Toast and honey \'best hangover cure\'

Hair of the dog, a fry-up or drinking lots of caffeine are all popular cures for a Christmas hangover, but scientists have discovered an unusual addition to the list.

Instead of grabbing a cup of coffee and a plate of bacon and eggs, the best breakfast after a heavy night out could be toast with a large dollop of honey.

Dr John Emsley, of the Royal Society of Chemistry, says hangovers are caused when the body converts alcohol into the toxic chemical acetaldehyde.

"Only time cures a hangover, and generally the acetaldehyde will be gone by mid-morning or midday. You can speed recovery by taking in more fluids, but hair of the dog only works if it relieves alcohol withdrawal symptoms, which suggests you are becoming addicted.

"The best breakfast is toast and honey, which provides the body with the sodium, potassium and fructose it now needs."

Dr Emsley added that the best way to avoid a hangover in the first place is to have a glass of milk before you start drinking, stick to gin or vodka with a few soft drinks throughout the night, and then have a pint of water before you go to bed. And remember to stock up on honey.

High salt levels in ready made Sunday lunch warning

A Sunday roast Freshly cooked roast dinners are always lower in salt content than the ready-made equivalent

Including too many ready-made items in a Sunday roast could lead to excessive salt intake, says research from a health charity.

In a survey of 600 supermarket products, Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) found that unnecessary amounts of salt are being hidden in certain items of pre-prepared food.

But cooking and preparing fresh food reduces levels dramatically, it says.

UK supermarkets say they are leading the way in salt reduction in Europe.

Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) said a family Sunday roast can be a "balanced and healthy" meal.

But it found that choosing all ready-made products for a typical Sunday lunch - meat, vegetables and condiments - could result in nearly 10 grams of salt being consumed.

An adult's daily maximum recommended salt intake is 6g.

But if people read the labels and buy fresh meat and veg, it is also possible to cook a roast dinner with less than 2g of salt, CASH says.

This salt content is almost six times less than the total for the saltiest products.

Some of the saltiest products CASH found were a peppered beef brisket joint with mustard and pepper stuffing from Asda (2.3g per 212.5g portion), Tesco Finest root vegetable mash (1.6g per 250g portion) and Sainsbury's red cabbage (1.01g per 150g portion).

A portion of Morrison's English mustard contains 0.5g of salt, as much as a packet of crisps.
Just a trace

However, CASH's survey also found many pre-prepared products which were low in or contained only a trace of salt.
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ADVICE FOR REDUCING SALT INTAKE

* Buy fresh, unseasoned beef, lamb or chicken joints and season them yourself with pepper or herbs.
* Avoid ready-prepared vegetables and cook your own with no added salt.
* Read the labels carefully and choose products that are lower in salt.
* Both English mustard and horseradish sauce tend to be very high in salt, opt for apple sauce and mint sauces which are much lower in salt.

Asda's butter-basted chicken breast joint contains only 0.3g of salt per portion.

And it found Sainsbury's buttered green vegetables and Tesco Value Yorkshire puddings contained just a trace of salt.

Sarah Cordey from the British Retail Consortium said the survey disregarded the large amount of fresh food customers use when preparing a Sunday meal.

She said the big supermarkets are doing "all they can" to reduce salt content.

"Our members are Europe's leaders in salt reduction and have made excellent progress in the last decade.

"The Food Standards Agency has found supermarkets' own-brand goods contain less salt than their branded equivalents," she said.

"Stores are keen to help customers achieve healthier diets.

"Retailers continue to lead the way on providing clear and detailed nutritional labelling on food products to give consumers all the information they need to make the choices that are right for them."

However Professor Graham MacGregor from the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, and chairman of CASH, said they should do more.

"Unnecessary amounts of salt are still being hidden in our food," he said.

"This puts both adults and children at risk of developing high blood pressure which causes strokes, heart attacks and heart failure, the commonest cause of death and disability in the UK.

"It is the food industry's responsibility to take the salt out."

RECOMMENDED DAILY SALT LEVELS

* Age 1-3 : 2g
* Age 4-6 : 3g
* Age 7-10 : 5g
* Age 11+ : 6g

ADVICE FOR REDUCING SALT INTAKE

* Buy fresh, unseasoned beef, lamb or chicken joints and season them yourself with pepper or herbs.
* Avoid ready-prepared vegetables and cook your own with no added salt.
* Read the labels carefully and choose products that are lower in salt.
* Both English mustard and horseradish sauce tend to be very high in salt, opt for apple sauce and mint sauces which are much lower in salt.
 

Foods that will boost your mood

Sardines
The omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines make up a large percentage of our brain tissue – mostly in the brain cell membranes – and researchers have found that people with low levels of omega-3s may be more prone to depression and low mood. As well as being vital for a healthy brain, it’s thought these essential fats may help improve mood by keeping cell membranes flexible so that the neurotransmitters – the brain’s messaging chemicals – can work effectively. Your body can’t make these essential fatty acids, so you need to get them from food.

