Health Editor, Author at Fact Base Health

Dealing with Stress in Day to Day Life

January 10, 2015 By Health Editor Leave a Comment

With today’s economy, job market, financial pressures, you are likely to be under some degree of stress. The best ways to manage it are to change its source and/or to change your reaction to it.

Be aware of what is stressing you.

Know the events and circumstance that you find stressful, and know how you react. Does your head ache, for example, or do you feel nauseous? If you can spot signs of stress you do something about it.

Work on what you can change.

You probably can’t eliminate stress from your life, but you can change your day to day life to decrees stress. Can you leave the premises when things stress you? Or could you learn a new skill that will alleviate some of your stress such as time management, better communication or negotiation skills?

Get the stress into perspective.

It’s tempting to over exaggerate stress, let it eat at you making it bigger then when it started, but try to control your reactions. A mistake is not a disaster. See it as something you can cope with and see the positive even if it is difficult too. Do not be paralyzed by “what ifs”. Negative thoughts won’t help the situation.

Build your physical reserve.

A healthy body will go a long way to combating stress. Eat well; maintain a healthy body weight right for your bodies’ height; avoid excess caffeine, nicotine and alcohol; and take regular aerobic exercise. Walking, cycling, swimming are great choices of exercise. Establish good sleeping habits and schedule vacation time.

Build emotional reserve.

Set your own attainable goals, rather than have them set for you. Develop a supportive network of family and friends that treat you well.

3 Tips When Buying an Environmentally Friendly Mattress

January 10, 2015 By Health Editor Leave a Comment

Each day, the body is exposed to a lot of mental and physical stress. At night, it’s important for you to be comfortable in the bed that you’re sleeping in to promote the body’s renewal, growth and recovery. A good night’s sleep will definitely encourage healing and revitalization. For these reasons, you should not be hasty in picking out a mattress. Your decision should be based on your needs and preferences, and not on price or popularity.

There are so many different kinds of mattresses around, including coil or innerspring, air and foam. But you should be careful when selecting mattresses for you and your family because many items contain toxic substances. PBDEs or polybrominated diphenyl ethers are commonly used to treat mattresses so that these become more fire resistant. Then, there are also others that contain carcinogenic elements. Because of people’s awareness regarding such dangers, more are opting for organic or environmentally friendly types as these are safer and with fewer detrimental impacts on the world.

1. Consider What Is Inside a Mattress

Going organic is a good idea because this will ensure that you won’t be spending the night sleeping on a mattress that’s full of toxic elements. You can readily inhale these elements as you sleep, which leaves you vulnerable to the harmful substances that are on or inside a mattress.

If you go for an all natural latex mattress, you’re being eco-friendly because latex, in this case, is made from the sap or juice of the rubber tree. The sap is harvested without cutting or harming rubber trees, and this further means that sources are sustainable. Sustainability is a huge issue because if there are sustainable resources, this means that such sources can be used over and over again without severely harming the environment and without overly depleting natural resources. Organic mattresses can also be made from foam, as well as cotton and wool. There are also hemp mattresses, which are actually pretty firm and durable. Hemp naturally prevents mold formation as well. Another option, which is very suitable for people with allergies, is a mattress made from bamboo.

In addition to sustainability, you should also ask around or get information about what sort of treatments have been used on mattresses to avoid getting an item that would harm your health.

2. Opt for Recycled Steel

There are also eco-friendly innerspring mattresses. Also known as coil mattresses, innerspring mattresses provide great support and comfort. If you want to go green, choose mattresses with inner coils made from recycled steel. Used steel is as good as new steel because this material does not deteriorate quickly.

3. Check the Bed Frame or Base

Sometimes, you may also be buying a bed frame together with a mattress. If this is the case, inquire about the materials used on the frame. Ask if metal frames are made from recycled metal or steel. In case of wood frames, make sure that wood comes from sustainable sources and that this was harvested following environmental regulations.

Claire Thorpe is a freelance writer. She contributes to several home improvement websites, and she also blogs about interior decoration, home management, and furniture. She also writes reviews about many kinds of products, such as eco friendly mattress Portland.

Yoga an Effective Treatment Depression and Anxiety Disorder

January 10, 2015 By Health Editor Leave a Comment

Aerobic exercise daily is a reliable and effective treatment for mild to moderate depression, and anxiety disorder. Research suggests that yoga may work even better than other exercise.

