Laughter: Truly The best medicine!

Sam’s intuition told him he had a short lifespan. And he consulted a medical practitioner. As the doctor scribbled on his prescription sheet, he expected several doses of vitamins, irons and minerals. He wouldn’t have minded if an injection or two was thrown in. Alas! The doctor scribbled ‘L.O.L’’ on the prescription sheet.

He had never heard of any drug named ‘L.O.L’. Puzzled, he asked the doctor what it meant. “Oh, pardon me for not writing it out in full” the doctor said, apologetically. He then retrieved the sheet, scribbled more words and handed it back to Sam. It read ‘Laugh Out Loud’. Sam reeled out a very long and hard bout of laughter – the sometimes annoying type. The doctor appeared infected and joined in the fray.

In a lowering crescendo, Sam’s laughter faded; so did the doctor’s. “So you were not joking”, Sam retorted as it dawned on him that the doctor’s prescription was not meant to bemuse him. “I thought you’d give me stress-relieving and pain-killing tablets. “Nope” the doctor said. “You just need to laugh more. You need several doses of laughter actually. By the way, how do you feel now? Laughter is cheaper than any drug o. It’s so cheap that it is free.”

Sam told the doctor he felt no difference. As the closed door to the doctor’s office closed behind him, he made up his mind to visit a more ‘serious’ medical practitioner and pondered over the ‘expensive joke’ this doctor just made out of his obviously serious situation. He soon let out a smile when he realised he did feel good after laughing so hard a few minutes ago. He began to see sense in the Doctor’s ‘L.O.L’ prescription. “Maybe I’ll just try laughing for a few weeks and see if it works out……..going to another doctor will be my plan B” Sam mustered.   
         

Do you want to live long? Want to enjoy sound health? Here a piece of advice that may shock you: All you need to do is laugh! Yes! Go ahead! Unleash that Laughter! See the lady in the picture above? Go ahead and go crazy with laughter just like she’s doing.

So why is it so important that we laugh? The reason is simple: laughter is one of the best ways of staying healthy!  I’m sure you’ve heard of the expression: Laughter is the best medicine. If you think it was coined just to make you feel positive during hard times, then think again. Laughter does have medicinal qualities!!

Research has shown that the health benefits of laughter are numerous. For one, it helps to increase the brain levels of serotonin (an important fluid found in the human brain) and endorphins (natural painkiller) that can help relax the mind.  Laughter also helps relieve general pain as well as increase the body’s immunity.

And if you still doubt the medical effects of laughter, the benefits are stated below

·         Laughter helps to lower blood pressure.

• ·         It improves the flow of oxygen to the heart and also regulates blood flow.
• ·         It reduces certain stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.
• ·         It improves alertness, creativity and memory.
• ·         Laughter reduces pain and increases job performance.

If laughter is so beneficial to us, how come we seem to be doing little of it? According to experts, healthy children may laugh as much as 400 times per day while adults tend to laugh only 15 times. 

So are you laughing enough? Go ahead, laugh to jokes. Go and see a funny movie. Always see the funny side of life. Do something that will make you laugh.  And if that doesn’t work...laugh anyway. You really don’t need a reason. Just remember that you are doing a health a big favour.

http://www.thirdage.com/mental-health/researchers-support-benefits-of-laughter(http://www.muscleandfitnesshers.com/blogs/ann-titone/laughter-good-health). http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-health-benefits-of-laughter.htmlhttp://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/nov/10/researchers-support-benefits-of-laughter/?print=1

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Get That Highbrow Eyebrow!

Photo Credits: Toun Aj's world

It’s often said that the eye is the lamp of the body. If that is true, then the eyebrow plays an important role in making the lamp shine brighter.

The eyebrows define the eyes and also enhance the beauty of the face. It also plays a key role in protecting the eyes from unwanted moisture, sweat and to some extent, particles.

And just like any other part of the human body, the eyebrow varies from individual to individual. Some have it thick, others have it thin. Some have it long, others have it short.

