How to avoid Trouble and live a peaceful life

People who disregard warning signs, act rashly, or associate with the wrong crowd are prone to trouble.

Making deliberate decisions can help you avoid most issues. Use these helpful suggestions to have a stress-free, drama-free, and trouble-free life:

 Pick your friends carefully, your thoughts, choices, and behaviors are influenced by the people in your life. You will soon find yourself in difficulties you didn't cause if you surround yourself with negative, careless, or dishonest people! 

 Remain with those that promote integrity, growth, and peace. Keep your distance if someone is always embroiled in arguments, scandals, or drama.

 Keep your space safe; not everyone should have access to your life! 

Consider Before Acting Impulsive reactions—saying the wrong thing out of rage, making poor decisions, or signing bad contracts will cause a lot of problems. 

Amazing Health Benefits of Walking Barefoot

  

  Walking barefoot, also referred to as Earthing or Grounding is a straightforward but effective natural health improvement technique.  Most people in today's fast-paced world spend their entire day in shoes, which detaches them from the vitality of the soil. 

 However, barefoot walking on natural surfaces like grass, sand, or dirt may have several health advantages, according to research and long-standing customs.  Find out why you should start walking barefoot.

If you're searching for a natural solution to lower stress, increase circulation, ease pain, and improve your general wellness.  Checkout more advantages below:

1. It enhances Foot Strength and Posture  Over time, wearing shoes weakens the muscles in your feet.  They become stronger when walking barefoot, which enhances posture, stability, and balance.  Additionally, it lowers the chance of developing common foot issues including plantar fasciitis, bunions, and flat feet. 

How does temptation affect us?

As old as humanity itself is temptation. The Devil has been trying to trick people into doing bad things since the beginning of time. 

 However, one thing is still true: he can only suggest, trick, and influence people; he cannot make them commit evil. We always have the final say in every matter.  

Despite his constant temptation, the Devil fails. The devil has attempted to lead many astray numerous times, but I have always been forewarned by an inner voice.

 This voice is perceived by the devil as a "gossiper" since it reveals every malicious scheme before it is carried out. There's always the silent cautionary tale: "Avoid temptation." This is a trap. Unfortunately, a lot of people disregard this caution and place the responsibility for their problems on the devil. 

 However, knowledge instructs us:

 "Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust and greed." 

 This implies that temptation exists, but it only succeeds when we give in to our impulses, whether they be selfish, prideful, or greedy. 

Top 5 Cybersecurity Mistakes That Could Cost You Everything in 2025

 

Cyber threats are evolving fast, and a single mistake could expose your personal data, finances, or business to hackers. In 2025, 

Cyber criminals are using more sophisticated attacks, making cybersecurity more critical than ever.

 Here are top five cybersecurity mistakes you must avoid to stay safe.

1. Ignoring Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Using only a password to secure your accounts is a huge risk. Hackers can crack weak passwords or steal them in data breaches. Without MFA, they can access your emails, bank accounts, and even work files. 

How to Fix It:

✅ Enable MFA on all critical accounts (email, banking, social media).

✅ Use authentication apps instead of SMS codes, which are vulnerable to SIM-swapping.

The Interplay Between Physical Exercise and Mental Well-Being

Physical exercise is essential not only for maintaining a fit body but also for promoting mental health. It reduces stress, boosts mood, enhances brain function, and improves sleep quality by lowering cortisol and releasing endorphins. Regular physical activity also strengthens emotional well-being by building self-esteem, alleviating anxiety, and increasing energy levels. Practical ways to incorporate exercise include starting small, choosing enjoyable activities, embracing mind-body practices like yoga, and exercising outdoors for added benefits. Consistency and setting realistic goals are key to creating a sustainable routine. By balancing physical fitness and emotional well-being, you can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, improve longevity, and enjoy a healthier, more fulfilling life. This holistic approach ensures sound health, sharper focus, and increased happiness every day.

UNFORGIVENESS IS HURTING YOUR WELLBEING

Forgiveness is a voluntary and conscious decision to let go of negative feelings about someone. On the other way round, Unforgiveness has to do with keeping grudge and failing to let go of other people’s ills and short-comings.

Unforgiveness often store  anger, resentment and hostility but once the decision for forgiveness is activated, the negative feeling is replaced with compassion and empathy for the person who wronged you.

People who hang on to grudges and the attitude of unforgiveness are more likely to a health condition known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Unforgiveness can have profound effects on our overall wellbeing, impacting us emotionally, mentally, physically, and socially.

Psychology of Infidelity

Why do people cheat in relationships and what’s the way forward ?

From the foregoing, it’s clear that infidelity is a mental process occasioned by the function of learning techniques that happens over time.

The Psychology of infidelity oftentimes is a function of societal permissiveness for men to seek out other partners while this shouldn’t be practicable to women folk. Thus, in most cases, men engage in infidelity more than women. The percentage is incomparable. This is also due to cultural restrictions for women and seeming permissiveness for men. For example, in some parts of Idoma land in Benue State of Nigeria, women who engage in infidelity oftentimes are visited with the wrath of alekwu (the spirit of the ancestors) , a god that controls infidelity among the people, especially women. 

Natural Cure For Ovarian Cysts

Natural Cure For Ovarian Cysts  

disease is a chronic condition that can take a toll on the physical, mental and emotional well being of a woman. The conventional medical approach cannot really help the individual cure and prevent the condition, as the root causes of this condition as well as the manifold complications associated with this condition are not addressed by the common conventional treatments of ovarian cysts. Hence, today there is a growing trend to revert back to the to handling ovarian cyst disorders in all their aspects.

The importance of the natural approach:

First, the natural approach to curing ovarian cysts involves the use of natural safe and gentle remedies. The use of natural remedies often results is much fewer side effects compared to those inflicted by conventional drugs. Secondly, the natural approach targets the root causes of a condition rather than focusing on the symptoms. Thirdly, by tackling the root causes the natural approach aims at long term healing and prevention of your condition.

1. Side effects of conventional medication: Conventional medical treatment can give rise to many side effects. Women who have to lose their ovaries can obviously never have children again. These women also often experience change in their personality due to hormonal imbalance. Also, oral contraceptives, which are used prominently to treat the condition, can affect the fertility capabilities of a woman in the long term. Pregnant women cannot use conventional medication, without having to endure significant risks of miscarriage and premature delivery. Compared to this, natural remedies have no side effects. Some forms of natural treatment also put emphasis on strengthening the mental and emotional state of the patient thereby promoting healing in the true sense of the term.
2. Inefficiency of conventional medication: Conventional provides only temporary relief from the symptoms of ovarian cysts. The ovarian cysts often reoccur after the treatment is discarded. Even after surgery, the patient is not immune to ovarian cysts. In fact research has shown that the growth of ovarian cysts after surgery is very common. Compared to conventional medication, the natural approach provides long-term relief from the condition since it tackles the root cause of ovarian cysts and is therefore more effective.
3. Impersonal approach: Conventional medication works according to rule of thumb without paying much attention to individual differences. Hence, conventional medication fails to treat certain conditions, as it lays emphasis on the disease and not the patient. On the other hand, the natural treatment is a often a personalized treatment. Each and every course of varies from one person to another. This is the reason why it has such an astounding success rate.
4. Expensive conventional treatment: Conventional treatment for ovarian cysts is very expensive. Besides the huge costs of ovarian surgery, you will have to pay for hospitalization, tests, prescription drugs and more are comparatively cost effective and therefore women on a shoestring budget can also take advantage of them.

