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Antarctica Ice Sheets Melt and the Rising Sea Levels Threaten Cities

July 2, 2020 by Power of Positivity

For those who are unfamiliar with the term global warming, it refers to a sustained increase in the Earth’s atmospheric temperature. And it goes a long way toward explaining why Antarctica is experiencing an increase in melting ice.

Antarctica is the fifth-largest of the world’s seven continents, with a total surface size measuring about 5.5 million square miles, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, an information and referral center that supports polar and cryospheric research.

In terms of scale, Antarctica is about half the size of the United States. Antarctica is the only continent that remains frozen year-round. Thus, it holds the nickname the “white continent.”

Also, note that less than 0.5 percent of the continent’s surface is free of an ice covering. However, this may soon change, according to many environmentalists.

How Climate Change Is Impacting the White Continent

Let’s look at how Antarctica’s ice sheets are impacted by what scientists and environmentalists call climate change or global warming.

Nearly the entire continent of Antarctica is covered with land ice. This ancient ice formed from thousands of years of snowfall. One of the things that helped clue researchers and scientists in on the fact that this land ice is melting was the noticeable rise in the Earth’s global mean sea level.

For reference, the global mean sea level, also known as a tidal datum, is the average height of the sea surface when compared to one or more of the Earth’s bodies of water. In coming up with the global mean sea level, scientists and researchers will utilize sea level measurements that were recorded over the past 19 years, which is scientifically known as a Metonic cycle.

According to a study published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, between 1993 and 2018, the global mean sea level rose at a rate of 0.11 to 0.14 inches every single year.

Researchers and scientists who have been studying this data believe that this increase has a lot to do with climate change. And there is significant and credible scientific evidence to support their hypotheses.

Here’s how climate change is affecting your health.

How Events of the Past Are Influencing Modern-Day Research

Scientists witness and record firsthand then melting of ice sheets, glaciers, ice shelves, and icebergs. Indeed, many researchers also looked to events of the past to forecast what could potentially happen to the white continent in the future.

After all, this is not the first time that global warming has made an impact on Antarctica. To help substantiate this claim, we need only take a look at a study published by sciencedaily.com, a science news aggregation and curation website.

According to the study, during the last interglacial period, which is a timeframe that refers to an interval of warmer than average global temperatures that last for millenniums, a significant percentage of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet was lost due to ocean warming.

And this increase in temperature was less than 2 degrees Celsius, according to the researchers. Nonetheless, it was enough of a temperature change to contribute to an above-average global mean sea level. According to Chris Turney, a Professor of Earth and Climate Science at the University of New South Wales, Australian public research university, it appears we are heading down that same path once again.

How Volcanic Ash Proves That Ice Is Melting in the White Continent

Along with melting ice sheets, several researchers and scientists studying climate change and its impact observed volcanic ash in the melted ice. This phenomenon is the same that occurred thousands of years ago. This observation allowed researchers and scientists to conclude that the continent is just as susceptible to climate change as it was thousands of years ago.

Therefore, we could potentially lose a significant percentage of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Additionally, we could see an increase in the mean global sea level, according to Chris Turney.

How Will the Melting of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet Impact the Earth?

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), if the West Antarctic Ice Sheet were to melt completely, the mean global sea level would increase by 5 to 7 meters, which is approximately 16 to 23 feet.

And this will have a devastating impact on the lives of countless people. Adding to that, a separate study published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration noted that above-average sea levels could trigger destructive storm surges that could potentially push further inland than they ever did previously.

If this happens, many U.S. coastal communities will experience what is known as nuisance flooding. The term nuisance flooding refers to severe flooding that inundates low-lying areas. This type of flooding can quickly destroy businesses, homes, vehicles, and much more.

Nearly 40 percent of Americans live in these low-lying coastal communities, according to recent census data. Furthermore, 8 out of 10 of the largest cities in the world are located near low-lying coastal areas.

Protecting the Environment Against Climate Change

Melting ice is already taking place in Antarctica. However, there are several things that we can do to slow down the process and perhaps even reverse it. Some of the habits we should adopt include the following:

Using energy wisely
Switching to renewable energy
Taking public transportation whenever feasible
Carpooling

Each of these changes might seem small. However, they can go a long way toward slowing down the devastating impact that climate change makes the environment. These changes can also slow down the melting ice sheets if enough people step up and do their part. And if we are lucky enough, they may even help undo some of the damage that has already been done.

Read how climate change caused Greenland to lose 11 billion tons of ice in one day.

Final Thoughts on How You Can Help Preserve the Ice Sheets of Antarctica

In summary, the current state of Antarctica should serve as a wakeup call that climate change is real. Furthermore, it will have a profound impact on the environment if we don’t all start working to reduce our carbon footprint.

How to Spot a Serial Cheater Before You Fall in Love

July 1, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Just because you enjoy sharing with others doesn’t mean you want to share your love. Most people prefer to be their mate’s one-and-only and consider cheating a deal-breaker. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if you could spot a serial cheater before falling in love with him?

Yes, many people go through life in countless casual relationships, free of commitment. They are upfront in the beginning and let the other person know that their love life is a revolving door. For them, cheating isn’t an issue since they have been honest and aren’t interested in committing to anyone.

