drinks. There is evidence that the chemicals in aspartame do cloud the mind and interferes with the thought process. Many people who stopped drinking diet soft drinks found that they suddenly were able think more clearly than they had in some time:

    “It turns out the headaches you expected from a diet soft drink withdrawal didn’t materialise. And now that you’ve quit the stuff, you probably find yourself thinking clearly for the first time in a while.”

    “That’s because the chemicals that make up the artificial sweetener aspartame may have altered brain chemicals, nerve signals, and the brain’s reward system, which leads to headaches, anxiety, and insomnia, according to a review in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.”

    “And a 2013 animal study found that rats that drank diet soda had damaged cells and nerve endings in the cerebellum — the part of the brain responsible for motor skills.”

     Another effect of diet soda is that it masks the taste of many foods. Stop drinking diet soft drinks for a couple of weeks and you’ll find that foods have stronger flavors. The artificial sweeteners in diet soft drinks are up to 200 times sweeter than table sugar, causing your taste buds to be overloaded with sweet.

    Heather Bainbridge, RD, from Columbia University Medical Center Weight Control Center, commented, saying:

    “We often see patients change snack choices when they give up diet soda.”

    “Rather than needing sugary treats or something really salty like pretzels and chips, they reach for an apple and a piece of cheese. And, when they try diet soda again, they find it intolerably sweet.”

    Did you know that mixing diet soda with alcohol can get you drink faster? The diet soft drink causes your stomach to empty faster, which then leaves it more vulnerable to the alcohol.

    Additionally, diet soft drinks have been found to impede kidney function.

    “One study looked at 11 years of data and found that women who drank 2 or more servings of diet soda doubled their chances of declining kidney function.”

    If all of the above isn’t enough to cause you to put down your diet soft drink, then consider this:

    “The team of researchers from Boston’s University School of Medicine, said people who consume a can of artificially-sweetened soft drink a day were at three times the risk of suffering the most common form of stroke compared to non-drinkers.”

    “The US study also indicated that diet soft drink fans were 2.9 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s. But after accounting for all lifestyle factors, the researchers found the link to dementia was statistically insignificant, however, the impact on stroke risk remained…”

    “‘Drinking at least one artificially sweetened beverage daily was associated with almost three times the risk of developing stroke or dementia compared to those who drank artificially sweetened beverages less than once a week,’ the research read, which was published in Stroke, the journal of the American Heart Association.”

    Face it, like or not, there is not one redeeming thing about drinking soft drinks or diet soft drinks other than to satisfy one’s addiction to sugar and sweets. Switching to diet soft drinks may be better for your weight and diabetes, but in the meantime, you’re exposing yourself to a host of other health risks, especially strokes and Alzheimer’s. Next time you pop the top on a can of diet soft drink, think of the sound it makes as ‘STROKE’. It won’t take for you to stop drinking them.

    FDA Approves New Device to Treat Cluster Headaches

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    Image result for headaches

    Millions of people suffer from severe headaches. Most claim to have a migraine when in fact they may be having a cluster headache, simply because they may never have heard of a cluster headache or they may believe them to be the same thing, but they are definitely not the same thing and they require completely different treatments.

    What’s the difference between a cluster headache and a migraine?

    Migraine Headache

    In many cases, a migraine gives a warning of its onset with changes in the person’s vision. They may see an ‘aura’ or some type of visual disturbance such as zigzag lines, flashing lights or even a temporary loss of vision. Migraines are often accompanied by sensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting. They may last anywhere from 2 to 72 hours.

    Cluster Headache

    In most cases, cluster headaches usually come on suddenly without any warning. They are felt on one side of the head and are generally accompanied by a runny nose and watery eyes, especially the eye on the side of the headache. Sometimes, cluster headaches are confused or diagnosed as sinus headaches. Cluster headaches can last as little as 2 hours or as long as several months, also leading to being confused with sinus headaches.

    While women tend to have more migraine headaches and men tend to have more cluster headaches, they do occur in both sexes and both can be somewhat debilitating to the woman or man suffering from them. Hormonal shifts have been linked to many migraines, which is why they tend to occur in more women than men. No one really knows what triggers cluster headaches, although some believe that alcohol could play a role, hence why they occur in more men than women.

