Lady in distress

A certain Anonymous sent us this mail. She needs our advice.
I am currently a student of University of Lagos. I have been studying History for the past three years and I have been really indifferent about this course because it wasn't what I initially wanted to study. I have been going through school like someone without ambitions. Reality is dawning on me, I don't know what the future holds for me with this course am studying. With the present situation facing Nigeria youths in the area of unemployment, where can I get a job placement? My friends introduced me to modelling in my second year, and ever since then, have never looked back, neither because of my height nor because of beauty has caused me to stand-out amongst my colleagues, but the passion and life that I put into it, as if my life depends on it, because it means for once in my confused life, am doing something worthwhile with my life and time. My challenge now is, I have not been able to combine my modelling life with school, which is snuffing the life out of my CGPA, my results ever since then, lacks pride. What should I do? Modelling is the only thing that has brought me joy from years of wallowing in regrets and anguish over my field of study. Leaving it now would be like am activating the destruction button of my life. On the other hand I would like to graduate with something worthy of my early effort in this course, if not for myself, but for my parents who are expecting so much from me back at home, siblings inclusive.
You can also share your life experiences, stories, issues, information with us by sending them to aremutemidayo90@gmail.com.

Truth about Milk

Certainly, milk is great for babies, ord would not have created women with the ability to breast-feed their children.
However, there is another side of the story. Most children with chronic sinus infections, ear infections and many other conditions have dairy sensitivities. Many times the problem clear up when the dairy products are substituted with soy or rice milk.
Do you realize that man is the only species in the animal kingdom to drink milk as an adult? Because many people have some degree of allergy or sensitivity to milk, problems often set in when one consume cheese and milk drink.
Many people believe they need milk to supply their calcium needs but then milk is pasteurized (through heating). When Milk is pasteurized, the calcium becomes an inorganic form, which is less easily assimilated by the body. That's why it is recommended that you get your calcium from other sources. Soy, seeds or nuts are high in calcium.
Dairy sensitivities and allergies have been linked to skin rashes, eczema, ear infections, nasal allergies, fatigue, increased risk of prostate and ovarian cancer, acne and spastic colon. If you have any of these, stop dairy products. Do it for 7 days and watch the improvement.
You can then decide to limit or avoid dairy products in order to relieve your medical condition.
Note that, most of the world's population cannot adequately digest milk due to lactose intolerance and is the most self-reported food allergen in the world.
Watch your milk intake!!!

Alcohol use in pregnancy

It is well established that consuming alcohol during pregnancy can cause harm to the foetus. A new study finds that drinking alcohol as early as 3-4 weeks into pregnancy, before many women even realise they are expecting may alter gene functioning in the brains of offspring, leading to long term changes in brain structure.
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy has been linked to increased risk of a number of health condition for offspring including growth restriction, poor coordination, speech and language delays, poor memory, poor muscle tone, intellectual and learning disabilities.
However, it is unclear exactly how alcohol exposure during pregnancy impacts fetal development to result in these conditions but past animal studies have suggested that alcohol consumption may influence gene expression in the embryo during early pregnancy by making changes to the epigenome, which regulate the gene function.
The problem with drinking alcohol during pregnancy is that there is no amount that has been proven to be safe. It is difficult to predict the impact of drinking on any pregnancy because some women have higher levels of the enzymes that break down alcohol.
It's such a small amount of a time and the sacrifice is not so great for you and your child.
Stay away from alcohol during pregnancy. It's not the best for your child.

