Health Briefs TV Relays the Pros and Cons of Regular Exercise

Everyone knows that regular exercise results in healthier bodies and minds. On the other hand, it is a good idea to know what the pros and cons are before starting a new routine.

Health Briefs TV notes the pros:

Most doctors recommend adding physical activity to daily activities. It is one of the most effective ways to stave off heart problems, and prevent an early death. Exercise also boosts endorphin, which send off happy-feel-good signals in the brain. Exercise spurs creativity. It helps people feel more in control of their bodies and minds. It helps us live longer and fuller lives.

The Cons:

There is another side to regular physical activity. It’s the downside to getting regular workouts or exercise. For instance, people who are out of shape and have not exercised in a long time should take their time getting started. Ask trusted medical professionals the best way to get started. This could be to take a short spirited walk in the neighborhood. A faster heart rate or a suddenly racing heart rate should be warning signs to slow down. Shortness of breath that cannot be attributed to anything other health condition is your body telling you to give it a break. Chest pain, without a doubt, signals heart problems.

Physical activity is good for everybody. Start off slowly if new to it and build up to a more intensive level. Always cut your body some slack if it is telling you to. There are pros and cons to everything.

Health Briefs TV Reviews Fall Prevention Tips for Seniors

Homes are filled with a variety of ways older people can slip and fall and be injured. Throw rugs, loose carpeting, frail bones and weak joints, poor eyesight and weakness can send a senior to the floor and into the hospital with fractures and related injuries. Health Briefs TV takes time to review fall prevention tips for seniors.

Thirty percent of older adults report falling down once in the past year, according to a survey taken by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  That figure jumps higher when factoring in poor vision.  Below are a few suggestions to prevent such accidents:

• Remove throw rugs in the home.
• Clear all clutter away from hallways and add night lights so older family members can see their way to the bathroom or other rooms in the home.
• Be sure older folks get regular eye exams. These are often neglected.
• Encourage the older people in your life to engage in low impact balance and strength exercises. These can be recommended by a doctor or physical therapist.  Many communities have senior centers where exercise classes are given for free or at a very low cost.

Falls are a leading cause of injury for senior citizens. More than 700,000 older people fall each year and are sent to the hospital. Head trauma, hip fractures, and other injuries occur when someone falls. Trips, slips and falls are preventable. Health Briefs TV suggests families of older folks with impaired vision or a high risk of falling to find and remove any obstacles than could prevent injury.

We know that the older people in our lives still want to keep their independence. We can help them with this by kindly pointing out what can cause an accident and injury around them. Disability, short or long-term, can result from a bad fall. Prevention is the key.

(image:seniorcarecentral)

Health Briefs TV Spreads Good Health News

We love to share good health news with our readers, and there is much to share today.

Eat more chocolate and drink more red wine. A one minute intense workout is better than a 30 minute one. Walking is easy, free and boosts many health benefits.  Spanking children is not a good idea. 

Foods such as fruits, vegetables, yogurt and chocolate, and beverages like coffee and red wine increase the diversity of bacteria in the gut.  Gut or intestine diversity can ward off illness, as found by a team of Dutch researchers.  On the other side, simple carbs seems to reduce the bacterial diversity in the intestines. This includes high fat milk and sugar-sweetened soda.  Gut bacteria plays a vital role in the overall good health of the intestines and the rest of the body.

A study from the respected Plos One journal found that high intensity interval training (HIIT) works just as well as, and is better for us, than an hour long interval training class. This form of abbreviated high intensity working out entails a short burst of activity. For example: people who walk for exercise can add a short, intense burst of jogging or walking briskly, into the routine, and then go back to the regular pace. The short burst of intensity in the workout burns more calories, builds stamina, and require no more equipment. Give it a try. Add one minute of high intensity activity to a daily workout.

Most adults remember childhood days when their parents would spank them when they were naughty. This was thought to be the most effective way to curb bad behavior. Today, however, a new report that Health Briefs TV read, notes that spanking children can lead to aggressive behavior and defiance when older.  The study was conducted over five decades and with more than 160,000 people.  Health Briefs TV suggests trying other ways of thwarting naughty behavior.  Why not consider taking privileges away instead? Ban the use of mobile devices for a day. Forbid the child from watching TV or send the child to their room for an hour, and other non-aggressive methods of punishment work well as behavior modifiers.

