7 Dreadful Ways Diet Soda is Hurting You

Many of our favorite junk foods increase the risk of weight gain, cardiac arrest, stroke, and other diseases. Diet sodas appear to be an easy way around unhealthy calories while still allowing you a familiar indulgence, but don’t let yourself be fooled. Diet sodas contain a chemical cocktail that drives your metabolism crazy and increases your risk of disease.

If you’re regularly guzzling down diet sodas, here are seven reasons why you seriously need to quit today. I’ll also give you a few practical solutions to help ditch the habit.

Cravings

All diet sodas contain artificial sweeteners. These sweeteners trick your brain (momentarily) into thinking it is about to receive sugary calories. But when the calories are not received, your brain sends signals that you need food, resulting in food cravings.

Weight Gain

Food cravings make it difficult to balance the pleasure centers of the brain, thus increasing your vulnerability to the next high-calorie sweet treat that crosses your path. That’s a tough psychological battle to win.

Chronic Illness

Aspartame, an artificial sweetener found in over 6,000 food products including diet sodas, has been found to trigger or worsen chronic illnesses including brain cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and multiple sclerosis. Aspartame should be considered an enemy of the State!

Corrosion

If a diet soda (search youtube.com for this one) can be used to clean a corroded battery and remove rust, imagine what it’s doing to the lining of your stomach, esophagus, and teeth.

Kidney Decline

A Harvard Medical School study found that women who drank more than two diet sodas per day had a 30% decline in kidney function compared to women who do not drink diet soda.

Dehydration

Diet soda is in no way a replacement for water. Caffeine and sodium found in most diet sodas make you thirsty and cause frequent urination. The average person would rather pay a little extra at the vending machine for another diet soda instead of drinking a free glass of water. This causes a cycle of headaches, fatigue, dry mouth, constipation, and hot flashes — each one a symptom of dehydration

Poor Metabolism

A Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) study linked diet soda to a 36 percent higher risk of metabolic syndromes that cause your metabolism to function at unfavorable speeds. If you want a metabolism that can keep pace with the Indy 500, avoid diet sodas.

So how do you ditch the diet soda habit? Replace it with water. The human body is more than 60 percent water, yet most of us still don’t drink enough of it. Here are a few practical solutions to drinking more water:

Add a Lemon: Yes, water is sometimes tasteless and boring. Try adding a lemon, mint or an orange slice to liven it up a bit, or experiment with a fruit-infused water.
Spice it Up: Not only are cayenne (red) peppers a super healthy seasoning, they will also have you reaching for a cold glass of water during dinner.
Keep it on You: Buy a clear 74- ounce container and keep it in plain sight at all times. Challenge yourself to drink the entire container over the course of the day.
Remember the Savings: Restaurant water is free — why pass up on the savings? Plus most restaurants use a filtration system on their tap, so it tastes even better.

Diet soda can lead to several serious health problems. Replace it with water for a healthy alternative. What’s your best tip for quitting?

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Natural Home Remedies For Headaches: 3 Ways To Relieve The Pain

Traffic jams… tight schedules… work problems… family demands! The stresses of everyday life can give us all a throbbing headache from time to time, but popping painkillers isn’t the only way to escape the nagging thump. In fact, quite a few home remedies have been proven effective in relieving the pain and tension associated with headaches, and they will cost you little to nothing. What’s more, they are 100% natural and come with zero side effects. The next time your head feels like it might explode, try one (or all) of the following methods.

Massage and Constrict

You see that web of skin connecting your forefinger to the base of your thumb? It’s a well-known acupressure trigger point that when stimulated can ease pain and pressure in the head. In a circular motion, firmly massage it for five to seven minutes. Then, switch over to the other hand and repeat. Do this until the headache pain dissipates. Before you start massaging away, tie a necktie or bandanna (or another similar item) around your forehead, tightening it until you can feel some pressure. Doing this will reduce blood flow to your scalp, which can help relieve the pain.

Heat and Cool

This may sound a little strange, but immerse your feet in a bowl of hot water. Keep them in for fifteen to twenty minutes. The hot-water soak will draw blood to your feet and relieve pressure on the blood vessels in your head. If the headache is quite intense, add a tablespoon of dry mustard powder to the water. This is said to draw toxins from the body and boost lymph and blood circulation. If you’ve got a tension headache, a hot compress on the forehead and/or back of the neck should help, which you can follow up with a cold compress in the same areas.

