Laughter: How does it affect the Overall Health?

Laughter is a response to humor. When you hear the sound of laughter, you can’t help but smile and laugh yourself. Hence, it can be infectious. When laughter is shared among others, it causes a binding between people and increases both intimacy and happiness, making people comfortable with one another and feel open and free.

 

The physical process of Laughter:

During laughter, the respiratory system is intermittently disturbed by the epiglottis, closing the larynx halfway so that air intake becomes irregular, making us gasp (struggle for breath). The mouth also begins opening and closing, struggling for oxygen intake in unity with the respiratory system.

In a situation where the laughter intensifies, the tear ducts are activated and the eyes become moist with tears.

 

Biological Process of laughter:

Have you heard that laughter is helpful to those coping with major illness and the stress of life’s problems? Yes, that is a fact. It can basically bring a balance to all the components of the immune system, which helps us fight off diseases.

Laughter reduces the levels of certain stress hormones by providing a safety valve that shuts off the flow of stress hormones that takes action when our bodies experience anger, stress or uncomfortable situations. These stress hormones are destructive, in that they suppress the immune system and increase the number of blood platelets which can cause obstructions in arteries, thereby raising the blood pressure. When we are in the laughing process, the natural killer cells that destroy tumors and viruses increase.

Laughter triggers healthy bodily changes, which in turn creates healthy changes in the mind. Laughter can increase your energy level, lessen pain, strengthen the immune system, and protect people from stress.

 

Laughter is Strong Medicine

Laughter can be a strong antidote to conflict, pain, and stress. , it can be said to be one of the best medicine because it is free, fun, and easy.

There is nothing else that works more dependable or quicker to bring your body and mind into balance than laughter. The use of humor can lighten emotional and psychological burdens, connect you to others, inspire your hope, keep you at alert and focused.

With this ability to renew your health and heal you, laughter can be a great resource for whatever problems you may have. It can also strengthen your relationships and can improve wellbeing.

 

How Is Laughter Good For Your Health?

Laughter can have many health benefits which include the following:

• Laughter can increase your immune system. It can decrease the level of stress hormones within the body and increase the number of immune cells and antibodies you have, which will help you become more resistant to diseases.
• Laughter is relaxing. A wonderful laugh can relieve you of stress and physical tension by relaxing your muscles.
• Laughter releases endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s feel-good hormones. When your endogenous endorphins are released, you feel a sense of well-being and a reduction in the sensation of body pain.
• Laughter can help the heart. Laughter can increase the ability of the blood vessels to nourish all parts of the body. It can increase your blood flow, which in turn can help prevent heart attacks and other types of heart diseases.

 

Laughter Can Help Your Emotional Health

Laughter simply makes a person feel good. This good feeling persists even when you are done laughing. Laughter helps you maintain an optimistic, positive stance so you can get through situations of disappointments, loss and other complicated situations.

Laughter is more than just a protection against pain and sadness. It gives you the strength and courage to find other sources of hope and meaning. Even when you find yourself in the most difficult of times, laughter or even a smile can take you far when it comes to feeling better. Laughter really is a bit transmittable. When you hear someone else laugh, it primes your brain and sets you up to join that person in laughing too.

 

Laughter and Mental Health

Laughter is associated with better mental health. Some things laughter can do to improve your mental health include the following:

• Laughter allows you to relax. A good laugh can lessen stress and increase your energy levels so that you can remain focused and get more things accomplished.
• Laughter shifts your perspective. It allows you to see things in a less threatening and more realistic light. Being humorous helps create a psychological distance between you and stressful events so that you don’t feel so overwhelmed.
• Laughter lessens fear and worry. When this happens, joy is added to our life.

 

Laughter has Social Benefits              

Laughter creates team spirit and oneness – This, in turn, strengthens relationships, as it becomes stronger and triggers positive emotions and an emotional connection with those you are laughing with.

A positive bond develops – Laughter can act as a powerful buffer against disappointment, disagreements, and stress when you laugh with others, this is a more powerful thing than when you laugh alone.

