KEY FACTS ON CAFFEINE

•    Caffeine is a stimulant which occurs naturally in tea leaves and other plants like kola, coffee bean and cocoa pods among others.

•    It has no nutritional value. Hence, the body system does not primarily need it to perform any of its function.

•    According to research, it is known that Caffeine relaxes the muscles separating the Esophagus from the stomach. The result of this action is an increase in stomach acid up to the esophagus,thereby leading in ‘heartburn’.

•    A study conducted in 1980 by the US Food& Drug Administration discovered that one out of every five newborn rats had a birth defect or disability due to the administration of caffeine to its mother. This indicates that caffeine should be avoided by pregnant mothers.

•    Caffeine is said to react in the body like Cocaine. However, caffeine is legal while cocaine is not. Why? A big question.

•    Caffeine is among the list of restricted drugs by the International Olympics Committee due to its stimulating effect on sportsmen and women.

•    Regular users of Caffeine may have tendencies of being addicted to it. Do you agree with me that too much of everything is bad? This could be a good reason why those addicted to caffeine are often restless and find it difficult to concentrate. For students, it decreases learning ability.

•    Caffeine is said to be diuretic. When you take caffeine, you tend to urinate more often, thereby losing more water from your body. When water output becomes greater that water intake, it results in dehydration, even making it difficult for stooling to go easy. This situation can also cause constipation to those that need their food to be digested.

An adequate liquid is needed during digestion.

•    Regular intake of caffeine tends to increase a body chemical called Homocysteine. It is said to damage the wall of the arteries, thereby leading to cardio vascular disease where one experience irregular heartbeat due to a constricted blood vessel to the heart.

•    Consumption of a high amount of caffeine without any amount of milk can cause the body to lose calcium. Calcium &Magnesium loss is said to have a long-term effect on bone and muscle function.Thereby resulting in Osteoporosis, when one’s diet contains inadequate calcium.

It is advisable bone problem sufferers consult a doctor for a comprehensive medical analysis.

•    Some people are of the opinion that caffeine in coffee enables them to get through the difficult task. There is a tendency of becoming addicted to this drug-food called caffeine, which overtime deprive the body system of adequate sleep. This, in turn, results in fatigue and loss of concentration.

•    The effects of caffeine differ from person to person. Hence, many people do not care about the amount of caffeine they consume. What is moderate to one person may be excessive to the other, try to understand your body system.

•    Caffeine has a tendency of making some people super-active; it is a psychoactive drug just like Nicotine in a cigarette. These industries at times give the impression that they enhance flavorand not addiction. Is that true?

•    Once caffeine is ingested, it finds its wayto the liver in tiny molecules. Enough water is usually required to detoxifythe liver. If not, it burdens the liver.

•    Caffeine users may say ‘it sharpens the mind and keep them at alert’. What they experience is simply an increased heartbeat, dilated pupil and an increased blood pressure.

•    Some people believe caffeine enhances their mode and give them a lift. What they experience is simply caffeine stimulating the adrenaline, which in turn gives a boast. This boast is only temporal because this has a time frame. When it is over, the user returns to a normal state, but this time, they experience tiredness and stress. This often pushes the user to take another dose, and another, resulting in addiction in some cases.

•    Some people believe caffeine gives energy?Caffeine is a stimulant and not energy giver. The energy experienced after taking caffeine is a result of the body system struggling to adapt to increased blood flow stimulated by the caffeine.

•    Some people are of the opinion thatcaffeine loss weight. Is this true? It is the diuretic nature that brings aboutwater loss in the body and not fat loss.

If one decides to use a caffeinated beverage, what about the sugar added to give taste? Hence, caffeine loss water while sugar add calories.

Alternativeto caffeine

•    Do not get addicted but if you are already,gradual withdrawal is the answer. However, ensure you visit a doctor.

•    Are you drowsy and need mental alertness,go for fruits like grape, pear, and apple among others. Why? They contain Boron(which increases the electrical activity in the human brain).

•    Do you experience fatigue, depression or anxiety? Research have shown that natural products such as Chilli pepper contain Capsaicin contains Capsaicin which produces a Feel-good hormone in part of the human brain called endorphins.

