Health
Benefits Of Adding Honey To Your Skincare Regime
History has it that honey was Queen Cleopatra’s preferred ingredient in her beauty regimen, and now modern science is catching up to it due to its versatile advantages for the skin.
Applying honey regularly to your skin can give you results beyond your imagination and can go a long way in giving you healthy, younger-looking and glowing skin. Below are some of the benefits of honey for the skin.
Deeply moisturises the skin:
The reason why honey is often found as a base ingredient for almost every beauty product is because it deeply moisturises and softens the skin from deep within. The sugar present in honey acts as a natural humectant, that is, it draws moisture from the air into your skin. It reduces the dryness of the skin by providing long-lasting hydration.
Acts as a Pore Cleanser:
Honey contains antioxidants, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties which help to rid your skin of blackheads and acne by removing dirt from pores. It then hydrates and tightens skin pores for a clear complexion.
Acts as a Gentle Exfoliator :
Artificial exfoliators often cause your skin to go red and may cause irritation. Honey is a good alternative because it is a natural exfoliator. It helps exfoliate your face and skin by gently removing the dead skin cells. This, in turn, also leaves your face with a brighter complexion. The enzymes work as a gentle exfoliator, taking off dead skin cells and leaving you with a radiant complexion.
Lightens Scars:
Honey nourishes damaged skin and improves the scar healing process. The antioxidants present in honey help repair damaged skin by minimising inflammation, which helps the skin heal faster. It also increases tissue regeneration and helps to revive the skin cells. For blemishes like eczema, use unpasteurised honey for faster healing.
Useful in Sunburn:
Honey is known to be one of the best home remedies for treating burns. Honey promotes healing by decreasing inflammation and providing nutrition to the damaged tissues. This is what makes honey an amazing remedy for sunburns.
Fights Acne & Pimples:
Honey has natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that aid to heal breakouts. Its anti-inflammatory benefits help remove excess oil from the surface of the skin by clearing out blockages or clogged pores. It can be used to provide relief from autoimmune skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. The healing properties in honey help skin repair damage faster.
Helps to reduce fine lines and wrinkles:
Honey moisturises the top layers of your skin and reduces wrinkles and fine lines. Using honey on your face in the form of a homemade mask will increase your skin’s elasticity due to its antioxidants, which stimulate collagen production, thus making it look youthful and glowing.
Brightens Skin Complexion:
You can use honey as a home remedy to brighten your skin because honey contains alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) which have a natural exfoliating effect on the skin. This sloughs off dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, thus revealing a brighter complexion.
Adds a natural glow to your skin:
Honey adds a touch of natural glow to the skin. It can be applied directly to the skin or mixed with milk or yoghurt to make a mask for the skin.
Used as a lip balm:
Honey can be used to soften some chapped and dry lips. Honey’s ability to hydrate and the presence of minerals, enzymes, and antioxidants, make it the perfect lip balm. Simply apply some raw honey to your lips, leave for a few minutes, and then wash it off.
Here are some types of honey masks you can try for your skin
Honey, lemon, and baking soda acne-fighting face mask
Mix one teaspoon of lemon juice, one teaspoon of honey, and one teaspoon of baking soda in a small bowl. Apply the mixture gently over the face and avoid the area around the eyes. Leave the mask for fifteen minutes and remove it with warm water.
Honey, green tea, and almond oil face mask for sensitive skin
Mix one teaspoon of green tea, one teaspoon of honey and one teaspoon of almond oil in a bowl. Apply the mixture to the face and leave it for fifteen minutes and then wash it off with warm water.
Honey and Oatmeal face mask for exfoliation
Mix two teaspoons of honey and one tablespoon of ground uncooked oatmeal. Apply the mixture to the face and the mask sit for fifteen minutes. Use a warm washcloth to wipe off. Oatmeal contains a compound called saponin that helps with soaking excess oil from the skin as well as anti-inflammatory properties which remove dead skin cells.
Health
Eating too much meat could cause heart failure in older women
Women above 50 who consume a lot of protein stand a high risk of heart failure, researchers say.
The risk becomes even more increased when the source of the protein is meat.
Although the study did not prove exactly how a high protein diet affects the health of the heart, postmenopausal women with the most protein in their diet had a 60 percent increased risk of heart failure, as opposed to those who ate little protein, the study found.
Mohomad Firas Barbour, an internist at Brown University’s Alpert medical school and memorial hospital of Rhode Island in Pawtucket, said that most of the risks appear to come from animal protein.
In comparison, the women who got most of their protein from vegetable sources appeared to have a nearly 20 percent reduced risk of heart failure, Barbour said.
“The higher total dietary protein intake, that will increase the risk of heart failure, but higher vegetable protein intake appeared to be protective against heart failure,” he added.
