DIET AND NUTRITION : PINK GUAVA

Pink guava somehow is very sweet compared to ordinary guava. It taste very nice and it provide a very good nutrition and benefit as follows:

1. Preventing Cancer
Guava contains cancer-fighting antioxidant, lycopene. Lycopene in guava is more readily absorbed than those from tomatoes because of differences in cell structure. Lycopene consumption is quite influential on the reduced risk of prostate cancer in men. All types of guava contain high antioxidant, especially in the red fleshy guava.
2. Reduce hypertension
Guava is a fruit that should be consumed regularly if you want to avoid heart attacks. The fruit is a hypoglycemic in nature and rich in fiber is beneficial for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels. In addition, a medium-sized guava can provide 20 percent of the body’s daily requirement of potassium. Research also suggests regular consumption of potassium can lower blood pressure.
3. Treating diarrhea
Guava plants having astringent, a chemical that will shrink the tissue. This is why the gums will feel harder and refreshed after we chew guava. Besides guava leaves also contain antibacterial substances that can prevent the growth of bacteria when exposed to dysentery. Other bacteria killer in this fruit is karetinoid, vitamin C and potassium.

4. Cough and flu
Guava leaves that eaten raw or uncooked fruit juice made ??trusted for generations as a drug treating coughs and colds. This herb works by reducing the formation of mucus and create respiratory tract infection-free. Guava fruit is also rich in vitamin C and iron are effective to inhibit influenza virus infection.
5. Skin care
The content in guava astringent will improve skin texture and tighten the skin starts sagging. Not only that guava also contains vitamins A, C and potassium, which has a function as antioxidants. These nutrients will help the detoxification process and keep skin healthy and wrinkle free.
6. Prevents constipation
High fiber content in guava effective to prevent constipation or constipation. Guava fruit medium containing 36 percent of the recommended fiber. In addition seeds of this fruit is also a powerful laxative that works to help clean the intestinal disposal system.
7. diabetes
According to research conducted in mice, both fruit and leaves of guava may help lower blood sugar levels.
8. Lose weight
This fruit has the components necessary to lose weight, such as fiber, protein and vitamins. It also makes the stomach feel fuller. Guava is a medium-sized diasup at lunch is enough to block the stomach until dinner.
9. Sprue abdominal
Vitamin C in guava four times higher than the vitamin C found in oranges. In addition, this fruit is also a powerful medicine for stomach ulcers, a disease characterized by swollen and bleeding gums.
10. Caring for teeth
Consumption of guava juice to treat the gums, swollen and bleeding gums overcome.

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Hand washing: Do's and don'ts

Hi everyone. Today i wanna share with you an interesting article by Mayo Clinic staff about the guideline of how to wash your hands. Enjoy!!

Hand washing is an easy way to prevent infection. Understand when to wash your hands, how to properly use hand sanitizer and how to get your children into the habit.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Frequent hand washing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness. Hand washing requires only soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer — a cleanser that doesn't require water. Find out when and how to wash your hands properly.

When to wash your hands

As you touch people, surfaces and objects throughout the day, you accumulate germs on your hands. In turn, you can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Although it's impossible to keep your hands germ-free, washing your hands frequently can help limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes.

Always wash your hands before:

• Preparing food
• Eating
• Treating wounds or giving medicine
• Touching a sick or injured person
• Inserting or removing contact lenses

Always wash your hands after:

• Preparing food, especially raw meat or poultry
• Using the toilet
• Changing a diaper
• Touching an animal or animal toys, leashes or waste
• Blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing into your hands
• Treating wounds
• Touching a sick or injured person
• Handling garbage or something that could be contaminated, such as a cleaning cloth or soiled shoes

Of course, it's also important to wash your hands whenever they look dirty.

How to wash your hands

It's generally best to wash your hands with soap and water. Follow these simple steps:

• Wet your hands with running water.
• Apply liquid, bar or powder soap.
• Lather well.
• Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
• Rinse well.
• Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel or air dryer.
• If possible, use your towel to turn off the faucet.

Keep in mind that antibacterial soap is no more effective at killing germs than is regular soap. Using antibacterial soap may even lead to the development of bacteria that are resistant to the product's antimicrobial agents — making it harder to kill these germs in the future. 

How to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers — which don't require water — are an excellent alternative to soap and water. If you choose to use a commercially prepared hand sanitizer, make sure the product contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Then follow these simple steps:

• Apply enough of the product to the palm of your hand to wet your hands completely.
• Rub your hands together, covering all surfaces, for up to 25 seconds or until they're dry.

If your hands are visibly dirty, however, wash with soap and water. Antimicrobial wipes or towelettes are another option, although they're not as effective as alcohol-based sanitizers.

Kids need clean hands, too

Help your children stay healthy by encouraging them to wash their hands properly and frequently. Wash your hands with your children to show them how it's done. To prevent rushing, suggest washing their hands for as long as it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. You might place hand-washing reminders at children's eye level, such as a chart by the bathroom sink for children to mark every time they wash their hands. If your children can't reach the sink on their own, keep a stepstool handy.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are OK for children and adolescents, too, especially when soap and water isn't available. Make sure the sanitizer completely dries before your child touches anything. Store the container safely away after use.

Hand washing is especially important for children in child care settings. Young children cared for in groups outside the home are at greater risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, which can easily spread to family members and other contacts. Be sure your child care provider promotes frequent hand washing or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Ask whether the children are required to wash their hands several times a day — not just before meals. Note, too, whether diapering areas are cleaned after each use and whether eating and diapering areas are well separated.

A simple way to stay healthy

Hand washing doesn't take much time or effort, but it offers great rewards in terms of preventing illness. Adopting this simple habit can play a major role in protecting your health.