A study from Boston University School of Medicine and published by Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine showed that yoga increased levels of gamma-aminobutyric know as GABA in the brain. Low levels of GABA, a neurotransmitter correlates with depression and anxiety disorders. Investigators followed two randomized groups of healthy volunteers for 12 weeks. Group one performed one hour of yoga three times a week, while the group two walked for one hour three times a week. Before and after the last session, the researchers compared the GABA levels of each of the volunteers in both groups, using magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging. The researchers found increased GABA levels and decreased anxiety among the participants in group one, the yoga group, who also reported a significantly greater reduction in anxiety and improved mood over the course of the study than did the volunteers in group two, the walking group

A Man’s Guide to Helping His Wife Through Pregnancy

November 8, 2014 By Health Editor Leave a Comment

Pregnant women experience morning sickness, hormonal changes and an ever-expanding abdomen to accommodate their developing child. Expectant fathers empathize with their wives, but often feel there is nothing they can do. Wrong! There are several ways a man can help the expectant mother through her pregnancy.

Pregnancy can make a woman tired, so pitch in and help out around the house. Do the laundry and vacuum without her asking you to. Your pregnant spouse will appreciate it, even if she doesn’t always show it. Keep in mind that her body is going through some major hormonal changes so she may be prone to mood swings during this time. Be patient and understanding if she is feeling a bit grumpy.

Accompany your wife to her doctor appointments if possible. This is an exciting time and you need to be present to understand your baby’s development and help your wife take care of her health. Besides, you definitely want to be present when your wife first gets to view the life that is growing inside her.

Surprise her with a night out. After all, once the baby comes there probably won’t be much time to go out, so take her to dinner and a movie. If she doesn’t feel like going out, prepare a nice dinner at home or order delivery. Rent a movie and cuddle up with her for a cozy evening. Give your expectant spouse a relaxing massage. Pregnant women often get backaches, so rub her back or give her a soothing foot massage.

Go shopping with your spouse and help her pick out furnishings and decorative accents for the nursery. Put the baby furniture together and get the room ready for your newborn’s arrival. Once you’ve pulled it all together, surprise your spouse with the finished room.

As the pregnancy progresses and your wife gains weight, she may begin to feel unattractive. Let her know that she is still beautiful and sexy. Tell her you love her often. Send her flowers to say you love her. Stop at the store on your way home from work and pick up her favorite snacks that she may be craving.

Take childbirth classes with her and prepare to be in the delivery room, holding her hand through the birth process. Gather your wife’s personal items and those needed for the baby and pack her bag so that it is ready for the hospital when the time arrives.

The most important thing you can do for your pregnant wife is just to be there. Listen to her, soothe her and be patient. Make sure she knows how much you love her and your unborn child. Call and check on her often when you can’t be home. If you are at work, have a friend or relative drop by occasionally. Support your pregnant spouse by being there for her every step of the way. She may not always tell you how much you mean to her, but you can rest assured that she appreciates the little things you do.

America’s Sleep Deprived

November 7, 2014 By Health Editor Leave a Comment

Even with all the modern technology that simplifies people’s lives, Americans agree that there are simply not enough hours during the day. Everybody, from the soccer mom to the high-powered business executive, sacrifices hours of sleep in order to complete the long to-do lists. Healthcare professionals have been advising for years that adults should get 7 to 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Lack of sleep has been implicated in causing a cascade of events in a person’s body. Diseases like depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, and even cancer have been brought on or, at the very least, exacerbated by a lack of sleep. Lack of sleep causes stress. Stress can age a person’s body faster and this leads to health complications and even death.

There are different strategies to combat sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep brought on by simply not having enough hours to devote to sleep can be rectified by streamlining some work. If you don’t take care of your mind and body, you will not be as productive at work. In places like Japan, companies encourage workers to take a nap. Latin America is known for adhering to the sacred siesta. Foreign companies, which encourage this practice, discovered what clinicians have known for years, that overextending yourself simply decreases your productivity. A short cat nap of 20 to 30 minutes during the day is extremely beneficial.

Now, America is not known for encouraging this wonderful practice. In fact, American workers are almost encouraged to do the exact opposite, and that is to work themselves to complete exhaustion while consuming caffeinated-sugary drinks to stay productive. Overachievers often brag about how little sleep they are getting, and managers reward those who overextend themselves. Changing the culture will not happen overnight, but making the conscious choice to sleep more hours will not decrease productivity. In fact, a project that might take you 2 hours to complete while sleep deprived, might be finished in less than an hour with a well rested mind and body.

Another cause of sleep deprivation is insomnia. The person has enough hours in the day to sleep, but the worries and stressors of life keep them from a deep slumber. Use of pharmaceuticals should be the last resort. First, sleep hygiene should be practiced, and this simply means keeping the area devoted for sleep free of any distractions. This includes phones, notebooks, computers, televisions…etc. Many people sleep near their cell phone, but it has been proven that radiation from cell phones reduces both the quality and quantity of sleep.

