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Although I love making Indian food for its myriad colors and flavors, I must admit I never knew why turmeric was used in just about everything – in desserts, in chutneys, in the main course, and in the bedtime mug of milk. Now I know it’s because turmeric is the most beneficial herb you could add to any dish. It cools the stomach, purifies the blood, eliminates toxins, and aids digestion. It’s also an antioxidant. And there’s more.
Turmeric is a golden-yellow slightly bitter powder derived from the boiled, dried, powdered rootstock of a plant that looks very much like ginger. It is the flavoring agent that is most often held responsible for curry stains that don’t wash away easily. But that can be forgiven, as it lowers your risk of cancer, reduces inflammations, is used to treat asthma, arthritis, skin infections, anemia, and several other disorders.
Just as good as an external medicine, turmeric is said to be effective against many, if not all, germs that invade the body. It is used in sunscreens and gets rid of acne without leaving behind scars. It is applied over wounds to prevent infections. It is a fungicide and keeps bugs away from stored grains. Not surprising then that it is the physician’s favorite herb and the subject of several patent wrangles.
Curcumin: Concentrated Turmeric
The main constituent of turmeric is curcumin. This element has been shown to prevent several kinds of cancers in tests on animals. Curcumin can prevent a tumor from growing and spreading through the body. This has been confirmed in studies on animals afflicted with tumors in the colon, prostate gland and breast.
Curcumin’s antioxidant properties destroy free radicals that affect our cells and result in premature aging and several disorders. It strengthens the liver and rids it of toxins. And those at risk of heart diseases can incorporate a pinch of turmeric in their meals to prevent any damage to the arteries. Turmeric also lowers cholesterol levels, and does not allow clots to form in the arteries.
Anti-aging Brain Spice?
Curcumin has also been shown in animal studies to protect the brain as it ages. Asian Indians have at least half the age related brain diseases (like Alzheimer’s disease) of those in the rest of the developed world. One possible explanation is their almost daily consumption of turmeric in dishes like curry.
While curcumin is the concentrated extract of turmeric and can be purchased as a supplement, the ethnobotanist James A. Duke theorizes the synergistic effects of food are more important than just consuming what appears to be the active ingredient.
Home remedies:
Asthma: Add I teaspoon of turmeric powder to a glass of milk. Let this boil over a slow flame for a couple of minutes without spilling over.
Sore throat: A milk-turmeric drink can be used by those with a sore throat from a cold. If you add a teaspoon of powdered pepper to this (only if you can handle the spice), it acts as an expectorant and clears up the nose.
Intestinal worms: You will need a teaspoon of fresh juice from raw turmeric first thing in the morning. Add a pinch of salt and sip this before you eat or drink anything else.
Muscle strain: Take equal quantities of ginger paste and turmeric paste and apply it over the affected area for at least 30 minutes.
Stomach upset: After a meal that didn’t agree with you, take a cupful of yogurt. Add a spoonful of turmeric to it and eat it.
More than a million flowers make one jar of honey.
Nectar from flowers that bees gather and process, that’s basically what honey is. But, it’s more than just sweet syrup that goes well with just about anything. Packed with nutrients and useful for just about any ailment, you can’t go wrong starting your day with raw honey.
Fructose, glucose, and nectar are the main ingredients of honey. The sugar in honey is absorbed directly by our body, and converted into energy instantaneously. It is healthier than sugar beause it contains fewer calories & is nutrient rich. Weight for weight, it takes more sugar to sweeten a dish than it does honey.
Due to its anti bacterial properties, honey is used in poultices and bandages to speed up healing of wounds.
Honey relaxes the body and rejuvenates it. Anxious children and older people find it a useful and harmless sedative.
Honey’s antioxidant properties are sought after in anti-aging therapies. It makes skin supple and soft by moisturizing it. The darker the honey, the better it is for you.
Honey benefits the blood by creating stronger white blood corpuscles that protect the body.
