Category Archives: Health

Health

The Latest News on Coronavirus and Higher Education

Coronavirus is a big blow to the world because it affects every part of humanity. How it diverged from China at the speed of light to every aspect of the world was record-breaking compared to other pandemics that have hit the world before it. It affected the economy of countries, considerably reduced social interactions, and slowed down educational systems. The pandemic disrupts higher education learning across the country, with most institutions canceling in-person classes and moving to online tutorials.

Apart from canceling classes within campuses, the coronavirus has also disrupted the admission process of colleges and universities and also altered the academic calendar of higher institutions. This may lead to the loss of an academic year as the pandemic ravages the world.

Challenges and Solutions

Online-Only Instruction

A school is a place where many students gather to receive formal instruction. The Coronavirus is highly transmissible, and a school is a place not just for learning but also for social contact. If in-person classes are held, it will increase the speed at which the virus would be spread within the school, which could be fatal. To avoid transmission among students, legislators have become preemptive of the situation by introducing online-only instructions. This will curb transmission and also protect the lives of students.

Even though solutions for continuous learning during the Coronavirus pandemic have been proffered, many students could not get access to the online classes, which means many students will be left out. Aside from that, another complication and drawback to online learning are the issues that could arise with network connections.

In-Person Instruction with Strict Guidelines

Because of the coronavirus, colleges and universities have been shut down. Plans to reopen have been considered, but for in-person instruction to occur within colleges and universities, health guidelines must be put in place to curb transmission.

Following the guidelines set by health institutions and WHO, many colleges and universities are preparing for in-person lectures with sufficient social distancing within the classes and campuses and with other health guidelines like wearing face masks and washing hands under running water for at least 20 seconds. Despite these guidelines, there are fears that these guidelines will not be followed effectively, which will further increase the transmission of the virus.

Financial Challenge

Many institutions have economic challenges, especially schools that are run by government allocation. Fumigation and decontamination is a prerequisite for the reopening of colleges and universities. With the teaching staff association of universities agitating and breathing threats to go on strike if the government doesn’t meet their demands, the government is saddled with a more difficult responsibility of providing the funds required to carry out all the necessary Coronavirus observations.

The fact that there’s no known cure for the Coronavirus yet is a challenge that must not be taken for granted. If schools must resume, then they’d best be done online because the chances that the rules and regulations will be followed is very low.

Health

Most Popular Vegetarian Recipe for Vegetarians at Thanksgiving

As a vegetarian who’s always attending gatherings and thanksgivings alike, you would notice that the meal plans are made with or always revolving around the turkey. As a vegetarian, this can be a hard nut to crack. Questions such as, “What am I to eat now?” and the likes start hover in your mind.

Generally, vegetarians have meals which are suitable for consumption, but, the thing is, not everyone knows what they are or how they can be prepared. Hence, we see the neglect at Thanksgivings. I guess all that is about to change now because in this article, we shall take you through the most popular vegetarian recipes for vegetarians at Thanksgiving.

1. Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are always roasted to a crispy point. Looking at it from the outside, you’d get worried and probably think that they are burnt. The point is that no, they aren’t. On the inside, Brussels sprouts tend to come off as delicious, and that isn’t bad news entirely. If you want to get the best out of this meal, you have to opt for dipping them inside a date molasses. These dates often possess a thick consistency and a very sweet taste.

2. Fancy Cranberry Sauce

Everyone wants a sauce that will be in slices and is fun to get out of a can. This sauce is going to possess a fruit-like flavor. The Fancy Cranberry Sauce is to be spiced with cardamom and bay leaves. You can dip this sauce in gelatin. This is one of the most enjoyable meals in every gathering, especially if it’s a family thanksgiving

3. Mashed Potatoes

A lot of vegetarians that I have met in the past would agree on how they love to eat mashed potatoes so much. When crispy crunchies are added, a vegetarian would be able to enjoy this meal to the maximum!  Also, roasting the mashed potatoes will help the flavor to settle.