Oats
Low-GI carbohydrates such as oats, pulses and wholegrain rice and pasta release glucose slowly into the blood stream, which helps to keep your blood sugar and your mood stable – and they give a boost to your immune system. US scientists Judith and Richard Wurtman, who pioneered research into the food/mood connection, found carbohydrates play a key role in enabling tryptophan, an amino acid that’s converted into the neurotransmitter serotonin, to enter the brain. As well as improving your sense of wellbeing and happiness, serotonin is also thought to help regulate appetite and sleep patterns.

Spinach
Several studies have shown that people with low levels of the B vitamin folic acid are more likely to feel low or depressed. Eating leafy green vegetables – spinach, broccoli, asparagus and brussels sprouts, for example – as well as calf’s liver, lentils and fortified breakfast cereals will help keep your levels up.

Chocolate
The good news is, everyone’s favourite pick-me-up is packed with ingredients that have feel-good potential – although some experts maintain the levels are too low to have any real impact on brain chemistry. As well as the stimulants caffeine and theobromine, good-quality chocolate also contains traces of phenylethylamine, a chemical similar to amphetamine, which helps trigger the release of endorphins. To complete this heady cocktail, chocolate also contains chemicals that slow the breakdown of a naturally occurring substance in the body which mimics – to a tiny degree – the euphoric effect of cannabis in the brain.

Chicken
Eat chicken and turkey breast, nuts, seeds and pulses to increase your intake of the amino acid tryptophan and help boost serotonin production (see oats).

Brazil nuts
These are the richest source of the mineral selenium (eggs are good, too – see below). In recent years, intakes of this vital mineral have declined and many people now consume less than the recommended daily amount (RDA). Several studies have shown more depression, irritability and anxiety in people with low selenium levels, so eating brazil nuts a couple of times a week might help to give you a mood boost.

Eggs
As well as being a good source of tryptophan and selenium, eggs are one of the few food sources of vitamin D (we get most from sunshine), which may help guard against a low mood. Eggs also contain choline, which is vital for brain health.

Water
It’s something we often overlook, but water is vital for every cellular function. “It’s not just your body that’s affected by hydration but also your brain,” says Dr Emma Williams of the British Nutrition Foundation. “Even mild dehydration can impair your ability to concentrate.” So remember to drink often, whatever the weather.

HAVE LESS

Caffeine
In the short term it improves alertness and energy, although the latest research by scientists at Bristol University suggests the boost that regular coffee drinkers get from their morning cup is nothing more thana reversal of the effects of withdrawal – once they get their ‘fix’, they feel better. Too much caffeine can leave you irritable, jumpy and prone to withdrawal headaches if you miss out on your regular dose.

Sugar
You might crave sugary foods when you’re feeling tired and low, and it is true that a couple of biscuits or a slice of cake will give you an instant lift as the sugar hits your blood stream. However, the effect is short-lived. As your sugar level dips, your energy levels will crash, along with your mood, and you’ll find yourself reaching for the biscuit tin again. Instead, choose slow-release snacks such as nuts and raisins, a piece of fruit and someseeds or natural yogurt with added fruit.

Alcohol
Too much of this delivers a double whammy on the mood front. While the first glass or two will help you to feel relaxed and at peace with the world, overdoing it has the opposite effect, often leaving you feeling jittery and depressed the day after. Alcohol also inhibits the absorption of many of the nutrients vital to brain health.

8 Easy Steps To Treat Sunburn

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Having sunburn is one heck of a problem. It is painful, irritating and it doesn’t look well on the skin. Thus, many are afraid of having one. However, there are times that sunburn can’t be avoided, especially during summer months. For that reason, it is better if we know how to treat sunburn and how to deal with it so that we can easily get over its effects and live normally, without pain and irritation. A word of caution though, sunburns can be very serious, therefore, if you are in doubt about how severe your burn is it is imperative that you visit a doctor for professional care.

Here are a few steps on how to manage skin that has been affected with sunburn.

1.    Stay Indoors. It is a must to prevent further damage to the skin that has been sunburned. In order to do that, stay away from the sun as much as possible. Limit your time outside the house or the building and try indoor activities. The truth is your skin will probably feel painful in the sun for awhile.

2.    Apply An Aloe Lotion. The extract of an aloe plant has very good and powerful healing capabilities so it is a good practice to apply it on the affected area. In addition, if you can find an aloe plant, the better, since it is pure and free from other chemicals which, in the end, may affect your skin. Aside from the aloe, you can also apply cool or soothing cream to moisturize the skin. Moisturizers as well as lotions that are vitamin enriched are also helpful in speeding up the process of the healing of the skin.

3.    Avoid Oils And Strong Ointments. If you run out of aloe, don’t bother to think of substituting oil, butter and ointments on the burned skin since they contain properties which may cause further irritation to the skin and might worsen your sunburn.

