Info War

If there’s one word to describe arthritis, it is ‘pain’, which is a constant and daily feature of the illness. By medical definition, it is the disease that deals with a group of conditions that are related to the damage of joints. Over one hundred different forms of arthritis have been discovered that have their origins in the back, neck, hip, knee or feet parts of the body.

Since the major complaint is of pain and stiffness leading to fatigue, this can hamper your daily routine since you have to consult your doctor every time. So, here are some home remedies that can greatly help in reducing the pain that can be a daily occurrence:

Home Remedy #1: A teaspoon of honey in a cup of warm water and two teaspoons of lemon juice taken two times a day.

Home Remedy #2: Bake a couple of eggplants. Mash and fry them with 2 tablespoons of castor oil, with garlic, coriander, turmeric, cumin and salt. Take this once every day for two to three months.

Home Remedy #3: Mix warm water with half a teaspoon of turmeric powder and take it twice a day.

Home Remedy #4: Fry one clove in ghee (butter) or castor oil and take this once a day for two to three months.

Home Remedy #5: Eat half a teaspoon of Guggul (an Indian herb) twice a day with warm water.

Home Remedy #6: This remedy is only for external use. Prepare a paste of fresh ginger and red chilies by mixing it with half a cup of sesame oil. Strain it and gently rub one teaspoon of the paste on the affected joints.

Home Remedy # 6: Camphor, cinnamon oils and wintergreen are also helpful when it comes to soothing the pain.

An eminent expert once remarked, “The amount of progress that the world has seen in the first 90 years of the 20th century has been eclipsed by developments in its last ten years.” There’s no doubt that scientific inquiry has contributed largely to progress and development of man in almost every area of his life. Science has come a long way from surviving a time when myth and legend were valued much more than a keen sense of reasoning.

And now, its applications in almost every industry have not improved the quality of life but also have taken us into unchartered territory, so to speak. Take for example, the discovery of the infrared light by William Herschel in the 19th century which has in the form of infrared light therapy has helped so many in the field of medicine.

Infrared therapy is merely a form of photo therapy, which involves applying infrared light to the patient’s body, and nothing else. There are several beauty and medicinal uses of infrared therapy but what makes this form of therapy significant is that it increases blood circulation once exposed to the skin of a patient, thus speeding up the healing process by releasing nitric oxide as well as preventing blood clot formation.

Some of its uses are:

1. Treatment of high blood pressure

4. Provide pain relief of sports injuries due to swelling and soreness by releasing endorphins.

It is no surprise that the aging of skin brings with it facial wrinkles that can make us self-concious of our appearance. Skin aging occurs due to the collagen fiber present in the skin losing its flexibility. Facial wrinkles can be cured by surgery, anti-aging cream or exercise.

Facial wrinkles can be caused by consuming excessive alcohol, smoking, excessive exposure to sunlight, prolonged exposure to water, an unhealthy diet, inadequate estrogen levels, poor hydration, harsh cleansers, hot water and harsh soaps. All these factors reduce skin moisture and inhibit collagen production. Splashing cool water, having a regular facial, drinking lot of juice, water and using moisturizers will prevent the formation of these facial wrinkles.

Some methods used to treat facial wrinkles are:
Retinoid cream, which accelerates new skin growth and the shedding of dead skin
Botox injections, which is injected in the wrinkled regions
Collagen Injections, which repairs the damaged skin
Laser and CO2 laser surgery exposes damaged skin cells layer by layer, which helps in the removal of wrinkles.

There are other ways to treat wrinkles. These methods include using cocoa butter, coconut oil and consuming half our weight of water (ounces) etc. Face creams or facemasks have proved to remove wrinkles in many cases. Collagen protein creams or lotions help firm up the skin and give it a better shape by reshaping cells and providing elasticity.

Applying egg white prevents skin aging and reduces wrinkles. Exercising daily will also help to firm the skin. Simple exercises like turning the head from right to left, touching shoulder with chin and turning the head back have amazing effects on our skin and help prevent facial wrinkles.