4. Glazed Leeks

One thing about glazed leaks is that when made with Pine Nut Salsa, they tend to turn into something that you never imagined. When cooking, you have to pay close attention and only bring it down when it’s tender. You should ensure that the leeks are served when warm. However, you can cook it ahead of time and have it kept at room temperature.

5. Coconut Creamed Greens

You may get skeptical when it comes to creamed greens, but as soon as it has to do with creamed greens made with coconut, you can never go wrong. For a tasty coconut creamed green, ensure that you pair it with a hot chile, coconut milk, and spices. This helps to give the meal a pleasurable bittersweet taste that you would love as a vegetarian.

This list comprises some of the most popular vegetarian recipes for vegetarians at Thanksgiving. We hope you found this helpful.

Cheers!

Health

Advice for College Students Studying Abroad During the Coronavirus Crisis

The advent of Covid-19 brought about lots of changes to our individual lives. In the middle of the frights and scares that the pandemic brought, colleges became a place that’s hardly recognizable. This is owing to the fact that so many campuses are currently closed which has made it necessary to move the teachings/lessons online. As such, international students have to go through the hurdles of fitting into the required time zone alongside poor connections that accompanied the network.

Pending when colleges will finally make a decision to reopen, many colleges are currently implementing all measures to ensure that the international students gain maximum support. If you’re an international student, here are some tips that will help you to successfully scale through this period.

1. Maintain a Steady Communication

Ever since the pandemic, there’s been maximum panic in the mind of everyone; this is enough for international students to lose focus. If you are an international student, you may be feeling distressed. At this point, you should consider speaking to your college counselors about how you feel and have them relieve you of the mental stress.

2. Keep your Spendings in Check

Most times if not all the time, students who study abroad always have to spend more on college tuition fees. That is why they always need to depend on scholarships, loans, and other funding. There are other times when they have to apply for jobs and work as a part-timer.

Bearing this in mind, an international student is supposed to minimize the way he/she spends money on certain things. Try not to get entangled with friends that won’t help you implement this step.

3. Travel with Caution

As some states are beginning to allow international travel, students overseas are slowly planning their travel. If you are one of such students, this is the exact time to apply caution before, while, and after traveling. Re-read the Covid-19 rules, and ensure that you implement them. Also supplements such as Pure Encapsulations Buffered Ascorbic Acid is a perfect option for the protection of the immune system.

4. Be Focused

While colleges have quickly switched to virtual learning, this can be confusing at first, especially as an international student. When this happens with your college, you have to learn to hang in and stay focused at all times as too much worry can cause you to go below the required grades.

5. Stay Safe

The most important part of the whole COVID 19 crisis is that individuals should try to stay safe. Aside from adherence and carrying out the pandemic safety rules, you need to seek good housing that will accommodate you safely. For this, you have to consult with your college authorities or rent a private apartment.

Studying Abroad as an international student can be quite expensive, but with a little research on your part, you can find many helpful tips.

If you are a student in an international context, your health should become a priority at all times. This article shows how you can effectively do it, and you also can find a dietary supplement that will help strengthen your immune system here.

Health

What Items are Still Hard to Find at the Grocery Store?

Have you ever gone to a grocery store and you just realized that some items are constantly unavailable? It just feels like the management or owner of the store doesn’t even think of adding those items. When you visit another grocery store, you still won’t find those same items, and it seems like they’ve all had a meeting and decided to never sell those items. That’s not the case, of course. It’s really all about supply and demand.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the items you’ll never find at the grocery store. Maybe in a few years later, you’ll begin to see some of these items more often in stock, but as it stands now, many of these items cannot be found unless you visit some really big supermarkets.

Items Hard to Find at the Grocery Store

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of grocery stores have sold out most of their stock, and as a result of the huge economic and financial setbacks, it has been difficult to restock. Most of these shop owners are only looking to stock their stores with items that they believe are the most important for survival.

If you’re thinking of preparing a special kind of recipe, you would have to visit a special kind of grocery store, because you’ll most definitely not find it in the small grocery store on your street.

Below are some of the items you’ll need to conduct a really thorough search to find. There’s a pretty high chance that you’ll not find what you’re looking for.

