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Getting a beach body needs more than running

Something interesting happened over the weekend or should I say I witnessed something interesting. While coaching a large group of people, I noticed most had given in to stress and pain of the workout and they were on the floor with jaded looks on their faces. This prompted me to stop the music and launch into 10 minute rant about leaving your comfort zone.

What made it interesting was the response. They dragged themselves up and slowly started to push. I started hearing grunts and cheers of motivation that sounded like battle cries. It was quite an experience. I doubt it was my rant that got them up but rather, it was the collective agreement that this lifestyle affects every area of your life. For real progress and change, you need to take things to the next level.

With less than a month to go till the world gets ‘summer fever’, now is the perfect time to kick your workout routines into high gear and actually make some significant progress toward reaching your goals.

We know that you want to get rid of that last layer of fat to uncover that body you’ve got hidden underneath. If you could get to transform your body overnight, would you pump up your shoulders, get a huge chest or a go for a serious six-pack? The answer? None of the above: Over half of my clients just want an “overall fat-free physique” rather than a single bigger or better body part. The reality is that you will have to work extremely hard for every pound and calorie and you will have to learn to push yourself.

Here some suggestions for a few applications of the lifestyle changes I am talking about:

High Intensity Interval Training

Ah, good old interval and high-intensity training. I’m sure you have heard all about the numerous benefits of HIIT and for a good reason: it works. If you’re looking for a surefire way to burn fat faster and lose some pounds in the process, HIIT is a solid way to go. HIIT is more time efficient in burning fat than a traditional cardio workout. Not only will your body burn more calories but you will also continue to burn more calories and fat in the 24 hours after your workout.

Burn More

If you think that hitting the weights is the only thing you have to do to lose fat faster, you’re wrong. You need a solid balance of weight training, cardio and diet. The body will burn primarily carbohydrates during the first twenty minutes of cardiovascular exercise. Right about minute twenty, the body shifts over and starts to burn stored body fat as the primary source of energy.

You need a combination of both weight training and cardio to get fat off your body. Cardio alone will only train one type of muscle fiber and you’ll only be building one part of your fat-burning furnace. Many people do tons of cardio every day and don’t lift weights. They never change the way they look. I know a lot of people that lift weights that realize their limitations once challenged in different ways.

PHOTO: DAVINA DIARIES

Hit The Weights

If you’re not already hitting the gym and racking up the weights, now’s the time if fat loss is your goal. Even if you start small and work your way up to heavier weights, gaining muscle is going to put you on the fast track to hitting that goal. When it comes to exercise, you have to train with weights to increase lean mass. Fat is burned inside of your muscle cells.

The bigger and more plentiful your muscle cells, the bigger your fat-burning furnace. Adding muscle basically increases the size of the fat-burning furnace. Dieting incorrectly or exercising incorrectly decreases your fat-burning furnace. This is often why when a male-female couple embarks on a good exercise and nutrition plan, the male drops more weight more quickly than the female. He has more muscle tissue and a much bigger furnace. He can burn food at a much faster rate than the female who has less muscle and a much smaller furnace.

Pick Up A Sport

Picking up a sport is a great way to burn extra calories, trim fat and still have  a lot of fun doing it. Playing a sport involves cardio and lots of non-linear movement (jumping, back pedaling, side stepping etc), making it healthier than straight jogging. Plus you are having fun without getting bored.

You don’t have to be the next Michael Jordan to go down to your fitness facility. Just hop on the basketball court, and look for a game. Most people are happy to have another player. Just make sure you know the rules (how to dribble). I only mention basketball because that’s my sport of choice. Maybe squash is your thing, maybe its soccer, maybe its even tennis!

Reduce Stress With Yoga

Breathe deep. Relax. Breathe deeper. Feel better? Feel healthier? Well, keep doing it because it’s helping you stay fit and lose fat. Stress has been known to contribute to abdominal fat and a whole host of other health issues. Grabbing your Yoga mat and heading out for a little relaxation will go a long way towards helping you reach your fitness goals. Besides, who couldn’t use a little less stress and a little more relaxation, right?

More Home Cooked Meals… Less Eating Out

Unless you’ve been plugging away at a healthy lifestyle for a long time, going out to eat at restaurants can be a daunting task. Most menus don’t provide very good details and calorie counts on all their meals so knowing what to order can often be an exercise in futility. The more home-cooked meals you eat, the more likely you’re able to maintain that healthy lifestyle. It’s much easier to control portion, ingredients, and quality of the food when you’re cooking it yourself.

Look at for my next article where I’ll continue with these tips, till then, try to make little changes and turn them into habits. Good luck

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Five People Reportedly Cured Of HIV After Using New AIDS Vaccine In Spain…Read Full Details

A breakthrough has finally been made in the fight against HIV/AIDs as five HIV patients are virus-free seven months after taking a new vaccine. According to a report by Dailymail, the treatment, developed by researchers in Spain, allowed the patients to stop taking regular antiretroviral (ARV) drugs – the current method of suppressing HIV.

Scientists have yet to test the results in a large-scale clinical trial, but they say the vaccine may be a ‘functional cure’.

It is the first step towards success in a field that has failed to find a vaccine in the last 30 years.

‘It’s the proof of concept that through therapeutic vaccination we can really re-educate our T cells to control the virus,’ says Dr Beatriz Mothe, from the IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute in Barcelona, Spain.

‘This is the first time that we see this is possible in humans.’

The search for an AIDS vaccine has generated massive investments and intensive efforts but, so far, not one vaccine has come to market.

After efforts and investments attempted and failed to bring a vaccine mainstream that would prevent HIV infection, researchers decided to test therapeutic vaccines.