4.    Keep Yourself Hydrated. Drink a lot of water in order for you to regain all the loss fluids in the body. Water will help your skin to recover faster. In addition, it is also advisable to drink a lot of fruit juices like watermelon and avoid drinking alcoholic beverages to avoid dehydration.

5.    Wear Loose Clothing. Loose clothing will be very useful at this moment since it can prevent further contact and irritation to the skin. If you can get rid of the clothes altogether then do so. If not, wear loose fitting cotton or silk material clothing. They are soft and therefore they are less likely to harm the body.

6.    Cold Shower. Go for a cold shower, it’s probably hot anyway and it will be very helpful in easing the pain you are experiencing. In addition, use a mild soap and shampoo to avoid skin irritation. Also, avoid abrasive and exfoliating products when taking a bath. They will not be helpful in speeding up the healing process.

7.    Pain Reliever. If you can’t take the pain any longer caused by your sunburn it is advisable to take some medicines and then to consult your doctor.

8.    Never Peel Your Skin. Let the skin peel by itself since forcing your skin to peel may cause further irritation and damage. The skin beneath it is too sensitive, let the healing process continue naturally.

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Relieve Stress - With Simple Physical Exercise

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It is really ironic how there is a correlation between obesity and stress in our society. However, there is relief for these two problems and it is called exercise. You can relieve stress by exercising on a daily basis. It is very true. As you exercise your body releases endorphins which can help to relax you and put you more at ease resulting in a feeling similar to euphoria. Many refer to this as the "runners high." Endorphins are similar structurally to morphine.

When you exercise on a regular basis these endorphins are released into your system and can calm the feeling of stress that you may be having. Long after you have left the gym the feeling of euphoria will still be with you. Another benefit of exercise is the stress busting factor, it will allow you to get rid of any pent up frustration that you may have. The daily frustrations that we endure can add up and over time we turn into one big stress ball. Eventually we can literally explode from all the built up stress.

A regular exercise routine can get the stress to leave your system in a safe and healthy  manner. When we push that pent up energy into something constructive, such as running, we can get relief from stress in a natural way without getting into trouble. Doing some high intensity exercise when you are angry can really make you feel so much better. If you still feel upset after spending a little time at the gym then most people will feel better after some more vigorous exercise. By converting angry energy into a physical workout, you can melt away a lot of stress and anger.

One other reason that exercise is a great way to relieve stress is because as you work out you receive a higher self esteem. If we feel an insecurity with ourselves we are on high alert and on a low simmer the vast majority of time. The stress that we face can be very much self induced. Sometimes it is our very own doubt or insecurity that can cause the stress. Instead of doubts and securities being another stress factor you can use exercise to improve mental well being and your physical self.

If you feel good about yourself, if you feel strong and in control and confident, then you are less likely to get stressed over some of the daily ups and downs of life. Exercise is a winning scenario. You can become physically healthy, lose weight and relieve stress. Exercise can help to relieve stress and lower blood pressure. As a result you will be happier and lose some extra weight that you might have.

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Information On How Women Can Relieve Stress Immediately

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I think we can all agree that we live in a stressful society. While both men and women suffer from stress,women may have a little more stress to deal with than men. There are unique challenges that make it important to find information on how women can relieve stress. When you have the situation where a women works and is also a mom, she will have demands coming at her from all angles. Her boss, her husband, her children, her household will all take a toll on her stress level. That's a lot for any person to handle at one time and it is very important that she take care of herself as well as her health so that she can meet the demands.

There are many techniques for relieving stress that a woman could start right away, I will list some of the more popular ones below:

1. It is okay to say no. Women often try to take care of those around them and forget to care for themselves. You may have a big heart but you do not have a lot of time. There are times when you won't be able to chaperon a field trip or make cookies for the school bake sale. In many cases women are the primary care givers in a household and many times they feel as if they let those around them down if they don't jump up to take care of everyone. If you care for yourself first then the rest tends to follow. Think of this, when you are on an airplane the flight attendant will tell you to put an oxygen mask on yourself before helping any other people. In the real world you should do the same. Learn to say no. That is one of the most important things a woman can learn.

2. Take a walk. Take yourself on a hike, a walk, a swim, a jog, or a bike ride. Take time to exercise. Exercise will help clear your mind,blow off steam and keep you healthy. Many women have a hard time voicing their frustration because we are not brought up to get angry and show it, however strenuous exercise added to your daily routine can help with anger. Working out and exercise is a great way to work off stress.

3. Get Selfish. This step is related to step 1 and what I mean is that you need to take time to do things for yourself. Go have coffee, meet with friends, get yourself a massage, etc. Make sure that your time is a priority not just when you have time to do them. Set an hour or one day per week to have a little fun. Do something for yourself without feeling any guilt. You have earned that time. If you follow this information on how women can relieve stress and use it, you will see many benefits including, lower blood pressure, a raise in your spirits and a happier family.

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