General Discussion | Breathe Network

Obvious Healthy Things People Forget To Do

Here are some of the things everyone knows are required to be healthy, yet they are the first to go in a list of many people’s priorities. As a gentle reminder, here’s the obvious.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Not only is sleep awesome when it’s a good sleep on the world’s most comfortable mattress with the world’s most delicious dream, but it’s healthy to get about six to eight consecutive hours of sleep a night. In addition, the routine of a regular bed time and a regular wake time is just as healthy (if not healthier) for adults as it is for children.

Drink Lots of Water

Water is the best nature’s resource to great health. Not only does it help many people to lose weight to drink lots of water, it can help the aging process, make your skin glow and reduce acne, and stop dehydration dead in its tracks. Some studies suggest most of America is dehydrated and doesn’t even know it, so for many, a little more water can increase energy, brain function, and prevent migraines. Many who have decided to drink more water also find themselves less hungry and less tempted to drink soda.

Eat a Nutritious Diet

A healthy diet can provide wonders to the human body, and everyone knows many of the basics to a healthy diet such as eating green leafy vegetables, fruits, fiber, protein (meats), milk, etc. Many still end up at the fast food drive thru instead. There are fine dining establishments who charge $10 for a side of Asparagus. Healthy food is really a delicacy.

Take Your Vitamins

Modern technology has afforded civilization with the ability to extract vitamins and mash it all together into a daily pill. It’s not the most magical pill to exist in imagination, but it is one pill that can magically help prevent a plethora of health problems people wish a magic pill could cure.

Filed Under: General Discussion Tagged With: Health

Healthy Foods on a Budget

To help combat the increase in grocery prices, here are three foods that not only friendly to the body, but also friendly to the wallet.

Rice

Not the minute rice or microwavable rice, but the one that comes in a bag that requires a good 20 minutes to cook. Rice opens up opportunity for creativity. For instance, when you prepare the rice, instead of using water, you can use chicken broth. In addition, you can add vegetables, beans, cooked meat, eggs, etc. The sky is the limit with the different rice concoctions you can make based on the ingredients you have sitting around your kitchen. You may find good use for that can of beets yet.

Beans

A decent source for protein, beans are not really that expensive. You can get them already soft and ready to cook in a can, or you can buy them a little cheaper by the bag and follow the instructions on the back of the bag to soften them. Kidney beans and red beans are great to add to rice. You can also make your soup a little more filling by adding beans.

Marinara Sauce

Buying a jar of spaghetti sauce can be expensive, but if got a slew of Italian seasonings sitting in your spice cabinet or growing in your herb garden, you may find making marinara sauce a little more from scratch to be very friendly to your wallet. Generally, mix two cans of diced tomatoes drained with two cans of tomato sauce and one can of tomato paste. Add vegetables and seasonings to your liking. Basic seasonings generally include oregano, basil, Italian seasoning, garlic salt/powder, onion salt/powder, salt and pepper. Of course, you can replace salt/powders with actual garlic and onion. Some people add a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce or Pepperoncini peppers. Taste as it simmers for inspiration.

Filed Under: General Discussion Tagged With: Bean, Cook, Italian cuisine, Olive oil, Rice

Uses for Catnip Beyond the Cat

Catnip is a mint that has many awesome benefits for the human species as well as the cats.

Natural Sedative

Many people find a catnip tea or a pill helps them reduce anxiety and fall asleep. Once upon a time back before empirical evidence and over the counter medication, people used catnip to help fussy babies go to sleep; however, in this day and age, it’s not recommended for babies or pregnant women.

Pest Deterrent

Studies are starting to show that catnip oil might actually repel certain bugs such as mosquitoes, cockroaches, termites, fleas, and flies. Unfortunately, smearing it across the skin seems to diminish the effect. While it does still repel mosquitoes for that case, it does not function better than products like Deet. However, off the human skin, it seems to repel better than Deet. More studies are being done to create effective all natural products with cat nip oil to repel bugs. Keep a look out. In addition, many contend that growing some catnip will deter mice away claiming that mice have a natural instinct to know where there is catnip, there are cats.

