Tea prevents diabetes

Compared with those who never drank tea, daily dark tea consumers had a 53% lower risk of prediabetes and a 47% lower risk of Type 2 diabetes

Bioactive compounds in dark tea may influence glucose excretion in the kidneys, potentially explaining some of tea’s beneficial effects

Daily dark tea drinkers had an increase in urinary glucose excretion and reduced insulin resistance 

Pu-erh, one type of dark tea that’s also known as black tea in China, is unique from typical black teas in the U.S; it’s produced via microbial fermentation, which may increase its concentration of powerful bioactive compounds

Among adults with Type 2 diabetes, replacing one sugar-sweetened beverage a day with tea led to health benefits, reducing all-cause mortality by 16% and cardiovascular disease mortality by 24%

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Obsession with disinfection

Routinely disinfecting your body and surroundings may actually cause more harm than good in the long run. Not only do they promote the development of drug-resistant bacteria, antibacterial compounds such as triclosan and quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs or “quats”) have also been linked to a number of harmful health effects

Research has shown triclosan is a potent endocrine disruptor that interferes with thyroid function. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals can promote a variety of health problems, including obesity, breast, ovarian, prostate and testicular cancer, preterm and low birth weight babies, precocious puberty in girls and undescended testicles in boys

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned triclosan from soap products in 2016 due to suspected health risks, but it’s still found in many toothpastes, mouthwashes and hand sanitizers. Triclosan also makes its way into our food supply; it’s routinely found in lakes, rivers, streams, wastewater, irrigation water and biosolids applied to fields as fertilizer 

QACs are found in cleaning products, hand sanitizers, personal care products, many kinds of wipes (surface, baby, hand and disinfecting wipes) and certain pesticides

Adverse health effects of QACs include allergic contact dermatitis, asthma and COPD, suppressed immune function, reduced fertility, impaired embryo development and developmental disorder, mitochondrial dysfunction and an increased risk of antimicrobial resistant infections
 

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Fabric softeners spread toxins

Commercial fabric softeners contain numerous toxic chemicals “readily absorbed” into your skin and lungs, causing numerous reproductive and developmental problem

Most of our exposure to hazardous pollutants occurs indoors. Fabric softeners are one source of pollutants that can cause skin and respiratory problems 

You can make your own far healthier liquid fabric softener using such ingredients as Epsom salts, vinegar and baking soda, or create dryer balls from 100% wool fabric scraps, yarn and essential oils

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Medical errors increase !

In the U.S., an estimated 795,000 people become permanently disabled or die every year due to misdiagnoses

Overall, medical conditions are misdiagnosed about 11% of the time, but the likelihood of misdiagnosis varies widely depending on the type of medical problem and the symptoms presented

Among strokes, a leading cause of disability in the U.S., misdiagnosis occurs more than 17.5% of the time

Among patients transferred to a hospital ICU or who died in the hospital, a missed or delayed diagnosis took place in 23% of cases, and 17% of the time the errors caused temporary or permanent harm or death

Compared to white men, ethnic minorities are 30% more likely to be misdiagnosed while women are at a 20% increased risk of misdiagnosis

 

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Optimists live longer !

Broken heart syndrome (stress cardiomyopathy or takotsubo cardiomyopathy) is a real medical condition, triggered by acute, major stress or shock, such as the death of a loved one

Studies have shown that the loss of a loved one raises your own risk of sudden death, known as the “bereavement effect. ” There’s even evidence showing that spousal illness increases the partner’s mortality risk 

Having a positive outlook on life has been shown to be the most influential factor in longevity studies

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Avoid medications during pregnancy

Although most consumers believe that over-the-counter medications are safe and effective, recent data offers more evidence that acetaminophen during pregnancy increases your child's risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Using acetaminophen during pregnancy can also increase your child's risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Acetaminophen is found in over 600 medications that are commonly consumed, making it easy to cross the line between a safe dose and a harmful one 

Data show that children who are exposed to acetaminophen after birth to reduce fever and discomfort after vaccination may also have an increased risk of autistic disorder

I believe it's important to stay away from as many potential toxins as possible to protect the health of your child. Besides steering clear of alcohol, street drugs and unnecessary prescription drugs, consider avoiding plastic children's toys, using glass for food and beverage storage, installing a whole-house water filter, using only natural cleaning products and toiletries, and avoiding any products with "fragrance"
 

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Tips for falling asleep

To fall asleep faster, consider keeping a worry journal and/or gratitude journal to help empty your mind before bed and try counting backward from 300 by threes. Also avoid caffeine, alcohol and unhealthy fatty foods

One of the worst things you can do to help you fall asleep is to reach for a sleeping pill. Research shows these drugs really do not work and come with a laundry list of side effects 

Implementing a consistent breath practice can help improve your sleep by easing internal tensions and anxiety that might prevent you from falling asleep

More tips to fall asleep

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