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  • Do You Smell Funky? Preventing Body Odor

    Do You Smell Funky? Preventing Body Odor

    Let’s not mince words: when your body odor is strong, people aren’t going to hang around with you. Most people are too polite to say anything, and you might not even notice how nasty the smell coming off of you is. However, there’s no reason to freak out. There’s a lot you can do to keep that smell under control, from deodorant to showers. Here’s our top tips for not smelling funky.

    Stop Smelling Funky

    Stay Vigilant

    Don’t just assume you smell fine after a workout, or after a long day at work. Head to a restroom and give yourself a sniff test. If you’re smelling a little weird to yourself, imagine how nasty you might smell to someone else. If you find yourself smelling gross after a shift or workout, don’t panic. There’s a few steps you can take to keep the scent under control.

    Be Prepared

    If your schedule includes working out or working long, hot shifts, stay prepared. Keep a pack of wet wipes and a stick of deodorant in your exercise bag or desk at work. This way, if you’re smelling a little fresh after your physical activity, you can wipe yourself down with the wet wipes to knock some of that sweat off.

    If this is something you’re embarrassed about, you can do it discreetly. It’s fine to head to a bathroom stall and freshen up. It’s much preferable to take a quick cat bath after work and apply a layer of deodorant than to head to hang out with friends smelling like a gym sock.

    While you’re at it, consider wearing antiperspirant for your daily activities that make you sweat a lot. Remember: not all deodorants are antiperspirants, and vice versa, though many products are 2-in-1’s. Not everyone sweats the same amount, and some people might not need to wear antiperspirants or deodorants at all. However, everyone should have at least one of each on hand for days with serious physical activity.

    Shower Daily

    This is one we can’t stress enough: try to shower or bathe daily. This goes double if your work is physical in nature and results in you sweating a lot. It’s rather important that you clean yourself off thoroughly after a hard day. Alternatively, if you work in an office or some similar (air-conditioned) environment, you can probably shower in the mornings to knock the sleep off of you and make you fresh for your shift.

    If you’re concerned about the effect on your skin from taking a hot shower daily, fret not. There’s a solution that lets you keep the funk from emanating off of you without giving yourself dry skin: take cooler showers! Now, we’re not suggesting you take an ice-cold dip, but you don’t have to crank the heat up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, either. Go for a nice, even 85 degrees or so, which feels refreshing without freezing your skin off.

    Wear Breathable Material

    Fabrics that are lighter and breath better will help you keep from sweating immensely. If you’ve got a serious problem with sweat, you could consider getting moisture wicking shirts and underwear that help to keep you from getting… swampy. These materials are great for both your comfort as well as keeping you from getting musky and gross at the end of a long shift.

    Along this track, if your sweating also makes you chafe, you could consider getting some baby powder, or talcum powder, and applying some to the affected area. This helps with both your mobility, letting things slide better, while also preventing the area from sweating as profusely. You’ll feel a lot better, and you’ll smell a lot better, too.


  • Managing Cat Allergies when You Own a Cat

    Managing Cat Allergies when You Own a Cat

    Who doesn’t love cats? Their sweet demeanors, soft purrs and adorable meows make them appealing for fans of all things cute. Their propensity for cuddling and spending time in their owners’ laps makes them great for people looking for a little companion. However, they also have unique proteins in their saliva and urine that can cause allergic reaction in some people.

    If you want a cat, or have a cat, but suffer from cat allergies, you’re probably wondering how best to handle the situation. On the one hand, you want a sweet little kitty to keep you company. On the other hand, you don’t want to be sneezing and scratching your eyes in your own home. So, how do you manage your cat allergies?

    The Good News

    Here’s the good news: most people with cat allergies find themselves experiencing less and less symptoms as they are exposed to cats for longer. Most people will lose the worst of their symptoms after they own a cat for a few months. While this isn’t true for everyone, it means that most people can look forward to eventually being able to hug their kitty without sneezing and having their eyes water.

    Cleaning

    One of the first things you’ll need to get in the habit of when you get a cat is cleaning regularly. Their saliva and their urine are the causes of your allergies, and their saliva is present in the dander they leave behind, since they lick themselves to bathe.

    As such, dusting, sweeping and vacuuming need to become common parts of your routine. Letting their dander pool up in corners, under furniture and around the house is going to make you a very sad camper very fast, as your allergies pile up and your motivation to clean vanishes.

