The Nation Newspaper

Category: Family Health

  • Prostate enlargement and urinary problems

    Let me quickly mention that I will be in Abuja precisely next week; Within this one week I will use the opportunity to carry out some health seminars especially on our newly NAFDAC registered product for infection as well as prostate enlargement and urinary problems, a health condition seriously ravaging the male folks especially the aging male, a health condition which leads to elevation of P.S.A (prostate specific antigen) and subsequently leads to prostate cancer if not taken seriously. (if you are in Abuja book appointment to see me; call 08038824033). Our intervention over a decade with documented herb has been very fruitful in terms of addressing urinary issues in men such as (excess urination, urinary retention, difficult urination even when the patient is on urinary aid called cathethar as a result of sudden blockage of urine caused by prostate problems).

    Since I started this column, I have had many responses across Nigeria and beyond which to my mind show the extent people are beginning to crave for serious awareness concerning their health. And I also recall that my last health articles on this column have dwelled so much on fibroid and staphylococcus.

    Many people, especially those who are directly affected expressed great concern and appreciation over the way and manner I have reflected on their health condition. Moreover, we have also assured them that with the kind of herbs I discuss on this column they should not despair concerning their health status.  And I want to note that it is very wrong for anybody to write himself off concerning any health condition. I believe in miracle. I believe in God.

    I believe in nature. I mean, I believe in Plants, bark of trees and leaves that God has created for the entire wellbeing of mankind. The bible says that herbs are for the healing of the nation.  My venture into natural medicine is quite an experience. I started as a health publisher. I compiled article topical health issues and published them in health journal.

    We published prime health magazine where I educated and enlightened the public about certain health issues.  I reflected on several  views from experts within Nigeria and other part of the world.  Dr David Hofman’s herbal medicinal articles, health talks, and seminars were some sorts of eye opener to me .

    I have said in my previous articles that Dr David Hoffman was the former president of American Guild of Herbalists. He was also a former ecologist lecturer at the University of Wales.

    His research on herbal medicine that can restore good health even when certain health conditions have defiled other medications prompted me to tap from his wealth of knowledge. I was told that Dr Hoffman grew in a village in Europe where his grandfather had a garden. The garden is quite expansive where different species of herbs were cultivated.

    These herbs were herbs for different health diseases such as bacterial infections, hypertension, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, heamorroid,homonal imbalances, fibroid, amenorrhea, ulcer, prostate enlargement and cancer, arthritis, and weak erection etc. History had it that little Hoffman did better than his Grand Father as he harvested more herbs when his Grand Father died. His quest for better education took him out of the garden for a while.

    And after long years of studies in different areas of human endeavor, including being  an ecologist.  He came back to work in the garden. He became one of the biggest supplier of herbs in Europe and  America. Dr David Hoffman with the knowledge he acquired from his Grand Father rather decided to advance by researching on the herbs for different health problems.

    He documented his result and the efficacy of those herbs.  Dr Hoffman’s works influenced me greatly and for over a decade of practice we have left a landmark in the practice of natural medicine. Natural medicine is a not a medicine for mediocres. It is whole body of knowledge for the highest standard of life and wellbeing. Natural medicine is scientific..

    For enquiries and treatment  call dr Paul Torty on 08037140368, 08051625888 and 08083860575.Distance  is not a barrier, call we will tell you how to benefit from this herbs.  Email paultorty@yahoo.com; www;drpaultorty.com

  • Win set to offer free medical treatment to Imo state indigenes

    Win set to offer free medical treatment to Imo state indigenes

    A nonprofit organasation, ‘When in Need Foundation’ (WIN) has chosen the indigenes of Ideato in Imo State as one of the beneficiaries of their free health services. The team of physicians and volunteers will be in the suburb of Imo state from April 27 to 29.

    According to the  Director of media  of the organisation,  Dr.George Onuorah, the WIN’s  mission of mercy is a medical journey to the most rural and deprived parts of the world hence their willingness to  travel to Ideato Imo state, Nigeria with a team of physicians and volunteers  who will provide medical screening, treatments and supplies.

