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Health Benefits of Oatmeal—Explained by a Nutritionist
Plus, healthy ways to incorporate it into your diet.

By Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD 2022

Oatmeal Is Nutrient-Rich

Oats are also bundled with a variety of vitamins and minerals, including iron, magnesium, zinc, selenium, B vitamins, and smaller amounts of calcium and potassium. That's an impressive vitamin and mineral package for a relatively low-calorie food. This all makes oatmeal a nutrient-dense ingredient.

Oatmeal Provides Antioxidants
Polyphenol antioxidants found in oats possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. At the cellular level, polyphenols have been shown to help fend off aging and disease by reducing oxidative stress. (Basically, oxidative stress is an imbalance between the production of cell-damaging free radicals and the body's ability to counter their unwanted effects.

Furthermore, due to their bodyguard-like effects, polyphenols have been linked to protection against heart disease and stroke, as well as type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Oatmeal Supports Better Nutrition
If you've avoided oatmeal due to its carb content, you may be delighted to know that this healthy starch actually supports weight management. A study demonstrated that regular oatmeal consumers score higher on the USDA's Healthy Eating Index, which is a measure of overall diet quality.…

These are the foods your body really needs to stay healthy.

By Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD | 2023

One of the most important ways to stay healthy is to adopt habits that strengthen immunity. Getting enough sleep, managing stress, being active, washing your hands properly, and eating well all support your immune system.

While no food or supplement can “cure” or even 100% prevent you from catching a virus, like SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, or the flu, some foods help bolster immunity.

Here are some immune-strengthening foods and how to incorporate them into your regular meals and snacks.

Citrus Fruits and Red Bell Peppers
Vitamin C, the superstar nutrient in citrus, is famous for supporting the immune system. While vitamin C can't prevent illness, it can shorten the length of a common cold. Vitamin C is necessary for your diet because your body doesn't naturally make the nutrient.

Vitamin C supports your immune system in the following ways:

Protecting your DNA and your body's proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates from damage
Making certain enzymes in your body work
Getting infection-fighting cells to the infection site
Getting rid of cells that are done clearing an infection
You need to consume 100–200 milligrams daily to maintain a healthy level of vitamin C and reduce your risk of illnesses.1

One medium orange provides 70 milligrams, a medium grapefruit contains almost 80 milligrams, and a half cup of raw red bell pepper packs 95 milligrams.…

THIS IS A FABULOUS ARTICLE NOW IN A BOOK AS WELL BECAUSE IT CAPTURED THE HEARTS OF MANY PEOPLE, AND STILL DOES (her article or her book). WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T MISS THIS - IT IMPARTS HOPE, IT INSPIRES MOTIVATION, THERE ARE PRINCIPLES EVERYONE CAN PRACTICE.

Amy, a Social Worker and Psychologist, experienced several family tragedies, including the death of a husband, her mother, and later her next husband’s father. She wrote the mentally strong article just as much for herself as for her readers.

After her article was published on Lifehack, she received a notice that was sent to all contributors — "Do not submit any new articles because the site is receiving much more traffic than normal!" Amy didn’t realize it at the time, but it was her article that triggered the wave of traffic.

Now in a book “13 things mentally strong people don’t do” Amy gives tips, exercises and excellent advice on increasing our mental strength which can change our entire attitude:

  1. They don’t waste time feeling sorry for themselves.
    “Self pity is easily the most destructive of the non-pharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim form reality” – John Gardner.

How is it that we hear so much BAD and GOOD about SALT in our Diet folks? Because we are talking about Two Different Kinds of Salt - completely different - the Unhealthy and the Healthy; the Synthetic and the Natural; the Chemical and Not Chemical. Medicos are absolutely right in telling us to AVOID Common Commercial Table and Cooking Salt but not to Avoid ALL Salt like the plague. Because one is Corrupted and the other is Genuine, provided by NATURE. And hence, it has so many Benefits.

The Hidden Dangers Of Common Commercial Table Salt!

For clarity, we shall look into these things in detail, and you will see what I mean. How good would that be? Because you don't want to be missing out on the many-fold Benefits. TRUE Uncontaminated Salt is VITAL for our Health and our health can actually be compromised without it, whereby we are not functioning at our best. True Knowledge is Power, so let's not throw the baby out with the bath water hey? You will see the distinction between the two. I will address the Bad one first, then the Healthy one.…

Now everything's Soy. Soy in loaves of Bread and Bakery items, Soy in Snitzels and Burgers, Ice-Cream and Chocolates, Protein Powders and Diet Shakes, lots of Processed Foods in packets and cans. We can't seem to keep away from this stuff! And that's because we are not Standing Up To Them! It has been touted as a Health Food decades ago, much of the so-called research on it's merits have been prejudice and flawed, by that Industry, and there are even Scientists and Nutritionists who have sold their Name and Reputation on the likes of these beans because they succumb to the Bribes of Big Pay Manufacturers who insist on using it. Please read the True Facts from TRUE Researchers and Professionals, what they have established.