    The treatments differ somewhat between migraines and cluster headaches. Migraines are usually treated with a strong class of drugs known as ‘triptans’ and an anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs), both of which are usually taken orally. Cluster headaches are generally treated with injectable triptans and a high-flow of oxygen. Additionally:

    “…prevention medications should be taken daily to stave off migraines. These include beta blockers (propranolol or timolol), anti-seizure drugs (topirmate), and some types of antidepressants. Cluster headache prevention may include daily doses of verapamil (a calcium channel blocker) with or without a short course of steroids.”

    However, if you do suffer from cluster headaches, you may be interested to know that the FDA just approved a new device to treat them. According to a recent report:

    “The device is a vagus nerve stimulator and it’s not entirely clear how it works. The idea is to disrupt signals that run along the vagus nerve, a giant nerve that runs from the brain all the way to the colon. It’s involved in many bodily responses.”

    “A study in the journal Headache last September showed the treatment appeared to help just over a quarter of cluster headache patients who tried it, versus about 15 percent of those given a sham treatment. This went up to about a third of patients with so-called episodic cluster headaches.”

    “A company called electroCore makes the device, called gammaCore.”

    “‘GammaCore transmits a mild electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve through the skin, resulting in a reduction of pain,’ the company said in a statement.”

    Therefore, if you are one of those people who suffer from cluster headaches, you may want to talk to your doctor about the gammaCore device, especially if you don’t like taking all of the drugs or if you have adverse reactions to any of those drugs. This newly approved device may be your salvation.

    Diuretic Foods to Detox, Lose Weight, and Lower Your Blood Pressure

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    Source: theheartysoul.com

    Diuretic foods can be helpful if you’re looking to lower your blood pressure, or if you’re retaining water. Some dieters also use it to help them lose weight, and purging the body of excess fluid is good for your overall health and wellbeing. One option is to take water pills in order to get your body to release extra water and salt, but before going that route it may be a better idea to make a few dietary changes and see if that helps. Here are our picks for the best diuretic foods available to keep things natural.

    1. Lemon

    Adding lemon to your water doesn’t just make it taste better, it can help you if you have high blood pressure, and is often one of the first foods recommended to those suffering from certain medical conditions. It’s easy enough to start getting more lemon into your life, because it’s the juice that does the trick, so you don’t actually have to eat lemon slices or wedges, just add the juice to water or other foods and you’ll get the benefits. It is also used to help treat cases of urinary tract infection.

    2. Oats

    Oats consistently rank as one of the best foods to eat when losing weight, and surprisingly enough they have a diuretic effect on the body. Most of the time it’s hydrating fruits and vegetables that are diuretics, and oats seem to be a food that soaks things up, the way it soaks cholesterol up. But oats can also give you relief if you’re retaining water. This is just one more reason why a bowl of oatmeal makes a great start to your day, regardless if you’re dieting or worrying about your cholesterol levels.

    3. Celery

    Celery contains plenty of water, and will therefore get you to go more often. It’s great for hydrating the body, and recent research has shown that it’s not just the water we drink that hydrates us, but the water we take in from foods as well. If you don’t care for the taste of celery, or don’t like having to chew it up, try adding it to a diuretic smoothie with other fruits and vegetables found on this page. You’ll be giving your body a big boost of nutrition and also make it easier to digest and process.

    4. Brussels Sprouts

    Perhaps you don’t enjoy the taste of Brussels sprouts, but they’re so good for you that you may just have to learn to like them, or at least tolerate them. They are just one of several cruciferous vegetables to make our list, and this is a low calorie food that has plenty of antioxidants and is great for your overall health. If you can’t stand the thought of a pile of Brussels sprouts as your side dish, try mixing them with other vegetables or incorporate them into your main dish so you’re not just eating them straight up.

    5. Ginger

    It’s not easy to eat a lot of ginger, and luckily you don’t have to. Using it to zest up your meal, or adding a bit of ginger root to a glass of water will give you the benefits you need from it. It has a nice cleansing effect on the body, and is often used in detox programs to help flush out toxins. It also serves as a diuretic, and will help your body get rid of any built up fluid it may have. Next time you’re grocery shopping, buy some ginger root. You’ll be surprised how often you use it when you have it handy.