 

How to Create More Opportunities to Laugh

Here are some things you can do or try to increase your chances of laughing:

• Attend a comedy shows like “AY Show”, “Night of a Thousand Laugh” etc
• Watch funny videos on television and on YouTube
• Read the comics in the magazine/newspaper
• Be with people who are naturally humorous and stay away from angry people
• Share a funny story or joke with another
• Read funny stories
• Play games with your friends
• Play with your pet
• Play with children
• Do something you think is silly
• Engage in activities you consider fun

Laughter can do a lot to help you feel better on a physical, emotional, and cognate level. Don’t be afraid to share a good laugh with others for all-around better health.

Let the Laughter Flow

Power of choice:Key to healing yourself from within

The ability or power of choice can be used to improve the Quality Of Life and Wellness

Everyone has got the ability to choose. The ability to decide what to eat each day, what clothes to wear, what restaurants to go to; we have got the ability to choose what we want and do not want in life.

Obviously, there are some things we can’t choose, such as the color our skin, the size of our feet, what day of the week we were born, but we do have the ability to choose something that is really important.

How We Feel

The practice of developing wellness in our lives shows that we have the ability to choose how we feel. We can willfully influence our emotion. We can use mental training strategies such as meditation to promote feelings within our minds.

We have the ability to choose how to react to certain circumstances or to a certain person. That ability to control our emotions so that we don’t fall into negative, degenerative, or destructive thought processes is inbuilt in us. Hence, we can even use the power of choice to heal ourselves of negative situations.

Healing From Within

The power of choice is very similar to the power of intention. When we hold an intention in our minds, we tend to start attracting the result of that intention into our lives. Once we make a choice, the result of that choice into is being attracted to our lives. Therefore, if we learn to be very conscious of our choices we make, and also where our choices can lead us to, we can then learn to remove destructive and negative influences from our lives.

When these negativity and destructive influences are removed from our lives, we feel a universal sense of wellness within our daily way of life. Furthermore, when we can learn to promote this feeling on a regular basis, the natural result we get is healing in the spirit.

What does healing mean?

A person who is incredibly sick and unhealthy physically has the ability to create a feeling from the within that they will become healthy soon. They clear every negative notion of remaining in the sick bed from their spirit. The spirit controls the physical. In a short time, their physical bodies begin to respond the treatment being administered.

Having a complete awareness of what we are, knowing that in reality, everything is okay, and understanding our position and function in life, that is what real healing is about. On the other hand, there is suffering.

Being lost in life, being confused about what is real and what is not, being angry and traumatized by past experiences, holding onto judgments and opinions about people, things or places which lead to a feeling of separateness, these things are all in the realm of suffering.

True healing and true spiritual wellness can only occur when the source of our suffering has been extinguished by no more visualizing them through the spiritual eyes.

Spiritual healing result in Healthy body & mind

We have the ability to choose whether or not we suffer. By choosing not to suffer we are encouraging healing within our spirit. When healing is encouraged within our spirit, this has the natural effect of developing inner peace within our heart.

To truly heal, to remove all of the anguish, all of the confusion, all of the aggression, all of the conflict, all we have do is make a choice, a choice not to suffer, not to feed our problems, but instead, to take up the source of their inspiration.

The Choice depends on you

If we can choose not to promote suffering in our lives, naturally this has the effect of promoting a greater quality of life and greater health. But even if our physical health is bad, as will be the case with most of us as we age and grow older, we can still have a mindset that doesn’t experience this as suffering, but simply sees that it is a part of the natural way of things.

For those of us who have health problems in our younger years, by making the choice to stop doing anything negative or destructive, we can encourage greater physical health as well and mental and spiritual health. In order to do this, all we have to do is make a choice.

What will you choose?

Overcome that Fear & Worry

The graveyard have been said to be one place with quantum of frustrated talent. This is because a lot of people have died without fulfilling the dreams to their destinies.

Apart from having the resources and time for a project, Fear and Worry is known to be one twin factors that is responsible for people’s failure to achieving their dreams.