Healing Claims

In the field of natural medicine, many assert that catnip can help treat headaches, settle an upset stomach, and clean out a cut or scrape. It’s also an astringent, so used topically on the skin, it helps pull toxins forward and can help keep pores clean. It’s also a diuretic, meaning it makes you urinate more frequently.

Food

Because it’s a mint, catnip makes for a great special, secret ingredient in salads and meals. Some will rub meat with catnip as well, and you can use it to garnish foods. Don’t forget the catnip tea.

Cats

Cats love catnip, and giving it your cat (kittens don’t usually respond to catnip) makes them do funny things you can laugh at, and laughter is sometimes the best medicine.

Filed Under: General Discussion Tagged With: Cat

Do you Think Your Child has Autism?

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Many parents start realizing there child might have a mild autism long before a psychologist notices it. Here’s some helpful information in your search.

Autism is known as a spectrum, and included in that spectrum is mild autism also known as Asperger’s Syndrome and Pervasive Development Disorders. To be diagnosed on the spectrum, one has to display a certain level of Repetitive Behaviors and Social Dysfunctions. The DSM criteria, however, is only the source for an actual diagnosis, but it nowhere near entails all autism has to offer.

The easiest way to remove all doubt on autism is the Autley Glare. It’s that spaced-out into infinity look that can happen often with severe autism and occasionally to frequently with mild autism. Once you see that glare become redundant into your child’s life, especially on days your child is tired, you can almost be certain your child is on the spectrum.

The experts say autism lacks empathy and imagination. That is false. Autistic people empathize well with each other. They empathize with non-autistic people about as well as non-autistic people empathize with autism. When it comes to imagination, autistic people just have a unique imagination. The creator of Pokemon is diagnosed with Asperger’s, and he based his Pokemon creatures off of his special interest of bugs and turned it into a social game.

Autism usually comes with hyper-sensitivities to light, sound, correction, criticism, rejection, betrayal, transition, etc. In addition, they often have special interests or obsessions, usually on “boring” topics like WWII tanks or Pokemon. They do not play well into gender roles. Hyper-focus on the unimportant is also a common trait as well as being overactive or underactive, playing with toys differently, lining up toys, sleep issues, mild lack of eye contact, and monologues.

Keep in mind autism can very well be genetic, meaning one of the child’s parents or family could be undiagnosed on the spectrum.

Filed Under: General Discussion Tagged With: Autism spectrum, Diagnosis, Health, List of people on the autism spectrum

Prevent Aging

So many products are available to decrease wrinkles, tighten the skin, and make us look and thereby feel younger. Here are some good ways to combat aging.

Drink Lots of Water

Amazing how the very substance that causes skin to wrinkle when submerged into it for long lengths of time is also the very same substance that helps prevent wrinkles with aging. Our bodies are predominantly made up of water. A very high percentage of our blood, brain, muscles, and skin are comprised of water. When dehydrated, our bodies do not operate to its potential. We feel fatigued, slower thinking, and just older all together. In addition, water carries nutrients and cleans out toxins, which is very beneficial to skin.

Use Sunscreen

The sun can make aging happen faster and sooner when it comes to the skin. Sunscreen helps combat those effects before they happen. In addition, those who find life more comfortable in the luxury of an air-conditioned home or underneath a shade now have more a reason to avoid sitting out in the sun.

Don’t Smoke

Free radicals such as that found in tobacco smoke and air pollution contribute to the aging of the skin as well.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

Ever notice how pregnant women’s skin glows, hair shines, and fingernails grow strong? Some of that can be contributed to Pre-Natal Vitamins. For beauty with the skin and hair, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and Antioxidants are generally the items people turn to first. In addition, protein is necessary for cells to re-build, and considering the skin is constantly shedding and rebuilding and that slows down with age, protein can help. In addition to the skin, a healthy diet also combats other negative factors to aging.

