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Groundbreaking Study Reveals Why Beetroot Is The Secret To Glowing Skin

April 29, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Beetroot is likely the most underrated plant in the world. While many people associate the red vegetable with a few dishes here and there, the beet offers a wide array of beauty benefits. As a root, the beet contains many antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, phytonutrients, and flavonoids that can improve your life dramatically.

Learning About Beetroot Benefits

Healthy for both your inner and outer health, beets really are one of the lesser-known superfoods.

Beets are such a powerful food due to the fact that the following vitamins and nutrients:

Basic Nutrition With boiled beets, a ½ cup serving provides 37 calories. Low in fat, this vegetable contains 0.15g per serving. Though it is low in protein, its most important nutrients are the vitamins and minerals inside it.
Vitamins Containing B vitamin and folate, one serving of beet a day will offer 17% f the recommended daily intake of folate. Additionally, beets contain 5% vitamin C, as well as minimal amounts of thiamin, vitamin A, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, and vitamin B-6.
Minerals In addition to those important vitamins, eating beets will help boost your intake of manganese. Every portion of beet provides 14% of the required daily manganese intake. This mineral is essential for keeping your nerves and brain functioning properly. What’s more, this mineral contributes to the body’s ability to produce hormones and create certain connective tissue.Additionally, beets contain 7% of your daily intake of potassium, 5% of the recommended intake of magnesium, in addition to the iron, copper, selenium, phosphorus, and calcium it contains.

Keep reading to learn about 12 of these amazing beetroot benefits.

1. Slow the Aging Process

None of us can escape the aging process, but we do what we can to make our skin look its best. With beets, you can work to keep your skin as fresh as possible. By drinking beetroot and eating beets, you will effectively erase your skin’s blemishes, dark spots, fine lines, and similar signs of aging.

The reason beetroot works are due to its levels of Vitamins E, C, and other antioxidants like beta carotene, phytonutrients, and the Iike. These antioxidants fight free radicals in the body, working to stabilize them and stop them from causing any oxidative damage in our skin cells.

2. Maintain the Health of Your Skin

Soft and supple skin is something that many people aspire to. Making beetroot a staple of your diet will help in this attempt to soften your skin. The nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants in the beet lead to the softening of the skin. Additionally, other nutrients like iron, copper, and zinc will help to keep your skin healthier overall.

3. Increase Your Collagen Production

The production of collagen is an important aspect of beetroot that keeps your skin looking as young as positively. Collagen is the amino acid that is found in our bodies’ bones, blood vessels, tendons, and cartilages. This collagen helps our skin keep its shape and structure.

Additionally, collagen plays an important role in allowing our skin to maintain its elasticity, which helps keep the tell-tale signs of aging, like wrinkles and fine lines, away.

As beetroot helps to improve the body’s production of collagen, the more you eat, the better the health of your skin will be.

4. Protect Your Skin from the Sun’s UV Rays

Sunscreen isn’t the only way to keep your skin protected from harmful UV rays. Beets work to protect the skin cells from these UV rays. This is due to the fact that beets are abundant in Vitamins E and C, which help to prevent skin cancer by creating a protective layer in the skin.

5. Reduce Skin Pigmentation

Looking for an efficient and all-natural way to tone your skin? Rather than go to the dermatologist, you can start drinking beet juice to take advantage of its toning benefits.

This addition to your diet will improve any pigmentation issues you may be experiencing. Additionally, beets are an optimal treatment for any other skin blemishes you may have.

In addition to consuming the beets, you can apply the juice to your skin topically. This will help improve any pigmentation as you continue this treatment over time. After applying the juice to your clean face, let it dry for a total of ten minutes. Once done, wash your face with cold water.

6. Keep Your Skin Moisturized

Moisture is a key element to keep your skin looking as young as possible. Radiant and supple skin needs moisture to stay that way.

Make use of the antioxidants in beets to help eliminate toxins in your body and moisturize your skin. As your skin absorbs all of the beets’ vitamins like selenium and zinc, you’ll find beets’ hydration powers to be particularly effective. You can use beets to hydrate your skin by making it a staple in your diet as well as applying the beet juice as a topical treatment.

7. Treat Your Acne

Another one of the more prominent beetroot benefits is the ability to treat acne. Acne occurs as a result of impurities and toxins clogging the pores of the skin. In most cases, the skin becomes clogged due to an overproduction of oil from one’s sebaceous glands.

Target your acne by consuming the beet juice on a regular basis. As this superfood has no shortage of powerful vitamins and minerals, you’ll be able to help eliminate your body’s need to produce excessive amounts of oil. Similarly, drinking beet juice will help to cleanse your body of other impurities, making it easier for your pores to remain clear.

8. Improve Your Skin’s Radiance

Your skin glows naturally when it is at its healthiest and it has been recently exfoliated, Help with your skin’s exfoliation process by drinking beet juice and eating beets regularly.

As the beets’ antioxidants work to remove the toxins in your system, it will be easier to remove any dry and dead skin cells in your exfoliation process.

9. Soften Your Lips

Tired of trying to cure your chapped lips with ineffective methods?

Heal your flaky and dry lips by applying the beet juice to your lips each night.

You can apply this treatment by rubbing the juice on your lips or you can take the beet itself and rub it against your lips. This treatment will effectively double as a moisturizer while adding a touch of color to your lips.

In the event that you want to create a treatment for your lips as well, mix up the beet with sugar to make an all-natural exfoliating treatment to remove the dead skin on your lips.

10. Remove Dark Circles

Beets can be used to remove the dark circles under your eyes, as well as protect the eye itself.

The beet juice can be rubbed over the eyelid to protect the eye from free radicals, which will help to decrease your risk of developing cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration.