Perhaps you’re like most people in America who prefer a monogamous relationship. Of course, you needn’t be married to be in a committed relationship. If you have a mutual agreement as a couple, you will consider having anyone on the side as cheating.

How can you be sure that you aren’t beginning a new relationship with a serial cheater? Is finding a lifelong love worth risking heartbreak? Alfred Lord Tennyson believed so when he wrote that losing in love is better than never finding it.

Dealing with matters of the heart is a risky business. If you’ve been in toxic relationships in the past, you may be hesitant to try again. When a serial cheater breaks your heart, it’s understandable that you’d have trust issues.

How to Spot a Cheater

So, you’ve met a guy who meets all your love material criteria. He’s handsome, charming, and has a rewarding career. After dating for a while, you can picture yourselves as a forever couple. He seems to say all the right things and has his life together, or does he?

Before you step out on a limb for love, set your heart aside for a moment and listen to your intuition. It’s easy for your heart to be oblivious to red flags in a relationship. Protect yourself from a toxic relationship and learn to recognize these signs that your person may be a serial cheater.

1 – He’s Got a Sordid History of Broken Relationships

Very few people are lucky in love once, and it lasts a lifetime. Most people date and have a couple of serious relationships before they find their forever partner. Just because you aren’t your man’s first love interest doesn’t mean he is a cheater.

However, be suspicious if he openly brags about all the women he’s loved and dumped. Do you want to be another checkmark in his little black book? Most serial cheaters have a sketchy reputation, and it might be worth your while to reconsider trusting him.

2 – He is Rarely Available for You

It takes two people to tango, so why does he have you dancing solo so often? Even married couples have jobs and other responsibilities that keep them apart for a few hours or days. You shouldn’t expect your man to be available every minute of the day.

If he loves you, shouldn’t he want to communicate with you regularly? It’s not that you wish to him psycho calling or texting you constantly, which is a tell-tale sign he’s either a control freak or is desperate. You don’t need that situation, either.

Does he seem to have difficulty penciling time with you into his schedule? Why do most of your texts go unanswered, and your calls go instantly to voicemail? Maybe he is juggling dates and invitations from another woman.

3 – He is More into Himself

A man who takes pride in his appearance and exudes self-confidence is quite attractive. However, no woman wants to be in a relationship with a narcissist who hogs the mirror. Do you know that instant turn-off you get when you meet a guy who thinks he is a divine gift to women?

Yes, you want your man to dress nicely and have a gentleman’s manners. Does your current beau take it to the extreme and can think of nothing else but his vanity? This guy may be used to strutting his stuff around more than one lady.

4 – He Shamelessly Flirts with Other Women Around You

While even the best guy may naturally be a bit flirtatious, it takes a lot of gall if he is checking out other women in your presence. If he is in a steady relationship with you, you certainly have a right to expect his full attention.

The next time you’re out with your lover, watch how he interacts with the opposite gender. Is he always chatting up the pretty servers at the restaurants as if you weren’t even there? Does he act a little too flirty around your best girlfriends?

5 – Clues that go Unsaid

It doesn’t take long for a serial cheater to get a bad reputation around town, leaving a trail of broken hearts and vengeful spirits. So, he moves his nefarious love schemes to another town or even another state. After a while, he’s up to his old tricks, and you may be caught in the crosshairs.

When you’re together in public, have you noticed glances from women you don’t know? Has he ever seemed shifty and nervous when an unfamiliar lady enters the room? Maybe a woman at another table gives you a one-second look of pity, then looks away.

These nonverbal clues might be your signal to rethink your new relationship. He may have forgotten the fury of a scorned woman, but their apparent glares say it all. Before you join their ranks, you might not want to get too attached to him.

6 – You Are the Other Woman

We all know that two’s company and three is a crowd, especially in a love relationship. Perhaps the reason your new romantic interest is acting so peculiar and vague is that he’s already attached. Even worse, he could be married and have a houseful of children in another town.

If you forgo the voice of your conscience and stick with him, things may get ugly. Even if he decides to break up with his other girlfriend or divorce his wife, you may live with a tinge of guilt in the future. If this guy used you to cheat on someone else, the chances are that he will eventually cheat on you.

7 – He Acts Suspiciously

Yes, we’ve all done things that haven’t made us proud, and we don’t advertise them. However, relationships must be built on trust, which means you don’t hide things from each other. If your new beau seems vague about his past, his job, or even what he did yesterday, what is he hiding?

If he guards his phone like a secret service agent, it should be a red flag. Why does he go into the other room when he’s texting or talking on the phone? Does he seem antsy if you ask to borrow his phone, or does he carry it with him even to the bathroom?

When you’re on a date, and his phone is Grand Central Station, is he vague and dismissive when you ask about it? If it was nobody on the phone, then why does nobody keep calling and texting? He could be entertaining another woman by text while you are sitting right across from him.

Be aware of his body language when he talks to you because it may reveal if he’s lying to you. Does he have difficulty making eye contact with you, or does he seem jittery when you ask serious questions? If he is lying to you about one thing, could he be lying about being unfaithful to you?

