Health

Antiperspirant or Deodorant? There’s Actually A Difference

Deodorant: Our armpits are home to many sweat glands, creating two warm and tucked-away spots where bacteria can thrive. To make our armpits a little less bacteria-friendly, deodorants contain ingredients that are acidic or salty. No bacteria to mix with the sweat means no smell. Some deodorants also contain fragrance or perfumes to mask unpleasant body odours.

 

Antiperspirant: Check the label of most antiperspirant, and you’ll find aluminum compounds as the active ingredients. These compounds absorb into the skin, temporarily plugging up the sweat ducts, stemming the flow of sweat. That “plug” only lasts for a little while, so that’s why people have to reapply antiperspirant to keep dry.

 

Which product should I choose?

 

It’s really an issue of personal choice. Decide based on your personal needs. First, consider which sweat side effect you want to deal with: the wetness or the smell – or both?

 

For some, the sweat-and-stink-fighting combo of a two-in-one works best. Others opt for deodorant only. Choose your preferred scent, or lack of scent, and consider how you like a product to feel when you put it on – do you prefer wet or dry?

 

Are antiperspirants and deodorants really safe to use?

 

A while back, people began sending around emails warning about the link between aluminum in antiperspirants and breast cancer risk. This link may have originated because women are often told not to wear antiperspirants or deodorants before a mammogram. Residue from the products can show up on X-rays and be mistaken for an abnormality in the breast. So far, the FDA, the American Cancer Society, and the National Cancer Institute have said that no existing scientific or medical evidence has been found to link the products to breast cancer.

 

Never use either antiperspirant or deodorant on broken, cut skin.

 

*Written By Amanda*

 

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10 SIGNS YOU NEED A STRONGER ANTIPERSPIRANT

Excessive sweating can be embarrassing not to talk of a turn off to some people. Antiperspirants and deodorants are used to control sweating and prevent odors that may arise.

There are times when you can expect to sweat: when you exercise, when you’re outside on a hot day or when your nerves are getting to you when you have an important presentation to make at work. At these times, you want your antiperspirant to help keep your sweating at bay.

 

If you find that you sweat excessively, you may have hyperhidrosis, a condition that causes excessive sweating, more than the body normally needs to maintain proper temperature.

A clinical antiperspirant is an antiperspirant that has been clinically tested (i.e., studies or tests were performed on people).

 

 Here are 10 signs you need a stronger antiperspirant:

 

1. You sweat even if the room is not warm or you’re not outside in the heat

 

2. You’ve had skin irritation or infections because of excessive sweating.

 

3. Your clothes are often soaked in sweat.

 

4. You avoid social interactions (e.g., shaking hands) and situations because you fear sweating.

 

5. You find sweating interrupts your daily routine and activities.

 

6. You worry and think about sweating at least daily.

 

7. You sweat when you’re not in situations that make you angry, embarrassed, afraid, or nervous.

 

8. You sweat even when wearing your regular antiperspirant.

 

9. You sweat even when you’re not doing any physical activity.

 

10. You sweat even when you’re not doing any physical activity.

 

If you think you have a case of hyperhidrosis here’s a tip:

 

Apply clinical strength antiperspirant at night before going to bed to allow the antiperspirant to plug more sweat ducts (and therefore, work better to reduce sweat). The antiperspirant will continue to work throughout the next day even after your morning shower.

Thank me later.

*Written By Amanda*

 

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FIRST AID KITS YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE

It is important to have a well-stocked first aid kit in your home to deal with minor accidents and injuries.

Your first aid kit should be locked and kept in a cool, dry place, out of reach of children.
Medicines should be checked regularly to make sure that they are within their use-by dates.

Many people also keep a small first aid kit in their car for emergencies.

A basic first aid kit should contain:

*Plasters

*Small, medium and large sterile gauze dressings.

*Crêpe rolled bandages.

*Safety pins.

*Disposable sterile gloves.

*Tweezers.

*Scissors.

*Alcohol-free cleansing wipes.

*Thermometer, preferably digital.

*Skin rash cream such as hydrocortisone or calendula.

*Cream or spray to relieve insect bites and stings such as anthisan, odomos.

*Antiseptic cream.

*Painkillers such as paracetamol (or infant paracetamol for children), aspirin (not to be given to children under 16), or ibuprofen.

*Cough medicine.

*Decongestant tablets or nasal spray.

*Antihistamine tablets such as loratidine, piriton.

*Written By Amanda*

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THE LIGHT SKIN CRAZE

I had an encounter with a woman recently. She came up to me saying she wants to look good, she wants to glow. She wants her skin to be really fine. I knew what she wanted but was not saying, she wanted to be lighter. Seeing as i am dark skinned well to be honest i have a bronze-like complexion.

She brought two Q** products to me and asked me to pick one. I had not ventured in to this “skin glowing” business then so i picked the product that contained carrot. I heard from a number of people who have used carrot products about how good it is for the skin and how it helps with burns. However my skin has the opposite reaction to carrot. It makes me darker.