The eyebrow should also be properly taken care of, the way other parts of the body are cared for. A little pruning and grooming will go a long way in enhancing facial beauty. One should be mindful of excessive hair loss while waxing or while trimming the brow.

Loss of hair in the eyebrow could also occur as a result of illness; side effects from medications amongst others.

Truth is loss of the eyebrow can make a huge difference not only in facial appearance but also making the eye vulnerable to sweat running down the face and particles. Little wonder, individuals who suffer from loss of hair in their eyebrow are, more often than not, desperate to regrow them.

Though it takes between six to eight weeks or more to grow back eyebrows, eating nutritious and healthy foods can help speed up the process.

Growing Back Your Eyebrows

·         Protein

The main component of the eyebrow is hair, which is made up of protein. Some individuals, who suffer from deficiency of protein, usually have scanty or thin eyebrows. Eating a diet rich in proteins and Vitamins E, A, B3 and C will replenish the hair follicles and stimulate hair growth. Also, adding folic acid to your diet will help to promote the growth of well-defined and thick eyebrows.

·         Avocado, Walnuts and Olive oil;

Avocados are considered as one of the healthiest foods in the planet as they contain in excess of 25 essential nutrients. Walnuts, on the other hand, are a rich source of the omega-3 fatty acids.

Olive Oil is considered as a healthy dietary fat. It is also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy food options are helpful in increasing the growth of fuller and trendy eyebrows.

·         Castor Oil

 Extracted from the seeds of the castor oil plant, it helps to boost the growth of eyebrows. It also thickens eyebrows and eyelashes by stimulating the hair follicle cells around the eyes.

·         Coco-Lemon (coconut + lemon) 

The application of coconut oil on eyebrows helps to reduce protein loss in both damaged and undamaged eyebrows hair. Lemon is also one of those super foods with so many health and cosmetic benefits. 

A mixture of coconut and lemon peel helps in restoring your eyebrows and gives it a fuller and thicker look.  

You can find out how to prepare the amazing combination here: http://www.newhealthguide.org/How-To-Make-Eyebrows-Grow.html)

·         Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is very essential for the growth of eyebrows. It is rich in protein, calcium and iron, and it helps to promote the growth of eyebrows speedily.

  So there you are. Just follow the above tips and you are on your way to having healthy eyebrows. Try it, thank us later and be a good friend by sharing this post.

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Agbalumo: The Humongous Benefits Of A Small Fruit

Agbalumo has an ‘English name’ o! (or maybe two). And it is the African Star Apple or White Star Apple. I used to think it was a cherry of sort; thanks to research, I know better…
Ever heard of African Star Apple? What about White Star Apple? Maybe not!  Okay, here’s another name that may ring a bell:  Agbalumo!

And if you are still wondering what it is, Agbalumo, is that round, sharp tasting, orange- coloured (sometimes red) fruit about the size of a table-tennis ball. Commonly known as Agbalumo by the Yorubas' in South-West Nigeria, Udara in the South Eastern part of the country and Uda in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria, the fruit is widely loved by both adults and children alike in Nigeria; its sharp taste notwithstanding. Let’s settle for its most predominant name in the South Western part of Nigeria – Agbalumo – at least for the purpose of this article.

Its popularity is not the only unique thing about it. Agbalumo also happens to be a very nutritious fruit. It is an excellent source of vitamins and irons. It can be used as a good remedy for sore throat, toothache and constipation.

But that’s not all. Agbalumo lowers the blood sugar and cholesterol level in the body and it helps in preventing and treating heart diseases. Its seeds are used as ointments in the treatment of vaginal and dermatological infections. They are also an excellent source of calcium, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and many more.  And just in case you don’t know, the fruit contains more vitamin C than guava or orange.
Its nutritional value does not end there. Its outer skin is also very medicinal as it is used for the treatment of yellow fever and malaria. The leaf is also used as an emollient and for the treatment of skin eruption, stomach ache and diarrhea

Photo Credits: spurmag.com

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So the next time you pick up Agbalumo, remember that you are not only satisfying your craving for the delicious fruit, you are also providing your body with vital nutrition. And if you haven’t had your Agbalumo today, what are you waiting for?

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