As a restorative, it is unparalleled. Even those who experience excessive thirst find relief with just a trickle of honey.
Infections of the urinary tract, worms, asthma, cough, diarrhea, and nausea can be cured by honey.
It can act as a vehicle for other medicines. In fact, it helps herbal medicines reach the deeper tissues.
9 Everyday Uses for Honey
Aging: Slow down the ravages of time by adding honey to your food and your beauty regime. Honey helps digest food, is healthier than sugar, and has a calming effect on the entire body. It erases fine lines, scabs, blotches and tanned skin, and makes your skin more youthful. Rubbed on joints with other oils, it can relieve you from aches and inflammations.
Fatigue: Sports enthusiasts and even those who work all day, turn to honey-laced drinks to increase physical stamina, boost the immune system, and rejuvenate the body.
Constipation: A tablespoonful of honey with warm water when you start to feel uneasy, or as soon as you wake up, is a great remedy for constipation. If you have no option but to eat out and want to protect your stomach, try to incorporate a dessert with a dollop of honey.
Menopause: The onset of menopause brings with it discomfort all over the body and the joints. Honey can be used to reduce the pain and strengthen your immune system. Add it to your tea, just before you drink it. Do not boil honey in water.
Skin: Mix egg yolk, a teaspoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of honey and make a thick paste that you can apply over your face, neck and hands. Or mix honey with unboiled milk to de-tan your skin. Let the paste dry over you, although it will feel very sticky. Wash it off after about 15 minutes with warm water.
Chest complaints: Honey is the best known remedy to treat phlegm congestion. Add it to an infusion of ginger root or cinnamon powder and drink it while it is warm. Buckwheat honey is a proven cough suppressant.
Eyesight: Add a tablespoonful of honey to a glass of carrot juice to help your eyes fight fatigue.
Blood pressure: Add a teaspoonful of garlic juice to two teaspoons of honey to control your blood pressure.
Weight loss: Add two spoonfuls of honey to one spoonful of lemon juice in warm water and drink it before you start your day. The heat generated by the combination detoxifies your body and reduces fat.
Watch how to make an energizing honey drink and see tips on how to store honey.
Jute has been grown for food since 6000 B.C. and was reportedly eaten by Cleopatra for its health and beauty benefits. In recent history however, it has been relatively unknown for its range of culinary and health benefits. Instead the fiber-rich stem of the jute plant has been dismissed as just a source of for bags and ropes.
In part, the reason for this probably lies in the fact that this food with its tender leaves is so commonly grown in many parts of the world that it had no commercial value as a food product. But maybe the Egyptian people knew a secret. This member of the mallow family is considered a staple in Egypt, where it is called malukhiyah.
Today, in many parts of Asia, Africa and in the Philippines, jute leaves, also called saluyot, or Jew mallow, have been heading the list of anti-aging miracles. By far, one of the most nutritious and rich sources of calcium, beta carotene, and vitamins C & E, jute leaves are a healthy addition to soups and stir-fry veggie dishes. Like the consistency of okra when cooked, jute leaves are similarly sticky and are added to soups, sauces, and stews to thicken the dish.
Anti-aging Benefits of Saluyot
Jute leaves contain almost all of the nutrients needed by humans. But, the most important benefit of the leaves is their high antioxidant property, primarily in the form of Vitamin E. These antioxidants combine with free radicals that cause problems like arthritis, hardening of arteries, heart and kidney ailments. Among the many benefits, saluyot contains:
Vitamin A, which aids in repairing the body’s cells and improves eyesight
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid, which improves circulation and helps lower the risk of cataracts and other eye disorders
Vitamin E, which slows down the aches and pains associated with aging, holds infertility at bay, and increases stamina
A high percentage of calcium, which contributes to strong teeth and bones.
Eating saluyot regularly helps control blood pressure & cholesterol, and lowers the risk of asthma, cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Dried saluyot leaves can be made into a tea believed to cure headaches, dysentery, stomach aches and ulcers
Saluyot can be added to any soup you make: chicken, beans, pumpkin and so on. It could also be stir-fried and eaten with rice or noodles. The longer it is boiled or fried, the more sticky it gets, so do not let it stew for too long.