Some people have trouble sleeping due to a snoring partner, or a young neighbor who recently took up the trombone. There is a wonderful product in the market called SleepPhones®, advertised as pajamas for your ears from a company called AcousticSheep. It looks like a headband and it’s made from a very soft material. The headphones are flat so you will not experience any pain if you are a side sleeper. You simply connect it to any device that plays music. You can download your favorite tunes, or even tracks that play white noise like crashing waves or thunderstorms.

Another method to combat insomnia is by using natural products. Melatonin is a natural hormone that regulates sleep, and it is secreted by a gland in the brain when it is dark. This is why healthcare providers discourage the use of a night light for both children and adults. Sleeping in total darkness brings the most restorative sleep. Melatonin can also be bought in pill form. A typical dose of melatonin is 2 to 5 milligrams at bedtime. Another natural product for insomnia is called Lemon Balm Leaf. The Latin name of the plant is Melissa officinalis, and the typical dose is 50 drops in a small amount of water to be taken before bed.

Certain medications can affect the sleep-wake cycle through various mechanisms. An example is a class of medications called diuretics that are typically taken by people who have high blood pressure. One common diuretic is called hydrochlorothiazide, and one of the side effects is increased urination. This medication should be taken in the morning or the person will spend all night making frequent trips to the bathroom. Fluoxetine, which is a medication used to treat depression, should be taken in the morning before noon. Stimulants used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, like dextroamphetamine or methamphetamine, should be taken during the day as well. There are many more examples of medications that can contribute to insomnia so it is important to ask your provider about side effects.

In the case that nothing brings the desired slumber, there are many prescription medications used in the treatment of insomnia. Temazepam is a common one that is well tolerated by folks who are elderly. Zolpidem is used by many, but there are reports of complex sleep behaviors. For example, a person getting up in the middle of the night and performing tasks with no subsequent memory of the event. Trazodone is another medication well tolerated for sleep. Also, there are non prescription medications used for sleep. The most common one is diphenhydramine. It is found in many different products that combine a pain reliever with a sleep medication. This medication should not be taken for more than a few days. Over-the-counter drugs should be taken with extreme caution, and this is especially true when taking prescription drugs that may interact.

By applying these tips, you will start on a path to healthier living through restful sleep. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your medications and if they can be contributing to your lack of sleep, and always ask if an over-the-counter medication interacts with your current medications before taking it.

What Should You Know Before Purchasing Bottled Water.

October 20, 2014 By Health Editor Leave a Comment

There are many different types of bottled water available for consumers to choose from these days, from sparkling, to mineral, to distilled or reverse osmosis. There are just as many opinions on what type of water is the healthiest for the human body. It can be agreed upon by most, however, that the best water is one that doesn’t contain damaging contaminants or chemicals. Unfortunately, tap water cannot be included in this category, and neither can some brands of bottled water.

What Are Total Dissolved Solids?

The purity of water can be measured with a system called “total dissolved solids,” also known as TDS. TDS testing measures the amount of substances that are mixed in with the water. For tap water in the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends less than a 500 mg concentration of total dissolved solids in order to ensure the water is safe. This regulation unfortunately still allows for some contaminants to remain in the water.

What Are Some of the Dangerous Substances That Can Contaminate Water?

Not only does water with a high level of TDS taste saltier and heavier than pure water, but it may contain unhealthy levels of toxic contaminants as well. Substances such as Arsenic, Mercury, Cyanide, Aluminum, and Chloride are all commonly found in tap water, and even some brands of bottled water. Arsenic is a chemical element that is poisonous to all multiple-celled organisms. Although the concentrations found in most water supplies are not large enough to kill a person in a single glass, ingesting arsenic long term, even in such small amounts, can be damaging to health. The same could be said for chloride and other substances. Who wants that? Don’t we all deserve to drink water that is pure, fresh tasting and healthy?

What Constitutes “Pure” Water?

In the United States, bottled water is regulated by the food and drug administration (FDA), unlike tap water, which is regulated by the EPA. The FDA considers bottled water
a food product and therefore has an allowed maximum contaminant level, similar to the allowed level of TDS in tap water. Also similarly, some contaminants may remain despite regulations. When searching for a pure brand of bottled water, there are a couple things to remember. First, you will want to find a brand that advertises little to no total dissolved solids. Your best bet in finding this is going to be a water from a spring or reserve that lays deep beneath the surface of the earth. This is where the most pure water on earth can be found.