Skin care

Many people once they start noticing the wrinkles forming resort to skin care products. Look for ones that contain Vitamin A (retinoid), Antioxidants, and Alpha-hydroxy Acids.

Filed Under: General Discussion Tagged With: Ageing

Payday Loans to Exit Arizona

A new law in Arizona changes the interest rates that payday loans can carry in the state. The law places limitations on the interest rates payday lenders in the state can charge. Some payday lenders have already exited the state to focus on other markets. By hurting the Payday loan industry, this law may make it difficult for residents of Arizona to get the emergency cash they need when they need it. Payday loans may be the only source of money a person can access when unexpected situations occur and payday is still a week away.

Payday loans are beneficial to borrowers who do not have other options for their short-term loan needs. Instead of exiting the state, payday lenders may benefit by following the lead of companies operating in other states with similar laws. These lenders started offering a product similar to a payday loan but not termed as such in order to circumvent the law. Another option is to consider expanding to a national level or adding other products. National payday lenders can continue to offer other financial products, such as money orders, wire transfers, and auto-title loans to residents in Arizona. The new laws will not affect these products. In response to the new law, Check ‘n Go has scheduled all 34 of its stores in Arizona to close. Two of the other payday lenders in Arizona are unsure whether the companies will continue business in the state. These closures may be limiting access to help when people need it most.

Payday loans are a short-term loan option for emergencies. They bridge the gap between bills that are due and when paychecks come into the household. For those individuals who find themselves with too little paycheck and too many expenses, payday loans help keep finances on track. For this reason, many residents hope to see payday lenders stay.

Filed Under: General Discussion Tagged With: Arizona, Business, Loan, Payday loan

Get Great Deals with Overstock Coupon Codes

If you like shopping then you know that coupon codes are great for finding fantastic deals. The same is true if you like shopping online at places such as Overstock.com. With Overstock coupon codes, great savings can be had with a number of different items. You can save the money you would have spent for any unforeseen expense–doctor bill, health care, etc. You can buy the things you want and save money to pay for any health related expenses.

Coupon codes can be used to get discounts on items such as electronics, household linens and much more. Overstock coupon codes are frequently updated so that thrifty buyers can always find good deals.

These coupon codes offer deals and promos such as free shipping. Buyers can also get a set percentage off a fixed dollar value purchase such as 15 percent off a $300 purchase. The value of the coupons varies depending on what is purchased and the value of items purchased.

Like most coupon codes, these can be found on the company’s website and other websites that offer coupon codes. Finding them is relatively easy as just typing in the words ‘Overstock coupon codes’ will result in lots of hits. No matter what is being purchased, there will be a coupon code that will result in some savings.

As with all coupon codes, check for information such as expiry dates and terms of use before making a purchase. The good thing is, even after some codes have expired there are always newer ones to take their place. Some companies display the discount being offered on the purchase page before you pay for your item. This prevents any misunderstanding as to what the promotional code offers.

Coupon codes are especially popular when it comes to buying on the Internet. It is a big plus for shoppers who already like the convenience of shopping online. Not only do coupon codes encourage online shopping, the appeal of savings is a good catch as well. Who doesn’t want to save while buying?

Filed Under: General Discussion Tagged With: Coupon, Online shopping, Overstock.com

The health benefits of drinking wine

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Even things that are seemingly bad for the health and can impair vision and judgment may actually be beneficial when taken in moderation. Wine, for example, has a growing number of supporters as not only a relaxing beverage to take while winding down from a stressful day or while enjoying a nice meal, but as a useful agent to combat disease, most notably cancer.

Surprisingly enough, it’s the alcohol content of wine that actually acts serves in reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Yes, alcohol thins the blood but it also raises levels of good cholesterol, and the flavanoids found in wine act as antioxidants in the bloodstream, keeping harmful free radicals at bay.

In addition, the resveratrol found in wine works to lower the amount of blood clotting in the body and produces anti-thrombotic agents that can potentially strengthen the heart and lower the risk for coronary heart disease.