Saluyot Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 cup jute leaves, washed and finely chopped
1 cup pumpkin leaves, washed and finely chopped
5 bitter eggplants, washed and finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. Ground coriander seeds
Add enough water or chicken broth for cooking the ingredients without sticking
Mix the ingredients in a pot and simmer for about 15 minutes on a low flame.
Lightly sauté garlic with ground coriander in a tablespoon of olive or coconut oil and add at the end. Salt to taste.
Where to Find Saluyot
It is recommended that you buy organically grown saluyot, as you would any other vegetable. But, because the leaves wilt quickly after picking, you’re not likely to find it in your local grocery or even farmer’s market in the US. Although you most certainly would in the Philippines or Egypt.
Saluyot Noodles
In the Philippines, a form of veggie noodle supplemented with saluyot has been developed to combat nutritional deficiencies. Products include canton and instant cup noodles and may soon be available in specialty stores in the West.
Grow Your Own Wrinkle Buster
Saluyot Harvest in Philippines
Although some jute plants produce bitter leaves and are not considered edible, we managed to find a seed source for an edible variety of saluyot at Nichols Garden Nursery in Oregon.
Although it can be found in the wild in many soil types, it grows best in nutrient rich soils. Saluyot doesn’t tolerate drought, so be sure to water it at least weekly during dry weather. It will produce best in warm weather and the leaves should be picked frequently to encourage new tender growth. As fall approaches you can pull the entire plant and hang it to dry. The dry leaves can either be used for tea or added to soups during the cold months.
Add some saluyot to your kitchen garden and grow your own wrinkle buster. You might even want to experiment making your own facial masks and tell your friends you’re using Cleopatra’s Secret.
One of the most common problems with aging is the onset of chronic disease. Yet, with just a few adjustments in our lifestyle, diet, and habits, we can avoid them altogether. While there is certainly lots of attention being paid to diet these days, what we do after we eat is nearly as important as what we eat.
Your mouth is the gateway to your body. And you should have a sentry constantly on duty there. Even healthy mouths are home to a wide range of bacteria. Some are beneficial but most are harmful if they wind up in other areas of our body. If you don’t rinse away leftover food from in between teeth, the resulting bacterial & chemical reactions can lead to gum disease, weak teeth, and even mouth sores.
How Poor Oral Hygiene Affects You
Oral hygiene is grossly underestimated. Bad breath isn’t just annoying, it can be indicative of gum disease that could lead to heart disease, stroke, or cancer.
Several studies show links between gum disease and heart disorders, stroke, and even cancer. What is emerging is a definite link between poor oral hygiene and serious diseases.
One theory is that unhealthy gums lead to infection and the harmful bacteria get into your bloodstream and weaken your immune system, wreaking havoc all over your body, including your heart.
Closely allied to this theory is the idea that the bacteria enter the bloodstream and attach themselves to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries leading to constrictions & even clots. This means your heart doesn’t get all the oxygen and nutrients it needs resulting in a weakened heart and maybe even a heart attack.
Any problem with your gums starts this way: Plaque builds up, leading to swollen gums that start to bleed. Plaque build up happens if you don’t rinse your mouth well enough after a meal or don’t brush & floss right or often enough. Other contributors are eating or drinking too much processed food, sugar, or consuming too much caffeine or alcohol.
Apart from wrong diet, the other causes of gum disease are: chronic illness, high stress, glandular disorders, blood disease, smoking, and deficiencies in vitamin C, calcium, folic acid and niacin.
Daily Action Plan
Brush and floss correctly. Eat mouth-friendly food. Avoid sugar whenever possible, but if you do consume it, brush afterwards. Use a soft-bristled brush (many dentists now recommend a sonic electric toothbrush) at least three times a day, and floss at least daily. Don’t know how? Take a look at this video:
Action Tips
Avoid: Mouthwashes that contain alcohol, artificial colors or flavors. Toothpaste containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and saccharin.