Three weeks later, it was the grace of God that saved me. The woman stormed into the pharmacy screaming, “Where is She?” . The people around tried to calm her. She continued,”I told her i wanted my skin to look good, to be fair now she has made me dark!”

When did being dark become a bad thing????

Anyway I have done my research and experimented on myself. If you can not be lighter skinned or do not aim for that, would it not be nice to have your skin at its best?

Here are simple tips for better skin:

#1. Hydrate

Drink a lot of water. Experts have suggested at least 7 glasses a day.
Water helps the body get rid of toxins. I have discovered that a glass of water first thing in the morning is beneficial as it helps bowel motility.

#2. Do what your mother always told you to do.

Quit Smoking. Do not overdo the alcohol and caffeine. Get enough sleep.

#3. Antioxidants

Eat more fruits and vegetables, they contain antioxidants and are good for the skin.

#4. Eat more Fish

Fish oils are very good.

#5. Most of us do not eat enough fruits and vegetables.

I advise daily supplements they should however not replace a proper diet.
Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Cod liver capsules are good choices.

#6. Sunscreen

Most people have the wrong impression about sunscreen. Not only caucasians need sunscreen. Your melanin rich skin also has to be protected from the harsh rays of the sun. Buy a sunscreen that has at least SPF 15.

#7. Moisturize

Fancy, expensive moisturizers are not necesarily more effective. Look for a name you trust and a price point you are comfortable with for every day use.

*Written By Amanda*

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FOODS YOUR BABY SHOULDN’T EAT JUST YET

Important Note: The information on this page is for educational and inspirational purposes only and is not meant to replace the advise given to you by your doctor. Consult your doctor or medical professionals for medical advise on which foods to aviod introducing to your baby during the first year.

Foods to avoid giving to babies under the age of 1 year:

Honey

Honey should never be given to babies under 1 year of age as they may in very rare cases cause Infant Botulism is a paralytic illness which happens when a baby ingests the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum through food stuffs such as honey, corn syrup and marple syrup. These bacteria produce a toxin known as Botulinum Toxin in an infants imature intestine.

Tea

Contains tannins that can restrict vitamin reuptake.

Tuna

Fishes such as tuna should never be given to babies under the age of 1 year as they may contain high levels of heavy metals such as mercury which can easily cause damage to a babys nervous system.

Raw Eggs

Raw eggs may contain the bacteria salmonella which can cause severe food poisoning. Foods such as homemade icecream and mayonaise should be avoided. Eggs can also cause allergic reactions, so consult your doctor before introducing egg to your babies diet.

Peanuts and other nuts

Nuts especially peanuts can cause serious allergic reactions and apart from that present a potential choking hazard to babies and small children.

Salt

The kidneys of children younger than 1 year of age are not developed enough to cope with high salt levels. Ready made foods that are meant for adults usually contain high amounts of salt and therefore should never be fed to Babies. Soy sauce, sausages and bacon are some of the foods that normally contain quite high amounts of salt.

Sugar

Sugar is simply not good for your babies teeth and health. Babies get enough sugar from breastmilk, milk formulas and fruits. A babies teeth are more vulnarable to tooth decay than an adults teeth. Avoid giving babies sweet foods such as cookies to avoid encouraging a sweet tooth in the first place for healthier milk teeth and future permanent teeth.

Some Vegetables such as Spinach, fennel, beetrot, lettuce, and nettles

These vegetables are likely to contain high levels of nitrates . When babies ingest nitrates they are quickly converted to nitrites because very young babies lack the stomach acids that help keep nitrates at check. The nitrites disturb the bloods ability to transport oxygen leading to Blue Baby Syndrome, i.e. low oxygen levels.

Fruit Juices

Fruit juice is not suitable for babies as it has negligible nutritional benefits and can reduce amount of breast milk consumed.

Soy milk, Reduced Fat milk

They are a poor source of iron and not a suitable alternative to breast milk and formula for babies.

*Written By Amanda*

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ROUGH PLAY

I was at work one evening when a beautiful girl and when i say beautiful, i do not use the term loosely. She came up to me, asked to see me in private. It was not a strange request as i work in a community pharmacy.

She giggled in a childish manner while i waited for her to get to the point. She began,” I like the way you look. You would understand me”. I smiled politely as she continued, “Pharmacist, I can call you that right? I have been feeling funny down there and i am very sure something is not right. I have been unbearably itchy for some days now and the stuff coming out of it looks a bit green and smells funny”.

I listened carefully to her symptoms then explained to her that she had an infection. I gave her the appropriate medication and ended my counseling by saying “Your boyfriend will need to be treated as well”. She giggled in a silly way again, seeing the confusion on my face she quickly replied, “Oh No! I did not get this from a guy. You see my girlfriends and I were just playing around”. I was even more confused. She went on, “we were just you know trying out some dildos and things. I think that is what affected me because we used the same one”.

I was for a moment lost for words. When did playing around translate to something else? When did harmless become so risky? How well do we really know the people we are sleeping with?

