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Scientists Discover How Scorpion Venom Can Help Find Brain Tumors

May 17, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Certain kinds of tumors are very difficult to treat. They don’t respond easily to conventional forms of cancer or tumor treatment, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Doctors and surgeons can face difficulty attempting to detect the exact position and nature of the tumor, making it harder to remove and treat.

One such type of complex tumor is glioma, which is a highly dangerous and potentially lethal kind of tumor. It spreads fairly quickly throughout brain tissue, making it hard to pinpoint and therefore difficult to remove in its entirety, as some of the tumor might have spread somewhere that doctors didn’t detect.

Luckily, a brand new technique may help with this process. This imaging method is more than a little unconventional, especially given its contents: scorpion venom. Yes, that’s right! It’s definitely hard to imagine using scorpion venom for a human brain.

But this imaging technique has research backing it up, and it could mean a huge positive change in the way that doctors are able to locate and treat brain tumors.

Scientists Discover How Scorpion Venom Can Help Find Brain Tumors

1. What Is Glioma?

Glioma is a very difficult-to-treat tumor that can affect the spinal cord and brain. It takes root in glial cells, which are supportive, glue-like cells that aid in nerve cell functions. There are multiple types of glial cells, but only three can result in tumors, though there are multiple different types of glioma that can occur.

Depending on location, severity, stage, and growth rate, glioma can be fatal. It is essentially one of the most common roots of brain tumors. Symptoms of the condition vary, but most of the common signs include:

Nausea
Confusion
Vomiting
Headaches
Memory loss
Brain function decline
Balance problems
Vision-related issues
Irritability
Incontinence
Speech problems
Personality shifts
Seizures

As is the case with most brain tumors of a primary kind, the causes behind glioma are not fully known, though certain factors definitely increase the risk. Here are some of those factors.

a) Radiation exposure

Those who have experienced any form of radiation exposure are automatically at a higher risk for tumor development – including gliomas. This can even include radiation treatment, though many common sources of radiation, such as radiofrequency and electromagnetic fields, have not been found to affect this.

b) Age

Across all types of tumors, the risk of developing one increases with age. That’s why glioma most commonly affects those aged 45 to 65.

It’s worth noting, though, that brain tumors can still occur at all ages. In fact, some varieties have higher rates in children and teens.

c) Family history

It’s fairly rare for any family to have glioma that genuinely runs in the blood. However, if you have relatives who have glioma history, you hold twice the chance of developing the condition.

d) Cellphone usage

The jury is still out on whether or not cellphone usage truly increases brain tumor risk. Certain studies indicate there may be some links, but a majority have yet to discover a connection.

Due to the modern nature of cellphones, it may be a while before we have a concrete answer regarding whether they truly pose a risk. If you are concerned, talk on your phone with hands-free devices or on speaker, and don’t sleep with it next to you.

2. How Scorpion Venom Can Help Find Brain Tumors

The research entitled “Phase 1 Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Fluorescence Imaging Study of Tozuleristide (BLZ-100) in Adults With Newly Diagnosed or Recurrent Gliomas,” published in the Neurosurgery journal on the 9th of May, is responsible for finding this revolutionary new technique. The credited researchers, in alphabetical order, are:

Adam N Mamelak, MD
Beth Morrison, MPH
Chirag G Patil, MD
David G Walker, BMedSc, MBBS, PhD
David S Kittle, PhD
Dennis M Miller, PhD
Jeff Perry, BS
Julia Parrish-Novak, PhD
Kaitlin L Nufer, BBiomedSci
Keith Black, MD
Kelly A Byrnes-Blake, PhD
Kim Pham
Laura Ishak, BS
Lynlee L Lin, PhD
Miko Yamada, PhD
Pramod Butte, MBBS, PhD
Stacey J Hansen, BS
Tarl Prow, PhD

This unusual and odd-sound technique has its roots in tozuleristide. Tozuleristide, known also as BLZ-100, is a synthetic variety of one of scorpion venom’s peptides. As such, it isn’t really scorpion venom, so much as a fairly accurate but safe recreation of one of that venom’s distinguishing features.

BLZ-100 is a type of compound that automatically binds itself to tumor and cancer cells in the brain. This means that, with the use of this compound, doctors can easily locate all the cancer cells in the brain and determine which ones can be safely removed.

To make BLZ-100 more visible, researchers mixed some fluorescent dye into the compound. This made it immediately visible under a somewhat infrared light, allowing the tumor cells to very easily contrast against brain tissue that should remain untouched. According to senior author Adam Mamelak, it practically lights up like a Christmas tree.

3. Study Methods

Clinical trials conducted on a small scale, thus far, have determined BLZ-100 effective and non-toxic, making it completely safe for use. These trials involved 17 patients of adult age who were suffering from brain cancer. The BLZ-100 did not give them any bad side effects, instead only making their tumors more obvious to operating doctors.

Here’s how these trials were conducted. Seventeen glioma patients – nine with high-grade glioma, and eight with low-grade glioma – were the test subjects.

These patients were administered with BLZ-100 in doses of between three and 30 mg three hours before an operation. Serum samples were collected, patients would go under the knife, and then they would be observed for the next week in order to take note of any unwanted side effects.

The BLZ-100 remained in tumors for about 24 hours, samples showed. No signs of side effects or toxicity resulted, which would have necessitated the limiting of dosages. Higher doses seemed to be required for higher-grade cases of the disease.

4. Camera System for BLZ-100

This isn’t all that’s currently being discovered, however. An experimental camera system, also put to the test during this research process, operated alongside the scorpion venom imaging agent. This camera system is designed to take dual images: white-light and near-infrared photographs.

This can really change the game when it comes to treatment, as it allows easy viewing between two types of imaging during a surgical situation, negating the need for other unwieldy cameras. Many surgeons find fluorescence integration into surgical practices to be seamless and appealing to use.

5. What’s Next?

Currently, BLZ-100 and the camera system are going through rigorous testing in broader forms of clinical trials. One such study involves brain cancer in children, and many others are also following. Together, there is hope that this research will allow the method to be FDA approved relatively soon.

Researchers also believe that BLZ-100 may also be capable of working with other types of cancer and tumors when it is necessary to determine a tumor margin. Overall, BLZ-100 and these imaging techniques may be able to provide additional precision and safety during surgical procedures. As such, we can look to the future with positive thinking.