Enjoy for good health
(image:wikipedia)

Health Briefs TV Clean Cell Phone Tips

Just thinking about what our cell phones touch every day is enough to make us search for the best ways to keep them clean. Health Briefs TV offers some tips to keep smart phones free of germs and bacteria.

Think out the many places where we lay our valued smart phones every day. From the time we prepare to head out in the morning until we go to bed, our phones have been put down on several different surfaces. Each surface is no cleaner than the one before it. Each surface has its own level of germs and bacteria which our phones pick up and spread to our ears, eyes, chin, nose mouth, and hands. Let us be honest: almost everyone takes their phone into the bathroom at work and sets it down on the back of the toilet. Can you think of a more germ-laden, gross place to put it down?

Here’s how to keep smart phones clean and free of the germs and bacteria which can make us break out in a rash or become sick:

• Wash hands after using the toilet anywhere. Use a clean paper towel to open the bathroom door when ready to leave. We know there are people who do not wash their hands after using the bathroom.
• Keep cell phones off kitchen counters when preparing a meal to prevent spreading Salmonella. If it must be kept nearby, lay the phone down on a clean towel.
• Clean the phone once a day by taking it out of the case and wiping it down with a soft, damp cloth and a wee bit of antibacterial soap.
• Antibacterial phone wipes are also good. Ask any wireless carrier store if they have any.

The Health Briefs television show also suggests cleaning the inside of purses, tote bags and another place where cell phones are kept once a week. Antibacterial wipes are perfect for that.

Prevent the spread of germs and bacteria by keeping smart phones clean.

US Media Studios Explains the Health Benefits of Yoga

Once considered something only the hipster crowd practiced, yoga has gained a new, refreshing reputation as a great health benefit.

US Media Studios learns that people who practice yoga are less stressed out than those that do not. It is also a great exercise for connecting the mind and body. It is beneficial to all age groups and all kinds of people. Military combat veterans who go to yoga classes gain inner peace, strength in mind and thoughts, stress relief, and feel stronger mentally and physically.  Baby boomers and other age groups who take yoga classes experience increased flexibility, increases muscle strength, improved respiration and energy, gain better balance, and protection from injury. Yoga also help build stronger bones.

Yoga classes around the country are offered a low-cost at community centers, the Y, health clubs and gyms, and on the beach, in parks and in city centers.  Some yoga teachers, or yogis, allow a new participant to take one class free to see if it is something the person wants to continue. It doesn’t hurt to ask before starting. Not all yoga classes are alike. Go online or ask someone who is into yoga which type would be best for a newcomer. US Media Studios also reminds readers that yoga clothes are cool and are worn almost everywhere now.

Feeling stressed out with sore joints and muscles? Are crazy thoughts running through your mind all day and night long? Sample one yoga class. It might just be ticket to better mental and physical health.

Health Briefs TV Relays Tips for Preventing Hearing Loss

Imagine not being able to hear clearly or hear anything at all. Most people think that hearing loss is for the aging generations only, but this is not so. Younger people are losing their hearing too. Health Briefs TV relays tip for preventing hearing loss.

There are many ways in which hearing can change throughout life.

• Loud music a concerts, music festivals and in nightclubs affects hearing later on.
• Most people use ear buds with their smart phones to take calls or listen to music tend to turn the volume up.
• People who work with loud industrial equipment or at airports where jets takes off and land are subjected to a loud work environment.

Recent research has found that hearing loss in adolescents increased by 31 percent from 1988 to 2005, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to prevent hearing loss.

• When going to a concert or music festival, do not stand or take a seat anywhere near the speakers. Sit back far enough from them to still see and enjoy the show.
• Wear ear plugs if you prefer to be closer to the stage. You can still hear and hear well and are still protecting your ears.
• If working in a loud environment, ask management for ear plugs. By law, employers have to offer ear protection if a job requires it.
• Medication and injury can also cause hearing loss.

Health Briefs TV also suggests getting a hearing test every year. This is a good idea for people who are getting older. Clean ear wax from ears as often as needed. Once hearing diminishes and is gone, it never comes back. Hearing aids are often used, and while there are several options, none give the user the hearing they once had. Background noise is not filtered the way it is naturally. Therefore, all noise is amplified with a hearing aid. Cochlear implants are another option, though expensive, may not work.