They aim to help infected people keep the virus at bay for months or even years without ARV drugs.

Dr Mothe and her colleagues used an HIV vaccine made by Professor Tomáš Hanke from the University of Oxford in the UK. The study included 13 participants who had taken ARVs for a little over three years on average – all within six months of being infected.

The researchers theorized that although the drugs kept down HIV levels, it limited the virus’s ability to integrate into their chromosomes, leaving them with relatively small ‘reservoirs’ of infected cells.

This should make it easier to contain the virus if the drugs are stopped, especially with the help of a vaccine, they said. Scientists injected the participants with a series of three shots of the vaccine and they stopped taking ARVs.

After four weeks, eight of the patients saw the virus rebound. But the other five patients have gone six to 28 weeks without having to restart the treatment.

The virus became temporarily undetectable, but it has never gone above 2,000 copies per milliliter, which is the criterion to restart treatment. Of the more than 50 therapeutic vaccine trials so far, this is the first one that has bolstered the immune system in a ‘meaningful’ way, according to Dr Steven Deeks, an HIV/AIDS clinician and researcher at the University of California, San Francisco.

He is ‘cautiously optimistic’ that the data will inspire others to study the approach.

Immunologist Dr Daniel Douek, of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland, is far more skeptical.

‘The results are encouraging, but it is difficult to gauge what the effect of the procedure actually was because of the uncontrolled nature of the study and the fact that the people who remain off [ARVs] are, nevertheless, viremic,’ Dr Douek said.

But Dr Mothe said that previous ‘treatment interruption studies’ – in people who started ARVs soon after becoming infected – have found that only 10 percent of their infections under control for longer than four weeks.

In the Barcelona study, the rate was 38 percent. HIV notoriously dodges immune attacks – and preventive vaccination – by mutating.

The researchers believe the trial’s partial success may be because the vaccine contains HIV genes that code for ‘highly conserved’ internal structures and enzymes that cannot change much without harming the virus.

Dr Deeks said: ‘Should the current trends persist, it is hard to argue that the vaccine strategy did not do something, but controlled studies are needed.’

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Soya ‘killing’ women diagnosed with breast cancer

Soy products…experts warn that women shouldn’t start consuming soya milk after a breast cancer diagnosis – because it may limit the effectiveness of treatment. PHOTO CREDIT: authoritynutrition.com

• Active ingredient limits effectiveness of treatment to tackle disease • Breath test detects aggressive tumours with 85% accuracy

It is considered a healthy alternative to dairy milk – and is famously popular among the yummy mummy crowd. But experts warn that women shouldn’t start consuming soya milk after a breast cancer diagnosis – because it may limit the effectiveness of treatment.

Tamoxifen could be inhibited due to soya’s active compound, genistein, interfering with the medicine’s action, a study found.Paradoxically, the naturally-occurring ingredient remains safe for women if it formed part of their diet before diagnosis, scientists claim.

Professor Leena Hilakivi-Clarke, of Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Centre, who conducted the biological pathway on rats, explained that timing of genistein intake is crucial.

“Oestrogen drives most breast cancer growth, yet high soya intake among women in Asian countries has been linked to a breast cancer rate that is five times lower than Western women, who eat much less soya,” she said.

“We have solved the puzzle in our rat model. See, while many oncologists advise their patients not to take isoflavone supplements or consume soya foods, our findings suggest a more nuanced message.

“Our results suggest that breast cancer patients should continue consuming soya foods after diagnosis, but not to start them if they have not consumed genistein previously.”

The study, which was published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, could help patients improve the role that diet plays on their treatment.Lead researcher Dr. Xiyuan Zhang added that longtime sustained use of genistein before a diagnosis has a similar action to Tamoxifen.“It inhibits a mechanism called autophagy that would allow cancer cells to survive, which explains why it helps tamoxifen works,” she said.However, starting to consume it after breast cancer develops not trigger anti-tumour immune response to eliminate cancer cells when tested on rats.

Those consuming genistein as adults had a seven per cent chance of breast cancer recurrence after tamoxifen treatment, compared with a 33 per cent recurrence with rats exposed to genistein only after breast cancer developed.

Zhang added: “We do not know yet why this made the animals resistant to the beneficial effects of tamoxifen and increased risk of cancer recurrence.”

Also, a simple breath test could soon be used to detect two kinds of aggressive cancers. The test has proved successful in detecting stomach and esophageal cancers in 300 trial patients – with 85 percent accuracy. Both cancers tend to be diagnosed too late – at which point the chance of surviving five years is slim.

Experts claim this discovery by researchers at Imperial College London could be a game-changer for diagnosis and death rates. It could also save thousands from having to endure painful endoscopy exams, which involves forcing a tube down one’s throat to inspect their stomach.

“At present the only way to diagnose esophageal cancer or stomach cancer is with endoscopy,” lead researcher Dr. Sheraz Markar told the European Cancer Congress 2017 last week. “This method is expensive, invasive and has some risk of complications.”

“A breath test could be used as a non-invasive, first-line test to reduce the number of unnecessary endoscopies. In the longer term this could also mean earlier diagnosis and treatment, and better survival.”

The trial was based on the results of previous research that suggested differences in the levels of specific chemicals between patients with stomach or esophageal cancer and patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms without cancer.

The new research aimed to test whether this ‘chemical signature’ could be the basis of a diagnostic test. In the new study, the research team collected breath samples from 335 people at three different London hospitals.

Of these, 163 had been diagnosed with stomach or esophageal cancer and 172 showed no evidence of cancer when they had an endoscopy.All the samples were analysed with a technique called selected ion flow-tube mass spectrometry, which is able to accurately measure small amounts of different chemicals in mixtures of gases such as breath.