The natural approach to treating ovarian cysts is effective against most forms of cysts. It can be used to prevent complications and to keep the existing ovarian cyst condition under control. However, these remedies cannot completely cure ovarian cysts. To cure ovarian cysts, a comprehensive holistic and multidimensional form of treatment is required.

The Holistic approach:

The only way to effectively treat and prevent ovarian cysts is by using a multidimensional holistic approach to healing. 

Unlike the conventional approach which deals with the inflicted organ or with the symptoms of the disease (and the treatment in often aggressive with a myriad of side effects), the holistic approach treats every disease as part of a whole by firstly restoring natural balance to the body while naturally tackling each causative factor which lead to the condition. In this way, the holistic approach to treating ovarian cysts offers a long term, safe and gentle solution without the side effects of drugs or the risk of surgery while ensuring the prevention of future ovarian cyst recurrence.

This article is based on the book, “Ovarian Cyst Miracle” by Carol Foster. Carol is an author, researcher, nutritionist and health consultant who dedicated her life to creating the ultimate holistic ovarian cyst solution guaranteed to permanently cure all types of ovarian cysts and dramatically improve the overall quality of your life, naturally, without the use prescription medication or surgery, and without any side effects. Learn more & get the solution by visiting her website:

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!

 

Loneliness and Being Alone

 

 

Loneliness is an unpleasant feeling of isolation, disconnectedness or abandonment. It may sound quite scary to hear that the feelings of loneliness have been linked to depression, loss of sleep, an increased risk of stroke and high blood pressure.

 

It can also be said to be a feeling of disconnectedness or isolation that makes it almost difficult for one to communicate or associate with others.

 

 

It is important to note here that Solitude sometimes leads to feelings of loneliness, this is not always the case. This complex emotional response affects people in differs ways. Hence, it varies from person to person. Some individuals prefer being by themselves and do not feel lonely in any way, even after an extended period of solitude.

 

 

Loneliness is a complex emotional response which affects people in differs ways. People experience loneliness when they can’t communicate or connect with other people. This indicates that they do not necessarily have to be alone to feel lonely, especially they are surrounded by people who don’t feel comfortable communicating with.

 

 

Loneliness can set in in the following conditions:

 

* Feeling of isolation that comes with an unmet expectation or unreturned feeling

* Crying, but no one is watching or caring.

* When a huge sense of emotional abandonment is felt.

* When one struggle to get attraction but to no avail.

* When you begin to blame yourself for an action already carried out.

 

 

The Effects of Solitude

 

Being alone affects each of us differently. While many people tend to view being alone or social isolation as a negative scenario, it can also have a positive side. Being alone gives us time to think, which can help to improve our concentration and other cognitive functions. It also gives us time to reflect on our experiences and process what is going on in our lives.

 

Getting some time to yourself also helps in avoiding overstimulation or stress brought on by too much of social interaction.

 

Being alone is not always a good thing. However, Studies have shown that complete social isolation can have a negative impact on our Wellbeing, even if we do not feel lonely. If we go for a long time without talking to anyone, it can alter our listening and communication skills or ability. It is important to interact with someone often, whether it’s a friend, relative or even someone more distant like a stranger.

 

 

Being lonely and being alone are closely related, they are two entirely different things. Sometimes, being alone can be a good thing, especially if you need to unwind or ponder on issues.

 

But, being lonely is almost never a positive thing. If you feel you are lonely, take every step within your limit and make a connection with someone. You will be glad you did.

 

 

Mental Effects of Loneliness

 

The feelings of loneliness tend to fade once an individual start to once again interacts with others, periods of chronic loneliness are typically more long-lasting and have a serious negative impact on overall mental health. What follows is a few of the mind-related effects that can crop up due to chronic loneliness.

These effects include:

 

• Stress- The prolonged periods of loneliness have been shown to increase the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Having high levels of cortisol in your blood for long periods of time can lead to heightened levels of anxiety and depression. On a worse scenario, this anxiety can cause one to shy away from hanging out with people or socializing. This keeps you from getting rid of the loneliness.

 

• Poor Sleep Quality- It will be hard to fall asleep when you’re feeling lonely. Dwelling on feelings of isolation makes it difficult to clear, relax and get a peaceful night’s sleep. Also, the high cortisol levels associated with chronic loneliness also make it hard for us to fall asleep and stay asleep.

 

• Substance Abuse- Instances of alcoholism or substance abuse are common in people who suffer from chronic loneliness. Some people tend to turn to these substances when they feel like they don’t have anyone to talk to. They keep drinking alcohol until they become drunk, just because they want to forget that you feel lonely. This act does not actually address the factors that make them feel lonely.

 

• Negative Self-Image- Feeling lonely can have a major impact on the way that you view yourself. It brings about inferiority complex, which may create the mind of feeling like you are doing something wrong or a feeling that the loneliness is your fault somehow. Not only can these self-defeating thoughts further your anxiety and depression, they may also keep you from having positive interactions in the future.

 

• Feeling Withdrawn – Loneliness often makes one feel withdrawn and not to want to make a connection or contact with other people.

 

 

 

 

Physical Effects of Loneliness

 

Loneliness can have extreme physical effects on the body over time as well.

 

• Higher Blood Pressure- Also known as Hypertension, is a condition that increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. Studies have shown that people who experienced modest levels of loneliness are more likely to develop high blood pressure later in their life.

It is known that Blood pressure is as much as 30% higher in people who experience loneliness than people who do not

 

 

• Loss of Sleep – A Research believed there is a connection between loneliness and insomnia. It also revealed that lonely people slept about 30 minutes less than other people. Depression plays a major role as to why people suffering from loneliness experience a loss of sleep and is often associated with insomnia.

 

• Dietary Issues- People who experience loneliness are more likely to suffer from a poor diet, due to a lack of appetite. Sufferers of loneliness are less motivated to cook meals for themselves or eat in their homes. Hence, turn to ready-made meals that very often lack key nutrients. It is known that poor dietary meals lead to weight gain, thereby increases health risks.