•    Are you in need of energy? Get regular exercise in an open air. Avoid stimulant, alcohol and fatty foods. Get a balanced diet, take a 10-minute nap during the day, especially when you feel very tired.

•    Are you in need of energy drink (with caffeine) to enhance your performance; why not go for plain water?

Plain water is so beneficial in the following ways:

–    Inadequate intake of water causesdehydration which in turn brings about fast aging. Water can reverse thisaction.

–    Water flushes out free radicals out of thebody system.

–    Water enhances easy metabolism duringdigestion.

–    Little water during mild exercise is saidto gradually ease out body pain.

FACTS ON MOSQUITOES & MALARIA

• Mosquitoes bite deposit malaria parasite called Plasmodium in the victim’s body.

• The plasmodium finds its way into the human liver, where it takes a new form and begin to multiply and infect the red blood cells.

• At this point, one may ask; what about the immune system? The immune system is often weakened by the plasmodium.

• The malaria parasites hide inside the red blood cells and not easily captured by the immune system.

• The red blood cell gets burst after it becomes saturated with the malaria parasites. The immune system often takes advantage of this cell burst time to attack.

• The Mosquito go to rest to digest the blood and wait for the eggs to be mature.

• Malaria is characterized by fever, back pain, general joint pain, severe headache, abnormal sweating even when the temperature of the environment seems normal. In the case of children, it is accompanied by Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

• Malaria patient often experiences a low amount of urine and loss of appetite.

• The immune system basically can attack the plasmodium when the red blood cell saturated with the Plasmodium is burst. And not all malaria parasites in the burst is attacked by the immune system.

• During this burst, the victim begins to experience an intense headache, joint pain and generally, fever. This could be the reason why doctors also prescribe pain-killer along with the malaria drug for the cure.

• The bites of Mosquitoes are extremely dangerous to children because of their developing immunity and pregnant women.

• The remainder of the Plasmodium killed by the immune system have some very good tendencies of altering the state of the later.

• Malaria has been and is claiming a very large number of lives in a continent like Africa. This is due to the warm weather/climate which has made it an exceptional disease-prone environment. Poor governance also limits the eradication of Malaria as there are inadequate public health services and many breeding areas in the continent.

• Mosquitoes is a tiny insect, scientifically classified as Culicidae. It is one of the most dreaded insects because of its disease-causing effect.

• Mosquitoes have four stages of life cycle namely; egg, larva, pupa, and the adult stage.

• There are over 3000 species of Mosquitoes, but our common worry is the Anopheles, which is the carrier of malaria.

• Mosquitoes basically feed on the juice of fruits, crops and plant nectar. However, only the female mosquitoes feed on blood from its victims to develop her eggs laid in the stagnant waters or pool.

• Worse still, the female mosquitoes live longer than their male counterparts.

• The Mosquitoes has a complex system around its forelegs that finds out its prey even in the dark.

• Even in the dark, the Mosquitoes is attracted to the heat from human skin and Carbon dioxide is given off by human breath.

• As the Mosquitoes insert it PROBOSCIS into the victim’s skin, it heat-detecting properties identifies the bloodstream which is warmer than the outer and inner skin.

• Mosquitoes live even up to 45 days. As they die off, the already laid eggs continue its metamorphosis, making its eradication even more difficult.

Tips to Eliminate Refined Sugar

 

In order to eliminate refined sugars, you need to have a plan. Listed below are ways to eliminate refined sugar from your diet:

 

1. Cut down on sugary beverages =:  There are many sugary beverages you need to avoid, such as fruit juice, fruit drinks, energy drinks, coffee drinks, sweetened waters, and soft drinks. In fact, most apple juice in our markets can be a combination of 100 percent sweetener from the concentrated fruit juice and apple flavoring. Most Manufacturers often present it as 100 percent apple juice. One big problem is that the size of these drinks can be deceptive. This can also be a way in which more calories and sugar can enter your diet without you knowing it.

 

A 12-ounce serving of a sugar-sweetened beverage is about 150 calories. The problem is that people hardly ever drink one serving of a sugary beverage. In movie/cinema theaters, convenience stores, and fast food chains, these beverages are offered in servings that contain between 300 and 500 calories. Even cutting just one portion per day can result in a loss of six pounds in 6 months and 1.4 pounds after 18 months.