6. Current Glioma Treatment Options

Glioma is typically detected through a variety of tests, such as a neurology consultation, imaging tests, neurological exams, and biopsies. Treatment options from there depend heavily on the prognosis and diagnosis; they also often involve the use of steroids. Here are some of the current options that deliver the most positive results.

a) Surgery

Typically, treating gliomas begins with a form of surgery. Small enough tumors can be simple to remove safely from the surrounded healthy tissue. If it’s not possible to separate the healthy tissue from the tumor in question, as much as possible will be removed.

Removing a part of a tumor can still help reduce overall symptoms. The scorpion venom imaging technique can allow doctors to see the locations and states of tumors, enabling them to remove the tumors more easily.

It could work hand in hand with other surgery-related assistance methods, such as intraoperative MRI, computer assistance, and lasers. It can even assist in awake surgery where patients perform tasks during the operation to ensure healthy tissue remains undamaged.

b) Radiation therapy

In many cases of glioma, after surgery, a form of radiation therapy follows. This is especially important for very severe glioma cases, typically involving high-energy protons or X-rays in order to successfully kill bad tumor cells.

Many kinds of radiation therapy exist. Some involve using computers to take note of the exact location where the treatment must be performed. The scorpion venom technique could help this method become sharper and more accurate.

Protons, X-rays, and multiple stereotactic radiation beams are also used for gliomas. Once again, the importance of pinpointing the exact location of cancer cells means that the scorpion venom technique will come in handy.

c) Drugs

Perhaps the most commonly discussed form of tumor treatment, chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to get rid of cancer and tumor cells. For glioma treatment, it’s often used with radiation therapy for best results.

The drug most commonly used for glioma is a pill labeled temozolomide. All forms of chemotherapy come with their fair share of side effects.

Targeted drug therapy is also another way to treat glioma, typically designed to focus specifically on abnormalities and certain features of the cancer cells. One promising option is Avastin, administered intravenously, which prevents blood vessel formation so that a lack of blood supply kills tumor cells.

Final Thoughts On How Scorpion Venom Can Help Find Brain Tumors

Research on BLZ-100 is still in its early stages, but clinical testing is moving along smoothly and there is a good chance that it will be approved for mainstream usage in hospitals shortly. There have been no updates on current clinical trials, but we have confidence they will bear fruit.

Given the difficulty of removing gliomas, it’s a relief to see that new imaging techniques can make that job easier. With any luck, our positive thinking and these researchers’ hard work will pay off, and these methods will make their way into the healthcare system, enabling more surgeons and doctors to save more lives.

Scientists Explain 22 Reasons Why You Should Stop Using Plastic

May 17, 2019 by Power of Positivity

It’s safe to say that most things worldwide are made from plastic. Looking at your surroundings right now, you’ll see many items fashioned from this material. Even if they only encompass a small part of something, they’re definitely noticeable and there.

With growing environmental concerns surrounding the use and disposal of plastic, experts around the world have been urging people to curb their plastic consumption. Medical researchers have also suggested that plastic could be bad for our health. Countless nations’ governments are even implementing laws that will ban some forms of plastic.

If all this isn’t enough to convince you that it’s time to search for more sustainable alternatives, listen up, because we’ve compiled even more reasons that you should be more mindful of plastic usage.

Scientists Explain 22 Reasons Why You Should Stop Using Plastic

Plastic in the Ocean

Shocking amounts of plastic find their way into the ocean due to littering, improper disposal, or even too-strong wind and weather. This means even plastic you try to dispose of correctly often still manages to get to the water, says clinical veterinarian, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, and Master of Surgery Jennifer Flower.

Americans account for a whopping 380 million tons of plastic waste yearly, so it’s no surprise to imagine that even a tiny percentage of that could cause severe problems for the ocean. Here are some other ocean and marine-related reasons to stop using plastic.

1. The Amount Of Ocean Plastic Is Increasing

Not too long ago, the National Academy of Sciences reported that 0.1% of plastic produced internationally entered the oceans. This report was released in 1975; 40 years later, in 2015, more and more plastic builds up in waterways.

In fact, researchers estimated that up to a shocking 11 million metric tons of plastic waste finds its path to oceans all around the world from coastal nations; this number will likely only get higher in the upcoming years.

The same goes for microplastics, especially tiny beads, and components used in cosmetic products that get washed down the drain. Roughly 51 trillion of them slip through filters and into the water, meaning there are more microplastics in the ocean than stars in the Milky Way.

2. Our Water Supply Is Affected

The Great Lakes, five of the world’s most significant sources of fresh, surface-level water, are all becoming inundated by tons of plastic. These lakes are responsible for 21% of the water that animals and we use, but annually, a horrifying 22 million pounds of waste plastic enters these lakes.

3. It’s Reached New Depths

You might think plastic stays on the ocean surface – but it doesn’t. The plastic you see makes up only a small percentage of the full volume of waste in the water. Worse still, a plastic bag has managed to find its way to the deepest trench in the world – 10,898 meters deep.

4. Islands of Plastic Trash

A gigantic island of trash is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, measuring 600,000 square miles and weighing in at 80,000 tons. It spans so much area that it’s double the size of the state of Texas, and it holds over 1.8 trillion plastic waste pieces. It is just one of five accumulation zones over the entire world.

5. Outnumbering Fish

It is predicted that, by the year 2050, if no changes are made to how we use and produce plastic, plastics will outnumber fish. It would be an understatement to say this is not an optimistic prediction, as it will likely cause hugely adverse effects on food sources.

6. Marine Life Pays The Price

Approximately 700 marine species have been negatively affected by ocean waste and debris, most of which is plastic. Straws and other similar items are often ingested, causing a digestive blockage.

In addition, plastic is laden with chemicals, and these toxins are released into the water. This can, then, make its way into marine life, slowly poisoning them and causing tissue damage and other serious issues. Additionally, many marine life gets tangled in plastic products such as nets and rope.

Microplastics are especially dangerous when it comes to ingestion – they’re so tiny that most people, let alone sea creatures, won’t be seen or noticed. Larger ones that find their way onto sand or water surfaces are easily mistaken for little bits of food.

7. Seabirds Are Equally Affected

Experts predict that if there are no changes in plastic use and consumption, 99% of all types of seabirds will have eaten plastic in some way by the time we reach 2050. Back in 2010, 80% of seabirds were found to have plastic in their stomachs – a huge jump from 1960’s mere 5%.

The Laysan Albatross faces even more harm than other species, especially young birds and chicks. Ninety percent of newly hatched Laysan Albatrosses will consume plastic at some point, potentially leading to early deaths due to malnourishment.