Meat

Okay, maybe you’ll find meat at the grocery store, but are you going to find the meat that you want? Some recipes you buy in a premade box may come with the type of meat you’re supposed to use in order for the meal to taste exactly how you want. However, fresh is best!

You may want pork meat, but the store owner thinks cow meat sells the most and stocks the store with only cow meat. That’s not helpful for people who don’t eat cows, or for people with strict dietary needs or who want to use certain recipes. If you can’t find what you’re looking for at your local grocery store, you may want to check out a meat subscription service.

Garlic

On a scale of 1 to 100, how many people actually use garlic in their meals? This is probably what the store owner asked the shopkeeper, and I’m sure you can guess what the answer would be. The store owner wants to keep the company’s finances stable, hence, the need to stock the store with items that can be bought immediately.

Paper Towels and Toilet Paper

You’ll almost not find these in every small grocery store. The need to have them in the store is very low and probably the same with the demand for it, especially considering the fact that it wasn’t in such high demand even when things were normal. Luckily, you can stock up on paper goods at big box stores like Sam’s Club, Costco, or online from various vendors.

Eggs

Just like with meat, you’ll have to stick with anything you’re given. You’re not allowed to make choices, because there’s hardly variety to choose from. The sizes are usually the same, so you’ll also mostly get chicken eggs, which may not be the exact thing you want.

These are just some of the items that are still hard to find at the grocery store. Stock up wisely, especially as the second wave of the coronavirus expands.

Health

Special Education Eligibility: When is a Speech-Language Impairment also a Disability?

Has your child’s school teacher recently called to let you know that your son or daughter may need special education? Is this due to the fact that they think the child is having a hard time following in class? Well, isn’t this what so many kids in the country face at the moment?

A lot of teachers believe that the moment a child isn’t following in class, whether due to their comprehension of the language or shyness, they are having a disability. This isn’t always the case.

With proper direction, monitoring, and coaching, we have seen kids who were already getting ready to be moved actually pick up and even do better than the ones who have been the teacher’s all-time favorite.

The United States has stated the criteria or, permit me to say, requirements for getting special education. If your child hasn’t met these criteria, nobody should tell you that they should be dragged out of their normal life into special schools.

What is Speech-Language Impairment?

This is a discourse that may have had a lot of people mistaken. Parents, guardians, and teachers alike all have their own personal perception of what they think speech-language impairment is. Here we’re going to try to explain it for everyone to understand.

Speech-language impairment has to do with a disability on the part of the child as regards speaking or hearing.

As it concerns speaking, a child may have some deficiencies like stuttering, inability to pronounce certain words, inability to speak at all, fluency with the language, and a host of other factors.

Language impairment would include difficulties in organizing though, ideas, and mental pictures of what to say. A person with language impairment would less likely be able to express themselves with words because they cannot seem to find the right ones to use.

As it concerns a child, we all know that children can take several years before actually finding themselves. We cannot push them into a world where they are made to believe that they are different and not like the other children when actually they’re just passing through a phase just like everybody else.

When is speech-language impairment also a disability?

With all that has been said on the matter, we can agree that the mere seeing of a child’s current incapability to do some things does not qualify that child for a special school.

When then can we call speech impairment a disability? I strongly believe that a child should be allowed to grow into an age where they can fully get a grasp of what real-world situations are like.

Before a child can be deemed to be disabled, an interdisciplinary team would be committee would need to access the child.

This team would collect data from the child’s parents, teachers, and doctors about medical history. When all these have been done, they can then decide whether or not to term the situation qualified to be treated as special.

Health

Chalk Dust Health Concerns for Children

Are you considering using blackboards for a homeschool? Or do your children attend a school that uses blackboards that require the use of chalks? Here is what you need to know before you make a decision.

As paramount as the education of your kids may be, ensuring that they are also healthy is even more important.

Children have immune systems that are still in the process of development. This means that there is a higher chance that some substances that may not affect a healthy adult could result in serious issues for them.

The answer to whether chalk dust could pose a health concern to your kids is a simple “yes,” and if you want to know why that is, you should follow me through the article.