Briefly, permit WellBeingDigest to bring you a story and see if you can fetch out a lesson from it;

A young man called Tony was struggling to get out of poverty in one rural community with few basic infrastructures, where he graduated from college. He read many stories about the city life, such as fraudulent people dupe innocent ones, accident rate, failed project and dreams, prostitution among others. He could not imagine himself being a victim of the mentioned social vices. Although, he read of other positive things such as good roads, electricity, success stories but his heart was clouded by the negative sides of the city. After graduating from college, his uncle offered to assist him with some funds, travel to get a job and start a new life in the city. Even though he wished to be in the city, he decided to remain back in the village doing menial jobs. Years after, one Christmas, Gbenga, one of his ex-college friends working as a Manager of a firm in the city visited him. He had plenty of success stories for Tony. Tony was no longer happy as he had permit some built-in excuses (negative belief) to hold him back in life.

From the short story above, Tony capitalized heavily on the negative stories of the city, which in turn became an excuse for fear and worry. He failed to attempt something new. He stopped before ever starting because he was afraid of what would happen to him or even what others may think.

 

FEAR AND WORRY DEFINED

Fear can be simply put as a feeling triggered by anticipated or impending future danger such as threat, disaster or evil.

While

Worry is a mental agitation of unpleasant things or a potential problem that might happen in a way that makes one unhappy or uncomfortable or emotionally stable.

 

From the above definitions, one can say the two words are not the same. Fear in some cases can save a life, take for instance Tony was aware of the high crime rate in the city. This was capable of keeping him safe from being a victim as he would be proactive and careful. His fear created by the knowledge of high crime rate has reserved the signal or picture in his brain. But things become bad when he preoccupied his mind with the potential dangers perceived. Hence, his imagination begins to focus too much on the crime perceived images.

Capitalizing too much on the negative past diminishes our ability to interpret the present situation around us. Hence, we become more likely to miss knowledge that will notify us of near impending dangers.

This is why I strongly agree with someone who defined F.E.A.R. as False Evidence Appearing Real. This is true due to the fact that one chose to believe in unreal or happenings of the past, which may not be applicable to our present day.

On the other hand, Worry is the mental fabrication of fear. Man has a great choice whether to worry or not. Hence, worry is nothing more than a continuous fear caused by indecision.

 

WORRY ANALYSED

In certain situations, worry can either lead people to make healthy decisions or may even help keep them alive. For example, worrying about impending economic crises can make one invest wrongly and worrying about finances can help prevent someone from reckless spending respectively.

Also, worrying about basic safety can make someone become informed about self-defense tactics, thereby secure or lock doors and windows. But when worry persists, and we do nothing about it but occupying much of one’s thoughts and preventing relaxation or enjoyment of life, it can have a significant negative effect on the Mental Health.

Some people may worry to the extent that they become unable to focus on daily tasks, and others may develop insomnia, unhealthy eating habit or on a worst side, might experience heart attack.

Worry can affect the physical health negatively when the imagination produces a terrifying scenario. In such a situation, the body responds by releasing a number of chemicals, such as adrenaline and cortisol, in the same way that it would if the imagined scenario were actually taking place. These chemicals help people react to danger on a short-term basis, but they also raise the blood pressure, cause blood to clot faster and lead to muscle tension.

On a long term, these effects can reduce immunity and cause illness. Carrying stress in the body may also lead to aches and pains and the development of high blood pressure or other heart related trouble.

In many cases, worry might also reflect one’s reluctance to take action, whereby the individual begin to worry, thereby expressing anger, depression or fear. They start imagining things that might go wrong and becoming preoccupied with potential outcomes. This may facilitate an avoidance of the actual situation. Hence, persistent worry can become a mechanism to avoid problems that one feels unable to solve.

 

FEAR ANALYSEDS

The amygdalae (a section of the brain that is responsible for detecting fear and preparing for emergency events) trigger a chain of biological events and engulf the mind in the fear, even before the conscious mind can assess the situation. This instinctive biological signal is triggered by the brain, which tries to overcome issues by foolishly preparing the body to defend itself, freeze or even flee from the scene of event.

