Water works

We need water

It is essential for eliminating toxins from the body via the kidneys.

It lubricates the joints.

It is necessary for the efficient functioning of the lungs.

We lose approximately one pint of fluid everyday just by breathing and 99 % of the chemical reactions in our body depend on water.

The quality of our tissues, their performance and their resistance to injury is absolutely dependent on the quality of the water we drink.

If dehydration occurs, temperature suddenly changes and blood is diverted to the skin for emergency cooling and muscles and brain are left short of oxygen to avoid overheating and sustain performance we must drink enough water to sweat.



Hydrating the body

Dehydration may play a role in many chronic health problems, so how do we ensure that the body is optimally hydrate

1. Increase water intake. Drink water at regular intervals throughout the day.

2. Increase fruits and vegetables in the diet as they contain 90 % water.

3. Eat plenty of complex carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains with moderate amounts of protein. Each unit of glycogen is bound with 9 unit of water.

4. Avoid diuretic drinks such as tea, coffee and alcohol. This includes red tea ! This will only further increase the need for water in the body.

Tips for healthy eating in pregnancy

Use fats, oil and sugar sparingly
Focus on healthy fats instead from sources like olive oil, avocados and coldwater fish.

Increase your fibre intake
Constipation can be a painful experience, so include fruits and brans in you diet everyday.

Avoid unsafe food
Steer clear of raw or unpasteurised foods like sushi, seafood and certain cheeses. If in doubt of the hygiene during preparation, don’t eat it and put baby at risk of infection.

Avoid excessive weight gain, but don’t go on diets too
Overweight mothers are at higher risk of pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes and complex labour. But also don’t skip meals or diet at this time as restricting calories can stunt baby’s growth.

Nutrients for vegetarian diet

The following nutrients are generally thought to be low in a vegetarian diet :

Vitamin B12
Sources :
- Fortified food
- Yeast extract
- Fortified vegan margarines
- Fortified Soya milk
- Breakfast cereals
- Microalgae (i.e. spirulina, chlorella and blue-green algae)

Vitamin D
Sources :
- Watercress
- Parsley
- Pulses
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Mushrooms
- Dried fruits
- Potato skin
- Asparagus
- Beetroots
- Oatmeal
- Blackstrap Molasses

Calcium
Sources :
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Pulses
- Dark green leafy vegetables

Protein
Sources :
- Beans
- Pulses
- Quinoa
- Soya base products
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Grains as well as buckwheat

Food sources of antioxidants

Food sources of antioxidants :

Beta-carotene
Sources :
- Red, orange, yellow fruits
- Vegetables

Vitamin C
Sources :
- Fruits
- Vegetables

Vitamin E
Sources :
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Peas
- Broad beans

Selenium
Sources :
- Tuna
- Oyster
- Mushrooms
- Herrings

Zinc
Sources :
- Oysters
- Ginger root
- Lamb
- Pecan nuts
- Dry split peas

Bioflavanoids
Sources :
- Citrus fruits

Anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins
Sources :
- Berries
- Grapes

Curcumin
Sources :
- Mustard
- Tumeric
- Corn
- Yellow peppers

Lycopene
Sources:
- Tomatoes

Lutein
Sources :
- Fruits
- Vegetables

Eating well in pregnancy

Here, we have compiled the ultimate shortlist of the essential nutrients mums require for a healthy pregnancy. Tuck it and make the best of these nine months !

Calcium
For baby’s strong bones
Sources :
- Fortified cereals
- Tofu
- Diary foods or yoghurt
- Canned sardines or salmon
- Fortified soymilk or orange juice

Vitamin C
To prevent preterm delivery
Sources :
- Broccoli
- Citrus fruits and juices
- Mangoes
- Kiwis
- Bell peppers
- Tomatoes
- Strawberries

DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid)
To boost brain development
Sources :
- Canola or flax oil
- Tofu
- Coldwater fish like salmon, catfish, sardines
- Pumpkin seeds, walnuts

Protein
For muscles and organ development
Sources :
- Lean cuts of meat like pork and poultry
- Legumes
- Fish
- Tofu

Iron
For red blood cell production
Sources :
- Lean red meat like beef or duck
- Green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale
- Liver
- Tofu
- Bran Flakes

Fibre
For red blood cell production
Sources :
- Whole grains
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Beans

Folic Acid :
For baby’s growth
Sources :
- Brussels sprouts
- Bran flakes
- Steamed or boiled asparagus / broccoli
- Oranges
- Papayas

4 foods that can raise diabetes risk

1. Sugar-sweetened drinks.
2. Alcoholic beverages.
3. Fast food.
4. Bacon and hot dogs.

First Aid Kits

Commercially available first aid kits available via normal retail routes have traditionally been intended for treatment of minor injuries only. Typical contents include adhesive bandages, regular strength pain medication, gauze and low grade disinfectant.

