5 Tips to choosing an alkaline water machine that’s right for your budget

July 8, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Alkaline water machine or better known as a water ionizer is a home appliance that raises the pH level of drinking water by using electrolysis to separate the incoming water into acidic and alkaline components. It is the best way to filter water and get rid of all impurities. Thanks to this modern water filtration system, we can now clean our drinking waters at a microscopic level and make them healthier. Alkaline water machines have started to become popular in the market. You can use it for business or personal purposes. Whatever your reason is you can be assured that the water you drink is as safe as a mother’s breast milk. Since this new technology is new to us, a lot of prospect buyers get confused on choosing the right alkaline water machine for them. Some are even discouraged to buy because it can drain a lot of cash. This article will give you some advice on how to choose the affordable alkaline water machine that is perfect for your budget.

 

  1. Hire a professional to test your water source

 

Testing your water source is a great way to determine how much filtration you need and how many. You might think that this is a waste of money but by testing your waters you will find out how many chloroform, chlorine and other organic chemicals are in your tap water and with this information, the professionals can give you advice on what kind of filter system you need. It will save you money instead of spending more on trying to figure out the right filters you need for your alkaline water machine.

 

  1. Choose the machines that are approved by the proper authorities

 

With so many filtration systems that has been flooding the market, you cannot be too careful in choosing the right one. The best way is to choose those that have been approved by Health Sciences Authority and quality control companies. Do not be fooled by those Companies that brag about their affordable product because it might do more damage than good to your health. Select the ones that are approved by the Proper Authorities to avoid unwanted problems in the future.

 

  1. Choose those manufacturers that provides after-sales services

 

Manufacturers that provide services after selling you their product can be beneficial to you as a buyer. Some companies provide installation and maintenance to the product they sold you so it is better to choose them. It will save you a lot of stress and trouble because you can contact them anytime when trouble arises. They can also handle your maintenance and you will be assured that your filtration system is in top shape. You don’t need to hire someone that is not an expert on your product.

 

  1. Determine if you want full house installment or not

 

Some buyers would want their whole water system filtered so that they don’t have to worry about their water while others prefer to select one or two lines. You as a buyer should also know what you need. By determining how widespread your water filtration system will be, you will have an idea on how much you are going to spend.

 

  1. Be careful of scammers

 

Some manufacturers of alkaline water system will tell you that the more plates, the better. That is not the case. If you see water systems with 8 or more plates then stay away from those products. Most alkaline water filter system only needs 5 to 7 plates to do their job and if you buy those products with many plates then you will be spending more cash on useless things. Buy your filtration system at those manufacturers that have been tested by time and has good feedback with their customers.

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5 Tips to getting the best hearing aid in 2017

June 22, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Millions all over the world are affected by some type of hearing loss in their lifetime. Most of them are adults who are growing older. Because of several factors, such as aging and being exposed to loud noise causes damage to the ears. But sadly, there are reports indicating that people tend to delay buying by several years because of the cost. There are many factors to consider before buying you or your loved one a hearing aid.

 

  1. Consult friends and family – before you buy a hearing aid, it would be helpful if you get the opinion of someone who has had the experience of buying it. Don’t just ask about what hearing aid to buy but even the process that it takes to buy one. But remember that there are several types of hearing loss and your need may be different from theirs. While you may get recommendations from friends and family about what brand to buy, it is always advisable to seek the opinion of a professional regarding your condition first.

 

  1. Book your appointment with a reputable HHP – While consulting your friends and family about hearing aids, you can also ask them for suggestions on the hearing healthcare professional (HHP) that they can recommend. Call the office first and ask relevant questions, and the office should be able to supply you with important information about hearing loss and the treatments available for it.

 

  1. Ask for a demonstration – when you go to your appointment, you will have to your medical history and undergo assessment of your communication ability. Aside from the testing, make sure that your HHP will be able to give you a demonstration of their available hearing aids so that you will know how it would feel to hear with hearing aids. Some offices can even simulate how you hear so that you or your companion will be able to know what it feels like.

