What if I saw things more clearly? I have excellent vision. I don’t wear glasses, but I don’t see things as clearly as I should. I can clearly read a printed page, but am I aware of how another person feels or what another person is experiencing when I am in that person’s company? Being aware requires a different type of sight. It is heart-sight. Heart-sight sees what the eyes don’t recognize. Heart-sight sees pain, sorrow, and the need for human kindness. I have a neighbor who has 20./20 heart-sight vision. She sees what other neighbors don’t see. She is a blessing to the neighborhood.
heart
Today’s Inspiration ~ 3 Positive Traits
“Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.”
~ Charles Dickens
Today’s Health Tip ~ 9 Great Benefits of Onions
Onions are highly nutritious and have been associated with several benefits, including improved heart health, better blood sugar control, and increased bone density.
What are the 9 Great Benefits of Onions?
- Onions are packed with nutrients – Onions are low in calories yet high in nutrients, including vitamin C, B vitamins, and potassium.
- Onions may benefit heart health – Research shows that eating onions may help reduce heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, elevated triglyceride levels, and inflammation.
- Onions are loaded with antioxidants – Red onions are rich in anthocyanins, which are powerful plant pigments that may protect against heart disease, certain types of cancer, and diabetes.
- Onions contain anti-cancer compounds – A diet rich in allium vegetables like onions may have a protective effect against certain cancers.
- Onions help to control blood sugar – Due to the many beneficial compounds found in onions, consuming them may help reduce high blood sugar.
- Onions my boost bone density – Studies show that onion consumption is associated with improved bone mineral density.
- Onions have antibacterial properties – Onions have been shown to inhibit the growth of potentially harmful bacteria like E. coliand S. aureus.
- Onions may boost digestive health – Onions are a rich source of prebiotics, which help boost digestive health, improve bacterial balance in your gut, and benefit your immune system.
- Onions are easily added to your diet – Onions can easily be added to savory dishes, including eggs, guacamole, meat dishes, soups, and baking goods.
Today’s Health Tip ~ Are Hot Tubs Healthy?
Benefits of Using a Hot Tub
- Relieves stress.
- Manages muscles aches.
- Helps heart health.
- Lowers blood pressure.
- Improves sleep.
Healthy hot tubbing tips
Some hot tubs are breeding grounds for germs. Only use hot tubs that you know are regularly cleaned and well-maintained with the proper levels of chemicals. A hot tubbing ritual can be safe and healthy if you:
- Don’t let the water temperature exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius). If you’re not sure, check the temperature with a tub thermometer or your finger. Enter slowly to avoid burns or shocking your body.
- Get out of the tub if you feel too hot, dizzy or get a headache. These could be signs that you’re dehydrated or your blood pressure is getting too low.
- Install barriers like locking gates around home hot tubs. Use a latching cover to keep it clean and help keep children safe.
- Limit your dip to 15 minutes or less, or you risk making muscle pain worse.
Heating up can be healthy
If you’re in good health, go ahead and enjoy a hot soak. But keep in mind that the health benefits are a bonus, not a replacement for medical care. “A hot tub isn’t going to solve any health problems, but it can feel great,” says Dr. Todorov. “And if you start to feel unwell or you just don’t like the heat, it’s a sign you should get out.”
Today’s Health Tip ~ What Are the Health Benefits of Walking?
Health benefits of walking
You carry your own body weight when you walk. This is known as weight-bearing exercise. Some of the benefits include:
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- increased cardiovascular and pulmonary (heart and lung) fitness
- reduced risk of heart disease and stroke
- improved management of conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness, and diabetes
- stronger bones and improved balance
- increased muscle strength and endurance
- reduced body fat.
Walking for 30 minutes a day
To get the health benefits, try to walk for at least 30 minutes as briskly as you can on most days of the week. ‘Brisk’ means that you can still talk but not sing, and you may be puffing slightly. Moderate activities such as walking pose little health risk but, if you have a medical condition, check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program of physical activity.
A Better Life ~ Love is a Priceless Gift
Love puts a song in one’s heart and it never stops playing. It gives a man or woman the power to climb the highest mountains or swim across raging rivers. Is a priceless gift.