So the question is…what wine is best? Instead of getting into the argument of Cabernet v. Chardonnay, simply judge by the color of the grape (for example, red wine carries more resveratrol than white simply by the way it is made).

However, as with all good things, too much wine can be detrimental to wellness and slide one backward in a hurry, both figuratively and literally. Drinking too much alcohol often leads to dehydration, weight gain, and migraines. And perhaps more than anything, drinking too much tends to make you useless the next day. Remember moderation in all things as rule #1 in living and maintaining a healthy, happy life.

“All things in moderation” stands as a maxim that anyone looking to live a long, healthy life should espouse as sacred. Even too much oxygen will cause a healthy person to pass out. Too much water will drown a man. And too much sunshine, well, it’s easy to know what that will do.Even things that are seemingly bad for the health and can impair vision and judgment may actually be beneficial when taken in moderation. Wine, for example, has a growing number of supporters as not only a relaxing beverage to take while winding down from a stressful day or while enjoying a nice meal, but as a useful agent to combat disease, most notably cancer. Surprisingly enough, it’s the alcohol content of wine that actually acts serves in reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, and degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Yes, alcohol thins the blood but it also raises levels of good cholesterol, and the flavanoids found in wine act as antioxidants in the bloodstream, keeping harmful free radicals at bay.In addition, the resveratrol found in wine works to lower the amount of blood clotting in the body and produces anti-thrombotic agents that can potentially strengthen the heart and lower the risk for coronary heart disease. So the question is…what wine is best? Instead of getting into the argument of Cabernet v. Chardonnay, simply judge by the color of the grape (for example, red wine carries more resveratrol than white simply by the way it is made). However, as with all good things, too much wine can be detrimental to wellness and slide one backward in a hurry, both figuratively and literally. Drinking too much alcohol often leads to dehydration, weight gain, and migraines. And perhaps more than anything, drinking too much tends to make you useless the next day. Remember moderation in all things as rule #1 in living and maintaining a healthy, happy life.

Filed Under: Alternative Practices, General Discussion, Health Tagged With: Alcoholic beverage, Heart disease, Wine

The Cost of Breathing – The Pros and Cons of O2 Bars

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The fact is that paying extra for something even the most corrupt gangsters couldn’t possibly corner the market on is a much more common occurrence than most people realize. But what is the value-add to spending hard-earned money on something that surrounds us everyday and is accessible for free, no matter who we are, what we do, or where we live?

The fact is that some areas of the world don’t have adequate breathing air and oxygen bars rose out of necessity more than fad. Air stations became popular in overcrowded, badly polluted areas of Asia including the downtowns of Tokyo and Beijing. However it was in Toronto that the first official oxygen bar took root in 1996. Catering to a growing numbers of fans, looking to try something new and inexplicable, the trend continued to spread throughout North America into bars, restaurants, malls, and spas in virtually every area from coast to coast.

Some claim that because oxygen is quite literally the end all, be all of human existence and the very lifeblood of life, too much O2 can never be enough. Proponents will only look to diminishing levels of air quality in most urban areas of the world and claim that better breathing will only lead to better health and wellness, and that purer oxygen, even taken in smallish doses, will do much to enliven the bloodstream and fight disease through a bolstering of the immune system. While this is true in theory, it remains to be seen scientifically whether or not oxygen bars make enough difference in the overall wellness of humans more than it does in hyping an industry with the “next best thing.”