 

 

 

One key effect of loneliness tends to affect our health from inside our body. This is the continues production of cortisol due to chronic loneliness. This activity may have a bad effect on the immune system, thereby making it difficult to fight off infection and illness. It also raises prolactin levels, which increases your sensitivity to pain, making muscle aches and headaches seem worse than they ought to be. Excessive levels of cortisol hyper-sensitizes your brain to pain, so headaches may happen very suddenly due to even slight nerve activity.

 

Being lonely is just as bad for you physically as it is mental. Think about all the conditions mentioned here, the next time loneliness strikes. Remember, by doing all that you can to interact with people, you’ll be helping your physical being as well.

 

 

Many people usually underestimate the negative impact that loneliness can have on a person’s mental and emotional Wellbeing. If you think that you are feeling lonely, don’t be afraid to reach out for help. It may be difficult to overcome loneliness by yourself. But with the help of your family members, friends, and associates, one will be taking steps toward feeling less isolated and giving life a meaning.

Top Lifestyle Diseases

                                       

Heart Disease

Heart disease is one deadly killer leading cause of death of men and women in our present day. Although some cases of heart disease have a family history behind it, there is much that we can do to prevent heart disease in the future.

 

A basic understanding of heart disease is a good place to start.

 

This occurs when the small blood vessels of the heart become clogged with bad cholesterol and toxins, thereby narrowing of these blood vessels. The clogging particles build up and cause what is known as hardening of the arteries.

 

Once fatty materials start to deposit into the arteries, it becomes tough for blood and oxygen to reach the heart through those pathways. Hence, the heart can no longer receive vital blood and oxygen. Heart attack occurs.

 

While some factors such as family history play a role in heart disease, there are also ways to prevent or eradicate the chances of this deadly illness. This can be done by learning as much about the preventative measures; it is a wise and healthy choice.

Symptoms

 

Some symptoms that you should be aware of when it comes to the health of your heart may be noticeable, while other symptoms are subtle. In whichever case, when such symptom is experienced, a visit with your doctor is imperative.

 

* Shortness of breath could develop from anything from heart disease to asthma. If you are short of breath, do not hesitate to visit your doctor. Do not take it for granted. Visit your doctor.

 

* Dizziness or fainting are symptoms that something is wrong in your body system. If you experience both dizziness and shortness of breath, ensure you visit your doctor.

 

* Pressure – Pressure associated with heart disease is a huge sign that something is wrong. The pressure in your chest or in your arm, neck, and shoulders could be indicative of heart disease.

 

* Fatigue – Sometimes we view fatigue as something that will go away on its own. However, if you have fatigue, it could be your body warning you that something is going wrong somewhere down the road. You may be able to ward it off if you act early enough.

 

Other causes of Heart Disease include high blood pressure, heart disorders, obesity, a lack of exercise, and smoking.

 

 

 Diabetes – A large number of new cases of diabetes are diagnosed every year

Types of diabetes:

Type I

This can also be called juvenile onset diabetes, it occurs in people under the age of 25. Here, the pancreas becomes an auto-immune problem (the body attacks its own pancreatic cells) whereby the pancrea is disabled and can no longer produce insulin. Type I often run in families and will affect the person for the rest of his or her life. Insulin will be required and perhaps other medications throughout the diabetic’s life.

 

Type II

This type of diabetes usually occurs later in life. Its symptoms are similar to Type I, as excessive thirst, unexplained weight loss, frequent urination, fatigue, tingling in the extremities, etc are experienced. – but Type II can often be managed with diet and exercise, especially if detected early. Some sources note that it never really “goes away,” but its severity varies.

Type II diabetics usually have a functioning pancreas; it just doesn’t produce enough insulin, or the insulin it does produce is not processed or recognized by the body any longer ( known as insulin resistance).

Causes:

Diabetes can be triggered by unhealthy, sugar-rich diets and a sedentary lifestyle. This makes the pancreas to become exhausted trying to keep the blood sugar down in response to the constant influx of sugar from the diet.

 

Other possibilities for triggers include high blood pressure and stress. Although this may not have been proven, individuals with high blood pressure are statistically more likely to develop diabetes than those with normal blood pressure.

Stress is often thought by medical professionals that prolonged, unrelieved stress increases the risk of diabetes. Sometimes the stress is caused by trauma or emotional disturbance, somehow making the individual susceptible to developing diabetes.

 

 

 Obesity

According to Wikipedia, ‘Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have a negative effect on health’

Since obesity is primarily a result of poor diet and/or lack of exercise and is a risk factor for many serious medical complications and even premature death, it is one of the most significant lifestyle diseases of the modern world.

Are you over-weight? The Body Mass Index (BMI) is one important index to determine obesity. The BMI is a person’s weight in kilograms (kg) divided by his or her height in meters squared.

Causes of obesity:

Most likely reasons that lead to obesity include; overeating, lack of exercise, genetic predisposition, psychological problems and extremely slow metabolism.

Effect of obesity

Obesity can result in reduced life expectancy, heart disease due to high cholesterol level. It increases stress on the body joints.

To keep obesity at bay, you must endeavor to shade off excessive weight through dieting and exercise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Cancer

Cancer is said to be a wild growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancer occurs when the body’s normal control mechanism fails to function.   Body cells do not last forever. When these cells become old, they do not die; instead grow out of control, forming new, abnormal cells (this is not a normal situation). These abnormal extra cells may form a bulk of tissues called a tumor. However, it must also be noted they are different types of cancers, but not all of them forms a tumor. (a good example is leukemia. it does not form tumors).

There are over 150 different types of cancer, while many factors are beyond your control, you can reduce your risk through a variety of lifestyle choices.

 

 

 

How to Help Prevent Cancer

In most cases, cancer is an abnormal development of cell due to a certain lifestyle of choice. This includes lifestyles like smoking, excessive exposure of oneself to sunlight, exposure to certain toxins among others.

However, there are certain proactive steps you can take to help prevent cancer. Stay healthy.

 

How You Can Prevent Cancer from Happening to You

If there is no trace of cancer in your family history, then you probably will not wish to raise cancer tendencies. Prevent cancer by taking the following proactive steps;

 

1. Reduce your sugar intake. It has been proven beyond all reasonable doubt that cancer develops and flourishes very well in a glucose-rich environment. A lifestyle with more sugar and less oxygen can increase the chances/risk of getting cancer.

 

2. Endeavour to maintain a proper body potential Hydrogen (pH). A reasonable high pH level is Alkaline and rich in oxygen. Cancer does not flourish in an alkaline environment. To keep your pH above 7.0, drink a lot of water, reduce the amount of meat in your meal, reduce your consumption of sweets, and eat a lot of raw vegetables.

 

3. Regular exercise to keep your body active to eliminate any form of abnormal cell development even at an early stage.

 

4. Get enough and the right amount of sleep. Your body needs that time or rest to rejuvenate cells.
5. Vitamin and mineral supplements will help maintain and check healthy body chemistry.
6. Don’t use tobacco products. This goes for smoking or chewing. Tobacco products are linked to many different types of Cancer including lung, bladder, cervix, kidney, oral cavity, and pancreas.