Try Some Herbs

Herbs have long been used for their medicinal properties, and herbs like ginger and basil make good natural headache remedies. Ginger is particularly helpful, as it affects the hormone-like prostaglandins within the body that contribute to inflammation. Half a teaspoon of freshly ground ginger stirred into a glass of water should do the trick. Alternatively, create a paste by mixing a teaspoon of dry ginger powder with two tablespoons of water and apply to the forehead. If you prefer the basil remedy, add three leaves to a cup of boiled water and sip. Mint works, too.

Prevention Is Always Best

Knowing how to treat headaches is great, especially if you can do so naturally. But if you identify your headache triggers, you can take the steps needed to avoid them altogether. Common triggers include dehydration, stress, sleep deprivation, and certain foods (such as alcohol, chocolate, and caffeine). Other causes include medication, physical activity (even sex), incorrect posture, glare (your computer screen, sunlight, overhead lights, etc.), and noise. Note that frequent headaches can be a sign of an underlying disease, so see your health care provider if you get them often.

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5 Wonder Spices For Curing Everyday Ailments

Many of us use spices in our homes. But not everybody knows that they can be as healthful and nutritious as they are delicious, curing everyday ailments naturally and even warding off chronic disease. Sure, a sprinkle of ginger isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice, but science is beginning to confirm what traditional medicine has known for centuries: that nature has its own medicine cabinet! Reap the benefits by adding the following five wonder spices to your spice rack.

Cinnamon

Commonly used in both sweet and savory foods, this fragrant, great-tasting spice has proven to cure a number of everyday health ailments. Its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties make it a good remedy for stomach bugs and IBS-related bloating, cramps, and discomfort, and the large quantities of antioxidants contained in cinnamon protect the body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Cinnamaldehyde, which gives this spice its aroma and flavor, is the organic compound responsible for most of the positive effects on our health. Cinnamon has also shown to lower blood sugar, stave off heart disease, fight HIV, and protect against cancer and Alzheimer’s. Look for “Ceylon (true) cinnamon.”

Saffron

Saffron is an exotic spice used to liven up dishes with its strong essence and distinctive yellow-orange coloring. It is associated with Indian, Greek, and Spanish cuisines, among others, being used as an ingredient in England, France, the United States, and a number of other countries. Cooking aside, saffron has many valuable uses, including use as a natural medicine. The spice – which is rich in manganese, vitamin C, magnesium, iron, potassium, and vitamin B6 – has been used for treating cramps, indigestion, asthma, high blood pressure, fever, and more. It has also demonstrated efficacy in relieving premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms and treating mild depression. Moreover, it shows potential for treating cancer.

Turmeric

Turmeric adds color and flavor to curry powders, mustards, and cheeses. It has been used as a dye and condiment for thousands of years. The spice’s main active ingredient, curcumin (this is what gives it its yellow color, peppery taste, and mustardy aroma), is a powerful anti-inflammatory and strong antioxidant capable of neutralizing free radicals, making turmeric useful in medicine. Packed with iron, vitamin B-6, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, and zinc, the spice has proven effective in treating numerous ailments and diseases, including headaches, heartburn, arthritis, stomach pain, flatulence, fever, depression, and lung infections. It can also help control diabetes and prevent (or even treat) cancer.

Cumin

Cumin is a staple spice in Latin American, North African, and Middle Eastern cuisines. The whole or grounded seeds add a warm, earthy flavor and distinct spicy aroma to foods, making it ideal for soups, stews, gravies, and many other dishes. Cumin also serves medicinal purposes. A good source of iron, magnesium, and vitamins and minerals, it is widely used as a remedy for colds, anemia, and indigestion, stimulating the production of pancreatic enzymes within the body. The spice is also used to treat insomnia, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, piles, and asthma, and it is thought to enhance vision and mental function. Furthermore, some studies suggest that it can prevent cancer (particularly colon cancer) and diabetes.

Chili

Chili is loved by many for its zesty hotness and endorphin-releasing effects, but this wonder spice offers more than just culinary thrills. It is loaded with vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, and it contains an alkaloid compound known as capsaicin, which is known to effectively clear headaches and sinus congestion, fight inflammation, and relieve muscle, joint, and nerve pain. In fact, topical capsaicin is now a recognized treatment for osteoarthritis pain. Studies also show that capsaicin alleviates symptoms associated with diabetic neuropathy and psoriasis. Other possible chili benefits include better digestion, weight loss, and improved cardiovascular function, and (bowel and prostate) cancer prevention.

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