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Tag: wellness

  • Wellness expert urges Nigerians to improve health through steam therapy

    Wellness expert urges Nigerians to improve health through steam therapy

    In a country where health challenges are often addressed too late and stress is a daily companion, one wellness professional is leading a quiet revolution—powered not by pills, but by nature itself. Gbemisola Falade, a seasoned wellness expert and the Steam Bath Coordinator at Lasena Natural Steam Bath and Health Resort, Isheri, Ogun State, is urging Nigerians to take their health into their own hands—by embracing the healing powers of water and earth.

    “We need to be more proactive about our health,” Falade said in a passionate interview. “People wait until they fall sick, but wellness is something we should prioritise every day. Our bodies are constantly sending signals—we just need to listen.” And at Lasena, listening starts with nature.

    Discovered in 2009, the Lasena Aquifer lay hidden beneath the Nigerian earth for over a million years. Rising naturally from a depth of 522 meters, this ancient water source flows upward through 16 layers of clay, emerging naturally hot at 70°C—a phenomenon Falade describes as “a gift from nature.” This natural steam is what powers Nigeria’s first and only natural steam bath, a facility that has grown into a sanctuary for those seeking more than just relaxation—those seeking renewal.

    “The water is untreated, completely natural, and rich in 13 different minerals,” Falade explained. “It contains sulphates, nitrates, potassium, calcium, silica, and zinc—all in safe and beneficial proportions. These minerals work together to lower blood pressure, stabilize sugar levels, improve circulation, and boost the immune system.”

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    Every guest at Lasena begins their journey with a health assessment. Certified nurses check vital signs like blood pressure and blood sugar levels to tailor each experience. “Some people do it once a week, others once a month,” Falade said. “It depends on your health goals.” After assessment, guests enter the natural steam chamber, followed by a foot soak and cooling shower. Many report immediate results. “Some people rush to the restroom right after—detox starts immediately,” Falade laughed gently. “It’s the body’s way of responding to the minerals and natural heat.” According to her, the water’s Oxidation-Reduction Potential (ORP) of -10 helps eliminate free radicals and toxins, making it both antioxidant and detoxifying. It is, in her words, “the only water in Nigeria that heals you by simply being in it.”

    Beyond detox, Lasena’s steam therapies have shown promise for managing chronic health issues. “We see amazing results for people living with hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, stroke, and partial paralysis,” Falade noted. Regular steam therapy helps regulate blood sugar and pressure, improve mobility, and reduce inflammation. But Lasena isn’t just about illness. It’s about wellness—relieving stress, improving sleep, opening sinuses, relaxing stiff muscles, and restoring clarity. “We’ve seen people walk in drained and walk out transformed,” she said. “That’s not magic—it’s minerals, nature, and care.”

    While wellness spas are often associated with high prices and Instagram-worthy aesthetics, Lasena’s mission is different. “We define luxury as healthy living,” Falade said firmly. “You can get a massage anywhere. What we offer is deeper. It’s a return to what your body truly needs.” That commitment extends to the team itself. Lasena staff includes certified nurses and therapists, trained not just in technique, but in empathy and holistic care. “We don’t hire just anyone. Our people must understand that our mission is healing. That’s what makes the experience unforgettable.”

    Falade is building more than a spa—she’s building a lifestyle brand rooted in nature and science. In addition to steam baths, the resort offers Turkish baths, mineral body scrubs, yoga sessions, therapeutic massages, and wellness consultations. “All treatments are designed to complement the body’s natural rhythm,” she said. “We don’t believe in fads. We believe in listening to the body and supporting it with what nature already provides.”

    Accessibility is another cornerstone of Lasena’s philosophy. “We kept our prices affordable because wellness should not be exclusive,” she emphasised. “Everyone deserves to feel well, no matter their background.” As Nigeria faces increasing rates of lifestyle-related illnesses, Falade believes natural, preventive solutions like Lasena are not a luxury—but a necessity. “This is not just water,” she concluded. “It’s healing. It’s history. It’s hope. And it’s here, beneath our feet.” With a unique blend of ancient earth science and modern wellness care, Lasena Natural Steam Bath is not just redefining relaxation in Nigeria—it is revolutionising the way we think about health. And if Falade has her way, more Nigerians will embrace nature’s cure—not just when they’re sick, but to stay well, every single day.

