What Are the Benefits of Positive Affirmations

I’ve always struggled with self-doubt, constantly questioning my abilities and worth. But then I discovered the power of positive affirmations. They have transformed my life in ways I never thought possible. By speaking words of encouragement and belief to myself, I’ve experienced increased self-confidence, improved mental health, and enhanced motivation. In this article, I’ll share the remarkable benefits of positive affirmations, so you too can experience the joy and fulfillment they bring.

Increased Self-Confidence

I’ve noticed that practicing positive affirmations has really boosted my self-confidence. By repeating empowering mantras every day, I have been able to build a stronger sense of self-esteem and belief in my abilities. These affirmations serve as a constant reminder of my worth and potential, helping me overcome self-doubt and negative thoughts. As someone who desires to serve others

How To Pick The Right Rice Cooker

Is rice one of your staple food or do you often crave for rice dishes? Even if you can cook perfect rice on the stove, it is a lot more convenient to cook rice in a rice cooker. Nowadays rice cooker technology is so advanced that you can have any kind of rice – brown, long grain, short grain, basmati, jasmine or plain old white rice – perfectly cooked every single time with the best rice cooker.

Hi, this is John here, welcome to my Best Rice Cooker & Rice Cooker Reviews blog. I have been eating rice every day since I got my first rice cooker in college, and it is so time-saving for me so I want to share my reviews of rice cookers with you all so that you can find your pick. I also included a guide on how to choose a rice cooker for those who are buying a rice cooker for the first time.

How To Choose A Rice Cooker

You need to ascertain 2 things when choosing a rice cooker :

1. Size
2. Type of Rice Cooker

Size
Always buy a rice cooker that fits your household size unless you have a known number of regular guests who will eat with you. This is because a rice cooker works best if you fill the pot halfway. If it’s too small you will get messy boiling starch around the rim and even boil-overs for some types of rice cookers. If it’s too big unless it’s a nonstick fuzzy logic rice cooker you will get all your rice stuck to the bottom of the pan.

Check out my size guide below. Rice cookers are available in many sizes in between 3 to 10 cups, and are usually labeled according to uncooked cups of rice. If a rice cooker is sized by cooked rice, remember that rice expands to double the size when it is cooked, so a 5-cup (uncooked) rice cooker is twice the size of a 5-cup (cooked) rice cooker.

One person eats about 1/2 to 1 cup of uncooked rice (1 to 2 cups of cooked rice) per meal, so if you are cooking rice for one meal and:

• 1 – 2 persons, you need a 3-cup rice cooker
• 3 – 4 persons, you need a 4-cup to 6-cup rice cooker
• 5 – 6 persons, you need a 7-cup to 8-cup rice cooker
• 7 – 8 persons, you need a 10-cup rice cooker
• more than 8 persons, you need a 16-cup rice cooker
• Best rice cooker recommendation base on cup size.
• Small Rice Cooker – See all the best small rice cookers here.

Type Of Rice Cooker
There are two main types of rice cooker – on/off rice cooker and fuzzy logic rice cooker.

• On/Off Rice Cooker
  This is the simplest rice cooker with only one button or switch. Just press down the switch to start cooking and it will turn to keep warm mode when the rice is cooked. This is the least expensive type of rice cooker that can be found, sometimes as low as $20. It doesn’t have advanced technology so you will need to measure rice and water correctly to cook good and tasty rice. This type of rice cooker can be used to steam food with an included steamer but doesn’t have other functions. Pick this type if you will mainly use the rice cooker to cook white or brown rice, and steam food like veggies and fish.
• Fuzzy Logic Rice Cooker
  A fuzzy logic rice cooker is one that always cook fluffy and soft rice even if you haven’t got the measurements exactly right. This is also the rice cooker for you if you want extra functions like steaming and cooking soup, porridge, brown or mixed rice. The even more advanced type of fuzzy logic rice cooker may have a timer, induction heating, rice texture setting and cake making. Pick this type if you want to use the rice cooker for cooking many types of rice and need more cooking functions, or if you need a timer to preset your cooking time.