Soybesity: Soy and Weight Gain

By Dr Kaayla Daniel from Weston Price Foundation 2014

As Americans get fatter and fatter, that’s an important question. Not surprisingly, the soy industry has been stepping up its efforts to promote soy as the ticket to weight loss. In school cafeterias soy is presented as the “healthy” meat and dairy alternative that can prevent childhood obesity. In health food stores and supermarkets, it’s promoted as a “miracle food” that can prevent heart disease, cancer, bone loss, menopausal symptoms and weight gain.…

Plastic water bottles not only consume petrochemicals and pollute the ocean, but they may contain a dangerous chemical that has multiple harmful effects on your health. Now more than ever, it’s important to ensure your Immune System is at
its best. Read on to discover the truth about your plastic water bottle and how to protect your health.

Your water bottle could be leaching dangerous BPA

BPA stands for bisphenol A. BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s. BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, which are often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles. They may also be used in other consumer goods.

Epoxy resins are used to coat the inside of metal products, such as food cans, bottle tops, and water supply lines. Some dental sealants and composites also may contain BPA. It is also found in hospitals: certain pieces of medical equipment, such as PVC plastic tubes, contain BPA to make it less brittle, and many premature babies are exposed to it while they are in intensive care nurseries.…

We live in a kind of performance driven society in some respects, don't we? Where so much is expected of us - how we do this and the way we do that? A day of A Distinctions at School, High expectations in the Workplace, Entrepreneurs, how we present ourselves over Social Media. Etc. So many feel the Pressure of really high standards being imposed upon them, who aren't Perfectionists by nature. This Post should really benefit some of you - I chose two articles, so the positive is presented.

Perfectionism Is Destroying The Mental Health
Of My Millennial Generation

By Daisy Buchanan

It began at school, with A-Star expectations and a dread of failure. Now we’re on social media platforms, locked into a game of mutually assured depression.

During many work interviews, it’s common to be asked: “What’s your biggest weakness?” It’s an awful question to respond to on the spot. We know it’s a trick, and the answer isn’t: “Sometimes it takes me more than two hours to stop looking at my phone and get dressed after a shower” whatever.

The cheat’s answer of choice, the panicky pick that puts you in a better light than the truth might, is along the lines of: “I’m a perfectionist.”…

Many agree these days, that Social Media can have a pretty strong influence on your thoughts and even shape your mindsets. Some feeds can be helpful while many can be impoverishing or destructive to one's mental and physical health, depending on who you're following of-course - who is in your circle of influence.

Quite a number of people of different ages are leaving Social Media in recent times and opting for other interests like spending more time with family; starting hobbies; going out more; spending their time purposefully; after something more satisfying; improving relationships which have been stifled by Social Media. These people report that they are happier for making these decisions to "break away" from something that was "getting out of hand"...........some say it was "crippling" and they needed to find themselves again.

I can image one could feel pulled this way and that way; congested with too many feeds; stressed by too much activity in their feeds, calling out for their attention a lot, while others feel disappointed by not having enough interest shown in their feeds, and feeling poorly for that.

One time, I read someone's article that said things like, a lot of members make false representations of themselves - kind of like they've had the perfect week, so to speak, week after week - and a lot of young people feel like they don't measure up with that.…

A new study suggests that frequent gardening may be linked to increased health benefits.

According to the study posted on ScienceDirect, gardening just two or three times a week maximized the benefits of better wellbeing and lower stress levels. Gardening Encourages Family Togetherness, and it Keeps You Company if you live on your own too - I love to do this, my plants are great company. Folks, you don't have to have a lot of Plants to do this!

Benefits Of Gardening - Discover Them

The research explored why residents engaged with gardening and the extent to which they recognized any health benefits from the activity.

A questionnaire was distributed electronically within the UK, with 5,766 gardeners and 249 non-gardeners responding. Data was collated on factors including garden typology, frequency of gardening and individual perceptions of health and well-being.

"This is the first time the 'dose response' to gardening has been tested and the evidence overwhelmingly suggests that the more frequently you garden – the greater the health benefits," said Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) wellbeing fellow and lead author Dr Lauriane Chalmin-Pui. "In fact gardening every day has the same positive impact on wellbeing than undertaking regular, vigorous exercise like cycling or running.…

WE BENEFIT FROM THE COMPANY OF AND INTERACTION WITH PETS AND ANIMALS. GUESS WHAT BENEIFITS HAVING A PET AT HOME AFFORDS? PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. AND THE BETTER WE LOOK AFTER THEM, THE HAPPIER THEY ARE. HAVING A WELL CARED FOR PET/PETS IS A RELATIONSHIP OF RECIPROCATION. PEOPLE DERIVE A SENSE OF COMFORT, CONTENTMENT OR HAPPINESS INTERACTING WITH THEIR PETS. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT WE BENEFIT PHYSICALLY AS WELL? IT'S AMAZING WHAT SCIENTISTS AND RESEARCHERS CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THESE THINGS NOW. LET'S HAVE A PEAK AND SEE:)

Pets are Cute and Pets are Cuddly - Pets are Great!

Pets come with some powerful health benefits. Here’s how caring for a dog, cat, or other animal can help relieve depression and anxiety, lower stress, and improve your heart health.

The benefits of pets
Most pet owners are clear about the immediate joys that come with sharing their lives with companion animals. However, many of us remain unaware of the physical and mental health benefits that can also accompany the pleasure of snuggling up to a furry friend. It’s only recently that studies have begun to scientifically explore the benefits of the human-animal bond.…