When treating dark circles, the beets can be used to hydrate the skin underneath the eye, as well as restore the color to its former glory. Make a treatment for your dark circles by adding honey and milk to freshly squeezed lime juice.

With a cotton ball, apply this treatment all over the skin around your eyes. After 10 minutes, wash the treatment off with cold water.

11. Detoxify the Skin

Want to make sure you are taking full advantage of the beet’s detoxifying abilities?

Use it to detoxify your skin. By consuming this beet juice with your meals, you’ll actively be eliminating the impurities and toxins from your skin as efficiently as possible.

Free of toxins, your skin will be less vulnerable to scarring and acne, making it easier to maintain a workable skincare routine.

12. Get Rid of Cellulite

Consuming beets regularly is an effective way to get rid of cellulite. As the beet has powerful detoxifying properties that lead to the elimination of old skin cells, beets can be effectively used to treat cellulite.

Target your cellulite with bee juice by drinking this daily before eating any food. For a slightly tastier option, blend grapefruit in with the beet and drink this. While the cellulite won’t disappear immediately, you’ll find that constantly draining the juice will help to improve your skin.

Final Thoughts on Beetroot Benefits

Beets have more to offer than most people realize. While you may never have thought to eat a beet on its own, finding new ways to incorporate beetroot into your diet will have outstanding health and skin benefits. With the ability to improve your skin, as well as your overall health, it would be a mistake to not include beets and beet juice as part of your daily beauty regimen.

Don’t count this powerful superfood out. Keep these 12 beetroot benefits in mind to ensure your skin is looking and feeling its best.

Scientists Explain How Fenugreek Can Lower Your Blood Sugar

April 28, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Fenugreek exists in two variations; the leaves and the seeds that have a bitter taste. It is found in abundance in Mediterranean, South Asia, and North Asia regions. Fenugreek benefits come from both the seeds and the leaves.

The leaves are commonly sold as vegetables called methi or as dried leaves while the seeds are either used in powder form as a spice or whole.

Several active compounds are found in Fenugreek. These compounds are responsible for giving the plant its many medicinal properties. They include nutrients such as yamogenin, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, trigonelline, chlorine, copper, manganese, and zinc.

It also contains phytochemical compounds. Moreover, Fenugreek is used in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic. Besides its medicinal benefits, Fenugreek is also a good spice used in many Indian culinary recipes.

Blood Sugar and Diabetes

Every time you consume nutrients, your body converts them to glucose. Glucose travels all over your body acting as an energy source for your cells. Hence, ensuring that you have an adequate supply of glucose is vital for the health of your body.

On the other hand, insulin is the hormone in your body that is responsible for moving glucose from your blood into your body cells. It is produced by the pancreas.

Sometimes the levels of glucose in your body increase. This can occur after a meal or if the glucose levels stay elevated for a period. As a result, your body demands an increase in the amount of insulin that is needed to transport the excess glucose into your cells.

This demand puts a strain on your pancreas, and after some time your body might start resisting insulin. This will allow the amount of blood sugar in your body to be massive. Also, the pressure might make it difficult for your body to produce enough insulin to maintain your blood sugar levels.

Regardless, both situations raise your risk of Type 2 diabetes. Anyone can have diabetes and at any age. In every year, about one and a half million new Americans are diagnosed with diabetes.

Diabetes can severely damage your blood vessels and nerves. However, this disease can be managed and reversed through the use of Fenugreek.

How It Affects Diabetes

Many studies have been done to determine the anti-diabetic potential of Fenugreek benefits. Some of these studies concluded that the seeds from the plant could improve most of the metabolic symptoms that are associated by both Type 1 and 2 Diabetes.

The seeds do this by improving the tolerance of glucose and reducing the levels of blood glucose in the body. One study done by researchers from India discovered that using one hundred grams of non-fat seed powder was beneficial for patients with insulin-dependent diabetes.

The benefits include reducing the overall cholesterol, triglycerides, bad cholesterol, and levels of fasting blood glucose. Also, it increases the tolerance to glucose in the body.

Another study focused on people that had Type 2 Diabetes. This study discovered that adding fifteen grams of the seed powder to the diet reduced the amount of glucose produced after a meal.

A third study was conducted on people that have mild Type 2 Diabetes. In the study, the blood sugar levels were lowered by taking two and a half grams of Fenugreek two times a day for three months.

From all these studies, it was agreed that the positive effects were a result of the high content of soluble fiber that is found in the seeds. The fiber is responsible for the three key Fenugreek benefits that help in the management of diabetes. These benefits include the lowering of blood sugar levels, slowing down of digestion, and slowing down the absorption of carbohydrates.

1. Lowers Blood Sugar Levels

Fenugreek contains an exclusive and unusual amino acid known as the 4HO-Ile. This amino acid is believed to contain anti-diabetic properties. The properties include increasing insulin sensitivity and secretion. Insulin sensitivity helps to reduce the amount of blood sugar in the body.

The American Journal of Physiology published research that determined that the amino acid can improve the production of insulin while at the same time reduce the levels of blood sugar. These results were the same both in diabetic and non-diabetic test subjects.

The Qom University of Medical Science conducted research that also supports the capacity of 4HO-Ile to treat diabetes. Also, Dr. Shikha Sharma, who is the Founder of the NutriHealth and a Wellness Expert endorses the use of the plant as a medical prescription for diabetes.

The seeds also block the alpha-amylase activity as well as the sucrase activity. These two are enzymes responsible for breaking down large sugars and turning them into glucose. The result is an overall lowered concentration of sugar in the blood.

2. Lowers Cholesterol

One of the Fenugreek benefits is that it reduces the amount of cholesterol that the body produces. Its most significant advantage is that it lowers the bad cholesterol, otherwise known as the low-density lipoprotein.