Experimental Lower Back Pain Relief Methods to Try

Pain in the lower back is one of those things that conventional Western medicine has not enough to say about. When the problem gets serious enough though, what people do is they turn to healing methods that lie outside of the mainstream - herbs, spinal manipulation, nerve stimulation and so on. Let's see how these fare as methods that bring us lower back pain relief.

Devil's Claw is all the rage now for its virtues in lower back pain relief. Devil's claw is a herb from Africa, and goes by that picturesque name for the way its fruit comes with little barbs on the outside. Its relevance for lower back pain hasn't been made popular until recently. The herb is an anti-inflammatory and is credited with some great effects in lower back pain. There have been studies that have found that 100 mg of it are quite effective - much more so than a placebo. It even works quite well for people who suffer from arthritic pain. The problem is though that it seems no more effective than the popular drug for lower back pain, Vioxx. Of course nothing comes without a catch - Devil's Claw has some pretty strong effects on the health of your stomach, and it can bring down your blood pressure. If you have stomach ulcers, you should probably stick with your Vioxx.

Spinal manipulation is all about having a skilled physiotherapist work on your head, your neck, your shoulders, and that all along your spine, to help with back pain. The therapist uses heat, ultrasound, and powerful massaging strokes, all in service of a little lower back pain relief. If short-term pain relief is what is on your mind, it works for some people. Most studies on the subject don't really seem to believe in spinal manipulation. They feel that the benefits it offers are no better than what you would get with physical therapy or regular exercise. The good news is, that you don't need repeated visits to see if you are one of the lucky ones who will respond to this. If you find that you do, you won't need more than a couple of weeks to get better. To make sure that you get a skilled therapist though, careless manipulation of the flesh around the spine can actually do more harm than good.

Nerve stimulation is an interesting enough concept. They use a portable electric device called a TENS machine.  You place little electrodes on your skin, and the device puts out mild electric currents to help you. What they believe is, that nerves are only able to carry one kind of signal at a time. If you saturate the nerve with artificial currents, it won't be able to carry its pain message anywhere. But this is just a theory. There are some studies that prove that it is quite effective as a short-term remedy. If you are on the lookout for quick lower back pain relief for a problem nerve stimulation could be your ticket. According to the American Academy of urology, nerve stimulation is pretty useless if what you're dealing with this chronic pain, something you've battled for quite a while.

But there are certain kinds of lower back pain that TENS is very effective in. There is a certain kind of lower back pain called diabetic nerve pain. It affects most people who have diabetes, and it gives you a kind of burning sensation. And TENS is extremely effective here. There is no cure all when it comes to stubborn problems like lower back pain. You need to narrow it down to something that works for just the specific kind of problem you have. And when you do, you'll be surprised how effective it turns out to be.

Some Little Known Facts About Genital Herpes

Herpes simplex: After clearing, herpes simplex sores can return. When the sores return, the outbreak tends to be milder than the first outbreak.

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board licensed Emergency Medicine doctor who at the moment practices as a advisor and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications. At Children's Division of Newborn Medicine , we concentrate on treating infants with a wide range of congenital and purchased situations. Your baby shall be seen by a specifically educated workforce of physicians, nurses, therapists and different health professionals who routinely diagnose and deal with newborns with essential sicknesses. Genital herpes (herpes simplex sort 2)

Asking concerning the onset of signs and using self-care measures will assist decide whether antiviral medicine needs to be used for treating this episode. Determining the frequency and severity of attacks will guide how future assaults should be managed (episodic or suppressive remedy). See therapy of recurrent genital herpes. Also, episodic therapy has its greatest results when remedy begins at the very first sign of prodrome. If lesions are already present, remedy could supply little profit. Because the medicines differ of their absorption fee and period of effectiveness, dosages fluctuate with episodic remedy treatment starting from one to 5 pills day by day for three to five days throughout an outbreak. Ask whether the person has recognized personal set off factors (e.g. sexual activity, sunlight, bodily illness, excess alcohol, stress). 4. Medical procedures. Surgery, diagnostic procedures, chemotherapy, and so forth. put huge strain on the immune system.