8. Plastic Is Killing Coral Reefs

Many of us love and enjoy the sight of coral reefs, but they, too, are dying. These ecosystems maintain life for the homes of 25% of life underwater; approximately 275 million individuals also depend on them as a source of income, food, or livelihood.

It was already difficult for these reefs to push through the difficulties of global warming and climate change. Now, 11.1 billion of these pieces of plastic are trapped in coral reefs across oceans and waterways in the Asia-Pacific region. This prevents these reefs from receiving the necessary light to grow and depriving them of oxygen.

The plastic not only lets off harmful chemicals that threaten the delicate balance of coral reefs, but it also encourages the growth of unwanted microorganisms. By supporting initiatives like a coral reef conservation package, we can help protect these vibrant ecosystems and promote healthier marine life.

BPA

Known as bisphenol A, BPA is a type of synthetic chemical compound commonly used in plastic production. This means it affects items within BPA-filled plastic, such as food, drinks, and other items. Worse still, it causes a variety of adverse effects on health. Here are some of them.

1. Hormones

BPA can negatively affect the body’s hormones, causing imbalances that lead to various issues. Typically, this leads to endocrine disorders, such as:

Polycystic ovary syndrome
Infertility
Early puberty
Prostate cancer
Breast cancer

2. Weight Gain

Because BPA disrupts the body’s endocrine system, it can affect all the body’s hormones – including the ones that help keep the metabolism well-balanced. Evidence suggests that BPA is behind weight gain and a predisposition to weight gain in offspring – a big reason to stop using plastic.

3. Thyroid Issues

Once again, we’re discussing hormones here, specifically thyroid hormones. BPA consumption can also harm these hormones, potentially leading to conditions like Hashimoto’s disease. Fifty-two percent of individuals with thyroid antibody elevations have BPA levels beyond detection limits.

4. Diabetes

According to the US Endocrine Society, BPA is one of the many endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can increase the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

5. Heart Disease

BPA may threaten the body’s arteries and heart, potentially leading to plaque or heartbeat abnormalities, known as atherosclerosis and arrhythmias, respectively. Research into the matter is still ongoing.

6. Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD)

Some research suggests a link between IPD and BPA. This may be due to how BPA causes the metabolism of amino acids to be affected by harming gut bacteria. In general, even without leading to IPD, BPA likely leads to a higher risk of colon inflammation.

7. High Blood Pressure

According to Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, Master of Surgery, and business-owner Megan Casper, those who drink from BPA-lined receptacles experience heightened blood pressure. Studies have found that this jump averages at 4.5 mm Hg.

8. Birth Issues

A recent study found a link between BPA and birth problems. There was a higher chance of miscarriage in those with higher BPA levels and a significantly larger risk of birth defects and chromosomal problems in the baby.

9. Babies and Children

Many of us use plastic containers to keep food, warm it up, and feed it to our kids, but according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, this is a huge no-no. BPA may be able to affect development and growth negatively and even boost the chances of childhood obesity.

10. Going BPA-Free Doesn’t Help

So you may be thinking the solution is simple! Just buy BPA-free plastics, right? Wrong. Ninety-five percent of supposedly BPA-free plastics also release endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can cause all these same problems. In all likelihood, all plastics pose the same risks; research has just been focusing so much on BPA that we’re unaware of the dangers of other plastics.

The Qualities of Plastic

Plastic has multiple qualities that make it an inexpensive product to purchase but also cause it to be dangerous. Ultimately, these elements provide more cons than pros overall. Here are some of these qualities:

1. Methane

A large majority of the regular plastics we use in our daily life release methane (a greenhouse gas), and ethylene (a hydrocarbon gas), if you set them out in the sunlight. This means that plastic actually contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, dampening the positive thinking we’ve had towards stalling climate change.

2. Plastic Dust

Did you know that plastic particles can be so microscopic that you don’t even know you’re consuming them? Known as plastic dust, this happens when synthetic fabrics and other similar items shed. They release tiny plastic bits that then combine with everyday dust. This dust may wind up on your plate during meals – and you won’t even notice. On average, people accidentally consume a shocking 68,415 fibers made from plastic in a single year.

3. No Such Thing As Biodegradable

Companies have attempted to make single-use plastics biodegradable and, therefore, more environmentally friendly. So far, however, this has not worked. Products claiming to be made from biodegradable plastic degrade no differently than normal plastics.

4. Plastic Never Goes Away

Since plastic first began production, we have produced 8.3 billion tons of the stuff; of that amount, we have produced 6.3 billion tons of waste, which still remains in this world.

Essentially, plastic doesn’t degrade, and it doesn’t go away. As a result, it is building up not just in landfills but everywhere around us. If this trend doesn’t change, in 2050, landfills will hold 12 billion tons of plastic waste.

Final Thoughts On Some Reasons Why You Should Stop Using Plastic

Removing all traces of plastic entirely from your life is likely nearly impossible for most people. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do your part to reduce your overall plastic usage. Use reusable shopping bags. Eliminate single-use plastics. Be more conscious of your purchases. There are countless ways to make a more plastic-free lifestyle work for you!

How To Disinfect and Clean Your Home With Only 4 Ingredients

May 17, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Cleaning products are often specialized for one specific purpose, causing you to need to buy many different types for your cleaning needs. Worse still, these commercial cleaners are packed with deadly chemicals that can actually be as harmful to you as smoking a pack of cigarettes every day!

But don’t worry. Keep your positive thinking going! There are completely natural, inexpensive ways to clean your home in a way that is health-conscious. Better yet, all it takes are a few things you likely already have at home. However, if you’re short on time or need professional help, House Cleaning Baltimore MD offers expert services to make your home sparkle while you relax!

Here’s How To Disinfect And Clean Your Home With Only 4 Ingredients

1. Baking Soda

Sodium bicarbonate, more popularly known as baking soda, is a variety of salt, meaning it is a neutral compound, not an acid and not an alkali. However, its pH value is not 100% neutral; it’s a tiny bit higher, which makes it a “basic” compound. The properties that come with this make the component fantastic at cleaning for the following reasons.

a) It Releases Gas

This doesn’t exactly sound like the best thing – and it might even sound a little gross – but this is great for cleaning. Essentially, what this means is that when baking soda reaches a temperature of 300°F or higher, it expels carbon dioxide. That’s why it’s good for baking, for extinguishing grease fires, and for many more applications.