Eat fruits like apples that automatically clean out your mouth
Get plenty of Vitamins C, A, E, and B, potassium, calcium, selenium, zinc, phosphorus, iron, and magnesium. A quality multivitamin will help accomplish this.
Avoid too much sugar, candy, processed juice drinks, and syrups
Change toothbrushes every 2-3 months
Rub Vitamin E oil on inflamed gums and use aloe vera based pastes to sooth painful gums
As we age, our face begins to reflect the emotions of a lifetime. They tend to show up as wrinkles, laugh lines, saggy lips, bags under our eyes, double chins, jowls, etc. The costs of maintaining a youthful appearance enrich the plastic surgeons, cosmetic executives, and beauty gurus. But you don’t have to give them your money…
Drop the years! Look younger with a workout for your face.
My mother looks young enough to be my sister. And I suddenly realized why.
A lifetime of telling stories to kids and being the clown when it comes to parties has meant that she is constantly contorting her face, a bit too melodramatically. But, sixty years of entertaining and she doesn’t need to buy anti-wrinkle creams, or any makeup, because her skin GLOWS. Without knowing it, my mum has been a facial yoga fanatic.
While yoga has certainly been popular with those who want to lose weight, regain a supple, flexible body and achieve inner peace, it has got its growing legion of fans among the beauty conscious and age-defiant men and women who have found facial yoga especially beneficial.
Our face betrays our emotions and works overtime when we are stressed, that’s why we look older than our years.
Facial Yoga = Youthful Appearance
Facial yoga is a better, more permanent, and far less expensive way to look younger year after year… and it’s been around for thousands of years.
From the top – 5 lasting benefits of facial yoga. And you don’t even have to stand on your head.
The forehead: Erase frown lines and release your worries. This leads to a more relaxed body
The eyes: Improve your vision, relax the muscles that allow you to move your eyes around. Dry eyes, blurry vision and headaches can be eased away
The cheeks and mouth: As you age, muscle tone begins to decrease, making the face appear as if it is melting, facial yoga sets this right
The chin: Get rid of the double chin and get a sharper jawline
The neck and shoulder: Prevent a drooped posture and wrinkles on the neck
The main benefit of yoga is that it works on your mind as much as your muscles and all organs, putting right imbalances and helping your body work with peak efficiency.
No botox, no surgery, no pills and no creams. Do it regularly and couple it with full body asanas that will improve the circulation of blood to all organs and detoxify the system. Yoga can get rid of wrinkles, laugh lines, saggy lips, bags under your eyes, double chins, jowls and rejuvenate your skin. It can also improve your vision, detox your body and open up your third eye.
If you want to understand how this works, take a look at this simple illustration.
Deep breathing and relaxation. Yoga’s healing powers work on these cornerstones. Since extreme emotions, including, anger, pain, stress and self-hatred, affect how our body works, yoga works by relaxing the muscles that carry the weight of these emotions, and this banishes those negative thoughts. You can’t plot murder while smiling and breathing slowly and focusing on your third eye.
Seven incredible poses
Lion Face: Breathe slowly and hold your breath for as long as you can, stick your tongue out, open your eyes as wide as you can and maintain this posture. Try to stretch your tongue out as far at it goes. This pose increases blood circulation to the face and releases tense muscles around the mouth.
Fish face: Take a deep breath and hold it. Pucker up like a fish, suck in your cheeks and purse your lips. Now try to smile, that is, stretch your lips. It might feel uncomfortable, breathe in and out as slowly as you can.
Look sideways: Hold your head straight, breathe in, now without moving your neck, turn your eyes to the extreme right. Hold the position. After a few seconds, turn your vision to the left. This pose also feels uncomfortable because your eyes have probably exercised so much.
