6 ways to eat less salt – Harvard Health

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Your body needs a little bit of salt every day for the sodium it contains. But too much sodium can boost blood pressure and stress the heart and blood vessels. The low-sodium Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; moderately high in nuts and low-fat dairy products; and low in red and processed meats. Following it can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Want to know how else you can reduce your salt intake? Read this: http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/6-ways-to-eat-less-salt

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#HLWDK Daily Health Tips: Power House Of The Body

You know your heart powers your body! Do you know that the things you do affect how well your heart powers your body?
.
What can you do? You can start by focusing on four lifestyle habits:
• Food:
o Eat more heart healthy foods like fruits and vegetables.
o Use heart healthy oils to cook (eg olive oil) and be sure to use small amounts of even that.
o Limit your intake of salt, sugar and processed foods
• Exercise:
o Create opportunities to exercise and be more active.
o Try and get a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise weekly
o Focus on activities that you love eg dancing, walking, jogging etc
o Find innovative ways to get more exercise
Dance or perform jumping jacks during commercial breaks while watching your favourite TV shows
Pack your car a little farther from your office and walk the rest of the way
Or stop a bus stop away from your usual and walk the rest of the way
Have standing meetings at work
While at work, get up every 1 hour and stretch
Join a dancing class
Get up and walk around every time you’re receiving a call
Put your phone box a little farther away from you in the office so that you have to get up to pick it up when it rings
• Smoking: Quit smoking! There’s no easy way of saying this. There’s no recommended amount of smoking per day. It’s just plain bad for you! Remember that second-hand smoke is just as bad for the people around. For tips on how to go about this, please click on this link: https://chatwithdrketch.com/2015/04/08/daily-health-tips-i-want-hep-to-quit-smoking/
• Alcohol: Reduce your consumption of alcohol and if you don’t drink, please don’t start! For more help with this, please click on this link https://chatwithdrketch.com/2013/12/07/daily-health-tips-alcoholism/
Ensure that your work, sleep and play and environments encourage healthy eating, exercise and discourage smoking and limits alcohol.
Have a great weekend, everyone 😀
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#HLWDK Daily Health Tips: 3:4:50

When you hear cancer, what vision is evoked in your mind? Death? The fact that people can beat this? The fact that it is possible for people to prevent this? What? Do you ever think that you have significant power in your hands to reduce your risk of this disease?
A study carried out in the US (San Diego) a couple of years ago showed that three lifestyle factors: smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise/activity led to 4 diseases: cancer, respiratory diseases (like asthma), heart disease and Diabetes/obesity. These diseases, in turn, were responsible for over 50% of deaths! A 3:4:50 relationship!!! Just think about that. Our lifestyle alone can significantly reduce our risk of diseases…this study made that aptly clear.

Focusing on cancer, what lifestyle changes can keep me safe?
• If you smoke, quit. If you don’t smoke, don’t start.
• Ensure that your home is smoke-free and try not to be close to even second-hand smoke.
• Eat healthy…more fruits and veggies. Lay off the processed foods.
• Get some exercise every day. At least 150 minutes per week.
• Reduce your alcohol intake.
• Get your children vaccinated for Hepatitis B and cervical cancer
• Get screened for cancer
• And guess what? Breastfeeding is protective against cancers…one more reason to ensure that your baby gets this all important goodness 😀

A pretty popular facebook post talks about how people with cancer just want to beat cancer…and that is so true. Today, you can join that fight by taking steps to ensure that you reduce your risk of ever having this disease.

Have a good night, people 😀

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Babying your back may delay healing – Harvard Health

Exercise and movement may be the best medicine for back pain. Read!

https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/babying-your-back-may-delay-healing?utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GB20181114-BackPain&utm_id=1106265&dlv-ga-memberid=11052531&mid=11052531&ml=1106265

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Daily Health Tips: Can Sexual Abstinence Cause Prostate Cancer?

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Q: Good day, ma’am. Please can abstinence (not having sex and masrurbation) cause prostate cancer in a man?

A: Well, some researches have suggested a link between sexual abstinence and prostate cancer but there is no conclusive evidence on this.

For more on prostate cancer and masturbation, please click on the following:
http://www.chatwithdrketch.com/2014/06/16/daily-health-tips-more-on-the-prostate-gland/

http://www.chatwithdrketch.com/2014/06/15/daily-health-tips-prostate-enlargement/

http://www.chatwithdrketch.com/2015/03/19/daily-health-tips-masturbation/

Have a great night, people 😀

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Coffee may help your skin stay healthy – Harvard Health

Is this true? Read and decide for yourself! 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/coffee-may-help-your-skin-stay-healthy-2018110215295

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#HLWDK Daily Health Tips: Berries ANd Lung Cancer?!

Still on cancer, did you know that studies have shown that eating fruits, including berries, probably decreases the risk of lung cancer and could prevent cancers of the mouth, esophagus, and stomach? Remember it’s lung cancer awareness month!
 