 

  1. Choose a style that you think would best fit you – you don’t need to feel pressured to buy a hearing aid on your very first appointment. Try out several styles to figure out which one works best for you. The common types are Mini-Behind-the-Ear Hearing Aid (mBTE), Completely in the canal (CIC), in the canal (ITC), Receiver in the canal (RIC), and open fit.

 

  1. Choose a hearing aid that provides the best features – some important features that should be found in your hearing aid are: telecoil, feedback suppression, digital noise reduction, and directional microphones. Also, consider if you want your hearing aid to have rechargeable batteries, and even direct audio input which allows you to plug into an audio device.

 

If you have gone to your appointment and are now in the process of making your choice on what to buy, here’s a review of smart hearing devices to make it easier for you to choose. From the thousands available in the market, the list has been narrowed down to the best of the best. The site has listed down the features of each and even listed down problems you may encounter for each so that you can make the smart choice.

 

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Tips for Taking Care of a Child on the Autism Spectrum

June 12, 2017 by Leave a Comment

As a parent, you have probably spent a huge portion of time thinking about your child’s future, especially if he or she has ASD – autism spectrum disorder. Aside from therapies and medical care, here are some simple daily things that will make a difference:

Be Positive

Just like with most people with ASD, your child will respond well to positive reinforcement. This means that when you praise your child for good behavior, it will make him feel good. However, you need to be specific about what you are praising him for to avoid miscommunication.

 

You also need to let your child know what you like about his behavior. Find things that you can reward him with such as stickers or extra playtime. As you would with other people, whether they are on the spectrum or not, you should value your child for whom he is. Loving your child as he is will make him feel accepted and loved.

Stay On Schedule and Be Consistent

Persons with autism crave routine. For this reason, you should make sure that you give your child consistent interaction and guidance. Doing so will allow him to practice what he learned in therapy.

 

Consistency makes learning new behavior much easier and helps people on the spectrum to apply what they learn to different situations. You also need to talk to your child’s therapists and teachers to align a consistent set of interaction methods and techniques to ensure that you bring what they learn home.

Schedule Their Play

By finding activities that are more fun and less like therapy, you will help your child to open up to you and form a special bond with you. If your child is autistic, then you know that forming a bond with him is difficult. Therefore, you should take anything that you can get.

Give It Time

Because you are likely to try a lot of techniques and treatments from centers such as ABA Detroit based therapy, you should practice patience while figuring out what works best for your child. Do not get discouraged; you should remain positive even if your child does not respond to a certain treatment method.

Take Your Child with You

If your child has unpredictable behavior, you might think that keeping him away from certain situations is best. However, if you start exposing him to everyday activities such as running errands and going to the bank, he will get used to the world around him. Although it might be hard at first, you give it a try.

Get a Support System

Raising a child with autism takes a toll on parents and is especially hard on single parents. Whether face-to-face or online, support from friends and family members will make you feel less isolated. Joining a support group is a great way to share information and advice and meet other parents who are in the same boat as you.

 

You should also consider counseling whether it is individual, marital, or family. What will make your life a little easier? You should think about it and do it. You can attend counseling sessions or support group meetings when your child is in therapy.

Look Into Respite Care

You should consider hiring a caregiver to help you take care of your child. Doing so will give you a much-deserved break so that you can relax and take care of yourself for a change. Moreover, when you get some rest, you will be in a better state of mind.

 

If your child has intense needs due to autism and you have other children to take care of, you will need the help.

Tabitha Gits is an influencer marketing pro with brownboxbranding.com who is passionate about building authentic relationships and helping businesses connect with their ideal online audience. She keeps her finger on the pulse of the ever-evolving digital marketing world by writing on the latest marketing advancements​ and focuses on developing customized blogger outreach plans based on industry and competition.

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5 Ironclad Tips for Getting in Shape

June 12, 2017 by Leave a Comment

The hardest part of getting in shape is simple when you boil it all the way down: it’s all about forming new habits. From eating the right portion sizes, to working out 3-4 days per week, once you write down the process and work towards the goal, you’ll find it easier than you imagined it to be.