7 Signs And Symptoms Not To Ignore

Another great articles by Mayo Clinic Staff that i wanna share with all of you. It is important for us to know this since we might having facing those symptom that we take it as granted. Enjoy!!

Take note of important signs and symptoms — from unexplained weight loss to sudden flashes of light — and know when to seek medical care.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Chest pain, sudden loss of vision or speech, and severe abdominal pain require immediate medical attention — but what about more subtle red flags? It can be tough to know what to do. Here's a list of seven signs and symptoms that merit attention.

No. 1: Unexplained weight loss

Losing weight without trying might sound like a dream come true, but in reality it can signal a health problem. If you've lost up to 10 percent of your weight during the past six months — for instance, 15 pounds (7 kilograms) if you weigh 150 pounds (68 kilograms) — consult your doctor.

An unexplained drop in weight could be caused by various conditions — including overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), diabetes, depression, liver disease, cancer or disorders that interfere with how your body absorbs nutrients (malabsorption disorders).

No. 2: Persistent or high fever

A fever isn't necessarily a cause for alarm. Fever seems to play a key role in fighting infection. If you've had a fever for more than three days, however, get checked by your doctor. Persistent fever can signal a hidden infection, which could be anything from a urinary tract infection to tuberculosis. In some cases, cancerous (malignant) conditions — such as lymphomas — cause prolonged or persistent fevers, as can some medications.

If you have a high fever — 103 F (39.4 C) or higher — consult your doctor as soon as possible.

No. 3: Shortness of breath

Shortness of breath that feels more severe than what's caused by a stuffy nose or vigorous physical activity could signal an underlying health problem. If you're unable to get your breath, or you're gasping for air or wheezing, seek emergency medical care. Feeling breathless when lying down also is a symptom that needs to be evaluated promptly.

Causes for breathlessness may include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism), as well as other heart and lung problems. Difficulty breathing can also occur with panic attacks — episodes of intense anxiety that can cause rapid heart rate, sweating, shortness of breath and other physical symptoms. 

No. 4: Unexplained changes in bowel habits

What's considered normal for bowel movements varies widely. Consult your doctor if you notice unusual or unexplained changes in what's normal for you, such as:

• Bloody, black or tarry-colored stools
• Persistent diarrhea or constipation
• Unexplained urges to have a bowel movement

Changes in bowel habits could signal a bacterial infection — such as campylobacter or salmonella — or a viral or parasitic infection. Other possible causes include irritable bowel syndrome and colon cancer.

No. 5: Confusion or personality changes

Seek medical attention if you have:

• Sudden confused thinking
• Confusion about time or place (disorientation)
• Sudden problems with concentration or memory
• Sudden personality or behavior changes, such as becoming aggressive

Changes in behavior or thinking could be caused by many problems, including infection, anemia, low blood sugar, dehydration or mental health conditions. Sometimes medications contribute to confusion or personality changes.

No. 6: Feeling full after eating very little

If you consistently feel full sooner than normal or after eating less than usual, get checked by your doctor. This feeling, known as early satiety, also may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, bloating, fever, and weight loss or gain. If so, be sure to tell your doctor about these signs and symptoms as well.

Possible causes of early satiety include gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly known as GERD, and irritable bowel syndrome. In some cases, a more serious problem — such as pancreatic cancer — could be a factor.

No. 7: Flashes of light

Bright spots or flashes of light and other visual disturbances sometimes indicate a migraine. In other cases, sudden flashing lights could signal retinal detachment. Immediate medical care can help prevent permanent vision loss.

How To Use Eye Drops

Today article will share to you on how to use most eye drops. For some people, using eye drops is such a simple thing to them. But actually, most of us doesn't know on how to use it correctly. Below are some of the guideline on how to us it correctly. Please refer to your pharmacist if the instruction given is different than what you have learned before.

• Wash your hands (It is more appropriate if you could sit or stand in front of a mirror).
• Take off the top of the bottle.
• Bend your head backwards and gently pull your lower eyelid down.
• Hold the dropper above one eye. Squeeze one drop into the pocket formed by gently pulling down the lower eyelid. Try not to touch your eye, eyelashes, or anything else with the dropper tip.
• Let go of the eyelid and keep the eye closed for as long as possible after application of the eye drop.
• Wipe away any liquid that falls onto your cheek with a tissue.
• Repeat in the other eye if the drop is prescribed for both eyes.
• When two different eye drop preparations are used at the same time of day, wait for at least five minutes before putting the second drop into an eye. This allows the first drop to 'settle in' and not be washed out by a second drop if it is put in too quickly.
• Lastly, wash your hands.

Some points about eye drops

Eye drops are sterile (free from bacteria) before the bottle top is opened. Once it is opened:

• Keep the bottle closed in a cool, dark place (unless otherwise advised).
• Do not let the dropper or dropper nozzle touch your eye, fingers, or any other surface. This is to keep it free from bacteria (germs).
• Do not let anyone else use your drops, and do not use anyone else's drops yourself.
• Throw out the bottle (and get a new one if required) after the recommended time. This is often four weeks after first opening the bottle. There is a risk that the drops may become infected if they are kept and used for longer than advised. (One tip is to write the date that you opened the bottle on the label so you will know when it is time to throw it out.)
• You may get a taste of eye drops in your mouth, or a feeling that the drops are running down your throat. This is normal as the tear duct which drains tears to your nose will also drain some of the eye drop.
• Some eye drops sting or irritate for a short while. Rarely, some people are allergic to some eye drops. Tell your doctor if eye symptoms become worse after using eye drops.
• Do not wear contact lenses whilst using eye drops unless otherwise advised. (Some drugs and preservatives in eye drops can accumulate in soft contact lenses and may cause harm.)
• Keep the eye drops out of children's reach.

Sources : Patient.co.uk