The best way to prevent hearing loss is to protect your ears whenever possible. 

Health Briefs TV Celebrates National Public Health Week

The first full week of April is designated National PublicHealth Week in the United States. Health Briefs TV celebrates this national initiative to help promote healthy lives for everyone.

Throughout every state and every county in the state, no two health departments are the same. Each one has its own unique community and population striving to serve through program and services tailored to its residents, and often with dwindling funds. The people and community will change over the years, and as it does, the Health Departments have to change too. Here’s a look, nationally, at what this week is all about:

• Building healthy communities by committing funds to healthier schools, homes, parks, and community centers.
• Providing quality healthcare no matter the age, race, sex, income level of the resident.
• Ensuring that schools and other facilities provide healthy meals and exercise programs.
• Finding and implementing ways to curtail stress.
•  

The Health Briefs TV show also notes some of the top public health concerns Americans may have to contend with: obesity and diabetes, high blood pressure, Zika infection, climate change and how it affects public health, community environmental challenges and how to combat them, and keeping seniors healthy and mobile, and ensuring every person in the United States has clean, safe drinking water. Join us as we share news about National Public Health Week.

Health Briefs TV Touts the Benefits of Coffee

Coffee, and caffeinated drinks, are not just good to wake us up. The health benefits of drinking a cup or two of coffee every day provides benefits for the entire body, and can reduce the chance of developing colorectal cancer.

Health Briefs TV learns that drinking two cups a day is associated with a 26 percent reduction of the development of colorectal cancer. If we were to drink just another half cup, those chances decrease by 50 percent. Caffeine and polyphenol in coffee act as antioxidants. Also, the melanodins that are created when the beans are roasted can increase colon mobility, and the diterpenes can prevent cancer by strengthening the body against oxidative damage.

Coffee and caffeine can be found in several beverages, in facial moisturizers, baked in treats, and in the office break room. We would also like to note that it doesn’t matter if the coffee is boiled, perked, steamed, or decaffeinated. It didn’t matter if the coffee was instant or freshly ground.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women in the United States. Almost five percent of men and four percent of women develop this disease over their lifetime. Health Briefs TV suggests taking every possible active step to reduce the chance of developing colorectal cancer:

• Eat a healthy diet including different types of beans, which contain cancer fighting fiber.
• Drink a few cup of coffee per day.
• If smoking, stop. Seek assistance if needed. There are plenty of affordable options to help.
• Get daily exercise. This is as simple as taking a walk at lunch time and after dinner.

So go ahead and enjoy another cup of java. It does more than wake us up and warms us up. It reduces the chance of getting colorectal cancer. Cheers.

The Health Briefs TVS Show Reviews Good Eye Health

Our eyes can see all the good there is in the world. We use them for a multitude of reasons from the first time we open them. The Health Briefs TV show reviews good eye health for everyone.

The first moment we open our eyes to the last moment of our lives when they are shut are filled with sights both good and bad. Our eyes are subjected to a variety of circumstances which can stress them, harm them or make them feel healthier and better. We learn to eat food that is beneficial to lasting good health for the eyes. We also take steps to prevent eye disease or the progression of worsening eye strength or damage.

Here are several things we can do to maintain good eye health:

Make meals with green leafy vegetables and foods that are rich in vitamin C. Fatty fish is also recommended as it provides vital minerals and nutrients that keep eyes strong and free from cataracts. Genetics only play a 35 percent risk, while diet and the environment account for 65 percent.

Get an eye exam every year and upgrade prescriptions if needed. Be sure to include prescription sunglasses. Choose lens options that block UV rays.

Wear safety glasses when working with tools and materials which can harm the eyes.

If using a computer all day, take breaks every hour and look away from it. Close eyes and give them a stress break.

Good eye health is essential for everyone from newborns onward. The Health Briefs TV show encourages readers to take great care of your eyes every day so you do not miss seeing what you want to see.

(image:flickr)

Health Briefs TV Reviews the Risks and Prevention Steps for Heart Attacks

A recent study found that younger people are experiencing heart attacks and other heart-related problems. Health Briefs TV wants to remind readers of the risks and how to prevent heart attacks and strokes. It’s easier than you think.