What you should know about paracetamol

Paracetamol is a medical drug also known as acetaminophen. It is first used by Joseph Von Mering, a German physician. It is an analgesic (pain reliever) and antipyretic (fever reducer). The exact mechanism of action is unknown.
Paracetamol usually comes in the form of tablets, caplets, capsules, suppository, soluble powders and liquids (suspension and syrup) to be taken every 4-8hours until symptoms subside.
Paracetamol is considered safe for all ages although people with liver problem should talk to their physician before taking any. Originally, paracetamol required a prescription for it purchase in the pharmacy but today, prescription are rarely needed as it is now an over-the-counter (OTC) drug.
Maximum amount of paracetamol for adult is 1g (1000mg) per dose and 4g (4000mg) per day. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication because alcohol may increase your risk of liver damage while taking paracetamol. Don't use more than 2g per day if you drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day if at all you want to use paracetamol.
Consult your physician before taking any OTC cold, cough, allergy and pain medication because paracetamol is contained in many combination medicines. Use paracetamol as prescribed by your physician.
Most common side effects are drowsiness, fatigue, rashes and itching. Long term effect includes tiredness, breathlessness, anaemia, liver and kidney damage.
Stop using paracetamol and call your physician if you still have a fever after 3days of use. If you still have pain after 7days or 5days for a child. If your symptoms get worse or you have new symptoms.
Paracetamol is not an everyday drug. Be warned.

Mango nutritional benefits

Mango is a member of the drupe family. There are many different kinds of mango that range in colour (green to red, yellow or orange), shape, flavor and seed size. They have a sweet and creamy taste and contain over 20 vitamins and minerals.
Some of the possible health benefits of consuming mango includes:
1. Aid digestion- mango help to prevent constipation and promote a healthy digestive system because of their fiber (1.6g) and water content.
2. Fight cancer- mango contain antioxidants like Gallic acid, quercetin etc. which protect the body against leukemia, breast, prostate and colon cancer.
3. Eye care- it helps in promoting good eye sight and prevent night blindness because it is rich in vitamin A (54microgms).
4. High iron (0.16mg) for women- natural solution for people suffering from anaemia. Increase iron level and calcium at the same time in menopausal and pregnant women.
5. Aids concentration and memory- mango is rich in glutamine acid which is an important protein for concentration and memory.
6. Improve sex- mango is also known as love fruit. It increase the virility in men. It contain vitamin E (0.9mg) which helps to regulate sex hormones and boost sex drive.
7. Strengthen immune system- combination of vitamin A and E and other kinds of carotenoids keep the immune system healthy.
8. Regulate diabetes- mango has a low glycaemic index (41-60). Drinking boiled mango leaves helps in regulating your insulin level.
9. Prevent heart diseases- mango has high level of vitamin C (36.4mg), pectin and fibres that help to lower serum cholesterol levels. Also rich source of potassium (14mg) which is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps to control heart rate and blood pressure.
10. Skin cleanser- it helps unclog pores that cause acne and add freshness to the face. Just slice mango into thin pieces and keep on your face for only 15mins, then wash your face and see the result.
11. Reduces kidney stone- mango is capable of reducing the kidney stone formation.
12. Maintain healthy hair and skin- vitamin C present in mango is needed to build and maintain collagen which provides structure to skin and hair.
13. Weight loss- fibrous fruits like mango boost the digestive function of the body by burning additional calories, helping in weight loss.
14. Alkanizes the body- mango is also rich in malic acid, tartaric acid and traces of citric acid that primarily help in maintaining the alkaline reserve of the body.
Eat as many mangoes as you can now and at the same time balance your diet. Its mango season. Grab the opportunity while it last.