    Likewise, you’re going to need to keep that litter box cleaned out. Even if you only have one cat, it’s a good idea to clean their box out once a day. This keeps the smells from accumulating, keeps bugs from infesting the room you keep the box in, and it also helps you to not have as strong of an allergic reaction. On this note, you’ll also want to fully rotate all of the litter from the box about once a week, replacing it with all-new litter.

    Washing the Cat

    We know that washing your kitty is likely about as easy as chasing a car on foot down the highway, but this can help a lot with your allergies. If you can manage to give your cat a proper bath about once every four to six week, you’ll likely see a marked improvement in your allergy symptoms. Just make sure you’re careful and gentle with your kitty: she probably hates the bath tub.

    For a few pieces of advice on how to pull this off without getting scratched all to pieces, ask your vet if they know a way to carefully give your kitty a bath. Some things you could try would include bribing the kitty with their favorite wet food, or even sneaking them some (vet approved) sedatives that will make them kind of drowsy while you sponge them off. Remember: don’t give your kitty any medicine that a vet did not write a prescription for!

    Air Purifier

    Air purifiers can help to contain any lingering cat dander in the air. This is a good way to help your cleaning efforts if you feel like sweeping and vacuuming alone aren’t covering all of the dander in your home. Not to mention, air purifiers can also help to make the smells of the litter box much harder to notice, if at all!


  • Best Treatments for Migraines: Treating the Symptoms

    Best Treatments for Migraines: Treating the Symptoms

    Those who suffer from migraines know the feeling creeping up on them. It’s a tightness behind the eyes, stiffness in the neck and shoulder. Before they can respond, they’ve got a full-blown migraine hammering away inside their head. How can you take steps to alleviate your migraine symptoms?

    Today we’re taking a look at some of the medicines and treatments that are most effective for curtailing the effects of a bad migraine. While there’s no cure-all for the condition, there are steps you can take to make the symptoms a bit more bearable. So, let’s take a look.

    What is a Migraine?

    First, let’s look at what migraines are. Scientists aren’t sure, definitively, what causes a migraine, or what exactly they are. However, the symptoms are well-documented: splitting headaches, photosensitivity, nausea and extreme pain. The prevailing theory as to their physical origins in the body holds that they occur when your brain sends a wave of activity across your nerves into you trigeminal nerve.

    This, in turn, causes something of a “cascade” effect. The body releases a series of neurotransmitters that cause the blood vessels around the skull to enlarge, putting more stress on the nerves and muscles of the cranium. This, in turn, causes more of these neurotransmitters to be released, further engorging the blood vessels and increasing the pain. This creates a feedback loop that makes migraines incredibly painful.

    Remember, however, that migraines are not life-threatening, and you’re in no danger from them: they just hurt very badly. Your symptoms will not cause any long-term damage to you, they’re just highly uncomfortable.

    Setting

    Often, one of the best things you can do for a migraine is change your setting. If you’re finding yourself battling migraine symptoms in public, you might want to try to find a nice, quiet area to rest in. Migraines are usually exacerbated by bright lights and loud sounds, which prevent you from recovering from the symptoms quickly.

    In some cases, extreme temperature fluctuations can also make migraine symptoms worse. If you’re in a very cold room, or a very hot room, try to find an area that’s milder and more neutral. This will help you to focus on just feeling better!

    Stress

    Stress is a major factor in migraines. In many cases, stress is the only actual trigger for the headache, but just an emotional one. If you find yourself experiencing a major migraine while you’re stressing out, grab a stress ball and try to work out your emotions. Breathing meditation, yoga and the like can also be helpful for reducing stress.

    If you work in a stressful environment, consider keeping some tea on hand that you can brew and then drink. Ideally, this will allow you to take a brief break from your duties, if they’re stressing you out, while you steep your tea and drink it. The warm liquid and calming ritual both work wonder in helping you calm down!

    Pain Relievers

    Another way to address migraines is through the use of pain-relieving medicine. If you have them on hand, common NSAIDs can be helpful. Drugs like ibuprofen, Tylenol and Aleve are examples of these kinds of pain relievers. They typically take a few hours to get into your system, but they are rather effective at dealing with headache symptoms in most people.