In a study done by the University of Michigan Health System, it was discovered that the seeds contain steroidal saponins that are responsible for slowing down the absorption of the cholesterol in the intestines.

These saponins also reduce the rate of production of cholesterol. Additionally, they reduce the number of triglycerides that is absorbed from the fatty acids. On the other hand, they release the good cholesterol in the body.

3. Helps Digestion

The fiber and the antioxidants that are present in Fenugreek will help you with your stomach ailments. It works by removing all the harmful toxins from your body. Therefore, it is an excellent treatment option for indigestion and gastritis.

The seeds also help to prevent the occurrence of digestive issues that result from stomach ulcers and constipation. The seeds act as natural digestives. They also have lubricating properties that aid in soothing the intestines as well as the stomach.

How To Use The Fenugreek Benefits For Diabetes

There are several ways that you can use plant seeds to treat diabetes. Below is a list of the ideas you can incorporate into your daily routine.

1. Tea For Diabetes

If you love having tea in the morning, you can try this option that will make you healthier by regulating the amount of blood glucose in your body. All you need is one teaspoon of the dried leaves, one cup of water, one teaspoon of the seeds, and one teaspoon of honey.

Start by boiling one cup of water in a saucepan. Add the leaves as well as the seeds and then leave them to seep for ten minutes. Transfer the drink to a cup after straining.

Add the honey to remove the bitter taste from the seeds and drink your tea. For better results, have your tea in the morning and the evening.

2. Bitter Gourd, Need, and Plum seed

This is a complete powder combination of the four ingredients. You only need one tablespoon of each of the components including the seed powder. Then, mix all the ingredients in one bowl.

You can store the mixture in a glass jar in a dry and cool place. Use one teaspoon of the mixture twice every day with water if you can drink the water before you have your lunch and your dinner.

3. Tincture For Diabetes

For this treatment, you will need two tablespoons of the dried leaves from the plant and two tablespoons from the seeds. You will also need one cup of water.

In aluminum or a steel container, you will place the seeds and the leaves. Add one cup of boiling water into the bowl and leave it to steep for thirty minutes. After straining, you can store the mixture in a glass jar.

Consume one half of the teaspoon three times a day for you to get the best health results.

4. Seeds and Yogurt

Yogurt already has significant anti-inflammatory properties. Hence, combining the yogurt with the seeds makes an excellent healthy combination.

Take one tablespoon of the seeds and one cup of yogurt. The yogurt should be plain. Grind the seeds to make a fine powder for the mixture.

Once the powder is ready, add it to the yogurt and mix it properly. You can have this mixture two times a day for best results.

5. Seeds With Water

Soaking the seeds in water is the most popular form of treatment that is used for diabetes. All you require for this mixture is two cups of water and two tablespoons of the seeds.

To make the treatment, put the seeds in a container and add the plain water. Cover this mixture and leave it overnight. In the morning, strain the mixture and drink before you eat anything else.

Take the drink for a month every morning so that you can reduce the amount of glucose in your blood.

6. As a Spice

This is one method of treatment that you can use to avoid the bitter-tasting seeds. This is because the other ingredients in your food will mask the bitter taste. Hence, add the spice to your favorite rice of curry and enjoy the benefits of the plant.

Remember, you should add the spice to the food after it is thoroughly cooked. This is because heat reduces the nutritional value of the spice.

Conclusion

Apart from seed powder and dried leaves, you can also consume the nutritional benefits of this plant through supplements. However, ensure that you keep your dose under the recommended amount. The recommended dose is commonly between two and a half grams and fifteen grams of the seeds.

The amount will depend on how severe your diabetes is as well as your age and physical statue. You will also experience some side effects such as bloating and gas. Hence, seek the advice of a medical professional.

10 Ways To Be More Productive (Without Coffee)

April 27, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Coffee can be one of the best things about your morning routine, but if you’re counting on coffee to keep you going throughout the day, it can be a problem. Every so often, we get reports on coffee for health and how it affects us. Some say that you shouldn’t have more than two cups of coffee while others say not to have more than four. How much coffee you have depends a lot on how it affects you individually.

What it all comes down to is that you don’t want to drink so much coffee that you are shaking, irritable, dehydrated or experiencing sleeping problems at night. Drinking a safe amount of coffee for health can do wonders in regards to Alzheimer’s, liver disease, type two diabetes, depression and other health benefits. If you want more oomph without your cup of liquid motivation, consider the tips below.

10 Ways To Be More Productive (Without Coffee)

1. Decide on a Plan of Action

It’s not enough to say, “I’m going organize this room.” You need to think about how you’re going to do it. You need to break down your tasks into steps. This will help you to think more clearly about what you’ll be doing, and it will speed up the process because you won’t have to wonder what’s coming up as you go along. Making a plan also increases the likelihood of completing your tasks as it gives you increased confidence in your ability to carry it out.

2. Think on Success

You have to believe that you’ll accomplish what you need to do in order to get it done. Assume that you have what it takes to do whatever it is that you need to do, regardless if you have done it or not. A part of your brain might tell you, “I can’t do this.” Tell yourself, “I choose to believe I can do this. If I don’t know how to do a part of it, I will decide to learn how to do it.” If you believe you can’t do something, your brain will find all kinds of ways to make your task difficult to impossible to complete. Telling yourself that you decide to believe something enables you to get around this roadblock. Saying “I decide” is empowering, which also helps you to accomplish your tasks with ease.

3. Get Rid of Negative Thoughts

You might think if you think on success that you won’t have any negative thoughts. This isn’t necessarily the case. You can choose to believe that you will get the dishes done in 20 minutes or believe that you’ll tackle that report, but chances are that you’ll come across negative thoughts that try to get in the way. Every time you come across a negative thought, decide to tell yourself the truth. We often tell ourselves negative things that don’t have a lot of truth behind them. These negative thoughts are shaped by past negative experiences that haven’t been resolved. When you have time, it’s a good idea to sit down and journal. You need to resolve past issues so that they won’t repeatedly cause delays in your life. Along with negative thoughts, you need to be aware of any self-sabotaging behaviors. It’s important to work through these as well.