 

EFFECTS OF FEAR

Fear can cause threatening health consequences such as follows;

• Fear takes control of breathing, digestion, blood circulation.
• The signals from the amygdalae dilate pupils and increase brain wave frequency.
• They make hairs stand on end.
• They reduce saliva, thereby drying the mouth.
• Fear cause sweating and a decrease in skin resistance to weather forces.
• Fear decrease peripheral blood flow and cause hands to become cold.
• The signals speed breathing and dilate bronchial tubes to allow more air to the lungs.
• The fear signal tighten stomach muscles,
• It slow down digestion and close down the excretory system.
• It increases the acids in the stomach, thereby causing diarrhea.
• The signals travel to the adrenal gland, which produces cortisol, causing an increase in glucose production to provide additional fuel for the muscles and brain to deal with the potential stress.
• The action above releases sugar into the blood and increases the tendency for blood clotting.
• They dilate blood vessels to skeletal muscles to allow greater blood flow.
• They slow down the working of the immune system.

 

SIMPLE FORMULA FOR OVERCOMING FEAR

For everyone who want to be free from Worry & Fear, these simple formula can be used to overcome and make them pretty close to being Fearless.

Formula One – Clearly identify the cause of Fear or Worry. Half of the worries and fears will be solved once identified clearly by writing it on paper. What once seemed mighty in your mind will look small and insignificant on paper.

Formula Two – Ask yourself this vital question; What is the worst possible thing that can happen if that, which I fear or worry becomes true?

Make a list a list of possible solution(s) and write them down on paper underneath your clearly defined Fear/worry. At this point, it will be noticed that you about 90% of the fear or worry will never happen? This list will enable you discover how much time you spend on worrying about stuff that never will happen.

Formula Three – Decide in your mind that you will acknowledge the worst possible thing that can happen. Keep telling yourself, I can handle it, over and over again. Since 90% of those things will never take place, then the other 10% will not kill you; Say to yourself  “I will survive”.

Formula Four – Begin to put together an action plans that will ensure the worst never happens. By making positive action/changes and implementing your action plan, your focus will start shifting from your fears to the positive outcomes.

Try this formula today and see. I know it will work for you. It has worked for me.

 

SUMMARY

Fear and Worry over the years has been linked to health issues, including arthritis, migraines, allergies, stomach ulcers and thyroid disease.

Over a lifetime, Worry and Fear builds an additional sensitivity to pain experiences which may have been caused by physical injury, painful confrontations, loss of loved ones, loss of social status, or rejection.

People suffer fears of failing, of being ridiculed, of the loss of loved ones. If a person suffered trauma, such people should endeavor to stay away from loneliness.

Eating well and maintaining physical wellness can often help one in keeping a new positive outlook.

 

How to avoid odour from sweat

Are you worried about constantly wiping off sweat from your face and body? What about smelly odour problem arising from those frequent sweat, thereby troubling your Wellbeing? It is time for you to stop sweat odour.

WellBeingDigest brings you this information which is only for information purposes and not intended or a substitute for professional medical advice.

 

Sweat is body’s natural defense to maintain the body temperature. Sweat comprises of sugar, insignificant amount of salt, water, urea, ammonia and urea. Sweating body cool off itself of the heat that may get generated as a result of external temperature, physical work, and emotional stress. Some diseases such Diabetes, Fever, Heat exhaustion, Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Leukemia, Gastritis; which is an inflammation of the stomach lining, Obesity, Stress, Tuberculosis can also cause severe sweating.

Stress and certain types of medication have also been known to cause sweating too.

The amount of sweat witnessed by an individual should be of concern. Some people may suffer from over sweating (hyperhidrosis). This sometimes may be caused by some severe body problems. Excessive sweating may cause people to have undesirable body odour, looking unkempt and dirty. While very less or no sweating (anhidrosis) may be life threatening, as very little or no waste matter is ejected from the skin.

Our body has two types of sweat glands namely; Merocrine glands (sometimes called Eccrine gland) are scattered all over the body especially pores of palm and foot. The Apocrine sweat glands are found on the scalp, genital area and armpits region. These glands do not produce much fluid, thereby generally odourless. Generally, it is the bacterial disintegration of sweat of both the types that produces body odour.

WellBeingDigest do not really picture sweating as a problem because it does not smell in its natural state but the resultant factor popularly referred to as odour; when bacteria, which multiply at a fast rate begin to breakdown protein to an acid.