The efficiency of the immune system declines with age. That is, the older you might be, the much less environment friendly is your immune system. Genital herpes can cause recurrent painful genital sores in many adults, and herpes an infection could be extreme in individuals with suppressed immune methods. Regardless of the severity of symptoms, genital herpes ceaselessly causes psychological distress in people who know they're infected. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), however, greater than 80% of individuals contaminated with HSV-2 (genital herpes) don't know they're contaminated … they have delicate or no signs, however they're nonetheless contagious to others. That's why getting tested is so important.

Feeling typically unwell with flu-like symptoms similar to fever, tiredness, headache, swollen glands, aches and pains in the decrease back and down the legs or in the groin. This can be followed by: April to June 2010 — updated to incorporate advice concerning the management of genital herpes in individuals with HIV. Issued in June 2010. As a result, many doctors prescribe Gene-Eden-VIR to their patients. See, for instance, the following four prescriptions for Gene-Eden-VIR (some info was blacked out to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned). Blisters, sores or red bumps within the vaginal space, anus or cervix

Another issue that may restrict Imlygic's availability is price. Amgen, the company that manufactures the drug, expects the average price of Imlygic remedy per affected person to be approximately US$sixty five,000. Avoid sharing towels and flannels with family members (though it is extremely unlikely that the virus would survive on an object lengthy sufficient to be handed on, it is wise to take steps to prevent this). Dietary changes: Lysine is an amino acid that seems to inhibit the virus. You can get dietary L-lysine from foods similar to yogurt, fish, potatoes and brewer's yeast. At the identical time, you must in the reduction of on meals containing L-arginine, another amino acid which will promote outbreaks. These meals include chocolate, peas, nuts and seeds.
Apply petroleum jelly, similar to Vaseline, or an anaesthetic (painkilling) cream, akin to 5% lidocaine, to any blisters or ulcers to cut back the pain if you go urine.

How A Low fat Vegan Diet May Help Diabetes

Eating a low-fat vegan diet may be better at managing type 2 diabetes than traditional diets, according to a recent study.

Researchers found that 43% of people with type 2 diabetes who followed a low-fat vegan diet for 22 weeks reduced their need to take medications to manage their disease compared with 26% of those who followed the diet recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

In addition, participants who followed the vegan diet experienced greater reductions in cholesterol levels and weight loss than those on the other diet.

A vegan diet is plant-based and consists of vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes and avoids animal products, such as meat and dairy. People who are on a vegan diet are at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency, and so B12 vitamins were given to the participants on that diet.

"The diet appears remarkably effective, and all the side effects are good ones -- especially weight loss and lower cholesterol," says researcher Neal D. Barnard, MD, adjunct associate professor of medicine at the George Washington University, in a news release. "I hope this study will rekindle interest in using diet changes first, rather than prescription drugs."

Barnard is also president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit health organization that opposes animal research and advocates a vegan diet.

Vegan vs. ADA Diet for Diabetes

In the study, published in the journal Diabetes Care, researchers compared the effects of following a low-fat vegan diet and the ADA diet on reducing the need for drugs to manage diabetes, kidney function, cholesterol levels, and weight loss in 99 adults with type 2 diabetes. Meals were not provided, but participants met a dietitian to come up with a diet plan and then met regularly each week for nutrition and cooking instruction.

Forty-nine of the participants followed a low-fat vegan diet consisting of about 10% of daily calories from fat, 15% protein, and 75% carbohydrates. They were asked to avoid animal products and added fats and instead favor foods like beans and green vegetables, but portion sizes and total daily calories or food intake were unrestricted.

The other 50 participants followed the dietary guidelines recommended by the ADA, including 15%-20% protein, 60%-70% carbohydrates and monosaturated fats (such as olive oil), and less than 7% saturated fats (such as animal fats and butter). Total cholesterol was also limited to 200 milligrams or less per day.

Overweight participants in the ADA diet group were also advised to reduce daily calorie intake by 500-1,000 calories per day.