8 – His Social Media Presence Doesn’t Include You

Do you suspect that your lover may be a serial cheater? A few simple online investigations can offer you clues. Check out his social media pages and notice his profile and picture sections. Why would he still say that he is single and available instead of in a relationship?

Are his photo albums loaded with pictures of you both having fun as a couple? How many photos of unfamiliar women do you see who are still leaving flirty comments to his posts? If he has current profiles listed on prominent Internet dating sites, your relationship is in trouble.

9 – His Conversations are Superficial About Commitment

Forging a committed relationship is nothing to take lightly. While you needn’t get married, it’s assumed that both partners pledge to be faithful and won’t cheat. A serial cheater is so used to cheating that even hearing the word commitment or fidelity makes him nervous.

He has honed his courting skills to perfection, and he tries to say everything he thinks you want to hear. Did he start the early stages of your relationship with crafty clichés like he’s never felt this way before, or can’t breathe without you? He is breathing fine after telling the last thirty women the same lines before dumping them and playing you.

Final Thoughts on Unmasking a Serial Cheater, Once and for All

When you’re falling in love, you hope it’s with someone who loves you in return and will be faithful. If you have a suspicion that your current beau may be a serial cheater, trust your instincts. Refuse to allow him or anyone else to betray your trust because you deserve better.

20 Signs It’s Time to Call it Quits on Your Significant Other

July 1, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Maybe you’ve been thinking about calling it quits with your significant other, but leaving them seems scarier than staying. After all, many people stay with their partners even if they feel unhappy just because of the familiarity of the relationship. The whole dating scene today looks vastly different than even five or ten years ago, and many people don’t want to go through the hassle. Sadly, the prospect of staying in an unhappy relationship seems easier than restarting with someone new.

Studies show that the longer you’re with someone, the harder it becomes to back out of a relationship. According to a 2017 study by the University of Utah, published in the journal Social Psychology and Personality Science, many factors come into play when deciding to break up with someone or not. Researchers gave out questionnaires that asked specific questions about why people would choose to remain in or leave a relationship. The participants consisted of married couples, people dating, and even those considering breaking up with their partners.

Researchers discovered 27 fundamental reasons for wanting to stay in a relationship: feeling obligated, emotional connection, and investment. They also found around 23 reasons people listed for wanting to leave, such as clashes in personality, betrayal of trust, and disconnection with partners.

No matter your relationship status, you rob yourself of potential life-long happiness with someone new when you stay in a toxic relationship. Perhaps you have lost feelings for your partner or need space for yourself to figure things out. If you’ve been confused about whether to leave your significant other, these signs will help you decide.

20 Signs It Is Time to Move on From Your Significant Other

Here are 20 signs it’s time to call it quits on your significant other:

You have to walk on eggshells around your partner.

A partnership should feel like coming home, a safe place to unravel your innermost layers and show the deepest parts of yourself. If you don’t feel comfortable being yourself around your partner, it’s probably time to call it quits. It may seem scary at first to leave what feels familiar, but think how much freer you’ll feel once you get fresh air and gain clarity on the relationship.

You feel like you’ve lost yourself in the relationship.

While a relationship brings two people together, they should maintain their own lives and have separate personalities. If you feel you’ve meshed too much with your partner to where you don’t even know where they end, and you begin, you might need to take a step back. Codependent relationships often involve some level of enmeshment, where personal boundaries become blurry, and partners become overly concerned with each other. When this happens, autonomy gets lost and partners lose their sense of self.

Your partner doesn’t seem committed to you.

If you have a suspicion that your partner might be seeing someone else or that they want a casual relationship, you should talk with your significant other. No one should have to feel insecure and unwanted in a relationship, especially if you’ve been with your partner for an extended period.

It’s time to call it quits when you feel insecure in the relationship.

You should probably call it quits if you don’t feel safe or secure in your relationship. Your partner should bring you comfort and peace, not add to your life’s problems.

Your significant other wants different things in life than you.

You might need to call it quits if you don’t share the same life goals with your partner. Of course, wanting different things in life doesn’t have to mean you should end the relationship, but you should share the same values. For example, if one person wants kids and the other doesn’t, this probably rules out a long-term commitment.

You’re starting to imagine life without them.

You may find that you daydream about a life without your partner from time to time. These thoughts may crop up after a bad fight or maybe just during a night alone, and if it happens infrequently it shouldn’t alarm you. However, if you start to notice yourself longing for the single life again, you should take a good hard look at your relationship.

You feel like you’d regret it if you stayed in the relationship.

If you feel that staying with your partner would leave you with more regret than leaving, you’ve already made your decision. You must politely inform your partner that you can’t stay with them for whatever reason. Not every relationship lasts forever, but that doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate what you learned from each one.

They don’t put the same effort as you into the relationship.

Maybe you plan all the dates or buy them nice things even though they don’t return the favor. A one-sided relationship can’t last too long before resentment starts to build, so if that sounds like your situation, it’s probably time to call it quits.

You have more bad times than good times.

If your partner seems to put more stress lines on your face than smiles, you probably shouldn’t stay with them. Every relationship encounters hard times but shouldn’t outweigh the good ones.

They seem emotionally unavailable and distant with you.

When you spend time with them, they seem distant and cold with you. Perhaps this points to infidelity, or it could mean they don’t want the relationship anymore but don’t want to tell you directly. You deserve a committed, loving partner, so don’t hesitate to end things with someone like this.