Play the trumpet: Take a deep breath through your mouth and hold the air in your mouth as if you were about to play the trumpet. Try holding on to this pose for 30-60 seconds. Breathe out through your nose. Laugh lines and saggy cheeks are tackled with this pose.
Calm down: Rub your hands together briskly and warm them up. Close your eyes and cup the palms over your eyes. Take a deep breath through your nose and hold it for as long as you can. The eyes will feel relaxed, and the slow breathing eases tense muscles and feelings.
Neck stretch: This pose looks a bit like the zombie dancers in the Thriller video. Tilt your head towards your right, try to touch your ear to your shoulder, without raising your shoulder. Now lift up your left hand, with the fingers still pointing to the floor, and then push the arm down, feel the neck muscles tighten.
Scrunches: Breathe in, close your eyes tight, purse the lips together as tightly as possible, without pushing them downwards, bunch up your fists and make a face as if you were scrunching your face to stop from crying. Release the pose when you need to take a breath. This relaxes the whole face.
How To Make Sure You Don’t Slump Down And Lose Inches From Your Height As You Grow Older
If you are sitting on a chair and reading this, you have to read this right through. A slumped back, hunched shoulders and waistlines that jut out and keep spreading are the bane of office workers across the globe. Bad posture is not just ugly its implications on your health are just plain dangerous.
Why Is Bad Posture Terrible For You
With bad posture, your rib cage starts pressing down on the major organs – giving them less space to function.
Your waistline gains a few inches because of that
And you lose a few inches from your height
Your stomach will jut out and dieting won’t help
You’ll suffer from back aches which won’t go away easily
Flexibility is reduced and one shoulder tends to be higher than the other
You’ll become injury prone because of poor posture.
According to some science, bad posture also leads to having more negative thoughts.
Worst of all, you’ll never feel fresh and rested even after you wake up from a good nights sleep
But, and here is the big BUT, you can’t correct bad posture by just sitting up straight. You just can’t. All you will achieve is an unnatural looking posture, a stiff(er) back, tense neck and shoulder muscles and that’s as bad as a slumped spine.
Six Tips To Rectify Your Bad Posture
The answer to bad posture is stronger muscles. A regular dose of flexibility and strengthening exercises are all you need to start with. Here are 6 tips that will help you cultivate better posture habits and build muscle strength and flexibility:
1.Audit Your Posture Everyday: Start each day by paying attention to you spine and your posture. Stand in front of a mirror, distribute your weight evenly on both feet and check to see if your shoulders are too hunched or drawn up. Is your head tilting to one side? Note that the stomach gets pulled in and the neck doesn’t droop forward.
2. Posture Tips While Standing: When at ease, you should feel no tension or pull along your shoulders, neck, pelvis or knees. Keep this in mind as you go through your day. When you get up for a break, stretch a bit and take a few deep breaths. Let your shoulders loosen up. If most of your work is done standing up, try not to rest your weight on just one foot. Keep your feet slightly apart and distribute your weight equally. Or place a box in front of you, slightly larger than a shoe box, and rest one foot on it at regular intervals. This takes the stress of your back for a while.
3. Posture Tips While Sitting: In the office, get yourself a proper chair that gives your back enough support. Uncross your legs, or you would be tilting to one side for hours without realizing it.
4. Quick 3 Second Posture Hack: Every few minutes roll up your shoulders till they almost touch your ears. Combine this quick exercise with a short routine in which you bring your elbows to touch each other.
5. Fix Your Posture And Build Strength With Yoga Focus on strengthening your abdomen, lower back, hips and buttocks. Yoga is good for flexibility and strength. Especially the posture called, “The Plank Pose”. It’s easy to do and there are many variations. Here is a 2 minute youtube video of it:
6. Lift Weight To Build Strength Go to the gym and start lifting weights to build your strength and fix your posture. Three great exercises that help in good posture are:
Chocolate Cheesecake with Strawberry Sauce & Blackberries
Cacao Power
Raw Chocolate Nibs – a Review
When I was a kid, I remember trying powered chocolate from the tin my mom used to make chocolate cake. After all, it smelled so good. But after just one bitter taste, I was cured of that false impression.