Possible Dangers of Chalk Dust

Writing with the chalk may not pose any threat, since the majority of the dust is glued to the blackboard. The actual problem begins the moment the blackboard gets wiped with a duster.

The dust that was formerly on the blackboard gets wiped, and the dust now is trapped in the air for a while before it falls to the ground. Now imagine in an enclosed classroom with about 20 students that have to breathe or interact regularly, how much of that dust would they have in their lungs before school hours are over?

It is easy to worry about the kids, but the person who is at a greater health risk is the teacher who stands close to the blackboard and talks all day long while teaching the kids.

There are several chalk dust health concerns that could eventually result in more serious issues in the long run.

Naturally, chalks are nontoxic, a long term inhalation and exposure would create a mold of the dust inside the respiratory system, and organs such as the lungs and throat. This may not pose any immediate threat of challenge, but in the long run, it could lead to something much worse.

Some health problems associated with inhalation of chalk dust include lung problems, which occur as a result of clogged airways; asthma in kids with milk allergies; it can result in some skin rashes if the child is directly exposed to it.

In recent times, there have been developments in schools and training centers. More and more people have begun to realize that it is much better to take precautions than to allow something they’re not totally sure of to ruin their breathing.

Both public and private schools have now chosen better alternatives and are surely not going back on that.

Some better alternatives to blackboards include the use of magnetic whiteboards on which you can easily write with a disposable marker and erase with ease; canvas; desire to learn, also popularly known as D2L; presentation lectures using MS PowerPoint; among a variety of other ways.

In conclusion, chalk dust on blackboards may not really pose a big health issue, since the chalk is made of natural substances. What this means is that you shouldn’t have chalk dust health concerns if you are only exposed to it once or twice. The major problem comes when this exposure is constant like in a classroom.

Health

Holistic Dental Care for Kids

The oral health of your kid has been identified by physicians to be a vital part or component of their overall well-being. This is especially why it is never too early to start a holistic dental health care for kids plan to ensure that your child is healthy. 

Generally, baby teeth begin to arrive at exactly six months, and before the baby’s third birthday, he or she would already have 20 primary teeth. With these new teeth already out, you will need to care for it as they are vulnerable to decay and other issues if not properly taken care of. The best techniques to care for your kid’s teeth is to start a holistic dental care.

Holistic Dental Care

Basically, holistic dental care simply refers to the technique or method that considers dental health in relation to the mind, body, soul, and emotions of the patient.

While holistic dental care has been said to be one of the best ways to care for your kids, there are actually a couple of oral health routines that you should instill in your kids. This home dental care should begin before your kid has any teeth. To get started, you are advised to make use of a soft and warm washcloth to clean their gums. You are advised to continue doing this until teeth begin to appear. 

Once your kid starts growing teeth, your oral health routine will have to be adjusted. Instead of using a warm washcloth to clean their gums, you have to make use of a soft toothbrush to clean their teeth every morning and night before they are laid to bed.

While you may begin using toothpaste at the age of 2, it is advised that you search for ones that do not have fluoride, and this is simply because a number of studies have linked early exposure to fluoride to various health issues and toxicity.

The feeding and drinking habits of your kid will also affect their dental care, and this is one of the reasons why it is advised that you never send your kid to bed with something that is not water. According to research, when your kid goes to bed after having juice or milk, the sugar from the beverage will reside on the teeth all through the night and will create a ground for decay.

In addition to this, the snacks your kids consume are of great importance as well. This is because most of them are sticky and can stick to the teeth for a long period of time.

How is Holistic Dental Care Different?

Once you have successfully established a holistic dental health care for kids plan, the next thing to do would be to get a holistic dentist. As mentioned earlier, holistic dentists believe that oral health has everything to do with the child’s overall body and ability to function. In addition to this, a holistic dentist will only make use of some of the biocompatible materials that will not in any way put your kid in danger.

The best way to get started in holistic dental health care for kids is by trying natural health supplements from trusted brands such as Hylands, NOW Foods, or Xlear.

A healthy child is a happy child!