Sweat is not a problem for most of us. It is the odour that is an irritant.

 

How to avoid odour from sweat

• Change of clothes after sweating, because clothes that carry sweat may cause odour.
• Good hygiene will not allow bacteria to develop and multiply
• best method is to keep skin dry

The use of Deodorants and antiperspirants as some people do may not reduce sweat but only mask the odour with fragrance. The need is not to mask but to stop bacterial disintegration of sweat.

How Secure is your Home?

How Protected is your Home?

This is one question that is not often asked by home owners. Today, WellBeingDigest is set to address and refresh our memory on things we must do and have, so that our wellbeing is not jeopardized.  The absence of this question creates a loop hole for criminals to operate. It is one thing to have or own a home; it is another thing to secure the home.

Permit me to analyse what happened in a home I once lived. Some years ago, I was resident in a two Storey building at the end of the Street neighboured by a surrounding fairly swampy area. The Land lord occupied the top floor, one tenant at the ground floor, then I the middle floor. The compound also had another lengthy one storey building with about six occupants. I noticed on different occasion that there was a wooden ladder left unattended in the open space of the compound. Hence, I often told the land lord to ensure the wooden ladder is kept from the public after each use. My advice was not always adhered to. This situation along with some other social challenges I was facing soon made me to pack out as I got another home.

Some few months after I left the above apartment, an information from the house agent reached me that criminals went into the compound on night when everyone where asleep, used the wooden ladder and climbed to the middle floor, tore the mosquito net to the window, and because the window was not having a burglary proof, the criminals gained access into the home with an occupant. According to him, the sliding glass window was not often locked especially at night when the temperature was high. The occupants never anticipate any danger as there was no fear of an invader climbing that high.  The criminals carted away with some properties of high value but without hurting the occupant even though he was not aware anything happened until morning.

WellBeingDigest believe in learning from incidence. No one will want to be victim from which people will learn such an ugly incidence for their benefit. Therefore, incidence like this brings out some learning points.

Furthermore, one other best way to secure your home is to have a check list as follows:

• Lighting system: Light up the outdoor and at night, ensure that the intensity of the light up indoor is lower than the outdoor. If you don’t adhere to this principle, you may be tempting intending criminal to sight your valuables inside the house.
• Hook up or lock up ladders/ climbing equipment: From my story above, you will agree with me that the cause of the ugly incidence was the ladder was carelessly kept. The criminals that perpetrated that act took advantage of the ladder.
• Keep low profile: This is very popular with Africans that flaunt their wealth to the public. This act is crime-inviting, especially if your status is far higher than the people in your immediate society. Avoid anything that will bring about advertising your home. Don’t advertise you are away from your on social media. One good way to avoid all these is to make it difficult for others to study and conclude on your routine timetable
• Hide all spare keys: Spare keys that are carelessly kept can be taken away, duplicated and finally returned by criminals. When this is done, it can take a long time before a break-into-the-house takes place so as to suspect no one.
  

  

  Burglar with a key

• Prevent children from speaking to strangers: Criminals or intruder can pave their way into your home through information gathered from children/under age. They can also entice these minors with snacks, sweets etc. in exchange for valuable information. Parents should have a check on how their children use the social media via the internet (online safety).
• Access to Police contacts: Most people or home owners do not have a local knowledge of their neighbourhood, talk more of Police contacts. Hence, don’t know the phone number to call during an attempt to invading a home. See the Police as your friend and obtain their contact.
• Question or report all strange movement: When you see strange person or persons loitering around your home, what do you do? Let them be, or report to local Security Watch/Police? Criminals often take their time to study an environment before executing their plan. Finally, on this note, it is necessary you know your neighbours.
• Hidden Security camera: Some people think CCTv is very expensive or not within the reach of the common man. This is one reason you only find them the dwelling places of the rich. But I wish to disabuse this mind set, and make you understand that there are affordable Security cameras. Carry out your research and contact a Security expert.
• Lock all access: Ensure that all windows and doors are well constructed and locked accordingly when leaving your home for other activities. Where possible, install panic alert in case doors and windows are to be force open.
• Keep a Dog: Keeping scary dogs often deter criminals by barking. But to ensure that your dog do not harm innocent neighbours, ensure it is chained. If criminals are at sight, the barking dog alerts you of possible intrusion.  

