Benefits Of drinking Apple Cider Vinegar Before Bed

Apple cider vinegar is an extremely potent ingredient, with a variety of medicinal properties, which support health in numerous ways.

The following uses of vinegar will amaze you, so its consumption at bedtime will significantly boost your overall health:
1. Take a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with some honey and water half an hour before going to sleep to treat indigestion.
2. Drink a glass of water with apple cider vinegar if you feel hungry before going to sleep to prevent obesity and sleeping problems. 
3. Take a tablespoon of vinegar an hour before sleeping in a glass of water to treat the acidity of the stomach.
4. Take a teaspoon of organic apple cider vinegar in a cup of warm water just before going to bed to soothe the stomachache.
5. When hiccups appear, take a teaspoon of organic apple cider vinegar to stimulate the nerves in the throat. 
6. Apple cider vinegar has potent antibacterial properties which quickly treat a sore throat. Take a teaspoon an hour before going to bed, and one more after half an hour. Then, take a teaspoon just before going to sleep.
7. Apple cider vinegar is high in potassium which can soothe the pain in the legs, as the lack of this mineral is one of the main causes of these aches. Add 2 tablespoons of this vinegar to a glass of water and drink it at bedtime. The pain will be relieved within a few nights.
8. High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of insomnia. Therefore, take 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar before going to sleep to prevent sleeping difficulties.
9. Apple cider vinegar successfully fights allergies. Therefore, drink a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water, and drink it an hour before going to sleep.
10. Apple cider vinegar effectively gets rid of bacteria that cause bad breath and taste in the mouth.

this is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   
https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement           

Source: www.healthylifevision.com

Home remedies, simple ones forgotten over the years

Sore throat

I remember very well when I had sore throat when young, my mother would always say, gargle with salt water. Reluctantly used to do it, but would find relief. Over the years, forgot about it, now with COPD, I do it religiously everyday.
Add 1/2 tsp of salt to a glass of warm water and gargle 3 times a day before food. It really works. If your symptoms persists better to consult your physician.

Nausea

Ginger is very good for nausea, you can make ginger juice, add it with lime juice, it not only helps to overcome nausea, also give you lost appetite. It aids digestion, good for morning and motion sickness too, sucking a ginger toffee helps to overcome motion sickness. Ginger mixed with gur/ molasses is also very good for digestion.

Eye bags
Morning cup of tea is not only beneficial to keep you get over your sleep, but has various other benefits too. For puffy eyes and eye bags, keep cool tea bags, as it helps to reduce inflammation, as the caffeine in tea bags helps to shrink the blood vessels around the eyes to leading to puffiness. One has  wring out tea bags, keep it in the fridge till it gets cold to keep it over the eyes to reap its benefits.

Constipation
Have high-fiber diet and have enough water to drink each day. Eating whole fruits, banana, apple, dates, prunes, fresh beans, spinach, banana stem are all high in fiber. Having whole grains, kidney beans, whole green moong, (white / kala chana)- chickpeas are all high in fiber. Include at least 2 variety of fiber with each meal with adequate water will help one to get rid of constipation. Have fruits half an hour before meals or best before breakfast and in between meals as snacks.

Urinary tract infections
UTI is something most women suffer from at least once in their life time. One of the simplest one is to have either cranberry juice or have pickle made of cranberry ( karonda) when you get UTI. In the acidic condition, bacteria can't survive and get flushed out when we've the juice and drink enough water. Another simple remedy is mix 1/2 tsp of baking soda mix well in a glass of water and drink it twice a day before your meals. Drinking this has double benefits- one to get relief from UTI, another to get rid of acidity. To know more various benefits of baking soda see my other posts in this blog.

Skin problems
Oats is one of the good breakfast meal when you ask most people, as it is rich in fiber, when you've with milk, gives a feeling of fullness adding some nuts to the porridge. But , it has some unusual benefits too- if you suffer from eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, oats is the remedy. You can soak oats, not instant variety, in warm water, it will get little slimy, if you rub when you've your bath, it will protect the skin, prevent dryness. In case, you want to soak in a bathtub to relax, grind some oats ( not instant), pour into a warm tub of water, soak, pat dry when you get out, instead of rubbing yourself.