If you avoid tobacco products at all costs, then you might have reduced the risks of developing cancer.

7. Use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor to protect yourself from excessive sunshine. Avoid excessive midday sun. It destroys the skin’s melanin. In addition, avoid skin bleaching.
8. Ensure you are up to date on your immunizations. This protects you from certain types of viruses which are capable of limiting your chances of getting cancers. Hepatitis B and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) are two key vaccines to take note in this case. HPV is associated with cervical cancer.
9. Avoid risky lifestyles such as unsafe sex and sharing needles/sharp objects which can lead to infections. HIV or AIDS increases the chances of getting cancer of the liver, anus etc. This is a sexually transmitted disease. Sharing needles increases your chances of Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C.
10. Ensure you keep a date with your doctor regularly to screen for cancers. This will help diagnose any problem and prevent it from metamorphosing into cancer.

 

Nothing, in life, is guaranteed. However, you will be healthy if you adhere to these tips.

 

 

 Hypertension

This is a long-term condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries remains high. The blood pressure is a quantity of the force with which your blood is pumped around your body. It can also be said to be the pressure that your pumped blood places on the walls of your arteries that carry blood away from your heart.

High blood pressure is often a result of a fatty diet, and a failure to exercise regularly. Stress can also be contributing factor.

It must be mentioned that for many people, high blood pressure has no symptoms whatsoever. Even in a situation where someone is suffering a symptom that could suggest a blood pressure problem, this sign may be so mild that it may look like there is nothing wrong.

 

 

Factors that cause High Blood Pressure

• Being seriously overweight or obese.
• Sleep apnea – This is a brief period when you stop breathing while asleep. This, in turn, causes a pause in breathing. When you make effort to breathe, the air that squeezes past the blockage can cause loud noise termed as snoring. Overweight people are particularly susceptible to this kind of situation.
• Lack of exercise causes your heart works harder to pump blood around the body
• The family history of high blood pressure is quite likely to create a similar problem.
• Tobacco usage – Certain chemicals in cigarettes and tobacco can cause damage to blood vessel walls, thereby increasing the work that your heart has to do to pump blood around your body.
• Stress can be a big contributory factor to high blood pressure.
• Excessive Sodium (salt) intake can result in increased fluid retention, which in turn leads to increased blood pressure.
• Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of heart problems, particularly if this excessive consumption is continued over a long period of time.

 

Effects of High Blood Pressure

Brain problems: Uncontrolled blood pressure can result in damaged or narrow blood vessels in the brain,

By restricting blood flow to a certain part of the brain can cause the cells of that particular area of your brain to cease functioning either temporarily or permanently. Hence, that part of your brain dies and that carries a significant risk such as death.

 

Kidney problems

The main function of the kidneys is to filter your blood to remove unwanted waste products which are then discharged from the body. If there is a kidney problem, the ability to function is somehow reduced. Hence, a kidney damage can take place.

 

 

Limbs and eyes

It can damage any area of your body where there are blood vessels. Hence, it is possible that high blood pressure can have an adverse effect on both your eyesight and movement of parts of the body.

 

 

 

 

 Cirrhosis of the Liver This is the damaging of the liver due to

This is the damaging of the liver due to the effect of alcoholism. It is accompanied by an inflamed liver, weakened consciousness, a loss of appetite, as well as jaundice. It is irreversible and results in premature death.

Wise Ways to a Healthier Heart

 

 

Due to the growing number of fatalities attributed heart diseases, there is need to get you informed concerning things you can do to arrest an unhealthy state of the heart.

Several changes have altered the original state of lots of hearts. Hence, it is your responsibility to identify those factors that can put the heart in good lasting, working condition.

 

 

Wellbeing Digest hereby presents vital information ranging from nutrition to good lifestyle. This will support the health of your heart.

1. Focus on your abdomen: Research into the Journal of the American College of Cardiology has connected excess belly fat to an unhealthy blood lipid level and higher blood pressure. It is time to slim down the extra fat that you have developed around your abdomen. Exercising and eating low-calorie foods can make a great difference.
2. Stop smoking: Smoking is one of the chief risk factors for heart disease. If you use other tobacco products or smoke, the American Heart Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Blood Institute all encourage you to stop. It can make a big difference to your heart as well as your overall health.
3. Engage your hands: Put your hands to work to reduce stress, and unwind your mind. Engaging in activities such as crocheting, knitting, and sewing can help you relieve stress and do your heart some good. Other relaxing hobbies, such as completing jigsaw puzzles, cooking, or woodworking is other relaxing hobbies that take the edge off your stress.
4. Let the music move you: Whatever dance step you prefer, dancing makes your heart better. Like other forms of exercise, it increases your heart beat rate and gets your legs into motion. This can also burn up a good amount of calories per hour.
5. Switch to fish: Eat a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids can also get rid of heart disease. Many types of fish, such as herring, sardines, salmon, and tuna are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

If you’re worried about mercury in fish, you may be excited to learn that the heart benefits of fish tend to outweigh its risks. Alternatively, you may go supplement (remember to consult your doctor). However, it is good to note that the only time supplements become essential are when your diet is lacking or when certain health disorders cause you to develop the Omega-3 Fatty acids deficiency.

6. Laugh aloud: Laughter is a medicine that improves Wellbeing. Laugh aloud in your daily life. Whether you like cracking jokes with your friends, watching funny movies, or cracking jokes with your loved ones, laughter can decrease the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, decreasing inflammation in your coronary arteries and can increase your levels of HDL (high-density lipoproteins, also known as “good cholesterol.”
7. Stretch your muscles: Yoga can help you improve your flexibility, strength, and balance. It can help you relieve stress and relax. Moreover, yoga can improve your heart health. According to scientific research published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, yoga has the potential to reduce your risk of heart disease.
8. What about a little alcohol? —moderate consumption of an alcoholic beverage can help you increase your high-density lipoprotein levels.

According to the Mayo Clinic, you can drink red wine in particular as it may offer benefits that may help your heart. It doesn’t mean you should have alcohol at every meal. It just means that you can help prevent artery damage and blood clot formation.

9. Skip the salt—If the entire US population reduced its mean salt intake to just a half teaspoon per day, it would significantly decrease the number of people who develop heart artery disease each year. Researchers suggest that salt is one of the leading causes of increased health care costs in the US. Processed foods tend to be particularly high in salt. Therefore, you need to think twice before eating a lot of fast food.
10. Exercise regularly: It doesn’t matter how much you weigh, sitting for long periods of time could decrease your lifespan. People who live desk jockey lifestyles or are couch potatoes suffer from unhealthy effects on blood sugar and blood fats. If you work at a desk, take regular breaks and move around a bit. Take a walk on your lunch breaks and eat your lunch while walking.