    6. Beets

    In addition to being a diuretic, beets are also a rich source of antioxidants and have a specific antioxidant, betalain, which is only found in a few select foods. When choosing what style of beet to eat, go for fresh beets that you can either grill, boil, or steam. These are better for you than the pickled variety, and will yield more antioxidants for better overall well-being for the body. Unfortunately most beets you’ll find for sale in supermarkets and grocery stores are the pickled kind, so you may have to check out a farmer’s market or other vegetable stand to find fresh beets.

    7. Apple Cider Vinegar

    Apple cider vinegar has a number of uses, and one of those is that it’s a natural diuretic that can encourage your body to purge itself of unneeded fluids, leading to better urinary function and overall health. You can use apple cider vinegar to help purify water, and to help stir up a sluggish digestive system. You’ll also find it used in plenty of recipes, but if you’re trying to use it as a diuretic it’s best just to add it to water and drink it down. You don’t need to use very much of it in order to benefit from it.

    8. Cabbage

    Cabbage is a healthy food no matter how you cut it, and part of the benefits it provides is being a diuretic food. It’s also been shown to be helpful in preventing cancer, and is a vegetable that can help reduce the risk of heart disease. One great way to eat cabbage is in soup form. This entails chopping or shredding the cabbage so it’s easier to eat, and also cooking it until it’s very tender. The key is not to use too much salt when you make your cabbage soup, as that will reduce the diuretic effect of helping the body release stored up sodium.

    9. Cranberry Juice

    Perhaps you’ve heard that cranberry juice can be good for a urinary tract infection, and that’s partly because it acts as a diuretic. The nice feature of cranberry juice is that it leaves your potassium levels intact, and also provides extra antioxidants to help your body battle free radicals. Be sure to opt for organic cranberry juice for the most benefit, since you’ll be avoiding the use of conventional berries which most likely have been treated with chemicals during the growing and preservation process.

    10. Eggplant

    Eggplant acts as a natural diuretic, and there are some weight loss enthusiasts that will make a special “eggplant water” by boiling eggplants and drinking the leftover water in an effort to lose water weight. That’s a bit excessive, but you can still consume these a side dish to just about any meal and experience the side effects a diuretic provides.

    11. Parsley

    Not just a pretty adornment to your plate, parsley has several benefits to it, including being a natural diuretic. Parsley contains several types of antioxidants in one tiny package. You can add parsley to your water for a fresh taste, or you can use it more in your cooking if you don’t want to eat it directly. The tart taste can act to freshen your breath in the process, but it might be too strong for some palates.

    12. Caffeinated Beverages

    Any caffeinated beverage will serve as a diuretic, including coffee and tea. It’s best to weigh the pros and cons of the foods that you’re thinking of consuming for their diuretic effect. The caffeine in these beverages might be disadvantageous enough to the body to choose other foods and drinks that provide a similar function without the use of a chemical like caffeine.

    13. Water

    Even though it might sound counterintuitive, drinking water actually helps your body rid itself of excess fluid. Conversely, not drinking enough water can lead to your body retaining the water it has in order to try to keep its water levels where they need to be. If you want to increase its diuretic effect try squeezing the juice of a lemon into it, or drinking hot water with slices of ginger in it for a sort of ginger tea. These methods will amplify the diuretic effect because these add-ins are also on our list of diuretic foods.

    14. Tomatoes

    For the diuretic effect you’ll want to eat tomatoes raw. The best way to do this is on a salad, or blending them up for fresh tomato juice. If you don’t like the taste of plain tomato juice consider adding carrots or watermelon to it to increase the effect and improve the flavor. Tomatoes are also one of the healthiest foods you can eat, with their large amounts of the antioxidant lycopene they’ve been shown to help battle cancer and prevent heart disease of all types.

    15. Cucumber

    Cucumbers are made up mostly of water and are a very hydrating vegetable. This is why you’ll typically see them being used in detox recipes. They’ll get your urinary system going as well, and they are a food that can be used to help with diabetes, weight loss, and even cancer. That’s because cucumbers contain antioxidants as well as minerals the body needs daily to keep functioning at its best.

    16. Watermelon

    Watermelon is aptly named and contains a lot of water, and also gets you to go more, so you’ll be helping to flush your body of excessive water and salt. You’ll want to be careful not to each too much watermelon in one sitting, as it can be hard to stop eating this sweet fruit, but its sweetness can cause your blood glucose levels to spike and can negate the healthy benefits of this antioxidant-laden fruit.

    17. Carrots

    Carrots are often thought of for their benefit to eyesight, but they do have a host of other benefits, and being a natural diuretic is one of them. Carrots are great because they come in a few different varieties depending on how you want to use them. Baby carrots are great for having as a snack or going on top of salads. Regular sized carrots can get sliced and chopped for use in recipes or cooked up as a side dish to a meal. No matter how you go about eating them, you’ll still get all of the nutrients as well as the diuretic effect they provide.

    18. Garlic

    Garlic provides a cleansing effect, and also acts as a diuretic, which is all the more reason to use it in more of your cooking. It has yet to be shown that garlic pills are a diuretic as well, and it appears that eating garlic in it’s natural form, or in powder form, is the way to go if this is your goal. You don’t have to eat clove after clove of garlic to reap the benefits, and just using it as part of the cooking process should be enough to see results.

    19. Artichokes

    Artichokes can have a powerful diuretic effect, and can rival the effects of prescription medication in some instances. The good news is that artichokes are also good for the digestive system, so if you’re looking to lose weight it can help you on two levels. They’re also packed with vitamins and minerals, so you’re replenishing the body at the same time you’re helping it to rid itself of excess fluid.

    20. Asparagus

    Asparagus is one of the healthier vegetables around, so you’ll be getting plenty of nutrients in addition to the diuretic properties it has. Many have noted that eating asparagus makes their urine smell, and this is one way to see the connection between this veggie and your urinary system. The odor is caused by an acid found within the asparagus that reacts in a certain way. It’s not harmful to the body, and in fact the antioxidants found in asparagus is going to benefit you in countless ways.

    10 Amazing Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey

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    10 Amazing Health Benefits of Apple Cider

    Source: healthyandnaturalworld.com

    Apple cider vinegar (ACV) and honey are two amazing natural substances. When you consume them in their unprocessed, raw forms, the health benefits abound. If you put the two together, the results become even more positive. In addition, the use of sweet honey makes the taste of the drink more pleasing.

    Fight joint pain, inflammation, digestive problems and sore throat in a natural way by consuming a concoction of ACV and honey on an empty stomach, and observe for yourself the great offerings of nature.

    Health benefits of ACV and honey mix

    Raw honey and ACV are both praised for their abilities to ward off infections and treat different conditions that have an impact on your quality of life. If you consume them together, you’re likely to experience the following benefits:

    1. Better joint health and joint pain alleviation (good for arthritic pain)

    2. Acid reflux and heartburn relief

    3. Improved digestive health, including help with constipation

    4. Weight loss

    5. Reduced cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure

    6. Sore throat relief

    7. More energy

    8. Youthful appearance and better condition of the skin

    9. Remedy for bad breath

    10. Reducing inflammation

    Why is the combination of ACV & honey so successful?

    The overwhelming benefits of the mixture can be explained by looking at their chemical properties and interactions with the body. Many experts believe that we become ill when our bodies turn overly acidic (pH below 7). Vinegar is naturally acidic, but when consumed, it turns alkaline. Honey, too, has a low pH, but raises the alkalinity of the body once eaten.

    The two substances are a perfect way to get rid of excessive acidity (resulting from stressful lifestyle and unhealthy foods and drinks) and building an internal environment with a protective pH. Our bodies function at their best and healthiest when the body’s pH is between 7.0 and 7.4, so slightly alkaline.

    Further reading: read more about the body’s pH in my articles How to Balance Your pH and Find Out If You’re Too Acidic and 5 Things to Avoid If You Want to Get Your Body Alkaline.

    How to make ACV & honey healing drink

    Make sure you get the ingredients that are unfiltered and in their natural forms. Honey and ACV that have not been processed, thus have maintained all their nutritional properties, appear cloudy. Also, check the label and go for ACV with the ‘mother of vinegar’, which can be seen as a pulp on the bottom of the bottle.

    Mix together:

    • 1 teaspoon raw honey
    • 1 teaspoon ACV (if you can tolerate the taste, increase the dosage to up to 1 tablespoon)
    • 8 oz. warm water (1 glass)

    You might initially struggle with the potent taste, but once you experience the benefits, you’ll most likely want to stick with the concoction.

    When to drink a mixture of ACV and honey?

