Martha A. Cheves's Blog, page 33

6 Foods That Actually Relieve Gas - Food #1

There is no way I could not pass this one on and yes it's from the Grandparents.com site!
Say goodbye to post-meal bloating, pain, and embarrassment when you add these gas-busting foods to your diet.
Whether it’s physical discomfort, like sharp, jabbing pains and a swelling or tightness in the stomach, or the embarrassment of belching or flatulating uncontrollably, we’ve all experienced that distressing moment (or series of moments) when your body is overrun with gas.
The good news is that we’re all in this together. I have yet to meet someone who has not burped, farted or clutched their bloated stomach and cursed their respective gastrointestinal gods for undue discomfort. The great news is that there are foods that can actually help your body combat gas, and we’ve rounded them up just for you.


Dandelion GreensA bitter herb like dandelion seems like it would churn your stomach into a gassy knot, but this backyard nuisance is actually a bloat and gas-fighting all-star. Dandelion greens pack a bloat-free punch by acting as a diuretic and ridding the body of excess water, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Dandelion greens also prevent gas by increasing stomach acid production and stimulating digestion, according to naturopathic doctor Dr. Ivy Branin from Simplicity Health Associates in New York City. “Stomach acid is crucial in proper digestion,” said Branin. “If foods are properly digested, gas and bloating are prevented.”

Whole Foods Market says the greens also offer a trio of vitamins—A, C and K—and recommends adding them to salads and stir-fries.

Test Your Brain

Test Your Brain
This is really cool.
ALZHEIMER'S EYE TEST
(I love this part.. It's absolutely amazing!)
 Count every "F" in the following text:
 
FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS.....
(SEE BELOW)
HOW MANY 'F's?
 Count them again.
  Don't go any lower until you come up with your number.
 
 
 



WRONG, THERE ARE 6 -- no joke..
READ IT AGAIN !
Really, go back and try to find the 6 'F's before you scroll down.
The reasoning behind this is further down.
The brain cannot process "OF".
 
F  INISHED  F  ILES ARE THE RE
SULT O  F    YEARS O  F    SCIENTI
F  IC STUDY COMBINED WITH
THE EXPERIENCE O  F    YEARS.....
Incredible or what?
Anyone who counts all 6 'F's on the first go is a genius.

Three is normal, four is quite rare.

5 Ways Caffeine Can Make Your Life Better - part 5

I found this on Grandparent.com and thought we might all enjoy seeing why we SHOULD enjoy that must have morning drink - coffee.
Coffee is much more than a daily pick-me-up — the right amount can protect you from serious health problems. 


Reduces risk of kidney stones
The promise: Increase your caffeine intake and you’ll decrease your chances of getting painful kidney stones.

The proof: A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2014 revealed that people who drink caffeine-containing beverages have a lower risk of incident kidney stones. “Caffeine does make you pee more!” says Kirkpatrick. “It’s the build-up of [deposits] that are not being released that leads to stones. Having urine and waste move through the body decreases the potential for stones to form.”

5 Ways Caffeine Can Make Your Life Better - part 4

I found this on Grandparent.com and thought we might all enjoy seeing why we SHOULD enjoy that must have morning drink - coffee.
Coffee is much more than a daily pick-me-up — the right amount can protect you from serious health problems. 


Helps men with sexual problems
The promise: Decrease your risk of erectile dysfunction by drinking coffee daily.
The proof: A 2015 study of 3,724 men found that participants who drank 2 to 3 cups (170-375mg) per day had the lowest incidence of erectile dysfunction, a problem that affects 22% of men at age 40 and 49% by age 70, according to the Boston University School of Medicine, Sexual Medicine.
This effect is similar to why coffee reduces your risk of heart disease, says Kirkpatrick. “If you think about heart disease, it occurs because you have a blockage somewhere,” she says. “ED is like a heart attack in your penis—you’re not getting enough blood flow to be able to do what you need to do. A lot of studies show that coffee improves function of blood vessels.”

5 Ways Caffeine Can Make Your Life Better - part 3

I found this on Grandparent.com and thought we might all enjoy seeing why we SHOULD enjoy that must have morning drink - coffee.
Coffee is much more than a daily pick-me-up — the right amount can protect you from serious health problems. 


Lowers heart disease risk
The promise: Healthy men and women who drink 3 to 5 cups of coffee are less likely to develop heart attack-inducing clogged arteries over time.
The proof: In 2015, the journal Heart published an article that reported on the dietary habits and corresponding coronary artery calcium in 25,000 men and women (average age 41) who had no evidence of cardiovascular disease. Participants who self-reported drinking 3-5 cups of coffee a day had the lowest amount of calcium build-up in their hearts.
“A recent large, meta-analysis found that moderate coffee consumption (3 to 5 cups per day) was associated with lower risk of coronary heart disease and heavy coffee consumption was not associated with risk of heart disease,” says AHA spokesperson Rachel Johnson, PhD., M.P.H, R.D. In this case, caffeine may not be the only compound helping your heart stay healthy. “In addition to caffeine, coffee contains antioxidant phenols, which improve endothelial function and thus may prevent atherosclerosis.”

5 Ways Caffeine Can Make Your Life Better - Part 2

I found this on Grandparent.com and thought we might all enjoy seeing why we SHOULD enjoy that must have morning drink - coffee.
Coffee is much more than a daily pick-me-up — the right amount can protect you from serious health problems. 


Enhances your exercise
The promise: Work out harder and rev your metabolism for longer when you caffeinate pre-workout.
The proof: Good news for coffee lovers who want to get in shape. Studies show that caffeine not only helps you work out stronger and longer, but also boosts your metabolism by 15 percent for as long as three hours after you stop exercising.“Caffeine is good for exercise because it increases energy and alertness,” says Kirkpatrick. Plus, if you tend to metabolize substances slowly, caffeine might help you work harder during exercise session, she adds. “The harder you workout, the more your metabolism is increased afterwards.”
To reap the exercise benefits, ingest 3-9 mg of caffeine per kilogram (kg) of body weight (which translates to 1-2 cups on the lower end and 5 to 6 cups on the higher end) one hour before working out, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.

5 Ways Caffeine Can Make Your Life Better - Part 1

I found this on Grandparent.com and thought we might all enjoy seeing why we SHOULD enjoy that must have morning drink - coffee.
Coffee is much more than a daily pick-me-up — the right amount can protect you from serious health problems.  
The verdict is in: If you take your coffee daily and often, and abstain from smoking, you’re likely to live longer than the average adult, says a study of 500,000 men and women that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2012. “Moderate coffee drinkers live longer than non coffee-drinkers,” says Kristin Kirkpatrick, M.S., R.D., Manager of Wellness Nutrition Services at Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. “In general studies of coffee, the benefits are clearly documented.” Part of coffee's health-sustaining power is derived from its caffeine content. Long life isn't the only proven benefit of this natural, get-up-and-go energy source—read on for six other ways caffeine improves your health 


Protects you from Parkinson’s Disease
The promise: Drinking two or three cups of caffeinated coffee per day may protect you from Parkinson’s Disease, an incurable, debilitating disorder that attacks your nervous system and is marked by tremors, stiffness, and difficulty of movement.
The proof: Higher coffee and caffeine intake is associated with “significantly lower incidence” of Parkinson’s Disease, says a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2000, which followed 8,000 men aged 45-68 over a 30-year period. Participants who drank at least 28 ounces or more of coffee per day were less likely to get Parkinson’s than people who drank less.
“When you take out the other additives [in coffee], it still works—it’s really the caffeine that’s helpful,” says Miran Salgado, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Neurosciences at New York Methodist Hospital and Medical Director for the American Parkinson Disease Association Information and Referral Center at New York Methodist Hospital. Caffeine crosses the blood-brain barrier and speeds up brain activity, which can protect brain health, slow the progression of Parkinson’s, and as some studies have shown, help improve compromised motor skills and involuntary movements brought on by Parkinson’s. So should you start drinking coffee if you don’t already? “I would do it,” says Dr. Salgado. “Do whatever can protect you. If coffee is one of them, you might as well drink a few cups a day. It’s probably a good idea.”

The Many Uses of Baking Soda Part 3

This information is from Grandparents.com and too good to keep to myself.  This will be listed in 3 parts.  Enjoy.

Women spend about $426 billion on beauty products each year. You can forgo the expensive products and still look and feel fabulous with just one do-it-all tool - and it only costs about a dollar. Find out how to use plain old baking soda to get great hair, skin, nails, and more.


Smell BetterYou can even use baking soda in place of your deodorant. A pinch of baking soda mixed with water provides a paste that doubles as a natural deodorant. If you’re having trouble making it stick, try applying a little cornstarch first. But if you aren’t ready to part with your antiperspirant, just sprinkle some baking soda in your shoes for an easy, cheap deodorizer
Get Cleaner NailsYellowing, stained nails can make your hands look older. Nail experts recommend making a paste with equal parts hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, and using a nail scrub brush to scrub underneath and on top of your nails. Let it sit for a few minutes and rinse off. Persistently yellow nails, however, could be a sign of a fungal infection. See a doctor if your nails don’t lighten up. 
Exfoliate Rough Skin
Baking soda is also great as an exfoliator. Use three parts baking soda to one part water and rub onto rough elbows, feet, hands, or other spots to exfoliate dry, scaly skin. Do not use on cracked or broken skin, however.

The Many Uses of Baking Soda Part 2

This information is from Grandparents.com and too good to keep to myself.  This will be listed in 3 parts.  Enjoy.

Women spend about $426 billion on beauty products each year. You can forgo the expensive products and still look and feel fabulous with just one do-it-all tool - and it only costs about a dollar. Find out how to use plain old baking soda to get great hair, skin, nails, and more.

Polish JewelryIf your silver jewelry looks old and tarnished, try cleaning it with this simple trick. You just need some baking soda, very hot (almost boiling) water, and aluminum foil. Pour the water into a small bowl and submerge your jewelry. Then add about a tablespoon of baking soda and a sheet of aluminum foil. The combination of the water and baking soda helps lift the tarnish from your jewelry and sticks it to the aluminum. Move the pieces around, making sure that all of your jewelry touches the aluminum. Afterwards, just rinse and polish with a soft cloth. Avoid using this method on jewelry with gemstones or organic material like pearls (which are easily damaged), says the Gemological Institute of America.
Remove SplintersThere’s an easier way to remove those tiny, pesky splinters than trying to dig around with a tweezer. The baking soda helps swell the skin and draw the splinter to the surface. Simply make a paste of baking soda and water, apply to the area, and cover with a bandage. After about 24 hours, the splinter should be sticking out enough that you can pull it out with tweezers. If not, repeat the process.

The Many Uses of Baking Soda Part 1

This information is from Grandparents.com and too good to keep to myself.  This will be listed in 3 parts.  Enjoy.

Women spend about $426 billion on beauty products each year. You can forgo the expensive products and still look and feel fabulous with just one do-it-all tool - and it only costs about a dollar. Find out how to use plain old baking soda to get great hair, skin, nails, and more.
Help Your HairDrugstores and beauty supply stores sell expensive shampoos, serums, and dry shampoo formulas to combat product buildup, chlorine damage, and oily hair. All you need to solve all three hair woes is a cheap box of baking soda. Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to your usual handful of shampoo to remove buildup, rinse hair with about half a teaspoon dissolved in water to fight chlorine discoloration, or sprinkle a small amount on your scalp and brush for a quick and easy dry shampoo. Baking soda is a great cleaning agent, and easily lifts oils, discolorations, and buildup on your scalp from hairsprays, conditioners, and other products.
Whiten TeethSeveral studies published in the Journal of Clinical Dentistry found that not only were toothpastes with baking soda more effective at removing plaque, but baking soda also is more effective at whitening teeth than other products. Want a make-at-home whitener? To banish coffee and wine stains from your smile, many dentists recommend brushing with a powerhouse combination of baking soda and strawberries, which contain malic acid, another natural stain-fighter. Mash a ripe strawberry and combine with baking soda to form a paste. Brush onto teeth for a few minutes, rinse, and then brush with regular toothpaste to remove residue. A word of caution: Don’t use this treatment more than two or three times a month, since too much malic acid could damage your tooth enamel.