You have suspicions that they’re seeing someone else.

Do they check their phone constantly and try to hide it from you? This may point to a cheating partner, in which case you should confront them about it.

The relationship doesn’t bring out the best in you.

Maybe you could do better than your current partner, especially if they bring out the stress more than the best in you. If this sounds like your significant other, you should probably call it quits on them.

You’re codependent on them.

Do you feel like you can’t live without them and don’t know how to be alone? If so, this doesn’t mean you should necessarily end things, but you must examine your relationship insecurities to maintain autonomy.

They put you down or blame you for their problems.

If you constantly get blamed for problems in the relationship or take a few too many “jokes” from them, you should ask yourself why you stay with this person. A relationship should build you up, not bring you down.

They don’t give you time to talk and always make things about them.

They don’t deserve your time or energy if they display behaviors such as talking over you and not paying attention when you talk. Be with someone who adores you and wants to hear about your thoughts and feelings.

You feel better when you’re alone and dread being with them.

If you can finally breathe when you get time to yourself, you shouldn’t remain in the relationship. Maybe they don’t act like the same person you met in the beginning. Sometimes people only show their true colors when they’re committed to someone.

Your partner keeps threatening to break up with you.

If you constantly have to walk on eggshells because your partner threatens to end things when you make a mistake or upset them, do yourself a favor and walk out the door.

They try to control you.

No one deserves a partner who won’t allow their significant other room to make their own decisions. Be with someone you feel comfortable with and who won’t try to assert dominance over you.

It’s time to call it quits when your family sees the red flags that you don’t.

If your family doesn’t like your partner, they probably have their reasons. Make sure to value their input and try to see things from their perspective before you call it quits with your partner.

You feel like you’ve had to sacrifice more than you should in the relationship.

If you feel like you’ve had to give more than your fair share in the partnership and it’s not reciprocated, it’s probably time to call it quits.

Final thoughts on signs you should end things with your partner

Not every relationship can last forever, and they shouldn’t unless you feel you can choose them every day and not regret it. If the doubts start to scream louder than your faith in your partner, maybe you need to take a second look at things. This doesn’t mean you don’t love or care about your significant other, but sometimes two people need to break up and continue to grow on their own terms.

7 Signs That Someone Has Bulimia Nervosa

July 1, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Over 30 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder in their lifetime, and bulimia nervosa is one of three diseases classified by the medical community. Oddly, 20 million of those people are females, while the other 10 million are males. The numbers indicate that females have a more difficult time accepting their body image, and they use whatever means possible to fit into society’s norms.

Bulimia nervosa is an exceedingly tricky condition to understand, and the signs of this illness are hard to spot. For starters, most people suffering from this condition look normal on the outside. They have healthy appetites, and they sit down to dinner with the rest of the family.

The real problem is what goes on behind closed doors, and it’s hard to see what people hide under baggy clothes. These people become skilled at hiding their lifestyle, and you may not know what’s going on until their weight is at a dangerous level.

A Common Bulimic Story

Allison was a vibrant high school girl who was captain of the cheerleading squad and all-around well-liked. When she started gaining weight in the 10th grade, her popularity floundered. Her new weight gain prohibited her from making the taxing moves that cheerleading required, so she quit the team.

Rattled by depression and guilt, she couldn’t stop eating. She found herself unable to control her urges around food as it was her only source of comfort. Her life was spiraling out of control. Allison talked to one of her friends about her now 50-pound weight gain and how her life was ruined.

Her friend introduced her to purging. She taught Allison that she could eat anything she wanted and purge it with little to no-calorie gain. Allison didn’t like how vomiting made her feel, so she paid little attention to her friend.

About six months later, Allison felt like her life was over. Her mother picked up a birthday cake for her little sister. In the middle of the night, she got up and ate the entire cake. She knew that eating that much sugar would make her deathly sick, so she tried purging.

The first time wasn’t easy, but she managed to do it. It was like a lightbulb clicked in her mind that she could eat all she wanted and flush it away. Fast forward six months later, Allison was painfully thin. She had lost a few teeth due to the stomach acids eating them away.

Her parents didn’t even notice that she went from 180 lbs. down to 115 in a matter of a few months. Allison knew how to hide her weight loss well, and she was hardly ever seen without baggy clothing. Her parents often praised her weight loss and told her how good she was doing, but little did they know their little girl was in serious trouble.

Bulimia nervosa soon took hold of Allison and her life. When she would eat anything, she couldn’t keep it down. Her skin developed lesions, her breath always smelled horrible, and her hair felt like straw. Her mother saw her undressing to get into the bathtub one day and was horrified by what she saw.

Allison’s parents immediately rushed her to the hospital, where she was admitted for an eating disorder. It’s been three years since she went to therapy, and she is doing much better. If her parents had not intervened when they did, it could be a vastly different story.

Statistics on Eating Disorders

Bulimia nervosa is not a respecter of persons. It’s a disease that doesn’t care how much money you have, your status in life, or the area of the country where you reside.

