Health benefits drinking less soda

Published on: 29 August 2018 Last Updated on: 08 August 2019

There is an interesting study in California that compares the intake of calories for schools which has banned soda water vending machines. It was found that on average that students consume 158 fewer calories daily. These studies are of course not conclusive but it is encouraging to see that reducing the amount of soda being consumed can help to cut down on the amount of sugar a child can take.

I personally wish that more such studies can be conducted to show folks that cutting down these sugary drinks can help to reduce the obese problem that is facing America right now. In my previous post on New York City banning soda water, I argued that this is the right policy decision although it is likely to face much resistance from the companies that manufacture of best soda maker.

This is where studies such as what I have highlighted comes into play because they provide strong support for governmental policies. With scientific proof, it is being much harder to gain support from the rest of the community.

That being said, I also foresee the cases where companies will undertake their own research and prove that drinking soda water has no correlation with obesity. This is the kind of games that the Tabaco companies have been playing and I see soda water manufacturers doing the same thing. In fact, I am not so sure that smoking and drinking excessive soda water should not be on the same level of concern in everyone’s mind.

Readers, if you see more such reports, please share them here so that collectively, we can know for sure what are the health benefits of drinking less soda water.

5 Reasons Why You Need a Carbonated Water Maker

The carbonated water machine is about the size of a coffee maker and uses no batteries or electricity. All the work is done by a CO2 canister placed in the back of the machine.

It only takes a few seconds to enjoy nearly unlimited amounts of sparkling water and soda. Here are 10 reasons why you need a carbonated water maker:

1. You Control the fizziness

For seltzer loves, one of the best parts of a carbonated water maker is that you get to control the fizziness of your drinks. Some people prefer a gentle fizz. Others like lots and lots of bubbles. Usually, it only takes 2-3 button presses to fully carbonate a liter of water. I always add an extra push of the button.

2. Drink Healthy

Not only do you control the fizziness, you also control all of the ingredients. This provides an excellent opportunity to teach your family about healthy alternatives to high-fructose corn syrup name brand sodas. Instead of sugary syrups, why not use a squeeze of lime juice or a splash of cranberry juice. You can also make your own flavors with ginger, tea bags, or anything else you find in your kitchen.

In addition to flavors, you also control the water source. You can use ordinary tap water, or you can use chilled water from a water filter.

3. It is good for the environment

Many people would argue that this is the most important benefit of owning a home carbonated water maker. Most of these machines include one or more reusable soda bottles that are good for three years or more. By reusing your bottles instead of throwing them away, you greatly reduce your plastic bottle waste. Reusing is even better than recycling.

Secondly, these machines help you reduce your carbon footprint. There is no point in paying for someone else to manufacture, fill up, and then truck plastic bottles around the country when you have all the materials at home.

4. Cut your grocery store bill

The CO2 canisters included with most carbonated water machines are good for about 60 liters of carbonated water. Large sizes are also available. Name brand sparkling water can cost several dollars per liter at the store. Home seltzer machines can make a liter of carbonated water for about 15-20 cents per liter.

5. Unlimited Carbonated Water, Seltzer Water, and Club Soda

Since you have all the materials at your fingertips, these machines can make virtually unlimited amounts of carbonated water on demand. If you run out of soda at a birthday party or club soda at a cocktail party, it only takes a few seconds to make more. You won’t have to run off to the store to buy more.

Read Also :

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Fighting the Flaws of Menopause: 4 Treatments for Menopause Symptoms