By continuously raising and lowering your heart rate through simple exercise/workout, you can have a better vascular function. This does not only burn calories but increases the body’s detoxification process.

11. Keep track of your numbers: Keeping track of your blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol, and blood sugar can help you maintain a healthy heart. Learn the optimal levels for your age group and sex. Take steps to maintain those levels, your doctor can tell you how. Remember to schedule regular checkups with your physician to stay on top of the numbers, and get regular checkups.
12. Eat chocolate: Eat dark chocolate. It is not only tasty but it contains heart-healthy flavonoids. These molecules help decrease your risk of heart disease.

According to researchers at the Journal Nutrients. Eating low amounts of dark chocolate, not milk chocolate can be good for you. The next time you want to eat some sweets, eat a small amount of dark chocolate. You don’t have to feel guilty about that.

13. Do more housework: Mopping up the floor or vacuuming may not be as intense as a fitness or workout class. The nut can help improve your heart health. They can burn calories while giving your heart a workout. Put on your favorite music and carry out a domestic activity.
14. Eat some nuts: If you eat walnuts, almonds, and other tree nuts, you will get a lot of fiber, protein, and fats. Including them in your diet can help decrease your risk of heart disease. Remember that the serving size is small, suggests the American Heart Association. While nuts are full of heart-healthy stuff, they also have a lot of calories in them.
15. Feel like a child: Fitness doesn’t have to be a boring thing. Let your inner child take the lead by enjoying an evening of laser tag, bowling, or roller-skating. You can have fun while burning calories.
16. Reduce unhealthy fat intake: Slicing your saturated fat to less than 7% of your daily calories can decrease your risk of heart disease. Learn to read the nutrition label before buying or consuming foods. If you don’t read nutrition labels, consider starting today. Take stock of what you are eating and stay away from foods that are high in fat, particularly saturated fat.
17. Take the scenic route home: Forget the shortest, but traffic congested route home and take the scenic route so you can enjoy your ride. Eliminating stress while driving can help you reduce your blood pressure and stress levels. That is something your heart will appreciate.
18. Make some time for breakfast: The first meal of the day is most important. Eating a nutritious high fiber and high protein breakfast helps you to maintain a healthy weight and optimal levels of energy throughout the day. To build a heart-healthy meal, reach for fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, such as cheese, yogurt, or low-fat milk, lean protein sources, such as a small serving of nuts or peanut butter, and fiber found in whole grains, such as oatmeal, whole grain cereals, or whole-wheat toast.
19. Use the stairs: Exercise is crucial for good heart health, so why not sneak it in every chance you get. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. What about parking far away from the real destination and walking further? Walk over to a colleague’s desk to talk, instead of just emailing them. Take your kids out and run around. Play a sport every weekend instead of just sitting on the couch and watching TV or playing video games. Every little bit of these outdoor activity adds up to better heart health.

How Identity Theft trouble can alter your Wellbeing

 

In a simple term, Identity theft is the deliberate use of someone else’s identity such as social security number and other personal and financial data to gain a financial advantage and other benefits.

These days, people are enticed by Banks to get their own credit card. The reasons for doing so are because a cashless economy is being encouraged and offer extreme shopping incentive. Hence, many people tend to be motivated to get a credit card. But do not realize that the way they use their credit cards can greatly affect their Wellbeing. Fraudulent activities by criminals are becoming popular as they target victims that carelessly use their credit cards whenever they go shopping.

 

People should take note that one of the most prevalent credit card rip-offs in the society today is the identity theft, as no day goes by without such report.

 

It is important to know how to avoid getting into trouble by;

 

1. Protect your vital personal/financial data: Never entertain phone calls that require you to give any personal data or information, even if the caller says he is from the bank that issued your credit card.

 

2. Avoid freebies and offers that involve credit cards: In case you are offered with some promotions requiring you to give some personal information. Freebies will entice you to try it. In the end, it may be too late to realize that you have just been a victim of an identity theft.

 

3. Do not carry your Credit/Debit card around: The problem with most people is that they tend to carry their cards wherever they are. You will never know what will happen while you are in a public place, where identity theft could just be lurking around, waiting for its next victim. To play safe, endeavour to stop this bad habit.

 

Your credit/debit card

Let’s imagine that you decide to fire your boss after you made good savings from your salary. You decide to invest in a business from all you have saved over the years.  Then, just one evening, you notice several bank transaction alerts to your mobile phone. Your account via your credit/debit card is ruined, and your future dream may never be a reality.  An identity thief did all these.

 

The above scenario may be imaginary, but similar situations have happened and may continue to happen to people especially if they give themselves over to ignorance.  Remember the Book of Life says ‘’people perish because they lack knowledge’’ When this kind of scenario happens to you, your entire WellBeing will be altered. Don’t wait to become a victim of victims of identity theft.

 

Here are a few ways to protect yourself from business and personal identity theft

 

1. Only use your card at ATM you know and trust. Make sure there is nothing unusual, as fraudsters may plant hidden a camera to harvest PINs of a victim.
2. Do not give out your card number online unless the site is secure (look for a closed lock at the address bar of your browser)
3. Avoid reaching into your wallet or purse in front of the machine. Someone could snatch it while you are distracted
4. When waiting in line at an ATM, stand a reasonable distance away from the person using the machine. Respect other people’s privacy.
5. Remember your Personal Identification Number (PIN). Don’t write it on your card or keep it in your wallet. Without the PIN, a stolen card cannot be used to get cash at an ATM or be used to make purchases at electronic POS terminals through ATM networks.
6. Do not give out your Credit/Debit Card number out over the phone unless you initiated the call. It is not in the policy of financial institution personnel to ask for your Credit/Debit Card number. They have it.
7. Report to the Bank, the loss, theft, or fraudulent activity immediately
8. Check your monthly e-statement for any transactions you didn’t carry out. If detected, immediately report to your Bank.
9. Avoid counting cash while at the ATM queue. You may be tempting a criminal.
10. Avoid carrying multiple ATM cards, as this will reduce the possibility of a loss.
11. Instead of using your regular Credit/Debit card online, get a pre-paid card and load e-cash only when you need to carry out a transaction online.
12. Never give your PIN to anyone. If you trust that person, it can be leaked to a third party with a criminal mind.
13. Ensure you do not use simple PIN to your Credit/Debit card. Also, ensure you change the default PIN on collection.
14. Ensure you destroy your ATM transaction. Don’t just throw them away, as it may be used it for different criminal activities which can land you in trouble.
15. Never respond to any request from anyone requesting you send your PIN or CVV. If you reveal all these, fraudsters may operate your account from anywhere.

 

 

Don’t be a victim online

What will you do if you receive an email from your bank telling or warning that your update your bank account data or your account will be suspended? And in the email, there is a link to which you should click and get your account updated. Without giving a second thought, most people will click on the link in the email which may take them to a fake bank web site. Even to the extent of giving the password and name assigned to their Bank card. In less than no time, you will only realize you just handed over your hard-earned money to some unknown criminals.