Here are 5 super foods readily available in our environment that help prevent cancer:
• Garlic
Funny…but it could very well be the sulfur compounds causing that odor that also stop cancer-causing substances from forming in your body, speed DNA repair, and kill cancer cells :D…..talk about a stinky idea!!
Garlic also battles bacteria, including H. pylori (the one connected to some ulcers and stomach cancer), and it reduces the risk of colon cancer.
To get the most benefit, peel and chop the cloves and let them sit 15 to 20 minutes before cooking. That activates enzymes and releases the sulfur-containing compounds that have the most protective effect
And…by the way, stick with the cloves, not the dietary supplement.
• Carrots
Carrots contain beta-carotene, an antioxidant believed to protect cell membranes from toxin damage and slow the growth of cancer cells. They also deliver other vitamins and phytochemicals that might guard against cancers of the mouth, esophagus, and stomach.
Some studies have suggested that cooked carrots supply more antioxidants than raw. If you’re cooking carrots, leave them whole while steaming or boiling, and cut them after they’re done. That reduces the loss of nutrients and gives them a sweeter taste as well.
• Dark green leafy vegetables
Green leafy vegetables are rich in substances that are thought to protect against cancer of the mouth, esophagus, and stomach.
These vegetables are also rich in folic acid which helps your body produce new cells and repair DNA, and is especially important for women of childbearing age because it can prevent neural tube defects in a developing fetus . You get the most of these nutrients when the leaves are eaten raw or slightly cooked. So please don’t smother them in oil!!!
 
• Whole Grains
Whole grains have a lot of fiber and contain other substances that might battle cancer;
So stock up on 100% whole wheat bread (not white bread), ofada or brown rice as opposed to polished white rice and oats instead of sugary cereals.
 
• Strawberries
Berries are thought to protect against heart disease, memory decline and cancer
Strawberries are rich in antioxidants which are thought to destroy cancer-causing substances and slow the growth of tumors.
Other types of berries like raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and cranberries are also good sources of these anti-oxidants. They can be found fresh or frozen at big supermarkets in major cities.
 
Good night y’all
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#HLWDK Daily Health Tips: Lung Cancer Awareness Month

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. So, we kick off with a fun fact! We all (I assume) know that the pink ribbon is typically used for breast cancer awareness events. Do you know the colour used for lung cancer? I’ll tell you at the end of the post 😀
Now, some general tips on cancer. Did you know that our diet and habits play a huge role in our health and our daily fight against cancer? Some lifestyle tips to help you fight cancer:
Limit Red Meat and Animal Fat
Studies have shown that a diet high in animal fat increases the risk for several types of cancer, particularly colon cancer. Poultry and fish contain less fat than red meat, thus reducing the red meat in your diet may help to prevent cancer. A diet high in fat also is major cause of obesity, which is a risk factor for many types of cancer.
Reduce Your Alcohol Intake
Drinking excessive amounts if alcohol have been implicated as risk factor for many types of cancer. Studies suggest that men who consume 2 alcoholic drinks per day and women who have 1 alcoholic drink per day significantly increase their risk factors for certain types of cancer. Remember that these are the generally ‘approved’ or ‘recommended’ limits of alcohol for men and women daily….spend a moment and just reflect on that.
Eat Your Fruits and Veggies
A diet rich in fruits and vegetables greatly reduces your risk of developing cancer and many other conditions.
Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, which help repair our damaged cells. Green, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables are your best bet to help prevent cancer. Studies also show that dark fruits, like blueberries and grapes, may also have anti-cancer properties.
Cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower are especially useful in preventing cancer, according to numerous studies.
Avoid Smoking and Exposure to Smoke
Smoking has been implicated in not only lung cancer, but also many other types of cancer. It is the most significant cancer risk factor that we can reduce by quitting or never starting.
Practice Safe Sex
Unsafe sex has been implicated in cervical cancer. Unsafe sex can cause infection with the human papillomairus (HPV), which can cause cancer of the cervix and is a risk factor for other types of cancer. HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that is spread through sexual, skin-to-skin contact. There is a vaccine to prevent this cancer now. Please ask your doctor. HIV/AIDS is also associated with some types of cancers. Get screened regularly
And now, for the answer to that question  The colour used for lung cancer awareness is white! Typically, a white ribbon is used.
So, now you know 😀
Have a great week ahead!

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#HLWDK Daily Health Tips: Drugs To Avoid Pregnancy

Q: Good evening Doctor, I am 19. What drug can I take to avoid pregnancy when I have sex? I want a drug that is very safe. Thanks doctor

A: Hey! Thanks for writing in.

The key thing you need to learn about sex now is the simple ABC that guides these affairs. The first is abstinence. Honestly, this is your safest bet. If you’re not ready to deal with the responsibilities of having a baby, please leave well alone. You can’t have an STI, HIV/AIDS, or otherwise if you don’t have sex. And of course, you can’t get pregnant. Now, if abstinence is a problem, be faithful to one partner…who hopefully is being faithful to you too. If you can’t swear on this, revert to plan A. Finally, if all else fails, ensure that you use a condom to prevent STIs and pregnancy.

The answer to proper contraception is not popping a pill in panic whenever you happen to have sexual intercourse. Emergency contraceptives have their place but they are not meant to take the place of regular contraceptives, as they are less effective than the regular ones. Regular use of these emergency contraceptives may cause your periods to become irregular and unpredictable. I’m sure you don’t want to have this problem. I suggest that you walk into a family planning clinic where a nurse will take you through all the different methods and arm you with the information to make a choice as to the best method for you.
For more on contraception, please click on this link:
https://chatwithdrketch.com/2014/08/28/daily-health-tips-does-the-intra-uterine-contraceptive-device-coil-make-you-look-older/

The next thing you need to learn is that there should be no pressure to have sex. It does not make you extra cool, nor does it keep that super-cool guy with you 🙂 This is your time for self-discovery – knowing and understanding yourself and your values. It is such a critical time in your life that the decisions you take now could determine the rest of your life. So, please be sure to take the right ones 🙂

Lots of hugs coming your way!

Have a good evening, people 😀

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Don’t fall for these skin myths – Harvard Health

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If you’ve ever wondered about the relationship (or none) between chocolates/oily foods and pimples, whether massaging the scalp prevents baldness or if crossing your legs can cause varicose veins, you should read this!

http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/dont-fall-for-these-skin-myths

Have a good night y’all 😀

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