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Nowadays we have access to everything. In fact, we can eat almost anything at any time, but does this mean we are eating better? Let´s look at some facts. In the United States:

- Nearly 38% of adults are obese (1)
- 9,3% of the population has diabetes (2)
- About 29% of adults have high blood pressure (3)
- The No. 1 cause of death for both men and women is heart disease (4)
- 1 in every 20 deaths is caused by stroke (5)

This data reflects not only the way people eat, of course, but also other factors such as lifestyle. However, food plays a very important role. Besides being part of our daily life, we need to eat in order to survive.

If we want to eat healthier options, going to the supermarket can be quite a challenging experience. Why? Because everything that is not good for us seems to be more appealing either by the way it looks or how the package looks (this is marketing at its best). As the saying goes, "don´t judge a book by its cover." So what can you do?

1. Choose Local
 

If you are looking for fresh fruits and vegetables, then buy local products. By doing this you will be also helping the farmers in your area as well as the environment! Besides this, instead of going to the freezer section to find meat or fish, try to go more often to the fish market or to the butcher shop.

2. Choose Organic
 

Do you really want to pay for food that was grown using chemical fertilizers and pesticides or for GMO food? Or would you rather pay for quality? This is what happens when you choose organic: it is an investment in your health and well-being. Organic produce might not be so appealing because of its size and shape, but after you taste it you will not want anything else!

3. Choose Seasonal
 

Nature is so wise. It gives us what our body needs according to the season. For example, have you ever noticed that there is always more fruit available during summer time? Fruit hydrates us and has also a cooling effect on our body, perfect for that time of the year!

4. Choose Whole
 

Whole grains are slow-absorption carbohydrates and nutritionally more complete (6). Most people, however, eat refined carbohydrates. But did you know that white flour acidifies the body, taking away minerals (7)? Furthermore, food with a high glycemic value (e.g., refined flour products and also sugar), can act as opium does in our brains, which is why for some people it can be addictive, according to research conducted by Dr. Kathleen DesMaisons, specialist in nutrition and addiction (8).

5. Choose without Sugar
 

When I use the term "sugar" I mean sucrose that enters very quickly in the bloodstream, disturbing the sugar levels in the blood. In the long term, refined sugar increases fatigue and steals from the body minerals and B complex vitamins (7). But, of course, everybody loves eating a sweet thing! Fruit can be one of the best options available, but if you are looking for a sugar substitute you have, for example, honey and coconut sugar.

6. Choose Unprocessed
 

I know packaged food offers convenience, but next time you buy it please read the label. Do you understand the ingredients or are they too hard to spell? Rule of thumb: if you can´t spell them, then put the package back on the supermarket shelf. Besides this, keep in mind that the less ingredients a product has, the better.

7. Choose Diversity
 

Eating a bit of everything is probably the best option if you want to have a balanced diet. However, it is important to take into account certain factors such as the season we are in, as I have written above, and our personal characteristics like age, sex, lifestyle and what our organism reacts to certain foods, so listen to your body!

Next time you go to the supermarket think about the options available. You have the power to decide the best for you, so choose wisely.

(1) Flegal K.M., Kruszon-Moran D., Carroll M.D., et al. Trends in obesity among adults in the United States, 2005 to 2014. JAMA, 315(21): 284-2291, 2016 (accessed October 2016).
(2) American Diabetes Association. Statistics about Diabetes. In American Diabetes Association, 2016 (accessed October 2016).
(3) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High Blood Pressure Facts. In Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015 (accessed October 2016).
(4) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart Disease Facts. In Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015 (accessed October 2016).
(5) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stroke Facts. In Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015 (accessed October 2016).
(6) Varatojo, Francisco. Foods also Cure. Lisboa: A Esfera dos Livros, 2015.
(7) Pope, Alexandra. The Wild Genie: The healing power of menstruation. Bedfordshire: Authors OnLine, 2001, ed. 2014.
(8) Northrup, Christiane. Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating physical and emotional health and healing. Rio de Mouro: Círculo de Leitores, 1994, ed. 2009, transl.

Ancient Egyptians consumed many lemons, as they believed that lemon juice protected them from a variety of diseases and poisons. The latest scientific findings have confirmed this belief. Indeed, lemons have numerous health benefits, the most illustrious of which are strong antibacterial and immune-boosting properties. However, this little yellow fruit can do much more than just protect your body from infections. Here are 7 hidden health benefits of a lemon that I bet you have not heard about.

1. Cures Acne

As most citrus fruits, lemons are rich in vitamin C which is known for its amazing antibacterial properties. Thus, it can kill a number of bacteria, including those that cause acne. The citric acid contained in lemons can help get rid of acne scars. The easiest way to get rid of acne is to apply fresh lemon juice on the affected skin area and leave it overnight.

2. Removes Anxiety and Fatigue

Lemon balm is proven to have an excellent calming effect. Numerous researches show that it can remove anxiety, fatigue, dizziness, nervousness and a number of other unpleasant emotional states. When used as a room freshener, it can boost employees' efficiency.

3. Heals Canker Sore

Strong antiviral and antibacterial properties of a lemon juice hasten canker sore healing process. Rinse your mouth with a mixture of a freshly squeezed juice of one lemon and a glass of warm water and you will soon forget about cankers.