Night sweats, hot flashes, and mood swings – oh my! It all comes with the onset of menopause. And with 75% of women experiencing these symptoms, know you’re not alone. Treatments for Menopause symptoms need to be taken care off while you want to improve your mood swings. But you don’t have to sit idly by and suffer through it. There are things you can do to ease or even end your symptoms to feel more like yourself. Take back control with these 4 treatments for menopause symptoms. 1. Hormone Therapy: Hormone levels decline with the aging process. When that’s combined with menopause, many women experience the nagging, uncomfortable symptoms it brings. Hormone replacement therapy is a popular way to replenish hormone levels. For women who still have their uterus, a combination of estrogen and progesterone (also known as HRT) can relieve moderate to severe symptoms. Those who have had a hysterectomy only need estrogen replacement. You can learn more about how this menopause treatment can work for you on this page. 2. Night Sweats Relief: Night sweats are the result of having hot flashes in your sleep. But you don’t have to take those symptoms lying down (pun intended). Keep your cool at night by dressing in light layers. Turn on a fan and keep a cold glass of water next to your bed to sip on throughout the night. You can also put a frozen cold pack under your pillow. Turn your pillow often so that your head is always resting on the cooler surface. Or it may help to keep the cold pack near to your feet. 3. Ramp up Your Sex Drive: Menopause can disrupt your sexual function, leaving you to deal with dryness and a decline in sex drive. Fortunately, you have options to combat this. Water-based lubricants can help with dryness. You don’t need a prescription to get it, you can pick it up from most drug stores. Lubricants will ease the discomfort of intercourse. Vaginal moisturizers will also promote a healthy vaginal environment. They will help treat mild vaginal atrophy and keep your pH level low. 4. Diet and Exercise: Keeping yourself fit and healthy is a natural, effective way to treat the symptoms of menopause. And since menopause increases a woman’s risk of developing diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis, diet and exercise help in more ways than one. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight by eating lots of fruits and vegetables. Exercise on a regular basis. Also, limit processed foods and refined sugar. It’s also a good idea to avoid trigger foods. Alcohol, caffeine, and spicy food are common triggers for hot flashes and mood swings. And since dryness comes with decreased hormone levels, always drink plenty of water. At least 8-12 glasses a day. Treatments for Menopause Give You Back Control: Don’t suffer through menopause a moment longer. With these treatments for menopause symptoms, you can take back control of your body and feel better sooner. Is menopause disrupting your sleep? Check out ways to help you sleep better as you age. Read Also: HGH Therapy Clinic In California 8 Natural Ways To Balance Hormones You Can Restore Your Manly Hormone With Steroids Testosterone Therapy Is Someone You Know Suffering From A Benzodiazepine Addiction? Here’s How To Know

