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Health and Wellness

Health Tip: The Health Benefits of Red Beets

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I recently discovered some health benefits of red beets. I learned that:

  • Red beets contain a chemical called betalains, that is said to kill cancer cells, according to a study named “Anti Cancer Agents In Medical Chemistry” written in March, 2011.
  • Red beets help improve athletic performance and lower the risk for heart disease. Since the chemical betalains is what causes the beet to be colored red it is said to be the most healthiest beet to consume.
  • Beets also, contain a high amount of fiber, so you feel more satisfied after consuming them.
Photo credit: Flickr: notahipster
Photo credit: Flickr; notahipster

I prefer to purchase organic raw red beets from my local grocer instead of the ones that are repackaged in a jar or can. I soon learned that i do not care for the taste of the raw uncooked red beets. So, I came up with the perfect solution! I simply put some beets into my daily smoothie that consists of kale, blueberries, strawberries and protein powder that I sweetened with a few drops of liquid stevia.

The size of your beets can vary, so you should use your own judgement as to how much to add to your smoothy. I generally, after purchasing my beets wash, peel and chop it into chunks. I then store the beets in an air tight container at the bottom of my refrigerator to stay fresh. I generally use 3-4 chunks per day in my smoothie. I don’t find the flavor of the beet to be overwhelming. What I do believe, it that it gives the smoothy a earthy mellow flavor that is pleasing to my pallet.

So these are the health benefits of red beets, which may convince you to try incorporating them into your diet. Note: if you plan to eat the red beets daily as I do, don’t be concerned if you see a slight reddish color in your urine. It is simply the red beets. Always consult a doctor or professional dietician before making changes to your diet.

Posted by Eve

How to Convince Aging Parents that Assisted Living Can Be a Good Thing

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For years my siblings and I have been trying in vain to explain to our aging parents that they require assistance with their daily activities. We first had an in depth conversation with our parents on the benefits of assisted living. We explained that the most important factors are their safety and security. They are both currently experiencing major health issues, that makes it dangerous for them to venture out into their neighborhood.

We felt that it was dangerous for them to do the basics, such as: grocery shopping, banking, doctors appointments or just enjoying a beautiful day outside. For example, our dad’s vision has been steadily declining for years. He even shared a story of how he was harassed by a group of teens (or so he thought), while simply getting the mail. They had rummaged through his pant pockets in the hallway on the way to the mail box in his apartment building. Worst of all was that he could not identify his attackers to the police. Needless to say, we were all sad to hear that story. Our mom then shared an unfortunate story of how during one icy winter day, she had an issue of her own. She went out to purchase groceries and as she was about to step off the curb, she slipped on black ice falling to her knees. Keep in mind that she had just had reconstructive knee surgery two months prior. That fall had set her healing process back for weeks. We were extremely concerned after hearing both of their stories.

So with love and compassion, we began to explain how living in a senior-assisted living home would benefit them. First, we explained to them that they would have round the clock care from a nurse on duty. They would also have transportation available to take them to doctors appointments, purchase groceries, social outings etc. They would also have a dining hall to socialize with other seniors. We even told our dad that they would teach him how to navigate in and outside of his apartment with his walking stick.

At the end of the loving conversation our parents finally admitted that the senior living facility sounded like a good idea. Thankfully, they are now awaiting their move-in date and are excited to have a better quality of day to day life.

It takes patience and understanding, but with basic reasoning it’s possible to convince even a stubborn elderly parent that assisted living may be the way to go.

Posted by Eve

How to Get Rid of Mouth Ulcers: Simple Solution

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There are so many people who want to know how to get rid of mouth ulcers. I’ve tried everything — this was the simple solution that worked for me.

A couple of years ago I started to get an annoying problem — mouth ulcers. These are non-contagious sores that appear in your mouth suddenly and seemingly out of no where. Though they aren’t a serious issue, they can be painful and annoying, so of course I immediately looked up how to get rid of mouth ulcers.