Heart attack victims are becoming younger. They carry serious health risks such as being obese, not getting exercise, smoking, and may be diabetic. Some have high blood pressure also.  Unhealthy diets are a big risk factor for younger adults, those in their fifties and sixties.  Add all the risk factors together:

• Unhealthy diets
• Lack of regular exercise
• High blood pressure
• Smoking
• Obesity

All of these amount to a heart attack waiting to happen. Heart attacks and strokes don’t strike at convenient times. There is no convenient time.  But there is a convenient time to take charge of your health every day. That time is right now. 

Here are few easy preventative steps everyone can take to a healthier lifestyle:

Eat small, healthier meals. The average adult only needs three ounces of meat (the size of the palm of the hand). A good way to start measuring the amount of food consumed daily is to use a smaller plate. Fill up the plate with fresh, cooked or steamed vegetables. Add the three ounces of meat.

Avoid eating fast food. Even the meals which are marketed as “healthy” are generally not healthy. Many of them are salt-laden.

At work, take walk breaks three times a day. If the weather is not cooperative, walk around the office or stand up and march. Do some shallow knee squats. Stretch every limb.

At home, take a brisk walk after dinner. Walk around the block. Weekends are a good time to ante up the exercise. Ride a bike (with a helmet). Walk the dog or a neighbor’s dog. Swim in a pool.  Power walk through a local park. Just get up and move.

Talk to the doctor about how to lower blood pressure naturally. Ask if there is a healthful way to stop smoking. Many cities offer smoking cessation meetings and host hotlines. There are also several good products in the stores to help curb the habit.

Health Briefs TV encourages readers to take active steps to improve their health. A heart attack is waiting to happen. Why let it?

(image:pixabay)

Health Briefs TV Updates on the Flu Shot

Even though we have come into the first days of the spring season, there is no reason to not get a flu shot if you haven’t yet. In fact, there is good news about this year’s flu vaccine, which Health Briefs TV relays.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a statement last week stating this year’s flu vaccine is the most effective one in years. The Center states that people who received the vaccine were 59 percent less likely to get sick with influenza than people who didn’t. Basically, getting the flu vaccine this year reduced the risk of a doctor visit because of the fly by nearly 60 percent.

Deaths from the flu number between 4,000 and 50,000 a year in the US. Even though the CDC (and most family physicians) strongly recommends getting a flu shot, about half of the US population does. The flu affects older people and the very young the most. This year’s formula is effective for the H1N1 viruses (51%), and the influenza B viruses are reduced by 76 percent with this year’s vaccine. Health Briefs TV recommends getting the flu shot, and more so if you work in a crowded office where space is shared. Take preventative steps on your own to reduce the chance of getting the flu:

• Wipe desk and equipment on desk with a sanitizing wipe before use every day, especially if items are shared.
• Use a paper towel with isopropyl alcohol dabbed on it to clean the phone. The smell from the alcohol evaporates quickly.
• Stay home if sick.

There are 170 million doses of the fly vaccine with options ranging from the traditional shot, nasal spray and the high-dose version for older folks. 

Health Briefs TV Reflects on How Older Women Fare to Older Men

Ask anyone over the age of 55 and they will say that growing older is no so golden. From the general aches and pains of advancing age to dementia-related diseases, the so-called “Golden Years” are not so shiny. Health Briefs TV reflects on how older women fare to older men.

A study which ran for 30 years with data from both sexes aged 65 and over found that men live longer and with less disability than women. Men in the study lived longer than women in the study and experienced less disability than women. Disability can be from arthritis, falls which harm the bones, dementia and other related medical issues.

Older women might want to focus more on quality of life than quantity. Health Briefs TV encourages both older men and women to remain active physically and socially, as these ways have been proven to extend and improve growing older. There are many programs which are free or offered at a low cost which provide exercises to keep muscles and bones limber and flexible. The same classes give seniors the opportunity to meet new people, connect with friends and enjoy an activity together.  Most of the exercise classes can be tailored to a specific participant’s physicality. 