Many famous stars have battled bulimia, such as Jane Fonda, Brittney Spears, Richa Chadha, Kesha, Demi Lovato, Lindsay Lohan, Paula Abdul, Lady Gaga and Princess Diana. Two out of every 100 people will suffer from one of the three eating disorders. However, out of those two people, one will suffer from both bulimia and anorexia.

Anorexia and bulimia nervosa are often confused, but they are vastly different disorders. Those who suffer from anorexia don’t purge their food; instead, they don’t eat enough to keep up with their body function. They exercise fanatically, eat little if anything, and often take massive amounts of weight loss medications.

With both conditions, these people look in the mirror and see someone who is fat. It doesn’t matter how frail and little they’re; they will always see an overweight individual staring back at them. Those suffering from this condition have a distorted view of their body.

It’s estimated that right now, more than 8 million people have an eating disorder. Sadly, only one in ten people will get the treatment they need. The standard range to develop an eating disorder is between 12-25 years of age.

Eating disorders are considered a mental illness because the mind’s warped perceptions cause them to starve themselves to death. Of all the mental illnesses out there, eating disorders have the highest mortality rates. Even if a person does get help, sometimes the damage done to the body is irreversible, and 20 percent will die due to complications.

Signs of Bulimia

The key to combating bulimia is to get early treatment, which means that friends and family members need to be on guard and know what to look for in their loved ones.

1. They Go to The Bathroom After Eating

One of the most significant signs of fighting with an eating disorder is that they go to the bathroom after eating. If you notice that your loved one eats enormous amounts of food and goes to the bathroom, it could be a sign of trouble. Be careful to see how much time they spend in the bathroom, too, as purging can take time.

2. Vomit Around the Toilet Bowel

While it’s gross to think about, vomit has a specific smell, and it can get everywhere. If someone is continuously purging, they will leave behind some trace of evidence. Look around the underside of the toilet seat and see if there are any remnants left behind.

3. Tooth Decay

Is your friend or loved one complaining about their teeth lately? The stomach acids rise to the surface when purging, and it can leave behind devastation. The teeth become rotted, but the gums and tissues inside the mouth can be raw. The stomach acid will eat the mouth to pieces.

4. Red Eyes

Purging takes a lot of strength and muscles. When someone is continuously doing this activity, they are going to bust a few blood vessels in the eyes. Be on the lookout for bloodshot eyes that don’t seem to get better. It can be a sign that your loved one is purging.

5. Weight Fluctuations

Weight fluctuations are the biggest indicator of a problem with eating disorders. However, another sign that something is amiss is if a person wants to wear large, baggy clothes in the heat of summer. Jackets and hoodies are commonplace when someone is trying to hide problems in their body.

One area that usually tells the truth about weight loss is the face and hands. The collarbone is another area that always shows when the weight is at a dangerous level.

6. Food Disappears in Large Quantities

As in the story of Allison above, she found out that she couldn’t control her urge to binge. She ate an entire birthday cake, but this behavior is quite common among those who suffer from bulimia nervosa. If you notice large amounts of food missing or you see piles of wrappers from snack cakes and other foods hidden, then it could be a sign that there’s a problem.

7. Mood Issues

When a person has an eating disorder, they are not getting the proper nutrients their body needs to thrive. Your brain needs vitamins and minerals to function. Since the bulimic purges most if not all of their food, their nutrients are low. A lack of nutrition can mess with brain function, which can cause mood disturbances.

You may notice them being sad, crying a lot, isolating themselves, and having low self-esteem. Any shift in moods should be investigated for the underlying cause.

Final Thoughts on Bulimia Nervosa: Knowing When to Get Help

Many parents and relatives try to handle matters on their own. Sadly, bulimia nervosa is a big issue, and it should be managed by a professional. The person suffering from an eating disorder needs counseling and trained about the proper way to eat.

Their unhealthy relationship with food is what probably brought them to this point anyway; then you add a mental illness on top of it, and it’s a recipe for disaster. Unlike some other psychological disturbances, having an eating disorder puts a person at an increased risk of dying prematurely.

The lack of proper nutrition, as well as the damage caused by binging and purging, can be too much for the heart to handle. It’s better to err on the side of caution than to wait too late to get help.

Nutritionists Weigh the Pros and Cons of Water Fasting

July 1, 2020 by Power of Positivity

As you continue to create a healthy lifestyle for you and your family, you’ve probably increased your water intake. Not only does water quench your thirst like nothing else, but our body requires it daily to live. While most drinking water is naturally fortified with minerals, it is usually odorless, tasteless, and calorie-free.

Nothing quite evokes our primordial senses like water. Since the earliest records of civilization, it’s been revered as the giver of life with mystical properties. Ancients recognized its sustenance for all living things and were in awe of the vast oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams that they often deified.

Healthcare experts recommend that we drink at least six to eight glasses of water each day. Unfortunately, many Americans would rather sip on sugary soda, juice, coffee, and other beverages. While you may be hooked to the taste, these liquids don’t hydrate your body as plain water does.

Since scientists claim that our bodies are at least 60 percent water, our eternal affinity to it makes sense. You can survive long periods without food but will die within days from lack of water. It is responsible for a plethora of vital functions in your body.

The Popularity of Water Fasting

Fasting can reboot your metabolism, here’s why.

Water fasting for spiritual purposes is as old as civilization itself. Most cultures throughout history promoted periodic fasting for religious enlightenment or penance. Although it was mainly a norm for monastic life, water fasting was often practiced among the average person in the culture.

This fasting practice has ebbed and flowed throughout history to modern times like the tides of the sea. A few decades ago, it was often associated with pious churchgoers and hippies. Once again, fasting with water has garnered attention for weight loss and controlling blood sugar levels.

What is a Water Fast?

While each plan may differ slightly, the basic premise is replacing food with water. Some plans suggest that you replace at least two meals a day with water and others say you can’t eat at all during the fast. You’ll notice that fasting periods will vary, from one day to as many as 40 days.

There are also debates concerning water additives for extra vitamins or flavor. Many water fasting plans allow you to flavor your water with fresh lemon juice. Less strict ones often consider plain coffee, tea, and diet soda for their fasting regimen.

Is Water the Way to Go?

It’s worth noting that although you can reap benefits from water fasting, it is one of the riskiest diet kickoffs. Before you even consider trying one, have a detailed discussion with your professional healthcare provider. If it’s right for you, she can recommend a suitable timeframe and supervise your fasting efforts.

After your healthcare provider and you have chosen the fast and time frame right for you, you may ask about the benefits of drinking mineral water or adding a little lemon juice for flavor. If you feel suddenly ill while fasting, stop immediately and call your provider.

If you are serious about fasting from food and drinking only water for a short time, do some research. Regardless of the plan’s guidelines, water fasting isn’t something to start without trustworthy information and medical supervision. Here are some pros and cons that nutritionists suggest for you to consider.

Pros of Water Fasting

Depending on the scientific research you read, most can’t agree on the safety and supposed benefits of fasting with water. Every person is different and may have variable results. Additionally, some reports you read may be anecdotal and may not be backed with scientific evidence.

If you are feeling the benefits of this fast, resist the urge to go longer than your allotted time. You may lose any possible benefit, and your health can be compromised. These are some benefits you may see while you fast with water.

• May Help You Lose Weight

Many people who fast with water periodically report it helps their weight loss regimen. It makes sense that if you are only sipping water, you wouldn’t be consuming calories. So, you’ll probably see a lower number on the scales after your fasting period is complete.

While it may be the thing to encourage you to adopt a healthier eating lifestyle, these initial pounds you lost during a fast are deceptive. The few pounds you lose are usually from losing stored water in your system rather than from burning fat.

• May Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

Did you know that becoming insensitive to insulin is what causes Type 2 diabetes? Some research into this disease suggests that short-term fasting with water can lower your insulin insensitivity. With a healthy diet and fitness program, trying periodic water fasts may guard against diabetes and high blood sugar levels.

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/understanding-insulin-sensitivity-diabetes

• May Make You Less Prone to Disease

When you have free radicals floating around in your body, they can wreak havoc on your cells and make you susceptible to illness and disease. Evidence suggests that if you fast with water for a short time, it can help your body fight off these damaging free radicals.

You may also see a noticeable drop in your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which are leading risks of cardiovascular disease and strokes. Fewer free radicals may also mean that your risk for certain cancers might be lower than usual.

• Might Help Hypertension

Have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure or borderline hypertension? You might see lower numbers on your blood pressure readings when you ingest only water for a short period. The water helps to flush your system, and you won’t be overdoing sodium.

Be on the safe side, monitor your blood pressure daily, and track your progress on paper. Never stop or alter the dosage of your blood pressure meds without medical advice. When your blood pressure normalizes, you may have more energy and fewer headaches.

• May Promote Healthy Cell Production

Did you know that your body is an amazing recycling machine? It takes the millions of body cells that die off each day and recycles them into new ones. Scientists believe this process also acts as a defense against diseases.

In laboratory tests, this cell recycling process seemed to be enhanced in animals who fasted periodically with water. These results may be promising to humans. However, testing is still in its preliminary stages, and no concrete evidence has been established.

Cons of Water Fasting

Almost every diet plan that may have benefits also carries some risks. Fasting with water isn’t for everyone and can be dangerous for some. After reading this plan’s pros, consider these cons that have been discussed by medical experts.

• You Might Become Dehydrated

If you are drinking nothing but water for a few hours or a couple of days, shouldn’t you be hydrated to the point of feeling bloated? Contrary to reason, water fast can dehydrate your system. Many foods you eat, especially fruit and vegetables, are also a major source of hydration.

• You May Become Malnourished

There’s no argument that humans must eat to survive. Your body needs the vital nutrients that food provides and can’t sustain only on water. Even after a day of fasting with water, some people may feel the effects of malnourishment.

• Your Diet May be Sabotaged

Even the strongest willed person probably daydreams of delicious foods while fasting on water. When you try this fast, you may count down the minutes until it’s finished. Going without food can make you obsess and give in to your cravings, resulting in food binges that are bad for your health.

• You May Get Water Intoxication

Yes, you can have too much of a good thing, including water. Did you know that your body can become weak and intoxicated when you drink too much water? This condition, called hyponatremia, is a possible risk from fasting with water.

Your professional healthcare provider will advise you not to exercise if you are fasting. Water alone can’t replace the electrolyte balance you lose while sweating during a workout. Hyponatremia can be a dangerous situation.

• Dangerous Blood Pressure Fluctuations

Although periodic water fasts may help hypertension, drinking an excess of water can drop your pressure too low, resulting in hypotension. Your blood pressure might experience dangerous fluctuations while standing or sitting down, so you need to be monitored closely by your healthcare provider.

• Look Out for the Fasting Blues

You know that feeling when you’ve gone without eating all day. The malaise can suddenly attack you and make you feel like you’re coming down with something. During a water fast, it’s common to experience brain fog, dizziness, and sick headaches.

If you are planning a short water fast, consider it when you are off work or school. You may feel too weak to focus. You also should exercise caution when driving or operating heavy machinery. If in doubt, don’t do it.

Learn the benefits of intermittent fasting and tips to help you start.

Final Thoughts on Deciding if a Water Fast Right for You?

Only your professional healthcare provider is qualified to consider if water fasting is right for you. With strict medical supervision, your benefits may outweigh the common risks. Talk to your provider about your medical history and list any medications or supplements you are taking.

Dentists Explain 10 Things Your Mouth Reveals About Your Health

July 1, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Your dentist knows all your secrets. No, not those secrets. When your dentist looks inside your mouth, they learn secrets about your health. You may wonder what health secrets they see. You will find it intriguing to read what, precisely, your things your mouth reveals about your health.

The battle inside your mouth

Your mouth hosts over 700 kinds of microbes. Microbes are assorted bacteria, viruses, and fungus. Some microbes in your mouth are beneficial, while others are harmful, causing tooth decay or gum disease. The harmful microbes create plaque, a transparent film that sticks to your teeth. There’s a continual battle going on inside your mouth between the good and bad bacteria. The good microbes work hard to slow down the growth of the bad ones, plus they help you digest your food.

But poor mouth hygiene strengthens the harmful microbes. Eating sugary foods or drinks feeds these microbes, causing their little community to flourish and spread around your mouth.

These microbes turn the sugar into acid, which attacks your teeth surfaces, causing plaque build-up and damage to your teeth. Regular brushing and flossing limit the growth of the harmful microbes, keeping them from getting out of control.

Good mouth hygiene can prevent these conditions.

Tooth decay
Gum disease
Cracked teeth
Receding gums
Bad breath
Periodontitis

What your mouth reveals to your dentist

Your mouth is a good indicator of your health. Some dentists say a healthy mouth reveals a healthy body. Here is a list of 10 conditions your dentist can diagnose from looking in your mouth.

Diabetes

Your dentist can see evidence of diabetes while checking out your teeth and mouth. If you have diabetes, you’re more likely to have a gum disease called periodontal disease, which is an infection in your gums and bone around your teeth. Gum disease causes pain, constant halitosis or bad breath, and sometimes chewing problems. Diabetes can also cause the following:

Dry mouth-lack of saliva which causes sores, tooth decay, and infection
Thrush-a painful fungal disease that makes white sores in your mouth
Increases the amount of glucose you have in your mouth which cause bacteria to grow

Cardiovascular disease

Studies found there is a clear link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease. Your dentist could be the first health professional to tell you the risks of gum disease associated with heart disease. You may not realize the long-term effects on your heart from gum disease. You may eat well and exercise. But if you have poor mouth hygiene, you’re still at risk for cardiovascular disease.

Endocarditis

This infection attacks the lining of your heart chambers or heart valves. It arises when bacteria or fungi from another area of your body, like the mouth, spreads into your bloodstream and attacks certain parts of your heart. Your dentist may see that you have an infection in your mouth. Their diagnosis plus other symptoms could mean you have endocarditis. Other symptoms include

Joint pain
Fever
Weight loss
Headaches
Loss of appetite

If your dentist notices a mouth infection, contact your doctor right away so you can be checked for endocarditis.

Canker sores

Your dentist can see canker sores in your mouth. These little round white sores appear on your lips or the inside of your mouth. Sometimes you get them on your gums, tongue, and even the roof of your mouth. They’re not big, but they are painful. Doctors don’t know the cause of canker sores, but sometimes they indicate you’re under stress or have a weak immune system, or you’re going through hormonal changes. Studies show that sometimes canker sores point to deficiencies in your body, such as low iron or a vitamin B deficiency. Canker sores can also point to injuries to the lining of your mouth. Ask your dentist how to treat canker sores.

Open sores on the inside of your mouth may alert your dentist that you have HIV. HIV is an often-deadly virus that attacks your immune system. Left untreated, HIV kills off cells of your immune system, so you’re more prone to infection and cancer. The open sores called aphthous ulcers are not contagious, nor life-threatening, but they hurt. They make eating painful. Thirty-two to forty-five percent of those who have HIV develop these painful sores.

Bad breath

Bad breath doesn’t seem like that big problem, but it could mean you have digestive issues. Doctors can test your breath to see if you have a bacterial infection called Helicobacter pylori or H. pylori in your stomach. Bad breath is a common symptom of this infection. It also causes peptic ulcers, stomach inflammation, and even stomach cancer. H. pylori infections are treated with two different antibiotics taken at once.

Osteoporosis

Many studies found a connection between bone loss and loose teeth. If you have osteoporosis, you’re three times more likely to lose teeth than other women who don’t have the disease. Osteoporosis is a disease that impacts your bone density. It causes your bones to be more porous and frail, making you at risk for breaks and fractures. There are often no symptoms until you break a bone. There are treatments you can get for osteoporosis to help your bones. But one group of medications for osteoporosis can cause osteonecrosis of your jaw, which cuts off the blood supply to your jaw. This condition is a dangerous side effect.

You can keep your bones healthy by following these suggestions.

Eat a diet with lots of calcium and vitamin D
Try weight-bearing exercises or walking or dancing to keep your bones healthy and strong.
Don’t smoke
Don’t drink too much alcohol.
Regular dental checkups

Alzheimer’s disease

Some studies indicate that periodontitis may lead to Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers think that inflammation from the periodontitis is what may cause AD. Gum disease or periodontal disease occurs when sticky plaque builds up between your teeth and gums. Bacteria living in the plaque grows and causes inflammation. Inflammation makes the gums deteriorate, recess, and then you can lose teeth. Also, periodontitis causes other diseases, diabetes, and heart problems. You can fight periodontal disease by following good daily mouth and teeth care.

Brushing your teeth twice a day-Brush your teeth in the mornings and at night to lower plaque growth and kill bacteria. Don’t forget to brush your tongue, too.
Floss-Floss at least once a day to remove food particles between your teeth.
Mouthwash-Yep, it’s not just for bad breath. Use mouthwash to kill the plaque and get rid of anything you missed brushing and flossing.

Researchers reveal that many heart procedures are unnecessary.

Autoimmune disease

Some autoimmune diseases produce symptoms in your mouth, which your dentist may notice. Some of these symptoms include

Bumps or sores-If you have little bumps on your gums may indicate inflammation related to an autoimmune disease.
Trouble swallowing or change in your speech-Autoimmune disease causes your glands to not make as much saliva as usual. This decreased production affects your swallowing and speech due to dryness.
Jaw pain-Many people with rheumatoid arthritis have jaw pain.
Low lip swelling-If you notice your lower lip swelling or more prominent than usual, this could be a sign of lupus.

Anemia

Your tongue can tip off your dentist that you’re iron deficient or anemic. Iron deficiency is a sign of low hemoglobin, which means you’re low in red blood cells. Red blood cells move oxygen throughout your entire body. Indications that you’re iron deficient can show up on your tongue. Studies suggest that if tongue changes of color and texture are symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia.

Symptoms of being iron deficient include the following:

Change in your tongue’s color-either pale or bright red
Trouble chewing, talking, or swallowing.
Pain in your tongue
Swelling in your tongue
Tenderness in your tongue
Loss of texture of your tongue

Good mouth hygiene practices

Follow these simple practices to keep your mouth healthy and free of bacteria or plaque growth.

Consider a new toothbrush-If possible, brush your teeth with an electric toothbrush. Regular toothbrushes are good, but they aren’t as effective as an electric one. The fast movement helps you clean more in-depth and in harder to reach places between your teeth.
Brush your tongue-Many people neglect to brush their tongue, but plaque builds up there too. Brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth.
Choose a fluoride toothpaste-Flouride toothpaste is the best to fight tooth decay, and it leaves a protective barrier on your teeth.
Flossing-Flossing should be done twice a day. Some people prefer the little handheld dental flossers to floss their teeth.
Dental appointments-You should see your dentist twice a year for cleanings and checkups. No one loves going to the dentist, but it’s excellent preventative care so that you won’t end up with cavities and other problems. Your dentist can also recommend products and treatments like clear aligners if you need to correct the alignment of your teeth.

Final thoughts on the secrets your mouth tells the dentist about your health

Your good health is no secret to your dentist. They’re trained to find conditions that affect not only your mouth, teeth, and gums but your entire body. They’re experts at what’s going on in your mouth and will let you know if you are at risk for gum disease, tooth decay, or receding gums.

Follow their directions regarding good mouth hygiene. It can help not only your teeth but your entire body to stay healthier. So, pull out your floss, toothbrush, and mouthwash today for better oral hygiene plus a healthy body… and you won’t have to worry about your dentist knowing your secrets.

You have to walk on eggshells around your partner.

You feel like you’ve lost yourself in the relationship.

Your partner doesn’t seem committed to you.

It’s time to call it quits when you feel insecure in the relationship.

Your significant other wants different things in life than you.

You’re starting to imagine life without them.

You feel like you’d regret it if you stayed in the relationship.

They don’t put the same effort as you into the relationship.

You have more bad times than good times.

They seem emotionally unavailable and distant with you.

You have suspicions that they’re seeing someone else.

The relationship doesn’t bring out the best in you.

You’re codependent on them.

They put you down or blame you for their problems.

They don’t give you time to talk and always make things about them.

You feel better when you’re alone and dread being with them.

Your partner keeps threatening to break up with you.

They try to control you.

It’s time to call it quits when your family sees the red flags that you don’t.

You feel like you’ve had to sacrifice more than you should in the relationship.

Diabetes

Cardiovascular disease

Endocarditis

Canker sores

HIV

Bad breath

Osteoporosis

Alzheimer’s disease

Autoimmune disease

Anemia

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