Reasons to Freeze Lemons!

 When life gives you lemons, what do you usually do with them? Well, here’s a great idea; the next time you have a bag of lemons, place them in the freezer. By doing this, you’ll ensure that you will have lemons at hand whenever you need them. Lemons are a handy fruit and can be used on many different occasions. To add to this, frozen lemons have many health benefits.

Here are just a few reasons why you should start freezing lemons:

Lemon Peel Contains 5 to 10 Times More Vitamins Than the Lemon Juice

Lemons - Freeze - Tips - Guide - How To

A lot of people tend to throw away the peel. However, by doing this, they are throwing away a lot of beneficial vitamins. If you freeze some lemons, you can grate the lemon peel and sprinkle it on to the top of your meal. Whether you have decided to have a salad, some soup or some pasta for dinner, this is a brilliant way to add a zesty flavor to your dish. Furthermore, this will increase your vitamin intake and will help detoxify your body faster.

Ease of Accessibility Means More Usage

If you have easy access to something, there is a much higher chance that you will make use of it. Lemons have so many different health benefits that we really should be trying to use more of them in our lives.

Lemons are known to be effective against cysts, tumors and many other types of cancers. In fact, some studies have shown that lemons are 10,000 times more powerful than chemotherapy. To add to this, they also help fight against fungi and bacterial infections. This is why there are so many cleaning solutions with the scent of lemon.

Furthermore, lemons are effective against internal worms and parasites, they regulate blood pressure and act as an antidepressant by combating stress and nervous disorders. 

Lemon Water Tastes Much Better

Lemons - Freeze - Tips - Guide - How To

Adding lemon to you water gives it more flavour and makes it easier to drink. You can freeze slices of lemons so that you can place one in your water whenever you feel like it. Not only is lemon water tasty, but it is also highly beneficial to you. Lemon water is known to aid digestion and detoxification, drastically improve vitamin C quotient, rejuvenate skin and boost energy levels. 

Not only are the uses and benefits of frozen lemons endless, it is one of the most substantial and yet easy changes which you can make to improve your health.

 elm2belle@gmail.com

How to Get Rid of Leg Cramps!

I

n addition to causing you searing pain, leg muscle cramps can wake you up in the middle of the night and disturb your sleep. Research has found that these spasms tend to increase during the warmer part of the year. Most of the time, this is caused by dehydration and the loss of electrolytes, which can lead to spasms. Toxins from smoking and heavy alcohol consumption can also affect the balance of electrolytes in your body and increase the likelihood of cramping.

This terrible pain associated with leg cramps can also occur due to muscle fatigue or mechanical stress on the muscles, especially if you stand for long periods or walk on hard surfaces. Sometimes the cramping is triggered by medication such as diuretics, statins, or beta-blockers.

Discuss alternative medications with your doctor to lessen this side effect. If the pain worsens and the problem continues to the point of debilitation, it’s best to consult with your physician as the condition could indicate a more serious problem.

While there are prescription drugs available, if the problem isn’t persistent, you can cure these aches with some home remedies. If you prefer to turn to the pharmacy for solutions, over the counter analgesic balms or menstrual cramp medication like Midol or Pamprin are effective. One to avoid is quinine, a commonly prescribed remedy, which is extracted from the bark of Cinchona, a rainforest tree. The FDA has found serious risks with this cure as large dosages can prove fatal.

1. Drink water or Gatorade before bed

Heavy exercise and low fluid intake can cause dehydration. Doctors recommend drinking water or electrolyte filled drinks like Gatorade before retiring to sleep. Water naturally relieves cramps and hydrates the muscles, while the mineral filled drinks ensure your electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, and calcium are not depleted.

2. Place a bar of soap in bed

This strange old wives’ tale is surprisingly effective and medical authorities even endorse it. Place a bar of soap between the mattress and bottom sheet. Experts speculate that it might be effective due to the emissions from the soap, or the gentle pressure that it puts on the muscle when you randomly toss and turn during the night.