So, when I heard about raw chocolate nibs being healthy, I was pretty skeptical. But, being pretty open to trying new things, I finally relented and purchased a pound of Cacao Power. Frankly, my first impression upon taking a bite wasn’t favorable. The taste wasn’t really bitter, just kind of bland. But before sending it back for a refund, I decided to experiment… my favorite thing to do in the kitchen.
I tried these nut-like raw chocolate nibs in
Homemade muffins – didn’t seem to add much flavor inside, but were great as a topping.
On a salad – OK, but boring
With butter and honey on bread – a great after dinner snack
On a peanut butter sandwich – terrific when I don’t have time to make a lunch
And in some plain yogurt – surprisingly good even with no honey. A quick delicious & nutritious breakfast I can eat at my desk.
In pancake batter – yummy
Why all the fuss about raw chocolate?
Turns out chocolate has many healthy benefits:
More anti-oxidant power than blueberries, red wine, or
green tea
Helps lower blood pressure
Reduces the risk of strokes and heart disease because of natural phytochemicals called flavanoids
A natural depression fighter because its high in tryptophan, the precursor for serotonin
Raw chocolate nibs are full of vitamins, minerals, beta-carotene, zinc, chromium and magnesium
Recent studies say it’s better than Viagra!
So, if you’d like to enjoy your chocolate without the guilt, you’ll find a certified organic source at Navitas Naturals or you can save some money at Vitacost.
They also offer this natural chocolate in a powder, but that kind of takes all the fun out of it. Of course, if you want to make some healthy brownies by adding chia seeds, you’ll want the powdered chocolate nibs.
Now I figure 99% of you would never spend a dollar for a piece of chocolate even if it was healthy, but one thing I’ve come to know – never underestimate what appeals to people, especially if it’s better than Viagra – Chi Chocolate.
Cranberries Create An Impenetrable Energy Shield More Powerful Than a Missile Defense System
Although it’s been known for several years that cranberries can prevent urinary tract infections, up until now, the exact mechanism has remained a mystery. But in a newly published study, scientists at Worcester Polytechnic Institute say they’ve discovered the secret.
They found that virulent bacteria, like the kind that create urinary tract infections, have hair-like projections called fimbriae that attach to the wall of the bladder. Their studies showed that even low concentrations of cranberry juice created a thermodynamic energy shield that keeps these nasty creatures from getting a foothold.
No Harm To Friendly Bacteria
Because the good bacteria don’t have these fimbriae, they aren’t affected. This is important, because our bodies have billions of good bacteria that provide protection from such gut wrenching disease organisms like Clostridium difficile.
Unpublished work also shows cranberry juice has potent effects on disease-causing bacteria, but that the effect is temporary. This suggests that in order to have continuous protection; you will need to consume some form of cranberry regularly – perhaps daily.
Cranberries, a Superfood You Should Enjoy Year Round
Cranberries are higher in antioxidants than strawberries, spinach, broccoli, red grapes, apples, raspberries, and cherries. With 8,983 total antioxidant capacity per cup, only cultivated blueberries outrank them.
Besides being naturally high in Vitamin C, cranberries also contain calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sulfer, vitamin A, vitamin B-1, Vitamin B-2, vitamin B-3, vitamin B-5, vitamin E, and zinc.
Rich in a dozen phytochemicals (phytonutrients). Phytochemicals work in a number of different ways to prevent disease, even cancer.
Proanthocyanidins present in cranberries are responsible for their anti-adhesion properties. In addition, these proanthocyanidins promote dental health since they inhibit the bacterial growth that causes plaque.
A 2001 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry revealed this red berry (in its pure form) contained the highest quantity of disease-fighting phenols, a type of antioxidant that is thought to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, stroke and heart disease.
