TIPS FOR STAYING WELL
A Nasal Rinse will help wash out your sinuses each morning and night. This is a great preventive measure that makes you feel so much better, being able to breath without stuffiness. NeilMed Nasal Rinse is a good brand, and very cost effective. It comes in a box with 50 packets to mix in the bottle included and can be found at Wal-Mart for around $10. Each packet lasts a good while. Of course, the bottle should not be shared with others.
Wash Hands Often ~ Washing hands is more important than ever during the flu season, but you don't always have to wash your hands with liquid hand soap, which can get expensive. If you have an abundance of shampoo, bubble bath, or body wash, that will also do the job. Using a hand soap foam dispenser will make the cleaning power last even longer, using a ratio of 1 part soap to 8 parts water. Remind your family to wash their hands, using soap and warm water for twenty seconds to get rid of germs. Interlace your fingers and wash between the fingers as well, where germs like to hide. Then rinse well. Carry hand sanitizer with you - at least have it in your purse or car.Build Up Your Immune System and Stay Well ~ Eating more fresh fruits, vegetables, especially in the raw form, and whole grains will boost your immune system. Cut out the soft drinks and sugary snacks completely. A juicer is a wonderful investment that will pay off in good health for your entire family. Give your children "Power Drinks" of fruits and vegetables, full of the best nutrition available. Carrot juice is so sweet and delicious, but you can add an apple and celery to make a very good drink too. Juicing provides fresh fruits and vegetables in the raw form and the powerful anitoxidants and nutrients go into your blood stream in minutes.
Another big way to stay well is to avoid sugar, which breaks down the immune system at a significant rate. Did you ever notice how your children often got sick after Halloween? Think about it! Candy! To satisfy that sweet tooth, add a little Nu-Stevia, found at the health food store, to natural applesauce (no sugar added) and plain Dannon yogurt. Adding crushed pineapple, in its own juice, to Stevia-sweetened yogurt is especially delicious! Even finicky eaters have been known to like this tasty dessert.
Frozen Fruit for Smoothies ~ Over ripe bananas and other fruit certainly don't need to go to waste. Freeze them to go into smoothies. Frozen fruit thickens the other ingredients enough to enjoy the blended ingredients as healthy ice cream! Just don't tell anyone it's good for them!
Make Lots of Chicken Rice Soup and freeze it for lunches. Use nutritious brown rice and add chopped carrots for beta carotene.
Disinfecting Certain Places in Your Home Often ~ Wipe bathrooms, faucet handles, light switches, doorknobs, telephones, computer keyboards, piano keys and other musical instruments, etc. I like to use a terry cloth with rubbing alcohol. Or you may chose to use white vinegar as a natural disinfectant.
HAPPY BREATHING FROM AN RN FRIEND
Author unknown - Thanks to Patricia Hamren in Virginia for sending this.
Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital, Bombay Hospital, Saifee Hospital, Tata Memorial etc. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).
The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important for all of you to know.
The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe).
3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. *Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
10 HEALTHY FOODS FOR UNDER $1
by Mary Hunt - www.DebtProofLiving.com - Used by permission
When it comes to food, there is a commonly held belief that if it's cheap, it can't possibly be healthy and if it's healthy, it's not going to be cheap. That may be true if we're talking about fresh wild salmon or fresh blueberries purchased in the middle of winter, but there are untold healthy options that are affordable on any budget. Here's a quick grocery list to help you cut food prices while you boost nutrition, and a few recipes, too.
1. Oats. Oats are high in fiber and good for lowering cholesterol. One dollar will buy you breakfast for a week, or give you a good start on oatmeal cookies for a tasty treat. Spend that buck at a store like Whole Foods or Sprouts that offers oats in bulk and your buck will buy even more.
2. Eggs. A buck will get you about six eggs. Bring on the protein-rich egg salad sandwiches!
3. Sweet potatoes. Keep the Swine Flu at bay by eating foods that are rich in beta carotene, which strengthens the immune system and promotes bone and eye health.
5. Apples. Apple season is here, so this fruit is plentiful and cheap. A dollar will buy enough to enjoy fresh slices as a lovely snack or tasty dessert, and a great way to dress up a meal.
6. Nuts. Peanuts, walnuts and almonds are cheap "power foods" and perfect snacks to keep you energized throughout the day. Buy them in their shells to get the best price.
7. Garbanzo Beans. Also called "chickpeas," these help balance blood sugar levels, and are high in fiber and protein.
8. Whole Grain Pasta. This cheap staple is made up of complex carbohydrates, meaning that it packs more nutritional punch than does its white-pasta counterpart.
9. Sardines. These little fish don't come with a mercury warning, just plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids for heart and brain health. Chop them up and add them to salads and pizza or mix them with lemon juice and olive oil for a tasty spread.
10. Spinach. Your mom always told you to eat your spinach, and she was right. This leafy green can be prepared in oh-so-many ways, and it is packed with calcium, iron, folic acid and vitamin A. Skip the washed and bagged spinach and wash it yourself to save.
No comments:
Post a Comment