3. Stretching exercises

You don’t need to do a whole workout before bed, but three minutes of stretching can prevent mid-sleep leg cramp disturbances. You can try a standing calf stretch. Place one leg in front of the other and bend the knee while extending the back leg. You should feel a relieving pull in the muscle. If you are prone to cramping in the upper leg, try a hamstring stretch. Put your feet together and do a standing forward bend at the hips. Hold this pose for 20 seconds.

4. Potassium and magnesium

When your body has a mineral deficiency, it makes it difficult for the heart to push enough blood down to your legs. Magnesium regulates the muscle and nerve functions, blood pressure and blood sugar levels; while potassium has a similar function but also plays a part in water regulation. Combined together, these two minerals can encourage effective prevention against cramping and certain foods are rich in one or the other.

Bananas are an easy and healthy source of potassium while magnesium can be found in nuts, lentils, and quinoa. It should be noted that if you have kidney problems, extra magnesium can exacerbate the condition.

Posted by: Elm Belle <elm2belle@gmail.com>

18 Reasons to Keep Epsom Salt in Your Medicine Cabinet!

Epsom Salt is the little-known mineral that can fix just about anything. Named after the spring in Surrey, England in which it was found, this mineral can be ingested or applied topically. Its chemical name is magnesium sulfate, and this natural remedy offers many health benefits.

Aches and Pains

Epsom Salt - Home - Handy - Useful

1. Physical stress: Soak in a warm tub and add Epsom salts. When the salt is dissolved in the water, it is readily absorbed through the skin.  The magnesium ions can help with stress, as they promote serotonin production and lessen adrenaline impact. Magnesium also helps with the energy cell production, reducing restlessness and anxiety.

2. Pain and cramping: A long soak can also offer relief for pained muscles and inflamed joints. The therapeutic salt bath also works at soothing abdominal cramps, tension headaches, and tired feet.

3. Constipation: When ingested, Epsom salts also moonlight as saline laxatives. You can drink a cup of warm water with two tablespoons of salt dissolved in it to sooth constipation. However, it is not recommended that you use this remedy more than once per day and it's best to consult your doctor if symptoms persist.

Medical Purposes

Epsom Salt - Home - Handy - Useful

4. Clean arteries: Epsom salts boosts the health of your arteries by decreasing inflammation and protecting your arteries' elasticity. This can help improve your circulation and ward off cardiovascular illness, with less risk of clots, plaque buildup, and arterial wall damage. To reap the benefits, soak in a bath of Epsom salts three to four times a week.

5. Blood sugar regulator: Both the magnesium and sulfate in Epsom salts help the body produce and use insulin better. With regular oral or transdermal Epsom salt intake, your blood sugar can be better regulated, resulting in improved daily energy levels and a lowered risk for diabetes.

6. Nerve function: Epsom salts facilitate many enzymatic functions. Their positive effects on the body include regulating fluid retention in cells and using calcium to transmit chemical signals in the nervous system.

First Aid

 Epsom Salt - Home - Handy - Useful

8. Splinters: Loosen a splinter by soaking the inflicted body part in warm water with Epsom salts. The mineral acts as an anti-inflammatory around the wound and will soften the splinter, allowing for easy removal.

9. Sprains and bruises: Adding two cups of the salt to a warm bath can help alleviate inflammation and pain caused by sprains and bruises. Soak in the tub and the pain will soon be lessened.

Beauty Routine

Epsom Salt - Home - Handy - Useful

10. Exfoliate the skin: Take a handful of the salt and rub it gently over damp skin, to remove dead skin cells. Your skin will be left looking healthier and feeling soft. This method is suitable for your hands, feet and any other skin areas that need exfoliating.

11. Face cleanser: Add a teaspoon of Epsom salts to your regular cleanser or make your own clarifying treatment with this recipe:

1. Chop a ripe tomato finely and mix it with a pureed egg white.

2. Add to this half a teaspoon of vitamin B5 powder, 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel, 1 teaspoon of Epsom salts and a few drops of thyme essential oil.