 

That may not sound like a large amount, but you need to remember that most people are not drinking just one serving per day. About half of us drink sugary beverages every day and, within this half, around 25 percent drink two hundred or more calories from these beverages.

If you really like sugary beverages, this is because they aren’t a part of your new way of eating. It’s not recommended that you let even lesser amounts of them into your diet. They have no intrinsic value other than giving you gratification.

 

Make a list of all of the sugary beverages you consume and develop a plan for substitutes so you don’t feel like cheating. Pour the ones you have down the sink and remove them from your shopping list.

 

 

2. Cut down on junk food and sweets:=  You’ll find these foods at fast food restaurants, sporting events, and vending machines. You’ll also find them lining the shelves of your pantry. In fact, they are most likely a fuel for your addiction. It’s essential to identify the sources of needless sugars in your diet and keep them out of the pantry.

This means that you’ll have to remove sweet foods from your diets, such as ice cream, candy bars, cookies, and cakes, as well as salty foods and savory foods, such as pretzels, popcorn, and chips. This includes buttery crackers, caramel-containing rice cakes, fruit bars, some energy bars, and even granola bars that are high in sugar.

 

You know what junk foods are when you see them and, if you’re in doubt, it’s most likely to be junk food. These foods really have no place in a diet that is geared for wellness. Much like sugary beverages, they are likely working against you. To get rid of junk foods from your diet, you need to take them off your grocery list.

Some people can eat more junk food during this stage and be okay; however, you may need to reduce your intake more slowly and get rid of one item at a time. If you eat a lot of junk food, make a list of those foods you tend to overeat before figuring out which ones have a high sugar content. You can then decide which ones should be gotten rid of first.

The key to cutting out sweets is to replace them with healthy alternatives by substituting them with foods that are healthy for you.

 

 

  3. Decrease hidden sugars:=  Condiments, sauces, and dressings add flavour to your food, but they also add sugars that can work against your weight-loss objectives and good health. The key is learning to read labels and moderation. Diet foods are also a concern. Many foods labelled as “no-fat”, “low fat” and “diet foods” just replace the fat with more carbs in the form of sugar. We see “low fat” and think this is a healthier option, but if “low fat” is the same as “high sugar,” then you need to avoid them.

There are also products on the market that are sugar-free, which are appealing to those people who are trying to restrict their intake of sugar or are diabetic.

 

Be cautious with these foods as well, while they may be sugar-free, they may still have many fast-metabolizing carbs in them. Therefore, eating whole food is your best option, because you can be sure that you are not eating hidden sugars or other harmful ingredients.

 

 

4. Decrease starches:=  While you have already decreased the amount of simple carbohydrates you are taking in, such as sugar from soft drinks, cutting down on complex carbohydrates, such a rice, pasta, and bread may be necessary. Complex carbohydrates affect your blood sugar in ways that can affect your weight and when eaten in excess can raise blood sugar levels causing insulin spikes.

Eating too many carbs causes out of control cravings, and the need for more carbs. Before you know it, you are still hungry because your body rapidly digested the food and you want more. This means that the ups and downs will continue to occur.

 

There is a way to take control. You need to lessen your intake of any carbs that you are eating too much of. The process of cutting back on rice, pasta, and bread will probably take more time because many people are dependent on complex carbs as the primary foods in many of their meals. Instead of having a sandwich for lunch or toast for breakfast, you may instead decide to eat fruit and eggs for breakfast and a green salad with chicken (no croutons) for lunch.

A good plan is to list the carbohydrates you are likely to overeat the most and then take them out of your diet one at a time. Once you take something out of your diet, take them out for good.

 

 

High sugar cereals should be eliminated and replaced with whole oats, and sugar-free high fiber cereals but in small portions. Replace all white starches, like rice and pasta with whole grain varieties, such as brown rice and quinoa. Limit your pasta to whole grain varieties and enjoy them no more than twice per week. After a while, you should use a vegetable, instead of pasta. Squash is a good substitute.

 

By making slight changes as you and staying on track, you’ll see that you can transit to a new way of eating without much difficulty.