  • Health firm celebrates seven years of holistic care, wellness for women

    Health firm celebrates seven years of holistic care, wellness for women

    Dr Seyi Absolute Wellness Ltd committed to transforming women’s health through holistic approaches has marked seven years of existence.

    Led by the visionary Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Dr. Oluwaseyi Adebayo, the organisation boasts a team of professionals from diverse fields dedicated to providing innovative wellness solutions.

    The organization empowers women by providing vibrant health and hormonal balance by blending African herbal traditions with modern science, envisioning to become Africa’s leading wellness destination, offering integrative, science-backed solutions that enhance fertility and inspire lasting well-being.

    Speaking on the organisation’s services, Dr. Oluwaseyi Adebayo, highlighted a diverse range of products and services aimed at promoting holistic health.

    “We provide a diverse range of products and services aimed at promoting holistic health and wellness.

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    “Our products include fertility medications, herbal remedies for infections, gut-healing medications, and natural foods and snacks. The services offered encompass various wellness packages, such as stress management, chronic disease management, medical weight loss, preventive wellness, corporate wellness programs, customized diet plans, and online fitness programs.

    The organisation also specializes in women’s health and fertility solutions, offering advanced fertility and hormone-balancing packages, PCOS reversal, and surrogacy options. Group wellness programs and masterclasses, including a 21-day hormone balancing and detox cleanse, further enhance their comprehensive approach to achieving optimal well-being.”

    Speaking on their plans and target for the new year, Adebayo affirmed that the organization plans to broaden its educational outreach, launch community-based wellness initiatives and promote awareness on various health issues.

    She said, “Dr Seyi Absolute Wellness is set to expand its impact by implementing key strategies focused on promoting holistic health. The organization plans to broaden its educational outreach, launch community-based wellness initiatives, and place greater emphasis on mental health and stress management.

    Personalized wellness planning, collaboration with healthcare professionals, and the integration of technology to improve health outcomes are also central to its approach. These initiatives are designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and tools needed for proactive and sustainable health management.”

  • ‘Exposing kids to healthy living will raise their wellness’

    ‘Exposing kids to healthy living will raise their wellness’

    Wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, has said exposing children to healthy living would raise their wellness.

    She spoke at the weekend at Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Awka while inaugurating her healthy living clubs and healthy living garden competition in over 325 primary and secondary schools across the 21 local governments.

    She also inaugurated head teachers as healthy living champions, including those who majored in Physical Health Education or related courses, to lead the clubs.

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    Mrs. Soludo said early exposure of children, teenagers and youths to healthy living basics would make them responsible citizens in future.

    She noted that healthy living garden competition offered primary and secondary school pupils opportunity to appreciate agriculture, self-sufficiency, hard work and charity.

    She said: “Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo is a product of deep passion. What we want to achieve is a culture of health consciousness, a mindset of positive change and safety of our children.

    “Being conscious of one’s body is the first step to achieving the right health. “

  • ‘How to enjoy overall wellness‘

    ‘How to enjoy overall wellness‘

    A Consultant Plastic Surgeon of immense professional experience and international exposure, Prof. Peter Babatunde Olaitan, Chief Medical Director, UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, emphasised the significance of a well-rounded, nutritious diet, consistent exercise, and regular medical check-ups for overall well-being. During the conversation, the National President, Nigeria Association of Plastic Surgeons, also delved into the growing issue of healthcare professionals emigrating and shed light on the ground-breaking medical and surgical outreach initiative conducted by him and his team, Imole Medical and Surgical Medical Outreach, across all nine federal constituencies in Osun State, among other issues. He spoke with Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF. Excerpts:-

    Tips for achieving general wellness

    I think that one of the things that we need to do is to educate and continue to educate our people. That is important and the people have to know that they have to do their medical check-up as regularly as possible. Exercise is another thing that many people don’t get into and we need also to eat healthy. There are unhealthy foods that people take. In fact, once you get to a certain age, you have to choose what you eat because what you eat is going to determine who you’re going to be and that is another thing. So education is important; exercise is important. Of course routine screening is important.

     Outside this country, people will get themselves screened every year but in this place, somebody will tell you that in the last 15 years, he has never visited any hospital and that’s not something people should brag or say out. There is a need for us to do screening or check up regularly, at least once in a year. I tell people, take yourself out, separate some fund maybe around your birthday and tell them to check you from head to toe, to carry out investigations on yourselves because those things that crash people are things that can be prevented many times. Somebody is hypertensive, he didn’t know he is hypertensive, by the time he comes to you, he is having a blood pressure of 230/160mmHg. We saw a lot of during this outreach and we said cannot go home, just stay here and let’s give you something to bring the pressure down. These are simple things. Check your blood pressure, check your blood sugar, check your urine, and then leave well, check your cholesterol level, eat healthy and then exercise.

    On mass emigration (japa syndrome) of health workers

    Definitely, it is affecting us; if you look at the secondary healthcare, the number of workers is not as you will expect. This is because a lot of people have actually emigrated. At the teaching hospital,  I think that we are lucky. When I look at Japa syndrome, I talk about internal Japa and how to external Japa. An internal japa is when you look at some people working in the state and they feel that the state is not doing so much and their salary is not as much, so they moved to the federal. So if somebody is in the teaching hospital here, and he gets a salary that is better in contemporary university teaching hospital, he moves. The external Japa are those who moved outside the country. Now the governor has tried to reduce the state of internal Japa. What he has done is to approve what is an approved for the federal government workers. So the hazard allowance, we earn the same thing; the residency training fund, we earn the same thing. He has just approved also the nursing entry point so that if you are entering at OAU or Zaria or the teaching hospital, you are beginning with the same amount of money. That has kept people to stay okay within, but of course, it has not kept people from going outside the country.

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    So, the Japa syndrome affects every hospital in Nigeria today and it is a major problem. But in the last few months, I think we are lucky. I think with the approval has actually stabilised us a little. A lot of areas are in trouble in the country and there is a need to also look globally and see how we can solve this problem. Our economy is down; schools are done. And so it is not just health, because of japa, there is this movement of people; the control that used to be on a public place is not as much as it used to be. So it’s not just health, the problem is not only in the health sector. The only problem is not just the health sector but there’s a lot of people moving, it has also devastated the health sector

     In the last 2 to 3 years, our teaching hospitals lost over 200 staff to Japan syndrome and the good thing about it is that the governor has approved that we should be replacing them as they go. So we’re replacing them. However, we have a challenge here; we are replacing very experienced people with inexperienced ones who are just graduating and that is going to tell on the quality of health care that can be delivered because those who should be teaching these ones are gone. So this new younger ones are going to be picking it over and over again. And at the time they’re picking the experience, they cannot offer the kind of equality care that those who are experienced would have offered.

     Let me give you an example. I had somebody in the intensive care unit, we worked together in COVID-19 programme and she did a fantastic work; she was in charge of ICU. Suddenly, she left for America. We are looking at somebody that will be able to impact more on our system and all that and so the next person to her is not as knowledgeable and so each day, you see one experienced nurse dropping resignation letter,  you feel really sad because you’re just bringing in the younger ones who are just leaving school. And so that is impacting and that’s why the federal government needs to come in; it is not a state government thing. The federal government needs to come in and see what we can do because if it continues with this trend in the next few years, our hospitals will be in trouble.

     I read something just yesterday. Somebody sent a message on a forum, saying we are looking for doctor resident doctors in Babcock and another person said oh we too are looking for them in Bowen. Another person we are looking for them in Ife, everybody is looking for them and so it is a major problem. I said something yesterday when I had an interview and I said about 10 or 12 years ago, if a resident was coming to the programme, he would have to pass his primaries – he will have to pass exam at the department level, he will have to pass exam at the management level and possibly begin to look for somebody that will help him to speak to the CMD. Today, we have advertised in my hospital like three times. We haven’t gotten people, we are saying even without primary; just come. We haven’t gotten them because as they’re finishing they are out. So the federal government needs to do something not just for the health sector but of course globally and I think this will reduce the rate at which our people or our young ones Japa.

     I think one of the things the federal government needs to look at is the retirement age of health workers. If you say that all workers should retire at 60 and they are still active, professors for example retire at 70 years, why not bring the health workers’ retirement age to 70 rather than say that those who retire should come back on contract basis because many of them as a retirees also emigrate to their children who are in the UK and US. But if they know that they still have like 10 years more, they may actually stay. So, that is a temporary solution which is not going to be long lasting. I think there is a better way to address the issue than this.

    On Imole surgical and medical outreach in Osun State

    Governor Ademola Adeleke brought into the idea and he is still using it to bless the people of Osun State. Mr Governor had wanted to touch the lives of the people of Osun state immediately he came in; he had promised the people that he is going to touch their lives, especially in the area of health and reminding us of the fact that the family has always been helping others people who have one health need or the other.

     So, when he got in, he felt this was an opportunity for him to touch many lives more than what they (the family) used to do. And so on celebrating his 100 days in office, he invited us and he set up a committee, which he made me the chairman being the Chief Medical Director of Osun State University Teaching Hospital. We were 10 and he said, “This is my vision. I want to touch lives; I want to get people treated. Go and draw something for me that is workable in the community.” And so we sat down and I looked at our teaching hospital. Hitherto, there had been surgical outreaches like this: a few people who come and give some people glasses. Some people will come and do a few surgeries. The common one in the state has always been the one that will do hernia, hydrocele and that will be all – maybe for 100 or 120 people thereabout. But I looked at the teaching hospital as the CMD and I said, we could do something much better than what had been done hitherto since we have a lot of specialists in the hospital. We have over 100 specialists who are consultants. We have over 150 registrars, some senior registrars who are also almost getting into becoming consultants who could also give specialist care or tertiary care at a lower level at the community level. So I felt this was an opportunity for us and we looked at the general surgical area. So we have surgeons of all fields or specialities: general surgery, urologists, orthopaedic surgeon, plastic surgeons who are interested in doing this and we have some principal medical officer of health who are have been operating, who also joined us and we have medical people. We have dermatology, neurology and nephrology, community physicians, laboratory physicians who are also consultants.

    Major medical conditions attended to during the outreach

    We made sure that we attended to cases that we consider in surgery as day cases; that is cases that you can do and patient can go home 2 to 3 hours after without any need for admission. So we are talking about things like hernia, hydrocele, lipoma and a lot of swelling around there that we can do under either local anaesthesia or general anaesthesia that does not require intubating and patients being admitted. And for the eye care, we limited it to pterygium and cataract and so they will also go home immediately and then we’ll see them a day or two after and review them and then bring them back to the teaching hospital for follow-up because we don’t just want to operate and leave like that. And also there are people who couldn’t see and then needed glasses and then we provided glasses for them having examined them and knowing the particular type of glasses that will benefit them.

     Most common things among the children are hydrocele and hernia. Those are the common things that we saw in the children. But in the adult, it was hernia, hydrocele and lipoma, breast lump and swelling like fibroma and we also had to tackle those things. Acceptance by the community was awesome; it was great. People trouped out, people were grateful to the state government. When we started, it was just the local people. They were waiting to say how will it work but subsequently, they started calling one another from all over. So, people came from Ondo, Benue, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Lagos who are indigenes of the state. Like I was talking to a man that came from Nasarawa state, asking how did you know about this? He said that his relation knows that he had hernia and he couldn’t afford surgery and so immediately this programme started, they  called him and he ran home to come and have the surgery done because we also operated some people are not Yoruba, we have Hausa, Igbo who are living in the state and had to be operated. So, the acceptance was great.

     People were saying that they had never seen this type of thing. And truly, there has never been. I actually looked through literature. I haven’t found this kind of a massive comprehensive medical outreach even in the literature. So it’s one in one in town kind of, for the first time, we thought that we were going to have at 18,000 people, 2,000 from each constituency. We ended up treating about 22,000 people. Okay, and this one was actually much more than and so in the first phase and second base, we have about 50,000 people and that’s really massive and the second phase that we thought that we would not have as many as we had in the first phase, behold it was much more than what we had in the first phase.

  • Wellness firm battles obesity

    A wellness company based in Malaysia,  United Arab Emirates, (UAE) and Philipines with branches in parts of Europe and Africa,  including Nigeria,  Ever Dynamic Marketing (Edmark), has expressed it’s commitments in eradicating obesity and it’s attendant health complication among the people of the world.

    The company, which made the statement at its  2018 first quarter weight loss campaign(P4 lose to win 90 days  challenge), in Port Harcourt,  the Rivers State capital, disclosed that over 2.5 billion people, including children are faced with the problem of overweight across the world.

    It said this overwhelming statistics have led the company to search for the solution  over 25 years ago to help the sufferers regain and maintain their health.

    In the company’s profile made available to the media at the event,  it has range of products that are reportedly potent in burning out excess fat in the body and rebuild,  rejuvenate the body system to its original healthy status, and that the 90 days challenge is a way to practically take those seeking to reduce their excess weight sucessefully through the journey with ease and fun.

    “Remark expo is a concept of exhibiting the opportunity that the company any offers to all Nigerians, a way to reclaim and maintain their health,  a path towards financial freedom,  and a mean to better their lives.

    “It is one of the many ways the company seeks to assist it’s independent distributors with their efforts in expanding their business teams locally and internationally.

    “P4 lose to win 90 days challenge” started in Nigeria in 2014 and was meant to give residents a platform to fight obesity and regain their health, using the range of products for therapy  by the company.

    “Not less than 1,200 persons have successful recorded glaring results since the inception of the program,  with over astounding 10, 600 kilograms of weight loss.

    “With the string of individuals having succeeded in their weight loss journeys through Remark’s customized P4 Lose to win 90 days challenge,  the growing demand and escalating number of distributors have boosted and presence of the company y and it’s products within Nigeria and beyond.”

    The company is said to have 29 offices across the world, with 17 in Africa and 10 in Nigeria.

    Reacting to the 90-day challenge,  Mrs.  Gift Emele,  a trainer with the company said “the company has noticed that no country has in the last 35years been able to successfully profered solution for weight loss,  whereas the problem of obesity and it’s consequences are fast revaging the society.

    “Basically, Edmark is into the business of creating awareness on weight management, for in the past years.

    “And today,  new set of persons that would begin the 90 days (three months) journey of weight loss,  even as the last set who had gone through it is releases and rewarded for cooperating with the company to achieved their desired results.”

  • Any five super food supplements for wellness?

    In the Kusa Green Pasture Herbs chat group two weeks ago, someone asked me to name five super food supplements for wellness. My understanding of the question was the search for five magic bullet food supplements into which the crowd of nutritional supplements on the health food store shelves can be distilled. My immediate response was that a categorical answer was impossible because all human beings are different from one another in terms of their individual nutritional requirement. The closets specific answer to this question may be found in tissue or cell salts. Even then, what is good for the goose is not always good for the gander as well. Researchers came upon the idea of 12 key tissue or cell salts from the belief that if we burn the human body to ash and analyse this ash, what we would discover are 12 salts which we can assume the body was created from. It does not mean, however, that these salts are present in every tissue, organ or system of the body in the same proportions or ratios. In fact, the cell salt ration formula in the eye is different from that found in the liver or in the kidney perhaps because these are organs with different consistencies of tissue or cell performing different functions for which reason their constitution and dietary needs are different, however closely related. The website www.doctoryourself.com shows just how difficult it may be to boil food supplements down to a few when it discusses the specific symptoms each of the homeopathic 12 cell salts addresses. It say:

     

    1. “KALI PHOS (potassium phosphate)… (a) Mental and emotional symptoms predominate. (b) Fell as if I am too tired to rest (c) Anxiety, brain fatigue, irritability, temper tantrums, sleeplessness, dizziness, easily bleeding gums.

     

    1. “KALI MUR (Potassium chloride) … (a) White mucus, swollen glands (b) white or gray-coated tongue, glandular swellings, discharge of white, thick mucus from nose or eye (c) indigestion from rich foods.

     

    3 “KALI SULPH (Potassium Sulphate) … (a) yellow mucus, later stages of illness, congestion and cough worse in evening (b) dandruff, yellow coated tongue, yellow crusts on eyelids (c) gas, poor digestion

     

    4 “CAL PHOS (calcium phosphate)… (a) Teething remedy (b) upset stomach, post nasal drip, chronic cold feet, and poor dentition.

     

    5 “CAL SULPH (Calcium Sulphate)… (a) Sores that heal poorly, Herpes blisters (b) Pain in forehead, vertigo, pimples on the face.

     

    6 “CAL FLUOR (Calcium Fluoride) (a) poor tooth enamel, cracks in palm of hands, lips (b) hemorrhoids.

     

    7 “NAT MUR (Sodium Chloride)… (a) Dryness of body openings, clear thin mucus (b) effects excess overheating, itching of hair and nape of neck (c) early stage of common colds with clear, running discharge (d) insect bites (applied locally).

     

    8 “NAT SULPH (sodium Sulphate)… (a) Rarely needed (b) green stools and other excess bile symptoms (c) sensitive scalp, greenish gray or greenish brown coating on tongue, influenza.

     

    9 “NAT PHOS (sodium phosphate)…(a) simple morning sickness, acid rising in throat (b) headache on crown of head, eye lids glued together in morning (c) grinding of teeth in sleep, pain and sour rising from stomach after eating.

     

    10 “MAG PHOS (Magnesium phosphate)…(a) muscles spasms, cramps and menstrual cramps, if always better with heat (b) hiccups; trembling, of hands (c) teeth sensitive to cold.

     

    11 “FERRUM PHOS (ferrum phosphate)… (a) First stages of inflammation, redness, swelling, early fever (b) congestive headache, ear aches, sore throat (c) loss of voice from over use.

     

    12 “SILICA… (a) White pus forming conditions, boils, or homeopathic Lancet, stony hard glands (b) sty in eye area, tonsillitis, brittle nails.”

     

    History

    Knowledge of the 12 cell salts came to humanity in 1873 through German  doctor William Schuessler who combined biochemistry and homeopathy experiences to propound a theory of brochemic medicine. The 12 cell salts are so safe that two-year-old, pregnant and lactating women and the elderly can take them. The salts do not interact with pharmaceutical drugs. Schuessler said that the body required ‘essential minerals in proper balance in all of its cells imbalance(s) may cause disease in affected tissues. Such imbalances are corrected with the intake of the missing cell salts and the diseases their deficiencies cause are, thereby, eliminated or corrected. As www.doctoryourself.com adds:

    “This seemingly system of cure has great practical application in health. Using only a small number of harmless combination (or “salts”) of these minerals, it is possible for any individual to treat him or herself simply and effectively for a great variety of every day minor ailments. It is significant that such cell salt treatment is replenishing something the body lacks and wants as opposed to merely suppressing illness with drugs and other chemical. Drugs do not provide missing cell nutrients but drugs do add harmful chemicals to the body which ultimately compound the problem. The Schuessler cell salt may be seen as special raw materials for the body which you need more if you run out of what you normally have.”

    Does a super cell salt exist which takes away the drudgery of carrying about 12 packs of cell salts? Oh yes, it does. In this cell salt called the PLASMA cell salt, all 12 cell salts are combined in every single tablet. My assumption is that it may be reliable as a dietary nutrient or maintaining the status quo but may not be effective for therapeutic needs. That, in my view, is usually the challenge with supplements which pack bits and pieces of many items when mega doses are needed for serious fire power.

     

    Super  supplements

    To return to the enquiry on Kusa Green Pasture Herbs, the questions were: “I have a task for you, would it be possible to mention your top five supplements/plant for general well-being? You seem to go through about 20 in a day. Secondly, in our organic processes for feeding of plants and livestock, we also use lactobacillus. Truly amazing. Lastly, what is the best solution for heartburn? I do not eat fries I get temporary relief from some things, but I am looking for permanent solution.”

     

    Individual differences

    My reply to the post, which in some cases will be expanded here, is: ‘It is difficult to categorise five most important supplements because of individual differences. What may be good for the goose may be of less value for the gander. As my work involves mental activity almost all day round, I think always of my brain. At close to 70, the brain of many people may have a tendency to shrink and become less productive, causing memory loss and slow responses to stimuli. The brain may also become easily oxidized by oxygen free radicals and other free radical apart from being damaged by cortisol and other stressor chemicals, if we have a tendency to worry too much about the mundane things of this earth-life. Someone sent us a video post of how the posture of the head vis-a-vis the rest of the body can cause cervical spondylosis and muscles and joint problems throughout the body. I first read about this when I was in high school from an article in the READER’S DIGEST titled JOHN’S SPINE. The article enabled me to understand the problems of Nigeria’s one-time military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida when he suffered from RADICULOPATHY and had to have surgery in France. I experienced cervical spondylosis in my thirties after warnings for about 10 years during my early days in journalism. My training then involved reading and writing for more than 15 hours a day. In my 20s, I developed a sharp pain in my left index finger and the corresponding toe. Professor Awodu, a Nigerian accupuncturist, homeopath and chiropactor, put it down to a cervical misalignment. I developed glaucoma at the age of 45 in 1995. It was then that I related these pains to nerve pinches in the neck which may have limited nerve energy flow to the eyes. So, today, when I compensate for the bad head posture in an even busier work life at almost 70 with tortoise neck exercises, I also think of food supplements for my brain, eyes and nerves (nerves originate in the brain)   and the glaucoma.  For the brain, therefore, I think of Lecithin, to provide Choline and Inositol for the brain nerves, as part of their energy profile, Ginkgo Biloba, to drive blood and oxygen to the nooks and crannies of the brain, thereby enhancing stability and memory, Vervain tea, to calm the nerves and promote restful sleep. Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Selenium etc provide an antioxidant shield against free radicals. Fish Oil provides DHA, an important component of the brain’s fat content. The brain is a fatty organ. When we exercise it, it generates free radicals. We need to give it fat-protecting anti-oxidants to quench free radicals fire all the time. Grape Seed Extract had fine molecules which easily cross the brain-blood barrier to provide not only anti-oxidant defence but anti-microbial activity as well. Lion’s Mane Mushroom improves nerves energy flow and helps in the repair of damaged nerves. CoQ10 (Ubiquinol) provides energy. “The eyes are closely related to the brain and profit as well from these supplements. They have their own specific needs which include Bilberry (it protects the retina), Zinc (it helps absorption of Vitamin A, a deficiency of which may cause night blindness).  Beta carotene (an antioxidant), Lutein, Zeazanthin and Astazanthin (they protect the lens and the retina against blue spectrum of sunlight which causes cataracts and damage the retina). The Lutein, Zeazanthin and Astazanthin are plentiful in Marigold Flower, their commercial source. The eyes are said to require about 20 nutrients, including Alpha Lipoic Acid, and antioxidant which is active in both fluid and fat media, an exceptional feat. I hover around these provisions of Mother Nature from time to time either in food or in food supplements. When I can afford EYEMAXPLUS, I go for it. It was developed by a glaucoma-suffering ophthalmologist and contains all these nutrients. But I do not limit myself to these nutrients, mindful of the belief in eastern part of the world and some parts of the Western world that the eyes are affected by the health of the liver and the kidneys.

    “The heart is no less important than the brain and the eyes. We must prevent it from enlarging, from over working itself to death, and prevent its blood supply lines by being blocked by damaging cholesterol plaques, homocystene grease or blood platelet congestion by adding blood thinners to the diet without over-thinning the blood. Good blood thinners include onion, garlic, Papain, Bromelian, Nattokinese, EDTA etc. All of these precautious call for supplements such as Ubiquinol, Hawthorn, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin E, Selenium, Lecithin etc. The stomach and the throat are no less important, ditto the mouth and the teeth. Heartburn is dangerous. It can damage the lower esophageal sphincter muscle. The muscles close the gate at the connection point of the throat and the stomach, to prevent regurgitation through the mouth of food in the stomach. That is why, if we stand on our heads after a meal, we are unlikely to vomit the food we had just eaten. Heartburn can throw stomach acid on this spinter muscle and damage it, cause inflammation of the throat (esophagitis) or even throat cancer for when the muscle is damaged, stomach acid which the muscle keeps away easily flows into the esophagus.  Doctors of old thought that the Vagus nerve overstimulated acid pumps in the stomach to over pump acid. So, they cut the nerve. But that did not stop the acid flow the succeeding generation of doctors asked their patients to drink milk or to take anti-acid medicines. Milk contains calcium and alkaline mineral which neutralises acid.

    The protein in milk provides food for the stomach acid to digest through it instigation of pepsin, a protein-digestive enzyme in the stomach. But the protein in milk is so dense that it requires more acid to stimulate production of Pepsin. Besides, milk is an acid-forming food, measuring about 5.5 or worse on the pH scale. Another succeeding generation of doctors found that some people do not produce the minimum amount of acid required for protein digestion. So, food stays longer than it should in their stomachs, decomposing into acid as it begins to rot. It is this acid which causes heartburn. Some doctors have said it is criminal to give antacids to such patient if their problems have come because they are not producing enough acid, and you are suppressing the little they are producing, you are worsening their problems in ignorance.

    “The pancreas is often a cause of heartburn if it doesn’t function optimally. To function optimally, it must produce alkaline digestive enzymes (Lipase Amylase and Protease). But to do this, it required a generous supply of water about 30 minutes before a meal as Dr. F. Batmanghelidj has explained in his books such as YOUR BODY’S MANY CRIES FOR WATER and YOU RE NOT SICK, YOU’RE ONLY THIRSTY. Between the lower end of stomach and the duodenum the start of the   small intestine, there is another sphincter muscle. This one prevents food in the stomach leaving prematurely for the small intestine for another round of digestion into smaller particles. These muscles will not open the gate for as long as the contents in the stomach are acidic, for the intestine is not made to handle acid. When a little acidic food escapes, that’s often the cause of duodenal ulcer, or later, cancers. If the duodenum will not admit acidic food partly because the pancreas had not alkalinised the food, a time will come when the stomach itself will be unable to bear the acid punishment or irritation. Its lining becomes inflamed (gastritis). A gastritic stomach is like boiled or cooked meat, in comparison with a normal stomach which presents like a fresh piece of meat. At this point, the stomach may wish to throw up this tormentor in what we may call a “return to sender,” to the throat and to the mouth which let it in. This irritates the lower end of the throat and may cause it to inflame. I have found that, in many cases, heartburn is relieved and digestion is improved simply by adding digestive enzymes to the diet. My latest protocol is pawpaw leaf juice. It has all the digestive enzymes and more. It relieves heartburn; kills helicobacter pylori bacteria found at ulcer cites and heals ulcers. It softens the stool and increase bulk. But it increases blood platelet count, which some people believe may thicken the blood and cause clotting. But there has been no evidence of this cited in many of the research papers published on this project so far. If anything, pawpaw leaf juice is landed for controlling blood cholesterol levels and improving heart health, apart from helping avert strokes. Another product in my protocol is a product called ACIDIC STOMACK AND ALKALINE BALANCE. It works wonders. I suggest, as well, Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother. I cannot go on, for want of space, to talk about male sexual vitality, the prostate gland and colon health, which present challenges to many people. But I guess the fore going is sufficient evidence that we do not have magic bullets in natural medicine where just about five food supplements will handle all our health needs. Every-one lives his or her life in a way different from how other people conduct theirs. This leads to individual differences, and accounts for specific health needs which Mother Nature, caring and wise, has provided for.

  • 3 Reasons you should not fund him.

    Today we will be discussing a very contentious topic, “To fund or not fund”. It might seem like a tricky question but it is never a good idea to buy love, especially if you are a woman. Why on earth should a woman give a man (who is not even her husband) her money? Not a good idea at all! Back in the day, men took care of their wives and families, and ruled their households like mini fiefdoms. Times have changed, and women now make their own money, but men still expect us to submit, so what do we do? We submit, if only for the sake of peace. However, if a woman has to foot the bill, she has become the boss, not just a helpmate. So why do I think so?

     

    The man was designed to be the head in every marital/amorous relationship, and if he is the leader, he should foot the bills (or at least a large part of it). Why? Because money is power, whoever has it controls the power dynamics of the relationship. In all my years, I am yet to come across a man who is happy to be fed or funded by a woman, they might date (or even marry) a woman for her money, but trust me more often than not they will find a less financially buoyant woman to spend their change on, so as to feel like men.

     

    Giving a man your money puts you at risk of attracting gold diggers/gigolos. Only yesterday, I read the story of a divorced silver spoon celebrity chick. She said, “I really loved him, but when I had a financial challenge, he took off. Apparently, that was all he wanted.” Guess what, the guy in question is remarried to a younger woman today. Speaking further, she said, “I have never dated a man for money, however in another relationship; a man took my hard earned money, and ran.” Guess what? Her story is nothing new, I am yet to see an instance where the woman funded the relationship and it worked out. The only female relative I know who tried it put a man through university, clothed, housed and fed him, his mom, and siblings for years, while he was unemployed. When he finally got a job, she never set eyes again on him; after three kids.

     

    You can never really tell if it is you he loves or your money. Modern females are educated and independent, but marriage demands that we submit to our man. How does a person submit to a man one is feeding? More often than not, such women become / are accused of being shrewish, and the men feel justified in taking off. What about an old friend of mine who dated a guy while she was putting herself through the university. She would feed him, and spend her heard earned savings on him, guess the first thing he did after he graduated? That’s right, he dumped her. Obviously he never loved her, only her money. My advice? Do yourself a favour, and find yourself a man who has a job. Oh, and just in case he attempts to turn you to his ATM; dump him.

     

  • 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.

  • 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.