Water

♠ Posted by monyreachraksmey in Health

Water "Water is vital to maximize brain functioning," says Durant. "Mild dehydration – even at a level insufficient to trigger a strong feeling of thirst – can still hamper physical and cognitive performance." He recommends drinking a glass of water before and after each meal, and frequently throughout the day.

Read More

HomeHealthPrevention What to know about signs of stroke in women

♠ Posted by monyreachraksmey in Health

What to know about signs of stroke in women

Do you think you know the early warning signs of a stroke? Many of us know to watch for slurred speech or the drooping of the face on one side – two of the classic signs of the serious brain injury.
But there are other, women-specific signs many of us need to learn. Hiccups, anyone? Yes, hiccups paired with chest pain can be a sign that you’re having a stroke.
In a recent study out of the University of Ohio, though, only 10 percent of womensurveyed knew about the hiccups connection – a troubling fact, given that missing the signs may lead to misdiagnosis and delay in treatment. Other signs include dizziness that is not classic vertigo and migraines, according to a release.

Seek treatment early

It’s crucial to seek medical attention within three hours of symptoms appearing; that’s the window in which clot-busting drugs can help lessen the impact of a stroke.

"Women may have more headaches with their strokes. They actually can have hiccups with a little bit of chest pain with their stroke symptoms, sometimes sending them down the pathway of looking for either heart disease or indigestion," said Diana Greene-Chandos, a neurologist and director of neuroscience critical care at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center, in the release.

Stroke is caused by an interruption of flow of blood to the brain or the rupture of blood vessels in the brain, causing brains cells to die, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. This can impact the ability to move, remember, speak reason, read and write, they add.

Risks differ too

In additions to in-the-moment signs, there are women-only stroke risks.
Having lupus is one. Others have to do with all stages of a woman’s reproductive life, with risks attached to oral contraception, pregnancy and menopause. These are in addition to the general risks, such as having high blood pressure and diabetes, and being a smoker.
Yet in the same survey, conducted by Ohio State University, 1,000 women, only 11 percent could identify any of the women-only risks.
Along with the survey, the Wexner Medical Center released an information sheetwomen can print out as a reminder – for themselves and loved ones.
Read on for some tips on reducing your risk of stroke and heart disease.

Read More

Foods to avoid: Coffee

♠ Posted by monyreachraksmey in Health

Somewhere around 1900, coffee klatches — casual get-togethers to share conversation, coffee and snacks — began in Germany. They were dubbed kaffeeklatsch, klatsch being the German word for gossip.

After World War Two, when returning soldiers bumped North American women out of the workplace and back into the home, the coffee klatch was a godsend for women isolated out in the suburbs with young kids — and some lifelong friendships began.

Now klatches are used to build all kinds of communities — the website of the New Democratic Party of Canada, for example, suggests that supporters “invite the neighbours to a coffee klatch evening, meet-the-candidate session.” At Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in Corner Brook, Nfld., coffee klatches are part of the orientation program for new students and, on the other side of the country, the James Bay United Church near Victoria hosts klatches twice a week all summer for about 80 seniors.

In the U.S., klatches have been used to build support for the political right since the 1950s. More recently, screenings of the movie, Uncovered, The Whole Truth About the Iraq War, have been a feature at the home get-togethers of many American liberals against the war. On daytime television, viewers of ABC's The View, can watch Barbara Walters and the gang sit around their own table for coffee and conversation — and, online, viewers can even order matching coffee mugs.

On the Internet, virtual klatches — where women can chat or read, learn and exchange parenting tips, health information and career advice — are the latest incarnation of this popular way for women to take a reality check and receive comfort and support

. 

Read More

Leafy greens and vegetables

♠ Posted by monyreachraksmey in Health

Leafy greens and vegetables

Many people are deficient in the mineral magnesium, likely because it gets depleted with stress.

"Even a mild magnesium deficiency may cause anxiety, depression, irritability and insomnia," says Flower.

To relax and sleep better, be sure to include magnesium-rich foods in your diet.Nuts, whole grains, dairy products, leafy greens and vegetables are all great sources of magnesium. To get as much magnesium as possible, cook your vegetables by lightly steaming them, as 50 to 70 per cent of magnesium is lost when vegetables are boiled.

Read More

Why eggs might make your salad healthier

♠ Posted by monyreachraksmey in Health

Why eggs might make your salad healthier

The next time you feel like eating eggs, you might want to consider serving them with colourful vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes and kale.

New research suggests the eggs can help your body absorb the carotenoids in the veggies – it’s the pigment that gives them their colour. Because the carotenoids act as antioxidants – protecting the body’s cells from free radicals that can break down cells – they may reduce the risk of certain cancers and eye disease. 

Researchers served subjects a salad rich in carotenoids, with baby spinach, romaine lettuce and goji berries. One group was served the salad with one and a half scrambed eggs. A second group’s salad was served with three scrambled eggs. A third was served with no eggs. 

Using blood tests, researchers found that subjects who ate the most eggs with their salads absorbed three-to-nine more times the carotenoids than the other two groups. 

Building a better salad

Wayne Campbell, a professor of nutrition science at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, and the lead researchers, said in a statement that one way to counter the trend of North Americans not eating enough vegetables is to find ways to increase the nutritional benefits of the ones they do eat.

Given other recent studies which suggest concerns over the cholesterol in eggs have been overstated, his current work is timely. 

Dr. Campbell has been working on engineering a better salad for a few years now. His previous work has found that fats in salad dressings play a similar role to eggs.

Read on to learn about 5 common antioxidant-rich foods and for ideas on how to make healthy salads at home.

Read More