Specialized first aid kits are available for various regions, vehicles or activities. For example, first aid kits sold through marine supply stores for use in watercraft may contain seasickness remedies. Also, regions where malaria exist require antimalaria drugs, ...

Determining the right commercial kit may be done trough the sources as the EU-website Myfirstaidkit.eu. To make your own special first aid kit, guide books, certain websites (such as CDC.gov) and other literature may be used.


Typical contents

Dressings (sterile, applied directly to wound)
Pads
Sterile eye pads
Sterile gauze pads
Sterile non-adherent pads
Burn dressing (sterile pad soaked in a cooling gel)

Bandages Gauze roller bandages - absorbent, breathable, and often elastic
Elastic bandages - used for sprains, and pressure bandages
Adhesive, elastic roller bandages - very effective pressure bandages or durable, waterproof bandaging
Triangular bandages - used as slings, tourniquets, to tie splints, and many other uses

Adhesive bandages (band-aids, sticking plasters)
Straight adhesive bandages
Moleskin— for blister treatment
Butterfly (knuckle) bandages and wound closure strips

Instruments
Adhesive tape, hypoallergenic
Trauma shears, for cutting clothing and general use
Tweezers
Lighter, for sterilizing tweezers or pliers etc
20-cc syringe with catheter tip for wound irrigation with sterile saline solution
Rubber suction bulb, for clearing the airway of an unconscious patient

Equipment
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Gloves, disposable non-latex
CPR mask or other breathing barrier such as a face shield
Scissors
Eye cup or small plastic cup
Torch (also known as a flashlight)
Instant-acting chemical cold packs
Sterile eye wash (commonly saline)
Sterile saline (used for cleaning wounds where clean tap water is not available, but note that even clean tap water should be converted to normal saline by adding salt)
Swabs, sterile non-woven
Space blanket (lightweight plastic foil blanket, also known as "emergency blanket")
Alcohol rub (hand sanitizer) or antiseptic hand wipes
Thermometer
Penlight

Medication
Antiseptics/antimicrobial
Povidone iodine wipes (use for first-aid disputed)
Benzalkonium Chloride (use for first-aid disputed)
Alcohol pads - used to prep unbroken skin for injections etc. or to disinfect equipment such as thermometers.
Antibiotic pills (use for first-aid disputed)
Antibiotic ointment - single, double, or triple antibiotic ointment in petroleum jelly base (use for first-aid disputed)
Antiseptic/anesthetic ointment, fluid or spray, for example Lidocaine
Anti-fungal cream
Anti-itch ointment
Hydrocortisone cream
Calamine lotion
Painkillers / fever reducers
Acetaminophen
Ibuprofen - anti-inflammatory, often more effective than acetaminophen.
Aspirin
Anti diarrhea medication such as Loperamide Immodium
Oral rehydration salt
Antihistamine
diphenhydramine (brand name Benadryl)
Aloe vera gel - used for a wide variety of skin problems, including burns, sunburns, itching, and dry skin; used as a substitute for triple-antibiotic gel to keep a wound moist and prevent bandages from sticking
Burn gel - a water-based gel that acts as a cooling agent and often includes a mild anesthetic such as lidocaine and, sometimes, an antiseptic such as tea tree oil
Epinephrine auto-injector (brand name Epipen) - often included in kits for wilderness use and in places such as summer camps, to treat anaphylactic shock.
Poison treatments
Activated charcoal
Syrup of ipecac
QuikClot is a hemostatic agent sometimes included in first aid kits, especially military kits, to control severe bleeding.
Tincture of benzoin— improves tape adhesion to skin, toughens cracked skin

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency medical procedure for a victim of cardiac arrest or, in some circumstances, respiratory arrest. CPR is performed in hospitals, or in the community by laypersons or by emergency response professionals.

For 50 years CPR has consisted of the combination of artificial blood circulation with artificial respiration i.e., chest compressions and lung ventilation. However, in March 2008 the American Heart Association and the European Resuscitation Council, in a historic reversal, endorsed the effectiveness of chest compressions alone--without artificial respiration--for adult victims who collapse suddenly in cardiac arrest (see Cardiocerebral Resuscitation below). CPR is generally continued, usually in the presence of advanced life support, until the patient regains a heart beat (called "return of spontaneous circulation" or "ROSC") or is declared dead.

CPR is unlikely to restart the heart, but rather its purpose is to maintain a flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and the heart, thereby delaying tissue death and extending the brief window of opportunity for a successful resuscitation without permanent brain damage. Defibrillation and advanced life support are usually needed to restart the heart.

Eat Fresh Fruits

We all think eating fruits means simply buying fruit, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. You will benefit much more if you know how and when to eat.

Fruits should be taken in an empty stomach…not as dessert after the meal as is often done. If you eat fruit like that, it will also serve a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. Fruit is important food. As fruit digests faster than bread, the slice of fruit digests quickly and is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but its passage is blocked by the bread which takes longer to digest…

…In the meantime the whole meal ferments and turns to acid. Consequently, when the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.

So it is better to eat your fruits in an empty stomach or before your meals !

You have heard people complaining – every time I eat water-melon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat banana I feel like running to the toilet etc – actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit in an empty stomach.

The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat ! Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, dark circles under the eyes all these will not happen if you take fruits in an empty stomach.

It is incorrectly presumed that some fruits like orange and lemon are acidic and will enhance acidity in the stomach. Research however shows that all fruits become alkaline in our body.

When you need to drink fruit juice – drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste.

So stop making 'durian porridge' if you want nutrients. Cooking fruit destroys all the vitamins. Eating the pulp or whole fruit is far better than drinking the juice as the fibre is good for you.

If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. A 3-day “fruit fast” is a very simple and effective way to cleanse and de-toxify your body.

Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look !

During the “fruit fast” you can eat different fruits at different times, although occasionally mixed fruit salad would also be permissible and more interesting.

If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

Bananas

Containing 3 natural sugars -- sucrose, fructose & glucose combined with fiber EQUALS instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
2 Bananas EQUALS Energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout!
BANANAS also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions !

Helps Cure/Prevent :

Seasonal Affective Disorder or Depression.
Bananas contain the natural mood enhancer Tryptophan (a type of protein that the body converts to serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and make you happier).

Anemia.
High in Iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and helps cases of anemia.

Strokes.
According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine,eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%.

Stress.
Potassium is a vital mineral which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain, and regulates the body?s water balance.

Ulcers.
Banana is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Mosquito bites.
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Constipation.
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers.
Make a Banana Milkshake, sweetened with Honey. The banana calms the stomach, and with the help of honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates the system.

Blood Pressure.
This is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect for blood pressure! So much so that the US Food and Drug Administration has allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruits ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Morning Sickness.
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickess.

PMS.
Forget the pills, eat a banana. The Vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Warts.
Those keen on natural alternatives Swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take A piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold The skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape.


OTHER BENEFITS?

Temperature control.
Many other cultures see Bananas as a cooling fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers.

Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking.
The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Brain Power.
Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

15 Simple changes that will energise your life

Stop drinking soft drinks and start drinking water.

When you feel stressed take 10 deep breaths. Focus on your breathing.

Exercise at least 30 minutes a day. It's as easy as a walk around the block.

Drink Green Tea instead of Coffee.

Sleep at least 8 hours a night.

Stay away from Hydrogenated Oils. Read the ingredients on the back of products.

Surround yourself with positive and supportive people.

Do one thing special for yourself every day.

Eat fruits with your breakfast and eat vegetables with your lunch and dinner.

Say a prayer or affirmation before you go to bed and when you wake up.

Read one inspirational book a month .

Listen to your favorite song whenever you need a pick-me-up.

Eat breakfast. It will increase your energy and productivity at work.

Don't be too busy for lunch. Researchers agree that performance scores plunge when people miss lunch.

Take short breaks throughout the day. Get up from your chair and take a little walk. Stop looking at the computer screen. Stretch. Go get a cold drink of water. Short breaks help you refocus and reenergize.

Why eating Chocolate is good ?

Here are 10 reasons why eating Chocolate is good for you & don't
feel guilty about eating chocs next time when U wants to indulge
But please over do it! Anything less will be BAD!

1. CHOCOLATE MAKES YOU LIVE LONGER
Researchers at Harvard University in the U.S. studied 8,000 men for
65 years and found that those who ate modest amounts of chocolate up
to three times a month, lived almost a year longer than those who didn't eat
any.
They concluded that this is likely to be due to the fact that cocoa
contains anti-oxidants called polyphenols, also found in red wine,
which prevent the oxidation of harmful cholesterol.
Anti-oxidants are also known to protect against cancer.

2. CHOCOLATE IS GOOD FOR STRESS
This is thought to be because it contains valeric acid, which is
a relaxant and tranquilliser. Also, the sugar in chocolate may reduce
stress - sugar has been shown to have a calming and pain-relieving
effect on babies and animals because sweet tastes activate the opiate-like
substances in our brain.

3. WE ALL KNOW CHOCOLATE MAKES US FEEL BETTER
There are a number of scientific reasons for this. The smell of
chocolate has been found to slow down brain waves, making us feel calm.
Most of the time our brains are dominated by beta waves - normal
waking frequency. When our brain activity slows to alpha waves, we
experience a pleasant feeling of calm but alert relaxation.
Also, because most of us find eating chocolate so pleasurable, we
release endorphins (also released during sex) in the brain.
These have similar pharmacological actions as morphine, acting as
pain-relievers and giving us a sense of well-being.

4. CHOCOLATE DOES NOT GIVE YOU SPOTS
Although many teenagers blame chocolate for their acne, there's no
scientific data to confirm this link.
Scientists at Missouri University even gave spot-prone subjects
chocolate to eat and observed their skin for the next week - with
no effect.

5. NUTRITIONISTS SAY THAT CHOCOLATE DOES NOT MAKE YOU PUT ON
WEIGHT
You can't blame any single food on weight gain. So long as you
don't eat more calories than you burn off, you won't get fat.

6. CHOCOLATE COULD BOOST CONCENTRATION
This can occur, for example, if you eat it mid-afternoon, when blood
sugar levels get a bit low. Chocolate has a reasonably low glycaemic
index (GI), which means it gives long-lasting energy because it doesn't
raise blood sugar too quickly.
For example, a typical bar of chocolate has a GI of 70 compared with
73 for a bowl of cornflakes. This means a chocolate bar will keep
you going for longer.
Also, chocolate is a good source of chromium, which helps control
blood sugar because it is involved in making glucose available in the body.

7. CHOCOLATE HELPS US DIGEST MILK
This means it is good for those who are lactose-intolerant.
Researchers at Rhode Island University have shown that cocoa
stimulates activity of the enzyme lactase in the intestine.
We need this to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk.
Lactose-intolerant patients showed a reduction in bloating, cramping and
diarrhoea when one-and-a-half teaspoons of cocoa were added to a cup
of milk.

8. CHOCOLATE BOOSTS THE APPETITE
This could be because it contains cannabinoid-like substances that
are known to affect the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that
controls hunger.
This isn't ideal if you're on a diet but for those who need to put on
weight or who are convalescing, chocolate could be just what you
need to help get your appetite back.

9. CHOCOLATE CAN MAKE YOU MORE ALERT
It contains a stimulant called theobromine, a caffeine-like substance
that is thought to make us more alert.
But theobromine doesn't have the side-effect of giving us the
jitters, like caffeine, and chocolate contains only minute amounts of
caffeine - a mug of coffee has about 85mg compared with just 1mg
in three squares of chocolate.

10. CHOCOLATE IS NUTRITIOUS
A 50g bar of plain chocolate contains 1.2mg of iron, and 45mg of
magnesium.
And milk chocolate is a reasonable source of calcium - a 50g bar
contains 110mg.
However, we'd need to eat about seven bars to get the recommended
daily allowances of these minerals.

How To Avoid The Flu

Eat right!
Make sure you get your daily dose of fruits and veggies.
Take your vitamins and bump up your vitamin C.

Get plenty of exercise because exercise helps build your immune system.
Walk for at least an hour a day, go for a swim, take the stairs instead of the elevator, etc.

Wash your hands often.
If you can't wash them, keep a bottle of antibacterial stuff around.

Get lost of fresh air.
Open doors & windows whenever possible.
Try to eliminate as much stress from your life as you can.

Get plenty of rest.
OR
Take the doctor's approach.

Think about it . . .
When you go for a shot, what do they do first?
They clean your arm with alcohol . . .
Why?
Because Alcohol KILLS GERMS.

So . . .
I walk to the liquor store. (exercise)
I put lime in my Corona...(fruit)
Celery in my Bloody Mary (veggies)
Drink outdoors on the bar patio..(fresh air)
Tell jokes, laugh....(eliminate stress)
Then pass out. (rest)
The way I see it . . .