 

Many people have become a victim just from cases even like the one above. Phishing websites in our present day have become a way of stealing people’s identity electronically. If this has become a trend that can negatively alter one’s Wellbeing, then how can you protect yourself from being a victim?

 

Note that online criminals do everything possible to make phishing web sites look exactly like real bank website, making it difficult for you to recognize a fraud. Nevertheless, there are a couple of sign to alert you to possible danger.

 

 

Firstly, carefully look at the email whether the email is addressed to your name. Authentic emails from your bank will use your identity in the salutation. Otherwise, suspect danger.

 

Secondly, consider what the email is saying. Phishing schemes often use scare tactics at the beginning, such as telling you that your account is being suspended, to make you act quickly and without thinking twice. Relax, if your bank will be sending you a suspension notification email, they will contact you by phone, asking you to come in person to the Bank.

 

Thirdly, never attempt to click such link in an email as it will redirect you to the attackers’ web site. Never click such link, instead, type the Bank website into the system yourself (this method is to verify the status of the website). Call your bank immediately.

 

In conclusion, credit/debit card users should be responsible enough not to allow these fraudulent activities to happen. Bear in mind that the reason why these kinds of frauds exist is that information owners are not so conscious of what could go wrong when their vital data is not protected.

 

 

 

Prevent Food Poisoning today

Food poisoning can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. Hence, it should be a high priority to avoid it. Take some time to learn about how to prevent of food poisoning or lessen the chances that you or your loved ones will be included in the statistic of food poisoning.

For the fact that the topic is very wide, endeavour to make the teaching simple, concentrating on the most important points such as fundamental rules guiding a healthy food and let them see reasons why food go bad and harm human life.

You are what you eat, so take care and add value to whatever goes into you by observing the following points:

1. Be Vigilant about Washing Your Hands and All Surfaces

Cleanliness in food preparation is an absolute must. When working with food, you should wash your hands thoroughly before and after food preparation. Wash them properly, for at least 20 seconds with very warm water and soap.

Wash all surfaces thoroughly before use, to prevent contamination by anything that may have touched them since their last use. If you are unsure whether they are fully clean, it is better to spend a few extra minutes washing them again than to take any chances.

2. Know Who Is Preparing and Cooking Your Food

It is easy to control what goes on in your own kitchen. It is entirely another story when it comes to eating out, or eating at friends’ houses. Keep an eye on their food preparation habits, and don’t be afraid to turn down any foods that were not handled properly, even if you risk offending someone.
This is very important as there have been cases of Restaurants with hygienically poor cooking environment, who are only interested in the profit to be made and not the quality.

3. Cook Food Thoroughly

Always cook food properly. It must be cooked to a certain temperature, and for a certain amount of time. Follow the rules and don’t experiment when it comes to food safety.
Most poisoning from meat is because of poor cooking. Some bacteria exists in the intestines of animals used for meat. These meats become contaminated at abattoir during slaughter when the waste matter in the intestine is mixed with the meat; which in most cases looks and smells normal, so it is not readily detectable.
To prevent this food poisoning in meat, cook them until no pink is showing. Make sure all the meat juices are clear, not pink or red, and that the inside of the meat is hot.

4. Don’t Leave Food Sitting Out

When you have finished eating, put the leftovers away immediately. When you remove something from the fridge or freezer to use it, put it back as soon as you are finished. Don’t allow food to sit around, being exposed to temperatures that make it easy for bacteria to access and grow on.

5. Avoid Cross-Contamination

When you are storing foods, keep raw meats away from fresh produce. In the freezer, don’t set bags of frozen food close to ice cube trays, because this may contaminate the ice cubes when they touch each other. Don’t use utensils for one food and then another. Each food has its own rules about how long it needs to be cooked, so keep dishes and utensils separate and free of cross-contamination.

With regards to kitchen hygiene, use your clean kitchen towels to dry your hands. If you are using a sponge to clean the counters or sink, use a fresh one after working with raw meat.
Wash your cutting board with a diluted bleach solution before using again. And any utensils or dishes having contact with raw meat need to be washed and rinsed with soap and water before usage.

6. Don’t Take Chances

Some of us are terrified of being wasteful. Being overly cautious of this, however, can lead to poor choices when it comes to food safety.

If you can’t remember how long your food have been left over, it might be more than two days old, throw them away. If a food smells slightly sour, throw it away. If a food has an expiry date that has already passed, throw it away.

Never take chances on your health, or that of your family. It is better to lose a few dollars by throwing food away than to end up in hospital in severe pain.

Finally, note that by making sure your family understands food safety, you will improve their lives and even those they associate with.

Disadvantages of engaging a Househelp

 

It is no more unusual for a family in urban areas to get the services of a Househelp. The demands of office work, domestic duties such as cleaning and laundry, taking care of kids and the need to have some personal time have caused many people to employ a Househelps.

Although, some parents who have good Househelp have enjoyed some privileges such as; Not getting to stay at home all long, One-on-one care of their kids, Flexibility of schedule which give them extra time.

Caution must be applied where necessary, as one should be aware that keeping Househelps also have some disadvantages as given below. These disadvantages quite overweigh the advantages.

 

*** Absence of satisfactory parental care:  Parents who engage Househelps are usually busy with official and other personal chores. The love and compassion of a Househelps can never replace that of the kid’s parents.  The House help may not bother about the feelings, not feeding them at the right time, maltreating them or even failing to attend to the kid, especially when no one is around. Some even transfer other aggression to the kids.

 

*** Female House helps can lead to break down in marriage. Some women may hand over almost all the domestic duties and care to the house help. They go to the extent of allowing the Househelp to cook their husband’s food and serving them in the bed room. As a woman allow all these, she unknowingly throw away that passionate care she had for her husband. The husband who may be morally weak soon throw in the towel and begin to have extra marital affair. The story may take another shape if the woman find out that her husband is having a local affair, making the house help loss her job. Disagreement may ensue once; the house help leaves. Hence, separation and divorce becomes an alternative Once the woman find out, the house help may loss of her jobs. Then separation sets in. On a worst scenario, divorce becomes the answer. Do remember that the children are always at the receiving end.

 

*** In our African setting, where men marry for company and procreation, most domestic works are expected to be carried out by the wife. If some inexcusable reasons the wife gets a house help, and the Househelp does all the domestic works that are expected to be done by a wife, people begin to wander what is the importance of the wife? They may further term her as lazy.

 

*** Lack of privacy: An ideal family require time for them to share their meals and plans. The Househelp who may be viewed as a total outsider or a third party, therefore they feel unconfutable sharing their dreams and plans.

 

 

*** Over dependence: Most times, the woman’s cleaning related jobs may revolve around the house help, because the house help knows much about the house. The woman end up feeling like she doesn’t know much about her own house anymore.