I quickly found that a lot of other people have this problem. Here are a few theories about what causes mouth ulcers:

– IBD (irritable bowel disorder) symptoms

– Crohn’s disease and Coeliac  (also related to digestive issues)

– allergies (dietary and skin irritants)

– hormonal changes

– some type of immune system deficiency

– vitamin B12 deficiency

– iron deficiency

– certain medications like NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

There are many theories online for how to get rid of mouth ulcers and ease the pain. The only solution that actually worked for me was to gargle with Peroxyl.

Peroxyl is an oral rinsing agent that kills bacteria that can lead to inflammation and gum disease. It clears the bad bacteria to give the mouth ulcers a way to heal more quickly. I just swished with it every night (twice a day might even be better) and a few days later the symptoms were almost completely gone. Read the directions completely and consult with your dentist to ensure that this over the counter (OTC) dental product is right for you.

So if you’re desperate to know how to get rid of mouth ulcers, try Peroxyl. It’s a little expensive for a mouth rinsing product, but totally worth it to heal your mouth ulcers faster.

Also, to prevent mouth ulcers try changing your diet first, taking more vitamins, investigating possible allergies and then see your doctor about other possible causes (like IBD and Coeliac).

 

Posted by Jade

 

* Always consult your doctor before trying a new product, diet or diet.

Quick Tip: Constipation Remedy

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No one likes feeling constipated — that tightness and pressure when you know you’re well overdue for a bowel movement. Here is a constipation remedy tip that may help you get some relief next time you go to the bathroom:

Play the sound of a ticking clock or dripping water.

faucet drippingTick, tock, tick, tock…
Drip, drop, drip, drop…

Close your eyes and focus on that sound while you are trying to go to the bathroom and you may be surprised at the results.

I don’t know exactly why this works, but I’m sure there’s a biological reason behind it. Maybe the repetitive sound stimulates peristalsis and helps with your bowel movement.

Just give it a try, and if it works for you please post your comment here!

Posted by Jasmine

How to Deal with Perfectionists: A Step-By-Step Guide

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Someone who continually strives for perfection and expects everyone around them to do the same can be a constant drain on patience, productivity and the sanity of those around them. Here are some tips for how to deal with perfectionists.

If you’ve ever had to work with a perfectionist, you know how frustrating an experience it can be. Someone who continually strives for perfection and expects everyone around them to do the same can be a constant drain on patience, productivity and the sanity of their peers, friends, family members and co-workers. Here are some tips for how to deal with a perfectionist in a way that will allow you to keep your head on straight while getting things done.

1) Recognize the Problem and Try to Understand

The first step to resolving any problem is understanding what is going on. You have to identify the problem before you do anything else.

Perfectionists didn’t just become that way. They were either created by parents who were never satisfied, or became that way due to some other traumatic experience in their life. It is a psychological issue that has to be resolved with a professional. In the meantime, now that you know that they have a problem, maybe you can find some sympathy for them as you continue to deal with them. Know that no, you are not crazy, there is definitely something seriously wrong with wanting to always be 100% perfect all of the time. It is impossible to achieve, which is why most perfectionists are tormented.

2) Be Firm and Decisive

Since a perfectionist may not be the most decisive person, it is your job to take on that role when dealing with them. For example, if you are working on a project at your place of employment with a known perfectionist, don’t play into their game. You may allow them a few times to go back and forth with their ideas and rounds of changes, but at some point (preferably sooner than later) you must be firm in your assertions and explain that while we all would love to have the project turn out 100% perfect, there is a deadline to meet, and there is always room for error. If necessary, things can be updated and taken note of for future projects. Then, take the reigns and say something like, “This is our final round of changes, do you see any last minute details you’d like to complete.”