    Another type of medication you can take is the “migraine abortive” variety of drugs. These usually can’t be taken with migraines that have an “aura” (a period of sensory overload before the onset of the actual migraine symptoms), so speak with your doctor about these types of medications. They’ll be able to help you select one that is right for your specific situation.


  • Which Franchise is the Best to Own?

    Which Franchise is the Best to Own?

    If you’re an entrepreneur considering getting into your own business, you might not know what exactly you want to get into selling. The market in your area may be crowded, and you’re looking for a sure-thing investment that will return your money consistently. In this case, you should consider buying a franchise.

    Franchises give you the benefit of an existing brand you can market, a supply chain you can take advantage of and a legal overhead you can rely on for staying within local and state laws. Of course, when you get into a franchise, you’ve got some up-front costs to consider. Let’s look at some popular franchises that are considered some of the best to own right now.

    Considerations

    Before you get into a franchise, know that you’re signing up for some up-front expenses. These include franchise fees, which you pay to become a franchisee, up-front inventory stocking costs, royalties and real estate fees. As such, you could be looking at a rather heft up-front investment out of your own pocket. While you may be able to get a business loan for the expenses, this is a lot of money to owe.

    As such, make sure you do your research on any franchise you’re considering buying. Make sure they have good brand recognition, a strong financial standing and a good presence to help back up your investment. Otherwise you might be throwing a lot of money away.

    Seven-Eleven

    This highly popular convenience store is one of the best franchises to own at the moment, thanks in part to its recognizable name and potentially low franchise fee. The franchise fee could be as low as $10,000, but could be as a bit higher for certain regions.

    The strengths of Seven-Eleven include its name-recognition and its position as a convenience store with gas pumps. Everyone needs to stop in and get gas from time to time, so you’re guaranteed to make snack and beverage sales when people drop by. This is a surefire way to get some revenue coming in.

    McDonald’s

    Everyone knows the name McDonald’s, and everyone has been into one to grab some food. While McDonald’s might have a very high franchise fee, it’s for good reason. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more recognizable name, or a product that is easier to sell, than McDonald’s burgers. If you can get together the $45,000 franchise fee, you’re likely to have a great investment on your hands.

    Every town in America has a McDonald’s. This gives you a huge edge: everyone already loves the products you’ll be selling. You’ll find it easy to market yourself to people, and you’ll likely find customers just coming to you. It’s every franchisee’s dream.

    Dunkin Donuts

    Okay, they’re just called “Dunkin” now, but they still sell doughnuts, so let’s not mince words. This popular donut shop sells a ton of coffee and a ton of pastries, and is a regional favorite in areas like New England and parts of the Southeast. It’s also got locations all over the world, in 32 countries, and has a very recognizable name.

    As a franchisee, you only need an up-front fee of $40,000 to $90,000 in order to get started. From there, you’re in business selling coffee and donuts to people who have been fans of the long-running brand for years. The company also supports franchisees with help marketing, managing and even selecting and constructing sites! There’s a lot to love about Dunkin, and they make sure to take care of their franchisees. After all, the better the franchise does, the better they do!


  • Best Milk Substitutes: Avoid Dairy without Compromising

    Best Milk Substitutes: Avoid Dairy without Compromising

    Dairy isn’t exactly good for you, but you probably already knew that. However, skipping out on milk and cheese and yogurt can all be quite difficult when you’re living in the US. So, what are some of the best non-dairy options for milk? After all, you still want to be able to cook and eat cereal without getting too much dairy intake. Let’s look at some of the dairy-free favorites.

    Best Milk Substitutes

    Why Avoid Milk?

    Dairy in general is a substance that many people in the world choose to avoid. Globally, about three out of every four people are lactose intolerant. In fact, America is a bit unusual in that it is comprised of so many people that can process dairy. So, if you’ve got lactose intolerance, don’t feel bad, it just means that you’re like most of the species!

    Another reason to avoid dairy is that it’s just flat-out not good for you. Very high in fat, very high in sugar and lacking in many nutrients, milk is something of a weird cultural artifact in American cuisine. It’s one claim to nutrition, that it helps build strong bones through its calcium, is actually debated by many nutritionists as being misleading. After all, almonds, figs and kale are all much better sources of calcium, and they’re much better for your body.