Older women may experience some pitfalls as they age. Men also experience them. The aforementioned study notes that women tend to focus how much can be done now as opposed to doing less with more. More time for family, friends and loved ones. More time to slow down and enjoy a leisurely activity. Life can be good and good when we are older. Preventative moves can help us live longer, healthier and more active years.

Health Briefs TV and How to Get a Jump on Spring Allergies

We welcome spring and its warmer weather. We don’t welcome the allergies that come with it. Health Briefs TV covers how to get a jump on spring allergies.

People who live in the south will vouch for how much pollen is in the air by the amount of pollen on their cars. Spring is tree pollen time and it is also grass and flower pollen time. Other factors of spring allergies changes in the atmosphere are shifting pollen patterns and warmer temperatures for longer periods of time. The higher the temperature, the more favorable pollen is to aerosolization. Pollen causes sneezing, watery eyes and for some migraines.

Mold is another spring allergy. As with pollen, warm air helps mold grow everywhere. Mold, a miniscule fungi, can live almost anywhere from soil, plants, bathrooms and even older cars. Mold spores are in the air. They are more prevalent in warm weather climates.

Hay fever is another spring allergy. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 19 million adults and six million children live with and manage this type of allergy. Symptoms include sneezing, stuffiness, runny noses, itchiness in the nose and roof of the mouth, throat and, having itchy eyes.

Health Briefs TV relays some tips for get ahead of spring allergies:

• Use a smart phone app to see what the pollen count is in your area for the day and week.
• Use a nasal steroid spray. Start it one to two weeks before the onslaught of pollen season.
• Over-the-counter antihistamines are also very good at curbing allergy symptoms.
• Allergy shots may also work to ease symptoms.
• Ask your doctor if a sublingual tablet (melts under the tongue) is advisable for you.

Keep mind that taking a shower before bed is best because it washes allergens off of the body and away from beds. It is also a good idea to stay inside when the pollen count is the highest. Get ahead of spring allergies this year.

Health Briefs TV Lays Down Tips for Beating Insomnia

Most people will have some restless nights of sleep. Some people will have full nights of not being able to sleep at all. Insomnia can affect anyone at any time.  It can be frustrating, and even more so when rest is needed. Health Briefs TV lays down tips for beating insomnia.

We want to note that this article is intended for people who have occasional nights of sleeplessness, not those who cannot get to sleep all the time.

There are nights when our bodies are exhausted and our eyes are tired, but we just can’t seem to fall asleep. It sure can be aggravating to not be able to relax, shut our eyes and drift into a restful night of sleep. The night becomes long as we watch the hours slowly tick by on the bedside clock. Here are some ideas which may help (and we are going to try them).

Get out of bed and walk around. A change of scenery might do some good. Go into another room, read something light.  The bed is a piece of furniture that is meant for sleep. If it’s not providing it, walk away for a little while.

Add some exercise into the daily routine. A good, brisk walk after dinner not only aids digestion, but it stretches muscles and eases bone stiffness. Try to add some form of moderate exercise into everyday living.

If there is another bed in the home not being used, Health Briefs TV suggests getting in it to sleep. Maybe it’s just the first bed that is causing sleepless nights. If this fails too, ask the doctor about what do to get a good night’s rest. Pleasant dreams.

(image:flickr)

Health Briefs TV Offers Tips to Maintain a Healthy Colon

Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of death in men and women in the United States. Health Briefs TV offers some tips to help maintain a healthy colon.

The American Cancer Society estimates there will be more than 95,000 new cases of colon cancer diagnosed this year. To lower the opportunity for developing it, below is a list of suggestions to keep in mind:

People over age 50 or those who have/had a relative diagnosed with colon cancer should talk to a physician about getting a colonoscopy. This test, while not very comfortable, is considered the gold standard to determine is colon cancer is present.

Look in the toilet after defecation to see the color of the feces in the bowl. Black feces is considered dangerous and should be reported to the doctor soonest. It may indicate intestinal bleeding or cancer. Narrow stools are also an indication that tests for colon cancer night be considered.

Eat the rainbow. A colorful bouquet of produce should be consumed as regularly as possible. It helps rid the body of billions of bacteria that plays a role in good colon health. Health Briefs TV encourages readers to challenge their daily and weekly eating habits by adding a rainbow of produce colors (red tomatoes, yellow and orange peppers, purple beets (for example).