    He said: “The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection was the perfect place to celebrate the When in Need Foundation’s upcoming Mission of Mercy with great food, drinks, and an art exhibit.”

    Meanwhile, to aid this project, WIN hosted a send-off happy hour and art exhibit on Wednesday in the US to support  those traveling to Nigeria for the annual mission of mercy.

    Since 2012, WIN has saved over 100,000 families, women and orphans around the world. Last year, When in Need Foundation provided food, clothing, and medical services to over 5,000 women and children.

  • Natural foods and organic foods

    One aspect of the low cash situation in Nigeria is that many people eat more of natural foods sold in local traditional markets than the generally more expensive synthetic foods sold at supermarkets. Many low-income Nigerians are not exposed to manufactured foods containing artificial components. The average Nigerian diet consists of natural meats, fish and sea foods, eggs, carbohydrates from starch tubers such as yams and cassava, vegetable oils, vegetables, and fruits.  Some people grow their own vegetables and raise their own livestock.  Goats and chicken in the backyard are only pets for some time.  They are being watched patiently with a keen desire that they grow fast enough for a feast.  Staple foods such as cassava meals provide excellent fibre that keeps the bowels fit. Many Nigerians cook their food from scratch rather than buy ready-made frozen meals.

    With reference to the manner in which they are produced, natural foods and organic foods are the opposites of junk foods. While junk foods are mainly manufactured or synthesized and have added chemicals, natural and organic foods are generally free of artificial components. Natural foods are foods as they grow in nature without much of the scientific and biotechnological interventions of man; in other words, they are the wild type foods.  Organic foods are defined by government regulatory bodies and are classified as organic because of procedures followed to produce them.  These procedures are in order to ensure that the foods have minimal human intervention in their production and distribution.   The terms natural and organic are almost synonymous because of the absence of artificial modifications of the foods. However, there is more to organic foods than the efforts to make them as natural as possible thereby preserving their organic status.  Regulatory agents emphasize the manner of food production too.  The process integrates cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that altogether conserves biodiversity and promotes ecological balance.  Efforts to support biodiversity along the food chain from beneficial bacteria to beneficial plants and insects and animals before human consumption is important.  Efforts are made to eliminate artificial processes such as permanent cattle confinement (cattle must graze at least 120 days in a year), contamination of soils with pesticides and nitrate fertilizers which eventually contaminate drinking water to cause diseases such as cancer, and packaging of foods with fungicides and fumigants (See www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop).

    Foods labelled as organic foods in grocery stores are generally grown and processed without artificial interventions such as pesticides, chemical fertilizers, irradiation for sterilization, industrial solvents, chemicals for ripening, genetical modifications, biotechnology, or addition of dyes, texturizers, synthetic flavoring, and preservatives.  Animals on organic farms eat organically grown feed without added antibiotics and growth hormones and are not strictly confined as in some conventional farms.  Meat from the nomadic Fulani herdsman cattle would be organic compared to meat from a cattle ranch if the ranch fed its cattle with only artificial feed. However trespassing on other people’s farmland would be against the peaceful concept of organic food production that seeks harmony with other components of nature.

    Organic foods include natural fruits and vegetables, grains such as rice, corn, sorghum, wheat, legumes such as beans and peas, nuts such as ground nuts and cashew nuts, seeds such as melon seeds (egusi) and ogbona, and dairy products such as milk and eggs.

    Organic foods consumption is more than a fad.  The medical mysteries of today are monumental.  The answers to the causes of many modern day chronic diseases, sometimes life limiting diseases, still evade the keenest of researchers.  The foods we eat and the drinks we drink are prime suspect.  The foods we eat have often been on trial and convicted.  Some fast foods have been banned here and there.  Junk foods are a no-go area for some health watchers.  The way we manufacture foods is being questioned.  Regulatory agents are keener watchdogs because the populace is demanding responsibility.  What are the biological and ethical values of the food we consume?  How authentic are they for healthy living?  Some businesses, in a rush for profit, do compromise authenticity with the level and extent of artificial interventions in food manufacturing. Some people are saying: “We do not trust humans any more, let us go back to nature.” Some have become regular organic foods consumers while others are occasional organic foods consumers.