 

*** In response to children welfare, the kids may experience what is known as ‘’Maid Over Mommy’’; a situation where some mothers complain that their children are more attached to the maid than they are to them. This situation occurs because the Househelp spends more time with the kids while the woman is out for her usual career hours.

 

*** Kidnapping in our present day has become a trend. Some people with evil intent may arranged for a house help to gather information of an employer and go missing carrying along with a child of the employer. This may be to enable the get a ransom for any reason. On a worst scenario, the kidnapped child may never be found. Hence, the Wellbeing of the family is altered.

But if you are aware of these factors and need to take extra caution, it may take a very long time before you can finally get the worry off your mind about leaving the Househelp all alone at house

 

 

*** In the aspect of Supervision, if you are unlucky to have gotten a lazy or unskilled house help, you may need to exercise extra time and effort in supervising the Househelp, as the household duties will not be attended to due attitude problem. This can become a big stress added to the one already on ground.

 

 

Precaution in getting House helps

– Househelps should be pre-investigated or crosschecked by an approved agency. This is to ascertain the Househelp personality and Crime record.

 

– Ensure the Househelp know his/her limit in the house, make sure she performs his/her duties only as at when due.

 

– Do not maltreat house helps, remember when you are not at home, the grievance could be transferred to your children or other members of your family.

 

– Invest in Househelp (like sending to school etc.). However, don’t invest in them unnecessarily. Watch your Househelp closely and see if he/she is worth investing in.

 

– Mothers should have time for their children. Instead of having a Househelp take care of them all though, create quality time for your children. Mothers should ensure they do not expose their children to Househelp beyond the necessary limit.  Some Househelps may teach the children bad morals if caution is not applied to Househelp-child exposure rate. Some even sedate the children to have enough time for themselves when the employer is away from home. A Househelp can’t take care of a child like a mother.

 

– In everything you do concerning House helps, put God first.

 

Children Bedwetting, any hope?

Bedwetting occurs at night, often with children who have little or no trouble controlling their bladder during the day. The older children are less likely to wet the bed.

 

Bedwetting creates anxiety for the entire family.  This makes parents to be frustrated and tired by the extra laundry, drying mattresses, and time set aside in reassurances that follow each incident of bedwetting.

 

One may ask, what are the basic causes of bedwetting? Few causes of bedwetting include ailments such as;

• urinary tract infections,
• allergies,
• diabetes,
• cell anemia,
• sleep disorders
• Having taken excess prior to going to bed.

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Although, researchers have found that psychological reasons such as stress, upset, and trauma often contribute to bedwetting.

 

Teenagers who wet the bed often suffer from low self-esteem, withdrawal, stress, fear, and other problems.  These children may suffer from insomnia because they fear or are ashamed of what happens while they are asleep.

 

Many parents wonder whether they should search for help for bedwetting.  After all, despite the problems of bedwetting, many doctors still recommend patience and time as the best way to resolve the problem, as many children overcome it with little or no extra help.

 

 

Many years ago, it was thought that bedwetting children were simply poorly taught, were developmentally delayed (or otherwise “abnormal”) or just needed more discipline.

 

Endeavor to involve your child when seeking the solution. When you approach a child with a way to resolve bedwetting, you can often ensure a better reception by approaching the subject in a sensitive and informative way. Help the child to clean up, tidy up the pillows or fold the sheets. Ensure you involve such child in the clean up exercise. In doing this, you are indirectly making them to know bedwetting is not an ideal situation. In addition, this can make the child feel less babyish and hopeless.

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Do not make cleaning up exercise look like a punishment. It is important not to discipline your child for wetting the bed.  This method not only does not work, but the stress of the discipline may make the problem worse.  No child wants to wet the bed after, knowing full well that someone can stay “dry” for the night.

The child who has a hard time not wetting the bed needs sympathy and help, not discipline. If you adopt punishment methods, you will get the following results;

 

• The child become ashamed, Hence, low esteem

 

• Become upset with their regular life, thereby turning them towards depression.

 

• Sudden and big changes in appetite (eats a lot less or far more)

 

• Fearful or withdrawn with others

 

• Does not show interest in regular activities

 

• Does not spend time with others

 

• Cries and gets angry or is very quiet

 

• Mood swings

 

• Have problem of sleeplessness

 

• Loss of control of bladder during the day

 

• Reduced performance in school.

 

If you notice these problems, seek more aggressive treatment for the bedwetting and visit a counselor or doctor to help your child deal with the secondary problems caused by bedwetting.

 

You have to be very sure it is not a medication that is causing the problem. If your child is taking any medications that cause extreme drowsiness or an urgent need to urinate, the medications may be causing bed wetting.  Medications that make your child very tired may simply not allow such child to wake up and to go to the bathroom.

 

 

Techniques employed in stopping bedwetting

 

Earlier bedtime

Children, who are tired, usually have a hard time waking up to empty their full bladder.  If your child gets the sleep he or she needs, they will not be so overtired not to be able to wake up.

 

Assure your child that the problem is not forever

 

If your child seems to be doing better, remind him or her again that most people overcome bedwetting with time and you will notice that their situation seems to be improving itself.

 

 

 

Night lifting

Night lifting is a technique that requires the parent to wake up the child in the night.  Most children lose control of their bladder at night especially if the child follows the same routine of sleeping all through and wet the bed each day.  If you can identify when each accident occurs, say every 30 minutes, 1 hour? You can set your alarm before this time, so as to wake your child up, and lead them to the bathroom.

 

You can also try waking your child up twice a night.  In most cases, this helps the child wake up dry in the morning. Then use this opportunity to encourages the child to keep trying to wake up before they are woken up.  However, children may resist waking up in the night, especially if they are tired.

 

 

Urination control exercise

Some doctors are of the opinion that helping the child control urination, also helps them control the muscle that holds back or releases urine.  This exercise is often used in conjunction with the bladder control exercise and is completely safe.

 

How can this be done?

1. When your child urinates, have your child stop urinating “mid-stream”

 

2. Have your child start-stop three times.

 

3. Repeat the process during each bathroom visit.

 

The idea is that the child will control the bladder more effectively during the day, causing the control to be present at night as well.

 

In general, these exercises work best with children over the age of six years and those who are willing to work hard to control their bladder.

 

 

 

Avoid excess liquid before going to bed

It is important to keep your child hydrated.  Drinking enough water helps the body function properly and helps keep the kidneys healthy.  However, encourage your child to drink most of the water earlier in the day so that less water is drunk in an hour or two before bedtime. This can help ensure that the body does not produce much urine that will agitate wetting the bed at night.

 

It is important to note that some fluids cause more wetting of bed problems than the others.  While your child is trying to overcome bedwetting, it is often best to stick to water.  Drinks like dark teas, and coffee all contain caffeine that irritates the bladder. Hence, may increase the urgency to urinate more habitually.  For teenagers, alcohol may also affect bedwetting, as the need to urinate is increased.