3. Apply the mixture to your face and leave it on for 15 minutes.

4. Rinse it off with lukewarm water.

12. Loosen blackheads: You can use the salts to remove oil and dead skin cells from your pores. Exfoliate to remove any dead skin from around the blackheads. In half a cup of hot water, mix a teaspoon of Epsom salts with four drops of iodine, stirring until the salts are completely dissolved. Let the mixture cool down a bit and then massage it onto the blackheads. Let the treatment dry completely and then wash your face with warm water, patting dry with a cloth

13. Hair product build up: Remove any excess hairspray or other styling products from your hair by mixing 1 cup of Epsom salt and 1 cup lemon juice into a gallon of water (3.8 liters). Let this solution sit for 24 hours before you start using it. Pour the concoction over your hair. Leave it in for 20 minutes and then wash and condition your hair after.

Around the House

 Epsom Salt - Home - Handy - Useful

14. Household hand wash: As an alternative to store-bought hand cleaners, mix Epsom salts with baby oil for soft and clean hands. Store in bottles and stash them next to the sinks in your home.

15. Gardening helper: You can use Epsom salts to help your garden grow. You can use it to fertilize plants and grass, facilitate plants nutrient absorption, prevent leaf curling, remove insects or stop a slug infestation.

16. Clean pots and pans: To treat really dirty dishes pour some Epsom salt into the water as it helps grime come off easier. The salt's abrasive texture helps loosen the food without leaving your pots and pans damaged.

17. Tile and grout cleaner: For an effective tile and grout dirt remover, mix equal parts Epsom salts and liquid dish detergent together. Scrub dirty or stained surfaces with this, allowing the mix to soak in for 2 minutes. The grime is loosened effortlessly. Rinse clean after.

18. Remove detergent build up: Unwanted gunk builds up on the inside of your washing machine over time. Remove detergent buildup with Epsom salts to protect your washer and see it running efficiently. Run an empty cycle with hot water, a quart of white vinegar and a cup of Epsom salt. After a minute, stop the cycle and let the solution soak for an hour.

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Posted by: Sun seeker

Handy Hints That Will Help You Manage the Disease

If you have been recently diagnosed with diabetes, then you know how overwhelming the news can be. You will feel frustrated and you will also feel as if you have completely lost control of your life. This is a natural reaction from people being diagnosed with diabetes.

Living with diabetes is hard. Because this disease has no cure available yet, you can effectively manage it in order for you to live a more normal and full life. The key to treating diabetes is by effectively managing the blood sugar level. Also, you have to follow certain tips in order for you to make your life as a diabetic easier.

The first thing that you need to do in order to manage diabetes is by being knowledgeable about the disease. You can’t fight what you don’t know. So, by knowing the disease, you will be able to know how you can manage it and treat it.

You also need to eat regularly. You have to have three meals a day and also a snack after each meal. This will help regulate your blood sugar level and prevent you from experiencing hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar level. Skipping meals can lead to unpleasant symptoms associated with hypoglycaemia where the worst thing that can happen to you is going on a diabetic coma.

If you go somewhere, always carry something sweet with you. This will allow you to correct low blood sugar levels. An example of snacks would be fruit juice, raisins, soda, and hard sweets. These foods will be able to correct low blood sugar but all these things should be taken in small amounts.

You know that you are a diabetic but do other people know this? If you go somewhere where no one knows that you are diabetic, you should have something to tell them that you are in case you get involved in an accident or you experience going on a diabetic coma. Wear a medic alert bracelet that states that you are diabetic. This will inform people and medical professionals about your condition, which can potentially save your life.

Regularly visiting your physician is also recommended. By doing so, your doctor will be able to regularly monitor your condition and help you manage diabetes. Always keep in mind that you shouldn’t take any chances when it comes to your health.