4. Cures Calluses and Corns

Lemon is an effective remedy for corns and calluses. To get rid of callused skin, apply lemon poultices on the affected area. Just put a slice of lemon on a callus or corn, fasten it with a bandage and leave overnight. Repeat the procedure until you get the desired result.

5. Removes Eczema Symptoms

Lemons help get rid of several skin diseases, like eczema. To make a healing poultice, mix one cup of 

warm mater, eight drops of essential lemon oil and one tablespoon of honey. Soak a bandage in this mixture and apply it on the affected area for fifteen minutes, 2-3 times a day. Such poultice will ease the infection and itching.

6. Eliminates Halitosis

Unpleasant breath odour caused by insufficient salvation, consumption of certain foods (garlic, onion or other spices), cigarettes or alcohol can be easily removed with the help of a lemon juice. To freshen your breath, just rinse the mouth with a mixture of freshly quizzed lemon juice and warm water or chew a small lemon slice.

7. Improves Digestion

Lemon acid improves stomach muscles activity and stimulates the production of stomach acid. Thus, if you want to improve your digestion, make it a rule to drink lemon water after each meal.

Some patients with an illness or injury do not wish to receive assistance from caregivers in a professional setting. In contrast, these people wish to have practitioners visit them at their residences instead. Explore some of the benefits of home health care to determine whether this service fits your needs and budget.

Personalized Service

When caregivers come to a patient in the home, this assistance is typically more personalized and specialized to meet the unique needs of the patient. People usually receive a higher quality of service delivered in a more compassionate manner. It's common for relationships to develop between the patient and the staff members who visit regularly.

Convenience

Receiving visits from staff members in a residence is usually more convenient for both patients and families. Leaving the home to visit a facility will no longer be necessary because practitioners will come to the residence at times that fit the individual's schedule. This convenience can be particularly helpful during times of inclement weather when a patient should not venture outdoors due to cold, heat, or storms.

Help for Family Members

Family members caring for a sick or injured loved one usually experience significant time constraints because of this work. Hiring a company for home health care can reduce this burden for family members. The assistance provided can give family members more freedom to manage their own personal duties. With the reduced responsibility, families often begin to have more quality time with the person because they no longer become stressed over care duties. Family members often appreciate knowing that their loved one is receiving high-quality and professional care, which can lessen personal anxiety.

Promotes Healing

When people receive home health care, they may recover more quickly. In addition, people may receive dangerous exposure to germs and infections when visiting clinics and hospitals. The ability to have assistance at home can eliminate this exposure and promote faster healing. Many people even experience a reduced number of re-hospitalizations under this type of regimen.

Affordability

Inpatient care can be expensive for a family. The cost of leaving the home for ongoing outpatient appointments can also be expensive. In contrast, having a professional come to a residence is often more affordable.

Other Services

Shopping, running errands, and meal preparation are typical types of assistance that you might add to a package. Some assistants will also perform laundry and light cleaning work around the house. Inquire about personal care such as bathing, hair washing, and dressing.

Before making a final decision about home health care, perform a complete background inquiry for a company. After researching a company thoroughly, you should be ready to move forward with a contract.

Our bodies comprise of many different components, of all of the chemicals and elements that our body is comprised of though, one stands out above the rest H2O. We are of course talking about water, our bodies are approximately 60% water, this alone should stress the importance of staying hydrated, if we are 60% water it would stand to reason water is very important to the healthy function of our body.

Even though it is staring us in the face, many people around the world do not get enough water. Now we are not talking about the individuals that do not have access to clean water (they want to drink water it is just not available). We are talking about the people around the world for whom water is readily available, and yet they choose to drink unhealthy alternatives such as soft drinks.

Even drinks like Gatorade and PowerAde do not yield that many health benefits for the average person as water does. Sports drinks are packed full of electrolytes and performance enhancing nutrients that is true. They are also packed with preservatives and chemicals that our bodies don't need, so unless you are an athlete (or have an illness) there is absolutely no reason to drink them. Everything that they provide is readily available from more natural sources and in quantities that make more sense for the average person. Leaving out all of the negative aspects.

We have put together a list of the various benefits of drinking water. Hopefully some of these will strike home and help you to realize you need more H2O in your life.

Fluid Balance - As stated we as humans are 60% water and we need to consume between 9-16 glasses of water a day to maintain a healthy fluid balance. This helps our body transport nutrients better as well as keeping us feeling better.

Calorie Control - Forget the latest diet fad, drinking a glass of water before every meal will help you feel full. This means you will likely consume less calories.

Muscle Fuel - When we exert physical force using our muscles they use the water that they normally store. Drinking enough water will help prevent cramping during a workout, and it will also limit the amount of muscle fatigue you feel later on.

Kidney Function - Our kidneys process 200 quarts of blood every single day. They filter out all the toxins that we take in. However, in order to remove those toxins from out body the kidneys need to be able to make use of water to transport the toxins to the bladder where we expel them.

Fatigue Relief - Set the coffee down, our bodies don't "need" caffeine, it is a drug that tricks our body into feeling more awake and energetic. You don't need it though, drinking enough water every day will give you the same feeling of alertness and energy.

Boosting the Immune System - This ties back into the first point we made. Our bodies are mostly water, so it would stand to reason the white blood cells that make up our bodies defense against illness need water to function at their best. Drinking enough water can be crucial to maintaining your health.

These are but a few of the reasons we should all make sure that we drink enough water every single day. Don't wait go grab a glass!