 

Choosing a Life Partner Will Make or Break You

Growing up somewhere in Nigeria; divorce, separations and single parenthood used to be something we watched on the TV, read in magazines and gossip tabloids or even heard about once in a very blue moon, in fact, most of our parents couldn’t even comprehend the word itself. Fast forward a few decades, divorce and single parenting now seem to be the situation in vogue almost as if it is a fashion statement pioneered by celebrities and socialites to be absorbed by common folks at every whiff of marital challenges. Sad right?

 

Unlike in the western world where divorce and separation are done with reckless abandon, here in Africa, we hold the institution of holy matrimony sacred and not to be toiled with, marrying a spouse used to be a dogma for absolute devotion and self-sacrifice. Rather true to a disturbing norm, we have also copied and pasted the Institution of divorce and separation into our doctrine.

 

To proffer a remedy to this malady being taken for granted in our immediate society, we will be looking at how you can easily identify and ultimately choose the right life partner that will “complement” and “grow” you as an individual thereby making life as fulfilling as it should be rather than making a human judgment of “forcing” the wrong person into a situation that will end in regret for both parties concerned.

 

I once read somewhere that “we are all created as one piece of a two-piece puzzle”. Finding your second piece unique to you is a treasure hunt that will determine your happiness in certain phases of your life. Wellbeing digest will show you pointers, tips and self-truths that you will require in finding that right one who will make and not break you.

 

Don’t make that choice out of fear: The truth is that so many times individuals either choose a partner or stay with someone in an unhappy relationship predominantly out of fear. That fear of being alone vary widely from person to person depending on childhood situations, juvenile experiences and emotional Traumas in life.

Dear Friend, the reality is that It’s better to be alone and wait for the right person that makes you happy than to make a decision out of fear, in which you will wake up one morning to regret.
Give people a chance that you normally wouldn’t give a chance to: “No one knows what tomorrow brings” This is a saying that applies in choosing that right life partner. The wrong you see in a partner can be corrected or improved if given a chance.

 

Attraction can grow the more you get to know a person and their personality. Some people also take a lot of time to get to know and don’t wear their heart on their sleeves. You may not get a chance to find that out if you don’t take the time to get to know someone. My advice is to swallow your ego, ask him/her on a harmless date, get to know them, let them get to know you and your instincts and emotions will guide you on which is worth taking a shot at or which is better left. Don’t conclude.

 

Look for qualities that are the foundation of a good partnership, throw the tiny details out: Let me know you a bit, the qualities of a person that can help to build the foundation of a good partnership are:
*  Empathy,
*  integrity,
*  honesty,
*  reliability,
*  kindness
*  emotional generosity.

 

If you find these qualities in someone, be curious about pursuing it further, even if they may not seem to like your type of person at the beginning. Other criteria, like “sense of humor,” “world traveler,” and “good dancer” are nice-to-haves but don’t necessarily have to be there for you to be happy in your relationship. Learn to focus on the core positive elements a good partner must possess because if you continue to be bothered so much on minute details such as height, color, size etc. it’s very probable that you will make the wrong choice of getting a true partner for the rest of your life.

 

Don’t let lust be your guide: People tend to put up with a lot of crap from someone they are dating when they feel a magnetic chemistry with them. Magnetic chemistry has a strong power because it isn’t something that happens often. When we find someone we have magnetic chemistry with, not only is it an aphrodisiac that we can’t get enough of but we also confuse it with the right person (e.g., “this must be right if I feel this strongly!”). Magnetic chemistry is great but doesn’t excuse bad behavior because of it, more importantly, don’t allow it to cloud your judgment on other key pointers about that individual. Sex and fun become stale after a while but it’s those good qualities that sustain and reinvent the union as time passes.

 

Look, the less pressure you put on yourself as it concerns choosing a life partner, the happier you are with yourself, and the more at ease you are will create a space to attract the right kind of people to you. This is one secret all those relationship experts often neglect to tell you.

 

Sometimes, it takes seeing a lot of what you don’t want to figure out to get what you want. The most important thing is that “You stay true to who you really are” so that you don’t end up becoming a habitual pretender and being miserable for a long time. Don’t be easily distracted by the surface character been shown to you by a partner.

 

In conclusion, look deep within for those qualities you want, and trust your instincts. Tell yourself ‘’if it doesn’t feel right, then it most probably it isn’t right,

 

Good Luck!