    Almond Milk

    One of the first substitutes for milk anyone will mention is almond milk. It’s common, relatively inexpensive and full of calcium. In fact, if your main reason to drink milk was for the calcium to help build up strong bones, then almond milk is perfect for you. The flavor has been described as being more “watery” than cow’s milk, but when used in cooking or cereal it’s hard to notice the difference.

    There’s notably much less fat and much fewer calories in almond milk than cow’s milk. There’s also lower protein and lower in carbs, and almond milk is one of the least-fattening milk substitutes. If you’re trying to watch your calorie intake and still get plenty of calcium, then almond milk is likely the right substitute for you.

    Soy Milk

    Don’t let half-formed concerns fool you: soy milk is a great replacement for milk if you’re lactose intolerant or just don’t like consuming animal products. This drink is created from soybeans or soy protein isolate, and it is usually thickened by various agents and vegetable oils to help the drink’s consistency.

    Soy milk has a similar concentration of protein as cow’s milk, but it has decidedly less fat, carbs and calories. Soy is also a major source of “complete” proteins that include the full range of amino acids that you have to acquire from your food and can’t create on your own. Contrary to what some internet theories claim, there’s also no evidence that soy milk adversely affects any hormone receptors in the body. Soy milk is perfectly safe and healthy for normal adults to drink.

    Oat Milk

    A very simple milk substitute, oat milk is essentially just oats and water. Often, oils, salts and gums are added to the mix to give the beverage a more “milk-like” texture and taste. Oat milk is popular in cooking, mixed into smoothies and in cereal. It has been noted as being a very close reproduction of the flavor and texture of cow’s milk.

    Notably, oat milk is actually not as good for you as some of the other substitutes available. It’s got double the carbs, the same amount of calories and half of the protein of milk. Thankfully, it also contains half the fat that milk does. However, for those on a diet or watching their calories, oat milk might not be the best substitute.


  • Best Ways to Relieve Back Pain without Breaking the Bank

    Best Ways to Relieve Back Pain without Breaking the Bank

    If you struggle with back pain, you know how much of a drain it can be on your daily life. Whether you’re getting out of bed, standing from being seated too long or just trying to play outside with your kids, chronic back pain can rear its ugly head. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can get some relief from your chronic pain that don’t involve spending an arm and a leg. Let’s get into it.

    How to Stop Back Pain

    NSAIDs

    One of the simplest approaches to tackling back pain would be to take simple NSAIDs like ibuprofen, Advil and the like. These general pain relievers are effective at stopping your pain in the short-term, though they might take a bit longer to get going than you’d prefer. If you’ve tried these and they haven’t helped, read on.

    Heat and Cold

    Applying a cold pack or a bag of frozen veggies (wrapped in a washcloth) to your back during a period of extreme pain can have a numbing effect. This can also help to curb inflammation, which is a common cause of general back pain. Make sure you don’t apply ice to any part of your body for more than 20 minutes.

    After a cold treatment, you can use a heating pad or something similar to apply some heat to the affected area. The heat can help loosen stiff muscles, and often helps to reduce aches. Many people find the one-two punch of ice and heat to be incredibly effective for short-term pain relief when their backs are flaring up with pain.

    Exercise

    This might sound counterintuitive, but you need to get tons of exercise in order to keep your muscles loose and limber. This applies to your back muscles too, which could be the culprit in your back pain. Taking a short walk or a quick dip in a pool for some light laps can be a great way to loosen your muscles and strengthen them for the future.

    Likewise, low-impact exercise regiments like yoga and tai chi are excellent for back pain. They aren’t high-impact, so they won’t cause any damage to your back muscles or spine, and they help you to build up stronger muscles. If you don’t already have one, get into a good exercise routine to combat your back pain.

    Stretches

    If you don’t have time for a full-blown yoga routine, that’s okay. Try some low-impact stretching in the morning to limber your back up and help you to reduce your overall discomfort. For instance, try touching your toes from a standing position by slowly reaching down. This stretches your hamstrings and loosens your back muscles.

    Another stretch to try in the mornings could be a simple yoga exercise called the “child’s pose.” This involves kneeling in a sitting position with your knees parallel to your hips. Then, you stretch forward, putting your head down on the exercise mat and stretching your hands out straight along the floor.