Health

Phys Ed Fitness Tips for Homeschool Students

Are you a homeschool teacher looking for unique ways to provide physical education (phys ed / P.E.) for your homeschooled kids? If you are, then you have come to the right place. 

Homeschooling is an unorthodox approach to educating kids, and as such, you’ll need to think outside of the box to give students the same feeling as they’ll get in a schoolyard. Of course, this may not be so easily achieved since you don’t have the elaborate gym centers and recreation sites that a regular school has. But, do you need an elaborate gym center to give your students the proper phys ed fitness? Probably not. 

Physical education is quite easy for kids in the elementary classes; you only need to get them on a bike for a trip around the block. But as they get older, kids’ desire to go outdoors will begin to decline. As most umbrella and state high schools across the country require a minimum of one phys ed fitness credit for admission, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the need to meet the requirement, especially when your students are not participating in systematized sports. 

But you don’t have to stress. With these phys ed fitness tips, you can give your homeschooled kids a proper physical education. 

5 Phys Ed Fitness Concepts to Focus On

Focus on Fitness

As a homeschool teacher or parent, you may experience difficulty in teaching physical fitness to your children through the orthodox P.E. curriculum. You have to think outside the box. Your home is not a school or college, so stop looking for school-curriculum approaches to educate your children on physical fitness. Instead look for unprecedented approaches to include fitness in everyday life, without compromising your lecture hours.

For example, get your child moving by trying out stretches, lifting light handheld weights, jogging around the block, biking, talking the dog for a walk, trying yoga, or dancing along to a Zumba workout tape or another cardio program. You can also get outside and practice soccer moves, or shoot some hoops at the local basketball park. Community parks or recreation centers are often free and offer fun activities for kids. You can also find free programs and teen team sports outings, groups, and events at your church.

Focus on Health

The first thing to do when homeschooling your kids on physical education and health is to check your state homeschool laws for requirements and reservations. In most cases, health is a prerequisite for graduation, but your child may not need health credit for every class of the high school. For best results, get a great book that covers physical, social, and spiritual health.

Focus on Nutrition

Physical education is a wide course that encompasses almost every activity from eating to personal hygiene and physical fitness. So make it a point to educate your homeschooled kids about nutrition. You can study essential oils, natural remedies, medicinal herbs, and other home-made remedies. You can also refine this course to focus on healthy eating, meal planning, and portion control.

Focus on the Relationship 

Purity and relationship studies are a must for high school and junior high school goers. With the rising epidemic of domestic violence among teen couples, children need all the information they can get on dating. In your P.E. classes, talk about dating, teen relationship issues and solutions.

Focus on First Aid

CPR training and first aid classes certified by the American Red Cross are a must in a physical education curriculum. We recommend that you include these helpful classes in your P.E. course for homeschool kids, as it can help them save a life in the future. This course can also come in handy when your child needs to gain admission into military or police academies.

When it comes to physical education for your homeschooled kids, everything boils down to your ability to think outside the box. You know your kids best, and as such, you should know the best way to encourage fitness and health in them.

What phys ed fitness tips would you like to share?

Health

What Natural Remedies for Cuts & Blisters to Include in Your Herbal Cabinet

Open wounds are annoying and can be painful. They are uncomfortable and do not heal easily. You may have to deal with a scar on your skin afterward, which is as annoying as when the open wound was there.

Apart from that, you have to ensure that cuts or blisters do not get infected, as that could worsen the situation. 

There are a number of commercial ointments that can be applied to cuts or blisters, and some may work, but they aren’t as great as natural methods.

Do you know that a lot of the natural ingredients in your herbal cabinet can do a lot of tricks to help you heal naturally? 

Natural Products for Wound Healing

Some of these ingredients that you use to whip your great-tasting foods can end up helping your body heal as well. 

If you are tired of commercial products and want organic and natural healing products for your cuts, blisters, or open wounds, you should check out products from the brands Tea Tree Therapy, PlusCBD Oil and Badger.

It is no news that CBD oil comes with healing properties when used topically. Apart from that, it possesses antiseptic qualities. You should try out CBD Oil Hemp Roll-On.

If you are looking for a natural ointment that is free of chemicals that can irritate the skin, you should consider trying After-Bug Balm Itch Relief Stick.

The Antiseptic Cream with Tea Tree Oil is something that you should also consider. Below are some household ingredients that can be used in treating cuts, scrapes, blisters, or minor wounds.

3 Natural Ingredients for Your Herbal Cabinet 

Turmeric

The first staple of any herbal cabinet, Turmeric is a spice that is great in bringing out an awesome taste in foods, such as curry. Apart from that, it works as a natural antiseptic and an antibiotic agent. Its features have made it useful for a lot of medical purposes.

Turmeric has curcumin, which allows it to induce wound healing. It does this by modulating collagen. Once you are bleeding, rub some turmeric on your skin. Just be aware that turmeric may temporarily turn your skin orange.

Garlic

Garlic has been used for many years in cooking and treating injuries. It possesses antimicrobial and antibiotic properties. This is why it is capable of ending bleeding, clamping down on pain while enhancing healing.

Apart from that, garlic supplements are capable of increasing the natural defenses that the body has against infection. If a part of your body is bleeding, rub crushed garlic cloves on that spot.

Honey

Honey isn’t only a sweetening agent. It also has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. This is one reason that honey can stay for so long on the shelf without spoiling. Bacteria can’t grow on honey. If you have an open cut, apply honey on it before you wash it. Do this regularly.

So what do you have in your herbal cabinet?

Health

How is Plant Resin Used in Aromatherapy?

Aren’t essential oils, and other kinds of plant resin used in aromatherapy, wonderful? It’s amazing how just the smell of something can calm a headache or change a mood. But, how do they get that powerful natural smell in such a tiny bit of liquid? And, how can you use them to your benefit?

What is Aromatherapy?

If you’re new to essential oils and plant resin used in aromatherapy, you might wonder what all the hype is about. Can smell really have that much of an impact on how I feel? In short, the answer is unequivocally, yes! Aromatherapy has been used for thousands of years as a major part of holistic healing. It is used as a form of healing for the mind and the body. Essential oils can be breathed in through the nose and mouth, applied to the skin to treat affected areas such as burns, and even ingested if they are certified as food grade. The plant resin used in aromatherapy can have many health benefits, including:

  • Improved sleep quality
  • Treatment for headaches, including migraines
  • Stress and anxiety relief
  • Pain relief, including labor pain and surgery
  • Improved digestion
  • Stronger immune system

Ways to Use Aromatherapy

The uses for plant resin in aromatherapy have become increasingly more convenient in recent years. You can easily find almost any scent you are looking for already pre-made and packaged in convenient little glass bottles. Just make sure you check the manufacturer to ensure you are getting the highest quality oils.

Aromatherapy is used in many lotions, shampoos, perfumes, and bath products, but one of the most popular ways to use them is with a diffuser. A diffuser is used by dispersing essential oils into the air so they can easily be inhaled and absorbed by the body. There are many different types of diffusers out there, so finding one that works with your lifestyle should be easy.

Aromatherapy Process

So, how do they extract the plant resin used in aromatherapy? Most essential oils, such as the pure essential oils from Aura Cacia, are put through a distillation process. Most commonly, the plant is put into a still and steam is forced through, extracting the essence to be used whichever way it’s desired. Scents can be used on their own, or mixed with others to enhance certain capabilities or to create new scents. The most common essential oils that are often used as bases for mixtures are:

  • Peppermint Essential Oil – Alertness, Energy, Headaches, Flavoring for Food
  • Lemon – Cleaning, Detoxing, Immunity, Flavoring for Food
  • Tea Tree – Cleaning, Pain Relief, Anti-Fungal
  • Lavender – Relaxation, Mood, Sleep, Skin Care
  • Chamomile – Sleep, Relaxation

Once you get started using essential oils, most people find them somewhat addicting. Trying new mixtures and exploring their uses can be a lot of fun. Keep in mind though, that it is very important to follow the  included directions on how to use them. Because essential oils are highly concentrated, it is often very important to dilute them properly or use a carrier oil.

How have you benefited from the plant resin used in aromatherapy? Tell us in the comments below!