Detoxification: Simple ways to detoxify the body

Topics:

• Simple ways to detoxify the body
• How do you know you need to detoxify?

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Simple ways to detoxify the body
~Punch Nigeria. Wednesday, September 7, 2016. 


Detoxification is a necessary process to promote full body health; this is especially true if you are not the healthiest eater. The process removes harmful or toxic substances from your body, leading to better health and a great starting place for a new healthy lifestyle. If you experience any of the following, it is the likely time for a detox.

If you chronically feel stressed out, it may be a sign that your body needs a detox. Your body is trying to tell you something is wrong.
Detoxification helps to improve our overall health and vitality. It increase our energy levels, improves digestion, and reduces weight and the risk of many chronic disease.
Generally, detoxification leaves you renewed, rejuvenated, even as it can prolong your life.
Here are some simple ways you can reduce the amount of toxins in your system.


Wipe your feet
Your shoes can play a vital role in detoxifying your home. Pesticides and lead-contaminated dust, not to mention annoying pollen during allergy season, tend to settle on the ground and stick to footwear. Wiping your feet on an abrasive, high quality doormat before walking inside can keep toxins from invading your space. Better yet, make a habit of taking off your shoes at the door.

Food preparation
Food containing protein and carbohydrate are good, however do not boil or microwave them too much, overcooking may destroy the toxin-fighting compounds. When you eat boiled egg, the soft-boiled egg is better because when the egg is over boiled, it denatures the protein and therefore removes the nutritional value.

Eat properly
The way we eat can bring about toxins into the intestinal system. Most of the time, we swallow our food instead of chewing until it is in a semi-liquefied or paste form. This will lead to the stomach expelling semi-solid food into the intestines. These will create obstruction that causes fermentation and putrefaction. The result will be potbelly, intoxification, erectile dysfunction, bad breath, flatulence, infertility and more.

High cholesterol is dangerous, prevent it!

Written by Rotimi Adesanya

~Punch Nigeria. Wednesday, August 17, 2016.

Web for more health tips: www.doctoradesanya.blogspot. com

During the last festive period, a woman in her middle age developed partial stroke and was admitted in the hospital. She recovered fully but the family felt that the problem might not be stroke since the woman's blood pressure had never been high and her blood sugar level had always been within the normal range, meaning she was not hypertensive or diabetic.

Her blood sample, which was sent to the lab for investigations, showed elevated blood cholesterol, a condition called hypercholesterolemia. It was later found that high cholesterol was responsible for the first stroke she suffered.

Hypercholesterolemia, or high cholesterol, occurs when there is too much cholesterol in the body. Cholesterol is a soft, waxy, fat-like substance that is a natural component of all the cells in the body. The body makes all the cholesterol it needs. However, added cholesterol, which comes from the foods eaten, may cause harm.

High cholesterol raises the risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. When there is too much cholesterol circulating in the blood, it can create sticky deposits (called plaque) along the artery walls. Plaque can eventually narrow or block the flow of blood to the brain, heart, and other organs. Blood cells that get caught on the plaque form clots, which can break loose and completely block blood flow through an artery, causing heart attack or stroke.

While heredity may be a factor for some people, the main culprits are lack of exercise and diets high in saturated fat. High cholesterol can be prevented, sometimes with lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) alone. If these do not work, your doctor may recommend medications to lower your cholesterol levels.

Signs and symptoms

In the early stages, there are usually no symptoms of high cholesterol. The only way to tell if the cholesterol is high is through a blood test.

Common poisons in the home

Written by Dr. Sylvester Ikhisemojie

~Punch Nigeria. Sunday, July 17, 2016

One of the problems encountered as a result of our increasing urbanisation is the spectre of storing various types of materials at home for several different purposes. One of these is to keep the home free of pests and the other is to maintain a minimum level of health in a stressful environment. Sometimes we keep these harmful substances at home because they are needed as raw materials in making items that have positive use in the home. This may be useful because of the need to diversify personal sources of income or to save money by making the product by yourself at home rather than buying it in a shop or market. Many of these goods may be articles used in making soap or making perfumes or straightforward trade. Here is a brief description of some of those compounds and what to do about them once they have been consumed or are suspected to have been consumed.