Sleeping problems
Many people, especially elders and those who are lonely suffer from sleeping problems. They rush to the doctor with their problems, who will prescribe sleeping pills, which will become habitual and slowly you'll increase the dosage to get relief, but not for too long. Instead, one can have a glass of warm milk, a banana and 1-2 tablespoon of pumpkin seeds before going to bed. Pumpkin seeds are a natural source of tryptophan, an amino acid that can help promote sleep. Being also rich in magnesium, it also promotes good sleep. There is a pressure point 4 fingers above your ankle on the inner side of your legs. Massage this point lightly before going to bed for a few minutes. This also aids in getting good sleep. 
Another simple one is to take deep breaths and breathe out slowly few times. This helps one to relax. Then say " OM", it is one of the most powerful symbols and sound in the world. It will calm you, that will give you good sleep.

Cough
Honey is an age old remedy for cough. All the cough syrups contain honey, no wonder they taste sweet ! Since, I'm COPD, I've made my own cough syrups- using honey, apple cider vinegar and water- all 2 tbsp with 1/4 tsp each of dry ginger powder and red chili powder ! I found this more effective than the store bought, so keep making it regularly. Another equally powerful cough syrup is finely chopping one big onion then, in a small container putting layers of onion, topping with honey and little apple cider vinegar ( ACV), helps very well too. Onion has sulfuric acid, which helps to reduce the inflammation of the airways, honey soothes the throat. As and when the juice reduces in the container, add more honey and ACV,  for a week, it doesn't get spoiled.

Burns
When one works in the kitchen, or in factories near fire, one is likely to get burns. The first treatment for burns is to run cold water over the place till the heat goes. Aloe vera has shown some potential promise in treating burns. The plant is a natural anti-inflammatory, promoting circulation and has antibacterial properties that stop bacteria from growing. Honey bandages may help sterilize a burn and prevent infection. It can also soothe burned skin, easing some of the pain.

Warts
Duct tape is used for sealing packets, envelopes is what we all know and use, but then isn't it amazing that it was found that putting duct tape over warts was more effective than freezing them !

Apple- Cleans teeth and stains too !
We all know well that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, now you can also add that an apple a day keeps the dentist away too ! When you're at work, wish to  clean the coffee stain, munch an apple, its flesh brushes with the teeth and acts like a natural toothbrush ! If some are worried about the acid causing damage to teeth, swish your mouth with water.

Bad breath, ulcer, cough- licorice
In olden times, grandmas used to chew on licorice, it not only wards off bad breath,it is an effective agent to fight bacteria, which causes tooth decay and periodontal disease. It is soothing for cough, when you chew it, it helps for stomach ulcers and relieves stress.

Headache
My father used to say, you get headache when you've stomach upset. He used to fast, he never took any tablets in his life. Well, many may find it hard to fast, you can try applying cold pack on your forehead. A new study has found that placing a frozen pack over your neck, especially over carotid arteries greatly reduced pain in migraine sufferers.

White teeth- baking soda
Who doesn't want to have those pearly white teeth. It is cheaper than going to the dentist,just put some baking soda in a small dish, add some water to make a paste. Brush your teeth with it, due to the slight abrasive nature of the soda, it will remove the plaque, make your teeth white. But, kindly don't overdo it, as doing it often can harm the enamel.

Plantar fasciitis and achy feet-
You thought tennis ball was meant only for playing tennis or cricket by young boys. Thins again, it has useful benefits for achy feet, especially plantar fasciitis, roll your leg over the ball, it helps to lengthen the tight tissue on the bottom of the foot. Combined with heel cord stretching or Achilles stretching, hence this is very beneficial for plantar fasciitis.

Under stress- chew gum !
You thought people were chewing gum for fresh breath, especially, you see cricketers chewing it all the time. A study found that 2 weeks of chewing gum regularly, improved participants levels of anxiety, stress, mood and tiredness.