3) Allow Them to Do Their Thing — Walk Away

If the perfectionist chooses to become unreasonable at your assertions to make a final decision and decides that they want to continue to wrangling over the same issue, let them do it on their own. You do not have to be held hostage by a perfectionist. Take a deep breath, do your part to the best of your ability and then leave the perfectionist to his or her task. They may end up working on the same thing until two or three in the morning, but that is not your problem. As long as you did your part to the fullest of your ability (and keep proof of that fact if you’re at work), you are not required to be a part of the perfectionists’ process. Don’t feel bad about it as long as you’ve done your part. If you’re dealing with a perfectionist at work and the situation becomes a serious problem, or you feel that the perfectionist may try to harm your professional reputation, definitely express your concerns with your boss or project leader in advance.

By using this process and keeping a clear, level head, you can avoid conflicts with perfectionists and best manage the relationship so that it works for everyone involved.

Posted by Jade

Laptop Fingers: A Painful Condition Caused by Typing

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Laptop fingers is a condition that can be a real pain. Here are tips to deal with laptop fingers to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and similar issues.

Even as I type now, I am managing a minor issue that plagues most writers, coffee shop junkies and email addicts. It is an uncomfortable condition that I call “Laptop Fingers.”

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© Dreamstime Stock Photography & Video Footage | Dreamstime Stock Photos

Laptop Fingers occur when you spend 10 or more hours per day typing on a laptop keyboard that was designed for a person with 3 inch long hands. That, tied in with the need to move the cursor around with a tiny ball in the middle of the keyboard, or by ice skating your fingers over a smooth plastic square that somehow knows where the pointer on your screen is.

If you are on a laptop right now reading this, take your fingers right now and slowly act like you are about to move the pointer. What happened? I bet your pointer and middle fingers instinctively grew together and began serving as a pseudo mouse. Now place those fingers on the square and move them around. You can probably feel the pressure already. Now pay attention to the feeling you are creating in the base of your other two fingers. What is this doing to our fingers over time?

As someone who used to work in data entry, I know the risks and dangers of carpal tunnel. Can Laptop Fingers put you on that road? In extreme cases these problems can develop into arthritis.

In my case, the pain would sometimes grow all the way down my arm to the elbow – and that’s around the time that I decided data entry wasn’t for me – not even part-time. I mean hello, I’m a writer. What would I do if I couldn’t type because of crippling pain in between sentences?

Back to the keyboard problem. If you look at a standard PC keyboard, it is wide with huge comfortable keys and a space bar that is not the same size as the “Enter” key. These keyboards are designed to make your typing experience as comfortable as possible.

On the other hand, laptop keyboards are not ergonomically designed. They are composed of tiny, fragile keys that are squeezed together into one glob of black squares — I’m almost positive the computer manufacturer wasn’t thinking “comfortable” when creating this laptop. I also don’t think it helps when a key is missing from the keyboard, causing you to have to push down extra hard to create that letter on you screen. (Who’s going to be motivated to replace the whole keyboard over one digit?)

Here are a few simple solutions:

1) Type with a standard keyboard – most laptops have a connection where you can use an ergonomic USB keyboard.

2) Navigate with an actual computer mouse (not the little button or pad that causes you to have to scrunch your fingers together into an uncomfortable positions).

3) Take a 5-minute break from typing every 30 minutes to an hour or so to give your hands and fingers a good stretch.

4) Get an extra large laptop. Add gel wrist rests and other ergonomic features to make your typing experience more comfortable.

5) Use a speech-to-text program like Dragon Naturally Speaking to compose the majority of your writings. I’ve found that the modern speech-to-text programs are very adaptive, easy to use and save you time when you’re writing (especially if you’re composing a book or longer work).

If nothing else, make an effort to at least reduce the behaviors that may be causing you to feel the effects of “laptop fingers” as much as possible over time.

Take good care of your hands and fingers! Visit a doctor immediately if pain in your hands, fingers, wrists or arms progresses.

 

Posted by Jade