5 DONTS when you are SLEEPING

  

Sleep is vital for us to revitalise and assist in proper bodily development. However, sleep can affect health adversely if you are not keeping up good habits to prepare for a good rest.

1.  DONT SLEEP WITH WET HAIRS

Wet hair is in its most fragile state because the hydrogen bond is broken.  Hence, hair strands are more fragile and easier to break.  There are complaints from people who did not dry the hair before sleeping to wake up with severe headache. Also, it becomes a fertile breeding ground for bacteria to thrive.

2.  DON’T SLEEP WITH WATCH

Watches can emit a certain level of radioactivity.  Though it presents in minute quantity, long exposure may have adverse effects on your health.

3.   DON’T SLEEP WITH BRA/UNDERPANTS

Scientists in America have discovered those that wear bras exceeding 12 hours have a higher risk of contracting breast cancer. This is in line with a call made by the World Health Organization in relation to chemical toxins found in bras to be the prime suspect of cancer.

Under normal circumstances, toxins residing in breast tissue are normally flushed by clear lymph fluid into large clusters of lymph nodes nestling in the armpits and upper chest. However, lymphatic vessels being very thin and hypersensitive to pressure are easily compressed.  Hence, chronic minimal pressure on the breasts can cause lymph valves and vessels to close. With less oxygen and fewer nutrients delivered to the cells in the dense area, whilst waste products collect, prolonged bra-constricted lymph drainage can cause cancer to develop.

Statistics showed one out of seven women strapped into a bra for more than 12 hours a day and three out of four women who wore their daytime bras to sleep are equal at risk for breast cancer. On the contrary, bra-free women have just a one in 168 chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer, similar to bra-free men.  The good news is that when the 80% of bra-wearers who experience lumps, cysts and tenderness get rid of the bra those symptoms almost vanish within a month. Hence, at the first sign of a lump, women should take their bras off before they take their breasts off.

If it is your preference to wear underpants to bed, opt for cotton undies, since this natural material is breathable. Wearing tight underwear or a pair of polyester panties can lock in moisture and lead to yeast infections. Also, the underpants can abrade on your skin a little bit, which can cause pimples to develop. Guys can slip in some loose cotton boxers.

4  DON’T SLEEP WITH PHONE

Surveys found half of the users put their handphone near their beds because they are often used as alarm clocks or on call waiting mode. This is a ‘no-no’ for three reasons:

(1)  Scientists have proved that electrical items including mobile phone and television in the ‘on’ mode set emit magnetic waves that can cause disruptions to our nervous system. Though cell phones give off only small doses of electromagnetic radiation similar to X-rays and microwaves, the accumulative effect is unclear yet. Still, the World Health Organization warned in 2011 that usage may be possibly carcinogenic to humans, especially in children, whose scalps and skulls are thinner than adults’, and thus more vulnerable to radiation.

(2)  It can be a fire hazard if the gadget is covered by bedding or other thick material. Another possibility is using incompatible cell phone batteries and chargers. Hence to minimise this risk, stick to phone accessories from the original manufacturer.

(3)  Electrical gadgets like cell phones, tablets and TVs emit blue light that can inhibit the production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin and disrupt our body rhythms. This may be because blue light emits wavelengths similar to daylight, which can make our bodies think it is daytime, at any time. It is advisable to power down all electronics two hours before bedtime or keep them in another room.

5  DON’T SLEEP WITH MAKE UP ON

Makeup is supposed to help you look and feel more beautiful, but leaving it on overnight often has the opposite effect. Skin problems occur when it becomes habitual. Why?

Sleeping in your makeup allows unnecessary exposure to the free radicals in the air which attacks the skin to cause the breakdown of healthy collagen, resulting in formation of fine lines.

The pores on our outer skin enable us to sweat and secrete sebum, a waxy lubricant that helps to moisturize and protect our skin, and also to remove dead skin cells and other irritants. The problem with makeup is that it clogs the pores and prevents sebum from functioning.  An accumulation of  sebum attracts the acne-causing bacteria.  Skin irritation can make one lose sleep or go into deep sleep.

Bonus points, 2 more for reading to the end….

6.  DONT SLEEP ON THE JOB! – Unless you want to be sent home to sleep as long as you like!

7.  DONT SLEEP WITH OTHER’S SPOUSE! -  Unless you do not want to wake up anymore!!

Have your BEAUTY sleep always !!!

The Best HEALTHY Way to DEFROST foods

  

In today’s modern-day living, frozen foods are an indispensable convenience for consumers. We no longer have to visit supermarkets daily to get our supplies.

To get frozen foods cooked without compromising on the freshness and taste is not an easy task. The risk of contamination is high if meat is not defrosted correctly, allowing bacteria to multiply quickly and thus cause illness to occur.

When food is frozen at 0oC and below, some of the bacteria found in the food lie inactive but are still alive. When frozen food is thawed, its core temperature rises and bacteria start to reactivate and reproduce. Thus, frozen food should not be left to thaw at room temperature to prevent the bacteria from multiplying to high levels.

 

So determining how to defrost foods is probably one of the most important aspects of cooking it which most people do not get it right. The common wrong techniques are:

 

1. Thawing the frozen food at room temperature

2. Soaking the frozen food under running tap water

3. Using the defrost feature of the freezer
4. Using microwave oven

Remember an improper defrost does not thaw the foods well. As a result, the quality of the food is adversely affected. With nutrients losing, meat and fish do not taste fresh and good. Vegetables and fruits may become soft and mushy like being over-ripened.

 

The best technique to defrost foods properly is to dip the frozen food into iced water. The steps are:

• Place the meat into a leak-proof plastic bag. Make sure the bag has no leakage so air cannot enter to prevent it from floating and the food turning watery from absorbing too much water. Also, the food is exposed to bacterial growth.
• Fill a plastic, aluminum or stainless container, with enough cold water to soak the frozen food.
• Submerge the bag with the meat in cold water with ice cubes added if necessary and change the water every 30 minutes. The frozen meat decreases the temperature of the water, slowing the thawing process if the water is not changed.
• Defrost small amounts of meat in approximately 1 hour. Larger pieces of meat can take up to 2 to 3 hours.
• Avoid cross-contamination from water dripping off the food or splashing onto other food, preparation surfaces and utensils.

In this way, foods are defrosted in the most speedy and economical way. With its nutritional contents remain well-preserved, freshness is retained. Cooking must begin immediately and never return to the freezer. As soon as they begin to thaw and become warmer than 40°F, bacteria that may have been present before freezing can begin to multiply.

Be organised. After buying raw meat (animal and seafood) back from the supermarket, clean thoroughly and repack them into smaller polybags before sending to the freezer.