Cough-Dark bitter chocolate / Honey
Dark-bitter chocolates, not milk variety, contains a compound called theobromine, which has proved to be more effective than codeine for coughs, without the drowsiness and constipation. Or have a spoon or two of honey, as it has anti-inflammatory property which works on canker sores too.

Sore throat
Squeeze the juice of 6 garlic cloves in a glass of warm water, gargle the solution twice a day. Normally within 3 days your sore throat should be fine, thanks to the anti-microbial properties that destroy the pain causing bacteria. The warm water also soothes the throat.


THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                
 PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                               
     https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                     
  FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                  https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com  

10 Mistakes Harming Your Quality of Sleep

Although we don’t want to admit it, many of the sleeping problems we experience are caused by our own harmful habits. We stay up late, eat food that doesn’t help our bodies, and interfere with our sleep cycle in a variety of ways. When these problems become routine, we simply teach our bodies not to sleep properly, and of course, there are negative consequences to this. The good news is that you can avoid these sleep problems and correct these habits by recognizing the 10 harmful mistakes you’re making that are keeping you from a good night’s sleep and learning how to prevent them!

1. You don’t keep to a regular sleep schedule

Many think they can make up for lost hours of sleep by going to bed earlier the next day, but our biological clock doesn’t work that way, it prefers consistency. Another problem is the desire or need to complete the hours of sleep over the weekend, and these two practices together are what’s keeping you up at night. Some people just decide to "give up" and play on their computer or watch TV instead of staying in bed because "they can’t sleep," exposing them to sources of light and irritation that only exacerbate the problem.

The solution - Create a sleep routine

Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day - this is one of the most important things you can do to make sure you fall asleep at night and wake up alert. A regular sleep cycle allows the brain to release appropriate hormones for all actions at regular times and, more importantly, prevents it from releasing them when they aren’t needed.

2. You compensate for loss of sleep with long naps

Long naps, especially after 4 pm, damage your sleep cycle and don’t allow you to enjoy a good night's sleep every night.

The solution - Nap for no longer than 30 minutes

If you have to rest your head and close your eyes for a few minutes, it’s important that you do so only once a day, before 4 pm and for no more than 30 minutes. In general, a short nap isn’t harmful to sleep and in fact, a slight rest of half an hour after lunch can even improve your alertness.

3. You are not preparing for sleep correctly

Don’t expect your body to shift from alert to deep sleep easily and quickly without being prepared for it. Your body needs time to signal to the brain that it is time to go to sleep, allowing it to start releasing the appropriate hormones.

The solution – Take your time and gradually enter sleep mode

First, stop using electronic devices, such as a smartphone or a computer, after 10 pm as they stimulate your brain and make you stay awake for longer. The second thing to do is dim the lights of the house about an hour before you go to bed, and you can also draw yourself a warm bath, listen to relaxing music and do some yoga and relaxation exercises.

4. You don’t sleep in total darkness

Our bodies depend, among other things, on signals that it is time to sleep and wake up, with the two most significant being light and darkness. Today we live in a world filled with artificial lighting, which disrupts our biological clock. However, when we sleep in total darkness, our bodies produce more melatonin, which is a hormone important for sleep.

The solution - Darken your bedroom as much as possible at night

Look around your bedroom: Is there an alarm clock that emits a strong light? Does your phone charger light the room up? Is there a computer in the room or a TV clock? Even the smallest light can interfere with the secretion of this very important sleep hormone, thus preventing you from sleeping well. If you have no way to remove these devices from your bedroom or turning them off, buy an eye mask. If you wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, don’t turn on the light or use a night light in the bathroom.

5. You’re eating snacks full of carbs and sugars close to bedtime

Carbohydrates and sugars raise blood sugar, cause the organs of the body to work vigorously and prevent the secretion of sleep hormones. Eating them in the evening before bedtime can adversely affect your ability to fall asleep and even cause you to wake up in the middle of the night, as there is an imbalance in sleep hormone levels in your body during sleep.

The solution - If you need to eat, choose a protein-filled snack

It’s best not to eat anything before bedtime, but if you’re starving, opt for a protein snack that won’t only prevent an imbalance in sleeping hormones but will also provide you with the amino acids that produce them.

6. You drink alcohol to fall asleep

Because alcohol has soothing properties, many people with insomnia use it to speed up their process of falling asleep. Although alcohol does help to fall asleep quickly, sleep, after it is consumed, is interrupted during the second half of the night, leading to a reduction in sleep time.

The solution - Take vitamins, minerals, and other supplements to help you sleep better

Don’t drink alcohol to sleep, and instead try to consume foods rich in amino acids, as well as chamomile or valerian root tea. Minerals such as calcium and magnesium are also important for good sleep because they help the body produce melatonin. The importance of consuming these minerals has increased over the years because our body produces fewer sleep hormones on its own in advanced ages.

7. You use sleeping pills to control your sleep

Sleeping pills don’t solve sleep problems, they just put a temporary band-aid on them. Many studies conducted on the use of sleeping pills have shown that they do more harm than good in the long term, and may also be addictive and even dangerous to the body. You may need to consume sleeping pills in the short-term, which can help you rebalance your biological clock, but if you use them for a long time, they will only harm you, and you should consult with your doctor to check what course of action is right for you.

The solution - Perform relaxation techniques instead

Apart from the physical problems that exist in the body, stress is the number one cause of sleep disorders. Temporary stress can slowly lead to chronic insomnia and adversely affect our sleep cycle because many people fail to "turn off" their brains when they go to bed. To avoid this, do breathing, yoga, or meditation exercises that will help free your mind from obsessive thoughts.

8. You stay awake in bed and hope to fall asleep

If you can’t fall asleep after 30-45 minutes in bed, chances are you'll spend another hour trying to fall asleep. In such a situation, you missed the time window you had, because studies show that our brain goes through several repetitive sleep cycles during the night. These cycles occur every hour and a half to two hours, and at the beginning of each one, a window opens where the body is ready to fall asleep. If you lie in bed and aren’t falling asleep, you’ve probably missed this window.

The solution - Know the signs to open the window of sleep

If you aren’t asleep within 30-45 minutes, get up and read a book or relax for an hour. If you stay in bed you’ll only grow more stressed that you aren’t falling asleep, which will keep you from actually falling asleep.

9. You fall asleep in front of the TV

Since a lot of us fall asleep in the living room in front of the TV, many have gotten the bright idea of placing a TV in the bedroom instead. If you’ve adopted this bad habit of falling asleep while watching TV, you'll probably find yourself waking up in the middle of the night. This is because you create sleep conditioning that actually encourages an interrupted night's sleep, and many patients who come to sleep experts find that they have developed insomnia because of this habit.

Solution - Take the TV out of the bedroom

This might sound like a radical solution to some, but you have to understand that the bedroom should be a place for rest, relaxation and intimacy. 

10. You worry about not falling asleep

Most often, thinking about sleep prevents you from falling asleep. The way people deal with insomnia is just as much a problem as insomnia itself, and it is often a vicious circle of worries about not falling asleep, which means you’ll never really fall asleep. As in other areas of life, here too one must learn to release and go with the flow. Your need for sleep is as natural as breathing and eating, and it comes automatically without having to think about it.

Solution - Release your thoughts

Increase your awareness by paying attention to when your body is tired and react accordingly. If it isn’t tired, use your time efficiently instead of feeling upset about it - it will help you get into bed with a good feeling and wake up feeling even more positive.
One last thing
Of course, there are also physical disorders that prevent us from sleeping properly, such as sleep apnea. This is a condition that affects many people, and some aren’t even aware that they suffer from it. These are usually people who snore, due to air blockage. As a result, the brain feels that it has no oxygen and signals the body to wake up. Not only does it interfere with sleep, it also increases blood pressure and the risk of heart attack and stroke. 

Furthermore, it adversely affects insulin sensitivity and increases the risk of diabetes, so if you sleep poorly, it is highly recommended that you get checked by a doctor to make sure you don’t suffer sleep apnea.

 THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                
 PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                               
     https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                     
  FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com