Researchers measured the levels of the five chemicals in each sample to see which ones matched to the ‘chemical signature’ that indicated cancer.
The results showed that the test was 85 percent accurate overall, with a sensitivity of 80 percent and a specificity of 81 percent.This means that not only was the breath test good at picking up those who had cancer (sensitivity), it was also good at correctly identifying who did not have cancer (specificity).

Source: Guardianng

Photocredits: authoritynutriton

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Toxic fumes from cars, power plants raise ‘ageing brain’ risk

Globe-trotting pollutants increase chances of developing some malignant growths four times higher than predicted

Invisible particles in the air we breathe may elevate the risk of dementia by 92 per cent, experts have warned. Toxic fumes from cars and power plants are infiltrating brain cells, causing them to swell in response. This leaves the brain at risk of succumbing to the devastating condition, according to a new study.

Experts believe that dangerous levels of pollution in cities could actually be responsible for a fifth of global dementia cases. And scientists also discovered the risk was greater for women – especially if they possess a well-known “dementia gene”.

Researchers from the University of Southern California, United States (U.S.), analysed data of 3,647 women between 65 to 79 who didn’t have dementia.

“Microscopic particles generated by fossil fuels get into our body directly through the nose into the brain,” said study co-author Professor Caleb Finch.

“Cells in the brain treat these particles as invaders and react with inflammatory responses, which over the course of time, appear to exacerbate and promote Alzheimer’s disease. Although the link between air pollution and Alzheimer’s disease is a new scientific frontier, we now have evidence that air pollution, like tobacco, is dangerous to the aging brain.”

The study, which was published in the Translational Psychiatry journal, is the first of its kind conducted in the US. It noted that women who live in heavily polluted areas – such as near main roads or busy city centres are 81 per cent more at risk for cognitive decline.

Also, a new way of looking at how pollutants ride through the atmosphere has quadrupled the estimate of global lung cancer risk from a pollutant caused by combustion, to a level that is now double the allowable limit recommended by the World Health Organization.

The findings, published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition online, showed that tiny floating particles can grow semi-solid around pollutants, allowing them to last longer and travel much farther than what previous global climate models predicted.
Scientists said the new estimates more closely match actual measurements of the pollutants from more than 300 urban and rural settings.

The study was done by scientists at Oregon State University, the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, or PNNL, and Peking University. The research was primarily supported by PNNL.

Source: Guardianng

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4 Foods With More Calcium Than A Glass Of Milk You Should Eat

According to this interesting article by Women’sHealth, after considering the importance of calcium to the body and formation of bone, here are 4 foods that contain a large amount of calcium.

1. Salmon
One six-ounce serving of fresh salmon offers 340 milligrams of calcium, while a five-ounce serving of canned salmon has 350 milligrams (the bones in the canned stuff pack in more calcium). An excellent source of omega-3 fats, salmon helps keep your heart healthy and prevents inflammation. It’s also a great source of vitamin D, which your body needs in order to fully absorb calcium. Plus you’ll down 36 grams of protein per six-ounce serving, too. “You can find salmon on nearly every restaurant menu, too, so it’s easy to get your fill,” says Zeitlin. Eating at home? Grill it and pair it with Brussels sprouts, poach it and serve it on top of sautéed greens, or use canned salmon as a simple salad topper. Love sushi? Seaweed offers an additional calcium bump of 17 milligrams per two tablespoons.

2. Oats Meal with Soya Milk
A half cup of dry plain oats will give you 200 milligrams of calcium. Even better, the four grams of whole-grain fiber fills you up and keeps things moving through your digestive system, helping to lower your cholesterol and support your heart and gut health. Oats are also rich in B vitamins, which aid your metabolism by helping your body to convert food into energy. Cook your oatmeal with a cup of almond milk for another 300 to 400 milligrams of calcium. And for added crunch, flavor, and another 36 milligrams, top with two tablespoons of almonds.

3. Sardines
One tiny three-ounce serving packs 370 milligrams of calcium. And, like all fish, sardines are also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. “I like to grill them and throw them on top of a salad,” says Zeitlin. Make a mock Caesar salad by chopping them and mixing with three tablespoons of olive oil, one tablespoon of vinegar, and a pinch of salt and pepper, then tossing with calcium-rich dark leafy greens. Or add them into a stir-fry with spinach, mushrooms, onions, and tomatoes.

4. Chickpeas
This versatile superfood yields 315 milligrams of calcium in one-and-a-half cups—plus about 30 grams of filling fiber and 10 grams of protein. Drizzle them in olive oil and add a pinch of salt, then roast ‘em up. Eat them alone as a snack, or use as a topper on salads, soups, or stews. You can also blend chickpeas half and half with white beans (which have 190 milligrams of calcium in one cup) to make a white-bean soup.

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Must See!! 4 Reasons Why Married Couples Should Watch Blue Films Together (Married Couples Only)

There are many keys to a successful marriage one one of them is a good intimate life. Married couples should feel comfortable discussing and doing things they want in bed.

One way of finding out what they want in bed is by watching blue films together. Blue films are more dramatic and exaggerated versions of real life situations but still, they can teach a couple of things to couples. According to intimacy therapist Tola Ajayi: “We need to encourage our husbands to talk about being intimate with us. There’s nothing sinful in it, as long as it’s you and your husband.”

Here are four reasons:

1. You get to know what your partner likes

When couples don’t talk about what they want or like, the other person will be doing ‘trial and error’ till they get it right. However if your spouse picks out a film based on their preference, you will have direct access to their fantasies and you will work towards that.