Cranberries are also a good source of resveratrol, the component of red wine that makes it so good for you.
How to Get Your Cranberries Without Terrorizing Your Body With High Calorie Sugar
Sugar (sucrose) is not only highly addictive; it’s absorbed directly into the blood stream from your stomach, which upsets the natural chemical balance of your body. In addition, sucrose has zero nutrient value.
Pure fresh cranberries have only 45 calories per cup, but when sugar is added, the result tips the scale…
140 calories from 1/3 cup sweetened dried cranberries. Note: Craisins (by Ocean Spray) is sweetened with sugar, but Eden Foods offers dried cranberries sweetened with apple juice. Same amount of calories, but better for you.
130 calories from 8 oz. of cranberry juice cocktail (sweetened with sugar)
5 calories from 8 oz. of Ocean Spray diet cranberry juice cocktail (sweetened with fruit juice and Sucralose). Note: Since research has shown Sucralose can cause the thymus gland to shrink, I wouldn’t recommend it. The thymus is important to your immune system.
258 calories from 1/3 cup of jellied cranberry sauce
Add this “Thanksgiving fruit” to your weekly diet. Try them in salads, muffins, pancakes, breads, cheese spreads, on peanut butter sandwiches, etc. You can find unsweetened cranberry juice at some health food stores. Since it’s very sour, you can either sweeten it with honey (heat together in a sauce pan until the honey dissolves into the juice) or make cranberry vinaigrette to serve on your salads.
It’s so embarrassing those who suffer from it frequently become reclusive. Losing control of your bladder is not a disease, and it isn’t related to getting older.
Urinary tract infections, constipation, and certain medications and health disorders can affect a person’s ability to control their bladder. Incontinence can be treated with medications, surgery, or even artificial devices.
But a few exercises and practical tips go a long way in ensuring that this problem stays away.
If you are already suffering from urinary incontinence, note what you eat and drink, and at what time of the day. Also make a note of how often and at what time you are unable to control your bladder. Your doctor will be able to find out what kind of incontinence you have:
Types of Incontinence
Stress incontinence: Leaking urine while undertaking physical activity, coughing, sneezing, or laughing, which puts sudden and unexpected pressure on the bladder. This problem affects younger women who have just been through childbirth and those who are experiencing the onset of menopause.
Stress incontinence: Leaking urine while undertaking physical activity, coughing, sneezing, or laughing, which puts sudden and unexpected pressure on the bladder. This problem affects younger women who have just been through childbirth and those who are experiencing the onset of menopause.
Urge incontinence: Most people can control the urge to urinate if a lavatory is not accessible. But sometimes, those who have diabetes, or have suffered from a stroke, or Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis may be unable to control the urge and therefore leak urine. Certain drugs such as, antidepressants, diuretics, tranquilizers and high blood pressure medicines can stress the bladder-wall muscle.
Overflow incontinence: Men with an enlarged prostate may experience that a little urine leaks from a full bladder. Diabetics could also suffer from this type of incontinence.
Functional incontinence: Most common in people with Arthritis and bone disorders, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease that curb one’s movements, thinking, or ability to communicate – making it difficult or impossible to reach the lavatory in time.
Mixed incontinence: Most common in women. Usually stress and urge incontinence.
Anatomic or developmental incontinence: Caused by a physical or neurological abnormality or damage due to trauma or disease.
Because of pregnancy & childbirth, menopause, and the structure of the female urinary tract, women experience incontinence twice as often as men.
8 Ways to Improve Bladder Control
Kegel exercises: Arnold Kegel developed a series of exercises in the late 1940s that helped pregnant women overcome stress incontinence. But, they are used today by almost anyone to control the bladder and bowel movements. For at least 2 minutes – 3 times a day, follow these exercises:
a) Relax your muscles and imagine that you are holding back a bowel movement by tightening the anal muscles.
b) When urinating, stop the flow, and restart it.
c) Sit or lie down with your knees slightly apart and tighten the pelvic muscles for at least 2 seconds, relax for 2 seconds and repeat this 10 times. Gradually, hold and relax the muscles for about 10 seconds each time.