Of course, baking soda is also fantastic for cleaning – specifically for pest control! When consumed by pests, this can cause a buildup of gas within these creatures that leads to organ failure, thus acting as an effective anti-bug method.

b) Odor Absorption

Many people use items such as candles or even air fresheners to reduce stench in a room. But all these items do is make the odors less noticeable – hiding them, in a way.

On the other hand, baking soda actually absorbs bad smells. Most negative odors are acidic, and the basic nature of baking soda allows it to neutralize those low-pH molecules in the air for more positive deodorizing results.

c) Abrasive Features

Abrasive products like baking soda are fantastic for dislodging all sorts of gritty, stubborn particles that can make cleaning your home a living hell. You might think that soap does this job just as well, but soap is designed specifically to be less harsh, so as a base, it lacks the powerful qualities of baking soda.

d) Vinegar Reaction

Vinegar, another item on our list, reacts impressively well with baking soda when it comes to cleaning! We know that a mix of the two can provide an explosive reaction thanks to many a science fair project, and it’s this combination that makes it so potent.

A mix of vinegar and baking soda can easily unclog drains, clean grease and gunk in your home, and leave all surfaces completely sparkling. Not bad for a couple of standard kitchen items!

2. White Vinegar

White vinegar contains high levels of acetic acid. This means that white vinegar, distilled, has an extremely low pH of 2.4, making it more acidic than beverages like orange juice and coffee. As such, it is the perfect cleaner.

Why does this acidity work so well? It is able to fight against a lot of gunk buildup, including soap scum, hard water brine, and glue remnants. It works much more easily and efficiently than many commercial products in this respect.

White vinegar also has highly positive effects on glass of all kinds, as well as other areas where you want to see a good shine. It gets rid of stains and adds a sparkle to countless different materials.

Do note that white vinegar’s extreme acidity means it cannot be used with absolutely everything. It may be bad for flimsy materials, natural stone, and skin. Diluting it with water will make it safer for direct application, but there are other options for cleaning these particular things.

3. Rubbing Alcohol

Known also as isopropyl alcohol, rubbing alcohol is mainly used for healthcare purposes, but it’s also a fantastic cleaner. Here’s why you should add it to your cleaning kit.

a) Disinfectant Properties

Rubbing alcohol is an excellent disinfectant. That’s why it’s often used to clean and treat wounds, and that also means it’s absolutely safe to use around the house. It can sterilize your home, keeping it free from bad bacteria.

b) Gentle and Safe

As we previously mentioned, rubbing alcohol is arguably one of the safest alternative cleaners out there. It is gentle on fabrics, natural stones, and delicate materials, but it is still capable of packing a stain-removing punch and killing unwanted insects.

c) Volatile Properties

This sounds harsh, but it really isn’t! Alcohol is highly volatile, and as such, it dries quickly. This means that it doesn’t leave any residue behind, unlike even water, and you don’t have to worry about the excess alcohol sticking around for longer than a few minutes at a time.

4. Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon essential oil isn’t a “true” essential oil in the sense of the word, but it carries most – if not all – of the same benefits as any other one of these great, pure oils. It is made through the act of cold-pressing fresh lemon rind, leading to a very bright and refreshing scent.

This oil packs an acidic punch that makes it great for brightening parts of the house, furniture, or other items and infusing them with a delightful and strong fresh lemon smell. It is also packed with antimicrobial properties, which make it effective against bad bacteria and other microorganisms that you don’t want around your home.

5. Using These 4 Ingredients In Your Home Kitchen

a) Baking Soda

Prevent grease stains by dusting a little baking soda onto new splatters of oil or similar ingredients. This will absorb the liquid thoroughly. A short while later, brush the baking soda
Create a paste from warm water and some baking soda and apply it to grease spots. Use a damp cloth to wipe the area down and scrub it. Use warm water to rinse.
Make your stainless steel dinnerware and cookware shine with baking soda. Just sprinkle a bit onto a sponge – preferably damp – and scrub the items in question, then use warm water to rinse it off. You can also use a paste of water and baking soda to do this.

b) White Vinegar

Dilute your white vinegar with some warm water and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray an oven or stove thoroughly. Leave the mix to sit for around 15 minutes. Use hot water to wash off.
Mop linoleum or vinyl floors clean with white vinegar after diluting it with hot water.
Get rid of stains from hard water inside your dishwasher with white vinegar. Just pour in one cup of the stuff and allow the dishwasher to run one cycle.

c) Rubbing Alcohol

Mix water and rubbing alcohol together and pour into a spray bottle. Add sparkle to granite counters by spraying them with this mix.

d) Lemon Essential Oil

Pour a couple of lemon essential oil drops on a cotton ball. Use this to attack sticky stains left on your counters.

6. Using These 4 Ingredients To Clean Your Home Bathroom

a) Baking Soda

Mix warm water and baking soda to create a paste, then scrub porcelain with it to bring bright whiteness back.
Dust baking soda over a toilet bowl after you hit the flush. Leave it on for between 10 and 15 minutes, and then scrub down with the use of a toilet brush. Flush once more and enjoy a clean bowl!
Put a dash of baking soda onto a rag and use it to wipe down wet areas after you’ve used the shower or bathtub to keep grime at a minimum.

b) White Vinegar

Wipe mirrors and glass shelves down with water and white vinegar mixed together.
Soak your tub or sink with a mixture of warm water and white vinegar – just enough to cover the base. After 15 minutes, start getting rid of grime and stains with gentle scrubbing. Drain the liquid, then use hot water to rinse.
Disinfect your bathroom surfaces and remove bad smells with white vinegar that is completely undiluted. After allowing to soak, wipe the surface down, then rinse off with hot water.
Dilute white vinegar with water and spray over spots of mildew or mold in vinyl and plastic shower curtains. Wait 15 minutes, then scrub the area and use hot water to rinse.

c) Rubbing Alcohol

Drop a cotton ball into rubbing alcohol to soak it, then use it to get metallic items shiny and brand new.
Disinfect your bathtub and shower daily by filling a spray bottle with some rubbing alcohol. Use this to give surfaces a quick spritz after each bath.

d) Lemon Essential Oil

Pour lemon essential oil onto some clean cloth (lint-free!) and bring the shine back to metallic items by removing stains from products and hard water through gentle cleaning.

e) Combination

Pour white vinegar and baking soda into a handy empty spray bottle and use to spray down tiled areas. Use a damp cloth to scrub and disinfect, then wash clean with some warm water.
Clear clogged drains by mixing half a cup of white vinegar with half a cup of baking soda. Tip the mix down the drain in question, cover it up with a glass dish and allow to rest overnight. When you wake up, use hot water to flush out the drain.