It seems odd to see people sitting at a bar, with a noticeable absence of drinks in their hands but instead sporting strange tubes from their noses. It may seem stranger still to learn that these people, some of whom must be relatively intelligent, are paying good money to purchase the oxygen flowing from one of many colorful lit hookah-ish contraptions, and sometimes at a premium price. Money. For oxygen. Really? What’s next, bottled water?The fact is that paying extra for something even the most corrupt gangsters couldn’t possibly corner the market on is a much more common occurrence than most people realize. But what is the value-add to spending hard-earned money on something that surrounds us everyday and is accessible for free, no matter who we are, what we do, or where we live?The fact is that some areas of the world don’t have adequate breathing air and oxygen bars rose out of necessity more than fad. Air stations became popular in overcrowded, badly polluted areas of Asia including the downtowns of Tokyo and Beijing. However it was in Toronto that the first official oxygen bar took root in 1996. Catering to a growing numbers of fans, looking to try something new and inexplicable, the trend continued to spread throughout North America into bars, restaurants, malls, and spas in virtually every area from coast to coast. Some claim that because oxygen is quite literally the end all, be all of human existence and the very lifeblood of life, too much O2 can never be enough. Proponents will only look to diminishing levels of air quality in most urban areas of the world and claim that better breathing will only lead to better health and wellness, and that purer oxygen, even taken in smallish doses, will do much to enliven the bloodstream and fight disease through a bolstering of the immune system. While this is true in theory, it remains to be seen scientifically whether or not oxygen bars make enough difference in the overall wellness of humans more than it does in hyping an industry with the “next best thing.”

Filed Under: Alternative Practices, General Discussion, Health Tagged With: Alternative, Bottled water, Immune system, Oxygen

Real Men Eat Raw Eggs

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But there are some who would say that cooking an egg is the worse possible thing one can do. It would be heresy, they would state, to ruin something widely consider to be a literal “super food.” Placing heat on the egg divests the egg of its base nutritional superpower, and thereby can actually be made bad for human consumption. This argument is based on the way human beings consume protein, of which eggs have a plentitude. Scientific research has supported the notion, to a certain extent, that humans digest meat and animal products (e.g. eggs) more efficiently in their natural raw state. Cooking, as it were, changes the literal chemistry of the egg and can produce mutations in its molecular structure, as well as unwelcome protein links that have been linked to a number of health related disturbances. Translation–cooking an egg destroys its “perfect food” reputation and creates a toxic mess compared to the perfectly pure source of protein, vitamins, and minerals found in a raw egg.

Yet raw eggs, as any raw meat or animal products, do carry a risk of spreading salmonella bacterium, which can have extremely adverse effects on humans. Diarrhea, extreme abdominal pain, and nausea are but a few of the symptoms this bacterium causes. However, research has shown that salmonella has little to no effect on healthy people, made healthier, perhaps, by eating raw eggs. Which begs the question, which came first?

There are very few foods in the world as wholesome, and yet as simple, as the egg. Whether it be from a chicken, a quail, or something as elusive as the ostrich egg (impossible to flip with a normal spatula), eggs are a self-encased, wholesome source of protein and one of the few foods on earth that carries natural vitamin D. Scrambled, poached, sunny-side up, even hard-boiled–there are as many ways to enjoy the egg as there are delicious meals that include them as an ingredient. But there are some who would say that cooking an egg is the worse possible thing one can do. It would be heresy, they would state, to ruin something widely consider to be a literal “super food.” Placing heat on the egg divests the egg of its base nutritional superpower, and thereby can actually be made bad for human consumption. This argument is based on the way human beings consume protein, of which eggs have a plentitude. Scientific research has supported the notion, to a certain extent, that humans digest meat and animal products (e.g. eggs) more efficiently in their natural raw state. Cooking, as it were, changes the literal chemistry of the egg and can produce mutations in its molecular structure, as well as unwelcome protein links that have been linked to a number of health related disturbances. Translation–cooking an egg destroys its “perfect food” reputation and creates a toxic mess compared to the perfectly pure source of protein, vitamins, and minerals found in a raw egg. Yet raw eggs, as any raw meat or animal products, do carry a risk of spreading salmonella bacterium, which can have extremely adverse effects on humans. Diarrhea, extreme abdominal pain, and nausea are but a few of the symptoms this bacterium causes. However, research has shown that salmonella has little to no effect on healthy people, made healthier, perhaps, by eating raw eggs. Which begs the question, which came first?

Filed Under: Alternative Practices, General Discussion, Health, Resources Tagged With: Eggs, Food and Related Products, Protein