Exercise is also very important if you are diabetic. You need to do regular but fairly moderate exercise. Try walking for 30 minutes every day. This will help regulate your blood sugar levels and also keep your heart healthy. In addition to this, you need to choose an exercise that is not hard on your feet. Getting cuts, blisters and foot infection can spell trouble. Go for gentle walking, swimming, or cycling. The last thing you want as a diabetic is getting your feet injured. If you do, you may become a perfect candidate for amputation.

 Lastly, know the symptoms of blood sugar fluctuations. Watch out for excessive thirst, extreme hunger, sudden weight loss, frequent urination, moodiness, and nausea, gum and bladder infections. Blurred vision and itching and tingling sensations on the hands and feet are also signs that you should watch out for.

These are some of the handy hints that you should remember if you or someone you know is diabetic. By following these tips, you can be sure that managing diabetes will be easy.

Exercise Tips To Help You Properly and Effectively Manage Diabetes

Exercising is one of the keys to having a healthy body. It doesn’t only make you look better, but it will also help you feel a lot better. If you don’t exercise, then you will eventually risk getting diseases that can really affect your life. Inactivity can lead to heart related diseases and it can also lead to diabetes.

First of all, type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease of lifestyle that many people are experiencing today. This disease is affected by a lot of factors, such as your weight and your activity levels. These two things are in your complete control and you need to do the right thing in order for you to effectively manage the disease.

Exercise does help diabetes. It can reduce your body's insulin requirements in many ways. The first is that exercise will be able to increase the body's sensitive to insulin. What this means is that the cells in your body will be able to better absorb insulin. Exercising can also help enhance the use of blood glucose in your body.

What this means is that it will be able to lower the blood glucose levels in your body, which can possibly reduce the amount of medication you need in order to treat and manage the disease. If you have type 2 diabetes, exercising regularly can even eliminate the need for constant medication, especially if you accompany exercise with a healthy eating plan.

You also need to keep in mind that diabetics have higher risks of high blood pressure and acquiring heart related disease as well as stroke. This is why it is more important for you to exercise now in order for you to reduce the risk of heart related diseases.

Through exercise, you will also be able to improve circulation, especially in the legs and arms. This is where people suffering from diabetes usually have problems and with exercise, it will be able to help.

You also need to keep in mind that stress can raise blood glucose levels. And, everyone knows for a fact that exercising helps reduce stress levels. So, if you want to keep your blood glucose levels from spiking, you have to reduce stress through exercise.

Lastly, one great benefit of exercise for diabetics is that it will be able to significantly improve the quality of life.

The next step is by knowing the right exercises for diabetics. You need to remember that the best exercises for diabetics are cardiovascular and aerobic exercises. However, you need to choose an exercise that is not hard on the feet as injuring the feet may lead to more serious problems especially for diabetics.

So, go for gentle walking, swimming and cycling. These exercises will be able to work your heart and circulatory system. You can also try playing racket sports, such as tennis. Just make sure that you wear proper fitting shoes in order to prevent injuries on the feet.

Before you start exercising, it is wise to consult your doctor about it first. This way, you will be able to know what kind of exercise you should do and for how long each day.

These are the things that you need to remember about being diabetic and the importance of exercising. Through exercise, you will be able to manage the disease effectively and let you live a full and normal life.

Eating Well To Eating Well To Effectively Manage Diabetes

Diabetes or not, eating healthy food is recommended for everyone. However, if you have diabetes, you need to remember that eating healthy food is not just a requirement, but it should be part of your everyday life. Living with diabetes is hard. You need to drastically change the way you live your life especially when it comes to your diet.

There is basically no need to prepare separate meals for people with diabetes and for people who are not suffering from this disease as the diabetic diet is recommended for everyone. Healthy eating can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Having a healthy eating plan is recommended for all people suffering from diabetes. But, for people suffering from type 1 diabetes, special considerations should be taken. You have to remember that people with type 1 diabetes requires matching the amount of insulin they take to the carbohydrates in the food they eat.

This is why it is highly advisable for people with type 1 diabetes to consult a dietician who is experienced in working with people with type 1 diabetes to help them prepare a healthy and suitable meal plan that they can work with.