The scheduling part is crucial, so it’s a good thing you start with this. It’s all about preparation; by shopping for healthy foods and buying yoga pants or custom athletic leggings, you make the idea tangible, and put yourself in a position for success.

You Fitness Schedule

This can consist of several things, all wrapped up into one – the important thing is that you actually make a schedule. By establishing a timeline, you hold yourself accountable. Signing up at the local gym is your best bet; but if you don’t have or want to spend the money, home workouts are just as good for getting you in shape.

Also, by teaming up with a buddy, you turn your fitness plans into an event and make it even more likely that you’ll stick to your workouts. The other person will go a long way into upping the accountability factor, as well. Another benefit to going to the gym is that the money you’re paying serves as an additional incentive.

Keep Your Workouts Simple to Start

Every day, it seems, you are inundated with new workout schemes via YouTube or some other media outlet. They look cool, the models performing the workouts are in incredible shape, and you want to try them. Fine – but save these for later as your workouts become more advanced. For the time being, stick to the simple, core workouts that maximize your gains – the squat and deadlift for the lower body, the pull-up and push-up for the upper. You can even try the bench-press, and use an amount of weight that challenges you after maybe 12 reps. It all depends on your fitness and body goals:

 

  • If you’re trying to lose weight and tone, focus on cardiovascular exercises – swimming is one of the best you can do. Keep weightlifting to low weights and high reps for toned, strong arms
  • If you want to gain muscle, you have to go heavy. Keep the repetitions medium – eight to 12 is a good range.
  • If you want to gain strength over everything, then you’ve got to go really heavy, such that your rep range is never more than five or six.

 

They Say Abs are Made in the Kitchen

Abs are only partially made in the kitchen; but it’s a big part. If you’re not eating healthy, then you’re robbing yourself of much of the work you’re putting in in the gym – especially if you’re only doing cardio workouts such as running, power walking or swimming. Load up on fruits, vegetables, grains and water to really see a difference.

Of course, if you’re looking to gain muscle, then you’ll need more protein than you usually eat. You can get this from nuts, yogurt, meat and other dairy products. It’s better to eat multiple small portions throughout the day than it is to eat one or two big meals.

In due time, you’ll see how the change in your perspective, and the implementation of your workout plan, come together to help form the best version of yourself.

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3 Ways that stem cells can be used to treat disease

June 12, 2017 by Leave a Comment
  1.     Repair damaged tissue. One of the most common ways that stem cell treatment is used in disease is in cancer patients. Most cancer patients undergo high dose chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments are very useful to decrease tumor size or burden. However, chemotherapeutic agents are also known to harm the patient’s existing bone marrow, which is responsible for making blood cells in the body. With the use of a stem cell transplant (or bone marrow transplant) doctors can replace the bone marrow or stem cells lost during chemotherapy treatment. Additionally, stem cells hold a great amount of potential to help cure or treat other diseases. Because stem cells could potentially be programmed into a specific, differentiated cell type, stem cells could be used to replace damaged cells in other types of diseases. Ongoing studies are being performed to determine if stem cells could replace damaged cells in heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and many others.
  2.     Reduce inflammation. Another useful property of stem cells is their ability to naturally suppress the immune response. This makes them potentially useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and clinical trials are being performed to study their effects in diseases such as arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, inflammatory airway disease, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. Inflammatory diseases are currently treated with immune suppressive, anti-inflammatory drugs, which only work temporarily to reduce pain and inflammation. They can also have adverse side effects due to non-specific inhibition of the immune system. The interesting thing about certain types of stem cells (mesenchymal stem cells, MSCs) is that they specially locate to the inflamed region of the body to exert anti-inflammatory effects without affecting the overall immune system. One recent study found that MSCs could produce significant reduction in inflammatory proteins without long-term side effects.
  3.     Tissue engineering.  Possibly the most interesting potential use for stem cells to treat disease is in the possibility of growing complete organs from just a few cells. There are currently about 120,000 people on the waiting list for an organ transplant in the United States, with a new name being added to the list about every 10 minutes. Unfortunately, about 22 people die every day from lack of available organs for transplant. It is already known that pluripotent stem cells (stem cells that could potentially form any cell type in the body) can differentiate into lung cells, heart cells, liver cells and kidney cells. Researchers are currently attempting to find a way to allow those induced cell types to form whole, survivable organs, which may be used to fill the gap in transplant needs. Researchers have had some success in engineering tissue of the heart, liver and kidneys using stem cells in the lab. However, the transplantation of these tissues into animals has yet to done. Tissue engineering is an incredibly exciting field of research that could have a huge impact on human health in the future.
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5 ways to prepare your body for pregnancy