    Orthopedic Shoes

    Make sure your shoes aren’t what is causing issues with your back. Often, if you’re wearing shoes that are ill-fitting or offer no support it could exacerbate, or even cause, back pain issues. If this is the case, make sure you get some orthopedic shoes that offer good support for your body.

    These kinds of shows often include soft padding in the soles that distribute your weight more effectively across your feet. This helps you to keep better posture, which, in turn, is great for your back health. You can often speak to a chiropractor about your back pain issues and get their advice on what kinds of shoes might be helpful.


  • Reverse Mortgage: Right for your Retirement?

    Reverse Mortgage: Right for your Retirement?

    If you’re a bit strapped for cash going into your retirement, or even a few years in, you might be considering getting a reverse mortgage. However, you might want to do some research about the type of loan that you’re signing up for. After all, reverse mortgages entail high fees, and they result in the lender owning your home when you pass away.

    Today we’ll take a critical look at reverse mortgages to see if they’re really right for you. There are situations when a reverse mortgage could be a good deal for you financially, but it could just as easily be a bad trade-off. Let’s look a little deeper.

    What is a Reverse Mortgage?

    A reverse mortgage is a loan issued by a bank with the trade-off being the equity in your home. Unlike a normal mortgage, a reverse mortgage goes up in incremental payments made to you as the interest increases. However, they carry heavy fees. In fact, these fees can be up to three times higher than a traditional mortgage. Not to mention, the up-front fees can be ten percent or more of the actual loan.

    Yes, a reverse mortgage will put money in your pocket at the outset, but it can be a hassle for a number of reasons. When you’re borrowing against your home equity, you’ve essentially sold your home to the bank. If you want to move, you have to pay back the reverse mortgage, and since it’s eaten up so much of your home’s equity, this means you’ll have to cover the costs of any move yourself, and still come up with a down payment on a new place.

    Other Drawbacks

    A major reason not to get a reverse mortgage is if you plan to leave your home to your children. In many cases, people leave their assets, including their homes, to their kids when they pass away. If you’ve taken out a reverse mortgage, however, you can’t do so. The lender will take possession of your home and sell it to recoup the loan they gave you for the reverse mortgage.

    This means that reverse mortgages can be a terrible idea for people who intend to leave their homes to their families. If you live in a family home that you want to pass to your kids, stay far away from anyone wanting to give you a reverse mortgage.

    Advantages

    This all being said, there are a few reasons you might want a reverse mortgage. If you’re very strapped for cash in your retirement and you have no children, or you don’t have any plans to leave your home to your children, then you might consider a reverse mortgage. If you don’t plan to move again, this can be an attractive way to shore up your finances to help cover some of your recurring bills.

    The line of credit you get with a reverse mortgage isn’t subject to being frozen by a market downturn. If you have bad credit, or a high debt-to-income ratio, a reverse mortgage can be a good way to get some immediate financial relief to help cover your bills. However, if you can qualify for a home equity line of credit, and you live in a pricey area, you might be better served by downsizing and moving to a less expensive region.

    Bottom Line

    While most people would benefit more from home equity credit lines or home equity loans, there are some who find reverse mortgages to be more appealing to their financial situation. However, unless you are very strapped for cash and have poor credit or a high debt-to-income ratio, you should likely stay away from a reverse mortgage.


  • Do It Yourself: Unclogging Tough Drains

    Do It Yourself: Unclogging Tough Drains

    You turn on the faucet, and the sink begins to fill with water. You think, okay, maybe I’ve got the stopper in. To your dismay, the drain is open and unimpeded, but the water is only barely draining. You’ve got a clogged, slow drain and you’re dreading calling a plumber and seeing the huge bill attached to their visit. What can you do?

    Today we’re looking at a few ways you can try to unclog a drain yourself, and why you really should do so. Let’s get into some DIY home maintenance, some Feng Shui, and how to avoid paying an arm and a leg to the plumber.

    Unclogging Tough Drains

    Why You Should

    The last thing you need in your home is a slow-draining sink or tub. They’re absolute breeding grounds for bacteria, making your home smelly and unsanitary. One of the best things about living in a home with modern amenities is plumbing: pipes that carry waste and dirt away from your home are critical to sanitary living and a long lifespan.