7. Using These 4 Ingredients With Laundry

a) Baking Soda

Yellowing stains or others caused by organic features, such as sweat, can be treated with a water-and-baking-soda paste. Apply it over the area, then carry on with the wash.

b) White Vinegar

Toss in a quarter cup of white vinegar when doing laundry to get rid of any musty stenches.
Soak your washing machine by filling it, then pausing and pouring one cup of white vinegar inside to remove hard water stains.
If your clothes are too stiff and hard, use distilled white vinegar to make them softer. Add the vinegar while the clothes are on a rinse cycle.

c) Combination

Discolored whites? Don’t lose your positive thinking just yet! Add a mix of vinegar and baking soda at a 1:2 ratio to your next white laundry load.

Final Thoughts On How To Disinfect And Clean Your Home With Only 4 Ingredients

There is so much that you can do with simple ingredients and items. Don’t be afraid to experiment with these four ingredients and see how they can help improve your home-cleaning experience!

Scientists Explain How Video Games Help Kids Reduce Stress and Improve Emotions For Kids

May 17, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Video games, like many media sources, have gotten a bad rap for various reasons. They were viewed as “the tool of the devil” much like D&D was in its day by the less informed or less experienced public. Games have also long been viewed as causing violence despite the complete lack of scientific evidence. Playing video games also carried a stigma toward the players. For years the gamer was seen as the anti-social, unclean, irresponsible, overweight boy eating chips in his mother’s basement.

Fortunately, that image has changed over the years; more and more people have grown familiar with video games as the platforms have become more accessible by including mobile gaming on our cell phones. Humanitz cheats can enhance the experience by offering new strategies and advantages in the game, making it more engaging for players.

Gaming itself has proven to have a number of benefits on our brain development, coordination, and social skills. Science can explain 7 ways video games can help kids.

Statistics regarding Video Games Players: Stereotypes vs Reality

The stereotype of the typical gamer is a male child or teenager. In actuality, the average gamer in 2018 was 34 years old and 72% are over the age of 18. Forty-five percent of those gamers were actually women. Across all age brackets, from under age 18 to age 50 or more, the percentage of gamers was relatively the same with only a difference by 9% at the most.

Under 18: 28%
18 – 35 years old: 29%
36 – 49 years of age: 20%
50 years old or older: 23%

From the time gaming began in the 80s, the age of gamers has only increased. In 2011, 91% of kids between the age of 2-17 played video games with 38% of them playing mobile games. Those same children are now older and still gaming. Currently, 60% of Americans play video games daily with an average of two gamers in a game-playing household. That is more than 150 million Americans.

In 2018, 70% of parents view video games as a benefit to their child’s life; 67% of parents who game will play video games with their children on a weekly basis.

Benefits of Video Games for kids

Scientists have proven through about 116 studies that video games not only improve cognitive function but also can change the structure of the brain itself. The types of games played do make a difference in some of the benefits received.

A study performed in 2016 at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Mental Health strove to discover if there was any difference on a broad scale of video game players’ overall cognitive ability vs a non-gamer. It was a survey of 3,195 children ages 6 -11. The outcome was that if a child played video games for five hours a week or more, they showed higher intellectual functioning, better grades, better relationships with other children, and fewer emotional difficulties.

What are these benefits?

1. Video Games Improve focus or attention:

Studies have shown an improvement in gamers in the area of attention, including sustained attention and selective attention. These improvements have also shown that the attention areas in the brain are more efficient than non-gamers and are more capable of staying focused on difficult tasks. These studies were primarily based off of first-person shooter or action games. Experience fast and secure transactions with zimpler for hassle-free gaming.

2. Video Games Improved visuospatial skills:

Gamers have demonstrated an increased ability to identify visual and spatial relationships among objects. Of the long-term gamer volunteers who followed a specific video training plan, an enlargement of the hippocampus was seen. The hippocampus is just one region responsible for semantic memory, visual imagery, and cognitive control.

3.Improved problem-solving skills:

Puzzle games or role-playing games such as World of Warcraft have shown to improve children’s ability to plan, organize, and use flexible thinking during their gameplay. This may demonstrate itself in higher grades in school as well.

4. Video Games Give a Boost in Creativity:

In the case of middle school kids, playing video games such as Minecraft has been linked to creativity. This was determined through the use of the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking, which is a well-respected and validated test. The children who played video games hit every marker on the test regardless of race or gender.

A separate test was performed to test if short-term gaming had the same creative benefit. Children were given three different games to play for 30 minutes. The games were Serious Sam, (a shooter game), Portal 2 (a problem-solving game), or Minecraft. All games showed at least a temporary improvement in the area of flexibility as it relates to creativity. Portal 2 showed the best results of the three.

In another study, it was found that gamers tend to be more open to new experiences, which is a trait that lends itself toward creativity as well.

5. Reduce Stress:

Certain video games that are of a simpler structure, such as Angry Birds, can help kids relax. It has been shown to not only reduce stress but also improve mood. It is suspected that it may be due to the fact that simpler games are designed to make it easy for kids to win. This allows them to receive a sense of success and reward relatively quickly.

6. Video Games Improve Social skills and teamwork:

Games work as a social tool in multiple ways. First, many games can be played with others online and encourage chatting through texting or a headset. Communities are formed in many games to encourage this.

In addition to this, some aspects of different games require players to work together in order to accomplish a milestone within the game. This requires communication, planning, and teamwork to accomplish. In 2012, this cooperation and teamwork was proven, at least on a short-term basis, to increase the possibility of cooperating with or helping others in real life.

Secondly, due to the popularity of games that pay real money, it is a source of many conversations among peers as they discuss strategies, different games, characters, stats, etc. If a child does not own a video game, then they might be left out of many conversations unless they find a group that places importance on something different.

7. Provide Emotional Regulation:

Often when a child first begins gaming, parents will see some intense emotions of excitement, frustration, anger, happiness, intense focus, and more. For the observer, it can create concern that the child is becoming too wrapped up in the game and the negative emotions aren’t good for the child.

Research is actually showing that assumption to be incorrect. Studies show that the child is being pushed to have to deal with their emotions of fear or anger, but over time, they learn to calm themselves down. This may take some time, and in some cases, some intervention by the parents. Yet for the most part, left to their own devices, they learn to regulate their emotions better than children who remain protected from such feelings. This regulation does carry over to real life.