Today’s Health Tip ~ 4 Health Benefits of Spicy Foods
Spicy Food’s Health Benefits
- Spicy foods may keep your heart healthy – People who eat red chili peppers have been shown to have lower levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein), which is sometimes called “bad” cholesterol because it increases the risk of heart disease. Recent research found that consuming these peppers is associated with a 13 percent lower incidence of deaths from heart disease and stroke.
- Spicy foods may kick start your metabolism – There are many factors that can contribute to weight gain. “Inactivity, unhealthy eating habits, genetics, age, or certain medications all can play a role,” said Dr. Millstein. Capsaicin may help boost your metabolism, which can help you burn more calories both at rest and during exercise, meaning you might be able to lose weight more easily.
- Spicy foods may be an effective pain reliever – If you’ve ever bitten into a chili pepper, you’re probably familiar with the burning sensation that follows. When you apply that same sensation to the nerves on your hands and feet, it can make those nerves lose their feeling for extended periods of time, which relieves pain. When used as a lotion or other topical cream, capsaicin causes a slight feeling of heat, stinging and itching. “Over time, the nerves in your hands and feet will grow accustomed to the lotion and will have a lower ability to process pain. This can help with conditions such as arthritis and injuries.
- Spicy foods may reduce inflammation and promote gut health – Your taste buds and your gut may be more connected than you think. When you bite into a pepper, the capsaicin attaches to a receptor that communicates with other cells. That communication causes a nerve on your tongue to immediately tell your brain that it’s hot. That same receptor is found in your digestive tract. When capsaicin enters your digestive tract and attaches to the receptor, it creates a chemical called anandamide. Anandamide has been shown to lead to less inflammation in the gut, which can be caused by conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Today’s Health Tip ~ 10 Ways Ginger Benefits You
The Health Benefits of Ginger
- Ginger fights germs – Certain chemical compounds in fresh ginger help your body ward off germs. They’re especially good at halting growth of bacteria like E.coliand shigella, and they may also keep viruses like RSV at bay.
- Ginger keeps your mouth healthy – Ginger’s antibacterial power may also brighten your smile. Active compounds in ginger called gingerols keep oral bacteria from growing. These bacteria are the same ones that can cause periodontal disease, a serious gum infection.
- Ginger calms nausea – The old wives’ tale may be true: Ginger helps if you’re trying to ease a queasy stomach, especially during pregnancy. It may work by breaking up and getting rid of built-up gas in your intestines. It might also help settle seasickness or nausea caused by chemotherapy.
- Ginger soothes sore muscles – Ginger won’t whisk away muscle pain on the spot, but it may tame soreness over time. In some studies, people with muscle aches from exercise who took ginger had less pain the next day than those who didn’t.
- Ginger eases arthritis symptoms – Ginger is an anti-inflammatory, which means it reduces swelling. That may be especially helpful for treating symptoms of both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. You might get relief from pain and swelling either by taking ginger by mouth or by using a ginger compress or patch on your skin.
- Ginger curbs cancer growth – Some studies show that bioactive molecules in ginger may slow down the growth of some cancers like colorectal, gastric, ovarian, liver, skin, breast, and prostate cancer. But much more research is needed to see if this is true.
- Ginger eases period pain – Got menstrual cramps? Ginger powder may help. In studies, women who took 1,500 milligrams of ginger powder once a day for 3 days during their cycle felt less pain than women who didn’t.
- Ginger lowers cholesterol – A daily dose of ginger may help you battle your “bad” or LDL cholesterol levels. In a recent study, taking 5 grams of ginger a day for 3 months lowered people’s LDL cholesterol an average of 30 points.
- Ginger relieves indigestion – If you live with chronic indigestion, also called dyspepsia, ginger could bring some relief. Ginger before meals may make your system empty faster, leaving less time for food to sit and cause problems.
- Ginger protects against disease – Ginger is loaded with antioxidants, compounds that prevent stress and damage to your body’s DNA. They may help your body fight off chronic diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diseases of the lungs, plus promote healthy aging.
What if I spent my waking hours awake?
What if I spent my waking hours awake? That sounds confusing. After all, when I am awake, I am awake. One can figuratively sleep walk through a day unaware of people and events around him/her. When we are awake we are in tune with the people and events surrounding us. Being awake is dangerous because it brings us into greater awareness of the plight of those who surround us. Do we dare walk away once we know we can help? Do we dare ignore a situation where we can bring good. Being awake is for those with a courageous heart.