Tanning is the act of exposing your skin to UV radiation to achieve that fashionable and healthy state of caramel shade of skin, equally popular amongst men and women these days. There are two well-known tanning methods, Sun tanning and Sunless tanning.

Sun tanning can be achieved while sun bathing or using artificial sources. Exposing your skin to ultraviolet rays creates a brown-colored pigment called melanin, which protects the skin against harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Normally, people sunbathe in the nude, topless or in bikinis. However, what is important is that one should prevent excessive exposure to UV rays as it results in sunburn as well as skin cancer. This kind of exposure also causes skin to age faster.

Self-tanning or sunless tanning has become the preferred choice these days due to the harmful effects of sun tanning. One need not wait for summer time to arrive to get a tan. The self-tanning or sunless tanning is the process of applying chemicals onto the skin, which produces a similar effect as sun tanning.

Airbrush tanning is done using dihydroxyacetone that gives a golden tan color within five to ten days. It can be applied in the form of lotions, wipes, gels, sprays and mousses.
Tanning booths and beds use lamps with UV-B and UV-C rays to produce tanning. The harmful UV-A rays are not a part of this method of tanning, therefore, making it a very safe method of getting a tan.

Sunless tanning lotions are also available but they are not as effective as the other two methods mentioned above.

The soft, waxy substance found in our cells and bloodstream is called cholesterol. Even though our body uses it to form cell membranes, excess cholesterol in the bloodstream can lead to cardiac disease. Let us looks at some ways by which we can lower cholesterol:

Practice Yoga
Yoga has been approved around the world as the safest and healthiest way to control and lower cholesterol levels. Yoga makes use of exercises and various poses to relax the internal organs. The breathing techniques in yoga regulate our body’s energy levels and blood flow, which in turn, helps in removing toxins from the body.

Follow a Diet
Cholesterol can also be reduced by following a proper diet. It is recommended that food items that contain saturated fats and trans-fats should be avoided or consumed at a minimal level, in order to contain cholesterol levels.

Get Physical
Physical inactivity is dangerous for heart diseases. Being physically active reduces the amount of bad cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart diseases. Simple day-to-day activities like gardening, walking or dancing can be a good physical activity that will increase the metabolism rate.

Seek Medical Advice
Bad cholesterol can be reduced by using prescribed drugs. Consult your physician and seek advice on what drug will work for you in reducing your cholesterol levels.

Complement the above methods to reduce cholesterol by changing your lifestyle. Giving up tobacco smoking, for instance, is a lifestyle change. Make smart choices while eating at home and outside. A healthy heart is essential for a healthy life.

Smoking fish is a fabulous method of preserving fish and ensuring it stays fresh for as long as possible. Ireland is well known for its smoked fish. Smoked salmon and mackerel are the top ‘smoked fish’ buys in Ireland.

Smoked fish gives has exquisite taste and has been cooked this way for centuries. You can smoke salmon using two different methods: cold and hot smoking. If you are cold smoking salmon, then you have to cook it for about a day or so at low temperatures while hot smoking obviously involves high temperatures and less cooking time. Before you begin the smoking process, the salmon must be cured with salt for a considerable amount of time. This lets the salt work its magic on the salmon and kill any bacteria present while letting out moisture. Once the meat is cured, it must be washed before the smoking can begin.

Keep in mind that hot smoked fish cannot be cut thin, as this will cause it to fall apart and crumble. It will last longer than fresh fish, but should be cooked and consumed in a few days.

Smoking salmon cold is the best way to retain its moisture and cut it thin without having to worry about it crumbling. Smoked mackerel is generally vacuum-packed and sold whole. Smoked salmon is expensive and a delicacy due to its unique flavor. Smoked mackerel on the other hand is rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids as are most fish that are smoked.

Most people drink a lot of soda. This of course is not a healthy habit and must not be encouraged. However, the wide range of sodas in the market is worth trying. It is true that fruit juices are really the healthier option, but you will be amazed at the amount of flavored sodas available. The most popular ones tend to overshadow the others – with most of them being more or less unknown. Here are a few underrated sodas that must be sampled:

Virgil’s Root Beer - If you like root beer, then you should not miss this offering by Virgil. It is by far, one of the best root beers and has quite an impressive haul of awards to its name.