2. It will set the mood

Sometimes seeing what other people are doing, makes you want to do it too and with your spouse there, you can get started right away. It’s one way to spice up your usual rhythm into something magical.

3. It will discourage cheating.

When your spouse sees what you want in bed and works towards it, what more do you need? A common excuse for cheating is a lack of satisfaction but if your spouse completely satisfies you, there will be no need to look for it outside.

4. It will update you on new techniques.

Intimacy is something that grows everyday. Couples should occasionally look for new things to try and a blue film can show you all this. Plus, you both will be watching so after you can discuss what new things you want to include.

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“ How 1 Doctor Attends To 6 ,000 Patients In Nigeria ” – WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that the current ratio of doctor to patient in Nigeria is at one doctor to 600 patients.

Professor Titus Ibekwe, the Head of the Ear,
Nose and Throat (ENT) department of the
University of Abuja, disclosed this on
Wednesday, January 25.
Prof Ibekwe said that this ratio is bad for
healthcare delivery in the country. The professor
who is also the former Vice President of Nigeria
Medical Association (NMA) said that the medical
personnel in Nigeria were constantly
overwhelmed by the large number of patients.
The professor said a lot of healthcare facilities in
the country are outdated while many are also
dilapidated.
He said: “Today as we speak, the current WHO
performance rating places Nigeria 187th out of
191 nations. That is really deplorable and not
expected of the giant of Africa.
“The WHO recommends a minimum of one
doctor to 600 patients but recent analysis
carried out by the NMA shows that in Nigeria,
one doctor is attending to 6,000 patients.
“Another issue is healthcare financing. In 2001,
right here in Abuja, all the African Heads of State
gathered and came up with a resolution which
was applauded by WHO and the United Nations
that they will dedicate 15 percent of their
country’s annual budgets to health, but since
then till today, the best we have achieved is six
percent.
“In the 2017 national budget, the allocation to
health is 4.1 per cent while in 2016 it was 4.4
per cent and we are talking of minimum of 15
per cent to achieve basic medical care that a
citizen needs.
“The National Health Act took the country 10
years before it was passed and this is three
years after its passage, implementation has not
commenced and every year one million children
die, 56,000 women die from issues around
pregnancy.
“Nigeria still rank number one in issue of HIV/
AIDs, second in woman that died from
pregnancy-related causes, one in childhood
death and tuberculosis.”
Meanwhile, doctors under the aegis of the NMA
have lamented the poor facilities in the country
while also lashing at President Muhammadu
Buhari and other top government officials for
seeking medical treatment abroad.

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See The 8 Common Habits That Are Unhealthy For Your Eyes

The Human eye is one of the most amazing
organ in the human body. It is also a complex
one just like the brain and sure needs constant
care to remain at optimal ability.

The truth is 80 percent of vision related
problems can be either cured or prevented. Here
in this post we are going to be talking about how
we can be preventing some eye related
problems.
It us important we keep our two peepers healthy
and here are some unhealthy things you might
have been doing which can be affecting your
eyes negatively.

1. Reading with low light
Our eyes are so sensitive to light and sure need
light to function well. Reading in low light is just
you straining your eyes.

2. Not seeing a professional for help
When we discover any problem with our eyes
most of us ignore it or use self medication. This
is bad

3. Rubbing your eyes
The make up of our eyes doesn’t support this,
though a lot of us engage in it from time to time.
Rubbing your eyes can lead to infection.

4. Smoking
Am sure you are not shocked to see smoking
making this list. We have previously spoken
about reasons you should quit smoking . And if
you love your eyes, you need to quit it now.

5. Swimming without googles
This can lead to a lot of eye related problems,
from irritation to partial blindness the dangers
are there.

6. Wearing cheap eye makeup
This is for the ladies, we know you love to wear
a cool makeup but cheap or expired eye makeup
can affect your eyes and eyelashes negatively.

7. Keeping contact lens for too long
Every eye care professional around knows that
using contacts in the wrong way can damage
your eyes.

8. Exposing your eyes to sunlight
Wearing protective shades and face caps might
be good to protect your eyes.

That would be all for now.
Cheers!

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This Is Very Important! 5 Bad Habits Caused By Your Phone

I recently had to live without my phone for one week, and it wasn’t easy at all. My phone crashed, and my lazy self was not even bothered to fix it or get a new one. I wondered how it was going to be like to live without a phone for a whole week, but thank God I survived.

A majority of us have not had to live without their smartphones for a long period of time. Some if we even think we cannot live without our phones. We’ve come to attached to it that we have picked up bad habits thanks to our tech friend. A lot of my friends wondered how I managed to live for a whole week without my phone. I thought I was living under a rock the first day but after that day I actually enjoyed life without my phone. I learnt how to do new things, new recipes, I even got back to reading and I wrote more. I was aware of what was happening around me, something I really couldn’t have done if I had been buried in my phone. I also was able to notice a fee bad habits my smartphone had made me and a lot of people adopt. Here are a few of the bad habits I’ve noticed that many of you have.

1. You’re a constant flake

People seem to use their phones as a means for making excuses — if you’re running late, you send a text to say so; if you have to cancel, you send an email 5 minutes before. You treat others this way because it’s the way they treat you, even though you hate it when they do.

But without constant access to a phone, you’re instead forced commit to plans and be on time. Your friends that know you don’t have a phone become aware of this, so they also show up on time. This new mutual respect for each others’ time and plans emerges, and those that are incapable of that respect seem unorganised and unreliable. You start to notice which type of person is better to have around.