There is also proof that a child who plays a video game for more than five hours a week shows fewer mental health issues in real life scenarios. The gamers themselves even talk about how gaming helped them to deal with stress and frustration in their regular lives.

Beyond Childhood

Video games are also being researched to see if they can help elderly people, particularly in the realm of memory. At the University of California-San Francisco, researchers did studies on older individuals using 3D video games played on a budget ultrawide monitor for gaming to test if their memory would improve.

After 12 hours of training spread over a month, subjects aged 60 – 85 years of age showed improved performance in the game that exceeded those in their 20s playing the game for the first time. Impressively, they also showed improvement in working memory and sustained attention, which remained for six months after the training ended. So play Farming Less today and get the benefits listed above.

The fact that it was the 3D format which aided them the most was reinforced through another study of other participants in which some were given 2D games, and others, 3D games. Those with 3D games showed memory improvement whereas the 2D group showed less improvement.

Conclusion:

Video games stand to be the resource which we all can benefit from and may even lead to advanced thinking in upcoming generations.

That is not to say that they do not come with certain risks. Currently, parents face legitimate concerns regarding gaming, namely the effects of staring at a screen for hours. Many studies have shown that screen dependency has repercussions on a child’s brain development, attention span, and desire for immediate gratification; it can even, in a few instances, trigger an addiction as potent as cocaine.

Screen dependency isn’t just limited to games. It is also related to social media, texting, emails, and app use. Therefore, it is important that time regulation is utilized, especially for any child under the age of 10. Additionally, learning self-restraint and moderation is a healthy approach to many things in life.

While many studies still remain to be done regarding the pros and cons, you can be a bit more relaxed and feel positive about allowing your child to reap these seven scientific benefits of playing video games.

9 Ways To Use Turmeric to Relieve Inflammation

May 17, 2019 by Power of Positivity

There’s nothing wrong with healthy amounts of inflammation. But, when taken too far by the body, it can lead to several – if not virtually all – chronic diseases common in the West. This includes cancer, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and even Alzheimer’s.

It’s safe to say that long-term inflammation is unwanted by everyone. But keep your positive thinking going, because turmeric may have the answer! It contains curcumin, which is the component that gives the root its bright, orange hue.

Curcumin is absolutely stuffed with all sorts of beneficial nutrients and benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties. As a matter of fact, this nutrient is so efficient and powerful at this that it’s just as effective as many common drugs and medications designed to fight inflammation – all without the side effects.

But turmeric isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. So, how can you use this root in your daily diet?

Here Are 9 Ways To Use Turmeric To Relieve Inflammation

1. Vegetables

We hope you’re getting more than enough vegetables in your diet, as they have many positive effects on inflammation to the point of preventing heart disease. If you are, then you likely make baked or roast veggies quite regularly. Now, all you have to do is add some turmeric to them.

But how? When you mix your vegetables in seasoning before cooking them, add some turmeric powder seasoning first, along with your standard salt and pepper, olive oil, or even coconut oil, depending on your personal preferences.

All vegetables go fine with turmeric, but the absolute best ones to try are:

Cauliflower
Sweet potatoes
Eggplant
Carrots
Beets

2. Curry

The best part of turmeric is the part that provides you with the most health benefits: curcumin, which becomes easier for your body to use when mixed with fats or spices. As such, it’s no surprise that curry is the perfect dish in which to add some inflammation-relieving turmeric.

Your best bet is to make some form of curry powder. The standard recipe for good, tasty curry is:

8 parts of coriander, ground
4 parts of cumin, ground
1 part of turmeric
1 part of either paprika or cayenne (can be increased or decreased to taste)

If you’re not much for powdered curry, you can do a slightly more traditional take on it with the following ingredients:

One pound of ground meat (preferably chicken or pork)
Half of a head of shredded cabbage
6 ounces of coconut milk (unsweetened)
Three sliced garlic cloves (thinly cut)
One sliced onion, small (thinly cut)
One tablespoon of olive oil
One tablespoon each of fresh, grated ginger and turmeric
A quarter cup of water

Here’s what to do with those ingredients:

Step 1: Heat oil in a skillet.
Step 2: Add your chosen meat. Cook until it is browned.
Step 3: Toss in your spices, as well as your garlic and onion. Allow to heat for an additional 5 minutes.
Step 4: Pour your coconut milk and water into the skillet. Heat well, and once cooked through, turn the heat off.
Step 5: Add your cabbage, shredded, into the skillet and mix.
Step 6: You’re done! Serve as desired.

You can also make curry-infused rice specifically with turmeric. Here are the ingredients necessary:

One cup of rice
One teaspoon of garlic powder
Half a tablespoon of turmeric, grated finely, OR half a teaspoon of turmeric powder
A quarter teaspoon of cinnamon powder
A quarter teaspoon each of salt and pepper

Simply mix the spices in a good blend, then add it to a saucepan with your rice as it starts to cook. You can eat it however you’d like.

3. Smoothies

It doesn’t sound very appetizing, but smoothies are one of the best places to add some turmeric, especially if you’re not a big fan of the root’s taste. While it does cause the smoothie to turn quite a bright orange color in most cases, you probably won’t actually taste the turmeric at all!

You can add just one or two pinches of turmeric root, ground, into any of your favorite smoothies or juices. Yes, we know it sounds dubious, but trust us. You won’t even notice the difference, and you’ll be getting the extra positive benefits. We call that a win-win.

4. Golden Turmeric Milk

This Ayurvedic drink has its roots in ancient medicinal recipes, and it is known to provide countless benefits, including:

Inflammation reduction
Stronger memory and cognitive ability
Antioxidant, antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties
Better mood and positive thinking
Balanced blood glucose levels
Improved bone strength
Heart disease protection
Improved digestive function

The first thing you need to make to create golden milk is a turmeric paste, which can be done by taking half a cup of water – filtered and clean – and simmering it gently, then mixing one-quarter of a cup of ground turmeric into it. Keep stirring until a paste forms, which may take up to 10 minutes.

Next, you’ll want to get your dairy of choice. You can opt for:

Standard dairy milk
Nut milk
Goat milk
Oat milk

Once you’ve chosen, take one cup of the milk and pour it into a saucepan, then mix it with half a teaspoon of your turmeric paste. You’ll want to cook it for around five minutes on medium-low heat.

