Thursday 17 October 2013

Lice - No Respecter of Persons

I never used to understand why some people washed their clothes with hot water, here’s to the bug! They’re creepy, crawly and downright ugly, head lice are every mom’s worst nightmare. It’s amazing how this critter can create so much fear, yet it’s just the size of a sesame seed. If you’ve never had an encounter with this bug, you probably already have incorrect ideas about how pesky it is and whom it affects. Unlike the popular view that classifies them under the lower income group, head lice are no respecter of persons or financial status. They crawl on the heads of majestic kings as well as lowly peasants.

How can one avoid getting head lice? Simple, avoid sharing combs, brushes and clothing items with others. Children tend to share things among each other at school and during sleep overs. What if you don’t take precautions? Be prepared to shave your hair or face the tug of war especially when dealing with the eggs (nits) since they’re much smaller than the adult and baby louse. Makes one think, how about hair salons, how do I know I won't get lice? Ask your hair stylist or just Do It Yourself :)

Let’s get our facts straight, not every itchy head is infested with lice and certainly does not mean one is dirty. If you’re already engaged in the battle, here are some of the measures you can take to eliminate and remove the nits or the louse:

1.    Be patient, you’re in for a long ride!
2.    Purchase a nit comb and always wash your combs or brushes after use.
3.    Wash affected clothes, bedding etc. with hot water, thereafter wash regularly and allow clothes to dry in the sun.
4.    Apply some olive oil on the hair, wear a shower cap and leave it on for 6 hours then wash your hair.
5.    Apply Apple cider vinegar on your hair and massage it through, leave it on for 2 hours and wash your hair.
6.    Lice are apparently repelled by the smell of rosemary one can use rosemary as a rinse for the hair and also the sprigs can be placed inside the pillow. Tea tree oil also helps

7.    And if preferable use over the counter lice treatment 

Tuesday 1 October 2013

Hypertension

Hypertension (high-blood pressure) used to be perceived as a degenerative disease (of old age), however; recent research indicates that more young people are becoming prone to the condition. Also known as the silent killer, hypertension has become among the most prevalent diseases in the world and many of those who have the condition, are not aware of that hence the 'silence'. As described by C. Steyn (S.A. Medical Research Council), Hypertension is "a risk factor for heart attacks, stroke, left ventricular hypertrophy, renal disease, and blindness" and further notes that "hypertension frequently co-exists with other risk factors for chronic diseases of lifestyle (CDL), such as diabetes and obesity."

In most cases diet is the primary cause of disease and can be attributed to hypertension as well. "Disease is an effort of nature to free the system from conditions that result from a violation of the laws of health. In case of sickness, the cause should be ascertained. Unhealthful conditions should be changed, wrong habits corrected. Then nature is to be assisted in her effort to expel impurities and to re-establish right conditions in the system."

In order to improve your overall health, 

·         Drink pure water, drink at least 8 glasses of water a day (2 glasses of warm water with lemon juice in the morning, 2 glasses 2 hours after eating breakfast, another 2 glasses 2 hours after lunch and another 2 glasses 2 hours after supper )
·        Eat high-fibre diet of raw vegetables, fruits, nuts and whole grains (oats, corn, whole wheat, brown rice, sorghum or mabele, couscous, polenta etc. avoid refined food).
·         Eat 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed/ lin seeds per day sprinkle in your cereal
·         Raw garlic normalizes blood pressure; try to get the garlic cloves and not the crushed ready-made garlic.
·         Grape seed extract
·        Eat tomatoes, celery, valerian and onions in moderation, tomatoes have certain amino acids that reduce blood pressure.
·         Broccoli has chemicals that reduce blood pressure
·         Carrots, asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes, avocados, oranges, grapefruit and peaches have antioxidants that help prevent or reduce the artery-clogging plaque from being deposited into the coronary artery walls.
·       Regular exercise tends to decrease the systolic pressure by 4-6 points and the diastolic pressure by up to 3 points. Outdoor exercise is the best example, brisk walking and gardening. Not only will you be getting sunshine, but you will also be tired enough to rest which the body needs to replenish for the next day. Exercise also helps improve circulation thus helping to transport enough oxygen to the brain; this process helps to improve memory.
·         Check your blood pressure regularly
·         Keep your weight down (switch to a plant-based diet, this helps to loose weight)
·         Get a neutral warm bath and rest
·         Visit quite places with fresh air (take time to go to the country side)
·         Pray daily, fellowship with others and cherish a spirit of gratitude to God.
·         Decrease your salt intake and eat several hours before sleeping.
·         Avoid caffeine in tea or coffee (de-caf included), chocolates and soft/fizzy drinks including diet soft drinks, if you have to, rather drink 100% fruit juice or even better drink water.
·         Emotional stress, overeating, anger, impatience and tobacco affect blood pressure levels
·         Avoid cheese since it contains a lot of sodium, and a lot of saturated fat, also has a high tyramine content
·         Avoid flesh (fish, chicken, meat), dairy products, margarine, butter or animal fat, it is better and would improve your health to adopt a plant-based diet

·         When you’re anxious, try not to eat and when you do eat, eat slowly, it has been proven that the slower you eat the more satiety you get from your food and you are less likely to eat more than is required by the body, thus avoiding gaining excess weight.

Grasp hold of this special promise: "do not fear, for I AM with you; do not be dismayed, for I AM your GOD. I will strengthen you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10