Virgil’s Black Cherry Vanilla Cream Soda – This is also a fantastic flavored soda and once you have tasted this, you might not be able to decide which one of Virgil’s products is better.

Boylan’s Sugar Cane Cola – Are you a fan of cola? Then this one must not be missed. Not only is it produced using pure cane sugar, it also tastes like a normal cola. The soda is produced entirely from natural ingredients making it taste better and healthier.

Steaz Green Tea Sodas – This green tea soda range comes in a variety of flavors. They include raspberry, orange, lemon, lime and root beer. Interestingly, this soda has a lot more health benefits than a traditional soda does. So go ahead and try it. You will love it!

Some of the best food in the world is in New York City (NYC). Packed with a wide range of cuisine, NYC has a number of restaurants that work around the clock. When you visit NYC, the temptation of its spread of food is irresistible. One of the ‘must-try’ items is one that has hit Manhattan with a bang: burgers. Almost every neighborhood in the city has a burger joint – and the options are huge.

Four places that you must visit when in New York City are listed below. They have some of the best burgers in town and you must sample them.
Shake Shack – An establishment located in Madison Square Park and known to have the best burgers in the city, this burger joint quickly rose to fame. The five-year old place also has branches on the Upper West Side and at Citi Field.

BLT Burger – This restaurant is part of the famed BLT upscale restaurant chain. Opened a few years ago, they are located on Sixth Avenue and Twelfth Street. The burgers are fabulous as are their French fries and milkshakes. A must try is the ‘fluffernutter’ milkshake.

Fresh ‘N Fast – This is one of the newer burger joints located on 23rd Street. The names of the burgers are of much interest while the look and feel of the place has made it very popular. The restaurant more or less imitates the style of In-N-Out Burger.

Black Shack Burger – Their Whopper burger is well known for its taste, which will leave you wanting more. It is located at 38th and Lexington.

Are you missing teeth because of an accident or damage to the roots of the teeth or gum line? If so, you might think that getting a healthy and natural smile back is impossible. However, there is a secret that dentists in Toronto have known for years to deal with the missing teeth of famous hockey players — dental implants.

Dental implants are small prosthetics that are attached to the bone of the upper or lower jaw. They provide the foundation for a repaired smile by creating anchor points for prosthetic teeth along with replacements for damaged or missing root portions of teeth. Like porcelain veneers, dental implants are designed to be long-term fixes instead of temporary solutions — this is a permanent way to regain lost teeth and add confidence to a person’s smile.

If you are missing teeth and are interested in doing something about it, contact a cosmetic dentist for a consultation and see if dental implants are the right choice for you.

Bacteria in the oral cavity are one of the main causes for bad breath. Attributed to Hydrogen Sulfide, likened to the stink of rotten eggs, is one of the main volatile Sulfur compounds also referred to as VSCs. The technical jargon, however, is unimportant. Curing bad breath is not as complicated as you think it is…try the following three foods – it might just solve your embarrassing problem:

Herbs – Parsley is a great way to countering bad breath. The high level of chlorophyll contained in parsley will do the trick. Simply chew on a bit of parsley and your breath will smell better and fresher. If you take the time to read the fine print, you will notice that most breath fresheners include parsley in their ingredients. Another herb that helps eliminate bad breath is mint leaves, also a big ingredient used with the production of breath-fresheners. You could also try peppermint oil, fennel seeds, cloves, rosemary, thyme and even sage.

Lemon – Suck on a small slice of lemon to get rid of bad breath. You might need to repeat if necessary, or even dilute some lemon juice in water and rinse your mouth with it. However, this must be used with care as lemon contains sugar, which of course promotes the growth of bacteria. Therefore, resort to this solution only once or twice a month.
Yoghurt – Try eating plain, sugarless yoghurt for around six weeks. It will lessen bacteria in your mouth by as much as 80%. Buy yoghurts that contain live cultures of Lactobacillus Bulgaricus and Streptococcus Thermopholis and eat it every day. Make sure that the yoghurts you eat do not contain sugar.