Unveiling Silent Whispers Of Leaky Gut: Lesser-Known Health Issue

In the complex symphony of our body, every organ, every cell, plays a vital role. The gut, located at the core of our body, is an unassuming yet potent conductor of health. Its silent communications often unveil an underexplored health concern - leaky gut syndrome - an issue that may affect many without them realizing it. Now, let's delve deeper into this critical health matter, shedding light on its mystery and ways to address it. A Deeper Dive Into Leaky Gut Syndrome Leaky gut syndrome, scientifically known as increased intestinal permeability, is a mysterious digestive condition. It manifests when the intestinal wall, which normally allows selective passage of nutrients into the bloodstream, becomes compromised. In this state, undesired particles like bacteria, toxins, and undigested food leak into the bloodstream, creating a cascade of potential health issues that often extend beyond the realm of digestion. It's thus essential to grasp its workings for our well-being. Interpreting The Whispers: Recognizing The Symptoms Of Leaky Gut One of the reasons leaky gut syndrome is often overlooked is its extensive range of seemingly unrelated symptoms. Chronic fatigue, digestive issues like bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, food sensitivities, joint pain, skin conditions like acne, eczema, rosacea, and even mental health disturbances like anxiety and depression - all of these could be the gentle whispers of a leaky gut. If you notice these symptoms persisting, it's time to consider consulting a healthcare professional. A comprehensive understanding of these signs can lead us toward better health. Discovering The Root: Understanding The Causes Of Leaky Gut Although research continues to explore the exact causes of leaky gut syndrome, several factors are often implicated. These include a poor diet lacking in fiber and essential nutrients, chronic stress that disrupts the body's equilibrium, toxin overload from environmental pollutants or lifestyle choices, and an imbalance in gut bacteria known as dysbiosis. The modern lifestyle, characterized by ultra-processed food consumption, lack of physical activity, and high stress, could potentially increase the risk of developing conditions like leaky gut syndrome. This knowledge can help us adopt a more gut-friendly lifestyle. Translating The Whispers: Diagnostic And Treatment Approaches Diagnosing leaky gut syndrome can be a challenge due to the broad spectrum of symptoms and the absence of a single, definitive diagnostic test. It is often identified based on symptoms, medical history, and a positive response to treatment. Therefore, a multifaceted approach to diagnosis and treatment is usually the best way forward. Treatment for leaky gut primarily involves making significant changes to the diet. A well-balanced, anti-inflammatory diet that includes a variety of fiber-rich foods, fermented foods, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids can help restore gut health. Supplements that support gut health also play a crucial role in this process. If you're unsure about which supplements to take, click here to explore a detailed guide on the best leaky gut supplements. In combination with dietary changes, the right supplement can optimize your path toward a healthy gut. Fortifying Gut Health With Supplements When it comes to combating leaky gut syndrome, the right supplements can be powerful allies. They can help rebuild the integrity of the gut lining, restore balance to the gut microbiota, and reduce inflammation. Some of the most effective supplements include probiotics, L-glutamine, collagen peptides, and digestive enzymes, all working in synergy to promote gut health. With their targeted benefits, these supplements can play a key role in supporting the journey toward a healthy gut. PureHealth Research stands as a notable brand within the health supplements industry. They provide an array of supplements formulated to meet various health needs, including gut health. Incorporating these supplements, based on your specific needs and a healthcare professional's advice, could be a supportive measure in your strategy against leaky gut syndrome Expanding Our Understanding Through Research Scientific research continually sheds new light on our understanding of leaky gut syndrome and its wide-ranging effects on health. Recent studies, such as those published in the journal Gut and Liver in 2020, and the journal Frontiers in Immunology in 2017, delve into the complex mechanisms underlying leaky gut syndrome. They highlight the importance of gut health for overall physical and mental well-being. This expanding body of research underscores the importance of staying informed and utilizing this knowledge for our benefit. The Larger Picture: The Role Of Gut Health In Overall Well-Being Maintaining a healthy gut extends beyond just alleviating digestive issues. Emerging research indicates a profound connection between gut health and various other systems in our bodies, including our immune system, endocrine (hormonal) system, and even our neurological health. Therefore, by attending to the whispers of a leaky gut, we may also positively impact these other aspects of our health. Recognizing the interconnected nature of our body systems can guide us toward more holistic health practices. The Path Forward: Heeding The Whispers Of Your Gut The silent whispers of a leaky gut need not be a cause for panic, but a signal for attention and action. By tuning in to these subtle signals, identifying potential triggers, and taking proactive steps towards improved gut health, you can enhance your overall well-being and vitality. A journey towards better health often starts by paying heed to these whispers, and taking preventative measures before they escalate into louder cries for help. So, let's not ignore these whispers, instead, let's interpret them as calls to action, steering us towards a healthier future. Read Also: Ensuring Quality Healthcare With Correct Diagnoses What Is The Chain Of Survival?

Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory In Adult Gerontology Nursing