2. You don’t respect people as much as you should

When you’re tethered to a constant connection, you’re easily taken out of the present and transplanted to future concerns. Out with friends? You get messages that make you think about something else entirely — a completely irrelevant thing from what you’re currently doing. And the people you’re with doing notice, but they probably don’t say anything.

You’re also selective of what and who you respond to because there are some things you’d rather ignore at that moment. So you end up flaking on people that are trying to reach you, too — and they know this because you’ve seen their message.

By not being constantly connected, you give greater respect to those around you and even those that aren’t.

3. You’re a terrible driver

I’ve watched people send texts and scroll through contacts while he tries to get somewhere safely.

No matter what you think, a person looking down at their phone simply cannot be the same quality of driver as they are without looking down at their phone. And if you were just slightly less connected like me, you wouldn’t be tempted to be on your phone in your car at all.

4. You get less done.

You’re always thinking about two things at once. Similar to how you lack respect for the people around you both presently and virtually, you have trouble giving respect to things you’re doing. The tasks you work on or set out to accomplish are always given less than 100 percent of your focus, and the result is they take twice as long to complete or are of lesser than perfect quality.

When you allow yourself to always be connected, you’re reacting to events as they come to your attention. You think you’re getting more done at once, but you’re actually just switching between tasks and to-do list items, without ever spending more time or focus on just one thing.

If you instead devoted your entire focus on just one thing, you’d spend less time on it and it would turn out better — giving yourself more time to respond to your friends or send a Snapchat later on.

5. You use your phone as a social crutch.

You stand in a crowded elevator and swipe between home screens, without having anything new to check. You come up with a reason to text someone while you’re at a party because don’t feel enough of a buzz just yet. You can’t sit and sip a coffee from a park bench without checking Instagram.

I once even saw a woman in her 30s scrolling through Facebook from her bar stool, next to the man who’d brought her there and was ordering her drinks. Something about her inexpressive face lit up by a screen made me very sad.

Sure, a lot of people are uncomfortable in social situations, and maybe looking at your phone to pass the time or avoid a moment of awkwardness is easier for you. But it still isn’t a good habit to get into, no matter who you are.

And if you think you’re being nice by accepting an invitation to just sit on your phone somewhere, you’re wrong. Stay home until you can figure out how to enjoy yourself.

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5 Toxic Behaviors No One Should Tolerate In 2017

Humans always try to build relationships over the course of their lifetime. Relationships with parents, partners, siblings, workmates and so on. But we all know that relationships are famously difficult. People argue and they fight, even when they care for each other,  and it’s little wonder that there are many of us who have trouble recognising the line in the sand—and yes, it’s there—when normal turns into toxic.

Not all relationships are toxic. People who grow up in families where relationships are strong, love is openly expressed, boundaries are minded, and respect is the operative word have a built-in alarm system when connections go darkly south. This is opposite for people who came of age in fractious households in which adults used abusive language or manipulative tactics to manage the family. These insecurely-attached people don’t have a solid mental model of what a healthy, thriving relationship includes—and the behaviors it doesn’t.

This year, it should be our aim to gert rid of all toxins in our lives. I have made up a list of five toxic behaviours everyone should recognise and no one should tolerate. It doesn’t matter who’s behaving in this way and the rule is no tolerance, whether it’s a spouse, a lover, a parent, a sibling, a friend, or a co-worker.

Making sure that you don’t normalise any of these behaviours is the first step. The second is holding the people who behave in any of these ways accountable.

1. Stonewalling

It’s been called the most toxic pattern in a relationship and it’s common enough that it’s earned its own acronym in research: DM/W or Demand/Withdraw. Escalation is built into this conscious withdrawal and refusal to talk since the person who wants the discussion will ratchet up her (or his) demands the more the partner withdraws. There’s a gender bias—men are more likely to be in the withdraw position—but women stonewall too.

Stonewalling is controlling and manipulative and has nothing to do with being shy, inarticulate or being tongue-tied about emotional connections. Don’t make excuses for a stonewalling partner, especially if the behaviour is accompanied by contempt. There’s a reason marriage expert John Gottman calls it one of the four Horsemen that doom a relationship.

2. Personalising criticism

Things go wrong in life: mistakes are made, vases get broken and bumpers get dented, dry cleaning doesn’t get picked up, and you forget key ingredients at the grocery store because you left the list on the counter. But when your partner or friend uses that moment to attack you—beginning sentences with the words “You always” or “You never”—you’re no longer in a healthy territory. Using a simple mistake to segue into a recitation of your flaws is verbal abuse, no matter how familiar it sounds to you.

3. Gaslighting

A term is taken from a play from the 1930s and a movie made of that play, gaslighting involves convincing someone that an event never happened or words were never uttered in an effort to make her feel she can’t trust her own perceptions and even, in extreme cases, to doubt her own sanity. (I’m using female pronouns but men can be gaslighted, too.)

Unloving and abusive parents often gaslight children—denying that they said what the child heard or that they did what the child witnessed—which can have lasting effects, among them a normalisation of this kind of denial. Gaslighting is by its nature predatory since the person doing the gaslighting is using your own self-doubt and insecurities as weapons against you. There is never any situation in which this behaviour is acceptable.

4. Threatening—whether veiled or not

This sounds pretty obvious but you’d be surprised by how many people don’t always hear the underbelly of the words, “If you don’t…. then I will….” Relationships in which there is one person who has more literal power in some area of life—that could be a parent or a spouse who makes most or all of the money or even any relationship that has some other imbalance—often incorporate this kind of behaviour seamlessly.