June 12, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Preparing to get pregnant is a pivotal time in a woman’s life. There are often times unforeseen stresses that women have about getting pregnant and as time goes on these stressors increase. If you and your partner are preparing to have a baby in the next year or so, there are some things that you can do to prepare your body to be healthy enough to conceive and carry a child to full-term. This article will identify 5 ways in which you can prepare your body for pregnancy.

  1. Pay attention to your diet and if you consume fatty foods or foods with preservatives on a regular basis, it is a good idea to start to prepare and eat more nutritious meals. Remove unhealthy foods from your diet and be diligent about eating healthier. This will help your body rid itself of unnecessary food related toxins and clean itself up so that it is ready for baby.
  2. Visit your primary care doctor or OBGYN and have a conversation with him or her about your desire to have a baby and the timeline in which you hope to do so. Your doctor will most likely want to perform an examination to make sure that you are healthy on the inside. Some things your doctor will check for include sexually transmitted diseases as stds have a variety of symptoms, some that are even undetectable by common symptoms. The reason that this is important is that if you do have an STD, it could be passed on to the baby. Your doctor will also make sure that you are up to date on all vaccinations and will talk to you about going off of birth control and the process in which to do so.
  3. Ask yourself if your current lifestyle is conducive to a pregnancy. If you are a smoker or drink alcohol on a regular basis, you may want to consider decreasing or completely eliminating these activities for the time being. While pregnant, it is healthiest for you and the baby to be smoke and alcohol free. It may take some time to do this so it is best to prepare before getting pregnant.
  4. Age. As you age, infertility rates also go up. Pregnancy related complications such as gestational diabetes, preterm labor, or even premature birth defects could occur. Again, consult with your doctor to discuss age and if it is an issue for you.
  5. Don’t stress if you do not get pregnant right away. Stress can deter this from happening. If you do not get pregnant right away, continue to eat healthy, live a healthy lifestyle, take your vitamins, get the proper amount of sleep, and relax. Trust that you will have a child and think positive thoughts. Before you know it, you will be with child.

There are many more tips to preparing your body to get pregnant, however these five ideas are ones that have been recommended by doctors and specialists for years. If you are pregnant and you did not do these steps before conceiving, start doing them now. The healthier you are while carrying your child, the healthier your child will be.

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3 Ways to Living a Healthier Lifestyle

May 31, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Health threats are all around and the modern lifestyle is contributing to a dramatic increase in risk, prompting many to adopt life choices that preserve, protect and promote their health. Today’s health and wellness business is a multi-billion dollar industry proving the demand and need of people to shift to a healthier lifestyle.  Yet, amidst this limitless influx of science, information, and technology, many continue to agonize over unhealthy lifestyles, sedentary jobs, fast food, and other stuff that puts their health under threat. Many, knowing these things continue to procrastinate and make excuses as to why they are not on their way to a healthy lifestyle right now. Some may feel it hard to start and some are afraid to fail. Yet all of these can only be solved in actually acting on them.

By acting to improve your health through better lifestyle choices and habits, you gradually develop the momentum that can take you to your dream state. Again, you need to act first. For those who are clueless in where to start, here are 3 ways to live a healthier life starting within your very own home.