    If the “sanitation” argument isn’t doing it for you, consider the Feng Shui angle. Maybe you’ve heard of this philosophy: it holds that the way you organize your living space directs the flow of Chi, or spirit energy, in your home. In Western terms, a bad living space puts your head in a bad space. Feng Shui practitioners claim that slow drains can be a drain on your energy, ensuring lower finances, draining your good health, dragging down travel plans and even clogging your sinuses.

    Calling in the Plumber

    Your first instinct may be to call in the plumber. However, as good of advice as this is in an emergency situation, a slow drain is no emergency. You should try every home solution you can, first. Plumbers have to upcharge a ton for a variety of reasons, so you’ll end up spending a lot more on them than you will on any home solutions.

    A slow drain is almost always cause by a soft blockage. This can be hair or similar gunk that’s just cluttered up and become a ball of water-stopping grossness. A soft blockage like this can usually be broken down by some abrasive chemicals. Of course, if none of these home remedies work, it’s time to call in a pro, sadly.

    Drano (and Other Products)

    Store-bought drain cleaners, like name-brand Drano and all of its derivatives, can be helpful for these types of clogs. Typically, these drain products work best on clogs that are either caught in the first vertical trap of the drain, or in the third section. Things caught in the U-trap, the second, horizontal section, usually require a bit more in-depth solution.

    Drano should be able to break up any gunk caught in the drain that isn’t, say, a solid blockage. If someone has gotten a marble or some other little foreign object stuck in the drain, it’ll need to be removed manually.

    Removing the U-Trap

    If the blockage still isn’t gone, it’s time to go hands-on. Make sure that there is no drain product in the U-trap by thoroughly flushing the drain in question. Once that’s done, get some gloves on and put a bucket under the pipes. Remove the nuts from the front and back of the trap and then take it off. Let the water drain from both sides, and then drain the water from the removed trap.

    Take a bent pipe cleaner and scrub out whatever gunk or blockage is gumming up the works. Once that’s done, just re-attach the trap and send some warm water through the pipe. The blockage should be cleared. If neither of these approaches did the trick, it’s time to call in a pro.


  • What is Eosinophilic Asthma? Signs and Symptoms

    What is Eosinophilic Asthma? Signs and Symptoms

    Nearly one in twelve people in the US suffers from some form of asthma. As research into the conditions that underly asthma has gotten more robust, it has become apparent that asthma is not just one condition, but several that can cause similar symptoms. One such condition is eosinophilic asthma. Unlike traditional asthma, it requires some distinct treatments.

    Today we’re looking at eosinophil asthma, its symptoms, its causes and how it is diagnosed and treated. It’s distinct from asthma in a number of noteworthy ways. If you feel like you might be suffering from asthma, speak to your doctor. They will be able to help you narrow down your symptoms and figure out what is causing your ailment.

    Eosinophilic Asthma

    Eosinophilic asthma, commonly shortened to EA, is a severe form of asthma. One of its telltale signs is a very high level of white blood cells in the body. Namely, the condition is marked by the white blood cells in the body causing inflammation in the airways, stopping the normal flow of oxygen throughout the body.

    Typically, white blood cells serve a role in the immune system, helping the body to isolate and obliterate foreign contagions. However, in cases of EA, the body’s overabundance of these white blood cells causes swelling and airway blockages, leading to full-blown asthma attacks.

    Symptoms

    The symptoms of EA are often similar to those of traditional asthma, and some of these symptoms even share similarities to chronic pulmonary obstructive disorder, or COPD. Symptoms can include shortness or breath, wheezing, chronic sinus infection symptoms, coughing, chest tightness, obstructed breathing and even nasal polyps.

    One of the most notable symptoms, of course, is the high level of eosinophils in the blood, from which EA derives its name. Since the symptoms of this condition closely mirror several other conditions, it’s important you work with your doctor to understand what exactly is causing your symptoms, so you get the proper treatment for the condition you’re suffering from.

    Diagnosis

    Often, people are first diagnosed with traditional asthma, even if they have EA. This is because EA’s symptoms are so similar to those of traditional asthma, and some of the only tests that can easily determine if this isn’t the case is bloodwork. As such, asthma sufferers who aren’t responding well to traditional asthma treatment, like inhalers, might be suffering from EA.

    Other tests that might be able to determine the presence of EA, instead of asthma, would be a physical exam. If the physical found that the patient suffered from nasal polyps, that could be an indicator that they were dealing with EA, instead of asthma.