Watch your fluid intake: If your diary shows that you have been having lots of fluids (coffee, juices, soups, etc) you may need to cut it down, at least before bedtime or just before a long journey. However, take care that you do not cut away too much and dehydrate yourself.
Look out for diuretics: Alcohol, caffeine and grape juice are well-known diuretics that increase the urge to urinate.
Seize opportunities… To relieve yourself. Holding it in for too long in social gatherings or during meetings may lead to an infection or overstretch the bladder. Get into the habit of relieving yourself at regular intervals.
After you urinate, wait for a few seconds and stand up and sit down again. Double voiding usually works for those who do not feel relieved even after urinating.
Stop smoking. The nicotine irritates the bladder and the lungs. A sudden cough could lead to a loss of bladder control. Smoking also raises your blood pressure causing increased urine production.
Cranberries juice or capsules significantly reduce urinary tract infections and also alleviate the symptoms of urinary tract illness. It also deodorizes urine and inhibits the adhesion of dangerous micro-organisms that stick to the urinary tract.
Watch your weight: Fat deposits put a lot of pressure on the bladder and pelvic muscles. Studies have found that those who suffer from incontinence and then shed excess weight, are able to control their bladder better.
A 23-year study of 660 people over the age of 50 conducted at Yale University concluded that it was actually possible to increase one’s lifespan by about 7.5 years by holding a positive perception of aging. And this advantage held true regardless of age, sex, economic status, loneliness, or even functional health!
The implication of this research and others like it is tremendous. Positive Psychology, a relatively new branch of psychology, studies the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive. A recent study showed being happy also influences the happiness of your family and friends, and to a lesser degree their friends and family.
So, happiness can increase your lifespan and quality of life.
Why Happy People Live Longer
Researchers at University College London’s Department of Epidemiology and Public Health have concluded some important biological processes are actually improved by happiness.
In their study they found that cortisol, a stress hormone that can lead to diabetes and hypertension and controls many of the body’s functions was 32% lower in the subjects who were happy. They also found happy people had lower stress levels and heart rates.
And, they discovered that health-related biological factors were independently related to happiness. In other words, people aren’t just happy because they are healthy… They are healthy because they are happy.
A happy person seeks out more challenges and ways to have fun. They tend to see new developments as stimulating rather than threatening. The ability to see the lighter side of things leads to a lower stress life.
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore concluded that laughter leads to healthier blood vessels. When you laugh, it’s a work out for your diaphragm, abs, heart and shoulders.
Laughing and having a good time increases the production of endorphins, the number of antibody-producing cells, and boosts the success of T-cells. A stronger immune system means you get ill less often. And because you are healthier, you enjoy life more. Another one of life’s pretty neat circles…
Action Plan
Have you ever seen a baby that’s just happy all the time? Turns out happiness is coded in our genes… Studies of identical twins who grew up in separate homes have proved this. Which means some people are just going to be happier naturally.
But don’t despair if you weren’t born happy. You can still make a conscious choice – and live longer.
We all know that emotions, negative and positive, affect our posture, heart rate, blood pressure, & adrenaline levels… In short, our health. In a similar way, our pursuit of happiness, our decision to cheerfully accept or make choices, leads to a lifestyle governed by the pleasure-seeking principle.
This means you can choose to:
Go out camping with friends instead of spending a lonely weekend at home
Help someone who is less fortunate than you (it will automatically elevate your mood)
Watch funny movies
Take a fun mini-vacation with family every month
Be around other happy people
Count your blessings daily
Yes, happiness is a state of mind, but also manifests in the way your body functions. Many studies have shown that a happier person tends to deal with illnesses, unforeseen shocking events and even with permanent disability better than those who hold a largely negative perception of life and aging.
Turns out, laughter is the best medicine. Maybe this explains why George Burns and Bob Hope lived so long.