1.    Opting for Healthy Food Choices

You are what you eat, and if you want to be healthy, you need to start eating healthy. Take out food with massive preservatives out of your fridge, throw away junk foods, and stay away from fast food. Make healthy food choices by knowing what to eat and actually eating them. Substitute your pizzas with real cooked food. Do your own shopping and fill your fridge with fruits, vegetables, and many healthy choices. Drink less sodas and coffee, or keep them at the minimum. Water should be your main drink, make sure you drink enough in a day.

2.    Manage Your Time Well

Time management is not only a productivity hack, but it is also a health hack. By managing your time efficiently, you spare yourself from stress that affects your digestion and overall mental and physical health. Allot time for cooking healthy food and working out. Most importantly, allocate ample time for sleep and rest. Without sleep and rest, your body can’t function properly and it affects your physique. You can only get the most from your diet and exercise when you combine them with sufficient rest and sleep.

3.    Create a Home Gym

While you can always sign up for a membership in a gym near your home or workplace, setting ample space for a workout area at home can encourage you to exercise more. Trips to the gym can mean dressing up and getting ready, which exhausts people mentally most of the time. With your own home gym, equipped with the right equipment, you can always get workout access any time of the day for any small amount of time you have.

A healthy lifestyle begins with a choice, followed up by action, and fueled with dedication and consistency. The best time to start is today.

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3 healthcare epidemics that are on the rise in Ohio

May 8, 2017 by 1 Comment

Ohio, like much of the America, is struggling to combat a number of particular issues within the healthcare arena. Here are 3 healthcare epidemics that are currently on the rise in Ohio.

  1. Prescription medication abuse

Over the last few years, the number of people struggling with addiction to prescription drugs such as antidepressants or painkillers has skyrocketed and Ohio is no exception. Drugs such as vicodin, or oxycontin have been prescribed in record numbers leading to a spike in the number of people developing addictions to these drugs. These drugs often act as gateways to hard drugs and this has been one of the causes of Ohio’s serious opioid problem. But steps are now being taken to combat this issue.

On the 30th March 2017, Ohio Gov. John Kasich announced plans to limit prescriptions of narcotic painkillers to 7 days, down from 30 or even 90 days under the old law. This law will apply to doctors, dentists, or prescribing nurses. It is hoped that this step will help curb the epidemic of prescription drug abuse in Ohio.

  1. Diabetes

According to the Center for Disease Control (‘CDC’), Ohio is ranked 5th in state rankings for levels of diabetes in 2016. Last year, in the Greater Cincinnati area alone there were almost 300,000 people diagnosed with diabetes and in Ohio alone there are currently 850,000 people living with diabetes. This figure is set to rise year on year. With causal factors linked to obesity and lifestyle, diabetes is costing the Ohio people billions of dollars a year in missed work and health care fees. There are however, a number of charities currently working on education and lifestyle programs aimed at tackling the causes of this epidemic.

  1. Heroin

Perhaps the most serious issue facing police, law makers, and healthcare workers in Ohio is the use of heroin. Figures released in November 2016 showed that Ohio led the United States in opioid overdoses. In 2014 there were 2016 fatalities due to heroin overdoses. In 2015, this figure had risen to 3050, the highest in the USA. And sadly, this epidemic shows no signs of slowing down, with figures for 2017, already showing around a 20% increase in the number of deaths since last year. As the number of deaths from prescription medications have leveled out thanks to a concerted effort by the state, they have been met by an increase in the number of people using hard drugs such as heroin or fentanyl. The problem has gotten so bad that in March 2017, the New York Times reported that the number of deaths from drug use in Ohio was so high that cold storage trailers were being brought in to be used as morgues.

But thankfully there are organizations out there that are looking to help try and reduce these shocking statistics. Organizations such as Ohio Drug and Alcohol Rehab Centers are there to offer help to recovering addicts. With centers located throughout Ohio, they can offer sanctuary from the torment of addiction and provide help and support to those affected by addiction. You can find out more on their website here.

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