Deal with that stress

Stress is anything that poses a challenge or a threat to our well-being. Stressor is an agent or stimulus that causes stress. Stress is the feeling we have when under pressure, while stressors are the things we respond to in our environment. Examples of stressors are noises, unpleasant people etc .
Some stresses get you going and they are good for you, without any
stress at all our lives would be boring and would probably feel pointless. However, when the stresses undermine both our mental and physical health they are bad.
We all react differently to stressful situations. What one person finds stressful another may not at all. Almost anything can cause stress and it has different triggers. It is possible that a person feels stressed and no clear cause is identified. Common causes of stress are Bereavement, Family problems, Financial matters, Illness, Job issues(retirement, losing your job), Lack of time, Relationships (including divorce), Abortion, Conflicts in the workplace, Driving in bad traffic, Fear of crime, Miscarriage, Overcrowding, Pregnancy, Too much noise, Uncertainty (awaiting laboratory test results, academic exam results, job interview results etc), feeling of frustration, anxiety and depression.
When we are stressed Blood pressure rises, Breathing becomes more rapid, Digestive system slows down, Heart rate (pulse) rises, Immune system goes down, Muscles become tense, We do not sleep (heightened state of alertness).
Some of the effects of stress on your body includes:
A tendency to sweat, Back and Chest pain, Childhood obesity, Cramps or muscle spasms, Erectile dysfunction, Headache, Heart disease, Hypertension, Loss of libido, Lower immunity against diseases, Muscular aches, Nail biting, Nervous twitches, Sleeping difficulties and Stomach upset.
Effect on your thoughts and feelings are Anger, Anxiety, Burnout,
Depression, Feeling of insecurity, Forgetfulness, Irritability, Problem concentrating, Restlessness, Sadness and Fatigue.
Effect on your behavior includes:  Eating too much, Eating too little,
Food cravings, Sudden angry outbursts, Drug and Alcohol abuse,
Higher tobacco consumption, Social withdrawal, Frequent crying and
Relationship problems.
Ways one can treat stress include self-help, self management, and medication.
Self help for treating stress includes:
1. Exercise -Exercise is an extremely effective stress buster.
2. Division of labor - try to delegate your responsibilities at work, If you make yourself indispensable the likelihood of your feeling highly stressed is significantly greater.
3. Assertiveness - don't say yes to everything. if something is not your responsibility, try to seek ways of not agreeing to do them.
4. Alcohol and drugs -cut down your alcohol and drugs intake. They will not help you manage stress.
5. Caffeine - Cut down your coffee and caffeine consumption.
6. Nutrition - eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Make sure you have a healthy and balanced diet.
7. Time - make sure you set aside some time each day just for yourself. Use that time to organize your life, relax, and pursue your own interests.
8. Breathing - there are some effective breathing techniques which will slow down your system and help you relax.
9. Talk - Express your thoughts and worries to families, friends and loved ones.
10. Seek professional help - if the stress is affecting the way you function; go and see your doctor.
11. Relaxation techniques - meditation or massage have been known to greatly help people with stress.
Self management can help you to either remove or change the source of stress, alter the way you view a stressful event, lower the impact that stress might have on your body, and teach you alternative ways of coping. Stress management techniques can be gained if you read self-help books, or attend a stress management course. You can also seek the help of a counselor or psychotherapist for personal development or therapy sessions. Many therapies which help you relax, such as aromatherapy, or reflexology, may have a beneficial effect.
Medication will not help you deal and cope with stress but rather mask the stress. Doctors will not prescribe medications for coping with stress, unless the patient has an underlying illness, such as depression or some type of anxiety. If that is the case, the doctor is
actually treating a mental illness and in such cases, an antidepressant may be prescribed.
Bear in mind that your body doesn’t care if it's a big stress or a
little one. Stress can make people do stupid things. We can
control how we respond to stress. The best strategy is to handle stress in the moment. Always laugh as this help to lower stress hormone.
Deal with that stress. Its not the best for you.

Another seven-up?

The two former team-mates will go up against each other in the dug-out today with the Barcelona boss, Luis Enrique quick to praise his friend's impact, Pep Guardiola at the Allianz Arena.
The two teams face one another in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, as Pep Guardiola faces his old club for the first time since his departure in the summer of 2012. The 44-year-old took charge of the Bavarians in the summer of 2012-13 after Jupp Heynckes had guided them to a historic treble and has since led Bayern to two Bundesliga titles and one DFB Pokal.
The Allianz Arena side missed out on Champions League glory last term after being thrashed 7-0 over two legs by eventual winners Real Madrid, but Luis Enrique feels Guardiola has done a fine job at the German giants. He believe that Bayern, since Guardiola became the coach, have a slightly different playing style.
He has maintained the positive aspects and added his own touch. They are one of the best teams in Europe without a doubt. We don’t think about beating Pep, we want to beat Bayern - a historic club in Europe. Unfortunately only one of us will reach the final, Enrique said.
It will be nice for the players to see Pep again. But they feel the match is more important than to see their former coach. There’s always time at the end of the game to say hello.
Barcelona remain in the hunt for the treble having already secured their place in the final of the Copa del Rey, as well as sitting top of La Liga ahead of their last four European tie and Luis Enrique admitted he is excited by the prospect of winning three trophies.
There are no favourites for this match, It's a semi-final. Barcelona will be playing at home with their crowd which  makes them stronger. The crowd has to be great, supporting the team especially when the opponent is hurting them.
This is one of the most attractive matches in Europe. Watch out!!!