    Treatment

    Inhaled corticosteroids, the common treatment for traditional asthma, may have less effect on someone suffering from EA. Larger doses might have some impact early on, but constantly increasing the dosage has diminishing returns and stops helping after a time. As such, doctors typically prefer to address the inflammation cause by EA through different medications.

    One such medication is a corticosteroid in pill form, which can have some success in preventing inflammation. However, these have a number of side effects that inhaled corticosteroids don’t usually entail. Likewise, rescue inhalers might be prescribed, but they have diminishing returns for people with EA.

    Other treatment options could include leukotrienes modifiers, which help to keep the impact of eosinophils down. Leukotrienes tend to pair up with eosinophils, so modifying them can impact the inflammatory nature of the eosinophils. Another option for treatment is biologic therapies, medications that block out chemicals that are typically connected to causing inflammation in the body. These medications are usually delivered via an IV or an injection, as they operate best intravenously.


  • Lemon Juice Cleanse: Is it Real? Does it Work?

    Lemon Juice Cleanse: Is it Real? Does it Work?

    Everyone’s heard of juice cleanses. Proponents of these juice cleanse (or “master cleanse”) diets proclaim that they help you to burn fat quickly, and that they somehow “cleanse” your system of residual “toxins”. The question we have is: are these the real deal? Do they actually work to help you lose weight, and do they really have these cleansing properties? Let’s look at the science behind these cleanse diets.

    Lemon Juice Cleanse

    The Diet

    First, let’s look at the diet in question and ask a few questions about it. Firstly, what is the diet? In short, the lemon juice cleanse is just that: a juice fast wherein the practitioner eats no solid food for ten days and ingests only a sweetened lemon juice concoction. This is pretty much par the course for any fast-based diet.

    There are also some variations on this diet that have you ingest saltwater and some laxative teas. These inclusions are ostensibly for the “cleanse” portion of the juice cleanse, though their efficacy is… debated, to put it nicely.

    Easing in and Out

    It’s not recommended that you just jump headlong into a liquid fast. Doing so would be very taxing on your system. Instead, start by cutting out processed foods, alcohol, caffeine, meat and dairy. (If you’re really down for long-term weight loss, stop here!) The next day, cut out solid foods and move to smoothies and broths. The day after, drink only orange juice and the lemon concoction.

    The Master Cleanse’s creators then recommend you stay on the diet for between 10 and 40 days, though there is no research to back up this time table. Reverse the way you eased into the cleanse when you’re finished, introducing other items back into your diet.

    Weight Loss

    For those wondering, yes, going without solid food for ten days is doable, and it’s not necessarily bad for you. However, it’s also not exactly good for you: regularly taking in vitamins and minerals and other nutrients is better than fasting. However, fasting is technically better for you than eating a bunch of junk food for ten days. That said, ideally, you should just be eating stuff that is good for you.

    In short, this diet is technically a good way to lose weight in the short term. This goes for any fasting: you’ll likely see pretty quick results, as your body goes into survival mode and starts burning your fat. Here’s the catch: without proper nutrition and exercise, when you start eating normal food again, you’re going to gain that weight back just as fast.

    Removing “Toxins”

    One of the biggest selling points of any “cleanse” diet is their claim to be able to remove “toxins” from your body. Here’s the thing: if there are toxins in your body, you’ve got problems that some lemon juice isn’t going to fix, you need to be in a hospital. Your body isn’t just loaded full of toxic gunk, even if you’re normally eating junk food. Your liver is really good at neutralizing toxins, and does so every day.

    In fact, the only diets that can purport to have any effect on toxins are those that bolster the liver’s ability to neutralize them. These diets tend to incorporate things like seaweed and cruciferous vegetables, and are largely backed by scientific research. “Cleanse” diets, on the other hand, have no such properties. They’re more accurately referred to as “juice fasts,” as they have no proven ability to cleanse the body of anything aside from a higher calorie intake.

    Should You do the Master Cleanse?

    No, probably not. It’s not very good for you, and you’ll probably just feel dizzy and gross for the duration. You might lose a few pounds from not eating anything, but then you’re going to gain that back when you get off of this crazy diet. Instead of this diet, consider just eating healthier foods and exercising! It’s a tried and true health routine.