The results showed that both diets improved diabetes management and reduced unhealthy cholesterol levels, but some improvements were greater with the low-fat vegan diet.

For example:43% of those on the vegan diet reduced their need to take drugs to manage their diabetes compared with 26% of the ADA diet group. Weight loss averaged more than 14 pounds in the vegan diet group vs. less than 7 pounds in the other group. LDL "bad" cholesterol dropped by an average of 21% in the vegan group compared with 11% in the ADA diet group who did not change their cholesterol drug use. Measures of blood sugar control also improved more significantly among those who followed the low-fat vegan diet than among those who followed the ADA diet and who did not change their diabetes drug use.

Researchers say the vegan diet represents a major change from current diabetes diets because there are no limits on calories, carbohydrates, and portions, which may make it easier for some people to follow. Talk to your doctor about what diet changes you might consider to help with diabetes or other medical conditions.

SOURCES: Barnard, N. Diabetes Care, August 2006; vol 29: pp 1777-1783. News release, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.Health is a term that refers to a combination  of the absence of illness, the ability to cope with everyday  activities, physical fitness, and high quality of life. In any  organism, health can be said to be a "state of balance," or analogous  to homeostasis, and it also implies good prospects for continued  survival. Wellness is a term sometimes used to describe the  psychological state of being healthy, but is most often used in the  field of alternative medicine to describe one's state of being.

The Paleo Diet - How I Can Help You Lose Weight

If you are looking for a healthy diet to change your life for the good then Paleo diet is the best option available. This diet is actually based on the idea of eating foods that our bodies were actually made for thousands of years ago. Such foods were there to the early people through gathering and hunting. During the modern times, innovation in technology have made other foods like processed items, dairy products etc. which are not that simple to digest. Foods that are recommended in this diet provide the body with longer lasting and more efficient results that even help in burning the fat.

The Paleo diet is believed to be perfect for regulation of blood regulation, digestion, better sleep and metabolism. There is no right way of eating in this diet. Everyone eats as per their body type and preferences. While some eat low carb diet, others opt for high carb one with loads of plants.

What types of foods are included in the Paleo diet?

It is often confusing as to what all to eat in the Paleo diet. There are a lot of fish, meats, poultry, vegetables, fruits, eggs, healthy fats from avocado, coconut etc that can be had in this diet. Actually the options are innumerable and your plate will always be filled with something interesting to eat.  So, what all to eat? Let’s check it below:

• Meats: Beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, pork and others.
• Fish and Seafood: Salmon, trout, haddock, shrimp, shellfish, etc. Choose wild-caught if you can.
• Eggs: Choose free-range, pastured or Omega-3 enriched eggs.
• Vegetables: Broccoli, kale, peppers, onions, carrots, tomatoes, etc.
• Fruits: Apples, bananas, oranges, pears, avocados, strawberries, blueberries and more.
• Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and more.
• Healthy Fats and Oils: Lard, tallow, coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil
• Salt and Spices: Sea salt, Himalayan salt, garlic, turmeric, rosemary, etc.


What to avoid in Paleo Diet?

Soy, refined sugar, alcohol, grains, pasteurized dairy etc. are some of the items that you need to avoid when following the Paleo diet. Also, you don’t need to keep a record of the macronutrients or calories on this diet. But if you want to lose weight then it is recommended that you cut on carbs and restrict your consumption of potatoes and nuts.

So, now as you are aware of what all to eat and what to avoid, you can prepare your meal diet properly and follow the diet without any hassle.

More than a diet

Apart from providing a fit body, there are a lot of health benefits as well that can be enjoyed with the Paleo diet. For many people the very fact that this diet offers best results is what all they need. Enhanced blood lipids, less pain from autoimmunity and weight loss are the proof. A lot of people are not actually satisfied with following the recommendations like a strict diet or exercise schedule.

So, in all, it can be said that Paleo diet is not just any diet which helps in keeping fit, it is a healthy lifestyle to adopt.