  • Pork, Poison or Food? Part 1.

    Pork, Poison or Food? Part 1.

    Pork, which is the flesh of pigs is a delicacy enjoyed in many parts of the world, a practice frowned upon by the three major world religions; Christianity, Islam, and the Jewish Orthodox faith .  Every day, millions of people consume three square meals, intended to power their bodies throughout the day. However, in the hustle and bustle of our modern society, these meals are increasingly becoming more processed and less natural than at any time in history. How is this affecting society’s overall health? The result can be seen in the explosion of sickness, disease and overall lack of good health.  Yet most people never make the connection between their diet and their health status, and are doomed to a lifetime of illness and fatigue.

    Yet decades ago, Dr. Maurice C. Hall, Zoology Chief at the U.S. Public Health Service, stated, “It appears to be a legitimate demand that, when a man exchanges dollars for pork, he should not do it, on the basis that he may be purchasing his death warrant.” Although the good doctor made this statement many years ago, one wonders if the pork purchased today is much leaner and healthier (as breeders and suppliers would want us to believe).

     

    Much of the problem is directly tied to a social ignorance of health, diet and our bodies. Modern science has not helped. In a discussion relating to health and diet, one nutritionist stated that the link between what one eats and how one feels has been blown out of proportion. She went on to state that the origin of sickness is unknown, and that this is the reason we have doctors. But what have doctors and medical science been able to accomplish? Very few illnesses and diseases are actually cured, and fewer still are prevented! Western medicine has been designed to react to an illness, and not help one prevent illnesses and maintain health.

     

    Many assume that trichinosis is uncommon in the modern day. This is mostly due to the fact that this disease is extremely hard to detect in humans. So-called experts will argue that properly cooking pork at 167 degrees Fahrenheit will destroy the bacteria and worms in it. However, most who cook pork are not as careful as those conducting a laboratory study. Simple organisms like these worms are remarkably resilient and just cooking the pork does not make it safe. Even more surprising is the fact that some people even eat half cooked, or raw (aka rare) pork.

    And some of these parasites, like trichinosis, can be incredibly hard to detect. Former chairman of the New York Trichinosis Commission, Senator Thomas C. Desmond, stated, “Physicians have confused trichinosis with some 50 ailments, ranging from Typhoid Fever to Acute Alcoholism. That pain in your arm or leg may be arthritis or rheumatism, but it may be trichinosis. That pain in your back may mean a gall-bladder involvement, but it may mean trichinosis.”

    How the Human Body reacts to animal fat

    Another interesting fact about pork is related to how the human body digests animal fat. The process is called hydrolysis. Studies show that when you eat animal fat, it undergoes a conversion process that changes it from beef fat, for instance, into human fat, the form in which it is stored in the body. This allows the body to remove some of the toxins, and to create tissue that is able to be converted into energy when needed.

    Yet, pork is not subject to hydrolysis. Anytime you eat pork, whether as chops or sausage, its fat is stored in the body as PORK FAT! As we have seen, fat stores much of the toxins. Therefore, you are storing the most toxic form of the animal! When the body does not know how to deal with something, like toxins—it isolates it. In the case of toxins, it stores them in fat. Since your body was never designed to ingest swine fat, it does not know how to do deal with it. So it isolates it, unchanged as pig fat on your body!

     

    And this tissue is not even useful for energy. To convert these pork fat deposits into usable energy, the body must burn up large amounts of glucose, an essential element of brain function. This can lead to a feeling of chronic hunger, which leads to the consumption of more meat, and the vicious cycle continues. Studies have also shown that those who regularly eat pork are more prone to ulcerous skin infections. This should not be surprising, because ulcerous skin infections are COMMON on living pigs and cooking does not kill all the worms and parasites in pork.

     

     

     

    Next week, the real purpose of pigs, and the millennia old guide book of human nutrition.

  • What Exactly Are Blackheads?

    What Exactly Are Blackheads?