4. Reduce Distractions

Distractions abound whenever you’re trying to get things done. To combat this, you have to have a clear list of what you need to be done, when you need to have it done by and a peaceful place to carry out your task without any interruptions. This means you need to have clear boundaries with your family members, friends and neighbors. If you work from home, you know distractions are something you can’t afford to have. Guard your time, and politely tell others that you need this time to do what you need to. Reduce outside noise with white noise from within the room. You can also play soft music or anything that will help you focus better. At times, sounds of water, windchimes and other pleasing sounds can help you to focus.

5. Make a “To Do” List

Making a “to do” list sounds easy enough, but you have to keep some things in mind to ensure success. First, don’t be so eager to put a ton of things on your list. You should know what you need done during the year, the seasons, the current month and what needs to happen during the current week in order to decide what you’re doing on any given day. If you put too much on your list, you will stress yourself out and not get a lot done in the process. This also gets in the way of boosting your confidence. The more you are able to get done the more confidence you will have in the future for completing other tasks. You also need to decide what’s most important to do when you write out your “to do” list. Tackling harder tasks in the morning will help you to get other things done in the day that require less effort, time and energy. Celebrate your success at the end of the day with something fun or relaxing. Make sure that you really reward yourself.

6. Enter Your Flow State

Entering your flow state is fun. If you’ve ever accomplished something phenomenally easy and were happy and relaxed while doing it, you were probably in your flow state. To get into your flow state, you need to know what produces this effect. It could be certain type of music or scent. For many people, it’s a combination of several things: wearing pajamas, plush socks, post punk music, the color blue, the smell of cinnamon and apples in the air, the sound of rain and a clean home. What makes you enter your flow state depends on you. To determine what these things are, write down a list of the things you love. Think about colors, scents and other things that make you feel happy. Ideally, you want to surround yourself with the things that produce positive effects on you all the time. You especially need those things to enter your flow state. It’s worth noting that you need to feel good too to get there, which means you shouldn’t be sick, have rested enough, drink enough water, eat well and get enough exercise. Entering your flow state is incredibly difficult when your body isn’t feeling well.

7. Get Enough Rest

Your body affects your mind in a number of ways. One of the things you need to take care of to be productive is to get enough rest. Many people fall into the trap of thinking that they can get more done if they sleep less. Nothing can be further from the truth. Doing this will make you do less and be tired. Focus on full sleep cycles, which last for approximately 90 minutes at a time. You need four or five sleep cycles a night. You can catch a nap in the middle of the day, which will help you to feel recharged. Other than the morning, this is an excellent time to have some coffee for health and energy benefits. Coffee can provide a good boost of mental focus after a nap. Have one cup, and don’t overdo it.

8. Eat a Healthy Diet

Your diet has a huge impact on how you think and feel throughout the day. If you feel sluggish and tired, you might not be eating the right amount and quality of food. You want to avoid foods that you are allergic or sensitive to. Some people have issues with gluten while others have a hard time digesting milk. Other than allergies and any type of intolerance towards certain foods, you will want to eat a balanced diet of protein, fruit, vegetables and other foods. It’s beneficial to have a serving of nuts per day. Many nuts are considered brain food and help with focus and productivity.

9. Drink Water

A lack of water in your body causes dehydration. You may not know that organs, like your heart, are considered more vital than other less important organs, like your brain. We wouldn’t necessarily think of it this way, but that’s how your body utilizes the little bit of water you have in your body. This causes your brain to shrink any time you are dehydrated. If you don’t drink half your body weight in ounces of water every day, you’re most likely dehydrated. You might experience constant brain fog. Coffee isn’t always the answer for increasing sharper thinking. At times, you just need a glass of water. Drinking water has been shown to improve test results too.

10. Exercise

Exercising is important for the body and mind. Exercise increases your energy and stamina. It provides nourishment for the brain, which helps it to stay focused and think more clearly. It’s important to get 30 minutes of exercise each day. Even if you take a walk, it will help to circulate your blood throughout your body more rapidly. Yoga, weight-lifting, swimming and playing sports are all excellent ways to increase your productivity because all of these activities will help your body and mind to perform better.

Life can be wonderful, but you need to be thoughtful towards your thoughts, feelings and actions. Drink coffee for health and alertness in moderation. Live each day to the fullest, enjoying both your work and downtime because relaxation is just as important as work. You’ll feel better when you live a balanced life.

FDA Reveals Move to Ban Menthol Cigarettes, Flavored Cigars, and Vape Juice

April 27, 2019 by Power of Positivity

In March of 2019, the FDA released a proposed ban on flavored cigars, flavored vape juice (excluding menthol or mint), and Menthol cigarettes. The government banned flavored cigarettes, other than menthol, by 2009.

This followed various actions the FDA took to regulate vape juice and ensure that manufacturers used only approved ingredients. The FDA has only had official authorization for all nicotine-related products to fall under its jurisdiction since 2016. E-cigarettes and vape juice didn’t hit the U.S. market until 2009 and became mainstream around 2012. They have been, and continue to be, under much scrutiny as to their safety and possible health consequences.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the FDA Commissioner, has taken a strong stance regarding flavored e-cigarettes, vape juice, and cigars due to an alarming number of teens using these products. Despite the fact that they are illegal under the age of 18, the youth gets their hand on them. Banning Menthol cigarettes is a bold step, but possibly one with backlash.

Why the distaste for flavors and menthol?

Statistics about e-cigarette use among U.S. youth:

(per the FDA website)

Among middle and high school students, 3.62 million were current users of e-cigarettes in 2018.
E-cigarette use, from 2017 to 2018, increased 78 percent among high school students (11.7% to 20.8%) and 48 percent among middle school students (3.3% to 4.9%) from 2017 to 2018.
According to a 2013-2014 survey, 81 percent of current youth e-cigarette users cited the availability of appealing flavors as the primary reason for use. This includes 82% of e-cigarette users, 79% of hookah users, 74% of cigar users, and 69% of smokeless users.

The reason why e-cig users prefer flavors is that they act as a buffer to the bitterness, burning sensation, and harshness. They improve the taste and lessen the burn as the smoke goes down the throat. This makes flavored e-cigarettes, vapes, or cigars far more attractive to first-time users.

Commonly available flavors are vanilla, cherry, watermelon, berry, bubblegum, mint, menthol, cinnamon, various candy flavors, and regular tobacco flavor.

Statistics about menthol cigarettes:

(per the FDA website)

In the U.S.:

More than 19.5 million people are current smokers of menthol cigarettes.
Eight percent of African American smokers, 46 percent of Hispanic smokers, 39 percent of Asian smokers, and 28.7 percent of White smokers smoke menthol cigarettes.
Youth who smoke are more likely to smoke menthol cigarettes than older smokers. More than half of smokers ages 12-17 smoke menthols.

Menthol cigarettes have a long history in the United States. They first came on the scene 1924 by an Ohio man named Lloyd “Spud” Hughs. By 1932, Spud cigarettes had become the fifth most popular cigarette in the country. That caught the attention of Brown and Williamson tobacco company, who then created Kool cigarettes in 1932. In 1956, the first filter-tipped cigarettes, Salem, hit the market.

The cooling sensation of menthol creates the illusion that it is not damaging your body like regular cigarettes. After all, your mouth and throat feel cool, not irritated. Currently, about 35% of the cigarette market comes from Menthol cigarettes.

You’ll also find menthol, or mint, in hookahs, dip, chew, snuff, e-cigarettes, and cigars. Users suggest that quitting cigarettes containing menthol is harder to quit.

E-cigarettes/vaping: safe or not?

When E-cigarettes or vape devices hit the market, they touted themselves as an alternative to cigarette smoking. Smoking in public was taboo due to second-hand smoke. And, people didn’t like the smell left on their clothes or in their cars and homes. E-cigarettes created more of a slight steam effect, rather than smoke. Plus, it has little to no odor. Thus, people didn’t cause second-hand smoke so they could smoke these devices in public without dirty looks. Finally, some suggest that it is a great way for some to quit the habit entirely. Sounds like a win-win, right?

Unfortunately, was an initial lack of information out there regarding the chemicals in e-cigarettes versus a traditional cigarette. First, many believed it was completely safe. On the other hand, some felt it was a safer option than smoking a cigarette.

What chemicals do manufacturers use in the flavoring?

The e-liquids commonly used in e-cigarettes and vaping are a combination of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. They form the base of the liquid, to which they later add the flavoring and the nicotine.

Aldehydes, an organic compound usually associated with aromas, along with other additives, are used for flavoring. These are food-safe ingredients. However, being safe for food is not the same as being safe for smoking or vaping. You may have read about or heard of food flavorings such as vanillin, cinnamaldehyde, and benzaldehyde. To put in simpler terms, they are added ingredients that add the flavor of vanilla, cinnamon, and almond to certain foods.

The Potential Danger of Heating Aldehydes

When these ingredients are heated, they form formaldehyde and other cancer-causing chemicals. Additionally, they cause irritation and inflammation of the lungs.

Scientists found that some of the by-products in e-liquid had a 50-80% likelihood of not breaking down upon going through the vaporization process. This is to say that a large quantity of these chemicals is reaching the airways rather than burning away in the vapor.

In a small study, it was found that the concentration of aldehydes in the breath was 10 1/2 times higher than before vaping. In the case of formaldehyde, they found that the majority of its high concentration was actually retained in the users’ respiratory tract. Some studies showed it was comparable to a traditional cigarette.

The effects of these chemicals and others are still being studied, but currently, there is evidence of respiratory issues, including lung infections, bronchiectasis, pleural effusion, and more. This does not include potential cancer-causing elements or other reactions your body may have to e-cigarettes.

Can smokers use e-cigarettes to quit smoking?

Let us address the idea that e-cigarettes can be used to quit traditional cigarettes as a nicotine replacement aid. For reference, the FDA has not approved e-cigarettes as an official nicotine replacement therapy. They have acknowledged that a percentage of smokers do use them as such.

In 2012 and 2014, scientists studied a nationally representative sample of 2,028 U.S. smokers. This study showed that long-term users had a higher quit attempt rate than short term users (72.6% vs. 53.8%) and a higher cessation rate (42.4% vs. 14.2%). Cessation rate was defined as abstinent for three months or longer.

They concluded that long-term use of e-cigarettes was associated with a higher rate of quitting. They also stated that among those making an attempt to quit, e-cigarettes surpassed the FDA-approved therapy.

Scott Weaver and his colleagues at Georgia State University performed another study in 2015-2016. They concluded that smokers who used e-cigarettes quit smoking at half the rate of smokers who did not use e-cigarettes. They also found that smokers using e-cigarettes were less likely to quit than non-users. Of the 1,284 adult smokers that were part of the study, only 858 completed their follow up survey.

We should also mention that many people who use e-cigarettes also still smoke traditional cigarettes. Additionally, e-cigarettes do still contain nicotine. Therefore it is possible to become addicted to them or move from e-cigarettes to traditional cigarettes or cigars even if you had never smoked a traditional cigarette prior.

While more studies have been performed, the results are just as inconclusive. Therefore, it will take further studies and research before it can be said if e-cigarettes decisively can help one quit smoking traditional cigarettes.

Final thoughts

The focus of the recently proposed ban on flavored e-cigarettes, vaping liquid, flavored cigars, and menthol cigarettes intends to decrease teen use of these nicotine or tobacco products. The number of teens gravitating toward these products alarms officials. Plus, teens face unknown potential health risks. By banning the flavoring which attracts these teenagers, they hope to increase the number of teens who quit or never start. The FDA does not expect this to take full effect for about two years. As a pre-emptive move, however, several states have or are in the process of implementing their own ban on the products. Users can still purchase their favorite Myle Vape Dubai online.

While more studies are underway regarding the safety of vape juice and e-cigarettes, the possibility that they may cause long-term damage to your health is not worth the risk, in our opinion. While they can be fun recreationally and could replace regular cigarettes, studies have not shown that they are any healthier than traditional cigarettes. Plus, do you really want to give huge companies who have no regard for your health even more money? Just some food for thought.

Los Angeles Reveals Bill to Ban Roundup Weed Killer

April 27, 2019 by Power of Positivity

On March 21, 2019, Los Angeles joined the list of 50+ cities and counties who have banned the use of Roundup, a widely used weed killer. Roundup contains the chemical glyphosate, which can cause cancer.

The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer had declared glyphosate a carcinogen in 2015. That decision was later countered in 2017 by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA issued a Summary Review of Recent Analysis of Glyphosate Use and Cancer Incidence in the Agricultural Health Study, in which it was reported glyphosate likely was not a carcinogen.

Despite this contradiction, Monsanto, the maker of Roundup, was held responsible by the second jury in 7 months who ruled in favor of glyphosate causing cancer. The first case was last year for a Dewayne Lee Johnson, who has non-Hodgkins lymphoma from exposure to the weed killer. The latest case was decided the same day L.A. chose to ban Roundup in a federal court in San Francisco. They ruled in favor of Edward Hardeman, also a cancer patient.

In an attempt to err on the side of caution, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a bill banning Roundup weed killer and its active ingredient, glyphosate, on county property until it can be determined decisively if it is a danger to public health and the environment.

Who is Monsanto?

Monsanto is an agricultural company that began in 2002 after it split from Pharmacia Corporation. Its focus was toward agricultural biotechnology with research aimed at improving farming by increasing profits through higher yields.

Monsanto has actually been around since 1901 when John F. Queeny created a company that could produce saccharine at 1/6^th the price of sugar. He named the company after his wife, Olga Monsanto Queeny. In the 1940s, John Queeny’s son, Edward, took advantage of a chance to enter the agricultural industry. The first product he created was an insecticide called Santobane. Monsanto then expanded to provide fertilizer to farmers.

A chemist by the name of John Franz discovered a molecule that was later developed into glyphosate. In the 1970s, the first Roundup herbicide hit the market.

In 1983, scientists were able to successfully modify a plant cell using biotechnology. This led to the first genetically modified crops in 1987. Since then, this has been the foundation of Monsanto’s Company.

In June of 2018, Bayer company became the sole owner of Monsanto Company.

What is Glyphosate?

Glyphosate is one of the most used herbicides in the United States. There are over 750 products which contain it that are sold in the United States. It is applied to the broadleaf of plants and grasses in agriculture, forestry, lawn, gardens, and weeds in industrial areas.

Glyphosate comes in multiple forms, including as an acid and several types of salts. This allows it to be sold as either a solid or a liquid. The sodium salt form is used to regulate plant growth and ripen specific crops.

Glyphosate is a non-discriminatory herbicide in that it will kill most plants. It does this by preventing plants from making specific proteins that contribute to their growth. In the environment, glyphosate binds to the soil for up to 6 months and eventually is broken down by bacteria. Because of its ability to bind to the soil, it is unlikely to get into groundwater.

Studies Regarding Glyphosate

Animal and human studies were performed by agencies in the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, and the European Union, as well as the Joint Meeting on Pesticides Residues of the United Nations and World Health Organization. All but the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization determined that glyphosate was non-toxic and non-carcinogenic to humans, including children, animals, or fish. Even in long term studies, there was no evidence of toxicity to the nervous or immune system. They also determined that it does not affect developmental or reproduction systems.

This is not to say that it is safe to be ingested, sprayed in the eyes or exposed to, as that is not how it is intended to be used. It can cause a variety of symptoms related to such contact, just as is the case with any household cleaner.

The Difference between Glyphosate and Roundup

While the World Health Organization has ruled glyphosate to “have a probability” of causing cancer, other agencies have determined that it does not. To be more specific, WHO has placed it on the carcinogenic level of a steak you may eat for dinner. Why has Roundup, the weed killer containing glyphosate, been banned pending further review?

Glyphosate has been broadly considered safe when on its own; this doesn’t mean it remains safe when combined with other chemicals. For comparison, baking soda on its own is just a white powder with no seemingly active properties, yet when you add vinegar, the baking soda foams up.

Deborah Kurrasch, a neuroscientist at the University of Calgary, is doing studies to determine if there is toxicity in glyphosate or in Roundup that has not been previously studied.

Result of Glyphosate Study

One of her experiments led them to question if glyphosate has an effect on mitochondrial function. She had exposed a zebrafish embryo to a low dose of glyphosate during a certain stage of development. It caused a related decrease in basal respiration which then impaired the movement of the larvae. She has also found evidence that at a high dose, glyphosate can reduce mitochondria function and sperm motility in zebrafish and alter neurotransmitter activity in the brains of rats.

Conversely, she ran a similar experiment on zebrafish using Roundup. She found that Round Up actually had the opposite effect of glyphosate. The fish moved more and basal respiration was higher. Essentially, it suggested that glyphosate created one reaction, while Roundup created the opposite or different reaction.

Missing Pieces of the Puzzle

Debrah Kurrasch and other scientists who are attempting to further study glyphosate and Round Up have run into the problem of not having a list of all ingredients used in Roundup. By law in the U.S. and Europe, a company is only required to list the active ingredients but not the “inert” ingredients. It’s like trying to make bread where the recipe only gave you flour, yeast, salt, and sugar, but left out the water and oil. The first ingredients given wouldn’t react to each other the same as having all the ingredients.

William Reeves, Chemistry Safety and Outreach lead at Monsanto, stated he was not surprised about the results of the studies. He claims the surfactants used in Roundup are similar to what is found in household products which cause membrane degradation and mitochondrial breakdown in high doses. He also states that the concentration of the herbicide is not as it would be in real life; that the herbicide concentration is far higher and not being used per instructions. While initially, that sounds like a cop-out, it is really just pointing out that all chemicals are designed for a specific function with certain cautions in place and a specific quantity to prevent any harm. This is much like when kids chose to swallow Tide Pods. They weren’t created for that purpose; therefore, there would be repercussions.

Differences of Opinion

Vanessa Fitsanakis, a neurotoxicologist at Northeast Ohio Medical University, has also been running her studies and considers it imperative to know all the ingredients in order to understand what is creating the results in various studies.

She states, “The scientists that I have spoken to from Monsanto and Syngenta are very convinced that the glyphosate by itself is nontoxic. I agree with them on that. Where I disagree . . . is that you can have an active ingredient that is nontoxic, but that does not mean that the commercial formulation is also nontoxic.”

Her statement alone explains why Los Angeles, and 50+ other cities and counties, have chosen to ban the use of Roundup until there is definite evidence that it does not cause cancer, other illnesses, or deformities to humans, animals, or fish. The study of glyphosate or glyphosate-based herbicides has only fairly recently been under inspection. Roundup has been out for 42 years and has only started to be investigated in the last 3-5 years. The United States EPA and Europe had different conclusions compared to the WHO. This difference of opinion only proves more studies should be done. As a part of these future studies, hopefully, there will be a release of all the chemicals used in the Roundup formulation. This will help provide the best evaluation possible.

In the interim, Los Angeles, California, has revealed a bill to ban the use of Roundup weed killer. They will look into other alternatives for controlling weeds and other plants.

Final thoughts

If you want to kill weeds in your own yard, there are natural alternatives to weed killers such as Roundup. It’s yet to be determined if light exposure to the chemicals in the weed killer can cause health problems; in our opinion, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

5 Emotional Wounds Women Carry Into Relationships When They’re Unloved As Children

April 27, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Many adults carry emotional wounds into adulthood, a fact that shocks many.

The love of our parents is something society views as another of our “unalienable rights” as children. Society prefers to create the worldview that all parents love their children, know how to show that love and know the best way to parent each child. It assumes that each parent is a mature, responsible adult without any past emotional issues that affect their parenting.

Sadly, that is not often the case. Parents are human. They make mistakes. They have their views of the world and what proper parenting is. All parents have weaknesses and unresolved issues; some may struggle with mental illnesses, addictions, personality disorders, emotional wounds, or more.

The results from parents who struggle to maintain themselves – much less raise healthy members of the next generation – are children often left to manage independently. They must not only learn how to handle their parent but also how to socialize, handle their own emotions, form their view of the world, and adopt proper morals. A quote I read once from a psychologist stated, “Children are excellent observers, but horrible interpreters,” meaning they see everything but can’t make sense of it or have the wisdom to put it into perspective. Without someone to help you do that, your view of the world (and yourself) becomes skewed.

Women, generally the more emotionally-sensitive sex, carry their childhood emotions far longer than most men. This is not to say men don’t carry childhood wounds with them, but that they tend to approach them more pragmatically as they age. Women, however, carry the pain with them for many years. It affects all their relationships until they finally heal.

Emotional Wounds That Women Can Carry Into Adult Relationships as a Result of Poor Parents

Here are five emotional wounds women carry into relationships when they are unloved as children.

1. Attachment Issues:

A child raised with a parent who responds with love, support, and care will see relationships and attachments as good and safe. A child raised where the parent doesn’t show affection or is inconsistent in their availability for the child learns that “people can’t be trusted.” She is learning that relationships are not secure or consistent; they can change you quickly. For a child who needs emotional feedback and affection, this is devastating. She grows up constantly seeking this connection yet teaching herself to remain self-reliant. Relationships make her anxious and uncertain as she always expects rejection to come her way.

2. Trust Issues:

A child raised with a parent who makes themselves available and helps the child understand and resolve even simple problems becomes confident that others are there for her. A child raised with a parent who pushes them away must learn to handle things themselves; if that parent is absent, she often learns that she cannot trust others. She learns that people won’t protect her or help her and that relationships are unsafe.

3. Difficulty with Boundaries:

A balanced parent understands the importance of teaching their child that everyone deserves their own space and time; each individual is their being and has different needs that should be respected. An unbalanced parent doesn’t give their child enough space. She will treat the child as if only her needs matter. As that child grows, she values her independence and space more than average while feeling the need to please everyone. She also misinterprets others’ needs for space. She believes that others always reject her if they don’t want her around.

4. Dominated by Fear of Failure:

Parents should teach their children that failure is a typical setback, not a destination. An unbalanced parent may be hypercritical or punitive if certain expectations aren’t met. There are also situations where parents don’t give any attention unless things were done to their expectations. This leaves a child feeling undeserving of love or approval if she performs poorly.

5. Poor Sense of Self:

A parent should show consistent approval and attention to a child so that the child learns that she is lovable and sounds just like she is. An unhealthy, hypercritical parent who doesn’t give compliments or show affection is teaching the child to doubt that she is worthy of love and attention and must not do things right. Essentially, she feels defective.

Consequences of Childhood Emotional Wounds

These emotional wounds may show themselves in many ways. The results of these emotional wounds may differ depending on whether their mother or father caused them. Some wounds from inattentive fathers may show themselves as the following behaviors:

More prone to depression: Many women have difficulty with romantic relationships due to poor relationships with their fathers. It severely affects their self-esteem and can lead to depression due to the sadness they don’t know how to handle.
More prone to eating disorders: Daughters without a strong father figure are twice as likely to develop obesity. Essentially, they fill the void of emptiness with food. Others may become anorexic or bulimic. They think if they had been thin enough, “daddy would have loved me.”
More prone to early sexual relationships: Many studies have shown that a girl lacking in her father’s affection is more likely to try to get a man’s approval through sexual relationships.
More prone to addiction: Per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a fatherless child is 69% more likely to use drugs and 76% more likely to commit crimes. A daughter is more likely to turn to drugs to numb the pain.

How to heal your unloved child within

It would be wonderful if we could go back into our past and recreate the loving childhood we dreamed of, where we could experience love, approval, and safety as so many others have. Instead, we are pushed to continue and make the best of it. Maybe that is the best way. After all, you wouldn’t be the person you are without going through your experiences. Your empathy, care, sensitivity, and resilience wouldn’t be the same. It is possible to heal from these past events and become a healthier, stronger you. Here are some steps to help you heal your unloved child within:

Write about your emotional wounds.

Tell your story. By writing, it allows you the opportunity to give it structure and organization – to remember complete events, not just the leftover emotions. It helps you to gain perspective. It also allows you to let the emotions out.

Look through old photographs.

Oftentimes we remember ourselves as the child we were told we were and not the reality. For example, a child who was told they were fat may be able to go back and see that they were actually about the same size as other children. A child who got emotional wounds by being told they were stupid may see old report cards where they received some A’s, some B’s, and an occasional C. This allows you to see your reality and become more aware of how this lie has created behaviors that have no base.

Re-evaluate your current relationships.

If you have a friendship or sexual relationship leaving you feeling bad about yourself, look at it. Look at what is drawing you to them. Are you just reinforcing your parent’s view of yourself through this other person? Do you have the strength to leave them? Do you tend to give more to others than you ask for in return? Maybe make a list of what you would like out the relationships and then step by step, bring them into more balance.

Accept the reality of your past and build new boundaries with your parents.

Taking control of your current relationship with your parents is as important as the others in your life. Make a list of where your parent’s/parents’ actions intrude upon your life painfully or unfairly. Then make a list of rules you can establish to change this. Granted, this is difficult and will bring up old pain from these emotional wounds. Taking back the control you didn’t have as a child with your parent(s) is therapeutic if done calmly but firmly. There is a push and pull as both of you will slip into old patterns, but it is possible. If possible, ensure you have a sound support system with you as well.

Final Thoughts on Healing Childhood Emotional Wounds

Healing the emotional wounds that you brought into your adult relationships from when you were unloved as a child is tough. You should remember that you already went through the toughest part, came alive and still fighting. It is possible to heal this hurt child and become the balanced and loving adult you deserve to have a happy life.

If you struggle with emotional wounds you carry into relationships, seek a counselor to help you move through these feelings. They can put things into perspective and help you have more self-esteem and confidence.

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Learning About Beetroot Benefits

1. Slow the Aging Process

2. Maintain the Health of Your Skin

3. Increase Your Collagen Production

4. Protect Your Skin from the Sun’s UV Rays

5. Reduce Skin Pigmentation

6. Keep Your Skin Moisturized

7. Treat Your Acne

8. Improve Your Skin’s Radiance

9. Soften Your Lips

10. Remove Dark Circles

11. Detoxify the Skin

12. Get Rid of Cellulite

Final Thoughts on Beetroot Benefits

Blood Sugar and Diabetes

How It Affects Diabetes

1. Lowers Blood Sugar Levels

2. Lowers Cholesterol

3. Helps Digestion

How To Use The Fenugreek Benefits For Diabetes

1. Tea For Diabetes

2. Bitter Gourd, Need, and Plum seed

3. Tincture For Diabetes

4. Seeds and Yogurt

5. Seeds With Water

6. As a Spice

Conclusion

10 Ways To Be More Productive (Without Coffee)

1. Decide on a Plan of Action

2. Think on Success

3. Get Rid of Negative Thoughts

4. Reduce Distractions

5. Make a “To Do” List

6. Enter Your Flow State

7. Get Enough Rest

8. Eat a Healthy Diet

9. Drink Water

10. Exercise

Why the distaste for flavors and menthol?

Statistics about e-cigarette use among U.S. youth:

Statistics about menthol cigarettes:

E-cigarettes/vaping: safe or not?

What chemicals do manufacturers use in the flavoring?

The Potential Danger of Heating Aldehydes

Can smokers use e-cigarettes to quit smoking?

Final thoughts

Who is Monsanto?

What is Glyphosate?

Studies Regarding Glyphosate

The Difference between Glyphosate and Roundup

Result of Glyphosate Study

Missing Pieces of the Puzzle

Differences of Opinion

Final thoughts

Emotional Wounds That Women Can Carry Into Adult Relationships as a Result of Poor Parents

1. Attachment Issues:

2. Trust Issues:

3. Difficulty with Boundaries:

4. Dominated by Fear of Failure:

5. Poor Sense of Self:

Consequences of Childhood Emotional Wounds

How to heal your unloved child within

Write about your emotional wounds.

Look through old photographs.

Re-evaluate your current relationships.

Accept the reality of your past and build new boundaries with your parents.

Final Thoughts on Healing Childhood Emotional Wounds

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