How To Choose The Right Slimming Products For You

With so many diet pills out there, trying to understand how each one works can be very confusing!
Slimming supplements can be divided into 5 main groups – fat burners, detox supplements, fat blockers appetite suppressants and carb blockers.
Many slimming supplements belong in more than one group as they contain multiple ingredients that work in many ways to help you lose weight.
Below is a list of the five main types of diet pills. Click on each one to see if it's the right slimming supplement to help you lose weight.
Types of Diet Pills:

• Fat Burners
• Detox Supplements
• Fat Blockers
• Appetite Suppressants
• Carb Blockers

Fat Burners
If you want to increase your metabolism and burn more fat either when exercising or resting, fat burners are ideal for you.
Fat burners help you to lose weight by increasing your metabolism. Your metabolism is the rate at which you burn up energy. When your metabolism increases, your body burns up more calories, and it often gets these extra calories from your fat reserves. Therefore an increased metabolism = increased fat burning and quicker weight loss.
Fat burners increase your body's metabolism in two main ways. Firstly, they increase your heart rate which uses up more energy and secondly, they stimulate thermogenesis which is the body's ability to create heat using up energy.
Detox Supplements
If you want to have more energy, improve your health and lose weight then detox supplements are for you. Packed with antioxidants, detox supplements (also called superfruits) can help improve the condition of your skin, hair and nails, they can boost your energy levels, improve your immune system and help you lose weight.
Detox supplements work by eliminating the build up of harmful toxins (otherwise known as free radicals) in your body and preventing any further build up. Toxins naturally build up in your body and they can lead to ill-health by slowing down the rate at which your body renews its cells. The antioxidants found in detox supplements cleanse and flush your body of toxic waste. This enables your cells to renew more quickly leading to a healthier body that can function better to help you lose weight.Fat Blockers
If you want to cut out extra calories from your diet whilst still enjoying the foods you love, fat blockers, otherwise known as fat binders, are the best slimming pill for you.
Fat blocking supplements, also known as lipase inhibitors, work by blocking fat from being absorbed by your body. In your digestive system you have enzymes called lipases which help to break down fat. Fat blockers attach to the lipases and stops them from breaking down some of the fat you have eaten. The undigested fats cannot be absorbed by your body so they pass through your system naturally, and are eliminated in your bowel movements.
This natural process helps to reduce the amount of fat absorbed by your body. Each gram of fat that you eat contains double the amount of calories per gram of protein or carbohydrate. Fat blockers therefore significantly reduce your calorie intake and prevent your body from storing any excess fat.
Appetite Suppressants
If you find that snacking and eating too much always let you down when you're trying to lose weight, an appetite suppressant is the best diet pill for you.
Appetite suppressants are becoming very popular due to their ability to naturally suppress your appetite. Feeling hungry is the key reason why many dieters fail to lose weight as they never feel satisfied with their food, which means that they over-indulge and snack in between meals.
Appetite suppressants help you to overcome your weight loss failures in two ways. Firstly, when eating a meal you start to feel full much sooner than normal which means that you consume much less food, which greatly reduces your calorie intake. Secondly, appetite suppressants keep you feeling fuller for longer which means that you have no desire to snack in between meals.
Carb Blockers
If you want to reduce your calorie intake but can't sacrifice your breads, pastas, crisps and potatoes, a carb blocking supplement is ideal for you.
Carb blockers are the carbohydrate version of fat blcokers. They work by reducing the amount of carbohydrates absorbed by the body which means that your body can no-longer store excess carbohydrates as fat – this prevents further weight gain. A reduction in your carbohydrate intake also means that your body will have to use the carbohydrates, stored in your fat cells, for energy which will lead to weight loss.
The key ingredient in any carb blocking supplement is Phase 2® – an all-natural ingredient that has been clinically proven to neutralize the digestive enzyme alpha amylase. During the digestive process, alpha amylase converts carbohydrates into sugar. When alpha amylase is neutralized, it cannot turn as much carbohydrate into sugar which means that the body cannot absorb as much sugar. This in turn means that fewer calories are absorbed from the carbohydrates that you eat.