Poisons, such as the ones discussed below, would be harmful to people of all age groups. However, the key difference why we shall place more emphasis on the effects on children than on adults is because while children are likely to have consumed the substances in error, adults are more likely to have taken such compounds deliberately, as mostly is the case in suicide attempts. 

Children, especially toddlers, are so prone to accidental consumption of the various compounds mentioned that it is important for all parents and care givers to be aware of the dangers. As a result, people must have the presence of mind to keep all these substances safely away, far from the easy reach of children and stored in secure containers that are child and tamper-proof. These measures will keep most children out of harm's way except for the most obstinate ones. Here, as in other topics we have previously discussed on this page, prevention is better than cure and much easier to bring about if you try her enough.

Eating okra to beat diabetes, cancers, ulcer

Written by Chukwuma Muanya, Assistant Editor (Head Insight Team, Science and Technology)
~The Guardian, Nigeria, Thursday, June 23, 2016

Regular intake of okra soup could provide novel 'cure' for diabetes, breast and prostate cancers, stomach disorders, prolonged labour during childbirth and goitre (caused by iodine deficiency). However, okra may not be very good for males who are still producing children especially those that have previously had infertility problems. CHUKWUMA MUANYA, Assistant Editor (Head Insight Team, Science and Technology) writes.

Commonly called okro, okra or Lady's fingers in English; the French call it gombo or gumbo and to the Portuguese it is quiabo, quiabeiro or quingombo.

Scientifically known as Abelmoschus esculentus, okra belongs to the plant family malvaceae. In Nigeria it is called ikhiavbo in Edo, etigi in Efik, ikhiabo in Esan, okmi in Gwari, bera or dan dawan betso in Hausa, oro kpoloko in Igala, atike in Ibibio, okwulu or okwuru in Igbo, ihaa in Isoko, dena in Jukun, gebalgo in Kanuri, kpanmi roko in Nupe, ishavbo in Urhobo, ila in Yoruba, among others.

Can okra help reduce symptoms of diabetes – a group of diseases that includes type 1 diabetes; type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes?

Researchers have the first time, confirmed that Abelmoschus esculentus peel and seed possess blood glucose normalization and lipid profiles lowering action in diabetic condition.


The study was aimed to study the anti-diabetic and antihyperlipidemic potential of Abelmoschus esculentus peel and seed powder (AEPP and AESP) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats."

Controversy over dog meat

Written by Doris Obinna
~The SUN, Nigeria. Friday, June 3, 2016.

• It enhances libido, cures malaria -Consumers

• No, dog meat causes health hazards - WHO, vet doctors

Many detest dog meat and everything that has to do with it. They avoid it like a plague. Even the mere mention of dog meat puts them off. Some might even throw up at the mention of it.

However, there are some folks, who eat dog meat and relish it, doing so with every sense of gladness. For them, it is meat like no other.

One of such persons is Nsikan John. The 35-year-old man says dog meat is better than every other meat around.

"If you offer me a variety of meats, including dog meat, I will first go for the dog meat. It not only tastes better, it has medicinal values. I can't remember the last time I treated malaria fever. It fights it off summarily. In fact, dog meat is a common cuisine among my people and we enjoy it so much."

All over the world, dogs are accepted as trusted friends and security guards. But among some people, they suffer terrible fate. They are sold as items of trade, butchered and their meat consumed by humans.

Whereas some people in some climes accept the consumption of dog meat as part of their day-to-day cuisine, some consider the practice a taboo. In some cultures, exigencies of war and hunger sometimes make the consumption of dog meat a necessary practice.

Humane Society International is one of many non-governmental organisations

around the world fighting to end the dog meat trade.

Research shows that every year, an estimated 25 million dogs are killed and consumed. This statistics brings to the fore the telling truth that dogs in many climes suffer a great deal. It is for this reason that it has been stated that commercial dog meat production is inherently cruel. This practice condemns dogs to suffer at every turn. Even the rising belief that the consumption of dog meat might lead in the transmission of diseases does not deter its consumers.