After this is done, you can add more things to your golden milk, such as:

Ghee
Coconut oil
Black pepper
Ginger
Honey
Cinnamon
Maple syrup

Enjoy your golden milk, which tastes good, relaxes your body, and is fantastic for fighting inflammation, among other health issues. You can store a batch of the milk for up to a fortnight in your fridge.

5. Eggs

All eggs could do with some dressing up with a little turmeric – specifically, with powder. Just mix a pinch or so into your eggs, no matter how you make them: scrambled, poached, as an omelet, or even baked.

You don’t need to add a lot of turmeric powder to your eggs if you don’t like it, and in small amounts, you won’t even notice it’s there. If you do like that flavor, though, you can add more to give a good taste kick to your eggs while making the overall dish much more anti-inflammatory.

If you’re feeling more ambitious, you can make a special turmeric omelet that serves as a fantastic, healthy breakfast. Here are the necessary ingredients:

Six eggs
One tablespoon of grated turmeric, fresh, OR two teaspoons of turmeric powder
Between two and three cups of your choice of chopped, cooked vegetables (a great place to use your leftovers!)
Two ounces of coconut milk, unsweetened
One chopped onion, small
Your choice of oil for cooking
Salt and pepper as per your preferences

Here’s what to do with those ingredients:

Step 1: Heat your oil in a skillet. Cook onions until they appear translucent.
Step 2: Throw in the necessary spices and allow to continue heating for a minute.
Step 3: Pour your vegetables in. Let them heat through.
Step 4: Beat your eggs. Add salt, pepper, and coconut milk to taste.
Step 5: Add this egg mixture to your vegetables.
Step 6: Continue to cook on low heat with the skillet covered for between 15 and 20 minutes, or until your eggs are nice and cooked.

6. Tea

You can make turmeric into a tea that tastes refreshing, calming, and provides a good bit of bite. At its base, all you have to do is add some turmeric slices to a pan of boiling water and allow the mix to simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, or as long as necessary.

Then, you can add in whatever you like to the drink to make it better suit your tastes, like:

Cloves
Ginger
Honey
Lemon

Add a dash of pepper to your tea to make the turmeric more bioavailable so you can better absorb its delicious vitamins. For a little sweetness, you can add some rice malt syrup. If you’d like your tea to be a bit creamy, whether in taste or in texture, you can also mix in:

Coconut milk or water
Coconut oil
Vanilla (fresh pods work best)

7. Soup

Turmeric is a delicious and rich addition to your favorite soups. Yes, absolutely all of them! It creates more depth to them, making their flavors fuller without overpowering them with that signature turmeric taste and scent.

All you need to do is add a little dash of turmeric – or even a cube of about 1cm of the chopped root – to your soup of choice. For the chopped root, blend it into soup. For the dash of powder or ground turmeric, just add it in directly while cooking.

Seeing as soups are a feel-good food, often enjoyed in times of illness, this is a great way to get a healthy, inflammation-fighting sprinkle of turmeric into your get-well-soon meals. Chicken and vegetable soups taste best with this addition, but creamier options, as well as virtually any one you can think of, will do the trick.

8. Golden Turmeric Honey

Just like golden milk is milk infused with turmeric, golden honey is simply honey infused with that same root. It provides countless benefits, especially from an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory perspective.

All you need is raw honey and turmeric powder. Just mix up 7 parts of your honey of choice with 1 part turmeric powder. Then take half a teaspoon every few hours and dissolve it inside your mouth to enjoy the benefits.

If you’re not much for consuming golden honey this way, you can make them into gummy bears! Just add your choice of organic gelatin (preferably grass-fed) and use it with your previous mix to create easy-to-eat gummy bears that taste just like candy.

9. Mustard

Did you know that you can make mustard with turmeric? This way, you can add it to your favorite meals easily, without needing to go completely healthy in all aspects. You’ll need these ingredients:

Half a cup of ground mustard
One teaspoon of turmeric
Two tablespoons of white wine vinegar
One teaspoon of salt
One tablespoon of water

All you have to do is mix up all these ingredients together, and just like that, you’ll have mustard packed with turmeric! Scoop your blend up into a glass jar and keep it in your fridge for easy access.

Final Thoughts On Some Ways To Use Turmeric To Relieve Inflammation

If you like turmeric, you’ll be astounded by the number of dishes made better with its addition. If you don’t like turmeric, then you’ll be equally astounded at the number of consumables it can be added to without being noticeable!

The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric simply can’t be denied, and are even better when you add black pepper! By adding some of this root to your everyday diet through these easy methods, you’ll be able to fight chronic inflammation and ward off serious diseases.

10 Foods That Help You Remember and Focus

May 17, 2019 by Power of Positivity

The brain is the center of the body. It controls all your movements and ultimately your entire life. Notably, it is responsible for containing your memories, and it is behind your ability to concentrate and focus.

In everyday life, the ability to focus and concentrate is crucial. It allows maximum productivity, promotes better work results, and helps keep your mind off distractions throughout the day. Memory is also equally important; it enables you to remember facts, faces, names, and other things that improve your quality of life.

If you don’t have good memory or good concentration, it’s likely that you don’t have the best brain health, either. This puts you at risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders as you age – and that’s why you need to make sure you’re doing what you can to ensure a strong brain.

How can you do this? Believe it or not, a lot of it comes down to your diet. If you eat right, your brain will thank you.

Here Are 10 Foods That Help You Remember And Focus

1. Turmeric

Turmeric contains curcumin, which is its main active ingredient and provides that bright, vibrant hue we associate with the root. Research has suggested that curcumin is capable of crossing the barrier between the blood and the brain, meaning its positive benefits can go into the brain and aid its cells.

Curcumin has countless qualities – including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ones – that suggest it can boost memory, concentration, and overall brain function, such as:

a) Alzheimer’s

It has been found to improve Alzheimer’s patients’ memories overall, and it is believed that it might be able to clear out amyloid plaques, which are largely responsible for the disease’s onset.

b) Cell growth

Curcumin helps to boost the neurotrophic factors in the brain, and these are essentially known as growth hormones. They promote faster cell growth while delaying potential brain decline from aging.

c) Mood

Curcumin can boost feel-good hormone production, which helps increase positive thinking. The extra dopamine and serotonin produced thanks to curcumin have been found to successfully ease some symptoms of depression.

2. Dark Chocolate

Flavonoids are a kind of antioxidant that are plant-based, and they are very richly abundant in cocoa powder and in dark chocolate. Flavonoids that you get from chocolate actually collect in the brain, which is why they’re so useful for cognitive functions.