    It’s best to drink the mixture on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning. Consume it about 20-30 minutes before you eat. Be consistent and drink it on a daily basis.

    Some suggest increasing the intake to two, or even three, times a day, depending on your needs and tolerance for taste. As with many other natural remedies, it is best to test it for yourself and see what works for your body, although high consumption of ACV may cause low potassium levels and lowers bone density. Also ACV may interact with diuretics, laxatives, and medicines for diabetes and heart disease, so if you’re planning to use it on a daily basis make sure to consult your doctor to avoid interactions with the medicines you’re taking.

    Obesity in Early Pregnancy Increases Risk of Epilepsy in Offspring

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    Image result for weight during pregnancy

    For many young families getting started, pregnancy is or should be a very joyous time. Despite the annoyance and unpleasantness of morning sickness, the very thought of a new human life developing and growing inside a woman’s body is a very special time for the mom and dad. It should be a time of joy, bonding, togetherness and anticipation.

    Unfortunately, it can also be a time of worry and uncertainty, mainly about the health of the unborn child. It’s important for pregnant moms to have checkups with their family physician or a good obstetrician – gynecologist (OB-GYN). They can prescribe the right vitamins and supplements and monitor the health of the baby and the mom. They can also issue warnings of things to avoid such as smoking, alcohol, drugs, etc.

    One thing that so many expectant moms have in common is gaining weight during pregnancy. A common excuse given is that she is eating for two, which in some ways is true, but can also have dangerous consequences if not controlled.

    One of those consequences is that many overweight and obese moms give birth to big babies that are easily prone to growing up overweight and obese. These can lead to many complications in life such as diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease and stroke, even at an early age.

    But did you know that the more overweight or obese a pregnant mom is, the greater the risk is of her baby having epilepsy. The more obese the mom, especially in the early stages of pregnancy, the greater the risk is of her child developing epilepsy, according to a new study:

    “Kids are more likely to develop childhood epilepsy — a seizure disorder — if their mothers were overweight or obese early in pregnancy, a new study suggests.”

    “The risk of epilepsy in children goes up as a mother’s weight goes up — reaching as high as 82 percent among kids of severely obese women, the researchers said.”

    “‘This means more severe grades of obesity correspond to increasingly higher risk,’ said study co-author Dr. Eduardo Villamor. He’s a professor of epidemiology with the University of Michigan School of Public Health.”

    The study took place in Sweden where researchers studied the medical histories of 1.4 million babies born between 1997 and 2011. Of those, over 7,500 developed some form of epilepsy by the age of 16.

    From there, they linked the odds of a child developing epilepsy to the body mass index (BMI) of the mothers at around the 14th week of pregnancy. Body mass is a ratio of a person’s height and weight and often used to determine the amount of fat someone has. A normal BMI is generally thought to be between 18.5 to 24.5. People with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are considered to be overweight and anything 30 and above is obese.

    Based on their study, the risk if childhood epilepsy compared to BMI were as follows:

    • 11 percent increased risk with overweight.
    • 20 percent increased risk with grade I obesity.
    • 30 percent increased risk with grade II obesity.
    • 82 percent increased risk with grade III obesity.

    The effects of a pregnant mother’s weight on her developing child were listed as:

    “There are several potential ways a mother’s excess weight could increase risk of childhood epilepsy, Razaz and Villamor said.”

    “Excess weight increases the risk of preterm birth and birth defects, which in turn increase risk of epilepsy, the researchers said. The baby also is more likely to suffer from trauma or low oxygen levels during birth with an overweight or obese mother. These factors might raise epilepsy risk.”

    “Overweight or obesity also spurs on general inflammation in the mother’s body. This could possibly have an effect on their baby’s developing brain, Villamor added.”

    “Dr. William Bell is a neurologist with Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center. He agreed that inflammation could be the culprit behind this increased risk.”

    “‘Pregnancy is already an inflammatory state, and so is obesity. When you add those two together, a lot of bad things can happen,’ Bell said.”

    Before every overweight or obese woman begins panicking and taking extreme measures to reduce their weight, Dr. Stephen Wolf, director of pediatric epilepsy at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, says that the overall risk of childhood epilepsy is still relatively low.

    If possible, it is better on the mom and the baby if excess weight can be lost, but don’t panic and do something drastic out of fear that may end up harming you and your baby. Consult with your doctor and follow his or her advice.

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