Any Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (AGNP), or individual considering moving into this booming area, will probably be aware that it involves more than supporting patients through short term illnesses or meeting their needs in a hospital or nursing home. As a rule, the older a patient gets, the more likely they are to experience chronic health complications which interfere with their day-to-day tasks. For much of history, such patients were written off, encouraged to take to their beds and be supported entirely by others, doing very little. They often didn’t live very long. But all that changed on account of one remarkable nurse, Dorothea Orem, whose legacy continues to shape the nursing profession today. This article examines her groundbreaking self-care deficit theory and looks at how AGNPs might use it for their nursing career. Dorothea Orem Dorothea Orem was born in Baltimore in 1914 and studied nursing in the late 1930s. This was a time when nursing schools were still a new phenomenon and there was a lot of experimental thinking in the nascent profession. Though she spent time on the wards as a staff nurse, she also worked as an administrator and consultant over the course of her career, spending her later years focusing on theory. A naturally focused and attentive person, she soon began recording observations about the patients she worked with, leading to her self-care deficit theory of nursing, for which she strongly advocated for her entire life. It was theory which, in its early years, transformed the way nurses thought about patients and their duties. It laid the foundations for nursing today. Universal Self-Care Requisites Orem’s theory recognizes eight universal self-care requisites, or SCRs. Here, universal refers to things every human needs, regardless of circumstance. Air is needed for respiration. Water is needed to maintain a healthy level of hydration. Food is needed to maintain healthy energy levels and prevent starvation. Elimination or toileting, a polite way of referring to the expulsion of urine and feces from the body, is required too. In addition to these four things, Orem posits that every patient needs a balance of physical activity and rest. Everyone needs social interaction, but also some alone time. People need to manage their lives to avoid or remove hazards, and, finally, they need to promote normality. This means that they need to achieve and maintain a way of living and relating to the world which is normal for them as individuals and does not involve psychosis. Health Deviation Self-Care Requisites When patients are recovering from injury or illness, or living with a chronic illness or disability, they can be described as experiencing a health deviation. This is not pejorative – it simply establishes that they differ from the norm. Health deviations are more common in older demographics, as they have additional self-care requisites. These requisites include following doctors’ instructions (taking medicine on time), identifying problems caused by their conditions and attending to them effectively (sitting down until a dizzy spell passes), and knowing when and how to seek help from a caregiver or healthcare professional. It is also important that these patients can understand and accept that their bodies have changed and can adjust psychologically to cope with it. What Is A Self-Care Deficit? A self-care deficit occurs when people are no longer able to carry out basic tasks. This can be because a disability makes them physically impossible to perform, or a number of other reasons. For example, some people get so overwhelmed by the way their bodies have changed that they stop trying to live. This doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve sympathy – it is an understandable response to an extreme situation – but it might mean that there is potential for improvement. For some people, self-care deficits are permanent or are likely to worsen due to progressive illnesses. For others, however, they can be temporary, even in extreme old age. Self-care deficits stemming from a broken arm, for example, will normally dissipate after the arm heals, but this is less likely if the patient has learned to feel helpless in the meantime. Assessment, Diagnosis, And Implementation When using Orem’s theory, nurses have three steps to work through. The first is undertaken during the initial assessment of a new patient and involves identifying any self-care deficits. These are not always obvious from looking at a patient and the process may require gentle but persistent questioning. Some people may be embarrassed and hesitant to talk if they are unable to care for themselves. The second involves full diagnosis of the deficits, including establishing causes. The third step is to draw up a treatment plan based on these diagnoses. In her work, Orem stressed the importance of recognizing that every patient is a unique individual, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach to this type of planning. In each case, AGNPs will need to work with the patient to establish the most effective way forward. Five Ways Nurses Can Help There are five strategies nurses can use to address self-care deficits when establishing patient care plans: For the most severely incapacitated patients, it may be necessary to perform actions on their behalf, such as washing or dressing them. Patients struggling mentally or who lack confidence can be guided through actions, ideally to the point of independence. Patients can be taught new ways of approaching day to day tasks which make them easier to accomplish, such as taking a break to have a shower in the afternoon if it is too hard to find the energy at other times. AGNPs can focus on the patient’s environment, making it easier for them to carry out self-care activities, such as suggesting kitchen gadgets to reduce the physical effort involved in preparing meals. Finally, AGNPs can train a family caregiver to provide appropriate support. These