Secondly, you will want to look into how the water is bottled. Water that is bottled directly from the source has no chance of picking up contaminants, since it never comes into contact with humans, dirt, or other debris and substances. Many brands of bottled water need to be filtered because they come from municipal water supplies, but the best types of water do not need filtering because they are naturally pure

Learn About the Dangerous Chemicals That Lurk In Your Household Cleaning Products

October 19, 2014 By Health Editor Leave a Comment

When we picture a healthy home, we forget to look at the household cleaning products containing chemicals that are harmful to the human life span. This also affects the surrounding environment. Next, we wish for an invisible fairy to come along and sweep up the mess.

Chemicals we use to scent our home, dwell in the air. We breathe the toxic ones in. Toxins in cleaning enter our bodies through ingestion or skin contact. We can also find them making waves in household dust and chemical residue or kitchen utensils. If we dare to flush them down the drain we risk a serious impact on ocean sea life.

No prerequisite is required in the U.S. or Canada for manufacturers to give warning to consumers highlighting the environmental and health toxins. These toxins are in comparison with long-term exposure to chemical elements in household cleansing products. We are exposed to cleansing products and sticky residue in incremental lower levels 24 hours a day.

Take heed, chemicals of concern; Many cleaners carry are missing ingredient charts. They provide us with only a sample list of ingredients; it can be life’s challenge to broadcast the chemical effects that are hidden in one’s own closet or cupboard!

2-Butoxyethanol (otherwise known as colorless Butyl Cellosolve)
This eye and skin irritant and neurotoxin is associated with blood disorders.
Places where the culprit waits; laundry stain removers, glass cleaners, car cleaners, carpet cleaners, degreasers, rust removers, and windshield wiper fluid.

Alkyphenol Ethoxylates -APES/ nonylethenolethoxylates -NPES
Can mimic estrogen and have reproductive effects on aquatic organisms.
Curious places found in: liquid laundry detergents, stain removers, all-purpose cleaners, air fresheners, toilet bowl cleaners, degreasers, and car wash products.

Ammonia
Skin irritants such as vapors; affect the throat, lungs, and eyes. Asthma patients may be potently sensitive to the ammonia breathing intake effects. This, in turn, causes liver and kidney damage.
Discoveries found in; window cleaning solution, drain cleaners, toilet cleaners, bathroom cleaners, oven cleaners, stainless-steel cleaners, car polish, and all-purpose cleaners.

Coal tar dyes
These synthetic dyes have been known to contribute to cancer and these heavy metallic ingredients can be harmful the human nervous system.
Startling results found in: most types of household cleaning products, even shampoo.

Fragrance chemicals- synthetic musk- Phthalates
Migraines, allergies, and asthma symptoms often contain harmful irritants. These irritants can build up residue in the ecosystem and can be toxic to oceanic organisms, and are considered to disrupt the endocrine system.
These are especially found in: most types of household cleaning products.

Monoethanlomine -MEA, DIETHANOLAMINE -DEA AND TRIETHANOLAMINE -TEA
Mixed with nitrites (which are used as preservatives in other products) form cancer-causing nitrosamines. MEA can also induce asthma. This substance is also harmful to the wildlife and the fish family.
This product is typically found in: all-purpose cleaners, liquid laundry soap, floor cleaning solution, dishes soap, car wash products, glass cleaning solution, degreasers, and surface cleaning solution.

Phosphates
Landfills containing high concentrations of rain water can create rapid weed inclination, increases algae bloom, and destroys the pretty fish before they can swim to the reservoir.
These can be generally found in; dishwasher detergents, bathroom cleaners, and laundry detergents.

Quaternary ammonium compounds -QUATS
This compound causes skin sensitivity and irritation; It can also affect allergies, and promote asthma symptoms. You will not want to pour compounds into the environment. They conduct fish toxins.
These items are surprisingly found in: all-purpose cleaners, bathroom cleaners, degreasers, and fabric softeners.

Silica Powder
The International Agency for Research in researching silica powder, discovered it to be a human carcinogen. This naturally made substance. Silica Powder (made from finely ground quartz) is hazardous as a dust particle if you breathe it in.
This is additionally found in; cleaning powder abrasives.

Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate Dihydrate -NaDCC
This type of sodium causes severe skin, eye, and respiratory irritant. It is also known as corrosion. This chemical, taken in high dosages, leads to kidney damage. Sodium is extremely harmful to oceanic organisms. It’s also been known to have lengthy effects in aquatic ocean life.
This is generally found in: toilet bowl cleaners, deodorizers, surface cleaners, and disinfectants

Sodium Hydroxide (otherwise known as lye and caustic soda)
This lye is known to burn the eyes, and cause eye irritation. It affects the human lungs, and skin. Lye is also known to be a respiratory irritation. Air coupled with the long term exposure of lye can lead to skin irritation, and nasal passage ulceration. Caustic soda, if transferred in a large quantity, can transform the water’s Ph balance.
This can be observed in: drain openers, oven cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, and disinfectants.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate
This sulfate appears in dish soap along with other ethylene oxide alcohol additives (hint: look for “eth” in the chemical name). Sulfate can easily become be tainted with 1.4-dioxane. This, in turn, causes cancer, and surrounds the environment.
This is often found in: dish soap, cleaning towelettes, and wet cosmetics, regular cosmetics, toilet bowl cleaners, and liquid laundry detergent.

Triclosan
This sodium derivative may alter some hormonal functions and is a factor in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Triclosan can be harmful to wildlife, and fish, as well.
This is typically found in: disinfectants, dish soap, as well as a variety of other household cleaning products. It can be listed under the category “active ingredient” in anti-bacterial products.

Trisodium Nitrilotriacetate
This sodium derivative is a potential human carcinogen. In ocean life, sodium can create sediment in heavy metals. This sodium can then re-dissolve into the environment. These metals are of a toxic nature to fish and other reptiles.
This can be mostly found in: laundry detergents and bathroom cleaners (note: this large sodium content is found in industrial formulas).

What is Kosher Food and What Makes a Supplement Kosher.

April 30, 2013 By Health Editor Leave a Comment

Kosher food is food prepared in accordance with the Jewish Dietary laws. The most important and well known is that meat may only be obtained from certain types of animals. They must be ruminants and have cloven hooves. This is the reason for the exclusion of pork. In addition the animals must be slaughtered according to specific laws which incidentally are designed to subject the animal to the least suffering possible. There are also specific laws regarding poultry and fish, hence many marine animals such as shellfish are forbidden.

Specific requirements for kosher food supplements
Gelatin capsules are to be avoided. In addition there may be problems with glucosarnine due to its extraction from shellfish. Rabbi’s only certify products as kosher if they are totally free of these ingredients. As well Rabbi’s need to inspect factories to assure that there is no risk of cross contamination from products that are not deemed to be kosher.

What are the health benefits of kosher food and supplements?
The dietary laws are nothing to do with health. However a by-product is that a kosher diet being more restrictive does limit where one eats that follow a Kosher diet and Kosher establishments and food production are so rigorously checked that there is less chance of contamination and food poisoning.

Benefits of Amino Acids, What Are They and What Do They Do?

April 30, 2013 By Health Editor Leave a Comment

What are Amino Acids Benefits

Amino acids are used in every cell of your body and are used to build strands of protein. Most of the bio-chemical reactions in your body use protein, making amino acids, a vital building block for good health. So far scientists have discovered over fifty amino acids. However, only twenty amino acids are needed to build the various proteins used in the growth, repair and maintenance of body tissues.

Nine of the amino acids (called essential amino acids) must come from the diet, whilst the other eleven can be synthesized by an adult body.

The essential amino acids are leucine, histidine, methionine, lysine, isoleucine, valine, threonine, tryptophan and phenylalanine. The nonessential amino acids are proline, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, arginine, cysteine, glutamine, glycine, alanine, asparagine, serine and tyrosine.

Thousands of combinations of the twenty amino acids are used to make all of the proteins in your body.

What do Amino Acids do?

The use of an amino acid when it is broken down by the liver depends on the body’s needs at that moment. Some amino acids enter the blood stream, where they join amino acids that have been freed up by the constant breakdown of body tissue. Other amino acids are used by the liver to synthesize specialized proteins.

Every cell in the body has its requirements as laid out in its DNA blueprint. As the amino acids move through the body each cell draws from the common pool of available amino acids as per its requirements and functions.

In order for this protein synthesis to occur, an adequate supply of both essential and non-essential amino acids is vital. If one of the essential amino acids is missing then synthesis is halted. These partially assembled proteins are disassembled and the amino acids returned to the blood. Unfortunately any amino acids that are not used within a short period cannot be stored for future use.

Immediately after exercise, when the muscle is receptive to nutrients and the blood flow to the exercise muscles remains high, a window of opportunity exists to aid muscular growth and recovery. Even a high protein meal will not put significant levels of amino acids into your blood stream until a couple of hours after you eat. The value of supplemented amino acids is that they do not require digestion. They are free of chemical bonds to other molecules and so move quickly through the stomach and into the small intestine, where they are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream.