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San Francisco Man Repopulates a Rare Butterfly At Home

April 27, 2019 by Power of Positivity

The more humans encroach on wildlife and the natural environment, the more species will be driven to extinction. The California pipevine swallowtail is a gorgeous blue butterfly that has called San Francisco home for hundreds of years. However, since urban expansion has been increasing since the 20th century, sightings of this butterfly have steadily declined.

To give you some background on the pipevine swallowtail, the butterfly’s life begins inside little red eggs that lie on top of leaves and tree branches. Then, the eggs crack and black caterpillars with orange spots emerge, eventually transforming into the breathtaking blue butterflies.

Tim Wong, an aquatic biologist, made it his mission to repopulate this beautiful creature, right from the comforts of his backyard. Wong is an aquatic biologist at the California Academy of Sciences and has always appreciated nature deeply. His Instagram account shows endless pictures of Tim with the animals he takes care of at the school’s museum, including penguins, owls, snakes, lizards, and, of course, butterflies.

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A post shared by Tim (@timtast1c) on Mar 28, 2017 at 5:57pm PDT

Tim first started getting interested in butterflies in elementary school, where he attempted to raise them with his classmates. Tim was fascinated at the transformation butterflies make and wanted to study them further.

Years later, when Tim learned how the population of pipevine swallowtail was on the decline, he decided to help them make a comeback. After doing research about the butterfly in the caterpillar stage, he realized that they would only eat the pipevine plant, which had also become rare in California.

Tim luckily found the plant at the San Francisco Botanical Garden and asked if he could have a few clippings. Using the plant, Tim built an entire greenhouse in his backyard to imitate the butterfly’s natural habitat. “[I built] a large screen enclosure to protect the butterflies and to allow them to mate under outdoor environmental conditions — natural sun, airflow, temperature fluctuations,” says Tim.

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A post shared by Tim (@timtast1c) on Apr 16, 2016 at 4:37pm PDT

He started his breeding experiment with a group of 20 caterpillars that he found at local residences.

This experiment that began with just 20 caterpillars resulted in thousands of butterflies that Tim brought to the San Francisco Botanical Garden, and he doesn’t plan to stop there. He has also grown more than 200 California pipevine plants so that the butterflies always feel at home and have their natural diet available to them.

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A post shared by Tim (@timtast1c) on Sep 10, 2017 at 7:18am PDT

This is wonderful news for the repopulation of the pipevine swallowtail. “Each year since 2012, we’ve seen more butterflies surviving in the garden, flying around, laying eggs, successfully pupating, and emerging the following year,” says Tim. “That’s a good sign that our efforts are working!”

Wong has been the perfect example to show that anyone can help bring nature back from their own homes. Of course, breeding butterflies is no easy task, but there are other ways to help preserve the environment. Simply planting flowers and plants that local animals and insects like can help to preserve their populations.

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A post shared by Tim (@timtast1c) on Mar 5, 2017 at 8:27pm PST

What do you think of Tim’s successful attempts to repopulate this beautiful butterfly? Have you ever done something to help your local environment? Share with us in the comments!

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

New Herb Discovered on Remote Island Stops Cancer Growth

April 27, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Treatment for esophageal cancer may lie on the remote island of Mauritius among its indigenous plants. Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa. There, Alexander Kagansky and his team performed studies of native herbs and found them to actually stop the growth of cancer. Specifically, they prevented the division and growth of the esophageal squamous cells carcinoma in vitro.

Alexander Kagansky’s study was published in a Russian Scientific Publication titled ActaNaturae in February 2019. Alexander Kagansky, a Russian scientist, holds an M.D. in Biophysics and Ph.D. in Molecular Biology. He currently serves as the Director of a Center for Genomic and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biomedicine at the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, Russia. His study focuses on finding ways to cure cancer and regenerate tissues.

Kagansky’s Study

The study began with testing 5 different plants. The medical community widely accepts research regarding the various Mauritian flowering plants and their medicinal uses. Still, scientists have little pursued more scientific evidence of their potential chemotherapeutic properties.

This study focused on evaluating the in vitro tumor cytotoxicity of the leaves of five plants. The scientists tested the five plants against six human cancer cell lines, including cervical adenocarcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, oesophageal adenocarcinoma, and oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

In the end, they found that 3 of the 5 plants had potential cancer cell inhibiting qualities. However, the leaves of Acalypha inefrifolia, Eugenia tinifolia, and Labourdonnaisia showed themselves effective against the division of the cancer cells for esophageal squamous carcinoma cells.

What are “cancer cells”?

Cancer cells are cells that no longer respond to the normal “cell death” that naturally occurs in our body. Cells and proteins are intended to serve their purpose and then be recycled. Cancer cells defy that act. Instead, they multiply by dividing themselves. (One becomes two, two becomes four, etc.) The more often they divide, the fewer “rules” of our biology that they follow. At a certain point, they then breakthrough tissue barriers and spread throughout the body.

The herbs discovered on Mauritius stop that division process, which then allows for the biologically designed cell death. While the ability to stop the division related to a specific dose, the herbs proved particularly sensitive to esophageal squamous carcinoma cells in comparison to the other cancer cells tested against.

Still researchers have much study and research to complete to understand how these plants create this effect on the cancer cells. But it does look very promising. Often, it is not just a simple matter of finding the plants and then making a drug. Understanding how and where the process is stopped is essential for continued attempts to find treatments for all forms of cancer and other diseases. These plants are the first to show us it can be stopped, and where.

Oesophageal Cancer

The cancer type, which doctors call oesophageal cancer, is becoming a global concern. That concern stems from the following circumstances:

How late doctors detect the cells
The aggressiveness of the disease
A lack of selective treatments.

Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma represent the 6th leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Additionally, they have a 5-year survival rate of only 15% and a median survival rate of less than one year.

Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma involves cancer cells that line the surface of the esophagus. Most commonly, it occurs in the upper and middle portions of the esophagus.

Oesophageal adenocarcinoma begins in the mucus-secreting glands in the esophagus and occurs mainly in the lower portion of the esophagus. This form is most common in the United States, and white men are the most affected.

Scientists do not fully understand why, but the following factors may lead to chronic irritation of the esophagus.

These factors might increase your risk:

Having GERD (gastroesophageal reflux)
Smoking
Barrett’s esophagus (precancerous changes in the cells of the esophagus)
Obesity
Alcohol
Bile reflux
Achalasia (a condition where the esophageal sphincter doesn’t relax and therefore creates difficulty swallowing)
Chronically drinking hot liquids
Radiation treatment to the chest of the upper body
Not eating a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables

Gastrointestinal issues frequently accompany this disease.

Other symptoms include the following:

Difficulty swallowing
Worsening indigestion or heartburn
Coughing or hoarseness
Unintended weight loss

Broad spectrum chemotherapy is its current treatment. However, chemotherapy is associated with toxic side effects and has a low effective rate for esophageal cancer.

Natural plants as medication

Recently, scientists have been looking to native plants for medicinal uses. Worldwide, about 50,000-80,000 plants are used medicinally. Of the top 150 prescribed medications in the U.S., at least 118 are based on natural ingredients. 74% come from plants, 5 percent from bacteria, 18% from fungi, and three percent from vertebrate species. At least about 70% of new drugs in the U.S in the last 35 years are derived from these sources.

Anti-cancer drugs save at least 30,000 lives a year. Remission for childhood leukemia increased by 85% between 1960 and 1997 due to just two drugs that were made from plants on Madagascar’s rosy periwinkle plant.

Many cultures have been using their own wild species for disease or illness treatments for several thousands of years. China is one example. Additionally, on the island of Mauritius, scientists have observed the island’s herbologists using up to 150 different plants to treat various illnesses.

The Danger of Plant Extinction

So many factors continue to contribute to the extinction of native plants. Of the 50,000 – 80,000 flowering plants used for medicinal uses, 15,000 may face extinction. It is estimated that we are losing at least one potential major drug every two years. Those drugs could have been a treatment for cancer, HIV, or any deadly disease we face.

Habitat destruction underlies part of the loss. As new and different islands become noticed by the public, demand increased. Developers and marketers continue to turn these areas into a thriving tourist location. Consequently, this growth demands land for hotels, homes, stores, utilities, etc. Destroyed habitat can also be caused by increased residential and commercial construction of homes and businesses as other areas become in demand for other resources: wood, oil, minerals, etc. There is no telling how many possible life-saving plants we have already destroyed globally due to mankind’s tremendous growth over our years on this planet.

As stated in the United States Congressional deliberations when introducing the Endangered Species Act in 1973:

“Who knows, or can say, what potential cures for cancer or other scourges, present or future, may lie locked up in the structures of plants which may yet be undiscovered, much less analyzed?… Sheer self-interest impels us to be cautious.”

Another factor is over-harvesting. About 15,000 plants face extinction due to over-harvesting or over-collection of native plants. This is considered such a concern that an organization was formed called the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network in order to watch and control the global trade of wild plants. Part of the over-collection of plants includes when we do not use all of the plants.

For example, natural healers often use slippery elm to treat coughs, gastrointestinal issues, and skin irritants. The part of the slippery elm they commonly use is the gummy lining of the bark. The bark is stripped from the trees which are then left to rot. About 12 trees are sacrificed for 50 pounds of dried bark. Those 50 pounds of bark are valued at up to $150.00. You can imagine, then, how many trees died to satisfy the need of the populace. The slippery elm is currently considered “at risk” by the U. S. Forest Service. Some other plants considered at risk are black cohosh, American ginseng, yew, and goldenseal.

The island of Mauritius is no different in its plants, fungi, and other life being at risk.

In the words of Alexander Kagansky:

“Mauritius Island is a treasure island of the global biodiversity, and the story of continuing tragedy of human greed, barbarian appetite (remember the Dodo bird from the Alice story, RIP) and neglection of true wonders of the planet designed to save human lives. About one-third of the local plants are used in traditional medicine, but there is still a lack of scientific evidence of their therapeutic potential, while genocide of nature is most evident on such small pieces of a lost paradise. To date, only 15 percent of the island’s plant species have been examined for their medicinal properties, which is still better than in many countries…..”

Indeed, his passion and dedication to preserving the lives of various plants led him to create an organization called Bio2Bio. They are dedicated to protecting the variety of life and nature which may be a source of biological compounds. They are also working to create a database of natural molecules to aid in drug compound creation. Additionally, they hope to link various areas of medicine together so they can work off of each other in their discoveries. Alexander said it best here:

“Our research should serve the benefit of humanity and show by evidence that on the mechanistic level people depend on natural chemistries, which will reward us by reducing deaths and suffering of ourselves, our parents, and children.”

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

FDA Approves New Medical Device For Kids with ADHD

April 27, 2019 by Power of Positivity

ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder) is a psychological and biological condition that affects thousands of children. ADHD is defined by the Attention Deficit Disorder Association as “a highly genetic, brain-based syndrome that has to do with the regulation of a particular set of brain functions and related behaviors.”

As of 2016, The National Survey of Children’s Health reported:

Approximately 9.4% of children 2-17 years of age (6.1 million) had been diagnosed with ADHD.

- Ages 2-5: Approximately 388,000 children
- Ages 6-11: Approximately 2.4 million children
- Ages 12-17: Approximately 3.3 million children

Treatment and therapy for children with ADHD has been an ongoing study. Currently, there are specialists or therapists who can help teach the parents and the child various methods to handle the behaviors. There are also many medications available designed to help with minimizing the symptoms in order to afford the child a fairly healthy and successful life. Sadly, those medications may create mild to severe side effects which can drastically affect the child’s mental and emotional state, as well as some physical ramifications.

Scientists and pharmaceutical companies have been trying to find a treatment that doesn’t have these negative effects on children. In April of 2019, the FDA announced their approval of a new device for kids with ADHD. It is called the Monarch e-TNS System. This is the first ever medical device approved for the treatment of ADHD. The approval to market the device was granted to the company NeuroSigma.

What is ADHD and its Symptoms?

What many people may not realize is that there are 3 forms of ADHD.

1) ADHD Predominate Inattentive type: This version was previously referred to as ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder. That designation was removed in 1994. These children do not demonstrate hyperactivity in their behavior. They appear as the child who “lives in their own world” and can’t maintain focus or attention for long periods of time. They tend to respond slower and process information slower. This type is usually overlooked, as they aren’t overly active or impulsive. Such behavior usually calls attention to oneself.

The symptoms include:

Trouble paying attention (easily sidetracked)
Doesn’t like or avoids long mental tasks (such as homework)
Trouble staying on task during school, at home, or even at play
Disorganized and seems forgetful
Doesn’t appear to listen when directly spoken to
Doesn’t pay close attention to details
Loses things often
Makes careless mistakes
Struggles to follow through with instructions

2) ADHD Predominately Hyperactive-Impulsive type: This is the child who can’t sit still, who impulsively interrupts others when they are talking, who talks often, or who creates disturbances in the classroom because they are bored. They may be more prone to higher frustration levels and angry outbursts.

Symptoms include:

Blurting out answers before a question is finished
Constantly interrupting others
Trouble waiting his turn
Talks too much
Fidgeting, tapping, and squirming
Gets up when it’s not appropriate (such as when the teacher is talking or in the middle of dinner)
Running or climbing in inappropriate situations
Unable to play quietly

3) ADHD Combined Type: This is the child who not only can’t sit still and impulsively acts and reacts to situations, but also cannot focus or maintain attention. As the name suggests, they are the combination of the above two subtypes.

Diagnosis for any of the ADHD spectrum disorders requires the child to be under the age of 16 and have 6 or more of the above symptoms for at least 6 months. It is 5 or more months if it is an older teen. It should be understood that an adult can also be diagnosed with ADHD. In the case of an adult, it is more likely they were undiagnosed children with ADHD as opposed to developing the condition at an adult age.

Before a child is diagnosed with ADHD, other factors should also be considered and ruled out:

Learning Disabilities: this could be a reason for difficulties at school
Major Life changes: a recent move, trauma, divorce
Other Psychological Disorders: anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder
Behavioral Disorders: such as oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder
Medical Conditions: thyroid problems, epilepsy, or sleep disorders

Medication and Treatment for ADHD

Choosing your child’s treatment can be heart-wrenching for many parents. The idea of placing a young child on medication with all of the potential side effects is not a decision many parents are comfortable with. In contrast, learning behavior therapy to both handle the child as a parent as well as teach the child how to handle the symptoms themselves takes time, an open mind and a lot of patience – qualities that not everyone has. For example, a single parent who needs to work two jobs may find that near impossible to handle. Parents with multiple children also may have an extremely hard time managing it all.

On the positive side of using medication, the relief for your child can occur as soon as 4 weeks or less. Being on medication, if effective, can aid the child in improving self-esteem, focusing better, earning better grades at school, having fewer issues at home, and more. It can also buy some time for them to learn the behavior therapy skills in order to get off of the medication.

Let’s be clear, though; medication is only treating some of the symptoms. It is not a cure. They are designed to assist with the most prominent symptoms of hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and impulsivity. Additional behavior therapy and other methods may still be required to assist with the other symptoms.

The medications which have been used the longest are stimulants. Ironically, the brain of an ADHD child is actually less stimulated than the average. Placing them on a stimulant actually increases their brain function, creating a decrease in the hyperactive, impulsive or inattentive symptoms. The most commonly prescribed stimulants are Ritalin, Adderall, and Dexadrine.

Newer, non-stimulant medications have come out in recent years. These include Strattera, certain anti-depressants and blood pressure medications. Generally speaking, using these medications is only advised when the stimulants have not worked well enough or not at all, or when the side effects of stimulants were too severe.

The side effects of stimulants include:

Feeling restless and jittery
Difficulty sleeping
Loss of appetite
Headaches
Upset stomach
Irritability, mood swings
Depression
Dizziness
Racing heartbeat
Tics

There are also mood or personality changes which may occur. The person may exhibit symptoms of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). They may suddenly be withdrawn and listless. Behaviors of aggression, anxiety, depression or paranoia may become worse. Psychosis (delusions or hallucinations) is also possible, especially if there is a family history of depression, bi-polar or suicide.

There have even been studies that have shown stimulants to cause sudden death for children or adults who may have had an undiagnosed heart condition.

The non-stimulant medications have various side effects as well which can affect mood and cause headaches, sleepiness, nausea, upset stomach and a host of other symptoms.

Behavior therapy is the best long-term option. Even if you choose to place your child on medication, behavior therapy can not only assist with additional symptoms but also teach symptom management, which can allow the child to get off medication. These therapies can help the child learn to handle stress, anger, and impulsive behaviors. It can also teach time management, social skills, organization, and goal creation.

In addition to behavior therapy and/or medication, it is highly recommended to ensure the child:

Exercises regularly
Eats a healthy diet with meals broken up to 6 times a day
Gets regular and good amounts of sleep
Stays positive in attitude

The Monarch e-TNS System

No one really wants their child on medication if it can be avoided. As adults, we don’t even want to be on medication, which is what makes the new device, The Monarch e-TNS System, sound like a good potential option for the treatment of ADHD in children.

The Monarch e-TNS System is approved for patients aged 7-12 who are not currently on medication. It is intended to only be used under the care of a parent or caregiver and is applied during the child’s sleep time. It is the size of a cell phone and is connected through a wire to a small patch which is placed on the child’s forehead. The device generates a low-level electrical stimulation to the branches of the trigeminal nerve, which sends signals to the part of the brain associated with ADHD. The sensation should just feel like a tingling on the skin.

Studies have shown it may take up to 4 weeks to show a decrease in symptoms. The trials did show that children using the device showed a significant decrease in attention or impulsive behaviors. The most common side effects were an increase in appetite, trouble sleeping, teeth clenching, headaches, and fatigue.

Children with certain medical conditions requiring a pacemaker would not be able to use this device. All children should be evaluated by their physician to ensure it is safe for their use.

This stands to bring a lot of hope to parents and children with adhd. The closer we can get to treating this condition quickly and effectively without potentially dangerous medications, the better.

MAGIC Healing Peppermint Tea: Treat Cough, Sore Throat And More

April 27, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Peppermint is a powerful additive to everything from floss and toothpaste to mint mojitos. While mint has no shortage of added benefits, most people fail to realize just how important it is to their diet and overall health.

Peppermint Tea Benefits

In addition to the calming effects that peppermint is known for, there are several ways that peppermint tea can improve your hair, skin, and health. The following guide shares 20 different peppermint tea benefits.

1. Fight Acne

Acne is a major problem for adolescents and adults alike. While you can visit a dermatologist and take medication to treat acne, the most effective solution may be closer than you think.

With the help of peppermint, you can use tea to help eliminate your zits. By drinking this tea, you’ll benefit from the long-term effects of drying out excessively oily skin. With your oil under control, you’ll start seeing a significant reduction in acne until your face is completely clear.

2. Rejuvenate Your Oily Skin

Making a habit of drinking this tea won’t just help reduce your acne, it will bring your oily skin back to life. The antioxidants in this tea work to keep oil from clogging your pores.

The menthol inside the peppermint will lower the level of oil-secreting in your skin. Essentially, drinking this tea will result in oil-free skin.

3. Soothe Irritated Skin

Sensitive skin tends to be prone to irritation. The UV rays in sunlight and similar harsh elements can significantly irritate the skin. To combat this irritation, use this tea as a treatment for skin infections, sunburns, and wrinkles.

As this tea contains powerful antioxidants, it will help your skin recover from these afflictions. Additionally, this tea’s cooling effects help to cancel out the discomfort of skin inflammation.

4. Improve Hair Growth

In addition to being an effective skin treatment, this tea is a stimulant of hair growth. If you are experiencing hair loss or have a receding hairline, try peppermint tea.

This tea will soothe your blood vessels, as well as increase the blood flow to your roots. Over time, your hair will start to grow faster and fuller.

5. Kickstart Weight Loss

While some people are skeptical that tea can help trigger weight loss, mint tea has been proven to work as a weight loss aid.

Drinking this tea in tandem with your regular exercise regimen will help boost your weight loss. Similarly, the daily dose of tea will boost your body’s liquid intake, which will help you feel fuller faster.

6. Ease Indigestion and Bloating

Tired of dealing with a dysfunctioning digestive system? Use this tea to ease bloating and digestion.

The peppermint helps to soothe your stomach muscles while improving the flow of your bile. Thus, resulting in your body digesting fats in a more efficient manner.

Similarly, this allows you to pass digestive gas more easily.

7. Treat Motion Sickness and Nausea

While most people tend to accept their motion sickness and nausea in certain situations, this doesn’t have to be the case. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms related to pregnancy, travel, or a similar situation, simply make a cup of this tea.

The peppermint is anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic–meaning this helps to prevent queasiness and calm the stomach.

8. Reduce Your Fever

The next time you come down with a fever, reach for a pack of this tea. The menthol in the peppermint is effective in lowering your body’s temperature both externally and internally.

Though you may feel more discomfort before you get better, the tea will help you sweat out the fever—ultimately working to reduce your illness.

9. Medicate Respiratory Disorders

Clear out your respiratory system with this tea. As peppermint has anti-spasmodic and antiseptic qualities, the tea can be used to treat coughs, sinus issues, colds, asthma, bronchitis, throat infections, and the flu.

Mint tea works well in treating coughs as it helps to clear out phlegm and any clogs in the throat. If you happen to have a sore throat, inhale the steam of this tea to soothe your nasal passages. Consuming the mint tea will further help to clear out your throat.

10. Ease Anxiety and Stress

Anxiety and stress run rampant in today’s world. Whatever your reason for feeling anxious or stressed, know that herbal teas like this one are incredibly effective in restoring your inner peace.

Peppermint’s cooling effects help to calm the body, relieving your stress as you continue to drink.

11. Treat Diabetes

Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes can benefit from drinking this tea. As the mint plant contains phenolic compounds, the antioxidants in these compounds help to prevent vascular diseases, in addition to preventing Type 2 Diabetes.

12. Lower High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is common these days in both adults and teenagers. Just as this tea can be used to reduce stress, it is also effective in lowering blood pressure.

As this tea tends to be incredibly relaxing, it will help calm your body and reduce any tension you are feeling, ultimately helping to control your blood pressure.

13. Fight Headaches

Headaches are one of the most common health issues that can be treated by drinking this tea. Whether you have a caffeine-related headache or you are experiencing a stress migraine, drinking this tea should help calm you and eliminate your headache.

As the menthol calms your body, you’ll find yourself becoming less tense as your headache melts away.

14. Reduce Cholesterol

Have high cholesterol? Introducing this tea into your diet will help to reduce your cholesterol. While you should monitor your diet to keep your cholesterol levels low, the antioxidants in peppermint will work to keep your cholesterol levels low.

15. Eliminate Hirsutism

Though many people may not be familiar with the term hirsutism, the condition itself can be aggravating to control.

Hirsutism is the uncontrolled and excessive growth of a woman’s hair on her body and face. Though this can be treated through medication and with various depilation methods, peppermint tea is an all-natural alternative to help eliminate hair.

This tea works to decrease the testosterone in a woman’s body as it increases luteinizing hormones.

16. Ease Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding women deal with the challenges of nipple fissure as they try to feed their babies.

Nipple fissure results in bleeding, irritation, and soreness around the nipple. This unpleasant condition is caused by excessive friction from baby feeding. Thanks to the benefits of peppermint, breastfeeding women can enjoy the anti-infection and anti-inflammatory qualities of this tea and reduce the effects of nipple fissure.

17. Treat Menstrual Cramps

Any woman with intense menstrual cramps understands how stressful this time of the month can be. While many women choose to use painkillers to treat these cramps, mint tea can be another option to relieve the abdominal pain from menstruation.

Whenever your cramps start taking over, drink some mint tea and enjoy its powerful relaxing benefits as your creams subside.

18. Treat IBS and Functional Dyspepsia

IBS has a variety of causes. However, one of them is unhealthy food intake. This condition can lead to constipation or diarrhea. Similarly, functional dyspepsia is another condition associated with IBS resulting in discomfort and pain.

This peppermint tea is an all-natural treatment for both of these conditions. The peppermint works to improve your intake of food and encourages a smooth and unobstructed flow in your digestive tract.

19. Boost Your Immunity

If you have a particularly weak immune system, you likely get sick rather easily. Start building up your immunity by drinking mint tea.

The antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients in mint tea are an excellent and effective way to boost your immune system. Drinking this mint tea regularly will help to keep you healthy.

20. Improve Your Sleep

You may have heard that tea can improve your sleep quality and there’s a reason for that. As peppermint tea is so relaxing and calming, you’ll find it hard to resist the sweet calls of sleep when enjoying this tea at the end of the day.

As the mint relaxes your body and mind, you’ll easily lull yourself into a restful and well-deserved sleep.

Final Thoughts on Peppermint Tea Benefits

The powers of peppermint tea are undeniable. Whether you’re already an avid tea drinker or you’re considering adding mint tea to your diet, you’ll be pleasantly surprised as you experience all the benefits mint tea has to offer. As this magic tea has been used for centuries, there is truly something special about this all-natural cureall.

The next time you find yourself in need of hair, skin, and inner body transformation, consider the benefits of peppermint tea. Let these 20 peppermint tea benefits inspire you to add mint tea to your regular beauty and health regimen.

20 Science-Based Benefits of Avocado

April 27, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Avocados are a versatile fruit that you can eat plain, sweet, salty, or savory. It has numerous advantages tucked beneath its vivid green skin. There’s little reason not to enjoy the benefits of avocado in your diet.

Each 40 Gram Avocado Serving Provides You With This Nutrition:

About 64 calories
Just under 6 grams of healthy fat
About 3.5 grams of carbohydrates
And almost 3 grams of dietary fiber

In addition, you’ll find vitamins and minerals your body needs like B-6, C, E, K, potassium, magnesium, and pantothenic acid.

Avocados are a great source of beta-carotene, omega-3 fatty acids, and eye protecting lutein too.

Don’t Fear the Fat

Almost every calorie in an avocado derives from fat. For years, we heard the dangers of high fats. We avoided them like the plague without considering that the type of fat matters more than the presence of it.

Fat in Avocados can help you:

Signal your tummy to stop eating
Absorb more vitamins and nutrients from your plant-based diet
Slow down your carbohydrate breakdown, which can prevent, stop, or reduce your blood sugar spikes
Stay fuller for longer when paired with protein

The next time you shy away from healthy fats like avocado, remember that healthy fat that does your body more good than harm.

20 Science-based Benefits of Avocado

Here are twenty great reasons to enjoy avocado in your diet.

1. Great Source of Potassium

Potassium deficiency becoming an epidemic might be a stretch, but it’s a nutrient many Americans don’t receive enough of. Avocado provides you with 14% of your recommended daily allowance. (2)

Furthermore, high potassium diets can lower your risks for numerous life-threatening health problems, like stroke and heart attack. (3)

2. Contains Heart Healthy Mono-saturated Fatty Acids

We briefly touched on this above, but mono-saturated fatty acids can help with numerous conditions from inflammation to assisting genes in your body that might cause cancer.

Inflammation can occur anywhere in your body. It’s also one marker for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndromes. Conventional medicines mask symptoms. Oleic acid can reduce or remove it. (4, 5)

Oleic acid is abundant in avocados and olive oil. This specific fatty acid does interact with the human genome in a beneficial way against potential cancerous cells, according to this study and in this one. (6, 7)

3. Great Source of Fiber

A single serving will provide about 27% of your RDA. A bonus? They contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Both function and help your body in different ways.

Soluble fiber assists your good gut flora by feeding it and keeping colonies healthy. Insoluble fiber is what adds bulk to stool and eases its passing. Eating a bit daily or every other day could keep you regular.

Benefits, including its fiber, greatly outweigh the bad we’ve heard about fatty foods.

4.Could Lower Triglycerides

Heart disease is a hereditary disease that can also be lifestyle linked.

Many studies highlight the beneficial results of avocados and lower triglycerides. Since heart disease is the most common health-related killer in the world, eating a proper diet to protect yourself from it might be important.

In the studies above, participants on average reduced their triglycerides by 20% or less over the course of one to four weeks. The benefits on your heart health are sound since triglyceride reduction is one of many reasons to start eating the tasty fruit.

5. Healthy Fats Might Assist you in Absorbing More Vitamins

One reason we started hearing about good and bad fats is this strange event occurred. As we reduced our fat intake, our vitamin and mineral absorption plummeted. This meant we ate healthfully without reaping the benefits.

6. Might Protect Your Eyes

Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids that play a big role in the health of your eyes. They could reduce your chances of developing cataracts and macular degeneration.

However, eating one here and there for healthy eyes might not be enough. You need to eat avocados regularly to really see a difference.

7. Eases Psoriasis Plaques and Dermatitis

The oil in avocados can help heal plaques and irritations of psoriasis. One study combined it with B12 and saw great results, but they didn’t test the oil by itself.

However, you can make a poultice from the pulp and apply it to the affected area. The cooling nature calms inflammation topically.

You can also use the oil, which most supermarkets and online retailers sell. Both application methods make an excellent carrier for essential oils too.

8. Great for Your Skin Health

Whether you eat it or mash one up, avocados have skin benefits too. Moisture through the rich fats are one of them.

After you eat one, keep the skins. Cleanse your face as usual. Take the peel and rub the fleshy inside over your skin. Rub in the oil.

You can also make a quick face mask with the ripe pulp. Use it as is or add honey, lemon juice, or egg white for astringent properties.

9. Contains Vitamin K

Vitamin deficiency isn’t prevalent, but it’s one that your body needs to ward off heart disease and stroke. It also assists your body in building bones, brain health, metabolism, and blood clotting.

Phew, that one vitamin does a lot of work. This is why it’s important to eat foods with vitamin K, which are mostly plants and fermented dairy. Luckily, consuming a single serving will bring you to about 17% of your RDA.

10. Could Ease Morning Sickness Naturally

Vitamin B6 can help ease nausea associated with morning sickness, according to numerous studies.

One of the benefits of avocado is B6. You can achieve 20% of the RDA in a single serving. However, you might be deficient.

Talk to your doctor or naturopath before supplementing with over the counter vitamins, but you can reach for plenty of the natural foods containing this tummy-settling vitamin.

11. Shinier Hair

A twice a week avocado hair mask might reverse the signs of aging on your face, but it can do wonders for your hair too. Say goodbye to dull, dry locks and hello to stronger, shinier hair.

Vitamin E, B-5, and A take the wheel here. They’re responsible for healthy skin, nails, and hair. Another job they tackle is increasing shine, reducing hair shed, strengthening hair, and protecting your ends.

You can use it with most hair types, but it’s best for daily use with dry and coarse hair. Oily and fine hair types should use a mask once per week.

12. Protects Skin From Sun Damage

Did you know eating this fruit can help protect you from UV damage? The rich antioxidant profile fights free radicals like these rays. Of course it isn’t a sunscreen or safe sunning replacement, but it’s one more reason to enjoy them. (20)

13. Might Ease Osteoarthritis Symptoms

We learned that it’s helpful in reducing inflammation in your body. It’s possibly that the extract can do the same for osteoarthritis.

No one has studied the fruit itself to see if the same effects occur, but you’re likely to find at least one other benefit of avocado welcome in your life

14. Can Help with Depression

Avocados contain a decent amount of folate. One major role it plays on your mental health is by preventing buildup of a substance called homocysteine.

The substance impedes nutrients traveling to the brain and reduces circulation. It also restricts your serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine production. You need healthy levels of all three for sleep, mood regulation, and appetite.

A folate deficiency can actually cause moderate to severe mental health issues, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

15. Supports Healthy Conception, Pregnancy, and Fetal Development

Folate plays another pivotal role in reducing birth defects during pregnancy. It can also aid in reducing stress and depression in pregnant moms.

Another upside to folate occurs at conception, but men should take note here. Men deficient in folate can increase the likelihood of neural tube defects and miscarriage by 30% should they impregnate their partner.

16. Great for Diabetics and Blood Sugar Control

Healthy fats, such as those in avocados, slow down sugar absorption. This allows your body to process other carbs in your meals, which is helpful for type 2 diabetics with insulin resistance and anyone who is prediabetic.

Of course, you should pair it with healthy carbs, but even the good type can spike blood sugar. Sugar spikes can lead you to eat more, to have numerous adverse symptoms, and to cause unseen damage if you don’t maintain control.

Combine this with other benefits and you might also lose weight, which can further assist in managing or reversing type 2 diabetes.

17. Could Help Ward Off Some Cancers

Breast and prostate cancer cells have been studied alongside avocados. Results are preliminary and scientists have yet to move past isolated cells in a well-controlled environment.

According to the study, it’s more than adding it to your diet. You also should follow a strict plant-based diet to significantly reduce your risk for cancer.

18. Avocado Might Protect Your Liver

Liver damage occurs for any number of reasons. The components of our fatty fruit have the phytochemical makeup to both tone and protect the liver.

A Japanese study looked at participants with hepatitis C, which can cause moderate to severe liver damage. In this case they were animals, and scientists haven’t begun human trials.

It could be difficult to measure too; most people with hepatitis C are unaware of their condition or any potential damage until their condition advances into later stages where liver damage could occur.

19. Might improve Your Cognitive Function

Lutein’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities assists your brain health. It’s uncertain if it can prevent cognitive decline related to disease, but it can reduce brain fog, enhance memory, and increase problem-solving.

Two studies showcased older and younger individuals with equal results. (29, 30)

20. You Might Lose Weight

Consuming healthy fats at meals can help you feel fuller sooner and stay satiated longer. It does fit nicely into most lifestyles too, especially any low carb eating plan.

Over time, as you consume fewer calories, you can expect to lose weight if you’re sticking to your healthy lifestyle and not over consuming avocados, e.g. eating a whole one versus a 1/5th serving size.

Plus people who nosh on the fruit typically weigh less, have lower BMI, normal waist circumferences, and good cholesterol levels. They also have lower risks of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

While this study isn’t perfect, it can be an arsenal against anyone who gives you a hard time about eating avocados.

Are There Side Effects from Eating Avocado?

There can be. Every person is different, but if your body isn’t used to the fat or fiber content, you might experience minor gastrointestinal distress. It goes away once your body adjusts.

You might experience:

Bloating
Diarrhea
Upset stomach
Indigestion

If you have any of these symptoms, you should ease back on the amount and/or frequency until your stomach functions normally again.

Final Thoughts on Benefits of Avocado

Consuming or incorporating avocado for any one of the twenty benefits is okay in our book. Moderation is truly the key if you’re eating them.

If they’re already part of your diet, keep it up.

New to them? Start slow, try a serving or two a week, and gradually build toward more servings to avoid stomach discomfort. It could be that you’re taking too much fiber. Another thought is to pair it with soluble fiber, which moves slowly through your stomach.

Whether you’re a seasoned avocado-loving pro or just beginning your journey, you certainly have twenty reasons to enjoy without an ounce of guilt.

Science Explains What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Apple Cider Vinegar Every Day

April 26, 2019 by Power of Positivity

Apple cider vinegar is one of the most popular remedies for common ailments, though most people rarely use ACV for its full potential. While most people let this natural cure-all collect dust in their pantry, others are just starting to discover the powerful benefits of this vinegar.

The Power of Apple Cider Vinegar

ACV can completely transform your diet, health, and beauty routines. Wondering how to use ACV in your life best? Read on for 22 benefits of ACV.

1. Get Frizz-Free Hair

Tired of frizzy hair? If you have unruly hair, it may be because of an imbalance in your pH.

Get hold of your hair by using apple cider vinegar as a rinse. Taking care to dilute this mixture with water properly, you’ll quickly see how the ACV takes your hair from overly frizzy to incredibly smooth.

2. Gargle Away Bad Breath

The natural acids in this vinegar make it ideal as an antimicrobial. If you’re looking for a quick way to kill bad breath, ACV is the answer.

As you use the ACV, you’ll actively kill any bacteria and break up any plaque causing your bad breath. Gargle ACV after brushing your teeth to ensure your mouth is completely clean.

3. Heal Your Blemishes

As ACV is effective in killing bacteria, many people use it as a way to fight acne.

The vinegar will balance the acid-alkaline levels in your skin, ultimately working to regulate your body’s oil production. Additionally, ACV can reduce any pain, swelling, and redness felt on your skin.

Treat your skin with ACV by applying vinegar to your skin using a cotton pad. After letting your skin dry for up to 20 minutes, rinse it off.

4. Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Deodorant

Another way to take advantage of ACV’s antibacterial properties is to use it as a deodorant.

Asa deodorant, the vinegar will work to neutralize any odor caused by bacteria. Mix the ACV with water and use it as a deodorizing spray. Once dry, the ACV will no longer smell like vinegar.

5. Treat Skin Irritation

Tired of trying multiple products to treat your irritated skin?

Add a cup of ACV to a bath to treat common skin irritations. If you have bug bites, jellyfish stings, poison ivy rashes, sunburn, or any similar irritation, applying ACV to your skin will help to eliminate your discomfort.

6. Support Healthy Cholesterol

Treat your high cholesterol by using ACV to increase your body’s bile production. The vinegar will support your liver as it processes your food and improves your body’s healthy cholesterol.

When used in your diet regularly, ACV will lower your cholesterol over time.

7. Soothe Your Sore Throat

Though most people attribute a sore throat to various causes, bacteria is the main culprit for sore throats.

While you should consult with a doctor to address your sore throat concerns, using ACV will help to eliminate any bacteria in your throat. Gargling with this natural remedy will help soothe your throat and rid your body of bad bacteria.

8. Apple Cider Vinegar Could Improve Gut Health

Gut health is an important topic that is trending these days. The probiotics and enzymes in ACV make this remedy an effective treatment for gut health.

While some people turn to yogurt and kombucha to boost their gut health, you can use this vinegar to improve digestion, fight acid reflux, and boost your overall gut health.

9. Treat Yeast Infections

Yeast infections are an annoyingly common affliction that many women face.

While this condition can be treated with over-the-counter medicines, if you have apple cider vinegar in your kitchen, you may want to consider using this to treat your yeast infection.

You can treat yeast infections with ACV topically, internally, and vaginally. Whether you add it to your diet or use it around the affected area, dilute the vinegar.

For very serious yeast infections, contact a medical professional.

10. Improve Blood Sugar Levels

ACV has strong anti-glycemic properties, making it ideal for promoting healthy blood sugar.

Additionally, regular consumption of ACV can block starch digestion, which works to prevent increased blood sugar.

According to certain studies, just one teaspoon of this vinegar at bedtime can lower an individual’s blood glucose level.

11. Increase Nutrient Absorption

ACV’s acetic acid can increase the nutrients and minerals that your body can absorb from your diet.

Consume ACV with your most nutrient-rich foods to maximize this quality. Love eating a salad? Add some apple cider vinegar to your meal, and you’ll be actively improving your body’s ability to absorb these nutrients.

12. Apple Cider Vinegar Could Stop Hiccups

If you ever find yourself trying to get over a terrible case of hiccups, reach for the ACV. With just one teaspoonful of this vinegar, you’ll be able to eliminate your hiccups for good.

13. Improve Your pH Balance

Your body requires a healthy pH balance to digest your food properly.

This homeostasis is responsible for keeping your body functioning properly.

While your diet plays a major role in creating this balance, ACV helps keep your body functioning smoothly.

As you introduce apple cider vinegar into your diet, you’ll find that your digestive system will improve significantly.

14. Detoxify Your Liver

Enjoy improved bodily functions and better health in general by using ACV regularly. The ACV will help you build a better lymphatic system as the apple cider vinegar encourages proper lymph circulation.

This process is essentially your body’s way of eliminating toxins. With the help of ACV, you’re essentially cleansing your system of pollutants and ensuring your body can continue this cleansing process regularly.

15. Eliminate Belly Fat

Trying to lose the extra weight around your midsection? Unfiltered ACV is a great way to reduce any belly fat.

Use ACV to ditch these extra pounds by allowing the ACV to satisfy any excessive hunger cravings. Regularly consuming ACV and working out will help you achieve your goal weight.

16. Prevent Premature Aging

The antioxidants in ACV percent premature aging.

Using ACV regularly will make you look and feel younger as these antioxidants help maintain your body’s pH balance, keeping it working just as it did in your prime.

17. Apple Cider Vinegar Can Help Eliminate Free Radicals

Free radicals can result in many health issues. ACV works to harvest these free radicals, preventing them from damaging your cell’s membranes and tissues.

As ACV helps to eliminate free radicals, you’ll be able to enjoy better health.

18. Treat Your Joint Pain

Before you reach for painkillers to treat your joint pain, try the ACV. Adding this vinegar to a bath or hot tub will help you bring immediate relief to your joints

ACV is an excellent way to treat any related discomfort if you have gout, tendinitis, or osteoarthritis.

19. Whiten Your Teeth

Just as some people use ACV to eliminate bad breath, ACV is an effective teeth whitener.

While you can apply the vinegar to your teeth directly, you can also use it on a toothbrush and apply it that way.

20. Improve Your Mood

Though many people use ACV to treat medical conditions, improve their diet, or add to a beauty regimen, ACV can also be used to improve your mood.

When used to treat anxiety, ACV is a powerful mood booster. The vinegar will break down your foods’ amino acids, creating serotonin, helping to improve your mood.

21. Treat Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is relatively widespread, but most people use medication as an acid reflux treatment.

With ACV on hand, you can treat your acid reflux. All you need is a tablespoon of ACV, and you’ll be able to ease your stomach problems.

Final Thoughts on Apple Cider Vinegar

There’s nothing quite as versatile as ACV. Whether you use it when cooking, for its antiseptic purposes, or trying to improve your health, the benefits of ACV are undeniable.

If you don’t already have ACV in your pantry, now’s the time to stock up. Let this guide inspire you to start finding more reasons to use ACV daily.

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