Gozzylous Blog

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health conducted two key studies which resulted in the development of a specific eating plan for people with high blood pressure. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) emphasises eating whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and low-fat dairy products, while limiting salt, fat, and sugar overall. •Just one serving of blueberries a week can help cut your risk of high blood pressure. Blueberries, as well as raspberries and strawberries, contain natural compounds called anthocyanins that protect against hypertension. •Having a bowl of breakfast cereal, especially whole-grain, high-fibre cereals like oatmeal, oat squares, bran flakes or shredded wheat, can reduce your chance of developing high blood pressure. •Did you know that a baked potato is high in potassium and magnesium, two important minerals that can help fight high blood pressure? In addition, eat halibut, spinach, bananas, soybeans, kidney beans and plain nonfat yogurt. •...

Blood pressure is a measurement of the force against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood through your body. Hypertension is another term used to describe high blood pressure. Blood pressure readings are usually given as two numbers — for example, 120 over 80 (written as 120/80 mmHg). One or both of these numbers can be too high. The top number is called the systolic blood pressure. The bottom number is called the diastolic blood pressure. •Normal blood pressure is when your blood pressure is lower than 120/80 mmHg most of the time. •Hypertension is when your blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or above most of the time. •If your blood pressure numbers are 120/80 or higher, but below 140/90, it is called pre-hypertension. If you have heart or kidney problems, or you had a stroke, your doctor may want your blood pressure to be even lower than that of people who do not have these conditions. Control hypertension at home •Eat a heart-healthy diet, includin...

Oladapo Ashiru Most women gain weight as they age, but it is not inevitable. How can you minimise weight gain after menopause? Step up your activity level and enjoy a healthy diet. Have you noticed a few extra pounds padding your waistline? You may be in the throes of midlife expansion — a familiar complaint among women in their 40s and 50s. During this time, you either gain weight or you find that maintaining your usual weight has somehow become more difficult. You also discover that the weight you gain tends to accumulate around your abdomen, rather than your hips and thighs. But you don’t have to accept weight gain as inevitable. One of the foremost menopausal symptoms seems to be weight gain and change in the overall shape of your body. Though you may not be so happy about this, it is important to keep in mind that this weight gain is normal and is to be expected.  About 90 per cent of menopausal women gain some weight between the age of 35 and 55. You may not nec...

                        The story was told of a young man who was picked up dead in his car during a long traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge. Other road users didn’t know that he had breathed his last; they just kept hooting at him to move on. When he still refused to move, someone got down from his car to see what was going on. Everyone was shocked to realise that the young man — an employee of a bank — had died. A post-mortem revealed that he died of high blood pressure. Physicians say the actual cause of high blood pressure — also known as hypertension —is unknown. However, they say several factors predispose someone to having it, though many of them are totally preventable. Clinical Biochemist and Products Manager (Diagnostics), New Heights Pharma, Mr. Olayinka Ebenezer, explains that when the underlying cause of hypertension cannot be determined, it is medi...

Babies given antibiotics before they are a year old are more likely to develop eczema, say British researchers. After years of debate about a possible link, a huge study shows taking the drugs in the first year of life increases the chances of developing the skin disorder by 40 per cent. Each additional course of antibiotics further raises the risk of eczema – which affects one in five children in the UK – by 7 per cent. About 2.4million of the UK’s 12million children have been diagnosed with the disease, caused by an over-active immune system and resulting in dry and itchy skin. Researchers from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College London, the University of Nottingham and the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary reviewed data from 20 studies involving almost 293,000 babies and children. Senior researcher Dr Carsten Flohr, of King’s College and Guy’s, said some previous studies had implied a link, but this was the first systematic large-scale review. He said...

Hormonal contraception is a method of preventing pregnancy by using substances that act on the female special system called the endocrine system. This is the system that controls both the monthly menstrual period and the monthly egg release called ovulation, which leads to fertilisation and conception. These substances are the major hormones that control conception. They are oestrogen and progesterone. So, hormonal contraception could either be a combination of oestrogen and progesterone, or it could be progesterone only. The combination may be oral combined daily pill, injectables, skin patch or trans-dermal patch. Progesterone only may be in form of daily pills called mini-pill injectables (two-monthly or three-monthly injectables) and it may also be in form of implants. Implants are rod-like, long-acting progesterone that is applied under the skin of the forearm. The rods are inserted under the skin of the forearm and slowly release the progesterone substance for a pe...

Sperm doesn’t appear to forget anything. Stress felt by dad — whether as a preadolescent or adult — leaves a lasting impression on his sperm that gives sons and daughters a blunted reaction to stress, a response linked to several mental disorders. The findings, published in a new preclinical study in the Journal of Neuroscience by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, point to a never-before-seen epigenetic link to stress-related diseases such as anxiety and depression passed from father to child. While environmental challenges, like diet, drug abuse, and chronic stress, felt by mothers during pregnancy have been shown to affect offspring neurodevelopment and increase the risk for certain diseases, dad’s influence on his children are less well understood. The effects of lifelong exposures to dad on children are even more out of reach. Now, a team of researchers led by Tracy L. Bale, PhD, associate professor of neuroscience in the Perelman School of Medicine Departm...