five strategies involve numerous actions, skills, and tools that nurses can use. Patients may need particular assistance with the following tasks. Helping With Eating Patients should always be encouraged to do as much for themselves as is reasonably possible. When it comes to eating, nurses should start with encouragement. Many older people lose their appetite and don’t feel motivated to eat, especially when it requires effort. So, an AGNP can point out that they have more energy when they manage to eat regular meals. If the patient can get food to their mouth by themselves, nurses should resist the temptation to assist, even if they sometimes drop the food. Instead, nurses can reassure them that this is not uncommon and all they need to do is take a little more time. Nurses should also be alert to the possibility of choking issues and arrange X-rays if concerned. If some food proves difficult to eat, they can discuss the possibility of dietary adjustments. Helping With Toileting Nurses should reassure patients that, awkward as they may feel, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. The nurse must ensure they can transfer on and off the toilet safely and consider options like raising the height of the seat or installing grab. If there is a risk of falling, AGNPs may suggest bedpans for use when no caregiver is present. If adult diapers are needed, nurses should ensure that patients know how and when to change them (even if they are not soiled) and how to protect their skin against rashes or bruises caused by wearing them. Finally, nurses can also discuss medical options for softening stools or speeding up or slowing down digestive transit. Helping With Dressing And Grooming A balance must be struck between helping patients be more independent in dressing and grooming themselves and enabling them to maintain a style or standard of appearance that is natural for them. Some older men prefer to be clean shaven but end up growing beards because it is easier to trim a beard than it is to shave safely and neatly, for example. Some clothing options can be easier to get into than others, depending on a patient’s particular mobility difficulties. Simple devices such as a stick with a hook on the end can make adjusting the back of a garment or doing up a zip much easier. Nurses should pay particular attention to footwear to make sure patients can stand or walk safely. Reducing Hazards Whether a nurse is helping a patient to move around and complete self-care tasks in a hospital ward, a care home, or their own home, they must always pay attention to hazard prevention. Hazards can include mess, a layout created without regard for disability, or other people or pets moving around. Nurses can start by ensuring that the patient is aware of the risks and can recognize dangerous situations. They should discuss simple measures like installing handrails or changing routines to make it easier to keep the area tidy. Nurses can also ensure that the patient can summon help if something goes wrong, by persuading them to install an alarm system or carry a charged mobile phone at all times, for example. Care With Communication Often, older patients who have self-care deficits also have difficulty with communication, whether due to physical or cognitive disability. Depending on their lifestyle in recent years, they may also be unfamiliar with modern technologies, but shy about admitting this. It is important for nurses to make sure that when they are addressing issues around essential needs, the patient understand them properly and vice versa. It can be helpful to use pictures in communication, which are often available in support materials. When meeting a patient in the place they are going to be living, the nurse and patient can explore it together (in stages, if necessary) so both parties can directly identify issues. Seeing Each Patient As An Individual An essential tenet of Orem’s theory is that patients must be treated as individuals. This increases the chance that they will stick to treatment plans, as well as directly improving their psychological wellbeing. Any nurse that’s interested in Orem’s theory and is considering joining this field will be looking into gerontology nurse practitioner programs online. The best courses place a lot of emphasis on adaptability and on learning how to manage different types of patients in different environments. The program at the University of Indianapolis, for example, encourages students to develop the patience and listening skills essential to getting to know patients and making them a part of the process. This communication and relationship building is essential to developing plans which will really benefit patients over the long term. The course at the University of Indianapolis is an eight-semester program designed for working nurses, involving part-time study and an intensive clinical placement. The Nursing Profession Continues To Benefit Thanks to Orem and her self-care deficit theory, patients are no longer left to waste away as they begin to struggle with old age. Generations of nurses who have practiced this theory have observed that, even in later life, patients can often improve and regain their self- care abilities with the right support. Advances in assistive technologies continue to make this even easier. The right support, focused on facilitating and encouraging independence, enables seniors to go on living satisfying lives on their own terms for much longer. Even when they need extensive practical support, giving them more control helps to maintain their morale and ability to navigate the final chapter of their lives. In the process of providing this support, AGNPs also get what they really want; to see their patients thrive, no matter what they must overcome to achieve it. Additionals: 8 Awesome Health Benefits Of Dark Chocolate Psychedelic Therapy for Mental Health Conditions How Does Children’s Health Impact Parental Lifestyle?

Health benefits drinking less soda