    Blackheads are really a specific type of acne, triggered by sebum (otherwise known as face oil) production. If a clogged pore “remains open to the air, the oils in the pores oxidize to a black color, which is why we called them ‘open’ comedones or blackheads.”Here are tips to deal with black heads. Before you can begin to start treating blackheads, it’s a good idea to actually know what you’re dealing with. As you can’t really fix a problem when you don’t know what’s causing it.

    Keep in mind that they aren’t composed of dirt stuck in your pores. It’s really just the natural oil from your skin, turned a darker color.

    Those May Not Be Blackheads
    Also not all large pores have blackheads. Also, not everything that comes up when you press your pimples are blackheads either. Grab a magnifying mirror and take a (much) closer look. You may just have microscopic hairs that look like blackheads. A visit to your dermatologist, to tell the difference between the two diagnoses, can make the difference in getting rid of these spots.

    Sebaceous Filaments

    Besides microscopic nose hairs, you could have sebaceous filaments. These, instead of turning black, are clear. Sebaceous filaments don’t oxidize like blackheads do, meaning they don’t have the telltale color change. Sebaceous filaments are like blackheads, in that they both have condensed oil and skin scales, but they aren’t totally congealed like blackheads. Sebaceous filament material may congeal into a true blackhead, and most blackheads have had former lives as sebaceous filaments. With proper cleansing and care, however, sebaceous filaments can be softened, dissolved, and/or lifted up and out of the oil gland ducts.

     

    Blackheads Can Show Up Anywhere
    Not all blackheads live on your nose. You can get blackheads anywhere you can get a pimple; they’re just more common near the oiliest parts of your skin. In fact, blackheads regularly show up on areas besides the nose and chin. To be honest, most people can have blackheads on the face, chest, and back. Blackheads are dependent on many different factors. A combination of the thickness of your sebum, the stickiness of skin scales, and how well both can move through the pore. Oil and scale production amounts, and qualities vary from place to place on the skin and, in the same person, vary over time due to developmental and hormonal factors.

     

    Topical Treatments To Bust Through Blackheads
    So by now, we know blackheads are made up of oil and skin scales getting stuck in a pore. When you’re a hormonal teen with an especially oily T-zone, it may seem like there is nothing you can do to quell the oil. And, for many, that may just be true unless they turn to hormonal regulation through something like the birth control pill.

    Even if you can’t stop your skin from being oily, you can help to keep that pore from getting clogged in the first place. Adding a retinol in your nightly regimen, exfoliation using an at-home peel to remove dead skin cells, and products with salicylic acid like cleansers, and spot treatments are your best bets for treating your blackheads at home.

     

    Search for these three specific skin-care ingredients:

    Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and vitamin A. Salicylic and glycolic acids work well together to decrease oil production and vitamin A (found in retinols) is a great exfoliant. Prescription-strength varieties of vitamin A are sometimes necessary if the acne is severe, but during harmattan months, use over-the-counter versions of retinol.

     

    DIY Treatments For Blackheads
    But if you aren’t into buying lots of new products, you can also look to DIY treatments for acne. Here are a few concoctions for treating blackheads with ingredients you may find in your own kitchen.

    Turmeric mask

    Combine turmeric powder with chickpea flour, and plain yogurt to create an easy DIY mask. It’s what Indian brides bathe in the day before their big wedding day.  Apply the mask for 10 minutes, and then rinse it off to avoid staining towels with the bright yellow pigment of turmeric. You’ll notice the improvement in the blackhead acne, as well as the overall complexion of the skin within the first 48 hours. It works great and is pregnancy safe!

    Oatmeal and Honey Mask

    Combine oatmeal and raw honey, mix in with filtered or distilled water, and apply as a mask. This can pull out sebum.” This type of mask is great for sebaceous filaments.

  • Beat Arthritis by checking your teeth

    Beat Arthritis by checking your teeth

    Gum/tooth disease is a common complaint that comes with aging, which is the reason many elderly people lose their natural teeth with age. One thing many physicians and their patients are yet to realize is that tooth/gum trouble is a symptom of a much more serious health challenge. Pain in the joints is a well known symptom of Rheumatoid Arthritis, but a much less known fact is the relationship between arthritis and gum/tooth troubles. Physician/researcher Al Sears points this out when he says, “But one problem with modern medicine is that specialists often miss the bigger picture. Every part of your body is biologically connected. And what’s going on in your mouth can reveal a lot about your health.”

     

    New research studies published in the Nature Reviews Rheumatology journal provide evidence to corroborate Sear’s theory. Sears states, “In a study published just a few weeks ago in the journal Nature Reviews Rheumatology, researchers followed 6,616 people for more than 10 years. They found that those who had moderate to severe gum disease had more than twice the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.”

     

    Sears continues, “Other research suggests that clearing up gum disease could help prevent or treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine found that people who were treated for gum disease had significantly more improvement in their Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms than those who were only treated for their Rheumatoid Arthritis.”

     

    There are a lot of bacteria in your mouth, something like 100 billion bacteria. The bacteria form a sticky film called plaque that hardens into tartar. Plaque and tartar cause inflammation in your gums. If you have plaque and tartar buildup, your gums may bleed when you brush your teeth. But those bacteria can also travel around your body. And left unchecked, they can cause inflammation in other parts of your body, like in your joints.

     

    The good news is that treating gum troubles could treat or prevent Rheumatoid Arthritis. The Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine study found that people who were treated for gum disease had significantly more improvement in their RA symptoms than those who were only treated for their Rheumatoid Arthritis. Sears continues, “Scientists found that one of the bacteria involved in Periodontitis may trigger a process called citrullination. Researchers who study this process believe it’s what sparks the immune system and drives the cascade of events that lead to Rheumatoid Arthritis.” In other words, gum disease could be triggering RA.

     

    The secret of Healthy Teeth is therefore Healthy Joints. To prevent and treat your RA, simply take care of your teeth. Besides just brushing and flossing, do the following for healthy teeth AND joints:

    1. Coconut Oil Pulling. Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic detox practice. It pulls toxins out of teeth and gums. And the oil leaves a film on teeth to help prevent plaque and bacteria from sticking. It can reduce both plaque and gum disease in just seven days.

    To do this, in the morning before eating or drinking anything, gently swish one tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and between your teeth for 10 to 20 minutes. Don’t swallow. Spit the used oil into the trash or a jar, not the sink. It will clog your plumbing. Rinse your mouth and brush your teeth as normal.

     

    1. Rinse Your Mouth With Aloe. Aloe Vera has 23 polypeptides that stimulate the immune system and fight infections. In a study in India, 345 healthy people used aloe mouthwash twice a day. After just four days, aloe stamped out plaque and gingivitis. It also significantly lowered bleeding and inflammation.

    Use it just like regular mouthwash. Look for cold-processed aloe juice that uses the whole leaf. It should be at least 85% pure aloe Vera with no sugar or additives.

     

    1. Chew On Coenzyme Q10. People with gum disease have a deficiency of CoQ10. But replacing CoQ10 reserves can turn that around, and reverse gum disease.

    Look for a chewable form of CoQ10, and leave it in your mouth for a few minutes to coat your gums. Or gargle with a natural mouthwash containing CoQ10.You can also take 60 mg per day of a CoQ10 supplement. Just make sure it’s the “reduced” or ubiquinol form. If you already have gum disease or an infection, take 100 mg twice a day. I’ve seen it help repair visibly damaged gum tissue.

  • The secret of Healthy Teeth, Healthy Joints

    The secret of Healthy Teeth, Healthy Joints

    More and more people, especially women visit their doctors with complaints of aches and/or pains in their joints, mostly knees, ankles, elbows etc. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. Inflammation of the tissue around the joints and inflammatory arthritis are characteristic features of rheumatoid arthritis. The disease can cause inflammation and injury in other organs in the body. Yet many patients and health care professionals are yet to make the link between tooth and joint health.

    To prevent and treat your Rheumatoid Arthritis, simply take care of your teeth. Besides just brushing and flossing, do the following for healthy teeth AND joints:

    Coconut Oil Pulling. Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic detox practice. It pulls toxins out of teeth and gums. And the oil leaves a film on teeth to help prevent plaque and bacteria from sticking. It can reduce both plaque and gum disease in just seven days.

    In the morning before eating or drinking anything, gently swish one tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and between your teeth for 10 to 20 minutes. Don’t swallow. Spit the used oil into the trash or a jar — not the sink. It will clog your plumbing. Rinse your mouth and brush your teeth as normal.

     

    Rinse Your Mouth With Aloe. Aloe Vera has 23 polypeptides that stimulate the immune system and fight infections. In a study in India, 345 healthy people used aloe mouthwash twice a day. After just four days, aloe stamped out plaque and gingivitis. It also significantly lowered bleeding and inflammation.

    Use it just like regular mouthwash. Look for cold-processed aloe juice that uses the whole leaf. It should be at least 85% pure aloe Vera with no sugar or additives.

     

     Chew On Coenzyme Q10. People with gum disease have a deficiency of CoQ10. But replacing CoQ10 reserves can turn that around and reverse gum disease.

    Look for a chewable form of CoQ10, and leave it in your mouth for a few minutes to coat your gums. Or gargle with a natural mouthwash containing CoQ10.You can also take 60 mg per day of a CoQ10 supplement. Just make sure it’s the “reduced” or ubiquinol form. If you already have gum disease or an infection, take 100 mg twice a day. It helps repair visibly damaged gum tissue

  • One Simple Rule That Will Keep You Slim and long lived

    One Simple Rule That Will Keep You Slim and long lived

     

    The orient is home to the longest lived races, like the Japanese and Chinese, and diet has been adduced to be the secret to this. They practice a remarkably easy weight loss approach called the 80 percent rule. Conversely, ever since Nigerians have adopted sedentary western lifestyles, and food choices, the average Nigerian portion size has been growing, not to mention the average waist and dress size. Meanwhile, Nigerian life expectancy has dropped over the years. Nigerian women are now expected to live for 55.6 years and men for 53.4 years.
    It’s no coincidence that Nigerians are eating more, doing less exercise, and living shorter lives. When you take in more calories than you’re able to burn off through exercise, you gain weight. Obesity then puts you at risk for life-threatening conditions like Heart disease, Diabetes, High blood pressure, and a long list of cancers, including breast, colon and pancreatic cancer.
    If food choices play such a large role in deciding someone’s lifespan, what can Blue Zones—regions with the world’s longest living people—like Okinawa, Japan, teach us about diet and nutrition? Dietician nutritionists specializing in this critical care reveal one simple food principle that Okinawans live by, the 80 percent rule.

     

    What exactly is the 80 percent rule?

    The expression, hara hachi bu literally means ‘80 percent stomach’ in Japanese, It’s based on the belief that if you slow down your eating and stop when you’re 80 percent full, you’ll actually feel more satisfied. Why? When you eat slowly, you chew more carefully. It lets you savor the flavors and really enjoy your food—and it gives your stomach enough time to tell your brain that it’s full. Since it takes about 15 to 20 minutes for fullness signals to reach your brain, eating too fast can easily lead to overeating. The 80 percent rule can improve your quality of life.
    Unlike weight loss supplements and fad diets, this simple practice can help you lose weight safely and keep it off. It allows you to eat 20 percent fewer calories—minus the constant feeling of deprivation, or the binge eating that follows. By helping you keep excess weight off, the 80 percent rule also lowers your risk of illnesses like heart disease and diabetes and may improve your quality of life.
    That might be one reason why Okinawans have one-fifth the rate of heart disease, a quarter the rate of breast cancer and one-third the rate of dementia when compared to Africans. They also enjoy one of the world’s longest life expectancies and the most years of healthy, disability-free living. A growing number of studies support the link between eating smaller portions and living longer. One team of researchers followed a group of men and women on a calorie restricted diet for six months. Regardless of their exercise habits, all participants lost weight. They also experienced:
    Better blood sugar control
    More stable hormone levels
    Less of the DNA damage that happens with aging
    These anti-aging and disease-fighting effects mean the 80 percent rule is just one way to lower your age.

    How can you tell when you’re 80 percent full?

    The best way to stick to the 80 percent rule is to divide your plate in half before you start eating. Only eat the first 50 percent of your food to begin with; chew slowly and savor every single bite. Concentrate on the food—think about its color, flavor and texture. This is called mindful eating. After you eat the first half of your meal, put your fork down and let a few minutes pass. Then ask yourself, “Am I really still hungry?” If you’re satisfied, stop. If not, eat half of the remaining 50 percent—half of what’s left. If you are still hungry, divide the leftover food in half again.
    It’s especially important to remember this trick in restaurants, where tempting bowls of your favorite foods often come in extra-large portions. Ask for a to-go container at the start of the meal and divide the plate as soon as it arrives. Another option is to request the lunch portion.

     

    How to overpower cravings and beat binge impulses

    Everybody has cravings, (for some of us its chocolates and pastry) but if you constantly remind yourself that you’re on a diet, you’re more likely to experience binge impulses. But when you follow the 80 percent principle, there’s no forbidden fruit. If you feel like you really need to eat something, measure out one serving and just have a small amount of the treat you love. You can actually have a bar of your favourite chocolate or pastry once a week, and not risk becoming overweight.

    Other ways to control your portions:

    Start with a salad: Eating a salad before your meal can decrease your calorie intake by 10 to 12 percent. Salads are high in fiber, which helps you feel full sooner and keeps you satisfied longer. Since you have to spend more time chewing a salad, it also gives your brain a chance to catch up with your stomach.
    Don’t eat in front of the television: If you eat in front of the TV, you won’t pay as much attention to your food. The distraction—not to mention all the restaurant adverts—may easily lead to food choices you’d regret.
    Step away from your desk: “Don’t eat in a high-stress atmosphere.” It causes your brain to release the stress hormone, corticotropin factor, which can trigger ‘stress eating.’ Increased stress levels lower your motivation to eat nutritious foods.”
    Another trick is to swap your breakfast and dinner portions. Okinawans eat their largest meal in the morning, their smallest meal in the evening, and then don’t eat anything else before bed.
    There are many benefits to early eating, including better weight control. One reason why people overeat at night is the tendency to wait until they’re starving and exhausted. Then their willpower is gone and they wind up bingeing on high calorie foods. If you are not really a breakfast person, take the time to plan healthy breakfast meals and love how healthy you feel when you start the day off with delicious, energizing breakfast treats.

  • Leave Fried stuff off the salad plate

    Leave Fried stuff off the salad plate

     

    Lifestyle Hack for the week

    Salads are a healthy addition to every diet, even as dieticians advise that the fruits and vegetables are best eaten raw. However, some salads ingredients (like potatoes) need to be boiled to be edible.  Some people choose to add fried ingredients- either as vegetables or garnishes. True, fried vegetables or garnishes add a nice little crunch to salads and are lovely every now and then, especially when you’ve ordered a gourmet salad at the newest restaurant, but that will be defeating the purpose.
    Why? For everyday lunches or dinners, a regular addition of fried foods will increase the saturated fat, calories, and, potentially, the inflammatory factor of your salad. To get that crunch in a healthier way, add one to two tablespoons of raw chopped nuts or seeds.
    Simply put: Cut out the fried additions, and opt for nuts and seeds, fresh berries, and your own dressing.

  • Marriage: A lifetime covenant (2)

    Dear Reader,

    Greetings in Jesus’ precious Name! Our God is forever faithful. Praise to our Omnipotent God, the Maker of all things. The Word of God encourages us to ‘pursue after knowledge and search wisdom out’. As you continue to read and apply yourself to the demands of the Word of God, every plan of the enemy to frustrate your family life shall be annulled in Jesus’ Mighty Name!

    I discussed the origin of marriage last week. Today, I will be looking at what I have titled: Marriage Covenant Responsibilities.

    The Word of God makes it clear that marriage is a covenant, and this is expounded in my book: Marriage Covenant. What is a Covenant? The dictionary defines it as ‘a binding agreement; or a contract’ usually between two people.

    The Word of God says: Marriage is Honourable … (Hebrews 13:4). It goes to say, therefore, that the agreement of marriage between two people is seen as a good thing in the sight of God, which eventually leads to honour and dignity for the parties involved. I want to let you know, therefore, that it is a good thing for you to desire marriage, if you are not yet married. For those already married, it is a good step you have taken in life. You shall have no cause to regret it.

    However, as good as marriage is, there are covenant responsibilities that must be operated in order for it to produce the desired good. The Word says: If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:19). There is good in marriage, but you must be willing and obedient to operate the covenant.

    My husband, Dr. David Oyedepo will always say, “A life without responsibilities is a liability”. Furthermore, a wise man once said: “Responsibility is the price for greatness”. Do you desire good in your marriage? Are you longing for peace, harmony and serenity in your marital life? Then apply yourself to the demands of a good home. If you are yet to enact the covenant of marriage, begin to ask for grace to comply with the demands. If it is in your heart to obey God, it shall be easy for you to do so.

    Greatness and fulfilment don’t come by magic; neither are they meant for a specific group of people, but for as many as would fear God and work righteousness. If people are having great testimonies concerning their family relationships, why not you? Greatness and fulfilment are meant for you, if you care to walk in the covenant.

    What are these Covenant Responsibilities?

    For the man:

    1. As a Husband
    2. He is the head of the woman, the leader and not a dictator. He must lead spiritually, because God will hold him accountable (Genesis 3:9).
    3. He must love his wife unconditionally as a brother, friend and as a lover, sexually (Ephesians 5:25-29).
    4. He must honour his wife and not treat her as a lesser being or a slave (1 Peter 3:7)
    5. He must dwell with her according to knowledge. He must know her likes and dislikes. She is an individual too, who has a mind of her own. Never compare her to your mother or anyone! It is foolishness to do so, says God (2 Corinthians 10:12). Women expect to be fulfilled in the following areas: companionship, compassion, romance and passion. Never treat her as an old cargo; instead, renew your love for her on daily basis.
    6. As a father

    The man has the responsibility of raising his children in the nature and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4; Deuteronomy 6:6-7), not by bullying and beating. Instead, apply the rod of the Word of God, and as you mould them in the fear of the Lord, you are raising godly children, who will in turn call you blessed.

    1. As a provider

    A French proverb says, “A father is a banker provided by nature”. You are responsible for the needs of your home. Meeting the needs of the home is the primary responsibility of the man. The woman is only your help meet. Never shift your responsibility to your wife; it is anti-covenant to do so. To shy away from this responsibility makes you worse than an infidel [an unbeliever] (1 Timothy 5:8). This shall not be your portion.

    For the woman:

    1. As a wife

    She has the power of influence, while her husband has the power of authority. She must be a positive influence. Her responsibility, however, as far as God is concerned is that of submission.

    1. She willingly allows herself to be ruled by her husband, obeying him in love (Ephesians 5:22-24).
    2. She must reverence him (Ephesians 5:33).
    3. She must cook to please him.
    4. She must dress to please him (1 Peter 3:2).
    5. She must love him (Titus 2:4; Proverbs 31:26).
    6. Sshe must learn to go to God in prayer, rather than arguing.
    7. As a mother

    She must train her children both spiritually and physically, bringing them up to become arrows in the hands of God. A mother’s role in the life of a child is a non-transferable responsibility. Mothers, don’t push your children to another person to train for you. Whatever “means” God gives you, use it to bring up your children. God will hold you accountable for failing in your role as a mother. Prepare your children for life ahead. It is your covenant responsibility.

    1. As a home maker

    Seeing to the general welfare of the home, planning and managing resources provided are your covenant responsibilities (Titus 2:5). You are the homemaker, not house-help. You are to see to the welfare of every member of your household. This is your primary assignment before your career or business.

    You need the grace of God to carry out your covenant responsibilities. But you need to surrender your life to Christ before that grace can be given to you.  You can say this prayer and receive that grace. “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

    If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

     

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).