 

 

 

 

In case you are away, your good relationship with your neighbours can bring about alerting the Police.

Your Security begins with you.

Is Food Spoilage creating a hole in your pocket?

A large amount of foods meant for consumption get spoilt even before we know it. This in some cases creates a hole in our pockets as money meant for other things are diverted for this purpose.

The knowledge of food durability and those factors responsible for food spoilage can enhance our Wellbeing as cashlessness caused by premature food spoilage can affect one’s state of mind

  Come let find out why our foods don’t last for too long and identify ways to store these fresh foods for longer period.

 

What are the reasons for food spoilage?

• Availability of the Oxygen in the air – Oxidation, which is the gain of Oxygen by the fresh food, alters the chemical nature of the food thereby encouraging the Micro organisms which will finally bring about the spoilage.
• Temperature is a key determinant of food durability, as pathogens are stimulated and attracted to foods at Room Temperature.
• Duration or Life span – Just like man has a life span, food too is not excluded. Perishable foods such as tomatoes may not last as corn grains.. Every food has its own life span.
• Rodents/Insects often enhance food spoilage after biting or piercing our foods. Their saliva and enzymes facilitates the spoilage.
• Physical damages such as cracks and dents probably caused either during transportation or storage. This process in turn creates an entrance for microorganisms.

 

 Incases your burdened with challenges of premature food spoilage, the following guidelines can better your Wellbeing;

 1. The reason why foods like vegetables are stored in cool, dry place is to keep them out of direct sunlight. Storing by way of refrigerating foods will actually make them spoil quicker. Alternatively, store root vegetables in paper bags stored in the cabinet to avoid dryness. Always endeavor not to sore different kind of foods in the same chamber. Example, onions ought to be stored in separate place from potatoes.

 

2.Cheese and cakes should be wrapped in wax paper before storing it in the refrigerator. This will allow the cheese to breathe but will not allow excess moisture to reach it. Be sure to keep each type of cheese separate from the others to avoid its flavours from mixing.

 

 3. Foods such as soups should be adequately stored in the refrigerator.

 

 4. Canning fruits and vegetables is another way to store them for a longer period. Home canning really is not difficult and you know what you have added to the foods. Foods to be caned should be cooked for a short time to kill the microorganisms capable of creating the enzymes for food spoilage.

 

 4. A vacuum sealer is also a good investment for storing food. This option may cost more than others, but vacuum-sealed foods can last for months past the normal storage time. When you vacuum seal the food and then place it in the freezer, your storage time increases even further. A quality vacuum sealer may cost between $39 and $59 on most online shops, but they are definitely worth the price when you consider how much food you can save.

 

 5.  If you have stored as much of your food as you can and you still have fresh fruits or vegetables that are starting to look too ripe, look out, give to someone out there who needs some, rather than letting it go to waste. You will save money by keeping the food out of the trashcan.

 

 6. Just in case you could not avoid the food spoilage, do not simply throw it away. Start a compost pile for leftovers or foods that have gone bad. Composting the food will at least provide nutrition for the soil in the garden. But in case you don’t have a garden, sell that manure and earn some money.

 

 6. Do not refrigerate foods like tomatoes as it alters the taste; rather store them in an airy environment with room temperature. If you must refrigerate, blend and steam-dry.

 

 7. Remember that tuber foods such as yams naturally do not last for too long. Store them in well ventilated area. Although this depend on your geographical location on the globe.

 

8. For processed foods, ensure you check up expiry date on the product before buying. Ensure you consume the food before the expiry date. This is also for your Wellbeing and Safety, in order to avoid food poisoning.

 

 9. Plan a meal time table and avoid bulk buying of perishable foods, especially if you do not have adequate storage facilities. Although, this may not be a best way of managing your cash. Buy the quantity you can consume within the space of time.

 

Your Environment Is Attacking You

Our environment, among other things such as Lifestyle, Diet, and Fitness & Exercise is one of the Pillars of Health.