Threats don’t exist in a vacuum; there are usually other ancillary behaviours such as marginalising the person, denigrating her or treating her with contempt or using personalised criticism that facilitates the aggression and makes the person being threatened to normalise the behaviour. This kind of emotional grandstanding isn’t okay even when it doesn’t include a physical threat. You hear me?

5. Scapegoating

When things go wrong, people feel better if there’s some kind of explanation and, alas, for toxic folks, blame is one way of connecting the dots.

Blaming one person for whatever goes wrong has the added “benefit” of permitting you to evade any personal responsibility. That’s why it’s easier for a parent to focus on the so-called troublemaker in the family than to address her or his own failures as a parent. Scapegoating also helps people who are easily angered or thrown for a loop by random events to process what’s happened—even though it does require a really twisted version of illogic.

Making sure that you don’t normalise any of these behaviours is the first step. The second is holding the people who behave in any of these ways accountable.

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Are You Diabetic? See 8 Healthy Foods For You

Gone were the day’s people tough diabetes only affected old people. Diabetes can affect anyone regardless of age, race, gender, or lifestyle. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and it can be managed.

Water is really important for diabetic patients because they are at risk of dehydration. This is because increased blood glucose depletes fluids and to get rid of glucose in the blood, water is required to pass it out through urine. Here are eight foods that are healthy for diabetic people.

1. Beans

Beans as a whole such as brown beans, honey beans, soya beans, kidney beans are perfect for diabetics. It’s very easy for the layman to say beans contains just protein but that is not true. Beans actually contain; protein, fibre, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals depending on the type of beans. The thing is, the percentage content of protein is far greater that the other classes of food combined together while the carbohydrate content in beans is very little but needed. This is one of the reasons why beans are recommended for people with diabetes. Meals like moi moi, akara, tofu and drinks like soy milk are great for people with diabetes.

2. Vegetables

Vegetables and fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre, water, phytochemicals and antioxidants and generally low in calories and carbohydrates, making them an excellent option for diabetics. Calciferous Vegetables such as; red or green cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Asparagus are perfect for diabetics. They could be eaten raw or steamed lightly.

Allium vegetables such as; Garlic, scallions onion, leeks and shallots are allium vegetables known for their antibacterial properties and low carb content are also perfect for diabetics. They help boost immunity as well as reduce inflammation.

Unripe plantain is also great because it has a low glycemic index. This can be made into “swallow” and taken with diabetic friendly meals or made into a snack.

They are still very good reasons to include leafy green vegetables in your diet, whether or not they reduce diabetes risk. They are high in vitamin and minerals, low carbohydrate content, and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

3. Fresh Fruits

Diabetic patients fear taking fruits because of its fructose content. They think it will increase their blood sugar level. The truth is not all fruits are suitable for diabetics. fruits which contain a high fibre content and low sugar content are good for diabetics.

Fruits with a low glycemic index such as Grapes, Cranberries , Pomegranate, Kiwi fruit, Pears, Plums, Strawberries, Nectarines, Citrus fruits, Apples, Avocados, Bananas, Berries, Peaches, Cherries, Grapefruit, Guava are perfect for diabetics and help in controlling blood sugar. Here’s a point to consider, though, never drink fruit juices made from concentrate. These are packed with sugar and preservatives which are not natural and not suitable.

More: Signs You May Have Diabetes

4. Whole Grains

Whole grains such as Whole Oats, Whole Wheat, Brown rice, Barley, Quinoa, Millet, Acha can help to prevent blood sugar spikes during the day in people living with diabetes. This is because whole grains are rich in fibre which can help slow down the absorption of glucose into the blood. They are also rich in vitamins and minerals which make them a better choice than refined carbohydrates.

5. Nuts & Seeds

Eating any kind of nuts or a mixture of nuts such as; Almond nuts, Walnuts, Cashew nuts, Brazil nuts, Groundnut and Tiger nuts are good for diabetics and it helps lower the risks of diabetes and heart diseases as long as it’s eaten in moderation and also balanced with healthy food choices.

6. Dairy Products

Dairy products such as egg, yoghurt are great for diabetics. This is because they are packed with high-quality protein, vitamins and minerals. Protein not only slows digestion, it also slows glucose absorption, which is very helpful if you have diabetes. Egg intake according to scientists should be limited to three a week. If you only eat egg whites, you can feel comfortable eating more. This is because the saturated fats are contained in the yolk alone.

Also, fermented foods, such as yoghurt, contain good bacteria called probiotics. Probiotics have been shown to improve gut health. When searching for yoghurts, look for yoghurts with high protein content and low carbohydrates, e.g unflavored Greek yoghurt or plain unsweetened yoghurt.

7. Oils (Palm Oil, Groundnut Oil, Vegetable Oil, Olive Oil)

Healthy oils which are good for diabetics include; Groundnut oil, Olive oil, Almond oil, Sesame oil, Avocado oil, Hazelnut oil, Canola oil, Pumpkin seed oil. This is because they are high in monounsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids. and low in saturated fats.

8. Lean Fish & Poultry

Most fish, seafood and chicken (without the skin) are great for diabetics. This is because they are rich in protein, low in unhealthy saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol. Fish is a natural source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and it does not have any carbohydrate, so it will not cause blood glucose to rise.

Do you know anyone suffering from diabetes or are you a patient, please share and also tells us how you manage the illness.

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Attention People Who Eat Dog Meat : See The 3 Major Health Concerns You Should Know About

Although the concept of eating dog meat is
completely unheard of in the U.S., in other parts
of the world, it is regarded just the same as
eating chicken or cow. In Vietnam, for example,
approximately five million dogs are killed every
year for meat, other places dog meat is eaten
include Europe, Russia, Africa, Latin America,
China, the Philippines, and South Korea.
While the suffering of these animals is
undeniable, there are also major human health
concerns arising from the consumption of dog.
The issues highlighted are critical concerns that
could have a negative impact on human health if
they are not addressed by ending the
consumption of dog meat.