Get Enough Fiber

One of the main problems with most diet plans is that most individuals on diet do not eat enough fiber.
  Fibre is made up of the indigestible parts or compounds of plants, which pass relatively unchanged through our stomach and intestines. Fibre is mainly a carbohydrate. The main role of fibre is to keep the digestive system healthy.
  There are two types of fiber. Water-soluble fiber. This type of fiber dissolve in water. They includes beans, bananas, carrots, apple, oats, flaxseeds and citrus fruits. There is also insoluble fiber, which does not dissolve in water. It passes through the gut without being broken down and helps other foods move through the digestive system more easily. Insoluble fibre. They includes wheat bran, rooted vegetables and the skins of fruits.
  Fiber intake is crucial. Fiber and water are necessary to move waste through the colon smoothly and easily to reduce the risk of colorectal diseases like constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, heart disease, hemorrhoids, colon polyps, and even colon cancer.
  Fibre is an important part of a healthy diet. It helps to remove cholesterol from the colon by binding bile acids. For people with diabetes, eating a diet high in fibre slows glucose absorption from the small intestine into the blood. This reduces the possibility of a surge of insulin, the hormone produced by the pancreas to stabilise blood glucose levels. It prevents colorectal diseases by speeding transit time in the colon, thus, decreasing the time cancer causing chemicals are in contact with the colon wall, probably decreasing the risk of cancer.
  A high- fibre diet is protective against weight gain. High- fibre foods tend to have a lower energy density, which means they provide fewer kilojoules per gram of food . As a result, a person on a high-fibre diet can consume the same amount of food, but with fewer kilojoules (calories ).
  Fibre is more important for older people. The digestive system slows down with age, so a high-fibre diet becomes even more important.
  Eating a diet low in fibre can contribute to many disorders, including:
Constipation – small, hard and dry faecal matter that is difficult to pass
Hemorrhoids – varicose veins of the anus
Diverticulitis – small hernias of the digestive tract caused by long-term constipation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome – pain, flatulence and bloating of the abdomen
Overweight and Obesity – carrying too much body fat
Coronary Heart Disease – a narrowing of the arteries due to fatty deposits
Diabetes – a condition characterised by too much glucose in the blood
Colon cancer – cancer of the large intestine
  Simple suggestions for increasing your daily fibre intake include:
1. Eat breakfast cereals that contain barley, wheat or oats.
2. Switch to wholemeal or multi grain breads and brown rice.
3. Add an extra vegetable to every evening meal preferably fiber-rich types like greens.
4. Snack on fruit, dried fruit, nuts or wholemeal crackers.
5. Read nutrition labels and choose foods with the highest dietary fiber number.
6. Eat beans and peas frequently because they are filling, fiber-rich and cheap. If canned, wash away excess sodium by rinsing them.
7. Don't peel edible skins from fruits and vegetables. To avoid pesticide residues, wash skin thoroughly before eating.
8. Eat fruits and vegetables rather than drink. When either are processed to make juice, most of the beneficial fiber is left out.
  If you need to increase your fibre intake, it's important that you do so gradually. A sudden increase may make you produce flatulence, leave you feeling bloated and cause stomach cramps.
  It is better to add fibre to the diet from food sources rather than from fibre supplements, as these can aggravate constipation, especially if
you do not increase the amount of water you drink daily.
  Remember, Dietary fibre is found in the indigestible parts of cereals, fruits and vegetables. A diet high in fibre keeps the digestive system healthy. Fiber is activated by water. Whenever you increase your fiber intake, the need for fluids increases.
  Don't forget to drink water thirty minutes before meals or one-half hours after meals.