Constipation

Written by Sylvester Ikhisemojie

Sylvester Ikhisemojie

Constipation is the inability to open the bowel less frequently that normal. This is a common problem that has fascinated people of all races throughout history. It is traditional for some people to desire to have bowel motions every day. In some cases, such people want to have it every morning. They feel something is fundamentally wrong with them when they are unable to do so. Perhaps their worry is justified but most times it is not.

Some individuals have been known to take extreme measures to ensure they empty their bowel in the morning before they set out for the day's business. And yet, it need not be looked upon as something like an obligation. Understanding the facts that make it a problem should liberate many people and perhaps help them to focus less intently on the need to pass stool. Sometimes, these anxieties are passed on even to little children. Every individual will experience some form of constipation at some point in their lives. Most of the time, it is not at all serious and will correct itself with a slight change in diet or the use of vegetables and fruits.

The normal bowel motion takes different patterns in everyone. Some people use the toilet once a day and that is fine for them. Others use the toilet three times a day and that also is their pattern. Some others go to the toilet once in three days or twice a week. Between all these variants, however, fall the vast majority of people. It is essential to understand very clearly what one's pattern is and to take necessary action when that pattern seems abnormal. When the interval between two bowel motions is longer than three days, the stools become a lot harder and more difficult to pass.

However, it is not all the time that constipation is innocent. On some occasions, it is actually a product of some of the things we are engaged in doing. Therefore, I will endeavour to itemise the various situations in which constipation might be evident.

1) When people have eating disorders as a result of emotional challenges or because of pressures at work, they also will tend to pass out stools irregularly. This is a common thing to be seen in people who have stringent targets to meet at work and therefore do not find the time to eat as a result of that. Sometimes, bereavement and personal loss could also take away one's appetite, as a result, such people are unable to eat properly and consequently use the toilet.

2) Frequent movement from one location to the other may dislocate one's emotional balance so much so that they are unable to make use of the toilets available. Often, this is also caused by the fact that certain people are unable to use toilet facilities in their new environment despite their cleanliness. It just represents a psychological attachment to their homes.

Misconception about fruits, sugar consumption

Written by Oladapo Ashiru - The Punch, Nigeria

Oladapo Ashiru

Ever since we started Mayr therapy in Lagos, we have seen many patients come for therapy. The majority often complained of serious arthritic pain in the joints, numbness of the hands and feet, diabetes, general body fatigue and more.

When their dietary consumption is analysed, the results point to a common factor: fructose intolerance as a result of eating too many fruits.

The patients believed they were observing healthy habits by eating plenty of oranges, water melon, apple or even fruit smoothies or cocktails.

They are usually shocked when the bioenergetics testing results indicate that such fruits are weakening and stressing many of their organs.

When we tell them that they are fructose intolerant, they are astonished to find the pain and all other problems disappear as they undergo detoxification and stay away from fruits.

We explain to them that all the sweet fruits that they are consuming have high fructose content with its attendant consequences. Indeed, the myth that fruits are good for you is not based on medical advice. It is the product of commercial marketing!

Fructose, or fruit sugar, is a simple ketonic monosaccharide found in many plants, where it is often bonded to glucose to form the disaccharide sucrose.

It is one of the three dietary monosaccharides, including glucose and galactose, that are absorbed directly into the bloodstream during digestion.

Fructose is found in honey, tree and vine fruits, most sweet fruits, flowers, berries, and most root vegetables. High fructose corn syrup is a mixture of glucose and fructose. All forms of fructose, including fruits and juices, are commonly added to foods and drinks for taste enhancement, and for browning of some foods, such as baked goods.

Fructose exists in foods either as a monosaccharide (free fructose) or as a unit of a disaccharide (sucrose). Free fructose is absorbed directly into the intestine. Then it enters the hepatic (liver) portal vein.

Fats and oils

Good fats, bad fat

Fats are one of the three macronutrients that nourish the body. They are esters of three fatty acid chains bonded to an alcohol known as glycerol. Fats are also known as triglycerides and they consist of long chains of carbon atoms. In the carbon chains of the fatty acids, there are either single bonds (-C-C-C-) or a combination of single and double bonds (-C-C=C-C). Fats that have only single bonds and are said to be saturated and this kind is found mostly in animal fats. The ones that have one or more double bonds are unsaturated fats found commonly in plants and fish. When there is only one double bond, the fatty acid is known as monounsaturated fatty acid. Where there is more than one double bond, it is referred to as polyunsaturated fatty acid.

The double bond of the unsaturated fat can be broken into two and each half of the bond made to take up a hydrogen atom. When this happens, all the bonds become single and the fat is said to be saturated. This is achieved by heating liquid vegetable oil to very high temperatures and pumping hydrogen atoms into it. The heat breaks the double bonds and hydrogen atoms pumped in get attached to the single bonds created. This process is known as hydrogenation.

The saturated fat thus produced, known as trans fat and like all single bonded saturated fats, is solid at room temperature. Not only that, it has an extended shelf life, which is the intention of the manufacturer in the first place. However, saturated fats are dangerous to the consumer.

Types of fats

From the above description, four types of fats can be identified and they are; Monounsaturated fats, Polyunsaturated fats, Trans fat, Saturated fat. Unsaturated (good) fat.

Unsaturated fats are either monounsaturated or polyunsaturated. The monounsaturated have only one double bond in the fatty acid chain, while the polyunsaturated has more than one double bond.

This Is What Happens To Your Body When You Ingest Okra

~Culled from: www.collective-evolution.com

“Humans live on one-quarter of what they eat; on the other three-quarters lives their doctor.” – Egyptian pyramid inscription, 3800 B.C.

Abelmoschus esculentus or Hibiscus esculentus, also known as Okra, is a widely used vegetable all over the world. Not many people like it because of its ‘slimy’ texture, but this vegetable is loaded with a number of health benefits that will probably have you considering adding it into your diet if you are passionate about your health.

Okra originated in Egypt, and people have been growing it since the 12th century. It can be consumed in a variety of different ways, such as stewed, fried, or even fermented. It’s usually served with other vegetables and rice or put into soups.

The Many Health Benefits of Okra

·        According to a study published in 2005 in the Jilin Medical Journal, okra showed positive effects on nephropathy, or kidney disease. For the study, participants were put into two different groups — one was treated with okra, and the other was treated with traditional medical therapy. The study lasted 6 months, and while there were no changes for the group who used traditional therapy, those who took their treatment with the okra saw a reduction in uric acid and urine protein. (source)

Surprising Veggies That Spice Up Your Sex Life

~TheGuardian, Nigeria.

Most of us hate veggies, probably because your parents forced them down your throat at an early age and told you it was good for you. Well, they were not wrong, they are! They are good for your sex life! According to research, this list of veggies would spice up your sex life.

Garlic

Thanks to the flavour of garlic it does terrible things to your breath and that is not attractive considering the aim of this article. According to Virgin " While garlic may be counter-intuitive to being a food that helps your libido because of the lingering taste in your mouth, body, and skin, it's actually one of the best. This is because of its ability to improve blood flow to organs, due to its compound allicin. Extra blood flow means more sensitivity, a double win for health and sexual benefits." Remember to take of care of your mouth before your lover comes calling.

Pepper

Peppers are packed with a key ingredient called capsaicin, which is proven to increase heart rate, metabolism, blood flow, and sweat. They also trigger the release of feel-good endorphins that act like natural painkillers. This is a good way to heat things up with your lover, although excess of peppers is life threatening, the right amount would be good for your sex life.

Palmwine is harmful to nursing mother and breast-feeding child | Managing fever blisters

In this page:

• Palmwine is harmful to nursing mother and breast-feeding child
• Managing fever blisters

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Rotimi Adesanya

Palmwine is harmful to nursing mother and breast-feeding child

Written by Rotimi Adesanya - Nigeria. 

Blog site: www.doctoradesanya.blogspot.com 

My pastor‘s wife sought advice from me, regarding the choice of hospital for her pregnant sister in-law who was due for child birth. The latter had returned from her base in another West African country, where she had been receiving ante natal care, to be delivered of her baby.

I suggested a few hospitals to her, based on their location, competence of the medical staff and convenience. Eventually the patient was successfully delivered of a baby girl with normal weight. Both mother and child were fine.

On my way to congratulate her and to see the baby girl, who was doing well at the time, I met my pastor’s wife at the reception and noticed she was worried. The following conversation ensued between us:

Me: Congrats Ma, where have you been?

Pastor’s wife: Doctor, I’ve been out all day in search of palm wine for the new mum.

Me: Palm wine! Palm what!

Pastor’s wife: The nurse asked me to get some for the new mum so that she could lactate.

Me: No ma, you need to hold on. You don’t need to get it and your sister in-law doesn’t need palm wine either.

Pastor’s wife: But the nurse asked us to get it. Anyway, thank God. And thank you.

Later I approached the nurse who directed that palm wine be given to the nursing mother. I asked if she knew that palm wine contained up to six per cent alcohol and it could affect the baby if consumed through breast milk.

The nurse admitted that palm wine was not prescribed by the doctor. She said that although the act of giving a nursing mother palm wine to boost lactation was not a medically proved treatment, it was a cultural practice that never failed to work.

Medical explanation

Naturally palm wine is a low-alcoholic drink and its alcoholic content is as little as three per cent. But fermented palm wine has the potential to breed as high 12 per cent alcoholic content.

'Cooking, eating at home lower risk of type 2 diabetes'

~TheGuardian, Nigeria. 

Sleep well to avoid insulin resistance, researchers advise

EATING homemade meals around twice a day may reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes, researchers find.

Study coauthor Dr. Geng Zong, a research fellow at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, MA, and colleagues suggest eating more meals prepared at home may reduce weight gain over time, which they say could explain their findings; excess weight is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

The negative health implications of regularly dining out in restaurants – particularly fast food restaurants – have been well documented.

Earlier this year, for example, Medical News Today reported on a study that found eating out leads to significantly higher calorie and salt intake, which may lead to weight gain and high blood pressure – risk factors for diabetes and heart disease.

But despite the associated health risks, it seems more of us are choosing to dine out rather than prepare home-cooked meals. Earlier this year, a report from the United States (US) Department of Commerce revealed that, for the first time in history, Americans are spending more money eating out than buying groceries.

"The trend for eating commercially prepared meals in restaurants or as take-out in the United States has increased significantly over the last 50 years," notes Zong. "At the same time, type 2 diabetes rates have also increased."

13 per cent lower type 2 diabetes risk with two homemade meals daily

For their study, Zong and colleagues set out to investigate whether increasing consumption of homemade meals may protect against type 2 diabetes.

The team assessed the homemade meal intake and the type 2 diabetes development of almost 58,000 women who were part of the Nurses' Health Study and more than 41,000 men who were part of the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.

All participants were free of diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease at baseline and were followed for up to 36 years between 1986-2012.

Eating barbecue, Suya, Kilishi, others cause kidney cancer

~TheGuardian, Nigeria. 

Increased meat consumption, especially when cooked at high temperatures, linked to elevated risk

Can eating Suya, Kilishi, barbecue or other meat products cooked at high temperatures cause kidney cancer? Yes! A new study published online yesterday in the journal CANCER found that diets high in meat might lead to an increased risk of developing renal cell carcinoma (RCC) through intake of carcinogenic compounds created by certain cooking techniques, such as barbecuing and pan-frying.

The researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, United States, also discovered that individuals with specific genetic mutations are more susceptible to the harmful compounds created when cooking at high temperatures.

According to Wikipedia, Suya, is a spicy shish kebab like skewered meat which is a popular food item in various parts of Nigeria and is enjoyed as a delicacy in West Africa... Suya is generally made with skewered beef, ram, or chicken. Innards such as kidney, liver and tripe are also used. The thinly sliced meat is marinated in various spices, which include peanut cake, salt, vegetable oil and other flavorings, and then barbecued... A dried version of Suya is called Kilishi.

Barbecue is both a cooking method and an apparatus. The generally accepted differences between barbecuing and grilling are the cooking times and the types of heat used. Grilling is generally done quickly over moderate-to-high direct heat with little smoke, while barbecuing is done slowly over low indirect heat and the food is flavoured by the smoking process.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common form of kidney cancer.

If you are diabetic, don’t neglect your mouth

Written by Solaade Ayo-Aderele - Nigeria

Except a miracle happens, diabetes is a life-long disease. The best way to avoid it is to prevent yourself from developing it.

But then, if you have the condition, there’s no sitting down and wishing it never happened or indulging in self-pity.

Physicians say once an individual is confirmed as being diabetic, the best thing s/he can do is to enroll for medical care under a competent doctor in order to prevent complications from setting in.

Diabetologist/Medical Director of Rainbow Specialist Hospital, Dr. Afokoghene Isiavwe, warns that diabetes is not a condition that any individual can manage at home. Rather, she says, it’s a life-long condition that needs expert, life-long care if the patient must live quality life.

Isiavwe says diabetes comes with sack loads of issues which, if well managed, may not result in life-threatening complications.

Of course, having diabetes is life-threatening enough, experts lament; but they are quick to say that if you take practical steps by accessing good care, you can reduce the complications for which diabetes is notorious.

What is diabetes?

Isiavwe says an individual is said to be diabetic when the amount of glucose in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly.

Blood flows through every part of the body, because it is the fuel that keeps us alive. The day blood-flow to an organ ceases, that organ dies, literally.

The body needs healthy, untainted blood, to function optimally. But because of too much sugar in the blood — which causes diabetes in the first place — the body is inhibited from functioning properly.

Parents, stop giving your kids junk food

Written by Bukola Adebayo, Punch - Nigeria. 

Naturally, we all need food to function. Kids especially must eat food to grow well. But in making sure that your child gets the best of nutrients, nutritionists say that emphasis should be on quality not quantity.

They say that obesity has now become a challenge among kids because parents who determine what their kids eat have thrown caution to the wind.

A nutritionist, Dr. James Sanusi, says that by loading your kid's lunch box with junk such as yoghurts, chocolates, biscuits and more, parents may be increasing their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure early in life.

According to Sanusi, biscuits and candies fall among the 21 most dangerous treats you can give to children. In fact, nutritionists have said that giving biscuits or sweets to children regularly is comparable to poisoning them at an early age.

Sadly, biscuits, which many know contain many unhealthy substances and have little or no nutritional value - except the fact that they are a readymade treat that calms children down - are very popular snacks among kids.

Sanusi laments that many children are being diagnosed with high blood glucose and high blood pressure before they are 18 because of the processed foods that parents do not have any qualms giving to their kids.

The nutritionist adds that studies have fingered the high sugar and salt contents in biscuits and sweets as major factors increasing childhood obesity and diabetes.

As toddlers grow older, the lure to give kids sweets and biscuits may become impossible to ignore; but experts say the way out is to resist and look for alternatives. "Parents and guardians may just be saving children from diseases by regulating their daily sugar intake," Sanusi warns.

Also, a 2010 study found that excess fructose - which is very high in biscuits and sweets - actually causes visceral fat cells to mature, setting the stage for a big belly and even bigger future risk of heart disease and diabetes in kids.

Sanusi adds, "One only needs to visit an amusement park, school or day care to see what is happening. More children are becoming obese and accumulating fat around their bellies, a factor for Type-2 diabetes and hypertension."

Why is this so? Experts say it is because more kids are consuming fructose and high sugar-loaded beverages than they burn.

Sanusi notes that when parents give their children biscuits or sweets, they should know that they are giving them sugar in another form.

Why people have bad breath in the morning -Study

Written by Tunde Ajaja- Nigeria. 

When it comes to personal hygiene, apart from body odour, there are a few other things that can be as repulsive as having a bad breath, or simply put, mouth odour. Even the sound of it is distasteful, and not only does the smell nauseates, it goes ahead to present such a person in bad light, giving a vivid impression of a dirty human being. It could sometimes make the individual a lone ranger as people try to avoid such persons.

But as disgusting as bad breath is, it is amazing to find that most people experience it every time they wake up; mostly in the morning. It is also known as halitosis. In fact, it could be as repulsive to the owner of the mouth, not to even talk of others. Noteworthy is the fact that this case is independent of the chronic mouth odour, the product of which could make the listener (victim) puke.

Therefore, it is not uncommon to find that when people wake up in the morning, they tend to avoid close contact discussion, or better still maintain some distance or even cover their mouth while talking to others. The simplest cure would be to have a toothbrush. It could cure it all, only if done properly.

An expert in dental matters and periodontist, Sally Cram, said, "Everyone has morning breath to some degree. Here is the simple reason why: When you sleep, your mouth dries out and your normal flow of saliva decreases. When your mouth dries out, odour-producing bacteria multiply. That is why your breath can be worse in the morning."

However, for those who do not have mouth odour but wake up to find that they have bad breath, studies have shown that the trend is basically traceable to the fact that when a person is asleep, the mouth also goes into rest mode, leading to a drop in the rate of metabolic activities. And this form of bad breath is not limited to aftermath of waking up, it also happens when people close their mouth for too long without opening it.

What you must know about roadside food joints

Written by Bukola Adebayo - Nigeria

Roadside food joint

It is not unusual to see people queuing to buy akara (fried bean cake) or buns from food vendors operating by the roadside on a Monday morning. It is also likely that you will find them returning to the same vendor to buy lunch or dinner.

Roadside food joints are common in Nigeria. Some people may argue that these joints have saved them from the pangs of hunger on a few occasions. But we know that in many parts of the country the operators hardly prepare their food in hygienic conditions.

Although they are patronised by many Nigerians, especially those living in urban areas where home-made meals are reserved for weekends, eating food from the 'mamaput' or 'bukateria' may expose you to food-borne diseases, such as cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea.

Family health physician, Dr. Austin Olopade, warns that since there is no law regulating their operations, many roadside food sellers compromise standards and use adulterated food items to prepare their meals.

Olopade notes that many food joints can be found in dirty and messy surroundings, a situation that increases the risk of food contamination.

He said, "No agency or organisation that is recognised by government regulates these food vendors. They are not even supposed to be there in the first place. So they are operating at will. They sell food beside open canals, gutters and blocked drainages where deadly bacteria and microbes thrive.

"They don't store or handle food properly. They don't preserve their food properly. For instance, since they don't have access to potable water, they use contaminated water to cook and prepare raw foods. We must know that a major way to get infected with typhoid is by eating contaminated food."

Boost your child's brain the right way

Written by Solaade Ayo-Aderele - Nigeria

Holiday is over and schools have reopened for the new academic year. While the long vacation lasted, knowledgeable parents allowed their children to enjoy the holiday full blast by making them to follow their passion.

Well, all that is over now and rigorous academic work has commenced. As parents, you may have paid your child's tuition, bought the uniform and sundry other stuffs that will make the new school year a good success.

But before you give yourself thumbs-up for a job well done, you still have one crucial step to take: helping to raise your child's Intelligent Quotient! Here's how to go about it...

PE is not a waste!

Many schools these days have done away with the playground. Rather, the available spaces have been converted to classrooms, all in a bid to show parents state-of-the-art structures. Little do they know that physical education does play a significant role in a child's academic prowess.

If you are still in doubt, experts in physical education say there's a positive relationship between physical activity and the academic performance of children.

Professor of Physical Education, Vincent Ikhariale, says, "Though the pressure to improve test scores may often mean more instructional time for classroom subjects, with less time for physical activity; yet, there are strong evidence showing a significant positive relationship between physical activity and academic performance."

He advises that being more physically active is positively related to improved academic performance in children; noting that exercise may help cognition by increasing blood and oxygen flow to the brain, decrease stress and improve mood; and overall increase growth factors.

Ditch junk foods

Healthy eating is still very much in vogue, hence scientists' warning that foods high in sugar and saturated fats will not only make your child sick and obese, they can actually lower your child's IQ!