Eat the rainbow

Health Briefs TV Shares Ideas for Competitive Runners

Competitive running can take a toll on any physically fit runner. Health Briefs TV shares some ideas to make it less stressful on the body, mind and soul.

Running is an activity that more people engage in these days. Be smart when starting out. Set realistic goals for yourself. Make a point of running one race per month, if possible. This can lessen the stress and nervousness of running in one major event per year. Small 5K races are a good way to start. Runners go through the registration process, getting their running bib, getting dressed and experiencing a race before a big event date arrives. It also gives the runner’s body the opportunity to “feel” what it is like to push it. 

Give muscles and joints a break and commit one day per week for a good stretch workout. Take a yoga class or use a favorite stretch workout DVD. Stretching helps lengthen the muscles and eases joint stiffness. Set aside one day a week to pamper body muscles and joints.

Mix things up. Doing the same routine over and over is not only boring, but it does not challenge the body enough. Choose one day per week to try a new workout, run on a new path or course, push one new part of the body. Don’t forget that the mind also needs to be stimulated too. Change up the music used. 

Health Briefs TV also suggests buying a calendar specifically for running goals. Write down challenges and cross them off the list. Write down a mission goal for each race or each month and be on the way to mastering it and competing well in the next big race or marathon.

image:pixabay

Health Briefs TV Relays Tips for Preventing a Stroke

Everyone knows by now there are certain behaviors that can stoke the chances for having a stroke. But there are also healthier behaviors which can prevent them, as Health Briefs TV relays.

Stroke prevention is easy enough to work on every day and night. But it takes diligence, patient and a steady daily routine. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind if you want to not have a stroke any time soon:

Get no more than 8 hours a sleep per night and no less than seven hours.

Engage in 30 minutes of vigorous exercise three to six times per week. This might be power walking, biking, or swimming. Adults who exercised and slept well (but not too long) reduced their chance of having a stroke by 25 percent, according to a recent research paper.

It also helps to eat healthy every day being sure to consume plenty of produce, lean meat, chicken and fish, whole grains and low-fat or fat-free dairy. The best advice is always to get exercise, even if it is a 30 minute walk after dinner. Not only does this de-stress the body and mind and prepare it for sleep, it also dilates arteries and keeps their linings healthy. A good walk also decreases cholesterol and blood pressure. Health Briefs TV believes if you pair exercise and a healthy meals and snacks with proper rest, your chances of having a stroke diminish greatly.

Strokes can be debilitating and disfiguring. A stroke can steal an active life. Take active steps today for a longer, healthier, more satisfying way to living.

Health Briefs TV Explores Mental Health

Mental health is making the news this week as the UK’s popular Duchess and the US’ First Lady publish online articles to raise awareness of the topic. Health Briefs TV explores some of the issues concerning mental health.

Even talking about mental health in a casual setting can invoke a negative stigma. No one wants to bring the topic up. Yet, millions of people manage every day live with depression, anxiety, nervousness, PTSD, and other afflictions of the brain and mind.  But no one is really talking about it.  Until now.

One in five Americans live with a diagnosable mental health illness today.

Many mental health problems can be treated with medication or therapy. Meditation and yoga are well-known to help calm an anxious mind, and come without the side effects of often prescribed drugs.  People from every background and age group live with depression and anxiety. Young and old, poor or wealthy, Veteran or civilian, executive or staff worker – anyone can battle through the symptoms silently, afraid of others finding out and thinking less of them.  The stigma can be almost as debilitating as the mental illness.

Health Briefs TV asks readers to learn and recognize the five signs of someone struggling through a mental health problem. If any of these signs are familiar, talk to the person privately about them. Learn more about it from changedirection.com.

1. Personality change
2. Agitation
3. Withdrawn from others
4. Change in personal care
5. Feeling hopeless

Every person in our lives matters. It’s easy to see when someone is feeling physically unwell. It is much more difficult to see when someone is feeling mentally not well.  Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone and ask them. It could save their life.

Health Briefs TV Spills the Good and Bad Effects of Caffeine

Caffeine can kill you or not. There are some definite positive benefits from caffeine and certainly negative effects too. Health Briefs TV spills them out.