 

Take for instance, apple juice also seems to cause increased urine in some children, due to the two substances, patulin and gallic acid, that it contains.  Encourage your child to eat apples during the day, but do not serve apple juice prior to bed time.

 

 

Wake up alarm

A wake up alarm emits noise as at time set.  It will wake your child up, so as to visit the bathroom even if your child is a very heavy sleeper. The alarm can wake up the rest of the household, so that you can wake your child up.  The essence of this device is to wake up the child several times. With this device, some improvement will be noticed.

 

 

 

Be cautious of medicating your child

Do not use drugs do not cure this problem in the first instance because some other options may be available. Parents should think carefully and consider all the risks and options before choosing medication as these drugs also carry some side effects.  Medication may be useful for children who suffer excessively from the bedwetting. But ensure you consult a doctor before embarking on such action.

You should also remember that children who take medication for bedwetting are much likely to revert to bedwetting once the medication has discontinued.

 

 

 

Get mattress liners or protectors

These products are placed under the bed sheets to keep the child’s mattress free from urine and its stains, thereby avoiding the smell of urine that make your child uncomfortable.

 

You spent money buying the mattress so you ensure its protected, as cleanup may be stressful and time consuming. Simultaneously, ensures that smell of urine doesn’t linger in the mattress and make your child uncomfortable.

 

Without liners or protector, each time the child wets the bed, the mattress will undergo drying in the sun during the day. The situation may become worse during the rainy season when you experience limited sunshine. Liners make life easier for everyone in your family

Ensure that the liner cover the mattress firmly as to prevent leaks  which happens if your child is a restless sleeper (the type that tosses and turns a lot during sleep).

 

 

You must be patient

Yes, this is a difficult advice to follow. You must be patient with a child that wet the bed as the result cannot be achieved in just one day. In view of the fact that bedwetting often corrects itself in part or in full with time, a combination of any other option and patience is often necessary in order to achieve success.

 

There are no “instant” resolutions for bedwetting, and trying many remedies in rapid succession is not likely to work.  In fact, instead of solving the problem, it will frustrate you.

 

 

 

Love your child

Teenagers who wet the bed often experience great disturbance of emotions.  Hence, they need your love more than ever. Being affectionate and loving will help reassure the child.  This can help give your child the strength to get over the bedwetting problems as soon as possible.

 

If you have been short-tempered to your child in the recent past, make him or her know you love him or her. And when the child absorb this message, he or she will do everything possible to please you buy making sure any option applied to stopping bedwetting works.

Your Immune System: a bio-powered Fighting Machine

 

 Our bodies are built with the immune system to fight off infection and disease.

It is stronger than any antioxidant or antibiotic out there. Hence, we must do every to protect our immune system with good nutritional foods, clean environment, and better lifestyles.

Don’t think you are safe just because you wash your hands a few times a day. Bacterial and viral agents can enter the body many different means.

 

Let’s have a look at some examples that illustrate steps of what happens when disease-causing bacteria enter your body.

 

1.    Bacteria or viral organisms enter your body through touch, sneezes, physical contact or through other mechanisms. Keep in mind if someone coughs, their phlegm may spread over 350 feet, meaning whatever illness they have will shower the people around them unless they cover their mouths. That is why it is so important to close your mouth and cover your mouth if you have to cough or sneeze.

 

2.    Your body’s immune system receives a signal from your brain that shouts out ‘Time to make white blood cells!” White blood cells are the form of cells in your body that react to infection. Their job is to help create cells that fight diseases whether they are viral or bacterial in nature.

 

 

3.    If your immune system is as strong as it can be, your body will send enough antibodies to fight any attack, no matter how severe. This doesn’t mean you won’t get sick, it means your body will do everything it can to keep you healthy. If you fall sick, your chances of recovery from illness are high if the immune system has been maintained from the past.

 

4.    It may take you a few days to get well, but most people easily recover from minor infections or viruses. It may take some days for an average cold or bacterial infection. Immuno-compromised patients may take their body much longer to overcome something even as simple as the common cold.

 

Most people do not have a fine-tuned immune system. If you had it, you probably wouldn’t need to read this piece. Information like this helps you “fine tune” your immune system so you have the best chances of reducing the length and preventing an ill health simultaneously. Now that you understand how the immune system works, it is necessary you are aware of some major factors that influence your immune system or make it function less optimally than it ought to.

 

 

Factors That Influence Your Immune System

Your immune system may be compromised in several ways, which are also reasons your body may not jump to attack an infection or disease the way it ought to.

 

That you engage in one or two of these habits today without issues, doesn’t mean your immune system is happy. The speed at which people fall ill differs from person to person, depending on the level of their immune system. Here are some common factors that negatively influence the immune system.

 

    Excessive fast food and saturated fat in your diet: Fat can clog your arteries, thereby narrowing the path of blood flow. Take note that the heart will continue to pump blood at its normal rate for you to be alive. As these happen, the heart now requires a higher pressure to continue its normal process. Hence the victim experiences what is known as high blood pressure. This lifestyle over time will result in drastic weight gain due to increase in total body fat accumulating in the body. Thereby bringing about life-threatening diseases such as stroke, etc.

 

    Irregular exercise: When you don’t exercise your body, or you overdo it, you may become ill rather than prevent illness. Sometimes more is better; however, more is not better if you exercise to the point where you over train your muscles and body. You need to give your body a break, especially between strength training sessions, so you are able to fight against the disease. Here, Moderation should be the watchword.

 

    Stress: This sends levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) through the roof, which can result in general dissatisfaction or illness. Stress is a killer, which can lead to heart attacks, anger, depression, high blood pressure, and aggression, and many other disorders. The less stressed you are exposed to, the better your body will be at fighting off diseases.

 

    Insomnia: Sleeplessness or insufficient sleep changes the hormonal levels in your body. This situation inspires you to eat more and increases your weakness to common colds or infections. You may gain weight, which also puts you at risk for diseases such as II diabetes. At this point, it must be noted that if you sleep too much, you may have a health problem. (Consult with your doctor). Most people do well when they sleep 6-8 hours each day.

 

    Poor diet: This factor should have come first, but I decide to use it, to sum up, the points so you will have enough time to ponder on it. A balanced diet is not that too expensive, compare to all the junk foods around. Also, you need to eat too much (This actually slows down your metabolism, meaning you will gain weight even if you eat fewer portions than you have in the past), or totally deprive yourself of food to fight disease (your body goes into starvation mode). Use a practical approach, one that encourages moderation in our eating habit.

 

 

Just as you put the engine oil in your car to prevent heating and wearing away of the metal, so you have to care for your body to be able to fight off illness.

One thing you must invest in, however, is your health. When your health is good, you feel good. When you feel good, you can do almost anything your desires.