1. Rabies
One of the largest dangers of dog meat is the
spread of rabies to both animals and people.
According to the Center for Disease Control’s
records, only 10 people have ever survived this
horrific disease. This is clearly a major concern
when such a dangerous and deadly disease can
be so easily spread.

2. Other Diseases
There are many other diseases and infections
associated with dog meat that can endanger
human health. Possible infections include
parasites such as E. Coli 107 and salmonella.
There is also a danger that bacterial infections
like anthrax, brucellosis, hepatitis, and
leptospirosis can be spread through the meat to
people. The bacteria associated with Cholera is
also easily spread and propagated through the
process of mass transporting and slaughtering
dogs for consumption. Trichinellosis is a
zoonotic parasite that can be easily transmitted
from dogs to humans through infected meat
consumption. Once these parasites are in the
human body, they can cause inflammation in
blood vessels which leads to hemorrhaging in
the nail beds and eyes, in addition to severe
muscle weakness. If left untreated, trichinellosis
can be fatal.

3. Antibiotic Resistance
There are many parallels to be found between
dog meat farms and factory farms in America,
unfortunately, antibiotic resistance is one of
them. According to Change for Animals
Foundation, “On dog farms, large numbers of
dogs are living in close confinement, under
stressful conditions, and are usually being fed
insufficient, poor quality food. These factors
result in increased levels of infectious disease
and high mortality rates. In an effort to try to
control the spread of disease and maximize
productivity, there is evidence of farmers
resorting to the indiscriminate overuse of
antibiotics and vaccines.”

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Health Tips!!! How You Can Prevent Appollo – According To Expert

A medical expert in Ilorin, Dr Misbau Lawal, has
advised people to imbibe the habit of regular
hand washing to avoid contracting viral and
bacterial infection of the eye currently
spreading.

         The infection, known as ‘conjunctivitis’ in
medical parlance and ‘appollo’ in local parlance,
is inflammation of the conjunctiva, a thin, filmy
membrane that covers the white portion of the
eyes.
According to Lawal, the conjunctiva, which
produces mucous to coat and lubricate the
surface of the eye, contains fine blood vessels
that can be seen on close inspection.
Lawal advised people to keep their hands away
from the eyes and thoroughly wash hands
before and after applying eye medications on
infected children.
He explained that conjunctivitis was a common
eye problem that affected people of all age
groups and one of the most common eye
infections in children.
The physician added that the most common
cause of irritation of the eye layer was due to
allergies in the environment, which included air
pollution, smoke, pollen from trees and grass.
He also explained that when the conjunctiva
became irritated or inflamed, the blood vessels,
which supplied it, enlarged and became more
prominent, causing the eye to turn red.
According to him, symptoms include pinkness or
redness in the eye red, inflamed inner eyelids,
blurred vision, sandy or scratchy feeling in the
eye, pus, mucous, or watery discharge from the
eye.
“People who work in health care settings or with
children, have a high risk of exposure to the
viruses that can cause viral conjunctivitis,” he
warned.
He also warned against sharing of towels,
washcloth, cosmetics, or eye-drops with others,
advising those infected to seek treatment
promptly.
The expert also advised that infected small
children, who may forget these precautions, be
kept away from school, camp, and the
swimming pool, until their condition was cured.
The outbreak is prevalent among children who
mostly get infected from schools.
In some of the hospital visited in Ilorin
metropolis, many children with symptoms of
‘apollo’, were brought for medical treatment.

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21 year old charged for pouring acid on his18 year old girlfriend

Ghanaian man identified as Stephen Donkor has been charged for pouring acid on his 18 year old girlfriend, after she threatened to leave him. The 21 year old who appeared at an Accra court today,  was remanded in police custody by the presiding Judge, Mr James Kojo Botah who charged him with attempted murder of his girlfriend, Mary Oforiwaa.
According to Ghana web, the prosecutor’s case which was brought forward in court indicated that Oforiwaa who is a trader had been threatening to end their relationship over suspicious feeling,  his boyfriend was cheating on her.

Speaking in court, prosecutor Gregory Yeboah told the court that on Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at about 10pm; the pair had a serious misunderstanding after Donkor returned from work to meet no food in the house.  At about 1am the next day, the prosecutor said Donkor went for the acid which he hid under a kiosk and poured it on the victim who was fast asleep.

After the tragic act, he ran out of the house as Oforiwaa woke up screaming for help before a witness in the case came to her aid and rushed her to Faith Hospital which after she was referred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital where is presently on admission.

According to the prosecutor, he also stated that Donkor rushed to Darkuman police station in Accra to make a quick report  that someone had poured acid on his girlfriend, saying he suspected the witness in the case.