Essential oils have a plethora of amazing uses for everything from pampering yourself to cleaning and helping with various ailments. An essential oil is an aromatic liquid extracted from leaves, twigs, berries, bark, wood, root, flowers, citrus peels, or other plant matter. They are not actually oily, but have more of a water-like feel. Though essential oils are natural, they are very concentrated and should be used with caution. • Treat acne : Use a dab of tea tree oil on the blemish. •Soothing foot bath: Add 5-8 drops of peppermint or rosemary oil to a large, hot foot bath to relieve pain and stimulate circulation. To control perspiration and odour, add two drops of cypress oil. •Massage : Use a light carrier oil like vegetable, sunflower, or walnut as a base for  massage oil. Add a few drops of peppermint for sore muscles, ginger for your lower back and joints, or avocado oil for a luxurious foot bath. •Calming bath : There’s an essential oil for almost an...

Soya bean also referred to as “meat of the field” or “meat without bones” is an annual antioxidant-rich legume with high protein content. It had been a popular food crop in Asian countries like Korea, China and Japan since ancient times but was introduced to the United States in the 19th century from where it has received deservedly unprecedented global attention. The US initially adopted it as a forage crop until the 1920s when the Soil Conservation Service stimulated its increased cultivation in cotton plantations as a means of replenishing the fertility of soils depleted by cotton cropping. Increased production triggered advances in soy processing technology, propelling soya into a major economic crop ranking only after corn and wheat.Today, the United States produces over a third of the world’s soya beans. Soy is one of the food products that have bounced Brazil back to economic reckoning. Today, Brazil is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of the...

C hildren are not born with “money sense.” Children learn about money by example and experience, beginning at a very tender age. Parents are significant influence on what and how children learn about money. It is never too early to start teaching sound money management skills. Begin teaching basic principles of money as soon as children can understand    that money is needed to buy the things they enjoy.  Much of what your children learn about money is not from the conscious efforts you make to teach money management. Children are great imitators. Children pick up your values, attitudes, and money habits by watching and listening to you. In fact, you do not have to say anything to pass along money attitudes, habits, or decision-making styles.  If you shop with a list, your children will probably shop with a list. If you always spend money before it is earned, you   may have a hard time teaching children to save. Children learn from observing you and...

R etirement is one of the most important financial goals for most people. Unfortunately, many workers and retirees have an incomplete or misleading picture of how much they need to save, how to invest their savings effectively, and how to make their money last as long as they live. Clearing up common misconceptions about retirement is essential so that you can fulfill your dreams of a comfortable retirement. A joint project by LIMRA International, the Society of Actuaries and Matthew Greenwald and Associates identified the following 10 ways in which Americans lack a realistic understanding of retirement saving. Saving too little - Most people haven’t tried to estimate how much money they will need for retirement and those who have tried to do the calculation often underestimate their income needs. Not knowing when retirement will occur - Many workers will retire before they expect to, and before they’re ready. Living longer than planned - As individuals manage their ow...

Without the bones, the human body will just hang like a damp cloth. This is because bones give the body structure; and they also protect internal organs by ensconcing them in cage-like structures that shield them from damage. Again, the body stores calcium through the bone, providing the body with the muscles it needs to move. Calcium also helps the nerves to carry messages between the brain and every body part. Experts advise that we take steps to build strong and healthy bones during childhood and adolescence, and as we age, there are also steps one must take to protect them and keep them in top health. In men, physicians say, bone mass peaks around age 20, after which subtle bone mass loss sets in, worsening as the decades fly by. Scientists say eating calcium-rich foods and getting enough vitamin D are some ways to prevent bone mass loss and ensure bone health for life. The Resident Doctor at St. Augustus Family Hospital, Ijanikin, Lagos, Dr. Tunde Awofisayo, says men’s ...

The proliferation of technology throughout the office has created a work force that needs some brushing up on its P’s and Q’s. Pamela Eyring, president of the Protocol School of Washington, said data shows that today’s employees are more committed to their gadgets than they are to each other. Recent research found that mobile device etiquette breaches at work are up by 51 percent from three years ago, while nearly 70 per cent of Americans say they witness poor cellphone etiquette at least once every day. It’s people, not iPads, that workers need to get along with to succeed in business, Eyring said. “Our industry is in a growth mode because people realise the best investment of time and money is in people — not machines,” she said. “Machines are necessary and valuable, but we have to be smart about how we use them.” Here are tips for improving business etiquette around the office: Be all in: Employees should pay attention in business settings and not place their sm...

After putting in a lot of effort to establish a business, it is only fair that you get something in return for your labour. The expectation for many people is patronage, which can lead to profit and growth for the business. It is a reasonable expectation, especially as many people have confessed that getting funds to convert an idea into a business in Nigeria is easier said than done. However, the truth, according to experts and surveys, is that not many small business owners go on to convert their businesses into successful ones. Some of them, rather than make profit, end up with failed businesses and huge debts. This is attributed to many factors, one of which is the employment of people who are not suitable for the business. According to experts, many small business owners are more concerned with cash flow for their business, to the detriment of human capital. By paying little attention to their recruitment processes, they often end up employing the wrong people. Even ...