The Environment is being degraded at a faster rate as our population increases. Today’s environment is burdened with pollutants capable of bringing your life to a premature end.

Wherever you are, and no matter what you are doing, the world around you

is attacking you 24/7 and, if your wellbeing matters to you, then you need to start learning about it right now and how you can help the environment to sustain its healing properties such as discovering what you can do to slow down the effectiveness of the elements that the world is constantly making upon you and your body!

These destructive environmental elements include:

 

Free Radicals

In simple scientific explanation, our bodies are made up of millions of different types of cells. These cells comprises of molecules, which are made up of atoms.

The nucleus at the center of these atoms is surrounded by a cloud of electrons.

In a normal healthy cell, these electrons surround the nucleus in pairs, but just occasionally an atom loses an electron, leaving it with an “unpaired” electron.

This atom is referred to as ‘free radical’.  It is very reactive, because it will now actively seek another cell to ‘pinch’ an electron from.

Thus, it sets off a chain reaction of highly unstable and extremely short-lived

free radical cells destroying healthy cells.

During their fleeting existence (estimated at a trillionth of second!) these

highly unstable particles can inflict considerable harm on your body.

 

Free radicals leave a virtual killing field of destructions, punching tiny holes in cell membranes. Hence, altering the cells molecular blueprint.

 

It must be noted at this point that not all free radicals are harmful. Some of these Free Radicals arise normally during metabolism, and sometimes the body immune system deliberately creates them to help to neutralize viruses and bacteria.

Generally, the body can handle free radicals, but if the free-radical production becomes excessive, damage can occur.

Free radicals are a major contributory factor to many medical conditions and illnesses, which alter our WellBeingwell . It can be said to be the ’ prime movers’ behind the basic human aging process and illnesses such as Heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes,  and even obesity.

Although some people believed that the number one factor that dictates how fast a person will age is genetic, free radicals are also an extremely important factor here.

 

But, what are the causes free radicals?

Excessive free radical formation in human cells can be induced through exposure to such things as environmental pollutants, industrial chemicals, agricultural pesticides, cigarette smoke and radiation which is the most common cause of cancer today.

Living in a densely pullulated environment means that your health is under attack by free radicals.

 

It’s time for you to start fighting back

Anti-Oxidants

Oxygen is the giver of life to all creatures . At the same time it is also our long term mortal enemy too. Oxygen involvement in all of life’s processes lies at the very heart of the human aging process, as it is the primary molecule involved in the production of free radicals.

Oxidation is the gain of oxygen while Anti-oxidants are substances that inhibits oxidation in our body. Hence, can be seen as the front line defences against free radical induced oxidative damage.

The power of anti-oxidants lies in the fact that they can safely interact with free radicals and halt the chain reaction that they instigate before vital molecules are damaged.

 

The basic anti-oxidants are quite easily obtainable, as the three main ones are vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene

Vitamin E: or alpha-tocopherol is a fat soluble vitamin present in fish oil, seeds, vegetable and nuts, whole grains (eg. wheat germ), fortified cereals, apricots etc.

Vitamin C: or ascorbic acid is a water soluble vitamin present in citrus fruits and juices, green peppers, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, kale, kiwi, and strawberries.

Pro-vitamin A: or Beta-carotene (retinol) is present in tomatoes, egg yolk, milk, butter, spinach, carrots, squash, broccoli, yams, liver, peaches, and grains.

 

Nutrition wise, a good starting point would be to eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day. That would certainly provide a healthy dose of all of anti-oxidants shown above, as well as a significant proportion of your required daily fiber as well.

 

The next thing that you might want to consider is whether you should you should boost your levels of these vital anti-oxidants, as well as other vitamins and minerals, by using a good quality dietary supplement.

Certainly, doing so will ensure that you have sufficient levels of all the necessary vitamins and minerals on-board to stay in the best of health, as vitamin deficiency has been proven to be a major cause of many medical conditions.  (Caution: consult your medical officer)

 

So, it certainly appears that supplementation will help in your daily fightback against an environment that is, quite literally attacking you!

Our depleting environment is fast attacking our health. Hence, do not be tempted to wait to fall ill before fighting back. Only for those that cherish their WellBeing.