There are infections aside HIV/AIDS which have deadly outcomes some which remain silent killers till the end. The use of condoms has been preached repeatedly but some still prefer to go without. I could say be faithful to your partner but can you be sure of your partners’ fidelity? Permit me to say, sex outside a committed relationship should always be protected.

I would encourage everyone to go for routine tests. Ladies especially, a vaginal swab test for bacterial and fungal infections is important as some of these infections are an underlying cause of infertility.

Would you not rather be safe than sorry?

*Written By Amanda*

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HEALTHY EATING: TIPS FOR PLANNING A HEALTHY DIET & STICKING TO IT

Healthy eating is not about strict nutrition philosophies, staying unrealistically thin, or depriving yourself of the foods you love. Rather, it’s about feeling great, having more energy, stabilizing your mood, and keeping yourself as healthy as possible– all of which can be achieved by learning some nutrition basics and using them in a way that works for you. You can expand your range of healthy food choices and learn how to plan ahead to create and maintain a tasty, healthy diet.

Healthy Eating Tip 1: Set Yourself Up For Success

To set yourself up for success, think about planning a healthy diet as a number of small, manageable steps rather than one big drastic change. If you approach the changes gradually and with commitment, you will have a healthy diet sooner than you think.

• Simplify. Instead of being overly concerned with counting calories or measuring portion sizes, think of your diet in terms of color, variety, and freshness. This way it should be easier to make healthy choices. Focus on finding foods you love and easy recipes that incorporate a few fresh ingredients. Gradually, your diet will become healthier and more delicious.
• Start slow and make changes to your eating habits over time. Trying to make your diet healthy overnight isn’t realistic or smart. Changing everything at once usually leads to cheating or giving up on your new eating plan. Make small steps, like adding a salad (full of different color vegetables) to your diet once a day or switching from butter to olive oil when cooking. As your small changes become habit, you can continue to add more healthy choices to your diet.
• Every change you make to improve your diet matters. You don’t have to be perfect and you don’t have to completely eliminate foods you enjoy to have a healthy diet. The long term goal is to feel good, have more energy, and reduce the risk of cancer and disease. Don’t let your missteps derail you—every healthy food choice you make counts.

NB: Think of water and exercise as food groups in your diet.

Water. Water helps flush our systems of waste products and toxins, yet many people go through life dehydrated—causing tiredness, low energy, and headaches. It’s common to mistake thirst for hunger, so staying well hydrated will also help you make healthier food choices.

Exercise. Find something active that you like to do and add it to your day. The benefits of lifelong exercises are abundant and regular exercise may even motivate you to make healthy food choices a habit.

*Watch This Space For Healthy Eating Tip 2 Tomorrow*

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FIVE WAYS TO INCORPORATE YOGA INTO A BUSY DAY

We all want to stay fit and flexible, calm, cool and in charge. One way to do this is by incorporating yoga into your busy day. Instead of thinking of your morning or evening yoga class as the only way to keep yoga a prominent portion of your daily schedule, you can do yoga in small increments throughout the day. Here are five ways to do yoga, all day, every day even when you are busy:

Take Deep Yogic Breaths

You can deep breathe when you are driving, when you are standing in line at the grocery store, or when you are sitting on a conference call or in a business meeting. Not only does deep breathing calm your heart rate and soothe the nervous system, it also calms the people around you. You can even influence the respiratory rate of others, by slowing your own respiratory rate. Deep breathing brings more oxygen to the brain, too, so you’ll be smarter and more eloquent when you have to speak to clients in your next business meeting or other moms at the local PTA.

Stretch it Out at Your Desk

Don’t think that just because you can’t get on all fours on your yoga mat at your office, or don’t have space in your living room means you can’t still get some great stretches in. Try a seated twist (Marichyasana) in your office chair, or do just Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose) to stretch your upper body. You can also do backbends and side stretches like swaying palm tree, whether seated or standing. Just doing a simple back arch or seated cat cow, can also stretch tired muscles and eliminate both physical and mental fatigue.

Practice Santosha

Many aspects of yoga have more to do with changing your perspective than doing a pretzel-like pose. Try sitting in gratitude for a few moments between conference calls and emails. Just focus for two minutes on all the things you already have in your life.

Practice a Five-Minute Meditation

You can calm your mind and make your workday more effective, allowing problems to even work themselves out when you take just five minutes to have singular, and calm focus. There are hundreds of meditation techniques you can try, including focusing on a mantra or a lit candle, but the easiest one to practice in a hectic day is just concentrating on the breath. It goes with you everywhere you go, after all. Count your breaths, each inhale and exhale being a single cycle, or simply notice the air leaving and entering your chest and diaphragm, the movement of your belly or the temperature of the air as it enters and leaves your nostrils. Notice if your mind tries to ruminate on other things besides the breath, and for just five minutes, gently bring it back to the breath over and over again.

Do Yoga on Your Lunch Break

Even if you can only try a few poses, due to space constraints or you can only remember how to do a few asana from your latest yoga class, try finding a quiet place in the office to do a few gentle yoga asana. Your body will feel so much better once you head back to the office, or to your household chores, and your mind will feel more expansive.