The witness was apprehended, but after proper investigations were put in a place, it was revealed that it was Donkor who committed the crime

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How daily hygiene can prevent urinary tract infections

A 28 year old female starts complaining of severe lower back pain that started a day before. She’s also complaining of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and has a high fever. She has been urinating about 15 times a day but there is no pain while urinating. However, she was experiencing excruciating pain while urinating several times about 2 weeks ago but she took some Ibuprofen and that seemed to help alleviate the pain.
At first glance, from this lady’s symptoms, it almost seems as if this lady is having abdominal issues since she’s having abdominal pain along with nausea and vomiting. However, what stands out with her is that she has been urinating about 15 times daily. This is known as Urinary frequency. A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a common cause of frequent urination. Another finding that is worth mentioning is that she was experiencing excruciating pain while urinating about 2 weeks ago, so she took Ibuprofen to help with the pain. The painkillers just masked the underlying problem; it did not cure it.
Now, she is complaining of urinary frequency, severe abdominal pain and lower back pain, she can hardly move, looks very ill, having nausea and vomiting and has a high fever. These symptoms are a classical presentation of ACUTE PYELONEPHRITIS. This person is most likely suffering from Acute pyelonephritis (infection of the kidney) which is causing her severe lower back pain and the abdominal pain. This acute pyelonephritis is most likely due to untreated Urinary Tract Infection of which she showed symptoms of 2 weeks prior.
Urinary tract infections are usually ascending infections from bacteria that colonize the vaginal wall and these bacteria eventually get into the urethra. It travels upwards to infect the bladder; this is known as cystitis. If left untreated, the bacterial infection can go higher up the tract to infect the kidneys (pyelonephritis). Patients with Urinary Tract Infection usually present with urinary frequency, urinary urgency, pain on urination(dysuria). Though it can affect men and women, it more commonly affects young women.
Most UTIs are caused by E. coli. E. coli is a bacteria that is normally found in the intestines and it leaves the body through the anus during bowel movements. The distance between the urethra (urinary opening) and anus is very short in women so this makes it very easy for the bacteria to get in and once the E. coli gets into the urethra, it can cause an infection. Other less common causes of UTIS include anatomical defects of the urinary system. Pregnant women and people with diabetes are also at an increased risk of contracting UTIs due to suppressed immune function.
People that present with UTIs usually have classic symptoms; hence it is most times a clinical diagnosis made by the doctor. That is to say, that majority of people that present with such symptoms such as dysuria(painful urination), urinary frequency, urinary urgency most likely have a urinary tract infection. Your doctor might choose to do a Urine culture and/or Urinalysis just to make sure.
Since it is bacterial infection, antibiotics such as FLUROQUINOLONES taken for about 3-7 days are the drug of choice depending on the severity. Sometimes your doctor would go ahead and start treating even before Urine culture and Urinalysis test results are out. This is because we do not want the bacterial infection to progress to even more severe condition, so we start treatment immediately.
If the patient has symptoms such as abdominal pain, back pain (due to inflamed and infected kidneys) in addition to above symptoms, then the UTI has most likely progressed to pyelonephritis. In such scenarios, the patient would have to be admitted and given IV antibiotics till the patient starts feeling better then you can discharge and continue oral antibiotics for 2 weeks.
UTIs are very common infections and are easily treated with antibiotics. In fact, approximately, 60 % of people will experience a UTI at least once in their lifetime. It is very important to quickly identify and treat UTIs in order to avoid a more severe condition known as pyelonephritis which is when your kidneys are infected and inflamed. 20-30% of patients with untreated UTI will develop pyelonephritis so if you are experiencing such symptoms, please visit your nearest medical centre or talk to your doctor.HYGIENE also plays a major role in preventing UTIs. Here are some tips on how to remain UTI free.
-ALWAYS wipe from front to back after urinating. This will prevent germs from being transferred from anus to urinary opening. This is the #1 Rule. Please Don’t joke with it!
-AVOID taking prolonged bubble baths, because the water maybe contaminated and therefore, prolonged stay may allow the bacteria to reach urinary opening. So Please, Ladies, think twice before running yourself a hot bubble bath…. Please take a warm shower instead! Better safe than sorry.
-PLEASE don’t hold your urine for long periods at a time, if you have to urinate, please do so. Holding your urine will only give the bacteria a chance to multiply!
– DRINK plenty of fluids; and by fluids, I mean water…. Not soft drinks or juice concentrates! The only juice you are allowed to drink is Cranberry Juice. Water and cranberry help to flush out bacteria from the urinary tract.
-AVOID using scented vaginal products such as scented douches and sprays because they can cause UTIs and a host of other infections. Stay away from all these perfumed products designed for your intimate area. They cause more harm than good. Period!
-DIET: Avoid too much sugary foods as too much sugar decreases your body’s ability to fight infections.
Disclaimer: The medical information provided on here by Dr. Nini Iyizoba is provided as an information resource only. This information does not create any patient-physician relationship and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.

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Health Tip: Here are 10 Foods That Burn Fat

1 . Oats : Its not only tastes great but also reduces your hunger. Oats contains fiber which helps and stabilizes the levels of cholesterol.

2 . Eggs : Eggs are the rich sources of proteins and low in calories . Eggs helps us to build the muscles and develops the good cholesterol.

3 . Apples : Apples are enriched with powerful antioxidants and other supplements . Most importantly it contains Pectin which helps to reduce the fat cells in the body .

4 . Green Chillies : Green chillies contains Capsaicin which helps to develop the body growth cells and burns the calories in quick time .

5 . Garlic : Garlic contains Allicin which has anti- bacterial properties helps us to reduce the fat and removes the bad cholesterol .

6 . Honey : Honey is the best one to burn fat . Add honey in warm water and take it daily in the early morning .

7 . Green Tea : Green Tea is the most effective one which helps you to lose weight . It contains Antioxidants which helps and stabilizes our body weight . Take daily 2 cups of tea for a better results .

8 . Wheat Grass : It boosts our metabolism and helps to reduce the fat.
9 . Tomatoes : Tomatoes helps us to burn the fat in quick time. It also helps us to stay away from cancer . So Take tomatoes in your diet regularly.

10 . Dark Chocolate : Dark chocolate contains Flavonoids, anti- inflammatory properties which helps to reduce the cholesterol levels in the blood. It boost the growth of serotonin in the blood and also burns the fat .

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