Extensive research indicates that chocolate flavonoids are able to boost learning ability as well as memory. Even more, studies have proven that they can prevent mental decline that comes with age very effectively.

On top of that, chocolate also has mood-boosting properties that make it great for those who need a little pick-me-up. Just make sure that, for all these purposes, you go for dark chocolate because it has the highest cocoa content.

3. Coconut Oil

Many people are a little nervous about coconut oil given the fact that it’s a type of fat – but it’s a healthy fat that is perfectly safe to use because it is plant-based. This means it contains something called lauric acid, which helps raise good cholesterol, or HDL.

More importantly, though, coconut oil is capable of boosting a lot of brain ability. In fact, it is known for being able to boost the cognitive abilities of those with Alzheimer’s. Studies have shown that coconut oil can help improve orientation-related parts of the brain as well as language skills.

It’s safe to say that if coconut oil works on those experiencing degenerative disorders, it likely has good effects on others seeking to boost their focus and memory in everyday life. Just be sure to make your intake moderate!

4. Fatty Fish

Fatty fish is one of the best brain foods available, and for good reason. While 60% of the human brain is composed of fat, approximately 50% of that is an omega-3 variety of fat, which is richly abundant in these fish.

The brain uses omega-3 fats in order to help create nerve cells and brain cells; as such, this makes them crucial in creating good conditions for memory and learning to thrive. On top of that, these fats are also necessary for preventing cognitive decline and its associated diseases.

Too little omega-3 can actually cause mood disorders, so these fatty fish dishes are just as crucial for positive thinking as they are for everything else. Research also indicates that eating fatty fish helps promote increased gray matter in the brain, allowing for better decision-making skills, as well as boosting emotional regulation and memory.

5. Eggs

Eggs are packed with crucial micronutrients, vitamins, and other components that help keep the brain strong and healthy, including:

a) Choline

This micronutrient is vital in the production of acetylcholine, which is a type of neurotransmitter. This is responsible for boosting positive thinking, and also for helping to improve overall memory and cognitive ability.

Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t eat nearly enough choline to promote this function. Egg yolks are absolutely packed with them, so make sure you’re getting enough of that in your diet.

b) Folate

This B-vitamin is crucial for overall brain health. Research indicates that those who do not consume enough folate and folic acid tend to also develop dementia when they’re older. In fact, patients experiencing cognitive decline can have it slowed or stalled by folic acid supplementation.

c) Vitamin B12

Yet another B vitamin, this nutrient helps to keep sugar levels in the brain reasonable and balanced. It also works by helping to synthesize the chemicals in the brain, allowing for better processing and overall function. Some studies suggest that there’s a chance vitamin B12 can reduce mental decline.

6. Rosemary

We often think of rosemary as just another herb to add a little spice and kick to food for added flavor. What we don’t realize is that rosemary has loads of properties that have allowed it to be used for medicinal purposes over the years.

One of this herb’s main active ingredients is carsonic acid, which is actually an antioxidant. As we know, antioxidants fight off free radicals, Meanwhile, carnosol, another component found in rosemary, does the same thing. Hand in hand, these two ingredients can greatly reduce the amount of oxidation that happens to fat cells.

Given the fact that the brain is made up of a lot of fat, this is endlessly beneficial to the memory. Rosemary’s components help protect the brain from oxidation which could lead to negative change and cause mental deterioration.

7. Brain Boosting Blueberries

Blueberries are a staple of brain foods, and they’ve been known to have incredible protective qualities for the aging process of the brain, protecting it from harm and even reversing degeneration in some patients.

Oh, and by the way, this doesn’t just apply to blueberries! Other rich-toned and deep-hued berries have anthocyanins, which are antioxidants and anti-inflammatory plant compounds. They prevent inflammation and oxidative stress, thus reducing the risk of degenerative brain conditions.

Research has also shown that the antioxidants found in blueberries specifically can have hugely positive effects on cell communication within the brain, as those components tend to collect within the organ. It’s likely that blueberries can reduce short-term memory loss severity and improve overall memory.

8. Nuts

According to numerous studies, nuts are capable of boosting heart health. You might not think this is related to brain health, but a healthy body typically equates to a healthy mind – and in this case, that is certainly true.

Research indicates that regular nut consumption can improve one’s outlook in terms of brain health, preventing the risk of neurodegenerative disorders. It can also greatly sharpen one’s memory if made a part of the diet for a few years.

Why does this happen? Experts believe it is due to a combination of the nutrients contained within nuts, which include good fats, vitamin E, and antioxidants. Together, they help build up the brain while preventing mental decline due to free radicals.

The bottom line? Make nuts a regular part of your diet today, and you’ll reap the benefits a few years in the future. Walnuts are your best option thanks to their omega-3 content, but virtually all kinds of nuts provide good results.

9. Brain Boosting Broccoli

As a green vegetable, broccoli has a lot of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients among its components, allowing it to fight free radicals and prevent damage to the brain. More importantly, though, it has a ton of vitamin K; just one cup holds over 100% of the recommended amount for daily consumption!

Vitamin K is fat-soluble, meaning that it’s good for the brain. It is also used in the formation of a fat known as sphingolipids, and these are present in dense quantities all over your brain cells. This is likely why broccoli has such a positive effect on the memory, allowing older individuals to have sharper recall and focus.

10. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

This type of oil is used a lot in Mediterranean diets; people in countries that consume this type of food regularly tend to experience fewer brain-related disorders, as well as fewer issues with age-related health conditions overall.

Extra-virgin olive oil – and olive oil in general – is rich in anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also a great source of monounsaturated fats, or MUFAs, which are arguably the best kinds of fat to add to your diet. The anti-inflammatory nature of this oil actually puts it on par with medications for inflammation!

Polyphenols, present within olive oil, are antioxidants known for boosting memory and helping learning skills to stay sharp, especially as you age. They may also improve overall brain function and cognitive ability.

Final Thoughts On Some Brain Foods That Help You Remember And Focus

Brain health is crucial for not just focus and memory, but also for bodily health, longevity, and happiness. After all, it is the center of the body, and it controls its every move and process. If it isn’t working well, you won’t just be losing focus and memory – you’ll be losing your health!

So, start protecting your brain today by consuming these 10 foods that help you remember and focus. Add them to your diet and enjoy the long-term benefits they provide! By eating foods that boost your brain power, you’ll be protecting the organ against damage, allowing for stronger memory, great concentration, and a healthier brain overall.

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