Caffeine can be found in a multitude of products from a cup of coffee to face cream. It is a drug naturally found in the coffee bean, tea leaf, kola but and cacao pod, and is odorless. It has a very bitter taste if eaten. Once consumed, it enters the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestine and takes effect in around 15 minutes.

One of the positive benefits of caffeine is it can help awaken a sleepy person by blocking the brain chemical adenosine, which is aligned with sleep. Small doses of caffeine can have positive effects like happiness, increased energy, and alertness also. A regular 6 ounce cup of coffee has about 75-150 milligrams of caffeine. Instant coffee has less. The same amount of brewed tea has about 30 to 90 milligrams of caffeine. Twelve ounces of cola contains 30 to 60 mg, and some energy drinks have 80. The U.S. FDA recommends 400 mgs per day of caffeine per healthy adult, which equates to roughly four to five cups of coffee per day.

In addition, Health Briefs TV has seen some top brand name beauty products with caffeine listed as an ingredient. When added to face and body creams, caffeine can perk dull skin up. Caffeine can also ward off depression and might lower the chance of developing malignant melanoma.

On the downside, it can raise the blood pressure and heart rate of some people. If too much is consumed at one time, it can also cause anxiety, nausea and jittery nerves. It has been shown to increase the opportunity to develop osteoporosis for women.

Caffeine is in many things we use and consume. How much you consume is up to you. There are good and bad benefits in it.

 

Coffee and tea:both contain caffeine

The Health Briefs TV Show Wants You to Get Some Rest

Are you tired? Not getting enough sleep? Does your mind keep you awake running thoughts through it a breakneck speed? The Health Briefs TV show wants you to get some rest.

We know how hard it can be to fall asleep and stay asleep sometimes. It is equally hard to function at your best when you are tired. Here’s what you need to know to get some needed sleep:

• A healthy meal of high protein and high fiber foods helps people get to sleep and stay asleep better than a meal with high saturated fats and less fiber. Avoid fatty foods at dinner time. Enjoy some peas, black beans, lentils, broccoli, raspberries, blueberries, avocado and other food like it. Skip caffeinated drinks several hours before bedtime.
• Avoid getting into an argument or heated discussion with someone – both in the physical sense and online.
• Take a walk after dinner to relieve stress and relax and loosen muscles and joints.
• Lower the blinds and the room temperature for a comfortable sleep.
• Get in bed, turn the TV and lights off and get comfortable.
• Think of something happy or positive. Close your eyes and relax thinking of the happy or positive thing. Replay in your mind what made it happy.
• Take conscious breaths. As you breathe slowly, imagine your breath as it enters your nose and mouth, makes its way through your body and goes back out. Focus on each breath and each step. This helps block and stop negative or repetitive thoughts which can keep you awake.
• Health Briefs TV suggests sticking to a regular schedule of when you go to bed and get up every day, even on weekends and vacations.

We admit we do not get enough sleep ourselves. 

Health Briefs TV Reviews Zika Virus Prevention Steps

The mosquito-borne Zika virus is making news headlines around the world. People most affected by it are from South and Latin America. Brazil has been hit most hard. In the United States, a few cases have been reported. Health Briefs TV reviews steps Americans can take to prevent mosquito bites and possibly Zika infection.

The US Centers for Disease Control reports the Zika virus is transmitted through mosquito bites. Most common symptoms are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes). Symptoms are usually mild and can last a few days to a week. Left untreated, it can be more severe.

One of the easiest way to prevent mosquito bites is to be well-prepared when and where they bite most often. Below are some preventative steps people can take:

Empty all outdoor objects that hold standing water. Mosquitoes breed in them.

Wear light-colored long-sleeved shirts and long pants with shoes and socks when outdoors when mosquitoes are most prevalent. Buy a bug repellent which contains a good amount of DEET or picardin. For a list of the top brands which carry these ingredients, Consumer Reports, usually a members-only organization, released their list of the best bugrepellents. Some are more organic than others. Whichever one of these people choose, the Health Briefs TV show encourages readers to protect themselves from bites. Mosquito populations are most active at dawn and dusk for several hours.  Avoid swampy areas. Avoid traveling to countries where the virus is widespread.

Prevention is the key to not becoming infected with the Zika virus. 

(image:healthline.com)