The findings have been presented at the American Heart Association annual meeting in New Orleans, U.S.
Health
Wrong arm position can result in false blood pressure reading, Study says
A recent study has found that a wrong arm position during blood pressure (BP) checks may lead to misdiagnosis and overestimation of hypertension.
BP is the pressure of circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels. It is measured in units of millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The reading consists of two numbers — with the upper (systolic) value first, followed by the lower (diastolic) value. A person is considered hypertensive if they have consistent readings of 130/80 or higher.
The new study, published on Monday in Journal JAMA Internal Medicine, analysed the blood pressure readings of 133 adults from August 2022 to June 2023. The study volunteers’ ages ranged from 18 to 80.
The blood pressure readings were measured and compared while the people held their arms in three different ways — leaning on a surface, resting on the lap, or hanging by the side of the body.
The researchers from Johns Hopkins University discovered that when participants had their arms hanging by their sides during the reading, their systolic pressure was 6.5 points higher than when their arms were resting on a desk, while the diastolic blood pressure — the bottom number — was 4.4 points higher than in the supported condition.
The experts also found out that when their arms were on their laps, the systolic blood pressure was 3.9 points higher than when their arms were supported by a surface, while the diastolic pressure was 4 points higher than in the supported condition.
For example, if a person’s actual blood pressure is 134, and blood pressure is measured on a dangling arm, the reading could end up over 140, which is considered to be stage 2 hypertension.
Tammy Brady, the vice-chair for clinical research in the department of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said the two other positions were tested because it was realised that they are the most used positions during blood pressure readings.
“I did not expect there to be that much of a difference when the arms were placed in the two alternative positions,” he said.
“We tested those positions because those are the positions that most people have their blood pressure measured, according to data and personal observations.
“We thought there’d be a difference, but I was surprised by how much of a difference there was.”
According to the study, the wrong positioning of the arm during BP readings leads to overestimation due to several physiological reasons.
First, there can be muscle contraction when the arm is not supported which can lead to an increase in BP reading.
Also, a greater vertical distance between the heart and where the cuff is placed can increase hydrostatic pressure in the arteries, or the blood pressure against the wall due to gravity’s pull. This can lead to an overestimation of blood pressure.
Brandy said the study was conducted to educate people on the appropriate arm position for BP reading.
“I just hope that it raises awareness regarding how important things like arm position are to blood pressure measurement accuracy,” he added.
“I also hope this study educates patients, empowering them to advocate for proper measurement when they’re in a clinic setting.
“But also, because so many patients rely on home blood pressure measurements for hypertension diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment.
“I hope this educates them on how to properly position their arms because our findings absolutely extend to measurements in the home.”
The researchers also gave the following steps to achieve an accurate BP measurement.
The steps include:
- Wear the appropriate cuff size
- Have your back supported
- Keep feet flat on the floor with legs uncrossed
- Have the appropriate arm position – the cuff should be positioned at heart level with the arm supported on a desk or table
Wearing the appropriate cuff size was found to be the most important step.
Because an improperly sized blood pressure cuff can distort blood pressure readings taken by automated blood pressure devices.
Also speaking, Gail Adler, a cardiovascular endocrinologist in the Hypertension Clinic at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, disclosed some steps that should taken 30 minutes for BP measurement.
“Before you take your blood pressure, you want no smoking, exercise, caffeine, alcohol, major arguments. Don’t be psychologically stressed,” Adler said.
“Sit in the chair, get in the right position. And for five minutes, you relax, you don’t talk, make sure you don’t have to pee. If you have to pee or urinate, that’s going to raise your blood pressure.”
Health
NAFDAC warns Nigerians against purchase of unregistered condom brand
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians against sale and distribution of Foula Condoms.
In a statement on Wednesday, the agency said officials from the post-marketing surveillance (PMS) directorate discovered Foula condoms (packaged in threes) in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, and Zango, Katsina state.
The agency said the condom is not registered by NAFDAC for use in Nigeria, and the labeling of the product is not in English Language.
“Condoms are a proven effective barrier method that can be used as a dual-purpose method for both prevention of unintended pregnancy and protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs),” the statement reads.
“To be most effective, any barrier method used for contraception or preventing infection must be used correctly.
“The illegal distribution or sale of unregistered condoms poses a risk as the safety, quality, and efficacy of the products are not guaranteed.
“The purchase and use of poor-quality condoms will adversely affect every aspect of condom promotion for the prevention of unintended pregnancy and protection against HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections.
“If condoms leak or break, they cannot offer adequate protection.
“All NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to carry out surveillance and mop up the unregistered products within the zones and states.
“Importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and consumers are hereby advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of illegally distributed products.
“All medical products/ medical devices must be obtained from authorized/licensed suppliers. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.”
“Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of the sale of substandard and falsified medicines or medical devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.”
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