Eating regularly is important for people suffering from diabetes. Instead of eating three large meals a day, it is important to spread it evenly throughout the day. Or, you have to have three meals a day and a snack after each meal.

Generally speaking, the diabetic diet should be low in fat, sugar, salt, and carbohydrates. Also, the diet should be high in vegetables, whole grains, and fruits.

If you regularly exercise, it is very important that you should match the amount of food you eat to the amount you burn each day. You shouldn’t put too much fuel in your body that you won't burn. This is very important in order to get the right balance of blood glucose level in your body.

If you go out for a walk, always bring with you a snack bag. Always have something sweet with you, such as sodas, and hard candies. This will help you if you feel that you are experiencing hypoglycemia setting in.

Never skip meals if you are diabetic. This will wreak havoc in your blood glucose levels and can result in potentially dangerous complications, such as hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels. The worst thing that can happen to you if you skip meals and experience hypoglycemia is diabetic coma. This is one symptom that you don’t want to experience and this is also a symptom that can be life threatening.

Alcohol intake is possible if you are diabetic. But, try to limit it to one glass of wine a day or one bottle of beer a day. Also, try to have at least two alcohol-free days every week. If you are trying to lose weight, forget about beer. Instead, try whiskey as this doesn’t contain any alcohol.

Also, it is best to drink alcoholic beverages with a meal or some food that contains carbohydrate.

These are the things that you have to remember as a diabetic. By following a strict diabetic diet, you can be

Information On Diabetes - Super foods for diabetics

I been asked my times which food are best for diabetes.

I have been suffering from diabetes for last 41 years. There has been so many changes made the diabetic diet for last few years. Below you will find information about food which are good for diabetics.  

Citrus fruits are a rich source of vitamin C, which aids in keeping your heart in good condition. Stick to whole fruits instead of juice as they slow sugar absorption.

Karela (Indian Veg) lowers the blood-sugar level as it contains a high dosage of `plant insulin.

Garlic is a rich source of potassium and also contains zinc and sulphur, which are components of insulin. Take about three to four flakes of crushed garlic daily.

Components in cinnamon promote glucose metabolism and reduce cholesterol. It has been found that in people with diabetes; just 1/2 teaspoon a day can significantly lower blood sugar levels.

Research has shown that Maitake mushrooms lower blood sugar as it acts as an alpha glucosidase inhibitor and may be beneficial for managemet of diabetes.

Green leafy veggies are nutrient-rich, low in carbohydrates and calories. Studies show that they lower the risk of type-2 diabetes.

Bamboo shoots offer high energy sans any fat or cholesterol and are a terrific source of dietary fibre. They also contain magnesium.

Berries are full of antioxidants, vitamins and fibre. Anthocyanins, found in berries, have been shown to impede cancer cell growth, reduce risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Chicken breasts are low in saturated fat and calories. A 3-ounce serving of skinless chicken breast has 142 calories and 3 grams fat.

Fatty fishes such as Salmon, albacore tuna, mackerel, halibut and herring are high in omega-3 fatty acids. These help unclog arteries and improve levels of both triglycerides and HDL in diabetics.

Beans are good source of fibre and are rich in nutrients. They slow digestion and maintain blood sugar level after a meal.

Nuts are packed with `good` fats that not only help fight heart disease, but also help reduce insulin resistance. Nuts are also rich in fibre, magnesium and vitamin E.

Low-fat milk and yogurt not only provide protein but also give calcium, which aids in weight loss. People who take them regularly are less likely to become insulin resistant.

Whole-grain foods are rich in fibre and nutrients such as magnesium, chromium, folate and omega-3 fatty acids. Studies show that a diet rich in whole grains may help lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Olive oil is loaded with antioxidants and monounsaturated fats, like oleic acid. These ‘good’ fats reduce the risk of heart disease and help keep blood sugar steady by reducing insulin resistance.

Posted by: Chander Menghani <cgm1952@yahoo.com>