Serie A Champion vs Defending Champion

The UEFA Champions league draw has been made, on Tuesday 5th of May, Juventus would be welcoming Real Madrid  to the Stadio Olimpico. Madrid who are the defending champion of this competition are seeking to set a record as the first team to win the competition back to back, a feat no club can lay claim to. Juventus on the other hand has been finding it difficult to make a mark in the Champions league after being relegated to the Serie B, the then coach, Antonio Conte has been dominating their domestic league, but has not been able to replicate such form in Europe. Juventus has claimed the 2014/2015 Scudetto, but have chosen to postpone their celebration because of this mouth watering tie. The last time they found themselves at this stage was in the 2002/2003 season. The two teams will be seeking inspiration from their talisman players.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been able to put an end to his goal drought at their last La Liga outing against Sevilla, where he scored all the three goals to keep them closer to their bitter rival (Barcelona). Carlos Tevez has played a leading role for the Old Ladies this season, scoring lot of goals to bring them this far. The two teams would be without the services of some key players like Luca Modric, Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba.
Possible lineup: Juventus: Buffon, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini, Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Evra, Morata, Tevez.(3-5-2).
Real Madrid: Casillas, Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Isco, Kroos, James, Bale, Chicharito, Ronaldo.(4-3-3).

Dropping The Curtain

Eredivisie is all done and dusted with PSV running out winners, beating Ajax to the title with some games to spare. The German Bundesliga shield has been claimed by the German giant Bayern Munchen for the third time in a roll when their closest rival (Wolfsburg) couldn't get a win in their last league game. The Seria A is a game away from being over, the league leader could have claimed it last time out, only to be denied by Lazio and AS Roma winning their games. Juventus has so far monopolised the league cup for the past three seasons, a draw in their next game will see them claim the league once again.
The Barclays Premier League is the most watched league in this part of the world, the glamour is expected to come to an end this weekend when the champions elect claim their title for the record fourth time. Chelsea have been a team with great zeal to claim the title despite falling short in the 2013/2014 season where they finished only behind Liverpool and Manchester City. They went into the market to acquire the services of quality players in the necessary department. Goalkeeping (Thibaut Courtios), Left back (Filipe Luis), Midfielder (Cesc Fabregas), Forward (Diego Costa). Chelsea have been arguably the best team in the league this season,having the best record against the top four teams.
The coach of the side (Jose Mourinho) has emphasised the need for his players to get the job done in the presence of their home supporters in Stamford Bridge on Sunday against Crystal Palace. Nothing less than a win for the home side will be acceptable.
Teams like Liverpool, Arsenal and the Manchester teams planning on doing serious business in the next transfer market, Chelsea FC remains the club to beat.

10 Dollars

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.

SON: “Daddy, may I ask you a question?”
DAD: “Yeah sure, what is it?” replied the man.
SON: “Daddy, how much do you make an hour?”
DAD: “That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?” the man said angrily.
SON: “I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?”
DAD: “If you must know, I make $10 an hour.”
SON: “Oh,” the little boy replied, with his head down.
SON: “Daddy, may I please borrow $5?”

The father was furious, “If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room.The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.
The man had calmed down, and started to think: Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $5 and he really didn’t ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy’s room and opened the door.” Are you asleep, son?” He asked.
“No daddy, I’m awake,” replied the boy. “I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier” said the man. Here’s the $5 you asked for.”

The little boy sat straight up, smiling. “Oh, thank you daddy!” He yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills.The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father. “Why do you want more money if you already have some?” the father grumbled.”Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,” the little boy replied.

“Daddy, I have $10 now. Can I buy an hour of your time?
Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.”

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness.

A reminder to all of us working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts.